Yes, they both are, imho, the best knowledgeable tech reviewers on YT. I'll get hate for this, and I don't care, but Wendell knows so much more than Logan, so it's always a treat to get a Wendell review.
Chris Jeffcoat, Jr Logan is a good presenter though, and he is good at directing and controlling a conversation. Plus logan knows alot about audio engineering and stuff too and he's funny. He's the life of the channel.
The problem with Luke is that while he may have experience with tech, he really isn't all that intelligent when it comes to other things. Linus has him beat in that category. For review quality you're right though, I do prefer Luke over Linus.
I've had the SP3 (i7, 256 GB) for a few months now and I can honestly say that this is, by far, the greatest Surface review I have ever seen. No wonder I subscribed to Tek Syndicate long ago.
No product can be all things to everyone. The SP3 is about flexibility, productivity, and portability. With that in mind, you have to expect some compromises. When people, especially tech heads, expect ludicrous levels of performance out of a Haswell chipset, I just do a facepalm and wonder..."what are you thinking??" You're already getting an incredible amount of performance in a tablet form factor! Now you're expecting desktop level performance?
multipurposepaperbox I would imagine expecting an ultra low voltage Haswell i5-4300U processor with HD4400 graphics to power a 4k monitor even at 30hz much less 60hz is not very realistic.
multipurposepaperbox Maybe the i7 model with HD5000 graphics can handle 4K displays better. However, I wouldn't bet on it. Even dedicated gpu's have a hard time handling such displays.
Yes, I totally agree. I only think that Microsoft should not promise things they can't deliver. Well maybe it's unwise to trust their word, seeing as what they've been saying about PC gaming.
The Surface Pro is ARM but the Surface 2 and 3 are x86. ARM is not good for production and light gaming and for the price I don't think it is worth it.
i used to think the same thing till i actually got a surface rt. arm tablets get an insane amount of life out of really small batteries. i would usually go about 3 days without charging it on light to moderate usage. most of that was streaming videos, which usually kills the battery in x86 devices.
10 лет назад+1
rtfgujihy uyhjigtfbr talk about leaving Surface RT on for a full week, returning to see that it wakes up and reports 50% battery! Happened with me, since then whenever my colleagues (musicians) are in a look for a tablet, I tell them to get a Surface RT. We really just need a reader and some minor browsing/emailing.
plus, unlike android and apple tablets, its unlocked out of the box. you have full access to the file system, registry, and terminal. windows rt might seem pointless to a lot of people but its nice to have something that just work exactly how you want it every time.
I have a dell venue 8 and a dell venue 11 pro. Both are x86 ARM running full versions of windows 8.1. I love them. Best tablets on the market. Half the price of iPad, with a million times the usability. And they have microSD slots!
I'm new to this channel, why are there cuts to where he's just sitting behind the computer? I'm talking about 4:26 to 5:10. Why are there scenes where the camera is displayed behind his multi-monitor setup?
+You are my rock. Its just a thing they do its kinda like the dude on home improvement you only see half his face from behind the fence. a year late xD
Great review answered every single question I had about the surface pro 3 I really appreciate these videos. They need to start making informational TV shows so you guys can make the big bucks. Once again really appreciate these reviews
If he got hired he would have deserved it. He is a really knowledgeable guy and no matter what he is talking about he make it sound simple for an average guy which attest to his knowledge.
Hussean Duncan I know, it's why they hired Mike Russonovich, he's the reason Windows 7 was good..The reason why at the kernel level Windows doesn't suck now. (just as an example) Some people can't be bought though...And I really think Wendell's talents could be better used elsewhere, even though Microsoft is starting to take on a different mindset with their new CEO (lot of branched-off projects are being operated like start-ups) I just..Can't bring myself to wish for their success.
Thanks a lot for this detailed insight Wendell. What I really like about this is you are clearly a power user who likes to use hardware to its full extent and as a result you are able to expose flaws that other reviewers seem to have missed. I really like your cross referencing/ researched insights like where you explain that the haswell mobile chips are limited to 4k 30hz, it shows you put a lot effort in not only finding flaws but figuring out why said flaws exist. This is definitely the most nerdy review of the surface I have seen and that is definitely something to be proud of, keep up the good work :)
You guys guys could make this a series of reviews, I think that'd be awesome. Keep the title format going, I.E. "product xyz - the nerdiest review" I like it a lot!
More Wendell please. Love that guy! Tek is great but i really like technical stuff. Any chance of Wendell doing some ICT based stuff like home labs, small business solutions etc?
Power Profile can be changed, the settings would show up if turn off constant standby via registry. You can turn CS off, change the settings, or make other profiles based on Balanced, and then turn CS on again.
Tek Syndicate 14:50 Made me look at my Pro 2. The Surface Pro 2 is the same as the Pro 3 as far as connectivity. Pro 2 has 1 USB port, 1 Display port mini, MicroSD Slot, headphone jack, and the power adapter plug. Great Review! Wish I waited a few months before I purchased 4 Pro 2's for my company.
I have the Surface Pro 2 and it runs three Dell U2414H (1920x1080) monitors daisy chained via the display port 1.2 connections. It was not stable at first and definitely would get confused when it came out of sleep mode. I then realized that Windows 8.1 was using a generic monitor driver, so I had the system try to update the driver for the monitors. It found the Dell U2414H drivers from 2013 and things got a lot smoother from then. I am quite happy now with the Surface Pro 2's performance displaying on 3 monitors, all from it's little mini display port.
