Surface 3 Pro, any one?
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Try as hard as I can, I cannot think of a single reason to get a Surface Pro.
Like mobile phones, M$ missed the boat on tablets and are now left with a minuscule marketshare. And who's going to develop apps for something with a marketshare that is a rounding error in anyone else's books?
Not to mention battery life, clunky, counter-intuitive software, no resale value...
Just get an iPad - doesn't matter which, they're all good - and you won't look back. Just be aware that only the 3G models include GPS.
Andrew
Like mobile phones, M$ missed the boat on tablets and are now left with a minuscule marketshare. And who's going to develop apps for something with a marketshare that is a rounding error in anyone else's books?
Not to mention battery life, clunky, counter-intuitive software, no resale value...
Just get an iPad - doesn't matter which, they're all good - and you won't look back. Just be aware that only the 3G models include GPS.
Andrew
AlexThePalex
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I can not imagine why anyone seriously would want a windows based mobile device.
For a desktop, yes, but MS totally does not get mobile.
They rule on desktops, but instead of making a mobile version that seamlessly integrates with windows desktops, the fools try to make a one size fits all OS. Anyone could see from the beginning that was about to fail soooo hard.
I'm happy with my android pad. Of course the Apples are nice too. Anything is nice compared to a Surface.
For a desktop, yes, but MS totally does not get mobile.
They rule on desktops, but instead of making a mobile version that seamlessly integrates with windows desktops, the fools try to make a one size fits all OS. Anyone could see from the beginning that was about to fail soooo hard.
I'm happy with my android pad. Of course the Apples are nice too. Anything is nice compared to a Surface.
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Disclaimer: I am a known Freelance Apple Evangelist
I can get a Surface Pro at special pricing, but I cannot think of a reason to do so. Sure, I could use it in the shop - but why bother? The old XP laptop I have out there is just fine for surfing the net, doing email, etc - which is all I'd use the SP for.
My iPhone and iPad, on the other hand, run a couple dozen apps that I use several times per day. And with the new health stuff that is coming out this fall, my iPhone and I will be attached at the hip - or lip - or fingertip.
[big grin]
If you absolutely hate Apple and want something else, look at an Android model but keep the price low as they have almost zero resale value.
I can get a Surface Pro at special pricing, but I cannot think of a reason to do so. Sure, I could use it in the shop - but why bother? The old XP laptop I have out there is just fine for surfing the net, doing email, etc - which is all I'd use the SP for.
My iPhone and iPad, on the other hand, run a couple dozen apps that I use several times per day. And with the new health stuff that is coming out this fall, my iPhone and I will be attached at the hip - or lip - or fingertip.
[big grin]
If you absolutely hate Apple and want something else, look at an Android model but keep the price low as they have almost zero resale value.
My current stash of devices: MacBook Air (home), Lenovo X1 w/ Win7 (work. This is by choice, we can choose either Windows or OSX), iPhone 5S, iPad Mini, Dell Venue Pro (Windows 8.1 pro tablet), plus about a half-dozen Kindles (touch, fire, original, paperwhite, etc.). I'm using my Macbook to type this.
Here's the short of it... The Surface Pro's will be able to run any software that runs on a full Windows laptop / desktop. How well? That depends on a lot of factors including how much memory and processor are needed. But, if you want to fire up the full version of Photoshop... you can do that on the Surface pro. Same for any games, unless they demand a discrete graphics card. It'll run the full version of MS Office. If you throw the Surface into a dock with a keyboard, mouse and monitor, you'll think that you're on a desktop. The Surface has a SD card slot so that you can add storage, it has a USB port and a video port (which none of are available in the iPads). I think you get the picture. The iPad... well, it'll run anything that's designed for the iPad, and that's it. You can't install software written for OSX onto iOS. That's fine for most people though, as the iOS app store has applications to fit most needs. I personally would not put the Surface Pro and an iPad in the same category.
Would I buy a Surface Pro 3? Probably, but as you can tell, I'm a bit of a gadget hound and I have a specific use case for one.
Here's the short of it... The Surface Pro's will be able to run any software that runs on a full Windows laptop / desktop. How well? That depends on a lot of factors including how much memory and processor are needed. But, if you want to fire up the full version of Photoshop... you can do that on the Surface pro. Same for any games, unless they demand a discrete graphics card. It'll run the full version of MS Office. If you throw the Surface into a dock with a keyboard, mouse and monitor, you'll think that you're on a desktop. The Surface has a SD card slot so that you can add storage, it has a USB port and a video port (which none of are available in the iPads). I think you get the picture. The iPad... well, it'll run anything that's designed for the iPad, and that's it. You can't install software written for OSX onto iOS. That's fine for most people though, as the iOS app store has applications to fit most needs. I personally would not put the Surface Pro and an iPad in the same category.
