With the Windows 8 release date fast approaching and Microsoft now accepting pre-orders for their new Surface tablet, you may be tempted to pluck down some money and reserve your place in line.

I think Surface has the potential to be a worthy competitor to the iPad or Google Nexus 7 but the reality is, we just don’t know how well it is going to work. I usually recommend staying away from version 1.0 products, since early adopters usually get saddled with tones of bugs (some of which may be hardware in nature so you may be stuck with them).

Let’s say the $600 (basic RT tablet with keyboard) is burning a hole in your pocket and you need to find a way to spend it now, take a look at the competing products (Google Nexus or Apple’s iPad). These 2 are more mature and have a very large ecosystem of apps and accessories to make your accessories that much more pleasant.

Long term I think the Surface product line may become a serious iPad competitor but for now, I am taking a wait and see approach.