Surface Pro 3 vs. MacBook Air: can Microsoft steal the crown?

With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft is challenging Apple's popular laptop, the MacBook Air. One is a laptop and one wants to be "the tablet that can replace your laptop." But can it? The Verge's Dieter Bohn looks at both devices to see if the Surface hits the mark.

[AnuragPoddar]

Putting the software preferences aside, Surface Pro 3 is brilliant. Never been so tempted about a Microsoft product for quite some time!

[dredon]

Mac vs surface3! Surface lighter, touch screen, 2k, pen, u can stand and read, stand and take a note! High graphic games, 5mp rear and front camera! Tell that fruit to do this! Surface wins and you know it too bias to say it!

[VitorSilvaTotti]

This is the first version of the surface that I'm actually tempted to buy.

[AdityaDodda]

The Verge Come on guys admit it. This is the first time someone has actually made a product that truly feels very close no compromise as both laptop and tablet. Not that you did not impy it but you could say that with a little more passion. It runs a full fledged OS.

The price would be right if they included the keyboard cost in the total.

[dredon]

these tech reviews are very bias against Microsoft products I've noticed that!

[ronaldrobin]

Dear verge pls do a fair comparison this time, i mean no fanboyism or bias :p

[PierresCousine]

A shame, I picked up the Pro 2 just 2 months ago, and I hoped that the pro 3 would have been a small upgrade again with Broadwell architecture or something like that, but this Device BLOWS MY MIND. If someone wants to buy a surface pro 2, message me :P

[artcasperos]

Microsoft should just make an ultrabook. Even with all the new stuff, Surface 3 still looks awkward

[codak]

Bring back The Vergecast and The Verge Mobile Show. Knowing Dieter and the gang on a more personal level makes me trust their opinions more.

Having not heard him in a month, he's feeling more and more like a stranger. I visit the website less because the podcasts are on hiatus.

[DrDarp]

What music is in the 😍 Verge now that's how you do it.

[SHADOWSofSODOM]

I'm playing Skyrim and Fallout on my Surface Pro.


Meanwhile, Apple users are eating dust.

[grahamgrecian]

Damn the last comment is from 3 years ago. Times have certainly changed since this vid

[MostCedric]

Surface Pro 3 is great, the best windows ultrabook. Now let's see the Retina MacBook Air.

[tefeuvre]

Something that comes again and again in Surface reviews or Macbook comparison is using the stuff on your legs/knees ... But WHO the hell on earth is using his laptop this way ????
Unless you like to feel very unconfortable with a heater on you knees ... Why would somebody do that rather than putting the thing on a desk or table ?

[duwaine]

So I'm in school and I've written a lot of papers, but I can't remember writing one damn essay on my fucking lap. Why do people care about a laptop sitting on your lap so much is it because you want to find something wrong with the surface ? Not being bias it's a true question can somebody answer

[ellicopter]

I cant understand why weight is such an issue? None of these devices are actually that heavy, Anyway, is it just me? or doe's  anyone else like the feel of a nice solid device with a bit of weight to it?

[iamone_]

Can surface 3 run games like battlefield 3? On my macbook air with bootcamp running windows 8.1 i can get around 30 fps with everything on low in battlefield 3. It's playable. Can surface do the same? Please if you can test the games like battlefeidl 3 on the surface 3 with low settings. And the most important thing battery life. Can it beat macbook air's 12h battery life?

[tdottme]

Was there ever a follow up to this? I couldn't find

[skatertwig]

Surface Pro 3 all day. The screen is one of the most beautiful I have seen.High accurate resolution with IPS technology. Works great for Lightroom, Photoshop, web browsing. So comfortable when using even on your lap. Only thing I do not like is the lack of a standard SD slot(has Micro)(But since My Sony A7 can just hook up through usb its fine). And only having 1 usb 3.0. I am so happy I bought this, it's perfect for what I needed. That being said I would NEVER spend the Full price. I got mine for $500. The i5 128gb. I don't know why it's always a contest with Apple fan boys.

[garminkid]

For those people who like both Windows and OS X equally and use software on both platforms, get a Mac and install VMware Fusion to install Windows and run the Windows apps on the OS X interface.