Before testing the Surface 3, my only experience with tablets was using the Nexus 7 (2014) and an iPad 3. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Microsoft; they have been making big and bold statements. Is it more tablet or laptop? Would the Surface 3 fit into my workflow?
A little background into my current computational holdings – I currently own a MSI Ghost Pro GS 60-064, a Nexus 7 (2014) and an iPhone 5. I researched each of them thoroughly before making my purchases and I am very happy with all three. I use my laptop for video editing and motion graphics as well as most general purposes; the Nexus 7 is primarily for watching videos and controlling my Chromecast; and the iPhone is my productivity killer while at work…and also a phone.
After using the Surface 3 for four days, I am sold. This is the perfect marriage of productivity and portability. The Surface 3 is an amazing choice for people who want the best aspects of a tablet with nearly everything you would need from a laptop. I may have to get one just to alleviate my sadness and turn my computer related frown upside down.
My Surface 3 review version is $499 and came loaded with full 64 bit Windows 8.1, 2GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and an Intel Atom x7@1.60 GHz and a 10.7” screen. This price does not include the keyboard cover($129.99), surface pen ($50).
There is also a $599 version that comes with double the RAM and storage, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
Software
The Surface 3 comes with full Windows 8.1, with a free upgrade path to Windows 10. Having the full version allows you to use any program or app that is available on Windows. Being able to use the full versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, or any of the multitudes of programs that are on Windows is liberating.
The Surface 3 also comes with one year of Office 365, which has all the familiar Microsoft programs. (*Available on Surface 3 with Windows 8.1 purchased prior to December 31, 2015. While supplies last. Office activation required within 6 months of Windows activation date.)One office program I hadn’t used before was OneNote. This program is the perfect note taking software. And I can see using this extensively going forward. It makes me want to travel back in time and drop one off to my college-aged self. Your hand-written (using the Surface Pen) or typed notes, web-clippings, scanned documents, video and audio recordings and more are available to you everywhere you need it. This is the perfect tool for a student. OneNote synchs via the cloud keeping your notes available to you no matter where you are or what device you are using. One example of the programs greatness is that it can analyze your handwriting and convert it to type. Even with my terrible handwriting the program converted my writing to text flawlessly. OneNote has so many useful features that I could spend a whole article detailing them.
Construction
The body of the Surface is made of magnesium; it feels very solid and has a very clean look. The Surface 3 weighs in at a scant 1.37 pounds and has a 10.7” screen. The unit does not have a fan, as the Atom processor sips power. Even when running continuously for several hours, I never noticed anything more than the top of the Surface 3 getting warm. The Surface 3 has an integrated kickstand that locks into three positions. With the kickstand out, I could comfortably type. The kickstand clicks into the positions very reliably. While I only had the unit for a few days, I think the kickstand will last quite a while – even with heavy usage. The speakers are quite good and can get pretty loud; they definitely pump good audio for its form factor.
Ports
The inclusion of real ports is definitely welcome. The Mini DisplayPort can connect to an external monitor at up to 3840 X 2160 pixel (otherwise known as 4K). You can also get Mini DisplayPort adapters to hook the Surface 3 up to a TV or projector. The full sized USB 3.0 port is supremely useful for attaching external hard drives, a mouse, a printer, or a USB hub. The Surface3 is charged using the Micro USB port which can also be used to transfer files.The headphone/microphone port is standard. Behind the kickstand there is a MicroSD slot that you can use to transfer all files, but the best use of this slot is to expand the storage space. It can take up to 128 GB MicroSD cards, which is quite a bit more memory.
Touch Display
The Surface 3’s 10.7-inch screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio, meaning it is wider than the 16:9 aspect ratio of many tablets (such as the Nexus 7). It has a FullHD Plus display at 1920 X 1280 pixels.This display is extremely sharp and at its max brightness it is very bright. I love this display. It plays high bit rate, 1080p videos brilliantlyand with stunning clarity. The touch features, which I previously felt I didn’t need, are actually quite useful. The touch sensitivity of the Surface 3 is excellent; it followed my finger perfectly. When using the Surface pen there was nearly no latency.
The Keyboard Cover
The keyboard cover is optional, but it really ties the whole Surface 3 functionality together. The keyboard attaches to the Surface with powerful magnets that audibly snap the keyboard to the Surface. It has two positions, flat and slightly angled, which isgreat for added stabililty when you use it in your lap. The keyboard, while on the smaller side at just under 12”,has good key placement and I found I could type nearly as quickly as I can on my laptop. The backlight is bright and useful. The trackpad works well and has multi-touch commands such as two finger scrolling. I would seriously advise anyone purchasing a Surface to get the keyboard cover.
Surface Pen
The Surface Pen is very responsive and reacts to the amount of pressure being applied, a great feature. Another powerful feature is “Palm block,” a feature technologythat was able to tell when I had my palm resting on it and it still accurately tracked the pen. The pen is most useful for note-taking and annotating. When in OneNote (which depressing the top button opens) you can take handwritten notes, draw pictures or graphs all while recording audio and video or typing. The Drawboard PDF app is another great use for the pen as it allows you to write on a PDF.
Final Impressions
I had a great time using the Surface 3. I learned how useful a touch screen and stylus can be. The Surface 3’s greatest strength is that it allowed me to be much more productive when I was away from my laptop. I put this unit through its paces with Photoshop, and it held up very well. While the Surface 3 Pro would suit me more for video editing and other heavy lifting, the price difference between the Surface 3 and the Surface Pro 3 is around $300, a not insignificant sum. This is a whole lot of computer for the money.
