Windows 8 buying guide: How to buy the best laptop, desktop, tablet, or hybrid

Buying a new Windows 8 device isn’t as simple as, say, picking up a new Android tablet. The device-spanning nature of the overhauled operating system means Windows works on a vast array of hardware, from laptops to tablets to desktops to genre-straddling hybrids. Saying “I want a Windows 8 device” is just the first step of this particular purchasing journey.
Our guide will clue you in to everything you need to know while you’re on the hunt for a new Windows 8 device, from design differences to the little details you need to consider once you’ve settled on a device type. Heck, we’ll even toss in a few buying recommendations—and you can find more in our chart of the best Windows 8 devices available right now.
Got it? Good. Let’s get educated.

Buying a Windows 8 laptop

The first decision you have to make is easy: Do you need a desktop or a mobile device?
Skip to the end if you’re looking for a desktop. Settle in if you’re shopping for a portable PC: Going mobile takes a bit more thought, since Windows 8 calls laptops, tablets, and hybrids home.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U430 Touch is a finger-friendly $700 Ultrabook.

Laptops are a good option if, well, you need a laptop. Typing accessories for Windows tablets—including Microsoft’s own Touch Cover and Type Cover—simply aren’t as comfortable for long-term typing sessions as a proper laptop keyboard is, and even cheap laptops tend to have more potent hardware than Windows tablets. You can find “laptop-first” hybrids with the same advantages and the ability to transform into a tablet on the fly, but they carry a price premium over traditional notebooks. (More on hybrids later.)
If you’re in the market for a Windows 8 notebook, PCWorld’s laptop buying guide has all the info you need to make a smart decision. One Windows 8–specific thing to keep in mind: Touchscreen notebooks are nifty, but finger-friendly displays cost more and reduce battery life. If your machine’s endurance is important to you, go for a standard laptop and check out PCWorld’s guide to eliminating Windows 8.1’s touchy modern interface.

Before you buy a Windows tablet

The Acer W700 is a first-gen Windows 8 tablet.

What, laptops aren’t portable enough for you? A thin-and-light Windows tablet might be calling your name—if you’re certain that you wouldn’t prefer an Android slate or an iPad. That’s a very important factor to consider before you plunk down your cash.
Windows tablets, being the new kid on the block, have a few pain points. The Windows Store—which supplies the modern-style apps that power all those glittering live tiles—is still comparatively lackluster. The Nokia Lumia 2520 is the only current model that supports LTE connectivity for on-the-go usage. Windows-powered tablets are far more expensive than Android devices. And while 8-inch Windows slates from the likes of Acer, Dell, and Lenovo are starting to trickle into stores, the vast majority of Windows tablets available have 10-inch or larger displays.
All are valid reasons to consider competing tablets. But Windows tablets have killer features of their own that help them excel at portable productivity:

• SkyDrive-powered syncing features make it easy to hop from PC to tablet to laptop and back again without skipping a beat.
• Internet Explorer 11 is a full-blown, desktop-class browser, unlike the mobile versions of Chrome and Safari. Yes, that means it works with Flash and Silverlight sites.
• Virtually all Windows tablet models have optional keyboard accessories.
• Many Windows 8 tablets ship with a free copy of Office Home & Student preinstalled.
• Once you’ve used the Snap multitasking feature, going back to one app at a time on Android or iOS just plain hurts.

And of course, only Windows 8 tablets offer full access to the traditional Windows desktop and its vast horde of software—though mouse-oriented menus don’t always work well on touch-focused tablets.

Buying a Windows tablet

The Surface 2’s kickstand now supports two different angles, for tabletop and laptop usage. But you still don’t want a Windows RT device.

Notice I said that Windows 8 tablets rock the desktop. You’ll also find tablets running the neutered Windows RT operating system. Powered by long-lasting ARM mobile processors, they can run only modern-style apps—not desktop software. Given the still-early state of the Windows Store, it’s hard to recommend a Windows RT tablet except for highly specialized use cases.
Yes, the Nokia Lumia 2520 looks great and supports LTE, and yes, Microsoft’s own Surface 2 is a stunning piece of hardware. For the most part, however, you should still avoid them. All other PC makers have discontinued their Windows RT tablets, though you may be able to find some at fire-sale prices.

Intel’s ‘Bay Trail’ Atom chips have made Windows 8 tablets much more competitive with ARM-based slates, thanks to their extreme endurance.

You’ll want to stick to a tablet running Windows 8 proper, at least until the Windows Store matures. At the heart of virtually any Windows 8 tablet, you’ll find Intel’s last-gen Intel Atom Z2760 processor or one of the company’s current-gen “Bay Trail” Atom processors. Both deliver all-day battery life, but Bay Trail–based tablets offer far smoother performance. You may be able to pick up an older Atom Z2760–based slate at a great price this year, but definitely try before you buy one of those.
Some “tablets,” such as the Acer Iconia W700 and HP Pavilion 13 x2, feature more-powerful Core i5 processors, but they’re more hybrids than proper slates. More on convertibles later.
While current Atom-powered Windows tablets max out at 4GB of RAM, most pack 2GB. Get as much memory as you can! Many Windows 8 tablets also have 1366-by-768-pixel screens—a resolution that looks ugly and fuzzy on a laptop but holds up well enough on an 8- to 10-inch display. Pricier slates sport sharper 1080p displays, but be warned: The higher you crank up the resolution, the smaller those already-diminutive desktop menus become.

Stylus users, make sure the Windows tablet you’re considering supports digital pens.

Beyond that, look for tablets that have the bells and whistles you need. For example, scope out the port selection, and find out whether a keyboard comes bundled or as an optional accessory, and whether styluses are supported. If you plan to store a lot of files or to install several desktop programs, consider buying a tablet with more storage, as 32GB won’t get you far with Windows 8 installed. (Most Windows tablets offer expandable MicroSD storage capabilities, though.) And as always, try before you buy if at all possible.
A wave of 8-inch Windows 8 tablets is a-coming, but we haven’t had a chance to review any of them formally yet. The 10-inch Asus Transformer Book T100 stands out from the pack, and its $400 price tag includes a keyboard accessory. The Surface Pro 2 is another star performer, with a laptop-grade Core i5 processor rather than a weaker Atom chip