{"id":178,"date":"2015-01-16T16:50:15","date_gmt":"2015-01-16T21:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=178"},"modified":"2015-01-16T16:55:08","modified_gmt":"2015-01-16T21:55:08","slug":"microsoft-surface-pro-3-first-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=178","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Surface Pro 3 first impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

My office is replacing its aging fleet of HP 620 notebooks with Surface Pro 3\u00a0 (256 GB, Intel Core i5) tablets<\/a>. \u00a0Each tablet will be deployed with an optional keyboard cover<\/a> and docking station<\/a>. \u00a0This is the middle-of-the-road model, which is powerful enough to run most business applications but not suitable for more demanding video or graphic editing tasks.<\/p>\n

The Surface Pro works well as a tablet replacement. \u00a0Although it’s somewhat clunky compared with Apple’s iPad, the build quality and overall feel are solid. \u00a0The built-in kickstand adjusts to a wide range of viewing angles and folds flat when not in use. \u00a0The power connector, which attaches magnetically similar to Apple’s MagSafe plug, is a bit awkward to plug in because of its width and the Surface’s beveled edge. \u00a0The sharp edges make the Surface Pro less comfortable to hold than an iPad. \u00a0The touchscreen is responsive and the display is bright with well saturated colors.<\/p>\n

As a notebook replacement, the Surface Pro leaves a lot to be desired. The optional keyboard cover is both ingenious and frustrating. \u00a0The cover attaches magnetically. \u00a0Unlike the power connector, it attaches without any fuss and is easy to position even in dim light. \u00a0It can either lay flat or the back can be raised a bit by folding a section at its back. Both positions have flaws. \u00a0The tipped-up position achieves a more natural typing angle, but the not rigid enough keyboard cover flexes considerably. \u00a0The flexing disappears when the keyboard is in its flush position but I found it uncomfortable that way for long typing sessions. The trackpad is imprecise and I frequently found myself reaching for the touchscreen instead.<\/p>\n

By no means should you\u00a0call the Surface 3 Pro a laptop! \u00a0Trying to use the Surface on your lap is an exercise in discomfort and frustration. \u00a0The sharp edge of the kickstand digs into your legs and the keyboard cover flops around like a dead fish. \u00a0And you will look like a dork.<\/p>\n

A stylus is included with the Surface Pro 3 but it isn’t particularly useful. \u00a0It took some considerable head scratching before I figured out that the stylus only works with Microsoft OneNote and a handful of apps. \u00a0I don’t see any good reason why it isn’t recognized by the general touchscreen interface. \u00a0The Surface doesn’t provide any place to stash the stylus. \u00a0If you buy the optional keyboard cover you get a flap of material with a loop to hold the stylus. \u00a0It has a self-stick backing that can be affixed to the cover but it looks goofy\u00a0and would probably rip off after a week of use.<\/p>\n

The docking station provides a full set of ports and comes with it’s own power brick. \u00a0It positions\u00a0the tablet at a good viewing angle and has a conveniently located magnetized area along the left side to hold the stylus. \u00a0I struggled with inserting and removing the Surface from the docking station until I realized its sides slide in and out. \u00a0(Yeah, I know, RTFD, but there aren’t arrows or any other kind of visual cues. \u00a0This should be more intuitive.)<\/p>\n

Overall, the hardware isn’t half bad. \u00a0However, the UI is a hot mess! \u00a0 The Surface-specific annoyance is that the OS doesn’t automatically adjust when the keyboard cover is affixed or removed. \u00a0After disconnecting the cover and heading out without it, there was no way to unlock the tablet because the password field wouldn’t present a “soft keyboard.” \u00a0Conversely, I wasn’t able to connect and use the keyboard to finish a document that I started in tablet mode.<\/p>\n

Other annoyances are just because the Surface Pro 3 runs Windows 8.1. \u00a0The GUI is wildly inconsistent and\u00a0switches between “classic” Windows and the new Metro look depending on what you are doing. \u00a0This schizophrenic UI must be baffling to users migrating from Apple platforms! \u00a0I’m thinking about disabling Metro entirely so at least I can get a consistent user experience.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: the Surface Pro 3 is a good choice if you’re looking for an ultra-mobile computer to leverage existing Microsoft licenses or mainly use Windows-only applications. \u00a0And you want the ability to use it as a touchscreen tablet. \u00a0Otherwise, the similarly sized\u00a011-inch MacBook Air<\/a>, which has a “real” keyboard and intuitive OS is worth a look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My office is replacing its aging fleet of HP 620 notebooks with Surface Pro 3\u00a0 (256 GB, Intel Core i5) tablets. \u00a0Each tablet will be deployed with an optional keyboard cover and docking station. \u00a0This is the middle-of-the-road model, which is powerful enough to run most business applications but not suitable for more demanding video […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[21],"tags":[43,45,44],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8sNNV-2S","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":304,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=304","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":0},"title":"13\" Retina MacBook Pro Retina won't boot, fan running full blast","date":"March 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"So this repair is mildly interesting. \u00a0The user's late 2012 MacBook Pro just wouldn't start up one morning. \u00a0It would get as far as a \"missing boot disk\" icon and shortly thereafter the fans started running full blast. Apple Diagnostics recognized that an SSD was installed but was unable to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=12","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":1},"title":"Reviving a drowned laptop","date":"July 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"My friend spilled a glass of water into her 13\" MacBook Pro.\u00a0 She had tried (unsuccessfully) to dry it out by sticking it in a bag of rice, followed up by a blast from a blow dryer.\u00a0 The laptop would not turn on at all.\u00a0 The battery was installed but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/jimandnoreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/macpro-logicboard-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":307,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=307","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":2},"title":"Resurrecting a 17\" MacBook Pro with a heat gun","date":"March 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"So the dreaded day came when my beloved \"late 2011\" 17 inch MacBook Pro died.\u00a0 The screen wigged out while it was in use, then it would only boot halfway before stopping at a gray screen.\u00a0 From experience, I knew that it was suffering from the dreaded AMD GPU logic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":154,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=154","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":3},"title":"Best wax for a black car","date":"May 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"If you have a black car like I do, you \u00a0already know that black paint shows every smudge, chip and swirl mark. \u00a0Over the years I've owned three black autos and only recently discovered a collection of products and an application process that produce what I would consider excellent results.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/jimandnoreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_0889.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":69,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=69","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":4},"title":"Did you hear about the Rabbi who didn't charge for circumcisions?","date":"August 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"He only took tips! I don't charge friends for repairing their electronics, which I'm always glad to do and genuinely enjoy. \u00a0But I'll happily accept a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation. \u00a0Sometimes people are\u00a0really happy to get their stuff fixed. Look at the pile of swag that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","img":{"alt_text":"Booty!","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/jimandnoreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/20130801-133502-768x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":331,"url":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/?p=331","url_meta":{"origin":178,"position":5},"title":"Reflow Madness","date":"August 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the past several months, I did a few more reflow repairs with my trusty heat gun.\u00a0 I successfully resurrected a Beats Pill bluetooth speaker but it failed again after a few weeks.\u00a0 Another Pill is still working okay.\u00a0 I rescued a 15\" MacBook Pro with video problems but had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=178"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":183,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178\/revisions\/183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimandnoreen.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}