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The Bush Eluma is a low cost tablet running a full version of Windows 10 but can it compete with Android based tablets or is it as usable as low cost 2-in-1s?
Priced at £79.99 this is about as cheap as it gets when it comes to a Windows tablet, but the specification isn’t much different than lowest cost tablets/hybrids out there.
The exact specification is:
- 33GHz Intel atom 3735f (baytrail) quad core processor.
- 1GB RAM.
- 32 GB internal storage.
- Windows 10 operating system.
- microSDHC memory card slot.
- Micro USB.
Display:
- 8 inch screen.
- Resolution 1280 x 800 pixels.
- IPS technology.
- Multi-touch screen.
- LED backlit display.
- Support for simultaneous display of multiple languages.
The main difference between this and most of the 2-in-1s is the 1GB of Ram vs 2GB.
The build quality is surprisingly good, it is plastic, but it feels solid and well made. The initial set-up is quite slow, as with most Windows devices like this. You have to login to Wi-Fi set up your username and password and then wait for Windows to prepare your device.
Once set up you will be presented with the now relatively familiar Windows 10 interface. The Metro style start menu makes launching apps via touch quite simple, unfortunately, going beyond this interface starts to get a bit more tricky.
With this being a device without keyboard or mouse, you in theory, are stuck with just touch. This is fine for the large metro icons, but anything else on a device this small can be awkward. When clicking on the WiFi icon in the task bar it required several attempts before I got it up. This issue is the same for all the other icons in the task bar. You can browse folder just like on a desktop, but the touchscreen/size issue can come into play again, for example double clicking on a EXE can be a nightmare. It is not completely unusable though, but in comparison to Android or iOS it just doesn’t work well on a screen this size.
To alleviate some of the issues I invested in a cover with built in keyboard and a Bluetooth travel mouse. The idea being I could have a ultra-compact, super cheap tablet/notebook hybrid I could take with me when blogging. And for this scenario is does work quite well, more or less.
Establishing a Bluetooth connection was a little slow, and initially I tried using a Bluetooth keyboard too, but with 2 connections I seemed to lose WiFi. No idea why. It is a lot more stable with the plugin keyboard I have now, and it does make a decent cheap notebook. I have MS Office installed, and generally keep Outlook open while I type up blogs in Word. I also have telegram, skype and Chrome running at the same time and I haven’t really had many performance issues. The 1GB RAM does surprisingly well.
That being said, being used like this isn’t ideal. The keyboard is tiny, so you don’t want to be typing for long periods of time. Also the tablet only has one microUSB port, so that means it can either be charging or connected to the keyboard.
Then there is the battery life, which unfortunately is not great. It has notebook components running Windows on an 8-inch device, the battery life was doomed from the start, and I am lucky if I can get a few hours use out of it.
Overall, this is a bit of a peculiar device, Windows 10 allows it to have far better functionality than Android, but then a lot of the functionality is crippled without decent input devices.
I do actually quite like the device, but you really need to put up with its quirks and for the average user I don’t really think that is going to happen. Most people would be better suited to an Android tablet, which could work cheaper than this. Or for more demanding users a hybrid would be a better option, and the model up from this probably represents a much better buy, the Bush Eluma B1 10.1 that is available from Argos comes with a keyboard case, which also has a track pad built in, at the moment it is just £99.99, just £20 more than the Eluma 8, and the 10.1-inch screen should make it more usable as a notebook.
You can buy the Bush Eluma 8 Inch 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet today from Argos for £79.99
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
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