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Sony today announced the new Ultra Mobile PC VAIO VGN-UX50! The computer runs on Intel Core Solo Ultra Low Voltage 1.0GHz CPU and Windows XP operating system. It features 4.5-inch wide SVGA screen with XBRITE technology for enhance image clarity. Weighing only 520 grams and measuring 150mm x 95mm x 32mm, this little PC can go with you anywhere.
You also get a stylus, WWAN (Wide Area Network), Wireless LAN, and Bluetooth. The UX model has two built-in cameras - one in fron for VoIP or conferencing and another on the back to take photos. For security and if you don't want to remember passwords, it comes equipped with a biometric fingerprint sensor.
Even better, Sony will offer an optional Bluetooth GPS (VGP-BGU1) so you can get directions anywhere you go!
source: http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=890
I think Sony already have a similiar product in the market, slightly bigger.
Anyway, I wonder how practicle is this thing. I mean, it is rather big to have it as a pda/handphone, and rather small screen to be used as a laptop.
Even if you consider the case you don't mind a bulky PDA, rather difficult to have things to be useful on the small screen (e.g. running winXp). Does it have extra software that will do a PDA job on that small screen (e.g. big enough fonts for you to display on the small screen)? Or you will have to change the screen resolution from time to time (e.g. when you reach your office and plug it into your PC).
When will they come out with a foldable screen
hanmin said:
When will they come out with a foldable screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, they have rollable screens already. I like the idea of being able to pull a large screen out of the side of a slimmer but just as tall Universal XX.
Anyone remember the com units used by the agents in the tv show Earth: Final Conflict? Pull out touch screens, nice. 8)
Cheers
Nasdaq
Its nice to see Sony offering a true micro PC. The 'Origami' pcs were some what dissapointing, as they are basically just portable media and email devices. This however is a genuine micro pc, you could literally do a tonne of work of any kind on it.
Very impressive, coming from SOny it wont be cheap but hey, very cool device to have.
here is a small comparison:
285 g vs
520 g
127 x 81 x 25 mm vs
150 x 95 x 32 mm
640x480 vs
1024x600
Windows Mobile vs
Windows XP
520MHz vs
1GHz
the exec is much better then this sony rubbish as:
1. Its lighter
2. The battery lasts much longer (the sony will last 1-2 hours max)
3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez
4. The sony is much bigger
5. The sony has a horrible aerial poking out the top
6. The sony is much heavier
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again
If I need a laptop I'll take my tiny Compaq with 1gb mem, 1280x768 screen, 80gb harddisk and 64bit amd chip.
For small devices I'll take my change with WM5.1 and WM6. XP was designed for beefy big screen PCs. It don't work on these things ...
colonel said:
...3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez...
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The US version comes w/ Cingular Wireless Broadband.
It also has a 30gb hard drive which to my knowledge is a bit more than the available memory on the universal
$1800 at Sony Style
When it comes with GPRS and 3G, and I can get it subsidised woth T-Mobile, then I'll buy it.
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.
The only thing I don't like is the use of Memory Stcks, very expensive memory cards. I hate them.
belfast-biker said:
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something in this forum that finally makes sense...!
belfast-biker said:
When it comes with GPRS and 3G, and I can get it subsidised woth T-Mobile, then I'll buy it.
Otherwise it's like my exwife. Cute, but far too expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL
Well according to a blogger who had a hands on; the keyboard is crap.
colonel said:
the exec is much better then this sony rubbish as:
1. Its lighter
2. The battery lasts much longer (the sony will last 1-2 hours max)
3. The sony has no GSM/GPRS or 3G ... jeez
4. The sony is much bigger
5. The sony has a horrible aerial poking out the top
6. The sony is much heavier
7. The sony has a memory stick socket - yuck, betamax all over again
If I need a laptop I'll take my tiny Compaq with 1gb mem, 1280x768 screen, 80gb harddisk and 64bit amd chip.
For small devices I'll take my change with WM5.1 and WM6. XP was designed for beefy big screen PCs. It don't work on these things ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you never used one before. I have the U70, the last model. Normal battery 4-5hours and the extended battery 8-9hours. Thats with Wifi on the whole time. You can do 100 more things with XP then WM5. It also has a SD and MS slot. 30gig HDD.
Shame you wont try it.
zakeen said:
I guess you never used one before. I have the U70, the last model. Normal battery 4-5hours and the extended battery 8-9hours. Thats with Wifi on the whole time. You can do 100 more things with XP then WM5. It also has a SD and MS slot. 30gig HDD.
Shame you wont try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm somewhat sceptical. The Universal fits in my pocket - just. Anything bigger wouldn't be usable - and amongst my friends I'm the most easy going about device size, no one else will carry anything close to as big.
