tablets, what a gimmick

[tp4tissue]

Ok, I see the tablet limitation first hand.

I had to create a long, highly detailed email with photographs. I spent 5 hours in the hotel until 1AM composing, typing, inserting, editing, wishing I had my laptop the whole time. The tablet limitation was mostly with the viewing and editing…MUCH slower/laborious. I was hating life. The spreadsheet I worked on previously, had it been more constructed/evolved, would have been a similar nightmare as well.

Maybe a bit more detail is needed for some….

Cut/paste, moving around the screen, reviewing anything that's not visible at the same time, scrolling, massive editing, combined with the normal composing and misc…it was a chore. But this was also a difficult/political task designed to sink a contractors excuses/lack of performance, so there was a negative aspect to the tack to begin with. Plus, I'm not used to doing this on a tablet, maybe it gets easier, but I don't want to try it anymore. Obviously this is not a tablets main function/strong point. If I had an iPad mini case with bluetooth keyboard that might have helped. I'll look for one today.

pretty much mouse and keyboard fixes most of those problems..  assuming the screen's large enough.

but over all TOUCH, is NOT there ...

[Input Nirvana]

Looking at keyboard cases…but haven't seen an iPad mini with mouse/touchpad…that's the problem.

[osi]

Too much hate here!! Tablets are a relatively cheap way to provide the masses access to information and hopefully some internatz.

Also a real world example in favor of tablets.

Recently, I had the privilege of adding a small addition to the family. Holidays come, travel undoubtedly in the future --- wat do?

- Load up tablet with movies.
- Velcro the tablet to the headrest

When needed, we could also run audio through the aux in, set the fade to rear and it became a little theater.

Also netflix via hotspot.

[tp4tissue]

Looking at keyboard cases…but haven't seen an iPad mini with mouse/touchpad…that's the problem.

ipad mini is still a bit hard to work with. if you have the space you're better off carrying a mac air, or a surface pro

[Lanx]

ipad mini size i think is subjective.

my wife likes the dell venue 8 over the ipad, besides ipad just sucking balls and not being able to use flash.

it's also more comfortable for her to hold and use.

while i also find the 8in screen comfortable i'd sacrifice that to use the 10in ipad.

so imo, ipad mini's and the like are great for woman.

[C5Allroad]

This is although true, it would have been nice to have a tablet that can run PPT, word and such during the last two projects this year.

[Input Nirvana]

I thought this thread was about the functionality and validity of a tablet and verses a laptop as a comparison.

I was originally pretty gung-ho thinking a tablet was pretty similar to a laptop, but after some heavier use see the limitations more clearly now, even if you use a bluetooth keyboard. A tablet is primarily for content consumption and very light creation, and light communication. Whereas smartphones are communication heavy, consumption light, and creation absolutely minimal. Laptops/desktops are creation heavy.

IOS at this point doesn't support bluetooth mouse, and I've noted the on screen keyboard doesn't have an "enter" so a massive texting session can't be via keyboard without using screen input, so that hampers the keyboard usage for communication, but the keyboard is valuable for straight emailing, document input. I guess a netbook would bridge the gap between a tablet and a laptop (since I'm a Mac guy I'd look at the smallest Macbook Air). At this point I'll use my 17" Macbook Pro.

I'm not slamming tablets, they are what they are. I like my iPad Mini, just not for the work I did with it last week.

And yes, maybe the iPad Mini size is part of the restriction that I suffered from working on it last week.

Was gonna get an iPad Mini case with a keyboard, but now will just get a case.

[rowdy]

PC for media creation.

Tablet for media consumption.

[TheSoulhunter]

Then again, consumption is much more fun on a 30" monitor + Good sound setup...

[Coreda]

Maybe a bit more detail is needed for some….

From the above description it sounds like a Windows Surface tablet with true W8 on it might be a better alternative, although tbh no tablets have particularly interested me before.

