Jul 24

Nokia Lumia 2520 Tablet
Nokia 2520 Tablet From Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless recently gave me the chance to try out a Nokia 2520 tablet running Windows 8.1 RT, as part of being a VZWBuzz Brand Ambassador. I’m a huge Apple fan but I thought it was time to see what the experience of Windows 8.1 was like on a tablet. Spoiler alert, I liked it!


Nokia Lumia 2520 hands-on at the Microsoft Store

Nokia’s 2520 tablet is wider than it is tall. That’s a positive thing for a few reasons. If I start to work on long documents or want to view big websites easier, all I have to do is turn it. I’m not able to do that on an iPad, as it would require me to adjust the zoom percentage in Word or zoom out in Safari.

Nokia Lumia 2520 Apps Presentation
Presenting with a Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet

Tablets are commonly used only to consume media and play games. But with a few apps and accessories, tablets like the Nokia 2520 can become an integral part of getting business done each day.

1. A second screen. Set up the tablet to keep track of different browser tabs or make it a dedicated email machine. If you are into breaking news, use the screen to display auto updating news sites. Offloading Facebook onto a tablet screen can help with being more productive on a work PC.

2. A creative tool for drawing. Tablets are now like the drawing pads from 10 years ago. Specialized apps and pens help to get the right thickness of each line drawn.

3. Microsoft Office. Get projects done across multiple devices via OneDrive’s cloud system and the tablet’s preinstalled office software. I enjoyed writing entire articles on the tablet with Word’s familiar interface.

4. Remote desktop. If you’ve ever been away from the office or a home computer and wanted to access your desktop, use a tablet to remotely login and control the computer as if you were there.

Nokia Power Keyboard SU-42
Nokia Powered Keyboard Accessory

5. Keyboard and battery accessory. The Nokia keyboard and integrated backup battery added hours before I had to charge again. The tablet utilizes the battery in the keyboard first. This helps to keep the tablet charged as long as possible. I completed several speed typing tests with Nokia’s keyboard. I achieved at or above my usual words per minute on a desktop keyboard.

6. Security. The Nokia 2520 comes with a way to securely encrypt data, mobile VPN for secure remote access and a way to remotely wipe files if the tablet was to become lost or stolen.

7. 4G LTE from Verizon. The Nokia 2520 comes with fast 802.11n WiFi and access to Verizon’s 4G LTE cellular network at up to 150Mbps. Tablets that come with WiFi and cellular usually cost more, but Nokia’s tablet is competitively priced. 4G LTE helps to download large updated presentation files in a cab from the airport for a client without having to connect to WiFi. Be prepared before walking through the front door of a client’s office.

8. Video chat. Collaborate with friends, family and clients with the integrated forward facing camera and Skype Wifi. Save time by meeting with important people virtually without having to be there in person.

9. Fast recharging battery. The Nokia 2520 tablet can charge its internal battery to about 80% within an hour. That’s a typical amount of time in between flights. Otherwise its internal battery can last about 11 hours on a single charge or around 16 hours with the keyboard. 11 hours is a long time to get work done and still have enough charge for a few games of Angry Birds.

10. Expandable memory. Tablets from Apple don’t have expandable memory. Nokia’s 2520 comes with a minimum of 32GB and a MicroSD slot capable of handling an additional 32GB of memory. Additional storage means less time waiting for files to transfer from a desktop computer. I’ve spent hours taking files off of a tablet to only have to spend more time transferring needed files back onto the same tablet. More space fixes that problem.

Nokia Lumia 2520 Tablet Verizon Boardroom
The Nokia 2520 Tablet In The Boardroom

There are plenty of productivity apps out there. The top ones available for the Nokia 2520 tablet are Skype, OneNote, Evernote Touch, YouSendIt, PDF Touch, Office 365, OneDrive, Audible and RainbowDrive. RainbowDrive allows you to link multiple cloud accounts together. Sign into your Google Drive, OneDrive and DropBox at the same time.

Overall, I liked the Nokia 2520 tablet. Its keyboard accessory adds so much more to the overall package. Using both helped me to get work done in multiple cities over the past several months.

VZWBuzz Ambassador Badge

Disclosure: I received a Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet at no cost for review. I am a Verizon Wireless Buzz Group Ambassador. I did not receive compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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