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mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,626
11,298
Anyone noticed Microsoft added a SP3 i7/8/128 to the line up? Wonder if Microsoft and Intel resolved the throttling issue. Core M/8/128 would've made more sense. Also, this means SP4 isn't coming out anytime soon.
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,443
2,673
OBX
I wonder what the performance delta is between Core M and the U series (after all the required throttling happens).
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Anyone noticed Microsoft added a SP3 i7/8/128 to the line up? Wonder if Microsoft and Intel resolved the throttling issue. Core M/8/128 would've made more sense. Also, this means SP4 isn't coming out anytime soon.
I saw them do that, I think its less about an update and more about giving more choices. I agree a Core M would have made more sense but I think they may be waiting for Skylake at this point - similar to what apple is doing.

I'm rocking on my SP3 right now, and I still love the little guy. Its a great product :D
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,077
19,074
US
I saw them do that, I think its less about an update and more about giving more choices. I agree a Core M would have made more sense but I think they may be waiting for Skylake at this point - similar to what apple is doing.

I'm rocking on my SP3 right now, and I still love the little guy. Its a great product :D
I am waiting for the SP4 to see what that will bring. I am so tempted to get one everytime I see it displayed. But I would like to an option to add cell service so it. It would then double as my tablet and notebook. My current ipad air has cell service.
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
Anyone noticed Microsoft added a SP3 i7/8/128 to the line up? Wonder if Microsoft and Intel resolved the throttling issue. Core M/8/128 would've made more sense. Also, this means SP4 isn't coming out anytime soon.
Yep, I saw that. I see it primarily as a marketing move, secondarily because of competitive alternatives, and possibly to move the remaining SP3 chassis leading up to the SP4 announcement.

Microsoft's marketing of the Surface has primarily (but not solely) been about the psychology of pricing. By providing an i7/8/128 version they can now advertise an i7 version at a lower price.

Asus, Acer, Lenovo, HP, etc. are all producing 2-in-1 devices that offer similar capabilities at lower prices. Offering a lower-priced i7 model, Microsoft hopes to draw customers away from the competition. My Acer Aspire Switch 11 provides all of the capabilities of a Surface Pro at nearly 1/2 the price. It makes a great ultrabook. If the quantity of quality Modern UI apps ever improves, it'll make a great tablet.
 
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David58117

macrumors 65816
Jan 24, 2013
1,237
523
Yep, I saw that. I see it primarily as a marketing move, secondarily because of competitive alternatives, and possibly to move the remaining SP3 chassis leading up to the SP4 announcement.

Microsoft's marketing of the Surface has primarily (but not solely) been about the psychology of pricing. By providing an i7/8/128 version they can now advertise an i7 version at a lower price.

Asus, Acer, Lenovo, HP, etc. are all producing 2-in-1 devices that offer similar capabilities at lower prices. Offering a lower-priced i7 model, Microsoft hopes to draw customers away from the competition. My Acer Aspire Switch 11 provides all of the capabilities of a Surface Pro at nearly 1/2 the price. It makes a great ultrabook. If the quantity of quality Modern UI apps ever improves, it'll make a great tablet.

Didn't think the aspire has backlit keyboard and the ntrig pen?
 

balamw

Moderator emeritus
Aug 16, 2005
19,365
979
New England
Depends on your use case. The SP3 is pretty much on par with the 13" MBA, the 13" rMBP has some features not in the SP3 (More ports!) but also doesn't have any touch/pen features.

B
 

HiDEF

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2010
1,711
395
Miami, FL
Depends on your use case. The SP3 is pretty much on par with the 13" MBA, the 13" rMBP has some features not in the SP3 (More ports!) but also doesn't have any touch/pen features.

B
I'm looking for something to replace my iPad mini and a bit more robust.

The 12" would be perfect but the specs are a bit disappointing compared to SP3 and rMBP 13".

The rMBP is at $1349 minus $100 for having a .edu email and I'm stacking a 10% movers coupon. Not a bad deal.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
No backlit keyboard, Synaptics pen (vs. ntrig) So technically I should've stated that it provides "virtually" all of the capabilities. :)

Those would be deal breakers for me. Synaptics pen hardware is quite bad, I had serious issues with that technology in the Dell venue tablets, Dell went through 6+ revisions of the stylus as users filled message boards with complaints and I don't believe they ever got it right. I love love the backlit keyboard on my SP3, couldn't live without it.

