Is Microsoft's Cheap Computer from 2015 Still Usable Today?

It was meant as a less-expensive option in Microsoft's fledgling hardware lineup from 2015, but the Surface 3 wasn't exactly cheap. But years later, has this 2-in-1 turned into a surprising bargain?
Sources:
Surface power cable image: www.flickr.com/photos/7957850...
Surface 3 internal components image: www.ifixit.com/Guide/Microsof...
Surface Pro 3 cracked screen image: www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Micro...
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Music: "Essence", "Lampin'", "FBS" and "Keep It" by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com).
Intro music by BoxCat Games (www.box-cat.com).

[@jonathanknight1491]

I just bought a surface 3, and I went to go look up videos wondering about the quality and how it'll hold up for me. Your video answered questions I didn't even know I had, and you did a wonderful job at explaining everything. Thank you!

[@Tom2404]

I think this is still better than any other tablet with Android or iOS. I mean this thing can replace a laptop for most people who own a real PC, a normal tablet doesn't.

[@lehoang15tuoi]

I get it, you’re a real PC user whatever but a Windows device with 2gb RAM is not usable at all… Not in 2015 and not ever since. I’d take the cheap Amazon HD10 or any iPad over this antique PoS

[@REXae86]

@@lehoang15tuoi factual statement. A 2gb windows device is actual trash, better off buying a iPad with a keyboard case.

[@polluxtroy2010]

Thank you so much for this very objective video, much of the tech journalists out they are naturally focused on what’s new but forget about the relevancy of some “old” devices and the real use cases, so I agree with you and support the message you’re conveying, which is responsible ownership and reusability of a device when possible, keep up your great work !

[@ching-chenhuang8119]

Hey, I'm still using Surface 3 now! I bought it back in 2015, to replace Surface RT, though a year later I accidentally broke the screen glass, had to spend some more money to get a refurbished one. Other than that I get more care, so it is still working fine now. I mostly use for watching TV series offline, or using some apps, I played some games in the beginning, but now I rarely play games.

[@VV-wl8gb]

I am a Linux Thinkpad user and this Surface 3 was one of my best purchases! Highest spec (4gb, 128gb, 4g), pen, keyboard and dock for 170 GBP! That was a steal. It has been a boon for my University tutoring where I can use it at the board or draw on it when explaining solutions to the students. As you said, it is a wonderful travel companion and the only Windows 10 device I truly enjoy using :)

[@zilog1]

My surface pro actually runs linux pretty well too tbh. im quite surprised.

[@camjkerman]

My mum's Surface 3 is still going strong. She brings it to meetings/professional stuff as it's lighter and more "pro" looking than the 15" HP Pavilion she dailys. I've got a Surface Pro 6, which aside from a major structural failure in the kickstand that neccesetated me getting it replaced, I love it.

[@isthisnametaken978]

*Is Surface 3 from 2015 still usable in 2020?* Me: _Still uses Surface Pro 1 from 2012_

[@Bro-cx2jc]

Me: *Still has a tower PC with a CRT monitor and USB speakers running Windows 2000*

[@artofwar420]

Bro that just sounds vintage and awesome 😎

[@Bro-cx2jc]

@@artofwar420 Lol thanks, I tried Undertale on it but no go XD

[@Bro-cx2jc]

@@artofwar420 Good for videos though, it even handles 480p decently enough

[@j2simpso]

I suppose you could say he was barely just scratching the Surface on this one! 🤣

[@iamlightfoot]

Thanks for the Share! It was both Helpful and Informative! ✌

[@branpurn]

I just passed our Surface 3 onto the in-laws since they're stuck with us, they've really enjoyed it.

[@branpurn]

Tablet rear-facing cameras I find are best for taking photos of whiteboards or papers. Office Lens (also built into OneNote) is good for quick scans to markup some dinosaur/paper document.

[@branpurn]

I also find people really discount the availability and greatness of indie games that run great on low end PC hardware! "Gaming" doesn't have to mean running Half Life: Alyx in VR, max spec!

