[Q] Ultrabook or Laptop - General Questions and Answers

I will be getting a new laptop In a few months primarily because mine is very outdated (4 yrs old running c2d) and it freezes occasionally but besides that I asked on another forum for laptop recommendations and someone suggested that I look at some Ultrabooks for their portability (I want a laptop that's not very heavy, less than 6lbs). I'll also need it for college, Im planning on going into animation, so I'll need it for that too.
Specs for the laptop that I'd want:
Lightweight:< 6lbs
13-15" screen
Budget: 1K-1.5K
1gb+ dedicated graphics card
Core i7 processor (multi-core)
6+ hrs battery life
The 2 things keeping me from getting an Ultrabook are the lack of a disk drive (minimal effect) and storage space as most SSD's are 256gb max. That being said what are some Laptop/Ultrabook recommendations based on my specs (The specs given are what I'm looking for, anything else is optional).

dkris2020 said:
I will be getting a new laptop In a few months primarily because mine is very outdated (4 yrs old running c2d) and it freezes occasionally but besides that I asked on another forum for laptop recommendations and someone suggested that I look at some Ultrabooks for their portability (I want a laptop that's not very heavy, less than 6lbs). I'll also need it for college, Im planning on going into animation, so I'll need it for that too.
Specs for the laptop that I'd want:
Lightweight:< 6lbs
13-15" screen
Budget: 1K-1.5K
1gb+ dedicated graphics card
Core i7 processor (multi-core)
6+ hrs battery life
The 2 things keeping me from getting an Ultrabook are the lack of a disk drive (minimal effect) and storage space as most SSD's are 256gb max. That being said what are some Laptop/Ultrabook recommendations based on my specs (The specs given are what I'm looking for, anything else is optional).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HP Folio us the best non-apple Ultrabook out there, impressive specs but the memory expansion on all of them is very limited so i would suggest a regular laptop/notebook with higher specs such as HP G-series very light with an optical drive. honestly i dont remember the lat time i used an optical drive for anything but thats just me.

ahkhands said:
HP Folio us the best non-apple Ultrabook out there, impressive specs but the memory expansion on all of them is very limited so i would suggest a regular laptop/notebook with higher specs such as HP G-series very light with an optical drive. honestly i dont remember the lat time i used an optical drive for anything but thats just me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't have an i7, but I was able to find a laptop with the things that was lightweight and had what I wanted. For some reason I tried to stay away from HP because I keep hearing negative things about their products.

