Author Topic: Confused about tablet PC's/iPads/readers (Read 2468 times)

Scott S · « **on:** November 12, 2011, 04:44:41 AM »

A couple of years ago my girlfriend bought a new lap top. At the time, tablets were yet to hit the market like that have today. So, for the price, she sprung for a large screen laptop.

Problem is, she travels a lot with her job and it's getting to be a chore lugging that thing through security at airports, etc. I had been planning on getting her a tablet for Christmas and liked a couple of the Android versions.
Now, a few friends are giving me the hard sell on the iPad2.

To confuse me even more, she asked for a reader for Christmas (Kindle, etc.), not knowing that I've been shopping for a tablet.
Many of the readers advertise that you can check email, get online, play games, etc., and are MUCH less expensive than the tablet computers.

I'm so confused now...

Here are the criteria:

-She has a laptop as a primary computer. We have a PC at home. The tablet will be for ease of traveling.

-I've been looking at 16GB models. Do I even need that much?

-It will be used primarily for checking email, Facebooking, playing a few online games (she loves to waste time on those stupid games...

), maybe some light surfing/shopping.

-She does like to take and send pics with her phone. I can only assume she'll do the same, or at least use the tablet/reader, to share pics with family, Facebook, etc.

Do I need an $89 reader of a $500++ tablet? And why?

One last thing: I'm sure that at some point there will be something on that tablet that she'll want on her laptop or printed out on our home printer. So, some typ of transfer or compatability there, too.

Stev-o · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2011, 05:11:33 AM »

Do it right, get an iPad! And the 2 is really not needed unless you need a camera with it (I don't). Bought one used in great cond for $280 and use it 90% of the time. When I need to do "home work" I use my laptop.
My sisters both have Kindles but they are limited, but I believe the new ones have wifi.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2011, 05:15:17 AM »

The tablets seem to be the "in" gadget to get this season, and they sound to do everything that you suggest for which she might want the device. An e-reader is a totally different thing, and is used instead of a paper book to read novels. Their batteries often last for a month of use and many can be viewed in bright light with no problems. Some, like the Kindle, even have a basic browser included that allows a basic retrieval and send of e-mail (but smart phones will do that - and more - too). For compact portable computers, there are the note-pads, which are basically smaller laptops without a CD drive. They can do everything else that a laptop does, just often not as powerful but certainly more portable due to their smaller size.

It sounds to me that your GF wants to carry some books and do reading instead of web browsing-et-al. That can be done on a PC or tablet as well, but a dedicated e-reader has still different capability. Maybe she really wants something different from you.

Scott S · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2011, 05:50:45 AM »

So the camera makes it a "2" ? Well, I don't see her lugging the ipad around just to take pics. She can use her phone for that.
So, I can save a few bucks and get a tablet or ipad 1 w/o the camera. But what about transferring pics from her phone or a digital camera? Pretty easy with both?

That makes sense about the e-readers. Sounds like they're a little "weak" for what I'm looking for.

333 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2011, 06:48:19 AM »

I hope I don't send mixed messages in this post. I'm a fan of the Ipad. Have both the original and the 2. The wife's office bought the original. She loves it. The reader, the games, all of it. I came into some insurance money, so I bought her the 2. Loves it even more. Noticeably lighter. And BTW, we don't have the 3 or 4G models. That's where it runs into real money.

Here's the mixed message. And I guess it boils down to this. I love the product, hate the company. We had a little accident with the 2(water). Now I understand perfectly that this sort of thing voids the warranty. But Apple wouldn't even look at it. I did find someone who fixed it for a reasonable price. Why can't Apple do that? And this isn't the first bad experience with them. My daughter has had to use Macs for her studies(best for film,video,motion graphics), and has had a couple of them. One went bad under warranty, so we packed it up and took it to the Apple Store, where the Genius Bar(cutesy name for their repair desk) told me that I had to make an appointment online. They don't make appointments over the phone, or in person at the desk. They could look at it that day, but was pointed to a computer across the room to make an appointment. Couldn't the "genius" at the bar just put us in the cue and be done with it? Apparently that's not in his skill set.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2011, 06:59:27 AM »

If you are looking to replace a laptop with a tablet forget about it- stick with a laptop.
A laptop will run circles around the tablets- think you can write and edit a 10 page tech paper as easily and quickly on a tablet as you can on a laptop?

I have seen and used these tablets, they are decent gadgets.
Like my friend said he uses one for porn and other stuff because his laptop is for business when he is out on business trips.

Spikeybike · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2011, 07:01:45 AM »

i'll second that 333 , apple has some awesome products , i've owned almost every ipod they've come out with ... i currently have the ipod touch4 , witch is basically an iphone without the phone ,or a tiny ipad if you will... and everytime something has gone wrong with one , i really dread having to go to the apple store ... there service is just as good or bad as anywhere else , but, you have to deal with there extreme elitism ...

and when i tell them i'm running there product with a PC and not a Mac , that always opens a door for them to sell me a Mac ..
love there products ... hate there service

Edit: and lets not forget that the apple stuff can't play Flash (that one drives me nuts )

Gordon · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2011, 08:28:13 AM »

I think one big deciding factor is whether or not she needs the tablet to have 3g connectivity or if wi-fi only will be okay. The Kindle fire will do all the things you listed and is only $200, but it's wi-fi only.

http://bestereaderreviews.net/amazon-kindle-fire-review/

Gordon · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2011, 08:35:25 AM »

I just went through this same decision-making process myself for my wife's Christmas present. I finally decided on the Kindle Touch that's coming out this month. I thought about getting the Fire, but the Touch has the e-ink display that's much easier to read and has a battery life of a couple of months, and she has her android phone for email, games and facebook.

