msi S100 Tablet featuring Intel atom Baytrail-T and Windows 8.1
msi launched their new Windows 8.1 tablet, S100, partnering with Intel. It runs on Windows 8.1 and it comes with office 2013 preloaded.
Display
Msi S100 has a 10.1 inch IPS full HD display with a 1280X800 resolution with 149 ppi pixel density,and 10 point multi touch.The screen can play 1080p videos. It can support different formats as well. With these specifications the display feels pretty average.
Design
The tablet adopts a 3 in 1 design with keyboard and protective cover.3 in 1 design philosophy to use the device as a tablet (without dock), Laptop (with dock) and as a PC (connected to external display via miniHDMI and keyboard via OTG microUSB) is good but the question remains in where connect a mouse as there is no additional port for that. The tablet assumes a slate design. S100 weighs in at just 890 gm overall and 595 gm for the tablet alone, the lightweight design makes it perfect for travel and to hold it while usage. The keyboard dock can also be used to cover the device when not in use or while travelling.
Hardware
The tablet houses Intel’s new 1.33 Ghz Baytrail-T Z3740D quadcore processor. The processor is claimed to deliver high performance and low power consumption. The trend from Intel to develop ultra low voltage processor is promising. S100 includes 7th generation Intel HD graphics and 2 GB DDR3L RAM. It has a 64 GB internal memory and can be expanded via micro SD slot. 2MP dual camera system for video calling, both the front and rear camera is 2 MP. 7500 mAh lithium polymer gives 10 hours of battery backup.
Connectivity
It offers On the Go (OTG) microUSB connectivity, allows users to connect external mouse, keyboard, flashdrive or any other USB device of their choice. A mini HDMi transmission interface makes it versatile and expands its option as a computer. The WIFI 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 add to the connectivity options. G sensor is the only sensor you will find in this model. There is no 3G connectivity which is a bit of disappointment.
Altogether the product spec seems nice for a windows 8.1 tablet but the display and connectivity options are limited and there is no competition offered by this model to Windows surface tablets. So pricing on this will be crucial for its success. The availability of product is not known. The device is expected to be priced around $430.
