First impressions on the Surface 3

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

It took Microsoft three tries but it finally built the best possible 2-in-1 PC for consumers with the Surface 3. Microsoft repeated many of the strokes and flourishes that made the Surface Pro 3 arguably one of the best 12-inch notebook/tablet combinations out there, and by jettisoning the ill-received Windows RT for an ultimately more useful Window 8 and Windows 10 OS, gave users the device they've been wanting.

The first two Surfaces were clear attempts at winning over iPad users, we all know how that ended. The lack of Metro or RT applications made Microsoft Office the only killer app on the earlier Surface and Surface 2 devices even if Microsoft ported many of their apps and experiences, third-party developers ignored the fledgling OS. Office is now running on everything from iPads to myriad Android tablets, Microsoft has all but given up on trying to challenge the iPad. 

The Surface 3 is essentailly a smaller, less powerful  and cheaper Surface Pro 3.

The Surface 3 is very much a derivative of the better, faster and larger Surface Pro 3. It features an Intel Atom processor, which can run thousands of classic Windows applications. It is thinner, lighter and more refined than previous versions.

You still need to buy the Type Cover and the Stylus, which is a head scratcher because it isn't a great standalone tablet and you need the Type Cover to be as productive as Microsoft wants you to be. The Stylus may or may not be necessary depending on the user but being able to sign documents, annotate text and photos and draw and paint on the Surface Pro 3 makes it a necessity for me. 

What really makes the Surface 3 shine is its small size and light weight. The 10.8-inch display is ample and clear even if it is not as pixel dense or vivid as the Surface Pro 3's 12-inch display. For the intended audiences of consumers, students and anyone who wants a compact and capable notebook with full touch integration. This will be even more important once Windows 10 rolls around.

I though the Surface 3 might cannibalize Surface Pro 3 sales but after spending a few days with it, i realize it won't make me want to trade in my larger Surface for this more compact model. The Surface 3's kickstand is limited to three settings, where the SP3 has greater range. 

The Atom processor is great for running most apps and specially Office 365, but can get pokey when running more intensive applications and I wouldn't reccomend it for serious gaming. 2GB and 4GB of non upgradeable RAM might be another reason for this. The pricing of the Surface 3 might also put a lot of buyers off since it starts at CAD $639.00 and that's without the requisite CAD $159.99 Type Cover and the optional $49.99 Pen.

 

The Surface 3 can now be charged via microUSB port, you can use you non-Apple smartphone charger to top it up, which is convenient (but the included charger works best). The Surface 3's build quality, fit and finish is still top notch. The Type Cover that comes with the Surface 3 seems even better and more robust than the ones available for the larger model.

So, while this is the best version of the consumer Surface tablet we've seen, it still carries over some of the paltry specs and higher cost of its predecessors. 

Potential buyers will have to decide if having the ability to run full-Windows apps on a 2-in-1 subportable like the Surface 3 is worth the expense or if they're better off with a cheaper notebook but touch functionality and the ability to have pen input might trump the  higher cost of the Surface 3.

Surface 3 comes to Canada on May 5th.