You know that saying "third time's the charm"? Seems it's accurate when it comes to Microsoft's experimental Surface series. The firm first launched this category of device with the debut of Windows 8 back in 2012 and it formed part of a push to make the new mobile-friendly iteration of Windows a true hybrid system. Microsoft wanted to prove that its software could work on both tablets and traditional PCs, and that there was a place for a device that fulfilled both these functions.
The idea wasn't entirely accepted, however, due to the first two generations of Surface having a few foibles. But two false starts later and we now have something that seems a bit more refined.
The third-generation machine looks better, runs better and performs better, Microsoft said. And Windows 8.1 is definitely better too, which is perhaps why the Surface 3 is the first hybrid from Microsoft to actually sell in significant numbers –– Surface revenue topped $1 billion for the first time recently.
For even more Surface Pro 3 news, opinion and insight, head over to our sister title IT Pro.
Microsoft attributed this surge in demand to strong interest from students, professionals, and increasingly enterprises for Surface Pro 3.
“Demand for the iPad is waning for three main reasons: a longer upgrade cycle, a lack of compelling new features, and its premium price tag,” reports Fool. “iPhone sales are fairly predictable, thanks to two-year carrier contracts that end with an inevitable upgrade. The iPad, on the other hand, is upgraded in a manner similar to PCs, meaning it is only upgraded upon becoming outdated. Moreover, many customers are handing down their old iPads to family and friends before upgrading, which throttles sales of iPads to new customers.”
“At Microsoft, we believe in the future of mobile computing, and with Surface, we have brought a unique perspective to market that meets the needs of many mobile professionals, businesses, educational institutions and government organisations. Surface Pro 3 is built for work. We hope this post has addressed questions from the business community and we are excited to see how Surface’s presence in the commercial space keeps growing. Thank you for continued feedback and support," said Microsoft on its official blog.
Microsoft has now announced that Windows 10 will be available to download for PCs from July 29. It'll be absolutely free for one year from that point, and if you do update you'll get all subsequent updates for free from then on...forever! The software is coming to PCs specifically from that date, however, it's the first true cross-platform iteration of Windows and will also be coming to tablets (such a the Surface 3), smartphones, and even Microsoft's new VR headset, in due course; although Microsoft hasn't said precisely when just yet. It's the same software with the same app store from one device to the next, and developers will be able to create content that runs seamlessley across devices.
Surface Pro 3 Review: Design & Display
Like its predecessor the Surface Pro 2, the Surface Pro 3 is made from a magnesium alloy--but that’s pretty much where the comparison ends. The Surface 2 was an admirable attempt from the company, but there were a lot of complaints about its specs and hardware designs. Matter of fact, a Microsoft spokesperson told me that the company specifically looked into addressing each and every one of these complaints when designing the Surface Pro 3.
One simple example of this is that many people hated the positioning of the Surface 2’s speakers, which pointed out to the sides. Users said it made sounds tinny and far away sounding. So with the Surface Pro 3 Microsoft repositioned the speakers to be forward facing. And that’s just one example of how Microsoft really seems to have taken the time to address all the issues people had with previous Surfaces.
But before we get to some of the newer tweaks, lets look at the major changes in the Surface Pro 3. For starters, it’s now got a 12-inch ClearType Full HD Plus screen (up from 10.6 inches in the Surface 2). The screen resolution is now also 2160 x 1440. But the biggest change made to its screen is the aspect ratio. Previous Surfaces had a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
A 3:2 ratio is more comfortable to hold plus web pages display more naturally in this ratio (a 3:2 ratio is the same ratio as your standard paper magazine). All that a 16:9 ratio is good for is films.
The new Surface Pro 3 uses a 3:2 ratio. This makes a lot of sense when considering the Surface Pro 3 is a hybrid--sometimes you’ll use it as a laptop and sometimes as a tablet and to do both well requires this new aspect ratio.
Surface Pro 3 Review: Ports & Specs
Because of its new 12-inch screen the dimensions of the Surface Pro 3 have grown in size too. It now measures 292.1mm x 201.4mm x 9.1mm and weighs 800 grams--not bad for its size. It feels exceptionally thin and light when held.
The Surface Pro 3 features a full-size USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, a standard headset jack, a Mini DisplayPort that can output to a 4K monitor, and a port for the Type Cover. Some people will lament that the Surface Pro 3 only has one USB port, but since so many peripherals are wireless or Bluetooth nowadays having one USB port will be enough for a majority of users.
In the connectivity department the Surface Pro 3 offers Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 802.11 a/b/g/n, as well as Bluetooth 4.0. It also comes equipped with a digital compass, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer as well as a front and rear 5MP camera.
