You're right of course, but many people are still confused coz:
1. In USA at least, iPad & Surface Pro have similar prices
2. Both look similar
3. MS in the past has marketed the Surface RT/2 & SP1/2 as iPad replacement when it clearly isn't (not enough casual games)
That's why the SP3 is compared directly to a MBA. Although that's not really a fair comparison also but that's the problem with Hybrid devices.
Moving forward, MS should really put LTE into Surface 2 + SP3 so Telco can push their data plans & subsidise the purchase. This will boost the image & create mindshare for Windows 8.1 & entice more app devs to code for Win8.1 Metro & maybe WP8.1.
For Apple, they know they'll never win big with OSX, that's why they invest so much in iOS.
For MS, the direction to merge all OS into a single kernel + similar Windows Service stacks seems to be a better long-term strategy but even Steve Ballmer admitted he was too slow to realize the mobile revolution or else, the NT Kernel would have been slimmed down at a faster pace.
WP8.1 should have been available 2 years ago, that's why many people are saying MS was too late to the party.
Yup, there's a perception issue.if u look at the comments in the forums here, many are still comparing sp3 and ipad.
as for merging both os, i think the market has decided that it's best left separate. None of the hybrids can even take on the mba. so don't expect sp3 to do it.
agree marketing is wrong. Consumers end up thinking sp and rt are the same. SP in reality should have a different name and compete with all the tablet hybrids are out there.
Compete with Apple? for some reason, while it does make sense, the market prefers what Apple is doing. but i agree theres a market for hybrids, maybe a smaller one.
lastly, LTE will make the price higher and i think none of the hybrids at the moment have LTE.
Is there a way to back up Microsoft outlook 2007 and restore on Surface RT? Thanks
Hi all, can I use my 4G dongle on Surface 2 RT?. Can the usb port recognize the software in the dongle? Or must I get the Pro version? Thanks in advance.
if u look at the comments in the forums here, many are still comparing sp3 and ipad.
as for merging both os, i think the market has decided that it's best left separate. None of the hybrids can even take on the mba. so don't expect sp3 to do it.
agree marketing is wrong. Consumers end up thinking sp and rt are the same. SP in reality should have a different name and compete with all the tablet hybrids are out there.
Compete with Apple? for some reason, while it does make sense, the market prefers what Apple is doing. but i agree theres a market for hybrids, maybe a smaller one.
lastly, LTE will make the price higher and i think none of the hybrids at the moment have LTE.
Microsoft so nice to give us surface pro 3 instead of 2. Who say they forget SG? Haha
Hi all, can I use my 4G dongle on Surface 2 RT?. Can the usb port recognize the software in the dongle? Or must I get the Pro version? Thanks in advance.
Some insights into Wacom > N-Trig change: #Surface pro 3
1. It helps to make the tablet thinner.
One of the reasons bigger and fatter Wacom Tablet PCs work better than thinner ones is that they can use thicker and better sensor board. I think one of the reasons why Surface Pro 1 and 2 was thicker than most people would have liked is because of the extra depth needed for the sensor board layer below the LCD. N-Trig does not use extra sensor board, but just uses the projected capacitive touch layer for X/Y coordinate.
2. Wacom DID NOT want bigger Surface to have Wacom in it.
Recently Wacom has “requested” MS that they do not advertise Surface Pro 1 and 2 having Wacom tech. Indeed when you go to MS Store, now they will avoid telling you that they have Wacom pen in it..
This is because Wacom does not want Surface Pro from further eating into Cintiq Companion sales, which is not as good as they hoped (hence the price drop). The Pro 1 and 2 was eating into it bad enough at 10”. At 12”, this would be a disaster, so no more Wacom inside.
3. Hardware wise, N-Trig has caught up with Wacom:
The new Duo Sense 2 with v3 firmware is Very good. The pressure curve is just as responsive, the tip is just as sensitive, and temporal update rate is similar. And N-Trig’s design by nature has less parallax issues, and tip offset issues since the pen tip sensor is closer to the pen tip, and the sensor grid for X/Y coordinate is right at the surface of the tablet.
The only remaining problems are drivers, and software support.
