Microsoft wants to compete badly with the iPad and Android tablets. So badly that they’ve decided their best bet is to create a Productivity Tablet. As such, their Surface tablet is more laptop than tablet because it uses a laptop OS and has laptop functionality.
Tablets are not just form factors, it’s a different way of working. In order to actually fit into the tablet space you must create an experience that works better on the go than sitting still at a desk. Surface is better used sitting down than on the go. The best way to understand the difference is would it work in a smaller form factor – Surface would make a horrific 8″ tablet experience.
As a laptop Surface works very well. It’s the most versatile laptop experience ever created. The first laptop that can work well in a car, plane, coffee shop, or desk. But that still doesn’t make it a tablet.
This is why the Surface will never beat iOS or Android in the tablet space. It’s simply not a tablet, it’s a laptop. And honestly, Microsoft is marketing it as such as well.