Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Microsoft Surface 3 Tablet (10.8-Inch, 128 GB, Intel Atom, Windows 10)

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2015

I'm writing this after having my tablet for a few days. Let me walk you through my experience so far, if you want to skip straight to the review, scroll down a bit.

Previously, I owned an iPad Gen 2 that I used for Netflix, movies, light tablet gaming, Skype, and internet. I've never been an Apple person, but the iPad just worked so well that I lived with the limitations. As updates have rolled in, my iPad became slower and slower, to the point where browsing the web is painful, so I decided it's time to move on. Originally I was planning to invest in the newest iPad, but decided to look around a bit first. After some searching, I came across the Surface tablet line. I had considered them in the past, but heard nothing good with regards to the Windows Store app selection, and all the reviews were middling at best. With the newer devices moving to full Windows 10 however, my outlook on these devices shifted.

I started looking at several options (HP x360, Cube i7, Surface line, Lenovo, Dell) and finally decided on the Surface line for a number of factors. Here is what I was looking for in a tablet:
-Price ~$500
-Battery 8-10 hours during periodic use
-Quick
-Easy access to media
-Tablet, low weight
The product that best fit these criteria was the Surface. I considered the Pro series initially, but between the increased price and wanting to keep closer to tablet size, I decided against it. The Surface 3 runs on full Windows 10, comes with a power-sipping Atom processor (fanless), and an option for 128 gb storage with 4 gb RAM.

Amazon had a nice deal on this unit, so I pulled the trigger. My first impression after opening sums up my entire experience so far: impressed. The size, feel, and form of the Surface 3 is stunning. The build quality is great and the kickstand is very robust. I put the unit on charge for a few hours, then booted it up to get started. I went through the Windows 10 setup, linking my MS account and going through initial settings, then I had free reign. I went into the settings and changed a few preferences, then proceeded to the app store. I was pretty disappointed in the selection on the app store, but then remembered that I have a full Win 10 PC that I can install anything on. I grabbed a few apps (Netflix, Hulu, etc) and then went to the web. I set up Chrome with the Chromecast extension to stream to my TV. Next I downloaded Steam, and several 2D action/adventure games to keep me busy. My next big WOW moment came when I realized I can plug my Xbox 360 wired controller into the USB port and use it to game.

Here are some settings I recommend for a good tablet experience:
Tablet Mode > Off
Settings > Personalization > Start > Use Start full screen > On
Settings > System > Display> Change the size of text... > 175%
Settings > Devices > Typing > Show the touch keyboard or handwriting panel when not in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached > On
Brightness > 25%

Don't use the desktop. Pin everything you use to the Start menu; the icons are larger and much more responsive to touch since you don't have to "double-click" them.

Make sure to adjust the screen off and sleep settings to your liking as well.

I don't sync my email or anything to my Surface, so I frequently leave Battery Saver on as I don't require push notifications. I also turned Cortana off, as I can Google search on my own and the battery usage showed she sucked up a decent enough portion. My experience with the battery so far has been good. It can last a day on moderate usage, and will maintain a fair amount of charge while in sleep mode. It does take a few hours to get to full charge though, which is a disappointment coming from my Moto X Pure that can Turbocharge from empty to 80% in ~40 min.

Overall, my new Surface has not disappointed. It's quick, and without noticeable slow down so far. Coming from a slow 2nd Gen iPad, I really like the openness and freedom to do what I want with very little limitation.

***************
Breakdown
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Pros:
-Fast
-Full Windows 10
-Decent battery life
-Form factor/build quality
-Screen is beautiful, good resolution
-Zero noise
-Windows 10 on tablet works well for the most part
-3:2 screen ratio nice for tablet use
-Full USB 3.0 port and micro USB charging
-No bloatware
-OneNote can sync with your Android/iOS/Windows Phone

Cons:
-App store leaves a lot to be desired (offset by having full Windows)
-Scroll bars on Windows 10 can be too small to use well
-Not all programs are optimized to work well with touch
-There is an adjustment period as you learn to use Windows 10 as a tablet

38 people found this helpful

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Josh

I love my tablet.

