Microsoft Announces Intel Atom-Based Surface 3 With Windows 8.1 for $499

[kodos]

I don't know about dumping the iMac, I can see using this in addition to the iMac. The iMac is just too powerful, and has a larger screen to give up on it totally imo.

My wife is about ready to throw her iMac out of the window unfortunately. I probably need to wipe it out and clean it. It has become slow as molasses. It is a 2009 model and had the hard drive recall. Lots of bad memories with this machine, and now the spinning beachball of death has been popping up since we've upgraded to Yosemite. If I had known, I would have never bothered - but I'm too into upgrading OS's especially when they are free :-D

I plan on giving her my 27" monitor that I use now with my Surface Pro 3 when I get my 30" monitor for my Surface Pro, that way she'll have a larger monitor. I'll get her a docking port eventually if she likes the Surface 3 enough to get a dedicated dock.

Like I said - for what she does, I don't think she uses 1/10th of the CPU power of the i7 in the iMac. Plus, I think having a SSD will impact her more than having a faster CPU.

 

[Zeos]

With the Surface 3, Microsoft ensures they have the entire market covered.

While the Surface Pro 3 was more of a competitor to ultrabooks rather than tablets directly due to the higher specs and higher price, the Surface 3 looks squarely aimed at iPad/Android tablet buyers and in my opinion they've nailed it.

I've never been excited for a new release of Windows before, but I'm genuinely excited for Windows 10.

Indeed. Our company has paused iPad purchases pending a full evaluation of the Surface 3 line for mobile and remote use. Our IT folks are pumped about Win 10 and are starting to rethink Apple in the enterprise. If Apple loses in the enterprise, it will be back to being a cute novelty for artistic home users and a few media pros. Once the Apple watch pops the stock price for a few days, it may be time to sell. And once Microsoft figures out the ecosystem, Apple will be toast.

 

[cfedu]

I can stand criticism just fine, I'm doing nothing more than showing the fallacy of your claims. What you can't stand is someone saying something positive about a non-Apple product, or maybe you're only like this when someone says something good about MS/Windows? Like your reply below to someone who said something favorable about the Surface 3



I'm far from worked up. I find it amusing that all you've done in this thread is reply to positive comments about this product with unfounded negativity... Or to put it more simply... Ignorance.

Yup I agree 100%, He does not ever see the complete ignorance in almost all the posts he makes. Attacks people making unbiased opinions just because they talk about a non Apple product in a positive way.

 

[NATO]

People forget Microsoft are cool these days

 

[Euge]

Yes! that can run windows graphics apps with a digitizing pen! Now you've got it!

That's exactly my point. Have you read my previous posts? Your statement you "can run windows graphics apps with a digitizing pen!" applies to both their failed tablet in the early 2000s and the Surface. Why would the Surface be a success when, other than technology, it's not much different than what they did over a decade ago.

 

[Steve121178]

FYI they dumped the touch keyboard. It is now an actual physical keyboard that is also backlit. It offers a nice typing experience for the type of device IMO.

That's the device I'm talking about. I thought it was really poor and the touchpad woeful...

 

[johnnyturbouk]

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.

Thanks, that explains why I was less than impressed with the SP3, compared to the pad airs, and to be honest, i certainly scoffed at the first SP - call it my myopic apple bias,
Their lacklustre and corny advertising did help either.

However, over time, I think i have grown a little more tolerant towards the SP. I am know in a position were i managed to sell my ipad3 recently for a very good price. I hated my experience with the nexus 7, and have tried many android phones, concluding it is not for me. The SP3 may entice me to jump ship, but will i miss the retina screen, icloud, ipad apps, and generally the seamless integration between my devices?

 

[Renzatic]

That's exactly my point. Have you read my previous posts? Your statement you "can run windows graphics apps with a digitizing pen!" applies to both their failed tablet in the early 2000s and the Surface. Why would the Surface be a success when, other than technology, it's not much different than what they did over a decade ago.

