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Surface Pro 3 thread - Info, thoughts, opinions

V

v-600

Senior member
As someone who was looking at buying the Surface Pro 2 in a couple of weeks to replace my laptop the only major issue I had was the 10 inch screen (having some limited experience with an 11" macbook air).

The 12" screen seems like the one big thing it needed. If I can ditch an aging tablet too at the same time thats a bonus.

For me, the pro's (for pro 3 - ahahha) are:

Screen size
Pen
Docking station
Type cover
x86 chip and full fat windows.
Windows 8.1 (we just got new work laptops with touch screens - its actually really good).

Improvements I'd like to see:
2 USB ports on the device
MicroHDMI instead of displayport
3G/4G

I'm kind of sole without waiting for the full reviews.

Damn, I've just realised I might have become some sort of fanboy 🙁 ...........for microsoft..............*shudders*
 
The docking station will get you more ports. You could always buy an adapter for displayport to HDMI (I have one for my SP2).

I have a SP2, and it's a good device for productivity. I found the 10" form factor adequate, although the body of the SP2 was just too big for tablet mode (for extended use). It had plenty of power, and the type keyboard was ok. I used a wireless mouse because I hate touchpads of any sort.

Things I am excited about for the SP3: thinner profile, higher resolution screen, kickstand, and the pen. One thing I don't like is the battery - same battery capacity as SP2, but bigger screen will probably lead to less battery life compared to SP2.
 
I like, I very much like.

So much I am now seriously considering if I can afford to sell the Surface Pro that I currently own, and pay the difference for a decent (the i5 256g/8gb model?) model.

I am so pissed though. The adjustable kickstand should have been in the first model.

And I haven't been able to figure out: what's the method for securing the pen to the tablet? I heard it has a better method than the charger's magnetic socket.

And is this charger now some sort of plug? What, more like a magnetic pin as opposed to like a Dell circular charger? Hopefully.
 
destrekor said:
And I haven't been able to figure out: what's the method for securing the pen to the tablet? I heard it has a better method than the charger's magnetic socket.

And is this charger now some sort of plug? What, more like a magnetic pin as opposed to like a Dell circular charger? Hopefully.
Click to expand...

Looks like the pen attachment is built into the keyboard. No idea if there is an option on the tablet/main body itself.

http://www.wpcentral.com/sites/wpce...ic/field/image/2014/05/Surface_Pro_3_lede.jpg

Looks like the same style plug. The SD slot looks to be more in line with the RT as in placement under the kick stand.

http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10167207/surfacepro311_1020_verge_super_wide.jpg
http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10167265/surfacepro316_1020_verge_super_wide.jpg
 
Looks pretty nice. I'd really like to get some hands on just to see how well a 12" screen works for a tablet.
 
v-600 said:
Improvements I'd like to see:
2 USB ports on the device
MicroHDMI instead of displayport
3G/4G
Click to expand...

You can buy mDP to HDMI cables. The DisplayPort allows the Surface Pro 3 to support high resolution displays, now up to 4K. Can't really do that right now with HDMI.

Yeah, seems odd we don't have LTE models.
 
I really miss full sized SD card slots in modern devices. Especially the ones targeted at people dealing with photos.

Some more things I'm disappointed with this one:

1. No slot for stylus. Dang it's sold separately now.
2. Not WACOM, n-trig. But have to wait to see if it is better or worse.
3. Once again, the type cover is not included in price
4. More ports.
5. 3G/4G/LTE
6. Probably again no love for India. Nobody wants to import a tablet and then buy a round plug adapter.
 
Canbacon said:
Looks like the pen attachment is built into the keyboard. No idea if there is an option on the tablet/main body itself.

http://www.wpcentral.com/sites/wpce...ic/field/image/2014/05/Surface_Pro_3_lede.jpg

Looks like the same style plug. The SD slot looks to be more in line with the RT as in placement under the kick stand.

http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10167207/surfacepro311_1020_verge_super_wide.jpg
http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10167265/surfacepro316_1020_verge_super_wide.jpg
Click to expand...

I think that's an SD card clot.

... on further inspection, it appears to be a magnetic power connector.
But it has changed a lot:


en-INTL-L-Surface-PSU-US-RC2-00001-mnco.jpg

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Surface-Pro-3-Power-Supply/productID.300191700

Which I like a heck of a lot more.

I guess having a loop on the keyboard isn't so terrible. Not any worse than no spot (or sharing the power).

That they haven't incorporated an actual slot for the pen is asinine. I know they want the svelte body, and perhaps user input with a thinner pen to accommodate the thin form factor made them ditch the concept? I hope it is something like that, a no-compromises aspect, as opposed to bone-headed and sloppy design.

I mean I've been a fan of the form factor/design since inception. That said, I've always hated the lack of internal storage for the pen.
 