[@MafiastuntersHQ]

Yeah bro everyone is focused on “running halo at 120 FPS 15 gb ram”

[@Marquettes2010]

I still have a Surface 3 that I used up until about 6 months ago when I upgraded to a Surface Pro 7. It was a great note taker, web browser, emailer! Still is. I even did some light video editing with an old version of Adobe Premiere and multi-track audio recording and mixing with Reaper on the Surface 3

[@ahhhhitsjon]

I had the Surface 3 for a long time. I sold it 2 years ago, but I did love the device. It's still in use today by a friend and they absolutely love it. It does what they need really well.

[@STGN01]

The Surface 3 is my favorite for just using around the house, taking notes and when I am evaluating stuff.

[@matthewdechabert7341]

Great video, i just picked my surface 3 with keyboard 4gb 128gb on ebay for 129.99 and a 1 year warranty for 14.99, its still a really good tablet to draw on as well.

[@Professor_Silva]

I still have my Surface 3. I had a relationship of love and hate with it (but mostly love). I used it for a few years as my main and only computer working as a translator, the typing experience is not bad. But I've had some annoying issues: - The type cover sometimes stops working... have to disconnect, clean, restart... - It suddenly shuts down if I try to transfer files with an external hard drive. Connecting the power cable prevents that. - It doesn't always recognize the pen properly (it sometimes writes when the pen is just hovering on the screen). Restarting solves that. - I used to prepare Power Point presentations with short video clips... it was painful to edit that... it gagged a lot (even if it's the 4GB version) - It was not always reliable for my work... in the middle of a presentation connected to a projector, sometimes it would simply shut down. My students made fun and told me to buy a Macbook (which I did later!). Yes, you can still use the Surface 3 for simple things. I was planning to sell it, but I'm glad I didn't. I mostly use it when I'm away from home, fits my bag. And its note taking is not a bad experience.

[@Mikado463]

The Surface 3 I have is one my company provided for us. When they finally moved to the iPad, we were offered a purchase option: $75 and it was yours through a simple payroll deduction. And this was in 2018 ...maybe 2017. And it's the "high" end option (128GB SSD/4GB RAM) plus the keyboard. I use it primarily for traveling and it continues to serve me well. I'm not a gamer and I'm obviously not doing high intensity spread sheet or graphics work with it. I tend to use it with my photography as a "viewer" and storage device; the micro SD card makes saving large photo files convenient and portable. Any photo editing is strictly simple, such as cropping. I still find the speed and processing capabilities more than sufficient here in 2023 and a well-equipped USB hub easily makes up for the single USB port. Realize the Surface was an alternative to the iPad, offering that lone USB port, the ability to connect to a full-size monitor and an optional, integrable keyboard cover. The iPad offered no external connection capabilities (save for a headphone jack) and if you wanted a keyboard, IIRC, it had to be a separate Bluetooth device ..usually integrated with a cover. While not upgradeable in the purist sense, the Surface did offer an expandable storage capability (the micro SD card) for things like music, photos and other large files; the better not to fill your limited hard drive space with. Apple offered no such option.

[@GiuseppeGaetanoSabatelli]

This Tablet, in Certified Refurbished was the Woot Deal of the Day. Grabbed the base model for $199, which came with a new keyboard, new Surface pen, kit of Surface pen tips, and new bumper case. Pretty dang good deal. I'm excited to try it out. Thanks Colin for the video!

[@Olivia-W]

I wonder how they refurb it. The must have a good source of cheaper and decent screens... or just don't really refurbish, just test. Because refurbing these is just not economically viable. It's a glued together monstrosity. Terrible for repairs.

