Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft Introduces Thinner Surface Pro 3 with 12" Display Starting at $799
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Hats off to Microsoft!
I watched the presentation and I am really impressed. The last time I found a piece of hardware so compelling was when Apple released the MacBook Pro with retina display nearly two years ago.
Microsoft has just released the product everybody was expecting Apple to release. The iPad Pro, the MacBook Air/iPad hybrid, the iOS/OS X merge... nothing of this happened yet. At least not in the form of an Apple product.
It was impressive how much attention to detail Microsoft put this time. A lot of effort indeed. Even more effort than Apple seems to put in its own products. When Apple released the iPad Air last year, I thought it was a nice improvement, but the bottom line was that the product was thinner and lighter, and better overall. Now, the Surface Pro 3 is a major leap forward, and a very ambitous product.
I watched the presentation and I am really impressed. The last time I found a piece of hardware so compelling was when Apple released the MacBook Pro with retina display nearly two years ago.
Microsoft has just released the product everybody was expecting Apple to release. The iPad Pro, the MacBook Air/iPad hybrid, the iOS/OS X merge... nothing of this happened yet. At least not in the form of an Apple product.
It was impressive how much attention to detail Microsoft put this time. A lot of effort indeed. Even more effort than Apple seems to put in its own products. When Apple released the iPad Air last year, I thought it was a nice improvement, but the bottom line was that the product was thinner and lighter, and better overall. Now, the Surface Pro 3 is a major leap forward, and a very ambitous product.
How does a tablet function when hooked up to a keyboard and mouse that makes it different from a notebook? I thought the OS and internals were what made it different, not the form?\
If you put a keyboard on a Surface Pro? It does work the same as a laptop.
That is true. It does make the MBA look bad with no touchscreen, no detachable keyboard, no hires display, no digitizer support...
OK. Surface Pro - able to run a proper OS. iPad Air - not able to run a proper OS.
Surface wins.
Elephant in the room..
Core i3 ..
Processor Fan..
9.1mm Thin.
12inch Display Hi res..
Whats the battery life.. 20 minutes...?
Core i3 ..
Processor Fan..
9.1mm Thin.
12inch Display Hi res..
Whats the battery life.. 20 minutes...?
Sadly, this thing could dispense bacon and back rubs ... but since Microsoft made it, people here hate it.
----------
They're touting 9 hours. :|
----------
They're touting 9 hours. :|
Is the term 'laptop' not just a general term these days? Everyone knows that it's not advised you use a laptop on your...lap...anymore.
Note that this is the MacBook Air running OS X. But, more importantly, note that the Surface's headline-priced unit (the one with the i3 anemic processor) gets 64GB of storage, which means ~32GB of usable storage after the OS; the headline-priced MacBook Air ($100 more than the headline-priced Surface Pro, although it includes all the accessories you pay extra for in the Surface) has 128GB of storage, leaving you three times as much usable storage after the OS.
I'm a little leery of Bott's numbers there (I'm not sure what he's including in the Macbook Air's "OS and Apps" calculation, but it seems much larger than on my Macbook Pro), but even if he is 100% correct, you are still dealing with a lot less storage space on the Surface.
As a piece of hardware this thing is amazing ! but is crippled by Windows 8. If Apple can put ALL of the hardware of this in the next iPad USB and Stylus plus a file system, then I can replace my work laptop.
Also the guy doing the main presentation I cant remember his name, but he was talking real sense which is rare for MS tbh and think he is very wasted there.
Also the guy doing the main presentation I cant remember his name, but he was talking real sense which is rare for MS tbh and think he is very wasted there.
How on earth does it create issues?
I've owned both a Thinkpad Tablet 2 (with silo) and a Surface Pro. It's one thing when your .19 bic gets misplaced and you can pick up a new one in any store, office, or school anywhere in the world. It's quite another when your $30 special order stylus goes missing.
they're claiming that the i3 through i7 will be a fanless chassis design (though i'm curious how they've managed it with the "core" internals)
9.1mm thin is pretty impressive for a laptop.
and they're claiming 9 hours battery. which is a little off the 10" Surface Pro 2 (i'm able to get 10+ hours currently in power saving mode in windows)
Well, its not by Apple but I love my Logitech bluetooth keyboard for my regular sized iPad.... typing this message right now as a matter of fact! It's not a soft shell case but it's a wonderful alluminum keyboard that protects the front glass perfectly.
