G+_Mark Swaim Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 As an owner of an original surface rt 32GB model purchased in November 2013. Today's announcement of a Surface 3 is puzzling. They have abandoned ARM processor for this 3rd generation model and still won't install 4GB of ram on the base model. Also frustrating they still won't include the keyboard in a bundle. http://www.computerworld.com/article/2904415/microsoft-resurrects-the-surface-with-third-try.html http://www.computerworld.com/article/2904415/microsoft-resurrects-the-surface-with-third-try.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Peter Phillips Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 They have some good products but they are marketing idiots.? The tech pundits didn't help either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_J. Todd Fisher Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Agreed. Microsoft could change the game! Cross platform gaming (Xbox & PC) and proper marketing of their devices and services would kill the competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Stephen Collins Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 For a light user 2gb is fine. They are trying to hit a price point which is why you won't see a bundled KB. I would like to see a price break on the KB when purchased with the Surface 3. Change from ARM to Intel makes sense. This really suits me. I don't need a powerful laptop but I do need something lightweight and portable for trips. This fits the bill. Tablet when I want to use a tablet and a device with a good KB when I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Pick Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Stephen Collins? To be honest Stephen, it baffles me with Microsoft trying this a 3rd time and still nobody in sales could figure out a bundled price for the Surface 3 with the keyboard. I'm impressed the base model has 64GB of storage. Probably 48GB is actual storage as the rest is the operating system. But with this Surface 3 being priced as a premium tablet and memory prices so low. I'd seriously question the engineering department how much added cost would have it been to make 4GB of system memory for all versions? Would $550 really be to expensive over $500 for most people? I'm being extremely critical of Microsoft choosing to build this. But with the Surface 3, it really feels like the text book definition of insanity. Try the same thing over and over and expect different results. But yes, I do realize this Surface 3 hardware wise is significantly different then a Surface 2. Microsoft always seems to build these for corporate and never understands how to market them to consumers.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jeremiah Townsend Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 David Pick But not everyone needs or wants a keyboard. My use case is that I'm upgrading from my Nexus 7. My primary use with the Nexus was to hold my text books. Secondary use was to review documents shared between me and my team mates. It was fine for those duties, but was next to useless for taking handwritten notes in OneNote, editing or creating documents. This device solves that problem, plus can act as an backup computer to my 2011 MacBook Pro as most of my documents are saved to the cloud. I need the Surface 3, the pen, and a carrying case. That's it. $650 vice $780. If later, I decide I need the keyboard, I'll purchase it then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Pick Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Jeremiah Townsend? I suppose the use of handwritten notes is significant for some. And no, the Surface RT and Surface 2 could not do that. I'll wait and see with everybody else if people purchase Surface 3s. It's just Paul on Windows Weekly has pointed out many a time that their are many alternatives today that can do the same thing a Surface tablet can do. Possibly at a lower price.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jeremiah Townsend Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 David Pick I hear what you're saying about cheaper alternatives and like you've stated, much will depend on the reviews that should come out over the next few weeks. I happen to like the form factor of the Surface line of tablets and if the writing and drawing experience is as good as the one on the Surface Pro 3, it wii be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 David Pick let's be fair. The Surface RT and Surface 2 came with the worst keyboard invented by man. It's a blessing that they let you choose with the Surface 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steve Younger Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 I also have the surface rt from the beginning bec I felt the surface pro wasn't ready. Microsoft should have came out with the surface 3 in the first place as windows rt let me down with lies about its development. I do plan to swap in my tablet for this one. What are the other alternatives out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Pick Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Steve Younger If the 3:2 aspect ratio is not a priority with the Surface 3. Their is the 16:9 aspect ratio Asus Transformer and Dell Venue 10 Pro as examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Pick Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Kyli Rouge As I purchased an unused type 2 keyboard last year on Craig's list for $80.00. I can testify the keyboard was fine . The track pad I learned was and is the worst on the planet. I'll never understand how this was never discovered in R&D when Microsoft engineering was designing it. From what Paul has said. The track pad is much more functional with the Surface Pro 3 and I'd hope with the Surface 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 David Pick I was talking about the Touch keyboard that came with the RT versions :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steve Younger Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 David Pick Ok thanks. I'll look at those alternatives before I decide to upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Bergmann Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Have a lot of friends that are tech savvy but have stayed clear of the Surface line. I had the original RT and Surface Pro 2...now have an i5 Surface Pro 3 (love it BTW, eaisly a home run IMO). Point is, up until now none of them expressed any interest in Surface, despite me having many models. Now three of my friends/co-workers are all "really excited" about this particular iteration??? The complaint against the Pro line was the price. I guess $499.00 is the sweet spot for a "true" x86 Windows machine? I think it will do well, and fill a niche. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Mike Bergmann I graduated with a Bachelor's in Computer Science with a focus on gaming using my Surface Pro and Pro 2! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steve Younger Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Kyli Rouge would you use a surface 3 for gaming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steve Younger Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 David Pick funny..only the asus offers one with a 4 gb ram...am wondering if it really makes a difference btw 2 and 4 gb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Richard Sequeira Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Stephen Collins but that is one of the selling points of the Surface. A keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Steve Younger Sure! But I'm sticking with my 2 for now for other reasons :3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Bergmann Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Kyli, Ive done some light gaming on my SP3. Ran BF4 at med and low settings with motion blur turned off. Playable frame rates. The i7 is more suited. But, due to the design of the tablet (thin and low profile cooling), expect a lot of throttling unless you undervolt the CPU. I honestly would not expect to do any intensive gaming. The Shield tablet is designed for gaming. SP...not so much. ? Sorry, comment was to answer Steve. Either way SP3 is an amazing piece of kit. It really does the laptop/tablet thing great. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Mike Bergmann I never have, and never will say that the Surface Pro family is one of high-tier gaming machines. It is mid-tier at best, and never was geared toward gaming. That said, if you think that games aren't enjoyable at low settings... then there are several things wrong. I won't get into that now, but long story short: a game should be, and usually is, more than just its graphics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Bergmann Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Please see the edit at the end of post. I redirected this to Steve who just asked how the Surface was for gaming. Never made a comment about if a game was or was not enjoyable at low settings? Just told him my personal experience and that if he would want to do some more intensive gaming an i7 would be the better option IMO. I can play shit like Plants vs Zombies all day long. While I love gaming at maxed settings, i'm far from a graphics whore. I'm well aware that graphics aren't everything. Not sure why/where you inferred that from? Hum...anyway, hopefully I got my point across. Have a great day all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steve Younger Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks guys for all the discussions. This has been really useful for me and others. Everybody has different opinions and I respect that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kyli Rouge (Supuhstar) Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Steve Younger hooray respecting opinions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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