[@timfountain98]

June 2022 Update - I've been using a Surface 3 that I was given for free for the last few months, and, well, it's ok. Since my company Dell is locked down, the S3 is my media, web surfer and all around throw it in the bag and use it everywhere machine. The screen is superb, the keyboard is usable and the WIFI solid. I have the 4GB 128GB model and have all my basic apps on the eMMC, which I just wish Microsoft had used a proper nVME SSD. I added a 1TB Micro SD (bitlocked) with videos, music and docs and that really made the difference. And whilst it is slow, it is still usable and it's starting to grow on me. For the low price of free, I can't complain. Another outstanding feature is the total lack of any fan noise as it's silent! I'm running W11 Pro on it and everything works just great! I was travelling with the work Dell latitude 7410 and an XPS 13, and moving to the S3 made my bag much lighter! I also love the fact that I can charge it from pretty much anything! I have a USB-C to Micro USB cable that works with all my USB-C power adapters. Another neat thing that helps keep the S3 relevant is the USB 3 to USB C adapter. It only sticks out 1/4" and allows me to use all my USB C devices.

[@chriszubeldia9040]

Thank you very much for this video and the up-to-date review of the Surface 3. After initially only wanting to use it as a tablet, it's now my mobile all-in-one device with a really great keyboard. The only weaknesses: 1. It sometimes crashes or loses contact with the keyboard when it has less than 20% battery and then runs videos or other applications with a high load. The power management seems to be a weak point in this otherwice great device (format&weight are best) 2. When you connect the power supply, it occasionally loses contact with the keyboard or mouse pad -> briefly unclipping and clipping on the keyboard helps 3. A little bit less memory -> Changing the memory setting (under Win 10) from automatic to min 4Gig/max 16Gig makes everything much smoother. 4. I still don't know what to do if the battery (currently still 75% remaining capacity) is at 50% or less.

[@ZiegWarheit]

Even without watching the video - the answer is still YES. Used a higher-end Surface 3 as a developer's machine. Worked like a charm!

[@ThierryTiramisu]

3:40 not only are the keys backlit, but the backlighting is FULLY ADJUSTABLE! Some modern-day laptops don't even have that option! :)

[@tramainewhite3276]

I took a new job and needed a new laptop. Found my old Surface 3 in the closet a few days ago and ordered a keyboard yesterday. I don't need a laptop now. This thing was and still is all I need

[@jakesnake8372]

Telecommuting for a chat based position - This will hold me down till I can get a better one! I brought it for 100 bucks used 😂

[@andrewb220]

Fun fact they actually made a secret - 4GB Ram, 64GB storage - version that was only available to companies. I worked for a company 5 years ago and they had me buy everyone in the company (including myself) one as a gift. It was something like $75 cheaper than the normal model but we bought...like 175? So it ads up. Still have it and I totally agree with your video.

[@vw1610]

i think I just bought one just now. lol

[@Wol333]

In college, that back camera was awesome

[@malcolmar]

It is 2021 and I am just now upgrading from a Surface RT to this Surface 3 so no issues for me. I will use it primary as a second screen to my main computer. The RT for as limited it was with its software has incredible build quality and the battery still works perfectly 7 years later so I am actually really looking forward to the Surface 3 and the fact it actually runs on a real version of Windows 10.

[@brandonrichmond415]

Using my surface 3 as my main machine since my dell XPS 9360 died on me, it's been great considering its age. I've got the 4gb model thankfully and though the battery life is not amazing lasting about 4-6 hours on a charge I just attach it to a portable charger whenever it's in my bag. The typecover is definitely showing its age and fraying badly it still feels nice to use and through extensive testing running on windows 10 with a bit of debloating it has reasonably respectable performance as long as you're a bit patient. I use it with an external monitor at home and it can handle 1080p KZbin plus some chrome tabs and an excel document with pretty low stutter. Would definitely recommend if you need a backup/secondary device for everyday use or to throw in a backpack as a media/streaming device

[@f_papp]

Bought one used for 200 bucks, 4GB RAM model + LTE and keyboard, battery is still awesome. I really love this thing, still very much usable as a secondary PC or for note-taking with the pen. Super portable

[@idrisomarmorris]

Hi there. How does it perform for zoom or ms teams?

[@circuitsandcigars1278]

2015: Surface 3 has a 3.2 megapixel user facing webcam 2020: MacBook Pro has a 1.2 megapixel user facing camera .... Sigh

[@branpurn]

Between Microsoft Teams and that other one.. oh yeah, Skype-- suppose Microsoft wants to encourage us to video conference.

