Toshiba gets aggressive with a $120, 7-inch Windows tablet

Over the years, Windows tablets have been getting smaller and smaller -- and cheaper and cheaper. Well, surprise! They're getting tinier, and we've just about hit bargain-basement pricing. Toshiba just announced the Encore Mini, a 7-inch slate that will sell for just $120 -- an aggressive move, considering 8-inch models hover around the $200 mark. Technically speaking, the Encore Mini is not the cheapest Windows tablet out there, but it's definitely the lowest price we've seen from a tier-one brand. For the money, you get full Windows 8.1, though the specs are, as you'd expect, pretty low-end. These include a 1,024 x 600 display, a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and dual 2MP/0.3MP cameras. At 0.78 pound, it's heavier than, say, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, which we just reviewed, but either way, you shouldn't have a problem toting it around.

On a bright note, Toshiba is throwing in 1TB of OneDrive storage, free for one year, and there's also a microSDXC slot that takes cards up to 128GB. One year of Office 365 service is included too. Additionally, Toshiba worked with Microsoft to optimize the scaling, so that even when you're in desktop mode, on-screen objects should still be big enough to hit with your fingers. This worked well in my hands-on, but then again, I have slender fingers, so maybe take that with a grain of salt. In any case, if you're tempted, it's available now.