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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
oh, I guess not enough of us liked the charms bar...

Yeah I suppose I'm in the minority. I'm not sure how people like digging through small menus and buttons all the way to the control panel to get to the brightness slider versus one swipe, but I've given up understanding human nature.
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,444
2,673
OBX
Yeah I suppose I'm in the minority. I'm not sure how people like digging through small menus and buttons all the way to the control panel to get to the brightness slider versus one swipe, but I've given up understanding human nature.

yeah I muck with brightness all the time on my SP3. Is the auto brightness algorithm better in Win 10?
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Tbh, I never used it, and yeah from what I've read it was not a highly used feature.

Really? You never used it in tablet mode? How did you adjust volume and brightness? Didn't you miss the quick access to power options, screen rotation, etc? I'm genuinely curious as those quick shortcuts were so convenient instead of having to dig around menus for them.

I'm really flabbergasted that Microsoft are such wimps. iOS and Android were not afraid to introduce swipe/gesture paradigms, where Microsoft comes up with the best of them all but removes them at the first sign of discontent. They vacillate back and forth, bouncing between consumer complaints, it's a wonder they get anywhere, although windows 10 looks like it's not really going anywhere IMO.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,627
11,298
I don't mind the charms bar except that it gets falsely triggered a lot when I scroll with my right thumb while holding the tablet with both hands. They can fix that by limiting it to the top and bottom corners to trigger it.

Anyone know if tranlucent on-screen keyboard is coming with 10?
 

Even Longer

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2012
486
440
Heidelberg
Since I am back on my SP3 ;), could you guys give an advise of a backup solution for it, which would be similar to Time Machine?

I mean some external tool, because build in "Windows file history" and even "Windows image" won't backup Outlook for some reason.


Thanks!
 

Even Longer

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2012
486
440
Heidelberg
I use Acronis, its not like TM I guess but its a good app.

I also recommend it. :)

Thanks, guys. I know Acronis from the past as well and actually bought it...
Nevertheless, I stumbled upon following app: Bvckup 2.

https://bvckup2.com/

It is a bit different to those "big" backup solutions and is file system-based, but it seems to be interesting as well. Do you have any experience with it?
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,444
2,673
OBX
So, do any file system based backups successfully backup an open database? That is what PST's are basically. I don't think the VSS is able to make snaps of them, unless outlook supports it.


Oh found this, pricey though.
 

Elrond Jr.

macrumors newbie
Apr 25, 2015
1
0
I don't think the VSS is able to make snaps of them, unless outlook supports it.

If there's one app that VSS supports really well, it's Outlook (or any Microsoft's own software for that matter - anything from the Office suite, MSSQL Server, etc). So any backup that supports shadow copying will be able to handle .pst files with Outlook running.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Even if that's not the case, just close Outlook prior to running the backup.
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
Anyone here come from an iPad Air 2 to a SP3?

I know they are not exact comparisons for a product but I am looking to sell my Air 2 and get a i5/128 SP3 if I can find a good price.

I use the Air2 for couch browsing, youtube video watching, email, and I really enjoy it for that.

I am hoping the SP3 can do all of that and then some with some VPN access to my work to get work done on and not have to switch over to a different device as I have to do with the Air 2.

Or is now a bad time to buy one with the SP4 being announced shortly.
 

Renzatic

Suspended
Or is now a bad time to buy one with the SP4 being announced shortly.

Have you considered the Surface 3? Depending on what you're doing exactly, it might be a solid compromise between the light thinness of the Air 2, and the pure horsepower of the SP3.

----------

You can set it up that way, or you can change automatically. But the issues I have persist as they basically got rid of some very useful tablet features.

They got rid of the charms bar in Win10, but all its functionality is present in the new notification center. It looks a lot like the pulldown menu on WP10, and is accessed the same way the charms were on touchscreen devices.
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
Have you considered the Surface 3? Depending on what you're doing exactly, it might be a solid compromise between the light thinness of the Air 2, and the pure horsepower of the SP3.


I thought about that due to better pricing and minimal difference but the way I need to utilize for work and certain VPN functions I wonder about power in the SP3 vs the Pro.
 

Renzatic

Suspended
I thought about that due to better pricing and minimal difference but the way I need to utilize for work and certain VPN functions I wonder about power in the SP3 vs the Pro.

