Posted on 12/26/2011 9:31:41 AM PST by pgkdan
I need a little advice and would appreciate any input. My laptop recently died and I'm in the market for a replacement. My problem is that I can't decide if I want a tablet or another laptop. Tablets appeal to me because of their size and weight and great portability but I'm concerned about what the limitations might be versus a laptop.
Specifically, can I browse the internet easily with a tablet? Will I be able to view movies and video? What about using office apps like excel or power point. I probably wouldn't be using a Tablet to create documnets but I would definately use it to view them. I also need to be able to access my company network via Citrix.
If you think a tablet would do the trick any thoughts about Apple vs a Galaxy?
Any thoughts? Again...your input and advice would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not looking for any advuce but would appreciate any advice!
Tablets are meant for browsing, watching video, listening to music, reading books. Essentially they’re media machines. But if you want do office functions and such, you’ll have to use a ‘phantom’ keyboard or buy a keyboard to attach to the tablet. IOW, they’re more entertainment driven than business driven. Make up your mind what your real needs are then buy accordingly. To me, you still can’t beat a laptop for a full function machine.
I also haven't been able to make a new iPad 2 get email from my company email system. Even though - with the EXACT same settings in my iPhone 4, I have no problem getting emails from the same server.
My IT folks at work do NOT have to offer any help/support for Apple products, either.
FWIW. . . .
The ipad 3 is due out on Feb 24th. If you can wait 60 days, it will blow away any other so called competitor.
Now, realize that any pad is good for email and web. But few are good for any serious applications, except the iPad. That one can create docs, edit video, and even remotely control a full PC across the net.
The number one problem people have with any pad is getting used to typing words without a keyboard. There are accessories for the ipad which have keyboards built into the notebook style case too if you need that.
But, unless you are doing extensive processing, a pad will outdo any cheap netbook and be far faster too with instant on, no boot times.
Enjoy.
Check out the Asus transformer. It’s an Android pad that you can get with a removable keyboard. It gives you a netbook and pad in one.
Look on Ebay.
There are usually 27,000 laptops listed.
Don’t bid high.
If you get outbid, another identical one will be about a half later.
Bite the bullet and go to the closest Apple Store and get a MacBook or MacBook Pro. You will never regret it. Period.
You’ll hear from all sorts of people now, that Mac is a cult etc. I was a PC only guy for many years and just got tired off all the Windows BS!
Get a Mac, they just work!!
Seriously... my brother uses his tablet for business. He also uses it to take pictures of deer that he is stalking to send to me while he's in the field. For a non-tech guy, he's sorta fallen in love with the thing.
/johnny
Citrix has worked on the ipad since 2010. Google it.
Do you know if the the new iPad will support Flash?
I use this iPad for exactly those things.
I use it to VPN into my work network then use Anyconnect to go directly to my desktop machine in my office. As a result, I don’t have to worry about compatibility (Excel, Word etc) when I need to use docs such as those. It is as if I am sitting at my desk.
Videos on the iPad are a bit hit and miss. Some are still flash based and need an app to run but the industry is moving away from flash so that may not be a big issue going forward.
All in all, I am extremely pleased with the iPad. It does nearly everything I would like it to do with the exception of not having a USB port to move data around easily. That being said, that issue does just not come up that much.
Cheers,
Knewshound
Tablets, in particular the iPad, are appliances. They only do the things that the manufacturer has decided to allow them to do. They may have some (very simplified) versions of the programs you are used to, but those versions are very limited.
If you used the keyboard on your old computer much at all, you probably wouldn't be happy with nothing more than a tablet. If you limited yourself to "point & click" type actions, then you might find a tablet good enough.
Hope this helps!
Never. Flash is an ancient not pad workable architecture. Flash requires “mouse over” code for most applications to work. Thus the only flash that is even able to run on any pad is flash video which no one uses. Youtube is all h264 codex now anyway or html 5. Flash is very vulnerable to viruses and exploits too, which is why Apple refuses to stay in the 90s and use it. What other possible use of flash is there anymore?
Probably the only advantage to the tablet is greater portability.
Excel and Power Point are Microsoft products. You need the right OS to run them.
Tablets are relatively expensive and don’t come with keyboards or screens large enough for windowing.
Hope that’s more in the nature of advice than advuce. ;-)
I went over to the dark side a few yrs. ago..Mac. :)Don’t regret the move one bit.
Now that is out of the way.
We own 2 iPads. Love them. Surf, pics, etc.
But, if you plan to do word processing get a laptop.
The virtual keyboard is too sensitive, the slightest touch activates whatever you’re over.
I have a case w/ a built in bluetooth keyboard and it’s an improvement but lack of numbers, no mouse makes it unfriendly for serious typing.
JMO.
Dan
>>>Do you know if the the new iPad will support Flash?
No need - Flash for mobile devices is dead. HTML5 replacing it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.