View Full Version : Tablets vs. laptops?
Anyone use a tablet for online activities instead of a laptop? I'm thinking of getting one of these and doing away with the big laptop as it would be much easier to use while I'm travelling long term (months at a time). I don't use my laptop for anything except e-mail, photos uploads, looking up stuff online and this forum - and MIGHT want to watch rented DVD movies when travelling. So can I do all that easily from a tablet? Is there a way to watch DVDs on a tablet like you can on the laptop? What limitations/advantages to they have? Any suggestions for what kind? I-Pads are too expensive but there seems to be many smaller, less expensive versions out there. What about the E-Book readers that have wi-fi internet access? Lots cheaper then tablets but I think they are limited with what they can do and the keyboard looks too small. Suggestions? Opinions? Keep the laptop (frugalist) or get a tablet? Or both? Will be travelling by car so have room.
I like how you say "doing away with the big laptop". That just made me giggle. I'm still tied to a pc and want a laptop.
DD2 and her DH use their tablet for everything and have the laptop for when they want to do different things online or play different games or check hockey scores while the other plays hearts.
Apparently the Apple 32GB is really worth it.
Almost all of what I do in the cyber world is from a desk top. I've gone through a few laptops over the years for work purposes, but never really liked them all that much. Mostly hated the mouse (and yea, I know a real mouse could be plugged in). That is not an issue with tablets so I'm hooked. Have played with a few friends' ipads and really liked them so it seems like only a matter of time before one is floating around our house. Mostly just trying to decide if I need the 3G in addition to wi-fi or not.
I use my iPad now for almost all travel activities. You can't use it effectively IMHO for editting and generating large documents or spreadsheets, but for browsing the web, reading emails, sending short ones, it covers 90% of my needs. I can watch movies on it with Netflix, but there is no way I know of to plug a DVD drive into it and watch a DVD, but I wouldn't want to cart around DVDs and a player anyways when on the road.
On edit for Gregg: If you are considering an iPad, get the 3G version, even if you don't intend to use the 3G service, because as I understand it, the GPS hardware is built into the 3G chipset, so the 3G iPads have real GPS, which is super handy for mapping and directional applications, whereas the wifi-only iPads lack GPS.
I echo bae.
You can't put a DVD in. You can't plug in a flash drive. You can e-mail, do photos if there is a camera (I am familiar with ipad). You can do Internet and any number of tasks with apps.
It's hard to understand a little, because the files don't work like a laptop. Like, if you want to e-mail a photo from your laptop, you start with an e-mail message and they go search for the photo and attach it. Not on the iPad. You start at the photo and send it via e-mail that way.
My only experience is iPad, but my friend at work got a Kindle Fire and loves it.
I love my iPad for reading, websurfing, movie watching, e-mail, photos, and Angry Birds. I also have some of my publications on it so I can show them at meetings if I need to.
It is not so great for document manipulation (Word, PowerPoint) or doing the crossword puzzle. It's possible an external keyboard might help for that but I haven't gotten around to acquiring one.
For maximum utility, you really need a computer to sync the iPad to, I think.
On edit for Gregg: If you are considering an iPad, get the 3G version, even if you don't intend to use the 3G service, because as I understand it, the GPS hardware is built into the 3G chipset, so the 3G iPads have real GPS, which is super handy for mapping and directional applications, whereas the wifi-only iPads lack GPS.
Excellent point bae. I hadn't even thought about the GPS, but definitely want to have it considering the intended uses for travel. Thanks!
I'd say the lack of a proper keyboard on a tablet is a big drawback. I'm a very fast typist, so I struggle with using a tablet whenever there's typing involved - it's so frustrating not to be able to type at my normal speed!
I recommend a netbook, if it's something compact you're looking for. They're kind of like mini, less powerful laptops, but you can still save things on them and install programmes on them. They're small and have relatively good keyboards. No disc drive again (like tablets), but they have USB ports for external drives/storage.
Apologies for linking to Wikipedia, but the article gives good general information about them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook
Thanks for the info everyone. I had also considered a netbook but after playing with some of the tablets at Best Buys I really liked them. More expensive then a netbook though. The tablet I liked best during my VERY limited try-out was the cheapest to0 - an Acer. Seemed to have the biggest keypad and I didn't see what was any different from the Acer and the much more expensive ones. I don't know if it had a GPS, which is something I would like to have as I would use it for maps and to track my hiking/biking routes and figure out where I am when I became lost :-), so the lite weight and long battery life would be good for that. Plus it's much smaller than an I-Pad - more like an e-book size. Too bad about it not having a built-in DVD player though - that would be nice. Guess I could bring the "big" laptop for that when I travel and just leave it in the truck to watch at the campsite at night. All the ones I looked at also had built in cameras so that was nice. And as long as you can e-mail photos or do a blog and add photos to it, then that would work. Some said they were Androids (don't know what that is), some were 4G, some 3G but none, except the Apple, had the ability to get paid monthly internet service at home - you could only use it at wi-fi at hotspots. BIG drawback if I wanted to have internet service at home and didn't have a lapto or dsktop. Going to look at some today so will keep you posted about what I find out.
