Mobility

The ASUS VivoTab Supports Full Array of Windows 8 Applications

This affordable tablet, priced for consumers, finds a home in the workplace.

Jeff is tasked with separating the “gee whiz” factor from the truly useful when it comes to the latest tech gadgets, and oh, he holds a Ph.D. in physics. He currently works as the supervisor of enterprise architecture services for Grange Mutual Casualty Group of Columbus, Ohio. His biggest challenge is being an avid Wolverine fan while living in the midst of Buckeye country.

Many organizations have been waiting for an enterprise-friendly, productivity-enhancing tablet. The ASUS VivoTab Smart ME400C affordably fills that need.

The VivoTab Smart — a lean, 1.28-pound slate of plastic and glass — comes in black, white or red. The corners are rounded more than other tablets I've held, and while there's a bit of a sharp edge along the seam, it doesn't detract from the device's simple beauty.

End-User Advantages

Flicking the power switch brings the VivoTab Smart ME400C to lifewith a full Windows 8 operating system. Users can install not only apps available from the Microsoft store, but also standard enterprise software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader.

The 10.1-inch LED backlit display works well in most indoor environments, but viewing the display outdoors on a sunny day is more challenging. The lack of brightness stems from the tablet's long battery life. ASUS measures battery life at 9.5 hours using a continuous-movie-loop test, but a test involving standard office applications seemed more reasonable to me, so I carried it from meeting to meeting. At the end of the workday, it still had 30 percent of battery life remaining — enough for some overtime.

Best of all is the optional ASUS TranSleeve Keyboard — a wafer-thin, Bluetooth 3.0 QWERTY keyboard. The accessory includes a cover and attaches to the tablet with magnets. Its trackpad supports Windows 8 gestures, and the 450mAh Lithium polymer battery reportedly lasts three weeks when fully charged.

The VivoTab Smart's world-class camera records 30 frames per second of full, high-definition 1080p video. For still photos, it shoots a whopping 8 megapixels on the rear camera and 2MP on the front, which looks fantastic on the tablet's 1366x768p screen.

Why It Works for IT

The VivoTab Smart runs a full 32-bit version of Windows 8 on an 1.8 gigahertz, Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor and features 2 gigabytes of RAM under the covers. Unlike Windows RT or iOS, enterprise-class security and management tools work on the tablet, giving managers some piece of mind as the device travels from place to place.

Connectivity is provided through 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 support, and the device also offers three ports — micro SD for additional storage, micro HDMI as an alternative output, and micro USB for connectivity and power. A dual-function audio port sits on the right near the volume rocker switch.

Disadvantages

The 64GB solid-state disk drive seems small. Out of the box, only 20GB are free, likely because Windows 8 consumes a lot of space. With this squeeze, the micro SD port and cloud storage should come in handy.

From a graphics standpoint, the Intel graphics card seemed a bit sluggish when pushed. However, the tablet performed well for a typical business day and provided quite a productivity boost — not to mention admiring looks from colleagues.

ASUS