ASUS VivoTab 8 (M81C) Windows 8.1 tablet aims to combine power and affordability
The IFA 2014 trade show featured a slew of exciting announcements, but some of them, such as the new ASUS VivoTab 8 (M81C), didn't get the attention they deserved.
As always with big tech shows, some announcements grab the spotlight and steal the thunder from others, but that doesn't mean that the smaller announcements go unnoticed or are not exciting. ASUS' new VivoTab 8 (M81C) tablet may not have received the attention it deserves upon its announcement, but it's worth having a look at nonetheless.
As a reminder, ASUS launched its first 8-inch Windows tablet in early 2014 with an Intel Atom processor under the hood, as well as a digital pen with pressure-sensitive input for jotting things down, drawing, or sketching. The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 made its debut earlier this year with a $330 price tag, but the new version aims to be more affordable.
For those of you who don't actually need or want pen support, the new ASUS VivoTab 8 (M81C) should be a notable alternative. The new 8-inch Windows tablet from ASUS comes with a new-generation Intel Atom processor, no digital pen, as well as a set of other differences that should translate to a lower price tag compared to the original VivoTab Note 8.
The ASUS VivoTab 8 sports an 8-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3745 quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 802.11n, and Microsoft's Windows 8.1 operating system on board, complete with a one-year subscription to Office 365. It's worth pointing out that the VivoTab Note 8 comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage capacity, but the new model will only pack 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, with no 64GB option.
The new ASUS VivoTab 8 (M81C) also comes with 2-megapixel front and rear cameras, compared to the 5-megapixel rear and 1.26 front cameras of the VivoTab Note 8 model. Another slight downgrade is in the battery department, dropping from 15.5W to 15.2W.
Other specs of the new slate include stereo speakers, a microSD card reader, and a slightly slimmer body compared to the Note 8. More specifically, the VivoTab 8 measures 8.3 x 4.9 x 0.35 inches and weighs in at 11.6 ounces, and it also seems to have thinner bezels around the display. Available color options will include black, white, purple, or gold.
In other words, the new tablet is close enough to the VivoTab Note 8 in terms of specifications, but also comes with enough differences to warrant a notably lower price point.
ASUS has yet to announce pricing details for its new VivoTab 8, but we'll keep you up to date as soon as we learn more.