Runs and runs and runs. While Windows 8 tablets powered by Atom SoCs are literally flooding the market, ones with a Core i processor are still scarce. Some users doubt whether a Windows model can compete with the ARM competition particularly when it comes to battery runtimes. We took an in-depth look at this.

Thus, Acer's W700 attacks on all fronts. Its tablet design aims at the competition from Apple and Android, but it is also a portable computer with a full-fledged Windows 8 operating system at the same time. The Iconia also tackles the market of ultra-portable laptops with its installed Intel Core i5-3337U . We'll see whether this balancing act will work.

Acer opts for the same screen diagonal of 11.6-inches that Sony uses for its Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121X9EB ultrabook . This may look small in a laptop but it is big for a tablet. However, while Sony's ultrabook clearly belongs to the ultra-portable laptops, Acer's Iconia W700-53334G12as has to be seen as a tablet in view of its size. Therefore it can be compared with Samsung's Series 7 XE700T1A-H01DE slate tablet although it is still based on Sandy Bridge.

The casing makes a very robust impression. Nothing creaks and it even remains solid when pressure is applied. Acer was not very meticulous with the gaps. The touchscreen is not accurately inserted into the casing and irregularly juts out on the frame.

The front is largely covered by the large 11.6-inch touchscreen. A 17 mm black bezel encloses it and lets the screen appear bigger when turned off. The 1.3 megapixel (MP) webcam and brightness sensor are installed here. This black area is encompassed by the same silver-colored plastic that is used on the back. The overall silver flipside is only interrupted by a thick rubber strip, which conceals the screws for the maintenance cover. There is also a 5 MP camera on the back. Small, submerged LEDs that light up in green are beside both cameras.

With a height of only 12 mm , Acer's Iconia W700 is marginally thinner than Samsung's Series 7 XE700T1A-H01DE tablet. The silver-colored casing looks like aluminum at first glance, but it quickly becomes clear that it is plastic when looking closer. Its weight of 950 grams is considerably more than that of tablets based on ARM or Atom SoCs. However, it is pleasant to hold due to its rounded edges. Only 190 grams is added when the tablet is inserted into the Smart-Cover. Nevertheless, its place is sooner on the lap or on a table because it is then considerably more awkward to hold.

The few interfaces of Acer's Iconia W700 are clearly arranged. A socket for the included 65 W AC power supply is found on the display's left. A USB 3.0 and micro-HDMI port are installed above that. The opposite side sports a 3.5 mm combo audio jack, the power button and volume rocker. The fan outlets as well as a rotation lock switch are found on the top. It is pleasing that the USB port provides enough voltage for 2.5-inch hard drives . A second USB port and a micro SD/SD card slot would have been nice. Sony's Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121X9EB does a better job with that. A matching stylus for the tablet is optionally available.

Acer's Iconia W700 also sports Bluetooth +HS . That finishes off the tablet's communication options. There is no LAN port, GPS, NFC (near-field communication) or a docking port. Either a corresponding USB stick or another mobile device that can share its connection, e.g. a smartphone with Wi-Fi tethering, is needed for internet on the go.

The main wireless communication component in Acer's Iconia W700 comes from Qualcomm in form of the Atheros AR5BMD222 . The module supports the common Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards and consequently both the 2.4 and the 5 GHz wavebands. The Wi-Fi module is compelling. Windows still displayed full reception and internet sites opened swiftly in Internet Explorer even through two walls and a distance of approximately 12 meters from the router (Fritz!Box 6360). However, the connection deteriorated quite fast behind a third wall (15 m). Its strength dropped by one bar with every additional meter. However, it was always possible to open a website in a decent speed providing the connection to the router was available. Consequently, the product gave a good presentation.

The front-facing camera can primarily be used for video calls due to its maximum resolution of 1280x960 pixels. It is not suitable for much more. An image noise is evident and the picture is very coarse even in good light conditions. Videos can actually be recorded in 720p with this camera. However, no one would guess that they are high-definition. The 5 MP camera on the rear shoots a maximum of 2592x1944 pixels. It does not have a flash or additional LED light and is not much better than the front-facing camera. The pictures are clearly overexposed and the 1080p video recordings look very pixelated and unfocused . Acer wisely does not provide detailed specifications about the cameras. The installed microphone does not score well either. The voice is slightly distorted and sounds tinny . Sometimes the speaker couldn't be understood at all. This component is also only suitable for video calls to an extent.

Accessories

In addition to the Smart-Cover alongside an integrated Bluetooth keyboard, there is a 65 watt power supply, certified by the Association for Technical Inspection (German TÜV) and GS, from the company LiteOn. A micro-HDMI to VGA adapter and a charger for the keyboard are also included. The Bluetooth keyboard sports a micro-USB port so that it can be connected directly to the Iconia's USB port with a cord.

Besides two multilingual quick start guides, there are four DVDs included. One is a system DVD with Windows 8 64 bit, two are recovery data carriers and one is a disc with the German language package. The advantage of the included DVDs is that only 400 MB is reserved for a recovery partition on the SSD. It could be deleted in order to gain additional storage. However, an external optical drive would be needed should Windows 8 have to be reinstalled.

The device can also be used with a stylus. Acer offers two different models in its online shop for a price of 24.95 to 29.95 Euros (~$32 to $39).

Cloud

Acer also offers its customers free storage expansion in the Cloud. Here, the company takes a different approach than the competition. Other Cloud suppliers offer their customers a limited capacity for free and charge a steep price for additionally required storage. The Taiwanese computer manufacturer gives its customers unlimited storage for distributing media and documents evenly. The only restriction is that the data is available for just 30 days and is deleted after that. The service is thus unsuitable as long-term storage. In return, documents that are frequently revised and have to be made accessible on many devices can be shared appropriately.

Maintenance

Accessing the Iconia W700's hardware is not easy. The rubber strip has to be removed before the screws for the maintenance cover are accessible. We did not open the tablet since this strip is partly glued.

However, it would be possible to install a larger storage device this way.

We would like to warn users to be wary of doing this because an alteration of the device may result in loss of warranty. Like most other tablets, the W700 is not very maintenance or upgrade-friendly.

Warranty

Acer includes a one year warranty on the W700 tablet, battery and accessories. The customer has to send the device to one of Acer's qualified workshops (mail-in) in cases of damage. Several warranty upgrades are available via Acer's online shop. They extend the warranty period to three years and cost between 99 and 139 Euros (~$129 and $181) depending on whether an accidental damage or international insurance is wanted. Private customers in some countries also have the two-year manufacturer warranty.