[@seshpenguin]

Yea, I have an HP laptop from 2020 that was quite pricey, and this surface still has a better webcam.

[@briangoldberg4439]

@@branpurn most of us don't have a choice anymore. :/

[@RandomGuy-om1vy]

''iSight''

[@EmmanuelGPaz]

Loves it

[@morphshag]

I have an Acer tablet hybrid with the same configuration, its "fine" but sometimes it just bogs down. I found running a lighter web browser helped a lot. I mostly use it as a media playback device for my home HIFI as its powerful enough for music and has a small footpring.

[@WillyToons]

Bought this computer for college, gonna graduate this summer and I am still using it. It's in its last legs but its gonna make it!

[@outrun4047]

been looking for relacements for the tips of my pen, its the twin button oe that came with these, does anyone know where i can find any?

[@joshpahl7610]

I’m a student looking for a budget laptop for online schooling. This was very helpful. Much appreciated

[@JonnyInfinite]

Why is the Mac webcam so godawful if a relatively low end device like this made 5 years ago can give a decent picture? 😏

[@EHphonehome]

The Mac’s screen lid is too thin for any higher end cameras. Anything nicer would either need a thicker lid, or a camera bump.

[@JonnyInfinite]

@@EHphonehome bullshizzle! Apple are just being cheap. Thinner laptops than the air have better cameras

[@maryamnaveed994]

@@EHphonehome laptops aren't supposed to have professional cameras. The pro is a tablet and laptop, the okay camera is there because its a tablet.

[@MaseraSteve2]

@@EHphonehome heh that's not true bro.. you didn't see the thinnest oppo phone from 2017 then it have literally o camera bump

[@garethfairclough8715]

OOoh. I think this thing would be fantastic for my mother as a portable & lightweight "emails & light duty typing" machine. Thanks for the heads up!

[@Mikenopolis]

2021 now and I’m still using mine. Can’t believe the battery hasn’t swelled yet which is when I plan to retire it. This is basically my just in case and travel computer.

[@Thekeepsheep]

Hello I have a question my surface 3 Micro usb port broken is it possible to charge it without the dock

[@ThierryTiramisu]

4:20 so cool to see the inside of the Surface 3! :)

[@ebodaman]

I wrote countless construction contracts and procurements on that little keyboard.

[@Jordan-ql8pv]

This is great advice. Lucky for me in 2019 I was able to snag an Acer Switch 12 (very similar to Surface Pro) with a quad core i5 6200U, 8GB RAM,256GB SSD (I added a 128GB MicroSD card), 2K screen, and included magnetic keyboard for around $370USD. Like new, was just an open box. Very happy with it overall for the money. A comparable Surface would have been well over twice the price.

[@timfountain98]

Only problem is the Acer Switch 12 is ugly AF. Build quality is shite and only it's mother could love it!

[@Jordan-ql8pv]

@@timfountain98 Build quality isn't that bad. It got dropped in a bag on its corner. Crushed the corner plastic a tad bit; the screen was fine. That said, my screen has begun lifting a bit so I've had to epoxy it back down. The looks I don't mind at all. It looks like a surface for the most part.... To this day I still believe for the money it was the best full windows tablet one could buy at the time, and perhaps even still today.

[@djtechs345]

2021 here, this surface 3 is a champ, only thing I’d fix/need to fix is the battery, issue is the process to access the battery can potentially break the digitizer so I’m on the fence to do the repair but I have a wireless 1tb HDD, surface dock, wireless display adapter & wired display to hdmi and an ext 10Kmah battery....this thing can get stuff done. Looking to get an newer surface for the right price.

[@NickDClements]

I use my Surface Pro 3 every day, and my wife still uses her Surface 3 from time to time, still works great for video chats.

[@breakerprg]

Do you know how to disable the Surface button?

[@ethancollings]

Hey Colin, any plans on bringing back This Does Not Commute Podcast?

[@0py6f]

Also wanting to know this!

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

I’ll have an announcement about it eventually, but until then, go check out my Patreon page 😉

[@MsHackthat]

Damn, that video camera is great!

