OMG! They’re using Windows RT!

I know, I know; everyone has declared Windows RT dead and is having the grave dug as you read this. No one wants it, needs, it, or has any use for it. Personally, I have a lot of tablets and the one that currently sees the most use is a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 LTE (I’m a fan of the Samsung mobile devices). I never even bothered to purchase an RT device because I couldn’t see any need for it in the way I work.
So when my son told me he wanted a tablet for use at college I went through the common decision tree with him. He had recently switched from an Apple iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S4, so he had weaned himself off the Apple ecosystem, but he still gave my 4[SUP]th[/SUP] generation iPad a chance. Equipped with a Zagg Bluetooth keyboard case it seemed like it would be a good choice for note taking and general scholastic use.
A few days later he told me that his classmate’s tablets were the same price as an iPad. It turned out that they were all using Windows RT devices. Apparently, the way the school worked really lent itself well to RT and the built-in office apps. Word was the preferred document format, and teaching handouts and collateral materials were distributed as PowerPoint files. Students were expected to turn in presentations and such as PowerPoint documents (hence the Citrix client availability for students who didn’t own the software). While these policies started when the vast majority of students were using laptops or the school’s computers, there hadn’t been any changes since other technologies became commonplace. And with an Enterprise Citrix deployment making access to the required applications possible from just about any device, there isn’t a lot of motivation to make changes.
I gave my son a brief background on the current status of Windows RT, but he was still interested in trying it out, so off we went to a local store so he could get some face time with a Surface RT tablet. He pulled out a USB drive with his schoolwork, plugged it in, and was able to do everything he needed to do, even on the demo machine at the local store.
OMG! They
 
I'm considering getting an RT tablet eventually. But the only thing available is a lousy Lenovo that only has one MicroUSB port that's also used for charging. And I can't even try it out because the port got damaged and so it can't charge enough to be able to boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
I like the windows 8 tablets, more features and about the same price as the rt
I have the asus vivio smart tablet running windows 8'and I really like it
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    4 Windows 7 Pro Sp1- 4 Win 8 Pro, 1- xp pro sp3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 390, 380, 3 Vostro Laptops (7 computers in all)
    CPU
    desktop/laptop
    Memory
    4gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    atm randioum
    Hard Drives
    350,250
I really don't see why RT tablets can't be a viable option at some point. Are you really able to anything with the other two OS you can't do with RT? Not really. Yes, for the people hoping to replace a laptop or have a laptop alternative, it's not the best option but a lot of people just want a tablet for simpler. All the articles criticizing Surface RT basically say "people don't buy tablets just to have a tablet." Well, then explain why so many iPads are being sold. Most people aren't really using them for anything functional. Even the people who got one through work, probably spend less than half their use of it doing work. This idea that MS should only be allowed to make full-featured tablets is asinine. Just like everyone else, they should be allowed to make a basic tablet and it could have the same Office document editing app that is now available on Android phones. Even with only minimal PC functionality, a Windows based tablet could be more useful than an iPad.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The equipment and productivity is better in every way. The only lacking aspect is apps. Even that is questionable and subjective. A lot of the reasons people aren't looking at it is because of just being uninformed of it's abilities.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Dell Venue 8 Pro, i5 2500K overclocked PC
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4gb Surface Pro, 8gb PC
This idea that MS should only be allowed to make full-featured tablets is asinine. Just like everyone else, they should be allowed to make a basic tablet and it could have the same Office document editing app that is now available on Android phones. Even with only minimal PC functionality, a Windows based tablet could be more useful than an iPad.
Yes, I agree MS is allowed to make whatever they want. The question really is whether people want what they are making. I think that iPad sales versus Surface Sales speaks volumes about what the people want.

You are right, to the right person, a Windows based tablet "could" be better. On the flip side, to somebody else, the apps available on the Apple store might be exactly what they need to complete their work or task and thus that device might be far better suited to them. For example, if you mix live audio, you might use the iPad app (Yamaha StageMix) to remotely control your Yamaha M7 mixing console, so that you can walk around on the stage with the musicians and mix right from their perspective. You won't find the StageMix App for Windows RT to accomplish the same thing. Thus making the Windows device far less useful to you than an iPad.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
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