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Hello,
I wanted to buy the archos g9 80 16gb but there are same bad reviews on youtube pointing out that the screen has a blur in the upper left corner when you press it.
So should I buy it or do you have any alternatives for € 200 - 300 ?
anyone?
Has anyone the archos 80 g9 ?
Are you happy with it?
What are the down sides?
timothywer said:
anyone?
Has anyone the archos 80 g9 ?
Are you happy with it?
What are the down sides?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea , any one ? I Second that question.
Well, my 80 G9 250gb arrived today. I didn't know the thing only had 512mb of RAM, that sucks, my Acer A100 has 1gb. As far as the screen blur, I haven't noticed it because the 2 bright green stuck pixels draw my eyes inexorably to them, especially the one in the middle of the black toolbar on the bottom. Sending it back to NewEgg, hope to get one that works. The only other LCD device I have ever had with a stuck pixel was a Droid X I returned 2 days after I got it. Otherwise, I like it, but I do kinda fear trying to run ICS and widgets on that paltry amount of RAM.
I've had my archos 80 G9 Turbo 16GB for about 2 months. overall I'm happy with it.
Cons:
I have had the screen issue. I had archos RMA it twice for that, and the latest one still has it. (my suggestion would be get one that doesn't have it too bad, or go for the 250 GB) In general I don't notice it except for when I'm changing how I'm holding the tablet, which at that point in time it doesn't matter.
The 512 Meg ram kinda sucks. It drags down the multitasking ability of it a little. (although I haven't had any problems running widgets) You mostly need to keep an eye out for apps that like to run in the background for no reason like all of the games by Glu.
Freezes/Random Reboots, I have had it freeze and randomly reboot quite often. usually about once a day.
Volume button placement is odd. I often accidentally change the volume when I'm holding it landscape.
You'll notice the game market is slightly limited for it because of the OMAP processor. Most games cater to Tegra. however since I've had it I've noticed it's gotten better.
Camera feels like it's on an odd spot. kinda hard to hold without covering it. (Thank god for the kickstand)
Pros:
When it's working it does everything you need, and does it quite well.
The screen is quite bright. I usually leave it at the lowest light level and don't have any issues.
8 inch is a wonderful size. I feel like 10 inch is too big and clunky, and 7 inch feels too small.
Kick stand is handy.
Speaker is quite loud. I often listen to podcasts while doing other things and have no problem hearing them.
i have had my 80g9 turbo for a month today and can say it is a good tablet.
as sed above it does have the screen issue but i 2 only notice it when changing position.
ive never had it freeze on me but the browser does occasionally close itself if i multitask too much.
Ditto with what everybody else said, but I would like to add a few pro/con's.
Pro:
I've got to repeat how great the 8" size is. It's perfect. If the frame was a little better...
I really like having the 2 USB ports. Both act as OTG (hosts). The front needs a $5 adapter, but works well. My only complaint is that the back one may require a dongle because of low clearance.
It also supports the wiimote program for games. My HTC Flyer (soon to be seen on e-bay) & Galaxy S do not.
The Archos remote program (for media) is limited, but really nice if you have an android phone.
Video decoding is better than Tegra 2. It actually played a BluRay rip (poorly).
Cons:
It seems like the USB device detection is intermittent. Sometime it will detect devices (including my external HDD), sometimes it requires multiple connections.
Viewing angles are not great.
Mine was bad out of the (open) box. Had to RMA it. Hoping the new one is better.
Usages Notes:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system. The other "killer" app is Mame4Droid with a wiimote. I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.
dburckh said:
I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Shadow gun works , try with the Tegra version and Chainfire 3D .
Mine has also the screen shadow problem when i press it . I have the 8 G9 250 GB version . My main concern is the poor battery life in comparison to an .. Ipad which my wife has always on , the screen its not that bad for the price .
The space for media is guite enormous but the 1.5 gb of internal memory for apps seems to fill quite fast with Tegra games , but its enough for most users i guess.
Super good for media playing , Hdmi out , full usb X 2 , connection to not only wii controller but also ... Usb Xbox 360 controller , Usb pc controller , mouse , keyboard , usb sticks , usb network to cable converter ,usb fan , usb light , usb hub , the list goes on and on ..
Lastly the 8' is quite perfect dimensions and i hope the Ics 4 solves at least the battery problem . Until then i ll wait
I agree with most pros & cons above although I have yet to take full advantage of everything
I have a 80G9 16GB turbo with OMAP4460, 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM (*was not advertised to be in that configuration) only had this for about 2 weeks, also have 80G9 8Gb classic with 4420
-no screen issue
-almost no flash issues
-good live streaming
-good Netflix
-most of the time very fast
-overall size & screen aspect ratio is also perfect for me (little smaller frame/border would be better) I have spent time on a 7 and 10 inch tablet
-loving Perfect Keyboard and getting used to benefits of Opera Browser, using Avast Mobile Security
-because of size, typing with split keyboard in landscape with thumbs is better than any other experience (full size, or laptop included)
would I buy one? No, I bought two (family member has the classic)
----------------------------
-charging time, procedure & dedicated usb cable/ charger are questionable
-freezes or reboots once in a while for no known reason or when I rush to go back or forward
-sometimes issues with keystroke delay & cursor placement
-battery life is ok, but would want more if remote productivity was a priority
-build quality is acceptable for price but inset screen creates a ledge for dust, some of the edges around perimeter could be smoother
dburckh said:
Ditto with what everybody else said, but I would like to add a few pro/con's.
