[Surface Pro 2017 vs. Traditional Notebook] - Talking it through...

Last week, I came across a bundle deal at Costco where I can get the Surface Pro 2017 with the type-cover and pen for $2,399; that's the i7/16GB/512GB model. I was back on the Surface Pro 2017 bandwagon, however, when I finally had the back bone to order it was not longer being offered in the configuration I was interested in.

Last night, I went to the Microsoft Store and found that they finally got the i7/16GB/512GB and i7/16GB/1TB back in stock. I immediately went to the bundle section and started to bundle the i7/16GB/512GB configuration. This bundle comes with:

• The new Surface Pro (2017) - pick your configuration - My configuration: i7/16GB/512GB

• Your choice of the new Surface type-cover or the older one - it looked like they are out of stock on the regular ones and are pushing you towards the new type-covers. - Offered at a reduced price. As of this post the only available type-covers are those with the Alcantara covering.

• Your choice of cover/case - Offered at a reduce price.

• Your choice of Office 365 Personnel or Home - Offered at a reduce price.

• Microsoft Warranty - The only thing on this list that they zeroed out the cost.

I made my selection, including adding a new Surface Pen (only comes in silver), comes out to $2,597.00 without taxes, shipping or handling. I figure with taxes and shipping, I will be paying about $2,800 +/-.

What's the issue(s)? It is a lot of money!!! While, I like the idea of the portability, the 2-in-1 functionality; I find it hard to swallow paying this amount for a device that is missing some key features. Even if I just use the Surface Pro 2017 for nothing more than web browsing, social media, light video games (whatever offered in the store), Office documents, music, movies, sketching (will be able to use Sketchbook Pro); I still cannot see spending that much money. Looking through various websites, I see for the price I would be paying for the Surface Pro 2017, I could get a traditional laptop that is better configured.

What have you decided on? I think I finally came to the conclusion that the Sager NP8952 will be the best bang for my buck. Configured out, i7/16GB, 512GB all for $2,009.00 without taxes or shipping and handling, which I think I get free for this particular model. I am still messing around with the configuration, looking at the 32GB, which takes it up to $2,149.00. This model comes with more ports than the Surface Pro 2017, even comes with two USB-C, as well as, graphic card (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, 8GB).

Thanks for reading through my brainstorm.