[windows tablet] Windows 8 tablets - just how "Windows" are they

[BatchFile]

I've got my crystal ball out, planning my major purchases for the next five years. We've currently got 80 netbooks which are 5 years old now, so will need replacing at some point in that period (the Lenovo S9s and S10s are doing well, the Toshiba NB200s are fine too, but the eeePCs are almost ready for the skip!). I don't really want to go down the iPad route, not because I've got anything against them (on the contrary they're great pieces of kit), but because I'd like whatever replaces them to integrate with the (vanilla) domain and behave like a workstation... I'm just wondering if Windows tablets may be the way to go, but I've got no experience of them really. I'm quite prepared to buy one to have a look as it'll come in useful for something no doubt....

 

These: Asus Vivo Tab Note 8 Intel Atom Z3740 2GB 64GB 8" Windows 8.1 Professional (M80TA-DL010P) - dabs.com cost about the same as an iPad mini and have Win 8.1 professional on them - is that "real" Windows, like I'd install on a netbook? - does that mean I'll be able to do computery things with them like:

 

Boot off a pendrive and image them?

Install normal MS Office?

Join the domain so that users get their usual network drives?

License them on the Microsoft EEA agreement?

 

If anyone has got one / done that / knows the answers, it may prevent me looking like an idiot later!

Edited January 7, 2015 by BatchFile
misspelled "like" in "like an idiot"... oh the irony! (also forgot to put a ? in the title - but can't seem to edit that!)

[tmcd35]

They're x86 based processors, it's Windows 8.1 professional. So yes to install office, join domain and license with EES. Boot from pen drive? depends on how gimped the UEFI bios is.

 

It's the Arm based "Surface" ones you need to worry about.

[pcstru]

You may or may not be able to image them in ways you expect but otherwise they behave like ... windows.

 

Have a look at the linx devices (make sure to get hold of the education version which comes with 8.1 pro rather than a 'home' edition).

[BatchFile]

You may or may not be able to image them in ways you expect but otherwise they behave like ... windows.

 

Have a look at the linx devices (make sure to get hold of the education version which comes with 8.1 pro rather than a 'home' edition).

 

I was looking at those earlier - the home ones are like £60 or something! I didn't know they did an education version - Thanks!

[3s-gtech]

I haven't yet met one that won't boot from external device, though one of our HP Pavilion X2s refused to boot from USB stick, worked fine with a USB DVD drive. You'll find that many 'Atom' powered devices (Bay Trail based) won't boot a 64 bit install, where the 'Pentium' Bay Trail ones will. You can also get 4GB of RAM with these. Important to know if, like us, you have standardised on 64 bit OSs.

[BatchFile]

Got me thinking now... anyone tried SIMS .Net on one?!

[3s-gtech]

Yup. Bit fiddly, but fine.

[m25man]

Check out the latest Lenovo 11e yoga, it is evolved from the 11e chrome book.

Quad core Celeron 4gb ram 500gb HDD Ethernet port full size HDMI USB 3.0 abgn 2x2 wifi BT4 gorilla glass far more flexible than a tablet.

[BatchFile]

Check out the latest Lenovo 11e yoga, it is evolved from the 11e chrome book.

Quad core Celeron 4gb ram 500gb HDD Ethernet port full size HDMI USB 3.0 abgn 2x2 wifi BT4 gorilla glass far more flexible than a tablet.

 

Genius... but probably a bit pricy for what we need them for unfortunately. (They could however be in the running when we replace our bookable laptops as they look incredibly cool)

 

I've ordered one of these Linx 8 Windows Tablet 8" IPS Touch Screen Quad Core 1GB 32GB (LINX8) - dabs.com to evaluate and generally kick around and abuse; just the home version, I'm hoping to be able to get at the OS myself and "upgrade" it (wonder if it'll run xp...)

at the price, it's worth it even if it ends up just being used as a digital camera, or if I really break it, a chopping board!

[ChickenDhansak]

Genius... but probably a bit pricy for what we need them for unfortunately. (They could however be in the running when we replace our bookable laptops as they look incredibly cool)

 

I've ordered one of these Linx 8 Windows Tablet 8" IPS Touch Screen Quad Core 1GB 32GB (LINX8) - dabs.com to evaluate and generally kick around and abuse; just the home version, I'm hoping to be able to get at the OS myself and "upgrade" it (wonder if it'll run xp...)

at the price, it's worth it even if it ends up just being used as a digital camera, or if I really break it, a chopping board!

 

Very similar to these I think Buy Connect, 7" Tablet with Windows 8.1 & Office 365 Personal, 32GB, WiFi - Black from our All Microsoft Surface range - Tesco.com

 

Bought one when they dropped to £59 on Boxing Day to see what they're like - not bad for that price

Edited January 8, 2015 by ChickenDhansak

[Oaktech]

We've got 60 tosh w510 and 15 tosh w700.

 

Work of the devil.

 

Avoid like the plague. No one here likes them.

 

I'd get the Lenovo education yoga.

[m25man]

The Lenovo 11e Yoga is available through the TAP scheme for qualifying schools so speak to a Lenovo Authorised reseller and ask for TAP pricing for schools.

It will depend on volume but there are good discounts available for bulk buyers on these models.