Another Microsoft ad disses iPad’s specs, multitasking, AirPrint and more

Wow, that was quick. Following on yesterday’s Windows 8 commercial which uses Apple’s Siri to highlight the iPad’s perceived flaws – such as its $499 price point versus an Asus VivoTab Smart and lack of Office (go figure), the Redmond-based software giant today release another ad along the same lines.

Suggestively titled ‘Comparison: iPad vs. Windows 8 Tablet’, the commercial pits an iPad 4 against an Asus Vivo Tab RT, which is based on the same ARM CPU technology like Apple’s tablet. However, the software maker has been caught cheating…

As you can see below, the commercial praises the Asus hardware for being thinner (0.37 inches versus 0.32 inches) and lighter (1.44lbs versus 1.16lbs) than the iPad 4.

Of course, the Windows maker also highlights its Office offering (“One Note app only comes with Microsoft Office”) and multitasking capabilities of Windows 8 that allow users to run two apps concurrently in split-screen mode.

You also need to buy a micro SD adapter for your iPad, the ad proclaims, and can only print to a special AirPrint-compatible printer whereas the Asus tablet prints wirelessly to “nearly all printers”.

Microsoft also has a nice web page up where users can choose to compare an iPad 4 to an Asus VivoTab Smart, Dell XPS 10, HP Envy x2 and Microsoft’s own Surface RT.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, Elliot Temple of curi.us points out that a comparison between the iPad and the Asus device on Microsoft’s web site is inaccurate, to say the least.

iMicrosoft claims the Asus tablet “has a bigger touchscreen” whereas in reality Asus’ device has 3.55 percent less area than the iPad, not 36 percent more as Microsoft depicts.

Elliot explains:

The iPad screen is 7.76 by 5.82 inches. The ASUS screen is 8.8 by 4.95 inches. ASUS is larger in one direction but smaller in the other direction, and has 3.55% less area than the iPad, not 36% more as Microsoft depicts.

How can the screen with a larger diagonal measurement be smaller? Because it’s a different shape. Long and thin gets you a bigger diagonal but a smaller screen, for the same diagonal inches.

On a related note, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates recently asserted that people are frustrated because the iPad “lacks real keyboard and real Office”.

Microsoft Surface Pre-Orders Sell Out in U.S !

Since the Microsoft Surface RT was opened for pre-orders on October 16th, orders have been pouring in for all of the different variants available from Microsoft’s online store. The different versions available include the 32GB model for $499, the 32GB model with a black Touch Cover which is priced at $599, and the 64GB model with a black Touch Cover for $699. All three started with delivery set for October 26th and now the 32GB with no cover will ship within 3 weeks. The 32GB and 64GB models with the Touch Cover are now shipping in 1-2 weeks.

While both the 32GB and 64GB models are available with a black Touch Cover, you can order a white cover for $119.99. The Type Cover is $129.99. If you’re not sure of the difference between the two, the Touch Cover is a thin, spill-resistant cover that protects your tablet while also allowing you to type on a touch sensitive QWERTY keyboard. The Type Cover is a more traditional QWERTY keyboard with raised keys.

The Microsoft Surface RT tablet uses an ARM based processor and offers a mobile experience similar to the Apple iPad and Android tablets. Microsoft Surface (8 Pro) tablets are essentially mobile versions of your PC with Intel inside.

Microsoft’s First Surface Tablet Ad

Microsoft’s First Surface Tablet Ad Appears And Pricing Revealed!

Microsoft’s Surface launch is getting reach to happen, and it’s all coming together with a massive, massive advertising campaign.

Microsoft hasn’t had a year this pivotal in years, with Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, Windows RT and the Surface tablet range all shipping in 2012.

That’s a lot of new material, and it’s going to require a lot of advertising to convince the masses to pay attention to the company’s new products. The Surface will hit here in just a few days (10/26), and the device’s first ad has hit the Web.

Care to see it? It’s just below, and it definitely pays close attention to the Surface keyboard and kickstand. Let’s see your iPad / Android tablet do this song and dance.

UPDATE:

A slip-up at the Microsoft online store has finally lead to the unveiling of the Surface tablet’s pricing. Scheduled to hit store on October 26, the pricing of the Microsoft Surface starts from $500 without the cool Black Touch Cover with keyboard.

However, chances are that you’ll want the cool accessory, which basically transforms the Surface into a fully-fledged notebook replacement. In that case, you’ll need to shell out $600. Both prices apply for the 32GB version of the slate.

The 64GB variation is priced at $700 with the Black Touch Cover included. The Touch Cover is also available for purchase separately for $120 a pop and comes in red, black, white, blue or purple. There’s also the Type Cover retailing for $130, but that’s only available in black.

Unfortunately, the listing on the Microsoft online store isn’t available any longer.

With the Surface’s advertisements already showing on TV and all over the Internet, and rocking the same price as the iPad 3 (32GB), Microsoft’s slate is ready for a fight in the upcoming holiday season.

Microsoft unveils its own tablet: the Surface

The Windows-makers have just unveiled a new slate called the Microsoft Surface.

Described as a “tablet that’s a great PC, and a PC that’s a great tablet,” the Surface looks to be much more than an iPad competitor. It has a 10.6-inch display, magnesium casing, and weighs in at just 1.5 pounds…

Other features of the Surface include a full-sized USB 2.0 port, 9.33mm profile, and a built-in kickstand. And Microsoft has also introduced an interesting accessory for the slate, a multitouch keyboard with a built-in trackpad.

It looks like the Surface will be available in two varieties: one, built on the ARM architecture, running Windows RT tablet software. And a Pro version, which uses Intel CPUs, and runs a full version of Windows 8.

Obviously, you’ll have to make a few trade-offs when going with the Surface Pro. It’s thicker, at just over 13mm, a bit heavier, and has onboard fans. But you also get the benefits of a higher-res display and the added power.

So far, there’s no word on pricing outside of “it’ll be competitive with other tablets,” and nothing regarding a release date. Microsoft did, however, say that the Windows RT version will be available in 32GB and 64GB models, and the Pro version will have higher capacities.

Overall, this looks like a strong, bold play from the Redmond company. And we’re interested to see how well the Surface does with consumers. If nothing else, it’s intriguing that Microsoft is now in the hardware business.