You're all over this thread keeping people and their perceptions (which they perceive as fact) in check. Fighting the good fight, keep it up.
And Apple fans, I am not saying this because I am "bashing Apple", but because when competitors products come out this place turns into a giant RDF.
First, I don't think the SP3 is meant to compete with the iPad. This point has been argued back and forth in this thread both ways. Jury is still out. However, with the different screen, different storage, different CPU, and vastly different OS, any comparisons are inevitably subjective.
Second, the SP3 is definitely more expensive than a Macbook Air. At the high-end: a 13" MBA with Core i7 8GB RAM and 512GB storage is $1750; the same spec-ed SP3 is $2080 ($1950 + $130 keyboard cover); SP3 costs nearly 20% more. At the low-end: a 13" MBA with Core i5 4GB RAM and 128GB storage is $1000; the same-spec-ed SP3 is $1130; SP3 again costs significantly more. Subtract about $100 from the price of either MBAs if you opt for the 11" version.
Sure the very low-end i3 SP3 is cheaper; but that's not really a usable computer. With only 64GB of storage, we know from current SP models that the usable space will be about 20GB because Windows takes up so much space. So is $800 for a tablet with only 20GB of space really a good deal? Not at all! (for rough comparison, the 32GB ipad has ~30GB of usable space for $100 less).
Third, again looking at the high-end, the SP3 i7 8GB 512GB is only ~$200 cheaper a full fledged 15" Retina Macbook Pro, i7 8GB 512GB with dedicated graphics and all.
Spec for spec, I think it's tough to say the SP3 is a better deal than any Macbook.
Processor fan...?
The verge notes the presence of a processor fan...
some sites say note..
Does it really have one?
The verge notes the presence of a processor fan...
some sites say note..
Does it really have one?
At first I was excited about the 12" size, but when I saw the price points, and what it takes to get 8GB RAM or a 256GB drive, I thought, "I'd rather have a MacBook Air."
My prediction: in 20 years, somebody will sponsor a dig in a Nevada desert to find the landfill where these are all buried in.
My prediction: in 20 years, somebody will sponsor a dig in a Nevada desert to find the landfill where these are all buried in.
I manage fine with the Surface Pro 1 doing the tasks I mentioned. I could do even more with the SP3 with more power. More complex models and rendering.
I don't use the Surface as a primary device to do all those things, but being able to edit or do some tasks on the go is great.
I tried using my MBA on my lap once, playing a game.
Really, it's a trade off.
For 1129$, you get a tablet-top with a great screen, decent battery life, the ability to be a tablet (obviously) and the ability to run Windows well along with Microsoft's software support.
For 999$, you get. Laptop with a mediocre screen, good battery life, no tablet abilities (obviously), OS X, and poor Windows drivers.
My guess, by the way, is that he's including the things that are pre-installed on OS X. If his numbers are accurate, that's a whole 2gb or so.
----------
Thanks ... I think.
A touch screen laptop does not make a for a great tablet or a great desktop. One reason why Apple does not integrate both. Until someone finds a way to make both a seamless experience it will probably be terrible.
If you mean Windows 8 being a proper operating system a lot of people will disagree with you. Their interface still needs a lot of work IMO.
Have you actually used one, or are you just basing this off what Apple said?
Also, W8 is very much a proper OS. :|
Agreed! I find it intriguing. Laptop specs but in a tablet! Many here have been saying "yeah the iPad is nice but it can't replace my computer".
Well, depending on how this S3 runs this device could be your tablet and replace your computer. But because it's Windows many won't even give it a fair shake.
I don't think average consumers will see the value in this.
I'll stick with my ipad air and imac combo
I'll stick with my ipad air and imac combo