Microsoft Surface review: Stunning hardware, but apps are sparse

Microsoft is the biggest software company in the world, but its first piece of Windows hardware is a beauty.

The Surface is light and portable, and its battery gave me a full day of usage without a problem. Functions such as streaming video will cut that down, but you'll still go longer between charges than you would with any popular Windows or Mac laptop.

Here's an extra bonus: There is absolutely no bloatware on the Surface. That's another point in Microsoft's favor as it enters the Windows hardware market and competes against the very vendors that perfected the practice of ruining user experiences with unwanted garbage.

The Touch Cover makes the Surface an artful hybrid between a tablet and a notebook. Its software experience doesn't feel intuitive yet, but we're not Luddites. We can handle change.

The biggest question mark hangs over Windows RT. Microsoft needs to get developers on board fast to address the app gap.

Still, the Surface provides a terrific experience right out of the box, especially for users who need a road-warrior device with excellent Office support.

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