ASUS Vivo Note 8 now $200

[Ravynmagi]

The ASUS Vivo Note 8 32GB is now $200 on Amazon or $230 for the 64GB model.
http://www.amazon.com/VivoTab-M80TA-...dp/B00HWHQKFI/

I just ordered one. I've been thinking about replacing my Dell Venue 8 Pro with this. But I got my DV8P for $200 last year during a Microsoft Store sale. And I love it, but I also take notes on it a lot too and hate how the Synaptics digitizer performs. I didn't really want to spend $300 for basically just a better pen. But now that it's down to $200 (I bought the 64GB $230 model) its' cheap enough to buy it and hopefully I'll sell my DV8P to a friend for $100 or something.

Assuming everything works. So many horror stories about ASUS tablet quality. Haha.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Yeah, I'm really tempted by the 64GB right now. Wacom is something I definitely like and it has a built in GPS too.

 

[Roland00Address]

Ravynmagi we need to take your credit card away when it comes to tablets.

 

[Bateluer]

Whats with all the cheap Windows 8 tablets lately? Is there a refresh coming soon causing everyone to try unload inventory?

 

[paperwastage]

Lenovo stopped selling 8" windows in USA (still available worldwide), says no demand here...


I think there is very little differentiating the different bay trail tablets right now.... And everyone is stuck on 2gb ram...

I have an Asus t100, its a decent tablet/hybrid... But hard to recommend to someone else who isn't a techy and needs a device with fewer compromises

 

[luv2liv]

Whats with all the cheap Windows 8 tablets lately? Is there a refresh coming soon causing everyone to try unload inventory?

im wondering same thing too! i dont need to buy any tablets since im surrounded by pc. but damn tempting at 200 now

 

[Crono]

Using one right now. Though the price drop sucks for me, I just bought mine on Saturday, haha. I could have saved about $50...

It's a good device, and the stylus works fairly well, though from what I've heard the Surface pens are better (nice that they include a stylus with the VivoTab Note 8, unlike some other tablets in the same price range). The Wacom digitizer works well enough for sketching, but I'm not really an artist. Notetaking is better than I thought it would be, as is transcribing. I might pick up a Surface pen in the future, but the digitizer on the tablet itself is excellent for this price.

The build quality seems fine, but I've always liked ASUS products, though at the lower end they do seem to have quality control issues with certain products (like the initial Nexus 7 screen lift issues, which I didn't experience, either). No problems here, though.

I increased system DPI and changed zoom size in Chromium and now both Desktop and Modern interface work well enough for me. It's not a blazing fast tablet, but for most things it seems fast enough, though I have managed it make it hang/lag when multitasking between a game in Modern and apps in Desktop.

Installing BlueStacks now. I need to buy a microSD card for this tablet (32GB version. I already purchased a cheap case and mini bluetooth keyboard from Amazon.

The one glaring drawback to this tablet is the lack of inputs/output. Otherwise it's definitely a fantastic value at $250, and an easy recommendation at $200.

 

[Roland00Address]

Whats with all the cheap Windows 8 tablets lately? Is there a refresh coming soon causing everyone to try unload inventory?

It is kinda a perfect storm.

• Intel made some cheap baytrail tablets parts that are specifically gimped like only supporting certain resolutions or having limited bandwidth. They did this so they would have low end atoms to compete with cortex A7 to A9 parts at cheap prices. They have better skus though that are not gimped for the higher price structures that are competing against high end skus such as A15 and Qualcomm 801 and 805 series
• Microsoft has been lowering the prices of their OS skus for tablets for a long while. Now it is a free copy of windows if the device price is under $250
• Very little Window apps and low screen resolution force OEMs to compete on price, while with Android which is a more developed market they market is more stable and less competition for the OEMS know where to price their tablet offerings.
• Intel baytrail parts have been ready for windows for 9+ months now thus you have plenty of development time to get the products onto shelves. Intel baytrail for Android has not been ready until recently so it will take some months till you see them become mainstream on product shelves.

Personally I expect this to change in the future when the market will get more developed. Intel will not have to gimp their cpus as much. Intel will transition to a more cost effective versions of baytrail such as rockchip intel atom and sofia intel atom at tsmc. While the higher end versions of atom will get the latest nodes and the latest technologies such as cherry trail, willow trail (successor to cherry trail uses goldmont cores), and morganfield (phone successor to moorefield uses goldmont cores).

Also we will see the windows vs android market stabilize once oems know where to price which windows features for which dollars and their is more apps on windows. If you want more than 4gbs of ram though you will pay more than $250 since the OS is no longer free.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Ravynmagi we need to take your credit card away when it comes to tablets.

This is perfectly normal and rational. Each tablet and phone has it's purpose and function.

 

[soulcougher73]

Does this come with office? Nice price.

 

[Crono]

Does this come with office? Nice price.

Yes it does. Full Office - product key actually is on a card in the box, you have to activate it before using.

 

[sequoia464]

The ASUS Vivo Note 8 32GB is now $200 on Amazon or $230 for the 64GB model.
http://www.amazon.com/VivoTab-M80TA-...dp/B00HWHQKFI/

Assuming everything works. So many horror stories about ASUS tablet quality. Haha.

I replaced my 8" Dell with one of these (and an 11" Dell). So far the Asus is working fine and the quality seems ok, preferred the Dell but mine had issues. Can't say that I care for the Asus button functionality or placement in general though.

My pen works great so far, haven't used it a lot yet but impressed.

Really happy with the Dell VP11 so far.

