I’ve used Android and ios for years but the last few months I’ve been using Windows 10 machines to try to get a work project going. I’ve tried a few – Linx, Thinkpad, Lenovo and without exception they’ve all been awful. Compared to the Android and ios equivalents it’s like going back in time! The touch screens seem awful, the os is unintuitive, they’re unresponsive, the ergonimics is crap, they have a paltry 3rd party app market…

I can’t quite believe they’re so far behind the competition. Am I missing something? Can someone point me in the direction of some killer apps or perhaps there is a setting that makes them usable?!

Ta everso.

Nah, you aren’t missing anything. I have to use one at work too and want to beat it with a hammer daily.

Don’t bother. You are disposed against them so there is no point. The surface pro 4 for example rocks but isn’t as cheap as android. It also depends a lot on what software you are trying to use. I regularly use an old surface rt with no problems but I’m comfy with windows

Leffeboy -i’m using Outlook, Chrome, Acrobat, Excel, Dropbox and a couple of bits of work software. I’ve used the Surface and habe a Windows 10 laptop for everyday use. What software do you suggest?

Depends what you are doing. Apart from outlook, all the rest is great. I’m not sure where your problem is. I’d much rather be on the surface than an iPad to use Excel. There isn’t an issue with 3rd party app with those

For home use it’s a different matter though as apps are a bit short

I need to collect data whilst outside and anotate pdfs using a stylus. The proprietary software we use is only available on Windows hence the need to find a Windows hardware solution.

We have Surface Pro’s at work for some use cases.

They’re just a very light touchscreen laptop.

If you want to use an iPad or Android tablet – then use one. If you want to use a W10 tablet (lightweight touchscreen laptop) then use that.

Of course a PC wont have the same number of apps as an iPad or Android tablet – but as leffeboy says, they’re far better at doing PC stuff than an iPad could ever be.

Si

**Edit**

Ok, now you’ve explained a bit more.
I’ve not used the stylus much but it seems fine to me, and a couple of our users basically use them as a paper notepad replacement for taking notes (using the stylus) in meetings and have no complaints.
What are the actual problems that you encounter for what you need to use is for – specifically?

I’ve used a Windows 8 Linx for about a year, and I think it’s fine. I use it for web surfing (chrome), and a bit of excel.

If an Android tablet does everything you want to do, then you are probably better off with an Android tablet.

Windows tablets are “proper computers” squeezed into a tablet. They can do stuff that Android tablets cant, but aren’t attempting to compete in terms of intuitiveness etc. IMO.

Maybe it’s the hardware I’m using because most of your experiences do not match mine. Fifeandy seems to have nailed my experience so far. I’m trying to find an intuitive piece of hardware for a bunch of non-tech savvy consultants who can just about drive an ipad. Budget is nit really a priblem but seeing as these tablets will get dragged through the undergrowth i think £500 is the upper limit. To put this into perspective I’ve virtually run a business from my car using a £180 LG android tab and a laptop for the odd bit of autocad,

I’ve been an early adopter of handhelds since Psion, Palm, Windows ME etc. I can see the potential of Windows 10 as an all-in-one solution but so far my experience had been painful.

I suspect my need is too demanding for the current sub-£500 Win 10 machines.

i think £500 is the upper limit.

and there is your problem. That will barely by an iPad but will buy an ok android. Since the demise of the surface rt it isn’t going to buy you a good windows tablet yet

To put this into perspective I’ve virtually run a business from my car using a £180 LG android tab

i used to control a 120kV supply from my hp 48gx calculator but I wouldn’t consider that best practice any more

try using android or ios as a desktop.

Price is your issue, my boss has a sony 2 in 1 laptop that is great, small light and powerful but not cheap, we do heaps of stuff like doc markup etc. on it in full windows have full office and a bunch of other stuff. You won’t get it under 500 quid though.

they have a paltry 3rd party app market…

This may be the case but they can run a massive amount of software that is available through other sources.

I’d probably be looking towards the 2 in 1’s rather than tablet, losing a chunk of screen every time you want to enter data seems a bit backwards really.

Can someone point me in the direction of some killer apps

For doing what? If you’re doing specialist technical work, there will be specialist software for doing that. It probably won’t be available for tablets because most technical work needs a proper keyboard and mouse. Why do you actually want to use a tablet instead of a laptop or 2-in-1?