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"Microsoft announced the latest member of the Surface family, the Surface Pro 3, on Tuesday. Unlike past Surface tablets, Microsoft isn't pitting the Surface Pro 3 against the iPad \u2014 instead, it's targeting the MacBook Air.\nWe've already compared the Surface Pro 3 to the MacBook Air in terms of raw specs, but how do the two devices stack up in person? Moreover, is the Surface Pro 3 a tablet that can replace your laptop? Or is it still stuck somewhere in device purgatory?\nSee also: Microsoft Surface Pro 3: What You Should Know\nThe good news for Microsoft: It appears the third time is the charm. On its third Surface Pro iteration, Microsoft has finally managed to craft a device that can act as a laptop without feeling like an impostor. That doesn't mean there aren't compromises (contrary to Microsoft's messaging, there certainly are), but those compromises no longer supersede the advantages. In short, the Surface Pro 3 finally seems like a fully realized device.\nBut how does it match up against the MacBook Air, the best all-around laptop  on the market? That's a difficult question to answer, in part because it's not an apples-to-apples (pardon the pun) comparison. Aside from the fundamental difference in operating systems, the Surface Pro 3 is also designed to be used with not just a keyboard, but touch and pen input as well.\nYes, the Surface Pro 3 can be your main workstation and laptop, but its design does differ from that of a traditional notebook, such as the MacBook Air. Based on your own needs and the way you use a notebook, those differences could be good or bad.\nFor Windows-centric business users, especially those who spend most of the day with a laptop in a docking station and use a tablet primarily for Netflix on the couch, the Surface Pro 3 might be the perfect device.\nBut if you think the Surface Pro 3 can replace an iPad, think again. The experiences are designed in a different way. Yes, the Surface Pro 3 is a tablet, but it's not a consumer tablet. It's a great device to bring to a meeting to show off a presentation, but it's not something that you'll want to necessarily use in bed or with one hand on the subway.\nAnd that's OK. Every tablet experience doesn't have to be like the iPad. \nAs a laptop, especially for Windows users, the Surface Pro 3 has a lot of things going for it. Look for our full review of the Surface Pro 3 in the next few days.\n\n\nMicrosoft's Surface Pro 3\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe PC Hybrid, Resurfaced\nMicrosoft's third-generation Surface Pro 3 device aims to be \"the tablet that can replace your laptop.\"\n\nImage: Mashable, Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Surface Pro 3 comes with larger surface area than its previous model and even lighter than a MacBook Air.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe launch of the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 comes less than a year after Microsoft unveiled the Surface Pro 2.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Surface Pro 3 is 12 inches, up from 10.6 inches, to increase productivity and weighs 1.76 pounds, without a keyboard.\n\nImage:  Mashable,\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn addition to an improved hinge, users can now tilt the screen to an angle of up to 150 degrees. \n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe device features a pen too, which during the on-stage demo seemed to work seamlessly when writing letters into a New York Times crossword puzzle. By clicking the pen, it impressively turned on a note-taking app too.\n\nImage: Christina Ascani, Mashable Christina Ascani, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSurface Pro 3 wants to be both a tablet and laptop \u2014 with \"lap-ability\" \u2014 and get rid of the confusion for consumers deciding which one to buy.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Surface Pro 3, which comes with a multi-position kickstand, aims to not take on other tablets but the MacBook Air, with its eyes set on getting business professionals on board with its new design.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt comes with a 2160x1440 screen, microSD card reader and a USB 3.0 port.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Surface Pro 3 is about the same thickness as it's predecessor but weighs 1.76 pounds, without a keyboard.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCompared to the Surface Pro 2, the Surface Pro 3 is significantly larger with an 12 inch screen.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pre-sale starts Wednesday, May 21 for $799 for an Intel Core i3 version. Devices with i5 and i7 processors will also be available.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe company announced the news at its \"small\" Surface event, but didn't launch the Surface Mini rumored to debut at the presentation.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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