 

[cronos]

Damn this is hot!

The Vivo Note 8 doesn't have a 10/11" sibling, does it?

 

[sequoia464]

This is perfectly normal and rational. Each tablet and phone has it's purpose and function.

You have me beat (especially with the phones), not by much though.

 

[Roland00Address]

This is perfectly normal and rational. Each tablet and phone has it's purpose and function.

Let me see how good I am

1) Dell xps 12
2) Hp touchpad
3) LG g pad
4) Dell venue 8
5) IPad mini
6) Nook HD 9
7) Nexus 7
8) Galaxy Note 3
9) Nexus 5
10) Lumina I do not know so I guess 930 or Icon
11) Lumina 520
12) IPhone 5s

 

[Ravynmagi]

Pretty good. That lighting was poor, so some are not easy to see. It's a Lumia Icon and Lumia 521

And I forgot my Nexus 4, still have that around here somewhere too. I really need to get rid of some of this crap. But then I'll miss out on my dream of being on Hoarders.

 

[Geekbabe]

The ASUS Vivo Note 8 32GB is now $200 on Amazon or $230 for the 64GB model.
http://www.amazon.com/VivoTab-M80TA-...dp/B00HWHQKFI/

I just ordered one. I've been thinking about replacing my Dell Venue 8 Pro with this. But I got my DV8P for $200 last year during a Microsoft Store sale. And I love it, but I also take notes on it a lot too and hate how the Synaptics digitizer performs. I didn't really want to spend $300 for basically just a better pen. But now that it's down to $200 (I bought the 64GB $230 model) its' cheap enough to buy it and hopefully I'll sell my DV8P to a friend for $100 or something.

Assuming everything works. So many horror stories about ASUS tablet quality. Haha.

Now you have me looking at it! Btw, I share your tablet addiction, lol, my family thinks I am weird to have tablets dedicated to different functions.

 

[Ravynmagi]

The Vivotab Note 8 arrived today, I sprung for the $4 next day shipping from Amazon, because no way I was waiting over the weekend.

My, just fresh from the box, knee jerk, first impressions...

Dell is seriously giving us a really good real on the Venue 8 Pro, because that tablet feels so much more premium than this. The Dell feels like you are holding a $400 high end tablet. This Vivotab definitely feels like a $200 device (despite being discounted from $300). The back is smoother, but doesn't seem slippery, so don't mind that. The ASUS has a odd raised edge around the sides of the tablet that feels weird, but it's not so sharp that it feels uncomfortable. And the tablet is a few millimeters taller and wider. And significantly thicker, about 25-30% more. And compared to Android tablets the Dell was already kinda chunky. However none of this is really much of a negative, size and weight still seem acceptable for an 8 inch Windows tablet.

When the screen is off, the Dell screen is completely black, blends in with the bezel and has no visible gap between the glass. The ASUS display is dark grey looking when off and definitely has a gap between the display and glass. Also the contrast is quite a bit worse on the ASUS. The Dell definitely has a much superior display.

Also there appears to be absolutely no oleophobic coating on the glass! It just sucks in fingerprints and it's much more difficult to clean the glass. And swipe gestures feel rough because the finger doesn't glide. I hadn't realized ASUS went this cheap to not even include this (and this is a new unopened tablet).

I pulled out the pen and tested with OneNote real quick. The pen is thin but long enough that it feels fine in my hand. The Wacom digitizer is so much better than the Synaptics on the Dell. I can write notes and the lines look perfectly smooth. Though I find the pressure sensitivity to be a big on the heavy side, even with the line lines they are coming out pretty thick. I haven't installed any updates on this yet, so maybe that'll get better.

This is a tough one. the Vivotab 8 is a huge step down in quality, especially with the display. The display was particularly worse than I was expecting. Fortunately it's at least IPS so the viewing angles are good, but that's about it. If you've ever used the Lumia 520 or 521, it's much like that quality. Hard to decide if a better pen is worth all the sacrifices.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Hrm, thanks for your impressions. This makes it more difficult for me again. I was about to push the button but now I'm weighing the Wacom stylus against the lighter/thinner/nicer DVP8

 

[DaveSimmons]

If it had an HDMI port I'd probably bite. My 2006 TV doesn't support wireless display tech

 

[paperwastage]

You could probably get a dongle to receive miracast (those things are still buggy)

Some people say the dell venue 8pro is at Costco clearance $199.97. 64gb with case... It has been cheaper refurb($160ish for 32gb)

 

[ChronoReverse]

Mircast dongles are apparently really cheap now if your TV has HDMI:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...racast-Airplay-better/1019514_1671575310.html

 

[Ravynmagi]

The expensive Miracast boxes are terrible. So I imagine the cheap Chinese Miracast dongle will probably make your TV explode.

 

[ChronoReverse]

How are they terrible? All I know is that this will just take in a Miracast video stream and spit it out kinda like a Chromecast. No frills at all.

 

[paperwastage]

How are they terrible? All I know is that this will just take in a Miracast video stream and spit it out kinda like a Chromecast. No frills at all.

hardware quality (since you are streaming video/audio wirelessly, which is a lot of data)... you need a quality wifi chip/antenna, CPU to decode etc

otherwise, you'll probably be able to stream only 1 feet away, with a lot of lag/latency/mismatch b/w video/audio

also, software matters... if dongle always loses connection or requires manual sync every time, or is inconsistent.... then it sucks



look at "reputable" brands like Belkin... still a couple of bad reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Miracas...ews/B00HFAEBWG