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Surface pro 4


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#1 rick hoge

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Posted 06 September 2016 - 11:10 PM

I am looking at getting a Surface Pro 4 and am curious about the performance with SP.

 

Specifically, is the difference between the I5 and I7 processors worth the difference in cost? I have a laptop with a I5 chip and Nvidia graphics that works very well.

 

With only 1 USB port is anyone using both a wired mouse  and the SP key simultaneously and if not how does a Blutooth mouse work?

 

Can the included stylus be used in place of or along with a mouse?

 

How does rotating a model in 3D in textured mode work if at all?

 

Looking forward to hearing your  thoughts .

 

Thanks, Rick



#2 Tom Rogers

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Posted 07 September 2016 - 10:20 AM

rick do a search on the forum main screen for "surface".  There are a number of posts about them.  I have a Pro 3 and love it.  Works just like my desktop except for 3D in rendered mode. 


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#3 rick hoge

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Posted 09 September 2016 - 10:46 PM

Thanks Tom,

 

I have read all the  posts concerning the Surface Pro.

 

Which Surface Pro 3 model do you use?



#4 Tom Rogers

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Posted 11 September 2016 - 06:36 PM

I have the 3 pro with 256Ram


"remember... what we are building today, should be what we want in the future"​
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www.residentialproductions.com

 

 


#5 rick hoge

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Posted 14 September 2016 - 10:41 PM

Tom, which processor did you go with?

 

Also, this might be interesting to watch:

 

http://www.zdnet.com...569320992307368



#6 Tom Rogers

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Posted 15 September 2016 - 07:25 AM

The i5-6300 2.4 Ghz


"remember... what we are building today, should be what we want in the future"​
Version 10 to Version 2024+ and beyond
www.residentialproductions.com

 

 


#7 J. Cragg

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Posted 19 October 2016 - 06:49 PM

Surface pro 4 i7, 256GB, 16GB ram.  I have been running AutoCAD and Revit on it for about 2 months, just started softplan on it.  It runs the software without a problem.  Obviously limited on screen size, but a dock and external monitors work just fine.



#8 Brian Berzinskis

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Posted 20 October 2016 - 10:39 AM

I have the Surface Pro 2 but I only use it when I travel. I am more of a desktop guy. I ended up buying the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse which folds down flat for travel and it is bluetooth and works fine. I also bought a MicroSD card to stick in the back for all my project files because I could not use a USB stick. I did get a little travel USB hub from Staples but I try not to use it. I don't love not have F11 and F12 on the keyboard that came with mine but I get around it. Everything runs smooth on mine.



#9 rick hoge

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Posted 15 March 2019 - 07:59 PM

It's been awhile since I posted.

 

I have had the Surface Pro 4 for over a couple of years now and at first when I got it I almost returned it within the first couple of weeks. I put it aside for awhile and about a month later started to actually use Softplan on it. I completed two projects on it without using another computer and forced myself to use it exclusively for only those two projects. Both were about 4300 SF and had fairly complex roofs.

 

I used it as a tablet in my lap most of the time without a mouse or the keyboard attached using only the pen and the onscreen keyboard.

 

I thought I could use the pen totally in place of a mouse and it was extremely cumbersome. The biggest problems were not having a left or right click option so I had to use the escape key to end most commands. The wireless mouse I ordered did not have a middle wheel so trying to rotate a 3D model was impossible. I replaced the blue tooth mouse with another that had the wheel so I ended up using a mouse anyway.

 

I don't use the Surface Pro for Softplan anymore but what I do use it for is online client meetings. The ability to hand sketch is a huge help. Instead of making changes and client "what ifs" in softplan itself I make a screen clip, move it to one note and quickly sketch over it as clients see the different possibilities. Very quick and when the meeting is finished I go back to softplan and make the changes.






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