Larry Magid: Can Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 Tablet Really Double As A Laptop?

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Several companies have pitched their tablets as a laptop replacements. Microsoft's latest, the Surface Pro 3 tablet, was unveiled this week and they're saying that they've gotten things right this time.

If you're familiar with the Surface Pro line, you know they have an optional magnetically attached keyboard as well as a kickstand that gives it both a laptop look and feel, if that's what you want.

The kickstand has been improved from previous versions so you can change the angle and so that it fits better on your lap. They've also created a sort of friction hinge on the optional keyboard so that it's much more like a laptop.

I think those improvements alone will go a long way, but they also claim to have improved the tablet's track pad in addition to increasing the size of the screen to 12 inches as well as the processing speed.

The Surface Pro starts at $799 (a high-entry level price for both laptops and tablets), is 3.5-inches thick and weighs under 2 pounds. For the price they're asking, you'd really have to see if they're delivering what they boast. You may want to look into purchasing Apple's MacBook Air, which starts at about $900, for a similar product.