Yes. If you've ever owned an iPad you'll know it is great for movies, games and music... But nothing else. The surface 3 is geared towards those that actually want to do something productive. It runs desktop software, has USB and best of all - doesn't require iTunes.
dwor
22 May 1619#35
I find that a mouse-and-keyboard is essential for any real productivity. Sure, iOS apps are touch optimised, but I don't think it's very easy to format a Word document using touch alone. An iPad can "kind of do productivity" just like a Surface can "kind of do relaxing". Ultimately, neither devices can bridge both work and play - it's a question of priorities.
Before someone jumps in and says buy a laptop, here are the positives of a Surface (for me):
- perfectly adequate performance (not sure about gaming; fine for other stuff)
- great screen (fractionally sub-Retina, but absoutely fine and very bright)
- genuinely portable
- proper USB port (for connecting a printer / SD card reader...)
- Micro SD card slot for expanding storage
- drag-and-drop content or transfer using USB stick (no hateful iTunes bloatware to sync media)
- not too heavy in the hand (think iPad 1 or 2, from the old days)
- micro USB charging - same as my phone (and other baby tablet)
- can use a Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad/mouse
- stand built in (better than folding a case and knocking your wobbly tablet off a desk)
- reasonable battery life
- pen pretty good (don't really use) and cheap (£45, half the price of Apple's Pencil)
- doesn't look stupid in portrait mode any more (3:2 ratio helps)
- £350 or £450 - really pretty reasonable prices
- no fan kicking in
- long-term, straight-away software updates (better than eternal wait for Android updates)
- full Windows desktop and file management ...
- ... or tablet mode when you just want web / email / touch apps
And (my) downsides:
- Microsoft touch cover unpleasantly expensive (~£110)
- lack of decent alternative cases / covers
- keyboard cover a faff when folded back around (but easily detached)
- heavier than an iPad for browsing on your lap
- 3:2 portrait mode still not quite as comfortable as iPad's 4:3 ratio
- battery life not-quite-all-day
- lack of touch-friendly media apps (Spotify, Amazon Prime Video...)
- possibly replacement soon? (came out a year ago)
- maybe too close to an ultraportable laptop, which might have better keyboard / trackpad / battery life
Anyway, these are just my thoughts. I think the Surface 3 is a great device, and I have no doubt that it is perfectly adequate for people who don't want to do intensive stuff like Photoshop or gaming.
I hope this helped someone.
xela333 to nitro228
21 May 1617#2
That's a bit of a difficult comparison. I'd see this more of a productive device, the iPad more for entertaining.
You just have to ask yourself, do I want a full Windows experience on a laptop with a lack of polished, touch based apps but full desktop programmes. Or an iPad.
xela333
21 May 168#8
Erm :confused:
All comments (122)
nitro228
21 May 16#1
Is this as good as a iPad Air 2?
xela333 to nitro228
21 May 1617#2
That's a bit of a difficult comparison. I'd see this more of a productive device, the iPad more for entertaining.
You just have to ask yourself, do I want a full Windows experience on a laptop with a lack of polished, touch based apps but full desktop programmes. Or an iPad.
MrWanger to nitro228
21 May 1647#4
Yes. If you've ever owned an iPad you'll know it is great for movies, games and music... But nothing else. The surface 3 is geared towards those that actually want to do something productive. It runs desktop software, has USB and best of all - doesn't require iTunes.
Pipedream to nitro228
22 May 161#36
Ipad is a better tablet by a hundred million miles, Surface is a better computer. It depends what you want but if you have to ask that question you want an IPad.
MarkT1967
21 May 16#3
How does the speed of this compare to an iPad Air
1/2 ?
stuellis
21 May 163#5
Great price but as someone who owns the 4gb version I'd strongly recommend getting the 4gb version. Mine is often at 60-70% RAM usage doing simple tasks. However I wouldn't be without my Surface 3, brilliant bit of kit. You can download Bluestacks and run android apps too so your not stuck with just the MS store.
amour3k
21 May 162#6
OP .. would help if you mentioned in your Deal somewhere that is a 10.8" Tablet, with 2GB RAM, & 64GB Internal Storage perhaps?, lol.
My dad has one, it's not better, it's much slower and lower res screen, I find it annoyingly slow. While good for the price I'd rather the Surface 3 4gb as a tablet to live with
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
10.8" Tablet, with 2GB RAM, & 64GB Internal Storage
- montana78
Top comments
Before someone jumps in and says buy a laptop, here are the positives of a Surface (for me):
- perfectly adequate performance (not sure about gaming; fine for other stuff)
- great screen (fractionally sub-Retina, but absoutely fine and very bright)
- genuinely portable
- proper USB port (for connecting a printer / SD card reader...)
- Micro SD card slot for expanding storage
- drag-and-drop content or transfer using USB stick (no hateful iTunes bloatware to sync media)
- not too heavy in the hand (think iPad 1 or 2, from the old days)
- micro USB charging - same as my phone (and other baby tablet)
- can use a Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad/mouse
- stand built in (better than folding a case and knocking your wobbly tablet off a desk)
- reasonable battery life
- pen pretty good (don't really use) and cheap (£45, half the price of Apple's Pencil)
- doesn't look stupid in portrait mode any more (3:2 ratio helps)
- £350 or £450 - really pretty reasonable prices
- no fan kicking in
- long-term, straight-away software updates (better than eternal wait for Android updates)
- full Windows desktop and file management ...
- ... or tablet mode when you just want web / email / touch apps
And (my) downsides:
- Microsoft touch cover unpleasantly expensive (~£110)
- lack of decent alternative cases / covers
- keyboard cover a faff when folded back around (but easily detached)
- heavier than an iPad for browsing on your lap
- 3:2 portrait mode still not quite as comfortable as iPad's 4:3 ratio
- battery life not-quite-all-day
- lack of touch-friendly media apps (Spotify, Amazon Prime Video...)
- possibly replacement soon? (came out a year ago)
- maybe too close to an ultraportable laptop, which might have better keyboard / trackpad / battery life
Anyway, these are just my thoughts. I think the Surface 3 is a great device, and I have no doubt that it is perfectly adequate for people who don't want to do intensive stuff like Photoshop or gaming.
I hope this helped someone.
That's a bit of a difficult comparison. I'd see this more of a productive device, the iPad more for entertaining.
You just have to ask yourself, do I want a full Windows experience on a laptop with a lack of polished, touch based apps but full desktop programmes. Or an iPad.
Erm :confused:
All comments (122)
That's a bit of a difficult comparison. I'd see this more of a productive device, the iPad more for entertaining.
You just have to ask yourself, do I want a full Windows experience on a laptop with a lack of polished, touch based apps but full desktop programmes. Or an iPad.
1/2 ?
Erm :confused: