Surface 3: Looking Better By The Day
What do you think of Surface 3? You can read the reviews and most of what I’ve read is that it’s a brilliant little machine. There’s generally some balking at the price, but setting that aside for a minute:
I DO need an all-day full-Windows device. That is, something that will run legacy applications. Previous versions of Surface (not Pro) have given me the all-day experience, and the Surface Pros have given me full-Windows with support for legacy applications. It just seemed that I couldn’t have both.
When I need to be completely portable, and by that I mean walking around with my Surface (any model) in one hand here’s what I’m thinking:
- Weight: Surface 3
178 grams (0.39 lbs =6.24 ounces) is going to make a difference.
That is the difference in weight between Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3
Surface 3: 622 g (1.37 lbs)
Surface Pro 3: 800 g (1.76 lbs) - Screen Resolution: It’s a draw
Screen resolution probably won’t matter given what I do when standing. I’m usually writing, sketching, doing annotations on the screen, or navigating through a presentation. I think it’s a draw.
Surface 3: 1920 x 1280
Surface Pro 3: 2160 x 1440 - Battery life: Surface 3
Battery life is a state of mind and more than just the difference in the specifications. If I am not absolutely confident that my device will go the distance on its battery, I have to bring along and use the charger. That’s an anchor on a glider and completely changes my perception of the device. For what I do when standing,
(presentations and learning events) I need to know that I that run about 3-4 hours with confidence. I frequently use Skype to share my screen and Skype is a battery killer. It also puts me at the outside edge of what I can do with my Surface Pro 3. I plug in the Surface Pro 3 at breaks, and that’s a drag.
If the Surface 3 behaves like its predecessors then I should be able to leave the anchor behind. - Charging: Surface 3
Finally I can charge a Surface with micro USB chargers. That means that I should be able to use readily available battery packs and phone chargers or use my Surface charger with other devices. - Size: Surface 3 ?
It’s hard to know until I get my hands on Surface 3. The aspect ratio is the same as Surface Pro 3, and I really like that and from what I’ve read I expect that it will be easier to manage in one hand while I’m writing or sketching with the other.
Surface 3: 267.0 x 187.0 x 8.7 mm
Surface Pro 3: 292.1 x 201.4 x 9.1 mm
The principle complaint I’m seeing in the reviews is the cost.
I think that the most expensive device is the one you don’t use. Second to that is a device that you need to supplement with another one.
I could use a Surface 3 for a lot things that I do every day. It looks like it will handle my most frequently challenging application (walking around while talking, writing) for hours at a time. And finally free of the nagging concern about battery life, this could be a great device for me.
What do you think? Is there a Surface 3 in your future?
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