The Surface with RT could be used as a work computer depending on what you need. Surface RT is limited that it runs on ARM and you can only install apps that are on the windows app store (which is limited right now, but will most likely expand quickly). However it also has a desktop mode where MS Office 2013 comes pre-installed, which is probably what you need for work purposes.

I do feel the pricing is a little high. I was really hoping to see it come in at $499 with the Touch Cover keyboard , but for any real work purposes the Type Cover (actual chicklet keys) is much better. But if you aren't already tied to the Apple ecosystem and really wanted to get a tablet. The Surface is a good choice, it has a lot of the "essential" apps and Office 2013 which would handle pretty much all of your productivity needs.

The Surface Pro, which runs ultrabook specs and full Windows 8, is said to come out 3 months after Surface RT. So it will probably be out around January 2013 and priced around $1000.