I have very powerful desktop computers, a big powerful laptop, a small light laptop, and an ipad. I really like the ipad for casual use. I find that it is very convenient to carry around the house and use for quickly accessing the internet or checking email. The ipad uses battery power very slowly when sitting idle so usually I never turn it off. I can pick it up and get on the internet in seconds, without waiting for the computer to boot up and so forth. But OTOH I don't like typing on the ipad. Anything more than short responses on a forum and I'm wishing for my real computer. I also find it hard to keep track of photos and various other documents on the ipad. On my PC I interact between text files, spreadsheets, PDF's and photos, I can't do that very well on the ipad. I'm not sure if it is even easy to post a photo to a forum with the ipad. I can't respond to this forum on my ipad right now because the ipad forgot my username and password. That has never happened with my PC.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Tablet PC or netbook?
- Thread starter m_calingo
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2012
- Messages
- 1
I completely agree. I would add that:
Person Comfortable with Technology and wants lots of customization = Android Tablet
Beginner, Just wants it to work, or heavily invested in Apple = Apple
I just bought the wive a Nexus 7. She likes it much better than my Ipad 2 (I agree with her) due to the Android customization, but we are power users. Last vacation we had 2 laptops and an Ipad 2. The laptops came out for work emergencies only, the Ipad was fought over everyday and is why she now has a Nexus 7 (which she carries in her purse and uses everyday). Content creation and dedicated business applications are the only reason I travel with a computer.
I was never a fan of the netbooks. My impression is they take the worst characteristics from laptops and tablets to make a device. Most people I know that have them have replaced them with tablets.
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2012
- Messages
- 124
I have a desktop, laptop which gets rare use outside of as a HTPC, and Galaxy Note 10.1. I love the Note. It's really powerful for the price and has a load of features. I've actually used the built in PhotoShop quite a bit and although it's not as feature rich as the PC version it gets the job done very well. The pen is the only thing that makes PS usable though...I can't imagine using my finger to make detailed entries.
I don't like the typing experience of any tablet though. First choice is a real keyboard and I'd even rather type of my Galaxy S3 than on my Note. I also have a Samsung TV and the way I can share pics and videos with literally, a single touch is awesome. I had an iPhone and the wife still does... I think they're fine products, I don't hate on either OS, but I much prefer Android since I went to it. And with the iPad I don't think you get what you pay for with that (outside of the amazing screen). I've considered getting a keyboard for my Note but then you're talking nearly a $600 investment in a tablet and I probably won't take the keyboard EVERYWHERE like I do the tablet itself.
Ultrabooks are really nice if you need something with some actual juice and performance capabilities. When buying a x-mas gift for my 10 year old I considered a Chromebook (actually bought one for $200) but quickly changed my mind and got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7". Very glad I did. He can take it everywhere and video chatting is incredibly easy. It plays the games kids his age like (he isn't in to all-out computer games yet) and does movies without destroying the battery.
I don't like the typing experience of any tablet though. First choice is a real keyboard and I'd even rather type of my Galaxy S3 than on my Note. I also have a Samsung TV and the way I can share pics and videos with literally, a single touch is awesome. I had an iPhone and the wife still does... I think they're fine products, I don't hate on either OS, but I much prefer Android since I went to it. And with the iPad I don't think you get what you pay for with that (outside of the amazing screen). I've considered getting a keyboard for my Note but then you're talking nearly a $600 investment in a tablet and I probably won't take the keyboard EVERYWHERE like I do the tablet itself.
Ultrabooks are really nice if you need something with some actual juice and performance capabilities. When buying a x-mas gift for my 10 year old I considered a Chromebook (actually bought one for $200) but quickly changed my mind and got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7". Very glad I did. He can take it everywhere and video chatting is incredibly easy. It plays the games kids his age like (he isn't in to all-out computer games yet) and does movies without destroying the battery.
Last edited:
NeoClassic
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2009
- Messages
- 390
The adapter mentioned in my first post has a USB port, besides the SD card reader. Got it for 15 bucks. Might work for you, too.
