![\"microsoft-surface-3_c7082cbd8be596dd\"](\"http:\/\/dsdatabase.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/microsoft-surface-3_c7082cbd8be596dd-300x168.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEarlier this week, Microsoft announced the Surface 3, the successor to the regular Surface line which will sell side by side with their Surface Pro 3. \u00a0If you don’t remember the regular Surface series, it’s completely understandable. \u00a0The Surface 1 and 2 were cheaper and lighter versions of the Pro siblings, but the kicker was that they ran Windows RT which was unable to run regular x86 Windows applications.<\/p>\n
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The Surface 3 seems to correct most of the concerns and looks to be a genuine contender. \u00a0First of all, it runs the full Windows 8.1 (and will be upgraded to Windows 10 for free on release). \u00a0This means that you’ll have access to the limited app selection in the Windows Store, but also the huge library of PC applications ranging from League of Legends of Microsoft Office. \u00a0Asides from that, it is priced at a very reasonable $499 USD and up (and a not so reasonable $639 CAD). \u00a0It is roughly 20% lighter and sports a 10.8 inch screen instead of the 12 inch found on the Surface Pro 3 model. \u00a0All this is possible because it is running a weaker Intel Atom x7 quad core processor.<\/p>\n
All this boils down to a different device aimed at a different target. \u00a0The Surface Pro 3’s tagline was a tablet that could replace your laptop. \u00a0With the Surface 3, I don’t think it can do that. \u00a0You won’t try to run high end PC games on this device, nor will you use the 10.8 inch screen exclusively for all your word documents. \u00a0Instead, they are going back to what tablets are about. \u00a0It’s cheap, light and portable.<\/p>\n
While I was trying out the device, it ran very smooth across the demos, and feels like it can handle a bit more than the Intel Atom brand lets on. \u00a0It’s also nice that they’ve kept support for the Surface Stylus for art enthusiasts even though it is a separate purchase now. \u00a0The overall size of the device is quite comfortable and portable. \u00a0The size is just enough so that I might walk around with it, whereas the Surface Pro 3 is simply too large. \u00a0The most impressive factor is the new Type keyboard. \u00a0They’ve done a really nice job with the keys which have a satisfying click after each press now.<\/p>\n
I wish I could go on, but as a demo the thing that stood out most is the sizing. \u00a0It feels a lot more portable that the Surface Pro 3 without shrinking it too small. \u00a0I think they’ve got a good winner on their hands.<\/p>\n
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