Surface Pro 3

[mgmueller]

Surface Pro 3, i7 256GB 8GB.
Plus the new Type Cover.

First impressions:

The packaging ist identical to the first 2 generations.
I like this kind of consistency.

And briefly a word about logistics: Yesterday I was a bit disappointed, when it seemed I (although having ordered early 3 months ago) would get mine later than when having ordered from a merchant only yesterday.
But now I have to say: Perfectly organized! They always had announced August 28th. But for shipment that is, not for delivery! Very well executed!

Attached you find the first 2 pictures: Size comparison to Surface Pro 2.

Build quality and Design:
I'm a little bit disappointed. The build quality is as great as for the first 2 generations.
But I prefer the design of generations one and two. The back of Surface Pro 3 is the same as for Surface 2 (RT, generation 2). It's nice enough, but I prefer the consistency "all dark" of the first 2 generations.

Powering on.
Interesting! The power on button is on the upper edge on the left. It used to be on the right.
There's certainly a reason for that...

At a glance: Wow! It's slim. It seems (I'll compare later) even slimmer than Surface 2 (not Pro 2, but RT Gen2)!

Pen setup is directly in the initial settings, right after starting the Surface Pro 3.
Just pressing the button of the (battery powered) pen for 7 seconds and "pairing was successful".
The pen is a bit on the ugly side. Reminds me of the pen I've seen on some (I think) Asus tablet a few years ago.

Form factor: The 4:3 ratio vs. 16:9 of the former 2 generations becomes obvious rather quickly. It's more efficient, simply way more text per page. But I've always been a fan (Sony 900 reader, for example) of the wide format, especially (I'm probably in the minority here) in portrait format. I have to see, what I'll actually prefer long-term.

Fixing the pen: Well, that's just stupid!
In the keyboard box you find a loop. You're supposed to glue it (self-adhesive) to your keyboard.
On one hand, I understand the idea behind that: You freely can choose the location of the loop yourself.
But on the other hand, personally I simply don't want to do such things. I want to have it perfectly aligned and such. I'm certainly not gluing it on. Maybe I'll take the pen with me in my suit pocket or something like that.
Anyway, a clear step back from Surfaces Pro 1 & 2. I really liked the way the pen magnetically attached to these...
The power connector is way slimmed now, so probably it wasn't possible to attach the pen there anymore...

Now I'm hearing the fan for the first time, while setting up.
Very calm, on that level it won't bother me at all.

Now, when looking at the start screen: It's really huge. That's obviously a good thing, but I'll have to adjust to that. In comparison to my iPad mini Retina, it's a giant!

I'm not sure about the cover, yet.
There's the oft mentioned fold, to give more stability while typing (although I've never had any problems with the former keyboards).
But of corse this "fold" is in the way when folding the cover back (well, you always can detach the cover, of course). Mechanically, it's working flawlessly. It even might add a better grip, when holding the tablet while the cover is folded back. But I'll have to get used to the looks of the fold, it obviously seems a bit bulkier than before.

I just took up Surface Pro 2, to compare some settings. In comparison, Surface Pro 3 although being (significantly) bigger really appears so much slimmer. Great engineering indeed!

Now I'll install my apps and will play around.
Verdict so far: I won't give up my Surface Pro 2 (yet). I like the 16:9 form factor in portrait mode and when traveling light, it still has its advantages.
Design-wise, there are some "not quite perfect" details on Surface Pro 3: How to fix the pen, the fold of the cover and similar minor details.
But it's hugely fascinating, how Microsoft even could make it happen: Such a powerful machine in such a small package: Unbelievable!

The stand, as has been well reported, is freely adjustable now. Working flawlessly.

Resolution: Does the higher resolution show?
Frankly, I'm the wrong person to assess.
I've never been into this whole "Retina" business.
I don't have the slightest problems with the Full HD resolution of Surface Pro 2.
Surface Pro 3 looks great, that's all I can say...

Just tested the "push the button on the pen and OneNote starts right ahead". Working flawlessly of course. BTW: The pen seems very accurate. This had been one of my minor complaints about Surface Pro 2, especially in the upper left corner of the screen.

The Windows button used to be on the bottom (when in landscape, on the keyboard side). Now it's on the right edge. Obviously, when using the "fold" on the keyboard, it would cover the former position of the button.

Just lifted up Surface Pro 2, to get to the Micro SD card. Unbelievable! Surface Pro 2 feels way bulkier and heavier than the bigger Surface Pro 3.

With the exception of some minors design details (which might only be my personal taste or my being used to Surface Pro 2): Consider me extremely impressed! Microsoft deserves way more recognition for this fine piece of hardware!

BTW: For Surface Pro 2, I've received some vouchers in the box: 200GB (I think) OneDrive and 1 year Skype free hardline calls. No vouchers this time...

The pen is extremely responsive. Seems to be way more practical than the first one from WACOM.

The Micro SD slot is under the stand. For Surface Pro 2, it was on the left side in the open. More protection, but not crucial I guess.

OMG: 1301MB (really: More than 1GB!) of updates. I'll be back in 2 years for further details.
The updates took almost an hour. Quite surprising, having that many updates for a brand-new unit. But if it's doing some good...
During the update process and while downloading, the fan was on most of the time.
It will be interesting to compare: Is the fan on Surface Pro 3 more active than the one on Surface Pro 2, due to reduced size and more powerful processor? On Surface Pro 2, I barely ever heard the fan.