The idea isn't different. The implementation is.

 

[Col4bin]

Surface Pro is every bit as good in the "build quality" department as Macbook anything. Hate on Microsoft all you want but the SP3 is an absolute BEAST of a machine. It can, quite literally, replace any high end laptop on the market. I can see many business going the way of it due to the portability of it. I work for a fairly big contractor and IT is already beginning to roll out SP3's for Project Managers and Field personnel.

I have a Macbook Pro and a Surface Pro 3. Nine times out of Ten, I grab my SP to do work in the office or travel.

I'm not hating on Surface Pro 3 at all. But in all seriousness, it's build quality is not even comparable to anything produced by Apple—regardless if it's a "beast of a machine", or not. (And even worse, it runs Windows.)

My main point being is that when Apple introduces a similar product to the Surface Pro 3, and it will happen soon, Apple will blow the competition out of the water.

 

[Liquorpuki]

That's exactly my point. Have you read my previous posts? Your statement you "can run windows graphics apps with a digitizing pen!" applies to both their failed tablet in the early 2000s and the Surface. Why would the Surface be a success when, other than technology, it's not much different than what they did over a decade ago.

I had a Fujitsu P1510d back in the day and everything was totally different

• Most touchscreens were resistive
• Tablets back then were convertibles. Slates didn't become synonymous with tablets until the iPad
• Windows Tablet OS was just the same desktop XP with a touch overlay
• Wasn't much you can do with the pen other than handwriting recognition and drawing directly into Office

Back when the SP1 came out, I was saying its success would hinge on leveraging the x86 software ecosystem to make the iPad look like a toy. Like everyone else I thought RT was dumb. Only reason it existed was so MS could have their foot in the door if ARM won the ARM vx x86 war, but Apple was already miles ahead with its ARM ecosystem. Well now RT is dead and MS is all in on x86.

 

[maflynn]

I'm not hating on Surface Pro 3 at all. But in all seriousness, it's build quality is not even comparable to anything produced by Apple—regardless if it's a "beast of a machine", or not. (And even worse, it runs Windows.)

Do you own one?

I do, and to be honest, I do find the build quality to be rather high. Nothing is perfect and Apple's MBP line has it share of issues. I'm not hating on the MBP, I still own one, but the SP3 is a solid computer that imo equals the MBP quality.

----------

My main point being is that when Apple introduces a similar product to the Surface Pro 3, and it will happen soon, Apple will blow the competition out of the water.

Apple won't be releasing a similar product (tablet that runs a full blown OS) because that will impact their iOS and laptop sales. Apple has too much to lose and too little to gain from such a move.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I'm not hating on Surface Pro 3 at all. But in all seriousness, it's build quality is not even comparable to anything produced by Apple—regardless if it's a "beast of a machine", or not. (And even worse, it runs Windows.)

My main point being is that when Apple introduces a similar product to the Surface Pro 3, and it will happen soon, Apple will blow the competition out of the water.

In reading your reply, it sounds like your main point is to be negative against Microsoft and Windows, really...A Macbook has great build quality, but the Surface Pro 3 does also, and for you to make it a black and white comparison shows your bias against anything Microsoft.

 

[niun]

I'm not hating on Surface Pro 3 at all. But in all seriousness, it's build quality is not even comparable to anything produced by Apple—regardless if it's a "beast of a machine", or not. (And even worse, it runs Windows.)

My main point being is that when Apple introduces a similar product to the Surface Pro 3, and it will happen soon, Apple will blow the competition out of the water.

I have to disagree here. It's a superbly built device. Very solid. Very clean and the kickstand is genius. It's easily as good as anything Apple has produced recently.
If you want to rag on the touch cover then, yeah it's not great and too bloody expensive.

Also, I really do question this whole iPad Pro move. I can't see Apple kicking iOS and making OS X touchable.

 

[Dmunjal]

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.

