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?
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.
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...
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!plasticpig said:
Plasticpig, how are you finding your Transformer 3 Pro? They do look good but biggest criticisms seem to be very poor battery life and very noisy fan. I would be looking at the base i5 / 4GB / 256GB model - does that spec seem OK? I am slightly concerned by the memory, I would prefer 8GB...The alternatives seem to have large downsides, and the Surface Pro is so expensive - at least £800 without the keyboard.
Well, at the moment I have narrowed it down to:
Lenovo MIIX 510 - no SD card slot
Lenovo MIIX 700 - seems a lesser spec and older I think
Samsung Galaxy Tab S - can only get a refurbed one and no SD card slot
Acer Aspire Switch Alpha 12 - quite old, poor screen, middling battery
Microsoft Surface Pro - expensive, and no keyboard included
HP Spectre X2 - really, really expensive
ASUS Transformer 3 Pro - poor battery life, is 4GB enough?
At the moment the Transformer seems the best bet but I am slightly concerned by battery life, memory, and age - although all of them apart from the latest Surface Pro seem to be a year or two old...
Lenovo MIIX 510 - no SD card slot
Lenovo MIIX 700 - seems a lesser spec and older I think
Samsung Galaxy Tab S - can only get a refurbed one and no SD card slot
Acer Aspire Switch Alpha 12 - quite old, poor screen, middling battery
Microsoft Surface Pro - expensive, and no keyboard included
HP Spectre X2 - really, really expensive
ASUS Transformer 3 Pro - poor battery life, is 4GB enough?
At the moment the Transformer seems the best bet but I am slightly concerned by battery life, memory, and age - although all of them apart from the latest Surface Pro seem to be a year or two old...
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