Earlier we talked about the new ASUS VivoTab RT tablet from ASUS, which is based on the Windows RT operating system and has an ARM architecture processor. This time, an older model of the family got into our test laboratory. ASUS tablets VivoTab based on the latest generation Intel Atom processor. New tablet turned out to be quite unusual, convenient and practical, although not without some shortcomings. Since it is impractical to test this device due to its low performance, we will try to consider in the article its main features and how convenient it is to use.

Operating system Windows 8

In our edition, this is one of the first devices based on the full-fledged Windows 8 operating system, so we cannot ignore the specific features of this system.

Windows 8 officially went on sale on October 26, 2012 and announced a new era for operating systems. Microsoft Windows. Unlike its predecessors, Windows 8 uses new interface codenamed Metro. The new interface is designed to completely replace the traditional Start menu, which is not designed to work with touch screens. In terms of functionality, it is similar to the desktop - the start screen has tiles to indicate applications (shortcuts), by clicking on which the application is launched, a site or folder opens, depending on which element the tile is attached to.

Since the tiles on the screen take up enough space, the transition to following elements happens with a horizontal scrolling interface. Tiles can be grouped, moved, resized, and act just like regular desktop shortcuts.

It should be noted that the desktop in the Windows 8 system has remained classic, and you can go to it either by a key combination or by selecting the appropriate menu in the new interface. At the same time, the classic desktop does not have a standard Start menu, but instead uses a “hot corner”, after clicking on which the start screen opens. This corner is also active in the main interface and allows you to access the most commonly used control panels.

Due to such a sharp transition from one interface paradigm to another, as well as the absence of the old Start menu, the Windows 8 operating system has been subjected to fair, in our opinion, criticism. The new interface is quite suitable for devices with touch input, however, for traditional laptops and desktops, this control principle is not the best, due to the inconvenience of controlling it with a mouse and keyboard. Of course, the Start menu was present in operating systems Windows families almost since the time of their first successful versions, so it was rather reckless on the part of Microsoft to take and throw out this familiar control element. By the way, according to some data, new version OS (more precisely, in major update for Windows 8), code-named Windows Blue, the familiar Start menu will be returning as Windows 8 sales have so far failed to live up to expectations. In other aspects, the new Windows 8 operating system has absorbed all the best from Windows 7 and included many additional functionality which we will cover in one of the next issues of the magazine.

It is necessary to note some features of the interface, as well as installing applications for the new operating system. If earlier all applications had a single "development environment", now under the new Windows interface 8 for applications need to use visual studio 2012 and publish your apps to the Windows Store. it new shop apps for Windows 8 preinstalled on newer operating systems to purchase and download apps for the Windows 8 and Windows RT platform. It is worth noting that the Windows Store is analogous to Google Play, and Mac App Store is the only way to buy and download Metro and desktop apps on Windows RT. Thus, with the help of a new interface and application store, Microsoft decided to capture market share of touch screen devices.

The release of new tablet computers and laptops with touch screens in this case is only at hand - the Windows 8 operating system is just designed for convenient and practical work within the new paradigm of managing such devices. On the other hand, despite the fact that enough time has passed since the release of the new OS, the necessary and useful programs for new devices in the app store is still very small. Many developers are in no hurry to switch to a new control style, while some applications are not originally designed to work with this input method. In the future, of course, everything will fall into place, but at the moment, devices, especially Windows-based tablets, are presented more as a toy than multifunction device, which is considered to be a modern PC.

In the same time Intel actively promotes new processors for tablets and ultra-compact laptops, thereby pushing the user to switch to a new PC control paradigm. Intel plans to release new processors aimed at creating several varieties of ultra-compact mobile devices a wide variety of modifications. At the same time, the performance of these models should be noticeably higher than that of modern processors Intel Atom, and power consumption will be reduced compared to U-series processors. The advent of compact computers with x86/x64 architecture and low power consumption will make it possible to use available and already familiar applications, and will also press tablets based on ARM processors with operating systems on the market. Android systems and iOS.

This article discusses one of the first models of a new generation of PCs, which will only be improved in the future. And now let's go directly to the object of our close research - the new tablet ASUS VivoTab.

Tablet ASUS VivoTab

By style new model ASUS VivoTab almost completely repeats the ASUS VivoTab RT, which we have already reviewed in previous issues, based on the NVIDIA Tegra processor. The tablet itself is made in the traditional design for ASUS devices in Hi-Tech style. It is worth noting that this model available either as a standalone device or with an optional keyboard that is not only comfortable for typing, but also allows you to expand functionality and increase time battery life tablet. Our test lab received the full version of ASUS VivoTab along with the keyboard, so let's take a look at this bundle.

When opened, it is easy to confuse it with other devices in the ASUS Transformer series from a distance. And no wonder, because this model is directly related to the series codenamed TF810C. Nevertheless, it still differs from other "transformers" in design and a slightly different docking station with a keyboard. ASUS is actively promoting on the market devices with a clip-on keyboard, which is also a docking station with a built-in battery and a port expander. This arrangement is the hallmark of these devices, and due to additional features becomes very popular with users. The ASUS VivoTab tablet comes in two versions - with and without a docking station, but let's look at the tablet itself first.

Tablet with attached keyboard

The front panel of the tablet (where the screen is) looks typical for such devices and is equipped with a standard widescreen display with a diagonal of 11.6 inches. From devices based android tablet features a small touch button with the Windows logo in the center of the bottom of the screen frame. On the top of the frame is a 2-megapixel front camera, which is slightly shifted to the right from the center. A rather discreet-looking ASUS manufacturer's logo is located in the upper left corner of the front panel. In general, the design completely repeats the ASUS VivoTab RT model, only the screen is slightly larger here.

The back panel of the ASUS VivoTab tablet is made mainly of unpolished metal with a platinum tint. Closer to the ends, there are small holes on it, under which the speakers are hidden. The upper part of the panel, where the main camera for video and photography is located, is made of corrugated plastic, so that the tablet is securely held in the hand. The main camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, which is not so high by modern standards, but it is equipped with autofocus, a discrete LED flash unit, digital zoom and is complemented by a wide range of settings, including white balance, brightness control, sharpness and other shooting parameters.

Tablet ASUS VivoTab

On the left side of the tablet, under a special cover, there is a microSD slot for installing memory cards. Next to it is a 3.5 mm mini-jack connector for connecting headphones or a microphone.

It should be noted that this model does not come with a 3G module, which is not entirely logical, because the device is aimed specifically at mobile use with a long battery life. The two-button volume control, made in the form of a "rocker", is located on the right side of the tablet. Next to it, under a special cap, there is a Micro-HDMI connector for connecting to an external monitor. The screen on/off button is located on the top end at the left edge. The function of bringing the tablet out of the “sleep” mode is duplicated by the button with the Windows logo, which is responsible for exiting to main screen Windows 8 interface.

At the bottom of the tablet there are two holes for fixing it in the docking station and a special universal connector. A special adapter for this connector is supplied with the device, which helps to turn it into a full-fledged USB port. The connector is also used to connect the docking station and charge the tablet with the charger.

Back side of the tablet

In appearance ASUS VivoTab RT tablet, it should also be noted that the device is quite thin - only 8.7 mm, and its weight is 683 g. Compared to the "younger brother" ASUS VivoTab RT, this model is 100 g heavier, but in terms of weight they feel very close. The height and width of the ASUS VivoTab tablet is 294.2 and 188.8 mm, respectively.

As a screen for ASUS VivoTab, an 11.6-inch display B116XAN03 (AUO105C) manufactured by AU Optronics with a Super IPS + matrix, having a LED backlight and a resolution of 1366x768 pixels, is used. The maximum display brightness is 400 cd/m2. The screen is equipped with capacitive sensors and supports five-finger multi-touch technology. To protect the screen, a special glass is used, which has additional protection against bumps and scratches - this is especially true for those users who have small children who strive to play with newfangled gadgets and, alas, often quickly disable them. The use of this technology will allow you to use the tablet outdoors, where the bright sun and high levels of illumination will not interfere with the work of the tablet. Even in the bright spring sun, everything is clearly visible on the ASUS VivoTab tablet. Even if you strongly deviate from the display, there will be no strong inversion, which is a good enough indicator. The color reproduction of this model is also on top, thanks to the use of the Super IPS + matrix, which, by the way, is not so common in laptops, but in tablets - please.