Pro:
I've got to repeat how great the 8" size is. It's perfect. If the frame was a little better...
I really like having the 2 USB ports. Both act as OTG (hosts). The front needs a $5 adapter, but works well. My only complaint is that the back one may require a dongle because of low clearance.
It also supports the wiimote program for games. My HTC Flyer (soon to be seen on e-bay) & Galaxy S do not.
The Archos remote program (for media) is limited, but really nice if you have an android phone.
Video decoding is better than Tegra 2. It actually played a BluRay rip (poorly).
Cons:
It seems like the USB device detection is intermittent. Sometime it will detect devices (including my external HDD), sometimes it requires multiple connections.
Viewing angles are not great.
Mine was bad out of the (open) box. Had to RMA it. Hoping the new one is better.
Usages Notes:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system. The other "killer" app is Mame4Droid with a wiimote. I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Would be nice to use that full-size connetor, altho my BT keyboard paired up fairly easily, and works nicely.
R
rokkywoof said:
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use mine as a host all the time. I literally leave my 64GB USB drive plugged in all the time. I have a case on my G9 101, so the 3G port is covered and I don't have to worry about losing the USB drive anywhere. I have a bunch of movies and television shows on the USB drive that I watch. The only time it ever comes out of the tablet is when I need to put other media on it.
rokkywoof said:
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Would be nice to use that full-size connetor, altho my BT keyboard paired up fairly easily, and works nicely.
R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used the full sized 3g USB for a number of devices. just make sure u have it turned on on the clock menu popular
Sent from my ARCHOS 80G9 using XDA Premium HD app
Giving it up.
mahall1988 said:
...Just make sure u have it turned on on the clock menu popular
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say what? I simply cannot parse "clock menu popular" - typos? missing words? There is a Settings menu item for the 3G stick, but nothing I did on that seemed to matter, although I did not try too much, or with many devices.
Thanks anyway, but with that issue, only 512MB RAM (Staples online ad Sunday stating 1GB got my hopes up that this was an upgraded model, but they have since corrected it), and not getting the MTP app to work on my main Linux PC, I gave up on it, and took it back for a refund tonight. Besides, it was just a bit too big to handle/carry easily like my Dell Streak 5 and defunct Archos 5. And I guess I am stuck on pre-Honeycomb versions of Android - that HC GUI is just too weird...
On the plus side, that bright, clear, just-big-enough 8-inch 1024x768 4:3 screen sure is nice for viewing web pages and epub magazines like Linux Journal.
YMMV,
R
dburckh said:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the Archos G9 ICS still work with the USB speakers?
Thanks
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
So an update:
TwoMon and iDisplay work great as a second monitor if you're using the graphics from the processor via usb, so games that are meant to work with intel graphics go without much of a hitch (save for the 40FPS of the programs... but I don't know much about modding apk files. Let alone screen refresh rates). So far no go with the graphics card. I still haven't figured out if there's a way to get a tablet to accept input via an HML cable. Does anyone know if this is possible? Or am I just wasting my time on a futile effort?
MHL etc on Tablets and Phones is strictly for output. Which is a shame, as using it for such things could be cool.
Sent from my SM-P600
JunoZXV said:
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to do, but I've been thinking about using my tablet as a second screen or remote display for Win8. I plan to get Microsoft's Remote Desktop for Android, but need to get the 8.1 Pro upgrade to make it work. I might also try JUMP Desktop, which also requires 8.1 Pro, and has full touchscreen support, making it just like using a Win 8.1 tablet, but remotely. I have a good university network so it should work well from all over campus. I'm just hoping I can get the full resolution and can do it headless with just a desktop with no monitor and my old GTS 450 in it. Almost definitely not good enough lag-wise for gaming though.
Remote Desktop?
How about just running a remote desktop like Splashtop and using it like a windows tablet.
Try and get the fastest wireless connection you can setup and it should work pretty reasonably fast as a remote desktop.
Freakstyler said:
MHL etc on Tablets and Phones is strictly for output. Which is a shame, as using it for such things could be cool.
Sent from my SM-P600
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dangit. Well at least that's what I was looking for. Do you think it might be possible to find a cable that could take an HDMI and put it to USB micro? Or perhaps Mini Display Port?
