Category: Geeks r Us
HI all.
The title of the thread covers the information I'm after. Anyone have positive or negative experiences with Windows tablets? I've played around with both Android and iOS, but not Windows. I'm also considering holding out for Windows 10, but I'm not sure. I know of the Surface series of course, but also know there are a lot of other tablets on the market. Anyone have any input?
Thanks,
Scott
I have worked with the Surface pro 2 and pro 3, both are really good tablets with the type cover. I think they'll be even better once Windows 10 comes out from what I've seen from playing with the preview builds. A note to keep in mind, if you want a desktop the Surface would be the best bet as anything under 8 inches will not have a desktop at all.
I have no experience with WIndows tablets but hopefully the following info will be useful. I would not wait until windows 10. You will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free if you are running WIndows 8.1 or WIndows 7 for one year after the initial release of Windows 10 so there's no point in waiting to buy hardware unless you really want Windows 10 installed by default. My understanding is that the surface is the top of the line tablet priced accordingly. With a keyboard your looking at about $900 for the base model. You may be interested in the Del Venue tablet, for more info see
http://www.dell.com/us/p/dell-venue-11-pro/pd#AnchorZone1
I would wait to buy it as new models with better processors will be coming out in early march.
I have a Toshiba Encore II tablet and quite like it. It's definitely in the cheaper
range than the Surface. I don't particularly like JAWS's implementation of
touch, but it works well with a keyboard cover. My tip would be to make sure
you get one with a 64GB hard drive. The majority that shops carry have 32
though many of the models are available in 64, I just don't think 32 is enough
once you've put a screen reader on. One of the key downsides of many tablets
is that the USB port is also the charging port, meaning that you won't be using
many wired peripherals while it's plugged in. Not necessarily a big deal
depending on how you use it but something to consider. This is not an issue
with the Surface, which has a separate charging port. Also make sure you don't
get one running Windows RT, you won't be able to install Windows desktop
programs on it.
What screen reader will you be using with it? NVDA works quite well on the cheaper low powered tablets, but if you're wanting to run Jaws then you'll need something a bit better.
Thank you all for your responses! I am looking for something more high end, as I'll also need braille support, which probably means JAWS. I have not tried Window-Eyes 9 yet, as of 8.2, it stunk on polar ice in terms of web support, but braille was painless to set up when compared to JAWS.
I think you are right Jared, I'll hold off a bit more until the newer hardware comes out in the spring.
Its depends on how much you want to spend. so far, from what i've seen and research, i
quite like the surface range and also the Lenovo Yoga series, esspecially the Yoga 3 Pro. If
i have the means, i'll definitely go for the Yoga 3 Pro compare to the surface pro 3. But
again, it is all depends on what you have to spend, and what sort of screen size you have
in mind. The Dell Value taps are pretty good too, for what they are, and the price.
Hi. JAWS runs fine on my Toshiba, including with braille support. Bear in mind with Window-Eyes that you won't be able to use the touch screen as touch hasn't been implemented, not sure if that's an issue for you.
I've tried Jaws, SuperNova and NVDA on a cheap Atom tablet and NVDA is simply miles ahead of the others in terms of performance. It's unfortunate really; I for one don't really believe in multi touch on Windows enough yet to buy something like a Surface but I don't mind spending £100 or so for a device to test things out on. These low end CPU's are perfectly capable of doing average computing tasks now but from what I've been hearing the AT venders don't give two shits and have no intention of trimming down some of the bloat.
Hi.
I have tried both the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, and currently own a Dell Venu 11 Pro tablet.
Microsoft tablets are nice; the battery life has definitely improved since the Surface 2 Pro. However, when I had the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, audio kept clipping in and out when using the headphone jack with Jaws. When I returned to BestBuy for another one, the same issue happened, so I settled on a Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro. However, this has the standard 13 inch screen, not quite as portable as the Surface. If you are looking at getting the top-of-the-line Windows tablet, especially the Surface, be prepared to spend approx. $1500.00 for the core I5 model with 8 GB of ram and a 256 GB hard drive. If the hard drive is not an issue for you, you could go with a smaller 64 GB SSD, but do make sure to get 8 GB of memory to ensure that programs and other applications run smoothly.
Certain tasks take longer to accomplish on Windows tablets like unzipping files and installing Jaws compared with a regular laptop. For everyday computing tasks, however, these tablets are very nice and portable.
