Surface Pen Hands-On

Surface Pen Hands-On
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Surface Pro 3 Unboxing: bit.ly/1tMjMwI
The Surface Pro 3 is Microsoft's new all-arounder, a device designed for both work and play. This is the company's most recent attempt at reinventing the laptop/tablet hybrid, and the company's message is crystal clear: it's going straight after Apple's MacBook Air. But with Microsoft admitting so many laptop owners also own a tablet, does anybody even care? They didn't seem to when the first Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 came out, so what's has changed this time? A lot actually. GALLERY/MORE: bit.ly/1tMiLEU

[@jon4lakers]

*Surface Pro 3*: One Way It Challenges the iPad MORE: bit.ly/1tMiLEU

[@mr.canvas4154]

Does it works with iPad mini?

[@catslife33]

XNA GAMER No it only works with the Surface.

[@finnfeneley9367]

I only just found my pen after 2 years of it being lost, I found it being magnetically stuck to the bottom of the fridge.

[@ff_crafter]

@Max Bullough I'll be pissed if I lost my expensive surface pen

[@bluesdealer]

Can I get this functionality (radial menu, etc) on my Surface Pro 2?

[@looselylucy]

Thank you for the review, I was considering to by one as I use my Surface 3 for college. I ordered mine and hope it'll come in handy!

[@Moon_Byte]

Could this pen be used for other touch screen devices like my Lenovo Yoga 2 laptop?

[@asian1nvasion]

does the palm rejection work in the sketchbook software as well??

[@cleangene17]

Thanks for the tutorial! It was quick and concise.

[@janetteaguilar3869]

I would like to know more about taking notes. Can the font be changed after taking notes with the pen? What about printer access? Are documents printable?

[@josephemmanuel6088]

can i use this pen on asus tp 550 laptop kindly tell me

[@91722854]

will the Spen tip ever wear off and need replacement, if so about how long before u need to replace it?

[@natalyatapia643]

will the surface pen work for my HP Envy x360 ?

[@someshvemula9966]

Bro is this pen works with dell 2 in 1 PC'S which is having pen support ,

[@donabdullah2784]

Hey John, is there a 4G version of Surface Pro3?

[@longhuy7319]

Does the Surface Pen with other PC like HP touch screen device?

[@joeyfinkel]

Can this pen or the stylus from the pro 2 be used on the surface rt?

[@jreynol100]

does this pen only work with the surface pro 3?

[@philipmead3575]

Hi, would this pen work on a Toshiba portege z10t?

[@stinksterking]

Would this work on the samsung galaxy note 10.1 2014 edition

[@joygabriel7302]

can it work on any surface or only the pro 3?

[@sorabji1]

Does the pen only work in the Apps designed for it, or can it be used as a simple mouse click in other programs? This would be great, for example, in music notation software, when you don't have a midi keyboard for input (mousing around entering notes is tiring).

[@kevinv5195]

How do you pair it to use it mine doesn't have an led light

[@putofrank13]

Will it work properly with surface rt?

[@mustafakhorasanee2638]

is the surface 3 gonna come out anytime soon?

[@potatochobit]

can you trace onto the tablet through paper?

[@milepetricevic7218]

hello Jon and everyone else. Im and electrical engineering student and im looking for a tablet/laptop that uses a stylus but doesn't run crazy prices all I need it for is writing notes and drawing circuits which tablet/ laptop would be best suited for me. hope to hear from you guys soon.

[@eric55938]

is it compatible with the surface rt

[@100KARAT1]

Does this pen work on other Windows 8 Tablets or just on the Surface? I have a Sony Vaio Tab 11, it has also a digitizer pen but i lost it, I am looking for a new one.

[@jevonrodgers4599]

It should work both pens use n trig drivers

[@michaelgunawan1254]

I seem to be unable to use the back eraser to erase on fresh paint, help

[@Nickdang12]

TechnoBuffalo What are the specs on your test Surface Pro 3? I don't know if this seems like a dumb question but would you guys expect any reduction in writing performance from the base i3 model? thanks!

[@ellisfmorton4086]

would it work with illustrator or photoshop?

[@1001fables]

most important question. Does this pen work with Android phone/tablet? Also does it work with Windows phone//tablet?

[@StAtiKzHD]

Seems like a great substitute for a laptop. I'll definitely be buying the next one judging on the improvements they have done this year.

[@GregGarnhart12]

Hopefully the full review includes something on handwriting recognition, but otherwise this looks awesome. Good review and I like the new animations.

[@anzatzi]

plus to you for doing a segment on the pen. minus for not knowing or delving into the sp3 ntrig wacom discussion. thanks!

