Microsoft has launched the Surface 3 tablet, with a 12in screen and running on full Windows 8.1 (an instant upgrade to Windows 10 will be available when it arrives), rather than the slimmed-down version Windows RT the Surface 2 utilised.
This addition of full fat Windows means a wider selection of applications can be used on the Surface 3, including Photoshop, CorelDraw, Spotify, World of Warcraft and Google's Chrome browser.
It also runs on Intel's new x86-based Atom X7 processor rather than the ARM-based chip in the Surface 2, making it a serious contender in the tablet space.
However, more memory intensive apps may stutter a little, so it's recommended you stay away from those that demand 3D visualisations such as video editing or CAD software.
The Surface 3 sits halfway between the super-powered Surface Pro 3 and last year's Surface 2, which means it may not be as expensive as the top of the range device, but it'll set you back more if you're looking for a like-for-like upgrade to the newer tab.
The basic version of the Surface 3, with 64GB of storage, 2GB of RAM costs 419. If you want to upgrade and add he touchscreen pen and keyboard cover, you'll need to shell out another 155, making it not too far off the Surface Pro 3's 639 price tag.
With a standard USB 3.0 port rather than microUSB as you'd expect to find on a tablet, the Surface 3 is a little chunkier than its rivals at 8.7mm, but until USB-C becomes mainstream, its a blow you'll have to take for computer-like transfer rates on a tab.
Panos Panay, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Surface division said: "We've taken everything we learned making Surface Pro 3 and poured that innovation into this newest Surface. It's beautiful, versatile, powerful and productive, and our customers are going to love what it lets them do."
-
US healthcare firm postponed procedures after cyber attack knocked systems offlineNews The incident at Kettering Health disrupted procedures for patients
-
Millennials are leading the charge on AI skills developmentNews Workday research suggests mid-career workers are largely on board with upskilling to take advantage of AI
-
Microsoft angers admins as April Patch Tuesday delivers password feature without migration guidanceNews Security fixes include a zero day exploited by a ransomware group and seven critical flaws
-
Managing a late migrationOpinion When it comes to moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, it's better late than never
-
How to set up a Windows 7 emulator for Windows 10Tutorials A complete guide for setting up a Windows 7 emulator for Windows 10 so you don’t lose access to your apps
-
The autopsy of Windows 7
In-depth Report of a postmortem examination
-
The IT Pro Podcast: Farewell Windows 7IT Pro Podcast We reflect on the legacy of one of Microsoft's most enduringly popular operating systems
-
Windows 7 ends: what do you do next?
In-depth From SMBs to big business and individuals, after 10 years it's time to move on from Windows 7
-
Windows 7 end of life: What to do if you haven't upgraded yetIn-depth Microsoft has now officially moved Windows 7 to end of life, meaning it's no longer a viable business platform
-
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1 vs Windows 7 - Microsoft OS head-to-headVs We pit Microsoft's most popular operating systems against each other to see which is the greatest of all time
