Surface Pro 3 - Torn!

[spinedoc77]

But there are certainly laptops that are similar in size and weight to the SP, yet have better keyboards and touchpads which are essential tools in a laptop, no?

But they don't have detachable screens, pen/digitizer, build quality, kickstand, etc.

Even a "better" laptop is a compromise. My 17" laptop at work trounces on any smaller laptop in terms of getting my work done, but when it's time to get on the road it's very much inferior as my shoulder and back can attest to. Each devices pluses and minuses balance out to a certain degree IMO and if you are polarized in saying one device is better but only tunnel vision focus on one aspect you are missing the point IMO.

 

[zhenya]

But they don't have detachable screens, pen/digitizer, build quality, kickstand, etc.

Even a "better" laptop is a compromise. My 17" laptop at work trounces on any smaller laptop in terms of getting my work done, but when it's time to get on the road it's very much inferior as my shoulder and back can attest to. Each devices pluses and minuses balance out to a certain degree IMO and if you are polarized in saying one device is better but only tunnel vision focus on one aspect you are missing the point IMO.

I well know. The question was directed at Mike who said that he rarely uses the tablet function of the device. Hence my question.

 

[Ryan0751]

I just installed Synergy on the Surface Pro 3 and my Mac Pro.

This just increased the usefulness by a bunch! Now the Surface Pro 3 can sit on my desk like a 3rd monitor, and I can drag my mouse over to it, and use my full size keyboard and mouse to do whatever I need to do.

Makes it WAY easier to go back and forth when at the desk!

 

[handsome pete]

I hide the Metro (or as they now call it Modern) interface, I use a utility called Start8. It brings back the traditional Start menu.

I agree that the transition between the modern interface and desktop can be a bit clunky depending on what apps you're using, but I've actually really come to like the modern interface. If I was looking for just a tablet, I would easily prefer it over iOS. It's really nice seeing some actual information in the tiles, whether it be a few stocks I follow, the weather, or even a news headline that grabs my attention.

 

[Ryan0751]

I agree that the transition between the modern interface and desktop can be a bit clunky depending on what apps you're using, but I've actually really come to like the modern interface. If I was looking for just a tablet, I would easily prefer it over iOS. It's really nice seeing some actual information in the tiles, whether it be a few stocks I follow, the weather, or even a news headline that grabs my attention.

I put "Classic Shell" on mine. I have it set so the windows key and windows screen button open the Metro Start screen, but the start button on the taskbar opens the Windows 7-ish menu.

Works great!

 

[zhenya]

I just installed Synergy on the Surface Pro 3 and my Mac Pro.

This just increased the usefulness by a bunch! Now the Surface Pro 3 can sit on my desk like a 3rd monitor, and I can drag my mouse over to it, and use my full size keyboard and mouse to do whatever I need to do.

Makes it WAY easier to go back and forth when at the desk!

I have been doing the same with mine using Mouse Without Borders paired with my regular work laptop while I decide whether I'm going to consolidate to the Surface. Works great and I can be freed of the scaling issues of docking!

 

[jwalker99]

Windows 8 has a couple of quirks but I found it quite usable.

I agree. I found 8.1 to be a bit of learning curve, but the more i use it with the Surface Pro 3, the more i realize how well the two compliment each other.

I find myself always reaching for my iPad if I'm just surfing the WWW from the sofa. The iPad is lighter, better sized for couch surfing, and I think the iPad's Safari is better than the "Modern/Metro" Touch IE equivalent.

I agree the iPad is a bit easier to hold while couch surfing, but i also welcome the bigger screen on the SP3, and find Touch IE to be MUCH superior to Safari on the iPad, at least compared to my old iPad 3.

I have had a similar experience as yourself. It has taken me a while to warm up to this device, and while I am using it more and more in tablet form, I really miss the quality apps of iOS.

Completely agree that the quality of apps is lacking compared to iOS. Evernote is the perfect case in point. While it's nice to have the full desktop version available, it's definitely not optimized for touch. And while the touch app is super easy to use, it's WAY too limiting in functionality. Seriously, how did the Evernote developers leave out search?? However, fire up the web version on IE touch, and you get a pretty decent touch optimized solution.