USB adapter

This model has a dual core Intel processor Atom Z2760 (codenamed Cloverview) with a maximum clock speed of 1.8 GHz. To Intel features Atom Z2760 includes support for Hyper-Threading and Intel Burst. The CPU clock speed reaches 1.80 GHz, and the integrated graphics core Imagination SGX545 (Intel GMA 3600) runs at up to 533 MHz. The video signal is output from HDMI interface 1.3, MIPI-DSI or LVDS. The integrated 32-bit dual-channel memory controller supports LPDDR2 memory with a maximum frequency of 800 MHz and a capacity of 2 GB. Also, the processor has an interface for flash memory eMMC 4.41. The built-in image processor is designed to connect two video cameras with a resolution of up to 8 and 2.1 megapixels. The I/O list includes GPIO, USB 2.0, I2C, UART, SPI, SDIO 2.0, MIPI DSI, and MIPI CSI. The chip supports the connection of a GPS receiver, accelerometer, compass and other sensors and is produced using 32-nanometer technology. The LPDDR2 standard memory chip is installed on the processor case using PoP (package on package) technology. The L2 cache size is 1 MB. In our case, a 2 GB memory card is installed in the tablet, operating at an effective frequency of 800 MHz in single-channel mode.

Tablet ASUS VivoTab comes in two versions - with a drive of 32 and 64 GB. The model we reviewed has a 64 GB SSD drive, of which 50 GB is available to the user, and the rest is used for the operating system and embedded applications. Extension disk space is carried out using the built-in card reader for microSD memory cards (main formats are supported - SD, SDHC, SDXC).

Two in one: docking station and keyboard

The wireless interfaces of this model are very diverse, since in addition to Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi modules (802.11n standard support) based on the Broadcom chip, ASUS VivoTab also has an NFC chip. However, the NFC interface is still absolutely useless, since it is not yet widespread in Russia. Recall that the NFC wireless standard is positioned as a kind of alternative to Bluetooth and is designed to exchange data between devices at a distance of about 10 cm. Devices with NFC can communicate with smart cards and other NFC devices(contactless cards), which are used in public transport and payment systems.

Tablet ASUS VivoTab has three main modifications: TF600T, TF600TG and TF600TL.

The docking station is designed in the same style as the tablet, and performs several functions at once. Firstly, it is a qwerty keyboard with wide functionality and a full set of keys for work; secondly - autonomous Charger for tablet; third - a means of expanding the external interface set of ports.

As for the keyboard, it is worthy of praise, despite its small size. The profile of the buttons compared to the ASUS VivoTab RT is somewhat larger in this model, so the layout and functionality are very comfortable to use, although it is inferior in size to traditional laptop keyboards. Nevertheless, the small distance between the keys does not interfere with quiet work and does not interfere with fast typing. The key travel is soft, with a smooth fixation of pressing. Control buttons are displayed on the keyboard, including activating the airplane mode, adjusting the screen brightness, calling the F1-F12 settings menu and switching to sleep mode. These functions, located on the familiar F1-F12 buttons, become active when you press the Fn button, as is customary in laptops.

The touchpad of the docking station has the same functionality as in a laptop - a small Touchpad with two keys, conditionally separated from each other by a dark strip closer to the front edge of the docking station. The keyboard layout changes when typing the usual Alt + Shift key combination, which can be changed in the system settings. Since this is all the same a tablet on Windows 8, the keyboard layout can also be changed using the key combination Windows + Space or Shift + Alt. In dockless mode, the keyboard layout is changed using a special icon on its virtual counterpart.

Wacom stylus pen

The built-in battery of the docking station is slightly smaller than the battery of the tablet: 25 vs. 30 Wh for the tablet. I was pleasantly pleased with the fact that the tablet charging system is fully automated: when the charger is connected to the docking station, it is charged; When you connect your tablet to the docking station, the charger continues to charge the docking station while it in turn charges the tablet. Thus, if you have a docking station in your bag, you can always count on at least the fact that the tablet, when closed, will be recharged by the docking station battery, which is especially convenient when traveling on business or out of town. According to the manufacturer, two batteries together can provide up to 19 hours of uninterrupted operation of the tablet (together with the connected docking station).

Another important feature of the docking station is the expansion of the set of device interfaces: when connected to the docking station, the tablet is endowed with two full-fledged USB connectors USB standard 2.0. The ports are located on the ends of the docking station closer to the screen. USB sticks and even portable USB drives can be easily connected to these sockets. Since the universal connector is also located on the charging dock, it supports the installation of a USB adapter, which, if necessary, can increase the final number of USB ports to three.

We also note that for the convenience of working with the docking station, the design has four rubber feet on the reverse side, which perfectly keep it from sliding on the surface. We should also mention the function of automatically turning off the screen when the device is closed like a laptop. In this case, the tablet goes into standby mode and saves battery power, which is used mainly to keep the screen working.

As for the dimensions of the docking station, its dimensions are slightly larger than those of a tablet, for example, the thickness is 10.9 mm versus 8.7 mm. The tablet, when connected to the docking station, is securely fixed with a special lock with two latches, which holds it securely in place. To disconnect the tablet from the docking station, use a special slide block on the left side of the tablet.

The weight of the docking station is 664 g, which is less than the weight of the tablet itself. The total weight of the device with the docking station connected to the tablet is 1346 g, and the thickness is 20.9 mm, taking into account the attachment of the tablet to the docking station.

ASUS VivoTab has four speakers, and in addition, the audio system supports ASUS SonicMaster technology. Recall that this technology is focused on improving the sound of ASUS laptops and has proven to be an excellent solution for obtaining spatially balanced and clear sound. To the listed advantages, you can add an adjustable volume, thanks to which it is comfortable to listen to music even in a large room.

The tablet also comes with a Wacom stylus pen. Although there is no place for attaching it to a tablet, the Wacom stylus is positioned as a solution for fast writing, drawing and typing graphic information. Note that the digital pen has a button that is similar in functionality to the right mouse button. In general, using the Wacom pen is quite comfortable, especially since the Windows 8 interface is ideal for this input method.

Windows 8 shell

Since ASUS VivoTab is distinguished by the presence of the Windows 8 operating system, we will try to describe it, because a Windows tablet is still a rarity (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. About the system

Starting the system from the off state takes 25 s. Reboot takes about the same time. Since the tablet is based on an x86 processor, it has a 32-bit version of the Windows 8 operating system preinstalled. By the way, this model has a full-fledged BIOS, which is available when you turn on the tablet using the F2 or Delete button. In it you can see detailed information about the processor, set some parameters of the C4-C6 "sleep" modes, and also disable the Secure Boot mode and boot from another drive. That is, unlike ARM-based tablets with operating Windows system RT, in this model it is possible to launch and install another OS using the Boot menu.

Immediately after launch, the user is presented with a new Metro-interface with all the pluses and minuses. If desired, you can switch to the standard desktop using the keyboard shortcut Windows + D. If you don't use a docking station, it's a little more difficult to do this because the Windows logo key in the middle of the tablet is not the equivalent of a Windows keyboard key.

The Windows 8 operating system is practically the same as Windows 7. Of the features, it is worth noting a slightly modified Explorer, which has additional functionality for convenient touch screen operation.

All additional peripherals are visible in Device Manager, including the orientation sensor, GPS receiver, gyroscope, and ambient light sensor (Figure 2). All of them are in a separate group "Sensors". ASUS VivoTab comes with the STPM 1.2 module, which includes data theft protection and other functions to protect confidential information and personal data.

Rice. 2. Batteries

Since Windows 8 is a complete operating system, the user can freely update drivers in it for everyone peripherals, unlike tablets based on Windows RT.

In idle mode, when no active applications are running, the operating frequency of the Intel Atom Z2670 CPU is almost halved, which significantly saves battery power. When the docking station is connected, another tablet battery appears in the system (see Fig. 2), which automatically charges the main one. We conducted a small test on the device's operation time in idle mode and in video playback mode. So, in idle mode, but with the docking station connected and the screen at minimum brightness, the ASUS VivoTab RT tablet functioned for 22 hours. At maximum brightness, the operating time in this mode is more than halved - up to 9 hours. 1080), the tablet with the docking station connected and the average backlight level worked for 14 hours. Turning off the docking station reduces the operating time in these modes by about half.

As for the tablet performance index, here the built-in performance rating shows not so high marks (Fig. 3). So, the performance indicators of the processor and the integrated graphics core are approximately on the same level, and of all the evaluated components, we can single out the drive, which received 5.8 points. Even the RAM received a higher performance index than the CPU and graphics subsystem. But here one should not expect miracles, because the main purpose of this device is to watch videos and surf the Internet. For other tasks, namely for creating content rather than consuming it, there are more productive devices based on Intel Core i3 / i5 processors.

