Windows 8.1 RT or Windows 8.1 32 Bit for a tablet?

DMGrier

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So I am considering buying a Windows Tablet for myself. Surface RT looks good but for the price I am not all about it. I am looking at a tablet with a quad core Atom processor running Windows 8.1 32 Bit which to me seams to make more sense with having a more widely supported version of Windows but what do you guys think?
 

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Hello DM,

Unless you are just going to use it to surf the internet and email, I would avoid RT (ARM), and go for the full real deal instead. :)
 

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    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks for the input Brink, honestly I am unsure what I would use it for yet and I am sure when I get it I will find something fun to do with it. I was just unsure if RT was any good, after doing some searching with the exception of MS it looks like every OEM has dropped RT in favor of Windows 8.1 32 Bit which I guess is a sign.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
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    Laptop
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    Sager NP2740
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4702HQ 2.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    W740SU
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Pro 5200
    Sound Card
    High Defenition Audio
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    1920x1080
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    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250 GB mSATA
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RT is ok for it's purpose, but it's just to limited considering that you can get the real deal for a bit more.

The main reason for me would be that you cannot install desktop (x86) programs on RT (ARM).
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
RT is ok for it's purpose, but it's just to limited considering that you can get the real deal for a bit more.

The main reason for me would be that you cannot install desktop (x86) programs on RT (ARM).

I am actually looking at a Dell Venue 8 Pro which with the 64 GB model is only $349.99 and that has the Intel Atom Z3740D 1.8 Ghz Quad Core and 2 GB of memory. Not to mention a mini USB 2.0 port and and Micro SD. Kind of see why almost all OEM dropped RT cause there really is no price difference unless you buy the MS model.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sager NP2740
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4702HQ 2.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    W740SU
    Memory
    8 GB 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Pro 5200
    Sound Card
    High Defenition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250 GB mSATA
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps cable, NETGEAR Night Hawk AC1900
    Browser
    Firefox 38.0.5
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender & Malwarebytes Pro
Windows RT is fine for anyone that wants a tablet like people use Android tablets. IE 11 is better than ANY Android browser and the metro/modern keyboard is better than just about any Android keyboard. So, I own a Windows RT device and so far I have been very happy with it as I spent the last 2 years with a number of Android tablets and was never quite pleased with any of them. Also, think about this. When you have a full Windows 8 tablet you have the ability of downloading and installing any and every Windows 7 app and lots of Windows XP apps. Each app you install gums up Windows. The more you install the slower Windows runs. That has been my experience anyway. RT keeps you from doing that. And most of those apps you really don't need anyway. Unless you are planning to replace your desktop/laptop with the tablet, I would prefer Windows RT.
 

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    Windows 8.1
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    2GB
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    10.1"
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    32GB SSD
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    Asus Case
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    Microsoft Wedge Keyboard
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    Bornd Bluetooth Mouse
    Browser
    IE 11
Hi there

RT ==> ReTired !! Using something Non Mainstream will only lead to tears in the long run -- just look at people locked in to proprietary formats and data bases for their music collections - they then want to move to another device / get a new piece of kit -- BAM - difficulty of handling the files. !!

Even though Ms says it's continuing to support RT - I can't see what's wrong in going for Windows -- at least it will be around for YEARS yet. RT really does at this point look totally DEAD in the water - no long term future.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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You do definitely make a point, but understand this.

My RT tablet replaced my Android tablet. Android can't run Windows applications either.

I was looking for a better tablet experience. My RT tablet cost me $199.00. You'd be very
hard pressed finding a Windows 8 tablet for that price.

It does what I need. The Store could be better. But, I traded the not so good store for the IE 11
experience which is far better than any Android browser experience.

Retired? Could very well be. Does it bother me? Not at all.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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    Nokia Lumia 2520
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    Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800
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    2GB
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    10.1"
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    Microsoft Wedge Keyboard
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    Bornd Bluetooth Mouse
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    IE 11
Hi there
That's fine so long as you understand and accept the limitations of the device - 199 USD sounds fine for what you want to do -- but beware from becoming "Locked in " to an incompatible format or data when you decide you want to move to something perhaps with more power or just newer hardware.

I'd be really surprised if we don't see soon some CHEAPER windows tablets - perhaps just under the 300 USD mark. If Ms is going down Software subscription routes it might make sense for Ms to give away the hardware at rock bottom prices and try and re-coup on the software,

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
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    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
I have an Asus Transformer Book T100 64Gb arriving tomorrow. I decided to get it cause for $399 you get full 8.1, a keyboard dock and Home & Student Office. For what I want a device to do (interact with both home and work Windows networks, be able to work on Word & Excel docs during the day for work) it seems like a good deal.

Sam
 

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I have a asus vivo smart tablet that ran 8.0 and i put 8.1 through the store
It has 2 gigs and 64 gig hd and it works just fine
 

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