My SP3 thoughts

[jnjroach]

Even MS hates Windows 8 that's why they are changing it again in 9

The changes that are coming to Threshold that Tech Pundits/Press have latched onto are for traditional form factors specifically targeted at Enterprise Accounts, what they aren't talking about is the removal of desktops in SST form factors (x86 and ARM) and a Windows 8.x experience for Hybrids and larger Tablets...

 

[olimjj]

Background on me and my use.

I am a 100% home user and would consider my use to be rather lite when compared to others. I mainly browse the web, do email, lite photo editing and general home use type computing.

In the past year I have owned the following computers and tablets.

1. Chromebook Pixel
2. Macbook Pro Retina
3. Apple iPad
4. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2

The Surface Pro 3 was purchased after long and hard consideration of what I wanted. I’ve been looking for a tablet that could also be used as a PC because I have several PC programs that I need access to. In the past I’ve settled on having 2 different devices. I’ve known about the Surface line but passed on them previously for a few reasons. First and foremost was because I was 100% sure I’d hate Windows 8 and the second reason was because the screen size. I wanted a larger screen size for PC use. Tablet use is fine at 10” but I wanted a minimum of 12-13” for PC use.

I purchased the Chombook Pixel direct from Google for something like $1,600 after tax. The Pixel was a gorgeous machine! It absolutely rivals the Retina Mackbook Pro as far as the hardware goes. As an added bonus the Pixel was a touchscreen. I loved using it but the limitations of ChromeOS wore on me quickly and I sold it at a substantial loss.

The Macbook Pro Retina was purchased direct from my local Apple store. I liked it well enough but I found myself using it less and less over time as I adapted to using my iPad Air for couch potato surfing. I never liked the iPad so it was sold and I purchased the Note Pro 12.2. I liked this tablet much better than the iPad but I was still using 2 different devices and was not completely satisfied.

What I wanted was a tablet and a PC rolled into one. The Surface 3 fit the bill, it had the screen size I wanted BUT it had Windows 8 on it and like I said earlier, I was 100% sure I would hate it for that reason.

I finally decided to go to Best Buy to check out the Surface 3 Pro. My local Best Buy has a Microsoft area with a Microsoft employee (not a Best Buy employee) patrolling the area. She was very nice and took the time to answer all my questions. I played around with the display models for about an hour. I was still unsure but she assured me that I could return it within 14-days for a full refund if I was unhappy with it. I was originally going to get the i3 but she convinced me to go with the i5. Since it was only $200 more, I did go with the i5 version.

I am very, very happy with this machine! It really is everything I wanted. It’s a tablet with a nice large 12” screen when I want it to be and it’s a laptop with a 12” screen when I want it to be. For me, this is the best of both worlds.

I was concerned about only getting 4gb of ram but for my use thus far at least, it has not missed a beat or slowed down at all. My test was to head over to The Verge website. For some reason this site always shudders when scrolling. It shuddered on my Pixel (4gb ram) and it shuddered on my Macbook Pro Retina (8gb ram). I was surprised that I did not experience this on the Surface Pro 3 (4gb ram). Everything on the SP3 is smooth and fast.

I hear people complain about the heat and fan noise on the SP3 but I have not noticed this at all. My Pixel got hot. So hot you could not watch a video with it on your lap. The fan noise from the Pixel was also very loud at times. My Macbook Pro did get warm (not hot) and the fan on it was pretty quiet but could be heard at times. My SP3 has not got hot yet (it’s gotten luke warm a few times) and I’ve never even heard the fan so far with my use.

Windows 8, what can I say? I was wrong, dead wrong. I thought I would hate it but after using it, I am finding that I really like it. I even went out and purchased a Windows 8 phone, the Nokia Icon, which BTW I really like as well.

Overall I am thrilled with my purchase. I do not miss the Macbook Pro Retina one bit. The SP3 does everything I want and more. It’s a tablet when I want it to be and it’s a powerful laptop when I need it be. For the most part thus far I am living on the Metro screen and I only use the Desktop when needed to run my PC specific programs.

If you read this entire post then congrats you have made it to the end!

Refreshingly inclusive and honest personal experience assessment. I wish the "Professional Reviewers" would incorporate this approach.

 

[Len J]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, win8 is great on a tablet and I have no problems with it on there, but on a desktop/laptop that doesn't have a touch screen it sucks! I prefer win 7.. IMO win 7 is a home run and the best OS they put out to date! nuff said LOL

It's funny. I had 7 on the laptop and liked it. Been a win user since the original and have migrated thru all of them but vista.

Decided to migrate to Win 8.1 on the non-touchscreen laptop & I was surprised (after reading all the press) at how much better it was than 7. More stable, faster boot up, ability to boot directly to desktop that can be configured just like 7 plus the advantages of apps. The biggest thing about it was the learning curve, but once I invested an hour or so and used it, I would never want to go back.

I was very surprised based on everything I read....the more I used it, the more I liked it.

