TORONTO – Tech gadgets are on the holiday wish lists of many this year and as the gadgets on the market continue to evolve the idea of buying a tech gift becomes more daunting every year.
Our tech expert Steve Makris has the skinny on the ins and outs of touch screen laptop and tablet computing to help you decide which Windows 8 PC to buy this holiday season.
New Windows 8 PCs have broadened the choice of Microsoft-run notebooks and tablets.
More choice may be good, but challenging when there is so much to pick from. Compared to Apple’s half dozen portable Macbook, Air and iPad models, Windows consumers are faced with more than 50 new Windows 8 devices.
Windows 8 is designed to run both with touch screens and the old fashioned way with mice and keyboards. Users can quickly switch between its views and efficiently combine up to ten finger touch, mouse and typing action.
Windows’ tactical advantage over Apple’s split OS and iOS devices, is that it is one full computer OS that runs on tablets, laptops, desktop and new hybrid models.
Windows 8 Phones share the same DNA, attracting developers to write one application that works for the entire Windows 8 family. But they still can’t match Apple’s App Store or Android’s Play with more than half million apps.
Choosing the right Windows 8 notebook or tablet is easy if you remember that new models have touch screens adding about $150 to the price tag.
The best new touch screen models are over $1,000 with much sharper 1920×1080 pixel HD resolution, compared to under $750 models with traditional 1366×768 pixel screens. Better models also use PLS or IPS screens with truly unlimited viewing angles, which are great for travel.
Get daily National news
Device reviews:
Samsung’s ATIV Smart PC Pro 11.6″ $1,299, 128 SSD drive is a hybrid with a detachable keyboard. It has an HD PLS screen making it the sharpest Windows screen around for work and play. It comes with a stylus S Pen and can easily replace whatever you are using if small size with Intel 3rd gen i5 processor and cramped airplane travel is important. A similar size non-Pro model running on a slower Intel chip and 1,366×768 screen goes for $699.
Dell’s XPS 12 12″ $1,199 pushed engineering limits by having its clamshell screen swivel on a thin but rigid frame, closing over the keyboard when used as a touchscreen tablet. It has full HD IPS screen that is remarkably solid despite its swivel function.
The Lenovo Yoga 13 13.3″ $1,199, is masterfully crafted to fold its screen all the way around, becoming a self-standing tablet. The soft padded keyboard now becomes the underside with de-activated keys and easy to grasp. The wide view IPS 1,600×900 screen works well in a tight package.
ASUS betters Microsoft’s own Surface Tablet with the sleek Vivo TabRT 10.1″ $599, including removable and better keyboard with built-in battery for an incredible combined 15 hours between charges. Like the Surface, it runs a special RT version of Windows 8 and includes Office suite but will not run older Windows applications. New apps especially built for RT are plentiful in the growing Windows 8 Store online.
The Asus S Series S400 14″ $749, is a conventional laptop with hybrid 500GB/32GB SSD drive for faster computing, but at a lower 1366×768 screen with limited viewing angles, not recommended for cramped bus or airplane travel, unless you are travelling business class. The large touch pad works well as does the smart auto backup feature when the battery is running low and features three times faster charging.
HP’s ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 14″ $950, has great sound with separate bass speaker. It too has an enlarged multi-gesture touch pad, but like the Asus S400 has a similar lower quality touch screen. The craftsmanship is high as is HP service, but that makes it the most expensive Windows 8 notebook in its class.
Follow Steve’s Tech Talk on Edmonton Global TV Sunday and Morning News at www.techuntangled.ca.
Comments