Microsoft Surface Pro 3 First Look Review - New Tablet / Laptop Replacement for 2014

Buy it on Amazon - (affiliate link)
My local Microsoft Store let us head in early this morning before opening to check out the new Surface Pro 3 tablet.
I didn't have a lot of time to play with it but I did have a positive first impression. This is the first Windows tablet from any manufacturer that doesn't feel compromised. It doesn't attempt to shoehorn more commoditized PC components into a tablet format. It's a computer designed to work as a tablet but also works very well as a traditional laptop or notebook computer. It's also probably the best way to use Windows 8.
This time Microsoft is aiming at mid to high-end laptops like those from Apple and other manufacturers. The build quality is excellent and the screen has a high DPI "retina" style screen. The 3:2 aspect ratio is much better than the wider 16:9 that many tablet makers choose - especially when using the tablet in portrait orientation.
It's not a high end gaming device (it uses Intel's integrated graphics) but casual games on the Windows 8 store as well as retro emulators should work well.
The keyboard, which is an optional (and rather expensive) $130 add-on, is good. The keys are the right size and easy to type on. They are real keys, not chiclets, and also click like a keyboard should. The keyboard also has an integrated touchpad that also has a mechanical clicking mechanism for better feedback.
All models come with a stylus that works very well with the Surface and Microsoft OneNote. It detects the amount of pressure on screen and adjust the virtual ink accordingly.
The Surface Pro 3 has a USB 3.0 port as well as a mini DisplayPort for connecting to keyboards and external monitors. It's possible to dock it and use it as a desktop PC too with an external monitor and keyboard. I would have liked an additional USB 3 port but it's also relatively simple to expand the available ports through the use of a USB 3 hub.
The Surface Pro 3 is priced at the middle to high end of the market. A version equipped with the Intel i3 processor, 4 gigs of RAM, and a 64 gig SSD hard drive start at $799. An i5 based machine with 4 gigs of RAM and a 128 gig drive starts at $999.
The top of the line model is an i7 with a 512GB SSD and 8 gigs of RAM for $1949. None come with the keyboard.
The bottom line? This is probably the nicest Windows 8.1 tablet I've used so far.
Special thanks to Microsoft store manager Rick Green and CTNewjunkie.com's Doug Hardy who ran the second camera today.
Visit the Lon.TV store to leave a tip or purchase some of my previously reviewed items!
Follow me on Facebook!
Follow me on Google+