Looking at a windows tablet to replace hudl 2... Linx 1010b?

GTanny · 14 Dec 2015 at 11:56

Hi all,

I currently have a hudl 2 that I use 99% to watch videos and browse forums but not much else as I don't like touchscreen gaming and stuff like spreadsheets or text are a pain also.

I've noticed a current love for the Linx tablets, I know a big part of this was the black Friday deals but are they any good?

I'm looking at the Linx 10 which for £130 with a keyboard would replace the hudl with the day to day tablet activities but also alow me a keyboard and trackpad to do day to day tasks and maybe even a bit of retro point and click games (loved the idea of this in tablet but it doesn't work imo)

Any advice? I can sell the hudl 2 for around £70 on the bay so is it worth the £50 upgrade?

It may also replace my 4 year old i3 HD3000 laptop.

Mr Jones · 14 Dec 2015 at 12:27

I don't own a Huddle but have had a Nook 7 Android, slower and annoying than a Huddle AFAIK.

I got the 1010b because it's a decent deal with keyboard for the occasional processing.

Thus far, it's the best £120 spent BUT it requires a little tinkering on Windows 10 to make it sensible - all via settings such as making it stop waking up every so often when it's attached to the Keyboard (disabling sleep wake on HID Mouse / Keyboard for one) and changing the battery settings and connection settings so when I remove from keyboard, the tablet turns to Tablet mode.

Little changes to make it sensible.

If you're prepared to do that, the Windows 10 experience on Linx 1010b is bang on bucks. I game a little, mostly apps from the market but I have also tried some old games downloaded via Steam; Half Life and CS 1.6 works fine. Obviously a mouse needed as Trackpad is only good for precise clicking, not gaming and day to day, I find myself tapping options more than clicking.

Keyboard itself is worth the extra money, very sturdy, very satisfying to tap away. It contains no battery and it's just a connected keyboard/trackpad, that also doubles up as a screen protector if you're storing them together.

Both Keyboard and Tablet together makes it quite weighty but I use it as a home tablet/netbook, with occasional away from home use, it don't weigh a ton but it is there.

The biggest gain for me with the 1010b is the 2 full USB available. Yes, it's only 2.0, but not many tablets out there allows me to connect my phone / CSC camera / Old Blackberry Playbook without resorting to choosing to charge the tablet or connect to only one of them via 1 Micro-USB port. Connect to an old Printer and it's ready to print whilst you're out and about.

Battery life is decent - when tweaked with the waking issue. I get about 6 hours constant use for forum browsing, video casting and general chat in between my Xbox One gaming sessions (During loading screens

) Screen at 50%, but can easily go down to 30/40% if room is darker.

Hope this quick review helps in your decision.

GTanny · 14 Dec 2015 at 12:37

Cheers Mr Jones,

you said pretty much exactly what I expected of a windows tablet, I have an android phone that I like and tend to pick up if I do need to do something as its just easier and normally closer.

My only concern is the 800 resolution but my laptop is the same on a 13" display so it's not going to be any worse then I am used too.

Going to try out out at a local shop then get it online as I refuse to support the 'world' I'm trying it out at.

Mr Jones · 14 Dec 2015 at 13:34

The resolution is an absolute none issue for the price and size of screen. I've watched Youtube, Netflix, Kodi and stuff at 720p and 1080p, can't tell that much of difference on it. Only time it looks poor is when the resolution is non-native, such as playing Half Life, but the resolution drop for higher FPS was a better gain.

Getting from that Black Friday place also allows you a quick return if you're not happy with it. Their return policy is near bomb-proof.

Skeeter · 14 Dec 2015 at 13:43

I have a Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and HP Stream 7.

Even though the Nexus 7 has slowed to a crawl, has been dropped more times than I can count, has a seriously buggered battery and is basically broke, I'd still rate it above the Stream 7. The Nexus 9 is a recent purchase to replace both.

Even though it was only £50 and came with a years Office 365 subscription, I still consider the Stream 7 a waste of money. Upgrading it from 8.1 to 10 also made it far less intuitive in tablet mode. Once you got your head around how it worked 8.1 was actually a pretty good small tablet UI.

As with Windows Phone, the tablet offerings running Android and iOS just do everything better than the Windows offerings. Where a Windows tablet makes sense is where the Surface devices sit, devices where you will regularly hook them up to a monitor, keyboard and mouse and use them as a proper PC, but have the ability to fire it up as a tablet when on the move.