The Surface Pro 3 comes in five different configurations: 64GB / Intel i3 / 4GB RAM (£639); 128GB / Intel i5 / 4GB RAM (£849); 256GB / Intel i5 / 8GB RAM (£1109); 256GB / Intel i7 / 8GB RAM (£1339); 512GB / Intel i7 / 8GB RAM (£1649). Keep in mind that those configurations do not include the Surface Pro 3 Type Cover, which will run you an extra £109.
Surface Pro 3 Review: Kickstand & Type Cover
Besides the changes to its screen size, the Surface Pro 3 features some other major hardware redesigns.
First up is its kickstand. The kickstand is something of a signature for the Surface line. With the original Surface the kickstand only had one angle. With the Surface 2, Microsoft added two angles. It goes without saying that the next logical step for the Surface Pro 3 would be a kickstand with three angles, but Microsoft has gone way beyond that and created a kickstand that props your Surface Pro 3 up in almost limitless positions thanks to its new hinge.
There’s no more clicking the hinge in place. Set the Surface Pro 3 up at a 45º angle or lean it back to an almost 170º angle–or anywhere in between—and there it will stay. This is great for those that use their Surface on areas of different height like their desk at work, a plane setback tray, or on their lap.
Another huge improvement with the Surface Pro 3 is its optional £109 Type Cover. The Type Cover is the keyboard that also acts as the lid to protect the Surface’s screen while not in use. Previous Type Covers, while useful, suffered from annoyingly small trackpads that were made of the same material as the rest of the cover. It was hard to tell when your finger was on the trackpad or if it was on the surface around the trackpad. The new Type Cover has fixed all that with a multitouch trackpad that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the cover--not to mention one that is much larger in size.
And just like the new angles on the Surface Pro 3’s kickstand, the new Surface Pro 3 Type Cover now has an extra magnetic latch that allows you to position the Type Cover at a second angle so you can choose what is most comfortable for you while typing. All the improvements Microsoft made to the Type Cover this time around make using the Surface Pro 3 a much more enjoyable experience.
Surface Pro 3 Review: The Surface Pen & Software
The Surface Pro 3 comes with Windows 8.1 Pro. You either hate it or you love it. The tiled interface is growing on me, but I know that is a very subjective statement. But one really cool thing about the software in the Surface Pro 3 relates to its Surface Pen.
Previous Surfaces came with a touchscreen pen, but the pen that is included with the Surface Pro 3 has been completely redesigned. It’s now made of aluminium, which gives it a nice hefty weight in your hand. The tip of the pen has also been redesigned so it gives you a bit of drag on the screen and doesn’t just slide across it like you are ice-skating.
As someone who still likes to write longhand I was surprised how well Microsoft’s touchscreen pen works. Thanks to the above enhancements it really was no harder to write in cursive on the Surface’s screen than it is to write in my paper notebook. Microsoft also got clever with the software interaction between the pen and the Surface Pro 3. Click the eraser on the pen once to automatically launch One Note on the Surface--even if the screen is locked. This enables you to quickly jot down notes without needing to log into your account.
You can also click the eraser on the pen twice to bring up the screen selection tool. Then simply drag a box around the portion of the screen you want to capture and that screenshot will be added to a new note in One Note, which you can then easily annotate by simply writing on the screen.
Both features are simply amazing and--as an iPad user--are features I hope Apple steals for its next-generation slates due later on this year.
Surface Pro 3 Review: Battery Life
Microsoft says the Surface Pro 3 will last “up to 9 hours” for web browsing. That’s not bad when you compare the Surface Pro 3 to other modern laptops--and even tablets. But most of the people who buy a Surface Pro 3 aren’t just going to be using the device to browse the web. This is designed to be a real productivity machine. But using it as such, unfortunately, drastically reduces the battery life.
In my tests of doing Microsoft Office work, some photo editing, web browsing, and listening to music the Surface Pro 3 lasted between 5-6 hours on average at 75% screen brightness. That’s not horrible, but I’m used to my MacBook Pro--a 15-inch Retina display laptop that last up to 9 hours under heavy usage.
Surface Pro 3 Review: Verdict
Ranging from £639 to £1649 (plus £109 for the optional Type Cover) there’s a Surface Pro 3 for almost every budget. Sure the higher-end Surface Pro 3 looks expensive when compared to an iPad, but remember the Surface Pro 3 is not a tablet competitor. It’s for people who want a powerful laptop that also has all the advantages of a tablet.
I wasn’t a fan of the gimmicky original Surface. With the Surface 2 Microsoft made some good steps forward in the hybrid market. But with the Surface Pro 3 Microsoft has hit it out of the park. They’ve got some beautiful hardware design going on in this latest version and some truly stunning software features like those found in the Surface Pen.
While the Surface Pro 3 isn’t going to sway many who may be tied into the iPad/MacBook world, its a no-brainer for anyone in the Windows world who is looking for the best mobile computing device out there.
0 comments:
Post a Comment