You can not ignore the built-in app store Windows Store. Its functionality is similar to the Android Market (Google Play) and the Apple App Store. Its main purpose is to install and work with applications that are optimized for touch input. Installing applications through this store, the user can be sure that they will work flawlessly, because they are designed to work in conditions of just such a control paradigm. There you can also learn about software updates and install any new applications and games. However, there are currently too few apps for Windows 8 devices compared to the same app store for Windows 8 devices. Android based or iOS. In the future, of course, their number will increase, since almost all new models of laptops and tablets based on x86 / x64 processors come with pre-installed operating system Windows 8/RT.

The duplication of applications should also be mentioned. Available to users as a regular browser Internet Explorer, and Metro-style Internet Explorer. At the same time, the change user interface in this case, it implies a significant reduction in the functionality of the application. For example, the remote desktop interface does not have settings for connecting to remote computer. Moreover, controlling a remote PC using touch input is not very convenient, and additional tools are not offered.

Conclusion

So, the ASUS VivoTab tablet turned out to be very ambiguous. In terms of its capabilities, it is much inferior to the usual laptops, since its performance is quite low even compared to nettops. At the same time, this is a real tablet based on the new and full-fledged Windows 8 operating system, which implies the installation of any win32-compatible applications, regardless of the new interface of the OS itself. Of course, Microsoft really wants to push Android-based devices, because now it is a huge part of the market. The Intel Atom Z2760 processor fully copes with its task and at the same time has good energy efficiency, which allows you to get impressive battery life both with and without a docking station connected. The planned release of new Intel processors focused on devices of this type will provide an opportunity to get even more about greater performance combined with better energy efficiency. It's always harder to be a pioneer, and it's likely that the first generation of Windows 8 tablets won't find as many buyers as Microsoft would like.

It remains to say about the price. On the Russian market a tablet with a disk space of 64 GB and a docking station is offered for an average of 38 thousand rubles, which, to put it mildly, is not so little. Given the not quite standard positioning of this model, as well as its innovativeness, it is better to wait a little with the purchase. It remains to be hoped that after a while the prices will be reduced, after which everyone will be able to purchase a novelty.

Today you will not surprise anyone with a tablet. However, "not all yogurts are created equal." And when it comes to choice, you have to find a compromise. But I want everything from a phone to workstation. And finally, something like this appeared in the first approximation. Today in our laboratory, one of the flagships from ASUS is the ASUS VivoTab Smart tablet with an Intel Atom processor and a full-fledged Windows 8 operating system.

Specifications ASUS Vivo Tab Smart (ME400C/ME400CL)
Products webpage	ASUS Vivo Tab Smart (ME400C, ME400CL) official page
Retail price
Operating system	Windows 8
Display	10.1" WXGA (1366×768) IPS with Multi-touch support (5 touches)
CPU	Intel Atom Z2760 Dual Core
RAM	2 GB
Storage device	64 GB SSD 36 Months of 32 GB Cloud with ASUS Webstorage
Wireless data transfer	WLAN 802.11b/g/ [email protected].4 GHz Bluetooth 4.0 4G LTE
Camera	Front: 2 MP with autofocus Rear: 8 MP with autofocus
Sound	Stereo speakers (information from the manufacturer's website, but in fact the tablet has only one speaker)
Interfaces	1 x combo sonic (4-pin) 1 x micro HDMI 1 x micro-USB with OTG support 1 x micro-SD (SDHC) card reader
	G-sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, compass, NFC
Battery	9.5 hours; 25 Wh Li-pol
	Black (also available in red and white)
Dimensions	262.5 x 171 x 9.7mm
The weight	580 g

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Appearance

The tablet comes in a small box with a nice design.

Inside, in addition to the tablet itself, we found:

• Power supply with USB output (input: 220V, output: 5V, 2A)
• Micro-USB data cable about a meter long
• Warranty card.

What can be said about the appearance? A thin, rather light case with a dark glossy screen glass and a soft-touch plastic back panel. Looks stylish. It is very comfortable and pleasant to hold the tablet in hands. On the front side, the frame around the screen is wide enough to avoid accidental clicks on the screen. The case turned out to be very easily soiled, traces remain even from relatively clean hands. The assembly is good, there are no backlashes.

There are few connectors and control buttons in the tablet. On the left side are (from top to bottom): a micro-HDMI connector under a flap, micro-SD and micro-SIM slots, and a micro-USB connector. On top are the lock button and microphone. On the right side are a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a volume rocker. There is nothing on the bottom end. Above the screen, just to the right of the middle, there is a 2.1-megapixel front camera, as well as an ambient light sensor. At the back, at the top, there is an 8.1-megapixel camera with flash. On the back cover under the left hand is a speaker.

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Performance

Since we have both a tablet and a device with full-fledged Windows 8, we will test using a combined method.

Below are screenshots of CPU-Z.

Windows Index

First of all, we evaluated the system performance using the built-in Windows 8 Experience Index. The result is not very impressive - the graphics and processor scores are just under 3.5. But before us powerful computer, a thin tablet, so let's see how it works.

CPU performance

The next step was performance testing with the built-in benchmark of the popular WinRAR archiver, which loads all the processing cores of the processor.

The result (~ 730 kb/s) is again low, but we should not forget that we have a device with a mobile processor.

We tested the performance of the Intel Atom Z2760 chip in the ASUS VivoTab Smart tablet using Linpack from the MetroBench package. Results are in millions of floating point operations per second (MFLOPS).

Average performance: 500 Mflop/s - this is the best result among the tablets we tested, but the processor here is x86 architecture, not ARM.

The result is very good in comparison with other tablets.

GPU performance

The 3DMark Ice Storm test uses tests that simulate 3D games, as well as synthetic tests of the video subsystem and CPU. The result was pretty good for a tablet.

We also measured the performance of the graphics subsystem using the cross-platform benchmark - Relative Benchmark.

Average performance: 10.36 FPS, not the best, but not the worst.

JavaScript Performance

To test the performance of the Chakra JavaScript engine of the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 browser, we used the SunSpider test. The result is impressive: 909 ms (less is better).

Network performance

We tested network performance with IxChariot. The tablet was at a distance of about 1 meter from the access point. The maximum available network mode (802.11n) was tested, no other active transmissions were taking place at this time. The result was high: 26.5 Mbps.

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Camera

Like most other tablets, ASUS VivoTab Smart is equipped with two cameras. The rear 8-megapixel camera takes average pictures, but for most users this will be enough. 10x15 prints will turn out quite decent. There is a flash. Video shooting up to 1080p (16:9) is also supported. The front-facing 2.1-megapixel camera is worse, but it is quite suitable for video calls.

Examples of photos with the main camera

Examples of photos with the front camera

Sample video from the main camera (1080p). You can download the uncompressed version from box.com (17.0 MB) .

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Games from the store

On the tablet, all the games from the store go without problems. No lags are noticeable - everything is smooth and clear.

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Multimedia

Testing was done using Media Player Classic, after installing the K-Lite Codec Pack Mega.

Since April 2013, we have been using a new testing methodology for testing multimedia devices. It is divided into several parts.

• Popular formats- Common video formats and codecs. Their support is recommended to be evaluated first of all
• images DVD discs and Blu-ray- playback check complete images DVD/Blu-ray including menu. Recommended if you store your media library as images
• Rare formats- less common formats, but still relevant
• Ultra HD 2K and 4K— formats with an eye to the future. In 2013 video over high definition will gain popularity

