Encore 2 running full version of Windows 8

Windows 8 may still be trying to hit its sweet spot with consumers, but that hasn’t stopped the devices from coming thick and fast. From laptops to hybrids to fully fledged tablets, there’s an array of Windows 8 devices to choose from.

Toshiba’s Encore 2 falls into the tablet end of the market. It’s a crowded space these days, with Apple’s iPad staking its claim to a good proportion of tablet owners, and Android pushing for its own share. Windows tablets are trying to do the same, but when faced with budget Android devices, the problem is that some of the Windows 8 devices are just a little too expensive for consumers to take a chance on.

That’s changing. The Encore 2 is not only running the full version of Windows 8, rather than the RT software, but it’s also a bit easier on the pocket too. The 10-inch version of the tablet comes in at about €300, and it’s 8.1c with Bing, which means you get Microsoft’s search engine as standard – little difference from regular Windows 8.1 tablets – but also a one-year subscription to Office 365 thrown in into the bargain.

The 10.1 -inch version runs on Intel’s atom processor and comes with ports for micro USB and mini HDMI, with a slot for a micro SD card to boost storage.

The Good

Because it runs Windows 8.1, you aren’t limited to the software you find in the Windows store. While you won’t be able to use all programmes on this tablet – the hardware restrictions will put paid to that plan – it does give you a bit more flexibility that other devices.

The Encore 2 is really a complementary device to your laptop or desktop. It’s easier to transport, and you can keep working on the move thanks to cloud storage.

The screen is responsive and reacts well, although it won’t rival some other more expensive tablets in terms of sharpness. Still, it performed well for everything from watching movies to editing documents to web browsing, which is what most people will use this tablet for.

Battery life was decent too, and the device charges over micro USB, which is a plus for those of us who have far too many proprietary charging cables floating around. It also means should you find yourself low on power and away from your own charger, you can easily find a replacement.

The speaker is small but will do the trick, and if you want something with a bit more beef, you can use the headphone jack to attach external speakers.

The not so good

Design wise, the Encore 2 isn’t the most inspiring of devices. There’s nothing objectionable about it, and the gold finish looks nice, but there’s nothing that makes it stand out from the crowd either. It’s a fraction too heavy to hold in one hand for long periods of time too, for some of us at least.

If you intend to use this as a work device, you'll need to invest in a keyboard. While the onscreen keyboard is fine for web browsing and typing for short periods, anything heavier may push your bounds of tolerance. That's not a limitation of the Toshiba machine, or even Windows, but rather a general touch-screen problem.

The rest

The device starts at a capacity of 32GB; a chunk of that will be taken up by the operating system, so invest in a memory card if you plan to use it for anything that will take up space.

That includes video and images too. There’s a 5 megapixel camera built into the tablet to allow you to video conference, take photos and capture video.

With 2GB of Ram on board, the tablet performed reasonably well, but like many budget tablets, the more you tax it, the more often you’ll see the odd stutter here and there. On the whole though, we were reasonably impressed by the Encore 2.

The verdict

HHH As far as budget tablets go, this offers more to those who want a device that will move between work and play than other budget tablets. Worth considering.