ASUS introduced the 8-inch Windows tablet ASUS VivoTab Note 8 just two weeks ago, and we already had the opportunity to fully test this device. The model runs the Windows 8.1 operating system, is equipped with an IPS touch screen with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels, complemented by a digitizer from Wacom, and is based on the latest Intel Bay Trail hardware platform.

On this moment Only two modifications of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 model have been announced, which differ exclusively in the capacity of the internal memory - 32 or 64 GB. Interestingly, the 32 GB version of the tablet comes with an 8 GB MicroSD memory card with an operating system image necessary to restore it. But in the 64 GB version, this image is stored in the tablet’s built-in memory, so a separate memory card is not included in the package. There are no color variations yet, however, as we know from the experience of the same Nexus 7 (2013), ASUS may well introduce a white version of the VivoTab Note 8 a little later. But the 3G option is most likely not worth the wait; this is still the prerogative of much more expensive Windows tablets.

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet comes in a compact box made of white cardboard, the design of which shows that the device is based on the Intel hardware platform, comes with a stylus and runs the Windows operating system. Inside you will find the tablet itself, as well as a 10-watt power supply with a removable micro-USB cable and a standard set of accompanying documentation. All additional accessories, and this can be a branded ASUS VersaSleeve case, an ASUS TransKeyboard Bluetooth keyboard, an ASUS Miracast Dongle adapter, an OTG adapter, wireless mouse etc. if necessary, you will have to purchase them separately (read about their use in the final part of the material).

Design, materials

The front panel of ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is completely covered protective glass, the type of which the manufacturer does not specify. At the bottom of the screen edge you can only find the ASUS logo, and at the top there is a webcam with a 0.9 MP activity indicator (1280 by 720 pixels), as well as a light sensor. The edges along the long sides of the screen are noticeably narrower than the areas above and below the display.

The back panel and part of the sides of the tablet are made of slightly rough matte black softtouch plastic. This material is very pleasant to the touch, does not slip and does not collect fingerprints, which is good news. Here you can find a 5 megapixel main camera (the sample tested has a 3.7 megapixel module with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, but this will probably be fixed in official deliveries), a metal embossed ASUS logo, service information, as well as two perforation zones above the stereo speakers and a slot hole for the included Wacom stylus.

The sides of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet are “assembled” from a glossy insert with a protruding longitudinal edge and a curved part of the rear panel. The standard 3.5 mm audio jack and micro-USB port with OTG support are placed on the top edge of the tablet, while the bottom is completely empty. At the very top of the right side you can find the power button with an integrated status indicator and a volume rocker; on the opposite side there is a hardware Windows button and an uncovered slot for MicroSD memory cards.

Note that the overall dimensions of the device are 220.9 mm by 133.8 mm, thickness is 10.95 mm, and weight is 380 grams.

Display

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet is equipped with an 8-inch IPS matrix with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels, which corresponds to a pixel density of 188 PPI. On the one hand, such a density is not suitable for modern Android tablets with PPI over 300, but on the other hand, a “smaller” scale would significantly complicate the use of a “desktop” Windows interface. For comparison, a 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels has an even lower pixel density and is only 155 PPI. The brightness of the screen backlight is adjusted from 3 to 275 cd/m2 manually or automatically using the built-in light sensor.

The capacitive touch layer supports up to 5 simultaneous touches, while the display is also complemented by a proprietary Wacom digitizer that recognizes 1024 degrees of pressure on the screen. The included stylus is a thin plastic pen 12 cm long, equipped at the typical point of contact with the fingers with a hardware key corresponding to pressing the right mouse button. The same effect can be achieved by holding the stylus tip on the screen a little longer than required by a single click. In addition to these two standard functions, the stylus supports an expanded set of gestures that can be configured using the “Pen and Touch” system settings section. For those who have not yet encountered styluses from Wacom, we note that the stylus does not require a built-in power source, since it is a passive part in the stylus-grid system, operating on the basis of electromagnetic resonance.

Functionality, testing

Just like another popular model from this manufacturer, the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet is equipped with an economical quad-core Intel processor Atom Z3740 with integrated Intel HD Graphics.

The processor belongs to the latest Intel Bay Trail-T platform, is made using a 22 nm process technology and operates at frequencies from 1.33 to 1.86 GHz within an SDP of only 2 W. RAM with a capacity of 2 GB is soldered onto motherboard and cannot be upgraded. As a result, the tablet's performance is comparable to that of typical entry-class medium-format laptops.

The amount of internal memory in eMMC format is 32 or 64 GB, depending on the modification of the tablet, while due to system files, a much smaller amount is available to the user, which in the case of the 64 GB version is only 33 GB. However, data storage can be easily expanded using a MicroSD (SDXC) memory card with a maximum capacity of 64 GB. The wireless connection is provided by the Bluetooth 4.0 module and Wi-Fi 802.11n with support for Miracast technology, which provides video and audio transmission from the tablet to external monitors.

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 device is equipped with a single-segment 15.5 Wh battery, from a full charge of which the tablet can work for three hours at maximum load and eight and a half hours in reading emulation mode. Converted to more conventional units of measurement, this means a very high probability of working a full day on one charge.

Battery Eater, classic mode

Battery Eater, reader's mode

The tablet runs on the Windows 8.1 operating system and, in addition, will be supplied with a pre-installed office suite Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013, which retails for over $100.

Ergonomics, operation

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet is designed for two main models of use - mobile and stationary. In the first mode, it is most convenient to consume content - view photos and videos, explore web pages, make minor corrections to office documents, or play casual games. The second option involves typical office work at a desk, for which you will need a number of additional accessories (and the more of them, the better).

Let's start with a description of the mobile model of use of ASUS VivoTab Note 8. Made in an 8-inch format, the tablet is noticeably larger than its 7-inch counterparts, but it is still quite easy to hold it in a portrait position with one hand. Accordingly, there are no problems with a horizontal hand grip, in which the thumbs reach anywhere on their half of the touch screen. To work with the tiled interface, the touch screen and your fingers are enough, but once you switch to the classic desktop mode, you simply cannot do without a stylus. The situation is somewhat saved by the fact that in the hands of the tablet it is much closer to the user’s eyes than in the case of a regular laptop.

