HP Envy x2 vs Asus VivoTab TF810C vs Microsoft Surface Pro:What's your choice?

HP Envy x2                                                                                                                                                 The Envy x2 impressed us. Its outstanding industrial design really shows the potential of a tablet/laptop hybrid. The HP Envy x2 has a clean, comfortable design and feels lightweight in tablet form. It has excellent battery life, and works just as well as a laptop as it does as a tablet.                                                               Unfortunately, as soon as we start talking performance we’re confronted by the fact that Clover Trail is still Atom, and Atom is still not in any way, shape or form a performance chip – and that 2GB RAM maximum doesn’t help here either.Don’t get us wrong, for navigating through Windows and average daily use such as browsing the web and running apps or light programs, the Z2760 in the HP Envy x2 runs smooth as butter. Performance is consistently superior to that in the netbooks of yore, especially when it comes to HD video playback and light multi-tasking, and most non 3D-gaming apps you’ll find in the Windows store should run without a hitch.

However, proper multi-tasking; running intensive HD video simultaneously with another program; or using demanding programs like an image editor can still quite easily bring this kind of machine to its knees. In other words, as a tablet the x2 performs admirably, but as a laptop replacement you have to be prepared to put up with its limitations.

3D gaming in anything but the most casual titles, meanwhile, is also a big no-no. Even at minimum settings our test games simply refused to run or crashed after getting through the menus. Mind you, this is not surprising given that Intel’s integrated GMA 3600 chip paired with the Atom Z2760 is derived from an old PowerVR design the benefits of which Windows drivers don’t fully bring out. Hopefully updated drivers will eek out more performance.                                                                                                                                     Battery life:                                                                                                                                                   Battery life is impressive, living up to HP’s claim of seven hours when we streamed video from BBC iPlayer. And, of course, there’s a second battery in the keyboard, which provides an additional seven hours of battery life. No ultrabook that weighs a similar amount can claim to last this long.                                         But, The laptop mode is top-heavy, and the awkward tablet detachment mechanism isn’t perfect; it has limited ports; and a slower Atom processor means in performance it's far behind most ultrabooks, even though it’s priced like one.                                                                                                                           The bottom line: The HP Envy x2’s capacity to be a full Windows 8 tablet or dock with a keyboard works as well as advertised, provided you’re willing to live with slower performance at a high price. You’re paying for style.

Windows 8 (32-bit); 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760; 2GB DDR2 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 747MB (Total) Intel GMA; 64GB SSD        Processor 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760

Memory 2GB, 1,066MHz DDR2

Hard drive 64GB SSD

Graphics Intel GMA

Operating system Windows 8

Dimensions (WD) 11.9x8.1 inches

Height 0.6-0.7 inch

Screen size (diagonal) 11.6 inches

System weight / Weight with AC adapter 3.1 pounds / 3.6 pounds (tablet + keyboard)

Category Ultraportable hybrid                                                                                                                   Price; $849                                                                                                                                               VS                                                                                                                                                               Asus VivoTab TF810C                                                                                                                          The Asus VivoTab TF810C is yet another Windows 8 Atom tablet with transformer styling. Windows 8 operating system comes alive with the people, apps, and sites that matter to you most. The information you care about flows effortlessly to you through live tiles and timely notifications

The Asus VivoTab 810 and its Intel Atom CPU is a great choice for anyone who wants a lightweight Windows 8-based tablet with long battery life. But it's a classy, high end model with an 11.6" IPS+ display with 1366 x 768 resolution and 178 degrees viewing angle, multi-touch display

 Ultra-slim and light (0.1" thin and 1.5lbs light) with metallic finish design which offers an array of viewing angles. This makes it ideal for watching movies or playing games. Wacom digitizer with full size pen and less ubiquitous features like GPS and NFC. The Wacom dual digitizer allows a user to use either a pen or their finger on the screen of the tablet. It has a mostly metal back, a very nice optional keyboard dock with battery and a price tag that will likely put it out of reach for many shoppers. It's an 11.6in model that can be used for basic Web browsing and multimedia consumption, and it even ships with a dock and a stylus so that it can be used for comfortable note-taking and other office tasks. Because it features Windows 8 (32-bit), it can also run much of the same software that's already in use on your main laptop and desktop computers, albeit without as much processing power, so you can basically think of this device as being a modern day netbook with a flashy touchscreen. The ASUS 64 GB tablet offers adequate internal storage for holding a multitude of files including pictures, movies, and games. The ASUS tablet also comes with an integrated 8 MP camera, back-illuminated CMOS sensor, and large aperture design to clearly capture every moment Bluetooth 4.0, and the option to add an external keyboard as needed. Asus says the VivoTab TF810C will last for up to 19 hours.

 Specs:                                                                                                                                                         Windows 8, 11.6 inches, 1366x768

Intel Atom Z2760 1.8 GHz

2 GB RAM Memory, 64 GB eMMC Flash Storage Memory

802_11_BGN wireless, Bluetooth 4.0

Wacom digitizer                                                                                                                                       Price:$799                                                                                                                                                 VS                                                                                                                                                         Microsoft Surface Pro                                                                                                                               Making your mind up about the Surface Pro is less about what it is and what it does and more about what you want out of a tablet. As a hybrid PC it's an undeniable compromise - but that's no bad thing.The Microsoft Surface Pro fits a full ultrabook experience in a compact 10-inch tablet. Thanks to the ingenious Type and Touch covers, it offers a comfortable interface and typing experience. The clean, crisp design and sharp 1080p screen rise above the competition.

But, The battery life is disappointing, and more ports would be nice. The 64GB model barely has any free storage. It costs as much as a regular laptop, especially because the cool keyboard cover isn't included by default.

The bottom line: The Surface Pro's gutsy design successfully reinvents the Windows 8 laptop by cramming an ultrabook experience into the body of a 10-inch tablet. Those wanting to go all-in on the tablet experience won't regret buying the Surface Pro, but we're holding out for a future, more polished generation of the device.

Windows 8 Pro (64-bit); 1.7GHz IntelCore i5; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Sharedl) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Micron SSD                                                                                                     Specifications

Release date02/9/13

Display type10.6 inColor TFT active matrix - Yes

OSMicrosoft Windows 8 Pro

RAM4 GB

Processor3rd Gen Core i5Intel

Wireless connectivityIEEE 802.11nIEEE 802.11bIEEE 802.11aIEEE 802.11g

Dimensions (WxDxH)0.53 in10.8 in 6.8 in

Weight903 g                                                                                                                                             Price;$899.99