Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Intel Core i5 Limited Time Deal Review

As of late I've gotten away from writing about personal finance for the past day or two. But when it all comes down to it, I feel really strongly about making more money, making the most of every dollar, saving more money, and having a great time doing it. And a big part of the fun is when I absolutely have to buy something, because then I put on my thinking cap and turn into Mr. Dealfinder.

10 or 15 years ago my deal-finding would have meant starting with the local newspaper, asking friends, flipping through trade magazines and *gasp* going to the store to see what was available and on sale. But for the last 5 years I've made it part of my daily routine to look at the wide world of deals including electronics, travel, restaurant coupons, etc.

I've become the kind of person that my friends and family call when they need to make the big purchase. "Can you find me a deal on a new furniture set?" "Have you seen a better price on this iPad Mini?" And few things bring me more joy than sharing those insights with others. It's a gift and a curse - I absolutely must know what's on sale every single day, and it only pays off when I need to buy that item, or if somebody i know is in the market.

But i decided that if and when I see something like this, now that I write hubs on Hubpages, I will share with you what i find and if you're in the market, then that's grand! And today, I've got a good one so I hope you'll read along and decide for yourself whether it's worth it.

Trust me on this one, you're going to thank me for finding it and sharing it with you~

If you haven't seen or heard of the Microsoft Surface or Surface Pro, then you may have been in deep hiding for the last year and a half. Microsoft launched their tablet/laptop hybrid device with a bang and a flourish of marketing dollars on TV, on the web and even in newspapers. In a time when people have been talking about the slow death of the PC and the rise of the tablet, the Microsoft Surface Pro was supposed to fill that gap.

The first generation unit was a nice try but ended up being an ultrabook with a touchscreen (and a mid-level one at that) around $800-900. The second generation got better battery life and marginally better design but again didn't really distinguish itself. But just as father bear was too fat, and mother bear was too skinny, baby bear and the 3rd generation Microsoft Surface Pro are just right.

2.4lbs & 0.56" thin

Better than 1080P HD display

4GB Ram

128GB SSD

Windows 8.1

12 inch screen

And specific to the deal I found, you get the core i5 4300u processor and a free keyboard cover thrown in. So what does that mean?

The Surface Pro 3 is a laptop in tablet clothing. While there are different tiers starting with an Intel i3 processor and going up to the i7 processor, this Intel i5 is the sweet spot. It's the same processor you'll see in laptops that sell for $1,000 and maybe a bit more. And instead of being 4 pound behemoths, the Surface Pro 3 is a svelte 2.4 pound tablet with touchscreen and super display.

Again, this is a full Windows 8.1 machine so this is designed for hardcore computer usage including your spreadsheets, video editing, presentation development, and even casual gaming. It's the ultimate road warrior machine, and if you've shunned netbooks or ultraportables for being too slow, you've finally found your match.

The problem has been that on top of the price for this i5 level, you would also be looking at $150 for the keyboard cover. The keyboard cover is what takes this from being a terrific all-in-one tablet to a master-of-all-trades laptop replacement. And for this deal on ebay, the keyboard cover is free!

So instead of having to shell out $1300 + tax for what I think is the best device on the market, you can walk out with this at $1000 flat.

That's a 5 star platinum deal that gets me excited just thinking about it.

So let's make sure that we cover the details and any fine print:

• Brand new, unused condition.
• The seller has an A rating with BBB
• The Surface Pro 3 does come with the keyboard cover and stylus
• Free standard shipping
• 14 day hassle free returns
• 99.2% positive seller feedback

If I'm in the market for one of these, then you're not going to see a better deal for a long time. I bet my reputation on it! You won't see anything better until maybe Black Friday, and even then, I wouldn't put money on that because good eBay deals are as good as it gets.

I believe that being frugal and making smart money choices is like any other exercise. As we continue to practice good habits in saving money where possible, finding deals for what we want, and having a good time at it, then we become better at dealing for a living.

I'm committed to sharing my experiences with getting the most out of using credit cards, saving and spending tips, and I might even add a slice of perspective without trying to be a psychoanalyst like some other personal finance folks out there.

Please let me know what you think and if you'd like to hear my take on a specific topic.

Most Sincerely,

DealForALiving