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

I love my tablet. This is a long one, so sit down.
This is not a gaming computer, though it can play games.
This is not a desktop, though you can dock it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
This is not a laptop, though you can buy a keyboard for it that makes it one.
What this /is/, is the single most beautiful media device I have ever held. (Granted, my bar is fairly low.)
Yes, it's an Atom. But the Z8700 under this machine's hood is probably the most powerful Atom branded processor that will ever exist.
Yes, it's eMMC. But the 128GB of solid state storage in there can still run circles around any budget mechanical hard drive.
The modest 4GB of memory may seem cramped, but for the target use case of this machine, it's more than enough.
Yes, it has cameras. They're more of a footnote. If you have bought a decent smartphone within the past four years, it has cameras better than the Surface 3. Still, they are nice to have for Skype conference calls and catching adorable animal pictures and videos to post direct to YouTube and Imgur....
But the /real/ stars of the Surface 3 show are front and center. Literally.
According to NotebookCheck, this thing's screen can reproduce nearly 99% sRGB colorspace. The dot pitch is insane, and the backlight can range from "Outdoor visible" to "Midnight Web Browsing". The nTrig digitizer system mates well with this awesome IPS LCD to make this a good choice for aspiring digital artists who haven't gotten used to Wacoms yet.
The speakers continue to blow my socks off every time this thing makes sound. "THOSE speakers are in a TABLET?!" I've had laptops and montiors with worse built in. And yes, they are front firing, flanking the screen at the top left and right corners through barely visible slit grilles beside the face glass.
The microUSB charger is a handy thing to have, being able to get a little extra time off of any common USB battery booster and cable. That said, I've had minor charging compatibility problems with "just any" USB cable while it's on. Don't lose the cable that comes with this! But it will happily recharge off of literally anything I've thrown at it when powered off.
Speaking of charging, this tablet has the single widest battery life time span I have EVER seen.
Turning the backlight down and light use can easily net you around the advertised 9 hours of battery.
Pushing it with things like games will send that number crashing down into the 2-3 hour range.
Speaking of pushing it, let's answer some of the questions I had when I was researching, buying, and using the tablet.
Q> Do you need the type cover like everyone says?
A> Nope. I routinely use mine with the touch pen as a mouse, and a common Bluetooth portable keyboard. A Bluetooth or USB mouse works just as well if you don't want to fork out for the pen. In fact, I find wireless keyboard more convenient for desk use, as I can easily lift the tablet off the desk to enjoy a video, then set it back down to resume typing without worrying about the magnetic clasps.
Q> Do you need the writing pen?
A> Not really. But I consider the Surface Stylus the primary selling feature of the Surface computer line, and it is the single main reason I chose it over other 2 in 1 or convertible offerings.
Q> What writing pens will work on this?
A> Any Surface 3 or Surface 4 nTrig style stylus pen will work on this machine. Incidentally, the Surf4 pen actually cost less than the Surf3 pen when I ordered it...
Q> What about that inconveniently placed Start button?
A> As of writing this review, Windows 10's Surface Pen driver allows you the option to shut down all capacitive functions while using it. This serves as a palm and finger rejection, and also disables the Windows button. If that isn't enough, the computer also includes a rudimentary, but functional, palm rejection.
Q> Can it handle a tab explosion?
A> Yes. Firefox, Chrome, or IE/Edge, the processor and RAM are both potent enough to handle nearly any web browsing or office task you could throw at this.
Q> Can it play videos?
A> Both local and streaming video is this computer's undeniable trump card. Binge on, my friend.
Q> Can it game?
A> .... yes and no. You aren't going to be playing Witcher 3 on Ultra on this. You aren't going to be playing Witcher 3 at ALL on this, unless you like seeing Geralt stumble around at 2FPS. That said, this /can/ run older and less intensive games, such as Half Life 2 and era Source games (Portal 1/2, L4D, Garry's Mod), or Bethesda games (Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online) on medium settings and usable, if "cinematic", 20-30FPS. It will also EASILY tame the growing assortment of retro themed indie games out there, so have fun!
Q> Is it light?
A> At just over a pound, I'd put it as light as any 10" class Android or iTablet. Read: You might get arm cramps if you're holding this over your face during a late night Game of Thrones binge on HBO Now.

