Does anyone out there do most of their computer work on a tablet, and if so, is it sufficient?
Holly and I are going to be away from the convenience of desktops more and more over the next year, and I am considering moving to a tablet. Any feedback would be great.
I need to run several blogs, several websites (using CPanel), basic art programs, and several email accounts. To show how behind-the-tech-curve I am, I don't even know if tablets also serve as phones, but if so it would help.
I'll admit my eyes are getting older so I want a bigger screen size. I've done the laptop thing and it becomes more aggravation than I prefer.
Thanks,
K
Enemies of Liberty are ruthless. To own your Liberty, you'd better come harder than your enemies..
I HATE lugging my laptop around. Even though it is a Macbook Air, one of the lightest easiest to use laptops commonly available.
ReplyDeleteI love my iPad. I love my Samsung Droid tablet.
(Yes, I work in IT/Data/Tech, I do not spend that much on gadgets on my own...)
That said, there is NO tablet that replaces a laptop. Even with my add on keyboard, pretty ok eyesight, and a fair amount of savvy. I just would not try to run cPanel, comment approvals, dragging graphics (not to mention light edits,) etc. on a tablet. They are not in my opinion a work platform. If you got hosed, and only had the tablet, you could make do for a day or two. Not for continuing operations as normal.
YMMV, but I need multiple open windows, ability to use and display all file formats (iPad, not so good on that one...) and to install software to test (even simple things like WP plugins) all of which cannot be done adequately on a tablet.
You didn't ask, but the next question is similar for netbooks... I have used my wifes extensively. Its a step better, but my 3 gun arsenal, translated to tech terms, is laptop and pad as minimal outfit.
Agreed, you can update blogs relatively easily from an Ipad, but being able to see windows side by side is a big help, and the ease of clicking and operating with a mouse. By the time you add mouse, keyboard and stand ( so it sits upright) you might as well have a laptop.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the IT field also, and we looked at having our C-level use iPads/tablets exclusively. We did the research and we couldn't recommend a tablet over a laptop. They are not quite there yet and this is the line that always comes back to me; tablets consume content, they do not produce it. Not yet anyway....good luck!
ReplyDeleteChuck Myhre
Mr. K
ReplyDeleteBeen in IT for over 10 years now. I have updated my blog via my iPhone 4 using the safari web browser along with the Blogger app. Safari gives me fits and it drives me nuts doing it on my phone, but it will work. Just not fast.
I also have the Asus Transformer. It is a Droid based tablet that has a docking keyboard that can be purchased separately. Nice thing is once you charge it up, not only do you have 100% battery with the tablet, you get an extra 100% battery from the keyboard as well. My tablet has 32gb of solid state ram and 1 micro SD slot on the tablet and 1 SD slot on the keyboard. I have added 32 gb SD cards to both tablet and keyboard gaining an extra 64 gb. It has an HDMI output which allows me to project to a larger screen. (Netflix app when traveling in hotels is nice with HDMI output). The tablet is complete touch screen with a front and rear camera. It is app based and I prefer to use Dolphin Browser over the Blogger App. IMHO, the blogger app sucks on all platforms.
If you dont want to lug a lightweight laptop around, I would recommend the Asus Transformer. I would stay away from the Asus Prime as its aluminum shell caused interference with WiFi from what I read when I was going to buy mine. Let me know if you need any more help any time.
Israel
III
The Tablet
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004U78JT8/ref=aw_d_var_2nd_pc_txt?vs=1
The Dock
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004U78628/ref=mp_bxgy_p_dp_y?vs=1
I like Dixie's 14 inch HP laptop, (Her second) but I always use a mouse with it. You can get them pretty powerful these days.
ReplyDelete8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive
3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)
(You can get the i7, but expensive now and not necessary, I don't believe)
Short answer, based on my use of both MS OS laptop, Mac book, iPad, and various smartphones:
ReplyDeleteNo freaking way.
Get yourself a Mac [these guys rock: http://www.microcenter.com/category/4294967288,4294966363/MacBook-MacBook-Pro-MacBook-Air ] - as of just now they have an in-store special on a legit new Macbook Air for $799, use your smartphones to read, and be happy.
regards,
ca
wrsa
converted MS OS person
Give the Air a shot:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Apple-MacBook-Air-11.6in-Core-i5-OS-X-10.8-Mountain-Lion-4-GB-RAM/2735430.aspx
Full functionality, under three pounds, right at $1000.
Been carrying one since I took the new travel gig. OS X is Unix. Unix is secure and powerful.
DM
Ditto on the Air or any of the really new mac laptops. I work for a little company that got bought by a 'big
ReplyDeletePC company, but I get access to every apple released. I use my iPad for weather, a kindle/document reader and I have NatGeo's topo maps on it. That's it... I like the kindle reader part since I can bump the font to read without glasses.
Honestly, to do what you want to do, you need something that you can attach a real keyboard and mouse to when you stop moving for the day.
My latest toy is the 15" mac book pro with a crap ton of solid state disk. (nothing spinning) and 16GB ram. I get really long battery life with this setup. (big $$)
I find that my 58 year old eyes do not like the tiny displays but the 15" is the best compromise between size and display for me.
On the macs almost any display can be command-+ to tell it to increase the viewed font size..
A tablet is handy when you don't have a computer, or when you don't want to carry the weight. But I'll echo the comments that a tablet cannot replace a computer. I happen to have both, and I find that when I travel, I end up grabbing the tablet more often that not because it's a hell of a lot lighter and easier to travel with. But if I were to be gone more than a week? I'd take my laptop with me.
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to all. I am not tech-savvy even at home, much less when traveling. But this trip has proven I need to catch-up. I think the next year or so will find me on the road far more than I enjoy these days, and I can't afford to be out-of-touch.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to that solid state hard drive becoming mainstream...
Stay safe.
K