Software support isn’t what you think it is. It is more subtle and entrenched. Most art software out there was first written when N-Trig did not exist, and they are tailored for Wacom’s pressure curve. This is why N-Trig feels a bit “off” with things like Painter for example. But with more recent apps with neutral pressure curve like Fresh Paint, they feel about the same.
As for drivers, if you use apps that already support Microsoft’s tablet API, like Manga Studio 5/Clip Studio Paint, then you are good to go. Just go into setting and flip the tablet settings. Even with things like Photoshop, things are getting better since now CS support Microsoft tablet API natively. We just have to wait for rest of the art app community to stop only supporting Wacom’s WinTab API.
If anything, the announcement of the Surface Pro 3 adds credence to rumours of Apple working on a new MacBook Air which has a "fanless" design and which is even thinner than the current generation.
My personal opinions about the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface line as a whole:
1. Doesn't work well as a tablet. Still too thick, too heavy. This will be especially true for people who have used/are using an iPad Air. Because of the heft, it wouldn't be very pleasant to use it as a tablet for prolonged periods.
2. Best used as an ultrabook replacement, which can be occasionally used as a tablet. However, typing on an actual notebook keyboard is still much better than typing on the type cover.
There is only 1 USB port.
Also, even though the kickstand can be adjusted to be at any angle now, I don't think it would be very comfortable to use it as a notebook on your lap. Just think about it. How uncomfortable would it be? And you probably have to sit with both of your legs very close to each other to balance the thing.
I can use my MacBook Pro very comfortably on my lap, but with my Surface RT which I sold off, I couldn't. Maybe it's better now with the new kickstand.
I think this unpleasantness stems from the fact that the Surface is propped up by a kickstand at the back, whereas a laptop has a clamshell design. The Surface keyboard gets fidgeted around when being typed on when it is not placed on a totally flat surface. It gets very annoying.
Any other Surface users experienced what I'm talking about here?
3. As a result of point 1 and point 2, it doesn't function well as a tablet, neither does it function well as a full-fledged notebook. It is a confused product. Compromises are made on both the tablet and notebook front.
4. It is not priced right. For the price, I think consumers would be better off getting a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
5. But I do think it was remarkably impressive that they managed to incorporate that much horsepower and features into such a design. Coming from my bad experience with a Surface RT, I just don't think it will work very well.
I would advice people who are interested in the Surface Pro 3 to wait for the rumoured new MacBook Air with "fanless" design. Just my 2 cents.
If anything, the announcement of the Surface Pro 3 adds credence to rumours of Apple working on a new MacBook Air which has a "fanless" design and which is even thinner than the current generation.
My personal opinions about the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface line as a whole:
1. Doesn't work well as a tablet. Still too thick, too heavy. This will be especially true for people who have used/are using an iPad Air. Because of the heft, it wouldn't be very pleasant to use it as a tablet for prolonged periods.
2. Best used as an ultrabook replacement, which can be occasionally used as a tablet. However, typing on an actual notebook keyboard is still much better than typing on the type cover.
There is only 1 USB port.
Also, even though the kickstand can be adjusted to be at any angle now, I don't think it would be very comfortable to use it as a notebook on your lap. Just think about it. How uncomfortable would it be? And you probably have to sit with both of your legs very close to each other to balance the thing.
I can use my MacBook Pro very comfortably on my lap, but with my Surface RT which I sold off, I couldn't. Maybe it's better now with the new kickstand.
I think this unpleasantness stems from the fact that the Surface is propped up by a kickstand at the back, whereas a laptop has a clamshell design. The Surface keyboard gets fidgeted around when being typed on when it is not placed on a totally flat surface. It gets very annoying.
Any other Surface users experienced what I'm talking about here?
3. As a result of point 1 and point 2, it doesn't function well as a tablet, neither does it function well as a full-fledged notebook. It is a confused product. Compromises are made on both the tablet and notebook front.
4. It is not priced right. For the price, I think consumers would be better off getting a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
5. But I do think it was remarkably impressive that they managed to incorporate that much horsepower and features into such a design. Coming from my bad experience with a Surface RT, I just don't think it will work very well.
I would advice people who are interested in the Surface Pro 3 to wait for the rumoured new MacBook Air with "fanless" design. Just my 2 cents.