1.  I am not aware of any way to connect two Windows machines via USB to "communicate with each other".  There might be some program out there that allows this, but I am not aware of it.  I would say connect via a network and transfer files, etc.

2.  I also tried to charge via another machines laptop port and it did not work.  I think it might depend on the USB ports power output.  I was able to use a NON-Dell usb charger/adapter and it worked just fine.  So it does not need to be the specific Dell adapter.

3.  See answer to #2.  The micro usb can be used to connect USB devices also (see #4), but you cannot "out of the box" charge and use other USB devices at the same time.  I have an adapter (ordered from Hong Kong on ebay) that I have ordered that I am hoping fixes this limitation.  Although to be honest, the odds of me hooking a USB device to this are fairly slim.  I use Bluetooth for keyboard and mouse.  Maybe an occasional USB thumb drive or something.

4.  Yes, you can use the Micro-USB port to connect USB devices.  I purchased a "Micro USB to USB adapter" from Amazon for a few bucks.  Has worked for everything so far EXCEPT my USB 3.0 SSD hard disk.  Still looking into that, but I bet it is a power issue.

Hope this helps!

Thanks again - have found the adaptor on Amazon.    May be forced into setting up a local network (have an ancient router, so that will probably be a pain...) - have several machines in the house and when we need to transfer files of any size have just popped in some thumbnail drives...   Presume that will now work with the adaptor...  

Cheers - and have a great Thanksgiving!

p.s.

Also, at http://www.dell.com/us/p/dell-venue-8-pro/pd 

under Ports, Slots and Chassis, one finds: 

Ports & Connectors
1 x Micro-AB USB2.0 (for trickle charging and data transfer)

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So, how does one use the Micro USB port for data transfer?

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Again, thanks for the time, and apologies if this has been answered on some other post/thread.

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Dear DELL-Shawn B,

1.  Can you confirm for me that a Venue 8 Pro with Windows 8.1 installed cannot use its Micro USB port to communicate with another computer?  Spent almost 45 minutes with a Dell technician today trying to do precisely that - so if this information is correct, it doesn't seem to be widely known at technical support, nor does it come up easily when doing an internet search.  It seems surprising that a full Windows 8.1 machine would not have this functionality.  Also, the response on the Venue 8 Pro Help and Support page titled "Charging on the Dell Venue 8 Pro" (Journal ID #d562bf57-2fbf-4694-abbd-d72931727927) states "The Micro USB connector on the Venue 8 Pro can support data transfer or AC power, but not both at the same time.  When it is connected to a USB port on a computer, it automatically switches to data transfer mode and will not charge the battery."   And since the Venue 8 Pro (not just the Venue 8, but the Pro)  ships with the Windows 8.1 operating system, that line cannot be referring to an Android operating system. 

2.  Since the Venue 8 Pro also evidently can't be charged just from the Micro USB port without the Dell Power Adaptor - at least, attaching the Venue 8 Pro directly to another Laptop using a Micro USB to Standard USB (either the one supplied with the Dell charger or another one) didn't work (both were suggested by the Dell technician), it would seem that one needs the very specific Dell AC charger shipped with the Venue 8 Pro in order to charge it - is this also correct?

3.   If both 1 and 2 are correct, it would seem that the Micro USB port (the only port...) on the Venue 8 Pro can only be used to charge the tablet, and then it must be used with the Dell AC charger.  Can you (or someone else at DELL) please confirm this?

4.  Finally, the Dell Venue 8 Pro User's Guide on page 6, under Features for the Micro-USB port, bullet 2, says "Connect USB devices, via an optional USB On-The-Go (OTG) dongle, for transferring data, music, photos, videos, and so on."  I cannot find a match for such a dongle on the DELL site.  Can you (or someone else at DELL) please provide a link for this accessory and indicate whether the Dell Venue 8 Pro User's Guide is correct in describing its functionality?

Appreciate the time.  Thanks. 

I think the micro usb to usb adapter will fit your need.  Yeah, it would be a pain to remove the micro SD frequently.  I have a home network with a large USB disk on a server.  I just map a drive to that for file transfers.

I would guess that the Dell support guy/gal was probably more familiar with the Android tablets.  The DV8 Pro is a full PC, just like any laptop, which is one of the reasons I like it.  So it handles things a bit differently.

If you want, search for this on Amazon to see what I got:  eForCity Micro USB OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter

Dear Kwicktech,

Thanks, that helps a lot.  My "p.s." crossed in the ether...

Will try a Micro-USB to USB adaptor to see how that goes. 

As for "computer to computer" - was under the impression that connecting the tablet to a laptop would have the laptop recognize it as another device (this is what the Dell technician thought, too, and had me try vainly to do) - perhaps that's just wrong.  Am hoping not to have to remove the microSD card every time I want to transfer some data...   Again, thanks for the reply.

Alejandro,

I tried connecting the Dell Venue 8 Pro with a laptop using 1) just the Micro USB to Standard USB cable that comes with the Venue 8 Pro, i.e., just the cord used to charge the tablet (without the additional Dell AC adaptor plug, of course), and also 2) just using a Micro USB to Standard USB 2.0 cable that I already had.  Neither of these seemed to work.  

I have ordered a Micro USB 2.0 male to Standard USB 2.0 female adaptor (following kwicktech's advice earlier), and will report on what seems to work when that arrives (may be a while, since I don't think I got it before the Thanksgiving rush...).  My guess, based on what kwicktech has said, is that it will be possible to use some low-power USB devices from the tablet (I'll try a thumbnail drive and also a Passport external drive) and report on what I find.  I will also try to connect to a laptop (I have a couple, running different Windows operating systems) - I don't think that will likely work, but will try and post the results.