Microsoft has managed to build a sort-of-working cardboard version of the Surface Pro 3 tablet/laptop hybrid, sending units to schools in Australia as part of its Surface Pro 3 international launch celebration.
However, the unit is not actually functional, and only features a small working display powered by a low-resolution MP4 player that highlights the device’s main features, The Verge reports. As a result, the cardboard Surface Pro 3 is in no danger of running into any overheating problems, since it’s made of paper.
The actual Surface Pro 3 actually has some overheating issues, which Microsoft is promising to fix, PCWorld says.
Specifically, the Core i7 versions of the device have been reported to overheat, with users experiencing loud fan noise, increased heat, and even instances where the device shuts off. The company is aware of existing complaints and working on a way to eliminate them.
“The i7 version of Surface Pro 3 is a first-of-its-kind tablet delivering i7 processing power in a thin and light package,” Microsoft told the publication. “As such, the increased power calls for the fan to spin more regularly and at higher speeds—and for the unit to run slightly warmer.”
“Our investigation reveals that the system is triggering this event sooner than it should for some people, only when the device restarts, and this does not occur when the device is booted and running,” Microsoft said, referring to those instances where a temperature warning icon appears on the screen. “We have an update that will address this that will be ready for our customers as soon as possible.”
A video showing the cardboard dummy Surface Pro 3 unit in action follows below.
