Microsoft Surface Pro 3 8GB/256GB - PS2-00001

So far the Surface ha been really great. It's lightweight so I can carry it anywhere and it is pretty powerful. I mainly use my Surface 3 to do art. I primarily use Manga Studio 5 (I've never run Photoshop on here). I do have Blender for some 3D pre-visualization, and it seems to run decently, but I haven't put it through it's paces yet. As for Manga Studio drawing with the pen is actually decent. It may not have the 2048 levels of pressure that a Cintiq offers you, but it does let you do thick and thin lines. Manga Studio 5.0.4 has a tablet mode meaning that it's easier to use on a device like this and I can mostly get away with using the pen and just draw. If I need to do any complex layer maneuvering (i.e. moving multiple layers) I would need a keyboard and the on-screen one isn't good enough for that purpose, but it's fine for naming layers and some simple text work. You'd need a separate keyboard for hotkeys. I use a knock-off apple bluetooth keyboard for that purpose.I intend to use my Surface Pro 3 to do everything you would need in the process of making a digital comic: scriptwriting, storyboarding, pre-vis, illustration, etc. There are some palm rejection issues. Sometimes it can register as a touch and then pan your canvas or you might move a button. I wouldn't say I had a delicate touch, but most of the time I can rest my palm on the surface and draw quickly. The windows button does get in the way if you're a rightie, but you just turn the tablet 180 degrees and it's out of your way. If you must use the kickstand to get an angle, it's doable. So the kickstand can bend pretty much all the way back. If you want the windows key out of your way just turn it 180 so the windows key is on the left and then pull the kickstand out and pull until it feels sturdy -- once you go out of the basic upright position the Surface's kickstand has some friction to it. Just don't draw to hard and you should be fine or use your hand to help support the angled tablet.There is a fan and it's noisy, but when I'm drawing it never comes on -- and I usually have chrome open in the background as well. I heard it most when running video (youtube) or skyping. The latter is more of an issue since the fan sound seems to leak into the microphone and then it gets transmitted and then fedback, so you get to hear the gentle sound of static from it over your conversation.Other than that I've used the tablet for some general web surfing. I also have some games installed on it, but I rarely play games since this is meant to be a work machine for me. It's really light so I bring it everywhere. i got a small 13 in. laptop bag and carry the tablet, the power brick (very small and light) and the pen as well as some other things. it's much nicer than the 15 in. laptop I was carrying before and a lot more inconspicuous. It's pricey, but it's a full on computer. You run full on apps. I mostly ignore the Windows 8 metro stuff.

Best laptop and tablet I have ever owned. Super versatile, portable, and powerful. The i5 processor works great for casual and business use. Maybe upgrade if you're a big gamer, but it's not necessary for the average household user. I recommend getting at least 8GB of RAM though. Just seems to be a better investment. Add a type keyboard and you'll have everything you need without the hassle of a clunky laptop. It's such a perfect size - I can literally throw this in my purse and take it to meetings without having to deal with an extra laptop bag. But at the same time, the screen is well sized so it doesn't feel like just a little tablet for only playing apps. I wish I had had this in college instead of the giant laptops of the early 2000s! It's like the size of a notebook, maybe even smaller, and would have been so easy to carry around campus and take notes in class using the awesome OneNote program. If you have a child who is a current or future student, buy this for them!It's fantastic for traveling to, as it fits well on a plane tray table, and doesn't take very much space in your carry on bag. You can read books with Nook or Kindle or Overdrive (library) apps. Or watch movies, play games, or get some work done. I've taken it on car trips and both long and short plane rides, and it was fantastic for all three.You'll also love the USB and microSD ports. Very convenient compared to other tablets on the market. You can plug it into an external hard drive, external optical (CD/DVD) drive, or download files. It even has miniHDMI, so you can plug it into your tv. I actually did that for a PowerPoint based game at a baby shower and it was very easy to hook up. Just plug it in, hit (Windows button) + P for projection options, and you're set. You could also use it to project pictures or watch movies.I had a Surface RT previously, and this is a vast improvement. Not only is the processor way better and bigger hard drive, but there are some other features which are much more user friendly. The kickstand is my favorite. It has a super large range of motion that fits just about any sitting or laying position comfortably. I even use it to rest my Surface on the arm of the couch when I need to set it aside for a second. And the best part is that it's built in, so you don't have to buy any extra case or assemble something in order to prop it up, like you would have to with an iPad. Just push out the kickstand and you're set. The power port is also an improvement, and the cord slides in easily with a magnetic grip. But also releases if someone trips over the cord or something.