[mgmueller]

I'm still positively surprised.
I thought, for such a low price (€ 350), only Amazon or Google would be able to deliver, since they've got additional sources of income (content).
But surprisingly enough, Dell can deliver as well!
The build quality easily can match the one of Google Nexus 7 or Kinde Fire HD.

I love the form factor.
It reminds of Google Nexus 7. Dell Venue 8 Pro is about 1cm wider and longer, but obviously has a very similar height/width ratio.
I prefer this over the more square one of iPad, but that's just a matter of personal taste of course.

The rubberized back is very convenient to hold.
It's surprisingly heavy, which adds to the impression of solid quality.

The display is no Retina/Full HD quality, but more than adequate.

In the desktop, fonts and menus are at the limit. A bit smaller and I would run into slight problems. But it's still legible and I rarely miss an icon or menu.

I've ordered the pen.
Dell didn't sell it for the last 6 or 8 weeks, due to negative response in the market.
I found out, that the pen for Venue 8 Pro and Venue 11 Pro is the same and was able to order the pen for the Venue 11 Pro from the European website.
2 days later, the pen for Venue 8 Pro could be ordered from all websites.
I guess, it's 2nd generation then and I hope, they've figured it out this time.
I can live without the pen, but want to give it a try.

If I consider, that iPad mini Retina 64GB is € 689 vs. the € 349 of Dell Venue 8 Pro, Dell clearly has a spectacular price/quality ratio.

And I really like Windows 8 Pro.
More and more each day.
I hadn't used any iPad for about 3 months.
I totally had forgotten, how limited it is re. configuration and tuning.
I need an email signature conforming to CI and such.
I couldn't figure out, how to solve such things on iPad.
My original idea had been, traveling with iPad mini Retina and the Logitech Ultrathin keyboard. I guess, instead (or at least additionally) I have to take Dell Venue 8 Pro and its bluetooth keyboard with me.
I should get this keyboard tomorrow. On the pictures it seems, it fits exactly the size of the tablet, so you can use it as kind of a front cover.
But I could use the Logitech iPad keyboard as well of course - standard bluetooth.

The first real test will be on Thursday and Friday for a brief trip...
Normally, I would take MacBook Air and Surface Pro with me.
It had been solely MacBook Air before, but Surface Pro takes over more and more tasks.
But sometimes, for trips of only 1 or 2 days, I'd like to try to travel lighter. Not my normal portfolio, but only my Livescribe (bluetooth pen to write on special paper and sync on the fly via bluetooth with iPad) pen and a tablet small enough to fit into the notepad portfolio or the coat pocket...

EDIT:
Delivery of the pen is scheduled for tomorrow already!
I'm really curious, whether it will be usable or simply not precise enough...

EDIT:
Just received the bluetooth keyboard and the folio.
I didn't want to have the folio, but you can't get the keyboard on its own.
First of all: The website states "exchangeable accumulator". But it's batteries! I hate this. I thought I could charge via USB of course. Why can't they be more accurate in their descriptions?
No showstopper, the batteries are supposed to make an entire year. Still...
The folio/keyboard combo is a strange design.
You put the tablet into the folio. You can fold back the front and flip it into a stand, as we know it all too well. But the front doesn't have magnets. So I wouldn't rely on it remaining closed. The keyboard has exactly the size of the folio and is placed under the folio (not inside!) and attaches with magnets. So the keyboard is entirely outside of the folio and not protected at all. Very strange! It looks nice enough. I put such combos in a sleeve anyway. But most of my friends only use a folio and in this case one could be sure, that the keyboard gets loose and the folio doesn't remain closed...
Anyway...
The keyboard is nice enough, keys are big enough.
There's no touchpad, but I knew this before.
For Windows 8, a keyboard is a highly welcome accessory. But this one, with its strange design, can't convince me entirely.
The combo iPad mini + Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard for example looks way more stylish and professional.
But I'll give the Dell combo a try when on the train Friday/Saturday.

EDIT:
I've just got the pen.
Build quality is okay, the upper part even is metal.
What I didn't expect (as usual, I didn't do any research before ordering): The tip is absolutely hard. Feels and sounds like metal. I may have to think about a screen protector - should I decide to actually use the pen.
I'll check accuracy in the WACOM Bamboo app. That's the one I've used to check calibration of my Surface Pro stylus as well. On Surface Pro, with the 130+ points calibration of the XDA forum, Surface Pro is quite accurate. Only in the upper left corner, it's totally off (1cm from the bezels, up to 5mm, jumping around).