Can't decide on buying a tablet.

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond) 07/31/2014 at 22:33 • Filed to: None

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Focus: ability to write and write a lot when the occasion hits. Also, I enjoy the occasional game but nothing super hard core (I do not plan to load up the most recent BF franchise on ultra)...but there has to be some sort of decent power for something fun thats more than Angry birds. It's clownshoes.

i don't want to spend a thousand bucks on a surface pro 3 but the ipad cant do what i need, (digitizer helps in editing/marking-up/note taking) and the 2 in 1 i3,5,7 notebooks (thinkpad yogas and x2 HP's and VAIO) all get up there in equal price or more but aren't as well integrated. Dell's Venue 11 is very good but suffers from digitizer woes (they're getting better) and the screen isn't too nice with the on screen keyboard (mmmmulttippple lettterr hhhittsss)...which i will need to work well in space issue locations. planes and other spaces where unfolding a laptop isn't possible or just too annoying to deal with, plus boot up times of a tablet allow the ability to just whip it out and do work then put it away without having to prepare the system, or save and what not...waiting...

any of you have windows8 tablets? thoughts? opinions on your use of them and how it's worked out?

GhostZ > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 22:40

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You do not want a tablet if you're writing. That is silly.

You want something with an actual keyboard. I have not seen an on-screen keyboard in production, or a handwriting digitizer, that is better than a plain old hard keyboard for accurate and fast input. And it's not much more expensive to get a netbook than it is a tablet.

What's your budget? $500? (that's about what a Venue costs, I think) You can get a great netbook for that.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 22:42

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If you want to write do you mean typing or physically writing. If the latter get a Galaxy Note Tablet.

Conan > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 22:50

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Surface 3 Pro, depending on budget. My girlfriend likes her Yoga 2 Pro which is sorta a tablet, though it has a tendency to bleed battery life too rapidly when asleep.

Grindintosecond > GhostZ 07/31/2014 at 22:55

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Well I do want a real keyboard for most of the work but there are places where the OSK has been a wonderful thing. For example in that super cramped coach set behind the exit row where even a tablet with keyboard would be tough to use, or the jumpseat while riding to work up front. Both places to use that at, but if anything, it's a way to get the inspiration down then and there, and then edit it later with the keyboard.

I'm revisiting the refurbished venue 11 and $500 is a steal.

Grindintosecond > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/31/2014 at 22:57

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Type. But the writing physically on the tablet would have to be just like pad and paper if i have a long string of stuff to get down. Galaxy note doesn't have the power for the other stuff i occasionally do.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 22:59

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Ok, it comes with the stylus to write like pad and paper, but if it can't handle what you usually need it for I'm of no help. Sorry.

mattoverdrive > Conan 07/31/2014 at 23:16

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I think a yoga would fit his needs very well.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 23:19

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I have an Acer W5 but I don't think it would suit what you want, the little ariel atom chip wouldn't be powerful enough and the keyboard is shit for typing anything substantial.

I only really use it for browsing the web when I can't be bothered going into the study to use my desktop.

Grindintosecond > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 07/31/2014 at 23:21

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i got my wife the Acer switchtab 10. same sort of thing but a 10" tablet and a real keyboard that although small is actually not bad at all for typing on. It's just a browser tablet with the ability to process something once in a while but really it's all she needs. I just need a bit more power and a bit more screen...just a bit.

Grindintosecond > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/31/2014 at 23:24

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No, you were help. the galaxy note 10 it truly a great tablet. Theres some professional authors out there that hammer away on a nexus 7. yeah, books on that thing but they do edit on real paper and i'm sure there's some shortcomings but for them it's a great thing for hardly any money. I just need a tad more power.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 23:36

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Well good luck in your tablet search.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 23:38

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more power means shorter battery life.. but if it's anything like my W5 it can take a hit without too much trouble. I only plug mine in once a week maybe. but I only use it for 20-30 mins a day.

NaturallyAspirated > Grindintosecond 07/31/2014 at 23:53

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I have a Surface Pro 1. It's great. These come up as refurbs on eBay from time to time. I didn't buy the overpriced keyboard attachment, I'm using an iPad Bluetooth keyboard from Amazon and it works fine. If I have to do a lot of typing, I'll plug in a nicer keyboard via USB.

It's definitely heavy compared to an iPad or Android tablet, and it feels more delicate, if that makes sense.

tromoly > Grindintosecond 08/01/2014 at 01:31

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I have an Asus Transformer Infinity, it's Android so that might not fit your requirements, but it's a pretty good tablet. I have written a couple papers on it using the keyboard dock, it's really not the worst keyboard in the world. The keyboard also has a second battery in it that charges the tablet, super convenient.

Look at the Asus lines, they may have something that fits your needs, and their stuff is pretty good. Best wishes with your searches.

ToyDeathbot > Grindintosecond 08/01/2014 at 01:53

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There aren't really a lot of choices you can go, but here's my opinions...

I currently use a Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) for notetaking/web browsing/occasional intense app and games and I am very happy of the results despite the fact that I hate and still hate Samsung. The thing is light and handy, so you can chuck it around everywhere and the battery can last at least 2 days. I use a wireless bluetooth keyboard when I need the occasional typing. However, I still need to have a home 'base' when I need a bit of power. Even though it's 7 years old, my Asus F3Se is chugging along nicely connected to an external monitor and I'm planning a full upgrade to a desktop when the next cycle comes out.

In my opinion, there are two ways to approach this type of scenario, my one, where you have a home 'base' and then a lightweight tablet when you're out and about.

Otherwise, the other option is to carry around a mid-sized laptop with no pen input or an under-powered tablet hybrid. I have some friends who have gone in this direction with the Yoga 2, Surface Pro and some Acer which I can't remember. With the weight and average battery life, they've tended to forget/not use the pen input and usually have to carry the charger around. The bonus is of course, you have a full laptop with you, but with a small screen size, I prefer not to use touchscreen and do heavy duty work.

Good luck in your search!

Grindintosecond > ToyDeathbot 08/01/2014 at 10:24

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good points all of them. My home "base" is a three monitor game rig I won a few years back but I also have two kids and family so any real power use time I have is now in hotels. Considering giving the third monitor to family. The small screen issue is justified as I do need smaller and lighter for travel. Venue battery lasts 6 or more hours and surface lasts 9. so, a SP2 or venue seems to be the thing. Cant afford a 3.

Thanks for the input showing real world use. I appreciate that.