Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review: Pad versus Laptop -- No Compromises Needed?

 Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Review

 

Pros

•     Beautiful, large, high resolution 12" screen
•     Remarkably thin and light with true laptop power
•     Easier to use as a standalone tablet
•     Fast performance
•     Keyboard can be propped up at an adjustable, comfortable angle

Cons

•     Keyboard is flimsy keyboard and inferior to a proper laptop
•     Heavy and massive compared to lightweight Pads
•     Only one USB 3.0 port
•     Better, but still average battery life

Summary

The Surface Pro 3 is Microsoft's biggest and best tablet yet; but only with a better keyboard to truly replace your laptop.

Review

Having a Pad is convenient most of the time, but wouldn't it be great if your tablet had your laptop's processing power, operating system, and keyboard to handle the big jobs.  Well in the past, you may have had to compromise on one of the factors -- but no more.  With the Surface Pro 3, there is finally a mobile PC that runs full Windows and makes for a serious iPad rival on the tablet end. It is certainly a big slate tablet; but it's very light and thin for the power it offers.  The Surface Pro 3 can now serve as both tablet and laptop for more people than ever before.

Using the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as a tablet at 8" H by 11.5" W by 0.36" D inches, is like using an oversized Retina MacBook Pro or iPad Air. Conveniently it has the performance of a laptop; it offers a bigger screen, more comfortable keyboard with improved kickstand, and it runs full Windows 8.1 Pro. The Surface Pro 3 weighs 1.75 pounds, but the weight goes up to 2.44 pounds if you add the Surface Pen and the Type Cover keyboard.

Surface Pro 3 came equipped with an Intel Core i5-4300U processor; 8GB of DDR3L RAM memory; and a 256GB SSD. The Surface Pro 3 is a very good performer and has the CPU  and memory power to handle tasks like photo image and video editing.

The Surface Pro 3 screen made of Gorilla Glass with a resolution of 2,160 by 1,440 px resolution display jumps to 12 inches from the 10.6-in display in the older Surfaces. That's 38 percent more screen area with the new model.  The new Surface Pro now has a new aspect ratio of 3:2, compared to the previous 16:9.  This new model has a 23 percent larger face, but surprisingly weighs 12 percent less.  The new display makes for a huge Pad tablet, but for laptop purposes, it is ideal.  The screen display colors are vibrant. HD videos looked great at 1080p with clear imaging and smooth animation.

There is a built-in rear 5-megapixel and front-facing 1080p webcams that offer smooth video capture and adequate still images.

There are several connectors: one USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, a headset jack, and power jack. There is also an expansion MicroSD card slot supporting cards as large as 128GB.

To use the Surface Pro 3 as a laptop, you will have to get the optional snap-on keyboard/cover accessory, "Type Cover for Surface Pro 3".  The keyboard has great tactile, moving keys that are backlit offering a responsive feel.  The Surface Pro 3 touchpad is larger with a firmer surface; has a built-in touch button; and it is more usable as a mouse replacement; but has little else to offer.  The kickstand  feels well-built and rigid; and is adjustable and can tilt the tablet anywhere from 20 to 150 degrees.

One of the best improvements is the Surface Pro 3's pointing tool, Surface Pen.  The Surface Pen if made of aluminum, not plastic, and feels substantial in your hand.  The pen has two buttons.  The pen's top-mounted button feels like a traditional ballpoint pen.  Clicking this button wake-up the Surface Pro 3 and is ready to take notes.  The Surface Pen glides effortlessly on the Gorilla Glass with little or no lag.  Unfortunately, there is no place to stow the pen on the tablet.

One more improvement is the Surface Pro 3's new battery.  With light use, the Surface Pro 3 should last about twelve hours.  But with heavier use with programs like Microsoft Office; Photoshop; and streaming video; the battery life will drop to about 6 hours.  this is double what the Surface 2 offered.

Can we crown the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 the best single device replacement?  Probably not yet.  As a laptop sitting on your desk if fine, but it may be uncomfortable on your lap due to its size.  While the display is large, colorful and vibrant, the weight of the Surface Pro 3 may be too heavy for most people to hold with one hand.

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DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with First Person View HD Video Camera 3-Axis Gimbal

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal

Product Highlights

•     Digital camera with 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
•     Takes 14MP Still images and 1080p Video
•     Wi-Fi Downlink for use with Smartphones
•     iOS/Android App for control and monitoring
•     Up to 25 minutes Flying Time
•     GPS-Based Autopilot with Return to Home feature
•     Stationary Hover with GPS Attitude Mode
•     Visible LED Indicators & Low Voltage Indicator

   

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal is the 2nd generation  quad-rotor RC helicopter from DJI.  Its a small, remote control helicopter that is loaded with the latest technology, including: GPS; Wi-Fi; and a fully stabilized 14 mega-pixel wireless HD FPV camera with an F/2.8 lens that shoots video at 1080p/30, giving you a complete FPV experience.  The camera can take 14 mega-pixel, Adobe DNG RAW photos; and can record video in 1080p Full HD at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps for creating slow motion effects.  The Phantom 2 Vision+, which includes not only a camera, but also a built-in 3-axis electronic stabilization.

