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Advice on buying ipad/tablet
Trollheart
Posts: 5,093
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Due to my problems noted in the "scrolling problems" thread, I was thinking of getting a new laptop. Now I'm thinking tablet instead. Never had one, but since most of what I do with my PC is writing, research, music, videos, bit of graphics and surfing, with maybe SKYPE thrown in, seems like a tablet might be a good alternative.
So, any advice? Is there any advantage in going for the ipad, or should they be avoided? Are you just paying for Apple's name? And if so, what alternatives exist? Can they do most/all things a PC can do (I don't game so not worried about that)? How long typically does the battery last? Is the inbuilt speaker ok and if not can an amp or external speakers be connected? Anything I should look out for?
Advice from anyone with a tablet of any sort would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks
TH
PS Is it true that if you reinstall Windows 7 it will format your hard disk, as it appears to be telling me it will ("You will lose all your files and programs....")???
So, any advice? Is there any advantage in going for the ipad, or should they be avoided? Are you just paying for Apple's name? And if so, what alternatives exist? Can they do most/all things a PC can do (I don't game so not worried about that)? How long typically does the battery last? Is the inbuilt speaker ok and if not can an amp or external speakers be connected? Anything I should look out for?
Advice from anyone with a tablet of any sort would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks
TH
PS Is it true that if you reinstall Windows 7 it will format your hard disk, as it appears to be telling me it will ("You will lose all your files and programs....")???
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Comments
Do you do a lot of typing on you PC?
A tablet - at least ones with a touch screen keyboard - are not well suited for writing out anything longer than an email or a paragraph. I certainly wouldn't like to write anything more than that... that's why PC's are still generally used for typeing out large amounts of text.
If you just want to browse the internet/get email/look at youtube etc... then the tablets fine. The intrernal speakers are generally fine but you can connect external speakers if you want. Battery life is generally very good 6-9 hours - far better than most laptops.
Nexus and Apple tablets are generally considered the best
Provided you understand their restrictions and drawbacks, including amongst other things the same potential problem with document conversion, it might possibly be worth considering Chromebooks as an alternative.
If you want an inexpensive 7" tablet, perhaps as a secondary device, it would be worth looking at the Tesco Hudl. It's got roughly the same spec as the original Nexus 7, for a considerably lower price.
Perhaps I'll look at a new laptop after all. Problem is I can never get used to those bloody inbuilt trackballs!
Anyway thanks for setting me straight: tablets are definitely out then.
Best
TH
I have spent all day typing notes on an iPad during meetings, and it's not that bad. You can easily get a Bluetooth keyboard if you need a physical one.
The problem the OP mentioned with a laptop's trackball (actually now called a trackpad) can be easily remedied by using a USB mouse and simply turning off the laptop's trackpad. Must admit that's my preference.
All decent tablets are bluetooth capable but the quality of bluetooth keyboards varies enormously. If the OP did go down this route I would suggest actually trying a few in-store first to find one with the right feel for him/her.
I have a Nexus 7, an ASUS Transformer (with keyboard/dock) and an ASUS Vivobook (Windows 8.1 laptop with touchscreen).
I use the 7" tablet (the Nexus 7) for very casual stuff/gaming.
The Transformer for very easy carting around, using on trains etc. and the full keyboard makes it 'almost' a laptop.
BUT
at home, or for anything more intense the full laptop (ASUS Vivobook) is MUCH more useable. Adding touchscreen into the equation as well means you can still do all the touchy-feely stuff too
They arent expensive either to be honest !
If I go for another laptop it's going to have to be powerful and with decent space: any recs?