Got a tablet

[JimD]

I bought myself a Samsung 7 inch tablet for my birthday and have been messing with it. My daughter got me a Zagg Flex keyboard to go with it which really helps with typing input. I'm impressed with it and will continue to use it but I do not see it replacing a laptop for me. The screen is just too small and the operating system, while fast, just doesn't seem to offer as much. It makes simple checking of email simpler and quicker than the laptop, however, and is also good for simple blogging. But I can't do much of anything with my work emails on it and the font is awfully tiny for my eyes (the only part of me getting old ).

One reason I got it is to run an application called "torque". It displays parameters bluetoothed from your OBDII port on the laptop screen to create additional gauges. It also allows checking and erasing of error codes. It works but I need a mount to be able to use it while driving. The mount is on order.

Overall I would say this is one of those many things I could have really done without but, on the other hand, I like it and am happy I bought it. The instant on is really nice and it also gets to my email in fewer steps than I can on a laptop. Amazon kindle files can be moved to it very easily and I watched a good bit of a Netflix movie on it. Pretty handy little device.

Jim

[atgcpaul]

I agree a tablet is more on the luxury item side if you already have a laptop but I am finding more and more it is becoming indispensable for its convenience.

I reluctantly bought a refurb Motorola Xoom on Woot and I couldn't be without it now. My favorite thing about my tablet is the instant on. There's no waiting for the laptop to boot up. It has a built-in camera so I can snap a picture and upload it to Facebook or Picasa without having to drag out the USB cable, etc.

I also installed remote control software on the tablet so I can schedule TV recording events on my desktop PC, etc. Works very well. The Xoom has a 10" screen compared to your Samsung so that helps.

Give it time. I'm not going to say I don't use my desktop or laptop anymore because there are times when it's just more convenient to have access to a keyboard/mouse but for general Internet consumption, the tablet is great.

Paul

[cabinetman]

Overall I would say this is one of those many things I could have really done without but, on the other hand, I like it and am happy I bought it. The instant on is really nice and it also gets to my email in fewer steps than I can on a laptop. Amazon kindle files can be moved to it very easily and I watched a good bit of a Netflix movie on it. Pretty handy little device.

Jim

LOML has one and loves it. In fact, she has most of the new devices and loves all of them. Justification for any of them is tantamount on other things, like needing this to do that. And, we know what SWMBO means.

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[JimD]

I am on my tablet right now. Do either of you have a keyboard? I am a touch typist so the single finger aproach really slows me down. I like my little Zagg flex keyboard. The case of the keyboard is a stand for the tablet. The keyboard makes the tablet more useful to me.

With Microsoft now pushing Windows 8 I think it is clear that the line between tablets and computers is going to blur. A tablet with a keyboard is pretty much a laptop except for the operating system and now that doesn't have to be different either. I can see a real advantage to a tablet like laptop for traveling. In the office space for a mouse is no big deal but on a plane or in the airport that is not always the case. I can't get used to touch pads. But fingers (or a stylus) on the screen is pretty natural.

Jim

[atgcpaul]

Responding from my tablet. I passed on the keyboard option for mine. I do all my typing with pretty much my thumbs on the tablet while the other fingers hold it vertical. I type fast enough on it and the onscreen keyboard is plenty big.

My wife is excited for the Microsoft tablet but not the price. They support iPads at work and you can connect to the work network through VPN but they haven't made that leap for Android tablets. I hope Microsoft is proven right that people want to have a more seem less integration between their tablets and their PCs. I sure do.

My tablet weighs less than 2 pounds with the charger and has great battery life. If I ever take a vacation and don't actually plan to do any work remotely, I will definitely be bringing the tablet. It's got everything I need for a vacation--builtin entertainment, web surfing to find local things to do, and a built-in GPS if I get lost. My smartphone does the same thing but it's underpowered and not easy to interface with.

[Sparky2002]

I bought my wife the new Samsung Note 10.1 with the S pen. She had her eyes on a nice 14" Samsung laptop. But when we went to buy the laptop the Note had come out and was on display. She uses the stylus pen to take notes during her college classes. I did buy her a keyboard for home for reports. I have carpal tunnel and did not want the same to happen to her. For her lite use it is perfect.

Here is the keyboard I purchased, it synced instantly:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o01_s00_i01

You are going to find yourself using more and more.

[dbhost]

AT&T is releasing the new Samsung 5.5" Galaxy Note II. Not quite a tablet, but MUCH bigger screen than most smartphones. Quad Core CPU, good memory, MUCH better battery life than my HTC Inspire...

Do any of you know if the add on keyboard / accessories will work with the Galaxy Note II?

[Cochese]

Bluetooth keyboards will work fine, they do on my GS3.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[Mildoc]

I "know" LOML is getting me the new 8.9" HD Kindle Fire for Christmas. Don't tell her I know though.

[BigguyZ]

I bought the kindle fire when they were selling refurb ones on Amazon for mother's day. for $125, i figured it was a good test case to see if I wanted one.

I LOVE the Amazon Prime service on it, but I do wish I had an actual Android tablet so I could get access to Google Play. I want to get a 10" model, and have been eying the Note 10.1. I may use some reward points my company gives out to get one.

I'd really like the Nexus 10, but I'm leary that there's no Micro SD slot on it.

One more thing- once I got a smartphone, and even more so with getting the Kindle, I found myself getting back into games. I hadn't played video games in forever, given that I don't have large amounts of time. But these are so powerful I can play a graphically intense game on my phone or tablet. Definitely something I wasn't expecting, and I finally broke down and got a PS3. I still don't have a ton of time, but now i am working my way through several catalog titles that were cheap to pick up.

[JimD]

The keyboards work fine with phones, at least that is what they say on their website, as long as the phone has bluetooth capability. The Zagg keyboard synched without effort other than finding the "sync" button (my son spotted on it, it is near the on/off switch). My keyboard is almost exactly the same size as my 7 inch tablet - not big - but weighs less. It is much more compact than my laptop keyboard - but with better feel.

I've seen the "network" TVs advertised but not really investigated them. My blueray with Netflex access does pretty much what I think I need. But does anybody know how a network TV is interfaced with? Is it a bluetooth keyboard?

Jim