This was posted 6 years 8 months 27 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Microsoft Surface 3 Docking Station $42.36 Shipped ($33.70USD) @ Amazon.com RRP $279.99

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Microsoft Surface 3 Docking Station $42.36 Shipped ($33.70USD) @ Amazon.com RRP $279.99Affiliate
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plasmapuff on 29/07/2017 - 23:37 amazon.com (1530 clicks)
Last edited 02/08/2017 - 18:20
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These docks were and still are ridiculously overpriced from Microsoft. They're still on sale for $279.99 via the MS Store. At sub $50, its much more reasonable. Cheapest its previously been was $90 @HN last year

This is for the Surface 3 only (Intel Atom - 10.8"). Not compatible with Pro models.

$22USD + $15.75USD shipped. Comes to $47.24 for me via 28 degrees Mastercard.
Close to the lowest price ever as per CamelCamel ($19.99 USD)

Edit
As of 02/08/17 there has been a further price drop. If you choose Score Almighty as the seller it's only $17.95USD + $15.75USD for shipping = $33.70 USD which is $42.36 on today's rates.

You need to change the supplier to Blue Plus One to get it to ship to Australia. This was default when I purchased it this evening, but it looks like they've just changed it to someone else. You can still add it to cart and check out if you change the supplier as above.

In terms of ports, it adds:
* Power supply input
* 2 USB 3.0 ports
* 2 USB 2.0 ports
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* 3.5mm audio input/output connection
* Mini DisplayPort video output
* Security lock slot
* Pen holder

Came across this after trying to find a faster charger for the dismal 5.5hr charging time of the surface 3 via the default microUSB charger. This is prolonged further if you're actually using it. The default charger charges at 13 watts, compared to the dock which provides 48 watts. Obviously there is a current threshold on the battery but reviews from reddit show a significantly faster charging time (250% faster) as it charges via the USB type A port instead of the microUSB. This would give it a ~2hr charge time akin to the Pro line with its magnetic charger and helps alleviate one of the biggest weaknesses of the S3.

Aside from being a charging dock, I was planned to use it as a defacto HTPC with a wireless keyboard like the Logitech K400R, which can be had for <$15. The LAN and USB ports make it perfect for streaming or plugging in hard drives and you can set sync folders to get it off the slow and limited eMMC storage. Planning to also run Kodi for the media experience.

Despite the Surface 4 pro sales recently, I'm still coming back to the Surface 3 for its portability. For undemanding scenarios such as basic browsing, Youtube, OneNote, its been perfect for my needs. Sad that I'm getting better battery life (7-9 hours regularly) vs the S4Pro (4-6 hrs) under the same conditions.

Having a desktop, I can't justify spending ~$1500 for the new Surface Pro 2017 as my second device in order to get decent battery life.

Not going to be a high volume seller given the niche appeal of the Surface 3, but I hope it helps somebody :)

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
Electrical & Electronics Computer Laptop Microsoft Tablet

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closed Comments

  • allenrong88 on 29/07/2017 - 23:40
    +1

    Can it be used with Surface Pro 4? Anyone knows?

    • 911r on 29/07/2017 - 23:41
      +6

      Nope, not compatible with pro line.

    • giovannip on 29/07/2017 - 23:45

      I don't think so, I was hoping it would fit a surface pro 3, but the listing specifically says that it doesn't.

      • GregFiona on 29/07/2017 - 23:50

        I was hoping the same(need one dock for home, I have got one at work) but this one looks different than the pro-compatible version

        • toristo on 30/07/2017 - 18:03

          I use one of the USB Docks (covers both my work laptop and my Surface Pro 3 that way) and it works well, except the Surface power, which I have to use it's actual cable. That aside, works for me.

          http://www.targus.com/us/universal-usb-30-dv2k-docking-stati…

        • Agret on 30/07/2017 - 19:32

          @toristo: It says that dock can handle two 2560 x 1600 resolution displays from a single USB3 port? That's pretty crazy. What's the gigabit LAN performance like when powering an external display (Only one) + a USB hard drive?