[sacratoy]

I travel quite a bit for pleasure, and my iPad Air works great as a substitute for a laptop. I can write emails, browse the web, watch videos, play FTL (and Threes, and Battlefield 4 Commander mode), and use apps designed for travel that could benefit from the increased screen real estate.

I don't think tablets are a "gimmick" in and of themselves, they just serve a niche purpose that everyone isn't going to benefit from.

;;edit;;

For me, it's also an issue of weight.

I spent two months solo traveling around Europe with just a regular (school) sized backpack and a rollaway carry-on. A good tablet can pack a lot of power and utility, and not take up a lot of space.

[Input Nirvana]

I'm not complaining about what a tablet is or isn't. I think it's an awesome product overall. My only experience is an iPad Mini.

The Windows Surface is a tablet with a real keyboard that converts it into a laptop, that's pretty neat, too bad it's Windows…. Does is have a mouse/touchpad?

With the limitations I noted previously, a larger screen would have helped a bit (iPad Air or larger) but a keyboard and mouse are also what was needed. It's not a laptop replacement. That's  all. Nor is a Windows Surface.

[Coreda]

The Windows Surface is a tablet with a real keyboard that converts it into a laptop, that's pretty neat, too bad it's Windows…. Does is have a mouse/touchpad?

It's not a laptop replacement. That's  all. Nor is a Windows Surface.

It has a touchpad on the keyboard, apart of course from the touchscreen. In the scenario you described I could imagine it being the more productive device of the two, although if screen real estate is an issue nothing compares to a good laptop.

[dustinhxc]

I love my iPad Mini! It is very light and small. Perfect tablet! I mainly use it for reading geekhack. lol

[Input Nirvana]

I love my iPad Mini! It is very light and small. Perfect tablet! I mainly use it for reading geekhack. lol

Yep. Consumption.

[tp4tissue]

I love my iPad Mini! It is very light and small. Perfect tablet! I mainly use it for reading geekhack. lol

Yep. Consumption.

nonononono...

Surface PRO... it's full windows 8..  no gimmicky iOS/android

[Input Nirvana]

I love my iPad Mini! It is very light and small. Perfect tablet! I mainly use it for reading geekhack. lol

Yep. Consumption.

nonononono...

Surface PRO... it's full windows 8..  no gimmicky iOS/android

Unfortunately it's Windowzzzz. Windowz gave computers a bad name…..

[tjcaustin]

I have to agree with tp4. Tablets are not that great. Biggest downside is no keyboard. Also they are horrible if u have any amount of Carpal Tunnel syndrome or RSI.  Much painful.   I have latest ipad.  But now I'm looking at getting one of those windows 8 hybrids.  They are part netbook/ part tablet. I was hoping somebody here can recommend a good one with USB port for my HHKB.   Maybe i should just go full notebook?  I need light and portable. I don't need desktop replacement.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD821ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter?fnode=3a Now you have an hhkb with your ipad.


Also, you're slipping tp, you made this thread like a year ago.

[tp4tissue]

I have to agree with tp4. Tablets are not that great. Biggest downside is no keyboard. Also they are horrible if u have any amount of Carpal Tunnel syndrome or RSI.  Much painful.   I have latest ipad.  But now I'm looking at getting one of those windows 8 hybrids.  They are part netbook/ part tablet. I was hoping somebody here can recommend a good one with USB port for my HHKB.   Maybe i should just go full notebook?  I need light and portable. I don't need desktop replacement.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD821ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter?fnode=3a Now you have an hhkb with your ipad.


Also, you're slipping tp, you made this thread like a year ago.

I did.. but NOW.. i have much more experience with it.

because of all the tablets that have accumulated around the house.. I've attempted to really put it into my life..

and the results, i've thus shared.

[Input Nirvana]

You guys are brutal.

See you at Keycon.

[FrostyToast]

I am of the belief that a proper tablet (no droid or iOS) that has the full functionality of the laptop is a fantastic device. Wouldn't you want what is essentially a touchscreen laptop without the useless membrane keyboard in the way?