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maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I picked mine up this morning. No line. They gave me a tshirt and a mug.

Congrats and enjoy :)

I've decided to stay in a holding pattern for the time being :p

If I can't fully vet out the advantages, over my laptop then I shouldn't be spending the money.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Yep, I'm happily enjoying my i5/256gb Surface Pro 3. What a freakin amazing marvel of technology, I've been waiting for this for 20 years.
 

akuma13

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2006
934
430
So I bought a IPad air to compensate for my defective Sony Vaio flip which I returned. I'm trying to draw on it and it simply doesn't cut it, especially compared to a Microsoft tablet/drawing experience.

Any artist with a Pro 3? How is the experience and can you see it replacing your main computing machine?
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,449
2,674
OBX
Congrats and enjoy :)

I've decided to stay in a holding pattern for the time being :p

If I can't fully vet out the advantages, over my laptop then I shouldn't be spending the money.

Yep, I'm happily enjoying my i5/256gb Surface Pro 3. What a freakin amazing marvel of technology, I've been waiting for this for 20 years.

It is much better than the Atom powered tablet I was using before.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
I guess it just depends on what one is looking for, but I have doubt whatsoever that if SP3 was an Apple product it would be praised and heralded as the next big thing.

If you covered the logos and handed a person a MBA and SP3 I have no doubt most would prefer the SP3.

I don't agree. I think Apple has earned the reputation it has because they consistently design easy and pleasant to use products. I just picked up a Surface Pro 3 from Best Buy yesterday, and have been trying it out. So far I have to say I prefer my double Air combo (iPad Air + MacBook Air). If Microsoft or any other company did come out with a product that was superior to Apple's, I'd have no problems switching, but the Surface isn't it.

I wrote up my observations in a thread in the iPad forum, if anyone's interested.
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19263479/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19265080/
 

B...

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2013
1,949
2
OK, I just went to Best Buy to check it out again, and this time I used the Type Cover more extensively by re-typing a review of the SP3. It was pretty unenjoyable, and I'm afraid that since I do a lot of writing, it's not the computer for me. I really love the idea of it, though, and I'm bummed that I don't think it'll work out.
 
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akuma13

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2006
934
430
I don't agree. I think Apple has earned the reputation it has because they consistently design easy and pleasant to use products. I just picked up a Surface Pro 3 from Best Buy yesterday, and have been trying it out. So far I have to say I prefer my double Air combo (iPad Air + MacBook Air). If Microsoft or any other company did come out with a product that was superior to Apple's, I'd have no problems switching, but the Surface isn't it.

I wrote up my observations in a thread in the iPad forum, if anyone's interested.
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19263479/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19265080/

Nice write up. Looks like I might be doing the same, ipad air+MacBook Air combo.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Having the SP3 for a few days I don't get the keyboard complaints. I put my wife's 11" MBA next to my SP3 and compared the keyboards physically and don't find much of a difference, they are both fairly crappy compared to a full size laptop and a desktop keyboard. I didn't feel I could type faster on one versus the other, or be more accurate.

I have spent the better part of yesterday morning writing reports on my SP3 and am quite happy with the keyboard as a compromise to my desktop keyboard in exchange for lightness and portability. It's still a compromise, but IMO so is the MBA keyboard.

PS, unrelated but I never realized the MBA's screen was kind of crappy, at least it looked that way next to the SP3. My wife asked me why she couldn't use her finger on the MBA after seeing my SP3.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
Having the SP3 for a few days I don't get the keyboard complaints. I put my wife's 11" MBA next to my SP3 and compared the keyboards physically and don't find much of a difference, they are both fairly crappy compared to a full size laptop and a desktop keyboard. I didn't feel I could type faster on one versus the other, or be more accurate.

I have spent the better part of yesterday morning writing reports on my SP3 and am quite happy with the keyboard as a compromise to my desktop keyboard in exchange for lightness and portability. It's still a compromise, but IMO so is the MBA keyboard.

PS, unrelated but I never realized the MBA's screen was kind of crappy, at least it looked that way next to the SP3. My wife asked me why she couldn't use her finger on the MBA after seeing my SP3.

The keyboard is actually surprisingly good. I think if you are typing on a desk, then yes, there is almost no difference from the MacBook keyboard. The trackpad is better on the MacBook, though.

I think the complaints are coming from people trying to use the Surface on their laps. Then it's wobbly and not as stable as the MacBook or other laptops with a solid metal keyboard.

