Challenging learning curves aside, I found the W700's touch controls quick, fluid, and responsive. Screen redraws never lagged or stuttered, and the hardware seemed well-equipped to handle the OS's requirements. We didn't run any benchmarks on our preproduction unit, but if a Core i5 and 4GB of memory can't boss a tablet OS around like a schoolyard bully, Microsoft has serious optimization problems.

The Windows 8 Start screen is an engaging alternative to Android and iOS. Much like Android widgets, Windows 8 "live tiles" place dynamic, real-time updates for various apps on top of your main user interface. For example, the Weather tile shows current local conditions, and the News tile shows a recent headline along with a photo. But Android widgets lack any real design constraints, and the result is a home screen that sometimes resembles a visual circus. In contrast, live tiles conform to simple design rules that foster a more sober and sophisticated look.

Of course, the new Start screen is far from perfect. For one thing, without resorting to third-party utilities, a user who wants to boot straight into the system's desktop mode can't bypass the Start screen. And as , the Start screen has no hierarchical nesting system--so if you have a huge collection of apps, you may find yourself scrolling ad nauseam to find a particular live tile.

Still, throughout my week of hands-on work with the W700, I found the Start screen to be a pleasant, effective new take on a tablet-optimized user interface, and Windows 8 to be a winning tablet OS. Microsoft's built-in Mail, Calendar, and Internet Explorer apps are stripped-down versions of their desktop counterparts, but they more than sufficed to meet my relatively modest tablet productivity expectations.

All of which brings us to the question of how the W700 and Windows 8 performed in desktop mode. It was far better than some critics have made it out to be, but a device like this definitely presents some compromises.