I Got Myself A Surface 3!

[Renzatic]

Hmm, I'd like to see benchmarks between Atom and the M3, I'm curious how much of a tradeoff the M3 is versus the i5/i7. If I'm going to take a big hit to go fatness then I would probably just consider going back to the surface 3 and getting better battery life. Can't you get the surface 3 with better configurations than the M3 SP4? More ram/HD?

For me though I might go for the i7 as the GPU has 64mb of edram and is supposed to make a big difference in graphics. My dream of playing some games on my SP's is coming closer, although my SP3 did a pretty decent job of it.

From what I gather, the M3 sits between the Atom and the i5 in performance, basically replacing the i3 Y processors in the Skylake lineup. It's a faster machine overall, especially compared to my Surface 3, but with most of the same perks. The one biggest advantage I think I'll see, besides a slight boost in graphics performance, is much, much better SSD read/write performance. I'm thinking this is the reason why all those updates took a little over an hour to do when I first turned on the machine.

And no, the highest end configuration you can get from the S3 is the 128GB/4GB setup I've got.

Though if you want pure power, GPU, CPU, and all, then yeah, the new i7 is the way to go. It's using a proper Iris Pro this go round, which'll put it more in line with the 13" MBP. I bet that with it docked and cooled, you'll be able to play the latest and greatest on medium settings at 1280x720 ~30 FPS.

 

[iSheep5S]

What an ad! I'm fine with my Surface 3 but if I twitch at all it will be in SP4's direction.

 

[apolloa]

Looking at the Pro 4 announced yesterday, I would still buy the Surface 3 as it's quite a bit cheaper in the UK. The Surface 3 starts from £419 where as the new Pro 4 starts from £749.

That's for my uses of course. I would guess the i5 model will be £850 at least which is good for what you get.

 

[maflynn]

Though since the M3 is designed to be fanless anyway, it might just be a redundant fail-safe, keeping it cool without ever spinning up.

The Surface Pro 3 runs hot, and they throttle the CPU, so the specialized hybrid cooling they advertise is being used to address that issue imo. I can't answer about the Surface 3, but the Pro 3 can get a bit noisy when the fans spin up.

 

[iSheep5S]

The Surface Pro 3 runs hot, and they throttle the CPU, so the specialized hybrid cooling they advertise is being used to address that issue imo. I can't answer about the Surface 3, but the Pro 3 can get a bit noisy when the fans spin up.

The Surface 3 temperatures are good. Playing my usual game the Surface 3 is only 9 degrees warmer than my HP with fans. The heat is managed well IMO.

 

[Renzatic]

The Surface Pro 3 runs hot, and they throttle the CPU, so the specialized hybrid cooling they advertise is being used to address that issue imo. I can't answer about the Surface 3, but the Pro 3 can get a bit noisy when the fans spin up.

I know. The throttling and loud fans were the major reasons why I decided to opt out of picking up an SP3, and instead wait and see what the 4 line held (and then bought an S3 on a spur of the moment decision, which I'm now likely going to take back for an SP4...c'est la vie).

 

[sracer]

I know. The throttling and loud fans were the major reasons why I decided to opt out of picking up an SP3, and instead wait and to what the 4 line held (and then bought an S3 on a spur of the moment decision, which I'm now likely going to take back for an SP4...c'est la vie).

You know what your needs/wants are better than anyone else, but if I had to make the choice, I'd stick with the S3 over the SP4.

 

[Renzatic]

You know what your needs/wants are better than anyone else, but if I had to make the choice, I'd stick with the S3 over the SP4.

Honestly, I'm still waffling a bit. The S3 does the job I intended it to do, and does it well. But the thought that the entry level S4 is only $200 more than what I've already spent, and is an overall faster, better future proofed machine has me more than a little tempted. The only thing I prefer about the S3 over the SP4 is the size of the screen. 10" is a good compromise between comfort and function.

...though I have been using PS to make some pixel art on it, and the interface is a little cramped on the S3

I'm thinking my best bet would be to flip a coin, and abide by how it lands.

