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Microsoft Announces Surface 3 Tablet
An anonymous reader writes: Today Microsoft announced the latest device in their line of Windows tablets: the Surface 3. The tablet runs a full version of Windows (the troublesome "RT" line has been deprecated), and aims to compete with Apple's iPad. The Surface 3 has a 10.8" screen running at 1920x1280 (note the 3:2 ratio). It's 8.7mm thick and weighs 622 grams (1.27 lbs). They're somewhat vague about the battery life, but they say it will last up to 10 hours "based on video playback." They've also made it possible to charge the device with a standard micro-USB charger. The base device with 64GB storage, 2GB RAM, and Wi-Fi will cost $500, and it'll scale up with more storage, more ram, and 4G LTE connectivity. (It maxes out at 4GB RAM, so any heavy-duty gaming is probably out of the question.) The keyboard is still a separate $130 accessory as well.
I see not one thing that says this is an x86. If it's not x86 it's still ARM and still windows RT even if they don't call it RT anymore. The result being you can only run software from the windows store, no legacy apps.
Its a 14nm Cherry Trail SoC. Don't confuse this with old crappy Atom. These are really fast. This is http://www.anandtech.com/show/...
Well geez, I paid $100, bought an HP Stream 7 and it only has 1GB of RAM. And it's plenty speedy.
In fact, for Windows 8.1 and Atom, it's surprisingly fast.
The only thing is, for $100, the Stream 7 can run like crap and I'd still like it - it's a $100 friggin' PC running full Windows. Heck, I have Steam running on it!
This thing though is $500. A bit pricey for a Atom based tablet, I think.
As much as I hate Windows 8.1, one thing they have done right is greatly reduced the memory load.
Windows Vista 64-bit took about 2GB RAM, you basically had to have 3GB+ to run anything.
Windows 7 64-bit took about 1GB RAM, or practical tests 0.8GB, you basically had to have 2GB+ to run anything.
Windows 8/8.1 takes a whole 0.28GB RAM, you basically need 1GB+ to run anything.
The Surface 3 is made for word processing, browsing the web, watching video, taking notes, or simpler tasks like that. 2GB will work well for this role.
Will it work well for you? Maybe not, this is why there is the full line-up of the Surface 3 and Surface 3 Pro models.
Unlike the ARM based Surface models, these will run any X86 program, this opens up all sorts of possibilities. Portable sound studio? Why not, the voice of Honest Trailers uses Audacity and since the Surface 3 has a standard USB 3 Port, you just need a good USB Microphone, or a good converter.
Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
As others have noted the newer atoms aren't the same as the old under powered garbage. I've actually got a server running one of the new Atom server chips. It's a good low power processor with some strong capabilities for the power envelope it uses.
Though there is one exception, there are some under powered Atom chips. They are smaller and use even less power and generally aren't intended for a PC type install. But they do exist because Intel is still trying to figure out how to sell chips in this space without totally cannibalizing desktop sales with chips they lose money on.
Which chip Microsoft chose (or whatever one Intel let them use) is going to determine whether the surface 3 is garbage or a reasonable balance of CPU and power use. It's entirely possible it's going to be way to slow for use in anything CPU intensive because Intel is still making Atoms that aren't very good, even if they are better than the previous Atoms.
It's interesting to me that Microsoft isn't saying WHICH Atom they used.