Lighter, thinner, smaller alternative to Surface RT?

£15

£15

£15

Associate
Joined
7 Nov 2012
Posts
1,612
Location
UK
My mother in law wanted a tablet. So, with a Windows phone and a Windows laptop, I suggested a Surface. This was last year, before v2 came out. Surface Pro was out of budget.

Anyway, she's now decided it's too big for her and she wants something else. :rolleyes: She told my wife she nearly bought an iPad the other day, but she didn't as she didn't want to offend me. :)

When I was quizzing her on her needs, before I suggested the Surface, she said she wanted something she could use Office Apps on - she writes short stories; browse the web; check emails; play games on Facebook. The usual OAP stuff. I haven't spoken to her yet, but imagine she's going to want to do something similar with the new device, but in a more portable, easier to place in a handbag, package.

I keep thinking a Windows 8 device, as it fits in with her other devices and her use of OneDrive. I was thinking about the Nokia 2520 - do you think it would be easier in the hands than her Surface RT?

Or should I just tell her to buy an iPad?

I've recently bought a Toshiba Encore 8" 8.1 tablet and think it's great. However, I just know what'll happen - she'll end up hating it as she can't read the text due it's size!

Plus side - she said I can have her Surface! :D
 
Last edited:
I own a Surface RT, and unless she has a specific need for Windows, why not just let her get the iPad? The Surface is CONSTANTLY requiring updates, and these things tie up the device for extended periods (20 minutes easy while downloading and installing updates), and I am reasonably disillusioned about how useful it is in terms of productivity -- since you can't run normal Windows executables, what is even the point of having the desktop UI, apart from Office? Pretty much everyone I know dislikes the Windows 8 UI, my wife actively hates it.

Both my wife and I use iPhones, but not convinced there is any need for having every device in the same eco-system (i.e. I don't have iPads or Macs). As long as your mail/calendar/contacts are online (GMail, Outlook.com, etc), you are good.
 
I just know she'll have trouble switching between devices. I was trying to keep her in the one camp.

So does MS Office (Word & Excel) work on the iPad? Can she access OneDrive? All her documents, music, pictures - uploaded from her Windows Mobile - are on OneDrive.

It's getting to the point where I'll tell her to do what she wants. That way she can't blame me if it turns out to not fulfil her needs.
 
Last edited:
She's moved no further with her dilemma; other than to give me her Surface RT which I think is ace! :D

Apparently, the iPad she was very close to buying the other day was a mini, with keyboard.

However, obtaining the Surface has had a knock-on effect with my hunt for a new laptop. I'm now thinking I don't need a hybrid device, like the XPS 12, or Yoga 2 Pro, but will get an all-out laptop like the XPS 15. Oh, the problems in my life... :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
What about the Asus Transformer T100? Baytrail based full Windows 8.1 tablet / laptop combo which comes preloaded with office 2013 Home & student edition (I assume this has the basics).

More expensive than the other Baytrail tablets but might be a better fit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom