Surface Pro 3

[spinedoc77]

Chrome on the modern side is much better than the desktop side, but you have to make it your default browser then go into settings and open windows 8 mode. It's not as nice as IE11 modern IMO mainly because of the way IE11 can stay in full screen mode, but can handle bookmarks and functions with the pop up menu when you swipe down. Bookmarks hidden, but when you need the nice and large and finger friendly instead of hunt and peck on chrome ala 2010.

 

[MozMan68]

I just noticed my power supply cord is fraying where it plugs into the Surface. Gonna give MS a call and see if they will replace it.

That was an issue early on with folks in the Windows forums....I haven't had an issue, but it does seem to separate for some.

 

[Renzatic]

Chrome on the modern side is much better than the desktop side, but you have to make it your default browser then go into settings and open windows 8 mode. It's not as nice as IE11 modern IMO mainly because of the way IE11 can stay in full screen mode, but can handle bookmarks and functions with the pop up menu when you swipe down. Bookmarks hidden, but when you need the nice and large and finger friendly instead of hunt and peck on chrome ala 2010.

Have any of you considered using Opera? It's Webkit based, seems to be lighter on resources than any of the other big browsers, and has had gestures built into it for years now. I've started using it exclusively over the last month or so, and it strikes me as a natural fit for the Surface Pro.

 

[maflynn]

I've tried opera in the past, it never really grew on me.

 

[Renzatic]

Now that they switched renderers, I think it's very quickly become the best of the bunch. Chrome feels too bloated these days, IEs plugins suck, Firefox is mediocre, and Safari is Apple exclusive. Opera does everything really well, without any real downsides (that I've noticed).

My opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary, but I think its worth giving it another go.

 

[spinedoc77]

Have any of you considered using Opera? It's Webkit based, seems to be lighter on resources than any of the other big browsers, and has had gestures built into it for years now. I've started using it exclusively over the last month or so, and it strikes me as a natural fit for the Surface Pro.

I'll have to give it a shot. My main gripes with non IE browsers are that they don't zoom/scroll smoothly, they don't use gestures very well, and the bookmarks, setttings, tabs, etc are still based on a desktop/mouse paradigm, at least those are my issues with chrome and the ill fated Firefox and the reason I highly prefer IE11.

 

[Renzatic]

I'll have to give it a shot. My main gripes with non IE browsers are that they don't zoom/scroll smoothly, they don't use gestures very well, and the bookmarks, setttings, tabs, etc are still based on a desktop/mouse paradigm, at least those are my issues with chrome and the ill fated Firefox and the reason I highly prefer IE11.

Yeah, if you want a pure touch based browser on Windows, you really only have one choice. There, IE11 isn't half bad. But for desktop browsing, I'd personally pick something else. Even with all the streamlining MS has done over the last couple of years, it's still a little too clunky and goofy compared to the rest.

...which might be one of the main reasons why IE is being mothballed with Windows 10.

Though getting back to Opera, I went through the settings flags, and it seems there are TONS of touch based and HiDPI settings buried in there. It might work pretty well on a tablet.

 

[spinedoc77]

Yeah, if you want a pure touch based browser on Windows, you really only have one choice. There, IE11 isn't half bad. But for desktop browsing, I'd personally pick something else. Even with all the streamlining MS has done over the last couple of years, it's still a little too clunky and goofy compared to the rest.

...which might be one of the main reasons why IE is being mothballed with Windows 10.

Though getting back to Opera, I went through the settings flags, and it seems there are TONS of touch based and HiDPI settings buried in there. It might work pretty well on a tablet.

Cool, I'll give it a try.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Here's how I've set mine up
http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/viccles85/media/IMG_0126_zps7e8b27e7.jpg.html

 

[Michael Goff]

Cool, I'll give it a try.

Next week, you might want to look at Spartan if they have it in the consumer preview. Rumors say it's supposed to be a browser based on a forked Trudent, cutting legacy to make it faster and lighter as well as focusing on modern standards. That might be the browser to beat in the future,

 

[spinedoc77]

Next week, you might want to look at Spartan if they have it in the consumer preview. Rumors say it's supposed to be a browser based on a forked Trudent, cutting legacy to make it faster and lighter as well as focusing on modern standards. That might be the browser to beat in the future,

Very nice, I'm glad to see windows apps gathering a little steam.

----------

Here's how I've set mine up
http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/viccles85/media/IMG_0126_zps7e8b27e7.jpg.html

wow that website is a doozie, opened a bunch of pop up ads, told me I had a virus in one pop up ad, then when I tried to close it IE crashed with a memory error. Didn't get to see the picture that website scares me.

 

[mi7chy]

While the Surface Pro 3 is nearly perfect I've been using the Thinkpad Helix 2nd gen more since it's fanless, is cool even under load, performance is equivalent to i5 in real world usage and battery life is longer especially doing anything that involves pushing the iGPU. Looking forward to the Surface Pro 4 with fanless Core M that will be perfect and what the 3 should've been if it wasn't for Intel delaying Broadwell.

 

[spinedoc77]

While the Surface Pro 3 is nearly perfect I've been using the Thinkpad Helix 2nd gen more since it's fanless, is cool even under load, performance is equivalent to i5 in real world usage and battery life is longer especially doing anything that involves pushing the iGPU. Looking forward to the Surface Pro 4 with fanless Core M that will be perfect and what the 3 should've been if it wasn't for Intel delaying Broadwell.

