If you are looking for a relatively cheap but respectable tablet to give as a gift this Christmas, you could do worse than the Linx 8, writes Will Goodbody.
Yes, it is Windows based - which might be an immediate turn off for some. But give it a try and you might be pleasantly surprised.
It comes in 7”, 8” and 10” display options. I tried the 8” version, which comes with 1.82GHz Quad-Core Intel Atom processor and 1GB of RAM. It is not the fastest tablet in the world, but actually performs pretty well when running basic games, software and apps that are not overly demanding on the graphics or video fronts.
It also comes with a pretty decent 32GB of internal storage, and has a MicroSD slot for further memory expansion. What might also be attractive to older folk, who might want to use it for more work oriented applications, is the complimentary one year subscription to Office 365, which also gives access to a further 1TB of storage.
There is 2MP cameras front and back, which will not shoot masterpieces for you, but are fine for snaps, and video calls. Indeed, the tablet also comes with 60 free world minutes to landlines every month via Skype.
There is a HDMI and micro USB port for added connectivity. It looks smart enough - at 9mm it is reasonably thin, light and though it lacks a premium feel, it does sit comfortably in the hand. The IPS 800x1280 display is ok - a little tardy to the touch at times, but overall it is not a deal breaker.
The battery also could be better - the upper end manufacturer promise of seven hours of life is probably a little ambitious. But certainly with normal use it will last five hours.
It runs on Windows 8.1, which means the interface should be familiar to anyone who uses a recent version of Windows on PC or phone. The Microsoft app store still is not a patch on those of Apple and Google, but most of the basics are there, and it continues to grow.
Let’s be clear. This is no iPad. But if you are content with a lower spec budget tablet for everyday use, this might be a realistic option. The Linx 8” 32GB starts at €129.99 while the Linx 7” 32GB can be bought for €115.95. It all adds up to good value.
