Won a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in a Competition. Need Your Suggestions on Whether to Keep It or Sell It and Buy a Laptop

Lnewozbargainermelb on 23/09/2014 - 11:53

Hi OzBargainers,

I'm a newbie here. I'm looking for your valuable suggestions.

For TLDR ozbargainers : Is it worth keeping a free Microsoft Surface Pro 3 or selling it and buying an equivalent spec lenovo laptop with slightly bigger monitor?

I won a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in a competition and they shipped the brand new sealed one. Bar code says that it was bought at Jb Hifi. I just opened the box and turned the tablet on and logged in and checked the camera quality and didn't even bother to remove the plastic on the tablet.

All looks good. Actually, I was planning to buy a laptop with the below specs and won this at the same time. Thanks to God :)

This is the one that I've got https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/tablets/microsof…

Key Features

4th Generation Intel Core i5 Processor

4GB RAM

128GB Storage

While I'm happy with the key features, I need to buy a keyboard cover to convert this to a laptop that costs $149 at Jb Hifi https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/accessories/micr….

or I can buy a usb wired keyboard or bluetooth keyboard to convert this as a laptop.

I'm a fan of IBM / Lenovo for 10 years now because of their reliability and durability. I have no idea about reliability bit of Microsoft surface tablets. Moreover, I'm inclined towards the bigger screens when it comes to laptop because I'm planning to install few software development tools and use it for software development purposes. I have another laptop for internet browsing and other light usage.

I'm looking for your valuable suggestions on whether its worth buying a keyboard and converting this as a laptop or selling this and buying an equivalent powerful laptop.

Thanks for your suggestions in advance.

Computing Computer Laptop Microsoft Tablet

Comments

  • Puska on 23/09/2014 - 12:00
    +4

    You just got the device for FREE, spend that bit extra for a keyboard.

  • mrmarkau67 on 23/09/2014 - 12:18
    +3

    As a developer, I wouldn't use a Surface - the screen is too small, and the RAM isn't sufficient for running VMs. You should use the Surface to replace that other "light use" laptop.

    Note that Lenovo/IBM's reputation comes from their business class laptops. Make sure you get one of those - their consumer "value" level laptops are distinctly low end in comparison.

    I use a 15" Dell Precision, but most developers I know prefer 15" Macbook Pros.

    • scrimshaw on 23/09/2014 - 13:40
      +1

      You would change your tone if you got a Surface for free. I worked with a network tech who at the office talked about how crap the Surface was, how it was overpriced and how it was unusable versus a normal laptop. Then we had S Pro2's issued to all the staff and he did a complete 180 on his opinion of the device when he found out how good the stylus was.

      • mrmarkau67 on 23/09/2014 - 17:02
        +1

        You would change your tone if you got a Surface for free.

        I would love someone to give me a Surface Pro for free. I'd retire my iPad and my Dell would be left at home a lot more. I'm also intrigued by the stylus.

        But I do need 8GB once I fire up the VM with all my dev tools. I take back what I said about the screen being too small though - I could do some stuff at 1440p and some at "720p".

        I'll send you the address for my free Surface in a pm.

    • untg on 23/09/2014 - 15:12
      +1

      A guy who works at my work bought one for specifically development work, not sure how it's going but he was pretty stoked.

      • StewBalls on 23/09/2014 - 17:14
        +5

        A guy who works at my work bought one for specifically development work…

        That sounds like a lot of work… ;)

    • novex on 23/09/2014 - 19:29
      +1

      I'm a developer and the Surface is fantastic (though I have the 256gb 8gb i5, which is more suitable for VM's). It's my only PC at the moment.

      The screen is 12" but it's got a resolution of 2160x1440 (a tiny bit shy of a 15/13" MBP) so you get the same amount of screen real estate anyway. If your eyes are good, it's great in native res. It's light as all hell and there's a MicroSD port on the back that takes up to 128gb cards.

      Downsides: 1 usb port and I haven't seen the battery life I was expecting (though something I have on here might be doing dumb stuff with power usage, but still something that needs investigating).

      Also there's basically no repairability - if it goes or you drop it you're buying a new one (unless you have microsoft warranty or something?). Lenovo is a lot better in this regard.

  • carrie810 on 23/09/2014 - 12:30
    +1

    cong!
    freebie is always good.
    However user experience on the Surface is personal. For economic reason, keep it and buy the keyboard. For other reason, buy the laptop and sell this one.

  • Unorthodox on 23/09/2014 - 12:45
    +1

    Congrats!!

  • IIGnomeII on 23/09/2014 - 13:03
    +1

    I would keep it but that is just me for the following reasons:
    1) The resale value of the SP3 isn't going to be great so I don't know how much you will need to chip in for the laptop you want.
    2) You got the device for free which is selling for ~$1200 and to make it usable you only need to chip in around $150 for a keyboard which you may get for even cheaper from amazon/the US.
    3) Hook this thing up to a monitor or a docking unit and suddenly you have a computer that you can take anywhere and do 90% of the things you can do on on a fully fledged desktop.

    The devices durability and reliability is good by all reported accounts, I mean if they are willing to drop the device from hip height onto the floor during its announcement to prove that it can be dropped and also use it as a skateboard then it can stand a fair amount of bashing around.

    • ShamelessBargains on 23/09/2014 - 16:47
      +1

      The resale value is actually pretty good for surface pros. Since it is pretty much brand new, you should be able to at least get $1000 and buy the laptop you want and even have a bit left over! No point keeping something if you don't like it, windows 8..

  • Food on 23/09/2014 - 17:12
    +1

    Congrats!
    Keep it!
    (or donate to Food inc.)

  • Empiresearth on 23/09/2014 - 21:28
    -5

    Congrants, if you wanna sell let me know i will buy $300 cash, its bargain.:) i am looking for kids, surface is good for kids i havent seen any good reviews yet.

  • Soundwave on 24/09/2014 - 08:04
    +1

    Not sure on how it goes with software developement programs, but I had a made playing Counterstrike Source and the fans were going crazy, making a loud noise. Counterstrike Source is a pretty low spec game.

    His sent it back and got the HP Spectre which I personally don't recommend as HP's aren't that great.

    I say sell it and get a laptop. That way you have a bigger screen and you can upgrade HDD, RAM etc, if you want to.

    • mrmarkau67 on 24/09/2014 - 16:18
      +1

      If God had intended people to play FPSs on Laptops or Tablets, the laws of physics would be different.

      • Soundwave on 24/09/2014 - 17:27
        +1

        Well I guess the laws of physics are different. There are a lot of gaming laptops available and with the specs of the Surface 3 Pro he had, it shouldn't have had any issues.

        Laptops these days are well spec'd and priced. With SSD's, 8GB RAM with even 2GB graphics cards in them, powered with i5/i7 processors.

        Surface even claims on their website that you can use photoshop, which would consume more than a game that came out 10 years ago.

        • mrmarkau67 on 25/09/2014 - 19:38

          If you are playing an FPS, chances you'll be up against other players with 3GB/4GB graphics cards, 16GB of RAM, powered by overclocked i5/i7 desktop processors. In boxes with good big fans or water cooling, which means their machines don't slow down randomly as they heat up.

          "Gaming" laptops are great for games like The Sims, Solitaire and Plants vs Zombies.

  • newozbargainermelb on 25/09/2014 - 17:42

    Hi ozbargainers,

    Thanks a tonne for your responses. Based on your inputs I have now decided to sell it and get a good laptop for <1000.

    Thanks again.

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