Microsoft Surface

[eyz]

thanks guys.

very informative!

I have a WD Black HDD on my desktop which I intend to use it as an external harddrive. If I install most of the programs on it, would it be fast enough? Say it's a SATA II HDD.

Is the loading time greatly affected, if it's installed on a SD card?

I'm deciding between 128 GB and 64 GB version, but leaning towards the 64 GB, as I think there's some heat issue with the i5 and i7 version, right?

Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks.




i'm planning to dismantle my WD Black HDD and use it as a desktop

most likely not enough .

64gb will be left with about 21gb of usable space, after installing photoshop and office probably left quite little to store files

will be better to get 128.

Definitely not enough. I bought 256gb. Install a bit here and there only I left 199gb... LOL

don't forget MS's super frequent windows update. suck space like nobody biz... I usually turn off these updates unless its super impt

Hi,

I have a 64GB version.. I can't tell you if its enough for you, but for me its enough.

I am currently left with 29.5GB free of 53.9GB(from windows explorer) after installing in c: the following :

Libreoffice 4.3 (open sourced office)
MS Office 2013
GIMP 2.8 (open sourced photoshop)
VirtualBox 4
Python 3
R 3.1
Firefox
adobe acrobat
plus many others small stuff (VLC,7z,evince,avidemux, audacity, notepad++, putty etc)


with
3GB hiberfil.sys
1GB pagefile.sys
Windows Recovery(default)
(did not remove any default installed application like freshpaint, etc)

Nothing more to install for me, except for those windows updates that may grow the drive a little more. (currently already fully updated, nothing to install or update)


All my data files are in my microSD card for current use, backup and seldom used files in NAS and USB3 ext HDD. So even if the sp3 brick, I just remove my microsd and I can exchange it without much worries about my data. I never like to store my data files in a storage i can't remove when i send in my unit for repairs. (with my old laptop, I can remove my HDD/SSD)

hope it helps you decide.. cheers..

 

[attapKia]

We are talking about the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition with Bluetooth 4.0. It does not need a Bluetooth dongle hence doesn't take up a USB slot

i see, that would be better.

 

[noobzpro]

Now i really dunno want to get the i3/64gb or i5/256gb.....the i5 throttling is dam bad after an hour of intense work from what ive been reading and hearing..the i3 doesnt throttle but then whether the 36gb is sufficient....i will mainly be doing java, writing notes thats all lolz and i still have a zenbook...

 

[quiksive]

Anyone has any comments on Surface Touch Arc compared to Logitech T630? Two of the few Bluetooth 4.0 mice out there.

The feel of the mouse is not that bad. works well with the surface pro 3.

 

[quiksive]

Now i really dunno want to get the i3/64gb or i5/256gb.....the i5 throttling is dam bad after an hour of intense work from what ive been reading and hearing..the i3 doesnt throttle but then whether the 36gb is sufficient....i will mainly be doing java, writing notes thats all lolz and i still have a zenbook...

I think the throttle aint as bad as what many say. I did photoshop with it still quit ok..

 

[purpleberry]

From what I've been reading, throttling ain't as bad as you think, at least for the i5 version. Most importantly it runs fine and perfectly well from a user perspective. You dont buy laptops to pay much attention to the benchmark numbers anyway.

Just like the hoo haa about iphone 4 antenna issue last time. The figures dont look promising but in actual fact, hardly any calls are dropped due to the signal issues.

 

[josephkjc]

thanks guys.

very informative!

I have a WD Black HDD on my desktop which I intend to use it as an external harddrive. If I install most of the programs on it, would it be fast enough? Say it's a SATA II HDD.

Is the loading time greatly affected, if it's installed on a SD card?

I'm deciding between 128 GB and 64 GB version, but leaning towards the 64 GB, as I think there's some heat issue with the i5 and i7 version, right?

Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks.

i'm planning to dismantle my WD Black HDD and use it as a desktop

How are you going to connect your SATA II HD to the SP3? Using an external HDD casing with USB 3.0? USB2.0 is slow IMO.

Programs should install on the SP3 itself while data files stored externally.

Another option is to get microSD cards and slot into the SP3 which supports up to 128G microSD cards

 

[noobzpro]

Question to those people with i3 model, when surfing internet with many tabs scrolling any lag? Or when typing?

 

[eyz]

Yah, most probably an enclosure with USB 3.0 connection, but unsure whether there is any USB 3.0 enclosure for SATA II HDD.

Yah considering the SD card option, as mentioned by a bro here.

Thanks!

How are you going to connect your SATA II HD to the SP3? Using an external HDD casing with USB 3.0? USB2.0 is slow IMO.

Programs should install on the SP3 itself while data files stored externally.

Another option is to get microSD cards and slot into the SP3 which supports up to 128G microSD cards

 

[Ray1976]

I am unable to start Andy as it always prompt error message. Reinstalled 3 times also have the same issue.
Installation is a pain.
Did you need to change virtualization in SP3 BIOS? Or update the SP3 graphics card driver or other updates to get Andy running?

No issue for me. I just ran the program and that's it. Of course, need to ensure Hyper V must be enabled, if not, it won't work. But AFAIK it is "enabled" in the BIOS by default?

