Microsoft Introduces Thinner Surface Pro 3 with 12" Display Starting at $799

[TWSS37]

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.

I wouldn't because this isn't RT; it's Windows 7 with a touch UI overlay. 9 times out of 10 I'll go right to the desktop, but there's plenty that Windows 8 does right when using the Metro UI, too.

The problem is that it was forced onto users - which I am sure you and I both fully understand - and frustration set in. When I got my new laptop with Win 8 preinstalled, I made myself learn and understand the nuances. It literally took 20 minutes.

 

[racer1441]

12 inch retina MacBook Pro or air better be coming at WWDC. The 11 inch air screen is garbage and the 13 pro is heavy.

This makes me very excited for WWDC. More people innovating will push Apple.

 

[jkichline]

Innovation?

Great product from Microsoft - glad to see one company innovating the way we use devices and thinking outside the box...

Apple - your turn to innovate with something new ......

So innovation is making something thinner, lighter and a slightly bigger screen then? That's what Apple has been doing all the time and nobody calls it innovative. The best Microsoft is doing is playing catchup... just before WWDC.

Now don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful piece of hardware and they are moving in the right direction, but I don't think it's enough to sway me or other consumers away from iPad or a MBA.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Have you actually used one, or are you just basing this off what Apple said?

Also, W8 is very much a proper OS. :|

I've tried such laptops and generally don't care for them for that very reason. I'm saying the graphic interface needs work. Under the hood its more efficient. But if you have to fight with the interface or harder to use, alienates its users, then it needs work.

 

[Technarchy]

I like it.

The problem being my MBA is working perfectly and I have no good replace to replace it at this time.

I will be replacing my iPad R-Mini, but the price of the Surface is to large to replace such a small casual device.

I'd like to buy one though. Just have to see where it all fits in in terms of use and budget.

 

[Michael Goff]

I've tried such laptops and generally don't care for them for that very reason. I'm saying the graphic interface needs work. Under the hood its more efficient. But if you have to fight with the interface or harder to use, alienates its users, then it needs work.

Ah, so it's really because you can't use W8.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

i really hate these tablet hybrids. it's too heavy, too big for me to take this seriously. i'd readily admit, my ipad is a gaming, app discovery machine, not productivity. i like my laptop for that, more powerful, better battery life, more options.

i guess i just haven't have had to a reason to blend both together in any way.

 

[2457282]

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.

I have seen a lot of cases and nothing wrong with the one you are using. However, the bulk and weight added plus the Bluetooth gives me pause. I am hoping for something lighter and thinner and that integrates automatically. Like the current covers they just work, no setting needed. At home my apple keyboard and track pad also auto pair with nothing needed from me. That is what I am looking for. But if the new ipad does not include one I may indeed go with something like the Logitech. I am ready to donate my ipad 3 to my wife.

 

[crsh1976]

So innovation is making something thinner, lighter and a slightly bigger screen then? That's what Apple has been doing all the time and nobody calls it innovative. The best Microsoft is doing is playing catchup... just before WWDC.

Err, let's be honest here : Apple gets called innovative all the time for making thinner, good-looking products. Sure it isn't Apple per se and very much the media that are misusing the expression, but still.

Now don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful piece of hardware and they are moving in the right direction, but I don't think it's enough to sway me or other consumers away from iPad or a MBA.

Whether we like it or not, I don't think the main idea is to sway Mac users away when they're such a small pool of consumers - remember, Windows is the main player in the market and the main struggle lately at MS is correcting all the piss-poor decisions the original Windows 8/Surface launch has done to hurt their own market shares.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Ah, so it's really because you can't use W8.

Its pretty common knowledge millions don't like the new interface either. It was an attempt to get its users adopted and interested into their Surface tablets.

Should of made Metro as a downloadable add on.

 

[sflomenb]

Doesn't seem helpful. Just a device that is not as good as either the iPad for tablet functionality nor MacBook Air for laptop functionality.