        • toristo on 30/07/2017 - 21:16

          @Agret:
          I'm on wifi so can't comment on the LAN performance sorry. I had an older one too (it was only 10/100 though) and it was never an issue, but hard to say against gigabit.

          No issues with monitors, however, I don't use this for any games

    • danielh on 30/07/2017 - 00:08

      I have both a SP3 and SP4 from work and the USB and Display port are slightly higher up on the SP3 compared to the SP4.

      HMMM, just realised for the first time that the SP3 has VOL up and down on the side and the SP4 doesn't. Learn something new each day. :-)

      • giovannip on 30/07/2017 - 00:18

        you can actually buy an adapter for the SP3 dock to take the SP4:

        www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Adapter-Docking-Station/dp/…

        It just looks like an expensive piece of plastic to me…

        • diazepam on 30/07/2017 - 06:26

          I had the dock from SP3
          When the SP4 came out (and I got the SP4), I just dropped into the MS store, asked them and they gave me that expensive piece of plastic for free. It's because the SP4 is just slightly thinner.
          They don't even sell this dock anymore. Microsoft assumed the angle which everyone would be using, but poor assumption it seemed (everyone complained), so they made the different dock now (with a stupid wire… barely a "dock")

          BTW this is not pro docking station, ports look completely different!

        • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 07:10
          +1

          @lux: The actual dock has worked flawlessly for everyone in at my workplace while the cabled version has about a %50 failure rate.

        • diazepam on 30/07/2017 - 07:13

          @voolish: yeah, I'd agree
          I use the dock, no problems here. Maybe it's the surface one (not surface pro) that has flaws?
          Was talking about the angle which was set by microsoft. People didn't like it

        • siuol on 30/07/2017 - 15:22

          Actually, MS will give you one for free if you go to the Microsoft Store (physical one) or if you pay for the postage. Of coz you will need to prove that you have a SP3 dock

        • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2017 - 01:00

          @siuol: When I called MS support they would only replace with another cabled dock and wouldn't replace it with a plug in dock even well within warranty. BTW we use SP3 pros as well, not sure if that affects outcome. Also the two times they knocked me back they've stated it's because they dont' have stock of those items and they don't expect to ever get stock in as they are no longer being produced.

        • siuol on 02/08/2017 - 11:14

          @voolish:

          I actually meant the adapater "sheet" for SP4 to be used on a SP3 dock…. not replacing the old SP3 dock with a SP4 dock for free.

          It looks like this:

          https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-au/support/hardware-and…

    • Chroma on 03/08/2017 - 06:52

      Thank you so much for pointing it out. I ordered without realising the non-Pro had one of these docks too.
      Cancelled order before it was sent luckily.

  • huey on 29/07/2017 - 23:42

    Item doesn't ship to Australia.

  • hashtagbargain on 30/07/2017 - 00:02
    +6

    Nice deal spotting and write up, OP!

  • Jacku on 30/07/2017 - 00:39
    +2

    I really need the pro version.

  • brentsbits on 30/07/2017 - 04:58
    +1

    Nice find. Ordered one :-)

    Dammit, just noticed it was for the 3, not the pro 3. Oh well, cancelled but still a nice find.

  • LuthLexor on 30/07/2017 - 09:37

    Great find!

  • Matt P on 30/07/2017 - 09:56

    Thanks OP

    Ive had one of these for years, bought on launch day but couldn't ever justify the price of the dock

  • havebeerbelywillsumo on 30/07/2017 - 12:41
    +5

    No use for me but + for a well written & researched contribution.

  • gimli on 30/07/2017 - 15:07

    i don't have a surface but these should have great resale potential $$$

    • plasmapuff on 30/07/2017 - 18:38
      +2

      Are you Broden's dwarven brother? ;)

      • gimli on 30/07/2017 - 19:05
        +2

        Broden is no son of the great Gloin, unlike me, Gimli son of Gloin!

