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

Michael Goff said:
It's thinner and lighter than a MBA, the lightest and thinnest of the MacBook line. It's slightly more expensive, sure, you have me there.
Click to expand...

It's slightly more expensive, has half the actual storage (and even less when you factor in the OS and all the bloatware that it will come installed with), has half the processor, and doesn't come with a keyboard (!!!). There's no real upside to it. It has 1 extra inch of screen on the Macbook Air and a higher PPI which is fine.

The TypeCover for the original surface's weigh 255 grams, which makes it just as heavy as the MacBook Air. Lol.
 
Dude, it's twice the weight of a Macbook Air ! Please correct article.

Check your basic facts - the Surface Pro 3 is nearly twice the weight of the iPad Air - how could it be otherwise? The iPad Air weighs in at 478 grams, the SP3 at 800.

This is significant, because most reviews I've read who actually HAD SP3s to play with immediately felt it was much too heavy.
 
I gotta say, it's pretty dam enticing, until I noted the prices. Yikes! Still... that hardware looks pretty top notch. Let's hope our favorite fruit company can do something this bold.

Surface Pro 3 Estimated retail price (USD)

Intel® Core™ i3, 64 GB and 4 GB of RAM - $799
Intel® Core™ i5, 128 GB and 4 GB of RAM - $999
Intel® Core™ i5, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,299
Intel® Core™ i7, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,549
Intel® Core™ i7, 512 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,949
 
Think the Surface Pro's are fantastic tablets. I own the first generation. Fantastic for artists and productivity and some light gaming too.

The 3 looks absolutely fantastic especially for what I need to be able to do on a machine. (3D modelling, sculpting and photoshop work)

Its a shame that most people hate on them just because its made by Microsoft. Some people need to mature a bit I guess.

Out of all the companies at the moment I see Microsoft really pushing for alternative ways to do things.

I also own an iMac, iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and I think their great devices too and OSX is second to none however for what I need out of a machine and some of the programs I use only running in windows (3DS Max) the Surface Pro is perfect.

(Yes I know about bootcamp, I use it) but carrying a small lightweight tablet thats basically a powerful PC to do things like sculpt in 3D on the go is amazing to me.
 
Dude, it's twice the weight of a Macbook Air ! Please correct article.

Check your basic facts - the Surface Pro 3 is nearly twice the weight of the iPad Air - how could it be otherwise? The iPad Air weighs in at 478 grams, the SP3 at 800.

This is significant, because most reviews I've read who actually HAD SP3s to play with immediately felt it was much too heavy.


OOPS - my bad - I just saw it was actually a Macbook Air they were comparing the weight too. You can understand how I might have missed that - it doesn't make any sense.
 
cdmoore74 said:
Too bad it's a full blown computer with a real desktop operating system meant to replace laptops. What are you comparing to; a blown up iPhone?
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So basically Microsoft created a laptop to replace laptops. Does Microsoft ever show this device being used in portrait mode or without the keyboard and kickstand?
 
If only...

This does have some nice stuff. For example, it's a tablet that runs a full OS, which unfortunately is Windows. I wish Apple would make a tablet that ran OS X; there are so many programs that I use that will not run on IOS, so I'm excluded from using a lightweight, keyboard-less iPad.

Plus IOS has no file manager; I understand Apple's approach but I still yearn for a real file manager. IOS is nice for it's purposes but it's a far cry from a real full power OS like OS X. Yes, I've tried various pseudo-file managers but I'd really like the real thing.

The stylus isn't a bad idea for graphics applications, which I use. I have a WACOM tablet for my Mac, but there's nothing that really works for the iPad. But you can't run Illustrator CS6 on IOS anyway...

I don't think I'll get one of these because Windows 8 is such a catastrophe, and they can't seem to get Windows right generally, Apple should think about adopting some of the strong points of this effort, however.
 
ri0ku said:
Think the Surface Pro's are fantastic tablets. I own the first generation. Fantastic for artists and productivity and some light gaming too.

The 3 looks absolutely fantastic especially for what I need to be able to do on a machine. (3D modelling, sculpting and photoshop work)

Its a shame that most people hate on them just because its made by Microsoft. Some people need to mature a bit I guess.

Out of all the companies at the moment I see Microsoft really pushing for alternative ways to do things.

I also own an iMac, iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and I think their great devices too and OSX is second to none however for what I need out of a machine and some of the programs I use only running in windows (3DS Max) the Surface Pro is perfect.

(Yes I know about bootcamp, I use it) but carrying a small lightweight tablet thats basically a powerful PC to do things like sculpt in 3D on the go is amazing to me.
Click to expand...

People don't hate on them because of the Microsoft thing, people hate on them because they're just too much of a compromise in certain ways. 800g for a tablet (presumably without the keyboard cover) is still entirely too heavy. As a laptop that's terrific, not as a tablet. So Microsoft continues to build these half assed computers that just aren't EXCELLENT at any one particular thing.
 