I'm sure the iPad will be fine. What the Surface does do is kill the Android tablet market. Why would I spend $500 for a Samsung tablet when I can buy the Surface and get so much more?

 

[mdelaney123]

Tried Out the Surface 3 Today

I went to the Microsoft Store today. They had four Surface 3's to try out. I tried the base 2GB/64GB version.

- The tablet is light and very well build. Feels high quality.
- Screen was beautiful. Nice resolutions, colors, clarity, etc.
- Programs loaded FAST... It was like using a high-end laptop.

I loaded Word, Excel, Powerpoint (All with documents in each), IE, and the Photos app... I opened three different web pages in IE. I was able to task switch instantly... I windowed Excel and Word... Highlighted and dragged info from one to another. No problem, no slowdown...

Again, this was on the base model with 2GB of RAM...

I walked away VERY IMPRESSED.

I currently use an iPhone 6+, iPad Air, 27" iMac, and more... Since Tim decided to drop iPhoto and Aperture, I was forced to move my entire photo library to Lightroom... Now I have no real hook to keep me on an Apple platform... I have tried using Lightroom mobile on my iPad and it is just to limiting and frustrating... But I can EASILY see me using the Surface 3 to run the full version of Lightroom and just merge the library's when I am home...

I also tried the Pen and loved it...

 

[Liquorpuki]

Also, I really do question this whole iPad Pro move. I can't see Apple kicking iOS and making OS X touchable.

They can't do it

iOS is Apple's idea of the perfect ecosystem. Commodity software that drives hardware sales. Apple barely makes $$$ off software so they don't care that the app store is mostly commodity crap with a ton of IAP and ads that nobody would download if it was priced at $9.99 instead of free

They're pretty much married to ARM when it comes to mobile. They do an x86 switch, they'd be disrupting a platform that contributes to 50% of their bottom line

Which is why w/ the iPad Pro, all Pro means is bigger screen

 

[Monique1]

I do find the build quality to be rather high. Nothing is perfect and Apple's MBP line has it share of issues. I'm not hating on the MBP, I still own one, but the SP3 is a solid computer that imo equals the MBP quality.

I bought 6 of the Pro 3's for our office to replace aging Lenovo's. Nothing but accolades from their owners. Me? I prefer a smaller footprint so I use a 10 inch Thinkpad tablet. 4GB RAM, instant docking to a 24" monitor, mouse, keyboard and no issues with the Bay Trail CPU so this 10" MS offering is intriguing. I just think 12" is too big for a tablet which is why I passed on the SP3.

Gave away my 2011 MacBook. (Still going strong BTW). Also switched from iPhone to a cheap Windows phone. Love Apple's engineering... just chose not to be part of this overpriced walled garden mentality any more. Not to mention, the disparities of iOS vs. OSX kept me using 3 devices. Now I'm down to just 2.

And those that say 64gb isn't enough... I'd have agreed with you a year ago but not so much now. With MS throwing free terabytes of cloud storage around like it's growing on trees I don't miss local storage one bit. I have a 128gb micro SD card in my tablet and haven't touched it.

 

[SuperNova2150]

Neither a decent tablet nor a decent notebook IMO, but they are persisting. Apparently analysists are claiming they will in time capture a fair chunk of the tablet market, which really shows you that people are not so smart and junk sells if you advertise enough.

Have you even used one? No? Then your opinion doesn't count.

 

[zhenya]

I'm sure the iPad will be fine. What the Surface does do is kill the Android tablet market. Why would I spend $500 for a Samsung tablet when I can buy the Surface and get so much more?

I agree. The iPad is just too good of an appliance to ever be totally killed by Microsoft. Even with my SP3, I still use my iPad a lot - it's just a better reader, a better light Internet browser, a better music device, a better kitchen counter device. And the battery life is in a different realm. Android tablets are a lot closer to the Surface in all of those features, so I expect they will largely die out.

 

[mdelaney123]

I went to the Microsoft Store today. They had four Surface 3's to try out. I tried the base 2GB/64GB version.

