Does anyone use a Windows 8 tablet?

[Jonny_]

I've noticed an Acer Iconia W3 tablet running Windows 8 can be had for just over £100 (refurbished).

I'm getting fed up with the highly limited abilities of my Kindle Fire, but Android seems to be going the same way as Apple lately in limiting what control you have over the device (app permissions, SD Card access etc). And I definitely won't entertain any kind of Apple device!

So, are the Win 8 tabs any good? Do they run "desktop" apps as well as the Metro ones? Are the apps riddled with intrusive ads? And is browsing the web a better experience than the flakey, slow rubbish that Androids seem to offer?

...It comes to something when I start to see Microsoft as the lesser of the evils!

[HenryJM]

So you are anti-Apple and also anti-Android? And you really think Win8 will be better? Hmm, you've got a problem there.

[dododo]

HenryJM said:

So you are anti-Apple and also anti-Android? And you really think Win8 will be better? Hmm, you've got a problem there.

I have a win 8 RT tablet and love it. Dies exactly what I want: Internet, email, films on the move. It's fast, good size, not too heavy, good battery life, great interface, and ships with Office - which no other tablet can claim.

Compared to my wife's iPad it shows how lacking the iPad really is. The only benefit an iPad or android had in my opinion are hands and apps. But if you're usage is similar to mine, then go for it.

And yes, they run desktop apps. Office 2013 is desktop only.

[Jonny_]

The Office aspect definitely appeals. Am I right in believing that, with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you can use these things like a basic desktop PC?

Although I'll freely admit to being anti-Apple, I'm not anti-Android (yet) - just finding that the user experience isn't all I'd like (as well as the admittedly oddball Kindle I have an Xperia SP smartphone - lovely hardware, but deeply buggy web browsing whether I use Chrome, Dolphin, Opera...) and so investigating the alternatives. In all honesty I'd be happier if everything ran on Windows 98

Edited by Jonny_ on Sunday 20th July 20:27

[HenryJM]

It's important that anyone gets what they think they want, personally I really neither care what people use nor judge them by what they buy. For me Win8 is dreadful and it's been really badly received by the people we tried to roll it out to, which is why we stopped. But each to their own, no doubt some people love it.

BTW you can run the office suite on a iPad, I do.

[Pistom]

You really need to try one.

For work, I was asked to try an 8 and an 8 RT and they were neither tablet or basic laptop. Our IT guys loved them, those of us who needed to work with them hated them.

We ended up going for Android tablets, much faster, nicer to use. They just work whereas the MS devices just nearly worked.

As a leisure device I still use my old ipad for no other reason than it isn't owned by work.

[lestag]

Windows 8 RT avoid. it won't run desktop apps
Windows * - Atom processors, depending on what you d , you may be disappointed with performance but will run desktop apps
Windows 8 - I5 processors (e.g surface pro) are fine , just like a desktop /laptop.
But upgrade to windows 8.1 update 1, if you do get one. Better user experiance

[Polariz]

The RT argument is a tough one. The main two benefits are that the battery life is stunning on a Surface 2 - Engadget got close to 16 hours on a rundown test (And iPad was closer to 12); and the lack of viruses.

We have a chap here at our offices today who really backs the RT argument because he spends a lot of his time taking customer iPads, and sticking RDP onto them for their primary use - essentially turning iPads into PC terminals. RT would make complete sense here - they have proper(ish) keyboards, have Office built in, and the build quality is ace. The customer's just interested in aesthetics, which the iPads are always going to be good at. As far as i'm concerned though, that really is all they're good at. I'd have a Windows or Android tablet any day.

I've just purchased a Dell Venue 8 Pro, which is pretty much the go-to device for Windows 8" tablets. I'll have a verdict when it turns up from the USA (Refurb, £130 inc delivery and import duty). I already know I'm going to love it, as I have a Surface Pro 2 so I'm used to Windows 8 tablets already. I'm mainly going to use it for jotting down notes with the capacitive pen, and for consuming media (Such as Plex and Youtube).

[wolves_wanderer]

dododo said:

I have a win 8 RT tablet and love it. Dies exactly what I want: Internet, email, films on the move. It's fast, good size, not too heavy, good battery life, great interface, and ships with Office - which no other tablet can claim.

Compared to my wife's iPad it shows how lacking the iPad really is. The only benefit an iPad or android had in my opinion are hands and apps. But if you're usage is similar to mine, then go for it.

And yes, they run desktop apps. Office 2013 is desktop only.

I feel the same about my Surface 2. Being able to run a couple of apps together is something so obvious that I'm not sure why Apple haven't "invented" it yet.

Just a small correction, although Office is desktop on the RT tablets, you can't install any other desktop software, you are limited to the Windows store. The W3 OP is looking at is "full" Windows 8 so you will be able to install desktop software on it.

[Oakey]

Polariz said:

The RT argument is a tough one. The main two benefits are that the battery life is stunning on a Surface 2 - Engadget got close to 16 hours on a rundown test (And iPad was closer to 12); and the lack of viruses.

We have a chap here at our offices today who really backs the RT argument because he spends a lot of his time taking customer iPads, and sticking RDP onto them for their primary use - essentially turning iPads into PC terminals. RT would make complete sense here - they have proper(ish) keyboards, have Office built in, and the build quality is ace. The customer's just interested in aesthetics, which the iPads are always going to be good at. As far as i'm concerned though, that really is all they're good at. I'd have a Windows or Android tablet any day.

