Acer w700 games. Experience with Acer Iconia W700 ultrabook tablet
(6 Votes)Acer Iconia W700 tablet review
As long as the companies producing equipment equipped with an operating room Windows system 8, do not find out what users expect from a modern mobile PC, they will continue to release various devices in order to find the optimal set of qualities and characteristics for their products. But already now we can safely say that hybrid tablets-laptops are very popular. In the AV market, models with a weak Atom processor and quite strong devices with a Core i5 CPU have already been released, the characteristics of which are not inferior to powerful laptops. Therefore, on this moment most users are forced to make a choice between high performance tablet and its time battery life.
Once we have already considered with a removable keyboard, and now we have to test the W700, the cost of which reaches 24,000 rubles. Acer Iconia W700 is 11 inch tablet, which is essentially an ultrabook without a keyboard. Some may think that the W700 is just a smaller copy of the W510, but they will be wrong. Unlike the W510, the new Acer doesn't have a detachable keyboard or docking station to charge the tablet, but it does come with a modular stand that can support the tablet in both landscape and portrait orientations. Let's test the Acer Iconia W700 and see how the lack of a detachable keyboard and docking station affects and what the Core i5 processor costs.
Design
To be honest, we don't even know where to start, because the W700 is a tablet/laptop hybrid. First of all, you need to evaluate the convenience of the device when using it as an 11-inch tablet. The Iconia W700 looks solid enough thanks to its one-piece aluminum body. But, at the same time, the tablet is too bulky: it weighs 2.09 pounds and has a body thickness of 0.47 inches. Basically, these parameters are due to the presence of a full-size USB 3.0 port, the thickness of which would in no way allow developers to create an ultra-thin case. The tablet also has a micro HDMI port, headphone jack, volume rocker, power button, screen orientation lock and two speakers. In addition, the package includes an HDMI to VGA adapter in case the user wants to connect a projector to the device.
The developers also took into account the presence of a processor in the Core i5 tablet, which is typical for powerful laptops, and added two deep vents along the edges of the case. Of course, under these conditions, all other non-ventilated Atom CPU tablets will be significantly thinner and lighter than the Acer Iconia W700. Note that even some i5 tablets, including those with the same thickness, are lighter than the W700.
But who cares about a couple of extra grams when the tablet has high specifications. At first glance, the W700 is very good. Moreover, he has a very convenient stand, which will support the tablet in landscape or portrait orientation. Unfortunately, the cradle will not be able to charge your device, but it has three USB 3.0. ports, which will come in handy if you want to connect a mouse, hardware key or some other accessory. In this case, you will not be able to remove the connected device, since two more ports will remain in stock. In addition, the stand has another USB plug that connects directly to the tablet itself. Because of this, the tablet is very stable and will require force to remove it from the stand.
Besides, back panel the stand is removable, which allows you to change its position in accordance with desired orientation tablet. Unfortunately, the process of installing the device on a stand and changing its orientation is rather incomprehensible, although it is described in the instructions. For the experiment, we asked several people to change the orientation of the tablet, located on the stand. And all of them experienced difficulties before reaching the desired result. In addition, the stand itself is very thick and has sharp edges, which can easily scratch some fragile things in your bag. But, by and large, the stand is not so important, unlike the characteristics of the tablet itself.
But, nevertheless, when buying an Acer Iconia W700, it is worth considering all the components that you have to constantly carry with you in order to enjoy the versatility of the tablet. We have already mentioned the stand and the device itself. In addition, you will need the case that comes with the kit, as well as wireless keyboard and a mouse if you want to fully use the W700 as a laptop. Also, do not forget about the adapter. As a result, instead of a keyboard dock, you will have to carry at least seven removable accessories with you, each of which takes up a lot of space. If Acer followed the already trodden path and released its tablet with a docking station, then we would get a very convenient device that includes a keyboard, recharging, a stand, several ports, and the only drawback would be the inability to place the tablet in portrait orientation.
Keyboard
The Acer Iconia W700 comes with a Bluetooth keyboard. It is she who is built into the docking station of the previous W510 model. The design of the keyboard is made in metallic silver color with white buttons. However, compared to the W510, the W700's keyboard buttons are more prominent and larger, and typing won't take long. In addition, the keyboard has an activation mode switch, which eliminates the need to hold the button to turn on the device.
It's unfortunate that Acer abandoned the docking station idea in favor of a separate mobile stand that needs to be reassembled each time. The previous model's docking station was a little cramped, but we're sure Acer could find a way out. We hope that they will do so by the time the next model of this line is released.
It's worth adding that a mouse would have been nice, as neither the docking station nor the standalone keyboard from Acer have a touchpad that could replace a pointing device (many other manufacturers have already equipped their docking stations with similar pads). We're sure most users would ditch the case that came with their tablet in favor of a small mouse. Why build a tablet with 1080 pixels resolution and the ability to mount it vertically if it doesn't even come with a mouse? With this screen resolution, it is quite difficult to manage the tablet desktop. We used the Logitech Rechargeable Trackpad to control the menus, but most users will likely have to run to the nearest store and buy some kind of paddle to control the panels. windows menu 8. Of course, if you are ready to spend another 1,500 rubles for your convenience, then such a question will not bother you.
Display
The Acer Aspire S7 ultrabook is already on our list of favorite displays, so it's no surprise to see a high-quality monitor on the W700. It's still the same IPS 1080p coated screen Gorilla glass, although on an 11-inch display, this quality looks even more amazing, unlike a 13-inch ultrabook. Image quality is noticeable both in desktop mode using the stand, and when viewing photos or tablet menus. Even at a maximum brightness of 350 nits, we had no problems with the monitor. The screen has wide viewing angles, and it's a pity that the tablet stand does not allow you to adjust the viewing angle. This feature would come in handy for watching movies. At maximum settings brightness, you can notice the glare of the screen, but they are so slight that they will not be able to distract you from work.
