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Can the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Really Replace Your Laptop?

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Microsoft released the latest in their Surface line recently with the best one yet, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, advertising the 12-inch tablet as “the tablet that can replace your laptop.” But can it really?

After using the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as a primary laptop it replaced a clunky Windows 8.1 Toshiba laptop at work and a brand new 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display with only a few compromises. We’ll look at the strengths and weaknesses of using this beautiful tablet as a primary laptop.

microsoft surface pro 3 and two other laptops

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 effectively replaced a Windows 8 laptop and a MacBook Pro.

Here’s Microsoft’s commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTo5DfBtWkY

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 12-inch Display

Microsoft included a beautiful 12-inch “ClearType” display with a better-than-HD resolution of 2160×1440. They call it ClearType, after the technology that makes text look super crisp on a display in Windows. The device uses a 3:2 aspect ratio like the iPad, older style laptops and pre-HD TVs.

surface pro 3 display

The Surface Pro 3 gives users a precise touchscreen with an active digitizer powering the Surface Pen. This makes input easier on tiny buttons and improves handwriting recognition.

The display looks great, like any $1000 computer should. Readers can comfortably see the crisp and readable text even at smaller typefaces. Colors display accurately and look bright and rich, even in direct light.

Bright light makes it hard to see anything other than the user’s refection, but changing the angle of the tablet’s firm but flexible kickstand usually fixes the problem.

Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover

can a surface pro 3 replace a traditional laptop

Can the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 replace a traditional laptop?

Most external tablet keyboards don’t work as well as a built-in laptop or dedicated desktop keyboards, and that’s true with the Surface Type Cover ($129.99). It takes some acclimation, but after a while typing gets better thanks to well spaced keys, a backlight for night typing and an acceptable touchpad below the spacebar.

After switching from Windows to a Mac and then back with the Surface Pro 3, I like seeing a dedicated delete, page up/down, home, end and arrow keys. Mac and iPad keyboards don’t come with these keys.

If Microsoft wants to advertise the Surface Pro 3 as a tablet that can replace a laptop, they should bundle the keyboard and tablet for one price. The 128GB model costs $999 and the Type Cover adds $130. There’s no excuse for Microsoft not putting both in the box for about $1100. I can just see some unsuspecting victim of the cool commercials buying the Surface without the keyboard knowing better. When she gets home to open the box she’ll wonder where the keyboard went.

Type Cover touch pad

The sensitive Type Cover Touchpad can get frustrating until the user turns it down in Settings.

The Type Cover touchpad suffers the same problem many smaller laptops suffer. It sits too close to the keyboard, causing accidental touches. This inserts the cursor at another point in the document leading to unnoticed typos.

Change a setting to fix the sensitivity of the touchpad by swiping in from the right side of the screen to show the Charms Bar. Tap Settings then Change PC Settings at the bottom left corner. Tap on PC and Devices from the list on the left then tap Mouse and touchpad. Settings offers three strategies for fixing this problem.

touchpad settings surface pro 3

  1. Turn off the touchpad and use the touchscreen for all pointing. That’s probably going too far, but some may prefer it.
  2. Tap the drop down box at the bottom of the screen and choose Turn off taps so only pressing to click registers a mouse click in Windows. This makes the touchpad do mouse clicks, but never register a tap as a click.
  3. Change the delay between when the user taps on the touchpad and when it starts to respond. The same drop down box offers options for No delay, Short delay, Medium delay, Long delay and Turn off taps. Set it to Long delay to help fix the problem.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Touch Screen and Pen Input

surface pen in loop on back of surface pro 32

The Surface Pro 3 doesn’t come with anything to hold the Surface Pen unless owners also get the Type Cover which includes this pitiful adhesive loop.

Many laptops today come with touchscreens for Windows 8.1, but few offer a pen input like the Surface Pro 3. This helps with precise selections and touches on controls in Windows software not yet optimized for a touchscreen. We also get some nice handwriting recognition with the great Surface Pen. Using handwriting recognition input in laptop mode presents a challenge.

The lack of a Surface Pen holder is more ridiculous than not selling the Type Cover along with the Surface Pro 3. People must buy the Type Cover to get the terrible little pen holder. It sticks to the Type Cover or the tablet with some adhesive. If people lose their pen when the terrible holder comes off it will cost $55 for both the the $5 pen holder and a new pen at $50.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Design

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 design quality means users get a premium laptop and a large-screen tablet in one device. The magnesium alloy casing, excellent display and fast SSD storage makes this one of the best ultrabooks available today for Windows users. It’s more durable than the low price Chromebooks or budget Windows laptops. It compares nicely to a MacBook Air in speed, quality and durability, even if the design doesn’t look as attractive. The Surface Pro 3 looks industrial, while the MacBook Air looks sleek.

The buttons all feel well placed and don’t get in the way. Connecting USB accessories or a mini display-port cable to the upper right side may get awkward since the cables might get in the way hanging off the upper edge instead of the lower edge. It’s only a minor annoyance.

surface pro 3 charger

The Surface Pro 3 charger takes up space like traditional chargers, but it adds a USB charging port as well.

