A portable powerhouse – but the Surface Pro's keyboard, grunt and battery life don't quite measure up to its Ultrabook rivals

The Surface Pro fails to live up to expectations. Despite the HD screen and solid performance, it's weak when it comes to portability and doesn't do enough to stand out from OEM competitors.

Beautiful HD screen; Full Windows 8; Good performance

Inflexible kickstand; Too heavy; Expensive; Virtually unserviceable; So-so battery life

It's been almost a week since the Microsoft Surface Pro landed in the Lint's UK offices, during which time it's seen non-stop use. We've been eager to see if Microsoft - the very creator of the Windows 8 Pro operating system - can set the bar to new heights in the hybrid space.

Excellent screen; Full Windows 8 Pro; Excellent build quality; MicroSD expansion slot; USB 3.0 for fast transfer; Smaller and lighter than Ultrabook competitors

No keyboard included; Expensive; So-so battery life; Chunkier and heavier than many tablet competitors; Stated storage isn't realised (128GB is approx 85GB; Kickstand angle isn't adjustable; Poor camera quality

Surface Pro is a decent dual-use device, with plenty of power which we'd be happy to choose over a mid-range Ultrabook. We loved being able to dock it with a screen and full desktop set up at home, then take it on the move.

Full HD screen; Ability to play games; Nice industrial design

Not great on uneven surfaces; Heavy

I take it everywhere to work with me. It's small, lightweight, and easy to operate. I ordered a mouse for it and have to say "I Just Love My Surface".

Like the original Surface, the Surface Pro still has something of an identity crisis. A tablet with a detachable keyboard, it doubles up as a netbook, while its weight is more like a traditional laptop. The first impression upon picking up the Surface Pro is just how heavy it is.

Incredible power; second-to-none for working on-the-go; Touch Cover keyboard is still excellent

Seriously heavy; battery life is below-par; limited apps

I first laid eyes on Microsoft's ( MSFT ) Surface tablet just about four months ago . It was a rainy Monday morning in Redmond, Washington and we were barely into the first 20 minutes of a full day of meetings when I knew the Surface was a huge, huge deal.

For me and for the broad audience, Microsoft is a software company . And I think it's fair to say that besides a few hardware products, they don't have too much experience in this field.

Microsoft Windows-based tablets have been tried dozens of times before. Tried and failed, as a matter of fact. Now, with Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to "reimagine" the whole concept of the desktop operating system, and in doing so has come up with a new generation of tablets that can do more in...

Good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes, and Microsoft has finally brought its premium Windows 8 device – the Surface Pro – to Australia. It's been available in the US since February, but Microsoft's 10.6in tablet looks to have been worth waiting for.