Recently though I got my hands on the Samsung Series 7 Slate, a Windows 8 based touch tablet that is a gadget that Windows 8 was actually made to be experienced on. In my opinion, Windows 8 does little for the laptop or desktop experience of the new Windows. It actually just takes what is already familiar to us and moves it around. And that’s quite annoying. But once you’ve played with it for a short while you’ll have quickly clued yourself up and life will march predictably on.

On the mobile device though, Windows 8 is a whole new experience. This is what Windows 8 was made for and where it should really be experienced.

If you’ve got a Windows Phone 7 device or have played on a friend’s one, then you’ll be familiar with the live tiles. Each representing a different app on your device, but you can also add websites, contacts, documents and more to the home screen.

Navigating the home screen or what they call the “Metro” screen is incredibly simple and intuitive, and unlike the iPad lacks any sliding structure or boxed in screens. It successfully plays on your natural desire to just slide things across, and bumps into the edge in a fun way.

Personalizing the Metro screen is also very simple, and proving my point that Windows 8 is better on mobiles, much easier than it is on a desktop.

Each side of the screen provides a different function to you. Slide in from the top and you bring in functions of the app you’re in. In from the right and you bring in search, settings and more. And my personal favorite, from the left and you scroll through open apps. This is a big one for someone who works a lot on an iPad and is sick of having to close down an app to go search online just to have to return to the app you were in.

Again Windows have a lot of work to do in their store. It’s empty than George Bush’s head, but as I mentioned here they’re working hard to get it full in time for the October launch. Some very attractive deals are available for developers.

Natively there are a bunch of apps available, but like any new Android phone, you probably won’t use most of them, relying rather on the apps you’ve become accustomed to using. A good example was VLC media player which is a standard first choice for media junkies like me.

They do include a great looking music app on the Series 7 Slate, that displays album information, adapts to the screen and makes you feel like you’re actually enjoying seeing the music too. However, it’s quite a chore to add music to the collection at first go, especially if your music is on a USB drive in the port. There’s also no “open with” native music player function with means you simply land up dragging and dropping it in to VLC.

The screen on the Series 7 Slate is phenomenal and grand. At 11.6-inches it’s about the same size as a small laptop, and it’s made by Samsung, so there you go.

Responsiveness is unrivaled thanks to the Intel Core i5 Processor onboard, and the speaker system is really not bad. Most of the time you’ll be using headphones anyways.

The inclusion of a USB port as well as a micro-SD slot is a welcome addition because you’ve only got 64GB on the onboard SSD. Also though, you’re likely, and more importantly, able to pair the Series 7 Slate up with a Bluetooth keyboard and docking station. This means it really is an alternative to the traditional laptop. Although, if this is your plan maybe it’s worth waiting for the Microsoft Surface to come out.

Speaking of the keyboard and dock, you’re going to want to keep these handy. The Slate is a bit bi-polar. When you’re on the Metro screen, sliding through apps and acting like it’s a tablet, life is vacation-like.

However, when you hit the desktop and are now working on a traditional Windows screen, things get a bit tricky and small, and you’re going to be grateful for the keyboard and mouse.

Most fingers are going to be a bit clumsy on the quite small icons of Windows. Our fingers weren’t made for accurate pointing on a silky smooth screen, and this gets quite frustrating.

At the end of my play, I couldn’t help but wonder what I would say if someone asked me if I would recommend the Slate as a total laptop replacement. Turns out, I would.

Sure you wouldn’t be getting the same hardware spec or toughness and protection of a laptop, but if your job involves a lot of typing, even more surfing, maybe a little bit of design and the need to take your screen from desk to boardroom presentation, then this is a brilliant choice for you. You’ll need to be OK being called an “early adopter”, and not mind know-it-alls judging you because you opted for the Windows 8 Slate and not an iPad, but go on with your nerdy self!

Get it: www.samsungonlinestore.co.za/p-128-samsung-series-7-slate-pc.aspx#undefined
For: R14 200

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A cheap tablet for me is not even about the specs, it’s about the experience. You’re not paying what you would for a top end device like an iPad, so you’d assume that the experience is going to suffer proportionately. But at least from looking at this video they’ve released, this device looks like it’s going to be as good as the big boys on the market. Of course we know to be cautious of manufacturer released fluff, so only time will tell.

The main feature that I consider important with any touch device is response lag. Nothing frustrates me more than having to wait a second before my device does what I want. Little lag shown here.

Probably down to the Quad Core Tegra 3 Processor on board that will be running Android’s newest version Jelly Bean. A 7-inch Asus screen with Corning Glass and an 8GB or 16GB version.

This is also Google’s big move at teaching everyone that everything they need in the media world will be in their Google Play store for purchase and download. It’s this reason that the Nexus 7 has no expansion slots like USB ports. But it will carry Near Field Communication in the form of Android Beam.

I cannot wait to play with this device.

Get it: www.google.com/nexus
For: $200 for 8GB and $250 for 16GB

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A couple of weeks ago I ran a story about a cheap tablet available overseas for let than R1 500. Some keen-eyed AskSteve readers spotted one on an SA website and asked me what I thought. So I asked www.tronica.co.za for a review unit and here’s the verdict.

What do you get in the box?

The Metrodroid tablet is a working tool in the way that the toe of your shoe can be used to fling dog pooh from your yard over your neighbors fence or how a shoe lace can, in dire circumstances, be used as a fanbelt replacement.

First off the tablet can mostly be described as bulky and a bit heavy, but it’s thanks to this that it doesn’t lack for features.

There’s a 7-inch full capacitive touchscreen display that is not what I would call mind-blowing but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. It works quite well actually. It’s responsive and capable, even if it does take a second or two to get the command through to the 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor. You can play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja but a game of FIFA 12 might be a bit frustrating.

The bulky height of this gadget means there is space enough for a USB port and micro SD card. There’s only one camera on the device, and it’s on the front which doesn’t bode well for lining up your pics. Bit of a head scratcher that one really.

The pics and vids the camera takes are also not the best, but the video rendering of clips you’ve put on the device is quite good. Playback of music and vids is not bad at all and the sound from the built-in speakers is comparable with the best.

Storage and capacity numbers are 2, 4 or 8GB with 128, 256 or 512MB RAM.

The final verdict on this one is a warning to be realistic. If you’re looking for something that’s going to replicate the experience of a Samsung Galaxy tablet for one seventh the price, you’re going to be disappointed. While it can do everything the Samsung beast can do, it does it a little slower, a little less attractively and not as well.

However, if you’re a non-pretentious, cash-strapped student who just wants something mobile to play your tunes on, have some games to play during math lectures and watch some series on a roadtrip to the Grahamstown festival, there’s actually nothing wrong with this device. Just manage your expectations and make your peace with it if won’t connect to specific Wi-Fi networks.

Get it: www.tronica.co.za
For: R1 400

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