I've said many times over the past year or so that Microsoft's Surface Pro product line is among the best hardware the company has ever made.

I always wished, however, that Microsoft included the detachable keyboard with a Surface Pro. Now somebody is.... sorta.

Along with many new ThinkPads, Lenovo debuted on Wednesday the IdeaPad Miix 700 tablet.

I got my hands on one briefly and it looks very much like a Surface Pro 3, complete with integrated stand. The keyboard is not only better than Microsoft's but it's included: The starting price is $699 for a Miix 700, including the keyboard and it arrives in November.

While I like Microsoft's Type Cover, in just a short time using the Miix 700, I immediately preferred it. That shouldn't surprise: Even before Lenovo bought IBM's computer business, the devices were known for their excellent typing experiences.

Lenovo will also offer an optional "active pen" stylus with the laptop when it becomes available.

On the outside, it would be easy to mistake the Miix 700 for a Surface Pro 3.

Lenovo chose a similarly sized 12-inch display with 2160 by 1440 resolution. I needled a Lenovo representative by noting what the Miix 700 reminded me of, which got a chuckle and the accurate response of "Ah, but we have a fashionable watchband design on the hinge."

Lenovo is using 6th-generation Intel Core M processors to power the Miix 700 and says you can expect up to 9 hours of video playback. I'd guess traditional work activities to lower the run-time by about an hour or so.

The 2-in-1 device can be configured with up to 8 GB of memory and a 256 GB solid state drive. Additional options include Intel's Real Sense 3D camera tech and an integrated LTE radio for road warriors