4 people found this helpful

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tmybrgr

Its decent try one before you jump in. Surprisingly peppy

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

So the Surface 3 is a decent machine. The set-up process is a nightmare. Be forewarned that you MUST not connect your WiFi otherwise it will hang at Wait a Moment forever and it gets hung up. As soon as I turned my WiFi off it started working. Nightmare. But then I started using the device and was surprised by how peppy it was given the chipset and relatively bargain innards. It is not a speed demon but it is definitely competent and fairly speedy for everyday tasks. The screen is relatively sharp particularly in laptop mode where it is not very close to your eyes. IT is bright and the text is fairly sharp. I am coming from Apple retina displays and this holds up fairly well.

After installing all of the updates etc I installed Office which you get a year free so that is a nice touch as well. ITunes and the web work well and the WiFi is decent in terms of speed overall. I have the type cover and it is good. I can see it possibly not holding up over time but for now it works well and there is no real lag when typing on it to the device itself.

The device has 3 angles for viewing and I wish there were more like on the Pro but at least the ones they picked are good overall. I haven't tried as tablet too much yet but it is definitely heavier than iPad Air and that makes a difference if you are holding it in hand for a while. But for occasional use it is fine. I am not sure on the dual use model it is the reason I bought it so I am a bit harsh on the review part of that. Perhaps over time I will become more accustomed to it. Also, Windows apps are non existent for tablets when compared to Android and iTunes. The ones they have for the most part are sad compared to the other platforms. For me one thing this has over the iPad is mouse support. I find that the one key thing missing from the iPad Pro. Full windows is nice but in reality not totally required depending on what you do. And given the state of apps on windows I would argue the other platforms are more useful but the keyboard and mouse support really is a huge difference in laptop mode.

I would recommend that if you are interested in this to check it out at a store first. It is definitely nice. I wouldn't pay more than $450-495 for the Surface 3 because you have to buy the keyboard and that makes it rather pricey as hybrid. It is good but I am torn on whether it is $750 good. OVerall the concept is compelling and perhaps I would have been fully won over if it wasn't for the windows 10 issue at startup it left a very poor taste for me.

3 people found this helpful

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Mary Vargas

A Budged and Portable "Cintiq".

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

I finally was able to buy the Microsoft Surface 3, I wanted the Pro but my budget was really tight. So, I thought that the Surface 3 was also a very good option.

PROS: -Windows 10.
-USB.
-Headphones Jack.
-Micro Sd Card reader.
-Surface Pen is really accurate for Drawing/Painting.
-Has its own stand.

CONS: -I got no AC Power Supply. (Seller gave me a credit to get a new Power Supply)
-You have to buy the Surface Pen for separately.

I bought a Brand New Surface 3 from an Amazon Seller. I got it a few days later.

When I opened the box, for my surprise it was only the Tablet inside, I got No AC Power Supply, even though I bought a brand new, and Not Refurbished; Surface 3. I found in my things, a micro usb cable so I started to charge the tablet because it came without charge. What a surprise!! Without AC Power Supply and without charge!

The tablet itself was in fact Brand New, it was sealed, and in perfect condition. (That made me think that maybe the seller sent me a Refurbished one instead of a Brand New One) I also bought the Surface 3 Pen.

I downloaded Sketchbook Pro, the Desktop version, I don’t like the Tablet app. I only use the Surface in Desktop mode, so I downloaded Sketchbook Pro from Autodesk website. I also downloaded ArtRage Lite, also for Desktop.

