Type cover opinions
- Thread starter vsherry
- Start date
markusbeutel
Member
It's pretty terrible in my opinion OP, and apart from hardware issues I had with the SP3, was one of the main deciding factors in my going with a different product, (eventually settled on the core m dell venue pro 11 - which has an amazing detachable keyboard and 20 hour battery life).
The type cover was just too flimsy, bounced up and down regardless of the surface it was on, and got super dirty super quickly. And it really needs a magnet on top, or else it's useless imo as a "cover."
The type cover was just too flimsy, bounced up and down regardless of the surface it was on, and got super dirty super quickly. And it really needs a magnet on top, or else it's useless imo as a "cover."
wditters
Active Member
I too considered the Venue Pro at some stage. The Atom CPU however makes it unfit for my use, as I predominantly work with VMware virtual machines. The SP3 is a sheer powerhouse in comparison, and is much more capable of delivering the horsepower to run multiple VMs. Atom CPUs simply don't cut it in that area..
markusbeutel
Member
I have the latest version which is intel core m - benchmarks right around the i5 SP3, maybe 5-10% less, and supports 8g ram and 256 ss drive, the SP3 isn't at all a powerhouse in comparison - more powerful, yes, if we're talking the i7, but not leagues better by any means - and the battery on the core m Venue Pro is a powerhouse in comparison.
Previous gen also had core i3/i5's in addition to the atom models...
I think the difference comes when you consider how good a tablet these devices are as well. As someone who rather unexpectedly uses my surface more often as a tablet and with the writing experience a BIG plus for me the type cover makes perfect sense I wouldn't want something more substantial most of the time and if I did I'd add a Bluetooth keyboard, my hubby recently bought a nice portable Microsoft one with a large trackpad, but I've never tried it as I've never needed to.
Here for me the aspect ratio of the SP3 also helps enormously compared to other hybrids as well both in tablet (portrait and landscape aspect) and in laptop mode. I find the surface a pleasure to use in both guises. Where the other hybrids like the HP envy just look too much of a compromise on the tablet aspect especially in portrait mode. It all comes down to how you use the device. If you never use it as a tablet then it's nothing more than the thinnest lightest core laptop you can buy but with a "dodgy" keyboard to keep it thin and light..
Here for me the aspect ratio of the SP3 also helps enormously compared to other hybrids as well both in tablet (portrait and landscape aspect) and in laptop mode. I find the surface a pleasure to use in both guises. Where the other hybrids like the HP envy just look too much of a compromise on the tablet aspect especially in portrait mode. It all comes down to how you use the device. If you never use it as a tablet then it's nothing more than the thinnest lightest core laptop you can buy but with a "dodgy" keyboard to keep it thin and light..
BillJ
Active Member
I weird also. When I type a long document, I prefer the type cover. Recently I set up a new HP Envy laptop for my wife, and found it difficult to adjust to a regular keyboard.
(I did find, however, that the new "control zone" touch pad on the HP is a wonderful delight; a perfect complement for operating Win 8.1 !)
(I did find, however, that the new "control zone" touch pad on the HP is a wonderful delight; a perfect complement for operating Win 8.1 !)
kevinlevrone
Active Member
I think it's pretty much perfect aside from lack of some dedicated editor keys. I'm using it for more than 1 year for heavy programming and it works great. The Type Cover 3 that stays tilted up with the SP3 magnet is even better.
markusbeutel
Member
Does the bouncy/springy feel when you're typing not bug all of you that like the typecover? I found I preferred it when the cover was on the ground as it just felt more like a real keyboard.
Doesn't bother me at all, and I prefer the keyboard up as it feels much more natural, I'm not saying it's better than a "proper" keyboard, I'm just saying it does the job well enough for me not to feel the need for anything else.
kevinlevrone
Active Member
To be honest, the keyboard does not feel any bouncy or springy to me. If you type in a way that applies a lot of pressure when typing and a lot of impulse force (for example if you come from a background of old IBM keyboards), you may feel such things, but if you lightly touch the keys (which for me feels natural and also speeds up typing) the keyboard will not feel bouncy at all.