 

[Renzatic]

After much deliberating with myself, and weighing some options, I've decided to hold onto the S3. I like the screen size a little better, and the SP4 is still a bit of an unknown at this point.

They way I see it, if I end up changing my mind, I can always sell off what I got, take a $100 or so hit, and put the rest down for the latest and greatest. But for now, I'm thinking keeping what I've got is the best option.

 

[TechGod]

After much deliberating with myself, and weighing some options, I've decided to hold onto the S3. I like the screen size a little better, and the SP4 is still a bit of an unknown at this point.

They way I see it, if I end up changing my mind, I can always sell off what I got, take a $100 or so hit, and put the rest down for the latest and greatest. But for now, I'm thinking keeping what I've got is the best option.

Besides, the Pro 4 doesn't have Type AFAIK so it really isn't that future proof.

 

[sracer]

After much deliberating with myself, and weighing some options, I've decided to hold onto the S3. I like the screen size a little better, and the SP4 is still a bit of an unknown at this point.

They way I see it, if I end up changing my mind, I can always sell off what I got, take a $100 or so hit, and put the rest down for the latest and greatest. But for now, I'm thinking keeping what I've got is the best option.

I think you do too.

 

[whodatrr]

I'm in somewhat the same boat. In addition to a bunch of Macs, I have an SP3, which has been great. Last week I bought the woman a Surface 3, which is god enough for her. The Announcement had me re-thinking returning her Surface 3, so I can buy a SP4 and roll my S3 down to her. But I wasn't so sure of the bennies of my SP3, vs the SP4.

Yesterday, I was lucking enough to play with an SP4 in Best Buy, and it set the hook. Wow! The SP4 is a far superior machine to my SP3, in sooooo many ways! Incredible screen, very snappy, keyboard is miles ahead, they're supposed to have thermal/fan stuff much improved, skylake, and did I mention the screen?

The size and weight seem to be, at least in-person, about midway between the S3 and SP3. Yeah, it doesn't look it on paper, but when you actually hold it you will see.

Looks like her Surface 3 is going back, and I'm giving her my SP4. Only problem is that the i7 SP4 won't ship til Nov 20th.

Oh, and the new keyboard feels as good as my MBA. Did I mention the screen? You will kick yourself if you don't get the SP4.

 

[lowendlinux]

You winders people and your surfaces

 

[Renzatic]

Oh, and the new keyboard feels as good as my MBA. Did I mention the screen? You will kick yourself if you don't get the SP4.

Damnit, man. I had made up my mind, and was totally satisfied with my decision. Now you've got me thinking again. Why you do that? :O

You winders people and your surfaces

Linux nerds.

Speaking of which, I'm halfway tempted to see if it's possible to install a Linux distro on this thing. I need to get into the BIOS (which isn't really a BIOS, I know, but it's handy shorthand) to see if I can disable TPM. If I can, I might give it a go.

 

[lowendlinux]

Damnit, man. I had made up my mind, and was totally satisfied with my decision. Now you've got me thinking again. Why you do that? :O



Linux nerds.

Speaking of which, I'm halfway tempted to see if it's possible to install a Linux distro on this thing. I need to get into the BIOS (which isn't really a BIOS, I know, but it's handy shorthand) to see if I can disable TPM. If I can, I might give it a go.

I'm waiting to see if secure boot can be turned off also, I don't want to have to use Red Hat, SuSE, or Ubuntu.

 

[Renzatic]

I'm waiting to see if secure boot can be turned off also, I don't want to have to use Red Hat, SuSE, or Ubuntu.

I just found out. TPM can be turned off, and all secure boot keys can be disabled on the Surface 3.

Provided the driver support is there, I could install Linux on it if I wanted to.

 

[spinedoc77]

Odd, you guys with the throttling issue and fans. On my Sp3 I only experience the fans going on if I'm playing a video game, or streaming a lot of video. Otherwise I never hear it.

 

[maflynn]

Odd, you guys with the throttling issue and fans. On my Sp3 I only experience the fans going on if I'm playing a video game, or streaming a lot of video. Otherwise I never hear it.