It’s been really amazing so far! The Sketchbook Pro works like a charm. It’s everything I hoped for.

I wanted a tablet with Windows and with Drawing capabilities. I’m always drawing, on my desk, on my bed, at the tv room, etc. And I wanted a Portable “Cintiq”, something that I can take with me everywhere without taking my Laptop and my drawing monitors or graphics tablets. Like the “Cintiq Companion” or the new “Wacom Mobile Studio”.

I also have an iPad 3, the Sketchbook Pro App, and three pencils (Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus 2, the Pencil by 53, and the Pogo Connect), but it’s not the same drawing with the Sketchbook app, than drawing with the Desktop version. Also it’s not the same watching where you’re drawing, than just try to guess, like it happens with the iPad. But don’t get me wrong, I still use my iPad for drawing sometimes, but not for professional use.

So far, I use my Surface for drawing with Sketchbook Pro while I’m also using the iTunes for listening to my music, and sometimes for surfing the net. It says that I get 5 hours of battery fully charged, I always turn it on in the morning and I turn it off by night. And I still use it the next day without charging it. I think it’s pretty good.

I have a fouling glove that I use with my iPad for “Palm Rejection”, for using the palm gestures. What I love about the Surface, is that you will see the mouse dot from about 2” from the screen. So, since the moment I see it in the screen, I rest my palm on the screen and start drawing. Simple like that! The palm rejection works really well!! My only gripe is with the Zoom/Rotate as palm gesture, you have to be careful with this, otherwise you will get some unwanted lines. But if you’re using Sketchbook Pro, you can use the Zoom/Rotate Tool using the Right click of the Pen, or if you’re using the Keyboard, with the Space key. But, the unwanted lines with the Zoom/Rotate Palm Gestures it’s not always, is only that you have to make sure that you’re zooming or rotating, instead of making lines with your fingers.

The pressure sensitivity feels good although only recognizes 256 of levels, so, it’s not like the Wacom technology, but still I think it makes its job.

Overall:
I bought the Asus Vivo Tab Note 8 with Wacom digitizer, but something happened with the seller that cancelled my order, after my full refund.
I took it as a sign!!

So, I bought the Surface 3, and so far, I’m very glad I did! I sold my guitar to buy this tablet, but so far, I have No Regrets!

I just kinda wished that instead of the 10.8”, it would had been so much better, a 12” screen, but as this Surface is their “Budget Friendly Tablet”, it makes it OK. I still think this Surface has a pretty good screen size. The Surface it’s not heavy, and has its own kickstand.
I definitely recommend this Surface 3 to any artist/illustrator, graphic designer, etc, who’s looking for a portable Drawing Monitor “Cintiq” with Windows for Hobby and Professional use.

14 people found this helpful

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Jason A

Good, but flawed. Maybe next time.

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2016

Verified Purchase

I used this device for about 6 months. I was very, very eager to love it, but ultimately ended up parting with it.

Since the boom of tablet technology in the last few years, I had been waiting for the device that offered a fully functional Windows laptop experience when I want it, but in the convenience of the tablet form factor. I feel the Surface 3 was the first device to really do this without compromise, and at a price that seemed to make sense.

As far as performance, this thing is fantastic for what it is. The Atom x7 processor it has is completely sufficient for performing general work tasks, along with the 4 GB of RAM. I was even able to play Skyrim on it at low graphics settings with a playable frame rate, which I was impressed by.

One thing it offers that no other tablets have been is a dedicated USB port apart from the micro USB charger. It's nice to be able to use USB peripherals without having to use an awkward OTG set up where you can't be charging the tablet at the same time as using a USB drive, for example. If there were Android tablets out there that had this feature, I honestly might have been content with them instead.

The display is fantastic. Great resolution, great brightness. The speakers are formidable for such a small device.