Popular formats
Film / video	Notes	test result
Borat/Borat (XVID AVI)	MPEG-4 Visual Video (XviD Advanced [email protected]) 1095 kbps 608×336 25 fps, MP3 audio 2 channels, no subtitles	Success
Back to the Future 3/Back to the Future 3 (XVID AVI)	MPEG-4 Visual Video (XviD Advanced [email protected]), 4.5 Mbps 1280×720 23.976 fps, Dolby Digital (AC3) audio 6 channels, no subtitles	Success
Donald Duck	Flash Video, Sorenson Spark video 303 kbps 400×300 29 fps, MP3 audio 2 channels, no subtitles	Success
Once Upon a Bakery (Yeralash) (FLV)	Flash Video, H.264/AVC video ( [email protected]) 640×360 25 fps 487 kbps, audio 2ch AAC (LC), no subtitles	Success
Smeshariki. New Adventures (FLV)	Flash Video, H.264/AVC video ( [email protected]) 854×480 25 fps 566 kbps, audio 2ch AAC (LC), no subtitles	Success
Mamma Mia! (MKV)	AVC/H.264 video ( [email protected]), 13 Mbps 1920×800 23.976 fps, audio 6 channels Dolby Digital (AC3), DTS, subtitles	Success
Roller Despicable Me 2 (MKV)	WebM, VP8 video 1920×1056 23.9 fps 1.9 Mbps, audio 2 channels Vorbis	Success
Pixar-For the Birds (MKV)	WebM, VP8 video 640×344 23.2 fps 504 kbps, audio 2 Vorbis channels, no subtitles	Success
Space Station (MOV)	AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 1.5 Mbps 854×480 25 fps, audio 2ch AAC (LC), no subtitles. MOV playback test	Success
Roller Cars 2/Cars 2 (MOV)	AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]) 8.4 Mbps 1920×800 23.976 fps, audio 2ch AAC (LC)	Success
Disney Nature (MP4)	MPEG-4 video AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]) 1920×800 23.976 fps 4.4 Mbps Audio 2ch AAC (LC)	Success
Justified Violence/History of Violence) (MP4)	MPEG-4 video AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]) 720×408 1390 kbps 25 fps, AAC audio (HE-AAC) 2 channels, no subtitles	Success
Video Transformers Dark of the Moon (WEBM)	WebM, VP8 video 1920×1080 25.0 fps 5.6 Mbps, audio 2 channels Vorbis	Success
Union is strength (WEBM)	WebM, VP8 video 640×360 29.0 fps 379 kbps, audio 2 Vorbis channels, no subtitles	Success
DVD and Blu-Ray disc images
BBC: The Private Life of Plants (DVD)	MPEG-2, 720×576, Dolby Digital audio 6 channels, subtitles Checking DVD playback from an ISO image	Success
House of Sand and Fog (DVD)	MPEG-2, 7.6 Mbps, 720×576, DTS audio 6ch, Dolby Digital 6ch, subtitles Check DVD playback from a folder on a disc. Checking Dolby Digital and DTS tracks. Checking menus and chapter navigation. Checking subtitles.	Success
Book of Masters (Blu-ray AVC/H.264)	0005.m2ts, AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]) 1920×1080, up to 39 Mbps 23.976 fps, DTS MA audio, Dolby Digital (AC3)	Success
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Blu-ray, VC-1)	0000.m2ts, VC-1 ( [email protected]) 1920×1080 23.976 fps, 15.1 Mbps, Dolby Digital (AC3), DTS, subtitles	Success
Sky Captain/ Sky Captain (Blu-ray, MPEG2)	00002.m2ts, MPEG2 ( [email protected]) 1920×1080 18.9 Mbps 23.976 fps, Dolby Digital, DTS, subtitles	Success
Rare formats
Harry Potter Parody (AVI DX50)	MPEG-4 Visial (DivX 5) 998 kbps 640×480 29.97 fps, MP3 audio 2 channels, no subtitles	Success
Nuclear Explosion (AVI DIVX)	MPEG-4 Visial (DivX 4) 798 kbps 352×240 25 fps, no audio, no subtitles	Success
Video from Nikon D300s (AVI M-JPEG)	M-JPEG 1280×720 (16:9) 22.7 Mbps 24 fps, mono PCM audio, no subtitles	Success
Movie from Fujifilm camera (AVI M-JPEG)	M-JPEG 640×360 (16:9) 6.9 Mbps 30 fps, mono PCM audio, no subtitles	Success
Video from miniDV SONY camera (AVI DVCPRO)	DVCPRO 720×576 (16:9) 24.4 Mbps 25 fps, PCM audio 2 channels	Success
The Resident/ Trap (MKV)	AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 6 Mbps 1280×544 23.976 fps, audio 6 channels Dolby Digital (AC3), subtitles. Checking Header Stripping. ReFrames High Level Check (12)	Success
The Avatar / Avatar (excerpt) (1080p 60 fps MKV)	AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 43.4 Mbps 1920×1080 59.88 fps, 6 channel DTS audio, subtitles. 1080p 60fps movie playback test	Success
Monsters on Vacation (1080p High 10 MKV)	AVC/H.264 (High [email protected]) 4.4 Mbps 1920×1058 23.976 fps, Dolby Digital (AC3) audio, subtitles. Checking playback of Hi10p clips	Success
Video from SONY HDV camera (MOV )	HDV 1080i (MPEG2 HD [email protected] 1440) 1440×1080, 25Mbps 25 fps, PCM audio 2ch	Success
Clip Kharkov (MPEG2)	MPEG Video (Version 1, BVOP) 384×288 2,800 Mbps 25 fps, MPEG Audio (Version 1), no subtitles	Success
Nevzorov "Hell" (MP4)	MPEG-4 Visual ( [email protected]) 352×288 25 fps, AAC audio (Version 4) 2 channels, no subtitles	Success
Video from Sanyo HD2000 camera (1080p 60fps MP4 )	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 24.1 Mbps 1920×1080 59.94 fps, AAC audio 2ch. 1080p 60fps movie playback test	Success
Clip from AVCHD-camera SONY (MTS)	AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 17 Mbps 1920×1080 25 fps, audio 6 channels Dolby Digital (AC3), subtitles. Checking the support of AVCHD MTS files	Success
TV show (television program) (RM)	RealMedia, video RealVideo 4 320×200 386 kbps, 29.9 fps, audio 1 channel 64.1 kbps Cooker	Success
Crash Manga (RMVB)	RealMedia VBR, Video RealVideo 4 640×480 408 kbps, 29.9 fps, Audio 2ch 96.5 kbps Cooker	Success
TV commercial about the love of candy (WMV)	WMV3/VC-1 350 kbps 360×288 23 fps, WMA audio (version 2) 1 channel, no subtitles	Success
Ultra HD 2K and 4K
Further Up Yonder (MOV)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 14.8 Mbps 2048×1152 25 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking the playback of MOV 1152p 2K clips	Success
576 Megapixels by Philip Bloom (MP4)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 25.3 Mbps 2048×1080 23.976 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking the playback of 1080p 2K clips	Success
Further Up Yonder (MP4)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 32.0 Mbps 2048×1152 25 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking the playback of 1152p 2K clips	Success
Timescapes (MP4)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 33.1 Mbps 2560×1440 23.976 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking the playback of 1440p 2K clips	Refusal
Italy (MP4)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 41.3 Mbps 3840×2160 23.976 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking 2160p 4K Ultra HD Movie Playback	Refusal
New Zealand (MP4)	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 ( [email protected]), 40.5 Mbps 4096×2304 23.976 fps, AAC audio 2ch. Checking 2160p 4K Ultra HD Movie Playback	Refusal

The tablet handled all video formats from our test video library successfully, with the exception of Ultra HD 4K. Given the screen resolution of 1366 x 768, this is very good result. The device can be connected via micro-HDMI to big TV in the living room and get a full-fledged Smart TV with support for a large number of video formats.

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Battery Life

The manufacturer claims 9.5 hours of tablet operation. Such results are promised when watching a 720p video with Wi-Fi on, maximum brightness of the backlight and audio from headphones at medium volume.

Our tests confirmed this - in a similar mode, the tablet worked for about 9 hours. But in sleep mode, the device consumes much more energy than its "fruit-bitten" rival - in 1.5 days the tablet was completely discharged and turned off.

ASUS Vivo Tab Smart | Practical use

Asus VivoTab Smart is comfortable to use, not least thanks to Windows 8. It is possible to install Microsoft Office 2013, which has a focus on finger control. In general, if you set the scale to 125% in the screen settings, then it is quite convenient to control your fingers in the classic form, and not only in Modern UI.

The tablet can be connected to a monitor via a micro-HDMI port, as well as connect a USB hub with a mouse and keyboard to it - in this case, the tablet will turn out to be a nettop with a full-fledged OS, the ability to watch movies and surf on an external screen. Of course, play modern computer games It will not work, but so far (!) Such tasks are not set before the tablet.

Conclusion

In general, ASUS has released a very interesting device: there are games from the store, and a full-fledged office suite, and other familiar programs for work and leisure. The tablet is convenient to use on the road, you can do some urgent work, or you can just play casual games. He is good in the office when connected to an external monitor, and at home with him it is easy to make a “smart TV” out of just a TV.

You can buy ASUS VivoTab Smart at a price of 16.3 thousand rubles (64 GB) or 22.4 thousand rubles (64 GB, LTE).

Benefits of ASUS VivoTab Smart

• Super IPS+ display with wide viewing angles and high brightness
• Good battery life
• Support software for Windows, including Office
• Quality build
• Micro-HDMI output, micro-SD slot and USB port(with adapter)
• Good tablet camera
• LTE support

Disadvantages of ASUS VivoTab Smart

• Fast battery drain in sleep mode

Part I: design, screen and operating system

The release of Windows 8 and Windows RT spurred the market, with major laptop and tablet manufacturers announcing entire product lines on the new platform. Among them - the company ASUS, which releases a number of interesting new products on the market on both versions of the new Microsoft OS.