Camera
From our past reviews, you probably already understood that we are not fans of cameras on tablets. But to our surprise, the W700 was able to take some really decent shots. The tablet's 5-megapixel camera has autofocus and fast response. Even compared to the Samsung ATIV Smart PC we reviewed just recently, the W700's camera response times are significantly faster. And the quality of the photos themselves could pleasantly surprise. The camera renders colors realistically and we were even able to take some good shots despite the strong lighting. Most other tablet cameras would produce exceptionally blown out shots in situations like this. We posted a frame with a photo of the sky for viewing, because it shows that the camera was able to preserve the natural blue of the sky, although for this we had to tinker with the settings. Of course, not all shots were of high quality, but you can still take some good photos.
Performance and battery life
Most of the characteristics of the W700 speak for good tablet performance. Acer has 4GB of RAM, HDD Toshiba 128 GB Core i5-3317U processor with integrated graphic solution Intel HD 4000. The same processor can be found on many new models of ultrabooks. But, despite the characteristics similar to those of its competitors, the Acer Iconia W700 still loses a little to ultrabooks when tested by PCMark 7. Bootstrap The W700 takes 12 seconds, which is average among other Windows 8 devices. And the read and write speeds (542 MB / s and 534 MB / s, respectively) calculated by the Disk Benchmark utility were so high that only an Acer Aspire S7 with a dual SSD in a RAID 0 configuration could overtake it. In addition, thanks to two air vents in the case, the tablet practically does not heat up.
The vulnerability of the W700 can be considered graphics performance, which, by the way, has never been strong point laptops or tablets. 3DMark06 scored a performance score of 3548, well below other Windows 8 devices. Even if the tablet's resolution is reduced as much as possible, its graphics performance remains at a very weak level, on par with the Aspire S7 and Dell XPS 12.
It's worth noting that the W700 has the same processor and touchscreen as most of the Windows 8 devices we've tested. But, despite this, the battery of the tablet with three cells and 4850 mAh lasted an hour longer than others. touch Windows 8 devices. To be more precise, the Iconia W700 worked without recharging for 7 hours and 13 minutes. And all this time we were cyclically playing the video file with local disk via Wi-Fi at 65% screen brightness. For reference, the second place in terms of battery life took from 5.5 hours. That being said, the Yoga 13's chassis clearly allows for a much larger and more powerful battery than the W700's. And some other Windows 8 tablets didn't even last four hours.
Acer Iconia W700 looks even more advantageous compared to more light tablets with ARM battery. You might say that such a comparison would be completely unfair, but, in fact, the difference in the batteries of these tablets is not that big. Especially if you take into account the tablets, which have much lower performance. But the W700 will only benefit from such a comparison, because even the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 worked for only an hour more, and even for 10 minutes. Of course, we admit that the Nexus 10 itself has a very short battery life, but we don't know of any other tablet with a Core i5 processor that can come close to it. Usually high performance and the touch screen significantly reduce battery life. Take for example with its 4 hours of operation, and the related W700, which has the same characteristics, but can last up to 7.5 hours! And it's really incredible for such powerful tablet with high performance.
Software
We think having two clouds of live titles is a bad omen for a tablet. Why do manufacturers demonstrate all possible programs and add-ons of the device, if it would be possible to get by with a simple and concise menu, with the ability to configure and adjust it. On a tablet, you can find apps like Amazon.com; Kindle reader; Netflix; iCookbook; Hulu Plus; streaming music service 7digital; Evernote; eBay; Skitch; Cha Cha; StumbleUpon; Internet radio station TuneIn; skype; Acer's CrystalEye webcam apps; Spotify; newsXpresso; and trial version McAfee Internet Suite. In addition, the W700 has several built-in games, including Zeptolab, The Treasures of Montezuma 3, and Shark Dash. And AcerCloud will allow you to copy and store information obtained when using IOS or Abdroid applications. There is also an Acer Explorer utility designed to display a list of all installed applications tablet.
Configuration Options and Warranty
Acer Iconia W700 will be sold in several variants. At $24,000, you get 1.8GHz, a Core i3 processor, and 64GB of hard drive space, but you still get the same high-quality 1080p screen. For 27,000 rubles, the tablet will already be equipped with a Core i5 processor with the same 64 GB of memory. Having paid another 3,000 rubles, the tablet's memory will increase to 128 GB. But at a cost of about 35,000 rubles, you will get a Core i5, 128 GB of memory and licensed Windows 8 with a two year warranty.
Whichever choice you make, the package will still include a mobile stand and a Bluetooth keyboard. While most companies, including Samsung and Microsoft, continue to sell the keyboard separately, regardless of the configuration of the tablets. Thus, Acer hopes to be a strong competitor in the AV equipment market.
Comparison
The Acer Iconia W700 is a truly amazing tablet/laptop hybrid. It has enough power to equal ultrabooks, yet it's portable and tiny like all other tablets. Plus, its battery life is truly amazing. But, it seems to us that a few illustrative examples are needed to sum up.
Let's compare the W700 to the Surface Pro, which isn't yet on sale but is already rocking the AV market. The Surface Pro will start at $24,000 for the 64GB model. However, its Touch Cover keyboard will be sold separately. As with , we expect this keyboard to be fairly stable and comfortable to type on. In addition, the Surface Pro's keyboard is smaller than the W700's and supports pen input that's not available on an Acer tablet. However, the Surface Pro falls short of the W700 in terms of battery life.
