x86 Windows 8 Tablets: Acer Iconia W3 Launched
Acer launched the first x86 tablet featuring Windows 8 Pro.
Windows 8 had its minimum resolution lowered from 1366 x 768 to a mere 1024 x 600 a while ago, and now we know why. The Iconia W3 is the first 8 inch tablet capable of running Windows 8 Pro on Intel's x86 architecture.
This tablet utilizes the dual-core Intel Atom Z2760 clocked at 1.8 GHz, which includes hyperthreading and allows the tablet to run on the 1280 x 800 screen on the built-in Intel HD graphics. The dual channel RAM architecture (LPDDR2) is limited to 2 GB of RAM, so naturally, there will be no 64-bit version tablet available. Both the forward and rear facing cameras are 2 MPX.
The device is offered in both 32 and 64 GB internal storage options, with no mention of expandable storage thus far. Thanks to the Intel HD Graphics, the tablet can output full-HD through its micro-HDMI port, and also comes with connectivity due to a USB 2.0 port and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. The device is said to have Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 edition pre-installed, and promises of an 8-hour battery life have been made. The launch date is set for sometime next week, with the larger model available from Amazon for $430.
While this tablet may not be the most impressive x86 design, it sure has prepared the way for more tablets of its kind to congregate on the market, with rumors of Intel's Haswell chips in Windows tablets already floating around. We await with baited breath.
one more thing: i thought clovertrail still used imagination's powervr igpu....
says so right here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ativ-smart-pc-500t-windows-8-atom,3360-4.html
It has a microSD slot capable of accommodating up to 32GB cards. Brief review of the tablet here shows the card slot: http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/acer-iconia-w3/4505-3126_7-35781405.html
Really? Curious, have you ever used one, or is this just a herd-mentality "DURRR WINDOWS 8 IS TERRUBL!" routine? I'm typing from one right now, plugged into my HDTV via the micro hdmi cable on it. Just finished playing Neverwinter online on it too. Earlier today my girlfriend was working on a resume on it using full MS office and browsing in a full desktop browser. Later on, I may well unhook it and bring it with me, setting it up to use it at a coffee shop, picking whether I want to use it as a tablet or as a laptop with a mouse and keyboard hooked in.
A full Windows 8 tablet is more functional than an Android or Apple tablet. Perdiod. Their pricing is stupid at this point in time and as a pure tablet it doesn't have as many apps as Android/Apple, but, that isn't such a big deal when you can, you know, just switch to desktop mode and use anything that works on a desktop PC.
My advice to everyone who hears Windows 8 and jumps on the "I hate Microsoft" bandwagon.. Give it a try. These tablets are far more complete than what their competitors offer.
I've owned a Nexus 7 since the day the were available here in the UK, and I can only describe the experience as "lacklustre", at best. Things I like about the Nexus 7: the form factor, ability to play back just about any video I throw at it (I use ES Strongs File Explorer to stream from my NAS drive - it excels at this), easily programmable (free tools, easy to set up). Things I don't like about the Nexus 7: the browsing experience - it's awful - jerky, laggy, stuttery most of the time (just try using a Nexus 7 to browse Google's own news aggregate).
Of course the first thing I'm going to try and do is install Ubuntu
I see a lot of potential with this device. Naturally, the first thing I'm going to do is try to install Ubuntu 13.04 on it
Contender for dumb comment of the month award.
Don't worry, buddy, you still own that award by a long shot. Just re-read your next comment...
Unless you have a Samsung device running Android and you run Chrome you shouldn't post here...lol
I'm curious, why a Samsung device in particular? I've tried two iterations of the Galaxy tab, and actually have a close friend who owns one, while I myself own a Le Pan I and a Le Pan II. Generally, I find that the stock android on the Le Pan II runs much more smoothly than the bloatware loaded Galaxy tabs - and at a significantly lower cost for equivalent hardware. If you're looking for an Android tablet, I'd highly recommend it.
Actually, I used my Le Pan II for a primary note taking, and often word processing (Office Suite Pro - really not so bad office replacement, and got it on a 10 cent sale through Play store) device for over a full year prior to getting my Windows tablet. Simply put, this is where I came to the conclusions I stated above... Android tablets are absolutely excellent for the price range, but a decent Windows 8 tablet is simply far more full featured. Heck, with Bluestacks, you can even emulate almost everything an Android tablet does.
For a certain price range and certain interest level, Android tablets cannot be beat - and I'd give a big nod to Le Pan's line of tablets for cheap tablets that work like more expensive ones. That being said, if you're willing to spend more, Windows 8 tablets are simply better machines.