From the point of view of tablet ergonomics, the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 model is quite good. The power button and volume rocker are in their usual places, in addition, the LED inside the first of them allows you to evaluate the battery charging process. Rough back panel allows you to securely hold a fairly weighty device. The micro-USB port located on the top panel is unusual for users of Android tablets; nevertheless, in most models the main connector is located on the bottom edge. The hardware Windows button is also not very convenient; it does not protrude at all above the surface of the left side, which is why you have to feel it in two steps - first find the open slot for MicroSD cards, and then move your finger a centimeter higher.

The tablet uses a passive cooling system, so it is not surprising that the rear panel heats up even in standby mode. Under load, the temperature rises, but does not exceed the bounds of decency; the problem heating zone is the area from the logo to the top edge with a geometric center in the form of the main camera lens.

Desktop model of use

As we already mentioned, to use the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet as a desktop solution, you will need additional accessories.

We recommend starting to build your desktop ecosystem by choosing a wireless keyboard. Ideally, you should choose a Bluetooth keyboard with an integrated stand (cover-case or keyboard dock), because then you don’t have to worry about exactly how to place the tablet at a convenient angle. However, if you like a certain universal cover, you can purchase the stand separately or do without it altogether if you are initially counting on connecting an external monitor.

When testing the ASUS VivoTab Note 8, we used the proprietary ASUS TransKeyboard Bluetooth keyboard, which is compatible with Android and Windows tablets in formats from 5 to 10 inches. This accessory is made of practical matte black plastic. On the lower part you can find five rubber feet at once, which prevent it from sliding on the table. The keyboard has a polyurethane cover, which not only protects the island keys from damage during transportation, but also can “fold” into a tablet stand.

To make the fabric stand more reliable, it was reinforced with plastic inserts and magnets were used to fix it in working position. The layout consists of symbolic-numeric keys, an arrow block and the top row of non-standard service buttons, which unfortunately do not include functional F1-F12 (which means you will not be able to use shortcuts with their participation).

Next, it would be logical to purchase a wireless mouse, since working with touch screen The tablet installed in the docking station is quite difficult. Moreover, if you do not want to occupy the only available micro-USB port with the receiver, then you should choose a Bluetooth model. Let us remind you that the micro-USB connector of the tablet supports the OTG (On-The-Go) specification, which means you can easily connect a flash drive to the tablet using the appropriate adapter, which you will also have to buy separately.

Miracast technology

Well, the last point when building a full-fledged desktop ecosystem based on the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 should be a separate monitor, which will completely solve the problem of the tablet’s own screen being insufficient for serious stationary work.

In the absence of a wired micro-HDMI video output, you will have to connect the monitor using Miracast technology, which is supported by the device’s Wi-Fi module. Well, since there are still too few compatible monitors, you will most likely have to use the appropriate adapter.

Within this review We tested a combination of a 27-inch ASUS MX279H monitor and an ASUS Miracast Dongle adapter. The adapter is quite large (111*32*11 mm), so you may have problems connecting it to monitors and TVs with HDMI inputs that are too densely placed. Also, do not lose sight of the fact that the Miracast adapter needs external power supply, for which you will have to connect it to the nearest USB port (if your monitor/TV has one) or use the included network block nutrition.

As a result, we were able to connect an external monitor only as the main display (Show only on 2) or as an additional one (Extend these displays), but we were unable to duplicate the image on both screens simultaneously (Duplicate these displays) - the operating system simply refused to switch to this mode, even after the monitor was forced to set the tablet’s native resolution to 1280 by 800 pixels.

If you plan to use exclusively an external monitor, then the tablet itself can be placed in any convenient place, and not necessarily in front of your eyes. The dual-monitor setup is also quite convenient, since an 8-inch tablet installed horizontally in the stand does not overlap the bottom edge of the monitor even if you lower it to the bottom position.

However, there is a big fly in the ointment in this big barrel of honey called Miracast - the image on an external monitor does not look ideal, sometimes rendering artifacts are observed, and banal cursor movements are accompanied by lags. Only a person with nerves of iron who has a long history of working with leisurely netbooks and antediluvian PCs can work with ASUS VivoTab Note 8 in such conditions. These problems can be blamed on the Miracast technology itself, which broadcasts to the monitor in wireless mode a video stream in the H.264 standard with a maximum resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels, and not the highest performance of the Intel Atom Z3740 processor, and perhaps a combination of both factors. Given all of the above, we would prefer to see a standard micro-HDMI video output on the edges of the tablet, rather than its wireless counterpart Miracast.

Video review of ASUS VivoTab Note 8 (M80TA) tablet

Results

As a result, the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 Windows tablet can be used “on the go” as a compact 8-inch solution for content consumption, or you can organize a full-fledged workplace running the desktop operating system Windows 8.1, connecting to it a keyboard, mouse and (with reservations) an external monitor. In principle, the very fact of creating such a miniature device running a full-fledged operating system is pleasantly surprising, and it is for this that many of its shortcomings can be forgiven.

A device with such characteristics is primarily suitable for those who would like to combine both of these models of use in the most compact form factor. If there is no need for radical minimization, then we recommend taking a closer look at the transformable laptop, which, from the point of view of the hardware platform, is a complete analogue of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 under consideration, but at the same time has a larger 10-inch screen, a complete keyboard dock and twice as capacious battery.

All we have to add is that sales of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet in Ukraine will begin in February of this year, and the cost of the 32 GB version will be about 3,500 UAH.

