I guess everyone is already aware about the latest Microsoft claim that the latest member of its Surface tablet family, the Surface Pro 3, can replace laptops.
Of course, given Microsoft’s records, nobody can blame you to be skeptical. For all we know, this is just the company’s latest attempt to get consumers to buy into its PC-tablet hybrid concept, nothing more and nothing less.
"This is the tablet that can replace your laptop," said Panos Panay, head of Microsoft's Surface division, at an event in New York. "Today we take the conflict away, and I'm absolutely sure of it."
By dubbing the Pro 3 "a tablet that can replace your laptop," Microsoft is positioning it against the thinnest, most portable notebook on the market to date — the MacBook Air. Throughout the Surface Pro 3 presentation, Microsoft took the time to compare its newest device against Apple's iconic portable computer.
So how does the two really stack up?
The table below compares the specs and features of the Surface Pro 3 and the mid-2014 MacBook Air. The comparison focused solely on the "laptop" qualities of the Surface Pro 3. Naturally, the MacBook Air lacks a touch screen and support for a Surface Pro Pen accessory, but here's how the rest of its features compare:
It should be noted that even if the Surface Pro 3 starts at US$ 799, that's for a model with 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and an Core i3 processor. A more even comparison is between the US$ 999 version of the Surface Pro 3 and the base configuration MacBook Air wherein both machines have Core i5 processors, 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
The Pro 3's speed is clocked a bit higher than the MacBook AIr, but the MacBook Air has an extra USB 3.0 port and a better GPU.
Likewise, the US$ 1299 Surface Pro 3 — which features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — is priced the same as a MacBook Air with that configuration. (The US$ 1199 MacBook Air has only 4GB of RAM, but can be configured to have 8GB for an extra US$ 100.)
In short, the Surface Pro 3 appears to be well-equipped to be able to hold its own against the MacBook Air. Unfortunately, that just on paper. We don't have a handle on the Surface Pro 3, hence, we really can't tell at this point if the two gadgets above are almost similar.
Of course, given Microsoft’s records, nobody can blame you to be skeptical. For all we know, this is just the company’s latest attempt to get consumers to buy into its PC-tablet hybrid concept, nothing more and nothing less.
"This is the tablet that can replace your laptop," said Panos Panay, head of Microsoft's Surface division, at an event in New York. "Today we take the conflict away, and I'm absolutely sure of it."
By dubbing the Pro 3 "a tablet that can replace your laptop," Microsoft is positioning it against the thinnest, most portable notebook on the market to date — the MacBook Air. Throughout the Surface Pro 3 presentation, Microsoft took the time to compare its newest device against Apple's iconic portable computer.
So how does the two really stack up?
The table below compares the specs and features of the Surface Pro 3 and the mid-2014 MacBook Air. The comparison focused solely on the "laptop" qualities of the Surface Pro 3. Naturally, the MacBook Air lacks a touch screen and support for a Surface Pro Pen accessory, but here's how the rest of its features compare:
| Surface Pro 3 vs MacBook Air | ||
| SPECS | SURFACE PRO 3 | MACBOOK AIR |
| Screen Size | 12-inches, 3:2 aspect ratio | 13.3-inches, 16:10 aspect ratio |
| Pixel Density | 2160 x 1440, 216ppi | 1440 x 900, 128ppi |
| Processor Speed | Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 (Haswell) | Intel Core i5 or i7 (Haswell) |
| RAM | 4GB or 8GB | 4GB or 8GB |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 4400 | Intel HD Graphics 5000 |
| Weight | 1.76 pounds (without keyboard) | 2.96 pounds |
| Battery Life | Up to 9 hours browsing the web | Up to 12 hours browsing the web |
| Storage Space | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB or 512GB | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB |
| OS | Windows 8.1 | OS X 10.9 Mavericks |
| Ports | USB 3.0 (1), microSD, Mini DP | USB 3.0 (2), SDXC, TBolt (Mini DP) |
| Connectivity | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE |
| Camera | Dual 5MP, 1080p cameras | 720p FaceTime HD |
| Price | US$ 799-US$ 1,949 | US$ 999-US$ 1,749 |
| Please take note that looking solely on the price range may be misleading. | ||
It should be noted that even if the Surface Pro 3 starts at US$ 799, that's for a model with 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and an Core i3 processor. A more even comparison is between the US$ 999 version of the Surface Pro 3 and the base configuration MacBook Air wherein both machines have Core i5 processors, 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
The Pro 3's speed is clocked a bit higher than the MacBook AIr, but the MacBook Air has an extra USB 3.0 port and a better GPU.
Likewise, the US$ 1299 Surface Pro 3 — which features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — is priced the same as a MacBook Air with that configuration. (The US$ 1199 MacBook Air has only 4GB of RAM, but can be configured to have 8GB for an extra US$ 100.)
In short, the Surface Pro 3 appears to be well-equipped to be able to hold its own against the MacBook Air. Unfortunately, that just on paper. We don't have a handle on the Surface Pro 3, hence, we really can't tell at this point if the two gadgets above are almost similar.
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