Microsoft Surface is one of its new devices, marketed as a tablet, may act as a laptop. Although this range was far more or less criticized, the Surface Pro 3 is trying to change that by upgrading the range with a larger 12-inch model that Microsoft has termed as "laptop killer".
See also : Microsoft offers Outlook Update for Mac
The message of the Surface Pro 3 is quite clear. With a full version of Windows 8.1 on board - finished the horrible Windows RT and good riddance - the device is now very competitive!
But a 12-inch screen size does mean that the Surface Pro 3 has become unusable as a tablet, or can it be proclaimed as the best laptop, and the best tablet?
I could take over the Pro 3 Living for a week, and here are my conclusions on this one?
Surface Pro 3: Characteristics
Before starting to introduce the product, here the characteristics of LG G3:
Dimensions : 292,1mm x 201,4mm x 9,1mm
Poids : 800 g
Operating System : Windows 8.1 Pro
Processor : Intel Core family (i3, i5, i7) processors 4th generation
Memory : 4 GB / 8 GB
Storage : 64, 128, 256 or 512 GB of storage with a micro SD slot
Display : 12-inch ClearType Full HD with a resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels
Camera : 5 megapixel
Front Camera : 5 megapixel
Connectivité : Bluetooth 4, 802.11ac/802.11 a/b/g/n, USB 3.0
Battery : Up to 9 hours of battery life
Surface Pro 3: giant tablet or small laptop?
Previous generations of the range Surface Pro Microsoft were not exactly what we were entitled to expect from a small tablet. Indeed, this product line was part of mobile devices, while offering the screen of a laptop. Since sales were not up to the expectations of Microsoft, the Redmond company had to change something: the size and target market were the choice.
Surface Pro 3 therefore has a 12-inch screen in a frame of 292 mm x 201 mm with a thickness of only 9.1 mm. To put this in perspective, it is thinner than the last Lumia 930 smartphone, but still thicker than the Air iPad 2 which has a thickness of 6.1 mm.
But Surface Pro 3 is another type of device. Even if it looks like an oversized tablet, its Intel Core i offers performance far beyond mobile processors, and corresponded to that of laptops - so the thickness is related to the cooling system used - and its system Windows operating 8.1 is identical to what you would get on a marketed as such laptop.
However, if the Surface Pro 3 can be used as a computer, he will still pay an extra hundred to get their hands on the keyboard, since it is not included in the packaging of the tablet . Indeed, you will need to pay 130 euros extra Surface Pro to convert your laptop into a real 3 through Type Cover Surface Pro.
Once the keyboard clipped via the magnetic connector, it folds over the screen to protect it when you are not using your tablet. The use of it and very nice. Of course, once in place this "protection" will thicken somewhat tablet a few millimeters and weight of 800 grams to 1.1 kilograms password. In other words, the weight and thickness are more like a MacBook Air 11-inch.
However, the Pro 3 features a stylus in the packaging , which will be very useful for some users and almost useless for others, leaving me puzzled on why this is not an optional accessory, conversely keyboard which could be sold included. After all, this is the first area of 12 inches, which really needs a keyboard. In addition, there is absolutely nowhere to store the stylus, so you will always be losing it or look for it in your bag or pocket.
Thus, although the device is greater than the past, the answer is always the same: is it a tablet or a laptop? Once again the Pro 3 Living tries to satisfy both worlds.
Surface Pro 3 is a very good screen ... but reflective
In terms of resolution, the 13-inch screen does in half measure because it provides a slab of 2160 x 1440 pixels . However, all applications will not tap into this resolution, as some application icons remain heavily pixelated. However, usually the record is very clear, and excel in games and video.
Viewing angles are also very good, with brightness, color and contrast maintained in multiple angles, even obtuse.
However, as the Surface Pro 3 is relatively large, and you're less likely to keep it as a tablet, integrated stand is very useful. Unlike the inflexible position decried in the first opus, the Surface Pro 3 arrives this time with a stand which is able to be tilted at the angle you want. This means that you can finally rest the Pro 3 on your knees with only a slight angle, or on the surface of a tablet in a plane or on the train and of course wherever there is a flat surface. Are now multiple uses.