Liked

Minimum for models on Windows based 8 form factor
+ high-quality IPS screen
+ included stylus with Wacom digitizer
+ practical back panel material
+ presence of a MicroSD (SDXC) card reader
+ good battery life in reading mode
+ pre-installed office Office package Home & Student 2013
+ successful combination of performance and autonomy Intel Bay Trail-T

Did not like

- low autonomy at maximum load
— problems connecting a monitor using Miracast technology
- inconvenient location of the Windows hardware key

The product was provided for testing by ASUS, www.asus.ua

	ASUS VivoTab Note 8 (R80TA) Notify when on sale
Type	Tablet
Screen diagonal, inches	8
Matrix	IPS
Screen covering type	glossy
Screen resolution	1280×800
Touchpad type	capacitive
Multi touch	+
CPU	Intel Atom Z3740
Kernel type	Bay Trail-T
Frequency, GHz	1,33-1,86
Number of Cores	4
Graphic arts	Intel HD Graphics
Pre-installed OS	Windows 8.1
Amount of RAM, MB	2048
Built-in memory capacity, GB	32/64
External ports	micro-USB 2.0 (HOST/OTG), 3.5 mm audio
Card reader	microSD/SDHC
Front-camera	1.2MP
Rear camera	5.0MP
Light sensor	+
Orientation sensor	+
Built-in speakers	+ (stereo)
Dock station	—
Stylus included	+ (Wacom digital pen)
Ethernet	—
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0+HS
3G/4G(LTE) module	—
GSM/3G/4G(LTE) standards	—
Voice communication in GSM/3G networks	—
GPS	+
NFC	—
Time battery life	8 hours
Weight, g	380
Dimensions, mm	220.9×133.8×10.95
Other	Built-in microphone.
Case color	black
Front panel color	black

On the pages of our portal you can often find references to the rapid development of portable PCs, such as tablets and smartphones. And this is a fact, since the power modern gadget in some respects it surpasses that of the NASA computer complex, which in the 60s launched humans into space. However, not all users are in a hurry to completely switch from desktop computer to mobile, because the first one is still faster and more convenient thanks to the Windows operating system we are all familiar with. Fortunately, the popular OS also does not stand still, so tablets, in addition to increasing hardware power, can now boast of having a convenient software platform. And the first tablet computer with pre-installed Windows 8.1 OS in our laboratory is ASUSVivoTabNote 8.

The new product offers a good set of characteristics, which for the most part are not inferior to similar devices with Android OS “on board”, and as an additional advantage (by at least, for most users) is a professional Wacom digital pen that comes with the tablet. At first glance, it may seem that the 8-inch new product is not the best suited for using a stylus due to the difficulty of interacting with small elements of the operating system environment and applications. However, in practice everything may turn out differently.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ASUS
	VivoTab Note 8 (M80TA)
CPU	Intel Atom Z3740: 4 cores, 4 threads 1330 MHz (1.33 GHz in nominal mode and up to 1.86 GHz in high load mode), 2 MB L2 cache, 22 nm process technology
Platform	Intel Bay Trail-T
Graphics adapter	Intel HD Graphics: 311 MHz (up to 667 MHz under heavy load)
	8", LED IPS, 1280 x 800 pixels (188 ppi), touch, capacitive, multi-touch up to 5 touches
RAM	2 GB LPDDR3-1600
Storage device
Memory card support
Interfaces	1 x micro-USB (OTG) 1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack 1 x card reader
Multimedia	Acoustics	Stereo (SonicMaster)
	Microphone
	Main	5 MP, autofocus, video recording in 1080p format
	Frontal	1.2 MP, video recording in 720p format
Communication capabilities
	Accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, light sensor
Battery
power unit	Input: 100~240V AC eg at 50/60 Hz Output: 5 VDC e.g. 2 A, 10 W
	Supports work with the included Wacom digital pen, pre-installed Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 software package
	220.9 x 133.8 x 10.95 mm
operating system
Official guarantee	12 months
Products webpage

Delivery, equipment and accessories

The new product comes in a relatively small and light box, made of high quality, thick white cardboard. The design of the packaging is quite simple, with the exception of the front side, on which there is the name of the tablet model, as well as its image along with the Wacom stylus. The information content of the packaging can be called insufficient, due to the absence of any technical information on its edges. However, the front side of the box successfully conveys the main message of the design to the buyer: the device comes pre-installed with Windows 8.1 OS, and a Wacom digital pen is included in the package.

The delivery kit itself contains everything you need, namely:

• Wacom digital pen;
• charger ASUS W12-010N3A 10 W (5 V at 2 A);
• USB ↔ micro-USB cable for charging the device and connecting it to a PC;
• user guide;
• warranty card;
• booklet with license key for Windows 8.1 OS and package Microsoft programs Office Home & Student 2013;
• 8GB microSD card for system recovery.

Note that only the model with 32 GB of internal memory is equipped with a memory card for system recovery, while the version with 64 GB comes with the OS recorded in the built-in storage accordingly.

In addition to the above-mentioned elements, the user can additionally purchase the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 VersaSleeve case, which is a very useful accessory, both for protecting the device and as a stand for typing or watching videos.

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet has a very pleasant appearance, distinctive features which are dark colors and rounded outlines of the back and sides. His strict style goes well with the new Windows version, however, after using the device for the first time, its format does not seem to be suitable for the operating system. The reason for this opinion can be attributed to the very small diagonal of the display and the predominantly portrait orientation of the new product, which for some users complicates interaction with the OS. However, for most people, this aspect ceases to play a significant role after a deeper acquaintance with the touch control interface and other nuances that are designed specifically for this type of device.

The tablet body is made of plastic, or rather polycarbonate, with excellent build quality and layout of parts: there are no backlashes or gaps. The front side is covered with protective glass, which exactly the manufacturer does not specify. The glass stands out a little against the solidity of the tablet, because... cannot cope with relatively strong pressure, which leads to the appearance of streaks in the image on the display. However, during normal operation this effect does not appear. Along its contour there is a small glossy edging, partly protecting the glass panel. By the way, its size is quite enough to hold the device in a horizontal orientation without accidentally touching the touch area. The weight and dimensions of the new product are small and amount to 220.9 x 133.8 x 10.95 mm and 380 grams, respectively, which has a positive effect on its operation, especially for people with an active lifestyle.

