Microsoft’s Surface vs the iPad (video)

21 Jun 2012

Watching Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer and president Steven Sinofsky presenting the new Surface tablet to the world may invoke memories of a similar presentation that happened more than two years ago (apart from that particular technology fail).

In this great mash-up from ReadWriteWeb, Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ introduction to Apple’s first iPad from 2010 is compared, play-by-play, with Microsoft’s Surface presentation from Monday.

The similarities between the two and the cross-cutting of hyperbolic marketing speak will prompt a few chuckles and a quick comparison of the specs shows just what Microsoft is bringing to the table.

But the key differences between the two presentations become more apparent as the video rolls on. First of all, Jobs didn’t have to deal with his iPad freezing during his presentation – a tense and cringeworthy moment that Microsoft may never live down.

Plus, the video highlights the lack of detail in Microsoft’s presentation, notably the reluctance to determine a price point.

 

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com