The best ultra-compact mobile sketchpad.

The best ultra-compact mobile sketchpad.

Asus VivoTab 8 M80TA-DL004H 20.3 cm (8 inch) tablet PC (Intel Atom Z3740, 1.3GHz, 2GB RAM, 64GB HDD, Intel HD, Win 8) Black (Personal Computers)

Customer Review

In the 200-400 class, there are a lot of choices between different 8 inch tablets.
None of this is absolutely the best, the Asus VivoTab 8 but definitely takes a special role.

It is artistic and creative use, thanks to the full-fledged and pressure-sensitive Wacom digitizer
competitors in terms entirely superior.

One can also use other Wacom pens beside the provided Stylus very thin, or even the
the Surface Pro 1 & 2. If you thicker and longer pins preference should the output 20-45.

The included stylus is good, and has its own plug-in device.

If you have no experience with Wacom digitizers, eg. Of graphics tablets, should be aware that due to the system
the inductive technology, which utilizes Wacom, on the one hand allows battery-free light pens, and hyper accurate pressure and
Mapping position, but due to the system loses accuracy at the extreme 5mm to the edges.
To draw not disturbing since outweigh the benefits as selection of pins, batterlielos, light, very fine
Pressure measurements. Who uses the stylus, however, primarily as a mouse replacement, must in the extreme corners
eg. a window press very closely at the close icon.
If less draw, paint and illustrate the main focus, are the N-Trig pins (eg. The surface
per 3, VAIO tap 11) always accurately even at the edges, but these have less fine print gradation
(256 instead of 1024 levels), less or no pin selection, need a battery and are heavier because they
not as Wacom work on the basis of induction.

The Wacom drivers are now very tidy. The high-end Wacom graphics tablets have a little more
Functions such as tilt, Hotkeyspots etc - but the relevant applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter,
Manga Studio, etc Artrage run beautifully with pressure strength support.

Here you can even see how well the VivoTab reflected as sketchpad:
youtube.com/watch?v=Sh55guT9bZo
or here, in fast motion, for demanding Illustration
youtube.com/watch?v=LUamQBAvJRE
About the device itself

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Display
------------
Ordinary resolution 1280 * 800, like most competitors in the class.
Who wants 1920 * 1080 FullHd, must in the 8 inch class to the Lenovo Thinkpad 8 engage,
but which has no pin. 1280 * 800 ranging in size but good.
The display is bright and reflective.
The color reproduction and viewing angles are good.
The colors are too strong dimmed good.
Neat stark contrast, uniformly illuminated, black good dark.
The display has no fat-resistant layer. Prints left etc.
If you want a better grease repellency and anti-reflection coating, you should definitely
acquire a matte protective film, these costs typically 2-3 euros each.
Here are some providers

Amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vivo+tab+8+schutzfolie+matt&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Avivo+tab+8+schutzfolie+matt

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Clay
--------------
The device has 2 ordinary speakers, top and bottom, stereo Thus in landscape mode for watching films.
Hardly to no bass / bass, neat loud.
By means of audio output or via Bluetooth to Hifi / speakers / headphones connected very well.
The microphone is good for professional use as a portable audio recorder is ideal if necessary a high quality USB / Bluetooth unit.

--------------
SD card
--------------
The device supports SD-cards, also great 64er and 128er.
Connected to the SD card reader is via USB2, the pace is therefore around 25 Mbytes / sec, also
if the card would provide more.
In the 32GB variant an SD card with the Windows Recovery is, brazenly in the 64GB version does not.
The 64er version has the recovery data on the SSD. Already cheeky that is because saving at the more expensive version)

--------------
Accumulator
--------------
In normal use, the battery lasts an entire working through, 6, 7-8 hours can rausholen.
When full load at full brightness, full volume abfordert (eg. Games) and all consumers as
WLAN, GPS, Bluetooth are on, the battery may be empty but torment in 4 hours.
The device can be loaded via USB, Asus delivers a 2 amp USB charger with strong, the USB cable
this is plenty short. If one USB charging sources uses weaker, eg. A 1A USB port of a
Computers take the then invite long, the power supply it is neat Fast (~ 2-3h).
The device offers a charging LED - this is however so dark and small, they struck me after a week;)

--------------
SSD
--------------
The internal SSD provides write to the 140 MB / sec read, 40.
For Tabletmasstäbe ala ipad / android rapidly, for PC only average.

