Will the Surface 3 Tablet Be a Game-Changer for Microsoft?

Microsoft has been trying for years -- and, for the most part, failing -- to compete in the tablet arena with the iPad. The huge success of Apple’s tablet, and to a lesser extent, the various Android tablets, has convinced Microsoft that there’s gold in them thar devices.
It has called its line Surface, and over the years has tried a succession of Surfaces. None have set the world on fire with sales, although each new version has improved on the previous one.

The latest version is the Surface Pro 3.

Sticker Shock
But a big barrier to the Surface’s success has always been the high price tag. When you outfit it modestly well, it’ll probably cost you $1,000 or more, making it a good bit more expensive than a typical iPad.
This issue is that people are used to paying a premium for an Apple product, knowing that they’re going to get their money’s worth. On the Windows side of the ledger, though, price has always been a more important factor. And even though the Surface Pro 3 is a more capable work machine than an iPad, it's still more than many are willing to spend. If folks want a laptop for work, there are plenty of cheaper Windows choices than a Pro.
That may have all changed with the introduction of the Surface 3, the first true hybrid tablet/laptop at an attractive price point.
Note that I didn’t say Surface “Pro” 3 – it’s just the “Surface 3”. It can be confusing to distinguish between the two, so I wanted to point out a few of the differences to help you tell them apart.

2 Major Differences
There are two primary distinctions between the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface 3: price and capability. The Surface Pro 3 is much more expensive, as well as more capable. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best Surface tablet for you.
The Surface 3 starts at $499, which definitely makes it competitive with the entry-level iPad Air 2, the most current iPad model. Consider, for example, that the cheapest Surface 3 has a 64GB hard drive, while the iPad offers a microscopic 16GB hard drive for the same price. That’s four times the storage, which can make a big difference.
Back to the Surface Pro 3 comparison. The cheapest Surface Pro 3 comes in at $799, so you’re laying out $300 more for the higher-level tablet.
The Surface 3 uses the same Windows 8.1 operating system (OS) as the Surface Pro 3, and will be equally upgradeable to Windows 10 when it releases this summer (allegedly -- always allegedly when you’re talking about software release dates). The upgrade will be free.
Also like its upscale cousin, the Surface 3 will have as a (necessary) option a separate keyboard, called a Type Cover. The keyboard serves double duty as a cover (not surprising, since it’s in the name). With the keyboard attached, it becomes much more like a laptop, but one with touchscreen functionality when you want to use it as a tablet.
Smaller, Lighter
The Surface 3 is lighter and smaller than the Surface Pro 3, with a 10.8-inch screen vs. the Pro’s 12-inch screen. These smaller dimensions mean that the Surface 3 is nearly a half-pound lighter than the Pro, which can add up if you tote it around everywhere.
Where it suffers compared to the Pro is in the less-powerful processor and (generally) less RAM. The Surface 3 isn’t up to heavy-duty tasks like photo and video editing, and will perform the things it does do slightly more slowly than the Pro (although for typical stuff, you won’t notice any difference). The Surface 3 is more for Web surfing, social media, streaming video, etc. It will also function well for students, as it will work fine for writing papers, note-taking and similar duties.
In that way, it's pretty much identical to the iPad; they can both handle the same types of workloads. But the Surface 3, with the Type Cover, is a more capable laptop-style computer than the iPad. And it keeps you in the Windows world, which is a more comfortable place for many.
Neither the Surface 3 nor the iPad can touch the Surface Pro 3 for productivity, though. So if you want something closer to a real laptop or desktop replacement, the Pro is a better bet. Ultimately, it comes down to how you’ll use your Surface. I think that, everything being equal, that the Surface 3 is a better value: it’s lighter and significantly cheaper than the Pro, making it more affordable for more people without crippling compromises on performance.
Coming Soon
According to Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, the Surface 3 is available for preorder now, and will be on officially on sale beginning May 5. If you live anywhere near a Microsoft store, they should have one available for a test drive, which I'd recommend.
I’ll be writing much more about the Surface 3 in the coming months. For now, suffice to say that I’m really, really excited about a Microsoft tablet.
Finally.