But there is a problem: Microsoft has opted for a glossy screen coating. In other words, it is very rare to have no glare on the screen when the light is diffused in your room. You can see your face reflected in the screen. Although it may be convenient to restyle, it is less to work optimally. While this is a shortcoming of the tablets, the Surface Pro 3 should correct this problem. Unfortunately, it seems that Microsoft has failed.
Surface Pro 3: the price of power
If there is an area where good surface Pro 3 is not fishing, it is in the power it delivers. There are lots of options available, and you'll be spoiled for choice wisely choose what suits you best.
First, there is the internal storage, which starts at 64GB in the base model. But, be aware that you lose about 30 GB with the operating system - if I believe the 96.5 GB available on 128 GB on the machine ready. There are fortunately a solution for the most demanding, because they can embed a micro-SD card in the hidden port under the stand. So you can buy a 128GB card for a ridiculous price and thus benefit from greater storage capacity.
Note that Microsoft offers a storage capacity up to 512 GB. But if you vary this feature, you will also have a more powerful tablet - processor and integrated graphics, and therefore a much higher price. And the least we can say is that the top model is not given.
The model with an Intel Core 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage i3 processor, is sold 799 euros and 928 euros once the keyboard is added. The top model, the one with the Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, is meanwhile sold 1,949 euros - 2078 euros once the keyboard added to the bill.
The test model I got is two notches above the basic model: it has an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, for a price of 1299 euros - 1428 euros with the keyboard. But comes a question: why not save 230 euros and buy a 13-inch MacBook Air instead?
Comparing the two, it clearly shows the difference between these products. Besides the fact that one runs on OS X and Windows on the other, the Apple laptop is almost twice as thick, and does not offer a touch screen or a stylus, and offers a resolution lower. However, autonomy is clearly better, and anti-glare screen is pleasant. Of course, these differences are only there to reflect the target of the two devices.
However, no model Surface Pro 3 includes Microsoft Office in the price, which seems a bit limited . This is a Microsoft product after all, the same company that makes the popular office suite. In addition, many devices under Windows 8.1 come with at least the standard version of Microsoft Office.
Surface Pro 3: autonomy
I started to write this article about the Surface Pro 3 just after receiving the device, but a few days later - and have adopted it as a replacement for my MacBook Pro at home, I could test its attractiveness . Because for me, this is exactly what the device has become. I even abandoned the touch screen most of the time because the fingerprints associated with the reflection of the display screen engendered some legibility problems later ...
The keyboard is the clincher for me. Although there is a little more "bounce" when you press a key from a regular laptop, the keys are large enough and offer a comfortable typing experience. Even the trackpad is a strong point, although the size of it is smaller than the one I'm used to this kind of component. For some, this may have an impact on the two-finger scrolling.
But once up and propped on my desk, this device clearly had the look of a laptop . Some of the features of the shelf are dropped because the size of the apparatus. It seems a little too wide and too high. Although it sounds complicated, this could be corrected by decreasing the size of the edges on each side of the screen. Still, these allow the tablet to hold comfortably in hand without accidentally pressing the screen.
Surface Pro 3 : Windows 8.1
It took some time for Windows 8 operating system will become the default for many. During his presentation, Windows 8.1 was introduced as the ultimate solution for those who want to use the device as a laptop running Windows 7 or so wandering through the touch screen.
Installing software is also not a problem. You can download executable files via a browser, just as you would on a laptop, or go to the Microsoft App Store that provides games, applications and others dedicated to the tactile environment.
This translates well in use, whether in video playback via VLC, navigation using one of many possible browsers, and all the usual stuff laptops such as calls and conversations via Skype.
Since there is plenty of space on the screen to play, it is possible to put side by side many applications as you would in Windows. Easily adjust the size with the mouse pointer, or physically with the touch screen. A good example is Skype positioned next to the browser window for the cat and navigation.
Surface Pro 3: Graphics and seeds
Surface Pro 3 features an integrated graphics with the processor, and starts with a chip Intel HD 4200 for the i3 model, while the i5 model embeds a chip Intel HD 4400. The i7 processor delivers meanwhile chip Intel HD 5000. Of course, it is far from a dedicated graphics card as well as on desktop computers, but the performance for a laptop are decent.
