Yes I know plenty of folks using the iPad for e-mail,task lists and calendar functions, but they still go back to their desktop and do work on the Network in the enterprise.
No, I doubt it is "free" on Surface. Pricing was not mentioned... and there are several options on the keyboard cover: color, key travel, etc,. I assure you, you will pay for it, one way or another. TANSTAAFL.
2. then the apps cost $10 each
TANNSTAAFL, again.
you ware working in the Cloud - way cool, but that is not on your computer and the average traveling biz person does not want to be sitting in an airport or on a plane trying to get into the cloud. Don't believe me try looking at a few forums since the Surface was announced.
I grant you your plane situation... but that can be handled when you are on a plane by the inexpensive appropriate Apps... but, consider this, that Surface will not fit on the tray table! No way... I can't picture it fitting. Only the higher cost keyboard might have a chance of working. I cannot see it working on your lap. I think it might have a chance in business class.
600 million Windows7 users have a habit of using keyboards and having their application be seemless.
That's what a lot of iPad adoptees thought until they started using them... and then found they did not really need one. The habit got broken.
The lack of a keyboard has been raised as an issue with my business customers. Its too hard to write some of the long and technical entries without it.