PC, Tablet or Hybrid? by Chris Kneipp

Chris Kneipp answers the tablet versus PC dilemma for us by comparing the new hybrids!

Recently, my faithful old Toshiba netbook began to show signs it had some sort of computer dementia, losing things and developing memory problems. It was obvious the time had come to replace it.

Now when you’re buying any new tech it’s always a good idea to work out what you need, what you want and what you can afford before you head out to face the mind boggling variety of options on offer. If you don’t, you may fall victim to the Tech equivalent of the impulse buy chocolates they put at supermarket checkouts.

So I made my list of wants and needs, and began the search for my new electronic buddy (Yes, I do get too close to my machines). Very quickly I realised there was one more question I needed to ask. Tablet or PC? (Want or Need?) Now I do a lot of writing so a keyboard is a must. A REAL keyboard (on screen keypads just don’t cut it and you lose half your screen). You can buy compatible keyboards for most tablets but most felt like using a toy.

About then I got my first look at one of the many Tablet PC crossovers that have started appearing on the market over the last year and there were a lot. So began the task of narrowing the field. Windows 8 or Android? For me Microsoft won, so I could use my old files on the new tech without learning a new office program or having to deal with the potential conversion problems. This decision cut my choices way down and sticking to my $1000 budget reduced it further until only a couple of real contenders remained. The SAMSUNG ATIV Tab 5 and the ASUS VivoTab.

It seemed like a tough choice and at first glance you might think they were much the same.

• Both have an 11.6 inch touch screen that detaches to become a tablet.
• Both run on the 1.8Mhz Intel® ATOM™ processor (Z2760),
• have 2GB’s of ram
• and 64GB of storage, front (8MP) and rear (2MP) cameras
• and both come with a stylus.

In fact, if it wasn’t for going away and doing a little research, I would have thought “Hey, the Samsung is a couple of hundred bucks cheaper, problem solved.” Ten minutes on the Internet made it clear why the price difference.

Behind the sleek silver-grey exterior, the ASUS has a couple of features that the Samsung doesn’t, and none of the problems.

Removing the tablet from the keyboard dock of the Samsung can cause you to lose whatever you’re working on. This would be less of a problem if it weren’t for the repeated complaint that the tablet undocks itself when you least expect it. Obviously this has caused more complaints than anything else, though users also seemed disappointed with things like its restricted viewing angle when docked and glitch ridden keyboard.

The ASUS, on the other hand , has a much more secure docking lock, and does not have any issue with being docked or undocked while you are working on something. On top of this, the build is generally sturdier and the design seems to have had a lot more thought put into it. Especially impressive is the dual battery, one in the keyboard and one in the tablet giving you 16 hours plus of use between recharges. I’ve been using it all day and I still can’t kill it. Recharging takes a while, but plug it in at night and it’s ready to play all the next day.

Needless to say, I ended up buying the ASUS. By shopping around I managed to get it for a price not that much different from its competition.

So if you’re in the market for something that can meet your tablet and portable PC needs, the ASUS VivoTab may be just what you’re looking for.