Advice on student buy

[tcedwards]

Hello!

I am here to ask the advice of Surface Pro 3 users. I am going to try and make this simple.
I currently have a Nokia Lumia 2520. I love this device, but I feel the Surface Pro 3 will offer more benefits.

I use my 2520 for:

1. Music
2. Web Browsing
3. Videos (movies, Netflix)
4. General Win8 fun

I want a SP3 because:

1. To take notes on in class. Is the SP3 pen truly able to keep up in a college level course?
2. To play WoW. Just got back into the game, and with new expansion coming out I would like to be able to play at home and at school (hour drive) without caring my Alienware X51 back and forth. Can the SP3 handle WoW?
3. Mediamonkey. To manage music, Win8 app isn't there yet.
4. Bigger Screen.

My options are the i3 SP3 or lowest I5 SP3. If the i3 SP3 can handle all the above requirements, count me in. If not can the I5 SP3 handle them?

 

[rdubmu]

For just $100 more I would get the i5 processor. Yes OneNote is great for taking notes but... I find the pen on the Surface Pro 1 & 2 better.

As for WoW: I have never played it.

 

[tcedwards]

So is the pen doable? Or is the SP2 a better buy

 

[boo516]

So is the pen doable? Or is the SP2 a better buy

Having had both. I'd say the pne on the SP2 is better by a decent margin. On the SP3 there is noticable lag on one note using the pen. It's not terrible but it's noticable. You do get used to it. Also something that initially made me disappointed was that the SP3 pen needs a battery. Again a small detail but not for the better I feel.

 

[tcedwards]

A battery? Wow that does suck. Man the more I find out the less I want the sp3

 

[boo516]

A battery? Wow that does suck. Man the more I find out the less I want the sp3

Yup 1 AAA. However I found it suprising that the button at the top that launches one note works without needing the battery.

 

[MBytes]

The SP3 takes a AAAA battery (4x A's, not 3).
The difference is that the SP3 pen works better out of the box. It's more accurate and works great on corners (uses N-Trig technology).
The SP1 and SP2, pen NEEDS calibration (unless you just happen to hold the pen, and have the same hand size, the same way it was calibrated to by default), which the tool for it, isn't provided by Microsoft. I made one specially designed for the SP1 and 2 (Surface Tweak Tool for Surface Pro 2 - Release! | Microsoft Surface Forums). In addition, the pen is not great on edges of the screen. (uses Wacom technology).

Also, N-Trig allows the SP3 to be thin. Wacom doesn't, due to the thickness of the digitizer. So you can see why Microsoft opted for N-Trig.

In addition, Wacom was designed and focused for drawing, not note taking, while for N-Trig, it is the reverse. They designed their pen technology for note taking, where you need accuracy, not speed and super fast response.

The battery of the SP3 pen is supposed to last several months, and has no battery indicator (all N-Trig pens are like that). Best to keep a second battery in hand. If you desperate for a AAAA battery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5ZB1eFhwc
(and yes, it's true. It's a bunch of quadruple A batteries (AAAA) without a label)

 

[boo516]

The SP3 takes a AAAA battery (4x A's, not 3).
The difference is that the SP3 pen works better out of the box. It's more accurate and works great on corners (uses N-Trig technology).
The SP1 and SP2, pen NEEDS calibration (unless you just happen to hold the pen, and have the same hand size, the same way it was calibrated to by default), which the tool for it, isn't provided by Microsoft. I made one specially designed for the SP1 and 2 (Surface Tweak Tool for Surface Pro 2 - Release! | Microsoft Surface Forums). In addition, the pen is not great on edges of the screen. (uses Wacom technology).

Also, N-Trig allows the SP3 to be thin. Wacom doesn't, due to the thickness of the digitizer. So you can see why Microsoft opted for N-Trig.

In addition, Wacom was designed and focused for drawing, not note taking, while for N-Trig, it is the reverse. They designed their pen technology for note taking, where you need accuracy, not speed and super fast response.

The battery of the SP3 pen is supposed to last several months, and has no battery indicator (all N-Trig pens are like that). Best to keep a second battery in hand. If you desperate for a AAAA battery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5ZB1eFhwc
(and yes, it's true. It's a bunch of quadruple A batteries (AAAA) without a label)

Wow you're right. I stand corrected.

