Hands-on with Slickdeals: New Microsoft Surface Pro Review (2017)

As a content creator whose audience resides in the fast-paced, impatient world of the Internet, I'm always on the lookout for productivity devices that perform well and are highly portable. So when Microsoft asked if I'd like to experience their most versatile laptop, the new Surface Pro, I jumped at the opportunity — it was perfect timing because I had a few personal and work trips lined up already, and I'd be working remotely for an extended period of time. Special thanks to Microsoft for sending the new Surface Pro, a Surface Pen, and a Surface Pro Signature Type Cover so that I could produce this review in an effort to help others make an informed purchasing decision. What's in the Box The beauty of the new Surface Pro is that it offers an efficient and streamlined experience, starting from the moment you open the box. Securely nestled inside the sturdy packaging, you'll find the Surface Pro, a compact power supply with a magnetic connection, and a quick start guide with warranty info. In just a few short minutes, I was up and running with Windows 10, featuring the new Creators Update. It's worth noting that the Surface Pen ($99.99) and Surface Pro Type Cover ($129.99) are sold separately, but not required for a complete tablet experience. Surface Pro (2017) Specifications   The new Surface Pro comes in a variety of hardware configurations, offering up to an Intel i7 processor, 1TB SSD, and 16GB RAM. For my review model, I chose to go with the entry-level model — Intel Core m3 processor, 128GB SSD, and 4GB RAM — because of its very accessible price-point of $799 (or $719.10 for eligible students, faculty, or staff at Universities and colleges). As an experienced PC builder, I was confident that base spec could handle my work-specific needs, especially since most of my content creation involves web-based applications. Don't let my use of "base spec" or "entry-level" fool you though — the $799 version Surface Pro easily handles the best of productivity apps, like Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator, to name a few (more on that later). Device Highlights: Screen: 12.3” PixelSense™ Display Resolution: 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI) Weight: 1.69 lbs 1 x Full-size USB 3.0 microSDXC card reader 3.5mm Headphone jack Mini DisplayPort 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p Skype HD video 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p Full HD video Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology Consistent and Reliable Performance Shoppers often take a deep-dive into comparing specs between different devices, but it's real-world performance that really matters, and the new Surface Pro is the Rolls-Royce of computing devices. It only takes about 20 seconds to go from a fully powered-off state to displaying your desktop, and about 5 seconds to wake from sleep and sign you in (with Windows Hello face-recognition enabled for both scenarios). And the best part is that this is how the new Surface Pro performs every.