SAMSUNG ATIV TAB 3

Those users seeking a collaboration between two of the biggest names in electronics and software need look no further: In the Ativ Tab 3, Samsung forgoes the Android OS to equip its latest addition to its growing tablet line for Windows 8. And the result is … well, OK.

Samsung is touting the Ativ Tab 3 as the thinnest-ever Windows tablet and we can say, yes, this tablet sure is slim at 0.32” thick. This slimmed-down look gets the entire tablet tipping the scales at a featherweight 1.2 pounds – can a 10.1” tablet really weigh so little?

In outward appearance, the Ativ Tab 3 otherwise resembles all of Samsung’s white-bezel tablets with the exact same dimensions. The volume, power and home buttons are all Samsung-standard in terms of placement, 64 GB of storage are in the basic model, and also included is the company’s S Pen stylus. The screen resolution of 1,366 x 768px is ho-hum at best and a true disappointment for Samsung devotees, who have been getting much denser displays on 10” tablets for over a year prior to the Ativ Tab 3’s release.

With Windows 8 on board, most users will know what to expect – though it should be noted that the full version of the OS is installed rather than the well-inferior Windows RT. Unfortunately, the Ativ Tab 3 goes the way of many a Windows tablet and includes a less-than-ideal 1.8 GHz Intel Atom processor. Videos run fine and most games play well, but serious graphic work won’t really be possible.