Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet - 8", Windows 8.1, 1280x800, $299.99

[Crono]

**UPDATE: Price is $299.99, resolution is 1280x800
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I'm a bit skeptical it will be $200, but count me in for one if it hits that price for a 1080p, Bay Trail, Windows 8.1, 8" tablet. It even looks decent, very similar to ASUS designs with textured, presumably soft-touch plastic material. It's hard to tell how good the screen is from the shots, and there is a bit of bezel for those of you who hate bezels and like edge-to-edge, but I'm hoping for a good mini tablet.

This is the first time I've been really interested in a Dell mobile device since the Dell Venue Pro (vertical slider WP7 phone). Loved that phone. Dell hasn't done a lot of good mobile devices as of late, but my very first "smart" device was an Axim Windows Mobile PDA/Pocket PC. It's good to see Dell is still alive.

Dell retired its Venue brand last year after a failed attempt to make waves in the smartphone market. But today the company has brought back the name, only this time it has nothing to do with phones. Instead, the new Venue is an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet that will be aimed at consumers and enterprise customers alike. The company's most recent hardware has been marketed primarily to business users, so Dell's shift back to the consumer space is notable. VP Neil Hand showed off the tablet — which contains Intel's just-unveiled Bay Trail processor — today at IDF. Its 8-inch display comes at a resolution of 1080p and looked plenty sharp with good viewing angles in our brief hands-on time. Ideally it will also carry the CPU and battery life gains Intel is promising with its new chip.

The Venue charges over micro USB and includes an HDMI out port for your video mirroring needs. A microSD storage slot and docking port are also included, though concealed by a flap. Dell plans to share more details on October 2nd. Hopefully on that date we'll learn whether the new Venue can hit the $199 price tag Intel insists is possible thanks to Bay Trail. Asked by The Verge why it has chosen to resurrect the product name, Hand said brazenly, "The Venue is where things happen."

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/11/4720120/dell-resurrects-venue-brand-for-upcoming-windows-tablet

 

[bearxor]

Earlier this year, Microsoft was pushing these pretty hard in their sales pitches. We were basically guaranteed there were going to be several $200 tablets to choose from.

 

[OS]

Looks very nice if they can hit $200, but just as important is that they release it soon. Don't let the N7 make too many gains. I might pick up this dell tablet if its any good to diversify away from Google's tentacles.

 

[Trombe]

There's almost no way this model will be $200, the Toshiba 8" Encore announced with 1280x800 is already set at $330.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Wow, 2013 Nexus 7 ripoff from the front - even the offset front camera is in the same place! Not that I care. Though if Google were Apple, their lawyers would already be filing paperwork against Dell .


As for a $200 pricepoint, I don't think it's feasible or realistic given Microsoft's licensing costs for Windows 8 (something like $50) vs $0 for Android. I'd say $299 is more realistic (at least - this is full blown Windows after all).

 

[BladeVenom]

They should have made an Android version. Android is what's selling.

 

[Ravynmagi]

It's Dell, so it'll probably be $400 initially. It'll be outclassed by cheaper devices and will be slashed to $250 later and eventually Dell will announce it's not making 8 inch tablets anymore.

 

[ImDonly1]

I don't see how you can use that tablet without a stylus. Maybe in metro mode, yes.

But in the regular windows desktop like in that last pic... the icons are too small to be accurate for touch.

 

[lothar]

There is absolutely no way in hell this is going to be <$200 upon release.
If I had to guess, I'd say $349(very small remote chance, but possible) or $399(more likely).

 

[Deeko]

I wish it were a new venue pro instead.

 

[sequoia464]

Some info on these - supposed to be $299 ...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2341969&page=16

see post #392

 

[Crono]

Some info on these - supposed to be $299 ...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2341969&page=16

see post #392

Looks good for $299. More expensive than a Nexus 7, but I'll gladly buy one to be able to run real Windows programs, even if only occasionally.

 

[Crono]

I don't see how you can use that tablet without a stylus. Maybe in metro mode, yes.

But in the regular windows desktop like in that last pic... the icons are too small to be accurate for touch.

