Surface 3 for photoshop

[JBuk]

There's quite a few configurations

If I'm in bed I fold the keyboard behind and rest it on my knees like a tablet, if I'm sitting I either use the flap to sit it at an angle with the type pad folded away or if I need to type I just have the type pad in front and use the flap to steady it

Sometimes I remove the type pad altogether and use it like a tablet, I've never had any problems with it being uncomfortable or awkward

It's a great little bit of kit imo, you just need to accept that it will never be as powerful as a desktop Pc but it is good enough, I've just done some 45x30 inch prints doing all the editing on it and they look great

 

[asim18]

Then a better option is to get an imac and load windows...

You sound slightly hypocritical. Or are you just trolling?

Your sig:

I shoot in auto, so if a picture turns out #@%! it's the camera's fault.
If I want to be a better photographer, I'll get a better camera.

Suggests a sarcastic understanding that it's not the tool that makes art better.

But then you keep plugging macs like they're going to make his Photoshop skills better? And at the same time you conveniently forget that Macs are extremely slow if compared based on price?

The facts are:

1) Photoshop will run up to 300% faster on a Windows PC than it will on a similarly priced Mac.
2) Running Photoshop on a Mac is not going to add anything to your artistic skill whatsoever. (unless you are suffering from delusion whereby even looking at a Windows desktop literally wipes your brain of all artistic merit, it's possible)

 

[Phal]

As you've said, the Windows/Mac thing makes no difference to the outcome so since this is the Photography forum can we please avoid turning this into a Mac/Windows debate?

I think Sid will end up buying one anyway so we just need to wait to see what he thinks of it lol

 

[An Exception]

Suggests a sarcastic understanding that it's not the tool that makes art better.

No you are incorrect. A tool can and does contribute to better artwork.

But then you keep plugging macs like they're going to make his Photoshop skills better?

Incorrect. I keep plugging imac's and rmbp as they are better editing machines than surface 3. “Buy the best and cry only once”

And at the same time you conveniently forget that Macs are extremely slow if compared based on price?

Incorrect.

The facts are:

1) Photoshop will run up to 300% faster on a Windows PC than it will on a similarly priced Mac.

Unless you are cherry picking a product(s) that has not even been mentioned in this thread you are again incorrect.

2) Running Photoshop on a Mac is not going to add anything to your artistic skill whatsoever. (unless you are suffering from delusion whereby even looking at a Windows desktop literally wipes your brain of all artistic merit, it's possible)

Incorrect. Everything affects everything else.

"Recently, scientists have begun to focus on how architecture and design can influence our moods, thoughts and health. They've discovered that everything—from the quality of a view to the height of a ceiling, from the wall color to the furniture—shapes how we think."

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703778104576287121392285518

I think you should consider changing your furniture.

 

[Amp34]

He asks about a mobile device with pen input and you recommend he gets an iMac...

Alternatively you complain that the Surface 3 will be too slow so recommend two laptops that use almost identical processors...

 

[An Exception]

He asks about a mobile device with pen input and you recommend he gets an iMac...

Alternatively you complain that the Surface 3 will be too slow so recommend two laptops that use almost identical processors...

Does the device ACTUALLY have to be mobile, or does it just need to not take up allot of space? if so then an imac would fit the bill regardless of OS.
If it does ACTUALLY have to be mobile then rmbp will deliver almost desktop performance. My 15" has a QUAD core, so MUCH faster than surface 3.

These are much more efficient tools but obviously cost more and are not tablets. However "Buy the best, cry once".

Anyway, I hope op buys the surface 3.

 

[413x]

This is actually quite interesting to me. The appeal of doing a photo or two in evening on the sofa is quite attractive

 

[An Exception]

This is actually quite interesting to me. The appeal of doing a photo or two in evening on the sofa is quite attractive

A tablet for a photo or two would probably work well, particularly for photoshop. LR is a pita though as you have the extra complication of catalogue files that can't be placed on a network drive. For me screen sharing my desktop computer to my laptop over a fast AC wifi connection solves this issue.
I can edit all my pictures on my sofa remotely, walk upstairs and carry on where I left off.

 

[Amp34]

I've never seen the 15" as a particularly mobile option. Yes, it's mobile in the sense you can take it to a coffee shop of library with the express intention of using it. It's certainly not mobile on the sense of actually keeping it in your backpack just in case or when you're "on assignment" and have to travel reasonably light. It also lacks pen input, especially in its mobile guise, which is essentially the main question in the OP.

I would agree though, if you just want something to sit on the sofa with then the 15" is a reasonable option, although I would say you fall into the trap the WSJ discussed, not being in a focussed/creative environment. That may just be me but I need a comfy chair, big screen and few distractions to really get the best out of my PP.

 

[Mekrel]

In An Exception's defence, he's justifiably giving his opinion based on his usage of photoshop/lightroom.

If you're talking about complex workflows that require hours of processing, the tablet just isn't going to cut the mustard from a battery life point of view. According to Anandtech, the MSP3 has a 42Wh battery and the MBPr has a 95wh battery - so over twice the battery life. Obviously the MSP3 is far more portable in terms of carrying it out with you for the day.

If we're talking casual photo editing when out and about or on the sofa then I'm sure the Surface is more than capable but it's certainly an expensive novelty.

 

[sid]

I see the point of a laptop v the surface but the pen input is key here. You would need to carry an additional graphics tablet around which is a bit much.

Not at all convinced there is another niche alternative like the surface.

 

[Phal]

In An Exception's defence, he's justifiably giving his opinion based on his usage of photoshop/lightroom.

If you're talking about complex workflows that require hours of processing, the tablet just isn't going to cut the mustard from a battery life point of view. According to Anandtech, the MSP3 has a 42Wh battery and the MBPr has a 95wh battery - so over twice the battery life. Obviously the MSP3 is far more portable in terms of carrying it out with you for the day.

If we're talking casual photo editing when out and about or on the sofa then I'm sure the Surface is more than capable but it's certainly an expensive novelty.

Personally I wouldn't see battery life as a problem for editing? Who is planning on editing where there's no power to connect to?

 

[JBuk]

In An Exception's defence, he's justifiably giving his opinion based on his usage of photoshop/lightroom.

If you're talking about complex workflows that require hours of processing, the tablet just isn't going to cut the mustard from a battery life point of view. According to Anandtech, the MSP3 has a 42Wh battery and the MBPr has a 95wh battery - so over twice the battery life. Obviously the MSP3 is far more portable in terms of carrying it out with you for the day.

If we're talking casual photo editing when out and about or on the sofa then I'm sure the Surface is more than capable but it's certainly an expensive novelty.

You can get quite a few hours editing done with lightroom using only the battery ,unsure how many in PhotoShop as I use it a lot less

For exporting big batches and anything intensive it will eat power on any system but I would think plugging in the charger would be common sense

The surface pro 3 is far from a novelty

 

[Amp34]

In An Exception's defence, he's justifiably giving his opinion based on his usage of photoshop/lightroom.

If you're talking about complex workflows that require hours of processing, the tablet just isn't going to cut the mustard from a battery life point of view. According to Anandtech, the MSP3 has a 42Wh battery and the MBPr has a 95wh battery - so over twice the battery life. Obviously the MSP3 is far more portable in terms of carrying it out with you for the day.

If we're talking casual photo editing when out and about or on the sofa then I'm sure the Surface is more than capable but it's certainly an expensive novelty.

The MBPr is also at least twice the weight and size (probably closer to 3 times that).

As much as its his own opinion it sounds no different to someone coming into a thread asking for a MacBook and spouting how they would get much better value from a windows computer... It's not appreciated there and tbh the way he did it in this thread hasn't been appreciated here either. He made it very obvious that he really dislikes windows machines so any comment about windows based machines that could use about the same space as an iMac (or a 15" windows laptop instead of a 15" pro) would be poo pood by him as well I'm guessing...

It's not what he was recommending, rather the way he did it. Saying the surface 3 is slow and suggesting a (as one option) MacBook air instead is a prime example of at...

 

[Amp34]

I see the point of a laptop v the surface but the pen input is key here. You would need to carry an additional graphics tablet around which is a bit much.

Not at all convinced there is another niche alternative like the surface.

If you weren't looking for pen input and stills wanted a very small package, I'd probably recommend the MacBook Air. As you're not, I wont...

Personally I wouldn't see battery life as a problem for editing? Who is planning on editing where there's no power to connect to?

Lots of people. On the other hand if you are looking to edit away from a power source the 15" pro is probably not going to be portable enough.

 

[Phal]

Lots of people. On the other hand if you are looking to edit away from a power source the 15" pro is probably not going to be portable enough.

I don't think there's anything that can do any serious amount of work away from a power source though? Even if you're in transit you can usually find some power these days which is nice.

Obviously there will always be exceptions but I'm sure people won't die from not processing things there and then if the battery dies lol

 

[Amp34]

I guess it depends on what you mean by processing. Sorting photos and doing some light QC and curves in Lightroom won't tax something like a surface very hard at all (in fact it doesn't run the fan up to the point of audibility). Agreed though that if you want to do some heavy processing that needs the a CPU to ramp up then you will need to be near a power source.

 

[413x]

Looking at this a little more seriously now.
My laptop I'm going to sell one way or another. The screen is so washed out I don't even like using it for browsing.

My concerns are
screen size might make this tricky as I'm used to using a 27 inch
It just might not be a nice experience in general

I'd probably use if for sorting through keep/discard pics
Teaching myself new techniques (I'm not very good)
Actual amateur editing.

Not too worried about battery life

 

[Phal]

Looking at this a little more seriously now.
My laptop I'm going to sell one way or another. The screen is so washed out I don't even like using it for browsing.

My concerns are
screen size might make this tricky as I'm used to using a 27 inch
It just might not be a nice experience in general

I'd probably use if for sorting through keep/discard pics
Teaching myself new techniques (I'm not very good)
Actual amateur editing.

Not too worried about battery life

You can always use external monitors when you're at home if you want a larger screen so it's not really an issue unless you want to rid your house of all computer gear apart from the Surface

A colleague of mine has just purchased one and she loves the pen and even uses it to write notes rather than type :/ weirdo! At least it means the pen is pretty good as I expected from the reviews I've seen.

 

[D.P.]

It's a patty adobe doesn't make a Linux compatible verdion of LR and PS because windows + Linux is still the superior solution.


OSX it rapidly decoding, upgraded my work machine to Yosemite and it is just the most unstable a PoS and looks,like windows 3.1!