Time for a tablet.

Author
Discussion

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

242 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
My old tower P.C. is now coming to the end of its life and I am thinking about buying a Tablet in its place. PC knowledge or anything techy is definitely not my thing of understanding, therefore I would appreciate some advise on which Tablet makes a sensible purchase together with a shiny new printer. Budget around 400 quid sound reasonable?
Thank you for advise and comments.

grumbledoak

31,503 posts

232 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
What do you want it for? I love my Lumia 2520 but I still have the full tower PC for serious stuff - i.e. any document or content creation.

For my mother's "Silver Surfing" I got her a Google Nexus 10. Great for surfing, fantastic screen. But she cannot print...

14-7

6,233 posts

190 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Apple ipad air from the refurb store and a printer. Slightly more than than 400 notes but it will work just fine and have no issues.

JulianHJ

8,733 posts

261 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
grumbledoak said:
What do you want it for? I love my Lumia 2520 but I still have the full tower PC for serious stuff - i.e. any document or content creation.

For my mother's "Silver Surfing" I got her a Google Nexus 10. Great for surfing, fantastic screen. But she cannot print...
Likewise, I bought my mum a Nexus 10 when she decided to downsize from her Dell desktop. She's very happy with it, and doesn't appear to miss the PC.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
If you can stretch the budget to add a printer, this is a fantastic deal

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/ipa...

If you don't want/need the 12" then the Galaxy 10" are good value.

14-7

6,233 posts

190 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
If you can stretch the budget to add a printer, this is a fantastic deal

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/ipa...

If you don't want/need the 12" then the Galaxy 10" are good value.
I'm typing this on a Tabpro 12.2 after deciding to upgrade from my ipad 2. I can honestly say after over 2 weeks with the Tabpro the ipad was more fluid when doing things despite being a few years older.

The apps for the Tab just aren't up to scratch compared to an ipad. There are several features I like but there is just something that I can't put my finger on that makes me unhappy with the Tab. It just doesn't feel complete and thought through properly. Like a mismatch chucked together.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
I'm using my Note Pro 12.2 more and more over my iPad 3, I find it to be streets ahead.

Don't understand your comment regarding apps either, there are good and bad for both iOS and Android.

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

242 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Thank you for all your replies, the use I will put the tablet to is generally surfing, home office stuff like letters, flyer production, storage of images and such like. We use B.T. wireless if that makes any difference. Thanks again.

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

242 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Thank you for all your replies, the use I will put the tablet to is generally surfing, home office stuff like letters, flyer production, storage of images, printing off invitations and such like. We use B.T. wireless if that makes any difference. Thanks again.

lestag

4,614 posts

275 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
crankedup said:
Thank you for all your replies, the use I will put the tablet to is generally surfing, home office stuff like letters, flyer production, storage of images and such like. We use B.T. wireless if that makes any difference. Thanks again.
Are you looking to still use applications that run on a windows OS?
What are you expecting to run on the tablet? do you want Microsoft word or are you happy to use something else?

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
the Microsoft Surface tablet comes with a full office 360 suite (so word, powerpoint excell etc) as well as onedrive for "cloud" storage plus all the usual web surfing etc ..

love mine, however no ideas what they cost in the UK

megaphone

10,694 posts

250 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
I suggest you try a tablet first, try and compose a word doc or similar, try inserting a picture etc. I found it a right faff, way too much of a faff to move me away from my desktop or laptop. Yes, they are great for surfing the net and running apps, okay for basic emailing, but they will never replace a proper computer, with a keyboard and mouse, for word/excel and the like.

Maybe a laptop would be a better option for you?

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
megaphone said:
I suggest you try a tablet first, try and compose a word doc or similar, try inserting a picture etc. I found it a right faff, way too much of a faff to move me away from my desktop or laptop. Yes, they are great for surfing the net and running apps, okay for basic emailing, but they will never replace a proper computer, with a keyboard and mouse, for word/excel and the like.

Maybe a laptop would be a better option for you?
Without wanting to start an iOS/Android war, this is one reason that I find the Samsung better than the iPad for "office" type duties.

You can use both a BT Keyboard AND Mouse with Android, and for working with documents and spreedsheets the ability to use a mouse is a big plus (for me).

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

242 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
megaphone said:
I suggest you try a tablet first, try and compose a word doc or similar, try inserting a picture etc. I found it a right faff, way too much of a faff to move me away from my desktop or laptop. Yes, they are great for surfing the net and running apps, okay for basic emailing, but they will never replace a proper computer, with a keyboard and mouse, for word/excel and the like.

Maybe a laptop would be a better option for you?
Once again thanks for all tips/advise, its all well useful. I will be popping into PCworld later for a look around and try out. You may well be right on the laptop suggestion. TBH the last thing I want is to have to go through a new tech learning process, some oldies like me struggle with tech! Basically I just need to be able to continue as my current use. Emails, surf,send/receive images,letter and document writing, on-line bank and such like.
I would much prefer to continue use of microsoft applications as that is what I have used for a while now.

clonmult

10,529 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
megaphone said:
I suggest you try a tablet first, try and compose a word doc or similar, try inserting a picture etc. I found it a right faff, way too much of a faff to move me away from my desktop or laptop. Yes, they are great for surfing the net and running apps, okay for basic emailing, but they will never replace a proper computer, with a keyboard and mouse, for word/excel and the like.

Maybe a laptop would be a better option for you?
Without wanting to start an iOS/Android war, this is one reason that I find the Samsung better than the iPad for "office" type duties.

You can use both a BT Keyboard AND Mouse with Android, and for working with documents and spreedsheets the ability to use a mouse is a big plus (for me).
So with an iPad you could have either a bluetooth mouse or keyboard, but not both?

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
clonmult said:
So with an iPad you could have either a bluetooth mouse or keyboard, but not both?
iPad won't connect to a mouse.



ETA - I believe it is technically possible, but needs jailbreak.


Edited by sgrimshaw on Friday 22 August 18:10

lestag

4,614 posts

275 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
quotequote all
crankedup said:
Once again thanks for all tips/advise, its all well useful. I will be popping into PCworld later for a look around and try out. You may well be right on the laptop suggestion. TBH the last thing I want is to have to go through a new tech learning process, some oldies like me struggle with tech! Basically I just need to be able to continue as my current use. Emails, surf,send/receive images,letter and document writing, on-line bank and such like.
I would much prefer to continue use of microsoft applications as that is what I have used for a while now.
Then have a look at the surface 2 pro or surface 3. Just avoid Windows 8.x RT it can't run any applications that you have installed on your PC, that you may want to install on your replacement
Lenovo Yoga is another option.
Just be careful of Intel Atom processors as they are at the low end of power (Surface 2 pro is an I5 )

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

242 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
quotequote all
thumbup

eggchaser1987

1,608 posts

148 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
quotequote all
I suggested to someone on here a few weeks ago. I have an Asus t100, it is netbook kind of size 10.1" screen I think but comes with the keyboard to unclip if you want to use it as a tablet.

It uses windows 8.1 and I have no problem using that once you have tried it a couple of times and, depending on where you get it to t will come with office home and student.

Might be worth a look, think it costs around £299 so still plenty fir a printer as well.

edt to add link on amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00G4E60UA?pc_redi...

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
quotequote all
Asus t100 is £280 in PC World / Currys ...

Sorelt tempted to pick one up to play with.