 

[realwarder]

Never seen a AAAA battery before that Bing search! Not very common things

 

[xboxonthego3]

I would get a Surface Pro 3 for college for sure! Wait... I did! lol. Looking forward to using it to handwrite notes when I want. Type when I want. And even record lectures. I can also watch movies and play music. I am able to play Skyrim pretty decently as well keep in mind battery life drains quick for gaming like that. Overall in my opinion this is the ultimate device for a college students because it provides flexibility and options in one device. I was able to get eTextbooks for 3 out of my 4 classes. So I will only have to carry my surface, and one text book. It is going to be pretty nice. If you do plan on getting a Surface make sure to take advantage of the student discount from Microsoft over even Best Buy is running $150 off deal on them right now. Pen in mind. I haven't used mine an awful lot. But I have had my i5 256gb 8gb Ram since day 1. And the pen has yet to die.

Hope this was helpful!

Let us know if you have anymore questions!

 

[Luke Praeuner]

I was nearly in the same boat as you. I owned the Surface 2 and used it for nearly identical purposes. I ran into some extra money so I decided to sell my Surface 2 and get the Surface Pro 3 for my freshman year of college in the fall.

I have never used any kind of digitizer before this, so n-trig is like godsend to me. I absolutely love it for handwriting and don't see how it could be any more responsive. As a plus, in landscape, the screen is just wide enough to hold two windows at the ratio of a piece of paper (screenshot below).



Since you plan on using it for Wow I would recommend getting the low i5. That is the model I have and it plays Civ V flawlessly and plays LoL sufficiently.

I honestly think this is one, if not the, best device out there for us students. I do not regret the purchase one bit.

Edit: Forgot to mention that the battery is a nearly non-issue. You can get AAAA batteries very cheap on amazon, and from research, they should last at least a year. If you desire, you can get an HTC Scribe pen for about $10. Its a bit smaller and doesn't have the OneNote button, but it works just as well and is a very nice spare.

 

[rdubmu]

The pluses for the Surface Pro 3 still make the Surface Pro 3 a better buy than the Surface Pro 2.

The bigger screen, the raised keyboard and the PEN is better than anything out there besides the Surface Pro 1 and 2.

The bigger screen is much better for having two apps side by side as the poster above stated. I use it all the time.

Sent from my Surface Pro 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Adrian Luna]

For just $100 more I would get the i5 processor.

It's actually a $200 difference between the i3 ($799) and i5 ($999) models.

 

[tcedwards]

Thanks to everyone thay replied, sorry it took me so long. You have convinced me! SP3 I5 coming as soon as I get the cash up. Not sure if I want 128 or 256 but ill decide that soon. Again thanks!

 

[MBytes]

Hope you'll enjoy it!

 

[Adam_ation]

You will not regret it! get the 8gb/256 though! - Adam

 

[Juan Stevens]

Get the i5 especially if you're trying to play WoW. Or if you plan on doing with any Adobe applications. Dunno what your major is.

 

[UWbadgers16]

Don't forget to try and get the student discounts! At least Microsoft, Best Buy, and Tiger Direct have $150 off the SP3 until something like September 6th. I just ordered mine from Tiger Direct (i5/256GB) for $1,149, and I got it for tax free since they don't tax my state.

 

[SleepyTheDon]

Right now is the perfect time. Microsoft is giving $150 off the SP3 128GB so you can get it for $849 or the $799 i3 is $699. Staples will match the price because Microsoft has an actual store and is considered a competitor. I just Upgraded so I am speaking from experience.

 

[JamesPTao]

The SP3 takes a AAAA battery (4x A's, not 3).
The difference is that the SP3 pen works better out of the box. It's more accurate and works great on corners (uses N-Trig technology).
The SP1 and SP2, pen NEEDS calibration (unless you just happen to hold the pen, and have the same hand size, the same way it was calibrated to by default), which the tool for it, isn't provided by Microsoft. I made one specially designed for the SP1 and 2 (Surface Tweak Tool for Surface Pro 2 - Release! | Microsoft Surface Forums). In addition, the pen is not great on edges of the screen. (uses Wacom technology).

Also, N-Trig allows the SP3 to be thin. Wacom doesn't, due to the thickness of the digitizer. So you can see why Microsoft opted for N-Trig.

In addition, Wacom was designed and focused for drawing, not note taking, while for N-Trig, it is the reverse. They designed their pen technology for note taking, where you need accuracy, not speed and super fast response.

The battery of the SP3 pen is supposed to last several months, and has no battery indicator (all N-Trig pens are like that). Best to keep a second battery in hand. If you desperate for a AAAA battery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5ZB1eFhwc
(and yes, it's true. It's a bunch of quadruple A batteries (AAAA) without a label)

The surface pros have never used wacon they have been ntrig from the beginning. That is why so many artist were frustrated with it.