Reddit reviews Microsoft Surface 3 Tablet (10.8-Inch, 64 GB, Intel Atom, Windows 8.1)

You're welcome man. I was finally able to compare it to the Surface 3, the Surface 3 is decidedly better. Stronger processor (not by much, but stronger nonetheless), more RAM (4 GB maximum vs the 2 GB on the HP one), more storage (64 GB vs the HP's 32 GB).

I found a Surface 3 with 2 GB of RAM on Amazon for $322, not sure if it's new or used. Total is around $450 with the keyboard and stylus, according to the suggested bundle at the bottom. Can't find a 4 GB of RAM model, starting to question if one ever actually existed.

Yeah, the whole hassle is just annoying. Waste of time + money (shipping if you had to pay that). It was a lot easier to guild you, than do what you did haha. Sorry. That sucks. I feel bad.

What were your issues again? I don't think you ever said. Working on an external?

I wouldn't get the surface 3, personally, especially if it's something you'd be using as your main, until prices dropped on parts for this one. Something like this one? Idk, that's a lot of $$ imo, for what you are getting. I can do a ~10.6" screen/keyboard on a portable, but it's not something I could use day in/day out.

I typically always buy used, laptop-wise, depending on what your looking for. I probably wouldn't buy a 2nd hand gaming laptop (although I don't game, so no need haha), but, better deals to be had. I had gotten the ux303-ln for..$640 (i7), and the LB (i7) for $720. While there may not be a massive difference between the 2 hardware wise, that price difference more than justifies the bump to the LB. I had sold the LN, LB is what I'm working on, and now I'm rocking my old asus q550lf. It's a nice laptop, just bulky as f'. I do use a tablet (ipad) however, and lg g4 (phone) can help handle the load.

Anyways, now, what you could do. I doubt you really want to spend $700, when you have a laptop that can likely be fixed (assuming). What you could do, and this might be something I may end up doing.

Let's say our laptop takes the "ltn133yl01-l01" lcd, which it does. I haven't had the time to do a lot more looking into it, but the Lenovo 2 Pro, uses the same one. I'm seeing 8gb/i7 4th, pulling in...I'd have to watch ebay listings. Personally, I probably wouldn't pay much more than/if any...$400 (used, it'll have to be).

If the ux31e display had worked, I was scoping out a buy for the ux31a. Price-wise, made sense. You could spend $100 on a used lcd assembly, or $250 for a used laptop (31a had FHD), and more spare parts than you need. More for your dollar imo. But, not always the case.

But there's an idea. And in no way am I encouraging you to buy that in the hopes it will work, be compatible etc,. for my sake haha. Personally, I may hold out for parts, etc., etc. What I have now is good for the time being. In all honesty, not sure if the yoga 2 pro @ even $400 is worth it, if your just going to gut it. But, ~$200 for just the LCD vs ~$400 for a whole laptop (condition of LCD depending). Just make sure you don't break it haha, or then you'd be royally fucked haha. And again, if your buying ebay, and for higher dollar. Wait for ebay 4x, 5x, whatever buck days to roll around. You could save another $30, $40, $50, bucks on it all, etc.

And if your serious about a replacement laptop. What's your ideal budget? Usually I'd say, take your budget (let's say it's $500 for argument sake). Search for $700+ laptops retail. Hone in on what you want, wait for some auctions (newegg can also have some pretty good prices as well)..more laptop for the same price, less, etc.

OR

Google computer places in your area, take it in, get it professionally looked at, pay the price, and stop spending time, money, etc., on a laptop. There's always more important shit to do and computers can be confusing as hell, haha.

And congrats on the finishing up grad school. The loans tho....ughhhhh.

Another option is the Surface book 3. I'm not too familiar with it as i have not used it myself, but I have heard from friends that it is a good laptop for notetaking if you get the keyboard. Other than that, I'm not sure of any other devices.

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Tablet-10-8-Inch-Windows/dp/B00VGNZ4PG

$400 without accessories. Can easily get a pen and keyboard for it for not too much more.

Couple cheap past deals I found on Slickdeals without much work:


https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/fp/261036

Metal body:
https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/fp/259496

https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/fp/256592

Surface Pro or for cheaper, an older model