I wouldn't say the MBA screen is crappy. It's just that the Surface has such a gorgeous screen. Compared to it, even the iPad Air looks kind of... ordinary. As for touch screen on a laptop, meh. It kind of makes sense if you are using it on your lap. Not so much if you are using it on a desk.
 

MozMan68

macrumors 603
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
5,261
South Cackalacky
As for touch screen on a laptop, meh. It kind of makes sense if you are using it on your lap. Not so much if you are using it on a desk.

I can't tell you how many times I touch my laptop screen at work...and then look around to see if anyone saw me do it. Having touchscreen phones and tablets have ruined me.

Playing around with the SP3 over the past couple of weeks and moving from keyboard to screen to scroll is a dream come true for me. The trackpad seems perfectly usable for me as I can see using that quite a bit in Excel and PowerPoint. Can't wait to get mine.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
I can't tell you how many times I touch my laptop screen at work...and then look around to see if anyone saw me do it. Having touchscreen phones and tablets have ruined me.

Playing around with the SP3 over the past couple of weeks and moving from keyboard to screen to scroll is a dream come true for me. The trackpad seems perfectly usable for me as I can see using that quite a bit in Excel and PowerPoint. Can't wait to get mine.

I think it's the way I position a laptop on a desk -- the screen is too far away to tempt me to touch it.

As for the trackpad on Surface Pro 3, yes, it's perfectly usable, just not as nice as the one on the MacBooks. The SP3 trackpad has a bit of a grating feel, and is not as big as the one on the MacBook.

I'm sure the SP 3 is a great fit for some people, but for me, it comes up a bit short, mainly because of quirks with Win8, but also the edges are too sharp -- hurts after a while if holding in hand.
 

Liquorpuki

macrumors 68020
Jun 18, 2009
2,286
8
City of Angels
Having the SP3 for a few days I don't get the keyboard complaints. I put my wife's 11" MBA next to my SP3 and compared the keyboards physically and don't find much of a difference, they are both fairly crappy compared to a full size laptop and a desktop keyboard. I didn't feel I could type faster on one versus the other, or be more accurate.

I have spent the better part of yesterday morning writing reports on my SP3 and am quite happy with the keyboard as a compromise to my desktop keyboard in exchange for lightness and portability. It's still a compromise, but IMO so is the MBA keyboard.

PS, unrelated but I never realized the MBA's screen was kind of crappy, at least it looked that way next to the SP3. My wife asked me why she couldn't use her finger on the MBA after seeing my SP3.

How does it compare to the SP2 or other W8 hybrids?
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
I can't tell you how many times I touch my laptop screen at work...and then look around to see if anyone saw me do it. Having touchscreen phones and tablets have ruined me.

Playing around with the SP3 over the past couple of weeks and moving from keyboard to screen to scroll is a dream come true for me. The trackpad seems perfectly usable for me as I can see using that quite a bit in Excel and PowerPoint. Can't wait to get mine.

Is why i have a touchscreen laptop. Wouldnt buy one if it wasnt. Its also why i opt for the smaller screened laptops. I wouldnt buy a 15.6" any longer. Even the 13" MBP seems huge to me and would be the biggest id get. Im using a Yoga 11s. And i agree, the trackpads on the MBP are the best. Wish others would use the same type if they can.
Im going to Best Buy today to try out a SP3.
 
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D2Sony

macrumors newbie
Jun 22, 2014
3
0
I don't think anyone would qualify the Surface Pro line as any kind of failure, the Surface RT on the other hand...

My biggest issue with the SP3 is it really isn't any big gain over my SP2 in compute power or battery life; it's much a lateral move. It's the same i5 4300u and I believe the same 42 watt-hour battery. Not sure I'm willing to make any kind of trade up until there's a Broadwell. And by that time of course others will also be improving their line like Asus and Lenovo. But I do like my SP2, a lot.

It looks like a big failure so far.

SP1 had a fire sale just like Surface RT. The Surface Pro hasn't placed Microsoft as a top 5 vendor according to estimations from IDC or Gartner. Microsoft hasn't revealed Surface Pro sales LTD. Microsoft has not made money net off of Surface following the initial RT write-down. Most of Intel's tablet sales are currently Android and projected to be from Android. According to Intel, one of the reasons tablet PCs don't sell is because a keyboard does not come included. We don't have a breakdown from Microsoft about ARM v. Intel. According to rumors, the ARM-based Surface Mini was the headliner for the reveal event, then delayed or cancelled at the last min. So, if that's true whatever SP1 & 2 did up until that point...an ARM device was planned to be the main attraction at a press event and the x86 device the sideshow. That should imply all anyone needs to know about how successful the Surface Pro has been up until this point w/o being in the boardroom.
 

bnmcj1

macrumors 6502
Apr 13, 2014
398
180
Funny with these ideas of the type cover being a bad keyboard. I think it is a prejudiced idea, only because it is a cover which gives the IDEA of it being inferior. Truth is, it is a much better keyboard than the MacBook Air one. The keys are bigger and responds in a nicer way. I am a MacBook Air owner by the way.
 

soulreaver99

macrumors 68040
Aug 15, 2010
3,710
6,447
Southern California
I'm typing on the Surface Pro 3 right now as we speak and the keyboard is pretty good.