------------------------
CPU, RAM & Graphics
------------------------
The new baytrail Atom CPUs as vivotab have good speed in approximately the level of a
older Core 2 processor. Typically, the processor clocked at 1.86GHz. Standard clock on his 1.33GHz
He throttled back as good as ever, even if a long time all 4 cores are fully utilized.
That's enough good for Photoshop & co, HD movies (even in 1080p and via Flash and YouTube etc).
For current high-end games, the CPU & graphics are not designed. Classics like World of Warcraft, StarCraft,
Half-Life II or newer touch games like hearthstone run well.
Even 3D animation systems like Blender are properly used, however, one should logically
Now do not expect to process huge scenes.
Asus provides only 32bit Windows and 2GB of RAM. This is enough for almost anything, but you should not
massively multitasking with large projects in programs like Photoshop, Premiere, etc simultaneously operate
want. But to let eg. In the background running an export, and to write in the front office or in
Web surfing go smoothly. For video editing you have to rely on 32-bit versions (for example,
Lightworks or Premiere Pro CS 4, Avid 5).

------------------
Cameras
------------------
The device has 2 cameras. The front is sufficient for web chat and similar purposes, moderately for Scan & Photo.
The rear 5MP camera on the other hand delivers solid results, such as a high quality smartphone.
Very handy in combination with the stylus: photograph the motive and put it in the image editing and retouched later.
In the dark, the camera rushes quickly in daylight it is good at dusk still ok.
Video-wise, the unit 1080p and 720p, 4: 3 and 16: 9, 50P and 60P, but no 24 / 25P.

---------------------------------------------
Connectors, wire-like wireless
--------------------------------------------
The device has USB2 (no USB3 how the ThinkPad 8), SD card, analog 3.5mm audio.
So only the necessary. An HDMI or DisplayPort would be helpful to drive external monitors.
Defect which you need for external monitors wired a US dock such as these

Amazon.com/Docking-Station-Notebook-Ultrabook-Aufl%C3%B6sung/dp/B001ILFBZY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403722593&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+docking+station

Alternatively, the device dominates Miracast and DNLA to drive external monitors wirelessly.
That's great to watch movies, or for casual games, or for presentation, but to work
has the disadvantage that one has about 0.1-second delay.
Ver good

youtube.com/watch?v=zrPMAEosnGo

WLAN supports Vivotab fortunately both in often crowded 2.4 GHz and in the 5 GHz band, according to
802.11abgn to 150 Mbit. 802.11ac is not supported. The reception is decent and stable, but not Outrageous.
Used a Broadcom chip.

Bluetooth is currently in version 4 and works reliably with mouse & keyboard.

-------------------------------
Processing & buttons
-------------------------------
The unit is solidly built, you can press strongly and LCD screen, etc remain unaffected.
It is verwindungssteiff and is massive, although it is easy. The materials are behind rubberized
Plastic that fits comfortably in your hand, the edges of the front glossy glass over black plastic that pulls
as the display itself to fingerprints.

The buttons on / off, windows, softer loud / are not smooth and sit on the sides.
A double-edged sword to draw it's fine that you do not come accidentally on the keys,
but just for the Windows key then you have to if you do not draws, embrace.
Pressure point, the keys, however, not very clear.

------------------
Accessories
------------------
The Vivotab 8 sold apparently not bad - there are now a range of specially-crafted
and good Covers & Transport bags, for example by Kámor and Supremery. Some vendors (like IVSO)
, but ignore the the vivotab 8 has an inductive pen and block for strong magnets that interfere with the pen.

If anyone still has any experience with graphics tablets, he will draw the first few weeks great with the pen - but
as a mouse replacement, he will contend initially. Such users should, when much "classic" with the Windows desktop
work definitely have a favorable bluetooth mouse for learning phase, which costs 9-10 euros.
Amazon.com/TeckNet%C2%AE-Bluetooth-Justierbare-15-Monate-Batterielaufzeit/dp/B00DEF5IW8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403725307&sr=8-1&keywords=tecknet+bluetooth

Who writes a lot will want to have a keyboard, also because there are a lot of choices. A well on the format of Vivotab 8
fitting model, 24 cm wide (the vivotab 8 is just over 22) reliably provides good tactile feedback and also
Bluetooth is for 20 this here

Amazon.com/CSL-Bluetooth-Aluminium-Geh%C3%A4use-Deutsches-Tastatur-Layout/dp/B00F52MUQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403725566&sr=8-1&keywords=csl+keyboard

-----------------
Weight
-----------------
The device is easy - 380 grams for a full-fledged quad core PC with HD display, stereo speakers, 2 cameras and a long-running battery is great.