Icon size and DPI is adjustable. But metro interface is where you'll want to spend most of your time if you want to use it in traditional tablet mode.

 

[ponyo]

1080p? There's no way this has 1080p screen at $200. Even at $300 I doubt this has 1080p screen. I bet this has 720p screen at $300.

 

[Lyfer]

It's Dell, so it'll probably be $400 initially. It'll be outclassed by cheaper devices and will be slashed to $250 later and eventually Dell will announce it's not making 8 inch tablets anymore.

The force is strong in you.

 

[olds]

Some info on these - supposed to be $299 ...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2341969&page=16

see post #392

It's on page 4 for me.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35484709&postcount=392

 

[RaistlinZ]

1080p resolution is arbitrary unless it has excellent viewing angles, contrast, and color accuracy. I've seen my share of crap 1080p screens over the past few years to be skeptical.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Why on earth would you want Android running on this if it can run full blown Windows 8.1? Makes no sense at all.

 

[Red Storm]

Why on earth would you want Android running on this if it can run full blown Windows 8.1? Makes no sense at all.

Full blown Windows also includes all of the bloat of Windows. Not to mention needing to be more conscientious about security cause you're running x86 Windows which has years and years of malware and viruses built up for it.

I personally have greatly enjoyed being able to move away from Windows, but I see the use for people who want full featured Windows at an affordable price. Will be an interesting device for corporate use.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Why on earth would you want Android running on this if it can run full blown Windows 8.1? Makes no sense at all.

Because "real" Windows never got decent DPI scaling.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Full blown Windows also includes all of the bloat of Windows. Not to mention needing to be more conscientious about security cause you're running x86 Windows which has years and years of malware and viruses built up for it.

I personally have greatly enjoyed being able to move away from Windows, but I see the use for people who want full featured Windows at an affordable price. Will be an interesting device for corporate use.

Are you an idiot or purposefully dense?

Windows 8 is fairly stripped down at this point, and can easily be configured for minimal bloatware. Further, Windows is very secure these days and really only idiots that DL porn/fake torrents have issues with viruses. Further, Android is certainly not immune to malware.

The bottom line is if you can actually run x86 Windows and get good battery life, do it. Android pales in comparison for those that want a featured multi-tasking experience.

 

[Red Storm]

Are you an idiot or purposefully dense?

Windows 8 is fairly stripped down at this point, and can easily be configured for minimal bloatware. Further, Windows is very secure these days and really only idiots that DL porn/fake torrents have issues with viruses. Further, Android is certainly not immune to malware.

The bottom line is if you can actually run x86 Windows and get good battery life, do it. Android pales in comparison for those that want a featured multi-tasking experience.

It's much easier to get malware on Windows than Android. I'm talking about average users here, not us tech forumers.

Windows 8 has an annoying UI. Multiple steps just to shutdown a machine. The homescreen is nothing but a bunch of info tiles, no other types of widgets that can expand functionality and/or improve efficiency. Good luck running traditional desktop Windows on a screen that small, the entire backlog of x86 apps are going to have tiny buttons that were never designed for finger input.

As Apple and Google have shown the world, the vast majority of regular consumers are finding out that they can get along just fine without full on Windows.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

It's much easier to get malware on Windows than Android. I'm talking about average users here, not us tech forumers.

Windows 8 has an annoying UI. Multiple steps just to shutdown a machine. The homescreen is nothing but a bunch of info tiles, no other types of widgets that can expand functionality and/or improve efficiency. Good luck running traditional desktop Windows on a screen that small, the entire backlog of x86 apps are going to have tiny buttons that were never designed for finger input.

As Apple and Google have shown the world, the vast majority of regular consumers are finding out that they can get along just fine without full on Windows.

Android tablet apps are awful. Simply awful.

 

[Maximus96]

full blown windows on a 8" device...will everything be tiny?

 

[lopri]

full blown windows on a 8" device...will everything be tiny?

Yeah.

These things existed way before tablets caught on. Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, etc,. would make these 5~7" pocket PCs with Windows Vista. They were very niche products at the time with high price tags. Obviously the situation is different today, but I have a strong doubt despite many in tech boards seemingly clamoring for Win32 compatibility.