Related

Android Tablet Discussion

I was thinking that a Generic Android Tablet Discussion thread would be a good idea. No matter the brand , maker size etc. Talk about them here.
Im debating between the Archos 101 and waiting to see if the Moto tab is good.
Whats Out There
I have been keeping a keen eye out for the variety of higher end tablets and here is what I have sort of come up with so far:
Samsung Tablet (7")
Motorola Stingray (10")
Viewsonic viewpad (7")
LG Optimus pad
SteamTV Elocity pad (7")
Archos Family of pads (3"-10")
They all have there merits, and the minor things that make them not so great. But here is a list of the gamot of features you can look for. Some of the tablets have alot of them, some have none, its basically what you want to do with it:
3G
WIFI
GPS
Bluetooth 2.1 or 3.0
Capacitive Screen
USB port(s)
(Micro) SD card slot
HDMI
G-Sensor
Accelerator meter
Geomagnetic sensor
Light Sensor
Front Camera
Back Camera
Google Apps Integration
NVIDA Tegra 2 versus 1GHx CPU w/ GPU
1024 x 600 resolution versus 800 x 480
RAM
Disk Space
Version of Android (2.2 now 3.0 later)
-MW
I know they are poppping out of the woodwork now. My biggest thing is that the majority are really expensive. Like the new Toshiba announced today is $540. THat is why Either the Cruz or Archos will match all my criteria. But the nice thing is that there seems to be a ton of different options.
Toshiba Folio 100
10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen
1024 x 600
Android 2.2 (Froyo)
NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor
16 GB internal storage (32 GB available SD expansion)
Adobe Flash 10.1
1.3 MP front-facing camera
Mini-HDMI
USB 2.0
Bluetooth 2.1
WLAN (802.11)
Mobile broadband (available Q1 2011)
I've been disappointed with the IFA ones as almost all of them have 3G which means here, onerous data contracts or ridiculous prices w/o.
Archos underwent feature regression(e.g. no GPS), and has some whacked prices for the 70 & 101. The rest seem kind of useless to me too small and at least the smallest two don't have any way of expanding storage which makes them kind of useless as anything other than a portable music player.
The Viewsonic is the Olivepad one? Didn't seem to be all that great.
Toshiba Folio MIGHT have been nice, but that Tegra will likely make it expensive.
...just too many hawking 3G and not enough that have useful extras like higher res cameras, GPS, mics, and maybe bluetooth... i.e. I'm just meh'ed by IFA offerings... Witstech A81-E is still looking good and they just got another new fw release 8/31...
Good catch, forgot the toshiba one. Here is what I am looking for a tablet:
3G (mainly so I can have google apps)
7" Display
Capacitive screen (OMLED prefered)
1024 x 600
Android 2.2 upgradeable to android 3.0
front camera
1 GHz CPU (perferably the tegra 2)
GPU (if no NVIDIA CPU)
front camera (dont care about a back one)
A-GPS
Bluetooth (at least 2.1)
WIFI B/G/N
USB
8+ GB internal storage
SD card slot is nice but not manditory
HDMI is nice but not manditory
Which matches up with the samsung tab, but the British price I found had it at over 600 British pounds, which converts to over 1000 US dollars.
-MW
mothy said:
I know they are poppping out of the woodwork now. My biggest thing is that the majority are really expensive. Like the new Toshiba announced today is $540. THat is why Either the Cruz or Archos will match all my criteria. But the nice thing is that there seems to be a ton of different options.
Toshiba Folio 100
10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen
1024 x 600
Android 2.2 (Froyo)
NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor
16 GB internal storage (32 GB available SD expansion)
Adobe Flash 10.1
1.3 MP front-facing camera
Mini-HDMI
USB 2.0
Bluetooth 2.1
WLAN (802.11)
Mobile broadband (available Q1 2011)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn that is expensive.
Im mainly looking for a ereader, web surfer, watch some videos on trips, and check my gapps when on wifi.
Check out the stream tv elocity pad. No 3g, but no gps ether. the reason why everyone puts on 3g is because it's the only way to get google apps on it, until google changes their requirements for google apps.
-MW
Sent from my Android for Telechips TCC8900 Evaluation Board (US) using XDA App
My wishlist is 2ghz processor at least 50gb harddrive maybe even (dare I say it) windows 7. I would like my tablet to replace my laptop. Android just isn't ready yet.
I saw talks of honeycomb [url="http://phandroid.com/2010/09/02/android-3-5-honeycomb-to-be-on-samsungs-next-generation-of-tablets-in-2011/]"here[/url] on the samsung tablet. That might be nice . Or that isn't going to be outdated in a few months
Asadullah said:
My wishlist is 2ghz processor at least 50gb harddrive maybe even (dare I say it) windows 7. I would like my tablet to replace my laptop. Android just isn't ready yet.
I saw talks of honeycomb [url="http://phandroid.com/2010/09/02/android-3-5-honeycomb-to-be-on-samsungs-next-generation-of-tablets-in-2011/]"here[/url] on the samsung tablet. That might be nice . Or that isn't going to be outdated in a few months
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a 2Ghz CPU, as of right now, is over powered for android. I have a Gentouch78 tablet that runs at 600MHz and it seems to run OK. My 1GHz nexus one has had no issues, and I have it multi tasking several apps at once sometimes. It will get really hot, especially when I toss the car charger on it while its doing all that, but never seen it slow down to unresponsiveness. As for the HDD space. I dont use mine much for multi media, so 50gb would be overdoing it for me. Just the ability to have an SD card slot would be enough for me, that right there is 32 gb.
Now dealing with the android OS itself, this is where things are starting to get wierd. You have 2.2, which is really a phone OS, you have 3.0 which is really a tablet OS, and so the current samsung tablet is supposed to be 2.2 and will get 3.0, but now this 3.5 is where it gets confusing. Some of the stuff I have been reading is stating that 3.5 is going to be an entirely different OS completly, or at least have an entirely different usage beyond that of a tablet or cell phone. And that you will have to buy an entirely new piece of hardware to use it because samsung already said their current tablet wont get 3.5 when it comes out, but i twill get 3.0. This is making me think that 3.5 may be the google chrome OS, which from what I am hearing I am not a total fan of. So basically, the idea as I understand it, is that the hardware will just be the input/output device and all the applications will be stored on teh cloud as well as the work being done will be done on the cloud. This is all nice and dandy until either 1) everyone gets on all at once and bogs down the system or 2) the cloud or network goes down and the device is worthless. Thats why I like android right now. If you have no data connection you can still do work. Now some things on android that do run off the cloud, like the GPS, if you need to reroute and you loose the data connection, since all the work is done on the back end you cant get anywhere until the data connection comes back.
Since Android is a full fledge Linux OS I think it can do whatever you need it to do, you just need to port the apps over. So i think it can replace a laptop, but there will always be certain things that make a laptop easier to use that are unrelated to the android OS, like a real keyboard. With phones, for instance, I still feel more comfortable texting on a physical keyboard on my blackberry then I do on the virtual keyboard on my nexus one. Now can I develope a web page, photoshop some images and toss them on the web page, with android? If they ported the apps over then sure why not, the physical keyboard will just make it easier. But as soon as you start talking windows 7 you are changing the entire hardware requirements (ARM CPU versus an x86 CPU) which will allow you to run your favorite web development software and photo editing software, and now your 50gb of disk space will be all chewed up with the OS and applications but no room for media, and with the new hardware requirements the price goes up (not like the samsung tab isnt expensive either) but then the bottom line is its still awkward to use because of the lack of a physical keyboard.
