Microsoft Surface 3 review: one of the best tablet-laptop hybrids

A fanless design, full PC innards and Windows 8.1 make the Surface 3 arguably a better work machine than an iPad, if you buy the optional keyboard

The Surface 3 is Microsoft's third stab at making a lower-cost tablet-laptop hybrid, but is this vision of the future of computing good enough to tempt laptop users?

The cheaper, smaller brother of the solid Surface Pro 3, the Surface 3 is aimed at less power-demanding users, but this time it runs full Windows 8.1 and is ready for Windows 10.

Pros: compact full Windows 8.1 PC, decent screen, seven hours battery life, full USB 3.0 port, solid build, Windows 10 upgrade when released

Cons: jack of all trades, master of none, not capable of heavy computing duties, not cheap, problems with Windows and HiDPI displays remain