Also, the complaints about not being able to use this thing on your lap are ridiculous. Sure it's POSSIBLE but it's not great, but with a tablet form factor, WHY WOULD YOU? If I needed to shoot off an email or do some reading and surfing, why would I use this on my lap rather than use the touch screen? No one ever complains about not being able to use an attached keyboard on their lap with an iPad because they don't.

If I wanted to do some serious work, then I would make an effort to find a flat surface or desk to use the keyboard on. You can easily find one at the airport, coffee shop, etc... If I was in a meeting or in an auditorium, press conference, or whatever, that's what the pen is for. Using laptops on your laps is so 2005.
 

balamw

Moderator emeritus
Aug 16, 2005
19,365
979
New England
Was just at the mall again today. The MS store was still empty.

And yet, I still want an SP3. Either i3 on my own dime or i7 if for work.


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WHY is there not a delete option in this forum?

MOD NOTE: report a post you want deleted and we'll take care if it.

B
 

bnmcj1

macrumors 6502
Apr 13, 2014
398
180
I'm typing on the Surface Pro 3 right now as we speak and the keyboard is pretty good.

Also, the complaints about not being able to use this thing on your lap are ridiculous. Sure it's POSSIBLE but it's not great, but with a tablet form factor, WHY WOULD YOU? If I needed to shoot off an email or do some reading and surfing, why would I use this on my lap rather than use the touch screen? No one ever complains about not being able to use an attached keyboard on their lap with an iPad because they don't.

If I wanted to do some serious work, then I would make an effort to find a flat surface or desk to use the keyboard on. You can easily find one at the airport, coffee shop, etc... If I was in a meeting or in an auditorium, press conference, or whatever, that's what the pen is for. Using laptops on your laps is so 2005.

THIS! Surface Pro 3 is such a great buy.
 

D2Sony

macrumors newbie
Jun 22, 2014
3
0
Am I crazy or did Microsoft announce a huge quarter earlier this year attributed to the large amount of Surface 2's sold?

Yes, to the first question. How much money did they make? How many Surface Pros did they ship? I'm confused about what you consider a success. It seems that just like the ARM version it's a flop. Plus, if Intel's CEO is saying that all the windows baytrail, clover trail, and Intel core tab sales have been modest because of x, y, and z...then what could the Surface Pro be doing within that group? Is it even the best selling Windows tablet among devices that are selling poorly? I think your optimism about surface pro is unreasonable given what little public info there is.
 
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sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
Funny with these ideas of the type cover being a bad keyboard. I think it is a prejudiced idea, only because it is a cover which gives the IDEA of it being inferior. Truth is, it is a much better keyboard than the MacBook Air one. The keys are bigger and responds in a nicer way. I am a MacBook Air owner by the way.

The truth is, that it is nothing more than your opinion. That's fine, but let's keep it real and acknowledge that. In my opinion the TypeCover keyboards are excellent, but are not as good as the MBA keyboard. That doesn't make the TypeCover bad.
 

MozMan68

macrumors 603
Jun 29, 2010
6,152
5,261
South Cackalacky
Yes, to the first question. How much money did they make? How many Surface Pros did they ship? I'm confused about what you consider a success. It seems that just like the ARM version it's a flop. Plus, if Intel's CEO is saying that all the windows baytrail, clover trail, and Intel core tab sales have been modest because of x, y, and z...then what could the Surface Pro be doing within that group? Is it even the best selling Windows tablet among devices that are selling poorly? I think your optimism about surface pro is unreasonable given what little public info there is.

1) Awesome...and I'm not denying it.

2) They credited their profit earlier this year to a large increase in Surface 2 sales.

http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2324...ts-boom-thanks-to-surface-and-cloud-computing
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
How does it compare to the SP2 or other W8 hybrids?

From a hardware perspective it blows away the other tablets except for the SP2, which has similar hardware but the SP3 is markedly thinner and lighter. It never gets old raising it up with the keyboard and wondering how they got it that freakin thin WITH a keyboard.
 
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