Now I am just using web development/photo editing as an example, simplier tasks, like email and web surfing, will require less and are easily done on the android OS. But the bottom line is to use the right tool for the right job, outline your requirements and find a solution that best fits your needs. I believe that android will be a decent laptop replacement if all your doing with your laptop is surfing the web and sending email but if your trying to do less casual stuff, like photo editing and web development, then android right now is obviously not enough, but in the future it might be. It goes back to the age old question, does hardware push the software industry, or does software push the hardware industry?
-MW
Here is the Archos 101 in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZD4Mdkt40g
You can see all the new Archos line in action here:
http://archosfans.com/
Nice...
@mothy: They're all very nice and all..but taking out the GPS is like taking a step back.....Price is nice, but I'm sure there'll be cheaper WITH GPS before too long.
marcelol said:
@mothy: They're all very nice and all..but taking out the GPS is like taking a step back.....Price is nice, but I'm sure there'll be cheaper WITH GPS before too long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe..but for me I have no use for GPS on a tablet....but that is just me. Just like all new technologies price points will get better with maturity of product.
Hello, I am newbie in using (or just having) android tablet and I am seeking one that will suits me. I found this one
Code:
gpccn.com/picshow.asp?id=31&fl=Tablet%20pc
and like it.
I want
capacitive multitouch screen
fast CPU
7 to 10 inch screen
HDMI, USB, G-sensor etc
It looks that this device have all of this, but it has just 512MB nand and it has 1366x768 and I dont know if nand will be enough and if there will be any use for such high resolution if there is no possibilities for using market
What do you thing? Is there anybody who knows this company? Anybody with tablet 1366x768?
Thanks for any reply
ondrapopik said:
Hello, I am newbie in using (or just having) android tablet and I am seeking one that will suits me. I found this one
Code:
gpccn.com/picshow.asp?id=31&fl=Tablet%20pc
and like it.
I want
capacitive multitouch screen
fast CPU
7 to 10 inch screen
HDMI, USB, G-sensor etc
It looks that this device have all of this, but it has just 512MB nand and it has 1366x768 and I dont know if nand will be enough and if there will be any use for such high resolution if there is no possibilities for using market
What do you thing? Is there anybody who knows this company? Anybody with tablet 1366x768?
Thanks for any reply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm.... looks like they took a screenshot of an android VM running on ubuntu and photoshopped it into their device. If they don't have any pictures of the tablet in action, I'd be really dubious...
Finally I ordered this one, so will post some review when it arrives.
So I tested tablet I ordered few weeks ago and realized that this is the same device as Advent Vega. I test quadrant benchmark and got 2200 points without any customization of rom.
Screen is nice and response is fast. I can recommend this one.
ondrapopik said:
So I tested tablet I ordered few weeks ago and realized that this is the same device as Advent Vega. I test quadrant benchmark and got 2200 points without any customization of rom.
Screen is nice and response is fast. I can recommend this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell us where you got it from please? Thanks.
Itaintrite said:
Can you tell us where you got it from please? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found it on alibaba.com ( w w w . alibaba. com/product-tp/111757797/Nvidia_10Inch_tablet_PC_with_Capacitive.html ) or you can try web I posted before

Another Tegra2 Tablet in US

Hi all,
Another Tegra2 tablet, eLocity A7, is finally available in-store:
http://www.centredaily.com/2010/12/15/2404279/elocity-a7-mobile-tablet-launching.html
I'll check it out at Fry's & Micro center.
Seems better option than the Archos 70, but considering about same price of Gtablet, the G appears the better option over the Elocity A7.
Not to mention uncharted mod territiry. Gtablet is proven in that regard
rushless said:
Seems better option than the Archos 70, but considering about same price of Gtablet, the G appears the better option over the Elocity A7.
Not to mention uncharted mod territiry. Gtablet is proven in that regard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree. 6 months back I was looking at this tab or Galaxy Tab but got GTab with Zpad/TnT-Lite and there's no looking back ... . BTW, haven't touched my Dell XT 12" laptop since.
I wonder if everything works, or same problems as the other Tegra devices so far.
Seems big price differences:
Amazon = $380
Tiger = $350
BJs = $300
Hmmm.. Which would I pick.....
Agreed on the lappy use. My M11X has been used twice since having the G.
Well looks like elocity took their time, flash works. But angry birds wont install. I got this info from the amazon review from a guy that just got it. My only question is how is the screen? I myself have the gtab and really like it. Once I get my desktop gtab holders, I will be even happier. I was interested in the a7 a few months back and consider it a real contender since they have a built in hdmi port. I know I could have used that port his past weekend while stuck in chicago. After getting the gtab and putting on tnt lite, no going back.
Btw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6foXW1zizM
Shows a hands on review of the Elocity A7 - same screen viewing angles?
only 4gb internal
I'd get it over the gtab if it had a higher Res screen. 800x480 isn't enough.
Looks pretty cool! The screen resolution is a little low, as is the internal memory. But you gotta envy the HDMI port. Our device might be able to do hdmi with a special cable someday soon, but who knows. Also, at a pound, it is not exactly a lightweight. I'm not sure how I would feel about a 7 inch after having the g tablet. There are times I wish our screen was a little bigger...like at the end of the day and my eyes are tired and I am trying to read this forum!
Same display issues as the g, but lower screen res. The advantage with the display is more native for current apps so almost all would work.
Catch is that based on reports, the Nvidia updates we have are not on the device, since Angry Birds apparently does not work. No market bridge yet either.
The issues we have with ports (bluetooth, mounting) and the accelerometer are apparently not an issue. Also, microsd mapping issues are not a factor, since apparently, the entire 4gb is for device app space (no internal sd space), so like the Advent, you need a micro sd.
If just 4gb, smart move mapping this way, since 3.6gb device space is about right. Not too much and not too little.
So far this is what I've gathered:
- viewing angle issue
- No true multitouch (only 1 +1 pinch as stated in eLocity website)
- Quandrant score: ~1800 (stock)
More info about this eLocity A7 posted here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872299
rushless said:
Same display issues as the g, but lower screen res. The advantage with the display is more native for current apps so almost all would work.
Catch is that based on reports, the Nvidia updates we have are not on the device, since Angry Birds apparently does not work. No market bridge yet either.
The issues we have with ports (bluetooth, mounting) and the accelerometer are apparently not an issue. Also, microsd mapping issues are not a factor, since apparently, the entire 4gb is for device app space (no internal sd space), so like the Advent, you need a micro sd.
If just 4gb, smart move mapping this way, since 3.6gb device space is about right. Not too much and not too little.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is the screen is lower rez but seems the viewing angles are definitely better

