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Announcing the Surface 3

blog.surface.com

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Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#41

Post by Throwaway1224 »

Someone1234 wrote: post #30

I own a Surface Pro 3, and when I first got it I'd describe the experience as just mediocre. However Microsoft has been aggressively updating the software as has Intel, and as a result of those effects the SP3 has really stepped up and is now quite a good little tablet/ultrabook combo. I only have two remaining concerns with the SP3: My i5 version continues to get extremely hot near the middle of the device (e.g. whe…

I'm confused... You say you own "a Surface Pro 3" but MSFT is only just announcing "the Surface Pro 3". Some other people are saying they own a Surface Pro 3.

How can this be? It's too early in the morning for this...

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#42

Post by geerlingguy »

Actual product page: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/products/surface-3

And buy now page with tech specs: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productI...

Looks like $499 for 64GB storage and 2GB RAM, $599 for 128GB storage and 4GB of RAM (WiFi models; 4G LTE model pricing wasn't showing for me).

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#43

Post by 3pt14159 »

wz1000 wrote: post #24

Does anybody have experience of running Linux on previous Surface devices?

I'm interested in this question too. I set my girlfriend up with the Surface Pro 3, and besides it being awkward on her lap (ironically, the Surface needs a surface), I think its an amazing machine, especially for the price. It isn't quite Apple level with the hardware design, but it's close and it feels like Windows 8 was designed for it.

My worry is that Ubuntu wouldn't really work with the touch screen.

Edit: I should mention, she got the i5 1.9 GHz and mostly uses it for work (Excel / Outlook) and video (Skype / Netflix). No fan issues.

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#44

Post by untog »

[deleted] wrote: post #37

[deleted]

"I already have an iPhone, and iPad and a Macbook Pro. Why would I want this?"

Er, I'm guessing you wouldn't, if your current setup works for you. But it could potentially replace the iPad that you rarely use and the Macbook that you do.

If I was in the market for a new laptop I'd strongly consider a Surface 3 Pro with a docking station - perfect for when I'm sat at my desk with a monitor (what I do with my Macbook anyway) and a lot more portable when I'm not.

I agree with you about Windows, to an extent - as a developer I just find the environment lacking. But for the vast, vast majority of people running full Windows is a benefit, not a drawback.

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#45

Post by M4v3R »

freehunter wrote: post #12
lostgame wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I can actually download an MP3 from my browser and open it on my iPad I'll consider using it as an actual thing again. Until then? It's not a computer. This is.

Kind of off topic, but related: I recently bought an audio book from Humble Bundle and have been trying to figure out how to put it on my iPhone.I don't listen to audio books at home, only in the car or while I'm walking. Anyone know how to easily download an audiobook from Humble Bundle and put it on an iPhone to listen to later?

As others said - canonical way is to use iTunes.

Another way is to use app like GoodReader, which has a file system of its own, you can create folders, and you can download files from websites/URLs to them. GoodReader can not only store and organize your files, but it also opens all the popular formats in the app (PDFs, images, MP3s, etc.).

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#46

Post by sz4kerto »

[deleted] wrote: post #37

[deleted]

> it runs windows, and I have no interest in that

Then it's definitely not your device. It's main point is that it runs full Windows. If I were using Macbook + iPhone, I would not think at all about buying this.

It's probably more interesting for people like me who want to work on Windows and/or Linux, but definitely nothing from Apple. :) (I have no problem with the company or the products in general, just they don't fit me at the slightest, while Windows on desktop and Linux on the server is just exactly what I need.)

It is also interesting for people who need a full computer but who don't need a lot of computing power. I find pen input indispensable nowadays, so a Galaxy Note + a Surface is just the ideal tool (if you have a compile server, but I do).

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#47

Post by gokhan »

mg1982 wrote: post #10
sz4kerto wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd lose the bet. Keyboard is $129, docking station is $199, pen is $49.

You got me there. My point, as you no doubt know, was that they're advertising a low headline price and then jacking it up with 'optional' extras that provide core functionality.

You can use it just like an ipad, without a keyboard. Or you can buy keyboard and use it as a laptop and a tablet. What core functionality are you talking about?

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#48

Post by loceng »

[deleted] wrote: post #37

[deleted]

They're doing a fantastic job with improving the design. I didn't consider it an option before but I like it enough now, and the fact that it has a built-in physical keyboard is the only real differentiator I need from a standard tablet.

For me it wouldn't replace everything - though for specific use cases it would be a perfect companion, though perhaps isn't for everyone's needs.

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#49

Post by edvinbesic »

[deleted] wrote: post #37

[deleted]

This is the reason I haven't really been excited about a surface yet. It's really too bulky to be used as a tablet for prolonged periods of time and the keyboard/stand is not really that comfortable to be used as a laptop for prolonged periods of time.

Full windows also just means 'legacy apps', which have no touch support nor scaling. Sure you can connect this to a monitor and use it with a standard mouse/kb combo but at that point what is the real advantage of the Surface itself?

Re: Announcing the Surface 3

#50

Post by motdiem »

freehunter wrote: post #12
lostgame wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I can actually download an MP3 from my browser and open it on my iPad I'll consider using it as an actual thing again. Until then? It's not a computer. This is.

Kind of off topic, but related: I recently bought an audio book from Humble Bundle and have been trying to figure out how to put it on my iPhone.I don't listen to audio books at home, only in the car or while I'm walking. Anyone know how to easily download an audiobook from Humble Bundle and put it on an iPhone to listen to later?

I download those to dropbox, then either sync them in the dropbox app, or use an app like goodreader or eddy (there are others), which can play from a dropbox folder
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