A whole new Venue

Dell’s newest Windows 8 tablet will make you a pro-on-the-go

As always, whenever a brand debuts here on HD, we acknowledge it. So welcome aboard, Dell; it’s about time.

Right off the bat, they’re trying to make a really nice impression with their latest Windows 8 tablet — the Dell Venue 8 Pro. We’ve got a pretty solid offering here from the Austin, Texas-based computer giant; it’s a really portable Windows machine, but of course, for those using Windows (especially for business), it has its limitations. Remember, a tablet can never replace a desktop or laptop.

Anyway, what we have here is a really impressive 8” HD IPS display that won’t stress your optical nerves even up close. The design is rather simple upfront, but the back makes up for it with that clean circular pattern. Surveying it, the Windows button and headset port are on top; the micro-USB slot, power button, volume rocker, microphone and microSD slot are on the right; and the speaker is at the bottom. The unit with me is only the Wi-Fi version; for the Wi-Fi plus cellular model, the micro-SIM slot is right beside the microSD.

Yes, it does run Windows apps and programs, and there are some things I’d like to point out here: the buttons can be a bit too small for your fingers, so you have to be a bit accurate when tapping something. Basically, you need to get the hang of it, trying to have your finger act as the mouse; a stylus would’ve helped here.

What’s more, the keyboard in landscape mode takes up over half the space of the screen, which is a bit annoying because you can’t see most of the window you’re on. And if you’re working on any Office application, you’ll be better off with a sold-separately keyboard. Speaking of Office, it does come bundled with Office Home & Student — trial version only.

Other than that, this tablet performs smoothly. It runs apps well and may flinch now and then, but this is totally ignorable. You can go about what you’re doing and pretty soon I’ll bet that you won’t see the difference being on a different platform aside from those we’re used to in tabs.

AND SO…

We all know that we’re used to the iOS and Android interfaces on tablets, but placing a bet on a Windows-powered gizmo isn’t a bad idea. The Venue 8 Pro is a good start for those who want something different. The device is highly likeable, and I would like to see how Microsoft loyalists react to this. Without a stylus though, just gear up your fingers to do all the work — my pinkie’s had its fill. alvin@khaleejtimes.com

THE LAUNCHPAD

Canon Ixus — Yet again, more cameras to choose from. The Ixus 145, 150 and 155 (pictured) are a trio of “modern, high-zoom pocketable and easy-to-use” compact snappers. Ideal for “gigs and nights out”.

Samsung Galaxy NotePRO (12.2) — It’s the world’s first tablet with a 12.2” WQXGA widescreen display, a “powerful device, redefining what a tablet can do”.

Asus Transformer Book T300 — It’s a 13.3” laptop with a detachable full-HD display that runs as a Windows 8 tablet. And its name sounds like a cross between the Transformers and the Terminator.