Laptop / Tablet / Hybrid / Chromebook thoughts
Discussion
Hi all, I'm currently after a portable device that's bigger than my phone to use around the house.
I don't particularly want to spend loads of money.
I have used many of the various options, and am well aware of their limitations and compromises, the problem is, I just can't make up my mind.
In terms of tablets, you really have only iPads and Android tablets to choose from. Although I have always traditionally been an Android user, I have to admit that iPads seem to represent by far the most polished tablet experience. Main issue is price though, with the iPad Pro still fetching ~ £500 for any capacity worth having even second hand. I could drop down to the Air 2, which is a lot cheaper, but my girlfriend has the Air and that is getting very sluggish these days - I know the 2 is a generation on but it's probably only going to be a year behind in the obsolescence stakes.
I have looked at the Android equivalents, but your choices seem to be budget crap (and I already have a Hudl 2 but its getting long in the tooth these days), or stuff like the Pixel tablet, which is the only Android tablet that really appeals to me, or a Samsung of some description. Problem is, both of those options are expensive, and Android really isn't a great tablet experience for me, with too many apps being optimised for phone use or just an after-thought generally. If I were going to pay top dollar for a tablet it should at least be a good experience.
Then there are the Chromebooks. I've had a couple of these little machines in the past, and I've actually quite liked them for what they are. Ideally now thought I'd want a hybrid device. There is the Chromebook Flip at around £250 which looks about the best option although I am concerned that at 10" the keyboard would be a bit cramped as I've had similar stuff before and found that to be the case. There are the more premium offerings, but £500+ for a web browser based laptop is not really cutting it for me, as good as these things are, I'm not sure they make sense at this price.
One option I do have is buying a refurb from my workplace. I can get a Lenovo Yoga S1 with Windows 8.1, a Core i5, 8Gb of RAM and a 180Gb SSD for £250. This could easily be upgraded to Windows 10 and lowish screen res aside (768p) this would seem to be the best spec by far that I could ever hope to have at this price, and it has a 12 month warranty chucked in for good measure.
Any other thoughts, its mainly just for browsing and light gaming (nothing serious I have a desktop for that) around the house. If there are any other options I should look at, please fire away!
I don't particularly want to spend loads of money.
I have used many of the various options, and am well aware of their limitations and compromises, the problem is, I just can't make up my mind.
In terms of tablets, you really have only iPads and Android tablets to choose from. Although I have always traditionally been an Android user, I have to admit that iPads seem to represent by far the most polished tablet experience. Main issue is price though, with the iPad Pro still fetching ~ £500 for any capacity worth having even second hand. I could drop down to the Air 2, which is a lot cheaper, but my girlfriend has the Air and that is getting very sluggish these days - I know the 2 is a generation on but it's probably only going to be a year behind in the obsolescence stakes.
I have looked at the Android equivalents, but your choices seem to be budget crap (and I already have a Hudl 2 but its getting long in the tooth these days), or stuff like the Pixel tablet, which is the only Android tablet that really appeals to me, or a Samsung of some description. Problem is, both of those options are expensive, and Android really isn't a great tablet experience for me, with too many apps being optimised for phone use or just an after-thought generally. If I were going to pay top dollar for a tablet it should at least be a good experience.
Then there are the Chromebooks. I've had a couple of these little machines in the past, and I've actually quite liked them for what they are. Ideally now thought I'd want a hybrid device. There is the Chromebook Flip at around £250 which looks about the best option although I am concerned that at 10" the keyboard would be a bit cramped as I've had similar stuff before and found that to be the case. There are the more premium offerings, but £500+ for a web browser based laptop is not really cutting it for me, as good as these things are, I'm not sure they make sense at this price.
One option I do have is buying a refurb from my workplace. I can get a Lenovo Yoga S1 with Windows 8.1, a Core i5, 8Gb of RAM and a 180Gb SSD for £250. This could easily be upgraded to Windows 10 and lowish screen res aside (768p) this would seem to be the best spec by far that I could ever hope to have at this price, and it has a 12 month warranty chucked in for good measure.
Any other thoughts, its mainly just for browsing and light gaming (nothing serious I have a desktop for that) around the house. If there are any other options I should look at, please fire away!
Foliage said:
Doesn't look bad that actually for the money but 2Gb would be a worry the way I use browser tabs! Thanks for the suggestion though... perhaps I'll have a look for a higher model.I still can't decide....
I like the idea of the premium Chromebook flip and Samsung pro but they're big money for a browser based system. Sure they will run android apps these days but apparently the experience is rather unpolished to say the least.
I thought second hand macbook but again it's a lot of money for a second hand laptop which will probably just be used for browsing.
iPads undeniably the best tablets but it's a lot of money.
The yoga I spoke of earlier has a good spec but it's essentially what we use at work, do I really want to feel like I'm using a work machine? Also a bit big and heavy...
Android tablets are either rubbish or far too expensive. (I'm looking at you pixel)
At this rate I might just end up getting a cheap Chromebook or sticking with the hudl!
I like the idea of the premium Chromebook flip and Samsung pro but they're big money for a browser based system. Sure they will run android apps these days but apparently the experience is rather unpolished to say the least.
I thought second hand macbook but again it's a lot of money for a second hand laptop which will probably just be used for browsing.
iPads undeniably the best tablets but it's a lot of money.
The yoga I spoke of earlier has a good spec but it's essentially what we use at work, do I really want to feel like I'm using a work machine? Also a bit big and heavy...
Android tablets are either rubbish or far too expensive. (I'm looking at you pixel)
At this rate I might just end up getting a cheap Chromebook or sticking with the hudl!
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