[@ultimatealex435]

guys foes it works just with microsoft tablets or with other too ?

[@happycamperjack]

Damn, that lag when he cut and pasted... That brings back memory of my good old Tablet PC. But why is the lag still here after like what? 8 years? Also can someone compare this to Tegra Note 7 and Wacom? Tegra Note 7 supposed to have a great stylus too at 1/5 the price.

[@sovietman97]

will this pen work on the surface rt?

[@thecorporatecat4337]

Yeah but it wont have as many features.

[@ohimeouji]

is it a firm nib (plastic) or a rubber (soft) nib? I must know this.

[@cameronschiff132]

plastic

[@kashhause6362]

Would this pen work with the surface rt

[@jeromechua5758]

No

[@mustachecashdash3371]

When I click the buttons, nothing happens except for the pen mode switching to eraser. It doesn't even launch onenote. Is it because I'm using the Surface 3???

[@TK_Danes]

go to pens settings and customize the actions manually.

[@itskathrynnn]

Will this pen work with the Surface Pro 2 as well?

[@89krx]

No

[@Kakaocat]

Hmmm, could this tablet be effectively used for graphic design and some sort of "soft" illustration work? How does it handle Photoshop? If I already own a Wacom tablet, would it be better to get a more powerful Laptop or Macbook?

[@BurezFolfaus]

probably not.. evidently its only 256 levels of pressure sense if that matters to you, the surface pro 1&2 used wacom tech with 1024 levels of sensitivity. In all honesty both the 1-2 and 3 all have different flaws..

[@HarshadeepReddy]

You should read the reddit AMA the surface team did. They revealed a lot of facts regarding the pen and how much better it is than previous gen pens.

[@shanealvarez527]

Adobe is working on a PS release that is better supportive of touch screens with pen input. PhotoShop does work on the device with the pen, even if its not Wacom (although you do need the WinTab drivers, but a recent device update cleared that). Although it has decreased levels of pressure sensitivity at 256 levels, if your not accustomed to upwards of 1024 levels of sensitivity, you are unlikely to notice. Also, the pen has one of the lowest amounts of latency and parallax (distance between pen tip and pixels) for one for the most naturally writing/drawing experiences you can get. If they threw Wacom back in the mix, that would mean increased latency and parallax for those increased levels. So its a trade off. Still, I think this would work well for a graphic artist. If your a super pro and need those levels of sensitivity, you likely own a device dedicated to that stuff. Otherwise, you will be fine with this, guaranteed

[@FrankieHiltz]

To anyone who may read this ! I've only JUST gotten into drawing on my tablet (Have been on real paper for my whole life), but I have no idea what stylus to get. It's a regular glass, capacitive touch screen. What is the best, cheapest, suggestion? Preferably finer tip. But if I got a fat tip one as well, what should I go with??

[@BillyBob_McSanchez]

I the point of the Surface Pro 3 stylus pen a rubber tip or a plastic tip?

[@rayrayray63]

Can I just say ,, that the "Surface Pro 3" does look like a game changer,, MS should be standing on the roof tops and shouting out about this little gem..

[@MrRANDOM1100]

I could definitely see my self using this at college. May have to treat myself ;)

[@shanealvarez527]

I use my original surface all the time in college. Got entire notebooks worth of notes and even send those notes to my buds when they need them. It's magically college tech

[@MrRANDOM1100]

someone i know uses one too. but they are so pricey. (well decent ones)

[@KenHeslip]

Shane Alvarez Would have loved something like this in my day. All my notes digital in the cloud. This generation is so spoiled.

[@MrRANDOM1100]

Ken Heslip Spolied indeed. But in the uk id say 85% of people at college still use pen and paper for notes. But like 90% for assignments and essays.

[@KenHeslip]

MrRANDOM1100 I'm sure. But at least they have an option to go fully digital with hand written notes. I would have been all over that.

[@aggelikikoutrouba1321]

does this pen works on samsung galaxy tab E??? please someone tell me

[@Casper76]

It won't work at all.

[@leespeed91]

I've used my Lenovo X230 Tablet for this exact purpose for my last three years in college using OneNote. It's great and people always tell me how cool/useful my setup seems for taking notes. However, this is definitely nothing "new".

[@leespeed91]

But it is good that awareness of this feature is spreading.

[@ralexand56]

It's definitely new to have it when a pen this nice in a machine this thin and oriented like a notepad.

[@TheNXT1233]

Comparing this to the Galaxy Note 10.1, which pen is better? Not talking about windows/android, just the pen?