However, when you apply the device with resource-intensive games, you can be sure that it will heat up ! From there, the cooling fan will become as loud as a laptop ... Very far from the silence of a tablet.
However, and this happened to me two games, the lowest default resolution itself has been applied to the operating system. In other words, after closing Steam, I had to deal with giant icons and go into the settings back to a reasonable size.
These heavier tasks will inevitably have an impact also on the battery, reducing the nine to three, depending on how you use the tablet. But if you're not a big consumer of games, and your Pro Surface 3 is only workstation, you should have no problem a charge of day.
Surface Pro 3 : verdict
And Surface Pro 3 Is the "laptop killer" it claims to be? Although the commercial aspect seems somewhat exaggerated, the tablet appears to be a viable alternative to laptop with Windows 8.1 .
Like its predecessors, the Surface Pro 3 is still looking, and it fails to provide the best tablet for its size of 12 inches. Moreover, it is expensive and there is no keyboard or Microsoft Office include in the price. Finally, the screen a bad reflective coating.
But despite finding this confusing size at first, after a week of use as a laptop computer (with optional keyboard attached of course) the device actually makes sense. With its generous resolution offering a multi-window user / multi-tasking very wise and a stand that offers adjustable positioning, Pro 3 is really interesting.
It is clear that the Pro 3 is the most comprehensive to date space, but not sure it still attracts all the crowds ...
See also : Microsoft offers Outlook Update for Mac
The message of the Surface Pro 3 is quite clear. With a full version of Windows 8.1 on board - finished the horrible Windows RT and good riddance - the device is now very competitive!
But a 12-inch screen size does mean that the Surface Pro 3 has become unusable as a tablet, or can it be proclaimed as the best laptop, and the best tablet?
I could take over the Pro 3 Living for a week, and here are my conclusions on this one?
Surface Pro 3: Characteristics
Before starting to introduce the product, here the characteristics of LG G3:
Dimensions : 292,1mm x 201,4mm x 9,1mm
Poids : 800 g
Operating System : Windows 8.1 Pro
Processor : Intel Core family (i3, i5, i7) processors 4th generation
Memory : 4 GB / 8 GB
Storage : 64, 128, 256 or 512 GB of storage with a micro SD slot
Display : 12-inch ClearType Full HD with a resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels
Camera : 5 megapixel
Front Camera : 5 megapixel
Connectivité : Bluetooth 4, 802.11ac/802.11 a/b/g/n, USB 3.0
Battery : Up to 9 hours of battery life
Surface Pro 3: giant tablet or small laptop?
Previous generations of the range Surface Pro Microsoft were not exactly what we were entitled to expect from a small tablet. Indeed, this product line was part of mobile devices, while offering the screen of a laptop. Since sales were not up to the expectations of Microsoft, the Redmond company had to change something: the size and target market were the choice.
But Surface Pro 3 is another type of device. Even if it looks like an oversized tablet, its Intel Core i offers performance far beyond mobile processors, and corresponded to that of laptops - so the thickness is related to the cooling system used - and its system Windows operating 8.1 is identical to what you would get on a marketed as such laptop.
Surface Pro 3 is a very good screen ... but reflective
In terms of resolution, the 13-inch screen does in half measure because it provides a slab of 2160 x 1440 pixels . However, all applications will not tap into this resolution, as some application icons remain heavily pixelated. However, usually the record is very clear, and excel in games and video.
Viewing angles are also very good, with brightness, color and contrast maintained in multiple angles, even obtuse.
Surface Pro 3: the price of power
If there is an area where good surface Pro 3 is not fishing, it is in the power it delivers. There are lots of options available, and you'll be spoiled for choice wisely choose what suits you best.
First, there is the internal storage, which starts at 64GB in the base model. But, be aware that you lose about 30 GB with the operating system - if I believe the 96.5 GB available on 128 GB on the machine ready. There are fortunately a solution for the most demanding, because they can embed a micro-SD card in the hidden port under the stand. So you can buy a 128GB card for a ridiculous price and thus benefit from greater storage capacity.
