First off, let me point out that I already have a beefy desktop for gaming. I use my old Dell Inspiron from 2008 for MS Office and light Photoshop work (jewelry photography). The old Inspiron features Windows Vista, a T2390 Intel Core 2 (1.86ghz), 3gb memory, 500gb hdd and a 13" 1200x800 screen (I hook it up to an external color-calibrated monitor for PS purposes). However, the Inspiron's charging port is b0rk3d which has led me to window shop.
I am super interested in one of the new Window 8 convertibles/tablets, namely for its superb battery life, potential portability and x86 software capabilities. The Acer Iconia w510 looks quite appealing. I know the Intel Atom Clover Field chip will do fine with MS Office and web browsing. Is the CPU and integrated GMA usable for heavier tasks like Photoshop or old school gaming (Starcraft, original Half-Life, etc.)?
Admittedly, the price difference bothers me a bit, in that the Iconia w510 is not that much cheaper than i5-based devices (e.g. Iconia w700 or the Surface Pro). I could also opt for a cheaper Atom-device, such as the Asus s200e notebook, that routinely goes on sale for less than $500 - but lose out on the tablet-transforming abilities.
Help!! Any advice is appreciated!!
I am super interested in one of the new Window 8 convertibles/tablets, namely for its superb battery life, potential portability and x86 software capabilities. The Acer Iconia w510 looks quite appealing. I know the Intel Atom Clover Field chip will do fine with MS Office and web browsing. Is the CPU and integrated GMA usable for heavier tasks like Photoshop or old school gaming (Starcraft, original Half-Life, etc.)?
Admittedly, the price difference bothers me a bit, in that the Iconia w510 is not that much cheaper than i5-based devices (e.g. Iconia w700 or the Surface Pro). I could also opt for a cheaper Atom-device, such as the Asus s200e notebook, that routinely goes on sale for less than $500 - but lose out on the tablet-transforming abilities.
Help!! Any advice is appreciated!!