For comparison: 3DMark benchmark (the only one I find for all platforms and pretty much all my gadgets):
(I'm a bit skeptical about the low results of iPad (but there may be some truth to it, in direct comparison iPad is way less responsive and snappy), but the rest makes sense).
14.791 for my iPad mini Retina
13.896 for my Surface 2 (not Pro, the RT one)
15.871 for my Lenovo ThinkPad 8
42.936 for my Surface Pro 2
Surface Pro 1 had been about 10% lower than Surface Pro 2
48.664 for my Surface Pro 3

There are 4 rows of tiles on the start screen (Surface Pro 2 = 3) and you can increase to 6 (Surface Pro 2 = 4).

The pen is incredible! So far, the best I've had on any tablet. Precise and smooth and responsive.

[Kumabjorn]

Notice that you won't be able to use your SP2 pen on the new SP3. So be careful with that new pen.
Try open the same Excel file on both machines, how many more rows and columns do you get?

Thanks for sharing. Seems like you're very happy with it.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Notice that you won't be able to use your SP2 pen on the new SP3. So be careful with that new pen.
Try open the same Excel file on both machines, how many more rows and columns do you get?

Thanks for sharing. Seems like you're very happy with it.

I don't have an Excel-Sheet at hand, yet.
Attached you find this website for comparison.
Vast difference!

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Surface Pro 3, i7 256GB 8GB.

Form factor: The 4:3 ratio vs. 16:9 of the former 2 generations becomes obvious rather quickly. It's more efficient, simply way more text per page. But I've always been a fan (Sony 900 reader, for example) of the wide format, especially (I'm probably in the minority here) in portrait format. I have to see, what I'll actually prefer long-term.

I believe the ratio is really 3:2 which is a bit wider, 1.5 instead of 1.33 while wide screen is 1.77. I think it is a pretty good ratio, more screen area for the same size screen.

Dale

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I believe the ratio is really 3:2 which is a bit wider, 1.5 instead of 1.33 while wide screen is 1.77. I think it is a pretty good ratio, more screen area for the same size screen.

Dale

The Surface Pro 3 is 16:9.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Surface Pro 3 is 16:9.

Wrong! It is 12" (10" x 6.67") 3:2 ratio 2160 x 1440 px. 216ppi multi-touch

Dale

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Wrong! It is 12" (10" x 6.67") 3:2 ratio 2160 x 1440 px. 216ppi multi-touch

Dale

I was incorrect. I was thinking of 2560x1440.

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Fixing the pen: Well, that's just stupid!

I don't care for the pen loop either. i've been trying to pass on this alternative to as many people as possible



it will not in the least have any effect on the screen and it's actually more secure than in the loop, the pen having a tendency to slide right out of the loop if the device is picked up the wrong way down.

[wodin]

If I'm using in tablet mode, as in note taking during meetings I'd want the pen attached to the tablet, not the keyboard (which would be back at my desk).

My Samsung ATIV Smart PC has a pen holster right in the tablet as it should be. Too bad da buggah's so wimpy.

[Kumabjorn]

I don't have one but rumour has it that there is a part of the chassis that is magnetic enough to hold the pen in place.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Wrong! It is 12" (10" x 6.67") 3:2 ratio 2160 x 1440 px. 216ppi multi-touch

Dale

Perfect size to view dslr images in fullscreen without black bars. I wonder if that is the reason for that size? Unless there is other uses that require the 3:2 ratio? Maybe have a full page of pdf in portrait with enough room for navigation along the side?

Edit: mhh, or is that approximately A4 ratio - that would make sense.

Edit2: Oops, not on the long side, but on the short side. A4 page in portrait with enough room of about half inch left on bottom for page navigation. Perfect pdf viewer or any other documents - cropped margins and you can even put it in 100% size.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by wodin

If I'm using in tablet mode, as in note taking during meetings I'd want the pen attached to the tablet, not the keyboard (which would be back at my desk)...

On Surface Pro 2, I rarely detach the cover. It folds back perfectly and doesn't get in the way.
Even when using OneNote, I simply fold back the cover and lay the tablet on the table.
But I agree: Attaching the pen magnetically on Surface Pro 2 had been way more convenient.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I don't have one but rumour has it that there is a part of the chassis that is magnetic enough to hold the pen in place.

The only magnetic area I've found is where the keyboard attaches. And it seems, mainly the clip of the pen is magnetic. It probably would hold in place. But I'd like to see a way, to still use the keyboard and (magnetically) attach the pen.

It's no biggy.
I have the Wacom Bamboo stylus. It didn't attach to Surface Pro 2 either. I simply put it in my suit pocket, when going on a trip.
---> Solvable.

But your scenario would solve, what wodin describes: Leaving the keyboard at the desk. Taking the tablet to a meeting and jotting notes with the pen. And, when needed, attaching the pen magnetically to the tablet.

[palazzo]

I got mine yesterday too (UK) and have no disappointments so far. (Except maybe that it seems unable to cope with 1080p .mkv films.) There was a nasty chemical smell to the keyboard at first, but it soon wore off. Much zippier than my Asus Vivotab Smart ME400 installing programs and loading up web pages. The sensitivity of the screen is much better too and I'm much preferring the screen ratio. The charging port is magnetic btw, and may be where the pen might stick.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by palazzo

...The charging port is magnetic btw, and may be where the pen might stick.

It can stick at the charging port.
But it's extremely flimsy. It sticks with the clip. And the clip doesn't fit the charging port. In some pouch it would be okay. But on its own, I wouldn't trust the pen to keep in place and not getting lost.