Obviously YMMV

Len

 

[Liam2349]

On the topic of you getting a Windows phone - each time I see one, I find myself wanting one more and more.

Right now I have a Note 3 for the screen size, and occasionally I do use the stylus, but at some point I want a Windows phone.

 

[wynand32]

I've switched over almost completely to Microsoft products (on purpose), and with a few exceptions I'm very happy with the decision. I've found that I like Windows Phone much more than Android (which I switched to when webOS failed), and I've always preferred Windows to OS X for a variety of reasons.

Today, my MacBook Air, Nexus 10 tablet, iPad 3, and Nexus 5 smartphone are collecting dust, only used when I want to compare to Windows or Windows Phone. I use my SP3, my Dell Venue 8 Pro, and my Lumia 925 exclusively. The only thing I really miss in the transition is Hangouts; while Skype is a good enough replacement for me, I interact with people that use Hangouts exclusively and so I do miss that on Windows Phone.

Otherwise, I've switched from Dropbox to OneDrive, from Google properties to Microsoft's (Internet Explorer, Maps, Bing, Here Drive+, Cortana, etc.) and if anything have been much more productive and happier than I was with a mix of Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android. Microsoft is definitely onto something with their whole "productivity platform" strategy.

I'm not sure what's going to happen in the market, of course, specifically if Microsoft can be successful long-term. Windows Phone in particular faces a real uphill battle. All I can say is it's a good thing that Microsoft has $90 billion or so in cash and is generally profitable. If anyone can take on Apple and Google, it's them.

 

[raqball]

On the topic of you getting a Windows phone - each time I see one, I find myself wanting one more and more.

Right now I have a Note 3 for the screen size, and occasionally I do use the stylus, but at some point I want a Windows phone.

I really like the Nokia Icon. It's an awesome device. I previously had a Galaxy S5 and before that an iPhone.

I also looked at the Nokia (1520 I think?) on AT&T but it's HUGE! It has a 6" screen and is a very nice phone, just way to big in my opinion.

I read somewhere that VZW just started selling the HTC One M8 with Windows 8.1 on it. Not a fan of HTC so I will stick with the Icon.

If you are on Verizon, check it out as it's a great phone with top of the line specs and a 5" 1080p screen.

 

[Liam2349]

I really like the Nokia Icon. It's an awesome device. I previously had a Galaxy S5 and before that an iPhone.

I also looked at the Nokia (1520 I think?) on AT&T but it's HUGE! It has a 6" screen and is a very nice phone, just way to big in my opinion.

I read somewhere that VZW just started selling the HTC One M8 with Windows 8.1 on it. Not a fan of HTC so I will stick with the Icon.

If you are on Verizon, check it out as it's a great phone with top of the line specs and a 5" 1080p screen.

Actually I'm in the UK, I don't think Verizon exists here - but my Note 3 was ATT (Yep, imported).

Honestly 6" for the screen might be good for me haha, I think my Note 3 is 5.5".

 

[raqball]

Actually I'm in the UK, I don't think Verizon exists here - but my Note 3 was ATT (Yep, imported).

Honestly 6" for the screen might be good for me haha, I think my Note 3 is 5.5".

Maybe check out that Nokia 1520 then. When I played with it in the AT&T store it was a very nice and fast phone. I believe the Icon and the 1520 have the same exact specs except for the screen size and the phone design. Same processor, ram, 1080p screen ect.

The 1520 has a gorgeous screen and since it was rather large, it was easy to read and the icons popped on the screen. Way to big of a phone for me but I can see why some people really like it..

 

[Liam2349]

Maybe check out that Nokia 1520 then. When I played with it in the AT&T store it was a very nice and fast phone. I believe the Icon and the 1520 have the same exact specs except for the screen size and the phone design. Same processor, ram, 1080p screen ect.

The 1520 has a gorgeous screen and since it was rather large, it was easy to read and the icons popped on the screen. Way to big of a phone for me but I can see why some people really like it..

Thanks for your views, I'll look into it a bit

 

[kundas1]

Actually I'm in the UK, I don't think Verizon exists here - but my Note 3 was ATT (Yep, imported).

Honestly 6" for the screen might be good for me haha, I think my Note 3 is 5.5".

no the note is a 6" screen I have the note 2 and it's 6" so I want a wndows 8 phone in a 6" size!

 

[mmoran27]

They all hate it.

It's no coincidence that Steve Ballmer is no longer CEO. He said that his biggest risk was Windows 8 before launch.

And guess what happened with that?

http://www.thewire.com/business/2012/11/microsoft-just-dismissed-mastermind-behind-windows-8/58937/

Heads rolled.

Even MS employed are calling it the new Vista.

http://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-employees-reportedly-call-windows-8-vista-175427951.html

 

[raqball]

I used Vista and hated it.. Windows 8, in my opinion, is not Vista.

I am curious as to why you are on a Surface Pro forum (since it obviously runs Windows 8) though.

At any rate, I am happy with Windows 8 so I guess that's all that really matters.