Microsoft Surface 3 vs. Surface Pro 3: Which is Better for Business?
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is one of the most versatile business
machines around, with a detachable hybrid design and top-notch stylus
support — but it doesn’t come cheap. The price for the entry-level
model, with keyboard, is $830, and most workers will want to upgrade to a
model with a faster processor and more internal storage, which hikes
the price well above the $1,000 mark.
That’s why Microsoft has announced a new, more affordable version of
the machine, dubbed simply the Surface 3. It’s smaller and less powerful
than its bigger brother, but starting at $499, it’s also a lot less
expensive while retaining most of the Pro version’s best features.
So which is better for work? We haven’t yet had a chance to go
hands-on with the Surface 3 — which is set to launch May 5 — but here is
a head-to-head comparison based on what we know so far.
Design
The Surface 3 is just like the Pro 3, but smaller — and that’s a good
thing. The Surface Pro 3 is sleek and well-constructed, and its
aluminum back and edging give it lots of premium appeal. The Surface 3
emulates the pricier machine down to the last detail — with one big
exception.
While the Pro 3 features a kickstand that can be adjusted to any
angle you wish, the Surface 3’s kickstand offers three different angles.
That’s more than the Surface 2, which had a kickstand with just two
angles, but it’s not quite as flexible as the one on the Pro 3.
Regardless, that third viewing angle was just what the Surface 3 needed,
letting you tilt the device back farther for easier use in your lap.
Display
The Surface Pro 3 sports a 12.2-inch display that’s a bit smaller
than a typical laptop screen, but its supersharp 2160 x 1440-pixel
resolution helps make up for its small size. For the most part, the
device offers plenty of screen space for basic business tasks, and it’s
roomy enough that split-screen multitasking doesn’t feel too
claustrophobic.
The Surface 3’s screen is a clear step down in size and resolution.
The slate’s 10.8-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel display will feel considerably
more cramped for work, but based on my experience with similar screens,
it’s plenty big for everyday computing tasks like managing your email
inbox and light document editing.
I think it’s the screen size that will probably make the biggest
difference in helping you decide which device is better for work. The
Surface Pro 3 offers a display that’s probably close enough to your
primary work laptop’s screen size. The Surface 3’s small display, in
comparison, makes it better suited to serve as a secondary device for
light productivity on the go.
Note that both screens have a wide 3:2 aspect ratio, compared with
the 16:9 dimensions of most modern laptop computers. This aspect ratio
isn’t ideal for watching movies (which are typically shot in the 16:9
format), but, in my opinion, it’s better for productivity. That’s
especially true when you’re using the device as a tablet, since 16:9
tablets feel too narrow when held in portrait mode.
Portability
The Surface Pro 3 is already one of the most portable Ultrabooks out
there, weighing just 1.76 lbs. alone, and 2.4 lbs. with the keyboard
cover attached. That’s about the same as the 11-inch MacBook Air (2.38
lbs.), even though the Surface Pro 3 has a larger 12.2-inch display.
In comparison, the Surface 3 weighs just 1.4 lbs. with the keyboard
attached, thanks to its thinner design and smaller overall size. That’s
lighter than most other 11-inch hybrids. Dell’s Venue 11 Pro is 1.6
lbs., while the Transformer Book T200 weighs a whopping 3.2 lbs.
At just 0.34 inches thick, the Surface 3 is only slightly thicker
than the iPad Air 2, and it’s noticeably thinner than the Pro 3 (0.36
inches). The bottom line is that the Surface 3 is even more portable
than the Pro model. It will slide more easily into your work bag in the
morning, and it will fit better on an airplane tray table.
Software
The Surface 3 runs the same software as the Pro model. That’s a big
deal, since the previous non-“Pro” versions ran on a gimped version of
Windows — dubbed Windows RT — that couldn’t run most Windows software.
In fact, the original Surface and Surface 2 were mostly limited to
running simple mobile apps.
The new Surface 3, meanwhile, runs on the full version of Windows 8.1
— just like the Surface Pro 3. That means it’s compatible with all the
software you already use at the office, so you won’t have to make any
compromises in your workflow — that is, unless your workflow involves
processor-intensive tasks like heavy photo or video editing, which the
Surface 3 can’t handle.
