Hands on… Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Redmond's rejoicing and maybe they have good reason to because the much-awaited Surface Pro 3 isn't all bad, you know.

Billed as "the tablet than can replace your laptop", Microsoft's recent foray into the market offers the company's most polished version yet, suggesting it's third time lucky for the tech giant.

Justifiably coming in for criticism for the somewhat substandard first and second generation Surface devices, the Surface Pro 3 is like the good-looking long-lost relative, returning to the family when it was needed most.

Arguably the closest to nailing the laptop/tablet hybrid dilemma, there is no reason why the device can't leap from the shop shelves and into the hands of waiting customers.

Crafting a product capable of blurring the lines between work and pleasure, for once, maybe the ambitious slogan fits the device's capability - for the Surface Pro 3 is most certainly a tablet, and it can most certainly replace your laptop.

Aesthetically pleasing upon first glance, six months in hardware bootcamp has seen Microsoft produce the thinnest Intel Core product ever made - at a mere 9.1mm thick.

Losing the previous chunkiness which plagued previous Surface devices, the Surface Pro 3 is light-weight and streamlined, yet packing a punch capable of flooring its nearest market rival.

With a 12-inch display, the power of a laptop is encased in the versatility of a tablet - a rare achievement in today's industry.

Offering nine hours of web browsing, the multi-touch display is brought to life by the new Surface Pen, which writes as naturally as one could hope for on a Gorilla Glass-fortified screen.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of all, albeit rather mundane, is the front-facing stereo speakers - subtly carved out in a way which almost defies mass production.

In having front-facing audio, video conferencing moves into another dimension, a staggering 40% louder than its predecessor.

Throw in the multi-position kickstand and it's clear that Microsoft has listened to user feedback, done its homework and produced an A* reply to the critics.

When revealed to the waiting public in New York last month, Microsoft claimed the Surface Pro 3, simply put, is a tablet and a laptop.

Maybe this time around, the world will be inclined to believe them.

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