I would like to make my self clear from the get go. I have a Desktop already and will always have one. But right now I am getting ready to submit my transfer packets for college and would like to replace my Macbook Air and Nexus 10. I love both devices (even though I like only the Air out of all apple products). Plus, I will be taking alot of science course that require alot of formulas and note taking. I actually seen the SP3 and thought it was sweet even though for a tablet it heavy. Is the device good in your opinion if you want to minimalistic setup for school. I want to know how good the keyboard is and is it good for typing. Do you think when Windows 10 comes out that it will be a useless device? How are the apps? How is note taking on the device? Can I use Onenote with the stylus and type notes?I really will be using it for browsing, typing, studying, and the Civilization or Source games. My main gaming will be on my desktop and PS4 so I will fine with getting a light device over a gaming beast laptop. Any opinions or suggestions?
Using the Surface Pro 3 is really nice overall. You get the usability of a tablet while maintaining the compatibility of Windows. I haven't used the Touch Pad properly yet - I've only tried it in stores. It seems nice, I just haven't had the need. Why would Windows 10 make it a useless device? I could imagine Win10 being a benefit, particularly if they bring compatibility of iOS and Android along, as they intend to do with the phone OS. If anything, the successor will make the 3 obsolete, not the OS. How are the apps? It's Windows. You get apps, applications, programs and software ;-) Note taking is not as fluid as pen and paper, though that will undoubtedly be the case for a few years. It writes well, don't get me wrong, but it's not a substitute for pen and paper for a student. The odd notes will be fine. Yes, you can use the stylus and type on the same OneNote Notes. Light gaming... maybe. Just be wary of the i7 version as the amount of heat will throttle down the processor to lower speeds.
Also, note that the USB port is not powered so although USB thumb drives will be fine an optical drive will need extra power.
Thank you for the reply. I will probably wait a year so I will be saving up. I prefer typing for notes because my writing is at a status of a 5 year old. But doing Chemistry equations and physics would be beneficial for the use. I did see someone on reddit who did some physics notes and looked perfect. But pen and paper is always better. I just wish the battery life was better just because my current laptop has 12 hours life which I only charge it twice a week.
The typing is subpar for me. The keyboard is ok. But it requires a table, almost no way around that. Using it as pen and paper is very very good, not perfect but very good.
As for gaming.... it works, as takaharu said it will throttle due to heat. But older games might work fine. Don't expect to play Crysis at ultra, at max maybe BF at terrible settings and fps.
Ya, keyboard is OK what I can tell when I went to go see one today. Was by Best Buy and they had a demo up. I liked it. Just might wait until I transfer. I love my keyboard on my Macbook, but I feel that the pen combo would be great. Game wise, it would probably be just Civ 5 and Portal. I have a Desktop and PS4 for gaming so not to worried. I did like how light it was and that it was a tablet/ultrabook. I just want to criminalize what I carry around when I am on campus because most likely I will be commuting. Plus, I seen people at my community college use it for notes when it comes to Chem and Physics and looks like a good feature. I will say, I prefer the clam-shell design on Airs/Ultrabooks just because I can have them on the lap, But I can use tablet mode I guess to counter that.
How do you like yours? Do you use it as a tablet? or do you use it like a Laptop more?
I have an SP3 and it's the nicest Windows tablet available IMHO. The keyboard is usable but overall I hate it, and the touchpad is garbage. I also only like using it when it lays flat, the magnetizing to the lower edge of the screen makes it too bouncy. I wish they would release another version without the mag strip so you can have more room for a bigger touchpad. Also, it takes up more room than a regular laptop between the keyboard and kickstand. If you pair it with the dock and just use a wireless kb/m, it's a great setup.
I still have the original Pro. That replaced my laptop because the Pro was easy to carry around as a laptop. A tablet replacement, it wasn't. It was just way too bulky. I put Ubuntu GNOME on it and am getting MUCH improved battery life. Seeing the Pro 3 and the XPS 2015, it shows me I need to upgrade. The Type Cover 2 is back lit when needed, and, to me, feels like a new type of mechanical switch, and I have no idea how that was done with the travel distance available. I would say to get the Pro 3.
As long as it is sufficient I will be fine with the keyboard. I would mainly use it for notes and school work but want to have power for programs and Civilization 5. I will most likely get the SP4 just because I will be getting one right when I transfer. I will still have my gaming rig and ps4 so it not like power is a big deal. Just want light tablet and laptop replacement. Thank you for the reply
How is using Linux on the machine? I will be getting the SP4 around when I transfer so the original will not be a option. I just hope they improve the battery. Because I love my macbook for that reason.
Linux actually runs really well. But if you try to reboot from the Terminal or hit the button in the GUI, it goes into kernel panic. You have to hold down the button to turn it off. Everything else works like it should. :)
Did anyone try to dual boot a linux distro on any of the Surface's Pro versions ? Just for exercise purposes for instance. PS I do not buy the laptop replacement angle of Microsoft and other Surface proponents. I do think it is a device on it's own that has merit but I would use it to replace my HP Elitebook i5 laptop. Perhaps if there would be Surface Mini 8,9 Inch 4:3 version I would buy it as a addition to my HP Elitebook but that would still not replace it.
Keyboard is still sub par of any Surface compared to many good keyboard laptops and you still cannot type on a Surface while it rests on your lap.