The Joi 8 brings joy to thrifty folks!

Byline : by Andrew Yew

We have come to an age where people can easily afford a Windows 8 tablet now that Intel Atom slates are priced less than RM2,000. Somehow, the question of “How low can we go?” never crossed anybody’s mind, as we all thought that what we had now is the best deal one could get. Intel and SNS Network decided to answer that question with the Joi 8, a Windows 8 tablet that costs you a mere RM499.

Hefty Build

Replete with a matte white finish and an aluminium backplate, the Joi 8 boasts a build quality that is comparable to other affordable Windows 8 tablets that command at least twice its retail price. Sure, the device is chunky and the design isn’t as sleek, but it is perfectly serviceable. You can easily chuck it into your backpack and get it out when work needs to be done. You might want to be mindful on the plastic shell as they seem to catch dings and scratches easily.

Not Too Shabby

Surprisingly, the Joi 8 comes with a rather impressive set of components. It is powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor, making for smooth operation. The 1GB of RAM it uses does leave users a bit wary as to how much it can handle, while its 16GB of internal storage is occupied mostly by the Windows operating system itself. The 8in display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, which is great for viewing HD content. Needless to say, this whole setup isn’t meant to be a gaming machine but for work purposes. Thus, you should be able to get a document or two done.

Good Enough

The 1GB RAM left me slightly concerned and this has been justified when I encountered minor slowdowns. Navigating the Start Screen is smooth enough but using the IE app had some minute lags when registering touch input. Even so, it performed well enough as it played a 1080p YouTube video without too much struggle. The speakers are very loud too. Complementing all that is a battery that will last you a whole day if left unattended. That means a working day’s shift if you you’re crunching paperwork throughout.

Being Connected

The Joi 8 offers quite a number of connections. You have a miniHDMI port for display expansion, a microSD card slot to bolster the limited internal storage, and a microUSB port that performs double duty as either a means to connect to another PC or link with other peripherals via the bundled OTG cable. Oddly, it uses a DC-in jack instead of the same microUSB connection to recharge.

Price: RM 499
Dimensions: 21 x 16 x 5mm
Weight: 400g
Processor: Quad-core Intel Atom
Memory: 1GB DDR3
Storage: 16GB flash
Display: 8in, 1280 x 800 pixels
Camera: 5MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing 

Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Usability: 8/10

Score: 8.4
Verdict: This is probably the best bang for buck you will ever get for a Windows tablet.