I think this was the most honest review I have seen :D thanks! all other reviews either hate on the Surface so much just because it is a Microsoft product (apple fan boys) and some people praise the device and don't let us know about some of the issues it may have.
May I ask what the point of more than 30Hz at 4k on a machine such as this? I mean you won't be gaming at 4k and pretty much nothing else runs at more than 30Hz. Just curious.
Higher refresh rates make just about anything thats not a video better, people often comment about how much "faster" and "responsive" my home PC is on the desktop @144Hz even though for that kind of stuff its no faster, the smoother mouse and snappier and cleaner animations make it feel that way though.
You wanna know why they moved the windows button to the side? (All the reviews i watch never say this) They moved it because now the keyboard has that extra magnetic portion that allows it to go at more of an angle now and it would block/cover the old button up.
Ok Some important things: for the 4K issue, that's mini DP just not having the bandwith for 4K 60hz... (not MS's fault), thermal management disparities compared the the SP2 are due to less cooling for the form factor (smaller heatsink, 1 instead of 2 fans, smaller chassis). Broadwell will basically fix all this as will mini DP 1.3, since it'll have more bandwith. Also the lack of power management is due to Connected Standby, which I guess needs some shit to be locked down for it to work right. tradeoff there for convenience.
Its a regular PC. Install Linux yourself. Granted, you'd be out touch functionality but as a Linux user, that's likely not all that important to you anyway.
rockgod2131 I can't tell you how many times I've looked at the Surface Pro they look great but I'm just not a windows guy. Dual booting would be interesting.
***** If Linux is trash then why does almost every supercomputer and about half of the servers run Linux/Unix? At least I can easily live boot Linux from a USB drive and have a fully functioning operation system without it even being installed to the computer. Meanwhile with Windows I have to install it to a drive and then I still have to install a driver just to even get the internet connection working. Windows and Linux both have their places.
Then they called it Windows 9 but because using the name Windows 9 they had many problems with coding because an older version of windows was called windows 9 too. So they eventually skipped 9 en used 10
awesome review. Completely unbiased and extremely informative. Much more depth than any other reviewer. I hope microsoft sees this and hires Wendell to do RnD on their products!
I dig the graphics card in a dock idea - as a mechanical engineer it would be gold to have a nice workstation graphics card in the office, and battery/portability when undocked. (Currently using an i7 HP elitebook with a Quadro card... pretty heavy/chunky and battery isn't great, but it's got some grunt)
great review! I'm considering upgrading to the SP3 from my current laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2. would you recommend that? and I didn't realize it works so well for gaming, at least for playing old classics or not too demanding Steam games!
So...I recently got this Alienware 14 (replaced via warranty) in place of my m11x. It was out of warranty, but lots of complaining got me a new machine after 4 yrs having a crappy m11x. The thing is...i dont really need it. I've contemplated selling it to buy a surface pro 3 because i do need a "couch" laptop. After this review, i kinda want buy one of these even more...But i wouldnt get the money's worth to buy a top spec surface pro 3 if i sold the Alienware. What would you do? Keep the alienware or buy this. Specs: - Intel Core i7-4810MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz (Haswell) - GeForce GTX 765m (2047 MB) - 14" 1920 x 1080 IPS Display - 16gb Dual Channel DDR3 @798 MHZ - 1TB main HD, 80GB SSD - Killer NIC WiFi-N (dual band) / e2200 Wired - Win 7 Ultimate - DVDRWBD Drive (Burn dvd, watch Blu Ray)
Then you will never have a tablet that can truly replace a laptop. Think of it as an ultrabook instead of a tablet. Its functionality is more compareable to a Zenbook or Macbook Air than an iPad
goxcpre I agree. I have a decent laptop and it's the reason I never cared for tablets. But something like this is interesting. I mean it's more powerful than my laptop...
goxcpre but it does make sacrifices when compared to a laptop. It doesn't have the best battery life (especially compared to an air), it has very limited io (which really was a deal breaker on my book), and while they made gigantic improvements to the typecover, its still not as good as a true keyboard on other ultrabooks.
thany3 I'm sure you have tried it out yourself for a considerable amount of time to make this statement. correct? I for one have used my sister's surface for quite a while when i was setting it up for her and it works fine for me on the lap.
Surface pro is simply the best computer/tablet on the planet! To the guy with the comment about matte finish on a tablet, Dude! Just slap a matte finish screen protector on it! I did that on my Surface rt since it doesn't have an active pen and the capacitive jot pro just glides better with a matte screen protector. I had one on my pro, but I found I like the intensity of the HD screen more than the smooth glide the matte screen protector provides on that device and since I it has the Wacom pen.
I have had my surface pro 3 for about one month now. And I must say that it is one of the best pieces of hardware I have ever owned. This is coming from a person who hated the surface 1 and 2. However this product to me is still for a niche audience, someone that enjoys using a tablet as much as a laptop.
I don't own one but use one at work daily. This is one of the best tablets I've used. I would get one to replace my Samsung if it didn't cost as much as they do. Over $1000.00 in the configuration that my company has chosen. And they go up even higher from there.
Hi Wendell, thanks for the video! I was wondering if you've had any experience hooking the SP3 with any of the 27" 1440p Korean monitors Logan loves? I'm looking for a decent monitor which wont break the bank (>1080p because scaling looks ridiculous otherwise).
