What's good
- Compact size and thin profile
- Decent overall specs and battery life
- Affordable price
What's bad
- Lacks pre-packaged accessories
- Screen resolution could be higher
- Non-standard Windows button placement
Windows tablets aren't usually known for combining great features with an inexpensive price tag. That's what makes the Dell Venue 8 Pro, powered by Windows 8.1, somewhat special.
In his review of the Venue 8 Pro tablet on Tablet-News, Ed Hardy says that it "hits the 'sweet spot' of price vs. functionality." He also praises it for its ability to do everything a casual consumer needs at a very good price.
Reviewers have noted that the Venue 8 Pro would make for a good all-around mobile computer, with the likes of Chuong Nguyen from GottaBeMobile saying, "the Dell Venue 8 Pro allows you to take your desktop PC wherever you go." Of course, it won't offer identical performance to your typical desktop PC, but at least it has a leg up on the competition especially when it comes to bang for the buck.
Cnet's Dan Ackerman points out that there are certain things on the Venue 8 Pro which "feel like errors," such as the lack of pre-packaged accessories and the seemingly misplaced Windows button. So if you're switching from a different Windows tablet, this may represent a minor caveat.
With all of that said, there are still a lot of reasons to consider the Venue 8 Pro. As Computerworld's Preston Galla readily admits, "If you're looking for a reasonably priced, well-performing Windows 8.1 tablet, the Dell Venue 8 Pro is the one to get."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Travis Pope, GottaBeMobileLike so many other tablets. How great the Dell Venue 8 is going to be for your needs comes down to what you care about. At $179, it’s not a terrible eReader at all. Again, text is crisp and there’s plenty of storage if you ever want to watch a movie.However, the Dell Venue 8 at $179 is a...
- Dan Ackerman, CnetI've been waiting for the perfect 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, offering just the right design, features, and price. I'm still waiting, but the Dell Venue 8 Pro gets closer than anything else has to date. If Dell made it available from Day One with its paired keyboard accessory, put the Windows button ba...
- Andrew Cunningham, Ars TechnicaBy most important measures, 8-inch Windows tablets are about a year or a year-and-a-half behind Android tablets. Applications for many major services exist, but they aren’t always up to the versions on other tablets. Windows 8.1 still needs some work before its touch interface is quite up to s...
- Ed Hardy, Tablet NewsA good tablet for Windows fans to use for personal and occasional professional tasks, but not capable of being a full-time business computer.
- Michelle Mastin, PCWorldThe Dell Venue Pro 8 will never replace your laptop, but that’s not the point. For $300, you get full Windows in a mini tablet, and despite the low price, it’s not cheaply done. It’s well built, performs well, and will run all day on battery. The only big caveats are the lack of po...
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