Microsoft Releases Cheaper Core i7 Model Of Surface Pro 3: What About Surface Pro 4?

Depending on the way you look at it, Microsoft either excited or let down fans of the Surface Pro tablet. CNET tells us about the release of a Surface Pro product.

“Over the weekend, Microsoft added a sixth variant to its Surface Pro 3 lineup. The new one features a 1.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor with 8GB of memory and offers 128GB of onboard storage.”

CNET notes that the change is in storage — the i7 model of the Surface Pro 3 came with either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. The just-announced model carries the same $1299 price as the Core i5 edition with 8GB of memory and 256GB of internal storage.

While it’s great that a new variant of the Surface Pro 3 has just been announced, there were many people hoping that the Surface Pro 4 would be announced. People still expect the Surface Pro 4 to arrive with the release of Windows 10 on July 29.

Speaking of Windows 10, Microsoft just released the latest version which, unlike previous versions, works very well with the Surface Pro 3. Critics are praising the killer combination of the Surface Pro 3 and Windows 10. Gizmag is very impressed.

“Based on our time with the latest preview, we think it could transform the Surface into the futuristic mobile productivity device that Microsoft has been trying to build for years.”

Gizmag notes how Windows automatically switches between Tablet and Desktop mode based on whether or not the keyboard is attached. Before this Windows 10 preview, one had to manually change the mode in the settings. The new update also works with the cheaper Surface 3, which worked so poorly with Windows 10 that Microsoft adamantly suggested that Surface 3 buyers not upgrade to Windows 10.

The Windows 10 update is automatically included as part of the new Surface Pro 3 (and regular Surface 3) software update that was released on Tuesday. WinBeta descibes Microsoft’s update.

“The change log of the updates for Surface Pro 3 include some Windows 10 support, WiFi/Bluetooth driver update, and SATA controller driver updates. The Surface 3 sees updates to almost every piece of hardware, including cover, graphics, audio, WiFi/Bluetooth, pen, and camera.”

So far, nobody seems to agree with what features the Surface Pro 4 will have. There are some who say Microsoft will downgrade the processor to an Intel Core M mobile processor, while others believe doing so will kill the appeal of Microsoft’s groundbreaking laptop/tablet hybrid. It’s quite possible that the Surface Pro 4 will be announced in the next week or so.

[Photo Credit: Engadget]