The ASUS TAICHI Dual Screen 1080p Ultrabook is also a tidbit for all laptop lovers, but it's out of stock for now. We have already managed to get one of these devices for testing and we can safely say that ASUS TAICHI will become a strong competitor for the W700.
One of them optimal options, which you can already find on store shelves is the Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro, better known as the Series 7 Slate. Priced at around Rs. It differs from the W700 only in pen input or finger control and has the same S Pen app that you could find on Galaxy Note 10.1. In addition, the Series 7 Slate features a keyboard dock with a touchpad that can replace a mouse or any other pointing device.
Suppose that periodically you need to use your Personal Computer in mobile tablet mode. Why not then create a touch ultrabook that can be used as a tablet if necessary? Something similar and offers Dell XPS 12, costing from 36,000 rubles. The Dell XPS 12 is slightly larger than the Acer Iconia W700, yet has a great 1080p screen and a very comfortable detachable keyboard that can turn a tablet into a full-fledged ultrabook. Due to the fact that manufacturers strive to minimize their devices as much as possible, the size of the keyboard also becomes dependent on the diagonal of the tablet screen. And this means that even when buying a heavy-duty and expensive device, you will have to reckon with a small and cramped keyboard, which often turns the typing process into real torture. And there are hardly many people who want the display to also show all user actions on the outside of the tablet. Therefore, the W700 is in the lead again.
You can also take the Toshiba Satellite U925t for comparison, which, among other problems, has a disgusting build quality, a loud cooler and a short battery life. Suffered from similar problems Sony VAIO Duo 11. From this we can conclude that the Acer Iconia W700 looks very advantageous against the backdrop of all the latest innovations.
Conclusion
At first glance, we didn't really like the Acer Iconia W700. It is too thick and heavy, and the massive sloppy stand spoils it even more. appearance devices. But, if you discard all aesthetic preferences and look inside, you will be pleasantly surprised. Powerful Core i5 processor, amazing for a long time battery life and a great 1080p high-quality screen add up to a pretty compelling picture. We did not expect such capabilities from a regular tablet at all. The W700 is more like an ultrabook because no i5-powered tablet can last seven hours on battery at the moment.
Do not forget about the pleasant cost of the device. The starting price of the W700 is about 24,000 rubles. At the same time, the package includes a wireless keyboard, a stand and a case. Compared to Surface Pro, which costs $3,000 more for the same specs with i5 and hard drive at 64 GB, the W700 clearly wins thanks to the keyboard. Perhaps this keyboard is far from ideal, but the fact that it is already included in the price will disproportionately please buyers. Microsoft should learn from Acer pricing.
However, the problem with the massive design of the tablet and stand remains relevant. A docking station with a built-in keyboard and battery would have been more appropriate and organic. In order to use the Acer Iconia W700 as a laptop, you will need to carry up to seven different accessories with you, which take up a lot of space in your bags, and this is a significant minus. If you opt for the W700, then we would recommend that you use the tablet case as a stand. In this case, you will lose three additional USB 3.0 ports, but save a lot of space in your bag. In the future, we hope to see an organic docking station that will greatly simplify the process of working with the tablet and make it a very strong competitor.
The Acer Iconia W700 is a very powerful quality tablet PC with an excellent screen. The W700 has a clunky design and lots of detachable components, but the low price makes up for that inconvenience.
2 years ago
Pretty long battery life, performance, form factor.
2 years ago
A nice box and the equipment itself deserves respect; - small and light power supply; - long battery life; - the speed of the output of their sleep (namely, sleep, like a regular computer) and the boot time of the system; - build quality - no backlash, no creaks - monolith; - I consider optimally selected parameters (stone/memory); - the quality of the screen itself - viewing angles and the quality of the picture itself (dirt is removed quite easily; - this is Windows - unless you need another android; - an excellent case (similar to apple ones), with a choice of three stand positions.
2 years ago
Excellent screen, super color reproduction, great viewing angles. Good sound Functionality (win8, intel Ai3) Comfortable keyboard cover.
2 years ago
An excellent device in all respects and the merit of this is in the full-fledged Win on which you can install AutoCAD, 1C, Bank and Microsoft office (including Outlook, OneNote) which, unfortunately, still has no alternative. I've been using it for work for three years now.
2 years ago
In general, there are many advantages. For example, it replaces my ordinary PC. The processor is what you need, excellent quality, easy to use in the "fresh air". Permission is needed. Pleased with the presence of Bluetooth. The eighth Windows turned out to be very convenient (as it was not littered on the Internet), probably more convenient than the Seven. Pulls all games, but with brakes. Three USB connectors in the docking station pleased no less than the presence of Bluetooth. The keyboard is of high quality (it's a pity that there are no f1, f2, f3 ... f12 buttons and other functional buttons, you have to hold down fn).
2 years ago
Very high quality screen - complete set - EXCELLENT sound! - USB 3.0 - WINDOW 8
2 years ago
Impressive iron for its size, metal design
2 years ago
Very nimble and quite reliable. Very pleasant to the eye and to the touch. Excellent screen resolution. Perfectly catches wi-fi, without disconnections from its side. The presence of HDMI - perfectly connected to the TV.
2 years ago
There are really a lot of pluses, speed, windows 8, equipment, quality. All the disadvantages listed by me and other users are compensated by the speed of work. It is quite suitable for work, I personally use Sony vegans 11 on it without problems.