130 Dollar Android Laptop

Just came across this news that a laptop named Doel running Android has been produced in Bangladesh...and its running Android.
Here are the specs:
Doel 2102
10.0″ LCD Panel
(1024*600)
VIA 8650 800MHz
512 MB RAM
Integrated 0.3 MP
Webcam
WiFi 802.11b/g
2 USB 2.0
SD Slot for Max 32 GB
Google Android
Integrated
Price- $130
News Source: http://techspyre.com/doel-a-laptop-for-130-made-in-bangladesh/
Interesting, that price is about one month salary for the average worker. Compare that to here (USA) a computer is 3-4 days of an average workers salary. I great start to helping the 8th largest population to become digital
there are lots of those similar ones on deal extreme
all of those android "laptops" are more a Netbook than an actual laptop.
I hope they open it for the international market...may be at a higher price so that the government can further subsidize the local price and make it more affordable
AllGamer said:
there are lots of those similar ones on deal extreme
all of those android "laptops" are more a Netbook than an actual laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But see it is something huge for a country like Bangladesh...
If it's any good and doesn't have any mjaor problems, i would buy one.
here's a semi decent one like the one OP mentioned
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/7-resi...c-with-wifi-tf-hdmi-white-arm-cortex-a9-67193
again only 512 RAM, froyo, ARM 9, 4GB internal, 7" screen, sd card slot, 3.5mm Audio,2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, Earphone, power adapter included
another one http://www.dealextreme.com/p/8-touc...d-2-2-tablet-pc-w-wifi-tf-arm-v9-800mhz-70508
8" instead
Getting one of these is something that I need to look into
i've been keeping my eyes on many of those
waiting for a dual core model to pop up
Screw it and get a decent tablet and a blue tooth keypad, I love my gtab and with all the development going on I can have anew device in a few mins .
IM looking for a cheap but rather reliable pad for a 10yo and occasionally a 4-5yo
I would buy one, thats a heck of a deal for the average user.
Resistive screens are terrible unfortunately otherwise it's pretty decent.
Sent from my GT-S5830 using XDA App
I think that is a good price for something like that. but what is the HD space? and you cant do much of anything major with 512MB ram but its probably a descent piece of harware
Again I'd like to stress that there are scores of such tabs already available, but it is something big and commendable for a developing nation like Bangladesh.

Why I Chose The Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 Over LG's New G Pad 8.3 Tablet