- The tablet is light and very well build. Feels high quality.
- Screen was beautiful. Nice resolutions, colors, clarity, etc.
- Programs loaded FAST... It was like using a high-end laptop.

I loaded Word, Excel, Powerpoint (All with documents in each), IE, and the Photos app... I opened three different web pages in IE. I was able to task switch instantly... I windowed Excel and Word... Highlighted and dragged info from one to another. No problem, no slowdown...

Again, this was on the base model with 2GB of RAM...

I walked away VERY IMPRESSED.

I currently use an iPhone 6+, iPad Air, 27" iMac, and more... Since Tim decided to drop iPhoto and Aperture, I was forced to move my entire photo library to Lightroom... Now I have no real hook to keep me on an Apple platform... I have tried using Lightroom mobile on my iPad and it is just to limiting and frustrating... But I can EASILY see me using the Surface 3 to run the full version of Lightroom and just merge the library's when I am home...

I also tried the Pen and loved it...

Forgot to mention... It had ~48GB free. MS States that you can add 128GB via MicroSD, more via USB.

 

[niun]

I think we can all agree that the only thing that can kill the iPad is Apple.

 

[Dmunjal]

I agree. The iPad is just too good of an appliance to ever be totally killed by Microsoft. Even with my SP3, I still use my iPad a lot - it's just a better reader, a better light Internet browser, a better music device, a better kitchen counter device. And the battery life is in a different realm. Android tablets are a lot closer to the Surface in all of those features, so I expect they will largely die out.

Besides, who needs an Android tablet when you so many Android phablets to choose from?

I think the smartphone market is a two-horse race and the tablet/laptop market will merge with Windows and iOS/OSX making up the two largest players.

Apple had a chance to kill Windows with the iPad if they just added some more productivity capabilities to iOS instead of keeping the same limited feature set as the iPhone.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Forgot to mention... It had ~48GB free. MS States that you can add 128GB via MicroSD, more via USB.

It's one reason why I'm considering the SP3 for my creative work using the stylus for sketchbook pro or using manga studio pro.

 

[mdelaney123]

I think the smartphone market is a two-horse race

I agree with you right now, but Microsoft seems to be making all the right moves to change that under Windows 10. The fact that I will be able to buy a game (or any program) on my phone, and have it run on my Surface, my Desktop PC, and my Xbox One, including the ability to pickup right where I left off from one divide to another... Is HUGE.

Time will tell. It looks exciting.

 

[bkkcanuck]

Microsoft overselling device - it is a tablet...

If people approach it as a tablet and don't try to run applications that were really written for a laptop or desktop it may be an ok device. My fear is that Microsoft may be setting themselves up for a fail by overselling the new Surface 3 as the solution to everything. The base configuration is probably going to suffer due to slow processor in addition to lack of memory for many applications, which may be mitigated to some extend by flash memory (though I will wait to see if they are using SSD equivalent flash or some slower version used in tablets).

A lot of windows users attacked the new Macbook (which is meant as a laptop) because the new processor was too underpowered. The base CPU used in the new Macbook is the M-5Y70 which probably is probably within striking distance of the last revision of Intel processors used in the last revision of the Macbook Air. Not the most powerful processor, but with the extra memory (8GB) and fast SSD it should be sufficient enough for it's target audience.

This device is actually powered by a processor that is a notch below the new Macbook processor. It is a processor meant to be used in tablets (price around $20 / CPU vs $220+ for the Core-M) and priced that way. Based on the top performance marks for the Lenovo using 5Y70 vs the first few tests on the new Atom x7-z8700 (top of the line Atom CPU).... The Atom x7 - with all 4 cores test at around 79% the performance of the M-5Y70. Single core performance tests at 39% performance. Most applications are mostly developed to ONLY use a single core - which means that the performance benchmark for typical applications are 39% that of the 5Y70.

Microsoft may be setting themselves for a failure by over-selling the devices capabilities.