Would I buy a Surface Pro 3? Probably, but as you can tell, I'm a bit of a gadget hound and I have a specific use case for one.
jimmylittle
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I am a die-hard Apple guy. I have an iPhone, iPad mini, iPad Air, a 27" iMac at home and an 11" MacBook air for the road. That being said, I do need Windows for a couple of specialty programs for CNC machines and 3d printers.
If a Surface Pro could run that software, I'd get one. But it won't run them because the Surface has a pretty basic graphics card. So, Windows 8.1 in Parallels on the iMac and MacBook Air it is for me.
If a Surface Pro could run that software, I'd get one. But it won't run them because the Surface has a pretty basic graphics card. So, Windows 8.1 in Parallels on the iMac and MacBook Air it is for me.
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Hi,
I have a surface Pro.... Hooked to a cable monitoring engine and transmission in my coach (using Silverleaf). With it, I have a configurable glass dash, and can read any fault codes immediately. That's about all I use it for...
Most of the time I use an iPad, or once in awhile a MacBook Air. Only have windows based desk based systems....and no longer use a laptop at all...
Cheers,
Rob
(Writing this on an iPad near Rimouski QC ...where the blackflies are hellacious )
I have a surface Pro.... Hooked to a cable monitoring engine and transmission in my coach (using Silverleaf). With it, I have a configurable glass dash, and can read any fault codes immediately. That's about all I use it for...
Most of the time I use an iPad, or once in awhile a MacBook Air. Only have windows based desk based systems....and no longer use a laptop at all...
Cheers,
Rob
(Writing this on an iPad near Rimouski QC ...where the blackflies are hellacious )
GhostFist
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I have a surface pro 1 that I find to be excellent for my needs as I do a lot of digital illustration. Surface is unlike android or ios tablets as it runs full windows 8.1 pro, and thereby can run any windows compatible program be it sketchup, solidworks, photo shop and the like. Not mobile lite versions of the programs but the real deal. I actually like the idea of the bigger screen size on the surface pro 3 for illustration and have been considering one as an upgrade, but there's nothing wrong with my original surface pro
recent review...
http://recode.net/2014/06/04/microsoft-surface-pro-3-doesnt-stand-up-to-macbook-air/
Too many compromises...
http://recode.net/2014/06/04/microsoft-surface-pro-3-doesnt-stand-up-to-macbook-air/
Too many compromises...
GhostFist
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That review ignores the greatest feature of surface pro, it's included pressure sensitive stylus. But I suppose if you just want to jot the odd scribble then it's not important to you. If, however you're like me, and learned free hand drawing the old fashioned pencil to paper way then this thing starts to gain appeal. While windows has an app store I really don't see the need to run tablet apps on what is a full windows pc. No its not an Ipad because it does a hell of a lot more than an ipad. It's not a mac book air because it doubles as a very effective drawing tablet. It wont compare to a top of the line 27" wa com drawing tablet, but those things are 10 times the price and don't include the pc to run the software.
Kev
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I use a Wacom stylus with my iPad for pressure sensitive drawing - meets my current needs. Sure it's limited in terms of the apps that interface with it ... but that's not an issue when you look at the range of choice. Apps like SketchBook Pro, Procreate, ArtRage, Bamboo, etc all support the Wacom Intuos.
To me Surface is like adding a heads up display and joystick control to a 1950's tractor ... Yes, for some people it will make that tractor better, but it's still a tractor.
To me Surface is like adding a heads up display and joystick control to a 1950's tractor ... Yes, for some people it will make that tractor better, but it's still a tractor.
AlexThePalex
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Ghostfist, how's battery life with your Surface?
I have the Surface Pro 2 and love its (I also have ipads and iMac and Windows PCs). Couple of points to note.. there is a big difference between a Surface RT and a Surface Pro, the RT has lots of limitations and would give that a miss but the Pro is fully fledged Windows
I didn't like Win 8.1 on PCs as Win 7 was just easier with the normal start menu.. with the Pro to OS starts to make sense as you can work both with the more tablet centric UI (e.g. win 8 tiles, metro apps) but when you need to go into the detail (e.g. and Excel spreadsheet or something) then you are not hindered by a clumsy tablet UI, you get a native PC interface
Min is with 8GB ram and 256SSD and is pretty fast, touch screen is great with a stylus, very good for drawing and taking notes
When used in a more corporate environment for example with Office 365, its works great with Lync and video conferencing, office integration with Sharepoint etc.