Irrespective of its capabilities its no good to me sitting on the shelf when I'm out and about.
So, for me at least, when it comes to trading off capability against 'pocketability' the latter wins every time... YMMV
some more links:
Sony Vaio UX50 resuming from standby in six seconds - Google Video
Hands on with the UX50
hi Zakeen,
That battery life you mention does sound much better. I have had a few sony laptops over the years and they always faired much worse then other ones.
I am following the new Ulitra Micro laptop generation with interest. The Samsung Q1 and Toshiba libretto look more interesting to me as the Toshiba has a better spec. and is cheaper, and roughly the same size, whereas the Samsung is smaller. I think the 2nd generation of these devices will be better. I am prepared to spend around $1000 on a 1Mhz Pentium clone around the size of the Samsung Q1. The Libretto and UX180 are just too expensive.
I was also disappointed that Apple hasn't brought out a tiny laptop. The new macbook is very cheap at $1099 with a core duo cpu, but is actually bigger then the previous G4 macbook.
I have a feeling it'll take another year for these devices to mature. However then the Universal II (or whatever) will be out and again we will have to see whether a micro-laptop is actually worth it!
Using Universal as micro notebook is an excercise in how much compromises you can make/take.
- Lack of built in storage
- No USB Host
- No VGA out
- Poor or no office compatibility (even Text and Page maker are a pain, Power Point and Project editing is even more of a strech and there is no Visio at all.
- Browsing capabilities and compatibility
- Even Mail clients are rather poor
... ant the list goes on ...
I'm sure Sony users will also have to make many compromises, but I'm also pretty sure not even close to Universal's users. If only it would not be so expensive...
Hey,
heres a thread about the brand-new Gen9
Some infos:
Prices:
Archos 101 G9 16 GB - 299$
Archos 101 G9 250 GB HDD - 399$
Archos 80 G9 16 GB - 259$
Some Specs:
Screen Resolution - 1280x800
Android 3.1 Honeycomb
Cpu - ARM Dual-Core Cortex A9 OMAP4 1.5 GHz
RAM - 1GB SD-DDR2
Video Playback - Full-HD (1920x1080p)
Webcam - 720p HD resolution
Interfaces: Usb Host, MicroSd Slot,HDMI output
Built-In GPS,G-Sensor,Vibrator,Compass,Kickstand and a microphone
Weight: Archos 80 : SD - 465g HD - 599g
Weight: Archos 101 : SD - 649g HD - 755g
Official Android Market Support
Support for the Archos 3G USB Stick
Some Photos:
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Archos 80 G9
Archos 101 G9
really digging the Gen9
I'll say what I said at ArchosFans
Just some initial impressions.
I think the design is much improved over Gen8 (assuming that the video posted on their website is an actual design, not just a rendering)
I also like the way that they implemented the 3G stick. I guess this allows them to make one type of device and give users the option to get 3G at a later time. This is better than other manufacturers who came out with 3G versions of their tablets, but made us wait for a WiFi version.
I just saw that the 3G USB stick is also compatible with your PC and you can use one plan for whatever you connect it to. That is AWESOME! I hope it's T-Mo/AT&T bands.
Also, thank God they finally put a full USB on both models. I have an A70 and needed that silly host cable, which I was never able to get.
Webcam is a real plus, and Full Android Market. So is the upgraded processor, though I suspect that it will be a generation behind by the time it is released in September. Tech moves so fast these days. Looks like quad core mobile processors will be in tablets by next year.
I also like the fact that they went with 8 and 10 this time. I have always firmly held that 10 inches is just too big (that's what she said). But of late, I have been longing for a little more screen real estate when browsing the web or watching videos on my A70.
Haters...I mean Engadget did make a good point about Ice Cream Sandwich (herein after referred to as ICS) will be released about a month or so before Gen9's release. I am glad to see Honeycomb, but I look forward to ICS within a couple of months after it's release. I think that's reasonable.
Looks like we have a winner. I will definitely be selling my Gen8 and picking up a Gen9. Lets hope they figure out how to do a product launch without last years debacle.
nice price and features, wish to have 2nd camera, but no big deal.
Techngro said:
Looks like we have a winner. I will definitely be selling my Gen8 and picking up a Gen9. Lets hope they figure out how to do a product launch without last years debacle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I`ll wait for the G10 or G11, because i buy my 101 just in januar I really dont want to buy every year a new tablet
i think there will be a chance for porting the Android 3.1 Honeycomb from the G9 to our G8 what do you think about that?
