Tablets

[floating dutchman]

Due to my change of work I need a tablet or something,

Fact is, I'm kind of a Muppet with the latest of computer technology, My home laptop has been running on Ubuntu for the last couple of years and I've kind of lost interest in other stuff because Ubuntu has been really trouble free.

So what I want is:

1, Something that fits in my travel bag.
2, Has to be able to connect to the cell (3G) network as well as wi-fi.
3, Only has to do E-mail, but maybe skype, will depend on cost of use and use-fullness, want the option for now.
4, does not have to store much data, music and photos will not be stored on a tablet.
5, general internet use like Scantlings, the bank and Trademe (e-bay).
6, GPS, only for future proofing.

I want to keep the cost down, there seem to be some real wizzy tablets out there for a grand but I'm not sure I need all that.

What platforms are most stable?
Is a 7" screen big enough for general use?
Would this do what I want?

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/computers ... -3-3g.html

Thanks in advance

[LarryHoward]

My iPad met a ceramic tile floor in a bad way the week before Christmas. I debated quite a bit and replaced it with the 7" iPad mini with the retina display and put it in a lifeproof waterproof case.

I like it a lot. On rare occasions, I miss the larger screen, particularly for web pages that don't scale well. I use it for email, reviewing documents, including some basic spreadsheets and drawings. Not a big Skype user as I'm not good looking enough for folks to want to see my ugly mug.

Lots of battery life and good wireless and 3G performance. For 1-2 day business trips, I leave the laptop home. For generating content, the docked laptop and 24" screen is still better but the tablet is a pretty good 75% solution.

Total cost for the device and case (32GB) was around 650 USD.

[Panope]

If the price of the IPad mini is ok with you, that machine would be hard to beat.

I just got a Nexus 7 (32 gig, WiFi only) for about $260. Happy the machine. Very nice screen.

Best Buy has them on sale now (because I just paid full price 2 weeks ago - thank me later). A 32 gig, 4g model is only $319.

Steve

[Tim OConnell]

I use my Ipad with retina display (with waterproof Lifeproof case) for everything and now only use my laptop when I need Microsoft Office applications or to view anything using Adobe Flash
The iPad mini looks like it would do the job for me too.

[Lin]

Jeroen, I too am getting an iPad Mini 32 GB with Retina Display. I agree with the others ... it sounds like it would be ideal for everything you need it for. I'm not sure if you would require 16 GB or 32 GB . I would also suggest the Lifeproof case.

I find the Apple products intuitive and easy to learn to use.

$479 for 16 GB Ipad mini with Retina display at an Australia Apple Store. Check out sales in other retailers.

http://store.apple.com/au/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina/16gb-space-grey-wifi

EDIT: I just recalled you are in NZ, not Aus. .... costs more in Kiwiland. $599 at NZ Apple http://store.apple.com/nz/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina Check out other retailers for better prices on sale.

[Ish]

Jeoroen, I too am getting an iPad Mini 32 GB with Retina Display. I agree with the others ... it sounds like it would be ideal for everything you need it for. I'm not sure if you would require 16 GB or 32 GB . I would also suggest the Lifeproof case.

$479 for 16 GB Ipad mini with Retina display at an Australia Apple Store. Check out sales in other retailers.

http://store.apple.com/au/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina/16gb-space-grey-wifi

EDIT: I just recalled you are in NZ, not Aus. .... costs more in Kiwiland. $599 at NZ Apple http://store.apple.com/nz/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina Check out other retailers for better prices on sale.

Cell ability adds a lot more cost...32 GB 3G Retina is $949 NZD. Same deal here, 3G adds $150 to the cost, plus add $50/month for a minimum data plan. I was looking at getting an iPad or tablet, but unless my pension goes up suddenly ( ) it's not going to happen.

[BeauV]

Just bought a iPad mini with the good screen for 2nd Lieutenant Vrolyk. It is riding around in his Marine backpack and doing fine.

