With the official launch of Windows 8.1 as previously announced, the Dell Venue 8 Pro and the Asus Transformer Book T100 are now available to order online from various online retailers and are the first Bay Trail devices to be available to consumers.
Browsing to Dell’s website shows the Venue 8 Pro available in various configurations, starting with the device on its own or bundled with a case or case + stylus combo with orders slated to ship on October 25th for the 32GB version at $299.99. Upping the storage to 64GB moves the ship date out a bit later to November 1 and takes the cost of the device itself to $349.99. Amazon also has a preorder listing for the 64GB version with a ship date of November but no accessories listed.
The Asus Transformer Book T100 is also showing up on Amazon as available from several retailers though with rapidly changing stock levels, and also direct from other online retailers. Check with your favorite retailer for availability. Also head over here for a first look at the T100 by liliputing.
Anyone going to be picking one of these up?
Oh if only dell.com shipped to the UK :( really looking forward to getting a venue 8 pro. Looks like Nov 19th for UK… Seems such a long wait.
Very interested in this, too bad I need a Scandinavian keyboard model so I’m in for at least a little bit of a wait until a retailer picks it up. :)
These should be the perfect devices to fill a gap in the selection of devices available here, though. There’s almost nothing in the 200-400€ price range, unless you want to get a netbook or are willing to make Android your workhorse device.
I will likely be getting the T100 when it is released in the UK. Currently my only laptop is a Samsung Chromebook but Chrome OS is simply too limited (I run Linux apps with Crouton but it is not an ideal solution).
J and I are ordering the Venue 8 via a drop ship company to get the US one’s as we can’t wait until the official Aussie release (no idea when that will be actually). I’m trying to work out how to hook it up to a workplace style projector though as they are old school and only have VGA. The venue 8 pro doesn’t have any video out anyway so even HDMI wouldn’t work. USB to VGA adapters are expensive – any suggestions for other options?
What you need is a Miracast device and a HDMI to VGA adaptor. The HDMI to VGA should be less than $5 USD if you shop around. I have a Netgear Push2TV 3000 Miracast that I got from Amazon.com. With shipping and customs it cost me £45. Amazon UK were asking £60 for the same one so I would check if importing is cheaper.
With that set up you can use the wireless display function on the Venue 8 to mirror screen to the Miracast and then HDMI out to VGA adaptor and then plug in your projector VGA to that. Set the audio to come from the Venue
Damian, found a good deal locally for the Push2TV. If you decide to get one you must update the firmware on it before use as it will probably be the old FM that’s a bit flaky with WIDI
http://www.megabuy.com.au/netgear-bundle-netgear-ptv3000-100aus-free-velcro-ties-push2tv-home-entertainment-adapter–p420961.html
HI Dave, thanks for the info. How do you find the power requirements? It states you can use the USB or a power adapter. I know these things can use a bit of power. I’m thinking maybe I can plug it into the Venue to draw power from the tablet but thats only if the Venue can put out enough juice. Otherwise it’s another thing to carry around.
Hi Damian, the Push2tv is powered by USB. When I use mine on my tv I plug it into the USB socket on the tv and it pores it fine. When I use it on my laptop the USB port on there powers it. The device itself is tiny, smaller than a pack of playing cards. Hopefully your projector would have a USB socket that would power it, otherwise I would say you would need a USB power wall socket but they are pretty compact to carry around
Dell Australia has announced due here in the next couple of weeks;
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/529308/dell_reveals_australian_pricing_xps_11/
The Venue looks interesting, I’m curious how the battery will be on these little 8″ models though, also REALLY curious if the ‘active pen’ is a real active stylus and what tech it uses.
Just like to blast this out to everyone, the only website I could find that has this in stock at normal price is bhphotovideo.com , I was waiting until it shipped to confirm this and I just got my shipping confirmation.
The T100 that is
Waiting for Dell venue 11 pro. Think it’s time i moved on to full hd.
Managed to order a Venue 8 pro and got it a bit cheaper $319.48 for the base 32GB model with Pen. Just use the dell advantage thing on their site, pretty simple and no real signup or extra stuff required.
So they’re selling a pen without button? I hate having to hold down the stylus in order to get a context menu. Also any game or app which captures the cursor will leave you without a right-click – that’s pretty bad :/
And there I was so much looking forward to having an 8 inch baytrail windows tablet with active digitizer.
I’d buy the T100 today if I could find a 32GB model in stock anywhere. Does anybody know the actual street date for these? I can’t find them in any stores or even online.
#DELL #DellVenue If you order a Dell pro 8 don’t believe their website, not gonna ship tomorrow. Ordered min 10/18 got delayed to NOV8 email. Not even sure if this things are ready the ship date has changed so much.
I haven’t been this excited about a product launch since the Asus EeePC 701! I will be picking up the 64GB T100 and getting rid of my 10″ Android tablet, plus finally turfing my old MSI Wind and Viliv S5.
Does anyone know if the Dell Venue Pro 8 is as portable (pocketable) as the latest Google Nexus 7? One of the main reasons I bought the Nexus 7 is because I can pocket it but Venue Pro 8 is an 8″ tablet. One Reviewer on Amazon mentioned that Venue Pro is similar (or even smaller) in dimension to the Nexus 7. If that is indeed correct then I may dump the Nexus–it is not much more than another entertainment device while Venue Pro 8 can serve as an entertainment device AND productive tool (at least for some tasks).
Thanks.