I don't think so, nothing in the Hardware is the same, better to start from scratch
eagleofdeath13 said:
I don't think so, nothing in the Hardware is the same, better to start from scratch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but i also meant that we`ll get the Source Code in Q4 of 2011, and then will be the G9`ers released
i just want honeycomb on my 101
lbhocky19 said:
i just want honeycomb on my 101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We all do!
But there is a hard way to master this...
And we need the Source Code, which propably will released in Q4 2011
I liked my 7", why did they have to blow it up?
Everyone i know likes the 7" more because it is easier to carry and big enough for everything.
And 4x3 why?
We loose alot on most HD widescreen video's.
And why don't they state how much main memory the have?
fzelle said:
And why don't they state how much main memory the have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They dont do it for the Gen8 either..
I think, the Gen9 Design isn't good, but the specs and the price are really great!
Flix123 said:
I think, the Gen9 Design isn't good, but the specs and the price are really great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep thats what i thought
I dont like the gray "border" they shouldnt change the look i like the gen8 look very much another reason, why i propably wait for G10 or even G11
I like the Design of the galaxy tab. I don't like it, if devices have such a big border around the screen.
Flix123 said:
I like the Design of the galaxy tab. I don't like it, if devices have such a big border around the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont like the style of Galaxy Tab Anyway, we cant argue about likings
Do you want to buy a G9?
Lennb said:
I dont like the style of Galaxy Tab Anyway, we cant argue about likings
Do you want to buy a G9?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because I don't want to spend much money in tablets.
My A70 is like a toy for me, so I will buy me a new smartphone or PC.
I will buy a new tablet, if it will be more useful, like a netbook.
One worrying issue from the Gen8 was the high report rate of screen breakage from normal use (ie not drops). When the screen breaks, you're SOL, since warranty doesn't cover it, and vendors automatically say it's your fault and won't take returns (no I don't want to buy SquareTrade). Unless/until I hear evidence that the Gen9 has better tempered glass than the Gen8, it doesn't matter how cheap the thing is.
fzelle said:
I liked my 7", why did they have to blow it up?
Everyone i know likes the 7" more because it is easier to carry and big enough for everything.
And 4x3 why?
We loose alot on most HD widescreen video's.
And why don't they state how much main memory the have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Archos seems to be pretty responsive to the community that they cater to. People have been harping on the lack of app storage space on Gen8 since it was released. I think Archos has learned their lesson and will provide a suitable amount of RAM in the Gen9 this time around. 1 gig will be sufficient I think.
As for design, I think there should be a poll so we can vote on it. I personally think it's ok. They all look the same to me for the most part, so it's what's inside that counts.
e.mote said:
Unless/until I hear evidence that the Gen9 has better tempered glass than the Gen8, it doesn't matter how cheap the thing is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think then you have to wait until the first A9 products are shipping
Im dont gonna buy a G9 either, but just because i dont want to buy a new tab every year
Tempting new devices. Glad they dropped the camera on the back - utterly pointless on a tablet IMHO. Prices look excellent as well (buy 2 instead of one ipad?)
Three things will make my decision for me
1. Is it a genuine full size and properly powered USB host so I can plug in memory sticks and cameras on my travels without a cable?
2. Decent main memory capacity (say 1GB)
3. Good reports from early adopters!
alexbush said:
Tempting new devices. Glad they dropped the camera on the back - utterly pointless on a tablet IMHO. Prices look excellent as well (buy 2 instead of one ipad?)
Three things will make my decision for me
1. Is it a genuine full size and properly powered USB host so I can plug in memory sticks and cameras on my travels without a cable?
2. Decent main memory capacity (say 1GB)
3. Good reports from early adopters!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) You have! Maybe even two usb hosts
2) I think they'll bring us at least 512 MB
3) To that i cant say anything
First off, I apologize if this has been asked, I could only find a relevant thread about RT versions. Also, I was not sure if this should be posted in the Windows 8 general forum or the Microsoft Surface forum (I figured it was only for the Surface, not all tablets), and if I placed this in the wrong place, please delete it.
So on to my question: does anyone have a suggestion as to which Windows 8 Pro Tablet/Laptop hybrid to get? I would be using it to replace my old laptop: I'd like to do the standard stuff (watch videos, browse the web, etc), use it for notes in class, play the occasional game (nothing serious, probably just WoW, the real gaming I do on my desktop), and code in Visual Studio. I definitely want one that comes apart, like the Asus Transformers, so I'm not even considering sliders or all-in-ones.
