Unlike the old ARM powered Surface RT tablet it has an Intel quad-core Atom x7 processor, a 10.8” Full HD screen, and runs Windows full fat, 64-bit 8.1 (and soon 10).

There is really no comparison with the old Surface RT except a relatively low cost for a fully-fledged Windows computing device - A$699 for the 2GB RAM and 64GB eMMC and $839 for the 4GB RAM and 128GB eMMC. A 4G LTE version is coming soon too.

I like the Surface design – the integrated kickstand and its low weight (622g without keyboard) make it an ideal travel companion. Pre-orders are being taken now for delivery around 5 May.

Screen

It is 10.8”, full HD 1920x1080, and has the same aspect ratio as the Pro – 3:2 a better match for A4 paper’s ratio. In my experience with the Pro I have found that this ratio can give a fuzzy image via a data projector which expects 4:3 or 16:9 ratio. Microsoft is aware of this and promises a fix.

Camera

The 8.0MP rear camera has autofocus and is more than adequate for taking photos of scribble on black/white boards so it is ideal for students and those who attend boring meetings. The front camera is 3.5MP – way more than needed for Skype use.

Processor

Intel’s latest power sipping Atom x7-Z8700. It has a 2MB cache, 1.6GHz (2.4GHz turbo) and four physical cores and four threads – delivering power similar to the dual Core-M5Y10 used in the latest MacBook. It uses Intel HD graphics which supports up to three HD 1080 displays (internal and two external via Display port daisy chain or Docking station) and a single external 2/4K display. It also has Wi-Fi AC and Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Gyroscope, Compass, Accelerometer, etc.

If you were to compare this new Atom to the ARM based Apple A8 or Snapdragon 810 it is well above these in processing power so expect much better performance. It also has much improved video performance over the older – and still very adequate - Bay Trail Atom.

Battery

Claimed use is 10 hours video playback but expect ‘full day’ computing under normal use. Unlike the Pro it uses a micro-USB charging port so that allows you to use phone chargers and external battery packs.

Ports

A full size USB3.0, a mini-display port (buy a converter to HDMI, DVI or VGA), a microSD card reader, a micro-USB charging port and 3.5mm headset jack.

Software

Windows 8.1 64-bit. A one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. It also includes OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype world minutes each month for 12 months.

Keyboard

Here is the catch – it is sold separately. Price – about $150. Consider getting a Bluetooth keyboard instead.

Pen

One of the Surface/Pro’s most underrated features is its ability to use an active pen/stylus. Another catch – it is an optional extra at $59.95.

It has 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, palm blocking technology, and is great to use as an annotation device, to sign documents, take notes (and convert to text) and draw. It works with any drawing program that uses a pen. This is a two-button pen – the side button is equivalent to a right click mouse to reveal formatting options and the top button enables the eraser and opens OneNote.

Opinion

I have not seen this in the flesh but I am a Surface Pro user. That redefined portable computing.

Interestingly my wife has an Asus T-100 Windows tablet powered by an older Atom processor and it does everything she needs - this new generation Atom will be even better.

This is aimed at the student market – light, reliable, and note that Microsoft has student discounts on the Pro so I expect it will be similar for the Surface 3.

While I, and most other IT journalists will comment that Microsoft should include the stylus and keyboard it gives you a lot of room to look at Bluetooth options and covers from other manufacturers. I am sure Logitech will have an integrated folio cover/keyboard soon.

I understand that there will also be a docking station at $279.99 so it is clearly aimed at workers as a BYOD device and it will be a great replacement for those who need Office on the go.

For an update on the new Atom x7 processor read iTWire's article here.