Today we will get acquainted with ASUS VivoTab TF810C - a model on a full-fledged Windows 8. It has not yet appeared in Russian sales, unlike the model on Windows RT - ASUS VivoTab RT TF600T. However, this model seems more interesting to us, because unlike the VivoTab RT TF600T, it is fully compatible with Windows 7 programs. Therefore, one device can either perform the functions of a tablet or replace a laptop or ultrabook.

Recall that the concept of a transformer tablet (a tablet with a detachable keyboard) has been successfully developed by ASUS since last year, when the first ASUS Eee Pad Transformer based on Google Android 3.2. Later, the line was continued by Transformer Prime on Android 4.0 (the top model and several cheaper modifications) and, finally, Transformer Pad Infinity, which is on this moment is the flagship of ASUS and runs on Android 4.1.1.

Now the same concept has been transferred to models with Windows 8. Moreover, if Android-transformers had a screen diagonal of 10.1 inches, then VivoTab has 11.6 inches. In addition, VivoTab runs on x86 architecture processor (Intel Atom Z2760). Thus, in general, this device is closer to netbooks or ultra-compact laptops than to tablets, while VivoTab RT has characteristics very close to the aforementioned Transformer Pad Infinity.

Specifications

Let's compare the specifications of VivoTab, VivoTab RT, as well as Acer and Sony models on Windows 8 (we recently told you about the Russian presentation of Sony VAIO Duo 11).

	ASUS VivoTab TF810C	ASUS VivoTab RT TF600T	Acer Iconia W700	Sony VAIO Duo 11
Screen	11.6″, Super IPS+, 1366×768 (135 ppi)	10.1″, Super IPS+, 1366×768 (155 ppi)		11.6″, IPS, 1920×1080 (190 ppi)
CPU	Intel Atom Z2760 @1.8 GHz (2 cores, support HT and TB)	NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30L @1.2 GHz (4 cores + 1 auxiliary, ARM Cortex-A9)	Intel Core i3-2365M @1.4GHz (2 cores, HT support) / Intel Core i5-3317U @1.7GHz (2 cores, HT and TB support)	Intel Core i3-2365M @1.4GHz (2 cores, HT support) / Intel Core i7-3517U @1.9GHz (2 cores, HT and TB support)
GPU	Imagination SGX545	GeForce ULP	Intel HD 3000 / HD 4000	Intel HD4000
Flash memory		32 or 64 GB + 32 GB cloud storage (for 3 years)	64 / 128 GB	128 / 256 SSD
Connectors	Micro-HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack, two USB 2.0 (on docking station)	Micro-HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack, USB 2.0 (on docking station)	Micro-HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack, one USB 3.0 (on tablet, not available when docked) and three USB 3.0 (on docking station)	HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack, two USB 3.0, Ethernet, VGA
Memory card support	microSD/SDHC (up to 64 GB)	microSD/SDHC (up to 64 GB)	No	SD/SDHC (up to 64 GB)
RAM	2 GB	2 GB	4 GB	6/8 GB
cameras		rear (8 MP) and front (2 MP)	rear (photo - 5 MP, video shooting - 1080p) and front (photo - 0.9 MP, video transmission - 720p)	rear (photo - 2.4 MP, video shooting - 1920 × 1080), front (2.4 MP)
Internet	WiFi	Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and 4G LTE)	WiFi	WiFi, Ethernet
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 8	Microsoft Windows RT	Microsoft Windows 8	Microsoft Windows 8
Dimensions (mm)*	294×189×8.7	263×171×8.3	295×191×11.9	319.9×199×17.85
Weight without and with docking station (g)	675/1340	538/1036	940	1300

* - according to the manufacturer; in the case of ASUS and Acer devices, the thickness without a docking station is indicated.

Of course, the models presented in the table cannot be considered direct competitors, since Acer and Sony devices run on Intel ULV processors. Core third generation, while both ASUS models have a significantly weaker hardware (and, accordingly, a lower price). At the same time, this table gives a visual idea of ​​what devices with Windows 8/RT preinstalled are waiting for us in the near future, and allows you to decide what you need.

Clearly, Acer and Sony benefit not only from better hardware, but also from a higher resolution screen. They also have more flash storage and at least one USB 3.0 port. Note also the difference in the form factor. Both ASUS models are tablets, to which a docking keyboard is attached. Whereas Sony Duo 11 is a slider (like ASUS Eee Pad Slider) Acer tablet Iconia W700 attached to the docking station - a mini monoblock with a Bluetooth keyboard.

In general, ASUS VivoTab TF810C occupies an intermediate position between ARM tablets (Infinity and VivoTab RT) and powerful expensive devices from Acer and Sony. Let's get to know him better.

Equipment

The device comes in a nice stretched box, on the front side of which there is a tablet itself, a keyboard dock and a stylus. We will find all this inside.

When you open the box, you see, first of all, the tablet itself and the stylus.

Everything else - keyboard dock, charger, USB cable, dock-to-USB adapter (allowing you to connect to it external devices and peripherals), as well as a screen cleaning cloth and documentation - we will see if we lift the plastic form in which the tablet and stylus lie.

In addition to the above, the kit includes a case made of artificial leather.

The case is useful when you take your tablet with you without a keyboard dock. It not only protects the screen, but also allows you to conveniently set the tablet on a horizontal surface.

Note that we had a pre-sale sample, so the complete set of commercial samples may be somewhat different. But if it's the same as ours, we can safely give ASUS our editorial Excellent Package award.

Design

When assembled (with docking station attached), ASUS VivoTab looks like an ultrabook. If you do not look closely, you can decide what is in front of us, for example, Zenbook UX21A. Although the Zenbook is thinner and significantly lighter.

The appearance of the tablet from the front is quite traditional, except for the presence of the Windows touch button in the center below the screen (when you click on it, we get to the main menu).

When looking at the tablet from the back, a darker insert made of a different material at the top catches the eye. If the main part of the body of the tablet is made of metal with a bronze tint, then the upper part is made of plastic.

On top of that, this plastic has a ribbed texture.

In addition to the camera and flash, as well as the ASUS inscription on the rear panel, there are also slots for speakers.

All edges of the tablet are rounded, which adds elegance.

With connectors and buttons on the tablet, the situation is as follows: on the upper side there is a Power button and a microphone slot.

On the left side there is a microSD card slot, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a metal lever that blocks the connection to the docking station (to disconnect the tablet from it, you need to slightly move the lever down).

On the right side there is a volume rocker and a Micro-HDMI connector closed with a plug. The plug fits very tightly to the device, and it is not possible to open it without handy materials (for example, paper clips, a knife, tweezers, nail files, etc.). This is of course a design flaw.

Finally, on the bottom we see holes for connecting the tablet to the docking station, as well as a docking connector through which the tablet is recharged (it is different than it was in all ASUS Android tablets).

Keyboard Dock

The docking station has a tapering (wedge-shaped) profile typical for ultrabooks, as a result of which any connectors can be placed on the edges only at the very base. In this case, these are two USB 2.0 and a connector for recharging.

The edges themselves have a silver-colored metal edging.

The underside of the keyboard dock is made of soft touch plastic. We also see rather high rubber feet from below.

The cradle into which the tablet is inserted is quite a distance from the dock itself, so when the tablet is connected and opened at a 90-degree angle, there is a little more than half a centimeter of distance between the tablet and the dock. This was not the case in the devices of the Transformer line. I can not say that this is a minus, it's just a feature.

The keyboard layout and key size are generally close to the Transformer Pad Infinity (with the exception of a completely different top row function keys). However, there are a number of advantages: firstly, these are wider Enter, Backspace and Shift, and secondly, more conveniently located arrows. In addition, of course, instead of Android keys like Home, Back, Search, etc., here are the standard Esc keys in the Windows environment, Print Screen, Insert, Pause/Break. Of course, there is also windows button: In the new OS, it allows you to quickly switch between Desktop (classic Windows 7) and Metro (live tiles) interfaces.

The keys on the VivoTab are taller and have a nicer travel than those on the Infinity Dock. In addition, VivoTab has a slightly larger and nicer touchpad.

Recall that the keyboard docking station has a separate battery, so when you connect the tablet to it, the latter is recharged.

In general, the design of the device is very nice - moderately strict, high enough quality. The disadvantages include, first of all, the standard problem of transformer tablets: the assembled device (a tablet connected to the docking station) collapses back when opened to a “normal” angle. Therefore, let's say, to work, putting him on his knees, is not very convenient.

Screen

The tablet is equipped with an IPS screen with a resolution of 1366×768. Alas, not Full HD. However, let's take a closer look at it before drawing conclusions based on the characteristics.

Detailed screen examination using measuring instruments held by the editor of the sections "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his conclusion.

The screen is covered with a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, and, judging by the reflection of bright light sources in it, it has an anti-glare filter. On the outer surface of the screen, there is a special and quite effective oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating, so fingerprints do not appear as quickly as in the case of ordinary glass, but are removed more easily.

