Fulll Windows 8.1, expandable memory, reasonable price
On the chunky side, not as fast as it should be, less than full HD display
The Toshiba Encore offers a neatly portable way to use Windows 8.1 and crams in an HD screen, quad-core processor and 8-megapixel camera too, all for a very reasonable price. But has it got the performance to match its spec?
Design
With its chunky dimensions and all-plastic body the Encore isn't the prettiest of tablets. The curved edges and faux metallic beading around the edges try to ease the workhorse first impression but it lacks the classy look of the iPad mini for instance.
However, there's a decent range of ports on the side, including microUSB and micro HDMI, as well as a microSD memory card shot, though disapointingly this is open to the elements, rather than hidden behind a cover. There's also a brace of stereo speakers at one end, which manage to pump out a pretty decent volume without distorting.
The 8 inch screen delivers a slightly disappointing less-than-full-HD resolution of 1,280x800 pixels. It looks okay, with pretty good viewing angles, but lacks the crispness of some of the better Android tablets like Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 or the LG G Pad.
Processor and Windows
It's powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor that's clocked at 1.3GHz and backed by 2GB Ram. That sounds like a reasonable spec on paper but in practise it suffered from a degree of lag when you're shifting between apps that's never bad enough to feel that you've stalled, but constantly reminds you that this is not a premium device.
It does however have the full-fat 32-bit version of Windows 8.1, the very latest version of Microsoft's tile-based operating system and the one that allows you to use virtually any Windows-compatible software, rather than just the apps available from the Market. So you can download and use the likes of Spotify and iTunes, just as you would with a normal PC, without having to wait for an optimised app to be developed. That's useful for making sure you can access your favourite programmes but the relatively small screen means that some apps may be a bit difficult to use, especially if they have very small buttons that are designed to be navigated with a mouse rather than your finger -- a stylus would have been handy.
You also get a full version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013, so you can do pretty much all the work stuff you would do on a normal laptop PC, albeit with a considerably smaller screen. And if you need something bigger, the micro HDMI port lets you link to a larger display for desk work, and carry the same device with you so you can keep in touch while you're on the move.
Photography
The 8-megapixel camera has no flash or much in the way of extras but the pic quality isn't bad, with realistic colours and a decent level of detail, though the autofocus can be a little wayward.
There's also a 2-megapixel camera on the front for video calls and 32GB of memory to store your pics on the standard version. There's also a 64GB version and of course you can add more via microSD card.
Battery life was so-so at best however and we barely got a full day's use out of it.
Conclusion
It's nice to see full-fat Windows 8.1 in a compact package but the Encore's sluggish performance often makes it frustrating to use, and a stylus like the one on the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 would have made it easier to navigate programmes which aren't optimised for Windows 8.
Software: Windows 8.1
Processor: 1.3GHz quad core next gen Intel Atom processor for tablets Z3740 with Intel Burst Technology 2.0
Memory slot: Yes
Display: 8in Toshiba AutoBrite HFFS
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports: microUSB, 3.5mm headphone jack, micro HDMI
Camera: 8 megapixel with autofocus; 2 megapixel front-facing camera
Video playback: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, WMV
Audio playback: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA
Radio: No
Battery: Li-Ion
Size: 213x136x11mm
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