2 years ago
Super device! 1. Windows 8 is the best solution among mobile and desktop systems. Works great, sooo fast and smooth, plus all the features of a regular laptop. As a tablet, excellent, IE strikes with the speed of work, in general, the system is very well adapted for normal surfing the Internet - watching movies, toys, good applications, perfectly integrated with the system. As a workstation it's great, the i3-3217U is a great processor, Office 2013's touch mode is fine, all software from previous versions of Windows works well. 2. Extensibility. One port on the tablet, three on the station (I also have a replicator). As a result, at home, I have a tablet connected to a powerful external sound system, hard drive, keyboard mouse, printer and external monitor. How many USB ports are there on the iPad? :-) 3. Screen. IPS-matrix, excellent
2 years ago
Disk space.
2 years ago
The location of the power button and the volume rocker is often confused, you have to grope for it.
with active cooling (even on i3).
- there is no possibility to increase the amount of memory;
- as already mentioned - raw firewood for Wi-Fi out of the box;
- often because of one flush, the cooler starts to warm up and turns on (in the future it will probably clog and be noisier);
- no gprs modem (sim card) on the road would be very helpful.
2 years ago
Both cameras are budget-friendly... the quality is appropriate... the back one is quite frail, the front one for skype will do... given the weight, equipment and the fact that there is no modem and navigator, it's more of a laptop with a cool screen and a small hard drive, rather than a tablet like a stub )))
After the update, Windows began to blunt ...
Because of high resolution everything is very small on the screen, farsightedness and a bluetooth mouse save me, which saves the rest, I have no idea ... I guess a magnifying glass)))
2 years ago
A few months ago, the screen began to flake off, bubbles formed under the touch glass, fortunately so far along the edges. Acer does not comment on this.
2 years ago
Heavy (but what do I want from a tablet PC?). The cameras are not very good (it will do for Scoop). Little memory (saved a portable hard drive). Because of the purchase of this tablet, they consider me to have gone. That's all the shortcomings.
2 years ago
Only 1 USB 3.0
- battery
- heavy
- no memory expansion slot
2 years ago
Perhaps the only drawback is the weight of the tablet in the cover - the keyboard. But for me it is insignificant.
2 years ago
A couple of months after the purchase (it was in November 2013), bubbles began to appear under the screen along the edges. And today (May 2015) there are only a lot more of them. In addition, since the beginning of the year it has been non-working - Windows has flown with all the data after official updates.
Very heavy - you can’t take it with you for a walk and in a cafe.
The keyboard cover that came with the kit was unreliable, it suffered very quickly from cat claws. In addition, it does not fully dress - it feels like it is small by 3 mm, and it is also inconvenient to press the lock and sound buttons with it.
Weak speaker.
Discharges strongly, so you can actively use only when charging.
2 years ago
The weight, with the cover is really heavy, but what power, and even visible, it eats 20 gigs from the screw.
2 years ago
1. The pre-installed version of the system from Acer is terrible. Installed a clean Win 8 Pro x64.
2. The screen resolution is good, but in desktop mode it is difficult to do anything with your fingers.
3. Very cropped keyboard. The F-row is missing, many actions require Fn, the Windows 8 buttons are for some reason duplicated by Fn + number, although they can be called with the usual Win + C, Win + I, etc.
4. The idea of a docking station is not as cool as I thought before buying, plus the ports are hidden far back. It also does not allow the use of wide microHDMI adapters.
Making a tablet with an interesting and original design is not an easy task. Acer solved it, perhaps the most successfully of all manufacturers of Windows-based devices. The body of a relatively simple form, machined from a single piece of aluminum, looks strict and elegant.
True, the tablet turned out to be larger than other models with the Windows 8 operating system: the margins around the display are wider by about a centimeter in each direction. To disguise this not too pleasant fact from below, the metal comes to the front side, visually reducing the dimensions.
The physical Windows button is inscribed in this metal strip. In the photo below, you can see a thick damper that protects protective glass display from direct contact with metal.
There are only three communication connectors on the body of the tablet itself: a full-size USB 3.0, a Micro HDMI video output and a combined audio jack. With connection of periphery you will not clear up. There is no memory card reader at all - not even a micro format.
The kit includes an adapter from Micro HDMI to a full-size D-Sub (analog VGA) connector. So those who often make presentations on rented equipment should be calm.
The top side is entirely given over to the ventilation holes. Probably, the Iconia W700 cooling system is unified with the Aspire S7 ultrabooks: apparently, it has two fans, one of which works for intake, and the second for exhaust.
She doesn't make a lot of noise. But still there is noise, while Winodws-tablets built on Atom processor, are simply devoid of the active component of the cooling system and operate completely silently.
On the underside of the tablet is a pair of speakers. They sound not God knows how high quality, but quite loud - at least if the tablet is correctly oriented.
The thing is that in order to hold a weighty tablet for a long time, willy-nilly, you have to use something as a support - as a rule, your own body. And if you put the Iconia W700 on your stomach or knees, the speakers are automatically covered by soft and dense, sound-not-very-permeable. You have to hold the tablet in a special way, slightly lifting the device above the palms slipped under it, so that the sound reflects from them. However, it is better to spit on these manipulations and do it easier: take headphones.
The tablet has two cameras. One of them is located in front and has a resolution of 1.3 megapixels - so it is only suitable for video calls.
The second, on the back of the case, is more serious: 5 megapixels, though without a flash.
The Acer Iconia W700 comes with several accessories. Firstly, it is a keyboard that communicates with the tablet via Bluetooth and thus saves one USB port. It works great (let's say the key mechanism is noticeably nicer than most laptops) and looks quite aesthetically pleasing from afar. But near the eyes, the extremely low-quality molding of the plastic keyboard casing hurts a lot.
The second accessory is a solid case of an amusing red color. The case looks good, feels good to the touch and can work as a stand. One problem: it weighs exactly like half a tablet - 470 grams.
