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Display Quality
Sporting a 10.1″ screen with 1366 x 768 resolution, it is unlikely that Asus was ever intending to compete with Apple or high-end Android tablets in regards to picture clarity. For example, the Apple iPad with Retina display's smaller – 9.7″ – screen has a much higher resolution of 2048 x 1536, while Google crams 2560 x 1600 pixels into the Nexus 10's 10.1″ display.
But resolution only accounts for part of a display's overall quality. Brightness, backlight, sharpness, colour reproduction and contrast are all important factors.
The VivoTab Smart's contrast and colour levels are good. A wide variety of colours and tones are easily obtainable using Windows 8's sleek and modern interface. Pictures are crisp, sharp and clear, despite the low – 1366 x 768 – resolution.
Brightness levels, on the other hand, were lacking. The auto brightness levels were considerably lower than what we would consider to be an appropriate condition for the certain scenarios. Even at full brightness, some of the VivoTab Smart's displayed images were dark enough to make viewing some less-than-perfect content a disappointing experience. The mediocre brightness levels aren't be an entirely-detrimental experience during indoor usage, but the outdoor viewing experience was clearly impaired.
Viewing angles are as good as one can expect from an IPS panel. Accurate colour reproduction was maintained all of the way up to the 100 degree mark – a perfectly adequate level for the majority of daily usage tasks. While the viewing angles were good, the combination of a highly reflective screen and mediocre brightness levels made awkward watching for some displayed content, especially darker movies such as The Dark Knight Rises.
We know exactly why Asus included a microfibre cloth; the screen gets very grubby after short periods of time. Thankfully, we didn't notice any dirt accumulations or dust build-ups over our lengthy period of use.
Comfort and Dimensions
With a mass of 580g, the VivoTab Smart's somewhat lightweight design makes it a comfortable tablet for general usage. The additional 21mm width in comparison to Apple's iPad with Retina display, is certainly noticeable when holding the VivoTab Smart. This 262.5mm width isn't a negative design issue, though, but rather a difference.
It's easy to find a single-handed balance point for Asus' tablet, and the two-handed approach is equally comfortable. Supporting the device in the air – the type of approach that will be taken for bedtime usage – can become an ache over extended periods of time, but the larger surface area and lower mass give the VivoTab Smart a more comfortable programme-long holding experience than the 652g iPad with Retina display.
Some form of stand wouldn't go amiss when using the VivoTab Smart for table-top viewing. We can understand why Asus left it out, though; the add-on TranSleeve wireless keyboard and trackpad features its own form of stand.
Ease of Use
Thanks to Asus' clear and effective guide app, the Windows 8 user interface is pleasant to use. Tablet mode has clearly benefited from the live tiles and touch-optimised design.
In desktop mode, the Asus VivoTab Smart is simple to use, as it is a lot like any other touch screen desktop system. Its 1366 x 768 screen resolution can sometimes make selecting an icon or item difficult, as the 10.1″ display lacks the physical space for an entire finger to accurately register a touch input. Inadvertent selections of a neighbouring item are a common occurrence.
Simple and functional are the aims for Asus' on-screen keyboard. We've definitely seen more attractive implementations, and ones that offer a better usage experience, for that matter. We weren't happy with the omission of important keys, such as print screen, Alt and the function inputs.
It is evident that, in the desktop mode, the VivoTab Smart is designed to be used most effectively with the add-on TranSleeve Bluetooth keyboard – a device that demands a free of around £90. Any form of extended typing task and the physical keyboard will be sorely missed. Accuracy of the mouse pointer controlled by the physical trackpad will also be a step up from the sometimes awkward touch input methods.
Fantastic review Luke, how do you feel it shapes up against the Windows Surface? have you managed to get a hands on with it yet yourself? (as they are both Windows 8 im curious).
This looks great, I had been looking at an android tablet for months, and still cant decide as I liked the Surface in a local store.
Dont know what to get now 🙁
It is not ASUS fault, but Windows 8 APP store is very weak, its put me off moving over from my iPAD, but I dont like Apple or their practices using slave labour in china etc.
Its so hard to get a do it all tablet, but this is a good attempt by ASUS.
I need to get a hands on with this, as I will never pay for the Surface PRO to get access to X86 apps. this is a great move by ASUS considering the ATOM is probably a bit slow. very interested, but need to see one in the flesh. time to hunt this weekend in my local etailers. is it out now?
If I select “View All Pages” I get to a news item titled “All of humanity to own an Android phone one day”.
No apps? I’m running everything from Wireshark (try that on your iPad) to my PLC programs and games such as Age Of Titans. Quit thinking of it as being a Win8 tab and try thinking of it as a Windows PC. After you share your devices from your own PC tower, you’ll also have access to all of them as well so mine sits with my Canon Imagerunner, Pioneer DVDRW and 3TB Seagate External all available. For media I use Plex for video and Itunes for my music.
These true Windows 8 tabs are only hamstrung by their users… PERIOD. I’ve yet to see a reviewer do half of what I do as an actual daily driver of the Vivotab Smart. When compared to either my daughter’s 3rd gen iPad or my own Galaxy tab to my Vivotab Smart, the former are truly little more than really large phones and the latter a fantastically thin PC.
Had one and sent it back.
Its well made a relatively light, the display is really good.
Its slow to boot from cold and the wireless is weak. In desktop mode you need the bluetooth keyboard, i found the onscreen keyboard got in the way of many things when trying to use in desktop mode.
After i installed Windows updates and Firefox the wirelss was lost and nothing i tried could restore it. I rest the tablet to factory default which meant going through the setup process again and once it was all done it refused to accept the new account.
Personally i dont think its worth £400 especially if you wish to add the keyboard, your then looking at a nigh on £500 device and its simply not good enough for that money. At £400 with the keybaord it would be good value.
I had one too and sent it back, it was too slow and very frustrating. Those ATOM processors can barely handle basic tasks. This is a good buy if you must have a full windows 8. I cant believe the guy above said the app store is good and that he can run games on this? I could barely get solitaire to run smoothy.