When it comes to tablets, youÃ?ve got three main options: you got
your iPad, you got your Android, and then thereÃ?s the HP
TouchPad [buzzer], uh, BlackBerry PlayBook.
[buzzer] Windows
8?
[ding!]
Man, itÃ?s not easy being the third horse in the tablet race, but I
think Microsoft has what it takes.
In fact, thereÃ?s already a
healthy selection of great Windows 8 tablets out there.
To help
you figure out which one is right for you, IÃ?ve got CNETÃ?s top
picks, rounded up by Senior Editors Dan Ackerman and Scott
Stein.
Starting off at #5: the Razer Edge Pro.
The first tablet designed for gaming
also happens to be a great all-around Windows 8 machine.
Built-in NVIDIA
graphics, 256GB of storage, USB 3.0, and one very cool game controller
accessory.
But for all itÃ?s power and gaming glory, itÃ?s the most expensive
tablet on this list at around $1,500 for the Intel Core i7 model, which is the
only one worth your time if youÃ?re a gamer.
Tack on the $249 game pad
and an extra battery pack, and youÃ?re nearly out 2 grand.
Ouch.
At #4: the Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T.
For right around $1,100 you
get an 11.6-inch Windows 8 tablet with 128GB of storage, Intel Core i5,
AND a solid little keyboard dock that comes included.
Also, in typical
Samsung style, you get their S-pen and a little place to store it on the back.
Sure, itÃ?s kinda chunky and the battery life isnÃ?t anywhere close to what an
iPad or Android tablet could give you, but itÃ?s a real PC.
For something a little more stylish, check out #3: the HP Envy X2.
Sells for
$800, though weÃ?re seeing it for under $700 in some places.
Thin, clean,
lightweight design.
Included keyboard dock just like the Samsung, only this
one comes with a extended battery pack built in, giving you a total of 11
hours of battery life.
So whatÃ?s the catch?
Well, the processor...
is an
Atom.
Far cry from that Intel Core i7 in the Razer Edge, but youÃ?re still
getting a full Windows 8 experience.
Just, you know...
be patient.
But to save even more money, go with #2: the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2.
If all you really want is a straight-up Windows 8 tablet, this guy gets you
there for $640.
WeÃ?re still looking at an Atom processor, so keep
performance expectations low.
And should you decide to upgrade this
thing with a keyboard dock, youÃ?re out $120 and it doesnÃ?t even come with
a trackpad.
Instead youÃ?re left with one of those antique ThinkPad nubs
staring up at you like some raw robot nipple.
Ewww.
And so that leaves us with our #1 Windows 8 tablet pick: the
Microsoft Surface Pro.
HereÃ?s a company that doesnÃ?t typically
make their own hardware, but when they do, itÃ?s beautiful.
$1,000 gets you a full Windows 8 machine with a 3rd-gen Intel
Core i5 processor, a thin, compact design, and pen that
magnetically attaches to the side.
Expect that youÃ?ll want to
spend the extra $130 for the keyboard cover -- which we love,
AND includes a trackpad.
Microsoft didnÃ?t want to leave the
perfect Windows 8 tablet to chance, so they built it themselves,
and weÃ?re glad they did.
So those are the best Windows 8 tablets out on the market.
You
can check out Dan and ScottÃ?s full list over on CNET.com, as
well as out ranked list of the best Android tablets and best tablets
on a budget.
IÃ?m Donald Bell, thanks for watching.
