Laptop vs Tablet?

hefferboi

I want to buy my own laptop/tablet in the next week as I'm moving out and only use the family laptop at home. Just wondering whats the best option to go for and have ye any recommendations? I'm mad to get the i-Pad but its a bit pricey.

I'll be using it for:
-Browsing the web
-Music
-Watching movies/videos/streams
-Shopping

Thanks

NIMAN

I just recently took delivery of my 1st tablet, to add to my laptop.

To be honest, they are handy to use due to the very quick power up time. Handy if you just need to use the net for a few mins, check email, bank etc.

However, if you plan to use it for a few hours surfing then I find the lack of keyboard limiting. As good as the onscreen keyboard is, it will never compete with a real one.

I also think that using the tablet to watch the odd film in my bed will be a lot easier than the laptop but thats a rare occurrence.
Plus of course, can't burn CD/DVD etc with a tablet.

daveob007

tablets have limited use,,great for the odd bit of browsing and watching movies/playing games but laptop is more more useful,also do plenty of online searches for reviews before you buy any tablet,many of them are useless for games but great for video and visa versa. if you dont want to use discs go for a netbook,has all the features of a laptop except for a disc drive and smaller than laptop....the world is your oyster when buying anything...

yoyo

I would definitely advise getting a laptop over tablet, particularly if you wish to use it for a good length of time and for typing/note taking. Tablets are good for an instant on simple web browsing solution but are not a substitute for a actual laptop. Also to note that iPads do not support flash player, so many streaming sites won't work on it unless they use HTML5 or have a specific iPad app (i.e: Youtube)

Nick

Overheal

yoyo wrote: »

Also to note that iPads do not support flash player, so many streaming sites won't work on it unless they use HTML5 or have a specific iPad app (i.e: Youtube)

Nick

Which at this point is most things. They've only sold 55 million of them since 2010, when it first came out. Content developers copped the hell on real quick. Most sites I've checked that couldnt run properly on iOS a year ago now have no problems doing so. Embedded video and all. Most facebook games have their own apps, too.

techfeen

i totally agree with the above posters, tablets are not laptop replacements

Feathers

techfeen wrote: »

i totally agree with the above posters, tablets are not laptop replacements

I completely disagree — for the use that most people get out of their laptops (personal, not work), a tablet would be a great replacement. Lighter, faster to boot up, easier to multitask (e.g. using it while travelling/watching TV); won't overheat if you're using it on the couch.

The onscreen keyboard on an iPad is very responsive & almost the same size keys as a physical one in horizontal mode. Fine for email/surfing. Mightn't be great for typing anything of (college) work length. Also, if you didn't have access to a computer at all for moving files on/off, might be a bit awkward.

Ticks all the boxes for the uses you've mentioned though, OP.

techfeen

well i suppose it all depends on the person using it

_AVALANCHE_

Asus

/Thread

techfeen

_AVALANCHE_ wrote: »

Asus

/Thread

What a monster of a machine, i'm a big asus fan

red dave

Buy a Wacom bamboo pen & touch tablet to give you your tablet experience on a laptop.

Overheal

red dave wrote: »

Buy a Wacom bamboo pen & touch tablet to give you your tablet experience on a laptop.

Only if you like being bogged down. Its a far from mobile solution. Plus theres a learning curve to having you do pen input on a pad that translates over to your screen. This on the other hand, has the Wacom technology baked right into the screen, and all of the PC features. Just got one on Tuesday, I think im in love.

hefferboi

Looks like I'll go for the laptop so. Any recommendations for cheap but reliable laptops that I can use mainly for whats mentioned in the OP?

red dave

hefferboi wrote:

Looks like I'll go for the laptop so. Any recommendations for cheap but reliable laptops that I can use mainly for whats mentioned in the OP?

For what you're planning to do then I'd say go for one of these with a starting price of €379 http://www.dell.com/ie/p/inspiron-15-intel-n5050/pd

They usually sucker you in for lots of add-ons that you don't need, so that starting price doesn't always remain the same come checkout time.

Overheal wrote: »

Only if you like being bogged down. Its a far from mobile solution. Plus theres a learning curve to having you do pen input on a pad that translates over to your screen. This on the other hand, has the Wacom technology baked right into the screen, and all of the PC features. Just got one on Tuesday, I think im in love.

That's got some price tag

Good stuff though I actually got the Bamboo a couple of weeks ago for animating on the pc. Yes it takes a bit of getting used to at the very start, but after the 20 mins tutorial I haven't looked back. Can use fingers or pen.

Wasn't sure if the OP was looking for just a mobile solution (I could be wrong there). Price tag of €90 which included vat & delivery can't go wrong

sink

I've got my eye on a Windows 8 tablet/laptop hybrid similar in function the Asus Transformer. But seeing as Windows 8 won't be launched for another 6 months you'd be best going for a laptop if you have to buy today.

daryl2012

If you have the budget, and still in 2 minds I'd recommend you go for the Asus Eee Pad Transformer.
Having said that there are some very reasonably priced laptops on the market at the moment with fairly decent spec.

tricky D

_AVALANCHE_ wrote: »

Asus

/Thread

techfeen wrote: »

What a monster of a machine, i'm a big asus fan

Damn right there. Picked one up recently with a bigger screen, more RAM and HD space for €60 more. Good brand for reliability too.

As for laptop vs tablet, tablet for the more pottering stuff, laptop for the more powerful stuff.

Also re iPad, I'm loathe to enter the iWalled Garden.

Overheal

red dave wrote: »

That's got some price tag

if youre going toactually avail of the pen, its worth every penny.