Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Surface Pro 3 review

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microsoft surface pro

What is the Surface Pro 3?


Microsoft calls it "the tablet that can replace your laptop". That's can, not will. If you need a laptop, you should probably still buy a laptop. If you want an iPad, you should go buy a damn iPad Air. It's not a straight replacement for either. It's something more. Something different.
What it is a very talented hybrid. The most talented. It's as adept at watching Netflix in bed as it is working on-site and on the move. It's a complete PC, but it's not a PC 100% of the time. It's a graphics tablet and a digital notepad. It's the tool you'll never leave at home or at work, because it's essential to both. Microsoft has taken three swings to strike a proper hit, but the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is one. Read on to find out why.

Surface Pro 3: Design & Features

The basic Surface Pro concept remains the same. It still has a built-in kickstand, a keyboard cover (optional but essential) and a pressure sensitive stylus. But it's also the first serious redesign of the Surface Pro since the original and Microsoft has made all the right moves. Previous Surface Pros felt simultaneously too small and too large. Too wide and too tall to work as a tablet; too small to replace a laptop. A switch from the 10.6-inch, 16:9 aspect of previous models to a 3:2 aspect 12-inch screen solves this problem. 
This underplays the difference, actually. It transforms the Surface Pro 3. It's intimidating at first, but the 12-inch screen gives you ample room in which to work and it feels comfortable in any aspect. And while videos have black bars where once there were none, the screen is so large it's still better for them too.
It helps that Microsoft has worked hard to keep the Surface Pro 3 thin and light. At 800g (before you add the keyboard) it's not light in tablet terms, but it's lighter than any laptop in this class. It's 107g less than the Surface Pro 2, too. Even with the keyboard attached it weighs just 1.08kg. That's the same as the 11-inch MacBook Air and 300g less than the 13-inch MacBook Air.
What's more impressive is it's just 9.1mm thick. That's thinner than the first, pre-iPad Air retina iPads and with proper PC components inside. That's incredible. Indeed, everything about the industrial design and build quality of the Surface Pro 3 is staggering. From the textured metal rear to the chiselled edges and discreet air vents, the Surface Pro 3 oozes quality.
In fact, the only substantial criticism is the redesigned charger connection falls out too easily. It's better than the old one, which had the same problem and left unsightly scratches, but it still needs a little work. 

Surface Pro 3: Kickstand & 'Lapability'

Nothing demonstrates the build quality better than the new kickstand. Where there was once just one position, then two, you can now set the Surface Pro 3 to any angle between upright and a near flat one. This is remarkable enough in isolation, but the the smoothness and sturdiness of the hinge is astounding. Whomever was responsible for its design should receive a prize for awesomeness.
The result is it's never a problem to find an angle that's comfortable. Moreover, the extra flat angle is ideal for small tray tables as you can lay it flat and use the on-screen keyboard to type on. So large is it on this screen, it's a decent makeshift typing experience.
This does belie the Surface Pro 3's principle weakness, though: it doesn't fit where laptops do. It's near impossible to use the keyboard and kickstand in most commuter settings. There's not enough space. Indeed, on planes there's no where for the kickstand to stand as there's a gap between tray table and the seat in front. 
This is one reason why the Surface Pro 3 can't replace a laptop for everyone. The other is it still feels awkward to use on your lap. Microsoft is so keen to persuade us otherwise it coined a phrase for the problem: lapability. The argument goes this is the most 'lappable' Surface Pro yet, but it's an unconvincing argument. It sort of kind of works if you try, but deep down you know it doesn't feel right.
What it lacks for here it makes up for in versatility in other ways. Anyone who works on their feet all day will appreciate the large touchscreen and accurate stylus. The tablet format, meanwhile, brings the benefits of Windows 8.1 to the fore better than any other Windows device. And when you're done working on location or back from a meeting you can plug it straight into a monitor and carry on where you left off.
It's also worth stressing it's a fine laptop replacement in any other setting. Set it down on your desk and the large screen invites you to work, and the keyboard (more on which later) is excellent. The keyboard also has the neat trick of clipping magnetically to the front edge, creating a comfy 'wedge' angle for typing.

