Intel Core i3, i7 Surface Pro 3 to ship sooner, Docking Station gets official date

Today is finally the day that the Surface Pro 3 becomes available to consumers; well, the Core i5 variants anyway. Sadly, if you are interested in the less expensive i3 model or more powerful i7 model, you will have to wait. For the past few weeks, Microsoft had been communicating an August 31 release, which is like an eternity in internet years. Consumers were faced with a dilemma -- buy the i5 now or wait for the other variants at the end of August.

Today however, Microsoft eases the wait for the i3 and i7 variants, as it actually pushes up the release date to August 1. This is amazing news and quite unique too -- the technology world usually sees release dates pushed back. Will this change your decision as to which Surface Pro 3 to buy?

Panos Panay, leader of the Surface Team says, "many of you have placed pre-orders for the new Surface, and those who ordered the Intel Core i5 versions will be receiving them directly. Those who are interested in the Core i3 and Core i7 versions will remember that when we first announced the product we said these would be shipping 'in August'. Thanks to some great work by our team, I can confirm that, in this case, 'in August' means August 1, which is when these versions will arrive in stores and at commercial resellers in Canada and the US".

Panay further explains, "I've had a lot of questions about Docking Station for Surface Pro 3 -- particularly when it's coming. The docking station will be available beginning Friday, August 15 in Canada and the United States, and you can pre-order it starting today in these markets through Microsoft Stores and other select retailers".

The docking station is what I have been anticipating. Not only can the Surface Pro 3 replace a laptop and tablet, but a desktop too when paired with it. The accessory is a game-changer.

If you want to buy the Surface Pro 3, you can do so by clicking here. Which Surface Pro 3 will you buy? Tell me in the comments.