[@BryantMitchell]

As long as you can keep up with software updates and depending on your needs, I say use whatever hardware you can for as long as possible

[@Edmundostudios]

Yeah I don’t really get the idea of upgrading just because something is maybe a couple years old but still does it’s job well.

[@Moskito844]

If Windows becomes too bloated, you can always install linux too

[@elfedorausado]

Emphasis on "depending on your needs" The travel restrictions caught me at my sister's house (I live in South America), and I'm chugging along with a loaner HP laptop from 6 years back. I installed an ssd and it made (some) difference, but can't afford to keep doing upgrades to a machine I'm not going to keep. I'm seriously considering getting something affordable but modern to be able to work from "home". Too bad, since I own a more than decent laptop gathering dust at home (8th Gen Core-i5, 24gb of ram, 2gb vram gpu, m.2 ssd,)

[@memovilmx6239]

I use my Revo 3600 in 2020 as a media center and plays 1080p h264 flawlessly .OTOH H265 sucks but what can I ask for a 10+ yo second hand computer running LibreElec from a USB drive? If ain't broken, don't fix it. And the good things are made for last

[@Sithedd]

Thank you for making good content.

[@bobbyhinner3225]

I might pick one up just to have a more modern machine that isn’t my school laptop. For basic file browsing and downloading and streaming this seems perfect for what I need. I was going to go with a cheap windows laptop from Walmart, but this might win me over

[@MsHackthat]

i bought one after watching this video! still works fine for intended purpose (writting over documents and pdf for online school). the only issue that i encounter is that the micro usb charging port. not a biggie, i just buy a new normal charging cable. it charges slower than the original cable but the battery life is great despite the age. better than buying android tablets taht costs even twice the rpice.

[@jaggyleigh9672]

Mines is still like new and runs great. One of the best purchases I ever made

[@linewizard]

A video on older ThinkPads would be interesting, too. I'm still using an x250 from 2012.

[@RC-go2kl]

I just needed a small form factor tablet that has a windows OS installed and this is perfect for the web browsing and watching videos on the go. Best of all it fits in my small shoulder sling bag (that portability is sick!).

[@EDGARiGNE]

My Surface 3 has accompanied me throughout my college career. And I think it will for much much longer...

[@hhujan69]

great video...am in the market for a used unit for my kids, was sceptical at first...but after watching this, SNAP 1 unit up for the kids. :) Thanks mate

[@g00oose_]

I use mine almost daily during the school year, if you’re looking for a cheap machine that can take good notes then it’s the best option for $100-$200 imho

[@Penumbra_Guard]

I've had mine for going on four years now and didn't know about the memory slot behind the kickstand !🤯 Thank you sir and excuse me while I rummage for a SD card .

[@retr0g0dfather]

Have fun getting it to work lol. The SD card slot has always been an issue with not reading cards. I've updated drivers and it still doesn't work and never has. I went with an external hard drive instead.

[@dreesebrownlee6]

lol. same!!!

[@timfountain98]

@@retr0g0dfather I'm using a 1TB Samsung Micro SD and it works flawlessly!

[@avintoussaint3551]

I just got one as a gift and it suprised me how zippy it is and the cameras are beautiful despite the time it came out. Perfect for remote learning and can play super smash flash 2 on low settings. Looking forward to see how it does with gamepass on pc with lowest settings

[@jamesthompson7694]

I'm rocking a Surface Pro 3 I bought in 2016. I ran Windows 8 until 2019 and upgraded to 10. I've turned into a small desk computer with WSL2.

[@mugunthan4152]

Sir My surface 3 pro.. Touch is not working from left side 3 inches area of display .. What happened there I don't know why

[@sssuperharp]

Good video, thanks. Might I suggest that when using the focus in or out, that it be done faster. I found that to be a bit annoying because it was out of focus for so long. good video otherwise. thanks.

[@yihsuchiang]

I am still using surface 3 and the only thing I replaced is the battery that I changed one year ago in Taipei battery store. And this machine just upgraded to win11 testing version. Not bad at all.

