I broke down and got a tablet (Nexus 7) about 2 years ago. It was "okay" and was easy to carry and use. I used it about once a month for emails and tried to use it to teach but it was not so great. Then I decided to get a ChromeBook about a year ago. It was much better and worked well for teaching. I started to store some stuff in the cloud for easy access. About 6 months I got an iPad Air and I really started to like it but was not really a fan of Apple. No USB, no "office" etc. A lot of the forums I went to (including Angel to teach) did not work right. Again, it is just below "okay". Yesterday I got a Surface 2 and I love it. Works great, meets all my need, and I could not be happier! If anyone is shopping for a tablet, I strongly recommend checking out the Surface. The others I mentioned will probably get trashed.
I have an original Surface RT, and I know that the Surface 2 is even better. It's a great option for those who want to have the Office suite in a convenient format. The biggest downside is the lack of apps. The Windows store is not as robust as the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Nevertheless, for productivity, the Office Suite is very nice, and combining the Surface with the (overpriced) type cover is a very nice touch because it doesn't require a separate charger like Bluetooth keyboards. I don't use mine as much as I could because I need a full-fledged laptop most of the time, but I'm a fan. The Surface Pros, on the other hand, are IMO far too pricey for what they do. At their price ranges, they need to come with Office and a type or touch cover.
I see your points but I don't use many apps (just some basic stuff) and the Apple and Surface were free since I ordered them through work as a "tool" so price was not an issue.
I don't use that many apps, either. I use my Surface when productivity is a priority, and I use my iPad for media consumption, primarily. Although they are both tablets, they are not really suited for the same purposes. As long as a person knows the differences before purchasing, then I believe that each tablet is an excellent choice, if aligned to individual need. If a person buys a Surface looking for the latest greatest gaming apps, then he or she is likely to be disappointed! To Apple's credit, iOS devices are definitely expanding productivity offerings, but the lack of built-in USB support limits some utility.
I have a Surface Pro 2 and use it instead of the laptop most of the time. It works for everything I need. I prefer my desktop PC for teaching online, most of the time when I'm at home, but if I am traveling and need to take my work, the Surface Pro 2 is sufficient. Yes, I see it is pricey, but my husband likes to spoil me at Christmas and this is what he bought (along with the type keyboard) so I am not complaining! My daughter works for Microsoft so I guess if in some small way it supports what she does, that is a good thing as well. I have an iPad (also a Christmas gift, but a few years back). The iPad is not nearly as useful.