Whatever task your doing, will it work better on a 12" screen? Does it require a ton of high level processing power, and memory throughput? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, I'd get the Pro.

The Atom might seem a little weak when you look at benchmarks, but it's still a pretty stout little processor. On average, it's a little more powerful than your average 2010 laptop.

I wouldn't run a bunch of 12mp raw photos through Lightroom, or play the latest and greatest games on it, but for every day office tasks, it should work just fine.
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
Whatever task your doing, will it work better on a 12" screen? Does it require a ton of high level processing power, and memory throughput? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, I'd get the Pro.

The Atom might seem a little weak when you look at benchmarks, but it's still a pretty stout little processor. On average, it's a little more powerful than your average 2010 laptop.

I wouldn't run a bunch of 12mp raw photos through Lightroom, or play the latest and greatest games on it, but for every day office tasks, it should work just fine.

I would be utilizing the device for a lot of charts, powerpoints, and excel needs as well as statistical gathering from VPN sources through my job. I would not be gaming or video editing so its more of the need for the least amount of latency when going through a VPN and performing those tasks.

Then from an entertainment perspective be able to watch youtube videos, browse the web, and fart around as a tablet when needed like my Air 2 performs.
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
Anyone here come from an iPad Air 2 to a SP3?

I know they are not exact comparisons for a product but I am looking to sell my Air 2 and get a i5/128 SP3 if I can find a good price.

I use the Air2 for couch browsing, youtube video watching, email, and I really enjoy it for that.
If that is essentially all that you do with your Air 2, then both the S3 and SP3 will serve your needs as a tablet. If you use some of the specialty iOS apps available, then you probably should investigate whether or not a comparable modern UI app exists.



I am hoping the SP3 can do all of that and then some with some VPN access to my work to get work done on and not have to switch over to a different device as I have to do with the Air 2.

Or is now a bad time to buy one with the SP4 being announced shortly.
For VPN usage, the bigger the screen the better, IMO, and so although both S3 and SP3 will serve that purpose, the SP3 will probably be better in that regard at the expense of portability.

As for the SP4, that really comes down to an individual person's personality. Are you the type of person who would have buyer's remorse if the SP4 was significantly improved over the SP3? If so, then wait.

But, if you are satisfied with what the SP3 currently offers, then now is a good time to buy one... I'm seeing some discounts on the SP3 in a variety of places.
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
I'm seeing some discounts on the SP3 in a variety of places.

Care to share? :)

I am ok with the SP4 coming out and not having the biggest best of anything as I am normally a cycle behind on everything minus my phone.

I think the bigger screen will be a big factor in this decision. Of course price as well.
 

Renzatic

Suspended
Care to share? :)

The MS Store has them marked down by $100-$150 depending on the model. The only thing that's selling at its regular price is the i3. Check it out.

I am ok with the SP4 coming out and not having the biggest best of anything as I am normally a cycle behind on everything minus my phone.

I think the bigger screen will be a big factor in this decision. Of course price as well.

I am definitely one of those people, so a better SP4 looming over the horizon would give me pause if I were spending over $1000 for the SP3. Though that said, I'm deeply considering the little S3 right now, because for everything I'll mostly end up using the Pro for, the S3 will do just as well in a smaller, lighter package.
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
Renzatic is correct, the Microsoft Store is offering a special on the SP3. Best Buy also has the SP3 on sale as well as a promotion going on where you can get $200 towards the purchase of an SP3 if you trade in a tablet. (They previously had a deal where they'd automatically give you $50 trade-in on any tablet and another $150 toward the purchase of an SP3).

I've been spending some extended time with my Acer Aspire Switch 11 and unless something amazing happens re:S3/SP3/SP4 I will continue to on with the Switch 11... hard to beat an 11.6" HD tablet w/keyboard dock for $449.

Then there's the Groupon for the Surface Pro with the Power TypeCover for $515.
 
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americaroma

macrumors regular
Jun 25, 2010
100
5
I decided to pre order the surface 3 today... I need a tablet for college but i also wanted the small form factor from the ipad mini which i have previously owned. I was very undecided but wanted to give the surface a try. Knowing that i can return it with no restock fee before 14 days helped a lot :cool:
 
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