Anyone here use a Windows tablet? Is it better than Android tablets?

[Dari]

I have an 8" Samsung Pro tablet but I rarely use it. Worse, the battery drains like a sieve, whether or not I'm using it. I'm thinking of getting Microsoft's Surface tablet or maybe the pro version. There's also one from Dell. Does Windows give a better tablet experience than Android? Also, I'm getting tired of all these "apps", which are mostly glorified websites. They just don't work well. Will Windows be better? It can't be worse than this Samsung, can it?

 

[Raduque]

Windows on a tablet is an OK experience if all you do is browse, email and maybe some Office stuff. They're all (save the Surface RT/2) x86 tablets so you can install any program, but almost universally have 16 to 32gb of storage and small low resolution/dpi screens so there's really no point.

IMO, the best Windows tablets are the ones made by Microsoft - though I do love my Dell Venue 8 Pro.

 

[luv2liv]

in my experience, android battery life is much better than windows.
if i dont shutdown a windows tablet, battery will be drained faster than on an android

 

[Red Storm]

Also, I'm getting tired of all these "apps"

 

[Dari]

Windows on a tablet is an OK experience if all you do is browse, email and maybe some Office stuff. They're all (save the Surface RT/2) x86 tablets so you can install any program, but almost universally have 16 to 32gb of storage and small low resolution/dpi screens so there's really no point.

IMO, the best Windows tablets are the ones made by Microsoft - though I do love my Dell Venue 8 Pro.

I have my personal phone and Blackberry for email. I mainly care about reading articles, books, pdf documents. I don't watch videos or play games. If it was genuine Windows then it could double as a small laptop when needed with the relevant accessories. The "app" experience on my phone and tablet for reading the WSJ and other newspapers is horrible. They crash all the time and give a priority to ads (updating a page when I'm in the middle of reading, screwing with the format). It's a really bad experience. Using the websites is better but they're always hawking their terrible mobile apps and it's not the normal website, but a mobile version.

PDF reading is ok but I think Windows give you more options.

 

[v-600]

I have a surface pro 3, its great - I'd recommend it fully.

 

[ControlD]

I have had a Dell VP8 for some time now and overall I would call the Windows tablet experience sort of a mixed bag. Being able to install and run real Windows desktop programs is certainly a nice feature. Having a full Windows desktop browser is also quite nice. The "metro" side of things on the tablet is great. I actually like this interface on a tablet better than either iOS or Android.

There are some negatives as well. The classic desktop does not support DPI scaling so trying to interact with window controls and menus can be a challenge. There are some workarounds like the program TouchMousePointer that can help with this, but in general the classic desktop is a less than optimal experience with a tablet. Actual app support is still pretty weak. The big ones are there like Kindle, Plex, etc. but in many cases those apps are not nearly as polished as you would find on iOS or Android. The Kindle app for example is positively wretched.

Overall I have been happier with this tablet than I expected going in. I was willing to take a chance mainly because I paid something like $140 for the tablet and it came with a full Office license. I haven't felt a great desire to go back to an iPad or Android tablet except when I wish I could do things like play Minecraft PE with the family or easily watch Amazon Prime video.

From what you have said above I think a Windows tablet might be a good fit. If you aren't an app-centric user it works pretty well.

 

[xthetenth]

Windows on a tablet is an OK experience if all you do is browse, email and maybe some Office stuff. They're all (save the Surface RT/2) x86 tablets so you can install any program, but almost universally have 16 to 32gb of storage and small low resolution/dpi screens so there's really no point.

This doesn't really apply to the modern surfaces, which start at 1920x1280 and 64 GB of storage.

 

[Denly]

Have ipad, Dell V8P and random Lenovo android tablet.

We don't care much about app and don't games.

We havn't touch the ipad and android for ages.

 

[mmntech]

I have an 8" Samsung Pro tablet but I rarely use it. Worse, the battery drains like a sieve, whether or not I'm using it. I'm thinking of getting Microsoft's Surface tablet or maybe the pro version. There's also one from Dell. Does Windows give a better tablet experience than Android? Also, I'm getting tired of all these "apps", which are mostly glorified websites. They just don't work well. Will Windows be better? It can't be worse than this Samsung, can it?

The new Surface 3 looks like a strong contender. It's always like the concept of the Surface. It's a tablet but it still packs the some luxuries of laptops like standardized USB ports and video out.

The only really negative thing I can say about them is the app ecosystem. I think most of the big ones are there but they often get neglected in terms of updates. Microsoft is working on that, and is pushing for tighter integration of their different platforms (PC, Surface, Xbox, mobile) with Windows 10. It's still got a long way to go though.

I think if you're looking for a well polished experience, maybe a Windows tablet is not the best choice. I'd definitely look at the iPad Air 2 as an alternative. Screaming fast and it's the most mature out of the three major platforms.

 

[xthetenth]

I have a feeling that a Windows tablet and an iPad are different enough in focus that a quick bit of thought should be enough to tell which is more appropriate for a given user.

 

[Super56K]

I'm having a hard time understanding what notable differences there would be between comparable Android and Windows tablets for books, articles, or PDF's. Well, aside from obvious things like screen size and active stylus support, but it's just that I'd be hard pressed to replace my Tab Pro 8.4 with anything in the same price range (and those three things are what I use it for 80% of the time).

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

I have a surface pro 3, its great - I'd recommend it fully.

+1

I love my SP3. Use it as a tablet with the touch screen for just surfing the internet while watching TV, and use it as a regular laptop for more serious work.