Good review, some great points covered. Although maybe you focused too much on the multi-monitor capability which is not really the point of the Surface Pro 3, in my opinion. Also, you mention about future models (SP4/5) using a PCI-e "extension" for external GPUs, however personally I think that, given the way the Nvidia Maxwell architecture seems to be headed with its low power consumption and relatively high performance per watt, I don't think it's unfeasible that we could see low power dedicated graphics chips in the Surface Pro a few generations ahead.
You mentioned that you played Civ 5 with the pen, I wish that you would have included video of that. How was that experience? Does the machine get too hot after a long time of gaming?
The Surface Pro 2 (and all other previous models) also only had one usb port. I think it's just due to how insanely large a standard USB A connector is in comparison to today's devices. I really like what they did here, where instead of putting the port into a hole in the device, the device itself forms the port...crazy space saving!
I'm liking my SP3, mainly for engineering applications, Solidworks, MS Visual Studio, Matlab, Codewarrior. It's nice to carry around in tablet mode specially when you just want to tune/update your robot's software on the fly.
i5 8GB Ram, 256ssd, big ram is really what you're looking for; example, when you're simulating a complete prototype design of a mechanical system, as far as i5 goes, it handles it quite well, but I noted that the program uses about 2~3GBs of ram. So when you're multitasking, like running matlab in background for image processing still, if you're really want the best presentation of your work, try a strong laptop with better specs. Since I already own a decently strong build desktop, SP3 is mainly used for its portability when I'm in the lab testing, simulating, and updating our robots software.
Reginald Lim Cool thanks for the tips. I was gonna go for the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 but its also 8GB of RAM. And I tested the captive touch screen and I'm not a fan of it. I'm also going to be using it for sketches and note taking. Yeah I should I look into getting a stronger desktop soon to be my main computer. Since my HP fails to provide for me now. What model desktop do you have? Or is it a self build?
self build, i5 4440, gtx 780, 16gb ram. If you're looking for a tablet with full windows capability to launch desktop app while not doing any serious work (drawing a CAD from scratch), you can try checking Surface 3. It will be sufficient to [View], but for serious [Work], a larger screen is always better haha.
To fix the bluetooth sleep go into device manager and edit the bluetooth properties and you can set it to not turn off. I had to do that with the Surface 2.
Thank you for a great review and for understanding the point of the device, and not comparing it to a MacBook Air like everyone else. This device is really in a league of its own.
Should I get this for high school? I'm going to 9th grade and they said we'll be using laptops a lot throughout our high school career, and when they say stuff like that, they mean it. I have a Mac but it's so old and slow (probably 4 to 5 years old) that we're looking at new options. I don't feel like getting a Mac book pro because my dad is an Apple nerd and loves them and I'm just like "I just want something that's good for me. I don't care what brand or company it's from." I've had enough apple products in my life. :) it's time for a little change. So should I?
I really like my Surface pro 3! I have no complaints for it yet. I've played some games on it (Sims, etc.). I love the keyboard, but I have a problem with switching from my desktop keyboard to this one(which everyone probably would!).
I'm waiting to see if the announcement of the SP4 causes a price drop on the SP3. Though, I'd really like to get one for game development where I'm not always tethered to my desk.
I've owned an ASUS Transformer TX300 for about a year now and I haven't come across these problems. Ontop of that, the dock keyboard is by far the best laptop keyboard I've ever used (given it also comes with a whopping 500GB hdd).
I know this is old video but i feel sorry for people who complained not long enough battery life, they also have portable chargers that can charge this & also forgetting the power keyboard that adds even more battery life.
Personally I'd rather use something like my Pok3r 60% mechanical keyboard than the type cover. I would definitely agree that you need a keyboard in order to make full use of the device, but there are other options besides the type cover. In fact, one of the main reasons I'm interested in the Surface Pro 3 is that I could use a nice keyboard with it more easily than with a regular laptop.
So this comes with intel hd 4600? is there any way to get one with a nvidia 880m or something? driving a 1440p display is a bit much for intel onboard :S
***** Razer did it two years ago with the Edge, had an NVIDIA GT 640M LE, if Razer did that two years ago, don't tell me Microsoft couldn't pull off something similar today with their ridiculous R&D budgets. They'd prob have to make the device slightly thicker or compromise battery size, etc..but it's definitely doable and would probably be well worth it, even if it was just enabled when docked/plugged in.
MacroPheliac so they'd have to make it into a laptop? there's millions of laptops. why would they make their first tablet like a laptop?. this is not a performance machine. anyone buying a piece of total shit like this expecting good graphics is just a straight up moron
***** ...No? The Razer Edge is a 10" tablet. I was proving that discrete graphics can (and have been) done on a tablet, contrary to what you were saying.
Do you guys recommend this for going back to school or should i go with something else (in the same price cateory)? Not looking to do anything too fancy with it. Neither any gaming. Just needs to be light for travel. Thanks
Is it still worth it buying it in 2017? My first intention was to have a digital notepad and to buy a powerful PC. But now maybe it's better if I buy a surface pro 3 for notepad and for other stuff in college, since it's way lighter and portable than my current laptop, although it's not as powerful as it.
Tek Syndicate, I have a MacBook Pro Retina and an iPad 2. I am thinking to replace my iPad. I am a medical school student and work with a lot of power points and rather to take notes on my computer instead of taking them on paper (because I hate paper when it comes to notes, I have too many power points and at the end of each semester it is a pile that I keep to hold on to, also I won't lose the electronic versions thanks to OneDrive (a heavy one drive/office 365 user)). At the same time, iPads don't have a nice stylus that is thin enough nor there is a good office suit. Also my iPad is old enough for it to be refreshed. So my question is; should I buy the surface pro 3? and if so, should I buy the one with i3 or i5 (with 4gb ram) or i5 with 8gb ram?