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2012
- Messages
- 124
The 8" Note just got announced yesterday as well. The Nexus is probably the best 7"er out right now though.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2003
- Messages
- 281
On a Nexus 7 32GB now. First tablet I've owned...first real long-term experience with either iOS or Android. Bought it last November at Sam's Club because it was slightly cheaper than Google Play's online price. I bought the extended replacement warranty too because I wasn't sure of the physical build quality even though the 7 is manufactured by ASUS.
Battery life seems good....the main reason I bought it was to keep at work when I work nights and I wanted something I wouldn't have to worry about charging during use. It's much easier to keep up with than a 15" laptop and so much lighter. I can stick it in a toolbox drawer when I get a trouble call and there is no shutdown time...just simply put it to sleep at the touch of a button...wake-up is just as easy. I work a 12 hour shift and have never gotten below 45% on battery with moderate use. I don't do much YouTube so that helps the battery life obviously. Plenty of apps in the Google Play store and since its from Google, the Android OS is always the latest version. The default keyboard is very functional...even in the portrait mode (wedding ring finger is size 17) and I have no trouble caused by fat-fingering things. The zoom on the touch-screen is very functional as well.
The default browser in the newer versions of Android OS is Google's Chrome. It seems to work smoothly. I also have Firefox, Opera Mobile, Opera Mini and Dolphin browsers installed as well. I use Firefox most of the time...mainly because that's all I use on my Windows computers. There is a extension for Firefox that will let you go to a full-screen mode which hides tool/navigation bar at top of browser so you have maximum viewing real estate.
The Nexus 7 does not have a rear camera...which is one reason its price is so low. I knew that when buying it. There is a front facing camera...I think it may work on Skype but the main purpose to my knowledge is for facial recognition to unlock the device. There is very little info in the built in user guide on the device. Again, not an issue for me...was looking for good tablet without a lot of bells and whistles. The USB port seems to be physically reliable. I have heard people on other forums mention that they are having connectivity issues with the USB port which will also give you charging issues. Like any electronic device with a mechanical connector, that is the weakest point and most people I observe abuse these connections. I baby the USB and power connections on all my devices so that is not an issue for me.
In my opinion, you can't beat the Nexus 7 for the money. The iPad mini came out right when i was deciding to purchase my Nexus 7...money wasn't the ultimate deciding factor in my purchase and I may have gone with the iPad Mini if it had come out with a better processor and Retina display.
Also, a word of advice on Amaon Kindle Fire tablets...they are good for what they are. They seem well built and have a great display but....you are very limited to what apps you can install. There are even some Google apps that you can't install. My fiance's Kindle Fire would not install Google Maps. I think she also said there were some games that wouldn't work either...so beware of that limitation.
John
Battery life seems good....the main reason I bought it was to keep at work when I work nights and I wanted something I wouldn't have to worry about charging during use. It's much easier to keep up with than a 15" laptop and so much lighter. I can stick it in a toolbox drawer when I get a trouble call and there is no shutdown time...just simply put it to sleep at the touch of a button...wake-up is just as easy. I work a 12 hour shift and have never gotten below 45% on battery with moderate use. I don't do much YouTube so that helps the battery life obviously. Plenty of apps in the Google Play store and since its from Google, the Android OS is always the latest version. The default keyboard is very functional...even in the portrait mode (wedding ring finger is size 17) and I have no trouble caused by fat-fingering things. The zoom on the touch-screen is very functional as well.
The default browser in the newer versions of Android OS is Google's Chrome. It seems to work smoothly. I also have Firefox, Opera Mobile, Opera Mini and Dolphin browsers installed as well. I use Firefox most of the time...mainly because that's all I use on my Windows computers. There is a extension for Firefox that will let you go to a full-screen mode which hides tool/navigation bar at top of browser so you have maximum viewing real estate.
The Nexus 7 does not have a rear camera...which is one reason its price is so low. I knew that when buying it. There is a front facing camera...I think it may work on Skype but the main purpose to my knowledge is for facial recognition to unlock the device. There is very little info in the built in user guide on the device. Again, not an issue for me...was looking for good tablet without a lot of bells and whistles. The USB port seems to be physically reliable. I have heard people on other forums mention that they are having connectivity issues with the USB port which will also give you charging issues. Like any electronic device with a mechanical connector, that is the weakest point and most people I observe abuse these connections. I baby the USB and power connections on all my devices so that is not an issue for me.
