News - Microsoft Surface Pro 3 docking station on sale for $199 (£165)

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Allows Microsoft's versatile tablet to "replace your desktop PC".

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Read more.

That seem pretty expensive for what amounts to a lump of plastic, a few ports and a charger, compared to something like the Asus USB30-HZ1 for £105, or the Belkin for £130.
You would think Microsoft would give people reasons to buy their products so as to gain market share, not dissuade them with high prices.

Yes but this is also a charging dock, and im going to take a bit of a guess and say that the connections are native rather than all over USB3. Essentially this turns the Surface into a pretty capable desktop workstation. Still expensive, but so are most other docks that provide this kind of connectivity for business laptops.

My hope is that business will take this up like Dell's E series docking stations. That is, there will be hundreds in surplus and subsequently on sale on ebay for £15.

While I agree that it is expensive, honestly, isn't this a corporate grab?

Most companies are tied into the microsoft ecosystem (mine included) so if they have gone ahead and given some people Surface 3's than really the additional cost of this dock won't be a game changer.

My work give us some HP pro chunky laptops that go for about £500 - £600 (about 90 employees). If a senior manager or a partner ( or someone with a valid case ) would prefer an entry level Surface why not? Then what is an additional £165? It would just be absorbed into the IT budget and be forgot about.

However, this is crazy if it's for personal use!

If it's a native dock rather than a USB 3 split out conversion, I would happily pay the price for this if I was intending to use the Surface as my main system.

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Originally Posted by Jowsey

While I agree that it is expensive, honestly, isn't this a corporate grab?

Most companies are tied into the microsoft ecosystem (mine included) so if they have gone ahead and given some people Surface 3's than really the additional cost of this dock won't be a game changer.

My work give us some HP pro chunky laptops that go for about £500 - £600 (about 90 employees). If a senior manager or a partner ( or someone with a valid case ) would prefer an entry level Surface why not? Then what is an additional £165? It would just be absorbed into the IT budget and be forgot about.

However, this is crazy if it's for personal use!

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Depends what your personal use is. If you are someone who travels around a lot then i would say it still makes sense, although im not entirely convinced the surface is a genuine replacement for a laptop in a travelling sense, due to the fact it doesn't work well on a plane tray or your lap.

Wonder if this'll persuade Nokia to start moving the accessories for their 2520 tablet. Missus could do with a keyboard/case for hers.

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Originally Posted by Biscuit

Depends what your personal use is. If you are someone who travels around a lot then i would say it still makes sense, although im not entirely convinced the surface is a genuine replacement for a laptop in a travelling sense, due to the fact it doesn't work well on a plane tray or your lap.

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Your mileage will always vary but I still think a lovely, high quality ultrabook would suit me more than a Surface Pro.

But for e-peen and potentially srubbishrubbishrubbishrubbishy look when going to corporate meetings? I know several people who would jump for a Surface.

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Originally Posted by Jowsey

Your mileage will always vary but I still think a lovely, high quality ultrabook would suit me more than a Surface Pro.

But for e-peen and potentially srubbishrubbishrubbishrubbishy look when going to corporate meetings? I know several people who would jump for a Surface.

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I think i would pretty much agree with you completely!

This apparently uses PCIe, the new design power connector has a PCIe port 'hidden' inside it. I don't know why they didn't just license thunderbolt, but I'm guessing that's still an Apple exclusive or something. I mean hell, it's got a displayport on it after all.

If that's true, then it's still damned over priced imsho.

This would be so good for corporate use. Excuse me just goingdown to our IT dept to get them to get me one