Surface Pro 3, or the like?

[PoorMansCamaro]

Anyone here have any experience with the SP3? Good or bad reviews? recommend something better? Looking for something that will be used for school work, video presentations, etc. I know a desktop computer would be the best, but like the versatility of the tablet style system. Not sure if there's anything else out there that's better, or just as good. oh, and would like to stick with Microsoft programs because of school. thanks in advance!

[trodecke]

There are several reviews in Youtube about it. Here's one of the better ones;



The new 3 with the larger 12.2" screen really does look good and with an i5 proc and 8GB of RAM, it should be able to do just about anything you'd want it to do. The drawbacks are it's expensive when compared to other tablets. That's why Microsoft tried to compare it to the Macbook Air rather than other tablets when they rolled it out earlier this year. Also, while the type cover is better than previous models, it's still a fairly flimsy piece of plastic that can bend on you if you type hard like I do. If all you need it for is to type a quick paper or modify some things, it's OK. I just wouldn't want to spend 8 hours a day typing on it.

Dell has some nice tablets that are less expensive than the SP3 but they don't have one with that size screen with that resolution yet.

If I hadn't dropped $800 on a new tablet last year I'd be interested in the SP3.

[f5journal]

I got the Surface Pro II when it came out. I like it. I needed something that could run MS Office

[PoorMansCamaro]

ok, thanks guys. Will probably pick this up very soon.

now to decide if I want the i5 or i7. also, if I need more than 128gig of storage, when I can use an external drive, if it gets full...

[GoldCartridgeGamer]

I loved the SP2 when it came out and played with it for a week before I handed it off to one of my employees. I have a hard time recommending it though because of it's price. I can get one heck of a laptop for that price.

[f5journal]

I agree that it is pricey...............you have to want a tablet over a laptop to justify it. It will do what other tablets will not do though.

For example....I did my taxes via Turbo Tax and I have the full Microsoft Office on mine.

[PoorMansCamaro]

Price is a little steep, but it just doesn't seem like there's anything else like the surface pro 3. Which sounds like exactly what i'm looking for. Light, small/thin, cool new tech, etc. plus my job will help a little.

with a laptop, I feel like they are/will be too clunky, and would just be used for school work, while I use my ipad/phone for other things. with the SP3, it's almost like an all in one type thing. After done with school for the day, I can continue using it as a tablet.

[menendez1293]

I personally have the Surface Pro 3 in my house and honestly I would not purchase one for myself. They are extremely over price, uncomfortable to use on anything that is not a table, the touch button is in a horrible place since I put my hand there, it only has one usb port, there is no where to place the pen they include, and they included a Micro SD card slot in the oddest place possible when it could have been a normal SD.

I just had to get a second one yesterday because the touch screen stopped working 13 days into ownership. It is a nice device and well made, but is to overpriced for my likes and has some things I don't like. I will say that I have used all versions of the Surface for extended periods of time and the three is worlds better than the previous generation in my opinion.

My recommendation for something that runs a full copy of windows, has a decent build quality, and can be used as a tablet and a laptop would be the Dell XPS 12. Used one long term and in my opinion blows the surface out of the water in almost every category I look for.

If you have any questions about, feel free to ask. I have the Surface Pro 3 i5 128GB/4GB of Ram.

[GoldCartridgeGamer]

True the SP3 is a true multi-use device. I myself would like one, but hard to drop money on it at that price when I can get a laptop that blows it's screen off. I have nothing else against the device though!

[menendez1293]

Also I will note that iFixit (A company that tares apart devices as they are released) could not manage to take it apart without breaking the screen. Microsoft has decided to use sticky tape instead of traditional screws to hold the screen in like previous generations. This means that if you are someone that doesn't mind taking their device apart when something needs to replaced you are out of luck with the Surface Pro 3.

[PoorMansCamaro]

i'll look into the xps 12

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by menendez1293

I personally have the Surface Pro 3 in my house and honestly I would not purchase one for myself. They are extremely over price, uncomfortable to use on anything that is not a table, the touch button is in a horrible place since I put my hand there, it only has one usb port, there is no where to place the pen they include, and they included a Micro SD card slot in the oddest place possible when it could have been a normal SD.

I just had to get a second one yesterday because the touch screen stopped working 13 days into ownership. It is a nice device and well made, but is to overpriced for my likes and has some things I don't like. I will say that I have used all versions of the Surface for extended periods of time and the three is worlds better than the previous generation in my opinion.

My recommendation for something that runs a full copy of windows, has a decent build quality, and can be used as a tablet and a laptop would be the Dell XPS 12. Used one long term and in my opinion blows the surface out of the water in almost every category I look for.

If you have any questions about, feel free to ask. I have the Surface Pro 3 i5 128GB/4GB of Ram.

We've resold a number of XPS12 convertible tablets to some local doctor's, and they love them. I like them too, spending quite a bit of time on them prior to deployment.

The cheapest XPS is ~$1000 and isn't quite as slick as the SP3. I would also hedge a bet that the flip screen lock on the XPS12 eventually breaks with enough turns. On the other hand, I'd rather deal with Dell for support than Micro$oft anyday. Extended 3 year warranties from Dell are a must with such a fragile and complicated device, further increasing cost but giving the product a longer life span for support.

[menendez1293]

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

i'll look into the xps 12

It's a great little device. Just so you know, Microsoft gives a 10% discount on the Surface 3 for all Students (K-12 and College/University). I purchased mine at BestBuy and they price matched the Microsoft Online store. All in all the 128GB I5 with the black type cover came out to $1,100. tax in Tallahassee is 7.5% so it could be cheaper or more expensive depending on sales tax in Vegas.

[menendez1293]

Originally Posted by stoopid

We've resold a number of XPS12 convertible tablets to some local doctor's, and they love them. I like them too, spending quite a bit of time on them prior to deployment.

The cheapest XPS is ~$1000 and isn't quite as slick as the SP3. I would also hedge a bet that the flip screen lock on the XPS12 eventually breaks with enough turns. On the other hand, I'd rather deal with Dell for support than Micro$oft anyday. Extended 3 year warranties from Dell a must with such a fragile and complicated device.

That was one of my initial concerns too with the XPS12 too. I have used them for demo units (Work in ISS) and also use them during pre-deployment. In the year and a half that we have had them here, there hasn't been a single one break. Guess time will tell for sure though.

The only reason I purchased the Surface 3 was because my Dad needed a mobile device that ran a full copy of Microsoft windows, and also ran a full copy of Microsoft office that had a rear facing camera. I was unable to find anything else with the rear camera so the Surface it was. If it wasn't for the rear camera requirement, we would have gotten the XPS12.