I've read a bit about some of the tablets, but I honestly have no idea which one to get when they come out. I wanted the Microsoft Surface, but the kickstand instead of solid base kinda kills it for me (I want to be able to type with it on my lap), and I just can't weigh the pros and cons of the other tablets. I love the build quality of Asus, but I've heard bad things about atom processors. Samsung has an i5 version, but I'm not so sure about the build quality (I've never cared for plasticy laptops). I know the Samsung has 4GB of RAM, and I heard Asus has only 2GB (which would be abysmal, if they don't offer higher that will probably make my decision for me). I don't want to go anywhere near Lenovo, and I haven't heard much about any other brand (where are the specs for HP, Dell, Sony?).
So unless I'm missing something, I'm looking at the Microsoft Surface if I suck it up and embrace the kickstand, the Asus Vivo or the Samsung Ativ. The Asus will probably have better battery life, but the Samsung will (I believe) be far more powerful. Battery life isn't that big a deal to me as long as it can last around 6 hours or so on a charge (side note: do the docks have batteries in them like in the Transformers?), and I don't really know how the atom fares for what I want it to do. I know there is more to be seen from the other companies, but I have heard little about HP and Dell, and I don't like the design of the Sony Vaio Duo 11. Not to mention I don't want to wait for several months for the Surface or any other tablet coming out later (my laptop is really starting to crap out... Thanks "best friend" for convincing me to get a Macbook Pro a few years ago ).
So anyway, my mind is all over the place and I really have no idea what to get. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if it seemed like I was rambling, I just really can't put all the factors together to make a decision.
Lysdexia said:
First off, I apologize if this has been asked, I could only find a relevant thread about RT versions. Also, I was not sure if this should be posted in the Windows 8 general forum or the Microsoft Surface forum (I figured it was only for the Surface, not all tablets), and if I placed this in the wrong place, please delete it.
So on to my question: does anyone have a suggestion as to which Windows 8 Pro Tablet/Laptop hybrid to get? I would be using it to replace my old laptop: I'd like to do the standard stuff (watch videos, browse the web, etc), use it for notes in class, play the occasional game (nothing serious, probably just WoW, the real gaming I do on my desktop), and code in Visual Studio. I definitely want one that comes apart, like the Asus Transformers, so I'm not even considering sliders or all-in-ones.
I've read a bit about some of the tablets, but I honestly have no idea which one to get when they come out. I wanted the Microsoft Surface, but the kickstand instead of solid base kinda kills it for me (I want to be able to type with it on my lap), and I just can't weigh the pros and cons of the other tablets. I love the build quality of Asus, but I've heard bad things about atom processors. Samsung has an i5 version, but I'm not so sure about the build quality (I've never cared for plasticy laptops). I know the Samsung has 4GB of RAM, and I heard Asus has only 2GB (which would be abysmal, if they don't offer higher that will probably make my decision for me). I don't want to go anywhere near Lenovo, and I haven't heard much about any other brand (where are the specs for HP, Dell, Sony?).
So unless I'm missing something, I'm looking at the Microsoft Surface if I suck it up and embrace the kickstand, the Asus Vivo or the Samsung Ativ. The Asus will probably have better battery life, but the Samsung will (I believe) be far more powerful. Battery life isn't that big a deal to me as long as it can last around 6 hours or so on a charge (side note: do the docks have batteries in them like in the Transformers?), and I don't really know how the atom fares for what I want it to do. I know there is more to be seen from the other companies, but I have heard little about HP and Dell, and I don't like the design of the Sony Vaio Duo 11. Not to mention I don't want to wait for several months for the Surface or any other tablet coming out later (my laptop is really starting to crap out... Thanks "best friend" for convincing me to get a Macbook Pro a few years ago ).
So anyway, my mind is all over the place and I really have no idea what to get. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if it seemed like I was rambling, I just really can't put all the factors together to make a decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you have against Lenovo? They make very good hardware, even if the design leaves something to be desired. But in your situation it might be ideal. The digitizer would help you with note taking, although I'm not sure how the Clover Trail processor will hold up to WoW or Visual Studio. I'm personally going to get one as a netbook replacement. Might be worth a look for you.
Yea I was going to say, right now its a decision between the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 and the Microsoft Surface.
The Thinkpad has a keyboard that can support the weight or the screen, active digitizer, legacy application support among others. The Surface RT is lighter, will probably be cheaper and comes preinstalled with onenote.
Had the Surface RT come with a digitizer I would have been all over that.
Thanks a ton for the replies. I guess I've just heard a lot of bad things about Lenovo from friends, I'll look into it though. And I guess I'll have to wait for them to come out to see how well the processors fair, I think I'll end up going with an i3 or i5, but if the others aren't too far behind I may go for them instead for a cheaper price and longer battery.
Get a tf book...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
I hadn't heard of the tf book, but now that I've looked at it it really seems like a contender. Do you have any idea when it's going to be released?
