Named the Asus VivoTab Note 8, the Windows 8.1 device will come into the cheap end of the tablet environment. There is not a lot to go on, apart from the fact Asus obviously want to make more Windows 8.1 devices and the cheap end of the market seems to be drawing more customers in.
The Asus VivoTab Note 8 will come with a 1280 x 800 resolution display, Intel’s latest Bay Trail processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage and a Wacom stylus. Styluses have become commonplace on most Windows 8.1 tablets, with many OEM partners picking them up.
Microsoft has already semi-released the tablet, putting the device on their “feature devices” list for the holiday season. This has given away the $299 price point Asus is going to hit with the VivoTab Note 8, a little higher than the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX and a little lower than most Windows 8.1 tablets.
Asus will look to get the VivoTab Note 8 out to the consumers at CES in January, but the device may already be available to purchase before that date. The VivoTab Note 8 doesn’t really have any impressive features, apart from the Wacom stylus.
The resolution is not as good as the Kindle Fire HDX, iPad Mini with Retina Display or the Nexus 7 (2013) and Intel Bay Trail is a little behind the Snapdragon 800 in terms of raw speed and performance, even though the difference may not be noticeable.
Windows 8.1 may be appealing to some users, but we would say the experience may be a little clunky in areas, especially if you try to do anything over the normal web browsing and using dedicated Windows 8.1 applications.