 

[Ray1976]

I am using the Logitech M557 bluetooth mouse for my Surface Pro 3 and IMO better value to get the Arc Mouse Surface Edition. The ONLY reason people going for the Arc Mouse (Surface Edition) is the bluetooth connectivity. And of course when not in use, flatten it which will not take up much space. But Logitech M557 mouse is much cheaper and if you are a Chrome browser user like me, you will need the Smooth Scrolling extension of the Logitech mouse to make browsing and scrolling a breeze.

 

[savage]

Now i really dunno want to get the i3/64gb or i5/256gb.....the i5 throttling is dam bad after an hour of intense work from what ive been reading and hearing..the i3 doesnt throttle but then whether the 36gb is sufficient....i will mainly be doing java, writing notes thats all lolz and i still have a zenbook...

The throttling isn't that bad. I using i5 256gb model. If I didn't know there was throttling, I probably wouldn't even notice it.

I will feedback again when I start doing programming and compiling work on the SP3.see got effect or not.

I'm more uncomfortable with the heat on the back of the SP3.its hot to touch.
When I using it normally like surf Web, read, music and movies, it usually is around 45-50.
Hearthstone can push it up to 80.

 

[noobzpro]

The throttling isn't that bad. I using i5 256gb model. If I didn't know there was throttling, I probably wouldn't even notice it.

I will feedback again when I start doing programming and compiling work on the SP3.see got effect or not.

I'm more uncomfortable with the heat on the back of the SP3.its hot to touch.
When I using it normally like surf Web, read, music and movies, it usually is around 45-50.
Hearthstone can push it up to 80.

gaming that time after 1 hour got notice fps drop?

dam obvious here!

 

[Deavenger]

Today had a surprise when I arrived home..Microsoft send me a free sleeve for surface

 

[Ray1976]

For those considering between Microsoft Arc Mouse (Surface Edition) vs the Logitech T630 bluetooth mouse...the only factor that you need to consider in deciding which one to get is the size of your hand/palm. For user with big palm (like mine), small form factor mouse, though light weight and compact will not be comfortable after long hours of usage and most likely you will develp metacarpel syndrome over prolonged use...The "arched" Ar mouse or even the Sculptor mouse or Logitech M557 will provide more tactile feel and allowed you to be productive for longer use without feeling sore and tired. Of course, if you have a small hand, Wedge mouse and T630 should fit you well.

 

[RequiemDK]

Now i really dunno want to get the i3/64gb or i5/256gb.....the i5 throttling is dam bad after an hour of intense work from what ive been reading and hearing..the i3 doesnt throttle but then whether the 36gb is sufficient....i will mainly be doing java, writing notes thats all lolz and i still have a zenbook...

I have the i5 128gb version here. One thing to note is that the initial updates are hell on the system. This is when the i7 version overheats. The thing tries to download and install so many things at once Beyond the initial downloading and updating of the firmware and OS, my SP3 hasn't really heated up much. My use case is mostly Office, browsing, OneNote, R, occasional photoshop, etc and occasional screencasting and some hearthstone. Not the lightest, but not the heaviest of tasks either. I turned off a lot of things in the background though, e.g. disk encryption (don't know why it's enabled by default!), just like with my SP1 in order to have a minimal, consistent set of programmes running so as not to unnecessarily burden the device. Hearthstone makes it run the hottest, being a legacy game (really wish they'd compile a metro version, it really isn't hard). The rest of the time, the heat never really gets to a point where it's bothersome.

 

[Stupid Idiot]

The Arc Touch is Bluetooth 4.0 while the M557 is only Bluetooth 3.0~

I am using the Logitech M557 bluetooth mouse for my Surface Pro 3 and IMO better value to get the Arc Mouse Surface Edition. The ONLY reason people going for the Arc Mouse (Surface Edition) is the bluetooth connectivity. And of course when not in use, flatten it which will not take up much space. But Logitech M557 mouse is much cheaper and if you are a Chrome browser user like me, you will need the Smooth Scrolling extension of the Logitech mouse to make browsing and scrolling a breeze.

 

[Ray1976]

The Arc Touch is Bluetooth 4.0 while the M557 is only Bluetooth 3.0~

Ok...bluetooth 4.0 is more energy efficient. Apart from the bluetooth specs, is there anything else that Logitech M557 cannot do while Arc Mouse can?

 

[Ray1976]

I have the i5 128gb version here. One thing to note is that the initial updates are hell on the system. This is when the i7 version overheats. The thing tries to download and install so many things at once Beyond the initial downloading and updating of the firmware and OS, my SP3 hasn't really heated up much. My use case is mostly Office, browsing, OneNote, R, occasional photoshop, etc and occasional screencasting and some hearthstone. Not the lightest, but not the heaviest of tasks either. I turned off a lot of things in the background though, e.g. disk encryption (don't know why it's enabled by default!), just like with my SP1 in order to have a minimal, consistent set of programmes running so as not to unnecessarily burden the device. Hearthstone makes it run the hottest, being a legacy game (really wish they'd compile a metro version, it really isn't hard). The rest of the time, the heat never really gets to a point where it's bothersome.

Same experience as you...using the same specs and model as yours. It gets quite "hot" after doing some serious fireworks editing. But for normal usage like office application, One Note and normal surfing of the internet, the "heat" is tolerable. No lag just the heat...

 

[Mikiberry]

The feeling of iCarbon skin is so good so far.