I am in very similar situation to yours.
I am trying to follow information regarding upcoming devices. I used to have Asus 1201N (Atom [2 core] 330 + ION platform) and was very happy with size, weight, screen, performance. I do web/mail browsing, movies (downloaded or streamed) plus quite a lot of writing for some websites.
I got rid of it because it was very hot device with warm/hot air constantly blowing out of it. I swapped it for an iPad bo it is just a toy not someting I can use to work.
So... in my case I am looking for:
approx 11" device (10 is definitely to small to work... 12" not mobile enough - tablet itself would be to big)
I think I will go with Atom. I dot suppose it will be worse than current range of Atoms... if I can get smooth playback of 720p mkv out of it I am settled.
One more issue I see regarding i3 and i5 CPU's are battery life and heating. From what I have seen hybrid devices with iCore processors will have an active cooling system (fan) unlike ARM and Atom based devices
Screen resolution - 1366 x 768 not more. Why not Full HD screen? Two reasons.
1. Atom could struggle in this resolution.
2. Since all I watch (I do not have a TV - no time) on this device will be either downloaded or streamed Full HD screen will make those films look bad when compared to HD ready resolution
decent battery life, reasonable weight of the tablet part of the device (if I can stay around iPad 1 weight it would be cool)
As for now my focus goes with 2 devices: Asus 810 and Samsung Smart PC (PC Pro will have iCore CPU).
Have a look a this...
http://eee.asus.com/en/vivo-tab/features/
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It seems that we'll have an assortment of models, but are prices mentioned somewhere? All I've seen its the Vaio Duo with a price tag of $1200 and all I can shell out is two thirds of that.
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2014 is the year of Windows tablets, as we have seen all sizes of Windows 8 tablets taking over the market that has been dominated by Android and iOS for years. While people are still debating whether 8-inch tablets are too small for running Windows 8, certain manufacturers try to push things even further. That is exactly what has happened here, the Cube iWork 7 is the very first 7-inch Windows 8 tablets on the market.
Key Features
7 inch IPS display at 1280*800 pixels
Weighs 280g, 190.8*111*8.8mm in size.
Intel Atom Bay-trail Z3735G Quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM
Windows 8.1
Office 365 with one year free subscription
16GB of built-in-storage, expandable by TF card
2MP front-facing camera & 2MP rear-facing camera
AAC speaker
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
USB host
Micro SD card slot
3500mAh Li-Po rechargeable battery, 4-5 hours battery life
Design and Build
The iWork 7 is not going to win any beauty contests. It is very much the plane Jane of small tablets. There is nothing on this tablet that you wouldn’t have seen before; a plastic rear, black front bezel, and rounded corners. But it feels reasonably well-made., at only 8.8mm it is slimmer than most Windows tablets on the market, and at 280g it’s as light as any 7-inch Android tablet.
The iWork 7 is designed for portrait use. The front is dominated by a 7-inch IPS display at 1280*800px. The bezel on the left and right side of the display is quite small, making the tablet easy to be held in one hand. The relatively bigger bezel up and down makes sure that you have a place to rest your fingers while using the tablet in horizontal mode.
Along the side you will find all the physical controls, ports and slots. There are a 3.5mm audio jack, a Micro SD card slot, a Micro USB port for both data transmission and charging, a Mini HDMI port, and a Power/standby Key on the left side, a volume rocker and a Windows Home button on the top side.
The front-facing camera sits above the display, while the 2MP rear-facing camera sits in the upper left corner of the rear side.
Display
The iWork 7's display is certainly not going to set the world alight. It has a 1,280*800-pixel resolution, which is pretty standard for an inexpensive Windows tablet and enough for the Windows Desktop and for web browsing.
Everything looks perfectly fine if you stay in the Windows 8 interface and the applications installed from the Windows store. If you enter into the traditional Windows desktop, icons, letters, and even dialogs sometimes look too small.
Usability
7-inches, 280 grams, 8.8mm thick is, with respect to Windows PCs, very impressive. In terms of consumer tablets it’s average though and the obvious comparison is the iPad Mini2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, both of which are slimmer than 7mm. Still, it’s good enough for a long-term reading session and absolutely fine as a sofa companion and with 7-inches of screen you get much more usability in landscape mode as a mini PC with a Bluetooth keyboard.
One thing that does expose itself more than on any other recent Windows 8 PC is the presence of the desktop. Regular reboots to install patches are awkward. Pop-ups from security software and the occasional feeling that you might have left something running on the desktop constantly remind you that this isn’t a simple tablet. Also obvious is the immature Store. You can find almost everything you need, but the quality is poor. YouTube takes so long to start streaming for example. Some apps just seem to re-start occasionally and there’s poor use of screen space in many cases. This will surely improve over time with more Windows tablets sold day by day, but for now, it is no match for the Apple app store or Google Play.
