Are Bay Trail-based Windows 8.1 tablets going to kill off demand for Android tablets?

[Ns1]

Without a mouse and/or keyboard?

Yes?

that leaves stylus input available for use right?

 

[bearxor]

Windows 8 is horrific on a tablet. It's just terrible. There are no apps. I downloaded most of the top rated free games, and they just suck, aside from the few common ones that everyone has already played to death (ie Angry Birds, Temple Run). The VBA8 and other emulators, even though they seem to work ok, they run the cpu at full blast so the battery doesnt last very long. Not really worth it when you see how fast it kills the battery.

Man, it's just a shame there's no good games on Windows 8.

I mean, really, it's just a terrible situation!

If only there was some way to get great games on Windows 8...

 

[quikah]

I am hooked on Left for Dead 2.

In regards to printing, this app prints perfectly to my networked HP printer:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blackspruce.lpd&hl=en

Ugg, printing is a mess on Android. Yeah, I can print to my HP printer too, but actually printing what I want to is difficult at best. Printing from a browser is the biggest challenge, no browser really integrates printing that I know of. I have pretty much given up on it. If I need to print something I will just use my desktop.

 

[Ns1]

Windows 8 is horrific on a tablet. It's just terrible. There are no apps. I downloaded most of the top rated free games, and they just suck, aside from the few common ones that everyone has already played to death (ie Angry Birds, Temple Run). The VBA8 and other emulators, even though they seem to work ok, they run the cpu at full blast so the battery doesnt last very long. Not really worth it when you see how fast it kills the battery.

I installed steam and sc2 last night. You were saying something about "temple run"? What's that?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yes?

that leaves stylus input available for use right?

You got me there!!!!

Ugg, printing is a mess on Android.

Agreed. I am excited to see what fixes are baked into Android 4.4.

 

[Ns1]

I'll just leave this here.

 

[Chrono]

I have an old Transformer Android tablet... but it's not getting much use at all. I kind of want a Windows 8.1 tablet (Bay Trail) but I already have the 13.3 ultrabook with touchscreen... decisions. I bought an ipad air but it's not getting use at all... I'd rather use my damn ultrabook for surfing/videos/etc.

I'm going to go to Walmart and attempt to buy a Venue 8 32GB version... maybe this lil baby will sway me to get the 64GB version or maybe even the Venue 11 Pro.

BTW, I love Windows 8.1. Not sure why people are so resistant. I hang out in desktop mode majority of the time but occasionally I'll go into metro mode and play with some tablet apps for fun. Apps are cool but web apps/windows apps are even better!

 

[mopex]

I have an old Transformer Android tablet... but it's not getting much use at all. I kind of want a Windows 8.1 tablet (Bay Trail) but I already have the 13.3 ultrabook with touchscreen... decisions. I bought an ipad air but it's not getting use at all... I'd rather use my damn ultrabook for surfing/videos/etc.

I'm going to go to Walmart and attempt to buy a Venue 8 32GB version... maybe this lil baby will sway me to get the 64GB version or maybe even the Venue 11 Pro.

BTW, I love Windows 8.1. Not sure why people are so resistant. I hang out in desktop mode majority of the time but occasionally I'll go into metro mode and play with some tablet apps for fun. Apps are cool but web apps/windows apps are even better!

If you want to be in desktop mode the majority of the time, then what will the Venue offer over your ultrabook? You'll have a really small desktop that's frustrating to use. Seems like you would end up with another tablet that wouldn't get used because what you want to do is easier on your ultrabook.

 

[Eug]

I checked out the Surface 2 today. I hate it. Not so much because of the hardware mind you. The hardware is OK - passable. I mainly just can't stand Windows 8.1.

P.S. The Touch Cover 2 is garbage. The Type Cover 2 is decent though. I wish Apple would make such a Type Cover like keyboard for the iPad Air. I have a Logitech version for the iPad 2, and it's OK.

P.P.S. This was posted using a Nexus 7, with no keyboard.

 

[Skel]

I checked out the Surface 2 today. I hate it. Not so much because of the hardware mind you. The hardware is OK - passable. I mainly just can't stand Windows 8.1.

P.S. The Touch Cover 2 is garbage. The Type Cover 2 is decent though. I wish Apple would make such a Type Cover like keyboard for the iPad Air. I have a Logitech version for the iPad 2, and it's OK.

P.P.S. This was posted using a Nexus 7, with no keyboard.