Finally, the third valuable thing that can be found bundled with the Acer Iconia W700 is the docking station.
This is, in general, a rather simple thing: there are no complex electronics in it, there is only a USB hub that turns the tablet's only USB connector into three at once.
The body of the stand is completely plastic. Despite the fact that the docking station is obviously not too expensive, for some reason it is not supplied with all versions of the Iconia W700 - it is not included in the kit of the most affordable configuration (but there is a cover in all delivery options).
The leg on which it rests can be rearranged in such a way as to put the tablet upright.
There are neat notches at the bottom of the docking station so that the plastic panel does not obscure Windows button and speakers, which, recall, are located at the bottom edge of the tablet case.
By the way, the maximum sound volume from the tablet can be obtained precisely when using the docking station: cutouts for the speakers in its case are arranged in such a way as to direct the sound towards the listener.
⇡ Specifications
| Acer Iconia W 700 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 11.6 inches, 1920x1080 IPS technology, LED backlight (AU Optronics B116HAN03.0) Capacitive touch screen |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-3317U: 1.7 GHz (up to 2.6 GHz in turbo boost); 2x256 KB L2; 3 MB L3; two computing cores; TDP 17W |
| Chipset | Intel HM77 |
| Graphics controller | Intel HD 4000 integrated in the processor |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR3-1333 (soldered on the motherboard, no expansion slots) |
| HDD | 128 GB SSD (Toshiba THNSNS128GMCP) |
| optical drive | Absent |
| Flash card slot | Absent |
| Interfaces | 1 x USB 3.0 1 x Micro HDMI 1 x combo audio jack (3.5 mm mini-jack) |
| Interfaces in the docking station | 3 x USB 3.0 |
| 3G | Absent |
| WiFi | + (Atheros AR5BMD222) |
| Bluetooth | + (Atheros AR5BMD222) |
| NFC | Absent |
| Sensors | Light sensor Accelerometer/Gyroscope |
| Sound | Realtek ALC269; two speakers, microphone |
| Battery | 3 flat cells, 54 Wh (4850 mAh, 11.1 V) |
| power unit | 65W (19V; 3.42A) |
| cameras | Front - 1.3 MP Rear - 5 MP, no flash |
| Other | metal case |
| Size, mm | 295x191x12.2 |
| Weight | 940 g |
| operating system | Windows 8 (64bit) |
| Recommended prices | RUB 24,990 for version c 64 GB and Core i3 RUB 27,990 for version with 64 GB, Core i3 and docking station 35 990 rub. for version with 128 GB, Core i5 and docking station |
On the Russian market, the Acer Iconia W700 tablet is available in two versions. The younger one is equipped with a 64 GB drive and a Core i3-2365M processor. This is a previous generation processor, and even without Turbo Boost support - the frequency is limited to 1.4 GHz. The older configuration is equipped with a 128 GB SSD and a more powerful Core i5-3317U from the modern Intel line. The nominal frequency of this processor is 1.7 GHz, in Turbo Boost mode, it can overclock up to 2.6 GHz. It was this modification that visited us for testing.
In both versions, the tablet is equipped with 4 GB of non-replaceable DDR3-1333 RAM.
Graphics only integrated: Intel HD 3000 in the younger version and more productive HD 4000 in the older one.
User access to the filling in the tablet is completely not provided - neither the memory nor the solid state drive. So when buying, you should think carefully about which version to give preference to.
Equipped with full Windows 8, the Acer Iconia Tab W700 tablet first appeared on the market in the summer of 2012 and remains popular today, thanks to its quality and price. The powerful Intel Core i5 processor and 11-inch screen make it easy to compare Acer tablets W700 with compact computers.
Specifications
Model: Iconia Tab W700.
Processor: Intel Core i5.
OS: Windows 8 (upgrade to version 8.1 has recently become available).
Graphics: Intel HD4000.
Memory: 4 GB RAM, 128 GB built-in.
Screen: IPS-matrix, 11.6″, Full-HD.
Wireless interface: Bluetooth 4.0, WLAN 802.11.
Camera: 5 MP rear, 2 MP front.
Connectors: USB 3.0, micro-HDMI.
Design
Acer Iconia Tab W700 - tablet-transformer
Acer knows how to make solid tablets.
Iconia Tab W700 in an aluminum case (against plastic counterparts from other manufacturers) with a large screen protected by a special glass looks like a business-class tablet. Build quality is excellent, as always. The rubber gasket between the case and the screen glass prevents dust from entering the internal parts.
Acer Iconia Tab W700 is quite thick and heavy, its weight is 950 g. Holding it in one hand will not work for long. But these shortcomings can be forgiven, given that the tablet is stuffed with a powerful processor and a battery from full laptop.
Two fan openings are a tribute to aesthetics. There is only one fan in the tablet, and it is very noisy. The active cooling system creates some annoying interference, turning on even during reading.
Additional equipment
Acer Iconia Tab W700 is a convertible tablet. With it, the manufacturer supplies a docking station with a built-in USB 3.0 port, which only works when the dock is connected to the network. It comes with a wireless keyboard that connects to the tablet via Bluetooth.
The plastic dock serves as a stand for the tablet. Admittedly, Acer did not spend too much on the dock. Its appearance creates a contrast with an expensive and solid tablet. The dock can be used in landscape and portrait orientations without changing the angle.
Keyboard Acer Iconia Tab W700 deserves praise. It looks stylish and is quite comfortable to use. Standard size buttons are a rarity on tablets. As an alternative, the manufacturer offers a transformer complete with a case and a built-in keyboard.
Software
Windows 8 is the hit of the season. Full-fledged computer software on mobile devices amazed consumers, but the first version managed to provoke protests and discontent.