A traditional laptop charger does two things well – charge the computer and take up space. The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 charger is bulky like a traditional charger, but Microsoft designed it with a USB port for charging a phone, accessories or another tablet. This means one less plug to pack in a bag.

Making Connections with Surface Pro 3

surface pro 3 connections

Microsoft sells $40 adapters to plug in an HDMI or VGA cable to hook up to an external monitor or projector. Windows 8.1 Pro and the Surface Pro 3 supports Intel Wi-Di (wireless display technology). The Actiontec SBWD100A01 ScreenBeam Pro Wireless Display Receiver for $69.99 at Amazon works great hooked up to a projector at work and it’s more convenient than plugging in a cable.

Plug in USB accessories or drives or plug into Ethernet with the another adapter that’s also $40 from Mircosoft. Most modern laptops come with more USB ports and dedicated video or Ethernet ports, but this is less important today than it used to be. Still, that’s one of the compromises Surface Pro 3 owners must make.

surface pro 3 dock with tablet

The Surface Pro 3 dock turns the tablet into a desktop with one connection.

There’s a $200 docking station that buyers can pre-order for shipping, hopefully by the end of summer. It makes all of these connections easy. Just slide the tablet into the dock and instantly connect to external speakers, a monitor, Ethernet, hard drives or other USB accessories. The Surface Pro 3 also uses 802.11 ac/b/g/n an Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connections to a Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth accessories.

surface pro 3 dock back

The Surface Pro 3 back with all the connections a person might need.

Price Comparison and Bottom Line

The current 11-inch MacBook Air with 128GB like my Surface Pro 3 costs $899 but comes with a slightly smaller screen and users don’t get a tablet mode with handwriting and touch built-in. The screen also won’t look as good, since the MacBook Air resolution measures 1366×768.

Microsoft offers the Surface Pro 3 starting with 64GB of storage and a 4th generation Intel Core i3-4020Y 1.50 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 4200. That all adds up to a $799 laptop, about average for introductory level premium Windows laptops. Add a larger SSD, faster processor and more memory and the price jumps to as much as $1949 for 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 processor.

With only a couple of compromises, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 replaced my old Windows 8 notebook and a MacBook Pro quite well. I’m not ready to sell my MacBook yet, but I’m very happy with Microsoft’s 2-in-1 device.

23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. Moo

    07/20/2014 at 10:46 am

    The 512 SD is $1949. The 256 i7 is $1549

    • NoSacredCow

      07/20/2014 at 1:22 pm

      For that kind of money buy a Yoga.

      • dewd

        07/22/2014 at 3:47 pm

        I have a Lenovo yoga and its not worth it btw it was yoga 13

        • NoSacredCow

          07/31/2014 at 2:56 pm

          I have a Yoga 13 for a year or so now. Pro. I think it’s great. Only downside I have is keyboard isn’t lighted. The newer model is though.

  2. just-d

    07/20/2014 at 11:11 am

    I’m not sure what can be done about holding the pen besides this, I wouldn’t want the lines of my Surface marred by a bulge to insert the pen. There should be a bundled offer for both the standard type cover and one that includes a battery cover.

  3. Pullo

    07/20/2014 at 1:35 pm

    Obviously it can, I don’t know why these articles are going around about whether it can or can not. It is well known that Windows Hybrids make fantastic laptops because they have a lot in common with full laptops (processor, full-blown Windows 8.1, etc.). However, on the tablet side of things, these 2 in 1 hybrids are only ok tablets.

    • just-d

      07/21/2014 at 5:44 am

      My Surface is an excellent tablet actually, AMD I have the original Surface Pro.

      • Pullo

        07/21/2014 at 12:16 pm

        Yah I have an Asus T-300LA myself which is a Surface Pro 2 competitor. It runs on a core i5 processor, and you wouldn’t know that it is a tablet 2 in 1 until you detach it from the keyboard. It’s an amazing Ultrabook.

  4. Thomas

    07/20/2014 at 4:05 pm

    I’ve had mine for about 3 weeks. It’s easily the best piece of computer hardware I’ve ever owned. I replaced a Lenovo ThinkPad with no regrets. My only gripe is that the capacitive Windows button sometimes gets bumped inadvertently, especially when drawing.
    This is also the first computer I’ve owned that I use like a cell phone: I plug it in to charge and unplug it to use.
    I checked out the Yoga ThinkPad, but it was more expensive and Amazon reviews indicated a number of hardware problems, specifically related to the screen. The vanilla Yoga didn’t have a stylus, which was a deal killer for me.

  5. TK

    07/20/2014 at 5:45 pm

    I’m using one right now. I no longer have a laptop. No problems here.