Android is the Google operating system. My brief flirtation with a smart phone involved Android. I liked it. But I understand there aren't (yet) as many Android apps for tablets. One plus for having a non-i tablet is that most of them support Flash. And some tablets have USB ports you could probably hook a portable optical drive/DVD to.
Well I looked at a whole bunch of them last night and the info I got here helped me alot in understanding just what the heck I was looking at. Think I will definetely buy one but will look a bit more for price comparisions as they have come down alot after Christmas. Will keep the laptop too in case I want to rent a DVD when on the road. Of course this will mess up my year of no buying but if I put it under the catagory of "needed" then I can justify buying it :-)! Thanks
For maximum utility, you really need a computer to sync the iPad to, I think.
Agreed, but with iCloud it is no longer a have-to like it was before. You could have an iPad as a standalone device now. Before you'd have to plug it in to sync it with iTunes.
As far as a keyboard, yes, that really adds to my comfort on the iPad. My coworker and I have these. We like them and it makes it much more comfortable to use.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Keyboard-Built--Stand-920-003402/dp/B0054JE706/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325893586&sr=8-4
I would maybe choose this one if I had a do-over: http://www.amazon.com/ZAGG-ZAGGfolio-Apple-iPad-FOLCARBLK97/dp/B005C2A4DO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325893586&sr=8-3
iPad 3 is coming out soon, I heard, and I heard they will have USB ports (current ones do not. Hard to get files off of them, but not impossible.)
You ahve to think about a case, screen protector, a stylus if you want one, etc. Plus the really good apps are not the free apps. They cost, and you buy basically one functionality at a time. There are few apps that come with the machine.
I think the Flash thing is close to being resolved. Adobe isn't even going to carry on with Flash due to it not working on iPad/iPhone. They are going to focus on a different product that will work.
A computer geek friend advised that the Apple products are made in North America and repairs are quick whereas the others come from offshore and have difficulties being repaired. Others may choose to chime in on this.
A computer geek friend advised that the Apple products are made in North America and repairs are quick whereas the others come from offshore and have difficulties being repaired. Others may choose to chime in on this.
Chime, Chime, Chime.
From the back of an iPad 2:
http://blogs.pcmag.com/miller/assets_c/2011/03/ipad%202%20back-thumb-450x200-21871.jpg (http://blogs.pcmag.com/miller/assets_c/2011/03/ipad%202%20back-21871.php)
I suspect Apple's customer service and supply infrastructure is pretty robust. I've called for warranty issues, and had next-day delivery all the way out here.
fidgiegirl
1-6-12, 11:34pm
A computer geek friend advised that the Apple products are made in North America and repairs are quick whereas the others come from offshore and have difficulties being repaired. Others may choose to chime in on this.
Nah they are made in China, at least some of the parts. They were under fire for having parts made in factories that were treating workers poorly.
I have never owned anything other than an Apple product, even in the days when Apple looked like it was on the autopsy table. It's pretty amazing at how much market share they can garner simply by being the first. For example, if other tablets have USB ports and can do Flash, that is such an AMAZING advantage over iPad, but because iPad was the first, iPad is what people think when they think tablet (including me).
It's my understanding that the other platforms' app selections don't hold a candle to the Apple's App Store, though. Whenever we hear about a cool phone app, I can ALWAYS get it and my Droid friend can only sometimes get it on hers.
I had an iPad, but the lack of Flash Player is a killer for me. I sold it to a friend. My MacBook was going wonky for a while and since I can't afford to be without a computer, I got a $400 on sale (early December Christmas sale, paid cash) 11.6" screen Sony Vaio lightweight laptop from Amazon. LOVE it! My MacBook was only 13" screen size, but it weighed at least two pounds more than my Sony. My Sony has no DVD/CD drive. Three usb ports (feel like I've hit the lottery with that many, lol!).
For things I might do on an iPad - read, watch videos, etc., I have my Android smart phone or iPod Touch.
As a geek, I hate Flash with a burning passion, and don't mind at all not having it larding up my poor computers or allowing mad Flash hackers to cause me trouble. I used to ban it within the networks of a Silicon Valley S&P500/NASDAQ index firm that produced technology solutions.
I'm not an Apple fanboy, but kudos to them for sticking up to the Adobe weasels.
Steve Works
1-11-13, 5:01am
I think a laptop is far more viable if you do a lot of typing. It's offers the perfect balance between mobility, functionality and performance.
___________________________
Steve Works
Free laptops! (http://www.best-gaminglaptop.net/free-laptops/)
Hmm ... missed this thread the first time through.
