GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 After some advice... mostly because all the online reviews contradict each other! I'm in the market for a new laptop, and wanting this to be small but powerful enough (just for the usual emailing and browsing), and have been looking into hybrids. So a device that detaches from keyboard into a touch tablet. Meaning I have one device not 2... and can ditch the iPad (screw you apple!). Samsung look most interesting, and dare I say the Surface too. Opinions?
Arthur Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 dare I say the Surface too. The next Surface Pro should be good if you are prepared to wait.
edutech4schools Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 i am wating for the samsung ativ q. it is laptop, tablet, windows and android.
EPCHS Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Unfortunately, the Ativ Q is £1300 at the moment. It is however available to buy (Although only at Very it seems). I'm holding out for more devices with 3200x1800 screens before I buy a new device. Although, on the slightly less expensive (yet still pretty expensive) end of the spectrum, I've been using a Vaio Duo 11 for a little while and it's a very nice device. The keyboard is excellent on it, and the stylus works well.
nickbro Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Surface Pro: Surface Pro - Microsoft Store United Kingdom Online Store
VeryPC_Colin_M Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 What operating Systems are you looking at Graham and how much wide would you be willing to open your wallet? There are some cool Android cross overs, pretty powerful with amazing screens and all the ports you'd want, or the Windows based hybrid's.
GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 What operating Systems are you looking at Graham and how much wide would you be willing to open your wallet? There are some cool Android cross overs, pretty powerful with amazing screens and all the ports you'd want, or the Windows based hybrid's. I say price is not the issue, that doesn't mean I can afford 1000s... for me I am looking for the most practical device. Something that I can use at home docked to my desk setup, then take away on business as either the laptop or tablet. Doesn't have to be super quick as in high spec for game playing. Windows is probably the way forward for me personally.
GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 Gotta say doing more looking it seems Surface or the Activ Q to be the winners for me so far... leaning more to the latter
VeryPC_Colin_M Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 You'll be looking at the Surface then most likely and I think Microsoft have extended their discounted offer to schools if you convince your school? Saying that we've been knocing out the Acer Iconia W Series like it's going out of fashion. This one NT.L0QEK.001 in particular Acer ICONIA W700 - 11.6" - Core i3 2365M - Windows 8 64-bit - 4 GB RAM - 64 GB SSD - with Bluetooth Keyboard Cover is around the £475 mark and you can claim £100 cashback on it from Acer.
cpjitservices Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Sony VAIO, cant recommend them high enough, I have one, the one before the one that has just come out. Ive upgraded the RAM from 4 gig to 8 and it is easily as fast maybe even faster than a MACBOOK Pro, came with Windows 7... That was wiped the first day I got it and it runs Fedora 18 absolutely sweet. Vaio's are stable, reliable and built to last and pretty expandable too.
Arthur Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 I'm holding out for more devices with 3200x1800 screens before I buy a new device. I think manufacturers are waiting for Windows 8.1 to be released before they start selling laptops with high PPI screens due to the improved scaling options. Btw, there's a good list of laptops with high-res LCDs here... pixensity.com/list/laptop/
EPCHS Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 I think manufacturers are waiting for Windows 8.1 to be released before they start selling laptops with high PPI screens due to the improved scaling options. Btw, there's a good list of laptops with high-res LCDs here... pixensity.com/list/laptop/ There are also only a very select few panels with that resolution too currently. I'm considering getting the UH90 next time I go to Japan. You don't need scaling anyway! I remember being concerned at the lack of screen space I had when I moved from an old CAD monitor to a 1080p screen. Thanks for the list though, I'll keep an eye on it.
GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 You'll be looking at the Surface then most likely and I think Microsoft have extended their discounted offer to schools if you convince your school? Saying that we've been knocing out the Acer Iconia W Series like it's going out of fashion. This one NT.L0QEK.001 in particular Acer ICONIA W700 - 11.6" - Core i3 2365M - Windows 8 64-bit - 4 GB RAM - 64 GB SSD - with Bluetooth Keyboard Cover is around the £475 mark and you can claim £100 cashback on it from Acer. hummmmmm interesting. I should note I don't work in a school. Keen to hear thoughts on the Acer as I have been looking at that too
VeryPC_Colin_M Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Yup, screen is an 11.6" LED backlight Multi-Touch CineCrystal 1920 x 1080 / Full HD which I think is ample really and good value for money; be interesting to hear what the screen snobs have to say.? Shame to hear you can't benefit from the Microsoft initiative to buy into the UK education market. Do you have any close pals who work in a school..?
GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 I do... most are on here! (Waiting for offers.. Friends!) I have read more reviews, the HP Envy x2 looks interesting, or back to the expensive Samsung, the expensive Sony Vaio or the Surface.
GREED Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) Thats it, mind made up! Either the Sony Vaio Duo 13 or the Samsung Activ Q (when it comes out). Thinking early xmas present to myself! Edited July 31, 2013 by GREED 1
GREED Posted August 2, 2013 Author Posted August 2, 2013 Had a play with the HP Envy X2 and Sony Vaio duo 13 today. Not keen on the slider from Sony. Looks flimsy is heavy as a tablet. The HP has half the specs of the Sony but the ability to fully remove the tablet is good... but then it becomes a very expensive tablet with a keyboard. So... waiting for the Samsung Activ Q that will likely be the decision. Very thing the same as the Sony but with android dual boot and will sync up with my Galaxy S4 phone.
GREED Posted August 31, 2013 Author Posted August 31, 2013 And so it seems the Activ Q is not going to be coming out due to patent infringement... now looking into the Asus Taichi
Arthur Posted August 31, 2013 Posted August 31, 2013 now looking into the Asus Taichi The reviews of the Taichi don't make it sound very appealing. Since the screen isn't detachable, you'll have to carry around a 1.55 kg tablet. That's equivalent to 2.5 x Nexus 10's or 3 x Xperia Tablet Z's!!! www.engadget.com/2013/02/06/asus-taichi-21-review/ www.theverge.com/2013/2/13/3977568/asus-taichi-review-11-6-inch www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/asus-taichi-review/ www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Taichi-31-CX003H-Convertible-Ultrabook.92862.0.html
GREED Posted August 31, 2013 Author Posted August 31, 2013 Agree it is heavy... but then most of the hybrids are. I'm not so keen on the detachable ones any more as the specs tend to lie more with traditional tablets and not laptop specs. Amazingly I am also looking at the Lenovo Yoga never thought I would look at that twice
SYNACK Posted August 31, 2013 Posted August 31, 2013 The envy x2 can be quite good, really robust, I have accidentally stood on one which survived. Some have issues with the sound failing out and the edges can be a bit pointy for holding a long time. The battery life is epic but the touchpad is a bit uncomfortable. ASUS does a detachable keyboard one with atom cpu, I'm typing this on the even lower end Asus vivotab which does not have the attachable keyboard but I got it really cheap. I would stick to the x86 based ones as they are way more versatile, the Surface pro is nice but big and has a short battery. The next gem of atom cpus is close and will be way faster due to being based on the core architecture (I think) instead of the older atom internals. These should be much better when confronted with a little heavy lifting from time to time. I like my little tablet and for basic day to day stuff it has replaced a full laptop when mobile as it can run all the tools I need it to. The one thing that bugs me is the lack of an Ethernet port even on the keyboard dockable ones and usb ones can get cranky about needing stacks of power.
GREED Posted September 4, 2013 Author Posted September 4, 2013 That's it. Bought the Dell XPS 12. Being delivered today. I'll write a review and post it for the first days/week of use
edutech4schools Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 And so it seems the Activ Q is not going to be coming out due to patent infringement... now looking into the Asus Taichi They still have it listed on the Samsung UK site and all the news sites say it has not been confirmed from what I can see. If they do moth ball it what is everyones thoughts on the Sony VAIO Due 13 http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/120928-advice-laptop-tablet-hybrid-2.html#post1051406 It even has a Sim card slot for 3g.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now