Attn: Tablet Owners

[Kettle]

What do you use your tablet for?

I will be going back to school in the near future, and will certainly be getting a machine of some sort for myself whether it be a laptop or a tablet. Something I forbid the wife to touch.

So are tablets as useful as laptops? Will I be able to do school work on one including office like documents such as word, excel and power point. I am considering one because of its mobility and battery life.

[Montsta]

I got my wife an iPad 2 for VDay, and she has been on it 24/7. She only uses it for Internet, instagram, pinterest, Facebook, family feud and draw something, but I've downloaded several business-practical applications on it and they were phenomenal. I'll edit this with the names of them tonight when I get home and can check my previous downloads.

Edit: not sure what they are called, but the scanner app, the outlook app, the remote desktop app and the dictation software app all work flawlessly. The dictation especially if you need to take notes because you can talk quietly into it in a classroom setting and get everything down.

[Kettle]

Thanks

[Niner National]

If you take a tablet to class with you, you'll be doing everything except listening to the teacher.

[Kettle]

I'll be getting a masters through online courses, likely from UNCC, so your statement doesn't really apply.

[Inimicus]

I actually VPN into our network with mine and between a VNC, an RDP, and an SSH client can access and remote control any computer on the network. I have "Magic Packet" generators to turn computers on and scripts for shutting them down.

I use drop box to move files back and forth and an app called FileBrowser to access files on the main file and print server.

Through the devices http interfaces I can configure printers, routers, and firewalls.

Its a far more useful tool in a business environment than I would have ever thought.

[Darth Biscuit]

My wife has an iPad and my son has a Toshiba Android tablet... neither of which I have any interest in, and I've played with both a good bit at home. imo they are pretty much just toys... I'm sure there are some applications (teacher, etc.) where they are handy for things... if you're walking around and need to access stuff or input data that kind of thing... but if I'm sitting down or doing a lot of typing, I want a laptop.

[Kettle]

My wife has an iPad and my son has a Toshiba Android tablet... neither of which I have any interest in, and I've played with both a good bit at home. imo they are pretty much just toys... I'm sure there are some applications (teacher, etc.) where they are handy for things... if you're walking around and need to access stuff or input data that kind of thing... but if I'm sitting down or doing a lot of typing, I want a laptop.

I was thinking just like this biscuit until I had my first interview for my new job. An hour was spent with one of the VPs, and he had an iPad 2 in a portfolio kind of cover, and it contained a wireless keyboard. He gave me a presentation by swiping through reports, pictures and what not, and then when he started asking questions he propped it up in front of himself and started banging out his thoughts about my answers. It was 100% slick, and it got me to thinking of getting one.

[Hawk]

mines great for bedtime porn!

[Darth Biscuit]

I'm not saying it doesn't have it's uses... It just doesn't work for what I do. The touchscreen aspect of it is what sets it apart and I just don't see that as being overly useful for me.

[Kettle]

Portability and battery life are huge factors I think. Touch screen is just extra to that.

[sharkman]

Apple is getting ready to start a big push in the text book market as well. They've already laid some ground work and I expect that many educational institutions will get on board is they setup the cost models correctly so people can still rip you off with the cost of a text book.

I know a bunch of people with both iPad's and Android tablets. unless you're a power user type person that doesn't mind figuring stuff out that doesn't work right in the first place I highly recommend the iPad. App's are cheaper, more to choose from, and better overall integration into the world, especially in education.

[Kettle]

Thanks sharkman. The apple vs android question was another one I had.

[Niner National]

I'm waiting for Windows 8 before I even consider making a tablet purchase. I have the Windows 8 consumer preview installed on a laptop at home and I have one of the new WIndows Phones.

Windows 8 looks intriguing and could be a complete game changer. It looks to be the first innovative thing MS has done to a computer in years. I'd hate to drop $500+ on an iPad when something better may be on the horizon.