MS's testing guy is probably friends with Dell's guy who tested the Venue 11 Pro. Without changing a very specific setting in the Intel Graphics control panel it would freeze very often. Plus, there are some issues with the system not detecting a the disconnection of the keyboard, and the device downclocking to 0.12GHz (!) after boot with the keyboard attached, until it gets re-attached. I mean, it's glorious when it works, but I found these issues within hours of having the device, and I'm not the only one to who it happened. What the hell, man.
Regarding the Logitech MX Revolution, this might not be entirely the SP3's issue. I have the same mouse, I have an H800 headset and many Logitech devices in the past. Some of them always have had their moments with connection issues, my H800 is really a diva with regards to connecting it to my S3 (Android 4.4.4), my desktop, sometimes that little usb receiver just needs a pull and re-insert... for no apparent reason.
I'd love to get a Surface Pro 3, or even a Surface Pro 2. Heck, I'd take an original Surface Pro if the price were right. Currently I'm using a Surface RT, and honestly it's still a nice product that just never got any software that can do... well, pretty much anything. Plus I'd love an actual digitizer, capacitive styli are terrible. But it runs nicely and has a nice design.
The mini displayport on the Surface Pro 3… what kind of signal can it send out? Is it a mini displayport 1.1, 1.1a, or 1.2? Can it send out a 4K signal at 60 hz or just at 30 hz? Thank you.
i have a surface pro 1 and i love it, i played assasin's creed 1, 2 and 3, batman arkham asylum and other awesome games. Also i have photoshop, Illustrator and sketchbook pro. i can't wait for buy a surface 3!
1 USB connector is a really big issue for me. I need at least 2, and a third for when one breaks would be nice. Can you attach the keyboard in portrait mode?
Thanks so much for the awesome review. since I'm planning to buy a surface pro 4, if it has 4k display. I just have a quick question, u mentioned that pro 3 Intel U only support 4k res on 30 hrz, is that a big deference for watching 4k movies and playing light games like Hearthstone? and what a bout Intel M, I think the new pro 4 will come with Intel M, does it support 4k 60 hrz? thanks a lot :D
More reviews from Wendell? This is a really well-done and comprehensive video.
More reviews from Wendell!
How about...
even more reviews from Wendell!!!
Yeah! Side note: holy fuck that got 80 +1's?
He'll yes
Hell yes!!
Wendell went ham as usual. Probably the smartest guy making you tube tech videos. Luke from LTT is also extremely knowledgeable.
Yes, they both are, imho, the best knowledgeable tech reviewers on YT. I'll get hate for this, and I don't care, but Wendell knows so much more than Logan, so it's always a treat to get a Wendell review.
Chris Jeffcoat, Jr Agreed.
Chris Jeffcoat, Jr Logan is a good presenter though, and he is good at directing and controlling a conversation. Plus logan knows alot about audio engineering and stuff too and he's funny. He's the life of the channel.
The problem with Luke is that while he may have experience with tech, he really isn't all that intelligent when it comes to other things. Linus has him beat in that category. For review quality you're right though, I do prefer Luke over Linus.
***** He might, I think he owns his own server company in kentucky.
I've had the SP3 (i7, 256 GB) for a few months now and I can honestly say that this is, by far, the greatest Surface review I have ever seen. No wonder I subscribed to Tek Syndicate long ago.
No product can be all things to everyone.
The SP3 is about flexibility, productivity, and portability. With that in mind, you have to expect some compromises. When people, especially tech heads, expect ludicrous levels of performance out of a Haswell chipset, I just do a facepalm and wonder..."what are you thinking??" You're already getting an incredible amount of performance in a tablet form factor! Now you're expecting desktop level performance?
Did Wendell say that he expected more performance out of this? I might have missed it.
multipurposepaperbox I would imagine expecting an ultra low voltage Haswell i5-4300U processor with HD4400 graphics to power a 4k monitor even at 30hz much less 60hz is not very realistic.
txmoney Indeed, but I believe Wendell also stated that Microsoft promised 4K support.
multipurposepaperbox Maybe the i7 model with HD5000 graphics can handle 4K displays better. However, I wouldn't bet on it. Even dedicated gpu's have a hard time handling such displays.
Yes, I totally agree. I only think that Microsoft should not promise things they can't deliver. Well maybe it's unwise to trust their word, seeing as what they've been saying about PC gaming.
Regular ARM tablets seem worthless to me and I can not find use for one. Surface Pro on the other hand... WANT!
The Surface Pro is ARM but the Surface 2 and 3 are x86. ARM is not good for production and light gaming and for the price I don't think it is worth it.
i used to think the same thing till i actually got a surface rt. arm tablets get an insane amount of life out of really small batteries. i would usually go about 3 days without charging it on light to moderate usage. most of that was streaming videos, which usually kills the battery in x86 devices.
rtfgujihy uyhjigtfbr talk about leaving Surface RT on for a full week, returning to see that it wakes up and reports 50% battery! Happened with me, since then whenever my colleagues (musicians) are in a look for a tablet, I tell them to get a Surface RT. We really just need a reader and some minor browsing/emailing.
plus, unlike android and apple tablets, its unlocked out of the box. you have full access to the file system, registry, and terminal. windows rt might seem pointless to a lot of people but its nice to have something that just work exactly how you want it every time.
