Hands on: Acer Iconia W3 tablet

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.