I have never really enjoyed Dell computers, but I bought this tablet off of EBay because I got a Dell Venu 11 Pro with built-in 4G LTE from ATT, two batteries, a mobile keyboard, which has an extra battery (so essentially, the tablet runs from two batteries), an in-home warranty, an accident-protection warranty, the tablet docking station for more ports, and everything was only $475.00. The service at Dell has been exceptional; a technician even came to my house to fix my Mobile Broadband issue. The tablet has 4 GB of memory, a core I3 processor, and a 128 GB SSD. It's a fast little computer, plus I have built-in Mobile Internet when I need it. This is one of the longest-lasting battery life tablets that I have ever tested. I can get approx. 13 hrs out of it, as long as you purchase the option with the extra battery built into the keyboard.
Hope this helps,
Nathan.
Note, you will need a USB hub if you want or desire more USB ports.
Hello to all. Does anyone here have experiences with the intel n3530 processor? I'm thinking of getting a dell inspiron 11 2 in 1 with this processor in it. My top 2 brands of computers are dell and toshiba. Thanks for the help. :)
You may want to consider the new surfice three. There is a version with 2gb of ram and 64 gb of storage for $499 and a version with 4gb of ram and 128 gb of storage for $599. They are currently available for preorder.
I read about the surface 3 and was honestly not that interested. I'd rather have a 2 in 1. This may have been the wrong topic to post about my n3530 question.
Hi Austin. Since I have a Lenovo Yoga, I can't say for sure how that processor would run. What's the overall speed?
Not as good as an I3 but not as slow as an Atom. Remember however that the speed of a device is dictated by a number of things that also include the memory, hard drive & installed software to name a few. *From what I can tell* it will require a fan to be cooled so it won't be as thin as some other tablets.
When I looked up the dell inspiron 11 two in one it was the 3000 model with a hard drive instead of SSD. SSD's are life changing, I will never go back. I suggest you convert.
If you do go with the Surface 3, I'd suggest the 4GB of ram not 2. I just don't know how well 2 gigs will work. Scott, you are aware that the ram and SSD's are most likely sottered into the mother board right? There are no DIM slots. you wont be upgradeing ram if you need too. for this reason, more is better when it comes to tablits, especially if you plan to keep it running for a few years.
My mom has a Surface Pro arigional with 64 GB of SSd storage and 4 GB of ram. runs the third gen core I5 processor. very nice tablit indeed.
also something else to keep in mind. (not sure if this matters?) but the new surface 3 uses the cherry trail adam processor. This is the latest gen adam processor out to date. may be good enough for your needs. What exactly do you plan to use this for?
Hello to all. I will be upgrading this computer to 8 gb of ram and a ssd for sure. It will be used for web browsing and a few audio games and audasity editing here and there. I don't have very high expectations for it. It will be my secondary computer. The processor is a quad core processor at 2.16 ghz and it can turbo boost up to 2.58 ghz. The ram upgrade is not officially supported but people have posted of successfully making the upgrade on that computer. I'll see how it runs on 4 gb but I'll make the ssd upgrade first. The exact model number is dell inspiron 11 3147
Thank you all for the additional info! I'm considering the Surface 3, though by time I can afford it, which will be the fall, I'm sure something else will come along. I agree with The Roman Battle Mask, I'll never go back to a drive with moving parts now that I have a SSD drive.
Solid State drives are something anyone should consider if they are buying or upgrading a PC.
Likewise i agree with scott and jared.
by the time fall comes around Windows 10 will probably make its day view.
at that point, you'll need to get a tablit with 10 inches or bigger (if you get one with windows 10) so that you get the full windows 10 desktop version and not the mobile version.
by the time fal comes around, you may be looking at more cherry trail-bassed tablits, and if you are waiting that long, keep a look out for the Surface Pro 4 devices (who's processors are core bassed, not adam bassed.
Well guys I got the dell inspiron 11. I love it. The only thing is it really could use the ssd upgrade for sure. Let's just say I'm spoiled by my i 7 laptop with 8 gb of ram and an ssd. hahaah but I really do enjoy the smaller computer as well. The keyboard is awesome. So is the audio.
Actually it's 8 inch tablets or higher that will get the full Windows 10 release, not 10 inches.
ooops, my bad.
Hello to all. It turns out that the laptop I got has the n3540 processor in it. I had not heard of that one until I got the computer. I guess it has a bit of a higher turbo boost than the n3530 did. This one is still 2.16 ghz normally but it can boost up to 2.66
So thanks to the posts in this topic (mainly Ed_G's replies, I now own a Toshiba Encore Ii, 64 GB hard drive and 2 GB of Ram. I was in the market for a budget tablet, just one to play around with. This is a nice little machine!
since I find anything less than a Core I5 to be slow, i doubt that owning anything like any of the tablits (save for the Surface Pro devices) would be worth the investment.
Hello to all. this Dell really flys with a 8 gb of ram upgrade and the ssd upgrade. It's not as fast as my core i7 but it is a lot better.