I also don't buy the argument that offering the keyboard standard would create inventory nightmares. You can't call your product a laptop replacement and then charge extra for the one thing that's required to make that happen. Here's one way Microsoft should sweeten the deal: bundle the keyboard. However, to say that the Surface Pro 3 is an excellent laptop replacement is a stretch. Plus, you can go from taking notes in slate mode to notebook mode without the bulk of other convertibles like Lenovo's Yoga series. Quite the contrary, no laptop is as versatile as this device, which enables pen and touch input in a design that's lighter than most Ultrabooks and the 13-inch Air. I'm not saying the Surface Pro 3 isn't worth buying. A Windows Ultrabook such as the HP Spectre 13 with touch screen and similar specs costs $999, as does the MacBook Air without touch.

Stepping up to the Core i5 version with 128GB of storage with the keyboard will cost you $1,129.

And that's the slowest Core i3 version with just 64GB of memory. You'll be spending at least $929 if you opt for the Keyboard Cover, which is required to replace your laptop. The Surface Pro 3 may start at $799, but don't be fooled.

Surface pro 3 laptop