Apple surprised everyone when it announced 128GB version of the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display. The move proves to be a well-calculated game as the high-capacity device will hit the shelves a few days before Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet goes on sale on Feb. 9.

Microsoft's Surface Pro, priced at $899 for the 64GB model and $999 for the 128GB model, could make it big at the enterprise tablet market. However, Apple's move to introduce a 128GB iPad four days before Surface pro is an overt enterprise move indeed. The fourth-generation 128GB iPad is priced at $799 for the Wi-Fi model and $929 for the model with LTE support.

The rumors doing the rounds about a 'special Apple-designed' keyboard should also be read together with the new iPad's arrival as such a keyboard should be another tactic from the Cupertino-based tech giant to stop Surface Pro from creating strong following in the business world.

Meanwhile, a Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge that the 64GB edition of Surface Pro will only have 23GB of free storage out of the box and the 128GB model will have 83GB of free storage. As Microsoft dedicates nearly 41GB of space to Windows 8 and preloaded apps, users will be left with as little as 36 percent of the advertised storage available. On the other hand, 128GB iPad has 124GB of available storage, meaning the operating system takes as little as 3 percent of the space. The 128GB Surface Pro takes 35 percent of the storage capacity (nearly 10 times more than the iOS).

With the Microsoft Surface Pro, you have the luxury of extending your storage capacity via a full-size USB 3.0 port and a MicroSD slot while the Apple iPad restricts you to the built-in storage. Surface pro running the full Windows 8 OS is a powerful enterprise tablet and if Microsoft goes a bit aggressive on making an impact in the market with its Surface Pro (definitely not the RT launch style), the tablet will attract a good share of the enterprise tablet market.

Nonetheless, given the low storage capacity of Surface Pro and an impressive base price of $799 for iPad, the 128GB model of the fourth-generation Apple tablets is quite an attractive offer for those considering a Surface Pro.