Surface Pro 3

[sracer]

Your saying the keyboard AND dock should be included in the base price? That would be fine--just raise the base price 30%. Stuff costs money

Of course stuff costs money. I didn't say or imply that they should be included at no cost. I'm offering an explanation as to why people may balk at the cost of the dock (and keyboard).

Microsoft never advertises the Surface without showing the keyboard....never. Any reasonable person would conclude that the keyboard is included. So that is one misconception that a customer has to get over.

I think that there is an opportunity to offer value bundles that save a consumer money over purchasing the individual accessories separately. I don't think that I could resist a Surface Pro 3 bundle that included a Surface Pro 3 + keyboard (50% discount) + dock (50% discount). I can't be alone in that.

 

[spinedoc77]

It shouldn't be a surprise. For a device that is promoted as a hybrid device, having to spend an additional 30% (approx. - keyboard cover +dock) for it to fulfill that promise as a hybrid is a bit much.

Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, that is on the minds of people.

I don't' think the dock should be included, I don't see laptops offering docks in their price. The keyboard though should definitely be included. I know MS got a lot of requests from consumers to not include the keyboard, but they should have stuck to their guns IMO.

 

[mgipe]

I think the major objection to the keyboard is the $129 price. MS sells universal wireless keyboards from $17 to $49 that work with the SP3, but to get a keyboard that snaps on you need to pay three times the price?
I doubt that many people would complain if it were $39.

 

[maflynn]

I've had my Surface Pro 3 now for two months and I wanted to give my insights on how its working out.

First off, I'm still amazed at how portable it is, basically I'm carrying around a tablet instead of a laptop. The battery life is such that I can avoid including the charger and cable. Something I feel less inclined to do with my laptop.

The type cover works well for lap type uses, but I'm left wanting when using it on a desk, more specifically the touch pad. I've never been a fan of a touchpad and the type cover's touch pad is worse then my RMB. Including a portable mouse is probably the best answer to that issue, though I've been using the pen on those situations.

Performance is decent, but its along the lines of the MBA, where as my rMBP even at 2.5 years older, is faster. I see it plowing through my images in Lightroom no problem at all, where as the SP3 bogs down quite noticeably. Not a huge issue, as my use of the SP3 is mostly office apps and work with some LR work. Office for Windows is much much better then Office for Mac, but that's a conversation for a different thread

Windows - Very stable, 8.1 so far seems to be the best version of windows, though I'm looking forward to win10. Still, there are niggling little issues that are windows only. A reboot quite often fixes that, though I tend not to need to reboot my rMBP. antivirus issues also have been bugging me. I mean my Antivirus app was corrupting attachments. In contacting the vendor (Avast), they had me repair the install - we'll see if that corrects it.

As a daily driver, I'd say its serviceable, though for me, I'll use my rMBP. For tasks that best suit the SP3, then that will be what I choose. I'll probably be traveling in March or April and I'll be using my SP3.

I suppose since its now my travel machine, I could sell my rMBP and get an iMac but that would be a different discussion

 

[balamw]

I've had my Surface Pro 3 now for two months and I wanted to give my insights on how its working out.

I'm being issued one by work this week to replace my Lenovo which is beginning to fail. I'll add my thoughts once I've broken it in.

We've been testing them for a few months now, and I'm still not convinced we wouldn't be better off with the quad core 15" rMBP as daily drivers.

B

 

[soulreaver99]

The portability of the Surface 3 is incredible. As I've said in other threads before that this is the best travel companion in that you really don't need to carry a separate tablet and you can just whiz by the TSA checkpoints. Also, when going through airport to airport and rushing to my next flight, it leaves less of a strain on my neck and back because it is so light.

Most of my work is MS Office / Exchange centric so it makes sense that the Windows version runs much better than the Mac. Also, it helps carrying another mouse too, I use the bluetooth Arc Mouse but once you get into the habit of using the touch screen, that trackpad on the keyboard becomes less relevant. For those who use Chrome, it actually works better than it did when the SP3 launched in tablet mode but I'd recommend Internet Explorer. However if you are using it as a laptop, Chrome works perfectly fine.

It's a really awesome grab and go device. I have the docking station at work so I just pop it on and it becomes an instant desktop without having to fiddle with any cables. It certainly doesn't have the power of the rMBP and Windows has a few funky scaling issues but it's a really good device to consider for people looking for the most portable solution.

 

[jamezr]

I'm being issued one by work this week to replace my Lenovo which is beginning to fail. I'll add my thoughts once I've broken it in.

We've been testing them for a few months now, and I'm still not convinced we wouldn't be better off with the quad core 15" rMBP as daily drivers.

B

They are testing both the SP3 and rMBP at my work now too. If I had my choice it would be the rMBP. I can run the windows tools I need for work on a VM and have the best of both worlds!

 

[maflynn]

I'm being issued one by work this week to replace my Lenovo which is beginning to fail. I'll add my thoughts once I've broken it in.
B

I look forward to your impressions and opinions.

The portability of the Surface 3 is incredible. As I've said in other threads before that this is the best travel companion in that you really don't need to carry a separate tablet and you can just whiz by the TSA checkpoints. Also, when going through airport to airport and rushing to my next flight, it leaves less of a strain on my neck and back because it is so light.

