Tablet questions

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Bron

Bron

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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I know lot's of you have some experience using tablets. Any thoughts on a kid using one in lieu of a regular computer, when they have some writing to do. Nothing very serious. Not platform specific, and thoughts on Color Nook and Kindle Fire, cause in spite of liking Apple products, price is an issue, and this kid is very talented at destroying stuff.

I know most of the tablets have word processors available, and most can print to a wireless printer.

What about the Net Books?
 
You mention when he has 'some writing to do' ... I think a lot depends on how much writing ... We have an iPad ... I would not want to do a lot of typing on it unless I added an external (real) keyboard
 
We have a Kindle Fire and love it but it's primarily entertainment. I can't speak to any work functions with it. Sorry. But it's a great machine.
 
They do make keyboards for them, too, which store in the carrying case. We have one for Andy's Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and he uses it all the time.

Kindle Fire is probably best bang for the buck, although it has some limitations. There was a thread about a month ago about this very topic, started by Jim Miller. It may be worth a scan, to see if it has any other advice.

If a full PC is still an option, here are some affordable ones on sale today:

Sony Store is offering 20% off Sony Outlet Customized VAIO Laptops after Coupon Code: "OUTLETVAIO20X" (Exp 5/12). Free Shipping on all eligible orders. Tax in most.Sony VAIO Core i3 Sandy Bridge (VPCEH290X) for $539.99 - 20% = $431.96


Dell Inspiron 14z Laptop Intel Core i3-2350M Dual-Core / 6GB / 1TB / 802.11n + bluetooth / Win7 / 14in $479

Dell Inspiron 14R Laptop Intel Core i5-2450M Dual-Core / 6GB / 500GB / 802.11n + bluetooth / Win7 / 14in $529

Dell Inspiron 15R Laptop Intel Core i3-2350M Dual-Core / 4GB / 500GB / 802.11n + bluetooth / Win7 / 15.6in $499

Dell Inspiron 17R Laptop Intel Core i3-2350M Dual-Core / 6GB / 750GB / 802.11n + bluetooth / Win7 / 17.3in $479

Dell Inspiron 620 Desktop Intel Core i3-2120 Dual-Core 3.3GHz / 4GB / 1TB / Win7 $439

Dell Vostro 260 Desktop w/20in LCD / Intel Core i3-2120 Dual-Core 3.3GHz / 2GB / 320GB / Win7 $426

Dell Vostro 260 Desktop Intel Core i5-2400 Quad-Core 3.1GHz / 4GB / 500GB / Win7 $455


I'm not sure that they still make netbooks, now that chip prices are so low. Tablets kind of took over the low end of that market, IMO.

If you get a tablet, I suggest one with "Gorilla glass" or equivalent. Ipad 1 and 2 were very fragile, for example, while the third generation has the Samsung screen equipped with durable gorilla glass. The durability of other brands will vary as well. I'm not sure what the Kindle Fire has for a screen. For a child, this could be an an expensive thing to break. Even a drop of a few inches can break tablet screens, in some cases.

Happy Shopping!
Mike
 
I have an iPad, and I love it. BUT, it is not a serious computer. As Andrew points out, the keyboard is a bit different than a regular keyboard so it really slows down typing. Adding an external keyboard is possible (although I haven’t done it), but that peripheral sort of defeats the whole idea of a touch tablet, IMO.

There are several good word processing programs for the iPad, but, again, they are a bit different than those that you might be familiar with e.g. AppleWorks or MS Word.

The version of iPad that I have doesn’t have an USB port, so exporting files is a problem for me, too. (I have to e-mail them to myself or my wife on another computer.)

As I said, the iPad is a fun toy, but …
 
I have the Samsung pad which I find very nice, when I can get to use it, my 18 year old daughter has taken a fancy to it.

I run my email on a Google app and have started to use Google docs for word processing, spreadsheet etc. The Samsung pad is an Android device which works very well with Google applications.

I took the pad to Las Vegas when i went to the WCAF show, it served me well to keep on top of my business, in other words it meet the needs of my on the road business requirements.

I also now have an external keyboard for the pad, however I don't use it that much as I find the on screen keyboard OK to use for most of my needs.

For the moment my pad would not replace my laptop, but it comes quite close for many of my needs.

I also have a Samsung smartphone which is useful for many of the Google applications also, however much more fiddley than the full size pad.
 
I use android, tempted by kindle fire android, but i'm hanging on to see some new windows 8 tablets before thinking about the next one.
definitely want capacative screen, rather than resistive next time though.
and for anything even half serious, plug in keyboard is pretty much essential (for me), I cant get on with any of the "screen" keyboards, not even ipad.

and don't start me off on neck-ache :(

Desktop for work, I'm afraid. If it needs anything from microsoft office (etc), its just all so much simpler to work at a desk "old school".
 
I have 2 desktops - one home and one shop, a laptop with a 17" screen, a Kindle (not a Fire) and a 10.1 Samsung Galaxy Tab.

I think the Tab is great as an occasional device. I use the Kindle app more than my Kindle and use it for reading and web browsing while watching TV and in bed.

Would I use it as a serious computer? Nope. It has a good virtual keyboard but I would get up and go to the desktop if I had anything real to do.

Double nope for the Fire and Nook. I consider them too small for any real work. OK for occasional browsing or reading but I would rather have my 10" Tab than the Fire or Nook but if price is a major consideration, then they would be fine for reading or browsing, but I would never consider them for real work.

If I could only have a single device, then find a used desktop or laptop or look for deals like some of the one Mike highlights above. If you decide on a tablet though, do some hands-on with the smaller and larger tablets before making a decision.
 
Every body, thanks for the input. My wife just bought her a Lenovo laptop, and getting smarter as I get older, I didn't ask ... anything, just helped set it up.

I, personally, am ambivalent about tablets. As a reader, I really like my phone, as it is light and small, and generally with me, though Art books, etc. could really benefit from the larger screen. I think, after my research, that you can do serious work on them. but not as conveniently as a bigger machine. And, as far as the junior daughter, the laptop is an affirmation for her, as her sister, the teen queen, is way ahead on the tech toys.

And me, I just quietly fix the machines, without giving any of the girls too much tech talk, especially as they are now beginning to be able to do that themselves. Wife's droid phone acting up, she popped it apart, removed the battery, reinstalled, and presto, working phone, and I didn't say anything. Cool. Especially me not saying anything.
 
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