Microsoft Surface Pro 3 vs Macbook Air 2014 Comparison, Review of specs

Microsoft has embarked on a new campaign to generate consumer interest even without having brand-new products.

Its current ad campaign focuses on its Surface Pro 3 device and compares it to its chief rival, Apple's MacBook Air.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 is advertised as a tablet that can replace a laptop while the MacBook Air 2014 is packaged and designed completely as a laptop.

The Microsoft ad underscores the selling points of the Surface Pro 3 – particularly its touchscreen feature. The commercial clearly points out that while the Surface Pro 3 has this capacity, the MacBook Air doesn't.

It shows that a touchscreen panel allows users to easily interact with the device. This simplifies such tasks as taking down notes on the screen and making illustrations using the special stylus that goes with the device.

The Microsoft machine also has a detachable keyboard which the Apple gadget doesn't have.

Reviewers said these two key features make the Surface a more versatile device.

Other than those two features, the two portable machines appear similar based on data gathered from the Apple and Microsoft websites.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is available at MicrosoftStore.com starting at $799, while the MacBook Air can be bought from Apple.com for a starting price of $899.

The Surface Pro 3 is 0.55 inch thick and weighs 2.4 pounds, while the MacBook Air is 0.68 inch thick and weighs 2.96 pounds.

Both laptops have their own options in their processing power. The MacBook Air comes with either an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, while the Surface Pro 3 comes with either a i3, i5 or i7 processor.

Both devices have 128GB of flash memory and up to 8GB of RAM, depending of the specific setup, according to Geek.

The Surface Pro 3comes with one USB port, a mini Display Port and a microSD slot. However, users have the option of buying a separate dock with more connectivity. The MacBook comes with two USB ports, a Thunderbolt port and an SDXC port.

Microsoft has the edge over Apple in terms of screen resolution, as the Surface Pro 3 features a 2160x1440 display in 12-inch screen, compared to MacBook Air's1440x900 13-inch display. The Air is the only Mac without a Retina display.

But with a lower display resolution, the MacBook is able to pack longer battery life. The machine can be used for 10 straight hours, an advantage the Surface Pro 3 cannot match.

The Surface Pro 3 gives its users the ability to update or upgrade their RAM and storage space. The MacBook Air doesn't give such flexibility to its owners.

Another huge factor that comes into play in making a choice between the two machines is their operating systems. It boils down to user preference in software – the OS X of the MacBook Air or the Windows of Surface Pro 3.