Home → Kurzweil 3000 (K3000) → Kurzweil 3000 (General) → General Information: Microsoft Surface Support
1.11. General Information: Microsoft Surface Support
Last Updated: December 2019
What is a Microsoft Surface?
The Microsoft Surface comes in many variations: From a fully functioning portable computer with touch screen features to a touch screen desktop device. These devices use Windows 10 and Windows 10 S.
The Windows 10 Home/Pro versions are compatible with the following Kurzweil products:
— K3000 for Windows v15 or higher
— Kurzweil3000.com using a web browser
In some cases, compatibility may require to download and install the latest update for the Kurzweil software, available here.
K3000 is what Microsoft refers to as a "Desktop App," which is only compatible with Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. If you have a Surface with Windows 10 S like the Surface Go, you cannot install the Kurzweil software but you can use the Kurzweil3000.com website.
If in doubt of compatibility, it's best to contact Microsoft and ask them if your device has Windows 10 Home/Pro/S
Here are our system requirements for the installed product: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/includes/new-windows-system-requirements.html
I have Windows 10 S, is there anything I can do?
Yes, you can disable S mode and then install Kurzweil but please be aware that you cannot revert this change and due to this it is not recommended. More information is available from Microsoft here.
Here is some information about older Surface devices:
Kurzweil 3000 (K3000) compatibility details for: Microsoft Surface Pro (all versions), Surface RT aka Surface 2*, Surface 3, Surface Book
*Note: The Surface PRO 2 and the Surface 2 are NOT the same device.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2, Microsoft Surface 3, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, and the Surface Book:
The Surface 3 and later models are compatible devices. What is new in the 3 series and higher is that a full version of Windows 8 or Windows 10 is available, the previous versions of the Surface models that were not these units did not have this feature. Having a full version of Windows available will allow Kurzweil 3000 to install fully. For information on the older units, continue reading.
Microsoft Surface RT / Surface 2 (Non-Pro Models - Not compatible)
Only built-in apps and apps that you download from the Windows Store will run on Surface RT. If you get the error message, "This app can't run on your PC. To find apps for your PC, open the Windows Store," you may be trying to install an app from somewhere other than the Windows Store which is not supported on these devices.
The Microsoft Surface RT and the Microsoft Surface 2 are tablet devices using a tablet operating system and not a full Windows operating system. Kurzweil 3000 for Windows requires a full version of the Windows operating system. However, starting with the Surface 3, this limitation no longer applies.
It should be possible to access Kurzweil3000.com and utilize its web-based reader application from a Surface RT or Surface 2 device, as long as the web browser you're using supports HTML5. The Kurzweil3000.com website is accessible here.