someone stop me from selling my.ipad2 for a surface pro..

That's what I want to see :)

Well, for that kinda money you could get a MacBook Air.

They're two different classes of products, and one blows the other out of the water in essentially every performance-based way. It also cost significantly more. If you're considering spending that amount of money on a mobile device, consider full-on laptops (including those with touch displays, like the Lenovo Yoga), the Surface Pro, and the Dell Venue Pro (the larger series. I believe it's "11" and definitely not "8" though you would likely be satisfied with the results and price you get from an 8). You'll get considerably better performance than with any traditional mobile OS on a tablet, and also things like expandable SD memory slots, USB ports, and the benefit of having a full-on desktop-worthy operating system.

I didn't include the Surface Pro 3 in those comparisons, but it's a much nicer machine IF you value its use as a powerful tablet and fully functional PC in one.

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looking for something windows and mobile

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Dell Venue 8 Pro is the best 8" option. It starts at $200 on Amazon. It's smaller. It's got a lower-resolution screen, but at the size, you won't notice if it's more than about 6 inches from your face. The bonus to the lower-def (still high def, by any degree) screen is longer battery life. No full-size USB port on-board, but you can buy an OTG adapter cable adapter for cheap ( $13 gets you 3 USB ports and a mouse). Personally, I would grab something like this bluetooth keyboard + case which is very reminiscent to the MSP3's Type Cover for $37 and not use a mouse or USB devices. Then, I would heavily consider grabbing a 64gb MicroSD card for $35 (as opposed to the 128gb versions, which do exist, but are ~3x the cost), and microSD will get you much more storage per dollar than increasing the size of the internal drive through the vendor. As far as "power under the hood," you get less processor than a Microsoft Surface Pro, very close performance to the iPad Air, and superior performance to an iPad Mini. I'd head to a Best Buy and check it out, then order it and the accessories online if you're a fan.


Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is the best of the 10-12" options. And I'll just go ahead and say that it's the best of all the Windows tablets as well, of any size. It's the best "tablet" on the market, and, with a keyboard, is a better laptop than, at the very least, a fair number of laptops. It's got on-board full-sized USB ports (don't need the extra adapter) and MiniDisplayPort (convert the signal to HDMI for $6.78 + shipping on the low end. Add some cost for lengths >3ft. There may be a brand with a cheaper cable out there, but this is just a "quick and dirty."


Personally, the downfall/reservation for me is that it wouldn't replace my laptop but would cost as much as a decent laptop. I would prefer two, unique devices to each do their own job. Considering that (and your thinking your laptop was too much to bring with you to the hospital (congrats on a child, by the way)), if cost plays any factor, you may lean to the Dell. Given the sums of money you're talking about and how important production is for you, the MSP may be the better option. One thing to consider, though, if mobility > productivity (and that's not to say that the Dell Venue Pro 8 isn't productive...it also comes with MS Word and Excel, by the way, and I'm too lazy to throw that in in the top of my post...and the Surface Pro 1 and 2 did not come with any form of Office, I believe the 3 follows suit, but I'll need to be fact-checked here. I'm really phoning the end of this post in. I apologize), you may fall in line with liking the little Dell. Just for a fun size comparison, in the picture below, there is a Google Nexus 7 and a DVP 8. I can fit the Nexus 7 with a thick, soft rubber case in the back pocket of my blue jeans or scrubs fairly easily, but I can see the Dell going either way (just too big or JUST right). I can fit it in the front pocket a little more snugly, but it can essentially be stowed and any pocket I wear, though it would be impractical to carry it around that way on a daily basis, unless you're talking about the inner pocket of a suit jacket (good, snug fit, more than likely, assuming standard size...fits in a white coat pocket with plenty of room).

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Is there a keyboard with a usb slot I could buy for it to make it more usable?

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You just need the Apple bluetooth keyboard, I have used it with mine, but its a pain in the arse.

Do it.

What a great post doc. Thank you. I had not seen the venues at all. That might be the perfect option. The price point of the venue has be paused as the more portable the more possible for damage as they are out and about....or stolen...

Thank you very much for the thought and time put into your response. It really is appreciated

I can see your point. I always look at it from a purely-my-secondary-PC standpoint, since 90% of my computer time is at my desktop. But if it were my only/primary PC, I would be less than thrilled about the lack of upgradability and the fact that it does lean more toward tablet than PC. I have very few uses for a tablet, outside of using it on the crapper and pulling up a video for the 3-year-old.

As far as the RAM goes, 8GB and be done with it.