I didn't like Win 8.1 on PCs as Win 7 was just easier with the normal start menu.. with the Pro to OS starts to make sense as you can work both with the more tablet centric UI (e.g. win 8 tiles, metro apps) but when you need to go into the detail (e.g. and Excel spreadsheet or something) then you are not hindered by a clumsy tablet UI, you get a native PC interface
Min is with 8GB ram and 256SSD and is pretty fast, touch screen is great with a stylus, very good for drawing and taking notes
When used in a more corporate environment for example with Office 365, its works great with Lync and video conferencing, office integration with Sharepoint etc.
GhostFist
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I have a first gen surface pro and there have been improvements to battery life in more recent generations. You're not going to get the same life out of a surface as you are on a much less powerful tablet. It's more akin to laptop battery life. It does recharge rather quickly though. I belive the pro 3 is rated for 9 hours battery time. Again, apps like sketchbook pro, for ios or android, are lite versions of their full pc counterparts. As a former tablet user I fail to see the benefit to these light weight devices having used my surface for 2 years. BTW I also use the surface as my home pc. I have a large moniter and the docking station for it, which expands ports. All you do is slap it in the dock and everything hooks up. Nice bit of kit.
My question is why would you blow a $1000 on a marginal notebook and tablet. By a good tablet (Apple and Samsung) make then. With either of those you have a great selection of tablet designed apps. Then you can buy a nice notebook (several choices) or an ultra book (MacBook Air is the best on the market and there are several good PC choices) and have two products that you will be happy with.
The concept of merging two good items and thinking the end product will be great never pans out. There are compromises across the board (storage, functionality, battery life, component quality, size, weight, etc). Two mid-range products will outdo a high end combo unit. The concept of 2 in 1 being worse 2 separate devices is universally true in my world. I'm yet to find an exception.
Another way of looking at is that for the vast majority of people, Microsoft Office is the only draw to owning a PC. Android (Samsung) and Apple control the tablet market. Microsoft is not even a bit player and never will be in the tablet market. In order to stay relevant Office needs to be ported to Android, but even that Window may have passed. The Not Invented Here Syndrome is killing Microsoft. They won't ever go away, but there days of dominance are over. Even their enterprise tools are under fire having to face off against great and often better open source products that are in most cases free. Free and better can't be beat.
The concept of merging two good items and thinking the end product will be great never pans out. There are compromises across the board (storage, functionality, battery life, component quality, size, weight, etc). Two mid-range products will outdo a high end combo unit. The concept of 2 in 1 being worse 2 separate devices is universally true in my world. I'm yet to find an exception.
Another way of looking at is that for the vast majority of people, Microsoft Office is the only draw to owning a PC. Android (Samsung) and Apple control the tablet market. Microsoft is not even a bit player and never will be in the tablet market. In order to stay relevant Office needs to be ported to Android, but even that Window may have passed. The Not Invented Here Syndrome is killing Microsoft. They won't ever go away, but there days of dominance are over. Even their enterprise tools are under fire having to face off against great and often better open source products that are in most cases free. Free and better can't be beat.
GhostFist
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First the only benefits of a tablet are its portability and light weight. The apps are not full programs due to limited power on a tablet. Second you have the option of an intel core i7 and 256gb internal storage, of course you can use any standard external drive if need as well. What do I need a tablet for again? Again the main draw for me is the wacom stylus (included) for drawing and it's easy dockability. There is nothing a tablet can do that the surface can't. there are things the surface can do that a notebook or laptop can't. So I see great value in this product, which i might add is very sturdily built.JimH2 said:
I would classify the Surface Pro 2+ as an ultra book that happens to have a very good touchscreen
only real difference is no rigid keyboard hinge.. and that the weight is in on the screen bit rather than keyboard
I need to actually create information rather than just consume.. tablets have always been great for reviewing information, but crap for creating (ok yes you can draw a bit etc) but I am talking more office centric data here rather than creative data.
only real difference is no rigid keyboard hinge.. and that the weight is in on the screen bit rather than keyboard
I need to actually create information rather than just consume.. tablets have always been great for reviewing information, but crap for creating (ok yes you can draw a bit etc) but I am talking more office centric data here rather than creative data.