I Welcome Discussion..
Reasons why I felt the Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 Tablet is a better investment for me vs the LG G Pad 8.3 Tablet..
Short Version..
1) Resolution is 1920 x 1200 on both: 10 inches is better than 8.3 inches
2) Dedicated HDMI Out: Slimport & MHL Technologies need a power source to work without fail.. HDMI Out does not.
3) 32Gb of Internal Storage On The FHD 10 vs 16Gb on the G Pad 8.3: This plus 64 Gb Micro SD Card support.
4) A True Tablet UI: Icon Dock does not get rotated vertically to the right side of screen in Landscape.
5) Price: The MeMO PAD FHD 10 32Gb Version is at least $20.00 cheaper than the 16Gb (only option) G Pad 8.3..
Disagree?
Please Explain why...
Long Version..
1A) Even though the MeMO FHD 10 has a lower Lux rating you would be hard pressed to tell unless you are sitting in the middle of a grass field at high noon and the sun is right over your head.. other than that you Can see the screen outdoors..
2A) I've owned the Samsung Tab 3 8.0 & Note 8.0 along with a Nexus-7 2013.. The Samsung's had Samsung's own MHL adapter that I ordered.. it claimed to be able to charge your device while sending a HDMI signal / Picture out to your Big Screen.. That was not the case. The Tablet's still drained with use.. you needed that AC power just to get the unit to work.. if you tried not using AC and just plugging into your Tablet's USB port, the HDMI Out signal from you device to your T.V. was a no go or spotty if you were lucky. Same case for the Slimport Device I order for the Nexus-7 2013.
True HDMI Out Eliminates all of that.
You can now use the AC power to keep your Tablet charged as normal.. Have a dedicated HDMI Signal sending out information.. And in my case, combining that with a Bluetooth Game Controller I now have a Fully Functional Gaming Console.. just as if it were an Xbox or Playstation but now I can get HD games for $7.00 max instead of $59.99 max... all day play on the Big Screen without having to worry about battery drain.
3A) There is no argument here.. 32Gb without tricks is 32Gb without tricks,, with 26Gb ready for ALL downloaded Apps & Media guaranteed to work if you never install an SD Card.. vs 11.6 Gb's Available on the G Pad 8.3.
4A) It may not bother you in the least.. but I personally cannot stand the way Sub-10 inch Tablets rotate the icon dock to a vertical stance on the right side of the screen in Landscape mode.. It looks hideous to me.. Yes, there are way around it by dis-figuring icons or having none.. but why go through that? True Tablet Mode eliminates this nagging issue for me.
5A) The soon to be released ( As of this writing ) Nexus-10 2013 I am sure will be at least $399.00 for 16Gb & $499.00 for 32Gb's of storage.. with NO SD Card slot as we well know.. Sharper Brighter Screen? Yes.. worth $200.00 more for a 32Gb version to "Me" ? Nope.
The LG G Pad 8.3 with it's Snapdragon 600 heart will ( and already does ) get lots of development.. ROM's a plenty! where my Asus MeMO FHD 10 cannot even get a Thread!! ( Joking.. Not Angry at all )
And you know what? I may be getting a little old but... I can live with that!
The Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 is one of the most Lightly Skinned UI's out there.. Coupled with Intel's CloverTrail+ Technology, it's efficient and smooth without Lagg.
I thought long and hard about my decision.. even returning the first 16Gb $279.99 FHD 10 I had.. and just stayed "Empty Handed" for a few days to go over the Pro & Cons without bias..
My Conclusion was.. You cannot get more *Bang For The Buck* than the 32Gb Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 offers.
If you are a Flash-A-Holic ,
Buy a Nexus-7 2013.
Very Nice.. To see everyone in 100% agreement..
RaiderWill said:
Very Nice.. To see everyone in 100% agreement..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like i've said in the other thread... i agree with you.
And have hope that x86 will see some adoption on the soft dev's part since it is a more "powerful" computer architecture (1 single core can do more calculus per second than a single core Cortex A15... and probably even more than the Cortex A57 cores)
Plus the Z2560 SoC its really a great chip... even with demanding games it never runs hot ... and the battery last a lot more time than the ARM based devices.
The next gen SoC's from Intel (Z3xxx) have the power to put ARM SoC's to shame (in terms of compute "power", and probably power consumption) except for the GPU (i really don't understand why they [Intel] are going to use their crappy GPU arch...)... Its going to be very interesting to see if Intel will gain a momentum in the mobile devices...
I just hope they both keep on the market, because the winner is the consumer (and computer science)... Would love to see some Power arch devices as well and some MIPS...
Exnor said:
Like i've said in the other thread... i agree with you.
And have hope that x86 will see some adoption on the soft dev's part since it is a more "powerful" computer architecture
Plus the Z2560 SoC its really a great chip... even with demanding games it never runs hot ... and the battery last a lot more time than the ARM based devices.
The next gen SoC's from Intel (Z3xxx) have the power to put ARM SoC's to shame (in terms of compute "power", Its going to be very interesting to see if Intel will gain a momentum in the mobile devices...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Exnor.. I just wanted to clarify, This thread was not addressing you personally..
But I agree with all your points. Especially the point of the MeMO FHD 10 NEVER running hot.. no matter what you throw at it... I Love That.
it's just icing on the cake.. And I've read several reviews of the G Pad 8.3.. Let's just say my bubble was busted.. It's a great Tablet but at $350.00+ Tax it's well overpriced in today's market just like the Note 8.0 is at $360.00+ Tax for an 8" Tablet.. I don't care what the modding community does with Root & Roms for those 2 Tablets.. And they bring less to the table than the Less Expensive Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10..
RaiderWill said:
Hey Exnor.. I just wanted to clarify, This thread was not addressing you personally..
But I agree with all your points. Especially the point of the MeMO FHD 10 NEVER running hot.. no matter what you throw at it... I Love That.
it's just icing on the cake.. And I've read several reviews of the G Pad 8.3.. Let's just say my bubble was busted.. It's a great Tablet but at $350.00+ Tax it's well overpriced in today's market just like the Note 8.0 is at $360.00+ Tax for an 8" Tablet.. I don't care what the modding community does with Root & Roms for those 2 Tablets.. And they bring less to the table than the Less Expensive Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol i know it was not address to me : ).
So u dint add the 32GB version? This tablet is a keeper: D
Exnor said:
Lol i know it was not address to me : ).
So u dint add the 32GB version? This tablet is a keeper: D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did.. When I returned the 16 Gb I decided to step up to a 32 Gb this time around..
Have you tried a 64 Gb card? I have read conflicting reports that it support it... Either way I am cool having over 50 Gb's Minimum of storage onboard is just fine with me... but if it ends up being 26 Gb's available (Internal) + 60 Gb's (SD Card) available.. I won't argue with having over 80Gb's of storage onboard as well.. :good: and you are correct..
This Tablet is definitely a Keeper.. It just brings too much to the table and has an extremely light UI, Tremendous Batterylife, HD, HDMI, O.T.G... the list goes on and on...
RaiderWill said:
Yes I did.. When I returned the 16 Gb I decided to step up to a 32 Gb this time around..
Have you tried a 64 Gb card? I have read conflicting reports that it support it... Either way I am cool having over 50 Gb's Minimum of storage onboard is just fine with me... but if it ends up being 26 Gb's available (Internal) + 60 Gb's (SD Card) available.. I won't argue with having over 80Gb's of storage onboard as well.. :good: and you are correct..
This Tablet is definitely a Keeper.. It just brings too much to the table and has an extremely light UI, Tremendous Batterylife, HD, HDMI, O.T.G... the list goes on and on...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually i did not tried any sdcard yet .
The internal flash is more than enough for me right now, because i only use it for OS and Apps... I stream all videos and audio from my NAS.
I would give it a try, but i don't have a 64GiB sdcard
Exnor said:
Actually i did not tried any sdcard yet .
The internal flash is more than enough for me right now, because i only use it for OS and Apps... I stream all videos and audio from my NAS.
I would give it a try, but i don't have a 64GiB sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response Exnor.. I know.. we have a Ton of Memory available I basically have 32 Gb card I've dragged from device to device that is the culmination of several years of stuff.. 1/2 a dozen Cutting Edge 3D Games 1/2 dozen Movies 90 average apps and I still have over 13 Gb's available internally and 16 Gb's of old stuff on my SD Card... So I'm not hurting for space either but I'm just curious if anyone has confirmed it working or not.. I may buy one if I spot a fair deal and give it a shot myself.. with so many new games in the works and everything now being in High Definition, It will not hurt in the long run to have a much space available as possible.. even though I also have 50 gigs of it free for the next 2 years I just cannot get into "The Cloud" for storage at all... I want my material kept locally..
RaiderWill said:
Thanks for the response Exnor.. I know.. we have a Ton of Memory available I basically have 32 Gb card I've dragged from device to device that is the culmination of several years of stuff.. 1/2 a dozen Cutting Edge 3D Games 1/2 dozen Movies 90 average apps and I still have over 13 Gb's available internally and 16 Gb's of old stuff on my SD Card... So I'm not hurting for space either but I'm just curious if anyone has confirmed it working or not.. I may buy one if I spot a fair deal and give it a shot myself.. with so many new games in the works and everything now being in High Definition, It will not hurt in the long run to have a much space available as possible.. even though I also have 50 gigs of it free for the next 2 years I just cannot get into "The Cloud" for storage at all... I want my material kept locally..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Word of caution mate, dont buy cheap SDcards... they usually are below standard and have very poor compatibility and data rates. Best OEM so far i've experienced are Sandisk, Transcend and Samsung.
I don't use the "cloud" either. Its stupid to use a service that you need constant ISP service and a fair bandwidth... People will realize this in time (i'm talking of course of mass market products, not professional ones).
I use the Goggle "cloud" just to backup text files(Docs, PDFS etc...)... for that is very very usefull, BUT i have always a redundant copy on several computers or on my Backup HDD's (not networked... never put sensitive stuff on a network).
Changing subject, this week Intel announced that they will start to manufacture ARM based SoC's for other companies (since they have the best semiconductor facilities in the world along side with Samsung and Texas (?)).
No word if Intel will return to produce their own ARM based SoC.. (like in 2000-2003) but its unlikely since they are really pushing the Atom Z3xxx series SoC out there to tablets and low end laptops.
The new Asus phone pad already uses a Z3xxx (4 x86 cores... but a Intel GPU arch :/)... would like to see how they perform.
Exnor said:
Word of caution mate, dont buy cheap SDcards... they usually are below standard and have very poor compatibility and data rates. Best OEM so far i've experienced are Sandisk, Transcend and Samsung.
I don't use the "cloud" either. Its stupid to use a service that you need constant ISP service and a fair bandwidth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to worry Exnor.. Nothing but Sandisk for years now..
Give Intel until 2020.. they will be a Major Player and possibly the *Leader* in this industry as what is known as the " Laptop / Computers" of 2013 become the Dinosaurs of 2020.. Powerful Tablets will replace these bulky concepts in the next 6 years..
RaiderWill said:
Not to worry Exnor.. Nothing but Sandisk for years now..
Give Intel until 2020.. they will be a Major Player and possibly the *Leader* in this industry as what is known as the " Laptop / Computers" of 2013 become the Dinosaurs of 2020.. Powerful Tablets will replace these bulky concepts in the next 6 years..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree... Intel have made huge progress in power consumption savings. And ARM does not have a processor arch that can rival head-to-head with currently available x86 arch...
But i hope they both stay in the market, because competition is what makes new tech to be produced and better prices for the consumer
Exnor said:
I agree... Intel have made huge progress in power consumption savings. And ARM does not have a processor arch that can rival head-to-head with currently available x86 arch...
But i hope they both stay in the market, because competition is what makes new tech to be produced and better prices for the consumer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exnor.. I am quite sure neither side is ready to relent this growing market.. but Intel has to take it.. Arm most certainly will not give it away..
Hi!
Sorry I'm a little bit off topic, but I am having a problem which is simmilar to yours RaiderWill. I am trying to decide which tablet to buy and after reading your post and comparing it to my opinions and prices in my country (Poland), I am sure that Asus FHD is the best tablet for me. The only thing that keeps me from buying it is the Note 10.1. It is the same size as the Asus, has lower resolution screen (but the image is good overall), but it has the SPen and in Poland it costs as much as the Asus.
Have you considered buying /or have you had/ this tablet? What do you think about it, is it worth considering?
Thanks
I just received mine the other day, and I don't know why people are trashing the tablet. So far every app I've tried has worked outstanding and out performs my other android tablets.
Now if more people would get one so xda would create a forum for it.
I've had both. I went with the Google play edition LG pad. I felt that the Asus tablet felt sluggish at times with just the dual core Intel chip. And I think the screen on the LG looked much better. But as far as price goes, yes its overpriced. Should be around $299
What is the hold up on development for this tablet do you think?
Turbojugend said:
What is the hold up on development for this tablet do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read a post some guys in Germany were able to root and install 4.6.2 somehow.
Misfit7 said:
I read a post some guys in Germany were able to root and install 4.6.2 somehow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the latest software 4.7.3 rooted no problem, but I meant more or any custom roms, this device has been out for a while I think hasn't it? I am wondering since it is an Intel chipset that development won't happen at all on it.
Turbojugend said:
I have the latest software 4.7.3 rooted no problem, but I meant more or any custom roms, this device has been out for a while I think hasn't it? I am wondering since it is an Intel chipset that development won't happen at all on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your are correct it has been out for a couple of months. I just got mine last week and been searching like a maniac for roms. I'm thinking since it's still not as popular and the nexus it's going to take some time before we see anu development.
the Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 is boring
The Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10 costs the same as the LG pad but it's a 10in tablet. That alone can sway you to it. However, when you look at the Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10, it doesn't blow you away. Boring