[@HarshadeepReddy]

This is better since it is optimised better. Watch videos of the note and you can see the difference

[@shanealvarez527]

There are a few things to consider. I don't know the specs, but many people will argue that its inconvenient that the SP3 (surface pro 3) pen does not have a dock but, on the other hand, is size more like a pen and is more natural to handle. With the low latency and low parallax of the supporting technology of the SP3, it is very handy. So performance is likely much better for the SP3. The Galaxy Note has the advantage of convenience.

[@vicowiz1]

I love stylus! Just wish if Surface Pro 3's display on a par with Retina Display or higher..

[@balderoine]

Is it universal?

[@drark82]

That drawing. I totally loled. No offense john hehe.

[@BirchBehav]

how does the pen work on the desktop

[@shanealvarez527]

Like mouse, albeit only as steady as your own hand is.

[@TheTomo106]

Review wacom companion please

[@Campwise05]

Nice video, cool pen!

[@yoshied1]

3:32 LMFAO it froze!!!!!!

[@NicolSD]

The idiot in me went "Doh! Why didn't I think of doing that with my Surface Pro 2?" As of now, no more scraps of paper sitting on my desk. Just my SP2.

[@zeb5760]

My Pro Pen seems to have loose buttons.

[@stevemann1534]

Can I use this pen on a Windows nextbook

[@manalishedge8016]

steve mann k ₩ =

[@estevanplaysgames9907]

Does it only work with OneNote

[@azivure]

EstevanPLays Games no

[@AndrewProTV]

Does that pen work well as a vibrator?

[@martinzone8153]

No, only as a stationary butt plug...

[@yaboirichy]

aren't you a man?

[@GameTerminal]

@TheTCOLL Doesn't look buggy to me

[@WillOnSomething]

Guess UPS drivers will be getting new tablets :P

[@dredon8007]

Getting it is a must

[@Castiel_Undead.OriginsLegend]

4:26 skip ad, Think I might get a surface to have a drawing tablet now . This is exactly what I had in mind :)

[@GameDrew.Gaming]

Can you rest your palm slightly on the screen while writing it?

[@dgmojojojo]

4:50 picasso classed artwork

[@catha86]

this kind of tablet/laptop hybrids are the future for sure. Apple will jump on the ship next year and hopefully come out with a great one. I am excited. But wish these came out 5-6 years ago. I'm pretty much is in love with surface pro 3 but can't see the value of it yet since its fucking expensive. Surface pro 4 will be a bombsafe buy.

[@NellieKAdaba]

I still can't use the pen, only the mouse is working.

[@MrPluspack]

Niicceeee. Wanted a bit more on Note taking. They say it feels as natural as writing on note pad. In your opinion, is that an accurate claim? Hoping in my future there is some screen technology that replicate textures and feel. Then we could possibly have a more compelling totally digital world. And to see that no one sees this is beyond me. Goo Team Microsoft!!!!!

[@Luix]

this is the surface 3 pen, the surface pro 4 pen works on the surface 3 and pro 3

[@DMKyle]

I was in currys just messing around with the surface pro 3.

[@skraggybones]

you say that its smart enough to tell when you rest your hand on the screen and not recognize it as input. But it's not. All computers with active pens and palm block just turn off the capacitive digitizer when the active pen digitizer is activated.

[@nakanakanaka1150]

So clearly this is not wacom tech. For a proper art review you should have had one of your graphics guys scrutinize this against a true graphic tablet. A cintiq.

[@nakanakanaka1150]

***** yeah I just looked it up I must have been using the non pro version. So I kinda already know what the comparison is like thought it would have been nice they gave specs. Alot of reviewers either don't know or treat wacom like a dirty word. lol

[@JMx505]

***** The surface pro 3 doesn't use wacom tech. It uses n-trig www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2458373,00.asp

[@Drayonis]

I agree, they need a graphic artist to review this.

[@CosmicKangaroo]

Drayonis Jon Q should've done this video *throws table out of window*

[@capetaquebratudo]

Remember, surface pro is for general use

[@landyhuang1529]

my eraser doesn't work.

[@pabloespinoza4462]

I've tried the previous Surface Pen and it works on the Galaxy Note 3.

[@nakanakanaka1150]

Seems like your trolling. That's a Microsoft proprietary. The Galaxy Note 3 uses wacom tech.

[@pabloespinoza4462]

NakaNakaNaka Apparently they don't because the eraser on the previous pen also worked on the Note 3, go to your local Best Buy or Microsoft store and try it for yourself.

[@24mlc]

NakaNakaNaka surface pro 1 & 2 use wacom

[@nakanakanaka1150]

***** yeah I just looked it up I must have been using the non pro version. Would have been great if they included the specs in the review

[@Lostzilla847]

So sad the bottom tip won't act as an eraser

[@asdfrozen]

Agreed. You can probably tweak the settings to make it work as an eraser.