The back side of the case is made of a tactilely pleasant matte material, which feels vaguely reminiscent of soft-touch plastic, but is not. This surface is painted black with a certain “spark”, which, together with the texture of the material, allows us to call it very practical. It is worth noting that the glossy edging around the display continues onto the sides, visually dividing them into halves with varying degrees of soiling.

Arrangement of elements

ASUS VivoTab Note 8 has a sufficient number of ports and buttons for its class of devices. However, the lack of a micro-HDMI port may be an inconvenience for users who expect to connect the tablet to a monitor or TV ( Miracast technology still not perfect). The arrangement of the elements is standard and quite convenient, so the tactile search for buttons is quick and intuitive.

At the top of the front side there is traditionally a front camera eye and a proximity sensor. The tablet is not equipped with a notification indicator, which, due to the lack of a mobile communication module, is not particularly critical. At the bottom there is only the logo of the manufacturer.

On the right side of the case there are: a power/lock button, a microphone hole, a volume rocker and a slot for storing a digital pen. The latter is well “camouflaged”, so it is not tactilely felt and does not create any discomfort during operation of the device. The buttons are conveniently located, but pressed rather sluggishly, and they have a short stroke, which sometimes does not allow you to fully feel the moment of operation. This is especially true for the power/lock button, the boundaries of which barely protrude beyond the body. However, this implementation of the element protects the user from accidental clicks.

On the left side of the case, the manufacturer has placed a card reader that supports microSD memory cards, and a Windows system button. By the way, when you press the Windows and Power buttons simultaneously, the system menu opens, which in the traditional version is called by the user with the key combination +

On the top edge of the tablet, slightly offset to the right side, there is an audio jack (mini-jack 3.5 mm) and a micro-USB connector. There are no elements below.

The stylus is securely fixed inside the new product, so it cannot accidentally fall out during operation. However, it can be easily removed with the right hand (in the vertical orientation of the device) thanks to the presence of a special groove on the back of the case. The digital pen is relatively thin, so some users may need some time to adjust to this feature. There is only one button on the stylus. It performs an alternative action that is program specific. For example, in the Paint graphic editor, clicking on the button activates the Eraser tool, and in the Windows OS environment, it activates the right-click menu (context menu).

Input Devices

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet offers the user two main modes of information input: via the touch display and the on-screen keyboard or the Wacom digital pen. Virtual keyboard The Windows 8.1 operating system is quite convenient for collecting small amounts of data, but it runs automatically and at the right time only in the Modern UI shell. It is also worth considering its limited functionality, which implies the absence of some keys, for example, F-row, , and others. However, the user can always additionally use alternative and more functional software. Also, do not forget that the device supports wireless connection (via Bluetooth 4.0) to all kinds of manipulators and keyboards, which allows you to organize a mobile and functional workplace.

Using the stylus in specific situations can improve productivity with the new product. Such scenarios include working with graphic editors, office applications, notes, etc. However, given the small diagonal of the tablet screen, it is quite difficult at first to touch some small elements of the Windows 8.1 OS or application shells with a digital pen. At this stage, interaction with the OS is facilitated by the ability to scale the desktop environment and the Modern UI tiled interface, which is easy to manage. After a short adaptation period, clicks are carried out intuitively and without much “aiming”.

The Wacom digital pen is a useful and very convenient addition to standard input devices. We will not describe all scenarios for using the stylus, because... everyone can find a lot of problems that can be solved with its help. Let us only note that from a technical point of view it does not cause any complaints. A good solution is the function of disabling the touch layer of the display for finger input when the digital pen is brought to a distance of about two centimeters: from the specified distance, a cursor appears on the tablet screen. The professional stylus also supports recognition of more than a thousand degrees of pressure (1024 according to the manufacturer’s information), which will undoubtedly come in handy for drawing.

Display, sound, cameras

ASUS VivoTab Note 8 does not use the most modern, but very high-quality display, the parameters of which are well suited for an 8-inch device with a digital pen included. The screen is based on an IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Considering the aforementioned diagonal, the pixel density is 188 ppi, which is quite enough to display detailed elements of the operating system in general and a large tiled interface in particular. The existing anti-reflective coating copes well with bright external lighting. This is partly due to the high screen brightness reserve with a wide range of manual and automatic adjustments. However, prolonged use of the tablet under direct sun rays You can’t call it absolutely comfortable, because a shaded place is better suited for these purposes. The quality of the picture in most cases causes only positive impressions due to wide viewing angles, pleasant color rendition and a good level of contrast. We also did not notice the standard drawback of most IPS panels: a shift in color gamut towards yellow and purple shades. Among the shortcomings, we can note only a slightly elevated color temperature (the display is slightly “warm”) and a slight drop in contrast with strong deviations from the normal. However, only experienced users will be able to notice this.

The touch layer of the screen supports up to 5 simultaneous touches and copes very well with active typing. True, the absence of an oleophobic coating leads to a rapid accumulation of fingerprints, which are clearly visible.

The sound in ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is provided by two stereo speakers on the back of the case. Their location (near the short edges of the tablet) allows you to get fairly good surround sound in a horizontal orientation of the device with good frequency range. Naturally, this indicator is relevant only in relation to mobile devices. In general, the volume reserve of the speakers is sufficient for working with various applications, watching or listening to multimedia. However, it is worth noting that when approaching its maximum level, the body of the new product begins to resonate a little, as a result of which the sound acquires clearly visible rattling interference. Perhaps this is a flaw in our test sample or an unsuccessful implementation of SonicMaster audio technology, which should provide a similar effect to improve playback low frequencies. In any case, we recommend that you evaluate this aspect yourself to determine a comfortable volume threshold when purchasing a device.

As expected, the tablet is equipped with two cameras: front and rear. The first meets the average requirements for ensuring good quality video communication, which imply the presence of a module with a resolution of 1.26 megapixels with a very wide viewing angle. The main camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels and autofocus support allows you to take very detailed pictures with an aspect ratio of 2560 x 1920 pixels.