I have a dell venue 8 and a dell venue 11 pro. Both are x86 ARM running full versions of windows 8.1. I love them. Best tablets on the market. Half the price of iPad, with a million times the usability. And they have microSD slots!
BY FAR the best review on the Pro 3! Thank you and keep it up!
I'm new to this channel, why are there cuts to where he's just sitting behind the computer?
I'm talking about 4:26 to 5:10. Why are there scenes where the camera is displayed behind his multi-monitor setup?
That is how he watches you. If you look into his eyes he'll steal your soul.
Baron Of Hell hilarious
***** It's because he doesn't want to completely expose his ugly mug. lol
+You are my rock. Its just a thing they do its kinda like the dude on home improvement you only see half his face from behind the fence. a year late xD
Great review answered every single question I had about the surface pro 3 I really appreciate these videos. They need to start making informational TV shows so you guys can make the big bucks. Once again really appreciate these reviews
Sounds like Wendell really wants to be hired by Microsoft.
If he got hired he would have deserved it. He is a really knowledgeable guy and no matter what he is talking about he make it sound simple for an average guy which attest to his knowledge.
Hussean Duncan I think he's too good for them :P
MacroPheliac That is what will get us better products.
They couldn't afford him.
Hussean Duncan I know, it's why they hired Mike Russonovich, he's the reason Windows 7 was good..The reason why at the kernel level Windows doesn't suck now. (just as an example)
Some people can't be bought though...And I really think Wendell's talents could be better used elsewhere, even though Microsoft is starting to take on a different mindset with their new CEO (lot of branched-off projects are being operated like start-ups) I just..Can't bring myself to wish for their success.
Wendell has to be the most rigorous over viewers on this side of the planet. Love his reviews too.
Thanks a lot for this detailed insight Wendell. What I really like about this is you are clearly a power user who likes to use hardware to its full extent and as a result you are able to expose flaws that other reviewers seem to have missed. I really like your cross referencing/ researched insights like where you explain that the haswell mobile chips are limited to 4k 30hz, it shows you put a lot effort in not only finding flaws but figuring out why said flaws exist. This is definitely the most nerdy review of the surface I have seen and that is definitely something to be proud of, keep up the good work :)
You guys guys could make this a series of reviews, I think that'd be awesome. Keep the title format going, I.E. "product xyz - the nerdiest review" I like it a lot!
i'd go gay for wendell
ROFL
Huhuhuh
Fartknocker
lmfaooo!!!
Who wouldn't?
I'm a member of the forum, but I was just searching for Surface Pro 3 reviews..... and yours was at the top of the list! Congrats
More Wendell please. Love that guy! Tek is great but i really like technical stuff. Any chance of Wendell doing some ICT based stuff like home labs, small business solutions etc?
They moved the Start Button because of the second keyboard magnet.
Power Profile can be changed, the settings would show up if turn off constant standby via registry. You can turn CS off, change the settings, or make other profiles based on Balanced, and then turn CS on again.
Tek Syndicate 14:50 Made me look at my Pro 2.
The Surface Pro 2 is the same as the Pro 3 as far as connectivity.
Pro 2 has 1 USB port, 1 Display port mini, MicroSD Slot, headphone jack, and the power adapter plug.
Great Review! Wish I waited a few months before I purchased 4 Pro 2's for my company.
I have watched heaps of SP3 reviews. This is by far the most informative and unbiased review, excellent work!
Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 still owns the Surface. We use these in the office, on the go, and in meetings and love them.
wendell, please do more reviews! you're so knowledgeable and thorough
I have the Surface Pro 2 and it runs three Dell U2414H (1920x1080) monitors daisy chained via the display port 1.2 connections. It was not stable at first and definitely would get confused when it came out of sleep mode. I then realized that Windows 8.1 was using a generic monitor driver, so I had the system try to update the driver for the monitors. It found the Dell U2414H drivers from 2013 and things got a lot smoother from then. I am quite happy now with the Surface Pro 2's performance displaying on 3 monitors, all from it's little mini display port.
I think this was the most honest review I have seen :D thanks!
all other reviews either hate on the Surface so much just because it is a Microsoft product (apple fan boys) and some people praise the device and don't let us know about some of the issues it may have.
May I ask what the point of more than 30Hz at 4k on a machine such as this? I mean you won't be gaming at 4k and pretty much nothing else runs at more than 30Hz. Just curious.
I guess you havent tried a desktop at 30Hz? Its pure torture even to move your cursor.
i would guess the mouse movements and gui animations. ive never seen those at 30hz though, so im not really sure.
tkmkirill No I haven't actually, wasn't aware it made the experience so bad.
***** you never use 30hz screens, even tv's are over 150-200 (sometimes, often it's a fake number)
Higher refresh rates make just about anything thats not a video better, people often comment about how much "faster" and "responsive" my home PC is on the desktop @144Hz even though for that kind of stuff its no faster, the smoother mouse and snappier and cleaner animations make it feel that way though.
love wendell's exhaustive and informative reviews. Keep them coming pls.
You wanna know why they moved the windows button to the side? (All the reviews i watch never say this) They moved it because now the keyboard has that extra magnetic portion that allows it to go at more of an angle now and it would block/cover the old button up.
Wendell needs to do more reviews! This is a GREAT video! Please keep reviewing products with reviews like these!!!!