Our entire family is iPad centered now (all 10 of us). Various ones of us have tried other brands but didn't find the applications we needed on the other OSs, MSFT is particularly lame this way but Android is thin in a lot of places. Despite all manner of discussion about the hardware, like all computer decisions this is driven by the applications. So long as the best apps come out first and are maintained the best on the iPad - it is your answer. As to the price spread, you can pay apx $500 for something that mostly works or apx $900 for something that really works. Your choice, but don't forget to consider your time and blood-pressure and the effect a "mostly works" product can have on both.

Data point: After being an Apple customer for well over a decade, the entire family has made exactly one service call to Apple to address a "bug"; which turned out to be a bug in the application, not in the Apple product, but the fixed it anyway.

When I ran a division of Xerox, support costs on MSFT products were 1 full time support person for every 25 employees, and going up. I don't have data on Android, it must be better than MSFT or Samsung would be broke, but I've heard sketch things about the various "versions" of Android having trouble with Application compatibility.

Final point, none of our family travels with a computer anymore - the iPad has replaced all the laptops.

BV

[Olaf Hart]

We are all Apple, based in Tassie while one son lives in Denver, and works in IT.
So far, 100% reliable.
Wife recently had iPad Mini stolen, opted to replace it with a full sized one.
Some mumbled comments about aging eyes, but she is happy with the change.
I live on an iPad, use it for work and play. Don't forget the amazing cheap charting apps like Navionics.
On the Skype thing, we use FaceTime. It is much better than Skype. We are on ADSL2 at home and Son is on a fast connection. Don't know if it works that well on 3G.

[Olaf Hart]

Forgot to mention.
If someone already has a recent iPhone, you get the same video capability with an $100 Apple TV .

[floating dutchman]

Still pondering this one, I was also thinking about a 10"net book because the idea of a touch screen qwerty keyboard kind of bothered me.
I had a play with the Ipad mini in the shop yesterday, typing was actually not half as bad as I thought it would be.
Went home a checked my bank balance (remember when you had to go out to do this?) and It will have to wait till my next swing.
I am strongly leaning toward the Imini at the moment, something I had ruled out because of cost but having folk here using them in similar ways that I'm going to want to use it without hassle is strongly swaying me.

[BeauV]

Still pondering this one, I was also thinking about a 10"net book because the idea of a touch screen qwerty keyboard kind of bothered me.
I had a play with the Ipad mini in the shop yesterday, typing was actually not half as bad as I thought it would be.
Went home a checked my bank balance (remember when you had to go out to do this?) and It will have to wait till my next swing.
I am strongly leaning toward the Imini at the moment, something I had ruled out because of cost but having folk here using them in similar ways that I'm going to want to use it without hassle is strongly swaying me.

Keep in mind that all the iPad and iPhone devices work just great with a bluetooth keyboard. I have a regulation sized Apple bluetooth keyboard that I use all the time with my iPad - it's great. No need to type on the glass if you really want to type.

[floating dutchman]

Just looked, $80 for a bluetooth keypad. I have been asking the lovely looking hospitality staff (who all seem to have Iphones) about apple products, They all say the same thing, More expensive but worth the money. One of the girls was happily texting someone with a stupid 3.5" inch screen, If she can do that , I can live with an Ipad mini.
Or down the track, get a keypad.

[floating dutchman]

Well, I ended up getting a Samsung Galaxy with the 4G, mainly because the sales girl was hot and you can add external memory and one of the things that put me of the ipad in the end was a sales person pointing out that anything that you plug into I stuff has to I compadable, so far so good, no glitches, the one thing I dont want.
And, first app that went on with no issues, Angry birds.
That has to be a win!

Jeroen

[Orestes Munn]

Tablets? I used to take one or two of the little tiny orange ones and get all the data I needed--more, in fact.

I think we're going to dump the power-hogging laptop this season and just go iPad.

[Soñadora]

We've had iPad now for 2+ years. Love it. This Christmas, I got the admiral a Mini. After using that for a while then switching to the iPad, I was all like, "this thing is HUGE! What a boat anchor"