Windows 2-in-1 tablet with keyboard thing
Discussion
Need a little advice on this - I'm looking for something lightweight and portable running Windows 10 which can be used both as a tablet (for displaying sheet music) and with a keyboard (light laptop duties - word, excel, web browsing, youtube, watching videos, other windows apps like Sibelius).
I know ipads and android devices can run most of the same stuff but on reflection I think I would like something where I can run all my windows software, although there are a few useful Android apps that I use from time to time - can run them on my phone though I suppose!
Anyway, I have looked at a couple - the Linx 12X64 is a wallet friendly £200 and seems pretty good, but I wonder if it would be very underpowered. I am not going to be gaming or video editing but the reviews I have read suggest that if you open more than a couple of tabs it is all done.
I have also been looking at the Microsoft Surface Pro (most recent version). This seems to start at £800 and go up to the best part of £3k!
I'm not trying to replace my laptop but it would be useful to be productive on the move. I have been using an 8" android tablet with a BT keyboard but it is too small to display music and it is long in the tooth.
I'd be happy to spend £3-400 on something that would run all my windows stuff and small and portable and be reasonably future proofed. I know the Surface Pro is very good, but that is way out of my budget...
Any thoughts?
I know ipads and android devices can run most of the same stuff but on reflection I think I would like something where I can run all my windows software, although there are a few useful Android apps that I use from time to time - can run them on my phone though I suppose!
Anyway, I have looked at a couple - the Linx 12X64 is a wallet friendly £200 and seems pretty good, but I wonder if it would be very underpowered. I am not going to be gaming or video editing but the reviews I have read suggest that if you open more than a couple of tabs it is all done.
I have also been looking at the Microsoft Surface Pro (most recent version). This seems to start at £800 and go up to the best part of £3k!
I'm not trying to replace my laptop but it would be useful to be productive on the move. I have been using an 8" android tablet with a BT keyboard but it is too small to display music and it is long in the tooth.
I'd be happy to spend £3-400 on something that would run all my windows stuff and small and portable and be reasonably future proofed. I know the Surface Pro is very good, but that is way out of my budget...
Any thoughts?
I started a similar thread a few weeks ago and in the end opted for the Linx 12X64 which seemed to be good value.
This was after rejecting a load of others for being too underpowered or not fitting the bill of being lightweight, longish battery life and having a half decent keyboard.
Initially the Linx looked pretty good and performed quite well, although Windows updates take about 5 hours to install after you open the box.
Then after a day of light use the display started to randomly go haywire with black and white lines all over it and would need a reboot to recover. I must have spent a good day researching a solution (many other users report the same issue) and updating drivers etc. with no luck, so put it down to a hardware fault. I got a refund and bought another new 12X64 from a different supplier.
After half a day, the same fault emerged and after spending another few hours trying to get ot the bottom of it I called it a day, threw in the towel in and sent that one back as well.
So my initial instinct that it's probably better to spend more money on something that works seems to be correct and I've just ordered a Surface Pro Core M (the lowest performance model) so let's see how that turns out. As I already have a Surface Pro 4 i7, it makes more sense as chargers and accessories like the pen can be used between the two of them. The i7 has been completely trouble free so I'm hoping for the same from the Core M.
This was after rejecting a load of others for being too underpowered or not fitting the bill of being lightweight, longish battery life and having a half decent keyboard.
Initially the Linx looked pretty good and performed quite well, although Windows updates take about 5 hours to install after you open the box.
Then after a day of light use the display started to randomly go haywire with black and white lines all over it and would need a reboot to recover. I must have spent a good day researching a solution (many other users report the same issue) and updating drivers etc. with no luck, so put it down to a hardware fault. I got a refund and bought another new 12X64 from a different supplier.
After half a day, the same fault emerged and after spending another few hours trying to get ot the bottom of it I called it a day, threw in the towel in and sent that one back as well.
So my initial instinct that it's probably better to spend more money on something that works seems to be correct and I've just ordered a Surface Pro Core M (the lowest performance model) so let's see how that turns out. As I already have a Surface Pro 4 i7, it makes more sense as chargers and accessories like the pen can be used between the two of them. The i7 has been completely trouble free so I'm hoping for the same from the Core M.
Some here to choose from:
https://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/tablets-pcs/windows...
You can pay interest free over 12 months too if you want.
https://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/tablets-pcs/windows...
You can pay interest free over 12 months too if you want.
Depends how lightweight you want, as they'll never be as light as a detachable keyboard tablet, but there's a lot of 2in1 laptops where they keyboard folds behind these days. I have the i5 version of this, but it sounds like a Pentium would fine for your use.
http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInvent...
The Lenovo Yoga is a similar idea but I believe a bit lighter and more expensive.
http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInvent...
The Lenovo Yoga is a similar idea but I believe a bit lighter and more expensive.
I had the same dilemma and ended up going completely the other way and opted for a Chromebook this one to be precise
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-pixelbook
Its pricey but i dont regret it, lovely bit of kit.
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-pixelbook
Its pricey but i dont regret it, lovely bit of kit.
Thanks all, some interesting stuff there.
I was looking more at the detachable keyboard tablets rather than the laptops as the laptop is going to be getting bulkier than I want. Any other differences other than the trade off between power / portability?
Good steer away from the Linx, will avoid that.
I did look at Chromebooks but I think I really want something Windows based.