@deV14nt
I need it to be wired. Doing gaming via wireless is really laggy. Basically I'm trying to use my tablet as a 1600p monitor for gaming. Wireless would cause too much latency. I'll look into JUMP desktop and Remote desktop to see if the pressure sensitivity can work for drawing.
@warboat
I'll give splashtop a try too.
What I'm trying to do is have a high resolution display with a PPI of 299 so that way I can play my games and see the entire screen on 10 instead of 24+ inches. From far enough away I should be able to make out what's going on my tablet without grain and just see the polygons. Making the most of Anti Aliasing.
JunoZXV said:
Dangit. Well at least that's what I was looking for. Do you think it might be possible to find a cable that could take an HDMI and put it to USB micro? Or perhaps Mini Display Port?
@deV14nt
I need it to be wired. Doing gaming via wireless is really laggy. Basically I'm trying to use my tablet as a 1600p monitor for gaming. Wireless would cause too much latency. I'll look into JUMP desktop and Remote desktop to see if the pressure sensitivity can work for drawing.
@warboat
I'll give splashtop a try too.
What I'm trying to do is have a high resolution display with a PPI of 299 so that way I can play my games and see the entire screen on 10 instead of 24+ inches. From far enough away I should be able to make out what's going on my tablet without grain and just see the polygons. Making the most of Anti Aliasing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you going to be gaming on the 10" screen at your desk, or you want it as a portability option? To play while you're connected to the school LAN from across campus?
JunoZXV said:
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that when your as far away from your monitor as you should be, that dpi is pointless? Its the same reason why only really huge tvs need 4k.
talz13 said:
Are you going to be gaming on the 10" screen at your desk, or you want it as a portability option? To play while you're connected to the school LAN from across campus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wired. I want to take the output of my graphics card and put it into the 10" screen. While playing across a range would be sweet, there's only a few devices that Iknow that can do that wirelessly, and that's because they have TEGRA 4 chips but they don't have high enough resolution. Doing a wired connection means that the tablet doesn't die from power drain and has direct reception from the graphics card.
Soul0Reaper said:
You do realize that when your as far away from your monitor as you should be, that dpi is pointless? Its the same reason why only really huge tvs need 4k.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do realize. I have eyes. However, your questions don't really help. I'm trying to get the output of a graphics card and use my tablet as the monitor. IT's not a matter of pointless DPI, it's a matter of using a table as a display for high end graphics.
The reason for the 10 inch real estate is to cut down on space as well as the effect of tunnel vision. Having 2560x1600 pixels in a smaller real estate enables me to see everything on screen in one view instead of having to shift my gaze momentairly to glance the corners.
I used to think that too. But I saw data on what DPI humans could perceive at a given distance. It's definitely way higher than I thought at 1-2 feet. We still have a ways to go past 300 DPI, regardless of what Apple might say about Retina.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Free mobile app
JunoZXV said:
Wired. I want to take the output of my graphics card and put it into the 10" screen. While playing across a range would be sweet, there's only a few devices that Iknow that can do that wirelessly, and that's because they have TEGRA 4 chips but they don't have high enough resolution. Doing a wired connection means that the tablet doesn't die from power drain and has direct reception from the graphics card.
Yes, I do realize. I have eyes. However, your questions don't really help. I'm trying to get the output of a graphics card and use my tablet as the monitor. IT's not a matter of pointless DPI, it's a matter of using a table as a display for high end graphics.
The reason for the 10 inch real estate is to cut down on space as well as the effect of tunnel vision. Having 2560x1600 pixels in a smaller real estate enables me to see everything on screen in one view instead of having to shift my gaze momentairly to glance the corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, there is no native solution to make the tablet act like a regular display that accepts input, you could try taking it apart and hack something together I suppose. To the best of my knowledge, sitting the recommended distance from 27 inch monitor let's you see all of it in one view easily. Basically unless you really just want to have a tiny tablet monitor for the sake of having it, there really isn't a reason. I could definitely get behind having a cheapo wacom slate tho lol.
Soul0Reaper said:
As far as I know, there is no native solution to make the tablet act like a regular display that accepts input, you could try taking it apart and hack something together I suppose. To the best of my knowledge, sitting the recommended distance from 27 inch monitor let's you see all of it in one view easily. Basically unless you really just want to have a tiny tablet monitor for the sake of having it, there really isn't a reason. I could definitely get behind having a cheapo wacom slate tho lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's been a while. I manged to get the tablet to work up to 40 frames using the USB to Micro cable However this is using a third party app and it's laggy as all heck when it comes to gaming (Display wise it is pretty, so movies are a go-go). It does however work great for non intensive things like Office or internet browsing.
I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to create a driver that will enable me to have it preform the way I want (by reversing the input of the HDMI to Micro USB)
Could you provide more details?
Root?
Enjoy your favorite apps and movies on the impressive 10″ IPS widescreen display found on the Dragon Touch X10 II tablet.
