Toshiba Encore 2 Toshiba made a number of compromises to hit this low price point, but the Encore 2 runs Windows 8.1 and Office 365 well enough for us to recommend it.
Microsoft sparked a race to the bottom with the introduction of Windows 8.1 with Bing. And Toshiba cut the bottom out of the bottom line with its Encore 2 series, bringing Windows tablets down to the price of mainstream Android tablets. The 10-inch version reviewed here will set you back just $270, and the smaller 8-inch version costs just $200.
What compromises must you put up with at prices that low? Surprisingly few. While the Encore 2’s build quality isn’t the best, the tablet is sturdy enough that I wouldn't worry about sliding it into a bag and carrying it around all day. The tablet feels plasticky, but it’s also light at just 1.2 pounds. And since that weight is in a slab that's only 0.375 inches thick, it feels solid. I was able to hold it comfortably in one hand for extended periods, and that’s something I can’t usually say about 10-inch tablets.
March 13th, 2012 by Davey Alba, LAPTOP Staff Writer
Digital payments are hitting in a big way at SXSW Interactive. Today, in an exclusive talk for conference attendees, PayPal VP for global product and experience Sam Shrauger took the wraps off a brand new digital wallet. Earlier this week, a blog post on the company website promised that Shrauger would demonstrate the new payment experience at his talk, “Why a Mobile Wallet Isn’t Going to Be Enough.” We just saw how it works, and it’s impressive indeed. Touted as a “smart wallet” that lives in the cloud, the service lets you move your money exactly the way you want it to.
Firing shots at both Google Wallet and ISIS mobile payments, Shrauger says it’s a departure from the concept of a mobile wallet — or simply transferring your physical wallet to your smartphone or tablet — which doesn’t solve any of our current virtual payment problems. PayPal’s service is a real digital wallet. How does it work?
The UI of the digital wallet looks almost like an online bank account, which holds balances connected to debit and credit cards as well as loyalty cards. Check out our screenshots in our gallery below to see how it looks like. One feature the digital wallet vaunts is a grace period. You get the ability to make a purchase now — whether in-store or online — then decide afterward how you’d like to pay for it, up to seven days later. You can even change the way you want to pay within that period.
Got some unused loyalty cards lying around? PayPal will also let you combine different payment methods — like using reward points and frequent flyer miles as currency, or setting up installments. Other handy functions include digital receipts and the ability to configure a set of “Spending Rules” — settings that automatically choose your method of payment depending on what you’re buying (e.g., you can use one type of payment for purchasing a vacation, and another payment method for appliances).
PayPal’s new digital wallet features are slated to go live in May.
If the name Isis Mobile Wallet rings a bell, you’ll be pleased to know that the NFC-based payment system is making its first real debut here at SXSW 2012—and today, we were shown a clear, step-by-step demo of how it will work.
Isis, or the yet-to-be-released mobile payment system is a joint venture between major US credit card companies Visa, MasterCard and American Express, and the three major wireless carriers in the country, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. Check out our video below to see it in full-fledged action.
The way to use it is definitely reminiscent of Google Wallet. To make a mobile payment, you load up the app, select the credit card you want to use (paired with Isis) or another payment type of your choosing, and tap your phone to the sensor. And you’re done. Another point in Isis’s favor is its ability to redeem loyalty cards within the app, so you don’t have to carry around those superfluous membership cards on your keychain.
In case you’ve forgotten, Isis is slated to roll out in both Austin and Salt Lake City this coming summer 2012, with the rest of the nation to follow. If you’re curious to learn more about this payment method of the future, you can hit up the official information here.
Toshiba Encore 2 Toshiba made a number of compromises to hit this low price point, but the Encore 2 runs Windows 8.1 and Office 365 well enough for us to recommend it.
March 13th, 2012 by Davey Alba, LAPTOP Staff Writer 