The BIGGEST PROBLEM BY FAR is the charging issue that Microsoft seems to be refusing to address. When you plug in the charger, the tablet will often report "Plugged in, not charging." You have to unplug the charger and replug it in several times before it decides to charge. This is a well-documented problem on the Microsoft forums, but they are doing little to comment on it. Many people have experimented with different chargers with limited success, but it seems to be a hardware problem. Don't get me wrong, the thing WILL charge, you just have to always double check and make sure it's charging before you walk away from it at night.

Aside from that problem, the reason I ultimately got rid of this was because I found the whole kickstand form factor to be a nuisance. I used this thing as a laptop probably 85% of the time, and found that the kickstand concept is simply inferior compared to a standard clam shell laptop design. One major reason is the viewing angles. There is no way to stand this thing upright if you want to, for example, sit it on a piece of furniture next to your bed at eye level. It will always have to be leaning back. Also, while the Microsoft type cover for this is overall an EXCELLENT keyboard, it was becoming clear to me that the external fabric material on the outside of the keyboard was going to wear out overtime at that point where the tablet connects to the keyboard (i.e. where it "rubs" against the table).

My DREAM device, at this point, would be for the Surface 3 to be re-done into a form factor like the Asus Chromebook Flip -- maintaining the ultra-portable, passively cooled, full-featured Windows experience and performance of the Surface 3, but in a convertible clamshell form factor. I am disappointed that Microsoft and the other manufacturers keep pushing the 2-in-1 "detachable" models as the flagships (i.e. Surface Book, etc). I wish someone would make a good, solid performing, thin, light, 10 inch clamshell.

6 people found this helpful

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sam

Great computer- just understand what you are getting

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

I've always been intrigued by the surface pro line. I'm a long time Mac user (my 2001 iMac is still going strong and makes a great media server!) and I've long despised Microsoft, but something about the Surface Pro line always interested me. The non pro, Windows RT versions? Not so much. Garbage.

My 6 year old (I think) MacBook Pro is on the way out. On its third battery. New hard drive. I don't feel like spending the money on a new MacBook Air. And it still works fine- I just don't expect it to last a few more years and the battery life is questionable.

I have a Windows desktop in my home office that has all the power I need (I don't need much). My very old iMac is a media server streaming video to the tvs in the house.

I recently had a baby. My iPad Air 2 is now in her room at all times to play music. I prepared myself and accepted that I'm not going into my home office in the basement for extended periods of time anytime soon, same goes for the tv room with the ps4. So I thought about getting a surface pro. Maybe a 3 or a 2 on the cheap. Then I could stream everything I need to it.

I didn't realize the Surface 3 (non pro) had full Windows 10 now and not that Windows RT garbage. The $499. 2 gb ram version is pure crap in my opinion, but the $599 4 gb ram version intrigued me- especially on sale for $450. I did my research on what this thing could and could not do. Long-ish story short and I turned about $375 in various store credit into Amazon credit and got this thing for roughly $75 of my own money. I bought a surface pen (the newest one) and I'll get a type keyboard when I find one at a reasonable price. My thoughts on this thing after about a month? I love it.

I generally despise Windows. Laughable that the day I bought it I spent literally a full work day letting it update everything. Whatever- it was fully set up when I got home from work. Windows 10? I really don't mind it! Tablet mode vs desktop mode for the most part works great. I've had a couple Windows silly issues now and again (sound turning off, program crashes, etc) but nothing major and nothing I couldn't immediately fix.

I have this thing set up upstairs so I can be near the baby at all times. I have it setup with Steam so I can Steam Stream any graphically demanding game from my desktop downstairs to this wirelessly upstairs. Works great. I setup PS4 remote play so I can do the same thing with my ps4- also works great. I even tried installing some games locally on the machine to see how the Atom handles things - nothing that requires a lot of power, obviously. Civilization 4 ( my all time favorite) runs great on this. Minecraft Windows 10 version runs great. Minecraft (what I like to call full PC version) Java actually runs quite well- I have a version 1.8 world the runs very well. Very playable! For some reason my version 1.9 version refuses to open but I figure that will sort itself out. Until then I just stream through Steam and that has been working great so far.

