Samsung, the makers of the immensely popular Android based Galaxy Tab tablet PC have decided to make a tablet PC that runs Windows too. This was heralded by the announcement of Samsung’s new 10.1 inch Windows RT powered tablet named Ativ. When looked at strategically, this seems to be a very wise move considering Apple’s recent patent victories. Producing Windows based tablets negates any possibility of lawsuits, lets the hardware maker cover all bases and even makes them look like a leader rather than a follower. Instead of putting all their eggs in one basket, Samsung seem to have decided that putting the choices out and letting the customer decide on the best platform is the way to go. The announcement of the Ativ, is the latest chapter in this ongoing story.
This latest tablet offering comes from AT&T who seems all poised for the holiday and gift-giving season. Samsung’s Ativ was added to their tablet PC product line-up along with the Asus Vivo Tab RT.
The Samsung Ativ differentiates itself right off the bat with a huge 11.6 inch PLS screen that outdoes even the iPad’s Retina display in terms of clarity. On the inside, this tablet sports a speedy 1.5 GHz Clover Trail processor from Intel and 64 GB of internal memory. A 32 GB version is also available. Like other Windows RT tablet PCs, it comes with a connector dock for a keypad which converts the tablet into a laptop. This particular piece of hardware comes preloaded with the trial version of Microsoft Office 2013.
Based on the screen size and Windows compatibility tools, it is safe to say that the largest market for these users will be business users.
The tablet will have a 5MP rear camera and 1.9 megapixel front facing camera for video conferencing. The tablet also sports a USB port, microSD port and uHDMI port. Connectivity will be provided by Wi-FI and Bluetooth 4.0. An additional NFC chip promises further connectivity. The device is powered by an 8200mAh battery. At just 9.9mm thickness, the device is reminiscent of the Galaxy 7.7. It derives its back panel from the Galaxy S II. On the front, the black bezel neatly outlines the vivid screen which sports a resolution of 1366×768. At just 570g, it is one of the lightest devices in a class that is famous for being sleek and lightweight.
After this device was announced at IFA in Berlin, the buzz surrounding it has died down a bit.People who are interested in purchasing a Windows RT based tablet seem to prefer Microsoft’s own Surface. This is understandable as the Surface design team has put a lot work in getting the little design details of the Surface just right. The keyboard alone is a real work of electronic art.
Samsung has remained silent on the choice of the name ATIV. This has lead to speculations that it is a play on Sony’s VITA, which is ATIV just spelled backwards.
A more likely explanation is that it is a corruption of the word ‘creative’ meant to symbolize that this device is meant for content creation rather than just content consumption which seems to be the iPad’s forte. This holiday season will decide the fate of Samsung’s first foray into the Windows powered tablet PC segment.
Article by Guest Author:Â Samantha Kirk
Samantha Kirk is from mytechhelp.com, a site that offers savings and current information on Toshiba Support