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Microsoft's Surface 3 is sweet – but I wouldn't tickle my nads with it

Soviet-style shell hides a slablet for Windows diehards

Cover story

Windows 8.1 and Surface actually have some nice points. This is the second Surface I’ve tested and one thing I like is when you type – there’s a rolling, scrolling quality to the way characters are laid on the screen. But Windows 8.1 could be one of the biggest reasons for not owning a Surface 3. That’s because it forces you to re-orientate your head just to do the simplest acts.

Microsoft Surface 3 Windows 8.1 tablet

The Type Cover will set you back £110, if you must

What has improved since the Surface Pro I reviews is the Type Cover. The first had the comfort and durability of drumming your fingers on a sheet of cardboard. The Type Cover 3 keys are chunky and smooth while the surround is like fuzzy felt. It snaps into place using a powerful magnet, too – watch your fingers – and you get two writing positions – angled and flat.

But highlighting characters is tricky, requiring a chunky click of mouse pad and drawing of the digits. I’m unconvinced by the felt touch, too – it's difficult to clean once things get grubby. Then there’s the price: £100 on top of the basic Surface 3 for something Microsoft reckons is supposed to be a tablet that’s useful for work.

Microsoft Surface 3 Windows 8.1 tablet

A version with 4G LTE connectivity is 'coming soon'

The Reg Verdict

Should you buy this? I have nothing against Surface 3 – indeed, as with Pro, there’s some nice touches inside that Soviet shell that make Surface 3 a pleasure. It’s up there, too, in terms of audio visual and, yes, it surfs the web well.

Just, are such touches where the market is now – would you put this machine down your pants and risk dropping or crushing it, or sweating into it? If this were another tablet the choice would perhaps be straightforward but Microsoft has made considering Surface 3 harder than it should.

A rectangular form factor, its weight and that chunk – all that might make it solid enough to take a bashing down a man’s pants but otherwise it’s an effort to carry.

Then, there’s Windows 8.1. Everything, even the fundamentals, are so slightly different you have to ask yourself is it really worth committing? Forget trying to convert Apple or Android users. Further, buying into Windows 8.1 is a no-going-back experience: Microsoft wants to tie all your contacts, media and documents into its cloud - this comes with a year's free Office 365 - through the Surface end point. Nice for Microsoft because it wants you to stay; not so nice for those unwilling to commit to one tablet maker for the rest of their days.

Surface 3 is for the Windows diehard, either already on Windows 8.1 or poised on the cusp. Still, I'd struggle to justify one if I already owned the Pro. ®

Microsoft Surface 3 Windows 8.1 tablet

Microsoft's Surface 3 is sweet – but I wouldn't tickle my nads with it

Intel Atom-powered Windows 8.1 tablet with a 10.8-inch, full HD touchscreen, USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort and micro SD card support
Price: £419 (64GB, 2GB RAM), £499 (128GB, 4GB RAM) RRP

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