Did you hate it because you didn't know how to do the things you're used to doing? I personally found that the more I used it the more it grew on me... I should point out that I'm not attempting to change your mind and do respect if you don't like it. I just know a lot of people who say they don't like but haven't really worked with it enough to have more than a prejudiced feeling. I'm just wondering if this post is like that.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I checked out the Surface 2 today. I hate it. Not so much because of the hardware mind you. The hardware is OK - passable. I mainly just can't stand Windows 8.1.

I agree with Anand that Surface 2 should have been Baytrail.

 

[tfinch2]

Lol at the folks talking about no apps. The reason apps are popular on iOS and Android is because web browsing sucks. Web browsing on Windows 8.1 is great, at least on x86.

I have Chrome dev build installed, the one that looks like Chrome OS, and it is solid.

I don't give a damn about crappy apps.

EDIT: You know what else is great on Windows 8.1? Youtube. Videos load instantly and play very smooth. Youtube is a piece of shit on my Nexus 7.

 

[Eug]

Did you hate it because you didn't know how to do the things you're used to doing? I personally found that the more I used it the more it grew on me... I should point out that I'm not attempting to change your mind and do respect if you don't like it. I just know a lot of people who say they don't like but haven't really worked with it enough to have more than a prejudiced feeling. I'm just wondering if this post is like that.

Maybe to a certain extent yes, and truthfully "hate" is probably an exaggeration. But I really dislike it. I find the metro interface annoying. The whole experience seems overly forced to me, like both a square and a triangular peg into a round hole. I kinda find the device non-intuitive. In contrast I found both ios and Android "easier". iOS at launch was dead simple to use, albeit limited. Android earlier on I really didn't like, but later on when it more refined, I thought it was reasonably easy to pick up, mainly because it was a knockoff of iOS but with extra features. In contrast, Win8.1 makes me think of Windows Media Center, a Windows skin, but with a more cluttered interface.

 

[zerogear]

I'll just leave this here.

I think some people tend to go too App crazy (Apple craze?) and forget that it's actually a computer.

 

[mosco]

So I haven't been following these tablets closely but I have a friend that wants a tablet but needs windows. Can anyone tell me why these bay trail tablets like the dells only come with 2gb of ram?

 

[Eug]

Lol at the folks talking about no apps. The reason apps are popular on iOS and Android is because web browsing sucks. Web browsing on Windows 8.1 is great, at least on x86.

I have Chrome dev build installed, the one that looks like Chrome OS, and it is solid.

I don't give a damn about crappy apps.

I think browsing is good on iOS. Surfing is not as good on Android, since less sites are optimized for it. I can see what you would mean about browsing on x86, but that is the machine I don't want for my tablet.

I understand where Microsoft is going with this. I do think the tablet and desktop OSes will eventually merge for the most part. However, it seems MS is forcing the issue with Windows 8. Shotgun marriage, so few are happy.

I can tell you this much. My next machine will likely be an ultrabook type laptop in the 12-13" size, but it definitely won't be Windows 8. So it seems the only option for me will be a Mac of some sort. Note that I often keep dual laptops, on Mac OS X and one Windows, but there are certain generations I have skipped, most notably Vista, and now Windows 8.

And then after that I will get another tablet, and it will most likely be an iPad 6 in 2014, although it's possible I'd get a Nexus 7 2014 as well.

Windows Surface 2 Pro machines are what I don't want: A gimped small Windows laptop for high cost. It has many of the drawbacks of a netbook, but costs way more. So, that just leaves the Surface 2, which I don't want either.

I think MS's approach here to have two essentially independent platforms (Pro vs. non-Pro) look the same with almost the same naming is really going to confuse a lot of people.

 

[tfinch2]

I think browsing is good on iOS.

For the computer I am going to spend the majority of my time on at home, it's not good enough. And this is based on my wife's iPad Air.

 

[zerogear]

I will just put this here too:

 

[Imaginer]

Without a mouse and/or keyboard?

You can easily desktop with a virtual mouse trackpad, letting your entire touchscreen be a touchpad (which is infinitely more responsive than any trackpad I used, including the Type Cover's trackpad in clicking).

As of this post, I am thumbing my words with the on screen thumb keyboard. Responsive sounds to my key presses is almost as good as me touch typing, but I still need to look at the virtual keyboard.

