Re: "the wonderful gadgets filling our lives."
Surfaces are brilliant, different logins for anyone around here to have their ownlogin/apps etc. USB to allow massive files to be transferred when even WiFi is too slow - e.g. music library, no iTunes necessary not to mention off-line TV and movies. A slot for a micro SD to save even copying said large files - just plug it in and have another 64GB of storage. Did I mention that I also plugged a 1TB disc drive into it (without a power cable) and it just saw it and allowed File History backup to it (in addition to the automatic cloudy backups it can do also).
Also connects to the standard Family Safety system so that all web traffic, apps, times-of-use, games age limits etc. are tracked for child accounts.
The ability to just see all the network resources (with the network knowing who is connected because of those real logins) - I went looking to add my wireless printer (because it has Office and I can do real work and print the results as well as print that all-important concert ticket or check-in barcode) and the printer had already been located and installed.
Two apps side-by-side, fucking brilliant, can read mails or El Reg and not have to switch to have a Skype conversation - it just sits there and you read the messages and bang in a reply as required.
Wider screen, better for watching TV and movies in the first place. A really nice thin cover that is actually a functional keyboard with a trackpad. I even plugged a Logitech wireless (not Bluetooth) mouse and USB adapter thingy and it worked immediately. A stand that is strong as hell and stable, especially with the keyboard folded back as extra leverage when on the lap.
Apparently, no Candy Crush, boo-hoo. It runs a proper browser complete with Flash so iPlayer etc. all run in the standard browser without needing an app anyway. There are, in fact, many more apps than I expected.
It lacks 3G but so do a lot of tablets and all of them at the price, I use tethering anyway, another contract would be a pain except for a road warrior type. I think a MiFi device is the best option for big mobile data users as it covers all their devices (at the same time, including a phone if need be).
The price? £309, for the 64GB version with the touch cover and Office. Ridiculously better value than other tablets I won't mention. I see it as a really useful, light albeit low-powered ultrabook I can actually afford rather than a tablet for consuming content, with the very useful attribute of being a tablet on which I can consume content.