Portrait mode use is best for thumb-typing and auto-correct in Windows 8 applications is very good. There doesn’t seem to be a way to turn on haptics when typing, if that’s something you like.
As the tablet runs the full version of Windows, you have the luxury of choosing from tablet-specific apps from the Store, or using any traditional Windows application that takes your fancy. This means that, for example, you could forget about Office 365 and use MPS Office, or use the full version of Xunlei Kankan instead of the more limited tablet-specific version.
Because none of the applications above are designed for a touchscreen, they can be fiddly to use. You have to be careful with your prodding to make sure you hit the option you need.
If you do wish to use it as a PC, plugging in a keyboard or mouse should be the right first move, yet it is also tricky as the tablet has no full-size USB port, so you have to make do with Bluetooth peripherals designed for tablets or connect the slate to an OTG adapter. If you feel that the 7-inch display is too small for mouse operations, you can always take advantage of the HDMI port and view things on a bigger Screen. With everything said, unlike the Surface Pro or Acer Iconia W700, the iWork 7 isn’t the tablet that can replace your laptop.
Performance
Inside the Cube iWork 7 is a quad-core "Bay Trail" Intel Atom processor, coupled with 1GB RAM. This is a powerful mobile processor, as shown by its score of 19 in peacekeeper benchmark test - as much as we see from some laptops. The iWork 7 has no problem running Windows 8.1 smoothly and dealing with complicated web pages, or playing HD video from the BBC iPlayer website.
There is no problem in video playback, either, as all sorts of decoders can be installed to make sure that 1080P videos flow smoothly.
The tablet's small 1GB RAM could prove to be a sticking point, however. Office 365, for example - a free 1-year subscription comes with the tablet - was occasionally laggy, if easy to use with the touchscreen. And with several bigger applications running at the same time you will constantly receive the notification of insufficient RAM.
Cameras
The iWork 7 has dual cameras. The front-facing 2MP camera can be used for Skype video-chatting, and the rear-facing 2MP camera can take photos for Instagram updates, but don’t expect any quality here as even daylight snaps can be quite noisy.
Battery Life
The iWork 7 only has a 3,500mAh Li-Po battery, which is small even by Android standards. Battery life is covered in detail below but worth mentioning is that screen-on time is disappointing. 4hrs 30m is the average so far over two weeks, and that can be considered poor compared to the 6-7 hours the iWork 8 was able to offer.
Verdict
The new, cheaper Windows license has helped Chinese manufacturers bring Windows 8.1 tablets to the market for very affordable prices. The lack of USB ports limits the usefulness of having the full version of Windows, so if you're after a tablet mainly for surfing the web and sending emails we'd still recommend an Android model such as the Google Nexus 7, or its cheaper Chinese counterparts. If for whatever reason you'd like a tablet with access to the full range of Windows applications, the iWork 7 is impressive value, but we prefer the Cube iWork 8, which is around $33 more expensive, but has twice the RAM and storage and better battery life.
wifi and bluetooth driver
i bought cube iwork 7 today, and wifi is not working, so i checked the driver, its drive shows a yellow triangle, i think the driver is missing
where can i find the driver?
chhoung said:
i bought cube iwork 7 today, and wifi is not working, so i checked the driver, its drive shows a yellow triangle, i think the driver is missing
where can i find the driver?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that is tricky...I don't know the answer to this question, but let me ask around for you.
jupiter2012 said:
Oh, that is tricky...I don't know the answer to this question, but let me ask around for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have installed the driver but it is still not working:crying:
jupiter2012 said:
Oh, that is tricky...I don't know the answer to this question, but let me ask around for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello,, could you back up your wifi driver and bluetooth driver? could you send me the driver?
realtek rtl8723bs wireless lan 802.11n sdio network adapter
realtek blurtooth UART bus driver
chhoung said:
hello,, could you back up your wifi driver and bluetooth driver? could you send me the driver?
realtek rtl8723bs wireless lan 802.11n sdio network adapter
realtek blurtooth UART bus driver
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already returned my unit after the review.
Hello, I found Cube iwork7 with 32GB disk and 2GB ram for 126 USD, what you mean 2gigs will help this tablet because I know 1gig of ram is not enough. But what you mean it will be better, and is it good buy or not???