$100 more than the 11" MBA, same price as the 13" MBA.

Except the MBAs come with a free keyboard and trackpad ($130 value), a free docking station ($200 value) already integrated, and better battery life.
 
cdmoore74 said:
Too bad it's a full blown computer with a real desktop operating system meant to replace laptops. What are you comparing to; a blown up iPhone?
Click to expand...

It doesn't compare with an iPad or a laptop. I'm glad Apple makes both iPads and Macs. This thing is unlikely to do what either an iPad or a Mac does in either a more reliable or easier manner.
 
...

gmanist1000 said:
$1949 + $130 type cover = me opting for a retina MacBook Pro instead.
Click to expand...

Exactly. There are some nice features, but I am surprised at the price of the high end i7 Surface Pro despite some laptop components inside. I suppose that's due to "seeing" a tablet when I look at this, despite 'laptop' mechanics under the hood.

Shrugs.
 
XboxMySocks said:
It's slightly more expensive, has half the actual storage (and even less when you factor in the OS and all the bloatware that it will come installed with), has half the processor, and doesn't come with a keyboard (!!!). There's no real upside to it.
Click to expand...

eb-compare-free-space-macbook-surface-v3-620x361.png


Source:
http://www.zdnet.com/surface-pro-ve...eing-dishonest-with-storage-space-7000011009/

No bloatware will be coming with this, not that we know of. Half the processor?

13" MBA with i5 and 128gb storage? 999$.
12" Surface Pro 3 with 128gb storage? 999$ Keyboard? Likely about 100-130$. You got me on the price point.

The upside has to do with the fact that this is meant to replace both your laptop and tablet. It might not be for you, but don't pretend it isn't for anyone.
 
FlyGuyDEN said:
When I saw the guy shilling this thing HUG IT on stage because its "personal" i could hear SJ laughing his ass off from beyond the grave.

Microsoft, BLESS THEIR HEARTS. They try so hard over there.

#iPadAirforthewin
Click to expand...

Did you really just use a hashtag outside of Twitter/Facebook/Instagram?
 
jdiamond said:
Check your basic facts - the Surface Pro 3 is nearly twice the weight of the iPad Air - how could it be otherwise? The iPad Air weighs in at 478 grams, the SP3 at 800.

This is significant, because most reviews I've read who actually HAD SP3s to play with immediately felt it was much too heavy.
Click to expand...

The article mentioned the MacBook Air, weighing in at 1.080 grams.

This doesn't negate the fact that the Surface 3 with the TypeCover weighs 1.055 grams. So, the same :p
 
jdiamond said:
Check your basic facts - the Surface Pro 3 is nearly twice the weight of the iPad Air - how could it be otherwise? The iPad Air weighs in at 478 grams, the SP3 at 800.

This is significant, because most reviews I've read who actually HAD SP3s to play with immediately felt it was much too heavy.
Click to expand...

your basic facts are wrong... heed your own advice.

Macbook air weight (Per Apple store):
11" 1.08Kg, 13" is 1.35Kg

both are higher than 800g that microsoft is claiming the Surface Pro 2 is.

the iPad air is lighter, the 478grams. But this isn't being compared to the iPad AIR. Which, is a siginificantly different product than the prior mentioned MACBOOK airs that the comparison is done against.
 
mengel said:
Why does everyone keep saying "Compared to what?" Compared to a MBA of course. For $30 cheaper you get an 11" MBA with the same battery life, an i5 processor and twice the storage running OSX. Sure you lose out on 1" of display and it is marginally heavier. Compared to that, it is expensive.

Compared to a 64 GB iPad where you actually get most of the 64GB, it is maybe a wash. Window washing... I don't know, see what you can do with that.
Click to expand...

You're conveniently forgetting that Apple still continues to use the same substandard TN screen that was barely passable from 2010...

While I assume the surface pro is using an IPS 2160x1440 display.
 
I love my iPad Air, but we also own 2 Dell Venues and well, if MS can work out software kinks - they are headed in the right direction.

This is appealing - especially with the Photoshop updates.

It is currently outside of my budget, but to be honest, i'm excited about the direction of laptops merging with tablets.

Do I wish it ran OSX? Heck ya... of course that translates to me not being able to afford it either.
 
XboxMySocks said:
It's slightly more expensive, has half the actual storage (and even less when you factor in the OS and all the bloatware that it will come installed with), has half the processor, and doesn't come with a keyboard (!!!). There's no real upside to it. It has 1 extra inch of screen on the Macbook Air and a higher PPI which is fine.

The TypeCover for the original surface's weigh 255 grams, which makes it just as heavy as the MacBook Air. Lol.
Click to expand...

Also, forgot to say that the new TypeCover is thinner. It only makes sense that it would be lighter as well.
 
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