The Cube i7 hands-on review – the first Core-M tablet from China

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Cube is well-known for their cost-efficient Android tablets, which matched those market-leading flagship slates in terms of overall performance while having a much lower price. And last year, this Chinese company started to enter new areas such as the smart accessories as well as Windows tablets to compensate its shrinking Android tablet business.
Cube's first-ever business-focused high-end tablet, the i7, is a superior system in every way. With a stunning, high-resolution screen and a wider range of connections, but it’s the upgrade to the extremely powerful Intel Core-M processor that is most telling. Also, with Windows 8.1 and the full range of applications at its disposal, the i7 feels like a stronger, more flexible device.
Cube i7 main specs:
• OS: Windows 8.1 with Bing (64-bit)
• Screen: 11.6-inch IPS, 10-point multi-touch, IGZO
• Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
• CPU: Intel Broadwell Core-M 5Y10c
• CPU Frequency: 0.8GHz (Base clock) – 2.0GHZ (Turbo clock)
• GPU: Intel HD Graphics 5300
• RAM / Storage: 4GB DDR3L / 128GB SSD
• Function: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G, USB Host, HDMI
• WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot
• GSM: band2, band3, band5, band8
• TDS: band34, band39
• WCDMA: band1, band5
• TDD: band38, band39, band40, band41
• FDD: band1, band3, band7
• Camera: 5MP back camera, 2MP front camera
• Battery: 7.4V - 5,000mAh
• Ports: Micro SD Card Slot, Micro USB 3.0 Port, Micro SIM Card Slot, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, DC Charging Port
• Size: 297*180*9.1mm, Weight: 840g
Design
Cube i7 (left), Acer W700 (right)
Android tablets and Apple iPads might be fighting it out for the thinnest, lightest tablet title, but Windows tablets normally are not competing that fiercely in this department. With its unusual 11.6-inch screen and rather big bezel, the Cube i7, which is 9.1mm thick and 840 grams in weight, is neither particularly svelte nor particularly light by tablet standards. It is as thick as the Microsoft Surface Pro3, which also measures at 9.1mm.
But if we compare it to the older Windows tablet models, we found it a much more compact slate than products such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 (13.5mm, 907g) and the Acer ICONIA W700 (11.9mm, 950g). The reason that the Cube i7 is much slimmer than most of its competitors is because it is fanless, and we will discuss this later in our review. With that said, it’s a little too heavy to use comfortably one-handed, and makes more sense if you have it resting on the arm of a chair or your lap while you tap away.
On the plus side, the relatively large bezel makes it very easy to grip, and you have to twist quite hard before there’s a hint of give where the corners meet the sliver metallic rim.
The rear cover sports Cube and Intel Inside logos, while there’s a plastic piece at the top where the 5-megapixel camera pokes through.
The i7 is an incredibly promising tablet when it comes to connectivity. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Micro SD card slot, a Micro-HDMI port for an external display and – best of all – a micro USB 3.0 port as well as a Micro SIM card slot. With these two, it can connect to any USB 2.0 or 3.0 device that will run on Windows 8.1 and access the internet almost anywhere. Fortunately, the i7 is charging through an independent DC port, and I personally prefer this design rather than charging through the Micro USB 3.0 port because we often need to use the USB port to connect to other USB devices such as a mouse or external storages. What’s more, with Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, it couldn’t be better equipped for wireless connectivity. The only negative I could think of is that the Micro SD card slot featured on the i7 only supports cards up to 32GB, which could potentially be a pain in the ass in the time coming.
There are only two physical buttons – the power/standby key and the volume rocker, both hosted on the top edge of the tablet.
The Touch Windows Key is located on the front panel, below the display. And the front facing 2MP camera is in the middle of bezel above the screen.
Look at the bottom of the tablet and you’ll also spot another connector which connects its keyboard magnetically. Sadly, the keyboard cover, although already on sale as a standard accessory which is included in the retail package, isn’t available for test. That’s a shame. With a keyboard cover attached Cube i7 could rival the Surface Pro 2 as a convertible ultrabook-style device.
The Cube i7's build quality is solid - it has to be at this thickness to ensure rigidity - but not as altogether epic as the Surface Pro 3's look and feel. Cube's use of a blue metallic shell gives the tablet decent premium feel, but it doesn’t offer multi-color options like the Microsoft Surface does.
Screen and sound
Cube understands well that 1920 x 1080 is the new baseline standard for a high-end tablet, despite the operating system it runs. So we get a full HD 1080p 11.6-inch screen on the i7. That’s tangibly larger than the screen on your average tablet, and 1-inch larger than the screen on the Surface Pro2. That’s bad news for pixel density, but good news if you plan to get some work done, as that little extra bit of screen real estate makes it easier to see what you’re doing if you’re working on Office documents, browsing complex web pages or using the Windows Snap split-screen view. With that said, I personally prefer the 12-inch display on the Surface Pro 3, the 3:2 screen aspect ratio makes better sense for business use, which is the ultimate selling point of Windows tablets.
Quality of the i7’s display, meanwhile, is extremely good. Text still looks smooth and crisp, and while the display isn’t the brightest we’ve seen – particularly when you compared it to the ultra-bright panel on the Acer ICONIA W700 – it does have wide viewing angles and an impressive richness and depth of color to compensate. It’s an excellent screen for entertainment, but a good screen for productivity, as well.
Audio is a mixed bag. It’s clearer and much more detailed than you generally get from a tablet, with a wider stereo sound. Unfortunately it’s also a little thin, a little bit wearing and doesn’t offer much in the volume department, particularly if you’re playing music or watching some Action films. The Cube i7 is nowhere near what the Dolby enhanced Acer ICONIA W700 can do in terms of the volume of the speakers.
As with the vast majority of tablets, we’d recommend headphones if you want decent sonic experience.
Performance
Cube has equipped the i7 with an Intel Core-M CPU, which has a base clock of 0.8-1.0GHZ and a Turbo clock of 2.0GHZ, Aided by the incredibly beefy Graphics HD 5300, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 128GB Solid State Drive, it is surprisingly fleet of foot. For those who don’t know much about Intel’s Core-M processor, it is a new 14 nanometer processor which matches the horsepower of the Intel Core-i5 Haswell series CPU yet doesn’t need fan cooling!
As a standalone tablet, the i7 delivered, with good on-screen typing, an accelerometer that wasn't too sensitive. Volume controls on the top edge, along with Micro-USB and Micro-SD card slots make it reasonably easy to use this as a standalone device. Startup and application load times are swift, and the SSD is much faster than the eMMc drive we've encountered with budget Windows tablets. Sequential read and write speeds of 504MB/sec and 139MB/sec respectively in the AS SSD benchmark are respectable. To make it short, you won’t be needing any more performance if you use the i7 as a tablet, full stop.
Of course, for a more all-day experience, you'll want to add a keyboard and touch pad or mouse. Cube makes it easy, with a snap-on keyboard dock that transforms the combined system into a traditional clamshell laptop. Although our test unit doesn't come with the customized keyboard base, we had no problem connecting the i7 with different Bluetooth and Wireless keyboards.
Unlike the entry-level Atom Bay-trail powered Windows tablets, which normally struggle with heavier desktop applications. The Cube i7 is built for serious tasks, most of the heavy desktop apps worked brilliantly.
If you find benchmark testing more convincing, the i7 was returned some impressive scores by various benchmarks, beating similar devices such as the Acer ICONIA W700 in most of the benchmark tests.
In the Cinebench Release 10, the Cube i7 was returned a score of 8,616, which didn’t match the 9,324 notched by the Surface Pro 3 (i5, 4GB RAM), but trumped the Acer ICONIA W700 and those entry-level Windows tablets such as the ASUS A100T and Cube iWork 10.
OpenGL is not a strong suite of the Core-M series processor, yet the Cube i7 still managed to get a score close to the test results of those i5 powered tablets in the Cinebench Release 11.5’s OpenGL test. Its CPU performance, according to the Cinebench CPU test, is somewhere between the Surface Pro 3 (i5, 4GB RAM) and the Acer W700.
The Fritz Chess Benchmark returned a score of 3,877, which was indeed far behind the 4,899 by the Surface Pro 3, but still quite ahead of the 2,983 by the Acer W700.
The web browsing performance of the i7 was exceptionally good. In the Sunspider test, the Cube i7 was returned a score of 82.5ms, which was the best I have ever seen on a tablet.
However, in the more graphic-intense Peacekeeper test, the i7’s scored less than the Surface Pro 3 and the Acer ICONIA W700.
Ludashi benchmark focus on the overall performance of a PC, and the Cube i7 also got a decent score running this test.
The HD Graphics 5300 embedded in the Core-M Processor is a slightly more powerful GPU than the HD4000 or HD4200 embedded in the 3rd and 4th generation of i-series processors, and even beats some entry-level discrete graphics, however, it still doesn’t match the performance of the HD4600 and HD5200, both of which have a higher voltage.
The i7 is clearly not a system designed for heavy 3D game lovers, although it is able to run most of the 3D games in acceptable frame rates. But as it is fanless, the heat could be overwhelming if you keep running graphic-intense games for a long period of time.