For what ever reason when its in the dock, there seems to be a propensity for the fans to spin up. I noticed this a lot when watch youtube videos.

 

[Renzatic]

You all remember how I said I decided to keep the S3, and wait out the 4 for the next generation?

Changed my mind.

The reason being is that I got to play with one today. It's just too damn nice to pass up. And the new touch cover? It's actually surprisingly good now. Before, it felt decent for what it was: a keyboard with some compromises made for the sake of thinness and portability. Now? I didn't directly compare the sizes between the old and the new, but it feels like an actual, honest to god keyboard now in the same form factor. The trackpad is also greatly improved. Smaller than what you'd get on even the new retina MacBook (which I also played with), but pretty comfortable nonetheless.

I thought "hell, why not". I'm now in the process of wiping the Surface 3 for its trip back to Best Buy tomorrow. It was a great machine, but the upgrade is too nice to ignore.

The only downside is that I'm going to be spending about two weeks without a tablet, since I gave away my iPad this last Saturday.

 

[apolloa]

You all remember how I said I decided to keep the S3, and wait out the 4 for the next generation?

Changed my mind.

The reason being is that I got to play with one today. It's just too damn nice to pass up. And the new touch cover? It's actually surprisingly good now. Before, it felt decent for what it was: a keyboard with some compromises made for the sake of thinness and portability. Now? I didn't directly compare the sizes between the old and the new, but it feels like an actual, honest to god keyboard now in the same form factor. The trackpad is also greatly improved. Smaller than what you'd get on even the new retina MacBook (which I also played with), but pretty comfortable nonetheless.

I thought "hell, why not". I'm now in the process of wiping the Surface 3 for its trip back to Best Buy tomorrow. It was a great machine, but the upgrade is too nice to ignore.

The only downside is that I'm going to be spending about two weeks without a tablet, since I gave away my iPad this last Saturday.

Soooooo which model are you going to get.....????

 

[Renzatic]

Soooooo which model are you going to get.....????

The Core M3. Though for $300 more, I could upgrade to the...

No. No! NO!

If you want to know the true irony of all this, I had made up my mind to stick with it, and was going to solidify my decision by getting the S3 keyboard. That's why I was in Best Buy today.

 

[spinedoc77]

For what ever reason when its in the dock, there seems to be a propensity for the fans to spin up. I noticed this a lot when watch youtube videos.

Yeah I notice this also, weird. My work SP3 is in the dock 90% of the time and the fans spin up a lot. Although I do put my work SP3 though a lot more work. On win10 the Edge browser takes a ton of memory, roughly twice that of IE11 so I stopped using it. I can regular have 10-12 IE11 tabs open throughout 2-3 IE11 windows, a PAX MRI viewer, EHR software which is fairly old and probably not optimized past winXP, a RDP window to Eclipse software/desktop remotely, 2-3 file explorer windows, 4-5 PDF files, and maybe a couple of word docs open and a couple of excel docs open, and this is all over 2 4k monitors. The fans are kind of random, sometimes when I have a ton of stuff open no fans, and other times I have much less open and the fans are on. This is only in the dock as you mention.

 

[lowendlinux]

They probably just throttle it when it's not docked I do the same thing on my laptops with TLP 'cause I no likey fan noise.

 

[apolloa]

The Core M3. Though for $300 more, I could upgrade to the...

No. No! NO!

If you want to know the true irony of all this, I had made up my mind to stick with it, and was going to solidify my decision by getting the S3 keyboard. That's why I was in Best Buy today.

Haha you made a fatal mistake by doing that lol.

 

[xraydoc]

Ordered an SP4 Finger Print Type Cover for my SP3. It's compatible according to Microsoft and I'm hoping the keyboard and trackpad will be as improvement.
Nothing I can do about the disappointing battery life, but should make using it a little more comfortable.
Still hoping Win 10.1 carries with it some improvement for tablet mode functionality (swipe back/forward for Edge, extensions for Edge, better finger-friendly file browser perhaps...).