Seven years ago, Microsoft released the era-defining Surface Pro 3

When it comes to the Surface Pro line, the Surface Pro three is arguably the one that allow Surface notice its identify. Previous versions of the Surface Pro relied on a typical 16:ix ten.8-inch full Hard disk drive, whereas Surface Pro 3 jumped to the now-familiar three:two aspect (while also bumping the size to 12-inches at 2160 x 1440).

Appear on May twenty in New York City at a private press event, the Surface Pro iii likewise swapped Wacom for Due north-trig pen engineering science, a color change to platinum, optional Core i7, lighter chassis, Connected Standby, and dual 5MP cameras. It is, in other words, a massive upgrade from Surface Pro 2. Fifty-fifty the Blazon Cover improved with a 60% larger new glass trackpad with a mechanical click.

And Microsoft later bought N-trig because it liked it so much.

CNN Tapper We meet you, Jake. Source: @_Melbourneer_

Interestingly, the Surface Pro iii online manual fifty-fifty confirmed the beingness of Surface Mini, a device nosotros'd review five years later on. In that location were besides funny anecdotes similar CNN's Jake Tapper hiding an iPad behind Surface Pro 3 (Tapper after explained the fake controversy) and Microsoft having to teach the NFL that Surface wasn't an iPad.

I also distinctly call back this twenty-four hours as information technology was the commencement Surface even Windows Central was invited to, and it kicked off what became an about annual proclamation and review bicycle for the Surface Pro line.

After, in January 2022, it was revealed the Surface division, for the first time, brought in $ane.ane billion in revenue, driven by Surface Pro 3 holiday sales. It later hit $ii billion in 2022, primarily due to a much more diversified lineup.

Behold, Surface Pro 3! Source: Windows Primal

The Surface Pro 4 was released 17 months after and delivered what nosotros now call the 'classic' Surface Pro blueprint featuring a larger 12.3-inch 2763 x 1824 screen, improved cameras, Windows Hello for the start fourth dimension, and other modest changes. I said about it in 2022 information technology was the first Surface to be taken seriously:

Surface Pro 4 is the commencement Surface to be reviewed as itself as opposed to the concept behind it. About of the Surface Pro iii reviews relentlessly questioned the need for the Surface and whether the category could even succeed for Microsoft instead of being some wacky experiment.

In late 2022, I chosen Surface Pro the well-nigh important PC of the 2022s. I stick with that.

The big question now is, will Surface Pro 8, which we anticipate later this year, over again redefine Surface Pro? The recent release of the 'business-only Surface Pro 7+ suggests that the model lives on for enterprise and IT departments only while a new consumer version tin can suspension free of the same-old chassis blueprint. Who knows, maybe we finally get Thunderbolt 4, thinner bezels, and some new screen technology, all of which are sorely needed.

Which Surface Pro was your favorite, and which i exercise y'all think defined Microsoft's game-irresolute PC? Permit us know in comments forth with what you recollect Surface Pro 8 needs to be a winner.

Post-launch roadmap for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker revealed

Hereafter plans for FFXIV

Post-launch roadmap for Final Fantasy Fourteen: Endwalker revealed

The latest Letter from the Producer livestream has just aired, and information technology comes with a plethora of news for Final Fantasy XIV. This includes plans for updating all the primary scenario quest dungeons, improving the graphics, implementing new sidequests, and much more.

Protect your Surface Pro with one of these great cases

Buyer'south guide

Protect your Surface Pro with ane of these corking cases

Y'all have a Surface Pro in your easily and you want to protect information technology. This roundup of cases compatible with Pro iv, Pro (2017), Pro 6, Pro 7, and Pro vii Plus covers rugged and stylish options so that you observe something you like.