Surface Pro 3: Screen & Sound Quality

In addition to the the larger, squarer aspect, the Surface Pro 3's screen is also very sharp. Its larger screen means it isn't as sharp as an iPad, but the 2,140 x 1,440 resolution equates to 215 pixels per inch (ppi). That compares favourably with the 13-inch MacBook Air (126ppi) and most other laptops in this class. Videos looks sharp, as do photos.
We didn't have the time with the Surface Pro 3 to run the full gamut of screen tests we normally conduct on laptops, but subjectively it's clear this is an excellent screen. Blacks have a deep, clear look to them and colours are rich but not oversaturated. As with previous Surface Pro's it's also bright. This helps counteract the reflections from the screen when outdoors, though it can't eliminate them.
There are weaknesses, such as a hint of bleed from the edges when in very dark rooms, but no laptop can match this for the same money.  It makes the MacBook Air's screen look mediocre in the extreme.
The speakers are a big improvement, too. The front-facing speakers reach decent volumes without distortion. They're fine for watching TV provided there isn't too much on-screen action. 

Surface Pro 3: Surface Pen and Software

You've probably made your mind up about Windows 8 by now. Either you love it, hate it or tolerate it. All we'll add now is that Surface Pro 3 is the best way to enjoy Windows 8. It plays to its strengths, even if it can't hide some of the weaknesses. What's more interesting is how the Surface Pen and OneNote, Microsoft's Evernote, interact.
It's a new pen, too. Previous Surface Pro's used Wacom digitisers, but they had a slight 'offset' and poor corner accuracy. Switching to an N-Trig pen solves these problems, albeit with support for 'only' 256 levels of pressure sensitivity.
The improved accuracy makes the Surface Pen better for hand written digital notes, which is where OneNote comes in. Tap the button at the top of the Surface Pen and it will open, even from the lock screen. Double-tap the button on any screen and it takes a screenshot that you can crop and save to OneNote. A single tap when in OneNote creates a new note. The new pen is also thicker and heavier, which makes it nicer to write and draw with. 
It's all neat and clever and the touch optimised version of OneNote works well. Indeed, OneNote is a powerful and effective service all round, one that's more than a match for the popular Evernote. It's more flexible and powerful if note-taking is your primary need. Evernote is the better digital filing cabinet, but OneNote is superior for brainstorming and note taking.
Microsoft has also improved the pen storage a little, though it still feels like an afterthought. You now get a stick on loop with the cover, which is more secure. It still magnetically clips to the side, though.

Surface Pro 3: Performance, Heat & Noise

Despite its remarkably slim and light frame, the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful machine. In benchmarks it's a match for pricey ultrabooks like the Toshiba Kira. Its 1.9GHz Core i5 processor scores 5,532, more than Toshiba (5,424) and the 2014 MacBook Air (5,401).
The MacBook and Surface Pro make an interesting comparison here. Apple favours a slower processor, but a faster PCI-e SSD and Intel's faster HD 5000 graphics. It's a trade-off that makes the MacBook very snappy, but the Surface Pro 3 is no slouch either.
That faster processor gives it an edge in processor intensive tasks, too. This is no workstation class processor, of course, but anything you can throw at an ultrabook works fine on the Surface Pro 3. That means any task or application you use in everyday work and life. It's an efficient and effective replacement for a work laptop or ageing desktop.
It isn't noisy, either. If you're just watching video or doing some other simple task, it's rare to even hear the fan spin up. Even when it does it's an unobtrusive whir. You'll notice it in quiet surroundings, but it's barely discernible over the hubbub of an office. It's another reminder of the incredible industrial design in the Surface Pro 3.