[@JonasHamill]

I had a Wacom Bamboo where the end worked as an eraser, and I found that turning the pen round to use the eraser took much longer than just selected the eraser from the tools pallet in Photoshop.

[@shanealvarez527]

I heard an argument that if these trends continue, people simply need to get used to the fact that turning the whole pen around is a waste of time, I know, even though it was just a short bit of time, it was kinda pain writing notes on my first gen surface in math classes

[@rivengle]

Shane Alvarez I just don't like clicking buttons to erase.

[@shanealvarez527]

rivengle It seems like a pain but getting used to right clicking on the fly with the original Surface Pro became very natural after a while, it wouldn't surprise me if I could get used to a second button for the eraser with more time. I think adapting, especially to become more efficient, would be more benefit than hindrance.

[@Chandan243]

Its same as samsung note series s pen wacom technology baby :P

[@Gero141]

This is kinda like a copy of S Note and S Pen but it's cool.

[@Mr.Nin10do.]

I can see apple making a stylus like this.........but will probably be $100

[@thilotech]

You were right lol

[@ferrivero6958]

So, now we know where Microsoft take the idea to use the eraser AS an eraser for the Surface pen 4.

[@ThisIsARubbishName]

ah, bugger. not an eraser. oh well, I suppose I'll get used to it, even though my other pens have the eraser at the other end.

[@lolSpiderPiglol]

they changed it on the new Surface Pro 4 pen. this video is a year old.Now it has a pen.

[@ThisIsARubbishName]

i got the surface 3, therefore this applies to me.

[@yungdinero]

So sad. Microsoft wants people to use the Surface Pro 3 as a notepad thing but they couldn't make the pen top into an eraser!! That's basically a killer for that pipe-dream. Even sadder is that the eraser top feature is almost a decade old technology that I had on my HP tx2500. I blame the cheaper N-Trig Digitizer that they went with instead of Wacom...

[@Jerome-iwnl]

WE WANT JON Q *RUBS UR LAMP TWICE.

[@pp2devane]

Why would you write your notes when you can type them? Typing is far quicker and efficient. I can understand the stylus for drawing but not for writing.

[@HarshadeepReddy]

When one is standing up you can just write incredibly easily. With a laptop it is way too cumbersome to type whole standing . Just realize that this device makes sense for a lot of people .. You might not be one of them

[@AdityaDodda]

Math is still easier to write.

[@asdfrozen]

If you're in STEM, typing is going to be really annoying. Also, you might want to supplement your notes with diagrams and figures and graphs.

[@andrester88]

Also, some people just like writing better in general because that is how they learn (and example right here is me). I still like note taking on a pen and paper, but hate dealing with the annoying things that comes with pen and paper.

[@shanealvarez527]

I'm a CS major, and I will type away on my surface for code. For my math class, pen input makes perfect sense. For illustrating something to a pal that's abstract, the ability to draw is even more so. Pen input is just amazing where it is meant for it. Just another tool you gotta utilize

[@MegaMar20]

no eraser with the the clicky thing - that made me dislike the pen already.

[@gwill12321]

Microsoft's definitely trying

[@lukajackson4861]

this guy looks like ted cruz

[@jesusedel7]

That's racist just cuz he's black

[@tadashi4776]

better than samsung tab s

[@MadOrange644]

+brevi3th Ok And Ipads, this thing has a full Windows 10 experience :0

[@TheTCOLL]

Still looks buggy and nowhere near what a pencil and paper can do.

[@pratikmore8913]

not bad dut...**¤

[@user-we1yo3jd1f]

How can you don't even write a complete word??? If you are making a hand-on about a Pen!!! This is ridiculous.

[@evanasddf6946]

2nd

[@coolcraker123]

New intro isn't very good

[@Loneliestemokid]

Can this pen work with other window 8.1 tables? I'm using an asus transformer book t100

[@noahandrew1585]

How is that device? I can't decide if I want to get the Transformer Book or chip in the extra cash for the Surface 3

[@Loneliestemokid]

+Noah Andrew I would go with the newer version "che" or like you said the surface 3. But for 100$ it's does cs6 perfectly fine, which is what I use it for. :)

[@noahandrew1585]

Thanks for the response. I was looking at the Chi too but wasn't sure

[@donabdullah2784]

Hey John, is there a 4G version of Surface Pro3?

[@TDJP123]

Sadly no :(

[@KenHeslip]

If you have a phone, you can tether it or use a USB dongle.

[@pratikmore8913]

not bad dut...**¤