Microsoft Surface 3

[Tin Pot]

The surface is a great machine, I would only be concerned that your friends are elderly. If they are expecting it to be like an ancient laptop, it isn't, and big UI changes tend to annoy those who aren't savvy.

@chris harte
It does have USB.

As always, the big question is "what are they going to use it for?". If they have some ancient software they assume will be he same on it, or assume you can slot in DVDs, that sort of thing can be a gotcha.

Handwriting recognition is amazeballs.

 

[alicat]

@Tin Pot you're right about them being slow to get used to change. However they haven't really got on with their last laptop and I think the fact it is touch screen etc may be a good thing judging by the number of times Norah tries prodding my MacBook Air screen when we are doing their shopping! Good to hear about the handwriting recognition - they may use some of the difference to experiment with that.

Thanks to everyone for all the input - I think with the lower spec we will be fine. At least it will be less of an investment if, as I suspect, their computing days are over (or never really got off the ground to be honest).

 

[potsy]

Handwriting recognition is amazeballs

ha ha just trying onl mine, not sure whether the machine is at fault or my handwriting is atrocious

 

[ColinJ]

ha ha just trying onl mine, not sure whether the machine is at fault or my handwriting is atrocious

I can't even read your typing half the time!

As for my long-lasting laptop ... I am doing my best to kill it by a clumsy SSD installation. I am halfway through restoring the cloned HDD to it and I bet it will not work first time. I will give it another 20 minutes and if it is not finished, I will go to bed and leave it running.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Just purchased a new laptop and I did look at the Surface but it's piddly little screen didn't do it for me plus I don't like virtual keyboards (ok for surfing the web etc) but when typing masterpieces of prose like this I prefer the real thing.

Nice little device for someone who needs full functionality on the hoof though.

Re OP: lower spec' is fine. I think salesmen assume that every customer wants to play the latest memory sucking mega-game whist streaming a movie whilst playing music whilst engaging in FB banter whilst...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

iirc you can't upgrade the RAM on a Surface 3. It is soldered to the board. So if you undercook the spec you are stumped. I eventually got used to using the "keyboard" cover thing but if doing report writing I use an external proper keyboard.

I am planning to buy a Surface Book when they hit the streets.

 

[alicat]

Well, I've fetched the lower spec version and am setting it up.

Can't tell yet but I have a feeling that the higher spec one would have been like going to the shops on a Pinarello instead of a sit up and beg bike.