I have to disagree with you that the surface is significantly less bulkier than the iPad. In my opinion, the iPad form factor makes it more user friendly in every situation that does not involve sitting on a surface. The screen is large enough for consumption
but small enough so its easy to reach the entire screen without repositioning your hands.
The characteristics that make the Surface a great psudo laptop make it less user friendly as a hands on tablet. That is a tradeoff I am happy to see. Its a GREAT machine sitting on a desk with the keyboard deployed. Its not a great tablet when holding
it in your hands while laying in bed, or enjoying a hot bath.
They are different and serve different functions. The iPad never will be anything but a great consumption device. It pales in comparison with the Surface when it comes to doing useful work.
But, on the subject of this thread, I believe that the Surface audio delivery hardware is not clearly not robust enough to deliver even an acceptable level of performance for a consumption device. Again, were it my only consumption device it would not find
a place in my home.
I believe that the single biggest flaw in the Surface is the lack of sound power delivery. Stating that it is sterio while the iPad is mono is pretty much a waste of time in my opinion. I can hear the iPad mono just fine. I cant hear the Surface sterio
so its irrelivant. Great sound delivered at a level that is unacceptably low is not a winning strategy.