At manual control brightness, its maximum value was 336 cd / m², the minimum - 12 cd / m². As a result, at maximum brightness in bright daylight, the tablet can be used, although without much comfort. Mode with low brightness allows you to work without problems with the tablet even in complete darkness. Works automatic adjustment brightness by light sensor (it is located, apparently, to the left of front camera). In complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to a minimum of 43 cd/m² (comfortable level), in an artificially lit office, the brightness is set to 205 cd/m² (desired level), in a very bright environment - 330 cd/m² (almost to the maximum, as expected). Up to 40% brightness control, there is no backlight modulation at all. From 20% and below, modulation appears, but with a high frequency - 400 Hz - and a span of about 22% of the maximum brightness value, so the backlight flicker is still not visible, even at low brightness.

This tablet uses an IPS type matrix, so the screen has very good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. True, which is typical for any IPS-matrix, the black field, when deviated diagonally, noticeably brightens and acquires a red-violet hue.

To find out exactly how the brightness of the screen changes when deviated from the perpendicular to the screen, we took a series of measurements of the brightness of black, white and shades of gray in the center of the screen in a wide range of angles, deviating the axis of the brightness sensor in vertical, horizontal and diagonal (from corner to corner) directions. Since the properties of the IPS-matrix are approximately symmetrical about the vertical and horizontal axes, to save time, measurements were carried out only when deviated upwards, up and to the right diagonally and to the right, but for clarity and ease of comparison, the graphs were completed by symmetrical reflection of the curves relative to the vertical axis.

The dependence of the brightness of halftones (0% - black, 100% - white) in the center of the screen on the deviation of the sensor axis (negative values ​​- down, positive values ​​- up) from the normal to the screen in the vertical plane.

The dependence of the brightness of halftones (0% - black, 100% - white) in the center of the screen on the deviation of the sensor axis (negative values ​​- down, positive values ​​- up) from the normal to the screen in the horizontal plane.

The dependence of the brightness of halftones (0% - black, 100% - white) in the center of the screen on the deviation of the sensor axis (negative values ​​- down, positive values ​​- up) from the normal to the screen in the diagonal plane.

Dependence of the contrast (the ratio of the brightness of the white field to the brightness of the black) in the center of the screen on the deviation of the sensor axis from the normal to the screen in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal planes.

The brightness of the black field as a percentage of the maximum brightness of the white field.

Decreasing brightness by 50% of the maximum value:

Compared to typical desktop monitors on IPS matrix The screen brightness of this tablet drops much faster when you deviate from the perpendicular to the screen, which is some compromise between wide viewing angles, brightness when looking directly at the screen and backlight energy costs. With a deviation in the diagonal direction, the brightness of the black field begins to increase sharply already at 30 degrees of deviation from the perpendicular to the screen and at 70 degrees it reaches approximately 0.7% of the maximum brightness of the white field. Contrast in the range of ±82 degrees for two directions is much higher than 10:1 and only for the diagonal direction approaches 10:1, but does not fall below.

To quantify the change in color reproduction, we performed colorimetric measurements for white, gray (127, 127, 127), red, green, and blue, and light red, light green, and light blue fields in full screen using a setting similar to that , which was used in the previous test. The measurements were carried out in the range of angles from 0 (the sensor is directed perpendicular to the screen) to 80 degrees with a step of 5 degrees. The obtained intensity values ​​were recalculated into deviation ΔE relative to the measurement of each field at a perpendicular position of the sensor relative to the screen. The results are presented below:

As a reference point, you can choose a deviation of 45 degrees, which can be relevant if, for example, two people are viewing the image on the screen at the same time. The criterion for maintaining the correctness of colors can be considered the value of ΔE less than 3.

It follows from the graphs that there is no significant shift in shades with a deviation in any direction. This is a very good result.

With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is good, only right next to the screen border in a couple of places there is a local and not very noticeable increase in brightness. The contrast is high - on average over the area it was about 1075:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 19.3 ms (10.3 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between semitones takes an average of 26 ms in total. From the command to redraw the screen to the actual redraw, it takes an average of 20.3 ms, which, minus 8.3 ms (the average wait before the physical ability to display an image at 60 fps), gives a delay of 12 ms. Such a delay is unlikely to be felt even in the case of very dynamic games.

To assess the nature of the increase in brightness on a gray scale, we measured the brightness of 256 shades of gray (from 0, 0, 0 to 255, 255, 255). The graph below shows the increase (not an absolute value!) in brightness between adjacent halftones:

The increase in brightness increase is more or less uniform, with the exception of the second and last shades, the brightness of which increases too much. However, each next shade is significantly brighter than the previous one, including in the dark area:

Approximation of the resulting gamma curve gave an indicator of 2.29, which is slightly more than the standard value of 2.2, while the approximating exponential function does not deviate much from the real gamma curve:

To assess the quality of color rendering, a spectrophotometer and a set of programs were used.

The color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:

The spectra confirm this:

Apparently, the matrix filters mix the components together. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. The color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K, but the Δ E is quite high. However, in this case, both parameters change little over the entire part of the gray scale that matters, which is more important for the subjective perception of white balance than the absolute values ​​of color temperature and ΔE. The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance is not of great importance there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large:

Well, let's sum up. The screen is quite bright and contrasty, with adequately working automatic brightness adjustment and no visible flickering at low brightness. The colors change very little when viewed from an angle. The response time is relatively short, as is the output lag, so playing on the tablet will be comfortable. The gamma curve is close to standard and all shades are well distinguished. The color balance is relatively good. Of the shortcomings, one can note a narrow color gamut and a noticeable increase in the brightness of the black field when viewed at an angle to the screen, but in general the screen made a good impression.

The screen is capacitive touch, but with support for Wacom technology, which allows you to recognize the force of pressing when working with a special stylus, which is included in the package. Recall that ASUS already had a tablet with similar functionality - Eee Slate B121. So it makes sense for everyone who was looking at that device to pay attention to ASUS VivoTab today.

Operating system

The ASUS VivoTab is our first hands-on experience with the final version of Windows 8 on a tablet. Recall that a year ago we tried to install Windows 8 in the Developer's Preview version on a tablet that came with Windows 7. However, for the first time we get acquainted with a tablet that initially runs on Windows 8 .. We recommend recalling them (at least the latest one - about the concept and main goals of Microsoft ), because here we will not talk about general things and repeat what has already been said about the concept of a tiled interface, but will focus on specific subjective impressions.

First of all, we note that graphically everything is rendered very smoothly, but it looks great: the Windows 8 tiled interface cannot be denied elegance and style. But at first it is not easy to get used to it. Despite the logic of most solutions (for example, closing the application by swiping it from top to bottom, to the edge of the screen), interaction with the OS cannot be called intuitive - if only because it is too different from what we are used to in iOS and Android. For example, it takes a very long time to remember that the Options menu in the panel called by swiping from the right side of the screen (it also contains other key buttons: Search, Send, Start, Devices) is displayed depending on the open application. For example, if you have the Calendar open, then the Options button will refer specifically to the Calendar settings.

A similar concept, by the way, in OS X, where top panel offers menu items specifically for running application. But in Windows 8, at first, you constantly strive to find the settings of an open program somewhere else.

There are also completely non-intuitive things. So, in order to delete an application (generally or from the main menu) or change the size of its tile, you must not only hold the tile (as is done with icons in iOS and Android), but also lightly swipe it. Let's just say you don't know right away!

Another feature: Windows constantly wants to be updated. Moreover, after the first launch of the updates, as many as 17 applications were required! But even after that, peace did not come. It seems that the OS and its components only want to be updated. This is not a minus, of course, but just a detail, sometimes annoying. And one more similar moment: when you start the tablet, it requires OS activation (and for some reason, activation via the Internet does not work). This rather intrusive requirement (although, it would seem, they could have avoided this on devices with pre-installed Windows 8!) is also embarrassing. Although, perhaps, this is a feature of the test instance of the device.

Another disappointment: Microsoft Office is preinstalled here in a trial version, and it only works in the classic desktop mode (Windows 7). As we remember, Windows RT comes with a fully functional version of MS Office. It is strange that for Windows 8, Microsoft could not make a similar indulgence. At the same time, there is not a single alternative Office in the Store yet (whereas there are many for Android). In general, the assortment of the Store is not particularly impressive yet. For example, there are very few games. 3D games are among them - quite on the fingers to count.

It is very surprising that the Store has cards and descriptions of games that run only on the Xbox 360. The question is, why do you need to clutter up the Market with such projects? And why, say, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is available on Android but not available on Windows 8 even though there is an Xbox version (which is advertised in the Store)?

