What is larger than a smartphone yet smaller than a laptop?
Yes, we are talking about a tablet! Since the introduction of the tablet, many people have opt for this powerful tool in enhancing productivity especially since it has integrated many functions and brought plenty of convenience to people who are always on the go. On the other hand, if you think that the iPad was the first ever tablet to appear and that Apple is the inventor of the tablet, think again! According to the Business Insider, Microsoft is the one that invented a tablet, a whole decade before Apple.
With the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status, SNS Network has recently launched Malaysia’s first locally branded Windows 8.1 tablet. Introducing the JOI 8! An 8″ IPS (in-plane switching) display of 1280 x 800 resolution, powered by Intel’s Quad Core processor, a tablet for business and play! Best of all, its retail price tag is only RM499 (USD$157)!
Coming with a 5-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera, JOI 8 offers an internal storage of 16GB and is expandable via Micro SD. The tablet offers great performance without compromising its battery life. The battery life is approximated to last up to six or seven hours after a single charge.
In addition, the new tablet comes with a 1 year subscription to Office 365 Personal and 1TB of free storage space on Microsoft’s premium cloud storage service, OneDrive.
Speaking about the JOI 8
“The JOI 8 gives its users access to the full blown PC experience – be it for entertainment or for work. We are excited to introduce such a powerful and versatile device into the Malaysian market,” said SNS Network managing director, Ko Yun Hung to The Star.
“We’re pleased that the Intel Atom Quad Core processor was SNS Network’s processor of choice for the JOI 8 and it brings us great joy to be part of Malaysia’s first Intel-powered Windows 8.1 tablet. At Intel we believe that if something computes, it does it best on Intel and the JOI 8 is an excellent device that puts paid to this belief,” said Intel South East Asia managing director, Prakash Mallya to MIS Asia.
On a separate comment, the director of consumer channels group of Microsoft Malaysia, Sunny Ooi said, “The JOI 8 runs on Windows 8.1 with Bing so everything you’ve been doing on your home PC – you can now bring with you everywhere you go. There’s no hassle of hunting down alternative apps to do your work when you have the real deal right in front of you!”
Will you be (Joy)JOI-ful?
With the recent launch of Microsoft Surface Pro 3, will JOI 8 be able to survive in this ever competitive tablet fight? Being simple and decent, as well as cheaper by a few folds than most of the tablet out there, the JOI 8 certainly still has its own competitive advantage.
To those who are budget conscious and are looking out for a tablet, this could be another option that would fit into your list.
On a side note, SNS is working on a 10″ JOI tablet which is scheduled to be on its way by the year end.