Apple iPad / Microsoft Surface

In 2007, Microsoft annonced Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface represents a new category of computing. With capabilities like direct interaction, multi-touch, multi-user, and object recognition, Microsoft Surface computing is a unique and cutting edge platform for application development.

The Microsoft Surface platform goes beyond the capabilities of its core operating system foundation running Windows Vista SP1, yet it keeps the development process simple. The Microsoft Surface SDK 1.0 SP1 provides all the controls a developer needs to create innovative experiences on Microsoft Surface. And with the new capabilities that come with Service Pack 1, application development is easier than ever with new WPF controls and API enhancements that give developers more control, flexibility, and efficiency in creating applications.

Plus, in order to enable a broad developer audience, Microsoft Surface is compatible with familiar programs and tools developers use today, such as:

Microsoft® Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
Microsoft® XNA™
Microsoft® Visual C#® 2008 Express Edition
Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2008 SP1
Microsoft® Expression® Studio 2
Microsoft® Expression Blend™ 2

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/Pages/Product/Platform.aspx

In 2010 Apple launched the iPad.

The sdk is the same than the sdk used by the Apple iPhone

http://developer.apple.com/ipad/sdk/

The specs have been posted on Apple's web site.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

Screen size = 1024x768 and my interest will go immediately for TV and video

Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format.

iPad Price starting at 499$

It would be nice to see microsoft coming with a small tablet "surface capable" 1280x720 P resolution where people could put there camera or phone in place on top of the tablet running an application in "surface application mode" to exchange and share contents (picture/music/video).

A commercial Microsoft Surface unit is $12,500 (unit only), whereas a developer Microsoft Surface unit costs $15,000 and includes a developer unit, five seats and support. However, Microsoft said it expects prices to drop enough to make consumer versions feasible in 2010. Microsoft would have to come with a price 20x lower than the actual Microsoft Surface unit to compete with the iPad. I think it is time to come up with a product...