PROs
Display: The IPS displays really shines on this unit as it allows you to view it an angle without the colors “washing out” or being reflective, which is common on other budget tablets. The 1366×768 resolution provides quality equivalent to 720p making the tablet great for Netflix, YouTube, and general video streaming.
Octa Core Processor: The Octa (that’s 8) Core processor that this tablet uses keeps the interface fluid and responsive (this is one of the most important features to me). Web browsing works great on this tablet, but I did notice occasional hesitations when switching between apps. This tablet can even handle some higher end games like “Need for Speed: No Limits” shown in my video. The tablet received a multicore score of 1245 on Geekbench 3.
16GB of storage: This refers to how many apps, photos, videos, and music files you can store directly on the tablet. Since the operating system takes up some of this space, you’re left with about 12 GB of usable memory. If that’s not enough space, you can expand the storage with inexpensive Micro SD cards, like the ones you would use in your phone and some digital cameras.
1GB of RAM: The amount of RAM means affects the performance of running multiple apps at once. For example, more RAM makes things quicker when you switch between the Gmail app and the Google Chrome web browser app. Or if you’re playing music on Pandora while flipping through an eBook. More RAM means that the tablet can “remember” multiple apps at the same time without needing to close out apps in the background. 1GB is a decent amount for a budget tablet (some only have half this amount).
Bluetooth: Some budget tablets omit Bluetooth to cut costs, but I’m happy to see that it is included in this tablet. This allows you to wirelessly connect Bluetooth keyboards and Bluetooth speakers, making it ideal for streaming Pandora music.
Full-sized USB port: You can connect a flash drive to this tablet without needing to use an OTG cable. The tablet features a full-sized USB port on the side.
Two cameras: The tablet features two cameras, front and back. It’s nice to have the camera there for a Skype call or to take a quick photo, but the quality is fairly low.
Build: The tablet is thin and portable. The plastic back is soft which makes it comfortable to hold.
Mini HDMI out: This tablet has a mini HDMI out, so you can connect it to an HD television, allowing you to use supported apps on the big screen.
Pre-applied screen protector: I really like that there is already a screen protector in place on this tablet. This saved me the hassle of needing to install a screen protector myself (which I typically do with any touchscreen device). Additional screen protectors are available on Amazon.
CONs
Special charger: The tablet comes with a special charger with barrel connector for the fastest charge. Make sure you don’t lose this charger.
Cameras: The quality of the cameras is not great. While it’s OK for grabbing a quick snapshot in bright lighting conditions, low light performance is poor. But for a quick Skype call, it will work in a pinch (just make sure you’re in a brightly lit location).
Speakers: The sound quality of the built-in speakers is not great, but you can connect headphones or a Bluetooth speaker instead.
Overall, I am impressed with the octa-core processor used in this tablet. I like how responsive the interface is and it gives the feel of a tablet priced much higher. It’s great not just for casual gaming, but for more high-end games as well. And for basic web browsing or Facebook-ing, it also performs very well.
Check out the Dragon Touch X10 II tablet on Amazon and official website.
If you’re looking for a case for this tablet, this case is designed specifically for it.
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Pros
Running dual operating systems, and switching from one to the other is simple.
Screen offers good viewing angles and vibrant colors.
Premium build material.
Robust keyboard connection.
Decent battery life.
Cons
Extremely slow to charge.
Very little improvement in performance compared to the Bay-trail powered tablets.
Poor cameras.
A lot heavier than the Surface 3.
Cube has attracted lots of attentions with their line of affordable 2-in-1 convertible tablets since early 2014. Now they have two lines of convertible tablets: the premium Core-M powered i-series tablets, including the Cube i7, Cube i7 CM, Cube i7 Stylus and Cube i9, and the more affordable Atom-based iWork series, such as the iWork 10, iWork 10 Ultimate, iWork 11 Stylus, and the all new iWork 12. There are some exceptions, though. The Cube i6, i10 are not premium Windows tablets like the i7 and i9, instead, they are Atom based tablets, designed mainly for basic tasks.
As confusing as Cube’s product naming is, the all new iWork 12 is definitely Atom-based. With a 12.2-inch screen and a kickstand, it bears a striking resemblance to the more premium Skylake Core M powered Cube i9. Running on an Atom Cherry Trail X5-Z8300 CPU and 64GB eMMc drive, the iWork 12 is more of an entry-level convertible than a powerhouse hybrid. The RMB1,599 ($244) price may seem low compared to similar systems such as the ASUS T100HA, but it is still a tad higher than the price of the iWork 10 Ultimate ($152.4), which rocks the same internal setup. Are the $82 extra bucks a worthy investment for more screen real estate and a kickstand, let’s find out.
