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HP Stream 7, Linx 7, Tesco Connect 7, Nextbook 8, Toshiba Encore Mini - there are doubtless many more. In fact, you can't fail to have noticed the new wave of cheap Windows 8.1 tablets hitting the market at unbelievable sub-£100/sub-$120 price-points, armed with frankly incredible - and mostly uniform - specs. We're talking quad-core Intel mobile processors, IPS screens, 32GB of storage, along with USB, micro SD and HDMI ports. The icing on the cake? They're running Windows 8.1 proper, meaning you get the standard Metro tablet experience along with full access to decades' worth of PC programs - with a full year's subscription to Microsoft Office 365 often thrown into the bargain too.We've been intrigued by these products for some months now, subconsciously filing them into the 'too good to be true' category, expecting some kind of killer limitation that makes these bargain devices a write-off. On the face of it, the inclusion of just 1GB of DDR3 RAM is the most obvious spec limitation. Windows 8.1 thrives on as much memory as you give it, and even entry-level devices include 2GB as standard, with 4GB perceived as the bare minimum for a decent experience.
Pre-Christmas, there were many compelling deals for these entry-level Windows tablets but none could compare with Staples' offering - we picked up an eight-inch Linx 8 for just £49.99. A "too good to be true" deal had evolved into a total no-brainer, worth checking out even if the device itself turned out to be less than ideal.
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