Considering you can pick up both a new Macbook Neo AND an iPad from Apple for $200 less than the price of the cheapest (non refurbished) Microsoft Surface you can get from Microsoft,
I'm not fully sure the 'apple tax' still exists when comparing to a surface.
I'm sure there are much cheaper places you can get a surface - but comparing MSRP to MSRP for the new models is a much plainer comparison, particularly as it's often difficult to see if you are looking at an older model with Windows PCs.
I don't know what price point you are shopping at, but if you think Neo is 'robbery' I think you are being unfair considering the type and quality of device you can get at the same price point - lots of laptops at the £599 price point are total junk.
Just looking at 8gb doesn't tell you the whole picture - that's like just looking at how many litres a cars engine is as the only part of determining if a car is good or not.
