Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.
Michael Corleone (The Godfather, Part III)
Microsoft just refreshed its smaller Surface hybrid line and finally buried Windows RT (running on ARM). The Surface 3 looks like a smller Surface Pro 3 and even takes stylus input. Featuring a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor, 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. Interested users will still have to cough up an additional $159.99 for the smaller, redesigned Type Keyboard and $49.99 for the Surface Pen (which now ships in a bevy of colours).
The new Surface sports a 10.8" full HD display at 1,920×1,280 pixels resolution, one USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader, headphone jack, cover port, micro USB charging port, Bluetooth 4.0 and three-position kickstand. The tablet will likely receive a free upgrade to Windows 10 when available, and includes a one-year Office 365 subscription to use Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more. Of the included 64GB, only 37GB free for user-installed applications.
The Surface 3 enters a pretty competitive market of hybrid and 2-in-1 devices but has the advantage of being a more refined and more cohesive companion to Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. The advert above boasts the Surface 3's all-day battery as well as its multifarious ports and I/O as the key features. Canadian availability will be in May and pricing starts at CAD $639.00. The timing of the device's launch (in May) and the marketing copy on the website seems to target the back-to-school and Father's Day shopping rush. Is the third time the charm for the Surface? Only time will tell.