I’ve had my Surface Pro 3 for a few weeks now which has given me the opportunity to go on a few trips with it.  Is this device your best bet right now for traveling?  I certainly think it is a contender.  Today, we’ll look at how the device stacks up while you are in the air, in the cab, or on-site.

I am writing this on my Southwest flight today on the way to Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference.  Looking around, it’s obvious that most of the people around me are carrying two devices: a laptop to do work and a tablet to goof off with.  For most people, their tablet has little to no business value.  Over the years, I have had people talk to me on the plane or the airport bar and ask me about the Surface device I am using.  They all tell me the same thing.  They can’t get any work done on their iPad.  Now, I won’t say that no one can get work done because plenty of business have created applications to take advantage of it.  However, I find that it’s the exception not the rule.  I chose the Surface Pro 3 because I can get my daily job done on it while at the same time being able to use it for recreational use when I am traveling or sit around the house.  It does all of these things quite well.

When I first threw the Surface Pro 3 in my bag to go on a trip, I immediately noticed how much lighter my bag was.  By removing my Surface 2 and laptop, My bag is 4 – 5 pounds lighter.  My bag is so light I find myself double checking to make sure I put the device in there.  As I get older, every ounce counts in my backpack.  This device makes a huge difference.  Be sure and take a look at my complete Surface Pro 3 review to read more about the difference in weight.

Let’s take a look at the Surface Pro 3 and how you can use it throughout your trip.

At the airport

When you are grabbing dinner at the airport bar, the device does quite well.  However, it can be a bit distracting.  That’s because, people are going to interrupt you to ask you what your Surface Pro 3 is.  It happens to me nearly every time I sit down.  It works well though from the bar though.  You can easily finish up that proposal or send out a few more e-mails before you get on the flight using the Type Keyboard 3.  The only thing I don’t like about this keyboard is that it’s not spill proof.  If you’re type that spills your glass of wine a lot, I recommend using one of your old Touch Keyboards.  You can wipe off just about anything from them.

When you are sitting in one of the seats waiting for a flight, the Type Keyboard 3 works great with it’s new magnetic stabilizing feature.  Simply snap it to the bottom of your Surface Pro 3 and you’ll be able to type with the keyboard in your lap without any problems.

When I am standing in line waiting to board my flight, I usually detach the keyboard and grab the Surface Pen.  Holding the Surface in my left hand and the pen in my right, I can easily use the device while standing up.  I find using the pen is easier than just touching the screen with your fingers here.  It gives you the stability you need to click small links on a web page and just makes it easier to tap button in general.  It’s convenient for pulling up your mobile boarding pass too.  Oftentimes, I’ll hold the device like this even as I board the plane.

In flight

During boarding, I usually keep using the device as a tablet with my Surface Pen in hand.  I won’t get the keyboard out in case someone needs to get in the seat by the window.  After everyone has boarded, sometimes I will get the keyboard out if I need to respond to an e-mail or keep working on a document.  The device sits well on my lap and you can adjust the kick stand to any angle to find one that works for you.

One you are in flight and can put your tray table down, the device takes up a good portion of it.  If I want to use the keyboard, you will need to keep the kickstand at it’s shortest angle.  Otherwise you don’t have room for the keyboard or the device falls off the back.  The keyboard will hang off the front of the tray a little bit, but it’s still quite usable.

If you are just planning on playing a game or watching a movie then you can remove the keyboard and adjust the kickstand to any angle.  This makes it great to get the device at the perfect angle for you.  This is much better than those cheesy covers on iPads with the make-shift kickstand.  There really is no comparison.

When I am landing, I usually hold the device and use the Surface Pen again.  It just works well in that manner and I am usually tired of working by then any ways.  I’ll keep the device out of my bag and just carry it too if I have another flight to catch.

In the cab

As you may have seen in the commercial, the Surface Pro 3 works great in the cab as a tablet.  Just detach the keyboard and grab your Surface Pen.  This is great if you are looking up hotel information or reviewing last minute notes about your upcoming meeting.  I think the Surface Pro 3 commercial does an excellent job showing this.

On-site

Once you are on-site, you’ll have no trouble getting work done with your Surface Pro 3.  In the conference room, while your colleague is checking Facebook on his or her iPad.  You’ll be taking notes with OneNote, referencing documents, and conducting a whiteboarding session over Lync.  You’ll have all of the files you need with you too thanks to plenty of storage capacity and OneDrive.

After the meeting, you can go back to your desk and get your job done.  Whether you need to connect to the VPN or run Visual Studio 2013, the Surface Pro 3 gets it done.  If you have an external monitor,  you can connect it using the Mini DisplayPort too.  When the Surface Pro 3 Docking Station comes out, it will make connecting external devices even better too.  I got some hands on experience with one while I was at WPC.

It features a magnet to hold your Surface Pen on the left.  On the back it features two USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports.  There is one more USB 3.0 port on the side too.

The docking station is a bit large though so you may want to leave it at the office.  It’s not out yet anyways, so in the meantime until it comes out, you can use a generic USB 3.0 docking station.  They work well with the Surface Pro 3 to connect additional peripherals.  They are usually a bit smaller too.  Although, the device only has one USB port, I find that it is more than enough for me most of the time.

At a conference

The Surface Pro 3 makes a great device at a conference.  You usually don’t have a table so that means you need something that can work while sitting in your lap or while you are holding it.  Luckily, you can use it to do both.  Using handwriting to take notes is a great option when you are sitting in a session.  If you are at WPC this week and took advantage of the Surface Pro 3 discount, I think you are going to be pleased with the device.

Conclusion

Is the Surface Pro 3, the best device for travel?  It’s the best one I have used to date.  I am happy to carry it around with me and I don’t miss my laptop for a second.  Is it the best device for you?  Only you can decide.  What are your experiences with the device?  If you want to know more about the Surface Pro 3, be sure and check out my product review.

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