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Ask HN: Best Windows tablet for work email, office document review, edits

7 points by skynetv2 10y ago

I am looking to buy a suitable Windows 10 tablet to use as a secondary device for Work email (Outlook) MS office document edit, reviews Sharepoint access My main requirements: fairly light weight that I can lug it around when traveling work at home in quick breaks without having to open up my laptop, quick email review or review a doc ease in using MS office, esp. word document review & edits my primary laptop is an MBP 15

giucal 10y ago
(Joke) The best Windows tablet is no tablet at all.
AngeloAnolin 10y ago
If your primary laptop is a MBP, and then switching over to a Windows 10 tablet, there might be instances where you may get confused on how things work, as both features offered by the OS (Microsoft vs Apple) is very different. But to stay the course of your question, the best Windows 10 tablet would be Surface Pro 4.
- ericzawo 10y ago
  Even a surface pro 3 would be an adequate choice for your requirements. They can be had for fairly cheap nowadays and the specs are still very decent.
  - skynetv2 10y ago
    Yes, that was my initial conclusion. But I wanted to get an understanding of what others are using before I spend the $$
- skynetv2 10y ago
  I am comfortable in both OS, actually on all three major OSes. Mac is not fully supported in my company, so I run a full blown Windows VM on it anyway for incompatible applications. They support Android, iOS & Windows portable devices but a Windows tablet can be configured to be equivalent to an official device & they can provision & manage it.
freestockoption 10y ago
I've been using a Chuwi Hi 8 Pro. 8" 1080P screen, 2GB ram, latest Atom processor. Fits in some of my pockets. $90. Bought it from a store that shipped from China. They also have tablets that have cellular and higher resolution screens. Runs for $200-300. But I'm not sure I'd spend that much for an offbrand. At that point I feel I'd just get a Surface or Galaxy Tab Pro S to get the warranty, peace of mind, etc. Still, a Windows tablet is incredibly useful! Especially for dev work.
- Wofiel 10y ago
  First time I've heard of this and it sounds lovely for the price. Have you heard of anyone trying to install RemixOS on the Android side? (if you got the dualboot version)
  - freestockoption 10y ago
    No I haven't, but I'd imagine it would work. It's an x86 machine and you can plug in USB devices, HDMI, etc. I'm guessing if someone got it to work with the Intel Compute Stick, it would work here because the hardware is pretty much the same. I never use the Android side. It's not really up-to-date and I have an Android phone. Definitely don't buy this for Android. :) The Windows side is great since Windows Update keeps it current. The MiPad2 with Windows 10 looks nice. Really just looks like they copied the iPad. Aluminum body, 5ghz wifi, 2k (?) display. But it's ~$250. More than I want to spend for something without a warranty.
- skynetv2 10y ago
  thats a new one. comes with Windows too! great deal. I have a Toshiba Encore 2 10 tablet. But i find it too cumbersome to use, the key board is weird and takes up half the screen in landscape mode. And it feels slow. I think I would like to avoid Atom tablets just for performance aspects
  - freestockoption 10y ago
    I definitely wouldn't replace my Macbook Pro 15" with one. I feel it's one of those items where it makes sense at the right price. At less than $100 it's barely disposable. And you go in expecting a cheap computer. At $200, why would I get that vs. a $200 Acer laptop at Best Buy? (And I don't want a $200 Acer laptop either) At $300, I might as well put it towards a better main computer. What this has been useful for is those times when I just needed a Windows computer for testing in Edge, etc. But it might also be a gateway drug to deciding if I want to get a Surface for my main computer.
code777777 10y ago
Surface Pro 4, it's a great machine with a useful stylus. A few people at the office really like the Dell XPS 12 2-in-1[1] with the upgraded keyboard[2]. [1] http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-12-9250/pd?ref=PD_OC http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-12-9250/pd?ref=PD_OC [2] http://i.dell.com/sites/imagecontent/products/PublishingImages/xps-12-9250/laptop-xps-12-9250-pdp-polaris-04.jpg http://i.dell.com/sites/imagecontent/products/PublishingImag...
- skynetv2 10y ago
  SP4 is too expensive for my needs. Dell looks great! thank you for that

7 points by skynetv2 10y ago

giucal 10y ago

(Joke) The best Windows tablet is no tablet at all.

