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Time to Buy a Small Pad-Type Computer. Need Freeper Input.
11/24/14 | chickensoup

Posted on 11/24/2014 10:12:22 AM PST by Chickensoup

I want to buy one of those pad type of computers so I can use the Internet, check my email and perhaps read books on the road. I do not have a smart phone, and do not want one. I will only hook up to wifi and not have a "data package" for the machine.

there seem to be several opeating systems. Apple, Google and Microsoft.

Apple eeeh.

Google? I am not keen about feeding the Beast.

I happen to like Microsoft products. Yes I know I am the ONLY Freeper who does, but what the heck?

I cannot really figure out the products well enough to compare them.

Freeper tech ping?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: pad
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To: Chickensoup

Yes I know I am the ONLY Freeper who does, but what the heck?

Just get a Surface...I’ve seen the surface Pro and its pretty awesome if pricey...nice to have the advantages of a laptop and a tablet...


41 posted on 11/24/2014 10:24:18 AM PST by Adder (No, Mr. Franklin, we could NOT keep it.)
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To: Chickensoup

One more thought: Vonage has an HD voice app for smartphones:

http://www.mgraves.org/2012/07/making-use-of-wideband-voice-right-now-vonage-mobile/


42 posted on 11/24/2014 10:24:35 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: humblegunner

MAN that looks good!


43 posted on 11/24/2014 10:24:41 AM PST by MHGinTN
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To: kevkrom; Chickensoup
"Not sure what Amazon’s fork of Android means in terms of data collection, though if it’s not so bad you might want to consider a Kindle Fire.

Our family has 3 Kindle Fires and two Fire phones. We love them.

Never had a problem with any and they do waaay more than we ever need.

44 posted on 11/24/2014 10:25:03 AM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: humblegunner

Pad Thai

it surely is.


45 posted on 11/24/2014 10:25:22 AM PST by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: SgtHooper

I’m also a MS fan. I have a Surface Pro 2 tablet and it is great. I would suggest that the Surface Pro 3 is also a good way to go from everything I’ve seen in trying it out.


46 posted on 11/24/2014 10:25:58 AM PST by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
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To: Chickensoup

If you do a *lot* of reading, I highly recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. It is purely for book reading, but it does this one thing really well; runs about 3 weeks on one battery charge, bright display even in sunlight, very light, about $120.

By the way, I also have an Apple iPad Mini, which I love for browsing, email, podcasts, or watching movies.


47 posted on 11/24/2014 10:26:06 AM PST by Flick Lives ("I can't believe it's not Fascism!")
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To: Chickensoup

Check out the Dell Venue 8 Pro Microsoft tablet.


48 posted on 11/24/2014 10:26:18 AM PST by Ted Grant
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To: Chickensoup

You can buy a smartphone like a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and just don’t buy any phone service with it. It will connect to wifi anywhere you go and you can check email and surf the net and download ebooks. You also have the added benefit of being able to call 911 just in case you need it.


49 posted on 11/24/2014 10:27:37 AM PST by MeganC (It took Democrats four hours to deport Elian Gonzalez)
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For later.


50 posted on 11/24/2014 10:28:08 AM PST by lysie
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To: MeganC

I thought you had to buy the service with the phone.


51 posted on 11/24/2014 10:28:29 AM PST by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: Chickensoup

There are “2 in 1s” using Microsoft 8.1 from Dell, HP, Lenova and others from Best Buy for around $400 for 11 inch screens.

They flip over to become a tablet, then flip back to a conventional keyboard.

They have wifi. Some are only solid state, and some have a conventional hard drive, and some have both.


52 posted on 11/24/2014 10:28:57 AM PST by truth_seeker
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To: Chickensoup

Go to a shopping site where you can see lots of available models, such as Amazon.com (there are others). Pick the tablet size you want. Next pick the best screen resolution you can afford. Next pick the most amount of memory you can afford. Decide if you want both front and back cameras. Get rid of the android OS tablets since you seem to not like those for some reason. Sort the remaining filtered tablets by price from low to high. The lowest priced one meets your requirements, but you might want to also filter based on the processor speed.


53 posted on 11/24/2014 10:29:05 AM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Chickensoup

We have an andoid, kindle, and surface. For your purposes, probably the android or kindle. Cost, android will probably be your best bed.

Pros:
Android is cheap, and will do what you want. More customizable like a smart phone (same OS).

Kindle is relatively cheap and will definitely meet your desires of checking email, web browsing, reading books (and watching videos).

Surface is the whole package really, a scaled down laptop computer.

Cons:
Android - google.

Kindle - not customizable, not as large app library available, but it is getting better.

Surface - lot of money for just an email checker.


54 posted on 11/24/2014 10:29:15 AM PST by ican'tbelieveit
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To: kevkrom
The other deal breaker on Apple products for me is they are overpriced Apple products.

I bought three Kindle Fires for the price of one iPad.

55 posted on 11/24/2014 10:29:16 AM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: Mad Dawgg

I have a first-generation Kindle Fire... well, had, as I gave it to my eldest son and got a regular Kindle because I only used it as a reader anyway, and the basic Kindle is much smaller, lighter, and lasts longer on a charge.

I found the Fire pretty underpowered, but that was just the first-gen model and the newer ones are supposed to be much better.


56 posted on 11/24/2014 10:29:27 AM PST by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: Chickensoup
The 'tablet' space consists of the iPad and also-rans. If you buy an iPad you'll get an intuitive device that's simple enough for your grandmother to use without support and powerful enough to run the most demanding mobile apps. It will also be fully supported and will run the latest version of iOS for at least the next four years.

Buy anything else and you'll take your chances about whether the manufacturer will care about it after six months since they're now pushing something newer. And don't expect much in the way of future upgradability or software compabatility. The mobile malware, however, is free. :)

57 posted on 11/24/2014 10:30:24 AM PST by AustinBill (consequence is what makes our choices real)
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To: Chickensoup

Check out Dell.com. Right now they have a number of tablets from $100.


58 posted on 11/24/2014 10:31:16 AM PST by CodeToad (Islam should be outlawed and treated as a criminal enterprise!)
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To: 9YearLurker

Far prefer my tablet over using my smartphone for internet etc.
Samsung has a 12.2 tablet now, but it is very expensive. I have a Motorola Xoom and love it. I prefer the 10” tabs over the 7’s. But, that is my preference.
This weekend will be an ideal time to get a tablet.


59 posted on 11/24/2014 10:33:23 AM PST by ozaukeemom (Is there even a republic left?)
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To: Chickensoup

Nope. Pay cash for the phone and you own it.


60 posted on 11/24/2014 10:34:23 AM PST by MeganC (It took Democrats four hours to deport Elian Gonzalez)
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