Tablets are generally consumption devices, used for games, web browsing, video watching and social media. As much as I have tried, I still have found no reason to think of a tablet as a productivity device.

Asus Z380M Technical Spec

• 8.0" IPS Wide XGA 1280 x 800
• MTK MT8163 (1.30 GHz)
• 2 GB LPDDR3 Memory 16 GB eMMC
• Micro SD up to 128 GB SDXC
• Front-Facing Camera 2 MP
• Rear Camera 5.0 MP
• 8.22" x 4.84" x 0.33" 0.77 lb.
• Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)

So when mine went wrong and having already made the decision to merge my Amazon Kindle and tablet usage together, it was time to question the value of owning a tablet.

The buying options can be split into three groups. Very cheap - avoid. Very expensive devices like an Apple iPad or Samsung S3 Tab, beautifully designed however lack a return on investment (apart from the visual consumerism of ownership) or the middle ground.

In the middle ground is the 8” Asus Z380M. Available for approximately 150 euro, the device is well built and has an appearance similar to Asus’s previously made Nexus Tablets. There are the usual tablet ports, 3.5mm audio jack and micro-USB charging point, along with a microSD card slot hidden behind a tactile back cover.

The tablet handles everything you would need a consumption device to handle. Mobile games work fine, web browsing is snappy, video’s playback without issue, and the blue-light filter makes reading ebooks a pleasure.

Battery life is fine. If using for web use and reading for a few hours a day, then three days use is possible. When viewing video, a good couple of films can be watched between charge.

Front webcam is fine for Skype etc. No idea what the back camera is like, as no sane person should ever use a tablet for taking pictures!

Overall, I can’t think for my media consumption needs what a more an expensive device could give me.

There is only one thing that stops me saying this is a must buy device for anyone looking for a small handy tablet for reading, web, games, social media and video. It is really cumbersome to get your own media or files on or off the device using a USB Cable.

Asus uses an application called Asus Sharelink to move media between the Asus Z380M and a PC. Both must be on the same network, both must trigger the transfer then the long wait whilst the wireless network transfer the files. Why Asus went with this solution instead of allowing the Tablet to be mounted as a USB disk under windows for file transfer amazes me. 

So perfect as a web/cloud device - could be painful to use with your own content and files.