Microsoft Surface
Microsoft made a truly ambitious effort with its Surface tablet, and it got a lot of things right. But it still lags behind the iPad in one key way.
Surface marked a chance for Microsoft to show the world that it could release a tablet that could not only rival the iPad in its ability to entertain, but also go one step further by making said tablet a capable productivity device as well.
While Microsoft succeeded in realizing the latter, Surface needs work to match the iPad as an entertainment device. However, with Microsoft sweating every detail -- from the ease with which the tablet connects to its keyboard to the satisfying "crunch" sound delivered when it does -- it's difficult to argue that Microsoft didn't put in one hell of an effort in bringing a quality product to shelves.
For more on this story, see our full Microsoft Surface review.