It's pricey, it's not the fastest, it's not the lightest, it's not the most compact and it doesn't have the best battery life but... looking through all the Surface Pro clones, 2-in-1 computers and tablets on the market today, the 2017 Surface Pro is still the the best full desktop computer system in a tablet form factor.
So who needs the new Surface Pro? It is ideal for the person who needs it's unique form factor.
By the way, I refer to the 2017 Surface Pro as the Surface Pro 4.5.
Bottom line: If you're like me, and have mid to high end general processor needs, a need for a good stylus for drawing and value the comfort of working on the same computer wherever you go, then the Surface Pro 4.5 may be the computer for you.
However, if you have specific, high end needs from your computer, like heavy video editing, gaming or 3D rendering, the Pro 4.5 might be a good choice as a second computer or you might look at a cheaper Pro 4.5 clone. If your second device is going to be used mostly for media consumption then a tablet may be a good choice.
If you're looking at the 4.5 as a second computer, then purchasing a lower end or older model might be a good way to save some money. Pro 4 prices have dropped dramatically since the release of the 4.5.
Microsoft has gotten bashed for not including their keyboard and Surface Pen as part of the 4.5 but this actually allows you to scale your purchase up or down depending on your specific needs.
For example, if you don't need much from the stylus, you can either not buy a Surface Pen or buy the, less expensive older model. I believe some 3rd party styluses work with the Surface Pro.
Same goes with the keyboard.
You also don't even need to buy a new keyboard or pen if your old keyboard and pen are still working properly.
So who needs the new Surface Pro? It is ideal for the person who needs it's unique form factor.
By the way, I refer to the 2017 Surface Pro as the Surface Pro 4.5.
Bottom line: If you're like me, and have mid to high end general processor needs, a need for a good stylus for drawing and value the comfort of working on the same computer wherever you go, then the Surface Pro 4.5 may be the computer for you.
However, if you have specific, high end needs from your computer, like heavy video editing, gaming or 3D rendering, the Pro 4.5 might be a good choice as a second computer or you might look at a cheaper Pro 4.5 clone. If your second device is going to be used mostly for media consumption then a tablet may be a good choice.
If you're looking at the 4.5 as a second computer, then purchasing a lower end or older model might be a good way to save some money. Pro 4 prices have dropped dramatically since the release of the 4.5.
Microsoft has gotten bashed for not including their keyboard and Surface Pen as part of the 4.5 but this actually allows you to scale your purchase up or down depending on your specific needs.
For example, if you don't need much from the stylus, you can either not buy a Surface Pen or buy the, less expensive older model. I believe some 3rd party styluses work with the Surface Pro.
Same goes with the keyboard.
You also don't even need to buy a new keyboard or pen if your old keyboard and pen are still working properly.
New Surface Pen sold separate but backwards compatible By making their Surface Pro hardware backwards compatible, Microsoft has created a modular system allowing the user to customize their hardware choices to best suit their needs and budget.
I got the business bundle and opted for the i5 8gb of RAM but I didn't want the premium Alcantara covered keyboard. Instead, I opted for the older Pro 4 keyboard with fingerprint ID.
I've been using a version of the Surface Pro for the past several years. What do I use it for? Everything - from email and web browsing to sketching to 3D computer modeling. I use it as my primary computer and it allows me to work on my primary computer wherever I go. I even use the built in Surface screen almost exclusively.
It may not seem like a big deal, but I found that when I use a computer, for my art especially, the subtle differences between computers can be distracting and I lose my rhythm or focus on my work. It's the small things like file locations, changes in UI and even the feel of the keyboard or mouse.
Whether it's going from home to an office or traveling to another country, as an artist, I like working on a system that feels the same. A system that's mine. When I'm on the computer for hours at a time, I know where everything is and it feels natural. When I jump on another machine, it's like staying in a hotel, it might have everything you need but it's just not home.
If you want to know my history and why I'm so sold on the "tablet PC" format, you can read more in my blog post, "How I Got To The Surface (Pro 3)".
The Surface Pro 3 and 4.5 allow me to have my home with me all the time. It's compact enough that I can take it with me even if I'm not sure I'll need a computer. It's powerful enough that I can create my 3D works in Maya.
I don't do a lot of rendering in Maya but I often work with 3D models upwards of 600,000 polygons. There is sometimes a lag with the Pro 3 and digital drawing if I'm doing fast, heavy crosshatch but I'm not strictly an illustrator so it still works for me.
For 3D digital artists that deal with complex renders or renders with simulations, heavy video processing or artists that rely on illustrating, the 4.5 may not be enough even at the high end i7 version. If you require specific GPU processing power, like gamers often do, then the 4.5 would probably not be your primary computer.
My work doesn't seem to push the boundaries too much, or maybe I have low expectations. Either way, the 4.5 has enough processing power combined with a good stylus in a compact form factor that meets my needs. If your needs sound like my needs, the Pro 4.5 may be a good fit.
I don't care what the marketing material says, there are always compromises. Even with the Surface Pro 4.5. From my research, it is one of the higher priced options but if you can afford it, you make the least amount of compromises for devices with a full OS in a convertible form factor. What you have is high end power with maximum versatility.
Do you own a Surface Pro 4.5 or are you thinking of buying one? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
I got the business bundle and opted for the i5 8gb of RAM but I didn't want the premium Alcantara covered keyboard. Instead, I opted for the older Pro 4 keyboard with fingerprint ID.
I've been using a version of the Surface Pro for the past several years. What do I use it for? Everything - from email and web browsing to sketching to 3D computer modeling. I use it as my primary computer and it allows me to work on my primary computer wherever I go. I even use the built in Surface screen almost exclusively.
It may not seem like a big deal, but I found that when I use a computer, for my art especially, the subtle differences between computers can be distracting and I lose my rhythm or focus on my work. It's the small things like file locations, changes in UI and even the feel of the keyboard or mouse.
Whether it's going from home to an office or traveling to another country, as an artist, I like working on a system that feels the same. A system that's mine. When I'm on the computer for hours at a time, I know where everything is and it feels natural. When I jump on another machine, it's like staying in a hotel, it might have everything you need but it's just not home.
If you want to know my history and why I'm so sold on the "tablet PC" format, you can read more in my blog post, "How I Got To The Surface (Pro 3)".
The Surface Pro 3 and 4.5 allow me to have my home with me all the time. It's compact enough that I can take it with me even if I'm not sure I'll need a computer. It's powerful enough that I can create my 3D works in Maya.
I don't do a lot of rendering in Maya but I often work with 3D models upwards of 600,000 polygons. There is sometimes a lag with the Pro 3 and digital drawing if I'm doing fast, heavy crosshatch but I'm not strictly an illustrator so it still works for me.
For 3D digital artists that deal with complex renders or renders with simulations, heavy video processing or artists that rely on illustrating, the 4.5 may not be enough even at the high end i7 version. If you require specific GPU processing power, like gamers often do, then the 4.5 would probably not be your primary computer.
My work doesn't seem to push the boundaries too much, or maybe I have low expectations. Either way, the 4.5 has enough processing power combined with a good stylus in a compact form factor that meets my needs. If your needs sound like my needs, the Pro 4.5 may be a good fit.
I don't care what the marketing material says, there are always compromises. Even with the Surface Pro 4.5. From my research, it is one of the higher priced options but if you can afford it, you make the least amount of compromises for devices with a full OS in a convertible form factor. What you have is high end power with maximum versatility.
Do you own a Surface Pro 4.5 or are you thinking of buying one? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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