Among browsers, only Internet Explorer is currently available (it is preinstalled) and Google Chrome. Both browsers support Flash, which can be called a significant advantage of tablet Windows compared to iOS and android version 4.1 and older.

The preinstalled maps are not detailed enough (for example, in Moscow they show only streets, not houses), they cannot show even the most famous buildings (nothing is found in Moscow by searching for the Kremlin).

built-in mail client works only with IMAP protocol (POP3 is not supported). And when we tried to add a corporate email, we had problems.

Overall, Windows 8's tiled interface looks attractive and very promising, but it's still very raw. At first glance and first touch, the impressions are the most positive, but as soon as you start using it, minor problems, flaws and other nuances immediately come out. Plus, many things are done non-intuitively (although logical in their own way), so it takes quite a lot of time to get used to. However, the first days of interaction with the tablet will make it easier for you to use the standard desktop. Recall that the main difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT is the presence of a full-fledged desktop in the style of Windows 7 with full support for programs for Windows 7. Therefore, you can use your device as a regular Windows 7 netbook, but with support for touch control. True, without the Start button and with the need to still sometimes access the tiled interface (for example, when you need to find some program or go to the OS settings).

But the tiled interface is not self-sufficient either. For example, if you insert a flash drive, the desktop Explorer opens immediately. There is no native file manager among pre-installed Windows 8 applications (tiled interface). If you need to see the battery level, then this will also have to be done through the Desktop (at least we did not find how you can quickly get to this information without leaving the tiled interface).

In the second part of the article, we will talk in detail about the hardware platform, performance, cameras and battery life, as well as sum up all the testing.

ASUS, having trained in the production of Android-tablets of the Transformer series and ultrabooks based on Windows, not so long ago announced an intermediate solution. Yes, not one, but three: VivoTab RT, VivoTab and VivoTab Smart, which are stylish tablets in metal cases with the ability to connect to a keyboard dock and running Windows 8.

Specifications ASUS VivoTab TF810C:

• Platform (at the time of announcement): Windows 8 32 bit
• Display: Capacitive, 11.6", 1366 x 768 pixels, Super IPS +, Corning Fit
• Camera: 8 MP, 1080p video recording
• Secondary camera: 2 MP
• Processor: Dual Core Intel Atom Z2760 Clover Trail Dual Core 1.8GHz
• Graphics Chip: Imagination SGX545
• RAM: 2 GB
• ROM: 32GB/64GB SSD
• Memory cards: microSD
• WiFi (802.11a/g/n)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.5mm audio jack
• microUSB.0, micro-HDMI
• Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, digital compass
• Battery: 3950 mAh
• Operating time under load without docking: up to 10.5 hours
• Working time under load with dock: up to 19 hours
• Dimensions: 294.2mm x 188.8mm x 8.7mm
• Weight: 675 g
• Form factor: monoblock with touchscreen
• Type: hybrid tablet
• Package contents: Wacom stylus, keyboard dock, case, USB adapter
• Announce date: October 2012
• Release date: end of 2012

Video review and unboxing

Design, construction and equipment

The device has a really rich set of delivery - there is a stylus, and a docking station, and a leather transformer case, similar in design to that of the Padfone 2 kit (review), and an adapter from a proprietary proprietary connector to USB. All this is packed as neatly and tightly as possible, there are a lot of bags and factory stickers inside, so when you first open the box, you may have to sweat.

The tablet immediately gives the impression of a very stylish and solid product. The screen with a diagonal of 11.6” (Super IPS +, 1366x768 pixels) completely merges with the black frame and it seems as if they form a single whole. For additional protection the display is covered with the Corning Fit glass used previously in the Nexus 7, for example. As for the screen, I would like to say that such a resolution of 11.6 ”already seems insufficient. After a similar in size, but Full HD-screen on the ASUS Zenbook UX21A (from which this text was written), this is especially noticeable. I can say that even after the 10.1” display of the Acer Iconia W510 with a similar resolution, a ladder of fonts and not the highest image definition are already striking. At the same time, the screen itself is not satisfactory, as it has good viewing angles, high responsiveness, brightness and contrast. I can not help but note the strange behavior of the display - the screen flickers barely noticeably, as if it has auto-brightness turned on at the moment when it is turned off, and it tries to set the maximum level from almost maximum. Perhaps this is a marriage or a feature of a particular instance, moreover, this effect was not always observed.

Under the screen is a lone Windows button, which, although touch-sensitive, requires increased pressure. Perhaps this is the tightest such button of all similar devices. I do not exclude that this is done to avoid accidental clicks when inserted into the docking station. Above the screen is a 2-megapixel camera and an ambient light sensor, whose smooth, and most importantly nimble and adequate work I really liked. At the top there is nothing but the power button and two microphones. The lower part is given over to the dock connectors and a proprietary connector for recharging and synchronizing with a PC. The right edge is equipped with a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a tablet lock slider in the docking station. On the left side you can find the volume keys and an incomprehensible compartment, which I did not manage to open. Most of the back panel is made of metal, but its top is a perforated plastic overlay, equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with flash. At the edges of the panel are stereo speakers, completely unobtrusive.

There are no complaints about the assembly of the tablet, everything is assembled with the highest quality, nothing bends or staggers. In general, purely by sensations, the device justifies its cost.

The docking station looks no less interesting. Its upper part is made of metal, while the lower part is plastic. Due to the presence of metal in the case, the keyboard weighs not much less than the tablet, so when working with the entire structure on the knees, it does not outweigh anything, but the overall whole tandem is not the smallest, although acceptable. The tablet is attached to the dock in such a way that when the screen-cover is connected and tilted, the keyboard rises slightly above the surface for greater typing convenience. The dock has not only comfortable keys and a layout that is completely similar (except for the power button) to the layout of my ASUS Zenbook Prime ultrabook, which is used to type all my texts on our site, but also a multi-touch touchpad, two USB ports and an additional battery that increases the autonomy of the device in 2 times. The rubber pimps on the front side of the dock do not look very aesthetically pleasing, but they are here for a reason, but to make the display fit more neatly on the surface of the dock. On the Zenbook UX21A, there are no such pimps, so during its use, the laptop display acquired a strip from the side of the keyboard, which is noticeable, however, only against a dark background. This shouldn't happen on a tablet, especially considering Corning's protection.

I didn't really like the implementation of the touchpad. It is easy to manage, but the fact that when you press the buttons it is very strongly recessed (especially it caught my eye and felt after the ultrabook) is somewhat disorienting, but then you get used to it. Also, I can't help but note not the most convenient mechanism for opening the halves of a laptop formed from a tablet and a dock. There is nothing to grab onto, so you can forget about opening the lid-screen with one hand, well, or it will be very difficult. The test sample of the docking station did not have Russian letters, but from the experience of using an ultrabook with the same layout and Russian letters, I can say that there will be no problems with typing.

Software

The tablet is running a full 32-bit Windows versions 8. Accordingly, everything that I described in the Acer Iconia W700 review about this system (in great detail, with all the screenshots and explanations, as well as a visual video) applies to ASUS VivoTab. The differences lie in the set of pre-installed software, that's what I just want to talk about.

ASUS Camera is an advanced camera interface with various effects and settings. To be honest, I don’t see much point in this program, since no one will constantly shoot with a tablet anyway.

The My Library application is an advanced reader with the ability to download your books. As an example, a book in .epub format has already been downloaded to the tablet.

My Dictionary is a functional dictionary and text translator.

Guide is an English video tutorial to learn how to use your tablet and Windows 8.

SuperNote is familiar to us from ASUS Padfone 2. This is a kind of notepad for creating notes different types. There are tutorial pages. The program allows you to block touches with your hand and respond only to the stylus, create drawings or sketches, insert pictures, videos or sounds, share the result on Facebook, Gmail, Twitter and others, as well as make notes private and hidden. The application can be used in a small window, such as when reading.

The ASUS Web Storage Client provides access to proprietary cloud storage companies.

[email protected] Fun Center allows you to listen to various themed internet radio stations for free. Powered by AUPEO, whose proprietary application can be found on Android.

There's also a Kindle client for buying books from Amazon, Skype, and a few games. My favorite was Pinball FX 2.

Not without Microsoft Office, which you need to download and activate yourself. I was asked to install a trial version of the new Office 365, and I can say that the process of installing a new product is much more pleasant and easier than the Office 2010 that was shipped before, and Office 365 itself is more convenient and friendlier than anything that came out of the company before .

The nice thing is that you do not need to use a disk or any other storage device to restore the system or reset all data. The tablet itself will delete everything and restore it to its original form.