That's a similar experience i've had with most of the apps that are either missing or inferior to the iOS version. I realize this isn't an acceptable alternative for everyone, but when i consider the redundancy of apps already on my phone, plus the convenience have having one device that now substitutes for my desktop, laptop and tablet, it's worth the minor trade off to me.

 

[Ryan0751]

Can anyone recommend a case?

 

[spinedoc77]

I agree. I found 8.1 to be a bit of learning curve, but the more i use it with the Surface Pro 3, the more i realize how well the two compliment each other.



I agree the iPad is a bit easier to hold while couch surfing, but i also welcome the bigger screen on the SP3, and find Touch IE to be MUCH superior to Safari on the iPad, at least compared to my old iPad 3.



Completely agree that the quality of apps is lacking compared to iOS. Evernote is the perfect case in point. While it's nice to have the full desktop version available, it's definitely not optimized for touch. And while the touch app is super easy to use, it's WAY too limiting in functionality. Seriously, how did the Evernote developers leave out search?? However, fire up the web version on IE touch, and you get a pretty decent touch optimized solution.

That's a similar experience i've had with most of the apps that are either missing or inferior to the iOS version. I realize this isn't an acceptable alternative for everyone, but when i consider the redundancy of apps already on my phone, plus the convenience have having one device that now substitutes for my desktop, laptop and tablet, it's worth the minor trade off to me.

I think that's part of the learning curve also, sometimes realizing that it doesn't have to be an "app". A great example is OneNote, which IMO trounces all over Evernote. Even though there is a modern app version of OneNote it's the desktop version that truly shines, and is very capable as a touch centric program. MS Office is going to be another one of those when it gets released. Photoshop has a touch optimized version on the full desktop as well. Many apps have web based versions that have most of the functionality, etc etc. It's certainly not the best solution for some and I understand that, I just personally never found many apps on iOS I couldn't live without, heck I don't think I've even found one. I know it's a different viewpoint but I've always found "apps" lacking, good for one handed use on the subway and such but when I want to hunker down and be productive I don't see it happening with apps, or at least how "apps" are envisioned today. That's why I appreciate Microsoft trying to meld together "apps" and traditional desktop programs, I feel it's the way to go.

 

[ravenvii]

I just got a Surface 3 a few days ago, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

Fantastic screen, the ability to hop between tablet and laptop use cases is great. And as several has said, Classic Shell made Windows 8.1 tolerable -- I definitely can't wait for Windows 10. And the pen is pretty awesome, albeit not something I'll use that often.

I agree that the UI can be a bit weird -- the distinction between the 'classic' desktop and the 'Modern' UI is clunky, and the method used to quit 'Modern' apps is outright strange -- I actually had to Google how to quit an app! Very unintuitive -- especially since the app doesn't 'follow' your finger down to hint that it could be dragged that way -- you just have to swipe down and trust that it'll go away. Bad UI design there.

But I love the other aspects of the UI -- the smooth scrolling (Android needs to come here and learn how it is done) and the excellent side-by-side views for multitasking.

But even though it has a real potential to replace both my MacBook Air and my iPad, I don't think it will actually do so. The MacBook Air runs OS X, AKA the best UNIX-based UI out there (I love me some zsh, and Command Prompt is a horror straight out of the 1980's).

The iPad is a bit more ambiguous though -- it's just... easier to pick up and use. I'm tired and just want to watch some Netflix? I pick up the iPad by default. I wanted to look up something quick when I'm in bed? The iPad. I'm not sure if it's something about the iPad, or if it's just a force of habit. Time will tell.

 

[Natzoo]

Getting the surface 3 with i5 this weekend.

 

[maflynn]

Getting the surface 3 with i5 this weekend.

Congrats, its a fantastic computer.

 

[brinary001]

Personally, I love my SP3. For reference, I have an i5/8GB/256GB. I came from mostly an Apple way of life with the exception of some Android ownership experimentation here and there, but the switch wasn't too daunting for me. Now the asterisk with that is that I eat, sleep and breathe IT (my job and educational background), so I kind of have no choice but to know everything about everything technology. I'll try and list as many pros and cons as I can that I've noticed in my roughly four months of ownership:

Pros
- It's pretty much a marriage between an iPad and MacBook Air, with the iPad influence being portability and the MBA influence being a real OS with real power. (See an important con that goes hand in hand with this leading my cons list)

- The pen and digitizer engine is phenomenal. They're not kidding when they say it's just like writing on paper. Also, that pen-to-surface clicky noise that results naturally from writing on glass is almost non-existent. I've sat in some pretty intimately set up classrooms and have never even gotten a nasty look from fellow students around me.