It's my understanding that the other platforms' app selections don't hold a candle to the Apple's App Store, though. Whenever we hear about a cool phone app, I can ALWAYS get it and my Droid friend can only sometimes get it on hers.
A lot of the "apps" for iOS and Android simply are URLs in pretty wrappers. I try not to get that excited about numbers of apps and more excited about the entire ecosystem -- the consistency of the interface, what's there, how easy and seamless it is to use, etc. And, there, Android is nowhere close to Apple, IMHO.
And, uh, Steve W, congratulations on your first post, but what you say would have much more credibility if your sig didn't link to a site offering "free" laptops.
Wow a thread I started over a year ago and I STILL don't have a tablet computer. Geeze... Oh welll, I guess Spartana is a good name for me because I just can't seem to add anymore stuff into my already spartan minimalist life. Even if it IS cool stuff :-)!
Tussiemussies
1-11-13, 4:08pm
I use the iPad all the time now. The only issue I have with it is even though the keys are bigger it is still hard to type therefore I make a lot of typing mistakes.
For your purposes I would use the better version so you don't need wifi to hook in. You can play games on it, and have kindle on it. Not sure about the movies but I think it is worth the price...
Mrs. Hermit
1-11-13, 4:09pm
I just got a tablet, a Google nexus. Tablet proficiency is becoming required in my field. I am a slow technological learner, so I wanted time to figure the tablets out before I was required to use one. I am not yet comfortable wth the tablet, but it seems to work pretty well for non-typing intensive applications.
I have a Google Nexus as well. I have a bluetooth keyboard for it when I need to do more than just a few lines of typing, but mostly I use it as is. Its a really great companion when I'm home sick in bed, I can check mail and watch movies, and read a book and do all those other things when I should really be sleeping.
I'm of the opinion that tablet's are cool, I have an iPad, but I prefer a laptop for most things. If I had to choose only one, I'd stick with the laptop.
Here's what I don't understand: how do I access a G3 network? Do I have to PAY for that (horrors!!!) I don't mind sinking money into a tablet device but I hate the ongoing costs.
I have one burning need for web access outside of our DSL connection at home and it is this: I want to stand outdoors at my various gardens around the city and get web access in order to pull up photos of lilies 'n iris to compare to plants in my gardens.
Yep, you gotta pay for that 3G or 4G access. I have 3G on my iPad and 4G on the iPhone and love them, enough so that when the day comes that I abandon paid employment and the associated perks, I'll pay for it myself.
If you have an open wireless network in near proximity to your gardens, you could use a tablet to connect to it and enjoy the same benefits for free.
I have an iPad, but I prefer a laptop for most things. If I had to choose only one, I'd stick with the laptop.
Complete dittos for me. DW has an iPad and loves it. I have waaaay too many windows and apps open all the time to want to deal with a tablet.
ToomuchStuff
1-12-13, 12:29pm
This is an old thread, but here before I joined. DVD's/movies were mentioned, and there are ripping programs to get them off disc and onto your device (still will require a computer with a drive though), or you can buy version with a "digital copy" (may allow you to download, or may be a file that still requires you to have a computer with a drive, no experience with them). As for apps, there are some that are for both devices, but talking to a couple of friends who were debating, they tend to develop for one type or the other. (they were trying to figure out which group would be more likely to use the app). I am not an Apple fanboi myself, but a fairly long Linux user. Have the first Imac that came to KC, and that turned me off of them (different train of thought).
I use a netbook (current primary computer), but since they are being canceled (putting Window's on them, killed them, IMHO), my next one will probably be a Chromebook that I put a distro of my choice on. Several in my family have tablets, the more computer literate, tend to get the Android/Linux ones, and the ones who just want a device to use, tend to get the Ipads. They have tried to talk me into one, but watching them, I see it as a device your looking at, so your not watching where your walking. Also, if I had a smart phone (don't need or want the expense), then that would do, what the tablets would do, and I still have a keyboard (desktop, netbook, notebook) for the other use.
My android phone is my computer.
shadowmoss
1-14-13, 10:34am
Most of them will have the ability to use cell signal - hense the 3G or 4G. You put the SIM card directly into the Android ones, I think. I just bought a no-name China import tablet and I'm learning on it. Mine has a USB, which the I-stuff doesn't, nor do the e-readers I believe (check, though). Most have the ability to use a memory card, so you can transer pictures from you camera that way if it uses a similar memory card. I read the China/English directions, and it looks like I may be able to use my USB stick modem in the USB slot, but I haven't tested it yet. I'll let you know. If I can, then it will be my primary travel computer.
I'm looking at the Google Nexus tablet. I want to use it as a reader. I'm hauling my laptop while traveling. I don't know if I can live without it even if I have a tablet.
Gardenarian
1-15-13, 4:10pm
For people who use a 3G or 4G cellular tablet for everything - streaming video, email, web surfing, etc - what are the monthly data charges (approximately)?
Thanks!
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