Thread: Asus Vivo Tab Note 8 M80TA
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Old 05-09-2014, 09:17 PM   #4
mgmueller
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Augsburg (near Munich), Germany
Device: 26 Readers, 44 Tablets
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kumabjorn View Post
Asus recently released the M80TA more popularly known as the Vivo Tab Note 8, an 8" slate with a Wacom digitizer and stylus inside a silo. On paper this seems the ideal companion for colloege students, and it may very well be when we reach August, right now the build quality is less than optimal.

The device runs a 32-bit version of Windows 8.1, comes in 32 GB and 64 GB models, both with a Micro SD slot. The 32 GB model holds the recovery image on an included Micro SD card. On the 64 GB model it sits on the eMMC C:drive. Office H&S is also included all for a list price of $299 (32) or $349 (64), street price should be around $50 lower. This probably makes it the least expensive full blown Windows device on the market. A cheap USB OTG connector a hub and a keyboard and mouse, perhaps an external monitor and you have a very portable device that should work as decent productivity device in your dorm room. The Atom processor and the 2 GB of RAMs should tell you pretty clearly that games will be limited to chess and Candy Crush.

Advantages are that you can run any Windows based e-Reader inside the slate and it is just the right size to hold in one hand while annotating with th the other. Here, however, is where the main problem appears. The message from boards around the World is that Asus has messed up the Wacom digitizer. After around a month's usage the pen fail rate is, if not stratospheric at least troposhperic. Users have to request RMAs at an alarming rate from Asus. What is worse, depending on your country the response rate may vary wildly. It seems Asus lacks a Corporate wide strategy for dealing with manufacturing problems.

Until a new improved version is released, staying away is the safer bet.
I've got the Dell Venue 8 Pro, more or less the same specs as the ASUS.
Only difference: Not a WACOM stylus, but an optional Dell-specific pen (only working on Venue 8 Pro and 11 Pro).
The first generation of this pen, based on numerous reviews, seems to have been a disaster.
I've got the second generation pen. And it's working surprisingly well. Actually, it's more precise than the WACOM styli on Surface Pro 1 & 2 or Dell Latitude 10.
I've decided for the Venue 8 Pro against the ASUS mainly because of the cover with the integrated bluetooth keyboard. Only letdown: The keyboard uses a none-rechargeable battery. Else it's working great.

I've thought about the Lenovo Thinkpad 8. For now by far the highest resolution of all Windows 8 8" tablets.
But there are lots of reports about failing speakers and such and I'm sceptical about Lenovo in general.

I'll definitely buy a Surface Pro mini as soon as it comes out.
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