Acer Iconia Tab W700 ships with Windows version 8, but the system itself offers to upgrade it to Windows 8.1. The tablet starts to slow down after the upgrade. Updating the drivers available on the developer's website fixes the "glitches" of the system.
Windows 8.1 isn't called "full" for nothing. It is identical to the versions for PC and laptops. Interestingly, Windows 8 was originally designed for touchscreen devices. Windows 8 tablets are faster and more convenient than devices with other operating systems.
Windows Store still offers little interesting applications, and many games and programs for mobile devices are not adapted for Windows 8. But, given that the tablet is equipped with a full version of Windows, you can install all the usual computer applications. However, most of them cannot be used without a mouse.
Performance
The software developer has provided the ability to evaluate the performance of Windows 8 itself. The built-in performance index version 8.1 stores the results in a system file.
Windows 8 gave the Acer Iconia Tab W700 a score of 4.9. When the object of consideration is a transformer tablet, it can be considered a good result. GPU- Acer's weak link.
The tablet showed an excellent result in network performance - 55 Mbps. Games from the store on the Acer W700 run and run smoothly. And yet tablets are not yet adapted for demanding games. Here any mobile device, even on Windows 8, is inferior to a computer and laptop.
The tablet-transformer plays most popular video formats. The HDMI port allows you to connect Acer tablets to big screen or use for conferences.
autonomy
Acer Iconia Tab W700 showed a decent result in battery life. The tablet is equipped with a 4850 mAh battery. This is enough for the transformer to play video for 7.5 hours at maximum brightness. In reading mode, the tablet showed 11 hours. Playing on Acer will be at best three hours. Pleased Charger from a full laptop. Thanks to him, the tablet charges very quickly.
Outcome
Increasing the mobility of computers has become main task manufacturers since the introduction of the first PC. Tablets have replaced laptops, just as the latter replaced desktop computers. A new stage in the history of development computer technology Windows 8 tablets have become. It is obvious that manufacturers are striving to create a mobile device that will not be inferior to its older brothers in performance and power.
Acer Iconia Tab W700 is a representative of this concept. A tablet equipped with an Intel Core processor claims a place desktop computer. Not to mention Windows installation 8 and its upgrade to version 8.1.
Compromises due to the use of powerful hardware stuffing slightly spoil the overall impression of the device. Active cooling system, the only one USB port 3.0 modifications are all small things, but they are sometimes annoying. Thanks Acer for installing powerful battery, for which they did not pursue the weight advantage.
Excellent IPS screen with Full-HD resolution is a real pleasure. The performance for a tablet is sufficient, you can’t call it gaming, but it’s enough for everyday needs and not too demanding games.
Windows tablets are the most versatile. They are suitable for office and home use suitable for work and leisure. Full apps and games are more than you would expect from a mobile device.
Of course, the thickness of the body could be less, but the Acer Iconia W700 can still beat the competition in its segment. Acer plans to release updated version for more powerful processor Intel Haswell, perhaps, minor flaws will be eliminated in it.
Tablet equipped with an Intel Core processor - Acer Iconia Tab W700
A more advanced configuration of the Acer W701 with a built-in 3G module is available on the market. Both models, W700 and W701, are available in variations:
- Intel Core i3, 64 GB;
- Intel Core i3, 64 GB, keyboard dock;
- Intel Core i5, 128 GB, keyboard dock.
The main competitors of Acer Iconia W700 are Microsoft Surface and Samsung ATIV Pro. Acer wins significantly in price. Looking forward to the version with the Haswell processor.
Advantages:
- IPS Full-HD screen;
- excellent performance;
- fast processor;
- a full-fledged operating system with support for standard computer applications;
- great design and build;
- support for PC games;
- the presence of micro-HDMI and USB 3.0.
Flaws:
- dimensions, large weight and thickness;
- poor quality rear camera;
- noise of the cooling system.
Against the background of the advantages of the Iconia Tab W700, its disadvantages look ridiculous. Acer, as always, has released a quality gadget for adults and demanding users.
The idea of using a tablet with the performance of a modern ultrabook warmed the soul for a very long time. You can take this with you and always have a functional workstation on a desktop OS instead of the iPad, which is limited in its capabilities. With the idea of acquiring a no-compromise device, I went to the store last year and purchased Acer Iconia W700. He was stronger than Macbook Air , had an ultra-clear screen and promised to be my best buy in 2013.
Lenovo Yoga
The world does not stand still. Modern requirements for mobile computers are extremely high, and they are dictated not only by software. The release of the touch-based Windows 8 operating system has shaken up the industry, bringing hundreds of different tablet/laptop hybrids to market. There are a lot of options: some are deployed 360 degrees, others are divided into two functional blocks, others are laid out like a transformer, the fourth flaunt built-in stands ... If you are looking for a modern and unusual touch laptop, making a truly informed choice is very difficult: there simply isn’t enough money to try everything and find a middle ground. And if you have to work with Windows, Apple laptops, for all their merits, are not the most obvious option.
After reviewing dozens of reviews and videos, I decided on the choice of a tablet. The criteria were: I needed a powerful device that could do limited video editing and easily cope with Photoshop, as well as have a touch screen and a full-fledged OS that is compatible with all known programs. It was obvious that it was impossible to look in the direction of Windows RT: none of them corny work on devices with this operating system. famous program for Windows. Thus, I gave up on the attractive Surface RT tablet laptop, as well as its full-fledged Surface Pro version, due to negative reviews and feedback from its users. The choice was sharply narrowed down to a few candidates, and I left the store with an Acer Iconia W700.
