Hmmm, it would be tough for me to replace a 13" laptop with a Surface 3 if that were my primary productivity device. I'm not sure what your other criteria is, but if you're comfortable with the size of the Air you might want to look at the Surface Pro line. Additionally, you're definitely going to notice a performance loss by going to the Surface 3. (again, I'd look at a Surface Pro 4 if I were you)
Is Surface 3 still worth buying
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Hmmm, it would be tough for me to replace a 13" laptop with a Surface 3 if that were my primary productivity device. I'm not sure what your other criteria is, but if you're comfortable with the size of the Air you might want to look at the Surface Pro line. Additionally, you're definitely going to notice a performance loss by going to the Surface 3. (again, I'd look at a Surface Pro 4 if I were you)
X0LARIUM
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Thanks for your reply. I am mostly going for a Pro3, however, what you are saying about the performance is in a way contradicting to all the reviews out there that say performance-wise they are the same. Again, I would believe a real user more than a reviewer any given day. So could you give me a few insights as to how and what are the differences? Thanks again!
I don't own a Surface Pro (3 or 4), however I've used a Surface Pro 3 on a handful of occasions. It was a core i5 model with 8gb of ram, and it is without question faster than the Surface 3. (any review that says they perform the same is wrong) The S3 performs reasonably well depending upon what you're doing. But once you have Chrome running with 6+ tabs as well as a few other programs, you begin to feel its limits.
To me, the selling point for the S3 is its size. (10" screen, similar to an iPad) It's smaller size makes it more of a tablet than a laptop, so if what you really want is a laptop then I wouldn't get the S3. Taking that a bit further, If what you really want is small and lightweight (windows) laptop, then I would probably take a good look at the Dell xps 13 before pulling the trigger on a Surface Pro 3 or 4. (others here may disagree, but to me the best Macbook Air competitor is the Dell xps 13) Don't get me wrong, I think the Surface Pro line of devices are very nice but if you're not going to use their tablet-y features much, then they might not make sense. Again, just one man's opinion.
I second eagle63's opinion.
If you're on a 13 inch MacBook you will not like the Surface 3. It's a lot smaller and slower. So your habits/pattern of working will be disrupted. The Surface pro 4 would be a better match.
If you're on a 13 inch MacBook you will not like the Surface 3. It's a lot smaller and slower. So your habits/pattern of working will be disrupted. The Surface pro 4 would be a better match.
X0LARIUM
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Ok so here's the thing...I mainly use my Air to browse the net, write and read. And listen to music. That's about it. Not once have I ever even installed Photoshop, let alone use it. Yes but I have made presentations but thats about it. May be I am not using the Air to its full potential but that's fine. If the above tasks are handled by S3, I am absolutely fine.
PS: I am even getting a great deal, but not able to locate a keyboard in UAE. Anyone?
PS: I am even getting a great deal, but not able to locate a keyboard in UAE. Anyone?
Ok, but do you want a laptop/tablet hybrid? Do you want a touchscreen and be able to use touchscreen apps? I'l stick by my original reply: If you just want a laptop then get a laptop. Make sure you intend to use this thing as a tablet at least part of the time or I just don't think it's worth it.
Regarding performance, it's tough to say. It might be perfectly fine. The things you want to use it for it can definitely do, but likely not as fast as your Air did.
Jared The Geek
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geoffwayne
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Hello I've been wanting to know if it's still worth a punt. I've just bought one from Amazon for ?330 it's the 64gb version with type cover and pen. I'll mostly be using if for word / excel, but would also like to know if it would run fm16 in any capacity?
Best buy has a Christmas in july sale for card members, surface 3 128 Gb model for $399. What do you think, only have a couple hours to decide. Have an RT
best buy has a Christmas in july special for card members, surface 3 128 gb for $399. Is it worth it. have an RT and want to upgrade. Also thinking pad if prices drop.
Just purchased a used 3 with 4gb ram and 128gb storage on eBay. Hoping it will be a good general use device for surfing, school work (note, word, etc.), and a basic link between my PC and 950.
Any advice/comments from owners?
Any advice/comments from owners?
As a Surface 3 owner, I would say run, don't walk, from this machine. With only 2 GB of RAM, it is unbelievably laggy with W10. Edge barely works at all anymore. Apps constantly just die for no apparent reason. It's too bulky to used as a tablet, and has ****-poor performance as a laptop. I'm probably going to revert it back to W8 if that is possible at some point and see if that can bring it back to life.
I agree any Surface PRO is fine for college, I would even say its the best device you can get your hands on for school. The Surface....maybe but with only 2GB RAM....like the above post says....run.
oditius
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I have the Surface 3 with the 4/128GB ram 4G LTE, I have no problems with lag, or anything else. I use it as my laptop when I am away from home. Unlike the Pro which is BIGGER, this is smaller and lighter, even with the attached keyboard. I never leave home without it. Sure beats lugging around my 17" HP with me. LoL..
I like the smaller footprint but unfortunately mine suffers from extreme lag. It's painful to even surf the web sometimes. Looking to upgrade to the Pro 4.
oditius
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I have not. It looks rather complicated for my level of computer knowledge.
For how much these devices cost, you would think they would perform better out of the box.
oditius
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You use to be able to do this in WIndows 8 and prior, but in their infinite knowledge, they took it away from the common folks. It isn't real hard, and the registry edit is only temp, turn to 0 and after creating a new power plan, you turn it off by changing it back to 1. But this is a simple hack, I have done even more to speed things up in the last S3 I owned. Haven't played with this one much. It has LTE so some hacks are aimed at LTE and I don't feel comfortable with it.
oditius
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If you really want to mess with it, this is how you get GOD MODE:
How to Enable God Mode in Windows 10 for hidden features
How to Enable God Mode in Windows 10 for hidden features
I think i may still get a Surface Pro 4 but maybe i can play around with some of this stuff on my 3.
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