Microsoft's best attempt to bring tablet and laptop in one device

I'm studying at the moment and do during the lectures and exercises a lot of notes. Even more I wanted the whole as simply digitize, because I have so all in one place and the paper chaos will Mr. Digital pen, via iPad with Stylus up to my (until recently) the current combination of Nexus 9 and MacBook Air 13 "I have tried everything in order as efficiently as possible to digitize my data.

Now for 1 week I have the Surface Pro 3 and no longer want to look back.

/////////////////// Optics / haptics ///////////////////

The Surface comes in a rather plain dull packaging, whose design seems thoughtful. It was easy for me to open the package. All in all it looked very classy. You might wonder why I mention the packaging. For me, it's also the first impression of an item. That makes my opinion Apple products so successful; the fact that the product from the moment feels dibasic.

The Surface itself also feels very valuable and is very well made. The Type Cover that you have to purchase separately to hugs without problems and is processed with a similar quality. However, I will limit my review and the Surface.

The charger holds by a magnet and has an LED that indicates the charging status. Also another detail that I noticed is positive, the matt gray power adapters. It looks very classy and unscratched as easy as charging adapter from Apple Macbooks. I was really surprised, nay even overwhelmed held what quality standard Microsoft with this product. Admittedly, my expectations were, however, kept low (based on experience with older Windows laptops).

The Kickstand, beautiful word for stand which can be opened, provides a continuous adjustment that keeps very well.

/////////////////// COMMISSIONING ///////////////////

After I had charged the Surface (Unfortunately, the battery was completely empty when I unpacked it), I was greeted with the setup I know of Windows. The whole thing had something touch can be friendlier, but it was no problem to make the entries for me. (Which I'll cover separately) Since the Surface also included a pin is the input no problem. During setup I was asked if I would like to accept the settings and apps from my desktop PC. This of course I enjoy working with and am thrilled with the result: Apps and Start Menu were adopted 1: 1, which saved me a lot of work. Even the printer driver have been adopted. That's how it should be!

For the first time the surface is an evidence, and tips on how to use the touch control, and how can the general functions of Windows 8. Then I will not go further, but you should not have to worry, to have problems with the control of Windows, even not at all if you are already using a Windows PC with Windows 8.

/////////////////// PERFORMANCE ///////////////////

That the Surface tablet is not, but a full-fledged PC "disguised" as a tablet soon becomes clear. Even outside the tile surface shall be called in the normal Windows desktop, it reacts quickly, which is of course also thanks to the built-in SSD. Programs and Web sites load quickly and without problems. Office and lighter programs is without flinching, but also more demanding programs like Photoshop run 1A. Here, however, I would note that there still is a portable PC that has only one mobile GPU (graphics card) and a mobile processor. So playing AAA falls titles or the rendering of 4K videos naturally flat (although this would probably be simply connected to a very large amount of time;)). But this device is of course not intended. The true strengths lie in the portability, the pen input (more on that) and switch to the option between the Metro interface, so touch-optimized apps and a full-fledged Windows for professional programs. The possibility to divide the screen into two or even 3 equal parts, I find very useful.

The battery is the my Macbook Airs in every way and makes me relaxed through the day. Depending on the use I make so 6h (intensive use) up to several days. 9h-10h are the average.

/////////////////// STYLUS ///////////////////

The supplied stylus looks solid processed. I personally would like to see a little more noble style. It has 3 buttons, 2 of them in Daum range and one at the end, where ordinary pens have their "clickers". This button is purple. Here you can choose any color and not separately buy a pen of a different color. (Not that I would consider this for a purple button, but if lost the pin goes etc, it would be nice to at least then choose a color). In my opinion, you could not have chosen a more neutral color.

But more important is the function of the pin, and this is for me like no other. As already mentioned above, I have been looking for many ways to digitize your notes and have them hereby finally found. The A4-like shape of the surface in combination with the really good Stylus have replaced my block. Pressing the pen button opens a new page in One Note, which is very useful. The other two buttons are used to select and move and for erasing. In Desktop mode, you can thus make a right click. Also, I had no problems even hang up my hand, this will simply be ignored and will not interfere when writing.