Cube iWork 12 Main Specs
• OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit & Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
• Display: 12.2-inch IPS, 10-point multi-touch, IGZO
• Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (16:10)
• CPU: Intel Atom Cherry Trail X5-Z8300 Quad-core Processor
• CPU Frequency: 1.44GHz – 1.84GHZ
• GPU: Intel HD Graphic Gen8
• RAM / Storage: 4GB / 64GB
• Function: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, OTG
• Camera: 5MP back camera, 2MP front camera
• Battery: 9,000mAh
• Extend Port: USB 3.0 port, TF Card Slot, Micro USB, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Micro HDMI
• Weight & Size: 930g / 302.9*194.9*9.15mm
Packaging and Accessories
The Cube iWork 12 comes with very nice packaging. Inside the box you will find a tablet, a wall charger with a micro USB plug, an OTG adapter, a user manual and a warranty card.
Design and Build
As we mentioned above, the iWork 12 has an identical design to the Cube i9, with a 12.2-inch display dominating its front and a 2-angle kickstand on its rear. The white bezel removes the feeling of cold black technology, and the Magnalium rear side gives the tablet a premium look.
The left side plays host to a slew of ports and slots. You can find a Micro USB port, a Micro HDMI port, a 3.5mm headset jack, a Micro SD card and a full size USB 3.0 port.
The keyboard port can be found on the bottom side of the tablet.
As always, a power/standby key and a volume rocker on the top side.
The built-in kickstand can open to two different angles, satisfying the needs of using the tablet in different occasions.
Overall, this machine seems to belong in a class way above that of its price point, so kudos to Cube for continuing to provide compelling value in terms of construction. As the overall design remains quite similar to that of the i9, the weight and size are also nearly identical. The iWork 12 tips the scales at just 930g, although far from being the slimmest or lightest tablet out there, it is still quite portable by any definition.
Keyboard
The keyboard cover for the Cube iWork 12 is exactly the one designed for the more premium Cube i9, and it matches the design of the Microsoft Surface Type Cover. It is very thin, light, and won’t add much weight to the tablet.
The tablet and the keyboard clip together quickly and easily, without much force or maneuvering. When in place, it’s a solid connection which seems like it could take some punishment without breaking apart.
Like we mentioned in the review of the Cube i9, the keyboard itself is very well designed, with ideal space between different keys, it also offers decent key travel, which gives you tactile feedback when you type. And we really love the ability to set it flat against the desk or at a more keyboard-like angle. We’d always rather use a full-sized laptop keyboard, but in the absence of that this Keyboard Cover is the very next best thing.
The trackpad is reasonably sized, and it has distinct left and right click zones, and supports gesture control as you would expect. Unfortunately, unlike the Surface Type Cover, when you fold the keyboard cover around the back of the iWork 12 and the keys are still active.
Display and sound
The Cube iWork 12 rocks a 12.2-inch IPS display at the resolution of 1920*1200. The display is bright, vibrant, with wide viewing angles.
Even when compared to top offerings such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, the Cube iWork 12 doesn’t pale in comparison in the display department. And you can’t really tell the difference in pixel density from a normal using distance.
With that said, I did notice more reflection when compared to top Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, using it outdoors should be challenging.
The Cube iWork 12 has stereo speakers, placed on the left and right side of the tablet’s chassis. Sound quality is respectable for a budget tablet, but not truly remarkable. It’s not too harsh or tinny, and having stereo sound is great for watching movies. Top volume is decent, but lacks the low-end bulk and power of the best tablet speakers such as the ones on the iPads and Galaxy tablets. The 3.5mm audio jack has no problem driving our high-end headphones to an ear-splitting level, and we could hear a lot of details through the headsets.
Operating systems
You might have already noticed that I used a plurality in the heading, that’s because the iWork 12 ships with two operating systems in one machine: Windows 10 and Android 5.1, and you can switch between those two systems with only one or two taps on the touchscreen.
Unlike the iWork 11 Stylus, which runs the 32-bit version of Windows 10 and can only use 3GB of the 4GB RAM, the iWork 12 is preinstalled with the 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home and can take full advantage of every bit of the 4GB RAM built in the device.
Both the Android 5.1 and the Windows 10 are clean, with almost no third-party applications. While the Windows side takes care of the everyday business tasks, the Android side takes care of your social networking and media consumption. With access to numerous applications in Windows (those in Windows store and traditional desktop apps) and Google Play, the iWork 12 is much more versatile than any your average Android tablets or iPads.
Storage
The iWork 12 comes with a 64GB eMMc drive. Although not as lovely as the SSD used in higher-end tablets such as Cube’s very own i7 and i9, it is expected as an eMMc drive is always a standard choice for Atom-based tablets and netbooks. As the iWork 12 is running on both Android and Windows 10, the two operating systems takes up different partitions of the hard drive and don’t have shared internal storage. The Android side takes up a partition of 16GB, while the more complex and powerful Windows 10 takes up 48GB.
Fortunately, the iWork 12’s storage is expandable by a Micro SD card up to 128GB. The users can save multi-media files in the external storage, which they can visit from both Android and Windows.
Performance
The iWork 12 is powered by the latest Atom Cherry Trail X5-Z8300 processor and 4GB of RAM (DDR3 1066), and the performance is pretty predictable for an Atom-based system.