That isn't enough? The Surface Pro and Pro 2, Dell's Venue 8 Pro and 11 Pro, Samsung's ATIV Smart PC 500T and Smart PC Pro 700T, and the Lenovo's Thinkpad Helix sport a pen. Windows 8 has a handwriting recognition mode as a third option amongst the virtual on screen keyboards that works very well.

You can do basic to stretching light tablet and light desktop stuff with these interface methods. One is not forced to buy a mouse (wired or wireless) or a keyboard (covers, bluetooth, or corded) to go with the Surface Pro, Pro 2.

One can learn these new input methods and compliment, suppliment when the situation arises, and substitute when needed in many environments, not just at a tabletop desk like a laptop, not limited in power like many sole functioned tablets out there.

That is the flexibility of the new Windows 8 tablet PCs. Something that is definitely wanted and needed by many, myself included. This won't make Windows 8 go away, nor will it make Android go away. But given the option, Windows offers the most software and hardware options out there that are of any use. And remoting has its uses, but not a viable replacement for all situations.

 

[Eug]

You can easily desktop with a virtual mouse trackpad, letting your entire touchscreen be a touchpad (which is infinitely more responsive than any trackpad I used, including the Type Cover's trackpad in clicking).

I don't like the Type Cover's trackpad much. The keyboard is not too bad, but the trackpad leaves a lot to be desired.

So, far I have not found anything that is even is in the same league as the trackpad in the Apple laptops. However, they are a different class of machine.

OTOH, that's one reason in 2014 I'm still getting a proper laptop (MacBook Pro or whatever), and a tablet. The Surface 2 Pro is just too much of a compromise for a productivity machine.

 

[Valis]

So I haven't been following these tablets closely but I have a friend that wants a tablet but needs windows. Can anyone tell me why these bay trail tablets like the dells only come with 2gb of ram?

Yeah, I hate that fact too, that and the fact it's not 64 bits Windows, yet. :-/

 

[zerogear]

I don't like the Type Cover's trackpad much. The keyboard is not too bad, but the trackpad leaves a lot to be desired.

So, far I have not found anything that is even is in the same league as the trackpad in the Apple laptops. However, they are a different class of machine.

OTOH, that's one reason in 2014 I'm still getting a proper laptop (MacBook Pro or whatever), and a tablet. The Surface 2 Pro is just too much of a compromise for a productivity machine.

Between touch screen and touch pad (which isn't bad, it's just kind of small), I find that it's been fine getting work done and no way inferior to a regular Ultrabook.

Personally, I never really liked the Apple Clickpad that much.

 

[s44]

I can tell you this much. My next machine will likely be an ultrabook type laptop in the 12-13" size, but it definitely won't be Windows 8.

I think you're missing out here. A touchscreen Ultrabook is exactly the machine Windows 8 is built for and makes sense on. NOT having a touchscreen is a big negative for Mac at this point (well there's also the crappiness of the MBA screen, but I assume you'd wait for a retina one).

 

[StrangerGuy]

So I haven't been following these tablets closely but I have a friend that wants a tablet but needs windows. Can anyone tell me why these bay trail tablets like the dells only come with 2gb of ram?

This is a chip made by pure desperation that wouldn't have existed if not for ARM mobile dominance. If Intel made them too good a huge portion of it's own market will never want to pay $100+ for Core chips ever again.

 

[Eug]

Between touch screen and touch pad (which isn't bad, it's just kind of small), I find that it's been fine getting work done and no way inferior to a regular Ultrabook.

I'm sure I could make it work, but I personally consider it a huge compromise. It kinda feels like the combo of my iPad with my Logitech keyboard. It is usable, and adds functionality to the iPad, but in the end a real laptop feels much better. It's just that it's good in a pinch. The experience of Surface 2 with the Type Cover is better in many ways than the iPad with Logitech Keyboard Cover, but it's still a huge compromise. Just because it's a better keyboard solution than the 3rd party iPad's doesn't change that.

Personally, I never really liked the Apple Clickpad that much.

It's my favourite of all time, so obviously, our preferences are differences.

I think you're missing out here. A touchscreen Ultrabook is exactly the machine Windows 8 is built for and makes sense on. NOT having a touchscreen is a big negative for Mac at this point (well there's also the crappiness of the MBA screen, but I assume you'd wait for a retina one).

I have no desire for a touchscreen laptop at this point, and the Surface Pro and other touchscreen laptops I've played with haven't changed that. I still don't like Windows 8(.1).

I much. much prefer having large touchpad.