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Microsoft Announces Intel Atom-Based Surface 3 With Windows 8.1 for $499
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Just played with this thing at the Microsoft store. I was surprised at the speed and general fluidity of opening and running applications. It was better than some Core M Winblows laptops. Crapped all over Celerons and Pentiums. Must be well-optimized. Screen has nice contrast and good brightness levels. Sturdy metal build.
Seems like a decent deal.. until you remember the keyboard is an extra $129. That makes this a $729 hybrid with an Atom processor. Plus, the touchpad scrolling is choppy. The magnetic attachment which lifts at an angle is nicely positioned for typing though.
Seems like a decent deal.. until you remember the keyboard is an extra $129. That makes this a $729 hybrid with an Atom processor. Plus, the touchpad scrolling is choppy. The magnetic attachment which lifts at an angle is nicely positioned for typing though.
Have you ever met someone who's generally pretty smart, knows it, comes across as kinda smary, and has a very calm, rational explanations for why they do some of the stupidest crap in the world?
...actually, I already know the answer to that. You post here. You've probably run into at least 10 people like this by now.
It's odd when you run into people that normally would not do such things. However, there is at least one person that almost never has logic, reason with anything they do.
So you're saying that keyboards are generally free, except when you're paying for a Windows tablet, and since when does $499 plus $129 equal $729.
Oh and this is not the Netbook your mother gave you for your birthday.
What's with the attitude? What does my mother have to do with this? Try responding maturely and I will give you a serious reply.
It was a joke because you couldn't add up, and a Netbook has an old Atom CPU in it.
I think therein lies my apple centric bias
When i compared a HD video on a sp2 vs an ipad, i was not overly impressed, however, this was my subjective view. With the regards to the sp3 display, i have not seen it myself, and was comparing the tech. specs against the ipad - point taken.
In reference to windows 7, i had this installed via bootcamp back in 2011, and really was not impressed. I found it drastically different to previous versions of windows that i was familiar with, vista, XP, and i had became very accustomed to the osx UI. Furthermore, i was not a fan of the revised taskbar.
I'm fairly certain the display didn't get good until the third one. So it might make sense to not be impressed with the second, if my memory serves me.
I can accept the occasional idiosyncrasies. It's when someone is kinda smug about them that drives me up the wall. Like they're carefully and calmly telling me that the Earth is flat in the most condescending way possible.
Like the other day, we were messing around with what's eventually going to become the shop computer for this new CNC machine we got. He wonders off to do something, and I pop a flash drive into it that has some PDFed plans I was gonna show him. I don't move any files from it to the computer. I just plug it in to get it out of my pocket. When he gets back, he sees it, freaks right slap the hell out, and yanks it out of the machine.
Long dramatic story short, I had to explain to him that most flashes drives don't install secret drivers that can mess up your computer, and how I knew exactly what was on it, considering I was using it as a Linux boot drive before reformatting it to pop those schematics on there.
He never believed me. Kept looking at me like I was an idiot while very calmly explaining how I didn't know what I was talking about.
i hate to say i'm a biggit of anything, but i am
I'm liking the surface 3, just due to the stuff Apple lacks, and may finally, and are, slowly catching up (in there own limited way of thinking of course)
No ban to Apple user right
But this is still pretty good..
One day, i may jump ship.... just not today..
I'm liking the surface 3, just due to the stuff Apple lacks, and may finally, and are, slowly catching up (in there own limited way of thinking of course)
No ban to Apple user right
But this is still pretty good..
One day, i may jump ship.... just not today..
Does "Signature Edition" ring a bell? This is a Microsoft device. It doesn't come with pre-installed crapware - unless, of course, you blame Microsoft for pre-installing things like OneDrive or Microsoft Office. But, well, then you would also have to clean your Mac from crapware like iCloud, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand and iWork.
The 1990s called. They want their prejudices back.
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Yes, their way of thinking is so limited that the entire industry has begun copying their design ideas and technologies, it's just that nobody wants to admit it.
Apple builds beautiful hardware, but their software is quickly falling behind. They don't have a solution for their customers when your phones become powerful enough to replace desktops and notebooks. Guess who has a platform for that?
Some people are being a little more than subtle about it.
Gotta admit, it is a pretty good looking tablet.
I know how to add. Most educated people do. I was referring to the 4/128 configuration, which is the model that interests me.
