It's the epic battle between Apple and Microsoft and this time, it's all about the tablets as Microsoft finally joined the tablet market with the release of "Surface", Microsoft's own Windows 8 tablet. This release leads to inevitable question of: Which is the Best? Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet (Surface) or Apple's New iPad?

There are a lot of things to be considered when answering this question as both tablets have both its strengths and weakness.

Here is a brief comparison of their features and specifications:

Apple's New iPad

Windows RT

Windows Pro

OS

iOS 5.1

Windows RT

Windows Pro

Processor

A5X (dual core) 1 GHz;

quad core GPU

Nvidia ARM processor

Intel Core i5

Weight

1.4 lbs. (Wi-Fi)

1.46 lbs. (4G)

1.49 lbs.

1.99 lbs.

Thinness

9.3mm

9.3mm

13.5mm

Display

9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 LED backlit IPS (Retina Display)

10.6-inch ClearType HD Display

10.6-inch ClearType HD Display

Battery Life

42.5 W-h

31.5 W-h

42 W-h

User Storage

16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB

32 GB and 64 GB

64 GB and 128 GB

Expendable Storage

none

Unspecified (possible micro SD option)

Unspecified (possible micro SD option)

USB

none

USB 2.0

USB 3.0

Selling Price

Wi-Fi (AU$539, AU$649, and AU$759)

Wi-Fi + Cellular (AU$679, AU$789, and AU$899)

Unspecified

Unspecified

OS - In terms of OS, Apple has established itself as a company which provided products that are easy to use and understand. As for Microsoft's Windows 8, it is fairly new to the market which can be a big hindrance in enticing customers to try its new OS. Windows 8 has a "tile system" which can be a bit complex to use. It takes a while to get used to design and it is not as straightforward as the design in Apple's new iPad.

Processor - As for processor, the new iPad is considerably faster than the previous models. As for the processor for Windows 8 tablets, there is really not much information released yet in order to make a justifiable and logical comparison.

Weight, Thinness, and Battery life - There is really not much different between the two in terms of weight and thinness. Microsoft has really put a lot of effort in its design because even if their Windows 8 tablet has a bigger display size, it is still light and not bulky. Battery life is also similar for both Apple's new iPad and Windows 8 tablet.

Display - Apple's Retina Display plays a major role in determining the quality of display that the new iPad has. This does not mean that the display quality of Windows 8 tablets is not that good quality-wise. In fact, it is really true to its form as an HD display but if compared with Apple's new iPad, Apple still emerges as the winner.

Storage and USB - Microsoft has an advantage in terms of storage and USB since Apple is not offering expendable storage option through micro SD. Aside from that, the new iPad also does not have USB option which is crucial for some users. Microsoft offers USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 in their line of Windows 8 tablet.

Conclusion

As of the moment, it is hard to form a conclusion as to what is the best tablet between Apple's new iPad and Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet. The reason for this is that not enough information about the Windows 8 tablet was revealed. This plays a crucial part in having a just and fair comparison between the two. It would be best to wait for further announcement to determine if Microsoft would keep up with its biggest competitor in the tablet market which is Apple's iPad line.