I've just purchased a Dell Venue 8 Pro, which is pretty much the go-to device for Windows 8" tablets. I'll have a verdict when it turns up from the USA (Refurb, £130 inc delivery and import duty). I already know I'm going to love it, as I have a Surface Pro 2 so I'm used to Windows 8 tablets already. I'm mainly going to use it for jotting down notes with the capacitive pen, and for consuming media (Such as Plex and Youtube).

By all accounts the pen for the Dell Venue Pro 8 is terrible which is why I have yet to buy one for mine.

[Man-At-Arms]

dododo said:

I have a win 8 RT tablet and love it. Dies exactly what I want: Internet, email, films on the move. It's fast, good size, not too heavy, good battery life, great interface, and ships with Office - which no other tablet can claim.

everything apart from spellchecking !!

[Richyvrlimited]

Man-At-Arms said:

everything apart from spellchecking !!

There were no spelling errors, in that excerpt you quoted.

Grammatical, maybe, but that's not something that a spellcheck would pick up.

[BHC]

Dell Venue 8 Pro.

Great device using Metro and touchscreen and still quick and competent using it in desktop mode with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
It gets a lot of use - for me it is a much better device than an iPad Mini.

[tankslappa]

Oakey said:

By all accounts the pen for the Dell Venue Pro 8 is terrible which is why I have yet to buy one for mine.

It's not brilliant I will admit. Dell sent out replacement pens a few months ago, acknowledging issues with the originals. But even making sure that all of the firmware is up to date hasn't really transformed the experience. It's improved but not drastically so.

I've been using a Venue Pro 8 for the last 6 months, along side a couple of old Sony and Samsung tablets (I've also got a 2013 Nexus 7 within the last couple of weeks). It's taken a bit of time to get used to Windows in tablet form but for browsing the web it's leagues better than on an Android device IMO.

There is an argument for the lack of apps, but other than the usual (Facebook/Twitter/Kindle/Amazon Store) I'm not a heavy app user so it hasn't bothered me in the slightest. The built in apps suffice for the most part.

[BHC]

tankslappa said:

It's not brilliant I will admit. Dell sent out replacement pens a few months ago, acknowledging issues with the originals. But even making sure that all of the firmware is up to date hasn't really transformed the experience. It's improved but not drastically so.

I've been using a Venue Pro 8 for the last 6 months, along side a couple of old Sony and Samsung tablets (I've also got a 2013 Nexus 7 within the last couple of weeks). It's taken a bit of time to get used to Windows in tablet form but for browsing the web it's leagues better than on an Android device IMO.

There is an argument for the lack of apps, but other than the usual (Facebook/Twitter/Kindle/Amazon Store) I'm not a heavy app user so it hasn't bothered me in the slightest. The built in apps suffice for the most part.

I can't see it as a problem - are you saying that Windows has little available software?

[tankslappa]

BHC said:

I can't see it as a problem - are you saying that Windows has little available software?

Not software but metro apps. It's certainly lacking in numbers compared to Android/iOS.

It personally doesn't bother me in the slightest though. I'd like an official YouTube app but the couple of third party apps I've used are perfectly adequate.

[Jonny_]

I'm going to take a chance on the Acer W3, it's £140 with Office included. Only a basic model but should do for my purposes. Ta for your input all, I'll let you know how I get on with it

[Polariz]

Oakey said:

Polariz said:

The RT argument is a tough one. The main two benefits are that the battery life is stunning on a Surface 2 - Engadget got close to 16 hours on a rundown test (And iPad was closer to 12); and the lack of viruses.

We have a chap here at our offices today who really backs the RT argument because he spends a lot of his time taking customer iPads, and sticking RDP onto them for their primary use - essentially turning iPads into PC terminals. RT would make complete sense here - they have proper(ish) keyboards, have Office built in, and the build quality is ace. The customer's just interested in aesthetics, which the iPads are always going to be good at. As far as i'm concerned though, that really is all they're good at. I'd have a Windows or Android tablet any day.

I've just purchased a Dell Venue 8 Pro, which is pretty much the go-to device for Windows 8" tablets. I'll have a verdict when it turns up from the USA (Refurb, £130 inc delivery and import duty). I already know I'm going to love it, as I have a Surface Pro 2 so I'm used to Windows 8 tablets already. I'm mainly going to use it for jotting down notes with the capacitive pen, and for consuming media (Such as Plex and Youtube).

By all accounts the pen for the Dell Venue Pro 8 is terrible which is why I have yet to buy one for mine.

Yeah I've done a lot of research and from Youtube videos the pen experience has indeed got better since the replacements (Rev A02). For the price, and what I'm going to do with it, it's spot on. Though I'm not expecting great things when compared to the Surface Pro pen. I'm a network engineer so my skills in handwriting have already devolved to the point where having a dodgy pen isn't going to matter!

[JDMDrifter]

I've got a surface pro 64gb, love it! Perfect for when im on call and don't want to keep a laptop on my person constantly.

[Regiment]

After using Android tablets, iPads and a Dell Windows 8 tablet, the only one I'd spend any money on is the iPad. Windows 8 is a terrible O/S to use, especially on a tablet, which is a shame as I really like Windows Mobile 8.