I set up the Tap 20 in my home office, installing some additional software and getting used to the touch-enabled display. After a time, I discovered that I was using the mouse less, even in the Windows desktop, though some operations in desktop mode were still easier with a mouse. The user interface was responsive and smooth. When I ran Office-style applications, or surfed the Web, both Firefox and Internet Explorer seemed well behaved, even with multiple tabs open. Web-based video playback was mostly clean and stutter-free.

However, if you plan on writing or editing longer documents, you may want a different keyboard. The Sony keyboard's keys are slightly textured, but still slippery, and I found myself making many more errors while typing than I usually do. Non-touch-typists may not encounter the same issues.

Using the system untethered is an interesting experience. At well over 11 pounds and a 20-inch width, this machine is not something you sit on your lap. It does make for a very cool Xbox device. I set it up on my coffee table in front of my entertainment center, within easy reach. Even though SmartGlass is still in its infancy, the technology has the potential to turn a device such as the Tap 20 into a powerful adjunct to your home entertainment setup, if Microsoft keeps enhancing it.

I also laid the machine flat and played around with some of the games, like Xbox Taptile and Pinball FX2. These titles show off just a little of the potential of the system as a shared gaming device. Here's hoping that more board-game ports come to the Microsoft Store, as we've seen with iOS games; I'd love to see Ticket to Ride, Elder Sign, or Alien Frontiers on this system.