Samsung ATIV Tab, a Windows RT based tablet, is this to be an Apple or Google competitor? My personal opinion, no. Purely because I believe that a full blown version of Windows needs to be on a desktop machine, not a tablet. Anyway…
Good Points
- Well Built
- Excellent screen
- Long Battery
- Good sound quality
Bad Points
- Expensive
- Quite heavy
The hardware
Boasting the familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, accompanied by 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 5-Megapixel camera and a HD display. Samsung have chosen to stick with their plastic housing instead of going metal like a few other manufacturers but its still built extremely well. Holding a 10.1″ screen capable of 1366×768 the content on the screen is clear, it’s even better with Microsoft’s cleartype.
The OS and UI
Windows, the OS seems to be missing something but I’m unsure what. You can tell your using Windows and you get that Windows Experience however, the Windows 8 theme is a new experience and one I’m not too keen on. The Start screen is smooth to scroll and the transition to the desktop or applications are smooth. What else can I say, it’s Windows.
Connectivity and Audio
The number of connectivity options on the ATIV Tab are more than adequate.
On the top right you have;
Micro SD, supports up to 64GB
Micro-HDMI, connecting your tablet to a HDTV
USB, only one but do you need more?
On the top left;
Headphone port
Power Button
Volume Rocker button
Microphone
On the bottom of the device you only have the dock connector and power port, nothing gets caught or pressed accidentally.
Last but not least, the audio. On either side of the screen there are stereo speakers, volume is ample and sound quality is very good.
Overall the device is well built, delivers a pretty good experience. Is it worth the £549 price tag? No, sorry, I don’t think it is.
Full spec
Device type: Tablet
OS: Windows (RT)
Dimensions: 10.46 x 6.62 x 0.35 inches (265.8 x 168.1 x 8.9 mm)
Weight: 20.11 oz (570 g) the average is 18.3 oz (524 g)DISPLAY
Physical size: 10.1 inches
Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
Pixel density: 155 ppi
Technology: LCD
Touchscreen: Capacitive, Multi-touch
Features: Light sensorBATTERY
Capacity: 8200 mAhHARDWARE
System chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus APQ8060A
Processor: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait
Graphics processor: Adreno 225
System memory: 2048 MB RAM
Built-in storage: 32 GB
Storage expansion: microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GBCAMERA
Camera: 5 megapixels
Flash: LED
Features: Auto focus, Geo tagging
Camcorder: 1280×720 (720p HD)
Features: Video calling
Front-facing camera: 1.9 megapixelsMULTIMEDIA
Music player:
Filter by:
Album, Artist, Playlists
Features: Album art cover, Background playback
Speakers: Stereo speakersINTERNET BROWSING
Browser: Yes
Built-in online services support: Facebook, TwitterTECHNOLOGY
Positioning: S-GPS, Glonass
Navigation: YesCONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth: 4.0
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a, b, g, n
USB: USB 2.0
Connector: Full-size USB
Features: USB Host
HDMI: Micro HDMI (Type D)
Other: NFC, Computer sync, OTA sync
If you need a Windows Tablet and fancy a well built product like the ATIV Tab, Expansys have them in stock and ready to go Online.
About Carl Woodfin
I’m in to all things tech. Need to have the latest and greatest. I like to know what’s upcoming in the gadget world and I love writing about it and letting others know.