Your reviews are the best Wendell without even showing your beautiful smile :)
Man Wendell has the best reviews out there so damn thorough and clear.
Ok Some important things: for the 4K issue, that's mini DP just not having the bandwith for 4K 60hz... (not MS's fault), thermal management disparities compared the the SP2 are due to less cooling for the form factor (smaller heatsink, 1 instead of 2 fans, smaller chassis). Broadwell will basically fix all this as will mini DP 1.3, since it'll have more bandwith. Also the lack of power management is due to Connected Standby, which I guess needs some shit to be locked down for it to work right. tradeoff there for convenience.
This is by far one of the best reviews I've seen GJ Wendell .
The surfactant joke at the beginning just made my day. Great review!
I want this so bad, but I'm so fuckin' poor. Oh well.
I got mine used at swappa.com n it has been great and at half the price.
Only one problem. It's Windows. Slap Linux on these bad boys and you really would have something.
Linux...So funny...!!
Its a regular PC. Install Linux yourself. Granted, you'd be out touch functionality but as a Linux user, that's likely not all that important to you anyway.
rockgod2131 I can't tell you how many times I've looked at the Surface Pro they look great but I'm just not a windows guy. Dual booting would be interesting.
Joseph Dickson In other words, you're a linux fanboy. Next!
#Windows8.1MasterRace
***** If Linux is trash then why does almost every supercomputer and about half of the servers run Linux/Unix? At least I can easily live boot Linux from a USB drive and have a fully functioning operation system without it even being installed to the computer. Meanwhile with Windows I have to install it to a drive and then I still have to install a driver just to even get the internet connection working. Windows and Linux both have their places.
5:09 hahahahahajahahah "WINDOWS 9". THATS RIDICULOUS.
Then they called it Windows 9 but because using the name Windows 9 they had many problems with coding because an older version of windows was called windows 9 too. So they eventually skipped 9 en used 10
Simon That explains everything. Thanks
By far the best surface pro 3 review out there! great job and very informative.
I just got the i7 512 g model and I love it! My first Surface :)
Thanks for the review, I haven't seen one that goes into detail of the technical limitations you might run up against. Very helpful and informative.
awesome review. Completely unbiased and extremely informative. Much more depth than any other reviewer. I hope microsoft sees this and hires Wendell to do RnD on their products!
I dig the graphics card in a dock idea - as a mechanical engineer it would be gold to have a nice workstation graphics card in the office, and battery/portability when undocked. (Currently using an i7 HP elitebook with a Quadro card... pretty heavy/chunky and battery isn't great, but it's got some grunt)
great review! I'm considering upgrading to the SP3 from my current laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2.
would you recommend that?
and I didn't realize it works so well for gaming, at least for playing old classics or not too demanding Steam games!
So...I recently got this Alienware 14 (replaced via warranty) in place of my m11x. It was out of warranty, but lots of complaining got me a new machine after 4 yrs having a crappy m11x. The thing is...i dont really need it. I've contemplated selling it to buy a surface pro 3 because i do need a "couch" laptop. After this review, i kinda want buy one of these even more...But i wouldnt get the money's worth to buy a top spec surface pro 3 if i sold the Alienware. What would you do? Keep the alienware or buy this.
Specs:
- Intel Core i7-4810MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz (Haswell)
- GeForce GTX 765m (2047 MB)
- 14" 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
- 16gb Dual Channel DDR3 @798 MHZ
- 1TB main HD, 80GB SSD
- Killer NIC WiFi-N (dual band) / e2200 Wired
- Win 7 Ultimate
- DVDRWBD Drive (Burn dvd, watch Blu Ray)
This is not a gaming machine.
Ur an idiot
That's actually a really good laptop. You're lucky they gave you that as a replacement, just keep it,
Tyler Brown Yea I'm going to. I'm happy with it. I don't think it's worth giving up.
Alienware are pretty much Gaming laptops. Just Do not expect superB quality as the XPS (as in build quality).
il never spend $1000 on a tablet
Then you will never have a tablet that can truly replace a laptop.
Think of it as an ultrabook instead of a tablet. Its functionality is more compareable to a Zenbook or Macbook Air than an iPad
goxcpre
I agree. I have a decent laptop and it's the reason I never cared for tablets. But something like this is interesting. I mean it's more powerful than my laptop...
goxcpre but it does make sacrifices when compared to a laptop. It doesn't have the best battery life (especially compared to an air), it has very limited io (which really was a deal breaker on my book), and while they made gigantic improvements to the typecover, its still not as good as a true keyboard on other ultrabooks.
iamterence77 And it can't be used (comfortably) on a lap (essentially making it a not-laptop :P)
thany3 I'm sure you have tried it out yourself for a considerable amount of time to make this statement. correct? I for one have used my sister's surface for quite a while when i was setting it up for her and it works fine for me on the lap.
Love your reviews Wendell!!!!
5:23. I STILL play this game. Classic 2003 gaming for me. Good memories.
Surface pro is simply the best computer/tablet on the planet! To the guy with the comment about matte finish on a tablet, Dude! Just slap a matte finish screen protector on it! I did that on my Surface rt since it doesn't have an active pen and the capacitive jot pro just glides better with a matte screen protector. I had one on my pro, but I found I like the intensity of the HD screen more than the smooth glide the matte screen protector provides on that device and since I it has the Wacom pen.
Finally a Surface Pro 3 review with some serious content. Nice work!
