Yes, but around here it's all raised platforms- no easy way to get down to track-level. This ain't the 'burbs with level-crossings everywhere.

 

So, it's your opinion that a 4 month old battery, which was still showing something like 80% charge at the time, spontaneously failed with no warning at all.

Duly noted.

 

I'm typing this on a laptop.

I still use the laptop while at home or at work. Vastly superior for data-entry. The tablet fills a very specific niche for me, which is casual computing (web surfing, watching videos, e-readering, etc) during long train rides. It's the ideal form-factor for that application.

 

Don't get hung up about the MS Surface- there are a lot of other Win8 tablets out there.

Fortunately, Win 8 ReTarded is all but dead. You can still find it if you try, but it's clearly a failed experiment. Just look for anything running Win 8.1. Examples:

Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet - Windows 8, 64 GB, 8 IPS (1280x800), Rear Camera + Front Camera, MicroSD Slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Black - BELL8-1818BLK at TigerDirect.com

Asus VivoTab Note 8 - Intel Atom Z3740 Quad-core 1.86 GHz, 8 LED WXGA 1280 x 800 Display, 2GB LPDDR3 Internal Memory, 32GB eMMC Storage, Intel HD Graphics, DirectX 11 - M80TA-B1-BK at TigerDirect.com


I considered buying a Win8 tablet before I got this one, but I decided to stay with Andrdoid mostly because I don't need to be able to run "real" windows applications in this context, and I prefer the Google keyboard over anything I've seen on a Win8 tablet.

 

As Joe said, look for anything running Win 8.1

Dell Venue 8 or 11 Pro run full windows, but don't get them confused with the their sister hardware, Dell Venue 8 or 11 which Android OS.

The Asus Transformer T100 even though it's over 6 months old, still seems like a great deal. For it's price, comes with like 10 hours of battery life and a keyboard dock.

ASUS T100 Transformer 32GB SSD + 500GB HDD 10.1" 2-In-1 Touch Notebook Windows 8.1 $234 after Trade in Rebate and coupon. Shipped FREE! - Slickdeals.net

I think I'm maybe holding out for the new Surface Pro 3. But damn it's expensive.

 

Didn't take into account your hamfistedness. Sorry.

 

What part of anything I have ever done or written led you to believe that I was capable of addressing a problem such as this with delicacy and finesse?

 

Yes. **** happens. My phone (while not within your 4 month golden period), exhibited signs that the battery was dying. Yet it also showed itself to be nearly fully charged. $12 later, new battery arrives in the mail, and symptoms have completely disappeared.

Surprised you didn't contact Asus directly. They are one of the better companies I have dealt with as far as customer support is concerned.

 

Thanks guys! I went with an ASUS T100 Transformer 64 GB SSD from a different Best Buy. They didn't have the one with the 500GB HDD, but I don't really need it for what I am going to use it for primarily and it saved about $50 over the one above. (I don't have a working trade-in laptop)

 

Awesome and great deal. Sorry, I didn't even read the slickdeals thread so I wasn't aware that it needed a trade in before I copied and paste. But I'm sure you'll love the tablet.

It just seems like a pretty neat experience to use a strong tablet holder to hold it while driving around and doing easy (touch screen) stuff. And then being able to plug in the keyboard in when you want or need more productivity.

 

This should be close to how to take it apart.

 

Hank, research the dell venue pro line mentioned earlier in the thread. Venue pros run full windows in tablet form. Acer w-lineup as well.

 

I just ordered a 12.2" Galaxy Tab Pro w/ 32gig onboard storage, quad core cpu, 3gig ram, running kit kat and has some insane screen resolution.

Will give a totally non-professional review at some point.

 

I predict this review:

"day one: my forearm is sore as ****"

 

Yeah, i'm already getting some light buyers remorse. Something like the Asus Android transformer tablet would have been a better fit, methinks. However, i don't like that they haven't really updated the Android one specifically in what seems like forever. I don't want Android 4.0. I want Kit Kat.

The good news is that i paid so little for it that i'll probably make money off of it if i decide i hate it and want to sell it.

I'd like to find a keyboard dock for it.

 

Unfortunately in the tablet and phone world none of the mfg are too quick, if ever, to upgrade beyond a point upgrade. by the time they get through the testing and rollout the next greatest hardware set is out.

XDA is usually a great resource for all things Android.

 

Thanks for the lead; I am happy with the ASUS T100 64Gig I just ordered on Best Buy's website, same price as the 32 I bought in store yesterday. Not sure if the processor is better on the Dell or what but it appears to cost a bit more.

 

The Asus is the best one out there IMO, just often a little more spendy. But I had forgotten about the T100! Should work perfect for you.

 

Update: I've used the tablet for about... 3 hours. Needs a docking station-ish thing. It's big.

Screen is incredible, everything is super snappy, battery life is quite good, sound is entirely decent. It's more powerful than our actual PC.

I don't know if i'm actually going to keep it. I'm kindof thinking my budget would have been better spent on a $400 laptop and a $200 tablet instead of a $650 tablet.

 

That's still where my head's at. I like my $170 tablet for watching movies on the train and extremely casual web surfing, and I like my E4200 laptop for photo editing, things that require typing, etc.