Samsung ATIV SmartPC hands-on

With a cursory look at Samsung’s upcoming fall lineup for AT&T, it’s already stacked with many smartphones that are incoming very soon, but for those who are eager to move up to a full-fledged Windows 8 device in the near, they might want to keep an eye out for the Samsung ATIV SmartPC. Naturally, the star of the show with this one is the fact that it’ll be providing all the wealth of functionality attached with Windows 8 – with a trial version of Microsoft Office 2013 thrown into the mix as well to give users a solid dose of productivity on the go.

Indeed, for those who have never experienced Windows Phone beforehand, this Windows 8 tablet will surely be seen as somewhat alien and foreign, but thankfully enough, you can switch from its touch experience to the usual legacy Windows UI we’re all so familiar with. Specs-wise, there’s a lot to like about this bountiful beauty, as it features an 11.6” HD PLS display, dual-core 1.5GHz Intel Clover Trail processor, and 64GB of internal storage.

To further sweeten its load, it’s outfitted to offer connectivity to AT&T’s 4G LTE network, which means you can surf the web with blistering speeds in tow. On the Android side, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series has been a staple in the tablet world, so it’ll be interesting how this ATIV SmartPC will fare in the long run.

Initial standouts with the Samsung ATIV SmartPC

1. For a tablet, it’s very chunky

No arguing about it folks, the Samsung ATIV SmartPC is a behemoth! Since we’re so accustomed to handling 10-inch tablets at the most, there’s an initial shock as we grasp this tablet for the first time. Unlike its Tab series of tablets, which are pretty slim in size, there’s no holding back its sheer size with this one – albeit, it’s deceivingly light weight for a device of its caliber.

2. Typical made Samsung device

Much like its smartphones, the Samsung ATIV SmartPC is constructed in similar fashion, as it’s donning a glossy plastic exterior that’s emulating the look of a metallic finish. Needless to say, it’s nothing fantastic in the world of industrial designs we’re seeing with many devices, but we’re comforted by its somewhat sturdy feel.

3. It’s a full-fledged workhorse

At first glance, Windows Phone users will easily adapt to the tablet’s Windows 8 experience, since it share many common elements and functions. However, for the rest of the people who have never experience Microsoft’s mobile platform, you can always revert back to the good ‘ole Windows interface of yesterday – with the “real” start button and all.