And sorry for my bad english
For the pictures in high resolution and a nicer format of the article, check out the original post:
http://klonom.com/onda-v975w-aka-my-cheap-surface-alternative-experiences/
And here go my first impressions of my new Onda V975W Tablet. It has Windows 8.1 (fully, no RT cr*p) preinstalled, 2 GB RAM, Bay Trail quadcore processor (each up to 1.8 GHz) and a Retina Display.
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I bought the tablet out of two main reasons. First of all my old Lenovo S10 netbook is dying slowly, so I need a replacement. Secondly I was interested in the Surface tablets, but their prices are way to high in my opinion. Obviously you get a lot for its price, but I do not really need an i7 processor in my tablet. My tablet should be powerful, but does not need to be too much, since for main tasks I still use my bigger main computer. Then my focus got on the Onda V975W tablet. I bought it at eFox for roughly 195€ with sending (slow registered air mail) und customs insurance. Although I chose slow sending, the parcel already arrived two and a half weeks later. Let’s start with the specs:
Specifications:
-Windows 8.1 (no RT)
-9.7 Zoll Display
-2048×1536 Resolution
-2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM
-5 MP backcamera, 2 MP fontcamera (according eFox)
-MicroHDMI Output
-MicroUSB Input
-MicroSD slot
– 7800mAh Akku (according eFox)
-Intel Z3735D processor
Items delivered:
The tablet was delivered in a worthy looking box with chinese texts on it. Additionally to the tablet itself, not much was given beside. Just a short chinese manual and a charger (5V, 2.5A according to the label). There was no Windows 8.1 or Windows 365 license card put in beside, which was reported to be the case in other boards. On a request the shop answered that this would be simply not part of the product. Since I already have an unused Windows 8 license, this is not a big downside for me, but for people without this could become a hurdle when they want to reinstall Windows.
First impressions:
After the unboxing I was very surprised of the worthy look of the tablet. It is really a look-a-like of the iPad Air (so much, that even iPad Air cases can be used mostly, more on that later). The front has a camera in the top middle inside the white border. I did not try the back- or the front camera yet, I will update this later.
The back is made from brushed aluminium. It feels nicely cool when touched. On the bottom there are stereo speakers. Above them, there are product details lasered in, pretty much like at the iPad. At the top side the HW buttons are placed: Power and the volume rocker. Both seem worthy and have a nice pressure point.
At the top side the ports are placed: MicroSD, MicroHDMI, MicroUSB and headphone jack. Additionally a microphone.
First use:
I already prepared myself, that the tablet arrives in chinese language. At least that was reported for most of the V975W of the latter generations. But my Windows was already changed to english (at least most parts) and an user account called “as” was set up. And wow, the resolution looks amazing! No pixels can be determined at all on the Retina display. A few tweaks later also the last parts of remained chinese language were gone. Also the newest BIOS and drivers were installed. So I started and installed some programs like Thunderbird and Firefox and was happy, since everything ran smoothly. The CPU usage while Idle is at about 0-3%, while about 40-45% of the RAM is used. The latter one can be still optimised, for the case that no applications which heavily use the GPU are used. That’s the case, since the GPU splits up 500 MB of RAM by default. It is said that this can be reduced to 256 MB without problems, but I haven’t tried it yet. A small downside is the small internal memory, since with Windows installed there are just about 11 GB free by default. That’s why I installed most of the programms on my 64 GB microSD card.
Usage:
The touch display responds quick and after a bit getting used to, Windows 8 can be nicely navigated by touch. Just the typing I do not really like on the display. That is why I wanted to have a kind of “Type Cover” from the Surface for my V975W. Good point here, that the V975W is so close to the iPad Air, that even many cases fit. Anyhow, my first try failed. I ordered a keyboard case from Anker for the iPad Air (“Slim Folio Bluetooth Keyboard Case”). With a bit force it fitted, but not really nicely. But the second try worked out. For about 22€ I bought this case with bluetooth keyboard and it sits perfect! Just the ports can not be perfectly reached, so I cutted a small hole for the microUSB (see last picture). Also the backcamera does not sit perfectly over the hole, but this does not bother me, since I never really understood the sense of backcameras for tablets .
The keyboard can be removed (holds via magnets) and the top cover can be moved to the back, very nice for using while sitting.
The keyboard can nicely be used for typing. In fact, I am writing this article on this keyboard. After a few seconds of not using it, it goes into sleep mode and the first keyboard hit is ignored while waking up, but all in all it has a nice respond.
Battery:
The battery I can not really rate yet. According to the shop it has a capacity of 7.8 Ah. The charging takes many hours, also with the delivered charger. At normal usage the battery holds for about 6-7h. Obviously it has to be considered, that the display has a very high resolution and it has a full Windows. I will still make some tests for the battery and will update this part later.
