Asus VivoTab Smart ME400

With its Transformer and Padfone series of Tablets, Asus has created a niche for itself in providing users with high end tablets that leave little to crib about. And with the VivoTab series it plans to take that bar a few notches higher. Here’s a look at the VivoTab Smart ME400, possibly the best Windows 8 tab out there.

When Microsoft came out with its first Windows based Surface tab, the expectations of the public met with a dampener  But a closer look at the Windows RT did give a glimpse of what was to come. Asus with its VivoTab Smart ME400 has decided to take a different route to what has been so far taken and has introduced a proper Window’s 8 platform on the ME400.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 8
• Screen Size: 10.1 inch screen with 5 point multi-point display
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• RAM: 2 GB
• Memory: 64 GB Flash Hard Disk
• Processor: Intel Atom Z2760 (1.8 GHz) Saltwell Dual Core
• Camera: 8 Mega Pixel rear camera with Auto Focus, 2 Mega Pixel front camera
• Battery: 25 Wh lithium polymer battery
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-fi g/b/n

Other Features:

• Micro HDMI
• Micro SD card slot
• NFC compatible
• Inbuilt Compass, Gyroscope, Ambient Light sensor
• Office 2010

What makes it special?

The Clover Trail chip gives the tab, the power of a full blown PC. With the Office suite and a host of other applications like Skype and Dropbox, the ME400 covers most basic requirements of an average user.

The 8 mega pixel camera allows a 1080 p Full HD video capture and with a 16:9 Aspect Ratio, video viewing becomes a better experience than on most tablets.

Although, a 10-13 hours working battery life is to be expected, in reality with Wi-fi and bluetooth facility ON, 7 to 8 hours battery life should be great. An entire journey without charging would be a welcome change.

A detachable keyboard can easily be  slipped onto the body that is available in both Black and White shades.

 Turn OFFs

With all its great features, the ME400 is a good buy considering what you can do on it. However, the dual core processor is unable to cope up with the demands of a full blown PC game and fails to deliver the kind of graphics one would expect.

Although still not as great a product as the Retina display Apple iPad, the VivoTab is in a genre of its own. Asus has  been slowly establishing itself as a rising high end Tablet maker with the likes of the Nexus 7 performing well in the market. The VivoTab Smart ME400 with its great features and steep price, goes onto reinforce that point.

Priced at $ 499, the Tab is still to be introduced in India. However, it is available on Amazon.com for $ 487.99. A little towards the expensive side, but worth a buy for Windows 8 fans, as and when it is introduced.