Since the iPad, tablets have essentially been designed as ‘media consumption’ devices – basically they only exist to sell time-killing apps, ebooks, and other media. Try doing anything productive on an iPad, and you quickly will find yourself too frustrated to get any work done.
When Microsoft Surface hits the streets on October 26th, it is looking more and more like it has the potential to finally bridge the gap between tablets and desktop PCs. This impression was further supported when the Surface team recently took to Reddit to answer questions about the device. Among the many things discussed, support for Windows 8 compatible peripherals was confirmed, including XBOX 360 controllers.
Android supports joysticks by use of third party drivers and Bluetooth, but having integrated first party support is likely to make things run much smoother. Combined with support for Unreal Engine games, Surface may make the tablet a viable device for ‘real’ games.
Read the full Reddit AMA for more info on Surface. Source: Tech Report