Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as main driver

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#1264247 20-Mar-2015 18:06

I use mine on my lap in the car most work nights when waiting for the lady.

It sits in my lap fairly well with the kick stand out, though I tend to wedge it under the steering wheel to stop wobble when typing.

http://1drv.ms/1CzJgUR
http://1drv.ms/198PCy4

The SP3 is my first PC with 8.1 on it and I like it.
I like the type cover, although I mostly only use it in the car and as a cover.

As I've said in a previous thread, my favourite features are:
The surface being able to enable internet sharing on my windows phone itself when I ask it to connect.
And "metered connections". I use it tethered 4 nights a week for browsing and the odd small(ish) download, and use around 1GB/month.

Edit: Finally got images to work as links, they didn't want to be images :(

networkn

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#1264268 20-Mar-2015 18:25

I have wanted one since they came out, but had a suspicion it would be like my other tablets and the novelty would wear off. I got to play with one for a customer who ordered one, for a weekend, and it cured me of wanting one. If the SP4 is lighter then I'd then use it as a potential secondary device, but no chance I could use it as a primary device. I am not sure how I'd describe why I didn't think
that much of it after the weekend, but it just didn't seem as great in reality as I'd hyped it in my brain and after 20 minutes with it in the shop. YMMV obviously. I'd still take my ASUS Notebook over it, every single day of the week and twice on public holidays :)

Krishant007

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#1264269 20-Mar-2015 18:30

I dont know how the SP3 would be as the main driver. I guess it would depend on your usage. I feel you would need to have it connected to an external screen, keyboard mouse for full desktop experience. As long as you dont have any heavy tasks to be done.

I have seen it at a few of my clients desks being used as a main driver - seems to work for non-dev folk who need it for the average word processing, emails, web browsing, presentations etc.

But if you are into media, photos etc, it might not work out.

dafman

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#1264275 20-Mar-2015 19:06

I have one for work pc. Use the MS dock which has plenty of usb ports. Use two monitors, one via the dock, the other via the SP.

Is a great daily driver. Performs on par with Toshiba portage which it replaced. Very portable. Great screen.

Only negatives I can think of, not as comfortable on lap as laptop. Touch pad on typecover not as good as laptop, but typing on it is ok. Wireless speeds can be problematic. Can be a bit noisy on fan when under load.

Don't tend to use in tablet only mode as hate 8.1, so revert to Android tablet.

lokhor

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#1264847 22-Mar-2015 09:45

I have one for work and recently had it replaced as it bricked itself. I have the official dock setup at my desk, which works ok but it doesn't swivel up or down so its stuck at a weird angle.

I find it is plenty powerful for most things I do with 8GB ram and the core i5 processor. It does get a bit noisy and hot with extended heavy usage though.

It's also incredibly useful for taking notes in meetings and being able to draw on the screen with the stylus. The type cover is a bit crap for heavy typing and sometimes doesn't register keypresses. I often run workshops or have client meetings and have found the SP3 very useful in that regard.

There is also some weirdness due to the DPI scaling, especially with usage of a secondary monitor. It often goes a bit blurry on the external monitor and then super small on the SP3 screen.

As a lightweight computing device I prefer my MacBook Air when I'm at home, but I'm pretty happy with the SP3 for work purposes.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

LazyDr

262 posts

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#1264899 22-Mar-2015 12:03

I've just bought one to become my daily driver, it will be replacing my 17" Asus ROG beast that is >5 years old, which due to size and dead battery (has to be plugged in constantly) was essentially a small desktop. My priorities have changed in those 5 years, so I won't be gaming anymore, mostly word processing and internet browsing, with a bit of media consumption on the side. From what I can see, that's what this device is ideal for.

Streaming to TV there seem to be a few options, most obvious being miracast with the adaptor sold by Microsoft themselves. I'm not sure on the limitations of it though, possibly problematic if you're wanting to mirror things like Netflix/Hulu from my limited reading so far, but good for presentations etc.

What sold me in the end, vs other portable devices in the same genre, was the full windows setup meaning (almost) anything a windows laptop can do, you can manage with this also

Dairyxox

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#1264992 22-Mar-2015 14:04

I got one for the boss, setup as a daily driver for him, via Nathan from Microsoft.
It works fine, we used an existing HP port replicator (usb3 uplink, display port monitor output) that was laying around. The Microsoft port replicator is probably more suitable.

If I was doing it for myself, I might forgo the port replicator and just use a mini-display port adapter.

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StructureDr

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#1265485 23-Mar-2015 09:27

I switched to one at work about 4-5 months ago from a 'proper' desktop - in anticipation of much more varied work locations. After a lot of research I went in with a few concerns about potential annoyances - none of which have been a problem. Ended up going for the i7/256GB - no idea if it is 'better' than the i5, but no obvious downsides either except a couple of hundred bucks. Certainly doesn't regularly overheat, and battery life is close to 'full day' for me.

All in all, HIGHLY recommended - provided the device fits what you need. For me it is a desktop that I can periodically use as a tablet and laptop, rather than replacing a laptop.

Desk use
Mine is sitting in front of me on the official dock with two 27" screens plugged in plus keyboard and mouse. In this mode it is no different to any other PC really.

Compared to using a docked laptop it is much better IMO - simply because in this mode I rip the keyboard off and put it in the drawer. This makes the Surface screen more useful than a laptop screen, which I've always had to have off to the side to avoid the keyboard getting in the way (I ALWAYS use a desktop keyboard if I can. Number pad alone is reason enough for me.

On the go
Spectacularly light to carry - which makes me much more likely to throw it in the bag for a meeting 'in case' I need it. I can also travel overnight with what was once only a laptop bag...