I'm loving the surface pen- one of the main reasons I got this. I quite like the Fresh Paint app and, to me at least, drawing on this works very well. Great for the little doodles I like to make. Note taking also works quite well.

This thing does everything I could have wanted. Sure I'd love to run autocad and sketchup on this. I will try and see how and if they run but I have zero expectations. If I really wanted to run either of those on a tablet a lot I would have gone with a Pro 4. For everything else I use this for - streaming, light gaming, notes, painting and doodling- this has been more than capable and has exceeded my expectations.

My recommendations? Don't get the cheap 2gb version. Get this. Not at 599. 400-500 I think is a great price.

2 people found this helpful

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Cesar Gonzalez

Terrible "luck" with this purchase

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

I've been buying from Amazon for almost 2 years and have always received high quality products in time without problem. Unfortunately this time, this product was the exception. Now, I do not know if it is the seller's fault or Microsoft's, but this is exactly how this product arrived to me. I have no intentions on making this stuff up. I am not trying to dis any of the above mentioned companies.

The product arrived almost at the beginning of March (along with the MS cover/keyboard and the MS pen). I opened the box just to make sure that the items were inside, and everything looked perfect and brand new. I did not take them out of their plastic wraps as they were going to be gifts for my fiance. It was almost a week and a half later that I gave the gift, and to our surprise, the tablet looked almost used. There were tiny and superficial scratches on the back (which at the moment we thought could just be secondary to the shipment, although it made almost no sense), but the worst part was the headphone jack. Now it looked "funny" but we had no idea it was broken. Instead of being a flat surface, there was some sort of indentation, which we though was part of the tablet's design. We tried multiple times to use it but it did not work. We searched on google for some answers, then we placed a call to Microsoft as we thought it was a problem with the software, however after multiple attempts we then realized that the problem was that it's broken.

The battery was then another issue. She would charge it to full, however she noticed that without using it for a day, the battery would go as low as 20% (on a good day) or fully uncharged if more than 48 hrs went by without using it. We thought this was because of the settings being used with the computer (screen light, sleep mode vs. shut off). However, the result was always the same. Even with battery saver mode, dim light and turning it off after very use, the battery life is extremely poor.

That being said, the tablet does a wonderful job (if we're not trying to use the headphones, or if it is plugged in). The pen and the keyboard are pretty much perfect (except the battery that came in with the pen was completely useless and we had to buy some new ones, but no biggie there). We own two ipads and it is by far much more useful than those. It is very very unfortunate that we had the above mentioned issues.

I left some feedback to the seller almost a week ago, however they never got back. Unfortunately because of our jobs (physicians) we have not had the opportunity to call them. I fell we're stuck with this specific tablet and we're terribly sorry to have purchased it from here. I wish I had bought it somewhere where it would be easier to return it and get a new one.

In a nutshell, do the following, especially for those of you who have bought this and especially for those of you who bought it as a gift:
1) Use the tablet IMMEDIATELY after it has arrived. Do NOT wait. Use it for a week and test the battery at least twice. Test everything: Memory slot, headphone jack, USB ports, everything!
2) If there is something wrong, contact the supplier immediately.
3) If you have no idea if you should buy from here vs. Best Buy (or other physical store near you) I'd suggest you go to your local store. Why? Simply because returning the item is much easier this way. It may cost 100 dollars more, but trust me, it's worth it.

Cesar

7 people found this helpful

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Rob Cotrone (WeeboTech)

Absolutely love this as a windows tablet and for the ubiquitous micro usb charging ability.