[@mjlsosito]

How was the experience running windows 11 on Surface 3?

[@TheCodeTinkerer]

The backcamera is for the person who is the notetaker during a meeting, when a whiteboard is used. You can take a high res photo of the model/diagram/text and get OneNote to "translate" it and get it to type the text and "correct" the models, so that the lines are more straight etc. You can also take a photo of a hardcopy with text or pen on paper notes, that can be directly copy/pasted in ascii. The Surface Pro hybrid laptops are by far the jack-of-all-trades office machine. Name a tablet, where you can do serious coding without relying on a remote machine to do your editing/compiling. The only big problem, which still persists, is the Windows Store offering of native tablet apps. I had hoped that the Google Store would have been available as well, because then the device would not have any downsides at all, if you could Android apps without sorting to 3rd emulators. The iPad Pro is becoming more and more, what the Surface Pro line should have been moving towards, but unless you write your own applications, then the device is seriously limited for "tablet/mobile" use.

[@thecartooncynic]

the Surface 3 I used for a while back then played Warcraft 3 pretty well, although the in game cinematics refused to play, just a black screen.

[@EnidAgnusDei]

Got one a few weeks back for very cheap and can't fault it. Idea to drag around camera seems good to but yet to test it out fully.

[@drwatson32bit]

That question suggests that a lot changed in office software in 5 years.

[@BilisNegra]

Which obviously hasn't...

[@MnY275]

Still use my Pro 2 for Windows insider testing. i5-4300U and 8GB of RAM. Up to this day it works well. Intel still releases new features and fixes for the HD 4400

[@syuraaoisora5974]

Haha. Thanks. Your video kinda makes me wonder why did i buy this laptop again? That sleek, light-weight design and just to browse the internet explorer 😆

[@gira93]

I had one and it was amazing, i gave it to my father and he is still using it to this day! I'm now using a Surface Go, the bump in performance is noticeable especially if configured with an SSD. To me it's incredible how well Microsoft can build those lower end (and price) devices

[@bryanjk]

Yup! Don't get the base Surface Go, it's slow af. The base model doesn't have a traditional SSD rather EMMC storage which is basically the equivalent of running your OS off an sd card.

[@timfountain98]

@@bryanjk And that's exactly the same storage solution as the Surface 3 discussed here....

[@tlee5080]

I recently got one and it works well. Apart from it wont charge in sleep mode and it freezes upon waking up if left for a long period of time!

[@Lucasdouro]

Mi Surface three has survived a lot of punishment. I've used it as a secondary machine for travels and field work in the Peruvian amazon. It has gone places toughbooks are common and it has come out with a few scratches, but fully functioning. Now that we are virtual schooling because of isolation measures and my five year old is using it as his full time machine. In summary, 5 years and still great.

[@RandomGuy-om1vy]

Better than iPads at least.

[@tortinwall]

I’ve had mine for 5 years (128 GB) and still use it more than my much higher spec Dell XPS 13. It’s a brilliant little device and I can’t think of a good reason to replace it. It owes me nothing by now. When it ceases to function, or I give it away, I shall replace it with the latest Surface Go.

[@ThierryTiramisu]

2:21 yes, the webcam is good. I can attest to that :)

[@suplannie]

I got my Surface 3 a few years ago for school, and it still works great. I mostly use it with the pen for taking notes in class. My only issue with it, besides the fact that it's pretty slow, is actually the charging port. Being micro usb does make it convenient, but it charges so slowly that it usually can't even charge while I'm using it. The battery is usually enough for at least a day or two of use for me, though.

[@dazednconfused31337]

I've not used one, but the amount of amps the charger outputs (if it's not the original 2.5A) and cable thickness will affect charging speed. I've had old USB cables go weak and an app called 'Ampere' showed some charge my Android phone 3 times slower.

[@aLinuxIce]

i have the surface 3 ! but i dont have a keyboard.. were can i buy one ?

[@byanas.9942]

Hi, does it support sd card up to 500gb? Cos I plan to maximize the storage by using the 512gb sd card if possible.

