[markbot]

I've decided to buy the Surface RT, assuming the reviews are good...and they probably will be IMO.

1. My laptop's LCD died this month and fixing it would cost almost as much as buying the Surface.
2. I need a laptop but I really WANT a tablet that has Microsoft Office....hence Surface.
3. I was hoping it would cost $400 not $600, but I'm not that price sensitive.
4. The battery life of the Surface is good enough, although not great. I don't think the battery is replaceable.
5. The MicroSD card slot is pretty important...and reduces the total cost of ownership of the device since a 32GB MicroSD card only costs like $30.....not $100.
6. The Windows 8 interface is a lot more innovative and interesting than the boring icon layout of iOS.
7. The keyboard is a huge selling point. It adds tremendous functionality without adding additional weight. It also looks cool. It should have cost $400 with the keyboard....I would have preordered it. Now, I'm going to wait for the reviews.
8. Without MS Office, this device is dead on arrival. It would have zero chance of competing with ipad since it has hardly any apps. Office is a real game changer. Sure, there are iOS apps that are compatible with Office files but you need Office for serious work and collaboration. That being said, not having full Office with VBA was nearly a deal breaker...but I think I can live without it. Any excel workbook that has essential VBA programs, I'll probably be using my work or home desktop for. Or, I'll be able to get access to full Office on the go if I really need it.
10. I'm convinced the app market for RT will be a success because any app written for regular windows 8 will be compatible with RT. A lot of people are going to have Windows 8 since it will be preinstalled on most new computers. This means the install base for these metro style apps is going to be very significant. 300+ million Windows computers are sold each year....so the app market should be at least as good as the market for android's tablet OS within 2 years I think. The apps could also be more sophisticated since WIndows 8 RT is closer to a full desktop OS and most people will have a keyboard attached.
11. Surface RT vs Surface Pro. I think $1000 is too much for a computer nowadays. The Pro will cost at least $1000 I think. Also, the Pro will probably have lower battery life...like 6.5 hrs....or 5 hrs a year later. I refuse to buy any tablet that gets less than 8 hrs when new. 10 hrs is ideal. No VBA and x86 apps vs <7hr battery life and $300+....I'd rather buy the RT version since I already have a desktop.