- There's a mean hardware setup under the hood with as high as 8 GB of RAM and an i7. That means lots of multitasking and even running some triple-A title games, albeit on low settings. (Again, see my first con that correlates directly to this pro)

- Back to the OS: Yes it's Windows, but as I believe another poster said on this thread, Windows 10 will be quite a breath of fresh air and plug just about every hole and complaint there is about 8 and 8.1. Honestly, we will just have to wait and see if Microsoft holds true on that. But if you're curious enough, you can beta test it for free through the Windows Insider Program.

Cons
- Okay, so you're getting a lot of horsepower and some cool features that neither Mac nor iPad can compete with. The major drawback with this, however, is energy efficiency. MS's ads attacking the MBA for not doing as much may be true, but the MBA is going to crush the SP3 when it comes to battery life. What does the Air average? 12? 14 hours? Yeah, expect about half that... tops. I'm talking fairly light stuff here; web browsing with an Office app open and maybe a music player as well. So obviously gaming will kill the whole thing in 2 or 3 hours at the most.

- No bundled keyboard. I know this is a cliché con, but is worth reiterating. That'll set you back another $130 if you want a true laptop experience.

- Somewhat related to poor battery performance is that my fans seem to kick on all. the. time. Just from, again, tasks on the lighter side of computing. And if the fan isn't spinning, it's at least hot to the touch in the upper right corner of the screen/upper left corner of the back panel.

- That pen can be easy to lose, both in your bag and permanently in the world at large. My advice to you, especially if you don't get a keyboard, is buy a pen loop from Amazon and stick it on the back or side of your tablet. They're about five bucks and worth every penny for peace of mind.

Hope this helps you or anyone with a similar situation.

 

[spinedoc77]

Personally, I love my SP3. For reference, I have an i5/8GB/256GB. I came from mostly an Apple way of life with the exception of some Android ownership experimentation here and there, but the switch wasn't too daunting for me. Now the asterisk with that is that I eat, sleep and breathe IT (my job and educational background), so I kind of have no choice but to know everything about everything technology. I'll try and list as many pros and cons as I can that I've noticed in my roughly four months of ownership:

Pros
- It's pretty much a marriage between an iPad and MacBook Air, with the iPad influence being portability and the MBA influence being a real OS with real power. (See an important con that goes hand in hand with this leading my cons list)

- The pen and digitizer engine is phenomenal. They're not kidding when they say it's just like writing on paper. Also, that pen-to-surface clicky noise that results naturally from writing on glass is almost non-existent. I've sat in some pretty intimately set up classrooms and have never even gotten a nasty look from fellow students around me.

- There's a mean hardware setup under the hood with as high as 8 GB of RAM and an i7. That means lots of multitasking and even running some triple-A title games, albeit on low settings. (Again, see my first con that correlates directly to this pro)

- Back to the OS: Yes it's Windows, but as I believe another poster said on this thread, Windows 10 will be quite a breath of fresh air and plug just about every hole and complaint there is about 8 and 8.1. Honestly, we will just have to wait and see if Microsoft holds true on that. But if you're curious enough, you can beta test it for free through the Windows Insider Program.

Cons
- Okay, so you're getting a lot of horsepower and some cool features that neither Mac nor iPad can compete with. The major drawback with this, however, is energy efficiency. MS's ads attacking the MBA for not doing as much may be true, but the MBA is going to crush the SP3 when it comes to battery life. What does the Air average? 12? 14 hours? Yeah, expect about half that... tops. I'm talking fairly light stuff here; web browsing with an Office app open and maybe a music player as well. So obviously gaming will kill the whole thing in 2 or 3 hours at the most.

- No bundled keyboard. I know this is a cliché con, but is worth reiterating. That'll set you back another $130 if you want a true laptop experience.

- Somewhat related to poor battery performance is that my fans seem to kick on all. the. time. Just from, again, tasks on the lighter side of computing. And if the fan isn't spinning, it's at least hot to the touch in the upper right corner of the screen/upper left corner of the back panel.