Another perk is that all Surface 3 and Pro 3 owners will get a free
upgrade to Windows 10 later this year. Windows 10 is a new version of
Microsoft’s computer operating system that boasts tons of upgrades like a
voice-activated assistant and the ability to toggle between multiple
desktops.
Keyboard
Microsoft says the Surface Pro 3 is the “tablet that can replace your
laptop.” That’s thanks to its lightweight Type Cover accessory — a
snap-on keyboard that doubles as a screen protector when closed. Due to
its short key travel and small touchpad, the Type Cover isn’t quite as
good as many standard laptop keyboards, but it’s close enough for most
users.
The Surface 3 is set to launch with a Type Cover accessory of its
own. As with the Pro 3 version, the new Type Cover will be sold
separately for $130. Regardless of what you think about the cost, I’m
worried that the keyboard will feel too cramped for comfort. While the
Pro 3’s keyboard is full-size, the Surface 3’s will have to be shrunk
down a bit to accommodate the smaller size of the device.
In my experience, keyboards smaller than full size are fine for
drafting an occasional email, but not cut out for extended typing
sessions. I’ll have to wait to get my hands on the Surface 3 before I
can say for sure, though.
Stylus support
The best reason to buy the Surface Pro 3 rather than a more
traditional business notebook has always been its excellent pen support.
The device comes with a stylus and packs a pressure-sensitive display,
so jotting down notes directly on the screen feels precise and natural.
Most tablets lack pressure sensitivity, making them poor digital
notebooks.
Fortunately, the Surface 3 is outfitted with the same
pressure-sensing tech as its more premium big brother, so you can take
notes and draw diagrams to your heart’s content. Unfortunately, the
stylus isn’t included with the Surface 3; it’s sold separately for $50,
presumably to help Microsoft keep costs down. But since you won’t find
inking functionality that feels this good on many other tablets, it
might be worth the expense.
The Surface 3’s new third kickstand position, which lowers the device
closer to the desk or tablet it’s sitting on, should come in handy for
note taking by providing a better angle for writing compared with the
original Surface or Surface 2.
Performance
The Surface Pro 3 can be purchased with Intel’s desktop-class Core
i3, i5 or i7 processor, and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on how
much you want to spend. The bottom line is that the Pro 3 is powerful
enough to handle a heavy workload, including programs like Photoshop and
AutoCAD.
In contrast, the Surface 3 runs Intel’s Atom x7 CPU, a less powerful
processor designed for high-end tablets. While it doesn’t offer the raw
computing power of the Pro model, the Surface 3 should be more than
powerful enough to let you juggle several Office documents with a dozen
Web browser tabs. Plus, it should provide longer battery life than the
Pro 3’s — a big perk for road warriors who need a work device that
lasts.
Bottom line
So which device is better for business? We’ll have to wait until we
get our hands on the Surface 3 to know for sure, but right now it seems
that these two tablets were designed for different types of business
users.
The Surface Pro 3 is ideal for business users who are looking to
replace their primary work laptop, and plan to make use of the machine’s
excellent inking capabilities. The Pro 3’s screen is big enough for
multitasking, and its top-notch stylus makes digital note taking a
breeze.
The Surface 3, meanwhile, will probably be more practical as a secondary device, used for taking notes and light productivity.
If you don’t care about digital note taking at all, then I wouldn’t
really recommend either Surface model. A more traditional work
notebook would be better in that case, potentially offering comparable
power and a more practical design at a lower price.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Le problème de la finale a été révélé le lendemain matin. Les
participants avaient alors six heures pour démontrer leurs compétences
en programmation et en algorithmes. Certains d'entre eux sont également
partis à la recherche d'un easter egg caché dans le système du juge en
ligne jusqu'à la fin de l'après-midi. A l’issu de ce concours, le jury
s'est réuni pour identifier les meilleurs scores, tandis que les
participants prenaient part à un panel avec des ingénieurs de Google..jpg)
Félicitations à l'équipe gagnante, ENS Ulm 1, rassemblant des étudiants du CNAM, de l'École normale supérieure, et de Télécom ParisTech. Les universités et grandes écoles suivantes sont également représentées dans les 10 meilleures équipes : École normale supérieure de Lyon, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA ParisTech, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Université Paris Denis Diderot et Université Pierre et Marie Curie. Les résultats complets sont disponibles ici..jpg)
L'équipe gagnante, ENS Ulm 1, avec quelques organisateurs de Hash Code