Yeah, that's one major aspect and reason I purchased the SP3. Win 8.1 is not perfect but I am impressed with it and as I mentioned, Office for windows is a whole lot better then Mac Office.

 

[MozMan68]

Yeah, that's one major aspect and reason I purchased the SP3. Win 8.1 is not perfect but I am impressed with it and as I mentioned, Office for windows is a whole lot better then Mac Office.

Just download Windows 10....incredibly stable and the best of both worlds. Standard desktop if you want and 8.1 apps in the start menu if you want.

 

[zhenya]

Just download Windows 10....incredibly stable and the best of both worlds. Standard desktop if you want and 8.1 apps in the start menu if you want.

Windows 10 is nowhere near production ready. And at this point, a lot of the good tablet stuff from 8.1 is missing.

 

[JackieInCo]

Windows 10 is nowhere near production ready. And at this point, a lot of the good tablet stuff from 8.1 is missing.

I've read lots of warnings on the Surface Pro forums warning people to stay away for now.

 

[MozMan68]

Like what? Has been seamless for me.

 

[zhenya]

Give it time. Often these things don't show up immediately, but as issues that crop up over time, bugs, etc. Power management is basically unfinished at this point, so it consumes a lot more power than it will. The browser that's in there now is not the permanent one. Many of the tablet features haven't been added yet. These are not changes that will be added via software update, there will be a new image released and you'll have to reinstall. If you have time for that great. Not recommended for production, however.

 

[maflynn]

Just download Windows 10....incredibly stable and the best of both worlds. Standard desktop if you want and 8.1 apps in the start menu if you want.

I use my SP3 for work, its not something I want to gamble on I had partitioned the drive and loaded Win10 on, but I eventually removed it. Not for any problems, I just didn't have the time or energy to reinstall all my apps on a partition that will eventually go away.

 

[MozMan68]

Give it time. Often these things don't show up immediately, but as issues that crop up over time, bugs, etc. Power management is basically unfinished at this point, so it consumes a lot more power than it will. The browser that's in there now is not the permanent one. Many of the tablet features haven't been added yet. These are not changes that will be added via software update, there will be a new image released and you'll have to reinstall. If you have time for that great. Not recommended for production, however.

I've had it since October...the updates in late January added most tablet features. Haven't had one issue or anything that didn't work. Just lucky I guess.

 

[vladi]

It is definitely the best prosumer tablet out there because it pack mobility of light mobile OS tablets with full workforce of desktop OS. My only issue is the tiny screen, I cant get anything done on anything below 15"

Apps I work with are not optimized to use 12" screen real estate efficiently, plus I really don't understand why they need 2K resolution on such a small screen.

 

[zhenya]

It is definitely the best prosumer tablet out there because it pack mobility of light mobile OS tablets with full workforce of desktop OS. My only issue is the tiny screen, I cant get anything done on anything below 15"

Apps I work with are not optimized to use 12" screen real estate efficiently, plus I really don't understand why they need 2K resolution on such a small screen.

even at 2k this screen is far from the last word in sharpness. I think they should have taken it further, to 2880x1920 so people could use pixel doubling to get a 1440x960 workspace with perfect sharpness.

Even coming from a 14" 1920x1080 Thinkpad, I have no issues with the amount of real estate on this screen. It's an excellent balance where the important stuff is large enough to see and interact with, while still putting a ton of content on the screen. Sure, I still prefer to work docked when I can, but I'm extremely productive even with this screen alone.

 

[maflynn]

even at 2k this screen is far from the last word in sharpness. I think they should have taken it further, to 2880x1920 so people could use pixel doubling to get a 1440x960 workspace with perfect sharpness.

I'm pretty happy with the sharpness of the display, Overall, its a great tool imo

 

[spinedoc77]

I've had it since October...the updates in late January added most tablet features. Haven't had one issue or anything that didn't work. Just lucky I guess.

Good to know, I've been holding back due to the lack of tablet features. The only other thing holding me back is that it's time limited, and I don't feel like reinstalling the OS when the consumer preview comes out, and then reinstall yet again when it goes on sale.

 

[MozMan68]

Good to know, I've been holding back due to the lack of tablet features. The only other thing holding me back is that it's time limited, and I don't feel like reinstalling the OS when the consumer preview comes out, and then reinstall yet again when it goes on sale.

Not sure what you are referring to...it isn't time limited and it will simply be "upgraded" once the new one comes out.

 

[spinedoc77]

Not sure what you are referring to...it isn't time limited and it will simply be "upgraded" once the new one comes out.

I was under the impression it would expire like win7 and win8 technical previews did. You could install over them, but would lose settings, desktop programs, etc. So you are saying I don't have to reinstall once I get a key purchased? That would be awesome news.

 

[MozMan68]

It's free, so if you "upgrade" now to the preview, it will simply "update" when the full version comes out.

 

[spinedoc77]

It's free, so if you "upgrade" now to the preview, it will simply "update" when the full version comes out.

Awesome, I'm going to install this on my SP3 then. Looking forward to the addition of the tablet features.

 

[MozMan68]

The only "tablet" features I'm waiting on is the next update for Office!

 

[spinedoc77]

The only "tablet" features I'm waiting on is the next update for Office!

Did they release office for modern yet? I've not been keeping up with that sort of stuff.