Asus VivoTab Note 8

“Where the other manufacturers went wrong, Asus does it right: the touchscreen with the Wacom combination of a digitizer with EMR stylus is extremely accurate. It's now easier to enjoy Windows 8.1 on a smaller tablet, since even non-touch optimized programs don't pose a problem and are easy to work with. Operation is quick and simple at all times and especially for office applications, the pinpoint accuracy is something we wouldn't want to miss going forward. Users who don't think they need this kind of precision on an 8-inch tablet can also opt for competing models like the Lenovo Miix 2 8, which retails for about 20 Euro (~$27) less (64 GB version at the time of writing). Unfortunately, Asus only offers Miracast technology and no other way to output the display content to external monitors or a projector. Both the Toshiba Encore WT8 and the Acer Iconia W4-820 allow for that with their Micro-HDMI ports. Pretty common though is the lack of mobile broadband and cable-bound Ethernet. Those who can live with the shortcomings mentioned above will appreciate the 350 Euro (~$490) Asus VivoTab Note 8: the tablet is - thanks to its digitizer - a very precise and fast system for mobile office tasks with the familiar Windows 8.1 OS interface and a full version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 included in the purchase price.”

“The Asus VivoTab Note 8 puts a lot of utility in your hands for not a lot of money. The addition of a digitizer and included pressure-sensitive stylus will help budding artists and anyone who wants to take handwritten notes on their tablet. Other niceties include one year of cloud-based storage and a warranty that covers accidental drops and spills. Thanks to these added features (which the competition lacks), the VivoTab Note 8 sets itself apart from the other entry-level Windows 8 slate tablets.”

“The 8-inch VivoTab 8 is a Windows tablet that doesn't particularly stand out in a crowded field, until you discover the Wacom stylus tucked inside its body. Performance is generally in the same ballpark across the four Windows 8 tablets in this size category that we've tested recently. The Asus VivoTab sits firmly in the middle of the pack, and doesn't have as many ports and connections as some others, so I'd recommend it primarily if you're looking for a stylus-friendly tablet.”

“The VivoTab Note 8 boasts a responsive stylus pen, just like Samsung’s Galaxy Note tablets, which is geared towards the creatively-minded and business types. It works perfectly and is well married with Windows 8.1, which allows you to download any software you like. However, the screen isn’t as sharp as we’d like and it’s also too dim to comfortably use out of doors, while we noticed the occasional stutter during everyday use.If you need stylus control then the VivoTab Note 8 is a dependable choice offering all-day productivity, else we’d recommend alternatives such as the Asus Transformer Book instead.”