The new Toshiba Encore 2 tablets have launched. An 8-inch model, the Encore 2 8, will start at $199. The 10-inch Toshiba Encore 2 10 will be $269
The two tablets were announced by Toshiba today and they have a whole new set of specifications. Down goes the launch price but so do the specs in some areas.
The 8-inch tablet has been reported to start with just 1GB of RAM on a quad-core CPU (likely the Z3735F or Z3735D) with a screen resolution of 1280×800. 1GB will be fine for working within the Modern UI but will certainly cause problems for people wanting to do extensive desktop or browser-based application activity.
Full specifications haven’t been revealed yet but here’s what we’ve got so far.
- 1280×800 resolution touchscreen on both models.
- Quad Core Atom CPU (likely Z3735 series.)
- 1GB RAM (at least on the 8-inch model. Information isn’t clear at this stage.)
- 2GB RAM (on entry level Windows 10 model. There may options for 64GB and 2GB on the 8-inch model.)
- 32 or 64GB storage options.
- Micro SD card on both models.
- Audio jack
- Wireless display
- Micro HDMI on the 10-inch model only.
- Office 365 one year license provided. (Note that a Modern UI version of Office would require a 365 license so this could have more value in the near future.)
- ‘10 hour’ battery.
- 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front.
- Dolby Digital Plus audio processing.
- Windows 8.1 with Bing (without Office)
- Size of 10-inch: 258,8 x 175 x 8,98 mm. Weight of 10-inch model: 555 grams / 1.2 pounds (This would make it one of the lightest 10-inch Windows tablets.)
- Size of 8-inch: 210,62 x 132 x 9,48 mm. Weight of 8-inch model: 385 grams
Unknown specifications
- Battery size?
- TPM?
- Connected Standby?
As the first official Windows 8 tablets with the refreshed Baytrail-T platform and the new licensing deal with Windows 8.1 + Bing they don’t have any direct peers to compare against yet. An early launch before Computex could well be a good move because we’ve got a hunch that there’ll be products using the same platform launching there for less than this.
Both products will be available in early July.
The 10-inch Encore 2 tablet will be available for purchase in early July at select retailers and on toshiba.com/us , starting at $269.99. 544 grams (1.2 pounds) MicroHDMI, MicroUSB 2.0
The 8-inch Encore 2 tablet will be available for purchase in early July at select retailers and on toshiba.com/us, starting at $199.99. MicroUSB 2.0
No one in their right mind would buy the 8″ at that price, it’s clearly a product designed to be reduced to $150, or even less. Frankly I think Toshiba should have just left the 1GB to the barrel-scraping Chinese tablet makers. Give us 4GB RAM, HDMI and the ability to use USB and charge at the same time and charge $300 instead.
The only reason anyone has any interest in Windows on a tablet is to do more with it, 1GB RAM means that’s not really an option.
There are consumers who use Netbooks of 2009-2010. It also features Office at that price. I bet even 768MB on Windows 8.1 with new Atom cores are more sponsive than the older Netbooks.
To bullshitting… Windows runs very well with only 1GB… this is what gives standing using an OS like the Android wagon… I put Windows 8.1 on older PCs with only 1 GB of RAM to run and gives Photoshop, CorelDRAW and many other robust programs…
Excited to see new Windows tablets unvealed at Computex. As you said, Toshiba looks to take advantage of other OEMs launch timings and should easily grab a early to market lead. Will be interesting to see if any other Windows OEMs incorporate nTrig to piggyback off Surface Pro 3.
If I understand correctly these are the memory specs:
8″ 1GB + 32GB: $199
8″ 2GB + 32GB: $249
8″ 2GB + 64GB: $279
10″ 1GB + 32GB + keyboard cover: $299
10″ 2GB + 64 GB (no keyb. cover): $329