I was looking more at the detachable keyboard tablets rather than the laptops as the laptop is going to be getting bulkier than I want. Any other differences other than the trade off between power / portability?
Good steer away from the Linx, will avoid that.
I did look at Chromebooks but I think I really want something Windows based.
Our criteria were:
1. At least HD resolution
2. 12" display + or - 1
3. Detachable, proper tactile keyboard
4. At least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage but with SD slot to expand it easily
5. Windows based
6 Enough grunt to play HD video or have a couple of browser tabs open without it grinding to a halt.
For under £300 there really isn't much worth having.
£300-£500 you might find a few, but nothing really jumped out at us. It's possible to find 2 in 1s around £300-£400 but not which tick all of those boxes.
It was fortunate I'm off the States for a few days as I found the Surface Pro with keyboard for just under £600 inc. shipping to my hotel so I went for that to minimise the chances of having another Linx experience.
1. At least HD resolution
2. 12" display + or - 1
3. Detachable, proper tactile keyboard
4. At least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage but with SD slot to expand it easily
5. Windows based
6 Enough grunt to play HD video or have a couple of browser tabs open without it grinding to a halt.
For under £300 there really isn't much worth having.
£300-£500 you might find a few, but nothing really jumped out at us. It's possible to find 2 in 1s around £300-£400 but not which tick all of those boxes.
It was fortunate I'm off the States for a few days as I found the Surface Pro with keyboard for just under £600 inc. shipping to my hotel so I went for that to minimise the chances of having another Linx experience.
I have one of these, which is lightweight, portable, separates and has win10, but may be too small. https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Pavilion-Detachable-10...
Came across this while looking. Not seen one in the flesh. A bit bigger but not hugely expensive.
http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=...
http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=...
In my experience, anything under £500 is going to be utter garbage, particularly in the long run.
Stick to the well know manufacturers. So realistically, stuff like HP, Dell, Lenovo, MS Surface Pro etc.
Whatever you buy, I urge you to ensure you get a decent warranty. These things are not the most reliable machines in the world in my experience.
Stick to the well know manufacturers. So realistically, stuff like HP, Dell, Lenovo, MS Surface Pro etc.
Whatever you buy, I urge you to ensure you get a decent warranty. These things are not the most reliable machines in the world in my experience.
FurtiveFreddy said:
It was fortunate I'm off the States for a few days as I found the Surface Pro with keyboard for just under £600 inc. shipping to my hotel so I went for that to minimise the chances of having another Linx experience.
Do you mean you will have it shipped to your hotel in the States, from a seller in the States?If so, bear in mind you will get a US format keyboard cover.
It's crazy, the prices vary wildly, some are £300, some are £1500. The Dell ones seem to be laptops with 360 degree hinges and touch screens - they are relatively cheap (£500 for a reasonable spec), but I have a smallish (12") laptop already. What I need is something portable that I can put on a music stand to display music and will fit in a side pocket on a musical instrument case - a tablet with a keyboard rather than a laptop with a touch screen.
So I think ideally I am still looking at something like a Surface Pro or clone - but they are so much more expensive for the spec. It's also hard to know what sort of power/CPU to go for. My normal laptop is a 10 year old HP Probook 4320s with an i3 and maxed out memory - I'm not a power user! I suppose I'm happy spending up to £600 or so but would rather keep it to £400 if possible.
I think I need to see some in the flesh to get an idea of size/weight and what they are like to use...
So I think ideally I am still looking at something like a Surface Pro or clone - but they are so much more expensive for the spec. It's also hard to know what sort of power/CPU to go for. My normal laptop is a 10 year old HP Probook 4320s with an i3 and maxed out memory - I'm not a power user! I suppose I'm happy spending up to £600 or so but would rather keep it to £400 if possible.
I think I need to see some in the flesh to get an idea of size/weight and what they are like to use...
Cabinet display (ex demo) Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S come up occassionally on SVP. They have some at the moment for £350 :
https://www.svp.co.uk/computing/tablets/samsung-ta...
Tempted myself as I could do with a lightweight travel machine for work which runs Win 10 Pro.
https://www.svp.co.uk/computing/tablets/samsung-ta...
Tempted myself as I could do with a lightweight travel machine for work which runs Win 10 Pro.
Interesting - reviews look good, and it's definitely the right form factor. Only fly in the ointment is a lack of ports. Ideally want a microSD slot as I am going to use it as a library for scanned sheet music which I'd want to keep on a separate card. Very tempted though.
It has thrown a few equivalent sort of machines though - Acer Aspire Switch Alpha / Lenovo Miix which I assume are similar sorts of things?
Edited - the Lenovo Miix 510 looks very very tempting - only issue is no microSD card slot...
It has thrown a few equivalent sort of machines though - Acer Aspire Switch Alpha / Lenovo Miix which I assume are similar sorts of things?
Edited - the Lenovo Miix 510 looks very very tempting - only issue is no microSD card slot...
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 16th May 18:16
plasticpig said:
That does look good. but where are you finding it for that price? Looks nearer to £900!sgrimshaw said:
Do you mean you will have it shipped to your hotel in the States, from a seller in the States?
If so, bear in mind you will get a US format keyboard cover.
Yes, that's what I'm doing and like the Surface Pro I'm currently typing on which was also bought in the States, it's hardly an issue. If so, bear in mind you will get a US format keyboard cover.
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