IGX

WildGorillaMan wrote:ehere's only three things I need access to in the field, and none of them require lugging a laptop around, a tablet would be ideal: email, SAP, and goofing off.

One side note, there could be some surprises with respect to clearing your tracks on this thing. There is probably an app that does it but just clearing browser history isn't enough. I havwn't figured out if you can move the little screen shot icon, hitting this inadvertently could be a problem.

DrDonkeyLove wrote:
I see this has something called Polaris Office. Can you use Word and edit PowerPoint presentations with this? How about Outlook?

There are a few apps that read and edit MS Office documents for Android. Polaris comes with this tablet and seems to work OK.
With that said, it works OK as long as the document is fairly simple. Insert a bunch of pictures and graphs into an excel worksheet, and they may not show up correctly. Same with Powerpoint, simple ones are fine, but if you have a lot of weird timings and flyouts, they may not work completely then.

I don't use the tablet to make those documents. But have used it many times to review, edit and practice presentations for powerpoint and excel.

I also use Polaris Office for taking notes at seminars and stuff.

Dunn wrote:Kindle Fire vs Other Tablets.....go.

I like the Android OS but I am open to changing my opinion.

7 inches vs 10 inches. My wife has a Nook Color, and I will say, I honestly prefer the larger screen most of the time.
I don't think the kindle fire takes extra sdcards or micro SD cards (if you travel with ripped movies)
No GPS, may not be an issue
No camera (I use mine for reading bar codes a lot)

Kindle fire is at a great price. I see that other 7" tablets were introduced at CES and will hit the $250 or so price point with camera/gps/expandable memory

j-cubed wrote:

DrDonkeyLove wrote:
I see this has something called Polaris Office. Can you use Word and edit PowerPoint presentations with this? How about Outlook?

There are a few apps that read and edit MS Office documents for Android. Polaris comes with this tablet and seems to work OK.
With that said, it works OK as long as the document is fairly simple. Insert a bunch of pictures and graphs into an excel worksheet, and they may not show up correctly. Same with Powerpoint, simple ones are fine, but if you have a lot of weird timings and flyouts, they may not work completely then.

I don't use the tablet to make those documents. But have used it many times to review, edit and practice presentations for powerpoint and excel.

I also use Polaris Office for taking notes at seminars and stuff.

I checked this out at Best Buy tonight. It's a cool rig with the docking station. It's the only thing I've seen that is 100% tablet and 90% laptop if you want it.

TomFurman wrote:

BobW wrote:Nothing bad to say about the Motorola Xoom. I could probably get a BlueTooth keyboard and use it for all my email and web surfing, and not need a full blown computer. It even plays Flash, so all the porn works fine.

BlueTooth keyboards. Discuss. Does anyone use them for the Ipad? Sounds like a worthwhile way to dump the laptop.

I have the Apple Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad. It's 90% laptop replacement but the other 10% is a pain in the ass. When my home PC died I stuck with just iPad for a while, but now I'm shopping.

iPad is fine for what I use it for though I disagree with people who think it's any kind of replacement for a real computer. Mine basically lets me leave my home laptop at home and my work laptop in the office and take neither when traveling. However, despite a few apps that I really like and the fact that it plays nicely with my Macs, when it is time to replace it, whatever version of the Kindle Fire that is out will receive serious consideration.

Tablet+dumbphone > smartphone, for me at least.

Terry B. wrote:iPad is fine for what I use it for though I disagree with people who think it's any kind of replacement for a real computer. Mine basically lets me leave my home laptop at home and my work laptop in the office and take neither when traveling. However, despite a few apps that I really like and the fact that it plays nicely with my Macs, when it is time to replace it, whatever version of the Kindle Fire that is out will receive serious consideration.

Tablet+dumbphone > smartphone, for me at least.

I totally agree. Tablets don't and can't replace a laptop, just augment it, and be a convenience, not a need.

I work for a small software developer that makes software used in engineering and manufacturing. Our software is now written to be multi threaded and use parallel processes. Because of this, our laptops are bigger and "higher end" - right now that's a Dell M6500. This thing is huge and heavy, and has about 45 minutes of battery life, on a good day.

