Surface 3

[maflynn]

Looks like MS just announced the Surface 3
Link

Surface 3 features the same beautiful design and premium materials as Surface Pro 3 in a more compact and efficient package. It is thin (just 8.7 mm) and light (1.37 pounds or 622 grams) and has a 10.8-inch screen. Compared to the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 it is slightly smaller and it feels great when you’re using it as a tablet. The 3:2 aspect ratio that we first introduced on Surface Pro 3 is also used here, and, like its larger sibling, it feels natural whether you’re holding it in portrait mode for reading or writing a quick note with the pen or in landscape mode to watch a movie or play a game. The screen on the Surface Pro 3 is not only beautiful to look at — with incredibly accurate colors and clarity from multiple viewing angles — but also offers a world-class multitouch and pen experience. All that we did to make the Pro 3 screen one of the best in the industry is present in Surface 3, and you’ll appreciate this as you work and play on it.

Surface 3 is powered by Intel’s newest system-on-a-chip, the Quad-core Intel® Atom™ x7 processor, the highest performing Atom processor on the market. It features a unique combination of burst mode and advanced power management

 

[spinedoc77]

Looks like MS just announced the Surface 3
Link





YouTube: video

Hmm, still unclear if they are ditching RT. At least it's an Atom proc. which is what they should have done from day one. If it's full windows it will definitely be a nice option. Really the only thing tying me to the SP4 will be the larger screen.

Edit: Holy crap, just saw the video. Full windows 8.1, digitizer/stylus, WOW. This is the surface they should have made from day one. If the price point is attractive I bet this will sell a lot.

 

[maflynn]

Hmm, still unclear if they are ditching RT. .

For all intents and purposes they are. I don't think we'll see any ARM based windows tablets, at least from MS. I think the ARM experiment with MS is over and it was a failure. There may be targeted products, but for consumers, we'll not see anything. It was too confusing and didn't really give the consumer any advantage.

 

[sracer]

Hmm, still unclear if they are ditching RT. At least it's an Atom proc. which is what they should have done from day one. If it's full windows it will definitely be a nice option. Really the only thing tying me to the SP4 will be the larger screen.

Edit: Holy crap, just saw the video. Full windows 8.1, digitizer/stylus, WOW. This is the surface they should have made from day one. If the price point is attractive I bet this will sell a lot.

Yes, very impressive. Starting price point is $499. But no indication as to CPU/RAM/storage for that price. Then tack on another $130 for the TypeCover. Effective starting price: $630

I didn't see any mention of support for microSD, it would be nice if that was included.

For all intents and purposes they are. I don't think we'll see any ARM based windows tablets, at least from MS. I think the ARM experiment with MS is over and it was a failure. There may be targeted products, but for consumers, we'll not see anything. It was too confusing and didn't really give the consumer any advantage.

Yeah, ARM-based Windows tablets are dead. While Microsoft did an absolutely poor job of marketing and positioning the Surface RT / 2, I do believe that there were advantages for consumers to offer it had Microsoft did things different.

 

[Yaboze]

That looks really nice. A stylus and all those ports!

I think I read it's 2GB RAM/64GB storage at the first price point.

 

[Djlild7hina]

Looks pretty nice! Seems like there are two configs: 2gb/64gb & 4gb/128gb. LTE starts at $599. Though I think I'll wait to see what the Surface Pro 4 brings to the table. I'd be set if there was a decent music sheet app for windows. If there was an app like forScore for the iPad

 

[diamond.g]

Hmm, the Pen isn't included....

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Yes, very impressive. Starting price point is $499. But no indication as to CPU/RAM/storage for that price. Then tack on another $130 for the TypeCover. Effective starting price: $630

I didn't see any mention of support for microSD, it would be nice if that was included.



Yeah, ARM-based Windows tablets are dead. While Microsoft did an absolutely poor job of marketing and positioning the Surface RT / 2, I do believe that there were advantages for consumers to offer it had Microsoft did things different.

The video makes it look like microSD is included as it is in the same spot on the SPro3...


EDIT: oh wow looks like it charges via MicroUSB now instead of having a proprietary charger. Me thinks MS may go USB-C charging on the SPro4....

 

[spinedoc77]

LTE option !!! Finally, I just hope they don't rake us over the coals with LTE option price like everyone else does.

$130 for the type cover, I still think this is a mistake. I know their focus groups said people wanted the option, but I think MS should just include the type cover and price it at 599 and stick to their guns. $599 with type cover and pen included would really push this hard as a very cheap laptop/tablet replacement. The only thing Apple could do to counter IMO is to include a digitizer/stylus.

 

[zhenya]

You'd better buy this spinedoc!!

Looks like exactly what I was hoping to see them make, although I was hoping for Core M instead, but that may have not been possible for this price. I think this fills an important place in the Surface lineup because at this price it will be able to function as a super-portable companion device for people who can't or won't leave their regular laptop or workstation.

Thin, light, 3:2, stylus, cheap, LTE. Killer device!

 

[maflynn]

$130 for the type cover, I still think this is a mistake.

Agreed, and you have to pay for the pen on the Surface 3, unlike the Pro which it comes with it. It is a mistake to charge for something that is really needed for optimum usage.

 

[diamond.g]

The Surface 3 goes on sale May 5th, starting at $499 (keyboard still not included), with two choices of configurations: a 64GB model with 2GB of RAM, or a 128GB version with four gigs of memory. Like other Windows 8.1 devices, it will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 10 once the new OS comes out later this year. There will also soon be an LTE edition, starting at $599. For the first time too, the Surface has an optional dock accessory, similar to what's currently offered alongside the Surface Pro 3. That'll include four USB ports, along with an Ethernet jack and an additional Mini DisplayPort.

From engadget...

 

[Cnasty]

This is definitely intriguing.

Does it have the same beautiful screen as the SP3? Interesting to only do 3 positions on the kickstand and not the full range. Was that a cost cutting measure?

Still think the type cover is terrible and having to pay extra for it is not a good game plan. Hell, would you even need it if utilizing it most as a tablet?

 

[zhenya]

I actually think it makes sense to unbundle the accessories for this device. Even more so than on the Pro. At $499 it'll really be competing with the iPad, and it makes sense to let purchasers pay for only what they want or need. They'll sell plenty of these to people who won't ever want or need a stylus. And more to people who already have a Bluetooth or other keyboard to go with it.

 

[maflynn]

Does it have the same beautiful screen as the SP3? Interesting to only do 3 positions on the kickstand and not the full range. Was that a cost cutting measure?

ITs a smaller screen then the SP3 and as you mentioned its a different type cover. Another cost savings is the Atom processor.

 

[Surface2Owner]

I actually think it makes sense to unbundle the accessories for this device. Even more so than on the Pro. At $499 it'll really be competing with the iPad, and it makes sense to let purchasers pay for only what they want or need. They'll sell plenty of these to people who won't ever want or need a stylus. And more to people who already have a Bluetooth or other keyboard to go with it.

The Type Cover shouldn't be $129, but I agree that it makes sense to unbundle accessories for the device. I might even consider getting the universal tablet keyboard from MS that comes out later this summer rather than a Type Cover for this device because I can use it for other tablets especially since I don't use my Type Cover as often as I thought I would.

 

[maflynn]

[MOD NOTE]
There goes my thread

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