Ask AnandTech: Ideal Tablet Specs & Form Factor for Work?
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 26, 2013 1:32 PM EST
We've done a couple of posts now on using tablets in business/enterprise settings. In our final post in this series we're soliciting ultimate feedback. There's an interesting trend going on in the consumer tablet space now, with attention shifting away from 10-inch form factors down to 7 or 8-inch models. I suspect things will be different in business/enterprise markets though. For those of you who see a use for tablets in the workplace, what is the ideal form factor? I'd love to hear your responses in the comments. Go as far as you want on the spec list too - down to silicon, storage options, dimensions, etc... Upcoming tablets are obviously set in stone, but your input could definitely help shape future designs.
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7keypad - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
Design of Tablet with touchpad+7keypad at keypad77.comaddverma - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
The following would be characteristics that I would look for.1) 10 inch IPS Panel with resolution of 1280X800 or higher. Anything beyond this becomes crumbsome to carry and use on the move.
2) 2 GB RAM
3) Capability to Dock it, just like ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TG so that we get extra battery life, keyboard and ports.
4) Lots of internal storage, 32GB or higher. I do not foresee IT departments allowing employees to put work data on a removable Micro SD cards.
Apart from this the following would be desirable characteristics
1) Ability to do video chat using tablets. This would require upgrading existing Work Wi-fi setups to the 802.11n or possibly 802.11ac specifications.
2) Ability to use office peripherals like scanner, printer, etc. from my tablets.
zaddie63 - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
All of this is available today.JasonIT - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
Ideal Specs for the business sector? Easy, needs to be x86 supported for legacy applications, enough performance to handle multitasking. 1.6 Ghz Quad core cpu that can power down un-used cores, 2-4GB ram, 128GB storage base /w expandable MicroSD, usb 3.0, user replaceable battery, 7"-10" screen options, Wi-Fi + 3G/4G and Wi-Fi only models, Bluetooth, WiDi, 1920x1080 ~320 ppi.Needs to have a Docking station/cradle (not usb3.0 port replicator) for desktop replacement, also will need a Laptop style Docking station that can hinge open and closed like a laptop with actual keys (not touch keyboard as seen in Surface).
If Tablets are to ever succeed in the business market, they need the agility to meet business needs. Tablet for presentation and media consumption, Desktop replacement for office productivity, and Laptop replacement for traveling productivity.
Users do not want to be burdened by having to synch their files to the cloud or use offline files. They want their data when they want it and not have multiple sets outside of backup purposes. So having their data on one device that can go from tablet to laptop or tablet to desktop would be the optimal solution.
SteveNYC - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
As someone else previously mentioned, I too thought the HP TC1100 was a fantastic piece of kit. I was sorry to let that one go.Right now, I have my eye set on the Samsung ATIV Tab 3 coming out in a few months. I've worked with a lot of devices over the last several years including the old Tablet PCs and UMPC lineups and none of them really got my interest. The iPads and Nexus tablets are all good, but not for legacy access.
Saying something is for business misses the point of "what kind of business". Much of what I do is executive oriented. I take a ton of notes and need some access to spreadsheets and word processing. While I believe the iPad remains the lead device for businesses that have no legacy systems, the many that do would be well suited to a Windows based device. I know my old job required it.
My goal has always been OneNote in a portable setup. I've always thought of OneNote as the single best application for an executive (or a student) that I have ever seen. But getting the horsepower to run that application has been the problem. If I were a silly dreamer, I would say give me an iPad with a Wacom digitizer and allow me to run OneNote (the full version). Silly, I know. It's mixing apples and oranges. But it's true. I've worked on the ThinkPad Tablet 2 and it's too unwieldy with an 11.6" screen on a 16:9 ratio. This is not something I want to carry. The Surface Pro is too heavy at 2lbs. The original Thinkpad Tablet running Android was very good, but it lacked the legacy access element (but was still my favorite) and the keyboard was "meh". The cellular connectivity is a must have. Tethering is for kids, not business.
A business tablet needs to have X86 compatibility for legacy apps and SSL VPN connectivity. It needs to weight less than an iPad and have at least as good battery life. I like the idea of the Transformer hybrid style and would enjoy seeing a more full featured keyboard with additional battery life for a tablet. Ultimately the keyboard is a tough sell. I've never seen one on a 10.1 unit that was very good. 11.6"... yes, but not 10.1" The ThinkPad's was ok and the old Dell Mini 10 had a decent keyboard. But ultimately the keyboard is deep secondary. If I "need" that, then I "need" a laptop of a bigger hybrid. But a tablet can't exceed 10.1", or it's just not a tablet.
We'll see how this Samsung ATIV Tab 3 works out. I'm surprised at how much I'm looking forward to purchasing it. I really had given up on Windows up to this point. But it "could" be a turning point.
frozentundra123456 - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
No need for a tablet. We do heavy data handling and statistical analysis. Anything a tablet can do a laptop or desktop can do cheaper, easier, and faster.chizow - Thursday, June 27, 2013 - link
More important to me than form factor and absolute performance (some is necessary of course), is the ability to run most of the day without a recharge. So, 8-10 hours ideally without needing a charge with the display and internals at use intermittently throughout in active and standby.Size, slimness and weight are also important, I really like the Surface RT's form factor overall but want the power and flexibility of the Surface Pro.
madpiyal - Friday, June 28, 2013 - link
I want a 10''/8'' tablet with a core i3 or i5 new haswell y series processor because it will assure 8-10 hours of battery life. It should be better than net-books used to be. And I want a full blown windows or a lot better version of windows rt. I don't want dual boot because people will misuse it(as BYOD is normal if you want to use Android use in your own device). Storage is a big issue and I think removable storage will be a huge plus. I don't mind low resolution at this screen size because its for work not for content consumption. It should have 3G radio built in for mobile sim to work and it should not have rear camera(we already have lots of camera around us and its a waste of company money).sasopu - Friday, June 28, 2013 - link
The answer mostly depends on the definition of work for said person. In my example, work is something with CAD software, so anything short of an i7/i5 machine can not be considered a work machine.But for a person that just needs to show his clients something that does not need big modifications on the go (a pdf catalogue comes to mind), a tablet is a way better option,
From where I'm sitting, there's no way a tablet can be used or even justified as a purchase for "work". I doubt the z2670 and such processors can handle things like CATIA, so the only viable tablet option is probably the surface pro, or any other i5/i7 tablet.
Streamlined - Friday, June 28, 2013 - link
As an accountant who uses his ipad to look at spreadsheets I'd say that NOTHING smaller than the full-sized ipad is gonna work. And only the retina quality screen makes the small 9.7" work. Optimal may be an 11" screen but the size is less important than the weight. I'll take a lighter 9.7" tablet over a heavier 11" but if weight was the same, I'd take the 11". And extremely high screen definition is a must when crunching spreadsheets with lots of small numbers.