Android has the market covered when it comes to inexpensive tablets and they're usually from companies most consumers have never heard of. However, Toshiba is now selling its Windows 8.1 Encore Mini for the very low price of $119.
Long before Apple and Steve Jobs predicted the future of mobile computing would shift to tablets with the introduction of the original iPad in April 2010, Bill Gates and Microsoft saw that vision back in 2002. Microsoft created a tablet-optimized version of Windows XP called Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and licensed the OS to many of its Windows licensees.
Microsoft's tablets never caught on because they were plagued with issues ranging from extremely high prices, handwriting input speed using a stylus that was significantly slower than the tried-and-true physical keyboard consumers were accustomed to, and its design caused headaches for users since Microsoft didn't include palm/touch recognition to prevent the slate from ignoring inadvertent touches from users while using its stylus.
The success of the iPad and Android tablets ignited fire in Microsoft and the company once again got serious about slates with the introduction of Windows 8. Microsoft even joined its Windows tablet licensees by entering the tablet market with its very own tablets, the Surface RT and Surface Pro. Sales of both devices were a disappointment and Microsoft vowed that new Windows 8.1 tablets would hit lower price points to attract more users.
Unlike budget Android tablets from companies consumers have never heard of, Toshiba decided to introduce a 7-inch tablet running the fully-featured version of Windows 8.1 OS and not the watered-down Windows RT.
The Windows 8.1 Toshiba Encore Mini is now on sale through Microsoft's online store. The tablet is priced at $119. The Toshiba Encore Mini features a 7-inch WSVGA LED-backlit display with a resolution of 768 x 1280 and includes 5-finger multitouch support. The slate is powered by a 1.33 GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor with Intel Burst Technology up to 1.83 GHz, and 1 GB of RAM.
The Toshiba Encore Mini ships with 16 GB of internal storage and includes a microSD expansion slot. It's packing a 2-megapixel rear camera and front-facing camera for video chat and selfies. Microsoft lists the Encore Mini as having up to 7.3 hours of battery life; its dimensions are 7.83 x 4.71 x 0.42 in (199.00 x 119.80 x 10.90 mm) and it weighs 0.74 lbs (11.84 oz).
The Windows 8.1 Toshiba Encore Mini can now be purchased through Microsoft's online store for $119.