That looks very nice. 8gb ram, hd5300, Wacom, Core M. The only things I dislike are the bezels, lack of a pen silo, no 4g and it's kind of expensive for having a plastic shell IMO. Screen resolutions I kind of weak also, after having the SP3 I don't think I could go back. Still, it looks very nice and I really like Lenovo.

 

[zhenya]

While the Surface Pro 3 is nearly perfect I've been using the Thinkpad Helix 2nd gen more since it's fanless, is cool even under load, performance is equivalent to i5 in real world usage and battery life is longer especially doing anything that involves pushing the iGPU. Looking forward to the Surface Pro 4 with fanless Core M that will be perfect and what the 3 should've been if it wasn't for Intel delaying Broadwell.

I am intrigued by the Helix because of the (future) availability of a real high quality keyboard accessory, but the 16:9 form factor is a 100% deal breaker for me. I also really dislike the asymmetrical form factor.

I will be surprised if the Broadwell SP is fanless as that would require Core M which is a significant departure in performance from what buyers have become accustomed to with the SP. Personally I would love a Core M for the fanless design and better battery life, but I'd also want it packaged in a thinner and lighter chassis, which seems unlikely to happen even if they offer Core M as an option.

 

[maflynn]

Here's how I've set mine up
http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/viccles85/media/IMG_0126_zps7e8b27e7.jpg.html

Nice.

Consider the docking station? It makes removing/adding the connections as simple as sliding it out of the docking station. (you'll need a keyboard and mouse since you cannot use the typepad cover on it.

wow that website is a doozie, opened a bunch of pop up ads, told me I had a virus in one pop up ad, then when I tried to close it IE crashed with a memory error. Didn't get to see the picture that website scares me.

Not me, but them I'm using Chrome with adblock so any popup may be getting muffled by that.

 

[zhenya]

Nice.

Consider the docking station? It makes removing/adding the connections as simple as sliding it out of the docking station. (you'll need a keyboard and mouse since you cannot use the typepad cover on it.



Not me, but them I'm using Chrome with adblock so any popup may be getting muffled by that.

Typepad works just fine with the docking station.

I didn't have any issues in IE with that link. Photobucket is reasonably reputable.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Nice.

Consider the docking station? It makes removing/adding the connections as simple as sliding it out of the docking station. (you'll need a keyboard and mouse since you cannot use the typepad cover on it.

I'd consider if wasn't so expensive

 

[maflynn]

I'd consider if wasn't so expensive

Understood, it is pricey. One thing I wanted that my MBP didn't have, is a docking station. I grew tired of pulling the cords out every time I needed it off the desk.

That wasn't the only reason for my purchase, but it was a nice to have, since it was available

 

[JackieInCo]

Understood, it is pricey. One thing I wanted that my MBP didn't have, is a docking station. I grew tired of pulling the cords out every time I needed it off the desk.

That wasn't the only reason for my purchase, but it was a nice to have, since it was available

I think the docking station is next on my list.

I never took a look at it to even see what it had to offer until just now. Looked at a review of it on YouTube and they showed how you can keep the type cover installed in case you don't have another keyboard.

I like how it disconnects easily and the three 3.0 USB abd 2 2.0 USB ports are built in. Plenty of ports. It looks like you won't have any trouble connecting devices either since the dock is powered.

 

[zhenya]

I think the Surface Pro dock is very good as far as docking stations go, and not even that expensive when you compare them to what Dell or Lenovo charge. It's supremely easy to get the device in and out, and it has worked very reliably for me.

It would be perfect with two things.

-A second mDP - not all of us have modern monitors capable of DP daisy-chaining, so I had to buy an expensive DP hub to connect two monitors.

-Adjustable angle when docked. The Surface is a perfect interactive device when docked next to my other monitors, but the fixed angle is no good for writing.

 

[balamw]

I had to buy an expensive DP hub to connect two monitors..

This came up at work earlier in the week. Which hub did you get? I've seen so many bipolar reviews on them and the SP3 that I don't know what to believe.

B

 

[zhenya]

This came up at work earlier in the week. Which hub did you get? I've seen so many bipolar reviews on them and the SP3 that I don't know what to believe.

B

I got the Startech model http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JLRBC7S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works well, although not perfectly - but I don't exactly blame the hub - I have some of the same issues with my Thinkpad dock driving these monitors - as do many of our other users. Occasionally one of the monitors doesn't come on and you have to unplug the monitor's power to get it recognized.

On rare occasion with the Startech hub the system gets into a situation where the monitors won't come on - restarting fixes it - and really this is very rare and I think happens as I have been docking/undocking/changing resolutions/scaling a bunch. In normal use this doesn't happen.

I would suggest also getting a mDP extension cable with this hub as the built-in cable is very short, so the extension will allow you to place the bulky hub below the desk and out of sight.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Not complaining just checking but mine still runs really hot and fans on at times like when I'm using word/chrome. Normal?

 

[zhenya]

No, it shouldn't be. What's the processor use look like when that's happening?

Websites in general can cause this behavior across all sorts of machines. I definitely had more of that kind of issue from Chrome though. Since switching to IE I'm not sure I've heard the fans come on and it rarely gets more than warm.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

No, it shouldn't be. What's the processor use look like when that's happening?

Websites in general can cause this behavior across all sorts of machines. I definitely had more of that kind of issue from Chrome though. Since switching to IE I'm not sure I've heard the fans come on and it rarely gets more than warm.

Ok I'll try using IE and see if the same thing happens.