In my opinion, you can't beat the Nexus 7 for the money. The iPad mini came out right when i was deciding to purchase my Nexus 7...money wasn't the ultimate deciding factor in my purchase and I may have gone with the iPad Mini if it had come out with a better processor and Retina display.
Also, a word of advice on Amaon Kindle Fire tablets...they are good for what they are. They seem well built and have a great display but....you are very limited to what apps you can install. There are even some Google apps that you can't install. My fiance's Kindle Fire would not install Google Maps. I think she also said there were some games that wouldn't work either...so beware of that limitation.
John
Good discussion. I don't currently have a tablet, but have started trying to learn about and figure out what I want to get. Currently I have a desktop that hasn't been turned on in 2 years, laptop the wife uses everyday, and a netbook that i use everyday. The netbook for me works just fine, I have all the programs I use (photoshop is not one of them) and works great. It's light and decently sized. Most likely on trips I would end up taking both the netbook and tablet.
Netbooks are still on the market and doing well. Between a tablet and netbook, I will take the netbook. Battery life isn't that critical, get a 6 or 9 cell and you go 4-5 hours. If you are sitting still in one location in a building, power up with a cord. Netbooks also have sufficient memory and a hard drive capable of running Office, to do anything like that, well, they have an app for that. And another. And another. You have to download most. Some cost money. Office and Windows come on the machine free, usually, plus the web surfing program.
If you have a tablet under 10 inches, it will not see the webpage the same at a ten inch netbook screen, it gets the cut down Android or Iphone version. Netbooks get the whole page, with all the programming and tweaks in it. Something as simple as the weather is a good example - call up your favorite local radar, on the web with a netbook, you get to play wiht all the filters for cloud cover, lightning, temps, etc, plus run the dial up or down for the size area covered. On a tablet, most of that is deleted, you get the radar, and pinch or spread it to see more or less - which does work nicely. It's hardly compensation for the loss of on screen choices, tho.
Try surfing forums, same problems. You might as well be using a smartphone and trying to type on the screen directly. The fact they make keyboards for tablets - freaking $80 keyboards - is ridiculous in two ways - it should have come with one, and if you are inputting that much, a netbook was the better answer. Likely cheaper, too.
I got a tablet for my wife this Christmas, and she's used it a lot in some specific chores, like checking schedules and e-mail as a substitute teacher. She looks up the weather, and can wifi to surf the web. But when she needs to do a lot of input, like tax returns or FAFSA, no, the tablet doesn't cut it. She's back on the tower with the 17" screen where things can be seen and there's a keyboard.
I see tablets as simply big Iphones, e-tainment machines for the masses, not as something that interacts with the web or works well with posting - like this. And I don't need to tag it with a comment about how cool the ap was, either.
If you have a tablet under 10 inches, it will not see the webpage the same at a ten inch netbook screen, it gets the cut down Android or Iphone version. Netbooks get the whole page, with all the programming and tweaks in it. Something as simple as the weather is a good example - call up your favorite local radar, on the web with a netbook, you get to play wiht all the filters for cloud cover, lightning, temps, etc, plus run the dial up or down for the size area covered. On a tablet, most of that is deleted, you get the radar, and pinch or spread it to see more or less - which does work nicely. It's hardly compensation for the loss of on screen choices, tho.
Try surfing forums, same problems. You might as well be using a smartphone and trying to type on the screen directly. The fact they make keyboards for tablets - freaking $80 keyboards - is ridiculous in two ways - it should have come with one, and if you are inputting that much, a netbook was the better answer. Likely cheaper, too.
I got a tablet for my wife this Christmas, and she's used it a lot in some specific chores, like checking schedules and e-mail as a substitute teacher. She looks up the weather, and can wifi to surf the web. But when she needs to do a lot of input, like tax returns or FAFSA, no, the tablet doesn't cut it. She's back on the tower with the 17" screen where things can be seen and there's a keyboard.
I see tablets as simply big Iphones, e-tainment machines for the masses, not as something that interacts with the web or works well with posting - like this. And I don't need to tag it with a comment about how cool the ap was, either.