Scott S · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2011, 12:24:40 PM »

This is not to replace her lap top. Only to make traveling easier. No 10 page tech papers, etc.

She will, however, use it for Facebook, email, games and surfing, so it sorta sounds like a Kindle won't do all those things as well.

Stev-o · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2011, 01:43:52 PM »

Yes, the two differences between the iPad and ipad2 are the camera and the weight.
Does she currently have an iPod w/iTunes? If yes, she can have all her music, videos and photos transferred to the iPad too, a very nice feature. I cannot review Apples service. I, along with my wife and daughter, have owned several iPods, three iPhones and an iPad and have never had 1 issue with any of them. And get this, I just sold a two year old iPhone for $200, same price I paid for it. (zero depreciation).
Get the iPad.

Gordon · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2011, 01:47:58 PM »

Quote from: Scott S on November 12, 2011, 12:24:40 PM

This is not to replace her lap top. Only to make traveling easier. No 10 page tech papers, etc.

She will, however, use it for Facebook, email, games and surfing, so it sorta sounds like a Kindle won't do all those things as well.

Correct, the regular Kindle with the e-ink display isn't really meant for web-surfing, but the Kindle Fire is. It's basically a slightly smaller version of the iPad (7" display instead of 10"). Not as many bells & whistles as the iPad, but it's also a fraction of the cost. Something to look into at least.

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2011, 01:51:59 PM »

Quote from: Scott S on November 12, 2011, 12:24:40 PM

She will, however, use it for Facebook, email, games and surfing, so it sorta sounds like a Kindle won't do all those things as well.

we are iphone4 and 1st gen ipad users and though i'm planning on buying an iphone4s and ipad2 over the next few weeks, were i looking for just a web-surfing, game-playing, email-delivering tablet, i'd probably buy a kindle fire. inexpensive, light and has amazon's spiffed up browser. seems like for a couple hundred bucks you can't go wrong. we're really in the early stages of mobile devices so whatever you buy now will be "current" only for a couple of years, anyway, so it she wants something new and shiny / more capable next year, no big deal.

back in the day when my wife or i wanted to buy something unique for the other, we'd create a nice gift certificate and present that on the special day ... that way the person could choose their own gift and in the case of christmas, the after-christmas sale prices allowed more gift for the $$'s given.

good luck with your decision

hal

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #13 on:** November 12, 2011, 02:00:21 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on November 12, 2011, 01:43:52 PM

Yes, the two differences between the iPad and ipad2 are the camera and the weight.

minor overview of ipad vs ipad 2 located http://simpleipadtutorials.com/2011/09/18/differences-between-ipad-and-ipad-2/

Scott S · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2011, 03:03:12 PM »

OK, so the Kindle Fire just jumped back on the list....

How does that compare to the Nook? This is what she sent me on her wish list:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-color-barnes-noble/1100437663

For what she needs, is the ipad2 worth $300 more?

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #15 on:** November 12, 2011, 04:04:31 PM »

Quote from: Scott S on November 12, 2011, 03:03:12 PM

OK, so the Kindle Fire just jumped back on the list....

How does that compare to the Nook? This is what she sent me on her wish list:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-color-barnes-noble/1100437663

For what she needs, is the ipad2 worth $300 more?

amazon and apple have the best ecosystem's and feature set from my perspective so compared to them, i wouldn't give the nook a second round consideration. my wife and i both have the medium sized kindles that are **great** ereaders (the ipad is a bit heavy / tiresome for that on an extended basis) so if the fire is close to them in form factor / weight + color browsing, etc, groovy. only she can decide if an ipad is worth the price difference.

Bodi · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2011, 07:10:24 AM »

Apple?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/28/stallman_criticises_steve_jobs_again/

Blasbo · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2011, 07:53:13 AM »

My wife got an EeePC nethook a year or so ago and is very happy with it. She takes it when traveling instead of her company issued laptop because of the portability. It was about $200. She has the kindle ereader and uses that to read on. It has a keyboard so it's better for creating content (i.e. composing/answering email) than a tablet.
However it does not have the "cool" factor of an iPad.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:56:53 AM »

No doubt the Apple products are good, but I must find them expensive relative to the functionality. Myself and family have been Kindle users since they came out. Very happy with them. I have no need for something with a camera, I have quite a few ranging from a 4x5 to half a dozen 35mm, all analogue of course. I also have a pretty good Nikon DSLR system and lenses. My phone does pretty much everything I need, web browsing, text, camera (though not the greatest in that regard). It's quite small, smaller than s deck of cards so it slips in any pocket or a small holster on my belt so it's out of the way, yet always with me. My wife has a Canon Elf that takes pretty darn good pictures.We also have a Dell Netbook for traveling. I consider most all-in-one systems to bring with them compromises, platform size is one of them for me anyway.