I find the type cover fine - this was a potential concern, but I am probably about 90% of normal typing speed or more when using it. I find it fine on my lap too - I have fairly long femurs, which probably helps. Otherwise, on an airplane tray table it works well with the screen resting back against the seat in front.

Love having the tablet mode available too. I have a LOT of reports that need reading, and it is fantastic for that - much closer to A4 size/shape than previous ipad, so things tend to be more readable. Also very useful on site visits etc (engineer) - need plans? Just pull out the Surface. Annotation with the pen works really well also.

A side benefit for travellers is that you can get away with claiming it IS a tablet - so no pulling it out of bags at security, or putting it away during take off/landing. Small things maybe, but every minute saved is a bonus.

Annoyances
Only two really, and one I partially solved pretty quickly:

Windows is still not right on scaling. In default configuration with 27 inch (1440p) plugged in, Windows insists on scaling up the 27 inch by ≈1.25x. This is annoying and unnecessary. Setting everything to 'no scaling' leaves the Surface display too small.

Partially solved by adding a 1440x960 resolution to the Surface screen (toook some jumping through hoops with display drivers) and then setting no scaling on anything when at desk. This raises a second annoyance - on the go it is best to switch back to the Surface's native resolution and let Windows handle scaling - but switching scaling mode (not resolution) for some reason requires a logout/login.

Ideally these issues get addressed with Windows 10 - but not really hopeful...
Second issue is Onedrive for Business - seems buggy as heck, and causes Explorer to crash all the time. Thinking of switching to Google drive or Onedrive personal, but a bit annoying as I have effectively unlimited storage on Onedrive for Business through Office 365 sub. Again, hoping this gets fixed with the next release later in the year, and in any case not really a Surface issue - similar problems on other devices too.

nathan

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#1265489 23-Mar-2015 09:36

heavenlywild: If you can wait, I would hold off for 3 more months for the rumoured SP4. With Windows 10 being released in the American summer, they are likely to release a new SP4 with the new OS.

if you need one now, you need one now

in technology. there is always something new around the corner

but don't expect a Surface Pro 4 in 3 months. The Surface Pro 3 still stacks up extremely well vs. the competition.

dafman

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#1265494 23-Mar-2015 09:44

StructureDr: Annoyances

Only two really, and one I partially solved pretty quickly:

Second issue is Onedrive for Business - seems buggy as heck, and causes Explorer to crash all the time. Thinking of switching to Google drive or Onedrive personal, but a bit annoying as I have effectively unlimited storage on Onedrive for Business through Office 365 sub. Again, hoping this gets fixed with the next release later in the year, and in any case not really a Surface issue - similar problems on other devices too.

No problems with Onedrive for business via 365 sub with my SP3. Obviously, doesn't help your situation, but may be a specific issue with your SP3/Onedrive, rather than a more general compatibility problem.

Krishant007

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#1265556 23-Mar-2015 10:24

Hmm. An SP3 setup would be great for the office worker who needs a machine for his desk but then needs to be able to carry it on the go. To go back to the OP - what is your primary usage? How would you be using the system?

StructureDr

77 posts

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#1265612 23-Mar-2015 11:39

dafman:
StructureDr: Annoyances

Only two really, and one I partially solved pretty quickly:

Second issue is Onedrive for Business - seems buggy as heck, and causes Explorer to crash all the time. Thinking of switching to Google drive or Onedrive personal, but a bit annoying as I have effectively unlimited storage on Onedrive for Business through Office 365 sub. Again, hoping this gets fixed with the next release later in the year, and in any case not really a Surface issue - similar problems on other devices too.

No problems with Onedrive for business via 365 sub with my SP3. Obviously, doesn't help your situation, but may be a specific issue with your SP3/Onedrive, rather than a more general compatibility problem.

I think you are right - there are a few mentions online of "1 problem amongst 100 users" type issues that sound like mine. Unfortunately no one has an indication of how to resolve the problem other than recreating the user as a new profile entirely (i.e. not even just "uninstall, restart, reinstall").

As mentioned, the problem is across a few machines, and predates the SP3 - so not really fair to indicate as an issue with the machine I guess.

nathan

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#1265616 23-Mar-2015 11:41

you can log a support call for OneDrive for Business

The OD4B synch engine is being completely rewritten, and launching later this calendar year

https://blog.onedrive.com/taking-the-next-step-in-sync-for-onedrive/

gjm

808 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1265617 23-Mar-2015 11:41

used one for about 4 months with the dock but recently went back to a proper laptop. Machine worked fine in the dock but I found the laptop experience frustrating when trying to do anything more then type a quick email. Mostly because I found it difficult to use on my lap, screen size was too small and I found it a pain to pair with my phone for use in the data center. Gone to an X1 carbon and am enjoying the experience more.

Having said that the weight of the surface was great and carrying it around on my motorbike in the backpack wasnt a problem at all. I pretty much never used it as a tablet though.

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StructureDr

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#1265619 23-Mar-2015 11:43

Krishant007: Hmm. An SP3 setup would be great for the office worker who needs a machine for his desk but then needs to be able to carry it on the go. To go back to the OP - what is your primary usage? How would you be using the system?

Exactly - to my mind it close to the perfect dockable machine.

Meant to mention in my first post, to anyone worried about a possible SP4, I wouldn't... reading about the Core M chip, the SP4 will probably not be able to be both (i) fanless and (ii) have the same performance as the SP3 if released in the near future. If you need one now, the fan is pretty unobtrusive (certainly compared to an i7 Vaio we have that can be heard across the room if in 'performance' mode) and the performance is fine.

Microsoft also made statements some months back that current accessories would be usable with the next version - so unlikely to be a significant change of form factor either.

As is probably obvious, I am a convert.

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