Out of the box, the Phantom 2 Vision+ is ready-to-fly and the radio controller-- remote or transmitter -- is electronically tied to the quadcopter.  The transmitter features a line-of-sight range of up to a maximun of 2625 feet.

Flying the Phantom2 Vision+ is easier than previous models and a lot of fun.  To begin you power on the quadcopter, the remote, and the Wi-Fi repeater, then pair your phone with the repeater, and start the provided smartphone app. On the remote flick on the top right switch and the copter lights turn yellow confirming that it is connected remotely. Holding the copter, you will rotate it according to the instructions along the Z, Y and X axes to calibrate its compasses. once the remote lights turn green the copter is ready to begin flying.

The rotors are activated by pushing the two joysticks to the lower-inside corners. The left joystick controls which way it faces, altitude and rotation. The right joystick controls travel forward; backward; or side to side; pitch and roll.

Flying the Phantom 2 Vision+ takes some patience and practice.  It is best to take it where there is no obstructions and practice.  In a short time we were able to fly it reasonably well.  It is pretty easy to fly the quadcopter out of the remote's range and lose control.  Losing control isn't a problem. If it loses contact with the remote, using data from its GPS and altimeters, it will slowly start returning down to where it last had contact. Flipping the top right switch on and off will allow the remote to take control again.

The Phantom 2 Vision+ has an integrated GPS auto-pilot system that provides for position holding; altitude lock; and stable hovering; offering a constant stable flight. Most videographers will use GPS attitude mode to get the smoothest possible shoots. GPS attitude mode is an autopilot system that keeps the quadcopter stable and right-side-up when moving, and holds it in a fixed horizontal and vertical position whenever the controls are released.

The Phantom 2 Vision+ includes a Wi-Fi Range extender that will increase the wireless range of the smartphone used for FPV camera operation up to a maximum 2300 feet line-of-sight. The range extender mounts on the transmitter/radio controller/ along with the smartphone.

The Phantom 2 Vision+ has a "return home" feature.  Should the radio controller lose track of the quadcopter, the quadcopter will return back to the spot it was originally launched from -- very cool.

You will use the supplied iOS or Android smart phone app to control the camera.  Your smartphone can attached directly onto the controller with the supplied mount.  The app has up or down arrows to adjust the camera's tilt, and start/stop recording video with the press of a button, or capture a still. The manufacturer claims that it can send video to your phone in real-time, at 30 frames per second.  Our results did not bear this out: frame rates were substanially slower; and we encountered video "freezes". To capture stills in JPG or Adobe DNG raw files, you would snap a shot the app screen -- the screen  goes black for about 7 seconds. All image data is saved to a microSD card.

Image quality is fairly good, but there are sportscams that are better investment.  The Phantom 2 Vison+ video quality and captured image size is not as good as the GoPro Hero 3+ Black edition.  Phantom 2 Vison+ shows a fair amount of lens distortion; unatural colors; and a significant amount of ISO noise in low-light.

With the app, you can program a flight path with the 16 waypoint Ground Station feature. You can take photos and shoot video while the Phantom 2 Vision+ flight is controlled autonomously.  The app always offers a convenient flight radar that displays the current position of the Phantom 2 Vision+ in relation to the pilot.

The 5,200 mAh battery lasts for about 25 minutes of flight time. Once you have the flight practice, battery flight time will be sufficient and you can always carry a back-up battery.

Cons

While the manufacturer claims 25 minutes of battery time, when the battery goes below 10 percent, the rotors stop spinning and the quadcopter falls out of the sky.  While the copter can survive a short fall, if the copter is higher, say 100 feet, its fall may cause unrepairable damage.

The video and camera features need to be improved.  The "freezing" video and "black screen" with image capture is hard to work around.

The instruction manual needs to be improved.  There were many unclear sections and parts that just did not make sense.  I would guess that the original manual was in Chinese and was translated, albeit not carefully.

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Traditional weddings can be very expensive and brides are faced with the unfortunate task of cutting guest lists to meet their wedding budgets.  No more.   Popular Vermont wedding venue, Hartness House Inn, offers a complete wedding package of affordable lodging; wedding ceremony and reception sites; and reception dining menus.  and now it is possible for the wedding couple to bring their own liquor service for even bigger savings.

Looking for a small wedding venue?  Elopements are your answer.  Elope destination venue offer a complete all-inclusive elope package for less than most last minute getaway travel.


Vermont's Most Popular Bed and Breakfast Inn offers a relaxing weekend getaway from the workweek.  And you will remember their gourmet-inspired breakfast forever.

High Powered Video - GoPro HERO3+: Black Edition

If you are looking for the top-of-line video recording equipment for harsh outdoor conditions then the GoPro HERO3+ is for you.


