Hands On: EXOPC Slate Review
Written by Alan Thursday, 3 March 2011 08:00
Many people have poo-pooed the idea of Windows 7 for tablets, but I wanted to try one before I passed judgement. I love Android for my phone, but I need more for work. For the past week I have been using an EXOPC Slate (I unboxed the EXOPC last week) so now it’s time to let all of you know what I think. Let me start by pointing out that I am actually using this tablet to write the article you are currently reading. The setup is simple – instead of using the onscreen keyboard I plugged in a USB keyboard, then I set the Slate on it’s stand on my coffee table, kicked back on my couch, (see the pic below) and voila! It’s a more comfortable and versatile version of my laptop. And really, how can you write a review of a PC if you aren’t using it? Now let’s look at how it really works though, because convenience is only a part of what a user looks for in a device. Let’s get down to the more serious and techie parts of this Windows 7 tablet.
How I wrote this post
The question for most is, does Windows 7 work as a tablet OS? And, if it does, why choose it over Android or iOS? Let me explain what you get and don’t get.
First, I will start with what is included in the package. It comes with tablet (of course), a stand, and a stylus. The stylus, which may be useful to a few people out there, proved totally unnecessary. In fact, it went back in the box within 24 hours.
The tablet itself packs some pretty powerful hardware specs. It has a 11.6″ inch capacitive dual-touch, pressure sensitive screen, 1366 x 768 resolution, 1080p, 2 GB DDR2 RAM, Intel GMA 3150 processor, 64 GB SSD, 802.11 B/G/N WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 2 USB 2.0 ports, mini HDMI, SD SDHC card reader, Accelerometer, 1.3 MP web cam, microphone, and 4 hours battery life.
The stylus isn’t necessary because the ability of the touch screen is so good. Windows 7 may look just like it does an a regular PC, but it doesn’t quite work the same. The scroll bar on the right side and bottom of the screen are there, but you don’t have to touch them to move – you can scroll with your finger from anywhere on the screen, just like you can on an Android device.
EXOPC Slate desktop
As for software, the Slate comes with Windows 7 Home Premium with Tablet PC enabled. If you haven’t used the Tablet PC software in Windows it’s not much different from your standard Windows 7. What it adds is an onscreen keyboard and Windows Journal. The onscreen keyboard on the Slate is close to half a screen when it’s open and it is very sensitive and easy type on.
EXOPC Slate keyboard
There is also an additional EXOPC layer which you can use to overlay the Windows desktop. That is the layer that gives this device it’s unique circular desktop pattern. The EXOPC Layer allows you to add circular icons to the desktop and gives it more of a mobile OS look. This layer also adds an App Store, which contains a lot of apps and games, many of which are free.
EXOPC Slate layer
EXOPC Slate app store
Conclusion
The EXOPC Slate has given me a real taste of what Windows 7 on tablet can be like. This is a powerful piece of hardware which has no problem handling Windows 7, full-screen 1080p video, Office 2010, and pretty much any application you can throw at it. With this hardware Windows 7 runs almost as if it’s made for tablet PC’s. I tried everything I could think of on this device and I encountered no crashes or even slow downs. The only problem I had was wresting the Slate from my kids, who couldn’t put it down.
The Slate doesn’t have all of the cools apps that Android and iOS have, but what it does have is power, adaptability, and full Windows programs. Plus, it has some cool apps to of its own.
Would I recommend it? If you just want to play games, check email, and browse the web the you can do that, but you may be better served by Android. Do you want to do real work like accessing and editing Office files, plus browse and play games and watch movies and listen to music? Then this is the tablet you need. Watch a 1080p movie, network with your other PC’s, use Office 2010 – it’s all here. Yes, I would, and DO, recommend it. This is the tablet I would buy for myself and family. Carry a small USB keyboard with it and leave your laptop home.
Related posts:
- EXOPC Slate With Windows 7
- EXOPC Slate Unboxing
- MSI WindPad 100W
- The Windows 7 iTablet
- Windows Coming To An ARM Processor Near You?
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