Part of what I do is product marketing, sales marketing and managing our social media. I go to a lot of seminars and conferences. Using the laptop to update menial stuff and take notes for these tasks was difficult (and overkill), because of the size and lack of electrical outlets. The tablet lasts all day. When I can replace the big laptop with a tablet on a business trip, it makes things much quicker and easier.

I'm actually looking at equipping our sales guys with tablets at trade shows and for daily travels. To be able to show pre-made videos of our software face to face, without waiting to boot up a massive laptop. Then they can email the video or brochure right there from the tablet to the prospect.

My personal ultimate goal might be to go back to a high end desktop (I can get faster CPU's and more CPU cores in a desktop), as it would be faster, and then only use a tablet in the field. I'm playing with apps that can let me run a desktop from the tablet in the field if it became absolutely necessary.

j-cubed wrote:I work for a small software developer that makes software used in engineering and manufacturing. Our software is now written to be multi threaded and use parallel processes. Because of this, our laptops are bigger and "higher end" - right now that's a Dell M6500. This thing is huge and heavy, and has about 45 minutes of battery life, on a good day.

Forget the nerd talk -- How many tabs of 90RN can you have open at a time on that badboy?

Just curious-- what is the real advantage of a tablet over a netbook?

Turdacious wrote:Just curious-- what is the real advantage of a tablet over a netbook?

Hipster appeal.

Turdacious wrote:Just curious-- what is the real advantage of a tablet over a netbook?

Screen for viewing.
OS for tablet/smartphone stuff. If I want to show somebody remote something, it's 1/10th the time.
Boot/always on/speed. You don't wait for anything.

I think it would be unusual to own both. If I have something I absolutely need a PC for, I can remote into my office desktop one with my iPad. Less likely option with a laptop or netbook that isn't always on.

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

Turdacious wrote:Just curious-- what is the real advantage of a tablet over a netbook?

Screen for viewing.
OS for tablet/smartphone stuff. If I want to show somebody remote something, it's 1/10th the time.
Boot/always on/speed. You don't wait for anything.

I think it would be unusual to own both. If I have something I absolutely need a PC for, I can remote into my office desktop one with my iPad. Less likely option with a laptop or netbook that isn't always on.

I have both - jumped on the netbook bandwagon when they came out though have never really used it as it doesn't fit in the flow of things. Another advantage, in addition to what was posted above, all is portability - part of that is boot up speed but if you are sitting on the subway or waiting for a restaurant table to open up, pulling out a tablet and reading a few pages is simply easier and feels better.

Good points, thanks. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see portability as a significant advantage-- a netbook is one piece, but a tablet requires three or four (tablet, keyboard, stand, etc...).
I type on mine a lot, and see these as advantages of the netbook.

Turdacious wrote:Good points, thanks. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see portability as a significant advantage-- a netbook is one piece, but a tablet requires three or four (tablet, keyboard, stand, etc...).
I type on mine a lot, and see these as advantages of the netbook.

Input on iPad is easier than a cell but, as you said, lags far behind a netbook.

Most of the input that I generate is when I am in the office - I have a keyboard dock on my desk that I use. When out and about, I don't really type on any more than you would a smartphone.

If you need to sit down in the field and send more than a few lines for an email or type out reports, I agree that a netbook would be better.

If you are reading on the subway or looking up something online in a meeting, I like the iPad.

Have any opinions changed since this thread was started? I'm thinking of getting a tablet for just the reasons Dunn listed.

Netbook or tablet? I've been interested in the Samsung Galaxy.

Dunn, what did you end up getting?

Nevermind. Came home to find my early bday present. My new kindle fire which I am surfing on now.

Check the Acer line. My buddy loves his.

Kraj 2.0 wrote:The iPad is great but my Kindle Fire does 8/10ths the things at 4/10ths the price.

=D> =D> =D> =D>
Absolute truth, lie-men.

I picked up a Nook Tablet (16GB) for $135 off the Best Buy auction site, suits mt needs for a tablet, meaning I don't need a camera and was looking at it as a media consumption device. Determine what your needs for a tablet are and find the one that meets your needs.

I'll hold off on my next purchase till the Microsoft Surface comes out and I see what its price point/features are at.