Design, ports and ergonomics
It's hard to believe that this tablet was released around the same time as the iPhone 5. The design is similar to Apple smartphone- white insert at the top and the whole metal body- attracted more from the window. Despite the fact that we are dealing with Korean manufacturers, the Acer W700 is really encased in a piece of quality aluminum with a matte finish. Even the edges of the case on the front panel are erased at the same angle as in all modern iDevices. To the touch and outwardly, the W700 is somewhat similar to Macbook Pro closed. In short, love at first sight is guaranteed on all counts.
There is metal at the back, and a thick piece of glass at the front, protected from contact with the surface by a thin rubber insert around the edges, like around a MacBook display cover. It's a pity, but a large part of the front panel is occupied by an opaque black block, which has a very weak meaning. In the center is a single physical button "Start". She works through time.
The main 5-megapixel camera with a microphone is placed on the back. There is also a metallic Acer logo gleaming and one hundred and fifty-five unnecessary stickers can be seen. The day when manufacturers of Windows laptops will stop sculpting a truckload of wretched waste paper on their products is still very far away. In addition, this tradition is supported by Microsoft itself: in order to corporate clients were not afraid of checks, a powerful sticker with serial number installed version operating system. So if you want to get rid of this ugliness, you will have to refuse to confirm the legality of the OS. It's the 21st century, and we collect some stickers. Kick-Ass.
And yes, if it’s not enough for you, pay attention to the side panels: there is also a sticker with the serial number of the device. It began to peel off on the second day, and I do not advise anyone to tear it off for the benefit of preserving the guarantee.
In addition to stickers, there are many other things that are much more useful on the sidebars. For example, a full USB 3.0 port. There is still not enough power to operate external HDDs, but is anyone interested in this at the time of purchase? There is also a micro-HDMI port for connecting to external displays, which sometimes did not work until the next reboot (I sin on drivers in Windows 8). Do not forget about the headphone jack, as well as the volume buttons and the screen lock lever.
The lower edge pleases with two round cutouts for the speakers, whose protective inner mesh is painted red. The combination is good, but the speakers are sad: they may shout down the iPad, but the MacBook Air will drown them out with one left. In addition, at high volume they wheeze and creak. And on the top side there are square holes for ventilation.
All this stuff is almost impossible to hold with one hand. The device, firstly, has a peculiar size (16:9): it is even larger than the MacBook Air due to the frames around the screen. And secondly, it weighs almost a kilogram. Without a conditionally mandatory cover, with which one and a half kilograms are already obtained. Let's add here not the most "thin" case - more than a centimeter - and we get a bad candidate for the role of a convenient device for use on the go.
Every time you need to work with the tablet, you will be forced to stand still, put a huge aluminum tray on your arm bent at the elbow (otherwise only on the table), unlock it with a tight lever ... No matter how many times I tried to do something on this device on move, the conclusion was unequivocal: everything would be easier not only with the iPad, but also with any ordinary laptop.
But the W700 is so powerful that all this can be forgiven. Or not?
Hardware, performance and Windows 8
At different times I had two different modifications of the Acer Iconia W700. The first is almost uncompromising, daring and theoretically very productive: the processor Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge, 4 gigabytes of RAM, 128 gigabytes of SSD storage and a good built-in video chip that allows you to play a bunch of games at low settings. The second is minimal, old, but sufficient for work and photo editing: Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge, 4 gigabytes of RAM and 64 GB of SSD memory. Both of them silently outdo any modern iPad in any possible performance test. The hardware in these machines is very decent, especially against the background of most competitors who preferred to cram a helpless “stump” into their tablets - the Intel Atom processor.
But Acer made a very strange, inadequate act, which nullified all the advantages of the most powerful W700 models. To protect devices from overheating, motherboard specifically in these tablets, it significantly limits the performance of the new i5 (Ivy Bridge) processors - and at the same time their built-in video chips. As a result, it’s not always possible to play good 3D games normally: everything is fine for the first 30 seconds, then “throttling” turns on - and the frame rate drops sharply under the plinth. Still: the frequency reduction is more than twofold - from 1.7 GHz to 800 megahertz (!). This problem does not exist in models with older Sandy Bridge series processors.
And then the question arises: why overpay at all, if under load there will be no difference between the tablets? Therefore, having got rid of a powerful model, six months later I took the weakest one. By the way, Acer has officially announced that it is not going to fix the problem and instead released P3, in which this problem is not so pronounced. Caring for existing users at its finest, thank you.
home world 2
However, both tablets just “fly” in Windows 8. All applications open instantly thanks to fast SSD drives. Web pages load instantly. But the main thing is different. Here, on some kind of tablet, even if it is so big, all the programs that we are used to work. No stubby mobile versions: only real photoshop, real Chrome And Firefox, real AutoCad, real Microsoft office , real 1C... When you first open these programs on the W700, pure technological ecstasy comes from one fact. As if here it is, the future, without compromises and unnecessary "gaskets". iPad abruptly begins to seem like a child's toy, capable of only 10% of the capabilities of the Acer W700. Perhaps, somewhere in theory, everything really is.
But then, after a long bout of euphoria, you try to start working. Naturally, you want to work in a full-fledged Windows interface, and not in helpless "tiles" - otherwise you would have bought something simpler.
And then you slowly but firmly grab your head.
Working with a tablet-ultrabook. Spoiler: terrible
There is a well-known axiom. Iron does not paint the device, but it software. The history of the Android OS and the half-dead Blackberry are the latest examples of this. Despite the fact that almost all new Windows laptops come with touch screens, none of the massively popular and used applications are optimized for operation using only touches. It's not at all scary when you have a keyboard with a touchpad sticking out under the display. But if they are not there, the real one begins trash.
