Tablet to replace laptop

[MrB.]

Hello all. I know it’s probably been asked a thousand times, but, I’m wondering if this is a viable route for me now. My MacBook Pro is coming up for 10 years old now, and is slowing down a considerable amount. It’s already been to Apple for a refresh, and even they advised it was possibly past its prime. Now, that was last year when I was running my business through it, so resizing photos, uploading and editing video, mail shots and a bit of publishing to send out to my database was vital. Now I’ve closed the business, I use it for my writing, e-mails and web browsing mostly.

My main “go to” device is my iPad Mini (although it’s only 2 years old, it’s the first gem that had the lightning connector, so not the latest) and I have a cheap portable Bluetooth keyboard with it.

So, if I were to resign the MacBook, what is the general consensus to turning to tablet/keyboard replacement at a cheap cost? Samsung Tab? Surface? iPad with Smart Keyboard? I had an Lenovo one that I’ve tried, but that’s a bit clunky now, and I feel the screen of my Mini is fine for general reading and the odd e-mail, but my writing is fairly weighty, and so I feel the screen is too small for it, and lack mouse/trackpad a bit annoying.

Thoughts?

[Timmay0]

Chromebook all the way for this.
It will run Google Chrome, plus most android apps, with no Windows / OSX bloat to get in the way and slow it down. All the benefits of a tablet in a laptop form.

[telford_mike]

I gave away my laptop after I retired and now just use the iPad. An external Bluetooth keyboard (the standard Apple one) is nice if you do a lot of typing.

[AJB88]

Timmay0 said:

Chromebook all the way for this.
It will run Google Chrome, plus most android apps, with no Windows / OSX bloat to get in the way and slow it down. All the benefits of a tablet in a laptop form.

I agree as somebody who has had/still has a few ChromeOS devices.

Just have to slightly alter the way you work initially. Just dont be suckered into devices with 2gb ram, 4gb is minimum. I've upgraded all mine to 8gb for the headroom.

[Integroo]

Definitely a Chromebook if it is just for e-mails and web browsing, my Asus C302 2-in-1 is an excellent bit of kit for £400. My only complaint is the screen isn't great, so if you intend to watch a lot of Netflix or the like on it may be worth spending a little more.

[grumbledoak]

MrB. said:

...

So, if I were to resign the MacBook, what is the general consensus to turning to tablet/keyboard replacement at a cheap cost? Samsung Tab? Surface? iPad with Smart Keyboard? I had an Lenovo one that I’ve tried, but that’s a bit clunky now, and I feel the screen of my Mini is fine for general reading and the odd e-mail, but my writing is fairly weighty, and so I feel the screen is too small for it, and lack mouse/trackpad a bit annoying.

Thoughts?

What software do you do your writing in?

[MrB.]

grumbledoak said:

MrB. said:

...

So, if I were to resign the MacBook, what is the general consensus to turning to tablet/keyboard replacement at a cheap cost? Samsung Tab? Surface? iPad with Smart Keyboard? I had an Lenovo one that I’ve tried, but that’s a bit clunky now, and I feel the screen of my Mini is fine for general reading and the odd e-mail, but my writing is fairly weighty, and so I feel the screen is too small for it, and lack mouse/trackpad a bit annoying.

Thoughts?

What software do you do your writing in?

Pages on the MB. I’ve gotten used to it, but I suppose it would just be getting used to something else if I went away from Apple.

[grumbledoak]

MrB. said:

Pages on the MB. I’ve gotten used to it, but I suppose it would just be getting used to something else if I went away from Apple.

Be sure to look into the alternatives on Chromebook before you buy one. In the end it's the software applications that you want, the OS and the hardware are incidental.

[prand]

I have an old refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad that I dust off for document/spreadsheet work, the odd bit of photo, music or film editing and printing. I don't think I really need a tablet anymore (the kids have hijacked mine anyway) as I use my phone for everything else, or watch films and programmes on the TV.

[deckster]

grumbledoak said:

MrB. said:

Pages on the MB. I’ve gotten used to it, but I suppose it would just be getting used to something else if I went away from Apple.

Be sure to look into the alternatives on Chromebook before you buy one. In the end it's the software applications that you want, the OS and the hardware are incidental.

The OS, yes. The hardware, less so. A decent screen and a full-size keyboard make a huge difference if you're using it for creating content rather than just browsing and writing the odd email.

[anonymous-user]

Lenovo Tab 10 plus with a bluetooth keyboard (that lives in the cover/case) is what I have. Great tablet, great value, great keyboard.

I'll be honest, I almost never use the keyboard, but then I use the tab almost exclusively for browsing, short email replies, and video streaming. I use my desktop for long typing.

These Chromebooks sound like they are good - never used one but they get suggested a lot.

[bloomen]

Make a list of all the programs you use and need and go from there. If they're all available on a tablet then you're all set to try it.

I have tons of programs that I couldn't obtain for anything other than Windows, and they need a decent amount of power too. A tablet or Chromebook would be no use for me.

[feef]

I can almost work form my iPad with bluetooth keyboard. Even for software development, I use Coda on the iPad and store my files on a server that I access via SFTP, so that means I can do pretty much whatever I need to do.

[MrB.]

I favour the tablet & keyboard combo as it would replace two machines with one. It’s also a bit more portable, so when I’m travelling/at home/on lav/holiday, it’s just used as a tablet for reading etc, but gets plugged back onto keyboard upon return for writing.

Good suggestion about looking at the OS/software first before hardware. Hadn’t looked at it like that.