Windows 8 tablet

[Jackolantern]

Is anyone else considering one of the x86-compatible Windows 8 tablets? There are a few out now, including the Acer Iconia w510, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T, the Asus VivoTab TF810C (not the RT VivoTab), and I believe a couple more, but those are the main ones I am considering. The allure of having a full version of Windows that runs desktop applications and that barely weighs more than an iPad is hard to deny. I am also needing a smaller, portable PC to take to school since physical storage space is at a premium and I walk miles a day all over campus, so my gigantic 17" laptop would kill me to lug around. I love my Asus Transformer (Android 4.0), but I need to be able to develop software on my computer for school, so that is pretty much out.

Is anyone else seriously considering getting one? Which one are you looking at?

[Viper]

I would love to use one for art as well, I am currently on the hunt for one as well. I love the look of the surface pro but I am a bit scared about ever buying technology because things keep changing to damn fast. Also when running the full versions of Window's and the better processors, you kill your battery life.

[Jackolantern]

The Atom processors are actually quite capable from what I have seen. Forget what you know about Atoms and the terrible performance that has plagued netbooks and low-end notebooks for the last few years. They aren't a Core i5 or even an i3, but you can run Photoshop, Flash Pro, Visual Studio, and other development tools on them provided you aren't needing to keep 10 instances running at once.

Another cool thing about both the Samsung Smart PC 500T and the Asus VivoTab TF810C (the model numbers are important because both companies have lower-end products with the same model-line names) is that they both have Wacom Digitizers and have Wacom Digital Pens with 1024 levels of sensitivity, which just happens to be the same as most of Wacom's super-expensive and hard-to-find Cintiq drawing tablets. So by losing a couple of hardware buttons, you are getting a Cintiq, plus an entire full Windows 8 tablet to boot, and saving at least $500 off the higher price of the Cintiq. For an artist considering a Cintiq, it appears pretty much like a win-win!

[Viper]

Let me do some research quickly hahaha. Do you know anything about the lenovo thinkpad 2? It seems to have some of the best battery life in the bunch.

[Jackolantern]

I was just looking at that one. I think it may be coming out Dec 31, since the website says that is when it ships. Honestly, I am a bit wary of buying one of these that does not have reviews out yet. That is because largely they are all the same device with different bodies and keyboard configurations. They pretty much all have the 1.5 - 1.8 ghz Atom Clover Trail CPU, 2 gb of RAM, all SSD storage with either 32 or 64gb (get 64 for sure, since Win8 takes up a lot), etc. The only real differences is that only the Samsung and Asus contain the Wacom digitizer and pens, and then of course the chassis and keyboard. Some of them have had a few rough reviews relating to the keyboard (Samsung), so that makes me hesitant to buy something without at least 10 or 20 reviews to get a consensus on the body build and the keyboard.

That said, it does looks quite nice, and I probably won't be getting a new system until the middle of January, so that would leave some review checking time.

I am also possibly considering going for an "ultrabook", since my needs for an x86-compatible Windows 8 system center around my ability to program on it, which means the keyboard would basically always be attached, and I may consider to just keep using my Asus Transformer for my tablet needs. Still not sure yet.

[Viper]

Thats my big issue, I can't seem to figure out what I fully need. I would like a device that I can develop on, but also one that I can use like a normal tablet and consume media. Having an Iphone, I soooo wan't to get an ipad just so I don't lose out on all the apps ive bought and at the end of the day it does just work. Which is nice considering woes I had with a WinPhone 8 device.

I can't believe that a keyboard dock with extra battery isnt automatically an available accessory. Seems ridiculous to me.

From what I can tell though, the Thinkpad is a Wacom pen using device as well. Although I am not sure what that promises as far as layers of sensitivity.


This review is pretty convincing: http://www.trustedreviews.com/lenovo-th ... let_review

Not to sure about how trustworthy, trustedreviews.com is though.... the irony.

[Jackolantern]

There could be a Wacom digitizer in the Thinkpad as well. When I saw it in the Asus I thought it was an isolated thing, but when I saw it in the Samsung as well I figured it may be a semi-common addition. Since the Thinkpad isn't officially out yet, it is a bit sketchy to get the full details of what is in it, but surely you could know for sure before you buy it.

As far as iOS devices go, I just can't get into them too much. They just feel like toys to me, but I may be kind of biased since I want to be able to develop on all of my devices lol. You can get a bit of web development done on Android, but even that seems a bit too much for iOS, possibly due to security lockdowns in iOS that prevent the usage of HTTP server sockets. And obviously Java, .NET, Python, etc. are all a no-go outside of pricey cloud development options which will no doubt have limitations. I have also had tons of problems with iTunes on Windows that has made me swear off iOS products pretty much indefinitely, at least until I perhaps one day end up with a Mac.

[Viper]

I'm going to hold off until the 31st and see how the reviews go. I use a macbook pro now but want more and more a decent but portable productivity windows device. This may just be the ticket. I got back on the 6th so i should be good.

[Jackolantern]

It is worth noting that the Thinkpad Tablet 2 has kind of an odd keyboard and dock arrangement. The dock is not like most other Win8 tablets in that it is not a straight keyboard. Instead, it is a small, more traditional dock that holds the tablet up at a laptop-like angle, and provides extra connectors and also allows for fast charging. There is no keyboard to the dock, so you would instead have to also get a Bluetooth keyboard to connect and type on while the tablet is in the dock device. Quite different from other "hybrid" devices. Some of the features of the dock do make it sound worthwhile to purchase though (around $150 I believe, similar to the optional keyboard docks of some other hybrids, but you would still have to purchase a Bluetooth keyboard so a fair amount more expensive in total optional purchases).

[Viper]

Well lenovo is apparently working on a new i5-i7 tablet with 10 hours of battery, wacom tech....its just not officialy announced. Its called the helix.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/thin ... i-website/

Probably will be expensive but this is the closest thing to the tablet id be looking for.