I think you're missing the point of what I'm saying. The surface CAN replace my laptop for my travelling duties.

I'm sure I could cobble together what I need from an iPad if I was willing to install servers in all of our global offices to support airprint, carry an SD card reader, another adapter for video output, and just deal with it when I can't browse a file share (sure, probably there's some app somewhere that can do this). At that point I might as well just carry a laptop as well, which is what I was trying to avoid.

Why go through all that effort? There's another box at the store that can do what I need without all sorts of crazy workarounds and gadgets dangling off the side of it.

I'm not saying Office on iPad (that as far as we know doesn't exist) couldn't open files, I'm saying there's no file browser on the iPad. There's probably an app somewhere that can do it, but it's annoying that I can't just click a link in an email to open an intranet file share, find the file I'm looking for, double click and open it. This works on my Surface.

I don't know why you're arguing so vehemently that iPad can do all of this stuff. You *can* change the oil on your car with nothing but a pan and a rag, but it's a lot easier with the right wrench. For what I use a tablet for in particular, the surface is the easiest tool for the job. I used to have an iPad, but I sold it on craigslist after picking up a Surface RT. Surely for others the iPad will be better and for others an Android would be better. YMMV.

Fanboyism doesn't do anyone any good. When iPad is better (again) I'll buy an iPad (again). Right now Surface makes my job easier than the iPad does.

At this point I think this conversation has run its course. Thanks for the dialog, I am out.