First a little history. I have owned/used/reviewed:
•    Surface (1st generation Windows RT, 10.6”) in late 2012
•    Surface 2 (2nd generation Windows RT, 10.6”) in late 2013
•    Surface 3 (3rd generation Windows 8.1, 10.8”) in April 2015
•    Surface Pro (1st generation Windows 8, 10.6”) in early 2013
•    Surface Pro 2 (2nd generation Windows 8.1, 10.6”) in late 2013
•    Surface Pro 3 (3rd generation Windows 8.1, 12”) in mid-2014

There is an old joke about Microsoft getting things right in the third iteration. To a degree that is correct with Surface range but the original philosophy and design cues that made it a premium, highly desirable, device still remain.

My only criticism (more a total and constant bagging really) was that Windows RT for ARM processors was a one legged dog that should have been put out of its misery. Microsoft wanted to compete with Apple’s iPad and the only way it thought it could do so was on an ARM device. The majority of media said this was foolish and ‘full-fat’ Windows on Intel x86 architecture was the only way to go.

Well advances in technology have made this possible. Enter Surface 3 – third time lucky!

What the Surface Pro 3 (SP3) and Surface 3 (S3) have done is carry forward the mag-alloy chassis, the very lightweight yet strong construction, the 3:2 ratio screen (that is way more useful than 16:9 notebooks) and improved on what was a great design to start with.

The SP3 is an Intel 4th generation Haswell Core i3/i5/i7 powered, 12” tablet with a clip on keyboard that is a direct replacement for a laptop/Ultrabook/MacBook as well as a desktop/workstation with the optional docking station. Expect to see a Surface Pro 4 with the launch of Windows 10 – it will have an Intel 6th generation 14nm Skylake Core i3/i5/i7 – more speed using less power.

The S3 is an Intel x7-Z8700, 14nm quad-core powered, 10.8” tablet with a clip on keyboard that is a direct replacement for laptop/Ultrabook/MacBook as well as a desktop with the optional docking station.

If you are suffering a sense of déjà vu from the preceding two paragraphs – yes, they are essentially similar – it is because the S3 Intel Atom processor runs all normal productivity software and apps with similar aplomb to the SP4 – for a lower cost.

Geekbench tests almost every aspect of the device and comes up with an ‘index’. The free (32-bit test only – 64-bit is faster again) showed the SP3, 8GB, dual core, four thread i5, at an index of 2742/5338 (single/multicore) and the S3, 4GB, quad-core, four thread, Atom at 974/3258.
Windows 8.1 and 10 utilise both multicore and multithread processing and most modern Windows software uses both so the Atom, delivering about 60-70% of the Core i5 horsepower, is excellent for most tasks. The S3 is not a 3D gamer’s machine but any ‘mobile app’ based game is fine. The Atom has four physical cores against the dual Core i5 with hyper-threading so it should actually be more efficient.

A note of caution about the new fan-less Core M (Broadwell) used in the MacBook and other portables. It may be more powerful but at full speed but it can suffer heat issues and will throttle down - the horse power gap under load is less. When Core M gets to a 14nm construction (Skylake), these issues may abate.

Herein lies a dilemma. In Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, the S3 keeps up. The 10.8” screen shows about four lines less in Word and extends to column S in Excel (V – four more for the SP3). Compare that to a HD 24”, 16:9 monitor and you get about ten more columns (AC) on the screen but no more lines.

Why did Microsoft make a smaller Surface?

I spoke at length with Tina Flammer, Surface product marketing lead at Microsoft who has been on the Surface journey since the beginning.

“The Surface vision has always been a premium device and the Surface 3 is just that. It is lower cost [than the SP3] starting at A$699 due to the Atom and 10.8” screen. It is lighter at 622g plus a keyboard so it fulfils the role of a tablet for travel and a notebook for work,” she said.

“The S3 won’t cannibalise the SP3 market but will open up a new market for people who don’t need Core power and want a full Windows experience at a lower price point,” Tina added.

Tina was excited at the prospect of a 4G LTE version as well that adds mobile data and full GPS capabilities to a tablet format. That will not be for a few months.

