Despite all the hubbub over Windows 8 hybrids, my first extended Windows 8 experience comes from using a pure tablet device--albeit one with bundled accessories designed for laptop-like productivity.

The W700 boasts an 11.6-inch, 1920-by-1080-pixel display whose viewing quality ranks somewhere between that of the iPad 2 and that of the new iPad, due in part to the Acer tablet's pixel density of 190 pixels per inch (versus 132 ppi for the iPad 2 and 264 ppi for the new iPad). And with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the W700's rich, vivid IPS display offers a generous expanse of screen real estate that's perfect for 1080p video playback, and makes you think, "Hmm, it sure would be nice if my iPad's screen extended this far horizontally."--

Our test model's specs put it at the high end of the W700's configuration range, with such Ultrabook-caliber components as a 1.7GHz Core i5 processor capable of turbo bursts of up to 2.6GHz; 4GB of memory; and a 128GB solid-state drive. This hardware profile runs a pricey $999, but that bitter brew might be easier to swallow if you consider the W700's mission to deliver a tablet and a work PC in a single package.

Though the W700 doesn't directly attach to a keyboard the way a newfangled hybrid would, it comes with a sturdy cradle that positions the tablet at a 70-degree angle, much like the screen of an open clamshell laptop. The bundle also includes a matching Bluetooth keyboard that never dropped a keystroke or exhibited any lag during multiple periods of extended typing.

Pair the cradled tablet with its keyboard buddy, and you have a serviceable Windows workstation. It's by no means a perfect productivity system--more about that later--and, sure, many W700 owners will inevitably experience that "Doh!" moment when they discover they never packed the keyboard in their carry-on. Nonetheless, as a total package, the W700 offers much more productivity potential than any Android or Apple tablet.