AngeloAnolin 10y ago

If your primary laptop is a MBP, and then switching over to a Windows 10 tablet, there might be instances where you may get confused on how things work, as both features offered by the OS (Microsoft vs Apple) is very different. But to stay the course of your question, the best Windows 10 tablet would be Surface Pro 4.

ericzawo 10y ago
Even a surface pro 3 would be an adequate choice for your requirements. They can be had for fairly cheap nowadays and the specs are still very decent.
- skynetv2 10y ago
  Yes, that was my initial conclusion. But I wanted to get an understanding of what others are using before I spend the $$
skynetv2 10y ago
I am comfortable in both OS, actually on all three major OSes. Mac is not fully supported in my company, so I run a full blown Windows VM on it anyway for incompatible applications. They support Android, iOS & Windows portable devices but a Windows tablet can be configured to be equivalent to an official device & they can provision & manage it.

freestockoption 10y ago

I've been using a Chuwi Hi 8 Pro. 8" 1080P screen, 2GB ram, latest Atom processor. Fits in some of my pockets. $90. Bought it from a store that shipped from China. They also have tablets that have cellular and higher resolution screens. Runs for $200-300. But I'm not sure I'd spend that much for an offbrand. At that point I feel I'd just get a Surface or Galaxy Tab Pro S to get the warranty, peace of mind, etc. Still, a Windows tablet is incredibly useful! Especially for dev work.

Wofiel 10y ago
First time I've heard of this and it sounds lovely for the price. Have you heard of anyone trying to install RemixOS on the Android side? (if you got the dualboot version)
- freestockoption 10y ago
  No I haven't, but I'd imagine it would work. It's an x86 machine and you can plug in USB devices, HDMI, etc. I'm guessing if someone got it to work with the Intel Compute Stick, it would work here because the hardware is pretty much the same. I never use the Android side. It's not really up-to-date and I have an Android phone. Definitely don't buy this for Android. :) The Windows side is great since Windows Update keeps it current. The MiPad2 with Windows 10 looks nice. Really just looks like they copied the iPad. Aluminum body, 5ghz wifi, 2k (?) display. But it's ~$250. More than I want to spend for something without a warranty.
skynetv2 10y ago
thats a new one. comes with Windows too! great deal. I have a Toshiba Encore 2 10 tablet. But i find it too cumbersome to use, the key board is weird and takes up half the screen in landscape mode. And it feels slow. I think I would like to avoid Atom tablets just for performance aspects
- freestockoption 10y ago
  I definitely wouldn't replace my Macbook Pro 15" with one. I feel it's one of those items where it makes sense at the right price. At less than $100 it's barely disposable. And you go in expecting a cheap computer. At $200, why would I get that vs. a $200 Acer laptop at Best Buy? (And I don't want a $200 Acer laptop either) At $300, I might as well put it towards a better main computer. What this has been useful for is those times when I just needed a Windows computer for testing in Edge, etc. But it might also be a gateway drug to deciding if I want to get a Surface for my main computer.

code777777 10y ago

Surface Pro 4, it's a great machine with a useful stylus. A few people at the office really like the Dell XPS 12 2-in-1[1] with the upgraded keyboard[2]. [1] http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-12-9250/pd?ref=PD_OC http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-12-9250/pd?ref=PD_OC [2] http://i.dell.com/sites/imagecontent/products/PublishingImages/xps-12-9250/laptop-xps-12-9250-pdp-polaris-04.jpg http://i.dell.com/sites/imagecontent/products/PublishingImag...

skynetv2 10y ago
SP4 is too expensive for my needs. Dell looks great! thank you for that