Microsoft's Surface Pro, better than you thought.

The Surface Pro is not the RT. It’s a full Windows 8 machine powered by Intel. It is capable of running any desktop application, a powerhouse computing platform and priced to sell.  Pro will run applications more like a laptop than a traditional tablet. This device is designed to reinvent computing and bridge the gap between the two.

The Surface Pro offers a Core i5 CPU with an Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU, 10.6-inch display,  64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, USB 3.0, and mini display-port. Pro connects to monitors and outputs at resolutions beyond 1080p, and you can add Bluetooth and USB 3 peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive. The magnesium chassis is solid but not too heavy to hold in one hand( 2lbs). One difference between Pro and the thinner RT version is a vent for the internal fans to keep the powerful CPU running smoothly. It feels warm but no more than any other tablet.

Included is the Surface pen which magnetically attaches to the power connector to hold it in place. It has palm-blocking technology that activates the moment the Pro senses the pen nearing the screen. Palm-block eases the writing process by preventing your hand from shifting the stylus.

The keyboards come separately. The Touch Cover has sensors instead of physical keys and costs $120. The Type Cover has physical keys and costs $130. The Type/Touch keyboards draw power from the tablet and have a grip to hold the whole Surface from the cover.

This is the model that you buy if you want to get work done. You can use this as a tablet, or add the keyboard and turn it into a personal laptop.  With the $1000 price tag,  it’s competing against similar laptops and MacBook’s. Surface Pro seems well-positioned to rise to the top of the pack.

However, with the letdown of the RT, the Pro will have to regain its clout. People are approaching the Pro with caution due to past experiences with Windows touch devices. Inferior touch screens, poor battery life, and limited Bluetooth peripherals have left us with a bad taste.  A simultaneous release would have been better served, especially due to the lackluster holiday sales of only 1 million RT’s sold.

The Surface Pro is a more significant product though because it is likely to be the most popular bridge between laptop and tablets. It starts at $899 for 64GB of storage, or $999 for a 128GB configuration and will be available at Microsoft’s online store, Staples and Best Buy.