  6. Gary

    07/20/2014 at 10:05 pm

    I’ve had mine since June 20 and absolutely love it. Easily the best computer I’ve ever owned. Yes, it replaced my old Dell Windows 7 laptop. I now like Windows 8.1 and wouldn’t consider downgrading back to Windows 7. I use it about 50% of the time as a laptop with keyboard attached and 50% as a tablet while watching TV with the family. The Pen is a necessity when in tablet and desktop mode and works beautifully. Did I mention that I love this thing?

  7. Gary Roberts

    07/20/2014 at 11:31 pm

    I’ve had mine for a week and I’m extremely happy with it. It’s light, fast, very attractive with a high resolution screen. I have had no problems. Wifi works very well, I have tested it at several WiFi spots and my SP3 responded with full connections at all spots.

  8. Ryan K.

    07/21/2014 at 10:44 am

    I have a Surface Pro 3. It has basically replaced my laptops and my tablets. I’m happy with it so far. It doesn’t replace my desktop PC, but otherwise it does a great job of being the one device for me.

  9. Kevin Q

    07/24/2014 at 2:45 am

    For the same price, I’d rather get a high end Macbook Air.

    • T.Q.B.

      07/26/2014 at 9:16 am

      By “high-end” I’d have to assume you meant the 13″ rather than 11″? All the other MacBook Air specs are the same except for the SSD size (128 vs 256). Also the “highest end” MacBook Air is a bit more expensive.

      In any case, Mac vs PC is your decision as a consumer.

      In my opinion, for most folks, gaining a touchscreen interface, digital pen, full compatibility with the Windows software ecosystem, and the ability to use it as a tablet are likely more valuable, for the same price.

  10. T.Q.B.

    07/26/2014 at 9:08 am

    Of course the Surface Pro 3 can replace your laptop – because it is basically a laptop, just with a much better touch screen and detachable, very slim keyboard.

    The article starts on something akin to a false pretense. I felt like the first line of the article should have been “Of course it can.” Then gone on to explain why this is a tablet-like laptop rather than the other way around. This is a device that has none of the compromises (software-wise) that tablets typically do – because it is a full PC. What I am more interested in is whether this solidly build laptop-replacement works well as a tablet.

    Now if the article was about if something like the Surface 2 (RT, not pro) could replace your laptop, that would be a good read. That is a device that has some software limitations, but could potentially still fill the need.
    (For the record, I own a SP2, and for a lot of my personal and work use I can rely on it solely, with the help of some advanced features nobody really mentions, since it is popular to dislike the RT)

  11. Joseph White

    08/12/2014 at 11:44 am

    The iPad uses a 4:3 ratio and the surface pro 3 uses a 3:2 ratio. The article states that the iPad also uses the more modern 3:2 ratio which is incorrect.

  12. effthat

    09/22/2014 at 12:09 pm

    Does that kickstand actually stay on your LAP? Ironically no, the one thing a laptop should do.

    • Goodstuffman

      09/22/2014 at 2:59 pm

      There are other alternatives out there that are also 2in1 hybrid tablet/laptops that can easily replace the Surface Pro 3. Look into the Asus Transformer Book T300LA, the Lenovo Thinkpad Helix, and a few others. Their keyboards are also quite superior to the Surface Pro 3 keyboard. I think a lot of these other Windows 2-in 1 hybrids are often underrated and left in the dust due to the fact that everyone always talks about the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and Apple ROFLLL.

  13. Todd Knowlton

    10/28/2014 at 4:25 pm

    For me, I had to make some other purchases and get my workspaces set up appropriately, but I have replaced my laptop and I am very productive on the Surface. Here are the details of how I set things up:

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141028021804-1101493-how-i-replaced-my-laptop-with-the-microsoft-surface-3-pro?trk=prof-post

  14. John

    12/04/2014 at 6:49 am

    Had a PRO 2 upgraded to PRO 3 and love it accept the networking issues. I hope MS addresses these concerns sooner rather than later.

    The keyboard is fine, I use a regular mouse with it. I appreciate the multi-adjustable support stand, especially since I take a train into work and the seats are tight.

    As for is it a good laptop replacement, for me that answer is yes. I use it in Office meetings to present, I develop software on it, and run all MS Office products and so much more.

    Because it’s so light in weight I often times check to confirm I have it in my bag.

    Crazy good.

  15. No

    07/21/2015 at 12:06 am

    First of all, you can’t sit on the couch with the Surface Pro 3 on your “lap” and use it like a “lap”-top. Second, have you used the keyboard? Trying to type a document of any length is an exercise in futility and you damn sure won’t do this sitting on the couch with it in your lap. It is an overpriced tablet and nothing more. It will never replace my laptop. In fact I am about to replace my laptop and the Surface Pro 3 with a new laptop. Very disappointed in the Surface. Should have know better than to have bought a Microsoft product.

    • John

      07/21/2015 at 5:01 am

      I completely disagree with your comment. I have a 2 hour train commute on a daily basis and have tried to use my laptop but find the opposite to your comment that it’s not usable whereas the Surface Pro 3 is perfect for my needs. I rarely use my laptop any more. Looking very forward to the Surface Pro 4 if it comes with larger screen.

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