First conclusion:
I do not want to give a final conclusion yet, since this Windows 8 tablet has so many aspects which I did not test yet and might still change my opinion. Untill now I am fully satisfied with my decision. I could not find any other tablet with preinstalled Windows and such a high resolution for this price. As an alternative for a cheap “china-Surface” it pretty much fits my needs (except the internal memory).
It does look nice! But yeah, that 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (those are OK stats for a smartphone, but kind of crap otherwise; my first-gen RT tablet has more) is a deal-killer for me. Thanks for the review though! You may want to mention the MicroSD slot in the feature list at top (better than an iPad in that way!)
Thanks for the microSD card thing, totally forgot to mention it there . Untill now everything works smooth for me, will see if it stays like that.
Ive had my v975w for just over a month now and i love it. its more than met my expectations.
its fast, well designed and battery life is very good for a windows device.
My only compliant is the micro usb is used for charging so you cant use micro usb and charge at the same time but am thats fairly common across a lot of tablets.
i now look at my desktop pc and think "should i pack that away" as i dont see the need for it anymore. (i ditched pc gaming years ago) but i feel cruel abandoning my trusty old pc like ive betrayed it, even though its just a machine, lol am weird i know
Tonian1878 said:
Ive had my v975w for just over a month now and i love it. its more than met my expectations.
its fast, well designed and battery life is very good for a windows device.
My only compliant is the micro usb is used for charging so you cant use micro usb and charge at the same time but am thats fairly common across a lot of tablets.
i now look at my desktop pc and think "should i pack that away" as i dont see the need for it anymore. (i ditched pc gaming years ago) but i feel cruel abandoning my trusty old pc like ive betrayed it, even though its just a machine, lol am weird i know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some cables which are actually capable of charging and data connection at the same time. Other users of the Onda V975W report this one as working:
http://www.pabbos.com/36884493084.shtml
Really close to get one too .
Yeah ive ordered a otg+charge cable but from what ive read, its abit hit or miss which devices actually support them.
find out when it arrives
Tonian1878 said:
Yeah ive ordered a otg+charge cable but from what ive read, its abit hit or miss which devices actually support them.
find out when it arrives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one which I posted is reported by other Onda V975W users to work with this specific tablet.
KloNom said:
The one which I posted is reported by other Onda V975W users to work with this specific tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the one ive ordered is different. that is a USB hub within the OTG cable. ive ordered a OTG thats split, female micro USB for charge and normal female USB for OTG.
was only £1.50 so not much lost if it doesnt work. fingers crossed
any luck with cases?
Ive ordered a bluetooth Keyboard cover that is meant for the ipad air. not arrived yet but hoping it fits ok with the design being identical to the ipad air
Tonian1878 said:
the one ive ordered is different. that is a USB hub within the OTG cable. ive ordered a OTG thats split, female micro USB for charge and normal female USB for OTG.
was only £1.50 so not much lost if it doesnt work. fingers crossed
any luck with cases?
Ive ordered a bluetooth Keyboard cover that is meant for the ipad air. not arrived yet but hoping it fits ok with the design being identical to the ipad air
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can see my case in the pictures, it is also for the iPad Air. It was really cheap, around 22€ and untill now working fine. I ordered a not fitting one for the first time, but the second was a hit .
KloNom said:
You can see my case in the pictures, it is also for the iPad Air. It was really cheap, around 22€ and untill now working fine. I ordered a not fitting one for the first time, but the second was a hit .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh yeah lol. my cover arrived
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IHQ1WQU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
made up with it. fits perfectly and the design is a perfect match for the Onda v975w. nice spacing between keys as well considering its a small keyboard
Tonian1878 said:
oh yeah lol. my cover arrived
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IHQ1WQU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
made up with it. fits perfectly and the design is a perfect match for the Onda v975w. nice spacing between keys as well considering its a small keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks really cool! Do the keys touch the display?
KloNom said:
That looks really cool! Do the keys touch the display?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
assume you mean when its closed. no it doesnt seem to but the is also a little on/off switch on the keyboard so you can just turn it off when your closing it.
only complaint is: the is a backspace button but no delete button, so you cant press ctrl+alt+del to access the task manager but luckily windows 8 has made is easier to access the task manager without pushing ctrl+alt+del.
Tonian1878 said:
assume you mean when its closed. no it doesnt seem to but the is also a little on/off switch on the keyboard so you can just turn it off when your closing it.
only complaint is: the is a backspace button but no delete button, so you cant press ctrl+alt+del to access the task manager but luckily windows 8 has made is easier to access the task manager without pushing ctrl+alt+del.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have the same problem with the Task Manager . Still want to make an alternative shortcut for it, but for now I am just using a shortcut on the desktop.