Photo The Verge
Acer Iconia W700 installed IPS- resolution screen Full HD, that is, 1920 by 1080 pixels. And it has excellent color reproduction, certainly better than the new one. There is just no joy in it. Do you think it is convenient to use the classic Windows shell on a 13 inch screen? Except in rare occasions, no. And sometimes it's unbearably difficult. Even though Windows has interface zoom settings (like the MacBook Pro Retina), most third party programs these settings do not support - and turn into a soapy mess on a clear screen. How to get to this miniature button? How to call this menu which is activated only by keyboard shortcut? Why does this button not want to be pressed from a touch, but works from a connected mouse?
I don't like unsubstantiated criticism. Here is a very telling example. We open photoshop. It would seem that with a touch screen, just sit and draw, highlight, and so on: an ideal environment for image editing. But here's the problem: you swipe your finger over the picture, but nothing happens. It turns out that Photoshop does not support editing via touch screens, which do not have Wacom pressure recognition technology. There is one on the Surface PRO, but not on many other tabletbooks. Imagine: two years have passed since the release of Windows 8 and hundreds of models of touch laptops - but Adobe has not even moved to do anything.
The question arises: why then the touch screen, if it is of no use? Maybe something can be fixed?
Further, it turns out that serious problems with software and hardware are often tritely unsolvable. This is not the Mac community that brawls over every flaw in Apple products, not only finding ways to fix them, but forcing the company to do the same. No, friends, everything is different in the PC world. The world does not care deeply about Windows laptops and their problems. Is something not working? Dance with a tambourine - "I also danced and it helped me." Do you think a community of the same lucky people will help you? Photoshop did not understand touch, and will not understand. But you will be advised to connect a mouse. Chrome did not want to recognize multi-touch gestures, and will not. Google, sorry for the expression, skewers your laptop. But you will be advised to buy an iPad! Or enjoy Internet Explorer is the only browser on Windows 8 that smoothly scrolls and zooms pages. That in itself speaks volumes.
Do you think someone will solve the problem with the constantly torn connection to Wi-Fi? It looks like this is a stupid marriage of the model: I successfully handed over my first W700 to the store and took the money a month later. In order to make sure in six months that the same thing is repeated on a new tablet of a different configuration. Even the community itself (+300 pages on w3bsit3-dns.com) itself does not know which drivers help and which do not.
Today everything works, but tomorrow Bluetooth does not turn on. Oops, it's time for me to reinstall the firewood - one more time. Once again. And download these, try. And yesterday they wrote on the forum that disconnects from these drivers are much less common. Great, I just don’t have a job, a personal life and an infinite amount of free time. At the same time I will rearrange something else.
No thanks.
Yes, the first two days with the W700 were great. I did things on it that were never possible with the iPad. Here is the power! So many possibilities! Opened iTunes and synced iPhone with tablet. Compiled the video in a video editor. Used a USB port for flash drives and Bluetooth for music. Pumped up torrents and cracked games. I'm joking about the last points, of course. But the mood was the same. Only then did the joy of a new toy begin to give way to a search. practical use. Soon I sat down, thought, and everything fell into place.
Pointless Gadget
As we already understood, for a full and versatile work with the Acer Iconia W700, you need to have several auxiliary things at hand. At least a mouse. This time. We put it in a bag.
The keyboard would still not hurt - so as not to reach out to the screen and not to go out with a virtual analogue. This is not an iPad with touch-based iOS. The keyboard is available both in the old and in the new configuration of the tablet - either a hybrid one, built into the case (disgusting quality of the buttons), or a good external one, as in the photo.
By the way, I have a suspiciously similar keyboard from Logitech in my closet. So similar that there is no difference between them, except for the logo and color. Everything seems to be clear to everyone.
Now in the bag we have two additional items. If you carry your tablet with you - and it cannot be otherwise - it would be very good to add a stand case (+500 grams). This one is either in a hybrid with a keyboard in new versions (terrible and miserable), or without it, but much better (only in old trim levels). And that's three or four things.
If you suddenly need to connect external HDDs that require additional power, or use several USB ports, it makes sense to invest a docking station. In the new trim levels, it is not at all - get out and buy additional key fobs-switches.
It seems like they didn't forget anything. Oh yes, and the charger. Now look at all this and think with me. Why did you buy this tablet?
Not a tenant
The idea of Windows tablets without the possibility of hard docking of the keyboard and touchpad is absolutely not viable. This is a failed concept, which nothing can save in its current version: neither an additional mouse, nor a stand, nor the same Bluetooth keyboard. Whatever you take with you and no matter how you place it, you will always subconsciously understand: if you had a regular laptop at hand, you would do everything several times faster. Not to mention how much space would be saved in the bag - and the nerves required to carry all this peripheral garbage.
Avoid gadgets like fire and only give them to your worst enemies. Let their performance be undermined, not yours. Let them install buggy drivers, struggle with helpless technical support, butt heads with service maintenance and swear at another program that does not want to work without a mouse. Do not repeat the mistakes of others: do not buy not only the Acer Iconia W700, but in general any similar device. They are still not thought out, and you will become their beta testers for your own money and nerves.
That's not to say that all hybrid Windows laptops are bad. On the contrary: the concept of a keyboard base and a removable tablet screen seems much more promising. Manufacturers know this, but so far none of them has found an answer to all technical questions: how to eliminate the backlash of the upper part of the tablet, how to achieve stability of the entire structure in the unfolded state ... Judging by the pace of solving these problems, everyone who wants to change a laptop to something even more functional, you have to wait at least a year. And two is better. And I wouldn't be surprised if the first good laptop/tablet hybrid ends up being an Apple device.
(5.00 out of 5 rated: 2 )