The camera application of the Windows 8.1 operating system does not have rich functionality or new functions, so we will not dwell on it and will immediately move on to the description of the resulting photo and video materials.

The photos, taking into account the positioning of the device on the market, are practically free of flaws, with the exception of rare frames that, upon closer inspection, look like an oil painting. Most likely, in this situation, the camera’s enhanced noise reduction algorithm comes into play. However, thanks to this, we can state a good level of detail in the captured video, which, by the way, is saved in 1080p format (30 fps) with the .mp4 extension. Soundtrack At the same time, it cannot boast of good indicators.

Examples of photography

Examples of video shooting

An example of daytime shooting from an ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet (1080p) at 30 fps

Hardware platform

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 model is equipped with the new Intel Atom Z3740 processor (Intel Bay Trail-T platform), which is based on the 22nm Intel Silvermont microarchitecture in SoC design. The frequency of the four CPU cores at idle is 1.33 GHz, and with increasing load it rises to 1.86 GHz. The L2 cache capacity is 2 MB, and the SDP does not exceed 2 W. It is worth noting that engineers Intel The new generation of processors has achieved good performance, which is gradually bringing mobile devices closer to previously unattainable performance and low heat dissipation.

The RAM of the new product is represented by a 2 GB LPDDR3-1066 module. This type memory, as such, is not the most advanced. However, compared to the previous generation mobile processors In the second series, the manufacturer managed to achieve an almost twofold increase in the throughput of the processor-memory link and, again, reduced power consumption.

Graphics calculations are performed by the integrated Intel HD Graphics video core, based on the Intel GEN7 microarchitecture with support for the DirectX 11 API. Its frequency dynamically varies from 311 to 667 MHz depending on the load.

Wireless communication is carried out via a Broadcom network controller. It is represented by Wi-Fi standards with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and Miracast. The latter can be used to wirelessly connect the device to a compatible TV or monitor.

Performance testing

Thanks to a fairly powerful hardware platform, the new product shows a high level of performance, which is more than enough for fast work Windows 8.1 OS, many applications (including Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013) and multimedia playback in various formats. Of course, against the general background, and according to some indicators, the device may be inferior to individual competitors, however, thanks to the low screen resolution (1280 x 800 pixels), as well as the use of software and technical solutions, most users will not experience a lack of hardware power to perform most tasks.

Futuremark PCMark 8

The disk subsystem of the device is represented by one eMMC drive, the capacity of which is 32 GB (in our test sample) or 64 GB depending on the model. In addition, the installation of microSD memory cards is supported, but the manufacturer does not indicate their maximum capacity.

The built-in drive shows a fairly high operating speed, but its free space is almost completely occupied by the operating system and pre-installed applications (about 16 GB is available to the user), which necessitates the purchase of a memory card. One such application is the Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 software package. Once again, we note that the version of the tablet with 32 GB of internal memory comes with microSD card with a capacity of 8 GB, on which a system image is recorded for its recovery.

Cooling system, noise level and temperature conditions

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet, due to its extremely low power consumption, is equipped only with passive cooling, which implies the absence of any ventilation holes. Despite this, at maximum load the temperature indicators of the hardware components of the new product are within acceptable limits. In particular, during the testing period the processor temperature did not exceed 61°C, which can be considered a good indicator. At the same time, we recorded noticeable, but not turning into discomfort, heating of the rear side of the case (in the area above the manufacturer’s logo).

Power supply, battery and battery life

The new product is powered by a non-removable battery with a capacity of 15.5 Wh (the manufacturer did not provide other characteristics), which is capable of providing a good level of autonomy for the device under medium loads. Full restoration of the battery charge is carried out using a proprietary ASUS W12-010N3A charger with a power of 10 W (5 V at 2 A) for 3 hours. In this case, it can be heated to 50-55°C.

To obtain more specific indicators, we conducted several tests with the display at maximum brightness and its automatic adjustment function disabled. In maximum load mode, the tablet lasted about 3 hours. Watching Full HD video completely drained the battery in 4.5 hours. Summarizing the results obtained, we can conclude that the good “survivability” of the battery will allow you to use the device for one day with moderate load.

Tablet ASUSVivoTabNote 8 is a very interesting and high-quality solution, which is based on new hardware Intel platforms Bay Trail-T. One of its main features is a relatively high level of performance and reduced heat generation. In addition, the manufacturer has done everything possible to interest the buyer, so among the advantages of the new product we can see the Windows 8.1 operating system with the pre-installed Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 software package, excellent quality assembly, good IPS display, good dual camera modules and other positive features.

The included Wacom digital pen deserves special attention, as it recognizes more than a thousand degrees of pressure, which, in combination with professional programs allows you to draw on the tablet screen as if on a piece of paper. As for the compatibility of the stylus and the small screen diagonal, in this regard it all comes down to a simple and short adaptation to this mode of interaction with the device. This process is especially accelerated when customizing the shell. However, even if you miss the fact that it supports control using a digital pen, the tablet can still be called a worthy rival for similar devices with pre-installed Android OS.

Among the shortcomings of the new product, one can note the soiling of the display and the rattling of the speakers at maximum volume, which, in fact, occurs quite often in devices of all types.

Advantages:

• strict appearance;
• good build quality;
• IPS display with wide viewing angles, high brightness and correct color reproduction;
• two stereo speakers;
• Wacom professional digital pen;
• a fairly high-quality main camera module;
• support for microSD memory cards;
• good level of performance for a mobile device;
• presence of a GPS module;
• pre-installed software package Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013;
• good battery life under medium loads;

Peculiarities:

• noticeable heating of the rear of the case under high loads;
• Some users may need some time to adjust to the combination of the thin stylus and the small 8-inch screen to interact with the interface of some applications.

Flaws:

• lack of oleophobic screen coating;
• Speaker rattling at maximum volume.

We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the company ASUSTeK Computer Inc. for the tablet provided for testing.

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Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	220.9 mm (millimeters) 22.09 cm (centimeters) 0.72 ft (feet) 8.7 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	133.8 mm (millimeters) 13.38 cm (centimeters) 0.44 ft (feet) 5.27 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	10.95 mm (millimeters) 1.1 cm (centimeters) 0.04 ft (feet) 0.43 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	380 g (grams) 0.84 lbs 13.4 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	323.64 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 19.65 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Intel Atom Z3740
Technological process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	22 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	Intel Silvermont
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	IA-32 (x86), IA-64 (x64)
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	24 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache memory is slower than L1, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing caching more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	4
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1860 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. IN mobile devices ah it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	Intel Gen 7
Clock frequency GPU Speed ​​of work is clock frequency GPU speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	667 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	2 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3-1066
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means more high speeds data transmission.	Dual channel

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	IPS
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	8 in (inches) 203.2 mm (millimeters) 20.32 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	6.78 in (inches) 172.31 mm (millimeters) 17.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.24 in (inches) 107.7 mm (millimeters) 10.77 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.6:1 16:10
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. More a high resolution means sharper detail in the image.	1280 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. More high density Allows you to display information on the screen with clearer details.	189 ppi (pixels per inch) 74 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	62.99% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch
	LED-backlit

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording speed (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30fps (frames per second)

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	0.459 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.15 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

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Mention of products 2

I welcome you again, dear colleagues and visitors to the “club of experts”. we discussed in detail the capabilities of one of the representatives of the family Windows tablets, and came to the conclusion that the x86 platform is quite competitive in the market for such devices. Today we will look at another x86 tablet, but with slightly different functionality, as well as a slightly different focus. This is no longer a tablet-laptop, but a tablet, and this tablet has a diagonal that is completely unusual for these tablets, namely 8 inches. It would seem that just a couple of years ago it seemed impossible even that x86 tablets might not have active cooling, and even less believed that they would have the diagonal, dimensions and weight of ARM tablets. But the fact remains that with the release of new processors from the Bay Trail family, everything has become possible. So, let's begin.

Specifications

Device model - Asus VivoTab M80TA Device type - tablet computer Operating system - Windows 8.1 Case material - plastic 3G support - no Screen type - color, touchscreen Screen technology - TFT-IPS Multitouch support - yes, up to 5 touches Screen diagonal - 8" Resolution screen – 1280x800 Automatic screen rotation – yes Rear camera – 5 million pixels. Video recording, resolution – yes, 1920x1080 Picture resolution – 2560x1920 Front camera – 1.2 million pixels. Interfaces – microUSB (with OTG support), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Processor model – Intel Atom Z3740 Processor architecture – x86 Code name – Bay Trail Processor frequency – 1330 MHz (1800 MHz in turbo mode) Number of processor cores – 4 Built-in memory capacity – 32 GB. RAM capacity - 2048 MB DDR3 1067 MHz Video processor - Intel Gen 7 Memory card support - microSDXC up to 64 GB Built-in speakers - yes Number of built-in speakers - 2 Dimensions - 221x134x11 mm Weight - 380 g Battery type - Li-Ion, built-in Battery capacity – 15.5 Wh (3950 mAh) Battery life – up to 8 hours Additionally – MS Office 2013 Home and Student license, stylus

Packaging and accessories

On the front end of the box there is a tablet with a stylus lying next to it (we will return to the stylus more than once - this is one of the “features” of the device).

The box opens vertically, opening the box, we will see a tablet that is fixed in plastic grooves. The tablet is in an antistatic bag. The packaging film shows the main characteristics of the device, as well as the ASUS slogan “In search of incredible” (in search of the incredible).

The package includes: user manual, warranty card, Microsoft Office 2013 key, charger and USB cable.

The included charger has output power at 5V and current 2A, therefore, this tablet can be charged by any charger with microUSB interface.

Appearance

Visually, the tablet differs little from the classic ARM. There is nothing on the front except the front camera and the ASUS logo.

The back cover has a soft-touch coating, which is quite practical (fingerprints and dirt are less noticeable, higher scratch resistance). At the top there is a camera, as well as one of two speakers. At the bottom there is a second speaker, a Windows 8 sticker, a Bay Trail family sticker (we already met this one in the T100TA review), a sticker with serial number, and a label with the safety certifications and power specifications of the device.

On the right side there is a power button (with a red indicator) and a volume rocker. The stylus included in the kit is attached to the bottom. Please note that the tablet is quite thin, considering that this is a representative of x86 tablets, which previously could not boast of a thickness of 11 mm.

At the top end there is a microUSB interface and a 3.5 mm headphone port.

There are no interfaces at the bottom

On the left side there is a Windows button, as well as a memory card slot, which contains the included 8 GB memory card with recovery images.

The stylus is installed on the right side of the device, its top cover covers the storage hole (so if the stylus is lost, there will be a hole). The capacitive stylus itself is very similar to the similar one included in the kit Samsung Galaxy Tab Note. The stylus allows you to move the mouse pointer without even touching the screen, but you will need to touch it to perform any action.

Functional

1. Camera

Our guest today is one of the few x86 tablets with a rear camera. The camera has a resolution of only 5 million pixels, but this should be enough for quick photos on social networks.

There is also a classic front-camera for video calls, without which not a single tablet can do in the modern world.

1.1. ASUS YouCam app

To my surprise, the ASUS YouCam application (this is the application designed to work with the device’s camera) provides quite a bit of functionality that allows this tablet to catch up with its ARM brothers.

It is possible to add effects, including drawing (using a stylus or finger).

You can adjust brightness, contrast, saturation and exposure. You can also reduce the level of digital noise.

By clicking on the “more” item, a menu with additional settings appears.

Resolution, format, quality settings can be found by clicking on the “YouCam” inscription.

1.2. Examples of photos and videos

In general, the camera of this tablet takes photos of not the worst quality. Personally, I was expecting much worse quality. Of course, the camera in the device is mediocre, but it can be much worse. A nice feature was the focusing speed - the device shoots very quickly, without blurring the frame. The saturation is a little lacking, but I didn’t tweak numerous settings, maybe something would have changed. The colors are generally not distorted, although they are a little paler than in the original.