--------------------------
Volume & Heat
--------------------------
The unit is fully sound and without fans. Even under full load hours of it was never hot, but at most lukewarm.

-------------------------------------------
Sensors & Special Features
-------------------------------------------
The Vivotab 8 has -vorbildlich- a good GPS sensor (Broadcomm GNSS 4752), which is missing many even more expensive devices.
The position sensor works very well, reliably and quickly.
An automatic Lich & brightness sensor is also available, functioning properly, but was turned off by me.
NFC is not installed, no IR transmitter to the Vivotab to use as a remote control.

-----------------------------------------
Included Software
-----------------------------------------
A full Microsoft Office 2013 H & S license Windows. 8
A slightly better camera software, some multimedia programs, a few Asus-specific update softwares and free access to a cloud storage service from Asus with rich storage. No up hardly superfluous frills.

-----------------------------------------
Conclusion
-----------------------------------------
The Vivotab 8 is a very special Tablet.
Whoever "just" a tablet to surf will be well served by cheaper tablets.
Anyone wanting to use the tablet as Ultrabook replacement, should select a device with HDMI and / or USB 3.
Who the best display of Windows 8 will inch Tablets, should rather avisieren the ThinkPad 8.

However:
Those who work creatively and creative, technical features, illustrated, painted, can find a unique device.
So easy, cheap and powerful enough, there is nothing like it.

As ultrakompater sketchpad (screen?), As hypermobile Video & Effect System, as always-doing-station layout the Vivotab 8 is simply beyond compare.

The missing interfaces (no video out, USB only or Miracast), which compared to 50 charge
the pinless (or with bad pins, dear Dell Venue 8) competitors, the only sufficient, slightly lean
Be supplied, the absence of both USB3 interface as in the SD card, the typical class 2 GB RAM
to get over easily, as you so simply can not buy a comparable Wacom tablet (without PC).
The real competitors with pen (like surface per 1/2/3, VAIO tap 11) are all 10, 11.6, 12 inches tall, heavy, not
silently (and cost at least twice), great equipment, but not as ultra mobile, easy & silently.

In this respect the Vivotab 8 had as Tablet "only" 4 stars earned. As the most compact, lightest and most cost-effective
professionally usable GrafikStation ever on the market, however: 5 stars.

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ps & tips for beginners
----------------------------------
Who has not worked with graphics tablets à la wacom, and intends to use primarily the desktop area of ​​Windows,
should initially have a mouse within easy reach.
Wacom pens are ultra precise - who is working with millimeter precision which makes routine double.
Who is not yet practiced, it will contend at first.

Who wants to can draw and illustrate respectively, but want to spend thousands of dollars can not or lucky.
The Vivotab works just fine with the free (and extremely powerful) open source
Drawing software "Krita".

krita.org/index.php

Amazingly, Microsoft also supplies a likewise very powerful + professional design software
totally free: "Fresh Paint".
In this video you can clearly see how well that harmonizes with Wacom pens:
youtube.com/watch?v=ron8-YFLtkc

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2015 - supplements for about a year
----------------
The Vivotab runs almost every day for hours on end - indispensable for me. There are now more and more Windows tablet with stylus, the special role full Wacom and compact remains Asus-exclusive, the other compact tablets continue to use only weaker and cheaper digitizer, for example. Synaptics, and Wacom brings a weaker, cheaper technology ( with battery, for example in Toshiba write) in addition to the market. The here also existing Android and iPad tablets are hardly used, the benefits for productive and creative work on tablets with full software and Wacom or N-trig digitizer as the Vivotab are just too big. A stabilizer (such as the Surface Pro, vaiotap 11, yoga 2) is often handy, so I have a protective sheath with stand to buy (15).

volcanoes Rank: 5/5
April 22
Model Kit very good. Rank: 5/5
March 3
Perfect January 2321 Rank: 4/5
February 3
Micro system well designed Rank: 4/5
November 2

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