We’ve talked about the popularity of Microsoft’s new laptop/tablet hybrid, the Surface 3, which has pretty much garnered positive reviews across the entire stratum of the tech media. The device, powerful enough to take care of all your non-pro requirements, and cheap enough (starting at $499) to please most thrifty consumers, has already become another feather in the cap of Microsoft’s booming tablet business – a business that once upon a time back in the RT past was reporting massive losses.

Here are some of the reasons folks are lining up to say nice things about Redmond’s winning product.

It’s versatile

If Microsoft wants to etch a slogan into the consumer collective consciousness it’s this: The Surface can replace your laptop. One thing to point out is that it is light (1.37 pounds when the keyboard is not attached), and while this makes it easy to move around, the lack of weight makes it better placed on a hard surface, such as your desktop, than your thighs.

When placed on a surface, you can adjust the kickstand to three different angles, unlike the Surface Pro 3, which can be adjusted to any angle – a small, but nonetheless slightly irksome flaw. The keyboard, which snaps hard to the tablet using a strong magnet, comes in different colors. The keys are fairly big, making typing movements fluid. If you’re a prolific writer, you shouldn’t have a problem.

It’s not as cheap as you think

So the Surface has been touted as a bargain, but then any modern consumer should always be aware of the ++. The keyboard (with backlight and track pad) will cost you an extra $130, while the stylus pen will set you back another $50. There are plenty more accessories available, but arguably these two are “must haves,” making your bargain a little less to write home about.

Some specs

The screen is 10.8-inches (1920 x 1280 resolution) and is 8.7mm in width (it now has a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it better in portrait mode). Inside is an Atom x7-Z8700 Quad-Core processor, which is good for most basic needs, such as web browsing and streaming media. It’s passively cooled, which means no fan noise to bug you.

The basic version comes with 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, and for another $100 bucks (it’s getting even more expensive) you can get 4GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The second option makes a considerable difference in how smooth the device runs. It runs a full version of Windows 8.1 (meaning you can run all Windows apps, unlike older versions), which can be updated for free to Windows 10 when it becomes available.

Redmond says that users will get 10 hours of video playback. On the back there is an 8 megapixel camera (3.5 megapixel front camera), Dolby Pro speakers, headset jack, microSD slot, USB 3.0 port, mini display port and it also comes with a 13-watt charger. Microsoft got rid of the standard charger and replaced it with a microUSB charger.

It comes with Office 365

Microsoft has said that for the time being (we don’t know how long) buyers of the hybrid will receive a full year’s Office 365 subscription. Users will get OneDrive cloud storage, as well as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook.

Conclusion

Its versatility is a winner. Its performance is good; it’s quiet and doesn’t get hot. With a full range of apps on offer and the limited Office 365 free subscription, don’t be surprised if Microsoft has it right and quite a few people will be trading in their laptops this year … even if the bargain is weighed down by a lot of plus pluses.

Photo Credit: Microsoft