ASUS VivoTab ME400c 10.1-inch Tablet - Black (Intel Atom Z2760 1.6GHz Processor, 2GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, WLAN, BT, 2x camera, Windows 8)

Pros Windows 8 (updated via Windows to 8.1) on a tablet. Quite slim. Solid build. Comfortable to hold in one hand. Office Student Edition. Good on-screen keyboard Memory card (micro SD) slot. Decent battery life (I mainly surf and use office based tasks). Smooth and fast operator (see previous point). Micro USB charging/connector. Great value for money. Cons Although the Windows app store isn't extensive it has plenty for my needs. Overall Although not comparable to Android or iOS, it's Windows 8.1 on a tablet. And it works well.

The tablet is good, is you only want to run simple applications (such as checking emails or web browsing). However, when you try to watch films or use more intensive programs (e.g. Adobe Suite) the battery life drains drastically. Although, I guess this is to be expected with such a small tablet. I would only recommend this tablet if the operating system is important (if you definitely want a Windows tablet), otherwise I'd suggest buying an Android equivalent as it will be cheaper.

We were quite happy with this product for the first couple of months despite the Mini USB charger socket becoming dodgy. the problems started when the tablet developed a huge crack in the screen overnight despite it being left on the side in its soft case. obviously to us a component under the screen had popped and cracked the screen. approaching ASUS was pointless, they might as well called us liers and said the damage was an accident and were not interested in looking at the tablet under warranty. they were expecting us to pay £50 to return the item and then another £50 to just look at it. Luckily Amazon are brilliant and agreed to give us a full refund for the item. be aware if you buy this item that there are no ASUS repair centres in the UK. I will never buy a ASUS product again

Update September 2015: The tablet died after a very short life. I took a refund and invested in the amazing Teclast X98 3G instead. They may not be a household name, but their product is first class in features and very low price. Check it out. I've only owned this fabulous little 'Smart' tablet for a few days but find myself smiling with glee at its wonderful performance, resulting in my inability to put it down. The great low price of £179 for the LTE version helped in my decision-making: I'm so glad I resisted the more expensive competition out there, including both of my original targets, the Surface 2 and the Nokia 2520; I've got myself FULL Windows instead of some pricey curtailed impostor. Yes, I am sure I could get better specifications for more cash, but that would take away the crucial 'value for money factor' for me. I love a quality bargain, and this is one of those, for sure! We can expect lots of cheaper Windows tablets in the near future. Good thinking, Microsoft! This tablet originally started out at £400 for the non-LTE version. I immediately upgraded to Windows 8.1, which took a while to do, but it's now fully implemented and adds considerably to the very pleasing experience of using this tab. As for the hardware, it looks sleek and cute, but I would have been happier with front facing stereo speakers for movies etc. This was easily put right with a cheap bluetooth sound bar which can be attached to the base or on top of the device. (See my other reviews for details) Yes!!! I also bought a snug case and a Bluetooth keyboard, which paired in seconds. I was particularly elated to find that the sole micro USB slot has enough charge for a 1TB hard drive, without the need for additional power. Now, that's impressive! My last accessory is a USB hub, to give me more ports should I need them. The webcam works brilliantly, but I have yet to use the main camera or micro HDMI slot, although I'm expecting to be pleased with those, too. I've inserted a sim card but have yet to use it for broadband on the move, or calls (in theory!). Word, Netflix, You Tube, flash-enabled sites, Flipboard, and even writing on the screen with a capacitive stylus, everything performs really really well. As a result, I decided to put my old Galaxy Note 10.1 up for sale: that was a toy, but this new baby is a very productive toy! My first book, God's Other Children - A London Memoir, is now on sale on this very site, but instead of being a prisoner to my desktop when I write its follow-up, my Smart new friend will give me the freedom to sit in a cafe or a park and remain within the Windows environment. I was previously appalled by Asus and their extremely poor customer support involving a now very dead Transformer tablet, so I made this new purchase with a cautious heart, hoping that I will never have to deal with them again. That said (and never forgotten, Asus!), I cannot recommend the VivoTab Smart highly enough, especially if you can pick it up at a bargain price, as I did. Buy it and enjoy the hell out of it, as you undoubtedly will. Update. The tablet died after a very short life. I took a refund and invested in the Samsung Ativ Tab instead.

So far so good...windows 8 now useable with desktop and start buttons available....seems to have loaded Photoshop, bbc I player, 4OD and itv player OK....hope the small ports stay functional... Update...still pleased with this little tablet, it seems to be up for everything I throw at it and has good sound, screen, keyboard and stylus sensitivity. Could do with more than 1 USB, but a well designed, responsive machine so far... The more I use this little machine, the better I like it! I've just got the tablet, with no keyboard and a magnetic case, and I must say that it does everything, and at a reasonable speed, that my old 4gb netbook was able to do...I use a weave-tip stylus fo things like drawing, note-taking, crosswords and photo editing, and all on a slim tablet no bigger or heavier than my iPad air. Now very pleased with Windows 8.1, seems to be well able to cope with all demands.....also pleased with the fact that I can use software that my iPad won't load. I player, 4od and Itv player all work well through the mini HDMI. Prints quickly via USB or AirPrint, and has a lovely bright screen. Connects quickly and seamlessly with cameras, smart phones, laptops and USB sticks, much more efficiently than the iPad. Overall, a great buy (and a very reasonable price)

This Windows 8 tablet does everything I want from a portable computer. It integrates seamlessly with my other windows devices and my smart TV. It runs the full version of Windows 8 and its USB and HDMI connectivity allows it to do all that a full size laptop can do. OK, so external drives are needed to make use of these connections, but the tablet's 64Gb internal memory and an additional 64Gb in its SD card slot means that external connections don't need to be made very often. The only downside is the Intel Atom processor which is a bit slow. So long as graphic incentive games aren't on your wish list and you are into Windows rather than iOS, this Asus tablet will deliver the goods and leave you with a worthwhile amount of change from the price of an entry level IPad 2.

I have had this product for about two weeks and I must say that the performance had exceeded my expectations. I read some review which says that it is slow. I have thrown many applications and software at it and it has never lagged or frozen once. The processors are powerful for the operation. The reason why I am giving 5 stars is the additional free Microsoft home and student 2013 thrown in. Folks it is a full office product not the trial version. There is a card included with the product code to activate it. The average battery life with heavy use is about 5 hours and when not heavily being used it lasts for about 9 hours. I initially bought a Toshiba encore but had problems with performance and had to return it. I was glad I did because this Asus tablet is better and the 10.1" screen makes it ideal and good for me to do a lot of work on the road. Finally I had installed some of my favourite desk top programs and they are running smoothly without a hitch. I recommend that anyone who wants to purchase should go for the 64GB because that gives you enough storage to install additional programs, out of the box you only get about 35GB free space for the 64GB one.

Windows 8.1 still cannot make up its mind what it wants to be when it grows up. The well advertised start button is very restricted. Still have to swipe 'search' and type to find progs and functions. The apps available on windows store are generally much poorer quality and more expensive than android or apple. They are so limited as I could not find a basic battery indicator app. (You have to work hard to check the battery level on win8). The asus tablet is a nice all round design and works well with the limited op system installed. The screen is very reflective and the supplied cleaning cloth needs to be kept on hand at all times. The screen picture quality is adequate for most applications but is noticeably poorer than the nexus 7 or 10 when watching videos..