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

[bdkennedy1]

All Microsoft did was make it thinner. That's it. It still has the crappy keyboard you have to purchase separately, you can't type on it in your lap, and it still runs Windows.

Microsoft didn't address almost any usability concerns except for the kickstand.

 

[Michael Goff]

I'm really surprised the MS is still using the "compared to X Apple product" in pitching their products. The comparisons simply show how they're not comparing apples to apples, but rather Apple's to MS's.

The duality of the Surface also shows just how compromised Windows is - the Surface really performs better in laptop form when using the keyboard and trackpad - because touch-based use can realistically only be done in landscape mode. Portrait mode is nothing but a mess - which is why they never show it being used that way. It's the wrong shape.

So it's a decent laptop, once you buy the keyboard and additional storage - but at that point you are going to compare to the MacBook Air, which by the way can run Windows and OSX - so that begs the question again - why is MS using Apple as a target?

They did show it being used that way in the announcement.

----------

All Microsoft did was make it thinner. That's it. It still has the crappy keyboard you have to purchase separately, you can't type on it in your lap, and it still runs Windows.

Microsoft didn't address almost any usability concerns except for the kickstand.

I get the feeling we watched different announcements.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Microsoft did really good with their presentation. Very Apple like.

 

[gcbarre]

What a iPad Pro should be.

As a .NET Framework developer I have been considering a Laptop for the programming work I do at home, since I meet the Surface 2 Pro I put it in my wish list. (I already have external monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse) but I was worrying that 4 GB of RAM may not be enough, now I have no doubt my next Windows desktop(docked)/laptop/tablet will be a Surface 3!

The Surface is the perfect blend of an iPad Air with a MacBook Air and this is what an iPad Pro should look like.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Hey I'm not here to knock the device...as a laptop. But if it's going to be compared to a MBA then when mentioning weight it's only fair to include the keyboard cover. Once you do that it's not that much lighter than an Air.

I do find it interesting that Microsoft appears to be going after the Air hard when personally I think their biggest concern should be Chromebooks.

What are you going to say if/when Apple releases the rumored iPad Pro?

 

[Michael Goff]

Microsoft did really good with their presentation. Very Apple like.

I have to agree, that presentation was great when it wasn't buffering or skipping.

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What are you going to say if/when Apple releases the rumored iPad Pro?

Say that Apple finally got it right, and that it will blow away the Surface Pro 3?

I'm calling it.

Then he'll point to sales, and that's IF the iPad Pro sells more.

Because more sales means better, at least when Apple gets more sales.

 

[gnasher729]

I don't think you comprehend the idea of a docking station.

I don't think you can even imagine the depth and width of my comprehension of various subjects.

What Microsoft calls "docking station" are all bits that are already included on the MBA as standard.

 

[karthik2809]

Its not people, Its Microsoft

Before people say the iPad Air starts at $499, the S3 is not meant to compete with it. The S3 is basically a full fledged laptop in tablet form. It targets more of the MacBook Air. So, that's why its $799 and not a lot cheaper.

I dont know about people but MS is comparing this product with iPad as per their marketing. So there's nothing wrong if people try to compare it's price with iPadAir Price.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Actually, could you help me figure out what's so good about the docking station?

It allows you to easily and quickly connect a plethora of ports - usually more ports than even exist on a Macbook(!) with a single connector.

In the Windows world, you can get a Dell Latitude and Docking station. This setup will allow you to plug your laptop into a dock (so it's a single port you have to connect) and you'll go from a mobile laptop to a desktop with multiple monitors, audio, a mouse and keyboard, power cable, and any other peripherals. Im not sure what the current state is, but I know years ago that you could actually add a GPU to the docking station, and use a GPU that sipped power for when you were mobile, and a full size desktop card for when you were docked.

It's a far cry from the 3 ports on a Macbook.

 

[Rogifan]

What are you going to say if/when Apple releases the rumored iPad Pro?

About what? Weight and battery life?

 

[rdlink]

Before people say the iPad Air starts at $499, the S3 is not meant to compete with it. The S3 is basically a full fledged laptop in tablet form. It targets more of the MacBook Air. So, that's why its $799 and not a lot cheaper.

Well, if it's targeting the MBA then you should adjust the price. $929 with the keyboard cover.

Oh wait. If you want to compare it to the MBA, then let's put the i5 processor and the 128GB of storage in it, and then add the keyboard. So, now we're up to $1129 for the SP3, vs. $899 for the 11" MBA, or $999 for the 13" MBA.

 

[jkichline]

Go to the Microsoft Store

You should go to the Apple Online Store.

13-inch : 128GB
Specifications
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
Intel HD Graphics 5000
4GB memory
128GB PCIe-based flash storage1
$999.00
Free Shipping
6, 12, or 18 month
special financing
Available to ship:
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Available for pickup:

Actually, you would have to spend $1129 to get a Surface 3 that's equivalent to a $999 13" MBA. The stock Surface 3 has a Core i3 with 64 GB of storage. You would need to opt for the $999 version to get Core i5 and 128 GB, then add a keyboard for $130. This makes the Surface MORE expensive than a comparably 13" MBA.

So where's that Apple tax again?

 

[Gudi]

Can't wait for Surface 4

Just checked on Wikipedia, four generations of Zune before they gave up. One more and we are through.

 

[0xyMoron]

The future of this is reduced price, trade, cancel.

 

[malnar]

I'm really surprised the MS is still using the "compared to X Apple product" in pitching their products. The comparisons simply show how they're not comparing apples to apples, but rather Apple's to MS's.

The duality of the Surface also shows just how compromised Windows is - the Surface really performs better in laptop form when using the keyboard and trackpad - because touch-based use can realistically only be done in landscape mode. Portrait mode is nothing but a mess - which is why they never show it being used that way. It's the wrong shape.

