The Microsoft Surface is the first tablet device I feel like I really need. The Surface gives me everything I need in a tablet. It's not simply a multimedia tool (which is what Android and various idevices would be for me), it's a productivity tool. I'm a writer. I need to write. No matter how slick and predictive touch screen keyboards get, they won't be able to match a physical keyboard in terms of speed for true typists.
Moreover, the surface has Windows 8. No, I'm not a windows-only advocate, but I am a full-fledged operating system advocate. Android and iOS can't hack it. They have apps. I need programs. I need real processing power that those apps have been unable to provide. I think they are capable of that power, but the app development has not pushed them far enough, yet, at least in terms of productivity.
I think Surface will change that. Tablets must evolve into devices that can truly replace laptops as productive pieces of software. I can't wait to play around with the surface. I truly hope it will be the device I need to replace one of my laptops.