My wife, knowing how much I like my Kindle, bought me a Kindle Fire for Xmas and it arrived just the other day. I convinced her I should at least open it to make sure it works

. It's pretty slick, I know I'm going to enjoy it. It seems to have very good wifi signal detection. The netbook will barely detect our wireless router in some rooms of the house, I guessing it is the old plaster walls. The Fire had no trouble at all, even in an area of the house I know to be troublesome for other devices. Just my $0.02.

petercb750 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2011, 02:33:26 PM »

Just caught up with this thread and am thinking of getting a reader for xmas. Have looked at the web, but get confused with all the products - basically, is it worth paying the bit extra for the Kindle Fire and does it also have 3G? Is it necessarily important to have 3G? My understanding is that 3G will get you access when there is no wifi available. Will the wifi feature allow me to connect anywhere anytime (which I believe 3G does), or would I have to connect via passwords etc that the wifi signal requires?
I have a wireless modem at home that both laptops are "connected" to - will it be easy to set the Kindle up to do the same?
I am not very IT savvy (as if that wasn't obvious, hahaha).

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2011, 06:33:00 PM »

Hi Peter, really nothing to do with which product you choose but just something on wifi. I would NEVER do anything secure using wifi, no Internet banking of any kind at all. There are big security issues with wifi, being an open signal, anyone can tap into your system and take over your accounts, it really is that simple. I had a guy show me how easy it was an it blew me away, {he didn't steal anything} he is a computer tech and was talking to me about Internet banking because i refuse to do it and was talking to me about good anti virus {which i have} and the best ways to get around the banking issues. Regardless of what he said i still refuse to put my banking details online....

petercb750 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:47:45 PM »

RR - yes, have the same concerns.

It appears the Fire is only available to US customers at present - the same for the other touchscreen model. Am told it will be in Aus "sometime next year".
Having done some more research, I reckon the 3G model with keyboard is the way to go - US$139 - with near enough to parity with the Aus$ at the moment, it makes the $219 on our shelves here look a bit ordinary, so I reckon I'll order one via the net.

Now that's xmas taken care of.....birthday a few weeks after that.....................

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:04:45 AM »

Quote from: petercb750 on November 20, 2011, 02:33:26 PM

Just caught up with this thread and am thinking of getting a reader for xmas. Have looked at the web, but get confused with all the products - basically, is it worth paying the bit extra for the Kindle Fire and does it also have 3G? Is it necessarily important to have 3G? My understanding is that 3G will get you access when there is no wifi available. Will the wifi feature allow me to connect anywhere anytime (which I believe 3G does), or would I have to connect via passwords etc that the wifi signal requires?
I have a wireless modem at home that both laptops are "connected" to - will it be easy to set the Kindle up to do the same?
I am not very IT savvy (as if that wasn't obvious, hahaha).

The KIndle Fire is WiFi only, no 3G. However, I have been using an earlier Kindle with WiFi only and it connects via our home wireless router with no problems. I tried the Fire briefly with our home wireless network and it too will have no problem. My wife's earlier Kindle has both 3G and wireless, we have yet to need the 3G. If your primary use of the device will be reading, even if going on vacation you can plan well enough ahead. However, if your primary use will be web browsing, etc. away from home with the Fire may be a problem unless you want to use a public WiFi hot spot on the road (just avoid transmitting sensitive data). I've gotten around this using the secure WiFi hot spot feature on my phone (which essentially makes my cell phone a wireless router), so I can still access Kindle content. and the Web as long as we are within reach of a Verizon network node.

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:05:34 AM »

Quote from: Retro Rocket on November 20, 2011, 06:33:00 PM

Hi Peter, really nothing to do with which product you choose but just something on wifi. I would NEVER do anything secure using wifi, no Internet banking of any kind at all. There are big security issues with wifi, being an open signal, anyone can tap into your system and take over your accounts, it really is that simple. I had a guy show me how easy it was an it blew me away, {he didn't steal anything} he is a computer tech and was talking to me about Internet banking because i refuse to do it and was talking to me about good anti virus {which i have} and the best ways to get around the banking issues. Regardless of what he said i still refuse to put my banking details online....

in general, i agree with what you've said, but there are ways of securing your wifi beinning with your router. for mobile devices i've read good things about this vpn tool (i've provided a link to their faq):

http://m.hotspotshield.com/faq/index.html

as always YMMV

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:09:58 AM »

Quote from: Scott S on November 12, 2011, 03:03:12 PM

OK, so the Kindle Fire just jumped back on the list....

How does that compare to the Nook? This is what she sent me on her wish list:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-color-barnes-noble/1100437663

For what she needs, is the ipad2 worth $300 more?

now that it' shipped, there are numerous nook vs fire comparisons based on actual usage vs specs or hype. google is your friend

News:

Author Topic: Confused about tablet PC's/iPads/readers (Read 2468 times)