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

EDITS
2016-05-28 Still going well. Use it daily. Mostly for brief browsing sessions, Organizing music, Playing with virtual DJ over bluetooth and via USB sound card. Used it with the ART USB Mix to a set of Behringer MPA40BT-PRO. The mixer uses a very low amount of power. I was able to get 6 hours of spinning tunes on battery alone. FWIW, I've tried a few of the 'higher quality' micro usb cables for charging the surface 3 via the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Premium Portable Charger High Capacity External Battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and PowerPort+ 1 with Quick Charge 3.0 Wall Charger. Using a DROK usb power meter I've found only the included microsoft cable and the Anker Powerline cables (or the included Anker cable in the premium packge) would supply a high enough current to the Surface 3. Many other cables included the porta pow and other Anker cables would only supply 1.66 or 1.7 A. The Microsoft or Anker Powerline+ cables provided from 2.0 to 2.5A even with the Anker battery.

I've also tested the Bidul - S-USBDisc 256GB External USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive and the 256GB (240GB available) SSD gets up to 180MB/s on reads via USB 3.0. I have not tested the writes.

The Bidul USB Hub 3.0 and Card Reader for Microsoft Surface 2 and Pro 2 (S-USBHub4in1-3.0) also fits nicely. There's a slight wiggle, but it fits and works.

The Bidul SurfaceSound Compact Bluetooth Speaker for Surface Tablet fits within the kickstand nicely with no protrusions. The sound is not that great. Your buying this for form factor. I have a review on that product itself.

The Bidul USB Hub 3.0 with Ethernet Adapter & Display Port for Surface Pro 4 (S-USBHub_3_0_RJ45_SP4) currently advertised on Amazon ended up being for the Surface Pro 3. It did not fit the Surface 3 nor the Surface pro 4. Until they resolve the issue of stock, you may want to wait or use something else.

My goal of a windows 10 highly portable light tablet for browsing, reading, terminal emulation and music has been satisfied with great success.

ORIGINAL REVIEW.
Absolutely love this as a windows tablet. Look for a sale around holidays.
Not as fast as other surface models, but charges by micro USB (depending on your charger).
Very light and handy. I find myself using this more then my Dell Venue Pro 11.
My only beef is the 128GB of disk space. So I use a 200GB Sandisk SDXC.
Even runs Virtual DJ comfortably.
I charge using the Anker Quick Charge 3.0, Anker 31.5W Dual USB Wall Charger PowerPort 2 instead of the Microsoft one.
Mostly so I have an extra USB port to use with a 6ft cable for powering an external USB hub. Otherwise works great.
In my case, I purchased this one due to the ubiquitous micro usb charging ability.
Using the J5create - USB 3.0 Wormhole Switch Cable DDS JUC700 allows me to also use this as a quick secondary extended or dual monitor in a pinch. Plug one USB port into the wormhole switch and the work laptop, plug a StarTech.com USB2HAUBY6 6 Feet USB Y Dual USB A to Micro B cable into the USB ports to keep it charged. (or use the Anker) I mean c'mon who doesn't have a Micro usb charger somewhere?
Other products I use with it

StarTech.com 3 Port Portable USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter NIC (ST3300GU3B)
UNITEK Multi-in-1 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool-free External Hard Drive Disk Enclosure Case, with BC 1.2 Charging Hub 5V2A Power Adapter, Optimized for 9.5mm 7mm 2.5'' SATA III HDD SSD
Startech USB2TYPEM2M 6ft cable for powering barrel powered USB hubs.

One person found this helpful

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B. Augustine

Bring a pillow if you have to deal with Microsoft.

