This is probably not shocking news, but Apple's Tim Cook is not among those who will be purchasing a Microsoft Surface tablet.

During Apple's third quarter earnings call yesterday evening, Cook admitted that he has not yet "played with" the Windows 8-based Surface tablet, but he does not appear too impressed with what he's heard about it.

"What we're reading about it is that it's a fairly compromised, confusing product," Cook said.

Apple makes "hard trade-offs" in designing products like the iPad so the user experience is "incredible," Cook said, suggesting that Microsoft has not done the same with Surface.

"I suppose you could design a car that flies and floats, but I don't think it would do those things very well," Cook quipped in a statement that was reminiscent of his toaster/refrigerator convergence comment regarding convertible tablets from April's earnings call.

"I think [when people] look at the iPad versus competitive offerings, [they] are going to conclude that they really want an iPad," Cook said.

The Windows RT version of the Surface tablet launches today with Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system. Apple, meanwhile, is now taking pre-orders for its eagerly-anticipated iPad mini.

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