But if we are talking about business and everyday use, the Cube i7, when paired with a keyboard and a mouse, is a nearly perfect choice. I received the Cube i7 before the Chinese New Year break, and have done a lot of travelling since. I have been using my i7 to check emails, set up meetings and prepare business presentations. I have almost given up the desktop PC in my office because all the most updated business files and emails are now stored in my i7. I only need to connect it to a monitor when the 11.6-inch display feels too small for those complicated Excel sheets.
Even though the Cube i7 is a little more business-focused, but let’s not underestimate its potential for entertainment use. My Samsung Galaxy Tab has also been left unbooted for days as I have been using the i7 to stream my favorite TV shows and entertainment news. With the Windows 8.1 OS, I don’t need to worry about codec support for different formats of video files, like I normally do with Android tablets and iPads. It is true that Android and iOS have more multimedia applications and games designed around a touchscreen, but the number of apps in the Windows 8 store is also growing fast. And neither Android nor OS comes anywhere near Windows 8.1 when it comes to the total number of applications.
Many readers might be concerned about the heat dissipation of the i7’s fanless design like I did upon receiving my unit. The truth is, the i7 does get a little warm after a few hours of consecutive use, but never to a point where you want to get your hands off it.
Overall the i7 excels as a workhorse Windows 8 slate tablet. It's got a lot more performance potential than those Atom BayTrail-equipped Windows 8 tablets. Plus, a detachable keyboard base, which is included in the retail package, can turn the i7 into a full ultrabook. Therefore, the i7 can replace both your tablet and laptop. But if you only want a device for intense 3D gaming, it makes better sense to get a desktop PC with high-end discrete graphics and cooling fans.
Connectivity
Like we mentioned earlier in the review, the i7 offers a great deal in connectivity. Besides the USB port, Micro SD card slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth we normally get from a Windows tablet. The i7 also includes a Micro SIM card slot which supports both 4G FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE data services.
Internet access via the 4G and 3G networks is swift. And the Bluetooth 4.0 on board means you don’t always need the OTG adapter if you want to connect your tablet with input devices or an external audio system. With an SSD inside the shell, data transmission through the Micro USB 3.0 port is several times faster than through a USB 2.0 port on a laptop with HDD storage.
Keyboard Base
The keyboard base, which is included in the retail package, can easily be attached to the i7 through the magnetic connectors, instantly turning the i7 into a full laptop. Sadly, the base can only make the i7 stand with a fixed angle, which can be uncomfortable for the users sometimes.
Here, the keys aren't as squished as the ones on the Microsoft Surface Type Cover. The i7’s keyboard is more expansive, with no shrunken or undersized keys. It didn’t take me long before I was typing at my usual brisk pace.
The keys offer decent press depth, with every keystroke, I make a loud "clack," letting anyone around me know I'm getting stuff done. Just so you know, I'm typing this sentence from the i7. The thing is sitting on my lap, even. And you know what? I'm doing quite alright. This isn't my favorite keyboard, but I do feel comfortable enough. Also, the i7’s keyboard base is not as flimsy as the Surface Type Cover, Instead it is as sturdy and comfortable as most laptop keyboards.
The Cube i7’s keyboard base brings a touchpad as well, and that's a good thing, because the latest Windows 8.1 update made the OS much more mouse-and-keyboard friendly. Even though the touchpad is pretty precise and responsive, it's still many steps behind the sort of glass touchpad you'd find on the MacBook Air or many Windows Ultrabooks. It sometimes takes multiple tries to get two-finger scrolling to work. Ditto for clicking and dragging windows and other objects around the screen. Other times, I accidentally navigated backward out of a web page when I was really trying to do some other sort of gesture. If you intend the i7 to be your daily driver, you are better off with a wireless or Bluetooth mouse.
Besides the standard functions a keyboard is meant to offer, the i7’s keyboard base also provides the users with two additional full-sized USB ports, making it easier to connect the i7 to a mouse and storage devices while saving you from the burden of always carrying the OTG adapter.
Battery Life
What's funny about the Cube i7 is that it has a chipset which produces as much horsepower as most of the ultrabook systems, along with a 1080p touchscreen -- precisely the sort of thing that would normally suck the life out of a battery. And yet, the 7.4V, 5,000mAh battery lasts several hours longer than bigger touchscreen Windows 8 systems with similar internals. Specifically, we got 9 hours and 13 minutes of runtime after looping a video off the local disk with Wi-Fi off and the brightness fixed at 50 percent.
The i7 looks even more impressive when you compare it to lighter-weight, ARM-powered tablets. You wouldn't expect that to be the case -- this really isn't a fair fight -- but in fact the difference in battery life isn't as drastic as you'd imagine, especially if you take into account tablets that offer merely average endurance. The, for instance, the Xiaomi Pad lasts only about half an hour longer than the Cube i7; and most of the Android tablets we tested before were beaten by the i7.
We'll admit, the iPads or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S offer more longevity in the battery front. But here's the thing: we don't know of any Core-i5 tablets that can even come close. Take the Dell Venue 11 Pro for instance: it merely lasted 6 hours in the same battery run-down test, and also the Acer ICONIA W700, which I have used for more than 2 years, offered an average of 5.5 hours screen time on a charge. Compared to that, the Cube i7's battery life would seem much more exceptional. After all, those are the real competitions of the i7, at least as far as key specs go. It's incredible, then, that the i7's battery life is more typical of a low-powered ARM device.
Cameras
Photos taken by the rear camera
Like most of the tablets on the market, the i7 has dual cameras. The front-facing 2MP camera is decent enough for video-conferences on Skype, but you wouldn’t want to use it for selfie. The rear-facing 5MP camera is arguably the worst 5MP camera we have encountered. Even with decent lighting, it still cannot shoot photos clear enough for Instagram updates. With that said, who would actually use an 11.6-inch tablet to take pictures?
The Competition
We get what Cube was going for here and really, it's an intriguing proposition: a hybrid that can be used as a standalone tablet, but is powerful enough to be your next laptop. As we said, it's fast and offers awesomely long battery life, however, let's not forget the cost: with a connectable keyboard, the i7 is priced at RMB3,599 ($574.4), which is pretty aggressive pricing for a tablet with a Chinese brand attached to it. We suppose you'd feel more comfortable researching a few similar options before shelling out 600 bucks.
We mentioned the Surface Pro 3, which has already been on sale for a few months. It starts at $699 for the i3, 64GB model, with the Touch/Type Cover keyboard sold separately. All versions of the Surface Pro 3 support pen input, which the Cube i7 doesn't. For only $489.99, you can get a Dell Venue 11 Pro with a 10.8-inch display, a Core i5-4210Y processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD; for $723, you can get the more updated version of the Dell Venue 11 Pro, the Venue 11 Pro 7000, which features the same Core-M 5Y10, 4GB RAM and 128GB SDD as the Cube i7 does and, if money is less of an issue and you want an even more future-proof tablet, you can get the most advanced Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140 with an even more powerful Core-M 5Y71 processor, 8GB of DDR3L RAM and 256GB of SDD. However, whichever Dell Venue 11 Pro you choose, you will need to spend another tad of money for Dell’s keyboard.
If we take a look at Cube’s fellow Chinese competition, there are also a few options. One of them is the RAMOS M12, which made its debut appearance at CES, 2015, features a more powerful Core-M 5Y70 processor, an 11.6-inch 1080P display and 4GB RAM and, most of all, an adjustable stand as well as a full USB3.0 port. Another one is the PIPO K2, which is powered by the same hardware as the Cube i7 is and also includes a Micro USB 3.0 port. However, neither the RAMOS M12 nor the PIPO K2 is available now, even worse, their prices and release dates are still unknown.
Wrap-up
Upon unboxing the Cube i7, I instantly fell in love with this slate a lot. After a few weeks spent with it, I still do, and I think you might too, but you'll have to get past some surface flaws in order to truly appreciate it. The i7 is heavy, even for a tablet with a capable Core-M processor, and though it's slim and solidly built, it has a plain look that can be off-putting. The good news is that it's fast, even among Windows 8 PCs, and offers surprisingly long runtime. If I am being honest, after my experience with the Acer ICONIA W700, which consistently disappointed me on the battery life front, I didn’t expect much longevity from a tablet with so much horsepower under the hood, so it's impressive that the i7 succeeds in being powerful while still lasting eight-plus hours on a charge. Most Core i-series tablets don't have that going for them.
The problem, though, is that the Cube i7’s overall design doesn't make the best sense. The inclusion of an adjustable stand would have been a more versatile solution, as you could be able make it stand when you use it as a standalone tablet. And the fact that it only has one Micro USB 3.0 port means that you need to remember bringing the OTG adapter whenever you decide to take the Cube i7 as your travelling company.
The Cube i7 may not have surpassed the Surface Pro 3 in terms of quality, design and performance just yet. But it is among the highest ranks of enterprise-ready tablets. If you want something designed specifically for the business user (as opposed to the consumer-focused iPad Air 2), but you don't want to spend $500 extra bucks on the Surface Pro 3 and its keyboard, then you can't go wrong with the Cube i7.
