|
||||||||
Which tablet? Advice needed. |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
Which tablet? Advice needed.
Need a 10 " tablet for work.
Excel spreadsheet & word doc compatibility of paramount importance Mainly it will be used to access e mails & drop box when in meetings & presentations, and to look at and work on excel spreadsheets & word documents. All advice appreciated. Phil |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 263
|
Quote:
Need a 10 " tablet for work.
Excel spreadsheet & word doc compatibility of paramount importance Mainly it will be used to access e mails & drop box when in meetings & presentations, and to look at and work on excel spreadsheets & word documents. All advice appreciated. Phil |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
:
Budget is around £300-£350 ish think they might be too expensive?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Crystal Palace TX
Posts: 19,702
|
If you're an Office 365 subscriber, you can use the official Android and iOS apps.
Alternatively there are loads of other apps (many of them free) that are compatible. Eg CloudOn and QuickOffice. A lot of these apps work well with online cloud services. Such as Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox etc. so it's easy to share/transfer documents to/from your computer(s). |
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,103
|
I like kingsoft office.
Wish there was a freebie that did access though |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
|
Quote:
Budget is around £300-£350 ish think they might be too expensive?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
Thanks for your replies. I realised the product is within budget after all.
It seems to make sense, so now to shop around and purchase, or wait a few more weeks to get surface 2. Now I can drive myself insane checking prices & reading the specs |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,377
|
You get get the Dell Latitude 10 tablet from Dell Outlet for less than £300. This is a real PC, and not an RT tablet. You would need to add the cost of Office, or use Office web apps though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
|
I would suggest the Surface 2 with a type cover.
You should bear in mind that the Surface 2 runs Windows RT not Windows 8 so apart from Office, it will only run Metro apps. If you do buy this tablet, you should change your workflow to use Skydrive rather than Dropbox as Skydrive will be natively integrated into Windows RT 8.1 and you can't use the dropbox desktop sync client on RT. The biggest differences between the Surface RT and Surface 2 are a newer processor (so performance is much improved), a significantly better screen plus improved battery life. Make sure you buy a newer type cover too not the old one. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
Quote:
I would suggest the Surface 2 with a type cover.
You should bear in mind that the Surface 2 runs Windows RT not Windows 8 so apart from Office, it will only run Metro apps. If you do buy this tablet, you should change your workflow to use Skydrive rather than Dropbox as Skydrive will be natively integrated into Windows RT 8.1 and you can't use the dropbox desktop sync client on RT. The biggest differences between the Surface RT and Surface 2 are a newer processor (so performance is much improved), a significantly better screen plus improved battery life. Make sure you buy a newer type cover too not the old one. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
|
Quote:
What's the difference between Windows RT 8.1 and Windows 8 at used on the current Surface tablet? Also, can you clarify "newer type cover"? will the current cover not work?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California, America
Posts: 172
|
Be careful about buying a Windows RT tablet like the Surface 2. It can be suitable for a specific purpose but the app selection outside of anything not Microsoft is awful.
As someone else mentioned, if you are a subscriber to Office you should consider using Office through the iOS app and getting an iPad. There are around 400,000 tablet apps available for the iPad, which is far more than even Android. Plus you also have far more third party accessories for the iPad and the best resale value when it comes time to upgrade. Something to consider, even if it may be beyond your current budget. |
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
|
Quote:
Be careful about buying a Windows RT tablet like the Surface 2. It can be suitable for a specific purpose but the app selection outside of anything not Microsoft is awful.
As someone else mentioned, if you are a subscriber to Office you should consider using Office through the iOS app and getting an iPad. There are around 400,000 tablet apps available for the iPad, which is far more than even Android. Plus you also have far more third party accessories for the iPad and the best resale value when it comes time to upgrade. Something to consider, even if it may be beyond your current budget. |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
My colleague has an ipad (which he likes)however, he finds incompatibility with certain bespoke word and excel documents we use, so that's why I'm looking at other tablets that will work on said documents.
It'll mainly be used in meetings off site where I need to refer to or amend existing word/excel docs. I notice you can pre order on Microsoft website for £359. Covers are between £99 and £110 extra |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
|
I'd wait with the cover, maybe you won't need it. I use it only as a screen protection. But it also depends how you want to use it. For me soft on-screen keyboard is enough for most cases. Office is certainly a big advantage. I get a lot of work emails with word and excel attachments. I like being able to check them on my tablet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,153
|
Sounds like a laptop would be much better for this kind of job why do you need it to be a tablet ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 263
|
Quote:
Be careful about buying a Windows RT tablet like the Surface 2. It can be suitable for a specific purpose but the app selection outside of anything not Microsoft is awful.
As someone else mentioned, if you are a subscriber to Office you should consider using Office through the iOS app and getting an iPad. There are around 400,000 tablet apps available for the iPad, which is far more than even Android. Plus you also have far more third party accessories for the iPad and the best resale value when it comes time to upgrade. Something to consider, even if it may be beyond your current budget. Also, if he wants to use MS Office specifically then the Surface in this instance is perfect. Should the OP want other apps then you may have some valid points though. |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 484
|
Quote:
Sounds like a laptop would be much better for this kind of job why do you need it to be a tablet ?
Noted your comment, however, I think a tablet will do what I need? |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California, America
Posts: 172
|
Quote:
There is no Office app for the iPad, only for the iPhone and Android devices. Besides, you only get touch-optimised office suites on an iPad not an "full versions" that are designed to be used with keyboard and mouse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California, America
Posts: 172
|
Quote:
Android apps can't scale unlike iOS which is set to one single resolution so that's why there aren't many dedicated tablet apps.
Quote:
Also, if he wants to use MS Office specifically then the Surface in this instance is perfect. Should the OP want other apps then you may have some valid points though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California, America
Posts: 172
|
Quote:
Size/weight...I want something small /light... If I'm not sitting in a meeting room working on a spreadsheet, or reading/sending an email, or showing some presentation or other, I'll probably be wandering around from room to room taking some photos, and don't want to lug a laptop around.
Noted your comment, however, I think a tablet will do what I need? |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
|
Quote:
Get a small ultrabook like an 11" Macbook Air.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Crystal Palace TX
Posts: 19,702
|
Perhaps an Asus Vivobook 11.6" would be in budget and may be worth considering?
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
|
Quote:
Size/weight...I want something small /light... If I'm not sitting in a meeting room working on a spreadsheet, or reading/sending an email, or showing some presentation or other, I'll probably be wandering around from room to room taking some photos, and don't want to lug a laptop around.
Noted your comment, however, I think a tablet will do what I need? Try to be comprehensive in the use cases you want. |
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,153
|
Quote:
Size/weight...I want something small /light... If I'm not sitting in a meeting room working on a spreadsheet, or reading/sending an email, or showing some presentation or other, I'll probably be wandering around from room to room taking some photos, and don't want to lug a laptop around.
Noted your comment, however, I think a tablet will do what I need? I'd forget anything running windows RT as it will have very limited support. It has to have been one of the biggest flops in computing history. |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 19:56.



