I liked this until I suffered sticker shock. The top of the line is almost $2,300 with tax. The cheapest is almost $1,000. What is Microsoft thinking? Who would buy these at those prices?not your average Joe, that's for sure. They can't even sell a million Surface2's for $300 a pop. Go to ebay and see what surface 2's go for, and tell me how they expect to gain any traction by tripling the price.
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Microsoft Introduces Thinner Surface Pro 3 with 12" Display Starting at $799
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Cheapest is $800, same as a 128GB iPad except you get a $200 Haswell chip instead of a $20 ARM chip along with other stuff like an active Digitizer
And ARM based Surface 2's and RT's go for $300. This is a Haswell based Pro version
No, you don't have to appreciate anything. But like said, it is a damn shame that people are petty enough to judge something by its manufacturer instead of the actual product.
EDIT: Also, what the heck is an "Apple enthusiast"? A blind fanboi who disses anything that's not Apple? I thought that I was an "Apple enthusiast", since pretty much all my and my wife's gadgets are iToys, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the Surface for what it is, and acknowledge that it is better than anything Apple has to offer, mainly because Apple doesn't offer anything like it, but still.
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Probably because it is about documents and not videos. 16:9 is awful for documents.
The product is essentially the same, if it's anything that will change things this time around it's the lower cost core i3 entry level model. So what evidence do you have that this is occurring based on brand?
The evidence that it really is about the product, is Surface 1 and Surface 2, or is that also because of brand? If that's the case then Microsoft has bigger problems.
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Surface 2 is an ipad competitor. Surface Pro 3 is a macbook air competitor. That's the reason for the differences in price. One is ARM like the ipad and one is Intel like the macbook air.
True. The percentage of iPad users that also use a laptop on a daily basis is under 50%. If you count the number of folks who tote around a tablet and laptop, that number is less than 10%. Very misleading. I'm embarrassed for Microsoft for throwing a slide like that up. Maybe they meant 96% of tech reporters.
A 10" 16:9 display doesn't really cut it for me in desktop use or portrait mode tablet use, whereas 12" (albeit 4:3) has been my preferred choice in laptop screens since, well, back when they actually had 4:3 screens in laptops. And it works well in tablet use as well, both orientations.
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I'd like to see those, too.
You are misquoting. he did not say we have to appreciate the Surface Pro 3. He refers to new tech.
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Well said.
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Zipa's comment is about this thread and threads like it that are heavily strewn with anti Microsoft comments rather than a discussion on the product. Same if the thread was about an Android product. Interestngly there are many positive comments on the SP3, made by Apple enthusiasts/fans.
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Fair comment, but your reasons why will add to the discussion.
Not really, he said "it is a damn shame that people are petty enough to judge something by its manufacturer instead of the actual product." insinuating that people aren't seeing the product for what it is, but perhaps it's he who doesn't see the product for what it is.
I dug up this, 91.3% use a tablet and a laptop. 8.7% use a tablet to replace the laptop
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242867/Few_use_tablets_to_replace_laptops
iPad wise, its weighted as consumption more than creativity. You can create, but who wants to live on an iPad typing many documents, spreadsheets, design? Its ideal for those on the run, or on holiday. Consumption rules on an iPad. A laptop with full OS, file system, mouse is much better for creation. Those who surf and read emails, can easily replace with an iPad or other tablet. Many do a lot more.
Originally Posted by zipa View Post
No, you don't have to appreciate anything. But like said, it is a damn shame that people are petty enough to judge something by its manufacturer instead of the actual product.
The product is essentially the same, if it's anything that will change things this time around it's the lower cost core i3 entry level model. So what evidence do you have that this is occurring based on brand?
The evidence that it really is about the product, is Surface 1 and Surface 2, or is that also because of brand? If that's the case then Microsoft has bigger problems.
Zipa was talking about the criticism in this thread of the SP3 based on brand, i.e. Microsoft haters. Your comment appeared to be about the Microsoft brand, I assume as a brand. Two different contexts.
