Fusion5 Ultra Slim Windows Tablet PC
I picked up this tablet as an upgrade to my Kindle Fire 8". Overall, I'd say it was a good choice.
Initially, I began shopping for a 10" version of my same tablet, but I thought, why not upgrade a bit in the process? Since most of my other equipment is in the Microsoft ecosystem, I chose to go with a Windows tablet. That way, I can sync easily between my desktop, phone, and tablet, having all my data available from any device.
When I first started shopping, my gut instinct was to pick up the MS Surface Go, which is a 10" Windows 10 tablet. The down side is that Windows is running in S Mode. Windows 10 in S Mode is a more limited, locked-down Windows operating system. In S Mode, you can only install apps from the Store, and you can only browse the web with Microsoft Edge.
I didn't want to be limited, and I began looking around for another solution, eventually deciding on the Fusion5.
Order the device through Amazon was simple and painless, as most Amazon transactions are. The device was shipped promptly, and arrived when it was supposed to.
I've been using the tablet for a few weeks now, so I think I might be able to relay my experience with it.
Screen
The screen is great, on par with other high end tablets. The resolution of the 10.1" (diagonally measured) display makes for a nice crisp display, with good color and brightness.
Touch sensitive is good as well. I've had no problem with making selections for text fields, buttons, etc. Some other folks have commented about a problem with selecting a text field, and not having the on-screen keyboard pop up. I don't think this is a failing of the tablet itself, but rather the way Windows 10 works with touch. It's been an issue for the last several version of Windows, and 10 is no different. Putting Windows 10 into tablet mode alleviates the problem somewhat, but in some text fields you may need to double tap.
Using the Inking function in Edge, OneNote, and other apps worked flawlessly. Using a stylus or your finger, you can highlight data on web pages or other places, or even include short notes.
The only complaint I would have about the display is the inclusion of a less than stellar screen protector with the device, already installed. When I received mine, it was loose along the bottom bezel of the display. Further, the protector slightly hindered use of touch features. Once I removed the protector, touch sensitivity was much better. The downside if your remove the protector (and don't replace it) is the potential for scratches, as well as the mass of fingerprints that will collect on the display.
Connectivity
The only option for connectivity include with the device is WiFi. I've tested it by connecting to several different access points, public and private, and have had no issues. The only downside I can mention is the lack of high speed options with the on-board WiFi. In my testing, I was only able to connect with 802.11b, which is limited to 11 Mbps, so you're roughly getting 9.5-10 Mbps. I think a better option would be to use an 802.11 b/g/n chip for faster speeds.
Even with the limited connectivity, I am able stream NetFlix, work on documents from OneDrive, and surf the internet with no issues. There is some slight buffering at the start of a NetFlix video, but my desktop does the exact same thing, so I don't see that as negative. The rest of the stream is fine, and displays in HD. Streaming from YouTube was a bit better, with a quicker start to viewing than with NetFlix.
The device comes with a variety of ports on the side, including a full size USB port, mini HDMI, USB-C and a power port. Charging via the power port *or* USB-C worked fine. I wasn't able to test USB-C peripherals, as I don't have any.
Using the standard USB port, I connected a wired mouse, and it worked with no issue. also tried a USB keyboard, headset, and game controller. All worked with problem. As long as Windows has or can find the correct driver for the device, most should work with the tablet.
One cool thing I was able to do is connect the tablet to my KVM switch. A KVM switch (with KVM being an abbreviation for "keyboard, video and mouse") is a hardware device that allows a user to control multiple computers from one keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
Using the KVM, I was able to use my full size equipment at my desk. The device found the peripherals with no issues, and I happily surfed the web and am actually writing this review using the tablet now, using the big screen. Document editing is much easier with full size equipment, and the Fusion5 had no problems allowing me to use my regular gear.
Bluetooth connectivity is good, and I tried a couple of different devices with the Fusion5, including my phone, a mouse, and two different sets of headphones. Range and functionality was good. Leaving the tablet in my home office, I was able to move up to 50 feet away, and the sound was still good in my headphones.
Sound
The tablet included two speakers, although they are not very good. At maximum volume, the sound is *just* audible. This doesn't bother me, however, as I use a bluetooth headset when I am streaming video, using Skype, etc.
I haven't use the on-board microphone, but I imagine you would be better served getting a good bluetooth headset for Skype calls, or perhaps a wired headset connected to the USB port.
Storage
The version of the device I purchased included 4 GB of RAM, as well as 64 GB of storage on-board.
While 4 GB of RAM won't give you enough "oomph" to run things like MySQL or Doom, it is more than enough to edit documents in Word, spreadsheets in Excel, surf the net with multiple tabs open (but no too many!), and play some lighter games like Asphalt Airborne and the like.
Mass storage of the device is a seemingly huge 64 GB. However, keep in mind that Windows 10 takes a large chunk of this space for itself. The device does include an SD card slot, with which you can use to expand the storage. With this in mind, I did purchase a 128 GB SD card. I inserted the card, and it worked straight away.
The first thing I did is set my OneDrive folder to the new drive, to keep things of the system drive. That way, you're not cluttering up the system drive with your random cat pictures and crossword puzzles.
Operating System
The Fusion5 comes with Windows 10 Home Edition, 32-bit. This is not a watered down version of Windows, nor is it Windows running in S mode. This is the full version of Windows 10 Home Edition. What this means is that anything that you can run on your home machine, you can run on your tablet, provided that it fits in to the requirements of the software.
For example, I am a hobbyist software developer. I write applications and utilities for use by people all over the world. On this device, I was able to install and use a Win32 application that I built on my desktop machine. No errors, no missing drivers. It just worked.
Where all this leads is if there is something you want to connect to this tablet, or some software you want to install, the only questions you need to ask are "Is it compatible with Windows 10?" and "Does my hardware meet the requirements?"
Battery Life
The claimed battery life is around eight hours, and I have no dispute with that. I charge the device once per week, and have yet to have an unexpected shutdown due to battery problems. I imagine with some power management like dimming the display and throttling the CPU a bit (both available by tapping on the battery icon in the system tray), you could stretch it out to ten hours.
Summary
I'm pretty happy with this purchase. I use the Fusion5 for reading ebooks, watching streaming video, and some light web surfing. While it won't replace my desktop or my full laptop (it's a beast!), it is great for use on airplanes, laying in bed at night, riding the bus, etc.
Besides the few minor items I pointed out previously, I would make one more ask for this device. The tablet includes no recovery media with it. It would be nice to have the option of performing a clean install of Windows 10 from media, if the need arises. As it sits, I'm not sure it can be booted from USB, but than may be an option, provided I can find the product key.
Overall, if you are in the market for an inexpensive Windows 10 device, I would recommend the Fusion5 10.1" Windows 10 tablet. At just under $200, it's a pretty great buy.
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