Who is it for?

It will appeal to:

• Tertiary students – 10-hour battery and an 8MP autofocus camera for snapping the white/blackboard and via OneNote turning it into text. It also uses a standard 2.5A micro-USB charger – it will work with USB 2A phone chargers (the SP3 uses a proprietary charger). Students receive 10% discount on the hardware and software.
• Business users that only need the usual MS Office Productivity software. It comes with a one-year Office 365 Personal subscription and OneDrive cloud storage. The docking station will replace the desktop PC. It should last as long, if not longer, as a PC.
• Baby Boomers, grey nomads, and retirees who want a simple, small device for travel or home
• Apartment dwellers with limited space – the mini Display Port will convert to HDMI for use with a large screen TV

In fact, anyone thinking of a small notebook should seriously consider the S3. The only drawback to the SP3 or S3 may be its one USB 3.0 port but purchase of an inexpensive USB 3.0 self-powered travel hub will fix this. Anyone who masters the pen and OneNote will want this.

S3 (SP3) for commercial use

Microsoft has commercial partners that can sell Surface in the Australian market including Brennan IT, Computelec, Computer Systems Australia, Data#3, Datacom Systems, Dimension Data, Ensyst, e-Volve Corporate Technology, Insight, Staples, Stott & Hoare Business Computers, Somerville Group, and Triforce Australia. Ingram Micro and Synnex distribute in Australia – meaning most local computer stores can sell it as well.

This group has access to an S3 Windows 8.1 Pro, 4GB base model with 64 or 128GB of storage as well as the LTE model.

S3 Specifications

• Size/Weight: 267 x 187 x 8.7 mm 622 g plus keyboard
• Display: 10.8”, ClearType, 1,920 x 1,280, 3:2 ratio, Surface Pen support
• Battery life: up to 10 hours – really!
• Storage/RAM: entry level 2GB RAM and 64GB storage. Also 4GB RAM and 128GB
• Processor: Quad-core, 4 thread, Intel Atom x7-Z8700 processor (1.6GHz/2.4GHz)
• Other: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, Mini Display Port, MicroSD card reader, micro USB charging port; Headset jack, type Cover port, 
• Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer
• Software: Windows 8.1, 1-year of Office 365 Personal (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access. OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype world minutes each month for 12 months)
• Cameras: 3.5 megapixel front-facing camera, 8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus
• Stereo front facing speakers with Dolby audio, microphone
• Warranty: 2-year hardware
• Free upgrade to Windows 10
• 2GB/64 A$699, 4GB/128GB $839 – LTE version will be $140 more

Options:

•  Type cover (backlit weighs 265g in Blue, Bright blue, Red, Bright red, Black and Purple) $179.99
•  Surface Pen in Blue, Black, Red and Silver (barrel) $59.99
•  Docking Station (Gigabit Ethernet, 3840x2160 resolution mini Display Port, 3 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB 2.0) $279.99

Opinion

Would I buy it? I already have an SP3 so I had a reference to test against. There is a handy comparison here. 

Let’s address iPad and Android tablets first. Until MS Office runs properly on each I need Windows. Until an external keyboard and mouse (trackpad) works on each, I need Windows. Until all my USB devices, printers etc., run on them I will need Windows. Until my office and home network and NAS devices run on each, I need Windows. For everything else – email, browsing and content consumption, these are fine.

The SP3’s power is wasted on me. There was not one normal thing the SP3 could do over the S3 – with the caveat that I do not run resource hungry things like AutoCad, Photoshop, or do video editing.

Would I miss the extra screen space – 12” versus 10.8” – or the resolution 2160x1440 versus 1920x1080 - probably not? Movies and in-flight entertainment look very good on each with the S3 marginally brighter. It is also fan-less – no noise at all.

Do I miss the 256/512GB storage options?  No, as both have micro-SD storage slots.

Using a standard USB charger is a strong appeal – the SP3 has a more bulky adaptor.

Would I miss the pen? No both have N-Trig support and you can buy a pen.

So the S3 becomes the sweet spot for most and the SP3 when you need more power. In all respects it lives up to the name Surface – it’s the real deal.