Sounds like the N-Trig will be a step down for those that want to draw. But may be a step up for those that are taking notes. I'm guessing more people will be using this for OneNote than for PhotoShop. So the change may not be all that bad as long as you are in presumably the majority that are primarily note takers. 🙂
 
My guess as to why Wacom was not sourced for the digitizer was that they do not provide an active pen-on feature to turn on the Surface Pro 3 for writing. It was also determined that N-Trig was apparently good enough - since now Adobe is cooperating to provide N-Trig support in Photoshop and a somewhat big deal was made in the Live stream.

Other reasons maybe that it would possibly be better to not deal with the edge tracking issues on typical FeelIT Wacom implementations or it may not fit with the parallax elimination intent (again, typical Wacom FeelIT implementations have the actual sensor in the passive pen, just slightly above the actual tip given some user analysis) and the screen thickness to EMR sensor adjustments.

I was pretty much gung-ho until that hint of 256 pressure levels - then the mention of the power button on the pen's eraser end. (also a nod to no pressure sensitive eraser end)


But so far, all other specifications are very good indeed. It was pretty much a long time in balancing engineering with the available components for each iteration of the Pros. Yes, the variable kickstand would have been nice in past versions - but it possibly needed a longer time to design and test given a much slimmer form to house the mechanisms for the hinge.

I like the 3:2 ratio at a good high resolution. If the viewing angles are nice, this is a nice drafting/drawing/note taking screen indeed (coupled with the type cover for commands).

Also, N-Trig offers Wintab drivers - so existing programs already catered to Wacom's Wintab drivers may work fine... I hope - but still does not change my decision to hold off until the Pro 4 (if it comes about).

Also, I do not mind the lack of a build in cellular option - it means I can tether any phone without having to worry about the dedicated, stuck-with, permanent 4g options (if networks get faster or given a different hotspot). I have a smartphone with me anyways, so tethering is not an issue.

As far as pen storage, I store normal pens in a usual manner - having it built in to the already packed chassis, has the entire device off balance in ventilation as shown - and makes for a very thin toothpick stylus stick that isn't remotely functional (due to lack of buttons and such). I prefer the implementation - but have some iffy mentality of the non-Wacom options.
 
I feel like the pricing is still ridiculous. I don't see how this really out does a Macbook Air. Its not a true laptop but at the same time you can't do that much on a touch tablet.

Like seriously, for $1299 can I do more than a MacBook? Not sure.
 
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Surface Pro 3 looks like an incredible device. Microsoft and Intel did an incredible job to fit these Core processors into a 9mm thin chassis.

The Surface Pro 3 has some big advantages over a MacBook Air. It is much lighter (even with the attachable keyboard), it has a very high res and detachable multi-touch screen, it accepts pen input, it has incredible build quality (no problems with drop test from five ft high) and it works with all modern-day Windows software. And FWIW, the price starts at $799, and keyboard accessory is $129.
 
At this point, I have to ask: why get a surface pro 3 over something like a dell xps 12?

Yes, the SP3 is a little over a pound lighter, but, at 12 inches, the footprint is nearly the same, and you're giving up a lot for that extra pound.
 
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makken said:
At this point, I have to ask: why get a surface pro 3 over something like a dell xps 12?

Yes, the SP3 is a little over a pound lighter, but, at 12 inches, the footprint is nearly the same, and you're giving up a lot for that extra pound.
Click to expand...
Yeah. That's my main point. Sure you get a touchscreen, but can you really do that much more on Windows because of a touchscreen? OneNote maybe, but even then I still don't see myself using one for "notes in class." I remember 2006 or whatever when I was in college where people showed off their tablet PCs. In 2012 in grad school, everyone was still using pen and paper, and hell I felt like my study habits were top notch in 2012.

Even the meetings I conduct now at work. I'm better off typing than scribbling something down, and I don't think OneNote with a stylus will change much.

The keyboard is such a sacrifice I don't see how you can maintain the same kind of productivity. And $799 compared to a laptop isn't fair. You're not gonna get that much done with 64gb. Why not just take an iPad + keyboard for comparison then at an even lower price point? I think it takes the $999 or $1299 model to really go up against a laptop, at which point I'm thinking about a MBP Retina or MBA. I suppose the increased resolution is nice, but productivity is far more important to me.
 
Sure you get a touchscreen, but can you really do that much more on Windows because of a touchscreen?
Click to expand...

I think Dell XPS had a touchscreen, or am I confused with another model (11 inch?)? Anyway, I use the touchscreen on my Windows 8.1 ultrabook almost exclusively. It makes a WORLD of difference.
 
DLeRium said:
Yeah. That's my main point.
Click to expand...
Sadly, you've missed the point completely.