On the Android side, the iWork 12 was pretty fast and responsive to all our controls. Tasks from scrolling the home screens to running graphic-intense 3D games are all handled smoothly by the tablet. We experienced very few lags or delays while browsing image-heavy webpages, watching YouTube Videos, social networking and gaming.
We also ran some benchmarks on the Cube iWork 12. In the Antutu 6 benchmark, the slate was returned a score of 56615, and in the Geekbench 3 test, it got a score of 2093 (Multi-core). It is clear that the iWork 12’s doesn’t match the latest top Android smartphones in terms of benchmark scores, but I didn’t really feel it was by any means slow, even comparing it to my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
On the Windows side, things were a little different. Lags and stutters were non-existent running applications installed from the Windows store, and you can even use several Microsoft Office applications side by side, but the tablet still struggled with heavier desktop tasks: Unzipping a compressed folder took forever, Photoshop took a long time to open, and heavy duty applications such as Corel Draw and lightroom simply wouldn’t start.
Benchmarks tell the story, too. In most of the benchmarks, the Cube iWork 12 scored way behind the Core M powered Cube i9 and the Z8700 powered Microsoft Surface 3. In fact it barely surpassed the ASUS T100, which contained the older Atom Bay-trail Z3740 processor.
The iWork 12 isn’t cut out to be a powerhouse tablet and can’t really replace your desktop PC or laptop for productivity tasks, it is more of a system designed for media consumption, social networking and light business duties.
Connectivity
A slew of ports and slots, as well as built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi give the tablet lots of connectivity options. Not only can the micro USB port used for charging, it can also be turned into a full USB 2.0 port by the stock OTG adapter to host all kinds of input and storage devices. The full USB 3.0 port can take care of high-speed data transfer between your tablet and a mobile drive, it can also charge your smartphone pretty quickly. The micro HDMI port means you can connect your tablet to a monitor or an HDTV, and Bluetooth 4.0 means you can establish wireless connections with headphones, external speakers, and input devices.
The iWork 12’s Wi-Fi connection is pretty solid, we could still stream online videos while there are a few meters and two walls between the tablet and the router.
Battery life
Unlike many other hybrids such as the ASUS T100A and Dell Venue 11 Pro, the Cube iWork 12’s keyboard doesn’t have its own battery to boost the tablet’s stamina. All charging is done using the microUSB port on the tablet part, meaning you don’t have to worry about losing a specific charge cable.
Cube claims that the Iwork 12’s 9,000mAh Li-Po battery should last for 8 hours, but we normally only got around 7 hours’ screen time doing different things with the tablet. In our standard battery rundown test, where we played a 720P video (MP4) on loop, we got 7 hours and 35 minutes’ battery life from the slate.
While the battery life of the tablet is still decent for a convertible this size, charging it can be extremely annoying. Sometimes the tablet would boot itself when we plugged in the charger, and the charging is also extremely slow. We normally needed around 6 hours to finish a full charge, and sometimes the charging got stuck at 99% for a whole hour….
Cameras
The iWork 12 has two cameras, a 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing cameras. The front camera is decent enough for video-chatting, but we would not suggest using it for selfie. Useless for most people, the rear camera is just there for the sake of being there, the photos it took were of extremely poor quality, and you don’t really want to use a big and heavy tablet like this to capture your daily moments, while any smartphone could do a much better job.
Summary
So who might we recommend this device to? Definitely not those who want a device to use as a main PC, but someone who already owns a powerful desktop PC and only wants a cheap netbook/tablet for light business tasks and media consumption.
We liked
The best thing about the Cube iWork 12 is its cost-efficiency. For only RMB1,599 ($244, keyboard excluded), you have a versatile, simple convertible with a stunning 12.2-inch IPS screen. The tablet does media-consumption tasks brilliantly, and can handle reasonable productivity tasks as well as most entry-level laptops. And you can easily switch from Windows to Android and the other way around on one device. Also, the build quality of the Cube iWork 12 is superior to the similarly priced ONDA and Teclast tablets.
We disliked
There was plenty to be annoyed about with the Cube iWork 12. This is fundamentally not a powerful laptop, and only a passable tablet – especially when there are alternatives for which you could pay much less money and get the same level of performance.
The excruciatingly slow charging speed and only average battery life mean this slate is going to spend a lot of every single day plugged into walls.
Both the DDR3 RAM and the eMMC are pretty slow on this device, and that’s very noticeable while the tablet’s thrown with traditional Windows desktop tasks.
Final verdict
The Cube iWork 12 is more of a system to replace your iPads or Android tablets than to use as a main personal computer. The ability to run Microsoft Office and other light desktop applications means you will always get more productivity out of this device than from an iPad or an Android tablet. For the right reason this can be a really good purchase, but since the iWork 12 is not the only dual boot tablet out there, you might want to take a look at other options before digging into your pocket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3RWLqTrmBM
Video review here
Nobody interested in this tablet?
