Supercheap full Windows 8.1 tablets

[chazzy2501]

I have 1 of these Toshiba Encore tablet for testing. It can be upgraded to Enterprise which I've done. Anyhow they're currently selling for £189.99 INC! that's £158.33 Ex. if you don't upgrade it you can use the office home and student.

 

It's the new quad core atom which is very fast. 2 gig of ram and 32gig of storage. Has Bluetooth and micro HDMI can usb host with adaptor (usb graphics for external monitors)

 

Amyhow Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GNBAL36/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers

[crc-ict]

Are these full Windows 8? As in, you can install normal Windows programs on them?

 

If so, they look great.

 

Please keep us updated on how your testing goes.

[newpersn]

we got 1 of the ASUS smart tablets and that works nicley with windows 8.1 pro. (came with W8 STD)

 

It dosnt say windows 8 RT. so you can install full apps on here. Great price

[Arthur]

Are these full Windows 8.1?

They are.

[chazzy2501]

@crc-ict yes, I've installed 8.1 Enterprise on mine but as it was it had the desktop for programs. I put enterprise on it as you can customise the "Modern" interface with GPO. I've installed SIMS and got Direct Access working. (needed a new WMi filter)

 

Luckily I had a micro USB to host adaptor from my android tablet. I did a clean install from a USB stick via a USB hub. I had a mouse and keyboard plugged in as well.

 

This tablet is very fast. 8 second boot from cold. After install 8.1 enterprise and office 2013 I have 7.18GB of storage left (I also have left the original backup on the device of 5.48GB) so I could have 12GB+ left which is plenty.

 

It can take a Micro SD card but not really useful in a school

 

EDIT: It also has TPM so you can do whole drive encryption (which is how it comes btw) it also has GPS/Glasnos

Edited March 5, 2014 by chazzy2501

[sted]

how easy was it to put enterprise on the tosh tablets and was it an upgrade of fresh install?

[3s-gtech]

My only reservation with these is the stingy amount of RAM, everything else about Bay Trail systems is very impressive. I need a tablet for PE registers, tempted with this but SIMS may grind through the RAM a bit (and the dinky SSD).

[chazzy2501]

SIMS Runs fine but using it on a dinky screen with sausage fingers is hard. Plus using the onscreen keyboard on the desktop interface is challenging.

[Arthur]

My only reservation with these is the stingy amount of RAM

Windows 8.1 Update 1 (out early next month) will have even lower system requirements than 8.1 has. It will run on tablets with 1GB RAM and 16GB SSDs.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/4/5468968/windows-8-1-update-1-rtm-release-date-april

[gshaw]

Very cheap price but having used the 8" tablets at BETT not sure if Desktop mode is worthwhile on such a small screen and even Metro still looks a bit cramped. Definitely kills off RT if there was ever any doubt, no point having the less functional OS now with the new range of devices coming out that can do performance with decent battery life. Prefer the Nexus 7 in the 7-8" screen size range but have been very impressed with the performance of the quad core Bay Trail in the Dell Venue 11 Pro I have in on trial at the moment.

 

If the offers come in on the 11" devices to get them to £300 then we're really in a good position, I'm the Venue 11 Pro 64GB for £400 inc. VAT but they stuff you on the keyboard cover which at not far off £100 is ridiculous!

Edited March 5, 2014 by gshaw

[Joanne]

I've just been looking at one of these... the picture shows a USB port... is it not a proper full size one? I'd be using it to program switches... I have small fingers :-P

[SYNACK]

I've just been looking at one of these... the picture shows a USB port... is it not a proper full size one? I'd be using it to program switches... I have small fingers :-P

 

Looks like a full sized one so a usb to serial adaptor and you'd be away. Have used my tablet for the same thing (ASUS vivotab smart with adaptor).

 

EDIT: weird, the one on the picture looks like a full size but the spec says "Micro USB 2.0 " you can just gat a USB OTG cable though and it should be fine. It even lists one for me in the common items bit.

Edited March 6, 2014 by SYNACK

[GeekyPete]

It's a great price, esp when you think that the full boxed DVD version of Win8.1 costs you £165 (£100 to upgrade from Win7).

 

Cheap as chips, You should write a full review of them. PC advisor style.

[jamwatn]

Jumped up in price quite a bit!!!! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GNBAL36/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers

[speckytecky]

Any recommendation on a durable case for these please. Heaps of excellent cases out here for iPads - particularly the Survivor but nothing like it seems to be available for the Encore?

 

I have 1 of these Toshiba Encore tablet for testing. It can be upgraded to Enterprise which I've done. Anyhow they're currently selling for £189.99 INC! that's £158.33 Ex. if you don't upgrade it you can use the office home and student.

 

It's the new quad core atom which is very fast. 2 gig of ram and 32gig of storage. Has Bluetooth and micro HDMI can usb host with adaptor (usb graphics for external monitors)

 

Amyhow Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GNBAL36/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers