Samsung ATIV Tab Preview

Introduction:

We cannot hide it, folks – having the chance to preview the Samsung ATIV Tab is getting us pretty excited. And in case you wonder what makes us feel that way, it is just that the slate is among the first of its kind. Powered by Windows RT, it is meant to be an alternative to Microsoft's lower-end Surface model, which is due to debut later this year. As such, it has been outfitted with some pretty decent hardware, including a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor paired with 2GB of RAM, 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a pair of cameras, the main one being of 5 megapixels.

What we are also looking forward to trying out is the platform itself. For those of you who need a refresher, Windows RT is tailored especially for ARM-based devices, which are known for being quite battery friendly. Its bigger brother, on the other hand – Windows 8 Pro, is what one will find on desktop or notebook class PCs as it is meant to be run by processors delivering higher performance, such as Intel's Core series. At a glance, the two platforms look more or less identical as they share the same interface, but what sets them apart is that software compatible with Windows 8 and the platform's earlier versions does not run on Windows RT, leaving the latter with a serious case of app deficiency.

Now it is time to fire up our Samsung ATIV Tab and take it for a proper spin around the block. Keep in mind, however, that what we are previewing today is a prototype unit, so we won't be going too much into detail yet.

Design:

If it wasn't for the Windows logo underneath its screen, we could have easily mistaken the ATIV Tab for a Galaxy tablet as it has adopted more than a few design features from the maker's Android lineup. For starters, there's a pair of speakers positioned on the front side of the unit, just like on the Galaxy Note 10.1 or the 10.1-inch Tab 2, and the pattern on its back resembles closely the Galaxy S III's Hyperglaze finish. With the exception of the metal Windows button, the Samsung ATIV Tab is made entirely out of plastic, yet still manages to look appealing despite the lack of premium materials in its construction.


At 570 grams, the Samsung ATIV Tab is relatively light and doesn't put much of a strain on the wrist. If you'll be using it for a long time, however, make sure you have a flat surface to rest it against. The tablet isn't among the slimmest Samsung has ever made as it measures 9.9 millimeters in its thickest point, but it is still within the acceptable norms for a contemporary tablet of this size.

There is no shortage of ports on the Samsung ATIV Tab. On the bottom side of the device is located a dock connector, which is where a Samsung-made hardware keyboard snaps in place. At the bottom right-hand side resides a generic-looking port used for charging.

All remaining buttons, ports, and slots are on the tablet's top side, including the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, microphone, HDMI output, and microSD card slot. Having a full-sized USB port can be quite convenient as it allows a whole range of peripherals to be connected to the slate, such as USB dongles, thumb drives, even a mouse. Perhaps the lock key and the two-button volume rocker could have been exposed a bit more, but once we got used to their position, we didn't have much troubles finding them without looking.


Display:

The 10.1-inch screen on the Samsung ATIV Tab has a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels, which translates into a pixel density of about 155ppi. Although nothing out of the ordinary, the panel delivers an acceptable amount of detail for a contemporary tablet. Besides, not a whole lot of pixelation is noticeable as the device is meant to be held further away from the user's eyes when compared to a smartphone.

Resolution aside, the display on the Samsung ATIV Tab is capable of delivering pretty, accurate colors, which don't get washed out when viewed at an angle. That isn't much of a surprise, actually, as the panel is made using PLS LCD technology. Moreover, the tablet remains pretty usable even with the sun shining at its screen.

Interface and functionality:

With Windows RT running on the Samsung ATIV Tab, users may choose between the traditional desktop environment – think folders, taskbar, icons, and all the stuff one can find on a desktop or a netbook PC, or the new Start screen, populated with live tiles in a true Modern UI fashion. Can you guess which one of the two we are more excited about?