I have had my surface pro 3 for about one month now. And I must say that it is one of the best pieces of hardware I have ever owned. This is coming from a person who hated the surface 1 and 2. However this product to me is still for a niche audience, someone that enjoys using a tablet as much as a laptop.
Dude, the idea at the end of the video is revolutionary.
I don't own one but use one at work daily. This is one of the best tablets I've used. I would get one to replace my Samsung if it didn't cost as much as they do. Over $1000.00 in the configuration that my company has chosen. And they go up even higher from there.
Very thorough!!! The 17 dislikes, obviously the Microsoft Dev team Wendell said to fire.
Good video. Just an fyi ubcan magnetically clip the stylus to the power connector port on the SP3
Great review. So the surface not support two 1080p monitors as well?
Thank you, thank you Wendell. I am thinking about two of these with I7 processors and now I know what to check for before setting down the 2+K each.
Hi Wendell, thanks for the video!
I was wondering if you've had any experience hooking the SP3 with any of the 27" 1440p Korean monitors Logan loves? I'm looking for a decent monitor which wont break the bank (>1080p because scaling looks ridiculous otherwise).
Good review, some great points covered. Although maybe you focused too much on the multi-monitor capability which is not really the point of the Surface Pro 3, in my opinion.
Also, you mention about future models (SP4/5) using a PCI-e "extension" for external GPUs, however personally I think that, given the way the Nvidia Maxwell architecture seems to be headed with its low power consumption and relatively high performance per watt, I don't think it's unfeasible that we could see low power dedicated graphics chips in the Surface Pro a few generations ahead.
Your review deserves a better title. It was thorough and comprehensive, and useful to anyone considering an SP3, not just nerds!
You mentioned that you played Civ 5 with the pen, I wish that you would have included video of that. How was that experience? Does the machine get too hot after a long time of gaming?
The Surface Pro 2 (and all other previous models) also only had one usb port.
I think it's just due to how insanely large a standard USB A connector is in comparison to today's devices. I really like what they did here, where instead of putting the port into a hole in the device, the device itself forms the port...crazy space saving!
I'm liking my SP3, mainly for engineering applications, Solidworks, MS Visual Studio, Matlab, Codewarrior. It's nice to carry around in tablet mode specially when you just want to tune/update your robot's software on the fly.
What version do you have? I want to purchase one for engineering too.
i5 8GB Ram, 256ssd, big ram is really what you're looking for; example, when you're simulating a complete prototype design of a mechanical system, as far as i5 goes, it handles it quite well, but I noted that the program uses about 2~3GBs of ram. So when you're multitasking, like running matlab in background for image processing
still, if you're really want the best presentation of your work, try a strong laptop with better specs. Since I already own a decently strong build desktop, SP3 is mainly used for its portability when I'm in the lab testing, simulating, and updating our robots software.
Reginald Lim
Cool thanks for the tips.
I was gonna go for the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 but its also 8GB of RAM. And I tested the captive touch screen and I'm not a fan of it.
I'm also going to be using it for sketches and note taking.
Yeah I should I look into getting a stronger desktop soon to be my main computer. Since my HP fails to provide for me now.
What model desktop do you have? Or is it a self build?
self build, i5 4440, gtx 780, 16gb ram. If you're looking for a tablet with full windows capability to launch desktop app while not doing any serious work (drawing a CAD from scratch), you can try checking Surface 3. It will be sufficient to [View], but for serious [Work], a larger screen is always better haha.
Probably the best/ most quality and in depth review of anything I've ever seen ever.
Good lord bro your are my guru now. So much knowledge you're like the yoda of the tech world! Subscriber for life ty!
I bought the first Surface Pro and still love it to this day!
To fix the bluetooth sleep go into device manager and edit the bluetooth properties and you can set it to not turn off. I had to do that with the Surface 2.
Any progress on a follow up video for the SP3?? This is ha DS down the best review on the SP3 and the reason I bought one.
Thank you for a great review and for understanding the point of the device, and not comparing it to a MacBook Air like everyone else. This device is really in a league of its own.
Should I get this for high school? I'm going to 9th grade and they said we'll be using laptops a lot throughout our high school career, and when they say stuff like that, they mean it. I have a Mac but it's so old and slow (probably 4 to 5 years old) that we're looking at new options. I don't feel like getting a Mac book pro because my dad is an Apple nerd and loves them and I'm just like "I just want something that's good for me. I don't care what brand or company it's from." I've had enough apple products in my life. :) it's time for a little change. So should I?
I really like my Surface pro 3! I have no complaints for it yet. I've played some games on it (Sims, etc.). I love the keyboard, but I have a problem with switching from my desktop keyboard to this one(which everyone probably would!).
I'm waiting to see if the announcement of the SP4 causes a price drop on the SP3. Though, I'd really like to get one for game development where I'm not always tethered to my desk.
This looks great for my university purposes. Especially for taking notes in my engineering classes.
please do similar review for surface 3 if you guys got the time and money to do so since this review is more helpful than the others that I've saw
Great review! Always welcome to see more :)
I've owned an ASUS Transformer TX300 for about a year now and I haven't come across these problems. Ontop of that, the dock keyboard is by far the best laptop keyboard I've ever used (given it also comes with a whopping 500GB hdd).
I love Wendell reviews.
He asks the right questions and knows the right things. There must be more!
Wow this was an extensive review and I love that! Thank you !
I really hope you do a follow-up video. This is an interesting device...with a little bit of fixing, could be really great.
