NEW DELHI: Acer Iconia W3 holds the distinction of being the world's smallest Windows 8-powered tablet. It is the first true rival of the popular Apple iPad mini and the plethora of Android tabletsGoogle Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Note 510. At the launch event, we played a bit with the device for a hands-on review.
As
soon as we picked up Acer IconiaW3, we felt it was heavier than
rivalsiPad mini and Nexus 7. However, this doesn't mean it is not easy
to carry around, but somehow we just didn't expect the plastic-bodied
slate to be on the heavier side.
As we saw the
display, we could see the benefit that Acer was trying to impress upon
us - it brings the desktop into your palm. It is obviously meant for a
certain audience that desires the full functionality of the desktop in a
portable form factor. Of course, you can enjoy music, videos and
internet connectivity on the go with this tablet too.
The
1.8GHz dual-core Intel CloverTrail processor and 2GB RAM seems
sufficient for most Windows 8 tasks and even during the hands-on, we did
not encounter any lag. Acer has placed 2MP cameras on the front as well
as back, but due to the very poor lighting conditions in the launch
area, we were unable to evaluate them properly.
Using
the Windows 8 tablet with just one hand was a new experience and
something we did not find to be too disconcerting. In fact, those who
have used Windows 8 laptops will find the transition to be natural, even
if they have used the famously user-friendly Apple devices previously.
While
Acer IconiaW3 has its merits, it has its demerits too. The tablet is
targeted atbuyers, but focuses on those who not only consume content,
but create it too. It hasthe features for content creation, but forgets
that the modern user does much more than just video playback and
internet browsing. The wide number of utility and fun apps that make
Android and Apple tablets so popular are not as widely available in
Windows 8 platform. It is a well known fact and our harping about it
won't change anything, but the point remains that this is the chief
thorn in this Acer tablet's path.
Another issue
is the lack of mobile data connectivity, which is something you would
not expect in a tablet priced at Rs 28,000. Windows 8 platform offers
mobile data support, so we are left wondering why Acer chose to leave it
out. Of course, those who are ready to sacrifice a few (may be even
many) apps and mobile data for full desktop functionality will find Acer
IconiaW3 to be more than a capable device.
