The best tablets you can buy

Then, in 2004 we had a hurricane and power was off for a week.
There were kids everywhere! All out in the streets, playing, running around, just like back then.

Good memories for me too, of us kids playing in the streets in the 1950s. Although my career was in I.T., I kept my kids away from computers in the 1970s & 1980s. I wanted them to enjoy the outdoors like I did. Sadly, there's no escaping computer gadgets for kids now, and my young granddaughters have their own iPads and access to the Internet. A 7-year-old and 6-year-old granddaughters (they're cousins in different states) regularly video chat almost daily, and with us on their devices. Nice thing is they can walk around and show us their activities on their mobile devices, something that used to be done on non-audio video film sent via mail to relatives (for all of a few minutes per reel).

I still have A surface Pro 2 128, Surface 3, 128 and surface pro 3, 256. I take the 3 pro nearly everywhere I go. It has very good WiFi and Bluetooth strength, absolutely beautiful display and ok battery life.

For long trips I keep a charger in the car for the 3 (my wife uses now) and the 3 pro. They charge quickly. I’ve never completely used the battery but came close once on a long flight after watching two full length movies after surfing.

I think I have the optimal machine with only an I5. the I7 is faster but uses the battery much faster. The 3 pro says it supports up to 128 gigs of micro SD storage but it works fine on a 256g card. Its nice when traveling to have a place to put pictures and to be able to watch movies while on a plane.

I visit factories where I try to solve problems, that often requires making notes. Using the pen and surface display is like using a paper note pad except you can store and share your notes. The pen or stylus is amazing to write with and if you like if your note taking is even halfway readable it will translate to text for you.

I don’t use my Ipad and will never turn it on again except when the grand kids come over and want to play games.

One grand child (we have 24) loves to draw on the pro 2. these are simply wonderful machines I don’t think the Ipad has anything on them at all, especially if you like Windows software.

The biggest problem with the surface tablets is the same thing as the problem with Windows 10, the app store doesn’t have near the level of diversity and quantity of apps that Apple does. I hope it will grow.

Once you get a Surface you will be spoiled.

Thanks. My wife has some serious autoimmune disorders and doesn’t get out of the house all that often, so I bought her and iPad Pro with the the 12.9” screen and 256 gig of storage.

I would have gotten her the regular iPad that is compatible with the iPen, but it’s only a 9.7” screen, but I wanted her to have the best for what she does. For her needs, the iPad Pro is the best. Not cheap, but she is worth it.

I will probably get a Surface Pro the first of the year. Can’t decide between the Surface Pro 5 or 6. Do you have a suggestion?

Can’t decide between the Surface Pro 5 or 6. Do you have a suggestion?

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It all depends on what your use is. If you are watching movies, reading the web, YouTube etc then nearly any one will do fine, you wouldn’t even need a “Pro version” But if you are running Excel and windows programs especially Photoshop then you will want the Pro. The Pro is a little larger which I like when running some Windows programs.

Again if you are using the simple web based usage then you can do well with an older model, at least a 3. If you are using advanced software like games and Photoshop then you need the horsepower and memory of the Pro versions and if using Photoshop (Now CC) then you will want a little extra memory like 256gigs. When you get the 256 model you also get 8gigs of main memory instead of 4 which really helps. The Pro 4 runs faster than the 3 and has good battery life. The 5 and 6 both have slightly better graphics displays but most people don’t need those higher graphics unless they are into art work. They are all great for writing and watching movies and even playing simple games.

I like being able to run in Windows and being able to take notes with a pen and I can send the notes to myself on any other platform. Whatever you do make sure you get a keyboard and pen. You can get by without either but they really add to the greatness of the platform. You can get a Bluetooth keyboard cheap anywhere but the keyboard for the surface really matches it well and provided good screen protection. The stylus for the Surface is just for the Surface. It has a very fine time and is nothing like the stylus you have for the Ipad or your phone. Spend the money for the real Surface Stylus.
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