Pro 3 Type Cover poor NOT durable

Question

I am very disappointed in the quality / durability of the SP3 type cover. I've only had the SP3 with type cover for about a month now and the cover is in rough shape already. The back fabric is a disaster to keep clean while the SP1 was very easy to keep clean.

On both sides of the leading edge of the keyboard it is already tearing where the material becomes thin around the edge. Right where the material thins and becomes thicker the keyboard material has a tear on both sides.

All I do is put it in and out of a proper tablet bag to bring it home and back to work each day. And a month later it's already tearing!!

My SP1 type cover had been flawless in over a year that I owned that. Not a tear, not anything. Once I got use to my SP1 it went everywhere with me, work, home, trips, even to the cottage. That tablet was durable. Never a complaint. I couldn't even complain about the SP1 if I tried. Yes I wish it had a large screen and adjustable kickstand, but that is not a complaint, those features just didn't exist.

I must have sold many SP1 to colleagues and associates by touting the great piece of hardware. By contrast, I've already warned two people NOT to upgrade to SP3 yet. 

I'm a BIG MS product user, with desktop, surface, nokia 1020, and soon to be xbox One, and literally for the first time I am truly regretting moving from SP1 to SP3. There have also been MANY bugs with the SP3 that I've been living with, in-line with what others are posting on the forum. No need to re-hash those.

Microsoft, I thought the SP3 was going to be my dream machine, so far I am not all that pleased. sorry to say.

Answer 1

I completely agree with your assessment of the keyboard.  I have not had any issues with it other than the keyboard.  I have had the keyboard for a month and I treat the entire machine like a new born child and it has torn in the exact corner you describe.  This is ridiculous for a 130$ piece of hardware.  I found your post while looking for a way to repair it.  I'm very frustrated with it.  Clearly they have chosen an inferior piece of fabric.  I have worked with composite materials for years and there are many choices they could have used that would have been bullet proof.  It is either because of bad engineering or because of cost cutting that this is happening, and in either case I am left with a brand new keyboard that is torn. 

I also see no mention of Microsoft being willing to replace it for free or repair it, and I know that you and I are far from the only two poeple who are having this issue.  I hope they will own up to the problem and help us out.  I am loyal to the brand and other than this problem, I can say with confidence that the SP3 is a complete pleasure to use, and I have had zero buyers remorse until today.

Answer 2

I want to add an amendment to this post.  The warranty department was first rate, easy to communicate with, and replaced my keyboard with almost no effort (I just had to email a picture of the damage).  My new keyboard is already in the mail!  Hopefully they have solved the fabric issue...

Answer 3

Actually I have not had any problem with the wear-ability of the type cover, but I DO have a comment about the quality of it.

As a man who types letters, blogs and other comments, I am a typist that types a LOT.

This type cover is, speaking frankly, a disaster.

It is almost completely flat, the keys are square, they are too close to each other, and they have virtually NO indentation. You actually have to LOOK at the keyboard to use it effectively!

ALL the above are an invitation to CONSTANT typing errors, and it's absolutely maddening.

What is the answer to this problem?

I suggest that Microsoft bring out a deluxe version of type cover.

Microsoft will say that such a cover will increase weight and thickness. THEY ARE WRONG!

Prior to buying the SP3 I owned a Lenovo Edge ThinkPad; an 11.6" machine with a keyboard almost exactly the same size as this type cover.

The weight of the Edge keyboard is only ONE THIRD of the weight of the Type cover (I took the Edge apart! Then I weighed them both), but the feel of the Edge keyboard is out-of-sight better!! I sooo miss that keyboard.

(Obviously the overall weight of the SP3 with k/b is less.)

So how about a few more people start putting this to Microsoft? Let's get them to make a better keyboard. I've tried to contact them about it but it's almost impossible to get through to anybody interested.