So it's a decent laptop, once you buy the keyboard and additional storage - but at that point you are going to compare to the MacBook Air, which by the way can run Windows and OSX - so that begs the question again - why is MS using Apple as a target?

Because it blows away the Macbook Air, that's why. I love Apple - I have had multiple iPhones, a Macbook Pro, an iMac, and two iPads - but they haven't done much to address people who want something tablet like AND productive. I bought a Surface Pro because of that, and I love it. It's everything you'd expect Apple to have made, but they haven't and presumably won't for the foreseeable future. Is it perfect? No - it's a little heavy and battery life isn't stunning, but it does EVERYTHING that I want a single (non-phone) device to do (portable, small, touchscreen, pressure-sensitive pen, etc.) I can't say that about anything in Apple's lineup besides the iPhone anymore. I would love to see Apple come at the Surface Pro with something that blows minds, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

$130 extra for a type cover on top of a $799 starting point for an underpowered notebook and an app-needy tablet? No thanks.

Microsoft has done some nice things lately on the software front, but this thing seems like a raw deal. By the time you add necessary accessories you might as well buy a laptop.

 

[zipa]

Why do we care what Microsoft does?

Because we are interested in them?

 

[D.T.]

To meet your lap comment, you should watch the video. The new keyboard does something to help out with it being floppy.

I saw it, it’s an improvement, but I’m talking about even on a desk/flat surface the previous gens were so-so. It’s just the compromise of a cover/keyboard implementation - it’s better than a touchscreen keyboard, but nothing like a “real” notebook keyboard in terms of tactile feel, trackpad response, etc.

It also has the perks of being OEM, the implementation is baked right into the OS, it’s got a lot going for it, even as a compromised solution.

I travel in some circles that tend to get MS products very quickly, so I’m sure I’ll get a chance to give one a hands on (possibly before they even hit retail channels).

FWIW, I don’t really have to be convinced of anything, if it was a product I thought would make my business usage more effective, or my personal uses more fun or convenient, I’d buy one as soon as it was available.

I like our iPad for extremely portable, casual use around the house: reading, running the AV system, knocking around on a few games, email, social, reviewing photos, internet surfing to determine if it’s a good time to surf ... it’s super handy for Google Hangouts and when I’m serious about getting work done, I need my notebook that’s as portable as I need to be on the rare occasion I travel or for occasionally do a little work on the deck

 

[venom600]

then add a keyboard for $130.

That's not a fair comparison. The Surface Pro gives you a stylus and retina class touch screen in lieu of a keyboard and trackpad, so as far as I'm concerned it's a wash since you can't even get those features on an Air. You don't need the keyboard or trackpad to use a Surface unless you absolutely want one.

 

[Cathode]

Until the Surface PRO gets LTE, it won't compete with the iPad. If it gets LTE, the iPad will have a legit competitor. I would buy this if it had LTE.

This. I absolutely require LTE connectivity on my tablet.

They also increased the size to 12" but failed to put in a full-sized SD slot. Seriously? Photographers would have been all over this.

 

[KPOM]

3:2 aspect ratio...

WHY?!

Same as a piece of paper.

 

[SarcasticJoe]

Am I the only one getting suspicious over the fact that they're not mentioning batterylife anywhere in the advertisement? That gives me the feeling they might be doing that do hide the fact that it's not particularly good.

 

[LordVic]

This. I absolutely require LTE connectivity on my tablet.

They also increased the size to 12" but failed to put in a full-sized SD slot. Seriously? Photographers would have been all over this.

well, they probably didn't put LTE connectivity in because why add that to the base cost of the device?

it features a full USB3 port. You could just get a USB LTE dongle for those times on the road (if it's a must). Someting you can't easily add to standard tablets. You either buy them with LTE built int, or not at all.

I do agree on the MicroSD. I have a surface pro 2 and the mSD card is pretty useless, considering my cameras use Compact flash! if I could only find some adapter so I could use a MicroSD in the camera, and then just pop it out, and into the Pro

 

[Michael Goff]

I dont know about people but MS is comparing this product with iPad as per their marketing. So there's nothing wrong if people try to compare it's price with iPadAir Price.

No, they compare the non-pro to the iPad. They compare this to having both an iPad and MBA.

It allows you to easily and quickly connect a plethora of ports - usually more ports than even exist on a Macbook(!) with a single connector.

In the Windows world, you can get a Dell Latitude and Docking station. This setup will allow you to plug your laptop into a dock (so it's a single port you have to connect) and you'll go from a mobile laptop to a desktop with multiple monitors, audio, a mouse and keyboard, power cable, and any other peripherals. Im not sure what the current state is, but I know years ago that you could actually add a GPU to the docking station, and use a GPU that sipped power for when you were mobile, and a full size desktop card for when you were docked.

It's a far cry from the 3 ports on a Macbook.

Interesting concept. Thanks.

Actually, you would have to spend $1129 to get a Surface 3 that's equivalent to a $999 13" MBA. The stock Surface 3 has a Core i3 with 64 GB of storage. You would need to opt for the $999 version to get Core i5 and 128 GB, then add a keyboard for $130. This makes the Surface MORE expensive than a comparably 13" MBA.

So where's that Apple tax again?

I didn't say it was cheaper at every stage. I was arguing against the idea that the base model was more expensive than the 13" MBA. And I did so quite well, using numbers and facts.

It's more expensive, yes, but it also likely cost more to make as the screen (one of my big complaints) on the MBA is pathetic.

 

[solarguy17]

I gotta say, it's pretty dam enticing, until I noted the prices. Yikes!

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.