[@trixiean8539]

does zoom work well with surface 3?

[@rahmanr112]

I love my 2012 Surface... well build.

[@mspeter97]

I used one of these a few months ago as a field computer for a quick job, it worked really well, don't expect to play games with it

[@carholic-sz3qv]

comment se portent les patients "docteur"

[@-who8812]

@@carholic-sz3qv HAHAHAHAHA EXCELLENT🤣

[@retr0g0dfather]

I use mine for Playstation remote play and it works great!

[@MsHackthat]

I found one for 250 dollars, the higher end model and it comes with keyboard. Should i go for it?

[@usshehewe]

Still using in 2021. Screen is gorgeous.

[@LightTheUnicorn]

Was tempted by these when they were new, but it was a tad too pricey once the keyboard and a couple choice accessories were factored in. Agree it's a lovely built thing though. I think most would be quite surprised how nicely older hardware holds up if your computing needs are light.

[@NijiDash]

Absolutely true these days. I got a MacBook 2008 Unibody (8 GB RAM) a few months ago and it’s fine for most of the stuff I do. Runs macOS Catalina using a hack too. If I need anything that doesn’t work on the MacBook (such as editing videos, rendering or gaming), I use my XPS 15 instead.

[@retr0g0dfather]

I still use my Surface 3 daily and it's been my favorite PC I've ever owned. I just recently purchased an expandable hard drive for it to clean up the space on it since I only have the 64gb version. Overall, it's never let me down and I don't plan to upgrade to another Surface until the Neo releases.

[@mrcroco4517]

Good for work?word,excel,PowerPoint? I'm broke 🙂

[@retr0g0dfather]

@@mrcroco4517 I think it is. It's only got 2gb of ram so it's not a multitasking beast, but it was enough to get through my schooling 5 years ago and my son's online schooling everyday right now.

[@MafiastuntersHQ]

@@retr0g0dfather it has 2gb and 4gb depending on which one you got I got the 4gb 100 gb one

[@IOUaUsername]

They're $50AUD (about $40USD) now. I think I'll get one for my wife for Christmas. Perfect for artwork in Inkscape with the optional pen. Probably not got enough to turn her drawings into 3D printable parts in Fusion 360, but maybe I can work out a lower end 3D software instead.

[@morganghetti]

Where are they 40 dollars?

[@musabbirkhan363]

Also wondering where to get one for$50

[@andrian6148]

How about color accuracy?

[@christopherwilliams9418]

Looking into a Pro 3 to serve as a drawing computer and tablet (in the iPad sense)

[@changkwangoh]

I still use mine.i recently re-slapped Windows 10 on it and it’s performing flawlessly!

[@KnuxKitsune]

It is so so nice that Microsoft has all their drivers in one convenient installer. Run the installer after a fresh install and everything works. I did a fresh install yesterday, as I just received my pre-owned Surface 3 128. It still took roughly 4-5 hours to get all the Windows updates, but that's likely more to do with my Windows USB being on 1909. I should see about downloading install media for 20H2, or perhaps wait for 21H1 to release.

[@trainarchive]

So why are there lots of surface pro 3s with i3s?

[@winsbeyond8295]

Does anyone have any issues updating windows 10 on your Surface 3? I'm very low on storage, even after using the tool to delete temporary files and other clutter. I tried using the micro SD card but the system won't let me download the upgrade onto my 16 gig Micro sd card.

[@Ghostsonplanets]

Yeah, storage is a real issue. You should download the update via media tool and install using a USB Stick. Microsoft really needs to release Sun Valley and make us users be able to debloat the system.

[@AugustusMcMillan]

typing this in May 2021 on my Surface 3. i have the Book and Pro also. as he said this is my on the go computer. it has the LTE antenna so im connected even when not on wifi. low spec games are cool too. for example i play Street Fighter IV from Steam on here a lot. im in the XCloud Beta. right now its choppy. but when that gets figured out ill be golden with games.

[@jstinn123]

Is the screen touch sensitivity accurate enough to be used as a digital sketch pad?

