Windows is also a non-starter. I don't want a virus launching platform, and I don't want to give up CPU cycles, battery power, storage space, and network bandwidth/download time/bytes to keep antivirus software running and up to date.
Besides, as a long time Linux user, I now find it easier to work in Linux than in Windows.
As of iOS 5, no you don't. Of course, if you want to import your own movies and songs, you'll need to use iTunes, but otherwise you can activate and use the device independent of any other computer.
But this article's about the Surface, so back on topic. At this point, we simply don't know enough to fairly judge the Surface. The announcement should technically be classified as vaporware because it didn't include nearly enough information for people to come up with informed opinions -- no price, no mention of street date, and very thin description of tech specs. The fact that MS themselves were warning that even those limited specs could change should raise some eyebrows about why they'd be announcing the product if they haven't finalized the design.
Also, it's fairly risky to put so much emphasis on a differentiator (the keyboard) that's an accessory and one that will likely be cloned for other devices before you even get yours out to market.
We're also talking about two entirely different machines here. The ARM-based system is the true "tablet" model, to compete against the iPad and Android tablets. The "pro" Intel version is more reasonably considered an ultrabook with a touch screen, and will compete against ultrabooks and the MacBook Air.
Windows is also a non-starter. I don’t want a virus launching platform […].There is nothing about Windows that makes it a “virus launching platform.” Things were different with Windows 95/98/ME, but today’s Windows descends from Windows NT, not those DOS variants. If you keep your software up-to-date and keep patching security holes, you are no more likely to catch malware than on other well-known operating systems. Vice versa, if you do not patch your software and operating system regularly, you will become infected on other operating systems, too. Google for “Android” “malware” or “Android” “virus,” for example.
The iPad is merely a status symbol, nothing else. My wife is caught up in it and it drives me crazy. Her new iPhone isn’t even as good as my Droid2 , which is 3 years old. They still don’t have 4G.