With Windows 8.1 Update 1 Microsoft reduced hardware requirements of the OS and in some cases removed the licensing costs for OEMS as they aim to take on cheap Android tablets. We are starting to see these devices ship and the latest device is a $120 seven inch Windows tablet from Toshiba. The Encore Mini has a 7 inch displaying running at 1024×600, multi-touch running Windows 8.1 and has a quad-core Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM and 16eMMC storage. You can expand the storage via a micro SSD card (up to 128GB) and there is a 0.3MP front camera and a 2MP rear camera. The OS is Windows 8.1 with Bing and you get one-year subscription to Office 365. I have a Toshiba Encore 8 with is a very nice tablet and for $120 the 7 inch version looks like a reasonable compromise of price and spec. Once thing to note is there is no dedicated Windows key on it so you will be using the charms and onscreen Windows key to get around.
The specs are very budget but so is the price and as it’s running the Intel version of Windows 8.1 you could install what you want on it. It is going to be interesting to see how well it performs with 1GB of RAM, you will not be wanting to install anything heavy on it but it is a credible competitor to some of the low cost Android tablets.
Specs:
Windows 8.1 with Bing
Office 365 Personal 1-year. Activation required within limited time
Intel® Atom® Processor Z3735G (2MB Cache, Up to 1.83GHz)
1GB (on board)
16GB eMMC
Front 0.3MP camera with microphone
Rear 2.0MP camera
None
Micro-USB 2.0
USB to micro USB cable included
Micro SD slot (supports SDXC up to 128GB)
Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n) + Bluetooth® v 4.0
Bluetooth® v4.0
Winter White
1 Year Standard Limited Warranty
Press Release:
IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba’s Digital Products Division(DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the retail availability of its Encore® Mini, a value-driven 7-inch Windows 8.1 tablet developed through close collaboration between Toshiba and Microsoft Corp. Priced at $119.99 MSRP1, the tablet delivers a full Windows 8.1 experience plus a one-year subscription to Office 365™ Personal and one terabyte of OneDrive storage, offering consumers the convenience of having Windows in their pockets for work and play.
“With Encore Mini, we worked hand-in-hand with Microsoft to deliver a high-quality small-screen Windows 8.1 tablet at an entry-class price point,” said Philip Osako, senior director of product marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “Our product portfolio of Windows tablets continues to grow, enabling us to deliver more screen size choice to consumers at a lower price point, while still maintaining a consistently high-level of quality and features for a greater value.”
Sleek and Slim Design
Featuring a textured back panel in white, Encore Mini is designed for an easy one-handed use. Weighing just 12.5 ounces2 with a slim 0.43 inch profile, the device is highly portable and small enough to fit in a backpack, briefcase or purse.
A Full Windows Experience on a 7-inch Screen
From Encore Mini’s 7-inch 1024×600 resolution multi-touch display3, consumers will be able to take advantage of a broad range of capabilities enabled by Windows 8.1. Ideal for browsing, book reading and staying entertained on the go, this small screen device also offers an optimized view of the Windows 8.1 start screen, desktop mode and Office 365 apps.
Ready in an Instant
Powered by a quad-core Intel® Atom™ processor4, Encore Mini offers snappy performance for quick browsing, content streaming and more, while maintaining plenty of battery life. InstantGo technology ensures everything is up-to-date even while the system is in standby mode. The Encore Mini features fast and reliable Wi-Fi® performance with 802.11n and Bluetooth® v4.0, making browsing, streaming, downloading and connecting additional devices a breeze.
All the Essentials
Encore Mini includes a front webcam and microphone as well as a 2 megapixel back camera for picture-taking and video capture. Additionally, the tablet comes equipped with 16GB of internal storage5, a Micro USB port and a microSD™ Card slot capable of supporting 128GB SDXC cards, ensuring that users have plenty of room to store all their digital files, apps, games, videos and pics they love.
Pricing and Availability
The Encore Mini is now available for purchase for $119.99 MSRP at major retailers, e-tailers and direct from Toshiba on toshiba.com/us.
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"GBP","currency_symbol":"\u00a3","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
I will have a video interview on this very shortly had confirmed UK price of £99