Help picking out a tablet (Windows) :)

[02ranger]

I'm looking at buying a new tablet in the next few weeks and would like some reccomendations. I've kinda got my mind set on a Windows tablet, preferably one that could replace my desktop for most things. I'm not a gamer, but I like to read books/browse the internet/watch movies on my current tablet and am looking at going back to school, so these uses should be kept in mind, especially the school use. I don't really need a lot of storage or speed, but I'd like it to be somewhat future-proof. Windows OS is not a must have for me, I'd be OK with IOS or Android, but my current "desire ratio" I guess is a 60/25/15 split between Windows/Android/IOS. I already have a first generation Nexus 7 and have used IOS on phones before, so I am familiar with each OS.

Budget is around $1000 but cheaper is always better, as long as it does the job well.

What do you think?

 

[maevinj]

http://www.dell.com/us/p/dell-venue-11-pro-7000-7140/pd?oc=ftcwj05&model_id=dell-venue-11-pro-7000-7140

 

[cronos]

With a $1000 budget I would have to say the Surface Pro 3.

 

[Crono]

With a $1000 budget I would have to say the Surface Pro 3.

Yeah, with that budget it's a fairly easy decision, especially for school. OneNote is fantastic for taking notes, and the Surface Pro 3 easily is the best tablet for note taking and drawing. Powerful enough as a laptop for non-gaming purposes, though I'm sure for casual/light gaming it's more than enough if you wanted it for that.

 

[02ranger]

The Surface Pro 3 is what I've been leaning towards, but I didn't know if I was falling for the hype, so to speak. Is it truly worth the price? If so, is there any reason to go with the i5 processor over the i3, given my needs?

 

[cronos]

The Surface Pro 3 is what I've been leaning towards, but I didn't know if I was falling for the hype, so to speak. Is it truly worth the price? If so, is there any reason to go with the i5 processor over the i3, given my needs?

If I were you I would get the i5 but more because the i3 only comes with 64 GB SSD than the cpu upgrade itself. It's not like I'd be storing a lot of stuff in it, but 64 GB for a working machine just seems so small. But if budget is more important to you than SSD size, then the i3 should be good enough.

 

[Chocu1a]

Toshiba Encore 2 Write. As long as you don't need to run rendering software. For basic needs it is more than a capable device. $399 for a 64gb model. Can run full Office without any problems. Runs full Windows 8.1
http://www.toshiba.com/us/tablets/encore2-write/10/WT10PE-A264
If you need something more powerful, Surface Pro 3

 

[JustMe21]

For going cheaper,

The Yoga Tab 2s have an 8", 10", and 13" model.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/yoga_tablet_2/index.html&cmp=0

I bought the Yoga Tab 2 10", which has a 1900 x 1080 display, excellent battery life and I love the front facing speakers. I mentioned front facing speakers because the side speakers typically found on tablets just don't cut it for me. It comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and it's functional, but for home use, get a desktop Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo.

If I was looking at note taking with a stylus, I prefer tablets with passive Wacom support, so I'd go with one of these.

Asus VovoTab Note 8
http://www.asus.com/us/Tablets/ASUS_VivoTab_Note_8_M80TA/overview/
or
ThinkPad 10
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets/thinkpad/thinkpad-10/#tab-tech_specs

 

[gadgetprostitute]

If youre going with the surface 3, go with 8gb ram because (1) is too easy to run out of ram with only 4gb and (2) AFAIK you can't upgrade any of the components in the surface tablets.

I think if you want 8gb, you have to also get (and pay for) more storage but if you have to do that, then do it.

 

[02ranger]

If youre going with the surface 3, go with 8gb ram because (1) is too easy to run out of ram with only 4gb and (2) AFAIK you can't upgrade any of the components in the surface tablets.

I think if you want 8gb, you have to also get (and pay for) more storage but if you have to do that, then do it.

Looks like the only way to get 8GB RAM is to get either a 256GB or 512GB model, and the 256GB goes just slightly out of my price range. Its not a huge difference in price, but is the 8GB really going to make a big difference for my type of usage? I'll probably never play a single game on it, unless it's something like solitaire. No video editing either. I'm pretty much just going to use it for web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets and possibly reading.

 

[Crono]

Looks like the only way to get 8GB RAM is to get either a 256GB or 512GB model, and the 256GB goes just slightly out of my price range. Its not a huge difference in price, but is the 8GB really going to make a big difference for my type of usage? I'll probably never play a single game on it, unless it's something like solitaire. No video editing either. I'm pretty much just going to use it for web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets and possibly reading.

4GB would be fine for your case.

 

[podspi]

If you are thinking about using it for school - you need, need, need, to get a convertible with an active digitizer. Ok, you don't NEED to, but if you don't you're missing a fantastic opportunity.

OneNote is fantastic, and with most handouts at colleges being e-mailed/posted, you generally don't even have to go through the trouble of digitizing handouts. Onenote lets you record lectures and match written notes with periods in the lecture. So if you are taking notes in a lecture, and then a week later look at your notes and wonder what the prof. was saying at that exact instance - you can find out.

I just purchased a Thinkpad S1 - off the Lenovo Outlet where it isn't too expensive (usually can find them <$600 - just have to be sure to purchase a model with the digitizer). Only complaint I have is the battery life isn't the greatest (~5hrs) but I've been spoiled by Chromebooks and my old TabletPC. The Surface would be a great choice too, just make sure if you are going to be using it all day that whatever you buy is compatible with an external laptop battery - or you buy a model with multiple battery bays - something harder to find these days...

 

[sonitravel09]

I'd grab a Windows 8 tablet install VLC on it for movies, the browser experience is better than any android under $200 and you can do anything you want on it without being locked into a the google ecosystem. HP Stream 7 can be had for $99 at the MS Store but battery life is meh.