Camera

ASUS VivoTab comes with an 8-megapixel camera module suitable for shooting in good light. Indoors or in low light, the pictures are bad, but you don’t expect more from a tablet. Video quality is quite average. For photos and videos can be used as standard application system and ASUS Camera. The presented examples were obtained by me through a standard program.

Performance and user experience

The tablet (one wants to write "laptop") is based on the Intel Atom Z2760 Clover Trail processor with a frequency of 1.8 GHz, which provides acceptable speed and low power consumption. In addition, this processor was created specifically for Windows 8 tablets, so its use here is more than appropriate. In addition, there are 2 GB random access memory, while the internal storage array of 64 GB offers 49.9 GB for the user, of which only 25 is available, and 15 GB is reserved for the system.

The performance of the tablet is enough for browsing the Internet, typing, simple games and playing Full HD video. Windows evaluates tablet power as follows:

You can see that the weakest link is the graphics, which is not surprising given the Imagination SGX545 accelerator used. Accordingly, you can count on excellent results in such games as Cut The Rope, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, Reckless Racing, The Gunstringer Dead Man Running, Rocket Riot 3D, Hydro Thunder Hurrricane. But Adera crashes in the same way as on the Acer Iconia W510. In addition, the situation is similar in the play store - some titles are not available for the tablet, as it does not meet the minimum system requirements.

As for the usual PC games, at the request of readers, I tested the popular world game Of Tanks, but the result cannot be called even satisfactory. Starting the game is possible only after installation, then for some unknown reason an error occurred. The first successful launch of the game was overshadowed by the minimum graphics quality and only 5-6 frames per second. Also, I tried to install a PC hit from 2005 - the classic NFS Most Wanted. Due to graphical artifacts, I had to set the Windows 7 compatibility mode, but even then it is possible to play only at 640x480 resolution, that is, in a small window on the tablet screen, but I cannot call such a scenario convenient. When the resolution is increased, the strongest brakes begin even on the minimum graphics.

According to the manufacturer, the tablet provides up to 10.5 hours of battery life and up to 19 hours with a docking station. This scenario is quite possible if you watch videos of not the highest quality, and do not play games too actively. In this case, it is desirable to reduce the brightness or leave the auto-brightness untouched. In the mode of viewing heavy Full HD video with a bitrate of 25 Mbps at full brightness and with Wi-Fi turned on, the tablet lasted about 8 hours with the docking station connected. Without it, the result will be less than twice.

During the use of ASUS VivoTab, I found exactly two oddities in its behavior. The first oddity is the flickering of the screen, which was mentioned at the beginning of the review. The second strange thing is that the docking station stopped working with the tablet until it was removed and reinstalled. This was detected by the lack of touchpad response to touch. The rest of the tablet performed well.

conclusions

For 40,000 rubles, we get a very large, but stylish tablet with nice case materials and high-quality assembly, a convenient docking station and an excellent case, on mobile hardware that is not suitable for something more serious than watching videos, browsing, typing and simple gaming. Personally, the price seems a little too high to me, and the complete dock, which is sold separately in many countries, clearly affected it. However, if you're looking for a good laptop replacement and you want to try a Windows tablet, but you're allergic to ultrabooks and don't need a more powerful and powerful laptop for gaming, then the ASUS VivoTab might be a great candidate to buy.

November 9, 2012 — ASUS, together with Microsoft, held a press conference dedicated to the launch of its innovative devices based on the Windows 8 operating system on the Russian market. These are ASUS Vivo Tab and ASUS Vivo Tab RT (ASUS TF 810 and ASUS TF600, respectively), ASUS Vivo Book series (X202, S400, U38), ASUS TAICHI ultrabook, ASUS Transformer Book - a laptop that transforms into Tablet PC, ASUS ZENBOOK Prime UX31A Touch is the first model in the ZENBOOK series to feature a multi-touch display, as well as a series of 21.5-inch all-in-one ASUS computers ET2220.

Following the global market trends, ASUS updates the entire product line and releases new devices, the distinguishing feature of which is the presence of an intuitive touch-interface.

The Vivo tablet series (derived from the Latin word for “live”) combines traditional ASUS elegance with the new features of the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.

The 11.6-inch Vivo Tab is great for mobile work, while the ultra-light Vivo Tab RT is the ultimate multimedia tablet. New opportunities, new experiences, a new look at tablet computers - this is the essence of the Vivo series!

ASUS Vivo Tab. ASUS Vivo Tab features the latest 2GB Intel Atom processor system memory and 64 GB user memory. The Windows 8 operating system makes this tablet the best choice for both professional applications and personal use.

His key feature is a mobile docking station that instantly transforms Vivo Tab into a beautiful and compact netbook with keyboard and touchpad. In addition, the docking station adds a couple of USB ports and extends battery life with an extra battery.

ASUS Vivo Tab will be available at major retailers computer technology and electronics in late November-early December at a price of 40,000 rubles.

ASUS Vivo Tab RT. The hardware configuration of ASUS Vivo Tab RT includes a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with an integrated graphics core, 2 GB of system and 64 GB of user memory.

Running the Windows RT operating system, this tablet is ideal for multimedia entertainment applications. Like the Vivo Tab, it can be used in conjunction with a mobile docking station that offers a keyboard, touchpad, USB port, and additional battery.

The ASUS Vivo Tab RT device is already available in major retail chains of computer equipment and electronics at a price of 29,990 rubles.

ASUS' dedication to delivering innovative products that improve people's lives has borne new fruit with the ASUS VivoBook (X202, S400, U38) series of notebooks ideally suited for Windows 8. Quality materials, a wide range of color options, exclusive ASUS technology and, most importantly, a convenient touch screen - here distinctive features Vivobook series.

Laptops of the X202 series are already sold in large retail chains of computer equipment and electronics at a price of 18,000 rubles. The S400 series ultrabooks will be available this month starting at RUB 33,000, while the U38 series laptops will hit major computer and electronics retailers in early December starting at RUB 28,000.

ASUS TAICHI. With the lid open, the TAICHI looks like any other ultrabook with a full-size keyboard and touchpad. However, as soon as the lid is closed, it instantly turns into a tablet computer with a multi-touch screen and stylus support. No ultrabook has ever offered such ease of transition from one mode of operation to another!

Moreover, despite the fact that both screens are connected to the same hardware configuration, they function completely independently of each other, allowing two users to work with TAICHI at the same time. It delivers uncompromising mobile computing performance with a 3rd Gen Intel Core processor, fast SSD, and dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi.

ASUS TAICHI will appear in large retail chains of computer equipment and electronics in early December and will be sold at a price of 52,000 rubles.

ASUS Transformer Book. The ASUS Transformer Book is the world's first laptop that can instantly transform into a tablet by simply detaching its display from the keyboard. Thus, this device will ideal solution for those users who use a tablet computer with a multi-touch interface for entertainment, but prefer to work with a regular laptop.

The hardware configuration of the Transformer Book includes the latest 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 processor, SSD and HDD. built-in acoustic system with ASUS SonicMaster audio technology delivers crystal clear sound with deep, rich bass.

ASUS Transformer Book will be available in major retail chains of computer equipment and electronics in mid-December at a price of 60,000 rubles.

ASUS ZENBOOK Prime UX31A Touch. ASUS ZENBOOK Prime UX31A Touch is the first model in the ZENBOOK series to feature a multi-touch display. With a powerful hardware configuration that includes a third-generation Intel Core processor and up to 256GB SSD, this ultra-thin ultrabook is the perfect platform for the Windows 8 operating system.

ZENBOOK Prime UX31A Touch hardware features also include Super IPS+ screen with wide viewing angles (178°), high-speed USB 3.0 peripheral interface and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless module.

The appearance on the Russian market ASUS ZENBOOK Prime UX31A Touch is expected in mid-December. The device will be available in major retail chains of computer equipment and electronics at a price of 63,990 rubles.

A series of 21.5-inch ASUS ET2220 monoblock computers. The ASUS ET2220 series all-in-one computers are housed in a compact chassis with a unique design. The ET2220 Series is configured with enough power for any day-to-day tasks with a 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 processor and up to four USB 3.0 ports, while the ET2220 Series' multi-touch screen is ideal for interacting with the new Windows 8 operating system interface.

Devices ASUS ET2220 will appear on the Russian market at the end of December and will be sold at a price of 25,000 rubles.

"We are excited about the release of a new operating system from Microsoft," said Angela Hsu, Head of Mobile Systems Business Group in Russia, CIS and Baltics at ASUS. “Undoubtedly, it is a great innovation. We, in turn, are pleased to offer our users a new segment of devices - touch devices, which will undoubtedly cause an unprecedented boom in the computer equipment market, since it takes into account all the metamorphoses of the market and offers the user an intuitive interface and incredible functionality.