Of course the context was the new Surface, same context. Why is only criticism of the product viewed as being based on brand, any favorable things said about it should also then be based on brand, i.e the people who are saying positive things about it are Microsoft fanboys.
How about actually looking at the post I was replying to:
If that is not manufacturer bias, then what is?
And I see the product exactly for what it is: something that fits my needs very well and will allow me to be more productive at work.
And for the record, not liking it because one does not like Windows is quite alright. It is very limiting, but I know that people are like that. A relative of mine will only ever drive Renault cars. I guess that's one less decision to make in life, but I still prefer getting what works best for me, period. Not what works best for from Brand X.
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Well, if the critisism is "it runs Windows" or "it is made by Microsoft", I really don't know what else to call it than based on brand?
What if you have criticism of Windows 8, or think iOS or Android for that matter is a better fit for a tablet. I haven't seen anyone make comments about it "being made by Microsoft", if there is one (no need to quote) then I would agree.
No, not same contexts. If a user likes the SP3 as he is a Microsoft fanboy or Apple hater, thats dumb. If a user hates SP3 as he's an Apple Fanboy and Microsoft hater, thats dumb.
If any praise or negativity is based on rational reasons thats fine. Thats what forum discussion should be about. Maybe the hardware is pretty damn good, but alas, I don't wish to use Windows, cool. If the hardware is pretty damn good, but the tablet mode is too big, or the cost is too high, fine, thats discussion. Discuss the product for what it is, praise or criticise it for what it is.
Lastly to decide that the comments here that are saying positive things are Microsoft fanboys is a wild assumption. Rational people who don't use Microsoft at all, or much can appreciate a good product. How good a product it is or isn't, or what challenges or faults it has can be discussed here
The short story for this sub topic, is the value of fanboy comments, from both sides. Compared to Apple fans or enthusiast comments, who are clearly biased, but can appreciate positives and can also put forward negatives based on their opinions on the tech.
Then you have sorely misunderstood the product. It's biggest (well, one of the main features) feature is that it is able to run all those enterprise Windows applications. It doesn't matter if one likes Windows or not. That is what is used in the Enterprise, so that is what a machine like this needs to run.
Sure, I'd like to have this running OSX with Windows on VMWare and a compatibility layer for iOS, but unless Apple actually makes such a thing, this is the "king of the hill" as far as productivity tablets are concerned. Again, in part due to it being the only one in this category.
You made an assumption about the intention of my post, I told you it's the same context. But it doesn't really matter because zipa referred to the post he replied to, I read it and can see how my post wasn't really warranted. Perhaps we can let zipa defend his own posts?
That's not what I'm saying, I'm saying it's an equally silly assumption as negative comments must be from Apple fanboys. But at least that would be consistent.
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I've been told the same for version 1 and 2. My point then and now is that the product is a compromise, if you need a laptop you will get a better laptop by getting a regular laptop. It's the dual nature of Win 8 and this product that ends up being a compromise.
You mentioned brand discussion, thats cool, but my comments were based upon brand comments from fanboys. I assumed your comments were brand as in brand. Factor in this is all getting confusing!
Could well be. Can it feel like a normal laptop, and a normal tablet? It possibly can. The specs are suitable for laptop, and a bit over specced for a tablet. Its light, thats good. I haven't looked at the pricing much, but I'd compare a MBA and an iPad as my comparison to an Apple equivalent. The other issue is its one device, I can have my rMBP doing stuff while I have a beer out back, in the sun, using the iPad Air. A hybrid is a laptop OR a tablet.
A positive with how Windows manages the two OS's is that they exist on one platform. As if OSX had an iOS screen. But both companies have different business models, Apple is hardware and apps, Microsoft is software and apps. Apple won't want me to buy one device when I can buy two. If the price was similar then they could be happy I buy an Apple hybrid. My Apple hybrid would be a real screen less MBA and a real iPad as the screen