Nice Review
Thanks for the nice and detailed review. I'm interested in this tablet. The kickstand is a nice addition and I love the build quality of Cube. My only annoyance is the slow charging, and its making me consider getting the Chuwi H12.
Windows 10 sound?
Thanks for the review, I just received mine. I like the quality of the unit. The screen is pretty glossy, but it's still fine.
The biggest issue I'm having is sound quality in Windows 10 (3.5mm jack). Very muddy, and disappointing considering I want this for media consumption. I'm thinking it's a driver issue, since sound in Android is fine. Sound devices are:
Intel SST Audio Device (WDM)
Nuvoton SST Nau88L24 Codec Device
If anyone has input of how I can better the sound, I'm all ears!
EDIT: Turns out it was more of an issue of my Xiaomi Piston 3 headphones (which seem to be failing), my AKG ones sound good. DFX enhancer did work well however in tuning the speakers.
You should definately use "DFX Audio Enhancer". It makes every device sound like studio quality (even on android), if set up correctly. I've tested several software-based audio enhancer and this is by far the best one.
Cost: Currently 30 bucks, normally 40.
They also offer a demo, but it restricts some of the controller handles, so you can't test the full potential.
krazystuff said:
Thanks for the review, I just received mine. I like the quality of the unit. The screen is pretty glossy, but it's still fine.
The biggest issue I'm having is sound quality in Windows 10 (3.5mm jack). Very muddy, and disappointing considering I want this for media consumption. I'm thinking it's a driver issue, since sound in Android is fine. Sound devices are:
Intel SST Audio Device (WDM)
Nuvoton SST Nau88L24 Codec Device
If anyone has input of how I can better the sound, I'm all ears!
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Click to collapse
Hi,
Some site saids that it's support stylus some site saids no.
So somebody who have the tablet could tell me if it's support stylus ?
Regards
Marc
Grainy screen
My experience with this tablet so far.
Windows 10 really good, runs office apps no problem.
Android performance good for media consumption, eg magazines, podcasts etc.
On the down side is the display. On Android the display always seems a little fuzzy, not so sharp. This is much better in Windows quite sharp.
Unfortunately my unit has the "grainy" screen issue. Its like having a really poor quality screen protector on. Its very noticeable on whites and greys. Also the screen is highly reflective which means I have to be careful where I sit while typing.
Its a shame that the display issue impacts and otherwise very good device.
Weird, I don't notice this grainy screen issue. Looks the same as any of the other 3 screens I use. I do agree on reflections however; I am thinking about getting a tempered glass protector for the thing.
After using the thing for a month (exclusively in Windows):
- Wifi: Performance is good, except sometimes after it wakes from sleep I need to disconnect and reconnect to regain the connection. Kind of annoying, hoping a driver update will fix that.
- HDMI out: I use this for Netflix (Windows 10 app) and Kodi for local media, and both work great (only 1080p tested). No problem with getting bitstreamed audio and 23hz or 24hz output (although I need to switch it for Netflix manually, app issue). I did get an angled connector though which I realise is a mistake since now I can't charge and have the micro HDMI dongle connected at the same time.
- Chrome: Chrome is kind of sluggish, but still ok. Edge is vastly superior, but not having extensions yet lead me to live with Chrome for now. Youtube is kind of sluggish to start; I started using an extension to force MP4 instead of VP9, and haven't noticed much of a difference. Still, it is acceptable for general browsing with a few tabs.
- Battery: I'm happy with battery life, but I haven't measured it formally. With light/medium use, it lasts me 3 days. It does take long to charge, but I can live with charging it overnight every couple of days. Waking from sleep works well also.
All in all, I am happy with the unit, and it fills my niche for a portable, tablet/notebook hybrid that I can take travelling, on a plane, and carry around the house.
linux ?
thanks for your review.
we can install linux in i9.
can we install linux in iwork12?
thanks
Thanks for the lovely review. Very nice it was.
Its been around 6 months now, are you still using this tablet? How is 6 month ownership experience?
Rom/Recovery
Hi
I just received my Cube iWork12 and on turning it on noticed that it had already been turned on by GearBest so I clicked on Factory reset in Windows. it froze during the reset and now won't book. It comes up with the cube logo for about 20 seconds then restarts and does the same again. Android still boots. Does anyone know how I can fix this or where I can get am image of the Rom to restore? thanks
In case anyone is having the same problem a forum user has kindly posted it on google drive here: http://techtablets.com/forum/topic/cube-i12-firmware/
I have had this tablet for a month. No matter what I try I cannot stop play store from closing all the time. Has any one else had this problem? I have reset the tablet. closed and forced stop on play store. checked date and time +++++.
If any one has an answer to the problem I will be grateful.
My thanks in advance.
