Surface Pro 3: Find out what critics are saying about Microsoft's tablet-laptop

Microsoft has launched the new Surface Pro 3 and this time it’s bringing a full-on challenge to the Ultrabook segment in general and the MacBook Air in particular.   Surface Pro 3 has **great specs and features** . The biggest Microsoft tablet has a 12-inch screen with 9.1mm thickness (thinner than an MacBook Air), it also has a sharper screen with 2160X1440 pixels resolution taking the pixel density all the way up to 216ppi, and comes with multiple configurations featuring 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors.   Microsoft has also made improvements to Type Cover keyboard which now sports a larger trackpad and new keyboard keys. The cover comes integrated with a magnetic strip, which connects to the front of the tablet to change the angle of the keys. There is also an improved stylus or pen with the Pro 3. The tablet is now capable of instantly converting written text to digital content.   The initial first impressions of the tablet are quite good but as most critics note, the success of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 will rest on its ability to convince users that the tablet is a worthy upgrade from their MacBook Airs and other Ultrabooks.   According to Natt Garun of The Next Web, the Type Cover‘s subtle improvements are definitely a plus. He notes, “The seamless click attachment lets you work uninterrupted, and the trackpad is now 63 percent bigger than its previous version.”, although he adds that left-handed users might not be too pleased about this pad as it is a bit off-centre.   What didn’t impress him was the amount of time it took to set up the device. He points out that, “it took nearly 10 minutes for the Pro 3 to launch and install apps before it even got to asking what I’d like to name my device. Why aren’t the basic apps pre-installed and ready to go?”   According to the piece on The Verge where Windows 8.1 goes it “runs quickly and smoothly on the Pro 3, and the touchscreen had no issues tracking our swipes and inputs.”   Microsoft has also redesigned the kickstand to help users convert the Surface Pro 3 into a much easier laptop. As this piece on Engadget points out, “The third-gen model has a new kickstand on the back that allows the screen to sit at a near-flat angle of 150 degrees.”   According to ArsTechnica’s Andrew Cunningham, “the Surface Pro 3 is more like a laptop in that its kickstand is pretty stable at any angle, so when you have the thing on your lap, you can point the screen at your face basically however you want. "   The kickstand and the new cover will aid users in typing more easily on the Surface Pro 3 in a manner much similar to a traditional laptop. But the question is whether this will work with traditional laptop users. According to ZDNET, “the real question is whether there are enough well-heeled buyers out there willing to pay the premium price for a Surface Pro instead of a MacBook Air.”   While the Surface Pro 3 does have the specs to give almost all the Ultrabooks a run for their money, as the report notes, “market doesn’t pick winners and losers by looking at spec sheets.”   Surface Pro 3 will be available for a price starting at $799, and up to $1,949. The pre-orders will begin on 21 May. Where Surface Pro 2 sales numbers are concerned, Microsoft has not revealed these till now. It also can’t be forgotten that **the original Surface RT saw losses worth $900 million.**   With Surface Pro 3, Microsoft is targetting the laptop and ultrabook user base, rather than just the tablet hordes. Whether the new approach helps Microsoft earn a chunk of the hardware market, of course, remains to be seen.