Windows 8 Tablet Review: Kupa X11

[Michael Knutson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.netbooknews.com/36950/kupa-x11-windows-8-tablet-walk-through/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+netbooknews/nbn+(Netbook+News)' target='_blank'>http://www.netbooknews.com/36950/ku...+(Netbook+News)</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Windows 8 tablets are just around the corner but and tablet maker Kupa is showing off the X11 running the upcoming operating systems.&nbsp; It was great to play around with a tablet that has Windows 8 navigation up and running."</em></p><p><object width="600" height="360" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/PvbxTp7tMlM&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=&amp;fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PvbxTp7tMlM&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=&amp;fmt=18" /></object></p><p>Interesting to see Windows 8 and the new Metro UI running (and running pretty well for a prototype) on a tablet. Retailing starting at $699, the 900 gram, 10.1-inch X11 sports an Intel Atom processor, a 1366x768 semi-gloss high-res screen, 2GB RAM, front and rear cameras, a nice collection of ports, and a 64GB SSD. For $999 (or $799 per the video) the X11 adds 3G service, and ups the SSD to 128GB. No details were provided on availability, or on a critical component, battery life. To me, the X11 looked a bit bulky (thick), and a bit unwieldy, but again, it's a prototype, not a finished product. Thoughts?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

"Windows 8 tablets are just around the corner
Long freaking' block before we get to that corner. It's in developer preview as you know...that's before the first beta. Surprising they would show it on their hardware at this point. Hard to tell in the video if the hardware is inadequate, or the reporter is just inexperienced at managing it. Lots of re-taps and re-swipes, and it seems a bit slow. That is comparing it to my experience on my Dell Duo running the preview.

The preview actually runs quite well on my device. I wouldn't bother with it if you aren't a developer (I'm not). There isn't a lot you can do on the Metro side of things yet as all the apps are just demo's. Full featured, but not a lot of substance. You wind up switching into the old Win7 desktop to actually do anything. Again just because there aren't any Metro apps to do much at this point. So you get a feel for the interface, but that becomes natural quickly, especially if you use a Windows Phone ;)

There are certainly some driver issues at this point, but that is always the case in early builds. Not everything is going to work perfectly. That's why it is surprising the issues she was having on the video. You'ld think Kupa would have optimized drivers for their hardware if they were bringing this to a show.

That doesn't look like a capacitive stylus by the way, but rather an active one, implying an active digitizer on the device. (point is too fine) That's nice.

[Michael Knutson]

Agreed, I'm running a W8 developer preview on a Mac in VMWare Fusion, and yes, it's mostly cutesy UI placeholders with nothing behind the mirror. But I'm hopeful! I really want Windows tablets to succeed (mostly for enterprise use) for selfish reasons - I do assessment work on some pretty big spreadsheets and docs with a bazillion links, and a W7/W8 tablet would be so great for travel (jettison the company-provided brisk, um, laptop maybe). And again agreed, very long block to get around.