I will preface my opinion by saying the SP3 handles 90% of what I do on a laptop and 100% of what I did on a tablet. In fact I've been trying to dream up excuses to use my Samsung Android tablet and my MacBook pro.
I can understand those that say it works fine for their use and are happy about it, what I don't understand is someone JUSTIFYING the product NOT doing what it was advertised to do.
Like many, I had a previous device(SP1) that I sold to purchase the SP3. Most of us do rather extensive research when making a major purchase like this and here is what I heard and read from Microsoft representatives...... The SP3 is faster, lighter, larger screen with 7-9 hours of battery life compared to the SP2.
I was going to purchase the SP2 because of my experience with the first Surface pro and the fact that the battery life was advertised as so much better.
Like many, I was impressed with all the verbiage from Microsoft of the SP3 and spent the considerable difference for the I5 8GB model rather than the SP2 or another competitors product.
I had a choice of how and what to spend my money on, but I think it is important for manufacturers to be as accurate about the (REAL WORLD) uses of the product. Even more important, is the consumers duty to hold them accountable for large disparities from what is advertised.
What I didn't hear from Microsoft: The SP3 is faster under certain conditions ( light CPU loads), 7+ battery hours only with a very reduced brightness(not the brightness displayed onstage or in any advertising).
There are other issues, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc but those can hopefully be fixed with software releases and many have worked around it.
Microsoft took the Notebook\tablet design to another level showing competitors state of the art design and function. What they didn't do is give away free computers\tablets to the majority of consumers.
We fairly paid for a product that was advertised in a specific way. If the product does not do what was advertised, it does no one any favors to try to justify, downplay or disguise it.
I'm thankful for the many reviews, research, testing and comparisons that the forum users have posted. This is a major tool and opportunity for companies to correct and improve the current and future products.
I work for a fortune 5 company with top executives, believe me when I say the media and more importantly vocal consumers drive innovation and change.
When Panos Panay spoke of the journalist who wrote an article on the SP2 during the keynote launch, it was not for a journalist that praised and made excuses for the product. It was about how they really paid attention to the real world usage, problems and led to them improving the current and future model. Those vocal few are invited to the testing labs, press and launch events.
Another way to say it: Only the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
All this to say this is not about criticizing a product, it is to fairly expect the product AS advertised.
