Surface Pro3
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@Minion-Queen said:
So I just received a Surface Pro3 and no I didn't pay for it (@thanksaj everyone just loves me).
So far I am seriously impressed by this. Remember I also have a Surface Pro2.
The new stylus is awesome and very responsive.
They new keyboard is much better as far as usability and rigidity.
Snappy I am currently using ML, Skype, Youtube (listening to Ozzy) and downloading google earth. No lag at all.
The touch screen is more responsive than on the 2.Still is lacking in the ability to set it on my lap easily. So that is still a downside. I will be using a bit over the next week to really put it through it's paces. I like that I can hook up a monitor to it without having the dock so I will be doing that and see how I really like using it.
I absolutely love mine...didn't pay for mine either (work got me the Core i7 and 512GB model)...it has never let me down and is always snappy and fast...yeah, I use it more on the arm of the couch than on a lap but it is passable on a lap...I used the pen more than I thought but still hasn't really fit in as a really productive tool.
I did try Windows 10 Preview on it directly and I'll say DON'T DO IT...too many bugs still (even locked up Excel) and fan ran almost constantly...luckily, simple to go back to 8.1...
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Few Other Notes...
I also have the docking station and it is fantastic...you do have to log out/in going between tablet and docking mode due to the screen resolution and aspect differences but otherwise, it is amazing to use.
Gaming - I can play a surprising amount of desktop games (Steam and GOG.COM mainly) on it...the graphics card is "good enough" if you don't need the best FPS...Portal 2 was fine but Alien Isolation was far beyond what it could handle. Thankfully, I stream Steam from my home server...
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I haven't installed Steam or Origin yet. I am not a serious gamer at all Just AOE2 and Sim City that's about it. But the fact that I will be able to is kinda nice.
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Awesome! Looking forward to hearing how you like it!
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We have several surface pro 3's and about two dozen 2's
The killer feature is Hyper-V.Definately recomend it for anyone who moves around a lot.
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Unlike the iPad and Android tabs, the Surface Pro 3 is not a toy. It's a tool to get things done. -
You are running HyperV on tablets?
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@scottalanmiller said:
You are running HyperV on tablets?
No, I'm not lucky enough to have one but I would if I had one
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@nadnerB said:
Unlike the iPad and Android tabs, the Surface Pro 3 is not a toy. It's a tool to get things done.
Sort of, but it remains a tablet. Desktops, laptops and tablets have different roles. If I want to get things done, for the average user, a high powered tablet gets me very little. I still need a desktop and/or laptop to really get things done in most cases. It's certainly way more powerful than, say, an iPad, but is it more powerful in a way that makes it more useful in the role of a tablet, is the real question.
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@nadnerB said:
No, I'm not lucky enough to have one but I would if I had one
What HyperV tasks do you see wanting to do on a tablet?
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@scottalanmiller said:
Sort of, but it remains a tablet.
I don't care what it officially is, in my mind it is a definitely a laptop not a tablet. Albeit a laptop that you can't actually use on your lap.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Sort of, but it remains a tablet.
I don't care what it officially is, in my mind it is a definitely a laptop not a tablet. Albeit a laptop that you can't actually use on your lap.
That's pretty key. A laptop with a tablet form factor. If you never need the stability of a laptop, sure, there's a niche for the form factor with full power. I don't know many people who don't need to use laptops as... you know, laptops. They exist, definitely. But the Venn Diagram of people who need mobility and full power at the same time instead of desktops but don't need lap, car, train or plane use is, I suspect, a very tiny overlap. It takes a lot to make a Surface a viable option - you have to keep qualifying and keep qualifying and being like "well, if you have this one super limited use case....."
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I rarely use my laptop on my lap. Apart from the heat bothering me, I don't find I'm ever that far away from a table to put it on (I'm currently typing this on the kitchen table).
Also, I reckon you can use a Surface on your lap, although I've never tried it.
I hate Surfaces anyway. A dreadful invention.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
I rarely use my laptop on my lap. Apart from the heat bothering me, I don't find I'm ever that far away from a table to put it on (I'm currently typing this on the kitchen table).
Only takes once in a while, though, to make it really pay off.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@nadnerB said:
No, I'm not lucky enough to have one but I would if I had one
What HyperV tasks do you see wanting to do on a tablet?
Always good to have an SOE test bunny or browse the net via VM with a checkpoint
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I have been playing on the Surface 3 all day today. Seems to be doing pretty well. Currently am talking to my brother on Skype (video and audio).
Have facebook, ML and outlook open and running.Using about 20% CPU, 54% memory and 2% of disk. So not bogging it down at all.
The 3 is a lot more stable on my lap so I am currently laying on the couch with it and not having terrible issues with it. The touch screen is much better than on the 2, I think I will really like using Onenote for taking my notes which was something I was really looking for in the 2 and it just didn't work well for. It is larger than the 2 but not as heavy so I think I could detach the keyboard and just walk around while on a client site.
I will be testing pics on it later to see if it is worth using to get server room pics.
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I like the 3. It is a decent form factor and specs. If you just want to run Windows on a tablet, it is the only way to go. I have not seen another pure tablet that works as well.
There are a lot of detachable screen laptops that are decent, but I find that form factor just too gimmicky.
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So last night I worked a bit more on the Surface testing a few things out.
LMI does fine as does TakeControl in MaxFocus as well as using ScreenConnect. So doing remote tech work isn't even close to an issue here.
I have yet to find anything that I do day to day that bogs this down. My only real complaint is the kickstand. Which is a bit more stable and can be used on your lap a bit easier than the Surface Pro2, that wasn't stable enough at all to use on your lap.
I think this will be my go to travel machine. I will be traveling via plane next month to the Rackspace Partner conference. So I will take it out and see how it does for me then.
The battery life is pretty good at about 4 1/2 hours with heavy usage of video chatting on Skype. As well as posting here in the community.
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Yesterday my desktop overheated (needed to be cleaned). So went to the Surface3 and worked all day. Running about 10 tabs in between explorer (yes I use that) and Chrome had Skype open for IM and a couple calls. And listened to music on it via Pandora1. Did see any lag at all. My only real complaint is the brightness of the screen or lack there of. Compared to a laptop or my Ipad the screen is not as bright as I would like.
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@Minion-Queen said:
Yesterday my desktop overheated (needed to be cleaned). So went to the Surface3 and worked all day. Running about 10 tabs in between explorer (yes I use that) and Chrome had Skype open for IM and a couple calls. And listened to music on it via Pandora1. Did see any lag at all. My only real complaint is the brightness of the screen or lack there of. Compared to a laptop or my Ipad the screen is not as bright as I would like.
Good to hear, we just ordered one of these for a new sales person. If it is better then the Pro 2 (as many reviews are saying) then they will have no problems using it.
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@coliver said:
@Minion-Queen said:
Yesterday my desktop overheated (needed to be cleaned). So went to the Surface3 and worked all day. Running about 10 tabs in between explorer (yes I use that) and Chrome had Skype open for IM and a couple calls. And listened to music on it via Pandora1. Did see any lag at all. My only real complaint is the brightness of the screen or lack there of. Compared to a laptop or my Ipad the screen is not as bright as I would like.
Good to hear, we just ordered one of these for a new sales person. If it is better then the Pro 2 (as many reviews are saying) then they will have no problems using it.
It is significantly better than the 2. I am really happy with it.