This latest version of the popular video camsports smaller housing size and reduced weight by 20%.  This latest version of the HERO3+ weighs in at 2.08 ounces. The camera body has retained the tough black backing treatment and the progressive user interface at the front.  Moreover, the lighter unit boasts an impressive waterproofing to 131 feet . 

Capture and share your experiences with the new HERO3+ Black Edition and it much enhanced new features.  Combined with a new sharper lens improving image sharpness and reduced distortion by 33%; SuperView™ is a new video mode that captures the widest angle perspective; Auto Low Light mode intelligently adjusts frame rate for stunning low-light performance; 30% longer battery life; enhanced waterproofing to 131' (40m) -- the HERO3+ Black Edition is the most advanced GoPro yet. 

The HERO3+ Black Edition continues the tradition of stunning video quality offering professional quality footage and liquid-smooth slow motion playback at high-resolution, frame rates of 1440p48; 1080p60; 960p100; and 720p120.  In addition, the Black Edition adds 4Kp15 and 2.7Kp30 ultra high-resolution, cinema quality capture. The camera supports both NTSC and PAL video systems, and it can record up to 120 frames per second (fps) when shooting in 720p mode.

The HERO3+ Black Edition captures razor sharp12MP stills at up to 30 frames per second—perfect for fast-action sequences. There is a continuous photo mode that captures full-resolution stills at a steady 3, 5 or 10 frames per second when holding down the shutter button.  Time Lapse mode provides automatic photo capture at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 second intervals.

Protune™ is a new video feature that we like. It is an advanced video mode that yields stunning image quality and cinema-caliber video optimized for professional productions.  With Protune you'll also be able to record video in cinema-quality at 24 fps, allowing you to easily intercut GoPro content with other source media.

Sound quality is as important as image quality and the HERO3+ Black Edition features upgraded audio performance and advanced wind-noise reduction technology capturing even the most subtle of sounds-whether you’re recording voices, music or the roar of an engine.  There's a built-in mono microphone and a port for optional accessories including the 3.5mm stereo microphone adapter; and a composite A/V adapter.

The updated GoPro App lets you control your camera remotely, preview shots and play back content on your smartphone or tablet.   Some of the key features are:

• Control your camera remotely—start/stop recording, adjust settings and more;
• See what your camera sees with live preview;
• View Photos and play back videos;
• Copy photos and videos¹ to a GoPro album on your smartphone or tablet;
• Share photos and videos¹ via email, text, Instagram™, Facebook® or other app;
• Browse and delete files on the camera's memory card.

The HERO3+ sports 4x faster Wi-Fi connectivity.  This allows you can preview content in near real-time.  The Wi-Fi Remote has a range of up to 600'  or180 meters and it can control up to 50 cameras at a time.



There were some HERO3+ users that claimed that the picture, video and focusing quality had deteriorated.  So we compared images taken by the HERO3+ and the HERO2.  It was apparent that the HERO3+ images were sharper; exhibited better color tones; and better lit by the ambient lighting.  The HERO3+ uses a six-element aspherical lens rated at f/2.8-6.0. You can expect sharper image quality whether it's sunny bright or its near dusk. The lens also allows White Balance adjustment in either auto or manual modes: Auto; 3000K for use in warm light (incandescent, sunrise/sunset); 5500K for use in slightly cool light (cool fluorescent, average daylight); 6500K for use in cool light (overcast conditions); and Camera RAW (where you can adjusted the WB temperature in post-processing).

Battery life is an important feature and unfortunately prior models have not had sufficient battery life according to some owners.  What about the HERO3+?    The good news is that the new battery is a significant improvement.  The manufacturer claims that in 1080p 30fps video mode with Wi-Fi off - battery life is 2 hours and turning on Wi-Fi and using the Wi-Fi-remote the battery life goes down to 1 hour and 50 minutes -- not bad.  Once you begin using the optional LCD Touch BacPac - battery life goes down to 1 hour and 25 minutes.

What’s included in the HERO3+ Black Edition retail box:
    HERO3+ Black Edition Camera
    131’/40m Waterproof Housing
    Wi-Fi Remote
    Higher Capacity Li-ion Battery
    Quick Release Buckle
    Vertical Quick Release Buckle
    1 Curved + 1 Flat Adhesive Mount
    3-Way Pivot Arm
    USB Charging Cable
    GoPro App

Overall, this is a significant upgrade to the HERO3 video cam line and makes it a better value proposition.  See more information here GoPro HERO3+: Black Edition

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Traditional weddings can be very expensive and brides are faced with the unfortunate task of cutting guest lists to meet their wedding budgets.  No more.   Popular Vermont wedding venue, Hartness House Inn, offers a complete wedding package of affordable lodging; wedding ceremony and reception sites; and reception dining menus.  and now it is possible for the wedding couple to bring their own liquor service for even bigger savings.

Looking for a small wedding venue?  Elopements are your answer.  Elope destination venue offer a complete all-inclusive elope package for less than most last minute getaway travel.

Vermont's Popular Bed and Breakfast Inn offers a relaxing weekend getaway from the workweek.  And you will dream about their gourmet-inspired breakfast forever.