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

[KPOM]

Impressive price point.

Let me admit my bias up front: I despise Microsoft. I literally passed up the chance to walk across the street and hear Bill Gates speak.

That said, I have to admit: These folks are persistent.

I guess I can admire the marketing tenacity without admiring the product or the company.

With Apple's ipad largely failing to meet the productivity needs of professionals, a device such as this can fill the void for those of us needing full-fledged software. iPad's are still the superior choice for families and casuals.

With an Atom processor, 2GB RAM, and full-blown Windows taking up lots of that 64GB storage space, it's not likely that the $499 model will fit the bill.

That said, Microsoft is definitely committed to the "one OS for everything" strategy, and the technology is getting there to make it possible. With iPad sales stagnating but Mac sales rising, it will be interesting to see how Apple moves forward with both lines. They still seem opposed to merging the two (Windows 8.1 still isn't particularly elegant), but the iPad Air 2 has a processor that isn't being taxed by iOS in its current form.

 

[rgeneral]

Nah, the line turned profitable with the SP3. And they have given OEM's enough margin to compete. Most OEM Atom tablets are below $300.

I do not agree. How does OEM compete with Microsoft when they are marketing it like crazy. Most OEM are happier to sell chromebook if they can. No need to pay the Microsoft Tax. Basically people buy windows because office runs better on it. The true monopoly is office.

 

[KdParker]

Looks like a good deal for a lap top that is used for some light bookkeeping and web surfing.

Good laptop replacement.

 

[Carlanga]

If you can dual boot OS X on this, I would want it.

It has an atom processor. I think you can hackintosh the pros though.

 

[kometen]

I believe you nailed it with the following quote.

What's that Einstein saying ... insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

regards
Claus

 

[Renzatic]

My main issue with these new non-Pro Surface 3 devices is the price point, they're too expensive for what they are, even if the screen and general build quality is a big improvement over those lowly $200 laptops.

I dunno. It's got a lot more generalized oomph than an iPad, and has a better quality screen and build quality than most of the other Windows tablets in that price range.

Like the new MB, it's priced well for what it is when you consider the competition.

 

[69Mustang]

{snipped}
For example, take your summary, "the tablet usage is a kind of a bonus on top of it being a very light laptop." By removing the words "very light", I can say the same thing about Microsoft tablets from the early 2000s: "the tablet usage is a kind of a bonus on top of it being a laptop."

I don't believe it now being "very light" will change the industry -- or having a cool keyboard, or having a stylus.

It could have been as simple as MS introduced a product the market wasn't ready for yet. The technology and market are in a better place now.

So what do you think Apple could do to: "This is why I believe if Apple did something similar, it can potentially disrupt this market again." ?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Is the pen and digitizer the same as the Surface Pro 3?

If so, artists are going to FLOCK to this thing.

 

[2010mini]

Why didn't they release this with windows 10?

 

[numlock]

I think the biggest issue with this is the ad video. Microsoft completely failed to sell this thing - it essentially just lists all the features.

Then the show the pen...highlighting some text. Really? Show someone in class, taking notes with charts and graphs. I can highlight things on an iPad with my finger.

Then they show off the USB3 port and Mini-Display Port. The average consumer looking at buying an iPad doesn't care about those things...but they would care about being able to plug their camera in directly, or charge their cell phone. Or plug in to their TV. They highlight the 8MP camera...show someone making a Skype call. This is too simple.

And finally the kickstand, which is actually a really nice feature, and they just show the hinge...show someone actually using it!

It is like they created this product, but don't know who to market it to.

its one ad and the future ones will probably be more feature specific.

the average ipad user experiences one time or another the downside of not having a usb port. display port obviously not as much

 

[Wordman]

1 month after I spent $1000 on my surface pro for work. It's a much better machine, but $499 is a great basic deal. But when all is said and done, I hate windows.

Me too. Impressed at what they're offering for the price hardware-wise here. But it runs Windows - deal-breaker. Now if that machine ran OSX, I'd have my wallet in my hand. For me, Apple's operating system is the jewel in their crown, not the shiny hardware.

 

[Ploki]

It would be a fair point if it didn't weigh less than the new MacBook. Apparently neither of you watched the video. The weight was listed.

It's easy to look up. It weighs 1.37lbs, or 0.63lbs lighter than the new MacBook.

Thanks! Yeah guilty as charged, I'll look it up.

 

[macduke]

I've been running for about month now with an Acer Aspire Switch 11... Core i3 tablet, 4GB/128GB, active digitizer, fullsized USB 3.0 on the tablet, 2.0 on the included keyboard, microSD, microHDMI, separate charging port. $449 at the Microsoft store.

