I’ve recently returned to college to pursue my degree in Computer Science so I needed something that would work as a great piece of equipment for taking notes, entertainment during down times and also be used at a later time for when I travel.

The Acer Iconia Tab W500 caught my eye because it’s a hybrid system; its part tablet on the top but has an optional docking keyboard so, in many ways, it’s a netbook you can break in half.

For classes (and work outside of school), I keep my to-do lists, use the tablet for research, do a bit of writing and use it as a backup for when I’m working on my main laptop – my Asus A53S.

I rather enjoy the design and capabilities of the W500. It’s able to run high definition videos, it’s Windows based so I can install the main programs I use in my work and it’s easy to carry around. The optional keyboard comes in handy when I need to do freelance writing or taking loads of notes – the tablet touch screen is responsive and great for drawing diagrams for math classes.

Overall, I’ve found it to be a great piece of hardware to include with my setup. Lugging around my large laptop can be a real pain in the butt compared to just popping the W500 off its dock and running out the door. Also, it’s great to slip away from my workstation such as opening an ebook, sitting outside with a cup of coffee and enjoying nature as I get some quiet reading time in.