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.
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
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!
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.
With tablets, the major distinction will be going either Android or Apple. Apple is good if you like simplicity, however, it has a major drawback when it comes to the ability to view Flash content. (movies, animations, some websites, using some forms, etc). Apple right now has more apps but frankly, I don’t think you’ll have any problem finding a specific type of app either way you go.
Androids are more complicated, allow for more custom configurations, and will allow you to view more content types on the net, such as Flash content.
If you have a large iTunes music or movie library, it is easier to manage with an iPad. It isn’t impossible to convert them over to an Android tab though.
I’ve chosen a Droid tab (Xoom) myself and my wife has an iPad. I am about to get a Droid Xyboard for work.
...oh, and FReeping is easy on either. This is probably the best site for any type of mobile device. A lot of other forums are a headache on tablets or smartphones.
...and office apps are easy on both (the apps just have different names). However, to make it easier, if you are just doing basic stuff, you may want to look at something like Google Docs.
Love my Xoom. 10.1 screen is plenty big. I do use my laptop at home for the most part, but anywhere else, my Xoom goes with me. I watch videos etc. Haven’t used any wp or other office apps. Maybe I will go load one now!
Apple folks will swear by their products. I just am not a fan and never considered an IPad. JMHO.
ping
You’re looking for advuse??? this is hugh and series..
Last I heard HP was offering a tablet for $99 if you purchased a laptop. Problem solved you get both.