I'm very impressed with the package. It confirmed to me that what I want in an iPad Pro is going to be very helpful. I prefer OSX/iOS over Windows but software for the modern UI Windows 8.x has come a long way and the experience is only going to get better with Win10.

The Surface 3 for $499 is a decent price that will draw some attention.

Yeah, I much prefer OS X over Windows. For me it's always more about software than hardware. Although I greatly enjoy the aesthetics of Apple hardware, what it comes down to for me is will this tool work for the work I need to do? It has always been a bonus for me that Apple stuff is really great looking and usually longer lasting.

I held out for the iPhone (never bought an iPod, or start wanting one til around 2005), I've been holding out for the Apple Watch (and might still continue to do so, undecided), and I'm holding out for the iPad Pro before making the switch to something non-Apple. I'll give it until the end of 2016. Although honestly I'm considering switching things up.

My current setup: iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, 15" rMBP
My future setup: iPhone 6S, iPad Pro/MacBook (new one), 5K iMac or low-end Mac Pro with 4K

I want something more portable as I don't care much for the Plus, I want something that can handle a bit more than my iPhone which is already pretty powerful when I'm on the go, and I want something really powerful on my desk at home when I really need to get down to work or do some Steam/bootcamp gaming.

Something like the new MacBook would be perfect if you could flip the screen around and it would convert the OS into touch-optimized mode while using a pressure-sensitive drawing pen. I love sketching on my iPad but it's always such a chore with the current crop of pens disconnecting, having wavy lines, etc and I also like to kick back and relax while editing photos on a tablet. If I was any less patient I would definitely try out the Surface 3 4GB/128GB, but I just upgraded my iPad last autumn and the 2GB of memory really helped over the old models. It just needs a bit more functionality. Honestly the Adobe apps catching up would go a long way towards me not wanting a more full-blown machine for my more casual use.

 

[LordVic]

Absolutely! I didn't say anything to the contrary, and I completely agree with you. My point was not meant to discredit Windows.

my apology for reading more into it then.

I think what Microsoft has done is fantastic, allowing at least core functionality of computers that are older to still operate while using the latest version of their operating system.

as I've mentioned, I regularly use a few different OS's. Despite liking Yosemite, the system requirement creep is starting to feel more akin to Vista than a fleshed out and efficient un*x based system. I haven't experienced much in the way of bugs, which at least is nice and fortunate. But the performance, especially on older hardware is not desirable. 2gb is completely insufficient for Yosemite (though better than Mavericks).

Though, my own bias creeps in here, as I'm apposed strongly to the "throw away" mentality that Apple often wants to push. I'm of firm belief that if the hardware itself is still physically running, it is still usable. and as long as it meets the minimum physical requirements of that software, it should be allowed. no artificial software measures should be imposed to prevent operating if they cannot justify why that requirement was set.

A bad example from this ocured during the OSx Mountain Lion to Mavericks migration, where Apple decided to arbitrarily stop all support for 32bit EFI's in their bootloader. Tus removing the ability for software upgrade to many older machines. While these machines featured full 64bit CPU's and technology, removal of this support meant these machines were now out of software support completely. Upon investigation, there was absolutely zero hardware technical reason to stop supporting this. There was nothing in the 32bit efi that posed any limitation to the software. Apple just said "we're done, tough luck". I am fundamentally opposed to this corporate thuggery by ANY company.

 

[KPOM]

It's easy to look up. It weighs 1.37lbs, or 0.63lbs lighter than the new MacBook.

It's also about balance. A notebook has weight distributed more evenly.

I'm surprised that Microsoft hasn't offered a Surface keyboard option that holds the Surface in place (like the Logitech keyboards for the iPad). That would make it more of a convertible.

 

[Serban]

For so called not demanding users this will be an ok hybrid.
From a tablet weight perspective welcome back to the original iPad
From a laptop point very nice weight but not so powerful/future proof/screen real estate (10")

And i think from storage perspective, 32 gb available for the user is a starting point of a 2015 smartphone

 

[thering1975]

For those that harp on about ram not being enough to run windows this is not true. PCPRO mag reviewed two budget tablets in the uk with windows 8.1 bing on 1gb ram and gave them top marks. Windows 10.1 should improve this further so 2gb ram with the atom processor they are using means this will be a competent tablet for where they are aiming it at. Those two tablets also came with one years free subscription to office 365 all for £90. So i am sure these surfaces will hoit the sweet spot for those that want a small light device to create some good office content.