[@micahcwgu]

Absolutely. I use it constantly for drawing, I actually prefer it to my iPad Pro

[@LeeBv9983]

I bought one of these a little over a year ago ($95 for tablet/keyboard/pen 4GB/128GB). It works fine as an e-reader.

[@kallumbmx]

I still use mine, KZbin and typing ect ect, its a great laptab. Android and os tablets just don't quite cut it. Even though its an older generation surface, with the stylus it's still great tech for the price.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

My brother has the Pro 3 he uses every day since new. He got it in college. He recently graduated to getting a desktop (I gave him, he had monitor) in exchange for keeping the Pro 3. I'd say it's time to retire the Pro 3. My brother uses his, as far as I know, for ultra portability/tablet functions only mainly because he has a desktop for more power and a more newer work laptop. If you want the Surface 3 or Pro 3, don't make it your only computing device. Use it like you would an iPad but you have the ability of doing full computer functions and full websites (I still access multiple websites a day that crash my Samsung Note 8 because they require Internet Explorer compatibility mode). If you are looking at an Atom surface or Surface Go, consider ponying up for the i3 Surface Pro instead.

[@aesmars1870]

Hi guys, I was thinking about buying one of these. I just want it to download popcorn time (the windows version) and connect it to my tv with and hdmi cable. I found the 4gb 128gb version for $120. Before I thought of this, I was actually going to buy an Intel compute (that one that it's kind of an Amazon firestick but with windows) and it has 2gb ram and 32gb. The price of the Intel device it's the same as the price of the surface 3... I don't know the resolution on the surface3 but I was wondering, it would look okay on a hd or 4k tv? Any thoughts? Has anyone done something similar?

[@Dell2v]

yeah it would be fine but you need a mini displayport to hdmi

[@Luke357]

Using a Surface 3 as my secondary machine for web browsing, apps and game streaming works great even with 2 gigs of RAM.

[@elfedorausado]

Even with windows 10?

[@Luke357]

@@elfedorausado Yes it runs great i debloated Windows 10 but even pre debloat it ran great.

[@puturere]

For real? Even my laptop 9yrs old core i5 3rd gen & 4gb ram still lagging

[@Luke357]

@@puturere Reset Windows that should help.

[@RAGMACRON]

Does stream labs run smooothhh on this?

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

I'm still using windows 8. Until this afternoon, actually.

[@JonnyInfinite]

8.1 is a breeze to run

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

@@JonnyInfinite I like it well enough, my wife and I just need new laptops. So we ordered them. Keep the economy going and such.

[@JonnyInfinite]

@@joeyvanostrand3655 I'm holding out til 2023 for end of support. Do you really need new laptops? I'd look at a RAM swap or SSD upgrade first

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

@@JonnyInfinite it's old and the processor cannot run my guitar effect programs. I tried RAM. 8gb. Now I can run a ton of stuff slowly. Ha! It's time for new ones. I'll make my old one into an either Android or Linux toy.

[@ching-chenhuang8119]

I immediately upgraded it to Windows 10 shortly after buying this tablet, because the store employee said they can do it for free.

[@j.s1496]

I still have and use my surface 3 it has some bug issues though sometimes

[@johnpatrickfay5288]

Still use it from time to time, No issues with speaker hiss on my unit. Might get around to installing Linux at some point.

[@Windows7x]

Where i can find it?

[@dege13]

I have a Surface RT sitting here right now. I tried to used it after I found it at a thrift store for $10 last year. Unfortunately I now get an error trying to install any apps in the store and during Windows Updates. Sad. My kid could have still had fun on it if it was working.

[@dege13]

@ThatGuyExperiments Yup. Factory reset and still getting the same errors. One says the internet connection is too slow to complete the purchase (or free store apps) yet my internet is 75MBit and I even tried a second connection with WiFi Hotspot to my LTE phone. And Windows Update doesn't seem to ever finish checking for updates. Same issue before and after factory reset.

[@dickward1090]

I actually played Fallout New Vegas on my Surface 3 back in 2018. I was amazed at how well it handled it.

[@andrewrellano5447]

can install and configure vpn at this surface 3?