The model with an Intel Core 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage i3 processor, is sold 799 euros and 928 euros once the keyboard is added. The top model, the one with the Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, is meanwhile sold 1,949 euros - 2078 euros once the keyboard added to the bill.
The test model I got is two notches above the basic model: it has an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, for a price of 1299 euros - 1428 euros with the keyboard. But comes a question: why not save 230 euros and buy a 13-inch MacBook Air instead?
Comparing the two, it clearly shows the difference between these products. Besides the fact that one runs on OS X and Windows on the other, the Apple laptop is almost twice as thick, and does not offer a touch screen or a stylus, and offers a resolution lower. However, autonomy is clearly better, and anti-glare screen is pleasant. Of course, these differences are only there to reflect the target of the two devices.
However, no model Surface Pro 3 includes Microsoft Office in the price, which seems a bit limited . This is a Microsoft product after all, the same company that makes the popular office suite. In addition, many devices under Windows 8.1 come with at least the standard version of Microsoft Office.
Surface Pro 3: autonomy
I started to write this article about the Surface Pro 3 just after receiving the device, but a few days later - and have adopted it as a replacement for my MacBook Pro at home, I could test its attractiveness . Because for me, this is exactly what the device has become. I even abandoned the touch screen most of the time because the fingerprints associated with the reflection of the display screen engendered some legibility problems later ...
But once up and propped on my desk, this device clearly had the look of a laptop . Some of the features of the shelf are dropped because the size of the apparatus. It seems a little too wide and too high. Although it sounds complicated, this could be corrected by decreasing the size of the edges on each side of the screen. Still, these allow the tablet to hold comfortably in hand without accidentally pressing the screen.
Surface Pro 3 : Windows 8.1
It took some time for Windows 8 operating system will become the default for many. During his presentation, Windows 8.1 was introduced as the ultimate solution for those who want to use the device as a laptop running Windows 7 or so wandering through the touch screen.
This translates well in use, whether in video playback via VLC, navigation using one of many possible browsers, and all the usual stuff laptops such as calls and conversations via Skype.
Since there is plenty of space on the screen to play, it is possible to put side by side many applications as you would in Windows. Easily adjust the size with the mouse pointer, or physically with the touch screen. A good example is Skype positioned next to the browser window for the cat and navigation.
Surface Pro 3: Graphics and seeds
Surface Pro 3 features an integrated graphics with the processor, and starts with a chip Intel HD 4200 for the i3 model, while the i5 model embeds a chip Intel HD 4400. The i7 processor delivers meanwhile chip Intel HD 5000. Of course, it is far from a dedicated graphics card as well as on desktop computers, but the performance for a laptop are decent.
However, when you apply the device with resource-intensive games, you can be sure that it will heat up ! From there, the cooling fan will become as loud as a laptop ... Very far from the silence of a tablet.
However, and this happened to me two games, the lowest default resolution itself has been applied to the operating system. In other words, after closing Steam, I had to deal with giant icons and go into the settings back to a reasonable size.
These heavier tasks will inevitably have an impact also on the battery, reducing the nine to three, depending on how you use the tablet. But if you're not a big consumer of games, and your Pro Surface 3 is only workstation, you should have no problem a charge of day.
Surface Pro 3 : verdict
And Surface Pro 3 Is the "laptop killer" it claims to be? Although the commercial aspect seems somewhat exaggerated, the tablet appears to be a viable alternative to laptop with Windows 8.1 .
Like its predecessors, the Surface Pro 3 is still looking, and it fails to provide the best tablet for its size of 12 inches. Moreover, it is expensive and there is no keyboard or Microsoft Office include in the price. Finally, the screen a bad reflective coating.
But despite finding this confusing size at first, after a week of use as a laptop computer (with optional keyboard attached of course) the device actually makes sense. With its generous resolution offering a multi-window user / multi-tasking very wise and a stand that offers adjustable positioning, Pro 3 is really interesting.
It is clear that the Pro 3 is the most comprehensive to date space, but not sure it still attracts all the crowds ...