Thoughts on Windows Tablets?

[Mark_Nguyen]

Anyone out there have a Windows tablet - be it Surface or one of the other vendors? Any thoughts on it, and Windows 8.1 as a operating platform?

My Android tablet is getting close to its last legs, after three years - not bad compared to other tablets, and I've applied a custom ROM to have it keep up with the times. I use it principally for media consumption but it's not as useful as it used to be, stuttering and choking on HD video. My smaller and newer Android tablet is picking up the slack but even it can only do so much... My needs and preferences don't fit an iPad, and while I can happily trot out to buy a new Android tablet again, I'm wary that the built-in obsolesence will be especially sharp down the road, as it is with the current one.

So, I'm looking at Windows as an option, and to anyone who has such a device for their thoughts on it. As I understand it, Windows 8 was a mess, but 8.1 has largely cleared it up - My wife uses a Windows laptop and when I'm actually allowed to touch it, it seems just fine. Windows 10 sounds genuinely exciting, and I'm looking forward to the upgrade pretty much all my existing Windows machine will automatically get (I use a W7 Desktop at home, and a laptop at work). Comments?

Mark

 

[Marc]

from the review I read the Surface Pro 3 is a very nice tablet (wouldn't say no to one) but it carrires a heft price tag (though there's not much competition in the 12.1" tablet market other than a Samsung). Will run full blown Windows apps so you won't have any compatability issues.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8077/microsoft-surface-pro-3-review

Microsoft have also recently announced the Surface 3 which is a 10.1 model. Again the full version of windows (none of the RT crap), upgradable to Win10 when it comes out and also avaialble with Windows 8.1 Pro. Haven't read any review yet.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9126/microsoft-announces-surface-3

If you wait it might be worth while doing so. The Pro came out in May/June last year and in the meantime the Intel have revamp it's mobile processor range so it's possible in the next few months we could see a revamp on the Pro model.

As to Windows 8/8.1 there were some braindead "features" but they impacted more on the desktop/laptop market and were blown out of proportion so it's never been an issue on the tablets. Windows RT on tablets however was an abomination but Microsoft saw the light and took it behind the woodshed.

 

[JoeZhang]

If it's literally just for media consumption - pick up a cheap non-brand chinese like a linx off ebay.

 

[ebusinesstutor]

I have the Surface Pro 3 and I am really impressed with it.

I am a professional speaker and the Surface Pro 3 has totally replaced my laptop when I travel and present.

The built in kickstand is genius - friction based so it works at any angle. The size is great, about the size of an 8x11" note pad. The keyboard is also well thought out. Detaches easily.

It can be used as either a tablet or laptop and runs the full version of Windows 8.1, so it can run any Windows program.

I highly recommend it.

 

[{ Emilia }]

For productivity I'd definitely get a Windows tablet since it runs all necessary software. If you just want to consume media then go for an Android one. If you just want to dick around and overspend on a product get an iPad.

 

[Marc]

Review on the new Microsoft Surface 3 that I mentioned upthread. Scrubs up pretty well but with some downsides (battery life and charging times not the best and can be slow accessing it's main storage).

One other factor about whether you need a Windows based tablet, MS Office is availalbe for IOS and Android though it's a port and doesn't offer all the functionality of the Windows verion but may suit your needs.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

I have a Win8.1 Lenovo Miix 2, 10-inch screen/tablet/keyboard combination.

It's pretty nice -- I've only used it casually for the past 6-7 months, but with this new job that I'm starting next week (it involves a 90-minute vanpool ride each way), I'll probably be using it more on a daily basis for reading, light gaming (Sudoku, etc.).

Overall, it's a good machine -- occasionally the keyboard isn't recognized right away, but I think that's more of a failing of Win8.x vs the Lenovo hardware. Very nice screen resolution, so text is very crisp.

I'm SLOWLY getting used to Win8, but still... *yeesh*

Cheers,
-CM-