 

[KPOM]

What's wrong with the price? It's basically $100 cheaper then the MacBook Aur with half the storage and no keyboard. That price isn't outrageous. If Apple made a MBA without and Keyvoard it would be about the same also.
These prices are pretty good and actually making the SP3 competitive with the ipadAir rather then then MBA. I mean a ipadAir with 64gb is $699 and the SP3 is argue able more usable and bigger screen for only $100 more.

It's somewhat apples to oranges since Windows uses more space than iOS. That said, this is the nicest Surface Pro yet, and it could position well against the rumored 12" MacBook Air with Retina Display.

 

[bigjobby]

3:2 aspect ratio...

WHY?!

Rather that than 4:3.

 

[KPOM]

Huh.

You learn something new every day.

Not exactly the same, but close. They compared it to using a notepad.

 

[Michael Goff]

Rather that than 4:3.

I'm a huge fan of 16:9 or 16:10

Not exactly the same, but close. They compared it to using a notepad.

That comparison makes more sense now.

Thanks.

 

[jamesryanbell]

I used my friend's Surface 2 recently, and couldn't believe how unfriendly it was. (UI)

Just personal preference. If it's still running the same UI, no thanks.

 

[Menneisyys2]

3:2 at last? LOVE this aspect ratio. So much better than even 16:10.

 

[CFreymarc]

Translation: it’s our 3rd swing ... hopefully this isn’t a strike

Follows the old line "Microsoft needs three releases to get it right." I'm holding back my option til I see this and if it still supports the Win32 API.

Microsoft is in no position to move away from their legacy API as their developer base has shrunk drastically over the past five years.

Palm tried to their their PalmOS developers under the bus, state the next generation apps are only in JavaScript and that killed them.

 

[Michael Goff]

Its pretty common knowledge millions don't like the new interface either. It was an attempt to get its users adopted and interested into their Surface tablets.

Should of made Metro as a downloadable add on.

"It's common knowledge" is never a meaningful thing. It used to be common knowledge that the world was flat and that the sun revolved around it.

It's somewhat apples to oranges since Windows uses more space than iOS. That said, this is the nicest Surface Pro yet, and it could position well against the rumored 12" MacBook Air with Retina Display.

About 2gb more.

Whatever will people do without that 2gb of space?!

----------

3:2 at last? LOVE this aspect ratio. So much better than even 16:10.

Could you pleas explain to me the benefits of 3:2?

 

[Menneisyys2]

3:2 aspect ratio...

WHY?!

Because many of us, who also need vertical screen estate, prefer it to 16:9 or even 16:10.

 

[gorkt]

This is interesting. I have an iPhone and iPad, but I would rather have this than an iPad air if I were looking for a laptop.

 

[Menneisyys2]

Could you pleas explain to me the benefits of 3:2?

More vertical screen estate.

 

[linuxcooldude]

3:2 at last? LOVE this aspect ratio. So much better than even 16:10.

I think this was a good move too. A wide ratio on a smaller tablet seems too limiting.

Doesn't seem helpful. Just a device that is not as good as either the iPad for tablet functionality nor MacBook Air for laptop functionality.

I think it will be appealing to a niche market and be useful to them, but not as a run of the mill tablet for everyone.

 

[CFreymarc]

Ah, so it's really because you can't use W8.

W8 is an UI initially designed for big screen televisions and motion tracking input. It is not meant to be on a desktop or a any other WIMP style UI.

This code base had a girdle tied on and dropped into a virtual memory environment with poor consequences.

Windows 9 or whatever they call it will fix this.

 

[Menneisyys2]

This is interesting. I have an iPhone and iPad, but I would rather have this than an iPad air if I were looking for a laptop.

Yup, this is, after all, a full x86 device running heavyweight graphics / programming apps not available for iOS. And also supporting Wacom pens, also not supported by the iPad.