- That pen can be easy to lose, both in your bag and permanently in the world at large. My advice to you, especially if you don't get a keyboard, is buy a pen loop from Amazon and stick it on the back or side of your tablet. They're about five bucks and worth every penny for peace of mind.

Hope this helps you or anyone with a similar situation.

Very reasonable cons and I agree with all of them.

 

[soulreaver99]

brinary001 is spot on with the points.

One big con for me is that when you connect to an external monitor, the scaling goes out of whack and you have to make a manual adjustment on the scaling (which requires you to log out) and another manual adjustment to the resolution to Surface if you want to use it as a second screen so everything doesn't look all tiny! Hope Microsoft fixes this because it's stupid.

 

[Renzatic]

One big con for me is that when you connect to an external monitor, the scaling goes out of whack and you have to make a manual adjustment on the scaling (which requires you to log out) and another manual adjustment to the resolution to Surface if you want to use it as a second screen so everything doesn't look all tiny! Hope Microsoft fixes this because it's stupid.

I believe they have with Windows 10. In display settings, there's a new option to do something or other with scaling across multiple displays. I'll take a screenshot of it tomorrow after I get up.

 

[technosix]

I bought an SP3 just for fun and because I got a huge discount. My initial expectations were low, yet much to my surprise it's a very nice device that I prefer using as a thin lightweight laptop. Running a beta of Windows 10, I'm very pleased with it. Due to my workflow an MS platform is needed for a portion of the time, this fills that need ideally.

 

[brinary001]

brinary001 is spot on with the points.

One big con for me is that when you connect to an external monitor, the scaling goes out of whack and you have to make a manual adjustment on the scaling (which requires you to log out) and another manual adjustment to the resolution to Surface if you want to use it as a second screen so everything doesn't look all tiny! Hope Microsoft fixes this because it's stupid.

Yes I hate that! Windows 8 made it much easier to just plug-and-play into external displays, but with the ridiculous scaling issue that shrinks my whole screen real estate down to that of an oversized postage stamp. At least Microsoft is on track to finally have all the display kinks worked out by this next major OS update .

 

[Renzatic]

And here's what I was talking about.

 

[soulreaver99]

And here's what I was talking about.

I believe that's on 8.1 as well but I don't think it works. Are you able to set to scaling settings on each display on Windows 10?

 

[Renzatic]

I believe that's on 8.1 as well but I don't think it works. Are you able to set to scaling settings on each display on Windows 10?

No idea. I haven't even tried hooking the laptop up to a second display yet. I posted it because I came across it while playing around in the display settings, and didn't recall ever seeing it before.

Though if I can find a VGA cable lying around somewhere, I'll give it a try.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Someone in the office asked me to help out do something in Ubuntu. I did, and he came over with this Surface Pro 2. I was well impressed with that version to be honest, and the virtual machine ran brilliantly on it as well. Only thing that would do me head in is the delay on the keyboard.

For those of you that have the Surface Pro 3, does the keyboard still have such a delay on it between touching and something happening on the screen?

For once I saw how Windows 8 was intended and it was rather good. I wouldn't mind a fully specced i7, 8GB, 512SSD version

 

[JackieInCo]

Someone in the office asked me to help out do something in Ubuntu. I did, and he came over with this Surface Pro 2. I was well impressed with that version to be honest, and the virtual machine ran brilliantly on it as well. Only thing that would do me head in is the delay on the keyboard.

For those of you that have the Surface Pro 3, does the keyboard still have such a delay on it between touching and something happening on the screen?

For once I saw how Windows 8 was intended and it was rather good. I wouldn't mind a fully specced i7, 8GB, 512SSD version

I have no delays in using the keyboard on my SP3.

 

[mrex]

Surface Pro 3 - Torn!

waiting the broadwell architecture until i get one... with haswell you would be better to get i5 than i7. hopefully the broadwell fix all issues sp3 has with i7 now.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

waiting the broadwell architecture until i get one... with haswell you would be better to get i5 than i7. hopefully the broadwell fix all issues sp3 has with i7 now.

What are the issues? My hasswell MBA has i7 and haven't noticed any issues with that...I can google and see that in August last year there have been overheating reports but can't see anything since...