The video quality is also acceptable for a device of this class, although zoom during shooting, in the case of this particular camera, turns out to be useless, since it produces a terrifying picture, but the ability to shoot in FHD resolution has its positive results.

2. Screen

2.1. Behavior in the sun

In the sun the screen fades a little, but slightly less than the T100TA. You can see information on the screen even in bright sunlight.

2.2. Viewing Angles

The viewing angles are also pleasing, the image does not lose color at any angle. Compared to T100TA, distortion at large angles is significantly less.

3. Speakers

There are two quite responsible for the sound in our tablet: powerful speakers located on back cover devices. The sound quality is pleasing, almost worse than that of its older brother and better than most budget laptops and tablets.

4. Stylus

The included stylus was already mentioned by me earlier. In this device, it functions as a mouse, significantly increases the accuracy of touch, and also allows you to work with graphic editors (aka Paint), take written notes, and so on (the functionality is comparable to the aforementioned Samsung S-pen, rather than with a conventional capacitive stylus). There is a button on the side of the stylus, when pressed, the touch simulates a right mouse click.

The stylus also allows you to use handwriting input for various applications, including notes. Since I don’t have a huge creative talent and don’t know how to draw, I personally am not able to evaluate the possibilities of drawing with a stylus. But even I really enjoyed drawing with this pen.

Handwriting functions can be used everywhere, including for the search engine (both in Explorer and in the browser).

5. Support for external devices

The tablet has only 1 microUSB port, but the port has full power and can easily accept even quite “power-hungry” devices (for example, HDD for 1 TB). The device also accepts various peripherals (wireless sets, mice, keyboards and gamepads) without any problems. So wireless kit paired with a 3G modem or flash drive connected to the hub, I think the tablet will do the same.

Testing and Performance

1. Device information

We are dealing with the same Intel Atom Z3740 processor, which belongs to the Bay Trail family. This means that its 4 computing cores are capable of operating at frequencies from 1333 to 1866 MHz, with a heat dissipation of 2 W. The memory is still 2 GB, runs at 1066 MHz and has a bandwidth of 128 bits (Dual Channel).

The Intel HD Graphics graphics core, let me remind you, is a renamed PowerVR Rogue G6430, has 4 stream processors and operates at a frequency of up to 400 MHz.

2. Synthetic tests

In the Futuremark tests, our tablet was at approximately the same level as the previously reviewed ASUS T100TA, but in the PCMark 7 test, for reasons unknown to me, it scored almost one thousand points more, or the optimization had somehow changed since the test , maybe during testing of the T100TA, some resource-intensive process was opened, apparently we will never know the true reason. A score of 2400 points puts our processor on approximately the same level as Celeron U series processors from the Ivi Bridge family, which have a heat dissipation of 17 W.

The CrystalDiskMark test showed us that this tablet The same eMMC Hynix memory is used as in the T100TA, only with a capacity of 32 GB. The speeds are slightly lower than on SSD drives, but eMMC has a lower cost, consumes significantly less energy and has all the main advantages of solid-state memory. Installation hard drive into this device would reduce its “margin of safety”, and would also significantly increase its weight and dimensions.

In SVPmark, this time I was able to run a Real-life test; in terms of video encoding performance, our “atomic processor” is very close to processors with Intel HD 2000 and Intel HD graphics in Celeron and Pentium Ivi Bridge processors.

In the AIDA64 cache and memory test, as I already said, there are problems only with memory latency, but otherwise it is also at the level of junior 17-watt processors and is indeed better than its “atomic” predecessors.

The GPGPU test shows us that the graphics core has 16 logical cores and 4 physical cores. Otherwise, the graphics are at the level of the aforementioned processors in the low-end segment of 17-watt processors.

Since our processors are in fact absolutely the same (in comparison with the T100TA), you can find a complete repetition of the video encoding capabilities of this processor, video playback, and the pre-installed MS Office package; there is no point in repeating this in this review.

3. Gaming performance

This time I was able to download from the store Windows game Asphalt 8. Graphics set to maximum. The game is very beautiful, there are absolutely no problems with performance. It's a pity that you can count such games on one hand in the store.

The game Heroes of Order & Chaos, on the contrary, stopped starting, always requiring the installation of an update, despite the completely updated client. And the game Dungeon Hunter 4, which I was unable to download last time, downloaded, but did not start beyond the welcome window.

I didn’t have much time to check x86 games, but based on the experience of the previous review, we can say that the tablet can handle games like Half-Life 2 with ease, but playing a shooter on a tablet without a keyboard is a little difficult. But the good old strategies using a stylus will probably be more than “playable” (Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Starcraft, Warcraft 3 and so on).

4. Autonomous operation and temperature indicators

Battery life depending on load:

1. Mixed load (Medium brightness; games, videos, surfing, wireless networks included) – about 6 hours of battery life;

2. Watching video (medium brightness, wireless networks disabled) – 7 hours of battery life;

3. Internet surfing (medium brightness) – 7 hours 30 minutes of battery life

4. Browser and ARM games (maximum brightness) – about 6 hours of battery life;

5. office work, reading (minimum brightness, wireless networks disabled) - about 8 hours of battery life.

The battery life indicators of this device are at the level of an average tablet, with the exception that it has an x86 processor installed and runs a full-fledged OS, so the indicators are very good and the device can be considered successful in terms of battery life.

The only thing that surprised me was the time it takes to fully charge - the tablet charges very slowly from the mains, and a full charge will take from 3 to 5 hours.

M80TA heats up a little more than its brother T100TA; during prolonged use, the back cover heats up significantly, although not critically, but the latter did not have such problems. Although the heating indicators in the stability test are not very different - the processor managed to warm up to 65 degrees, while the T100TA's processor heated up to no more than 58 degrees.

Conclusion

Continuing the topic of x86 tablets, we can say that today manufacturers offer far from a single option for the buyer. Now x86 tablets can compete with ARM in size and weight, so they have mastered the new 8-inch diagonal. If in the future Microsoft fixes its application store and brings it to a decent level, then x86 tablets will be able to do absolutely everything that classic ARM tablets can. Our guest today has once again proven that for a relatively reasonable price (average price 13-14 thousand rubles), you can get a fully functional tablet that can easily replace a laptop in your travel bag.

Pros:

+ adequate price; + excellent screen; + presence of a functional stylus included; + full-fledged operating system; + smooth operation and responsiveness; + good battery life; + build quality; + presence of a rear camera (for an x86 tablet this is a clear plus); + high-quality and loud speakers; + omnivorousness regarding video; + efficient processor; + powerful graphics and efficient memory; + possibility of charging from a conventional power supply unit; + soft-touch coating on the back cover; + MS Office key included;

Minuses:

- noticeable heating under load; - long charging time; - no variations with 3G module; - only 2 gigabytes of RAM, ideally there would be 3 gigabytes; - small-volume solid-state drive.

Overall, the tablet left only positive impressions. Now everyone can choose an x86 tablet to suit their taste, their range and quality is only growing, and I sincerely hope that this success will be consolidated and will only grow, conquering the market. That's all, AnSoReN was with you, see you again...

Nobody except ASUS is famous for such a huge number of, frankly speaking, diverse products. On the one hand, it’s good that they are not afraid to experiment, on the other, there are fewer and fewer hits on the target. At first it looked like a skimming strategy, in marketing terms. It consists in bringing to the market a product that has no analogues (as was once the case with the Transformer line, and now with PadFone and other products), and, as the market becomes saturated, reducing the cost of the product and thereby attracting more and more buyers . But now there is a strong impression that ASUS wants to oversaturate the market with offers and try to satisfy everyone, confusing them in a complex nomenclature and complicating the choice for the buyer. Nevertheless, the company’s financial performance is still growing, and it continues to release more and more new options. The launch was especially successful, which most likely inspired the release of VivoTab Note 8.

Design and ergonomics

Looking at the tablet, you can immediately see who its manufacturer is, and it’s not just the two company logos. It is strikingly reminiscent of its softtouch plastic, however, this time they decided to round the edges of the device and remove the chins. The device looks good, but you can’t call it a style icon. There is nothing superfluous or inappropriate here, it is strict, but not so much as to scare away young people who are not involved in the business segment. The 8-inch tablet is not much larger than its 7-inch relatives, it is still easy to use with one hand in vertical orientation, and in horizontal orientation the thumbs can easily reach anywhere on its half of the display. In the Metro interface, your 10 fingers will be enough for you, but once you switch to the classic interface, you will immediately understand the full value of the stylus. It’s good that in the case of a tablet, the display is somewhat closer to the eyes compared to a PC, and the icons are still visible.

The ergonomics of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 are quite good. The buttons are in their usual places. Softtouch on the back cover gives you confidence that the device will not fall out. In my opinion, the microUSB port was not placed very well; it’s still more common when it’s at the bottom, however, you quickly get used to it. The hardware “Start” button is completely inconvenient, which does not protrude above the body at all - first you take out the MicroSD card and only then feel for the button. There are no problems with heating, however, when you pick up the tablet, you will feel its temperature.

On the left are the volume and power buttons with a status indicator, on the right is the hardware “Start” button and the SD card slot. The model with 32 GB of internal storage comes with an 8 GB microSD memory card with an operating system image (for restoring it). In the older model, such an image is stored directly in the device’s memory.
Top 3.5 mm. jack for connecting a headset and a charging connector with OTG support. In front there is only a front camera, and in the back there are stereo speakers with pleasant sound, the main camera and an electronic pen in the lower left corner.
The side parts consist of a glossy insert with a protruding longitudinal edge and a curved part of the back cover.

Display

The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 tablet is equipped with an 8-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10 (188 PPI). The light sensor does a great job automatic adjustment brightness, and the oleophobic coating does its job.
The sensor recognizes up to five simultaneous touches, and also comes with a proprietary stylus with technology from Wacom, which recognizes up to 1024 different options pressure on the sensor. The display itself is not bad - good viewing angles, and there is practically no inversion, but it has a noticeable air gap. In general, there are no special complaints, except that there could be a little more brightness and less glare.

Cameras

The device is equipped with two cameras. The main one is 5 megapixels, the front one is 1.26 megapixels. This is not to say that the cameras are outstanding. But they correspond to the device. The front one is suitable for high-quality video communication, and the main one will do an excellent job of shooting the necessary information, documents, business cards, and so on. Additional functionality includes shooting panoramas, adjusting exposure and a timer. In addition, there are basic editing functions such as cropping and rotating pictures. Naturally, the camera is very dependent on lighting.

Examples of photos and videos

Specifications and software

Just like the successful model, the VivoTab Note 8 tablet is equipped with a quad-core processor from the latest Bay Trail-T family - Intel Atom Z3740, operating at a frequency of 1.33 to 1.86 GHz, depending on the load, with integrated Intel HD Graphics . Random access memory- 2 GB. Built-in memory is 32 or 64 GB; in 64 GB, only 33 GB is available to the user. There is support for MicroSD cards. From wireless - Bluetooth 4.0 and Miracast. Unfortunately, there is no MHL support, so Miracast will help you. Operating system - Windows 8.1, in addition to which comes a full office suite Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013. Of course, the fact that the OS in the device is full-fledged makes it possible to select applications from the entire range of applications that have accumulated over the Microsoft era. Even specialized software for working with the digitizer can be found to fully reveal its functionality. ASUS didn’t do anything serious in this regard; they preinstalled only a couple of basic applications for working with media content: PowerDirector and PhotoDirector. The tablet is equipped with stereo speakers from SonicMaster. At maximum volumes the sound does not block, I will not say that you get pure pleasure from listening to music, but they are enough for comfortable watching movies.