With Microsoft soon to launch its revamped operating system, Windows 8, computer manufacturers all over the world have been racing to toll out devices that would run on the new platform. While this is welcome news for consumers, the huge price tag on those computers and tablets, is not.
Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS has always offered high quality laptops and tablets at reasonable prices. They have also been the frontrunner in the manufacturer of ‘convertible’ tablets; the runaway success of the Transformer notebooks bears testimony to this fact.
Recently they announced that they too were in the process of launching Windows 8 based machines; the good news for consumers is that their prices are not sky high like the others. On October 23rd they launched at least three new devices: Vivo Tab Smart, Vivo Tab RT, and the Vivo Tab, the most expensive at nearly $ 800. The smart is the cheapest, at $ 500. Obviously this device is expected to reach a much larger market than the Vivo Tab, with its lower price and easy manoeuvrability.
Vivo means ‘to live’ in Latin; ASUS has designed this tablet to be a companion that combines the familiarity of ASUS with the new exciting touch functionalities of Windows 8.
What is exciting about the pricing of the Vivo Tab Smart is that it is powered by Intel (1.8 GHz Atom Z2760 dual core processor), unlike the Windows 8 XPS tablets from Dell and Microsoft Surface RTs (both priced at $ 500) which run on ARM and Tegra processors respectively.
The Smart has a 10.1 inch 1366 x 768 mp resolution display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 MP front facing camera, and its battery life is expected to be around 9 hours. It is of course, a touch enabled device, like most ASUS products. There is no active digitizer but you can use a capacitive stylus if you wish to use the pen. It also has 2 GB RAM and 64GB storage capacity, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC and is capable of recording 1080p video.
It is also expected that this tablet from ASUS will be made available in a range of LTE and HSPA+ configurations.
The elective features consist of a wireless keyboard, covers in different colors, and a screen protector named TranSleeve. It also has a keyboard dock that morphs the tablet into a laptop. It also features an optional Bluetooth keyboard. The sleeve, which also acts as a kickstand, can be attached to the device with the help of magnets.
ASUS has not yet revealed the date when the devices will be launched. There was only a cryptic ‘in the coming weeks’ response from company spokespersons. The pricing will be a factor in its favour of course; but tech experts are waiting to see whether the device will live up to the expectations and perform as well as the company claims. If it does perform well, then the Vivo tab Smart will surely rake in the greenbacks, and ASUS will add another for their cap.
This is a guest post by Tina Reeves. She is a writer who writes more about digital cable and high speed internet. Get more information about cox tv.