Surface Pro 3: Battery Life

The first generation Surface Pro had disastrous battery life, but the Surface Pro 2 fixed that. The Surface Pro 3 is about the same as the second-gen version. Microsoft claims up to nine hours of web browsing and our tests show this is about right.
In the Powermark benchmark, which mixes web browsing, video playback and productivity, the Surface Pro lasted seven hours and 34 minutes (brightness at 40% with Wi-Fi enabled). We've seen more from other laptops and hybrids, such as the Dell Venue 11 Pro (11hrs 55mins) and Toshiba Kira (9hrs 10mins), but it's more than the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 (6hrs 30mins) and enough to get you through the majority of a day on battery power alone.
The outlier here, as ever, is the MacBook Air. It's good for over 10 hours of mixed use and 12 hours of web browsing. But it's hard to feel bad about the Surface Pro 3's battery life. It's more than ample for most scenarios, particularly if you're in and out of the office all day. It's a small miracle it lasts this long given how tightly packed it must be inside.
If you do take the charger out with you, it's nice to find it's so compact. The built-in USB port is helpful, too.

Surface Pro 3: Surface Pro 3 Type Cover

Microsoft is a dab hand at accessories and the Surface Pro Keyboard Cover is further proof. The basic layout is spot on and the keys are comfortable size for touch typing. They're even backlit. 
The key action and feel is good for such a thin cover and there's little flex, even in the elevated wedge position. It's still not the best when on your lap for reasons we've already discussed, but in most other settings it's just as good as a normal laptop.
Microsoft has improved the touchpad, too. It's larger than before, which makes it much easier to use. It's a useful fall back when using the touchscreen is impractical. It's one more reason why the switch to a larger screen is a big success. 


Surface Pro 3: Connectivity

The Surface Pro 3 is well connected for a tablet. It has 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless options, a single USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort and a microSD slot that supports up to 128GB cards. There's a dual purpose headphone/mic jack as well.
There are a couple of problems here, though. First, that microSD slot. That's great on an ordinary tablet or phone, but less so on something that's meant to replace a laptop. A full-size slot would be far more preferable.
The other is a pedantic point regarding 4K support, something Microsoft has made much play of in promoting the Surface Pro 3. Yes, it supports 4K but only at 30Hz, which will prove problematic for most people that want to use a 4K monitor. This is a limitation of the Intel chipset, so it can't be fixed.

Other things to consider

The screen is great, but Windows' problems with resolution scaling remain. It isn't entirely Microsoft's fault, but it's a sad reality that far too few third-party desktop applications play nicely on high resolution screens. Chrome is one of the worst offenders. It often looks blurry and ugly when in desktop mode, though Internet Explorer and Firefox look fine. 
Microsoft could do more here. For example, it would be useful if you could adjust the size of the taskbar independently to the rest of the OS. One crumb of comfort is Adobe Photoshop. It now has two experimental features created specifically for the Surface Pro 3: 200% mode and multi-touch support. These work great on the Surface Pro 3, making it far more touch friendly.
There are front and rear facing cameras on the Surface Pro 3. They're not worth making a huge fuss over, other than to say they're competent cameras that do what they need to do. The front-facing camera produces sharp, detailed video that's ideal for conference calls.
For the power users out there, the Surface Pro 3 Docking Station is worth considering. This £165 add-on lets you quickly dock and undock your Surface Pro from your desktop setup. It adds five more USB ports (3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0), Gigabit Ethernet, extra audio connections and a Mini DisplayPort output.

Should I buy the Surface Pro 3?

If you weren't convinced by previous Surface Pros, the Surface Pro 3 isn't for you. It's better than they were, but the core concept and experience is much the same. You need a laptop, so go buy one. A 13-inch MacBook Air or Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro are good places to start.
But if you bought a Surface Pro, or were tempted but put off, the Surface Pro 3 is the definitive version. It's to the Surface Pro what the iPhone 3G and iPad 2 were to the iPhone and iPad. It's the refined, complete edition of an innovative vision.
Why? Because the screen makes it a better laptop and tablet and because the kickstand is finally as flexible as you always wished it was. The Surface Pro 3 still has weaknesses just like any product, but the things it does well it does very well indeed.

Verdict

Microsoft has finally nailed its tablet hybrid concept with the Surface Pro 3. It's powerful, versatile and brilliantly put together. Not all laptop owners need apply, but the Surface Pro 3 is a convincing alternative.

Reviews From trustedreviews.com

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