If you're someone obsessed with productivity, there are a dozen excellent notebooks on the market with better keyboards/trackpads, larger screens, more horsepower, etc. A MBA is probably a better option for you.

If productivity is not your only concern, and you're also looking for a tablet for media consumption, pen input, portability, etc., the SP3 looks like an excellent option.

It's a fantastic piece of hardware that showcases the fact that people outside of Cupertino are capable of market-leading industrial design. A SP3 with a Type Cover makes an iPad Air/Stand/Keyboard combo look incredibly clunky by comparison. And I'm not the only person who thinks buying a mobile device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) without a high DPI display is a waste of time, so the MBA is a non-starter for me.
 
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makken said:
At this point, I have to ask: why get a surface pro 3 over something like a dell xps 12?

Yes, the SP3 is a little over a pound lighter, but, at 12 inches, the footprint is nearly the same, and you're giving up a lot for that extra pound.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "giving up a lot"? Surface Pro 3 has a better screen, better industrial design and build quality, better portability, better note taking, and similar performance.

The new Surface Pro 3 has a completely new hinge and a new keyboard that magnetically folds onto the bottom of the tablet to provide much better stability on a lap than previous generations of Surface (yes, not quite as good in lap as a laptop, but quite a bit lighter and more flexible in design too).
 
jpeyton said:
Sadly, you've missed the point completely.

If you're someone obsessed with productivity, there are a dozen excellent notebooks on the market with better keyboards/trackpads, larger screens, more horsepower, etc. A MBA is probably a better option for you.

If productivity is not your only concern, and you're also looking for a tablet for media consumption, pen input, portability, etc., the SP3 looks like an excellent option.

It's a fantastic piece of hardware that showcases the fact that people outside of Cupertino are capable of market-leading industrial design. A SP3 with a Type Cover makes an iPad Air/Stand/Keyboard combo look incredibly clunky by comparison. And I'm not the only person who thinks buying a mobile device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) without a high DPI display is a waste of time, so the MBA is a non-starter for me.
Click to expand...

Well said, although I would add that Surface Pro 3 is about as good as it gets for productivity in this form factor. An iPad Air + keyboard doesn't even come close to replacing a laptop. In fact, Microsoft claims that 96% of iPad users still need to use a separate laptop for their productivity needs.
 
The pen is as productive in non-text note taking (diagraming) and off character typing. Formulas for math are very invaluable with the pen.

Given the direct onto Powerpoint note taking, it basically means if I had a device on the level of a Surface Pro lines, I would ask to have the Powerpoint file loaded on my device and note take as I go along, and drawing on the notes - possibly taking clips of notes from other sources that isn't just text.

Sure I can type out faster than I handwrite at times, but when I handwrite, I also draw. I also note take non-linearly and in a 2 dimensional manner (text is basically one dimension - forward and back in passage). I cannot make any nice diagrams with any keyboard period - and hence why when the Surface Pro 1 first came out, the pen is the biggest draw for me. It may continue to be that way if a Pro 4 is released (given a slight disappointment with the Pro 3's pen).

Also, I cannot do things like this on a typical laptop. Not at all. (Hell, I KNOW one cannot even come close to doing this very thing on any sole use, Apple or Android tablet)
 
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DLeRium said:
I feel like the pricing is still ridiculous. I don't see how this really out does a Macbook Air. Its not a true laptop but at the same time you can't do that much on a touch tablet.

Like seriously, for $1299 can I do more than a MacBook? Not sure.
Click to expand...

In my mind it out does the macbook air in that most people I know who have a macbook air have an ipad as well. Its not doing more than the air alone, but doing the same as an ipad+air combo, with only one device, costing and weighing less than both.

Personally I am thinking of updating my laptop in the region of £800-1000. Squarely in MBA and now SP3 territory. If I can update my aging tablet for no extra money it makes financial sense.
 
Its not a true laptop
Click to expand...

why not? it has full windows 8 and the same 4th gen Haswell processor that $1000+ laptops ship with. the fact that the keyboard comes unattached is only an advantage.
 
Rdmkr said:
why not? it has full windows 8 and the same 4th gen Haswell processor that $1000+ laptops ship with. the fact that the keyboard comes unattached is only an advantage.
Click to expand...

Using these things on your lap with any of the available keyboards is pretty terrible. I'm not sure what his original point was, but it seems to me the argument isn't about computing power like you're assuming, it's about usability. With the keyboard it's best used on a tabletop which is fine for many, but for many others it's really not. When I'm on forums or email, I want a keyboard. Touchscreen typing is fine for short messages but I can't use it for anything longer than a text. So for typing on the couch, the way you have to balance the kickstand on your leg while keeping the keyboard supported enough to type on is so awkward it's not worth bothering. I took my surface back and got a Helix because of this issue.
 
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