13:26 I see your reflection on the SP3 screen, in the background.
What are you wearing that's blinking a red light?
I know this is old video but i feel sorry for people who complained not long enough battery life, they also have portable chargers that can charge this & also forgetting the power keyboard that adds even more battery life.
Personally I'd rather use something like my Pok3r 60% mechanical keyboard than the type cover. I would definitely agree that you need a keyboard in order to make full use of the device, but there are other options besides the type cover. In fact, one of the main reasons I'm interested in the Surface Pro 3 is that I could use a nice keyboard with it more easily than with a regular laptop.
Much better than Linus' review
Really really good review, nice job Wendell!
So this comes with intel hd 4600? is there any way to get one with a nvidia 880m or something? driving a 1440p display is a bit much for intel onboard :S
Nope. A 880m is for gaming and that will create a he'll lot of heat
it's a pad. you won't get dedicated graphics. there's no room for it
***** Razer did it two years ago with the Edge, had an NVIDIA GT 640M LE, if Razer did that two years ago, don't tell me Microsoft couldn't pull off something similar today with their ridiculous R&D budgets. They'd prob have to make the device slightly thicker or compromise battery size, etc..but it's definitely doable and would probably be well worth it, even if it was just enabled when docked/plugged in.
MacroPheliac so they'd have to make it into a laptop? there's millions of laptops. why would they make their first tablet like a laptop?. this is not a performance machine. anyone buying a piece of total shit like this expecting good graphics is just a straight up moron
***** ...No? The Razer Edge is a 10" tablet. I was proving that discrete graphics can (and have been) done on a tablet, contrary to what you were saying.
Love your review! Thinking about buying a SP3. Only thing left is getting the money :P
Do you guys recommend this for going back to school or should i go with something else (in the same price cateory)? Not looking to do anything too fancy with it. Neither any gaming. Just needs to be light for travel. Thanks
Is it still worth it buying it in 2017? My first intention was to have a digital notepad and to buy a powerful PC. But now maybe it's better if I buy a surface pro 3 for notepad and for other stuff in college, since it's way lighter and portable than my current laptop, although it's not as powerful as it.
Tek Syndicate, I have a MacBook Pro Retina and an iPad 2. I am thinking to replace my iPad. I am a medical school student and work with a lot of power points and rather to take notes on my computer instead of taking them on paper (because I hate paper when it comes to notes, I have too many power points and at the end of each semester it is a pile that I keep to hold on to, also I won't lose the electronic versions thanks to OneDrive (a heavy one drive/office 365 user)). At the same time, iPads don't have a nice stylus that is thin enough nor there is a good office suit. Also my iPad is old enough for it to be refreshed. So my question is; should I buy the surface pro 3? and if so, should I buy the one with i3 or i5 (with 4gb ram) or i5 with 8gb ram?
MS's testing guy is probably friends with Dell's guy who tested the Venue 11 Pro.
Without changing a very specific setting in the Intel Graphics control panel it would freeze very often.
Plus, there are some issues with the system not detecting a the disconnection of the keyboard, and the device downclocking to 0.12GHz (!) after boot with the keyboard attached, until it gets re-attached.
I mean, it's glorious when it works, but I found these issues within hours of having the device, and I'm not the only one to who it happened. What the hell, man.
Regarding the Logitech MX Revolution, this might not be entirely the SP3's issue.
I have the same mouse, I have an H800 headset and many Logitech devices in the past. Some of them always have had their moments with connection issues, my H800 is really a diva with regards to connecting it to my S3 (Android 4.4.4), my desktop, sometimes that little usb receiver just needs a pull and re-insert... for no apparent reason.
Good to know thanks for the review. I'd love to know where he got his monitor rig
I'd love to get a Surface Pro 3, or even a Surface Pro 2. Heck, I'd take an original Surface Pro if the price were right. Currently I'm using a Surface RT, and honestly it's still a nice product that just never got any software that can do... well, pretty much anything. Plus I'd love an actual digitizer, capacitive styli are terrible.
But it runs nicely and has a nice design.
The mini displayport on the Surface Pro 3… what kind of signal can it send out? Is it a mini displayport 1.1, 1.1a, or 1.2? Can it send out a 4K signal at 60 hz or just at 30 hz? Thank you.
Thank you Wendell
i have a surface pro 1 and i love it, i played assasin's creed 1, 2 and 3, batman arkham asylum and other awesome games. Also i have photoshop, Illustrator and sketchbook pro. i can't wait for buy a surface 3!
1 USB connector is a really big issue for me.
I need at least 2, and a third for when one breaks would be nice.
Can you attach the keyboard in portrait mode?
Nerdiest review? This is the first one to watch if you are a gamer. I am a huge nerd and I love it. The smell of the new generation is glorious.
Thanks so much for the awesome review. since I'm planning to buy a surface pro 4, if it has 4k display.
I just have a quick question, u mentioned that pro 3 Intel U only support 4k res on 30 hrz, is that a big deference for watching 4k movies and playing light games like Hearthstone?
and what a bout Intel M, I think the new pro 4 will come with Intel M, does it support 4k 60 hrz?
thanks a lot :D
Fantastic review by the way. I'm looking forward to more Wendell solo videos.
I think he's on to something @17:00 where he talks about a dock that has a PCI express slot, thus adding your own video card.
I appreciated the cameo from the ms courier tablet.
when you close the keyboard does it stay shut with something like a magnet or is it open like a book?