2-in-1 laptops any good?
Discussion
So my wife is going to inherit my iPad, her iPad Air 2 is toast and will go on eBay as spares/repairs and now I don't know what to replace mine with.
I do like the iPad, it's great for watching stuff and great for "sit and surf" on the sofa (although it's far too easy to waste time doing that and I'm trying to stop!) But sometimes I do need to use a proper computer, which at the moment is my works machine. But not being mine, I'm obviously limited on what I can do and this year I'd like to try and learn how to program with Angular.
So I was thinking of a 2-in-1 like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. Something that would be a good laptop but could be used to do those other leisure activities mentioned above.
Are they a solution or more of a gimmick? Any experiences?
My other thoughts were to just get another iPad (maybe a 12.9 inch one this time) and then nab a used Mac mini or similar and just remote desktop when I need to use a proper machine.
I do like the iPad, it's great for watching stuff and great for "sit and surf" on the sofa (although it's far too easy to waste time doing that and I'm trying to stop!) But sometimes I do need to use a proper computer, which at the moment is my works machine. But not being mine, I'm obviously limited on what I can do and this year I'd like to try and learn how to program with Angular.
So I was thinking of a 2-in-1 like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. Something that would be a good laptop but could be used to do those other leisure activities mentioned above.
Are they a solution or more of a gimmick? Any experiences?
My other thoughts were to just get another iPad (maybe a 12.9 inch one this time) and then nab a used Mac mini or similar and just remote desktop when I need to use a proper machine.
I have a Surface Pro and an iPad, the surface pro sits in a cupboard until I need something like a proper computer. It might get used maybe a couple of times a week at most these days.
The iPad is just so simple to pick up, instantly on, battery life is good and it does 99% of what i need.
The iPad is just so simple to pick up, instantly on, battery life is good and it does 99% of what i need.
I have an HP Elitebook 360 which allows the screen to fold right back and use it like a tablet.
I used that functionality once. I found it's just too heavy and unwieldy to use like an iPad, even though as a laptop it's a pretty sleek, light thing. Strange!
Having a touchscreen, though - excellent. Use that all the time in conventional laptop format. I would find it hard to have a laptop without one when the time comes to replace the HP.
It might be worth going to PC World and trying a 2 in 1 if you're thinking about a similar machine and trying it.
My boss had a Surface Pro and that was a nice bit of kit, but he never used it as a tablet, always with the keyboard attached. Again, try before you buy if you can.
Hope that helps.
I used that functionality once. I found it's just too heavy and unwieldy to use like an iPad, even though as a laptop it's a pretty sleek, light thing. Strange!
Having a touchscreen, though - excellent. Use that all the time in conventional laptop format. I would find it hard to have a laptop without one when the time comes to replace the HP.
It might be worth going to PC World and trying a 2 in 1 if you're thinking about a similar machine and trying it.
My boss had a Surface Pro and that was a nice bit of kit, but he never used it as a tablet, always with the keyboard attached. Again, try before you buy if you can.
Hope that helps.
I've got a Dell Inspiron 2 in 1. Decent enough laptop but too heavy to use as a tablet. The only times I fold the keyboard underneath fully for tablet mode is to play a drawing game with my nieces. Where I have found it useful though is being able to fold it flat and then stand it up on the table on an aircraft, leaning the top against the seat, to get the screen a lot higher for watching a film on a plane.
Yeah this echos what I've been reading on Reddit about this.
I think I'll stick with getting a tablet. An iPad or maybe a Galaxy Tab S7+, something like that and then I can get a small machine like a mac mini or a NUC like device that i can squirrel away in a cupboard and remote into when I need it.
Either that or just sack it and get a MB Air with M1... basically a laptop, with desktop power and tablet battery life. Sure it will be fine to use on the couch!
I think I'll stick with getting a tablet. An iPad or maybe a Galaxy Tab S7+, something like that and then I can get a small machine like a mac mini or a NUC like device that i can squirrel away in a cupboard and remote into when I need it.
Either that or just sack it and get a MB Air with M1... basically a laptop, with desktop power and tablet battery life. Sure it will be fine to use on the couch!
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 21st January 11:53
I picked up a MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and I only use my iPad as a YouTube / gaming device now. The MacBook is the same as an iPad with instant power up 20+ hours battery life etc but with a full OS and ace keyboard and trackpad.
Ive always had an iPad and always upgraded every 4/5 years as the battery tends to go at that point but I am not sure if I will this time, yes the MacBook is bigger and heavier but the only thing I use the iPad for now is as a second screen for the Mac when I am out and about. and to sign documents with the Apple Pencil.
Ive always had an iPad and always upgraded every 4/5 years as the battery tends to go at that point but I am not sure if I will this time, yes the MacBook is bigger and heavier but the only thing I use the iPad for now is as a second screen for the Mac when I am out and about. and to sign documents with the Apple Pencil.
LeeM135i said:
I picked up a MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and I only use my iPad as a YouTube / gaming device now. The MacBook is the same as an iPad with instant power up 20+ hours battery life etc but with a full OS and ace keyboard and trackpad.
Ive always had an iPad and always upgraded every 4/5 years as the battery tends to go at that point but I am not sure if I will this time, yes the MacBook is bigger and heavier but the only thing I use the iPad for now is as a second screen for the Mac when I am out and about. and to sign documents with the Apple Pencil.
Interesting, thanks!Ive always had an iPad and always upgraded every 4/5 years as the battery tends to go at that point but I am not sure if I will this time, yes the MacBook is bigger and heavier but the only thing I use the iPad for now is as a second screen for the Mac when I am out and about. and to sign documents with the Apple Pencil.
They really have played a blinder with their own CPU. They aren't even egregiously priced IMO.
I'm another who has one and rarely uses it as a tablet - Lenovo Yoga for me. Glad I got it for the price I paid and it does the job I need, however the few times I have used it as a tablet was just for testing and reminding myself I did not need a tablet. My iPad was a 3rd gen (the retina eye jobbie) and so was retired as the apps I used on it lost support, laptop was bought to replace an old laptop but I thought I could cover both bases. In the end I decided I did not need the tablet.
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