Software
For you to catch up with, Windows RT is
designed to run on ARM-based in an attempt of beating iOS and Android in the
field of tablet. When we judged Windows 8, Microsoft clearly had trouble of
awareness. As Windows RT and Windows 8 look and work alike, consumers may
believe they are the same. That is the reason why Samsung cancelled releasing
ATIV in the US. However, RT is not compatible with any software made for x86
version, regardless the conventional desktop. Still confused? Just need to say,
if you have relative unfamiliar with technology and dependent on you to
overcome this quiz, you may find yourself showing this difference regularly.
Video playback is still limited, and our
test video format, MP4, encountered fall in frame rate and encoding, making
images illegible. We heard an unconfirmed report that VLC port for Windows 8
and RT would be available by the next March. Based on this, the platform needs
a reliable video player.
![For you to catch up with, Windows RT is designed to run on ARM-based in an attempt of beating iOS and Android in the field of tablet](http://programming4.us/image/032013/23/162042662.jpg)
For
you to catch up with, Windows RT is designed to run on ARM-based in an attempt
of beating iOS and Android in the field of tablet
Pre-installed versions of Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and OneNote are based on Office Home & Student 2013, though they
are partly changed to match RT. While they are attached to Start Screen, each
app will be opened onto the desktop, which may be the reason why Microsoft
insisted on adding fully USB connections. If you take an external mouse as an
alternative, your viewpoint about desktop will considerably change. From a
complicated and disappointing experience, you will suddenly be given a device
which is powerfully good at dealing with texts and pleasing you with satisfying
documents. Actually, right in this mode, you will easily get Windows RT’s
value. The on-screen keyboard is one of the friendliest ones we have ever seen
and we were able to type a bunch of texts without much mistake plus our mistyping
was easily corrected by mouse.
We also used the device in portrait mode
and realized it creates a wonderful text-dealing machine, and no surprisingly
Microsoft aimed at business users. In fact, ATIV Tab’s sole problem is the
stand.
While it was wonderful to type the review
and other document, the platform still has some issues related to social field.
Unless you count People Hub (we didn’t count it), Windows RT still lacked the
official Facebook and Twitter apps. However, there’re some third-party apps
packing Twitter’s mobile website and some websites we found uncomfortable
giving our Facebook log-in information. Other apps which may not be found on
the platform include Instagram, Spotify, NPR, Remember the Milk, Flipboard,
Nook and Radio. However, since our review about Surface RT, Skype, TV Catchup,
4OD, eBay, Dropbox, Skyscanner and Angry Birds Space have been available in
Windows Store. It may be wrong when asked, but as Microsoft and
Facebook/Instagram are entrepreneurially bound, whether a formal call from
Steve Ballmer and Mark Zuckerberg could solve this issue for users.
Camera
We might dislike it but more and more
people are using tablet’s camera to capture any moment of life. Image from
ATIV’s rear 5MP camera is acceptable but they are not worth printed. We could
capture some snow-covered dramatically, but they showed diluted colors and felt
boring plus uninteresting. Because the default camera app lacks features:
tap-to-focus or image effect, Samsung added its own app to supply you with some
options. Meanwhile, you will see many options for white balance, visual effect
and switch between “normal” focus and “macro” focus. While both cameras will
perform well in Skype chatting, image and sound quality is not perfect, and
thing might be worse when we was recording video and sound was dropped each
second.
![More and more people are using tablet’s camera to capture any moment of life.](http://programming4.us/image/032013/23/162043662.jpg)
More
and more people are using tablet’s camera to capture any moment of life.
Synchronization
Why does it deserve its own part? The
problem with exclusion of USB cable or other kind of cable is that you lose the
main method to transfer contents from the device. Naturally, Microsoft wants
you to consume home entertainment from Xbox Music and Video, but if you want to
use no-DRM media, you must be creative as loading more than 10GB of storage to
get ready for the next flight would be a suffering.
Samsung brought AirSynce of doubleTwist
into the device, meaning you have to download the desktop version to use for
any media player you often do with. However, doubleTwist doesn’t well deal with
large library and deny transferring videos to the tablet. We are now talking
with the software manufacturer to know what the problem is and how it could be
fixed, and when we know more, we will update. Just be sure that at the moment
you should use USB storage for moving media throughout devices but it’s not
ideal.
![doubleTwist’s interface](http://programming4.us/image/032013/23/162044678.jpg)
doubleTwist’s
interface
Configurations and rivals
Because Windows
RT has just been released, we could have a whole view all devices running this
kind of OS in the article. Samsung allows retailers to price their ATIV Tab at
custom (Amazon charges $549.99 for the 32GB version). The brand has been ready for
a 64GB version but not to provide any price for external dock. When confirmed,
we will let you know.
If that is too much for you, Dell XPS 10 will
cost you $399 for a basic model – however even the 64GB version with dock has a
reasonable price: $524. If you prefer being Microsoft’s club, Surface RT will
cost you $399, along with $99.9 for Touch or $109.99 for Type Cover. Of course,
if you have $700 to pay for a Windows RT device, Lenovo Yoga 11, with a
pre-installed keyboard and an adjustable operation mode, will suit you more.
Maybe the new brave world of Windows RT is
not for you, and you will withdraw into the comfort zone of Android for your
next tablet. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with the similar size with cost you $355,
while Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is priced at $272.71. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is
available at $599 plus the in-coming shadows from Nexus 10 ($319) and
the-fourth-generation iPad ($4,399).
Conclusion
Samsung ATIV Tab is slimmer, more
lightweight and comfier when handled than Surface, its direct rival. It also
offers an impressive runtime and powerful components to keep things running
smooth. The screen holds its own crown in a dark room and right when you
accompany it with mouse, the device will turn into a very good tablet for work.
In fact, its ability helping us to work (better than laptops we have seen
lately) is among biggest reasons why we chose this tablet, and we hope its
productivity will be increased when the dock finally find its way into the
market.
![Surface RT – the direct rival](http://programming4.us/image/032013/23/162045678.jpg)
Surface
RT – the direct rival
According to that, the unit’s shortage may
be put into the OS, which we hope to be solved when Microsoft lays its root
more deeply in the market. Once we see a larger app collection, considerably
powerful Wi-Fi sync and affection from Twitter, we will feel comfier introducing
it to everyone.
Aside that, the situation we are struggling
is a simple one: is this device deservingly costlier than $150, in comparison
with the equal Surface Windows RT? When companies are rivaling “classy
home-made” like Google Nexus 4 and Microsoft Surface RT, other manufacturers
have to try harder for their advocacy. When these devices are priced equally or
less than the value, it’s hard not to consider ATIV Tab too costly.
Specifications
·
Dimensions: 10.46x6.62x0.35 inches (265.8x168.1x8.9
mm)
·
Weight: 570g
·
Resolution: 1,366x786 mmm
·
Pixel density: 155ppi
·
Touchscreen: capacitive, multi-touch
·
Battery: 8200mAh
·
System chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus
APQ8060A
·
Processor: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait
·
Graphic processor: Adreno 225
·
System memory: 2048 MB RAM
·
Built-in storage: 32 GB
·
Camera: 5 megapixels
·
Flash: LED
·
Camcorder: 1,280x720 (720p HD)
Pros
·
Amazing runtime
·
Stable hardware
·
High productivity
Cons
·
Poor Wi-Fi sync
·
Windows RT lacking some popular apps
·
Higher cost than of the equivalent Surface
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