What's that? Another Samsung Windows 8 tablet running atop an Intel
Atom Z2760 CPU that uses polycarbonate for a chassis and looks a lot
like the Galaxy Tab 3 range that was recently announced?
Yes,
indeed: that's what Samsung has just unleashed on the unsuspecting
public with the Ativ Tab 3, most thinking they were safe from the deluge
of tablets that the South Korean firm was throwing onto the market.
It's
not fair to disparage the new Windows 8 tablet just because it looks so
similar to other devices from the mothership - it's actually a decent
device in its own right.
Best Windows 8 tablets: all the tablets reviewed
For a start, it's the thinnest Windows 8 tablet in the world and has 2GB of RAM to power things along. It's
not running Windows RT either, so you'll have a full whack of OS power
to play with when it comes to programs to use - the Windows 8 interface
works effectively on the 10.1-inch screen and, while the 1366 x 768
resolution looks a little grainy, it's acceptable because Samsung tells
us is going to be skewed more towards the 'affordable' end of the
market. The
550g weight is also another real selling point, as while its Ativ Q
sibling is a rather chunky unit that may cause your arm to fall off on
the train, this comes in with a much more sprightly mass (yes, we know
mass isn't technically the right word there). The
battery life is another of the Ativ Tab 3's selling points, tagged to
last for 10 hours, which is good enough for 'most' long haul flights,
according to Samsung's official press materials. It's always good when
these things are absolute, isn't it? Lest a slew of returns occur at
Hong Kong's airport, with disgruntled Ativ Tab 3 owners annoyed at the
lack of power they encountered whilst watching Van Wilder: Party Liaison for the fifth time on the flight. The
ports are much less generous than on the Ativ Q or the other Windows 8
laptops, with only a microUSB, microHDMI and microSD slot showing that
you can connect to other devices. In fact, it's actually the same as the
Samsung Galaxy S4 - so if you own one of those, you'll be set.
Actually, no, that's not true as the HDMI and USB ports are combined on
the smartphone. Sorry about that. The
S Pen makes a lot of sense on the Ativ Tab 3 as the 1024 levels of
sensitivity can be applied to a wide number of applications throughout
the device, which makes it really easy to annotate text or direction,
which we can see many using this device for thanks to the ultra-light
weight on offer.
Microsoft Office Home and Student edition is
pre-installed on the Tab 3, meaning out of the box it's going to be a
useful addition to those looking for a more simple laptop substitute,
and if the price isn't too destructive, we can see this turning a few
heads in your local computing emporium. Side
Sync can be used here too: this allows you to pop a Galaxy S4 (as well
as other Android-based smartphones) next to the unit, connected through
wires or wirelessly, and the mouse cursor will be able to use the
smartphone as a second screen, giving you the ability to drag and drop
files across from one device to another.
As you can see at the
event itself, the Galaxy Tab 3 will come with its own natty cover, that
works via magnets to provide a stand AND A KEYBOARD for anyone that
doesn't want to preserve the super-thin frame of the Ativ Tab 3, and
instead wants to stop it getting smashed in a bag. As
you can see, the material is a plastic, but it has a certain heft to it
that's pleasing. As mentioned, it makes your Ativ Tab 3 so much
thicker, but given you get protection (and the option to magnetise on a
keyboard) we'll accept it.
Early verdict
It's
fashionable to bash Samsung tablets due to the fact they don't seem to
have a dedicated purpose half the time: they're either made with low
specs or offered for far, far too much money. In
the case of the Ativ Tab 3, we get the feeling that could be about to
change. The Windows 8 market is quietly gaining traction, and the sheer
number of extras on offer here make it an attractive proposition.
We're
awaiting a price before making any rash calls but we were quietly
impressed with the Ativ Tab 3, despite the cheap feeling plastic and
flexible chassis.
Samsung needs to start pushing down into the
lower end of the tablet market when it comes to price, and this could be
the device to do it.
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