Samsung ATIV Tab

“The Samsung ATIV Tab is the company's first tablet running the ARM-optimised Windows RT operating system. The plastic case is of very good quality. The latest wireless technologies, the performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus SoC, and the positioning of the speakers are all convincing advantages. The Samsung 10.1-inch display surprised us with its values, but the resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels seems somewhat antiquated. Unfortunately there are no UMTS modules and other memory options. Speaking of memory: after the initial installation, only 14.1 GB out of the advertised 32 GB were available. In this case, every 16 GB Android or iOS device has just as much free memory. Other weaknesses include the lack of apps in the Windows Store and the austere camera application, which offers basic functions only after the installation of an additional tool.”

“Honestly, we're really struggling to get past the price tag. With both its nearest competitor (the Microsoft Surface) and pretty much everything in the Apple and Android camps coming in at less money, we'd expect something really special from the Samsung Ativ Tab. Sadly we just didn't get it. The Samsung Ativ Tab is a solid, even premium device, with generally good specs, a good build quality and a great battery life, but then so is the Microsoft Surface, and that runs the same operating system and is a whole lot cheaper.”

“We have to admit that we quite enjoyed spending some time with the Samsung ATIV Tab. Using a tablet that is neither an iPad nor an Android device feels refreshing in its own way, reminding us that there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Sure, getting comfortable with the device requires time and patience, especially since it runs an operating system that users aren't truly familiar with yet, but based on our experience, we can reassure you that the learning curve evens out relatively fast.However, the lack of applications available for Windows RT is a disadvantage that will likely be a deal breaker for some early adopters. In fact, that is a problem that all tablets running Windows RT will be facing for quite some time, including Microsoft's very own Surface tablet. Of course, that will be rectified over time as more and more developers port their software to the new platform but how fast of a process that is going to be remains unclear.Another important factor you have to consider is pricing. In our opinion, the ATIV Tab is close, but not as good as the Surface – it offers identical performance and features, but in a cheaper plastic shell. That is why unless Samsung's Windows RT tablet is more affordable than Microsoft's offering, we don't really see it as a worthy pick.But as a whole, we welcome the arrival of the Samsung ATIV Tab and Windows RT as the tablet market is in need of alternatives to Android and the iPad. The device is not likely to disappoint, as long as you are willing to give it a chance. Of course, it will be a pretty wise idea checking out the Microsoft Surface as well before dropping any cash on the table.”

“Samsung's ATIV Tab is thinner, lighter and more comfortable to hold than the Surface, its most obvious rival. It also offers staggering battery life and capable internals that keep everything running smoothly. Its display holds its own in darkened rooms and as soon as you pair it with a mouse, the device becomes a very good work machine. In fact, its ability to help us get work done (better than some laptops we've encountered recently) is one of the strongest reasons we'd recommend this, and we'd hope its productivity case should be strengthened when the dock finally meanders its way onto the market.”