 

[podspi]

App ecosystem is the big killer. It's fine for just browsing or if there is an app that you have that you like.

I am sorry that you have a Samsung windows tablet though. I have one, and it is terrible. Image rentention, battery drain, really, really bad UEFI. I never fail to take an opportunity to spread the word to people to avoid the Samsung Windows tabs.

Probably will pick up a cheap Windows tablet to play with, but if I was looking for a 'main' tablet I'd probably go Android.

 

[Ravynmagi]

in my experience, android battery life is much better than windows.
if i dont shutdown a windows tablet, battery will be drained faster than on an android

I agree with this and have to do the same with my Dell Venue 8 Pro. Windows still needs to work on their standby battery life.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I have a Vivotab Note 8 and a Shield. Overall while there are things I can only do on the Vivotab because it's a full Windows machine, the Shield is a much better experience (even ignoring the hardware differences).


I used to think Microsoft was onto something neat with Metro but all the Metro versions of the same apps are clunky compared even the Android versions. That's assuming there's a Metro version and it's as full-featured in the first place.


I still like my Vivotab because of the full version of Onenote (and Wacom stylus) as well as the ability to use full desktop applications (basically I never have to decide that it's just not a tablet thing) but I reach for the Shield when I want to just use Kindle or read manga.

 

[dainthomas]

App ecosystem is the big killer. It's fine for just browsing or if there is an app that you have that you like.

I am sorry that you have a Samsung windows tablet though. I have one, and it is terrible. Image rentention, battery drain, really, really bad UEFI. I never fail to take an opportunity to spread the word to people to avoid the Samsung Windows tabs.

Probably will pick up a cheap Windows tablet to play with, but if I was looking for a 'main' tablet I'd probably go Android.

Love the android Tab4 I just picked up. It goes days on a charge with moderate use and is very fast. Can't believe it took me so long to upgrade.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I have a Dell Venue 8 Pro, iPad Mini 2, and LG G Pad 8.3 (also a Nexus 7 2013).

I love the Dell tablet, great build quality and it feels so nice to hold. But the iPad Mini is definitely my go to tablet. The apps run great (definitely no crashing or glorified web pages here) and provide a much better touch experience on a tablet than many Windows apps do. I will say however, the Modern IE browser on my Dell Venue definitely provides a much better web browsing experience than I have on iOS or Android. But for just about everything else I prefer my iPad or Android tablets more, so thats what I usually pick up.

I'm very excited about the Surface 3 though. All my tablets are 7 to 8.3 inches and I'm kinda looking forward to going back to a bigger sized tablet. The Surface 3 isn't as thin and light as most 10 inch tablets, but it sounds like Microsoft has made it comfortable enough. And I love the 3:2 aspect ratio they are using. That's going to be a great balance for web browsing, apps, and video watching. And it might do a better job being my hybrid laptop replacement than I though the Surface Pro 3 did (which was too big for me).

I suspect I'll still be going to my iPad when I just want a pure tablet experience. But hopefully I'll find myself picking up that Surface 3 a lot more than I do my Dell Venue or even Android tablets.

 

[ControlD]

I agree with this and have to do the same with my Dell Venue 8 Pro. Windows still needs to work on their standby battery life.

The VP8 actually has a buggy audio driver that causes the battery drain to be quite severe. If you address this issue the standby battery life is actually pretty good. I don't know if this is just a Dell problem or if it is a problem common to Windows 8 Atom based tablets.

 

[quikah]

Windows tablet experience is FAR superior to android or iOS IMO. If the app ecosystems were the same Windows would be the winner. Family safety, multiple accounts, snap/splitscreen, all great features. Live tiles are a good idea, but sort of hit or miss in their effectiveness.

Unfortunately, battery life is mediocre. And apps are lackluster.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Windows tablet experience is FAR superior to android or iOS IMO. If the app ecosystems were the same Windows would be the winner. Family safety, multiple accounts, snap/splitscreen, all great features. Live tiles are a good idea, but sort of hit or miss in their effectiveness.

Unfortunately, battery life is mediocre. And apps are lackluster.

I definitely love Windows 8.1 as a tablet OS more than iOS. Unfortunately the apps are where I spend 99% of my time and that's a pretty big problem for Windows that's hard to ignore.

I keep hoping developers will start giving Windows more love. Maybe these universal apps and Windows 10 will help improve things. Though lately it sounds like the opposite has been happening.

 

[JustMe21]

I like the Lenovo Yoga 2 Tab 10 that has Windows with Bing. I love the front speakers, the screen resolution is 1900 x 1200, and it has a very long battery life. It also only runs $379 regularly, but I managed to get it on sale for $320. It also comes with a Bluetooth keyboard with a built in touchpad.

The cons are you can only install 32-bit Windows as that's all Lenovo puts out and you have to find the Dolby software elsewhere. I got it out of a Realtek 7399 driver package. Also, 32 GB of storage is lackluster, but sadly that's what most Windows tablet makers put in there. The app store is lacking as well, but I have all the regular programs installed that I need.

 

[Raduque]

This doesn't really apply to the modern surfaces, which start at 1920x1280 and 64 GB of storage.

I was mostly referring to the ones under $600

 

[lopri]

The "app" experience on my phone and tablet for reading the WSJ and other newspapers is horrible. They crash all the time and give a priority to ads (updating a page when I'm in the middle of reading, screwing with the format). It's a really bad experience.

Let me guess.. an iPad? (not the Air 2) ^_^