Since a couple of weeks, it jumped in my mind I really need to have a tablet. Not just for fun, but it would make things at work a little easier as well.
Now, there's only 2 tablets I'm interested in. The Galaxy Tab 2 and the new Ipad
I've spent many hours on internet reading reviews and comparisons but I just can't make up my mind. If I had the money, heck, I'd buy them both just to compare
Any of you guys have any experiences with any of the tablets? At this moment my mind is leaning towards the Samsung, as it has 3G attached to it at the same price of an iPad without 3G.
Most important thing for me is the battery life and free apps (don't really know if iOS or Android 4.0 is better for free apps)
Any help will be greatly appreciated 'cause I'm in a real pickle here.
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The obvious question is what kind of phone you have. Getting a tablet using a similar OS would make the most sense. Generally speaking, Apple offers a very "fixed" environment whereas Android offers more customizing.
If you're after free apps, there is more in the Android space.
Personally, after having a tablet device for over a year, my wife and I barely use it and when we do, it's for watching vids when we travel and that's about it.
A couple of people are testing iPads at work and bringing them in place of laptops. For the work we do, it doesn't seem to fit the bill that well. Not just iPads, tablets in general.
I have a BlackBerry, but I have absolutely no need to sync both. I don't use my phone that much and if I need to call we have a cell at work. Well, the things they sold 10 years ago as mobile phones, nothing fancy at all ;-)
As a customer service agent, there's really no need to have a tablet at work. But I'm also representative of 2 airlines (yes, I have a busy work life). After every flight I need to make and send some pretty extensive reports to the chief and my laptop is a no-go, as the machine is as good as dead with the battery. Running back to the office is not done in between flights as a one way to the office could take up as much as 30 minutes in Brussels. So between 2 flights, if the parking is a little on the bad side, you lose an hour just to get to the office and back. So a tablet would be a good alternative for me.
I'm eagerly awaiting more answers so I can finally make my decision
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If you're doing a lot of typing, I'd suggest getting a very good netbook (eg. HP DM1) or an ultrabook. Something with great battery life. In between flights, just shut it down. If you really want to be safe, just keep a 2nd batt around (although I'm not sure they can be replaced on an ultrabook). Run a SSD and start-up takes seconds.
You can get a bluetooth keyboard for all tablets but the quality of apps just isn't the same as running Office. If you're fooling around with a lot of formatting and embedding spreadsheets/images, you're going to be really frustrated on a tablet.
As for the iPad, my colleagues tell me it can run "as long as" 6 to 8 hours with light usage. However, once the batt is dead (on any tablet), it's dead. No 2nd batt.
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Don't forget to include the Microsoft Surface tablet in your evaluations - release is coming soon, on or after the general release date of Windows 8 (October 26th):
It's not huge typing, but more of filling things out on a standardised form.
I'm not a big fan of netbooks, never been actually. I'm just not too sure why I haven't
Just want to give the tablet stuff a try, I guess.
I've been told you can charge as much as 1000 times and the battery still has about 80% of the original capacity left, so that's should take us quite far.
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The batt technology (Li ion) is the same for laptops, cellphones, and tablets. Your own experience should be a guide to the longevity of a tablet batt.
I chose an iPad over a laptop. So far the only downside is no flash player (and it can't be added). Also, the only browser is Safari. Once I got used to the sensitive keyboard, it was fine. Battery time has been good, but sometimes I
have to run off wall current late in the evening.
That's also a point that might hold me back from me not buying the iPad. I think it's a real shame such an important portion is not included in an iPad.
Non-NonRev, thanks, I didn't even consider that option. But since I'm contra Windows 8, I don't think I'll be going for it. Also, as this is the first MS tablet, I think it might have some drawbacks as every first release of something has.
Couple of questions for you. Does your work offer remote access via a Citrix server?
Have you considered a Blackberry playbook at all?
I am asking since I own both; the Ipad 3 WIFI 64G and Blackberry Playbook 64G coupled to a blackberry 9900. I am an Airline crew member and spend approximately 20to 22 days per month roaming around the globe. The advantage of the playbook is clear once you get to know it better. The playbook works on WIFI just like he iPad; but it can also bridge from your blackberry (not tethering, but bluetooth bridge) in which you can draw data from your Blackberry phone (directly from rim) at no additional cost when you are abroad and be connected to your company desktop via citrix receiver. I use mine all the time to check email and work on small files on the go without having to wait until I get to a hotel or wifi area.
If you have a Tmobile Blackberry that can do UMA, you will have a perfect combination for yur international travel.
At the current prices for playbooks they are the best bargain around for excellent hardware; and great convenience for on the go when coupled to a blackberry.
Once you are in a wifi area you can either use wifi to connect irecly to the net and access citrix receiver for your work or home desktop (connection will be faster) or continue to use Bridge from phone if no wifi.
Now; another advantage; if travelling to places where internet access is restricted like in China or middle east you can connect your blackberry phone to wifi and then either bride or bluetooth tether (faster option) your playbook to the blackberry and have access to websites that otherwise would be blocked.
As I said; I carry both of them and use my iPad mostly for Skype and inflight or ground GPS coupled to a a Bad Elf bluetooth GPS receiver or wifi web surfing; and my playbook is my prodution unit for email and other work related work.
Both my iPad and Playbook have bluetooth keyboards in their cases so email or web work is pretty easy and quick.
Just my 02 dents on an option I have not seen mentioned.
I have an iPad and love it. In choosing between Apple and Android, there is a second issue about the ecosphere not touched on very much. Apple has one tablet design and one phone design. This means that it is more profitable to design thousands of accessories for Apple. The thousands of permutations of Android phones and tablets out there mean that the base design may be more to your liking than Apple, but there will be less accessories out there.
I agree with people about Surface. Microsoft is clearly trying to leverage its control of the Office product. The Office alternatives for iPad are workable, but less compelling.
The obvious question is what kind of phone you have. Getting a tablet using a similar OS would make the most sense. Generally speaking, Apple offers a very "fixed" environment whereas Android offers more customizing.
If you're after free apps, there is more in the Android space.
I believe there are more FREE apps for the Apple products than there are ALL APPS, free and paid, for the Android market. Since programmers are making more money off the Apple market it is more likely that newer and better apps will appear first on the iPhone/iPad.
This is a common complaint among BB/Android users. Why do many companies focus first (and for a long time exclusively) on the Apple iOS app market. Because that is where they money is.
I chose an iPad over a laptop. So far the only downside is no flash player (and it can't be added). Also, the only browser is Safari. Once I got used to the sensitive keyboard, it was fine. Battery time has been good, but sometimes I
have to run off wall current late in the evening.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by planemechanic
I believe there are more FREE apps for the Apple products than there are ALL APPS, free and paid, for the Android market.
And I read some professional market reports where it states there are more free apps on Android. Regardless of which is correct, there are now enough free apps on both than more people could ever need.
Quote:
Originally Posted by planemechanic
This is a common complaint among BB/Android users. Why do many companies focus first (and for a long time exclusively) on the Apple iOS app market. Because that is where they money is.
That certainly wasn't the complaint with the SPG app!