  • siuol on 30/07/2017 - 15:23

    I am surprised that this deal got 48+ votes as of now because I have always thought that Surface 3 is a flop.

    • plasmapuff on 30/07/2017 - 18:29
      +2

      I think the price severely hampered its appeal. The better performing 4gb ram model would have costed just north of $1000 with the non included pen and keyboard.

      That's a lot for an atom based tablet with emmc storage and for $100 more the lowest spec surface pro model would definitely have been more appealing.

      However, for just over $700 for the 4gb model with keyboard and pen during the sale 18 months ago, it became much more viable, particularly if you wanted a portable device which was tablet first and laptop second.

      The surface pro line is a horrible tablet in comparison to iPads and the surface 3 as it's too unwieldy and suffers from poor battery life. If you're not doing anything too demanding (video, photo editing), there is still no other better device I've found which is tablet centric, runs Windows and can do basic laptop functions.

      This might change in the future with the ARM snapdragon 835 running Windows set for release in Q4/Q1 but I suspect again that the prices will be similar to the surface 3 at launch and not chromebook territory.

      For ~$400 landed second hand or refurbished with the type cover, I'd still recommend it today over something like an iPad.

      Besides we should rate the deal for how much of a bargain it is rather than whether it is personally useful or how popular it was? That's what naive me has been doing anyways :P. At 83% off what it's selling for on the Microsoft store today, I thought it was worth posting. It will also help users to extend the life of the device which sometimes can be flimsy to charge and offers alternative use scenarios.

      YMMV.

      • Matt P on 30/07/2017 - 18:55

        I'm sure i only paid like 800 bucks for the 4gb/128gb model (plus then claimed TRS - this is ozbargain)

        I agree if you're only giving it light use, it was (at the time, not sure if it is now, not up to speed) the best portable soloution floating around. Plus micro usb charging was a big plus for me as it allowed battery packs/car chargers etc…

        • plasmapuff on 30/07/2017 - 19:07

          Sorry I meant $1000 for the tablet, type cover and pen combo. It was a lot for atom.

        • Matt P on 30/07/2017 - 19:08

          @plasmapuff: ah yeah that'd be about right.

  • thonk on 30/07/2017 - 19:50
    +1

    Damn, cheers man the S3 is a great HTPC! This is gonna make it better!

  • Saeed on 30/07/2017 - 22:27
    +2

    thanks op

    fyi at costco auburn an surface 3 is for 350.

    they have only few left

    • plasmapuff on 31/07/2017 - 00:20

      Definitely worth it in my opinion still (especially if it's the 4GB ram model) if you're after a compact tablet with great battery life and laptop capabilities. Factor in another $100 for the keyboard. Not much else that can beat it in the price range unless you go for OEM Chinese brands like Chuwi.

      Amazon has already shipped my order. Due Thursday :)

    • herrod on 31/07/2017 - 01:48

      Dagnamit! I saw it for $400 at Moorabbin Costco (VIC) and would've pulled the trigger at that price. But when I returned, they were sold out, called around and couldn't find stock in other Vic locations (a few weeks back). Ended up getting a second-hand model on ebay, love it.

  • plasmapuff on 02/08/2017 - 18:22

    Further price drop if you choose Score Almighty as your seller. Save about $5 over the original price. Now only $42.36 Shipped.

    Amazon probably won't refund the difference as it's a different supplier. I've had success getting them to refund price drops for goods in transit from the same supplier.

  • wandererbubu on 04/08/2017 - 21:51
    +1

    Thanks Op, got 1 for USD 32.70 delivered to Australia :)

  • plasmapuff on 13/08/2017 - 10:29

    Mine arrived Friday.
    Very solid and well made accessory.
    Fits like a glove.
    Charge time is definitely much improved.
    Outputs 1080P movies just fine to the Tv with no lag.
    Plugged in Hdd, dongle for wireless keyboard.
    Worth it overall for me.

    Hope everyone gets their units soon :)

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