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

I like the product very well it is fast, very responsive, easy to set up, (actually windows 10 did it all) and quite easy to use. I had it all set up in about an hour. I had the unit for almost a week and decided to try the cam but i found it did not work, so i contacted Microsoft on my day off and ended up spending 9.5 hours on the phone with 3 different repair techs. Each 1 doing different things and none of them worked. the first 1 did an update on it but it took to long for him to stay on the phone, he had remote access and said he would return when the update was done. I typed in the window it finished and 2 minutes later the window closed and he was gone, i called back and got a second tech who tried to have me do many things on my computed and the last was to restart to factory settings another 2 hour journey and the tech said she would call back in 2 hours, i said so it is 1:20 now so you will call back at 3:20? She said Yes. It was done removing everything at 1:15 and i thought wow this girl knows her stuff. The computer was giving a choice on 2 types of install and i did not know what choice was correct, so i thought no big deal my phone will ring any minute. Well at 4 pm i called back again and got tech 3 after explaining what had been done so far he wanted to do the remote thing again so he could look around for himself, so no problem there.Then my phone rings while i was talking to him and shortly after i got a e-mail from tech 2 saying , i tried to call like i promised but i got your voice mail, that was at 4:15 so not quite as promised. He tried uninstalling and reinstalling the cam, downloading 2 other cams and nothing worked, he tried firmware reinstalls and anything else he could thing of and all for not. he said ok we will have to send you a new one and i said well this 1 had a $17.00 screen protector on it and i want it replaced because if i try to take it off it will likely crack, he said well hold on i will check. 2 minutes later i heard click and he was gone. Now each of the 3 asked me for my phone number, 1 called back an hour late, but better than the other 2 that didn't call at all, it was now 8:55 pm and i had enough for 1 day, but did not get an answer or know if they were sending out the new 1. so the next day i called while on my lunch break and got a 4th person who informed me that they would be replacing my Surface 3 but not the screen protector because it was a 3rd party item and was told i should contact that vendor for a free replacement, i said there is nothing wrong with the 1 on the surface so it is not their problem, He said try them first then if they say no i will see what we can do. i explained my plight to the vendor via e-mail and they agreed it was not their issue but sent a code anyway for 30% off if i had to repurchased it. (That is customer service and i thank them for it) and after 1 more call to Microsoft i ended up ordering from my awesome customer serviced company through Amazon.

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Cindy

LOVE IT !!!

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2015

Verified Purchase

LOVE IT !!! I've not had it very long, a little over a week now and I am really liking it, with a couple exceptions but I have found a work around. I have discovered the WiFi that comes with my internet/cable TV package is not fast enough to keep up with the Surface 3, however the mobile hot spot on my Galaxy S5 does seamlessly!!! There are some games that are available on google play that are not available in the Microsoft play store, hopefully more will be added. I have found that going through facebook on the internet verses the app, the games I'm looking for work great! Someone asked me about my new tablet and how it compared to my old one, I told them it's like the Samsung 10.1 on steroids!! I love the keyboard on the Surface, makes working in Word and Excel a lot easier. Also the palm block is great when you are using the pen.
After a experience with my cell phone which has a tempered glass screen protector I HIGHLY recommend one for your Surface purchase. As for a case, so far I like the folio style the best, the Fintie Microsoft Surface 3 Case - Premium PU Leather Folio Cover with Cards Slots and Stylus Holder for Microsoft Surface 3 is the one. I have the blue/white one, it looks professional and clean. It offers several kickstand like positions. I ordered the Mosaic one by the same company and that one got returned.
I'll update again after I've used it more.
8/24 - The Wifi issue seems to have been fixed, I turned off the power to the modem/router and restarted it and boom, no more issues so far. Like with anything new, the more you play the more you figure out, just wish I could remember how I got to some things but a little easier. I am still loving it. Being a 'window's' format, and being able to use split screen and open multiple windows and find them quickly in the bar at the bottom is wonderful. I love the folio cover and am getting more used to the corners, and using the Surface pen instead. Added bonus this pen also works for my Samsung Galaxy 5 This cover offers so many positions for the kick stand compared to several others I have tried. I am SO happy I bit the bullet and got a Surface, I was on the fence for a while. I went to a local Best Buy and was able to "play" with it and a Samsung note 10.1 (that I already have) and that kinda cinched the deal for me. The clarity of the screen is awesome, vivid colors!
9/18 Update, My only issue I am having at time is staying connected to the internet on my Wifi at home. But if I use the hotspot on my cell phone or my jetpack I have absolutely no problem staying connected. My cable company blames Microsoft and they blame the cable company. Most of the time this is not a big deal, if I am working on something I don't want connection issues I use my cell phone hot spot.

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