Full version of Windows for Microsoft's Surface 3 tablet

Microsoft has rebooted its tablet family with a new entry-level device that actually runs more software! This however, does come at a price increase!

As you all know the relation between Microsoft and Intel, the Surface 3 is now powered by the Intel processor, replacing the the ARM-based chip in the Surface 2.

That means it uses the Windows 8 operating system, rather than the more limited Windows RT.

Can this help Microsoft replicate the success of its higher-specification Surface Pro 3?

The previous tablet that was launched 10 months ago, featured a larger screen at 12in (30.5cm) screen in comparison to the 10.8in display of the new Surface 3. Does this mean that the craze of ever growing tablets has come to a halt?

Shipments of the Microsoft tablets rose from 1.8 million units in the last three months of 2013 to 2.1 million units for the same period in 2014, according to research group Canalys, with the Pro 3 accounting for the bulk of demand since it went on sale.

This has greatly helped Microsoft's share, where the tablet market has grown from 2.3% to 3.2% as a result! Apple on the other hand, has seen sales of its iPad decline, although it remains the bestselling brand. Could this be the tides of change that means Apple will not have an easy swim anymore?

Microsoft markets the Pro 3 as "the tablet that can replace your laptop", and is using similar language for the new model.

But it will target the Surface 3 at those on tighter budgets such as students and schools, and mobile workers who may want a lighter, smaller design.

Last year's launch of the larger Surface Pro 3 helped boost sales of Microsoft's tablets

The release date is 7 May.

Prices?

The basic version of the Surface 3 - featuring 64gb of storage, 2GB of RAM and an Intel Atom x7 processor will cost £419.

That is about a 3rd lower than the £639 price tag of the cheapest Surface Pro 3, but about two-thirds more than the £259 that had been charged for the basic Surface 2, which had less storage.

Microsoft says that its touchscreen pen lets its Surface tablets be used instead of paper

The touchscreen pen and keyboard cover are not included, and add £155 to the cost.

The Atom processor means it is under-powered compared to the Pro 3. This means it is not going to suit everyone as a notebook replacement and will be for people who only want it for lighter productivity tasks. However, the market audience is pretty big!

Fanless but thick

Does this make it an advantage or drawback? Using Windows 8 rather than Windows RT, with the offer of a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it becomes available, means the entry-level Surface gains access to more programs.

Asus's new Windows tablet is thinner but has micro USB ports rather than the more commonly used USB 3.0

The Surface 2, for example, has not been able to run the full version of Photoshop, CorelDraw, Spotify, World of Warcraft (Maybe not as important for work) or Google Chrome.

The new model's Atom-class chip does, however, mean the Surface 3 will struggle with some processor-intensive programs - such as video editors, computer-aided design (CAD) software and graphics-intensive games - which the Pro 3 model will be more suited for.

The new tablet is fanless, but significantly thicker - at 8.7mm (0.34in) - than many of its rivals in order to incorporate a standard USB 3.0 socket.

That makes it 30% thicker than both Dell's Android-based Venue 8 7840 and Apple's iPad Air 2, and 13% deeper than the tablet part of Asus's Windows-powered Transformer Book T300 Chi.

"We optimised for a port that enables connections to the largest number of devices and peripherals possible," explained a Microsoft spokeswoman.

Apple and Google recently released computers with a smaller type of cable port that can transfer data at double the speed, called USB-C.

Google's Chromebook Pixel is one of the first computers to feature the new USB-C port

Mr Coulling said the technology could lead to slimmer Surfaces, but added that it might have been too early to adopt the technology.

"The Surface 3 would have been thinner had Microsoft included it, but then users would have had to worry about adding converters or upgrading their peripherals," he said.

"But I think it will be there in the next revision of the product."

Schools and offices

Another expert suggested the new tablets should further boost Microsoft's tablet sales, but warned they could put some of the firm's business relationships under strain.

"Right now there is a huge battle going on in the education space to ensure the next generations of users stay familiar with and loyal to Microsoft rather than solutions from Google and others," said Martin Garner from the CCS Insight consultancy.

The Surface 3 can be connected to a docking station to gain additional ports

"Microsoft is also clearly going after business users - with Office 365 bundled in, it's the sort of device companies will give to workers who are regularly on the move.

"So, the new Surface 3 is a welcome move, but it will put Microsoft into increasing competition with its partners who make Windows-powered products, such as Dell and Lenovo."