Brian
ecrivain5 said:
I have had this tablet for a month. No matter what I try I cannot stop play store from closing all the time. Has any one else had this problem? I have reset the tablet. closed and forced stop on play store. checked date and time +++++.
If any one has an answer to the problem I will be grateful.
My thanks in advance.
Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Likewise here. I have tried all sorts with different Play Store APKs, based on CPU, Screen Resolution, etc but nothing works, at least not for any length of time.
I have resorted to locating and downloading the APKs of the apps I want to install and doing it that way, bypassing the Play Store altogether.
It is a real PITA. Cube seems to have forgotten this device in terms of firmware updates and support.
Which one i must choose, chuwi hi 12 or iwork 12? I need for my study, i usually use ms. Office, spss, geogebra and other small software. Which one is better? Because i plan to use this stuff for a long time.
youngred09 said:
Thanks for the nice and detailed review. I'm interested in this tablet. The kickstand is a nice addition and I love the build quality of Cube. My only annoyance is the slow charging, and its making me consider getting the Chuwi H12.
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Click to collapse
I want to know, so you re take chuwi or cube? How the performance? I still confuse to take cube or chuwi because my money limited.
how can i update android 5.1 with android 6 or higher?
---------- Post added at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------
raviemailid said:
Thanks for the lovely review. Very nice it was.
Its been around 6 months now, are you still using this tablet? How is 6 month ownership experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can i update android 5.1 with android 6 or higher?
---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
Can you tell me the easiest procedure to update android 5.1 with android 6 or higher on our iWork12 cube?
Thanks!
Does it support any pen ?
I'm delighted with this tablet, very comfortable and performing, the only flaw so far found is that there is no automatic update of the firmware that was compatible with the Android version 5.1, but to use it I need at least the Android version 6.0! Cube site does not upgrade, I contacted the company but told me to ask the retailer ..
I'm waiting for a solution! Has anyone already updated the version of Android?
Thank you
raviemailid said:
Thanks for the lovely review. Very nice it was.
Its been around 6 months now, are you still using this tablet? How is 6 month ownership experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm looking at picking up a used Galaxy Tab S 10.5. I was planning to use it mostly as an E-reader for my morning commute and to view pictures from SD media / browse the web. After looking around this tablet seems like the best bang for my buck used. I've been considering both at a T-mobile variant, but I'm also considering Sprint, since I am on one of their MVNOs. Are all US providers using T807?
Just wondering what I should look out for, and how to check them out. Here's some things I can think of, but not sure if they exist or not:
Worn charging port.
Battery issues
Manufacturing defects.
Boot loops. ( If non stock upgrade? )
ESN
Locked Bootloader / Carrier Locking
T805 vs T807
etc.
Anybody have a list or reference of things to look out for with this model, possibly how to check it out?
Also wondering about the differences between the versions. It appears that there are some basebands available. Then http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/t705-marshmallow-bootloaders-t3477462 . Then can a T805 be flashed to a T807 and vice versa, maybe for international travel?
The T807 has an locked bootloader so you cannot flash any roms or maybe even root, So the T805 would be the one to buy, but do you really need cell as it uses battery power, if not get the T800.
If the T8XX looks physically OK, and runs OK, the battery is the main thing to look at, But replacement battery are quite cheap at from $10 if you can fit it yourself, it looks easy in YouTube video`s
John.
That's too bad nobody has figured out how to unlock the bootloader since the device has been around for quite awhile. It looks to be around a factor of 2 times more expensive when I look for a 805 vs 807. I do think it's useful to have a cellular available as an option. But you have made a good point.
The 10.5 Tab S is still slightly too heavy for web browsing or ebook reading if you need to hold it in your hand all the time (it's like 450grams). I mean, it sure works a lot better for this purpose than any Microsoft Surface tablet, which are really thick and heavy for a tablet, but lighter tablets exist, for example Tab S2.
And S has a wide screen, which is less optimal for ebook or web browsing. For these reasons, I'd look for the smaller 8 inch Tab S which weights under 300grams, or more preferably for a Tab S2 model.
Since its an OLED, look out for burn in.
Worn charging port. and battery issue. Beside that they are quite tough. This is why i refrain from testing too much, the USB port is not made of super steel, it's starting to talk to me saying : give me a break !
Have a look at the magnetic microusb adapters, they just clip in, I have one on my T800 and it works great, no more port wear.
There are a few different brands available, also different widths if you use a case, the link below is just an example.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/WSKEN-XCable-Performance-Compatible-Smartphones-Silver/dp/B00XJQHBOA
John.
zigonneux said:
Worn charging port. and battery issue. Beside that they are quite tough. This is why i refrain from testing too much, the USB port is not made of super steel, it's starting to talk to me saying : give me a break !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ended up purchasing a T807P, since I will be able to use it with my wireless provider. Thanks for the feedback. The magnetic charging cable seems like a great idea. Looking forward to the arrival of my tablet.
Anybody using theirs in car for navigation? Any mount recommendations?