It's sacrilege to some Apple fanboys. It's also something none of Apple's competitors have been able to claim since that "magical" day in early 2010.

But when Microsoft unveiled the Surface tablet (actually a pair of them) Monday, the software company clearly had one ultimate goal: to make a tablet that's better than the iPad.

By most standards, Apple has crushed its tablet rivals that have tried to compete feature-for-feature. No single tablet running Google's Android system has gotten much traction (save the smaller, cheaper Kindle Fire from Amazon) and BlackBerry maker RIM's Playbook hit the market with a thud.

And Microsoft's past attempts at building Apple-like gadgets -- witness the iPod-copying Zune -- have failed.

Unlike some hasty competitors, Microsoft took its time getting into the tablet game. Earlier this year, the company rolled out the Windows 8 operating system, software that is optimized for mobile and that manufacturers such as Samsung and Asus are already building tablets around. But Microsoft clearly wanted to control at least one version of the hardware, a move it has largely shied away from during its history.

And Microsoft seems determined to get this one right. So, the question remains -- will this be the tablet that finally gives Apple a run for its money?

Details about the Surface are sketchy -- no price or release date were announced, and info about apps is scant. But there are at least five features CEO Steve Ballmer and friends showed off Monday that might make the Surface better than the iPad.

Keyboard

A frustration for many users of the iPad and other touchscreen devices is the keyboard. While it's possible to get somewhat proficient at tapping spots on a flat screen, most acknowledge it's impossible to get e-mail and other documents written as quickly as with physical keys.

Sure, there are third-party keyboards you can buy to add onto the iPad, but they can be clunky.