I would buy one to compliment my macbook and then i could manage my servers with them as opposed to firing up vmware.

 

[Piggie]

YThere is a reason why Macs run OS X and the iPad and iPhone run iOS.

Yes there is, but not the reason you think.

The real reason is it's never been possible to get enough computing power running for any length of time on a battery in a very slim case that can run OSX.

Do you really think Apple would of bothered creating a low power OS if iPad's had always been as fast as Mac Pro's?

I always said what are Apple going to do in many many years to come when mobile chipsets in the iPad get so powerful that they can finally run a proper operating system

Will they always hold it back and keep the device crippled, even when it does have the power, or bring out a touch friendy version of OSX so you can finally run proper applications on your tablets.

 

[chrisrosemusic1]

Very good price point, I've been looking at the Surface for a while for a future solution, but I'll wait until Windows 10 is live. Still, nice to see MS doing some decent price points to draw people in.

 

[Piggie]

I think the biggest issue with this is the ad video. Microsoft completely failed to sell this thing - it essentially just lists all the features.



It is like they created this product, but don't know who to market it to.

Perhaps they should of copied Apple then?

Give people about $20,000 or additional hardware and show them what the device can do when used by industry pro's with all additional hardware to aid them?

 

[69Mustang]

Nah, the line turned profitable with the SP3. And they have given OEM's enough margin to compete. Most OEM Atom tablets are below $300.

Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I do not agree. How does OEM compete with Microsoft when they are marketing it like crazy. Most OEM are happier to sell chromebook if they can. No need to pay the Microsoft Tax. Basically people buy windows because office runs better on it. The true monopoly is office.

I think you missed the point Liquorpuki made when he mentioned the OEM's get to sell essentially the same hardware for less; typically in the $300 range. If MS were looking to hurt the OEM's they could have intro'd the S3 at $299 instead of $499. That give's the OEM's room to breathe. Surfaces are reference machines for OEM's as well.

 

[Renzatic]

It's also about balance. A notebook has weight distributed more evenly.

To put it in a tablet perspective, that 1.37 pounds is very slightly lighter than the 1.44 pound iPad 4, but not as light as the 0.96 pound iPad Airs.

It won't be breaking anyone's arms.

 

[KPOM]

This is where the iPad should have already evolved too... aside from minor speed bumps and making thinner, there reallt hasnt been any innovation in the ipad since retina.

I want the new macbook (2015) logic board in an ipad shell and screen for $499

With Apple's ipad largely failing to meet the productivity needs of professionals, a device such as this can fill the void for those of us needing full-fledged software. iPad's are still the superior choice for families and casuals.

As much as Apple has resisted it, I think if they add a file system (even a partially "sandboxed" version) accessible to external storage and apps, that would solve a lot of the "productivity" issues. Office for iPad is quite good. What's annoying is having to connect to the cloud or use iTunes or a third party app like Imazing to load and unload files.

 

[Narcaz]

It's very impressive for the price. The Atom processors are not slow and underpowered, quite the opposite. Baytrail, which is the previous generation processor, runs photoshop, MS Office, etc quite nicely. Heck it even runs some modern PC games in low settings. Cherrytrail is a significant improvement.

Chromebook...LOL. Yeah right. We're talking about a FULL windows PC here versus chrome. I didn't realize 1920x1080 was low resolution?!! Doh? Not to mention the screen doesn't detach into a tablet, there is no digitizer/stylus, it's much heavier and thicker, etc. This one is a no brainer.

Finally don't forget the incredible quality of the surface line. The magnesium housing, the full USB 3.0 port, the incredible kickstand which NO one has replicated yet, the keyboard which is pretty awesome for how small, thin and light it is, etc etc. Quality counts for something, otherwise we wouldn't see so many paying for ipads and Apple products.

Nice summary, but it couldn't be emphasized enough what FULL Windows really means (even in Tablet Mode) e.g. Multiple User Accounts, Access to Filesystem, Split screen Option, True Multitasking, Ad Blockers, Pen Support etc. Oh you noticed it?! This sounds a lot like the iOS 9 Wishlist Thread. And on top you get hardware ports. I hope Apple manages to bring some of this notebook functionality to their iPads.

 

[KPOM]

To put it in a tablet perspective, that 1.37 pounds is very slightly lighter than the 1.44 pound iPad 4, but not as light as the 0.96 pound iPad Airs.

It won't be breaking anyone's arms.

People complained about how heavy the iPad 4 was. Once Surface gets down below 1 pound (maybe with the Surface 5) it will be a lot more comfortable to use.