Posted on 08/22/2011 8:17:36 AM PDT by dangerdoc
Bump.
I don’t get the tablet craze. I’m 31 and don’t have a smartphone or a tablet. Seems to me the primary advertised functionality of, say, the iPad is that it can play games, edit photos, play music, and browse the web.
Try manipulating a 4,000 line spreadsheet with multiple pivot tables on a tablet, and we’ll talk. Sometimes a keyboard and a mouse win the day.
My wife bought the Zagg keyboard/cover for the iPad. Much, much lighter than a laptop. And without the keyboard, she uses the iPad as a gaming/reader device. YMMV.
IMHO, the iPad is just the Nintendo DS on steroids. It’s fun for kids to play games on.
Darren Murph is a tard.
Sorry, there is no better way to say this. He’s mentally difficient, he’s not the person that Engadget wants on staff. He’s not smart enough to work, let alone be published.
The iPad is a LEISURE device. It excells as a book reader, displaying photo’s, playing movies, limited game play, surfing the net, checking email, and entertainment sort of activities. It was never designed to be a productivity device.
A laptop excells at productivity. The built-in keyboard, extensive hard drive space, processing capabilities, I/O devices make this a mobile workstation.
When you bring up the virtual keyboard on the iPad, you have a ‘screen’ of what you are typing appear, that measures approximately 3 inches tall, by 6 inches wide. Sure, you can easily respond to an email with a 3x6 screen; but do you want to write a report, prepare a presentation, or work a spreadsheet with a screen that measures 3x6? Nope.
A motorcyle and a lawn mower are two entirely different devices. Each has a specific task they were designed for. Too bad the author hasn’t grasped this basic concept.
He’s wrong and he’s right. It depends. For some people, it has replaced the laptop, or been used in new ways, like to take orders at a restaurant, or work with customers. For others, who need spreadsheets or a keypad, it is useless. I go days sometimes without using my laptop, and i can take my ipad places i would never take a laptop. It is a very useful tool, for me.
Watching a movie on a 4.3 inch screen kicks ass over a 10 inch screen. :)
The tablets, to be useful, need a good handwriting recognition program.
The writer says “After years of watching the masses fawn over the iPad ...”
It may seem like years, but the iPad debuted just 16 months ago. I agree with some of his points, disagree with others, but mainly, I am old-fashioned enough to think that 16 months isn’t a very long time to base an “it’s useless” judgment on...
You don't want a tablet that can do this. A tablet, on the other hand, is a highly glorified Kindle. Great for books, magazines, 'some' games (your hands are in the way), watching movies, email and web surfing. Travel a lot? 10 hour of battery life means you can watch movies and read while you are in the plane. This is an LEISURE (think entertainment) device, not a PRODUCTIVITY device.
I have a Sony PocketReader that cost a lot less than a tablet. With the 2nd magnification level, the text is quite easy to read. Since I'm not in to movies, that's a wasted point for me. The photos aspect I can understand, but paying $500+ just to read some books and show a recent photo to a friend doesn't calculate.
I took a recent look at these things, and came up unimpressed. I love my laptop for its workstation ability, my Sony Reader for it's compact means of carrying a multitude of books with me, and my non-smartphone for doing what a phone's supposed to do without all the extra garbage and expense. I'm a happy guy...
Got my wife one for xmas - most of what she uses a computer for is surfing and video viewing from that perspective it’s perfect. I’d consider it except that I like multiple windows open at the same time and I can’t run many applications, so for me a laptop or desktop is a better solution. I have an ipod touch for calendar, to dos, instand photo/video, and boredom relief while waiting in line.
bump.
I was lucky enough to get in on the HP Touchpad ‘fire sale’ that virtually shut down every major electronics e-tailer and retailer this weekend. I’m posting from it right now. Its been out for 6 weeks and the price dropped from 599.00 to..... 99.00
which caused and is still causing pandemonium on various sites/stores..most are sold out now. This thing Is an AWESOME machine and for 99.00 it wouldve been stupid NOT to buy one.
There is a 5000+ page thread on the slickdeals.net forum updating by the second...get one if you can
I got an iPad to work on my artwork. I needed the portability it offers over a laptop and my desktop computer. I have also taken it out to do plein air painting, tho have spent half the time explaining to the curious.
While it doesnt do everything, it has been worth it for me in increased productivity.
Saw the deal on WOOT from B&N. Ordered 2!!
The slate is missing a handwriting recognition program to really be useful.
hope they dont cancel your order...from what I’m reading it is a crap shoot..cancelling 3 of every 4 orders since they didnt have the inventory to back up the selling numbers..this is pretty much what is going on all over..never seen anything like this
Handwriting is going to require a stilus - you can type faster than you can write.
You can install the Dragon Naturally Speaking app (for Free) and that will simply use the microphone and you can dictate your note. They have really improved voice recognition.
You can’t easily type a mathematical formula, in an easily readable form.
You cannot type a picture.
You cannot easily sit at a park bench and use a laptop.
You can’t sit on a bus and use a laptop.
There are areas that are appropriate for tablets that appropriate for laptops.
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