The good:
Well-constructed metallic body which feels not only solid, but also premium.
The 11.6-inch 1080P IPS display is excellent for both productivity and entertainment.
Solid performance powered by the impeccable Core-M processor.
Fanless, the Cube i7 is quiet, I tested this device for many days and never heard a peep.
An average of 8 hours’ battery life.
The bad:
The Micro SD card slot only supports cards up to 32GB.
It normally takes minutes to reboot the tablet, even without the system upgrade.
The i7 tablet doesn’t have a kickstand.
No one is interested in this tablet?
It's too expensive, :/ for that price i Prefer getting a Surface 3 to be honest.
I'll personally wait for Pipo K2 and Ramos M12 , prices won't be that high with them.
ShizukoZ said:
It's too expensive, :/ for that price i Prefer getting a Surface 3 to be honest.
I'll personally wait for Pipo K2 and Ramos M12 , prices won't be that high with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really doubt that the RAMOS M12 or PIPO K2 should be any cheaper.
jupiter2012 said:
I really doubt that the RAMOS M12 or PIPO K2 should be any cheaper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pipo have annouced a core M tablet that will be priced at 400 $ (in China so surely it will be a bit more expensive for us )
and we all know Pipo have good quality products
ShizukoZ said:
Pipo have annouced a core M tablet that will be priced at 400 $ (in China so surely it will be a bit more expensive for us )
and we all know Pipo have good quality products
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The $400 tab isn't the PIPO K2, but another tablet with only 64GB eMMc storage, which is clearly no match for the 128GB SSD used in the Cube i7. Also, the PIPO tablet comes without a keyboard, but the i7's retail price covers the keyboard base. For the storage alone I wont even consider buying the PIPO tablet.
There have been other Core-M powered tablets announced.
Thank you for the review. I seen this tablet and wanted to see if it really is worth while. Its funny seeing people say "I'd rather get a SP3" because they seem to forget that you have to be over $1k for the SP3 that competes with this tablet.
the Ubuntu variant
Thanks for the work in writing this up! I was curious if anyone had seen this tablet running the Ubuntu variant. I have been considering importing one and this might have swayed me a bit more.
Driver pack
Yesterday I have received this tablet and wow its great value for money. I've been stupid enough to download and install Windows 10 Tech Preview without copying the drivers from the old 8.1 x64 installation. Does anyone has the driverpack for this device at his disposal? I have asked Cube support too. The good news is that it is running WTP 10 build 9926 and build 10049 is downloading now.
Drivers
I also need the wireless drivers. Any ideas?
Jerome! said:
Yesterday I have received this tablet and wow its great value for money. I've been stupid enough to download and install Windows 10 Tech Preview without copying the drivers from the old 8.1 x64 installation. Does anyone has the driverpack for this device at his disposal? I have asked Cube support too. The good news is that it is running WTP 10 build 9926 and build 10049 is downloading now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows/ Linux Drivers
And another poor bastard who has no drivers anymore...
I also installed the Win10 tech preview without saving the drivers. To be honest in the last years, drivers haven't been that much of a problem anymore so I wasn't careful enough.
So yeah I put Ubuntu 15.04 on it. It detects the touchscreen at least but also no Wifi, which is probably the most important part...
So if anybody, who has the original software, could extract the drivers and upload them, i'd be very happy!
Not only the Windows drivers but also the Linux drivers.
Thanks a lot in advance!
P.S.: I also contacted Cube and two different shops on Alibaba. In case I get a useful answer, I'll let you guys know!
---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------
Ah guys I found at least the windows drivers: http://techtablets.com/downloads-drivers-roms/
Techtablets definitely are good guys and hosted them! Find them under Cube - > i7. (Not Cube -> Cube i7).
So it looks like i'll go back to the Windows10 Tech Preview now and put Linux on my main laptop.
But still: If anyone orders the Ubuntu version of this tablet, please extract the drivers!
My shop actually asked me, if I want Windows or Ubuntu preinstalled. I figured, "yeah sure, I won't say no to a free Windows licence. I can put on Linux myself..."
Unfortunately it's just the Windows installation without a demo and now I don't have Linux drivers.
DerDave said:
And another poor bastard who has no drivers anymore...
I also installed the Win10 tech preview without saving the drivers. To be honest in the last years, drivers haven't been that much of a problem anymore so I wasn't careful enough.
So yeah I put Ubuntu 15.04 on it. It detects the touchscreen at least but also no Wifi, which is probably the most important part...
So if anybody, who has the original software, could extract the drivers and upload them, i'd be very happy!
Not only the Windows drivers but also the Linux drivers.
Thanks a lot in advance!
P.S.: I also contacted Cube and two different shops on Alibaba. In case I get a useful answer, I'll let you guys know!
---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------
Ah guys I found at least the windows drivers: http://techtablets.com/downloads-drivers-roms/
Techtablets definitely are good guys and hosted them! Find them under Cube - > i7. (Not Cube -> Cube i7).
So it looks like i'll go back to the Windows10 Tech Preview now and put Linux on my main laptop.
But still: If anyone orders the Ubuntu version of this tablet, please extract the drivers!
My shop actually asked me, if I want Windows or Ubuntu preinstalled. I figured, "yeah sure, I won't say no to a free Windows licence. I can put on Linux myself..."
Unfortunately it's just the Windows installation without a demo and now I don't have Linux drivers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, thanks a million. Meanwhile I also contacted Cube support and they came with this link:
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1kTMMpAB I'm checking your download since that seems to be a newer date.
Furthermore, there is also a recovery image posted to win 8.1 x64.
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1gdmxKC7
Has anyone experience with the Cube keyboard? Is it really fix as it looks? Not foldable I mean? Are there alternative keyboards that suit this model, for instance the Onda V116w?
Jerome! said:
Great, thanks a million. Meanwhile I also contacted Cube support and they came with this link:
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1kTMMpAB I'm checking your download since that seems to be a newer date.
Furthermore, there is also a recovery image posted to win 8.1 x64.
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1gdmxKC7
Has anyone experience with the Cube keyboard? Is it really fix as it looks? Not foldable I mean? Are there alternative keyboards that suit this model, for instance the Onda V116w?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those drivers are a dump using doubledriver from my Cube i7 64gb model. I did a fresh Windows 8.1 install and restored using those drivers so I can confirm it works. Do you have a Cube support email or contact ? Can you please PM me their details?
I have an issue with the USB 3.0 port, I wondered if yours is the same? I can't get anything over max usb 2.0 speeds from it. I planned to run usb 3 hubs and even a usb 3.0 displaylink docking station, but I can't.
Please use any usb 3.0 drive or memory stick and see if you can get over 40mbs read or writes.
As for the keyboard it's both good and bad, the fix one position, non foldable is at a perfect angle for a desk. And the bad part, is the the touchpad (If you can call it that!) is worthless. It's the worse touchpad I've seen I think. Lucky for me I always use a wireless mouse, but for touchpad people, its best avoided. The keyboard does fit down nicely into the keyboard for travel etc.
I uploaded this video to Youtube today explaining the issue to my stubborn Ali Express seller who clains there is no issue and to cancel my dispute.
https://youtu.be/m0z3vbTydZo
It's a great tablet, but I expect the advertised usb 3 port to run as usb 3, not a usb 2 one. And sometimes I cannot even get the port to work with portable hard drives or USB sticks.
Thanks for the heads up on the keyboard. Will see what alternatives I can find.
About the USB 3.0 all my USB disks that I have laying around are all USB 2.0 ones, so sorry, cant put them to the test.
---------- Post added at 03:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------
There are new drivers uploaded dated 24-04, maybe this will address the issue with USB?
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1kTj7Wwf
Another new set of drivers for the I7
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1jG3nvWq
Update drivers from 08-05 http://pan.baidu.com/s/1nt1LvZF now available
kr8r said:
Thanks for the work in writing this up! I was curious if anyone had seen this tablet running the Ubuntu variant. I have been considering importing one and this might have swayed me a bit more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cube did provide the Ubuntu ROM on their official forum.
Hendrickson said:
I uploaded this video to Youtube today explaining the issue to my stubborn Ali Express seller who clains there is no issue and to cancel my dispute.
https://youtu.be/m0z3vbTydZo
It's a great tablet, but I expect the advertised usb 3 port to run as usb 3, not a usb 2 one. And sometimes I cannot even get the port to work with portable hard drives or USB sticks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come, mine works perfectly fine with portable hard drives. And with the keyboard you get 3 USB3 ports in total.
dualboot
is it possible to dualboot windows and ubuntu (or some other linux) on this device?
first i did not like the cube i7 because it has no real usb-ports. but i saw in this thread that there are usb3 ports on the keyboard.
i think i will order this one instead if the teclast x1 pro (which is not available atm)

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