Indeed the Atom is not what it used to be. No processor line can stagnate. But at the $729 pricepoint, this is more expensive than just about every Windows hybrid with similar processing power.
Also, my comments regarding the Surface were more positive than negative, so I feel the anger is misplaced.
Not talking about that........ the "since Apple doesn't have it, you must use an app to do the same thing that Windows just does better." syndrome..
I'm all Apple, but there is curve that MS just makes make sense..(and more direct) with everything regarding the Filesystem, and not just picking at the cake.
But alas, i have bought too many apps to simply start again.
I think a lot of people that remember Windows being slow and bloated most likely had an old mechanical hard disk in an OEM machine made for peanuts and filled with so much bloatware.
Clean windows has always been fast. Always.
Heck, take a laptop from 2005. Take out the HDD and replace with SSD and clean install Win 8.1. This laptop will now suffice for many years to come for lot of people.
The SSD is the single greatest upgrade anyone can give a machine. More so than RAM or CPU power.
These new Atoms are as capable as Core i3 from a few years ago. Which were easily much more capable than Core2Duo, the chip powering the iMac that I'm typing on.
As to the question "Why are they releasing this now instead of when Win 10 comes?".......................................................................what a stupid question. That's like saying "Why did Apple release MacBook now(ish) instead of when 10.11 comes?" They'll both be out around the same time (Sept/Oct).
If I had the money, I'd probably pick up one of these. The vast majority of people don't need the extra power of Core i5 and the like from the Pro line. And on day to day usage, I doubt you'd notice the difference. If my mac can run windows fast as ever on basically ancient technology, then this will be more than acceptable. Remember kids, the SSD maketh the PC.
Clean windows has always been fast. Always.
Heck, take a laptop from 2005. Take out the HDD and replace with SSD and clean install Win 8.1. This laptop will now suffice for many years to come for lot of people.
The SSD is the single greatest upgrade anyone can give a machine. More so than RAM or CPU power.
These new Atoms are as capable as Core i3 from a few years ago. Which were easily much more capable than Core2Duo, the chip powering the iMac that I'm typing on.
As to the question "Why are they releasing this now instead of when Win 10 comes?".......................................................................what a stupid question. That's like saying "Why did Apple release MacBook now(ish) instead of when 10.11 comes?" They'll both be out around the same time (Sept/Oct).
If I had the money, I'd probably pick up one of these. The vast majority of people don't need the extra power of Core i5 and the like from the Pro line. And on day to day usage, I doubt you'd notice the difference. If my mac can run windows fast as ever on basically ancient technology, then this will be more than acceptable. Remember kids, the SSD maketh the PC.
It's funny how you dismiss the billions of Windows devices and users who are out there using their devices right now and claim other devices which have a fraction of the user-base Windows does will be the future.
Windows is the now and future, but that doesn't mean other OS's can't co-exist along side it, but they will always play second fiddle to Windows.
You also need to realise that the iPad now looks like a pretty poor product in comparison to fully featured Windows tablets for around the same money. iPad has it's purpose, but for those who want to get work done, a Windows based device makes sense as it's the better option.
The 2GB/64GB entry model is too small for most users and the keyboard is a must - - the Surface 3 is really competing with ultrabooks more than tablets. Remember, only 23GB of memory are usable on the 64GB SSD. So most buyers will indeed be paying $729 for the fully functional 4GB/128GB version of this machine. That's still a great price for a ~2 lb (1.37 lbs + 0.58 lbs) convertible ultrabook!
There's no crapware installed. I have a SP3, and it came with windows (maybe office, but I was installing that anyways).
Windows 8.1 is different but at least it's been rock solid on all my PC's. Never had any issues with it and the look also fits on a gaming rig much like the XBOX UI.
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Does anyone know if the Surface 3 will allow for storage expansion?
Wait, does SP3 no longer mean Service Pack?
Nope, it means Surface Pro 3, which its been for a while
Bro, Windows 10 is Microsoft basically saying, 'soz guys, we screwed up'
Not sure what there is to like about Windows 8, that full screen start menu just pisses me off to no end.
The official word from MS.
How can I add more storage space to my Surface 3?
A: Surface 3 is available with two storage options: 64GB and 128GB. The built-in microSD card reader is compatible with microSD cards up to 128GB. And it's easy to connect thumb drives and external hard drives for even more storage space with the full-size USB port.
B