For long, people have bought tablets with great expectations and found no value in them at all. For someone with a laptop and a smartphone, a tablet wouldn’t be of use if you are the type that does basic computer work. Well, the surface brings together a tablet and laptop, all in one small gadget that can be held in the hand. Microsoft really did it. If you hear me calling it a laptop don’t be shocked. The goodI think it’s a great laptop and it is the standard-bearer for the Windows 8 charge. Is this for the average user? A big YES. It’s fast, solid, and small. It’s a great hand-fit experience and it can be used even by a basic computer literate as a media device. It is the best of a lot of worlds and handily replaces the laptop/tablet combination most people carry these days. But backwards compatibility makes this an excellent stepping stone into the Win8 era. Once you use this device you slowly begin to realise why Microsoft was so ham-handed for the past few years. In short, they were afraid to alienate the core and they were anxious to build their customer base. By building this, they’ve shown the world how Win8 can win.The bad The first zero I would like to hand this device is the price $899 for the 64GB and $999 for the 128GB. For an average income earner, it’s not affordable. Andrew Bradford, a friend from the states is one of the Windows diehards I know. He says: "The touchpad on the type cover is woefully small and the connection between the keyboard and the device is often wonky, disconnecting at odd intervals. The touch screen interface, while excellent in touch mode, is difficult to manage in classic mode. Other than that, I am okay with it.” It seems that this problem is related to the stability of the surface on which the device and keyboard are sitting. Could it be better? Absolutely. I’d love some cellular support for one, and would gladly pay for it. Windows 8 is still heavily dependent on classic mode and the Windows app store, while generous, is not overwhelming.