Microsoft is running a promotion on the entry level Surface Pro 7 bundled with a black Type Cover for
$599, which is about a $300 discount. Some sites are suggesting that this bundle is a better buy than the Surface Go... Note, however, that while it has the superior Core i3 processor, it only has 4GB of RAM. This is plenty sufficient for regular browsing/web apps, email and light weight traditional software, my experience (as well as reports from most all users) is that you'll want an 8GB model since most tend to try and run their regular desktop software more heavily bogged down. Software like traditional desktop programs used for appraising and inspection type activities are not particularly demanding on "compute", but tend to put heavy loads on RAM and Storage. Hence, for most users today, having more RAM and plenty of storage is more important than having the faster CPU. Of course, at the extreme ends of that scale, measurable differences are obvious, so in this case we're talking about the actual compute capability of the CPUs in the Surface Go and the SP7 w/ i3.
For
most users, I still feel that the for
$679 ($80 more + keyboard, etc.), the Surface Go with 8GB RAM + 128GTB storage
and 4G LTE is a better device for mobile inspection duties. Both devices discussed here
can run your regular software, but just don't expect these mobile devices as configured to be able to breeze through heavy lifting like your monster PC at your office. The SP7 has the larger screen while the SG is smaller & lighter. For mobile inspection duties, I don't think that the additional size and weight of the SP7 adds enough in the usability dept. to offset that better ergonomics of the SG, not to mention the benefits that built-in 4G LTE bring to most users. All this said, keep in mind that we expect to see a "new" Surface Go later this year, possibly configured to be more like the the much more expensive Surface Pro X, so unless you want/need something now, I would wait a couple a few months... Of course, if you are being held back by not being able to produce while in the field, I am told that users find that it only takes about 3 more assignments to offset the cost of something like the SG w/4G. That number comes from customers and considers the net profit of regular assignments. If you are in a high volume environment, the return is obviously very fast.
Another factor is that our industry is obviously moving toward a more "cloud" oriented infrastructure in many respects. This move has the effect of lowering the CPU demands of most devices while upping the need for cellular capabilities. Most software that I am aware of is basing their apps off being able to be used in a browser so that people can use which ever device which fits their needs. For many, this is something like an iPad (with Android tablet being a distant second and Windows tablets third.) Where an inexpensive Windows tablet still trumps the others is when one needs to be able to also run regular "legacy" software while away from their traditional desk environments. Obviously, there are ways to run your desktop computer via "remote", this is much less convenient than running them directly on the device (i.e. "locally.") Once "everything is in the cloud", the advantages of a Windows Tablet will be diminished. Note that I am not preaching/advocating the benefits of "cloud computing" for readers here - I'm simply suggesting that we all know this move is almost certainly in our futures and I'm trying to point out that you can use a Windows Tablet now and in the future, so a ~$600 investment is not wasted... These items are things that we take into account in my own company, how we develop products and services, alignments/integration with others, etc., and I adjust my own device usage accordingly. Most of what I do today can be done via a browser but I still need to run some legacy software which is not available or is at best very compromised. Hence, for me, while I also use an iPad, most of my daily items are done best on a Windows device - even when traveling, whether is be in North America, or internationally. I do not expect those needs to change anytime soon, even though we develop and deploy "web apps" as well.
In any case, here is the link to the MS site with the SP7 bundles. The one I mentioned above is obviously the one on the left. I don't know how long these deals will be valid.
Hope this helps!
-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+
/end/
So, IF you have school-aged children at home now and you already have a Surface device, you might want to order a pen so you can help them out. Oh, and you can draw sketches with it, too, LOL, so one could reasonably expect that it is a legit business expense for your appraisal business (if you get it with the expectation of sketching with it, of course.)