Still, if you are saving money then I understand. Although I think I'd at least prefer the entry level SP3 if I was trying to save money.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I'm looking for something to replace my iPad mini and a bit more robust.
the SP3 is a great machine, if you're looking at something with a better keyboard then the new rMB is a better option.

Do you want windows or do you want OS X, both perform similarly, the battery life on my SP3 is fantastic, lasts the whole day if need be (but then I don't push the envelope) Overall I like what it has to offer.
 
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zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Do you guys recommend this over the latest macbook 12" or macbook pro 13"?

I have both the SP3 and the rMB. Get the Surface if you want the pen. For use as a regular laptop computer, the keyboard and trackpad are head and shoulders better on the Macbook.
 
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sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
Those would be deal breakers for me. Synaptics pen hardware is quite bad, I had serious issues with that technology in the Dell venue tablets, Dell went through 6+ revisions of the stylus as users filled message boards with complaints and I don't believe they ever got it right. I love love the backlit keyboard on my SP3, couldn't live without it.

Still, if you are saving money then I understand. Although I think I'd at least prefer the entry level SP3 if I was trying to save money.
It is possible that the deficiencies of the Synaptics pen technology on Dell devices might be rooted in Dell's implementation (digitizer, drivers, etc.). I'm quite pleased with how well Dell's latest gen pen works on the Acer. For non-Pro use I find it quite pleasant.

It had been about a year between when I traded my Surface 2 in and when I bought that Acer. Considering the growth of sales of SP3 and the introduction of the Surface 3, I wanted to see how much if any the Modern UI app situation had improved.

Buying the Acer wasn't specifically about saving money. I wasn't confident enough that the situation had improved to spend the $950 for an entry level SP3+TypeCover. For $450, I could justify buying the Acer as nothing more than an experiment and then give it away to a friend or family member when I was done.
 

HiDEF

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2010
1,711
395
Miami, FL
BB has the 13" Macbook pro on sale (with $100 off with .edu email) and I have a 10% coupon to stack with it.

Now, I've been looking for a portable solution for quite some time but not sure if I should consider the SP3 over the macbook.
 

David58117

macrumors 65816
Jan 24, 2013
1,237
523
BB has the 13" Macbook pro on sale (with $100 off with .edu email) and I have a 10% coupon to stack with it.

Now, I've been looking for a portable solution for quite some time but not sure if I should consider the SP3 over the macbook.

If you're a student or need pen input then yes..
 
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RickInHouston

macrumors 65816
May 14, 2014
1,457
2,210
I'm DETERMINED to wait for Skylake laptops! I am. You watch me. I'm gonna do it. I'm waiting!

I want to see a 14" Surface Pro (maybe when I see it I won't want one that big) or I'm going Razer Blade 14" (overkill, I know, but that thing is going to last a LONG time for my use. My Dell Adamo was released, what, in January 2009?).
 
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diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,443
2,673
OBX
So I have windows 10. Has anyone else noticed it takes longer to boot now? The login screen also appears to hesitate. I hear there is a day one update, but I am not certain I got it.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
So I have windows 10. Has anyone else noticed it takes longer to boot now? The login screen also appears to hesitate. I hear there is a day one update, but I am not certain I got it.
I don't reboot my SP3, so I can't say if it takes longer. What I do know is that MS will issue an update this version fairly quickly and then offer another some other patches that missed the cut for the initial roll out.
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,443
2,673
OBX
I don't reboot my SP3, so I can't say if it takes longer. What I do know is that MS will issue an update this version fairly quickly and then offer another some other patches that missed the cut for the initial roll out.
I forget why I restarted it this morning, but later today I'll see how it handles coming out of standby/hibernation.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
I'm DETERMINED to wait for Skylake laptops! I am. You watch me. I'm gonna do it. I'm waiting!

I want to see a 14" Surface Pro (maybe when I see it I won't want one that big) or I'm going Razer Blade 14" (overkill, I know, but that thing is going to last a LONG time for my use. My Dell Adamo was released, what, in January 2009?).

My dream also, a 14" pro which is thinner, but has better battery life. I've been kind of disappointed in battery life lately.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I forget why I restarted it this morning, but later today I'll see how it handles coming out of standby/hibernation.
I just rebooted my SP3 (to try to fix an issue with Office) and it booted up as fast as it did under win 8.1
 

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,443
2,673
OBX
I just rebooted my SP3 (to try to fix an issue with Office) and it booted up as fast as it did under win 8.1
Yeah I think it was trying to install updates, cause it booted real fast just a few minutes ago.

Cortana Voice Search doesn't work cause the mic drivers are borked...
 
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