/////////////////// CONCLUSION ///////////////////

I would recommend the Surface anyone who wants handwritten notes and makes these would like digitalized or is looking for a 2 in 1 device. Due to the 12 "displays and the somewhat higher weight, however, it is questionable whether it can serve as a substitute tablet completely, because it is hard to keep up for a while. I personally use it very often in tablet mode with the kickstand.

However, if you can do without the stylus and a touchscreen, I'd rather take a Ultrabook, there's this at a comparable price. (Especially the keyboard even with 110 strikes Beech)

After 1 month of Use I would like to add a few comments:

The keyboard is really worth it only if you type a lot. Meaning, or communicated to type essays regularly lectures instead "manually" write there. I feel the price of 110 euros for very excessive. The trackpad is no comparison to the one Apple product, the flaps on the most precise and best by far. (I remember that I have my Macbook Air exchanged this surface before here a religious war breaks out;)) The two-finger scrolling for recognition is at best adequate. I catch myself constantly there as I scroll on the touch screen, because it is so easy: faster and more accurate. The keyboard really dirty very easily. I have already read it and thought that this is not of course be the case with me, that I will deal very carefully with the device in many Amazon reviews. Think again ... The fine fabric surface the keyboard is really a dust magnet. I keep the surface incl. Keyboard when I'm traveling constantly in a laptop sleeve and put it mostly on the back (I have attached a protective film there, more to this soon). Nevertheless, I have to realize strong impurities relatively easy can be removed again, but nice is not: /.
Good on the keyboard of the pleasant tactile feedback of the buttons, so even for prolific writer is pleasant, the keyboard light (what you at the price actually must not expect) and the fastening mechanism. I mention this specifically because I noticed with its competitors in that the keyboard is most firmly established. In contrast, I find the magnetic solution very elegant and the keyboard keeps really bombproof.

I would still give the Surface 5 stars?
Absolutely. Although the keyboard has their quirks. Especially since this is a review for Surface. I fande however important to point out these things, because the starting price of the Surface can scare many a already and then added another 110 euros keyboard ...
My recommendation is therefore: If you are not 100% sure that you need a keyboard, try it once without, if necessary, they can still be ordered.

Even the battery life I want to say something. The battery life is really of a Macbook Air in every way. I had a much shorter battery life expected and was pleasantly surprised. In normal use (surfing, a couple watch videos, write a text) I have the evening still 30%. If you look at full brightness Netflix, the battery lasts course slightly shorter, but the Surface is when it comes to battery life a Macbook Air (which is the benchmark when it comes to battery had been for me) in every way. But to play it safe, you can also take the charger, which is very light (lighter than the MacBook Air) and an additional USB port has, which you can use your phone mitladen directly. Of course you could connect the phone directly to the surface, but this solution is more elegant and promises faster loading times. This saves a charger, since today's smartphones yes mostly first give up the ghost.

One last point I would like to address is the protective film, which I use. For my smartphone I use for one year only window films. These are protective films that are not very flexible, made of thin glass. The sense and especially the attachment of these films is much more pleasant than conventional. For the Surface, I wanted to take advantage of one of these films, however, there was the time of my purchase no attractive offer. Ultimately I decided dipos for crystal clear Premium Crystal Clear film of the brand. It will be delivered 3 films. One of them I have to cut the back of my Surface Protect Kraztern as it wobbles slightly when writing with the pen, and as soon scratches could arise. (Even if the material of the surface is very robust, better safe than sorry :)). Meanwhile, there are also a glass protector for the front. The reviews for this top, but I can not give detailed review of this film. You will find these under "iProtect Screen Protector Tempered Glass Tempered glass protector for Microsoft Surface Pro 3 12.0 Display" on Amazon. I had only positive experiences with the company iProtect.

All in all, I'm just as excited about this device as the first day. Windows can be very easy to operate with your fingers in the desktop mode. It amazes me that you get a full-fledged PC in tablet format here.

Microsoft has unveiled the Surface 3 recently. This is a cheaper entry-level version of the Surface Pro 3. The display has a different form factor, a few things are different. For students there is the unit from 539 Euro: [...].
Non-students still need 10% hit. Perhaps there is indeed for you in question, and you can save some.