Tablet Tuesday: Asus VivoTab RT 4G LTE with keyboard dock for $299.99
It's a refurb, but it comes with a full one-year warranty. The 4G comes courtesy of AT&T, but only if you want it.
I continue to have mixed feelings about Windows RT because it's not compatible with several of the programs I use regularly, including Google Chrome, iTunes, and game client Steam. Consequently, I couldn't use an RT-powered tablet as a substitute for my laptop.
That said, people I know who have them absolutely rave about them, and I could similarly ding an Android tablet or iPad for various software incompatibilities.
While you chew on that, chew on this: while supplies last, Groupon has the refurbished Asus VivoTab RT tablet with keyboard dock for $299.99 shipped. That's literally half what it sold for new when it debuted just over a year ago.
The VivoTab is a 10.1-inch tablet powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. It includes 2GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, dual cameras, Bluetooth, GPS, and sweet, sweet 4G LTE courtesy of AT&T.
This last is optional; you can sign up for service or not. But it definitely gives the VivoTab an edge over most Android tablets, which lack an integrated 4G option, and over much pricier iPads that have it. Oh, and don't forget the keyboard dock, which not only adds, you know, a keyboard, but also nearly doubles the VivoTab's battery life.
What's not to like? Screen resolution tops out at 1,366x768-pixel-resolution, which I think is more than adequate for a display of this size, but definitely on the lower side relative to the latest and greatest tablets from Amazon and Apple. Also, according to CNET's review of the VivoTab RT, that keyboard is cramped -- which, frankly, is to be expected for any set of keys paired with a 10.1-inch screen.
As I mentioned above, software compatibility may be a concern for some users, but keep in mind the VivoTab does come with Office 2013, so you're getting some pretty solid productivity right out of the box. I'm still not sure I would have much use for one of these, but if you do, this is a pretty sweet deal. Thoughts?
Bonus deal: I've long been a fan of LockItTight, a tracking service that can help you locate lost or stolen laptops (and, now, Android devices as well). Until recently, it let you track one device for free, but now LockItTight offers free tracking for up to five devices. Obviously this level of tracking is fairly limited, and you can't hide the System Tray icon against savvy thieves, but the idea is for you to test-drive the basic service and then see if you want to upgrade. LockItTight's rates are pretty rock-bottom, starting at just $1.99 per month for unlimited devices.
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