I don't mean to second-guess or question your admin role, but can I ask what is it about this thread - as it currently stands - that led you to post this?
Sometimes you don't see what goes on behind the scenes, pm's that result from threads like this between users and to mods, etc.
I just want to make sure people have a legitimate discussion before it turns into endless back and forth.
Ok, I'm a bit perplexed right now. I was an early adopter of the Surface Pro. Everything I said I wished that hybrid was, the Surface Pro 3 is. Bigger better screen, wider aspect ratio, paper pad sized, adjustable kickstand, better pen. Check the list, on paper they had designed my dream machine.
I went to Bestbuy today WANTING to LOVE this device. And I just didn't (I'm not trolling, I'm just frustrated):
1) I know it is just personal preference, but I like black computers. This silver color looks feminine to me.
2) The edges are too sharp. It doesn't feel comfortable in my hands when using it as a tablet.
3) Damn this thing is big to be used as a tablet. Didn't think I would think so but after using a Tab S 8.4 the last month it seems downright huge. Not sure I would enjoy sitting on the sofa holding this for a long time.
4) The texture of the back may be premium - to me it just doesn't "feel premium". Say what you what you want about Samsung's "soft feel" plastic - it does feel soft. The SP3 just felt hard and rigid.
5) Speaking of the Tab S, I'm afraid I've been spoiled by the super amoled screen. As good as the Surface Pro 3 screen is, it looked washed out to me. Damn you super amoled for ruining lcd for me!
6) The keyboard REALLY bounces when I type and the keys feel very plasticy. Right now I'm typing this message on an Acer R7 572 which has (almost) all of the benefits of the SP3 only bigger and heavier. And much much more solid. The SP3 just felt flimsy to me and kind of looked flimsy too.
7) When I write on the screen there was pooling under my pen tip. That reminded me just how paper thin the glass is on this (plus the reports of spontaneous fracturing) . My Acer R7 never pools beneath the pen. Nothing wrong with pooling, just makes me nervous I'm damaging it.
So anyway, I'm perplexed. I would be making sacrifices in screen real estate to go from my R7 to the SP3 and giving up a very solid full sized keyboard. I was fully ready to make those sacrifices and went to Bestbuy ready to buy - but I left the store without the SP3 feeling very confused.
Is my R7 + Tab S a better combination for me than the SP3 alone? 2 things which do what they do better than the SP3 or one thing that does everything if not as well? It's hard walking away from something you were SURE you wanted.
Can anyone talk me into it? Maybe someone coming from a similar situation to mine and how you found it was better? I'm sure the colors will look better once I can dial down the gamma a bit. I just don't know how to proceed.
MS has a generous return policy, why not try it for 30 days, tinker with it and see if you can get it to your liking?Couple quick points. For those who remember me from the Surface Pro days, yes I was hard on that device yet pretty much every criticism I had was addressed in the design of the Surface Pro 3. Take from that what you will.
I did not come here to slam the SP3. This device appeals in many practical ways. I like the concept of "one ring to rule them all". I am sure if I could turn the gamma down to a .6 or so the blacks would look just as dark and rich as on my Tab S. The R7 really is great but its just such a brick. Not the sort of thing you want to walk around with under your arm. As a tablet I could also enjoy the larger text at this size. Things get a bit wee on the 8.4.
Right now I'm still about 70/30 leaning towards getting it.
Thanks to everyone for your input.
MS has a generous return policy, why not try it for 30 days, tinker with it and see if you can get it to your liking?
Worst case you return it.
That's ok if you don't like it. My question is, why then you need us to convince you on getting one?
You may wish to rethink the better battery life notion of the i3. Head over to anandtech for some benchmarks.Yes likely the best option although returning things always makes me feel guilty. Right now my Access database uses every inch of my 15.6" R7. It is going to be smaller on 12 inches and until I see it in action impossible to tell how much of an issue that will be.
How are people finding legacy forms from your desktop or laptop fitting into the 12 inch 3x2 space?
Also read some comments in other threads about the screen breaking around the speaker hole at the top. Has this been a big issue or just the rare defective screen? Was surprised to hear MS won't cover that under warrant.
Since the most stressful thing I do on a computer is my database, I'm wondering if the i3 version might be better? Runs cooler (the heat of the Surface Pro was an issue for me) and gets better battery life. Has anyone tried the i3 and found for basic Office and web browsing it is sufficient? Because of various discounts I receive I can get the i3 as a pure tablet for only $50 more than my Tab S. May just get it as a tablet and keep the R7 for daily work machine. I like the idea of a consistent Windows environment across all devices. Right now my Tab S is pure toy. The i3 SP3 could be a toy ++ for almost the same price.
Lol this is what it looks like when I'm talking myself into something .