The latter, of course! Since we have a tablet on our hands, the live tile interface is a lot more convenient to use as it has been optimized for touch-based input, unlike the desktop interface. Besides, the minimalist, Modern UI is so elegant and simple to use that even newbies will get the hang of it in no time. We just love it how nine out of ten features a casual owner would ever need access to are within a tap's reach, while a number of tiles constantly provide up-to-date information, such as weather data, news headlines, stock prices, and such. In other words, live tiles for the win!


Switching to the boring desktop interface is required at times, however. That is where productivity software such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint are accessed from. Speaking of which, using Office on a tablet feels quite awkward, regardless of Microsoft's claims that it has been touchscreen optimized.  With their multitude of tiny buttons and menus, the applications in the pack just feel too cluttered, especially considering that the on-screen keyboard takes up the bottom half of the screen.

So let's leave the desktop interface aside and go back to the new stuff. Now would be a good time to mention the several things that new users will have to get familiar with. For starters, switching between applications is done with a short right-ward swipe starting from the left edge of the display. Continuing the gesture with a swipe in the opposite direction will bring forth a bar with all apps that are currently open. May sound complicated, but in reality, shuffling between apps has been made really convenient. An upward swipe from the bottom brings forth a button, which takes you to the list of all installed applications when tapped. Pressing the Windows button takes you instantly back to the Start screen. Press it again and the last active window will be brought on display.

Software:

The streamlined design principles of the Modern UI have been implemented with the software that comes loaded on Windows RT, which adds consistency to the whole user experience. One of the apps we are quite happy with is the weather application, which provides a rich array of information, including an hourly forecast and radar maps of the surrounding area. Bing Daily and Bing Sports are meant to keep users informed on current events by providing headlines from a number of major news sources. Unfortunately, we were unable to add our own news feed or import our Google Reader subscriptions, which is quite disappointing. Bing Travel is like a catalog for popular tourist destinations from around the globe, but it can also help you with finding cheap accommodation or airfare tickets, should you decide to pack the bags and explore the world. To no surprise, Bing Maps (powered by Nokia) comes included, and provides not only several layers of mapping data, but can also recommend driving directions from point A to B.


Web browser and connectivity:

Internet Explorer 10 is what comes installed on the Samsung ATIV Tab. In other words, you get a proper web browser that acts a lot like the multitude of mobile browsers available on Android and iOS. In other words, navigation is done using touch-based gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and the likes. Due to the unfinished nature of the tablet's software, it is too early to draw a conclusion about IE10's performance, although we can confirm that it runs pretty smoothly on our prototype unit.


There are no words as to whether a 3G/4G version of the Samsung ATIV Tab will ever be offered, so for now, the only way of hooking up the tablet to the internet is via Wi-Fi. The device also supports Bluetooth and NFC for short-range wireless communication. Finding your way around is possible with the use of its GPS radio, which is also compatible with the Glonass for improved precision.

Expectations:

It is hard to predict how the Samsung ATIV Tab will fare on the tablet market, but we see it as an offering with plenty of potential. On one hand we have the Microsoft Windows RT platform, and Windows is a name that general consumers have been trusting for years. Therefore, potential buyers might be less hesitant to get an ATIV Tab since it will offer an environment they would be familiar with. In addition, the streamlined,  buttery-smooth Modern UI is a breath of fresh air in a world choke full of iPads and Android slates.  

However, we fear that the initial batch of Windows RT tablets will face a problem Android slates had to deal with for quite a long time – software availability. That is because ARM-based Windows tablets cannot handle code meant to run on Windows 8 or its earlier versions, so developers will have to port their applications to yet another platform. Microsoft promised that the process will require a minimal amount of effort on the developer's side, but how many of them will even bother making their apps run on Windows RT?

Nevertheless, we have high hopes for the Samsung ATIV Tab. Sure, it likely won't turn into a best-seller overnight, but it might be what will pave the way for a whole range of Windows RT tablets to follow over time. And that is when the things on the tablet market might get a whole lot more interesting.

Samsung ATIV Tab Video Preview: