Hybrid Laptop or Tablet

Potential-Monke

A friend of mine has tasked me with helping her get a new device and has even gone as far to cut her decisions down to 5 options, 2 hybrid laptops (laplets?) and 3 tablets. Her choices are:

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13
HP Split X2
Microsoft Surface 2
iPad Air
Google Nexus 10

Her budget is up to €1000, but the cheaper the better. She doesn't mind spending up to that much, but would prefer cheaper, her initial budget was €600.

From the tablets, i'd be recommending the Nexus 10, as i prefer Android to Apple, even though the Air is supposed to be the best tablet available at the moment. I'm also not gone on Windows for a tablet, but she had a fancy Nokia Lumia with Windows Mobile so kinda likes Windows mobile.

The laptlets are vastly superior imo, but i fear that in tablet mode it is just a touch screen laptop, and doesn't have the ease of access as Android or iOS has. Or do hybrid laptops have access to Google Play like on an Android device? I couldn't find an answer, but i'd imagine with they being Windows 8.1 it's the same as the Surface?

I know which one i'd buy, the HP Split X2. It's the most powerful there, looks well and is getting great reviews. And i prefer laptops to tablets, but she wouldn't be as tech orientated as me (still quite good though!).

So, people of boards, what's you opinions?

legrand

I have the Y2P. Budget wise you are looking €1300. Really nice machine, light, portable, QHD screen etc. Shy on USB ports if that's a concern. As a convertible its great - but 80% of time I use it in laptop mode. It runs Win 8.1. Access to Google Play (https://play.google.com/store) not the same as store for Android devices.

your 1st 3 options are all window 8.1 but with different form factors (note Surface 2 runs windows RT - not full windows (can't install/run .exes - or (good grief) what we used to call programs. Can only run stuff that is available on the MS store). You would need Surface Pro 2 for full windows 8.1

Ipad Air -well it apple - nothing to add.

Google Nexus 10 - about to get hardware refresh (so hold off) or get any other Android tablet.

So you need to consider requirements - general browser/entertainment/social etc - then tablet. If productivity then Laptop (traditional or hybrid) may be better bet.

findersteve

legrand wrote: »

I have the Y2P. Budget wise you are looking €1300. Really nice machine, light, portable, QHD screen etc. Shy on USB ports if that's a concern. As a convertible its great - but 80% of time I use it in laptop mode. It runs Win 8.1. Access to Google Play (https://play.google.com/store) not the same as store for Android devices.

your 1st 3 options are all window 8.1 but with different form factors (note Surface 2 runs windows RT - not full windows (can't install/run .exes - or (good grief) what we used to call programs. Can only run stuff that is available on the MS store). You would need Surface Pro 2 for full windows 8.1

Ipad Air -well it apple - nothing to add.

Google Nexus 10 - about to get hardware refresh (so hold off) or get any other Android tablet.

So you need to consider requirements - general browser/entertainment/social etc - then tablet. If productivity then Laptop (traditional or hybrid) may be better bet.

Bar your friend is a graphic designer or gamer (doubtful wanting a ipad air) i wouldnt recommend spending over €400 on a laptop


€319.99
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/ADVENT-Tacto-116-Touchscreen-Laptop-Silver/316935/301

Has the same spec as a macbook pro €1,250
http://store.apple.com/ie/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Steve (I.T. Guy)

mcw92

findersfee.ie wrote: »

Bar your friend is a graphic designer or gamer (doubtful wanting a ipad air) i wouldnt recommend spending over €400 on a laptop


€319.99
http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/ADVENT-Tacto-116-Touchscreen-Laptop-Silver/316935/301

Has the same spec as a macbook pro €1,250
http://store.apple.com/ie/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Steve (I.T. Guy)

1. People who spend more than 400 on a laptop are not just gamers, or graphic designers. Some people actually like paying for quality and specs that help even everyday speed.
2. Saying that laptop has the same specs as a Macbook Pro is like saying my 10c coin is worth as much as my 50c coin.

Potential-Monke

Her budget has been changed, so it's definitely a tablet she's getting! I'll try and convince her to hold off for the next Nexus.

Cheers for the advice folks!

findersteve

mcw92 wrote: »

1. People who spend more than 400 on a laptop are not just gamers, or graphic designers. Some people actually like paying for quality and specs that help even everyday speed.
2. Saying that laptop has the same specs as a Macbook Pro is like saying my 10c coin is worth as much as my 50c coin.

How exactly do you define quality McW92?

My comparison of spec which is based on the fact that all the internals are all the same make. The ram is the same ddr3 probably by samsung /the hard drives are the same SATA / the screens are made by Samsung.


I apologise I'm wrong let me correct myself. The internals of the MacBook,technically that model is called the a1738.
That model was released in 2009.
Only the processor was updated in January 2011.
Everything else remained the same.
Basically that MACBOOK is the same since January 2011. No upgrades.
The €319.99 laptop I recommended has a modern intel processor which was released in October 2013.
It also has a touch screen which the 2009 MacBook does not.
Both laptops come with a 1 year warranty.
Both laptops were manufactured in China.
That means that the only difference in the laptops Would be the casing. Which I admit, looks a lot nicer. But not €930 worth of nice.


Back to your numbered remarks,
1. Obviously people spend more money on laptops but the whole reason I posted was to highlight to the original poster that there are options other than spending€1,000.
2. Your analogy of currency is irrelevant.
If you compared it to clothing , suggesting that I want to wear a white ARMANI tshirt or a white PENNYS Tshirt. Then it would have relevance.

Or if you suggested in relation to quality. that a car owner who commutes to work and back wants to pay more for a car of higher quality as opposed a lesser quality motor vehicle.
Then I would understand that analogy.

But to put that comparison in perspective, the car would be 4x the cost, so if say a standard 2014 vw golf was €25,000 then the MACBOOK PRO equivalent would be a €100,000 2009 Maserati.

Steve

mcw92

findersfee.ie wrote: »

My comparison of spec which is based on the fact that all the internals are all the same make. The ram is the same ddr3 probably by samsung /the hard drives are the same SATA / the screens are made by Samsung.


I apologise I'm wrong let me correct myself. The internals of the MacBook,technically that model is called the a1738.
That model was released in 2009.
Only the processor was updated in January 2011.
Everything else remained the same.
Basically that MACBOOK is the same since January 2011. No upgrades.
The €319.99 laptop I recommended has a modern intel processor which was released in October 2013.
It also has a touch screen which the 2009 MacBook does not.
Both laptops come with a 1 year warranty.
Both laptops were manufactured in China.
That means that the only difference in the laptops Would be the casing. Which I admit, looks a lot nicer. But not €930 worth of nice.



Steve

Well technically the model of the latest Macbook Pro is the A1278.

Your argument that ‘Everything else remained the same.’ Is incorrect.

1. Faster newer Processor, 2.5Ghz i5-3210M now vs. the 2.26Ghz C2D P8400 in 2009.
2. Twice as much, faster Ram, 4Gb 1600Mhz vs. 2GB 1066Mhz in 2009.
3. Bigger HD, 500GB vs. 160GB.
4. Much better integrated GPU, Intel HD 4000 vs. Geforce 9400M.
5. Upgraded ports, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4, Thunderbolt.


Also The Macbook Pro and Advent are two very different classes of laptop, if i was comparing that laptop to any, it would be the 11.6” Macbook Air, so lets compare them.

Screen.
Anyone who is considering a Macbook obviously has no need for a touch screen or anyone who wants a touchscreen is not going to look at a Macbook.

Processor.
The Macbook Air has the newest Haswel line with a i5-4250U vs the Celeron 1017U, The Macbook Air overpowers the Advent here in every way.

GPU.
Much more powerful Intel HD 5000 in the Macbook Air.

HD.
Macbook has 128GB PCIe SSD which is much faster than a normal SSD not to mention faster than the standard 500GB HD in the Advent. This also increases everyday speed vastly.

Ports.
Macbook has USB 3.0, Advent does not.

Battery.
Macbook has 9 Hours battery, Advent has 3.

This is just a few differences between the two.

Even if you want to compare the Macbook Pro model, most the same can be said(apart from the specs mentioned obviously)

I’m not sure how you were able to bring up a comparison between a €320 touchscreen laptop and a Macbook Pro, when the OP was looking for advice on 5 models they had picked, none of which you mentioned.

Macbooks also have a very high resale value, where normal cheap laptops do not.

Any more laptops you'd like me to compare for you?

And yes sorry, using the coin comparison was wrong on my part, for that i am deeply sorry.

findersteve

mcw92 wrote: »

Well technically the model of the latest Macbook Pro is the A1278.

Your argument that ‘Everything else remained the same.’ Is incorrect.

1. Faster newer Processor, 2.5Ghz i5-3210M now vs. the 2.26Ghz C2D P8400 in 2009.
2. Twice as much, faster Ram, 4Gb 1600Mhz vs. 2GB 1066Mhz in 2009.
3. Bigger HD, 500GB vs. 160GB.
4. Much better integrated GPU, Intel HD 4000 vs. Geforce 9400M.
5. Upgraded ports, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4, Thunderbolt.


Also The Macbook Pro and Advent are two very different classes of laptop, if i was comparing that laptop to any, it would be the 11.6” Macbook Air, so lets compare them.

Screen.
Anyone who is considering a Macbook obviously has no need for a touch screen or anyone who wants a touchscreen is not going to look at a Macbook.

Processor.
The Macbook Air has the newest Haswel line with a i5-4250U vs the Celeron 1017U, The Macbook Air overpowers the Advent here in every way.

GPU.
Much more powerful Intel HD 5000 in the Macbook Air.

HD.
Macbook has 128GB PCIe SSD which is much faster than a normal SSD not to mention faster than the standard 500GB HD in the Advent. This also increases everyday speed vastly.

Ports.
Macbook has USB 3.0, Advent does not.

Battery.
Macbook has 9 Hours battery, Advent has 3.

This is just a few differences between the two.

Even if you want to compare the Macbook Pro model, most the same can be said(apart from the specs mentioned obviously)

I’m not sure how you were able to bring up a comparison between a €320 touchscreen laptop and a Macbook Pro, when the OP was looking for advice on 5 models they had picked, none of which you mentioned.

Macbooks also have a very high resale value, where normal cheap laptops do not.

Any more laptops you'd like me to compare for you?

And yes sorry, using the coin comparison was wrong on my part, for that i am deeply sorry.

You almost had me admit defeat because I assumed you Spent a long while researching but I don't need to research that you could get 500g hardrive in 2011.
You referenced modern macbook airs which were never in my previous comparison, so I stopped reading. ..
Good research though i know its hard to get info on specific macbooks.
you are 100% correct(not being sarcastic)
Steve

mcw92

findersfee.ie wrote: »

You almost had me admit defeat because I assumed you Spent a long while researching but I don't need to research that you could get 500g hardrive in 2011.
You referenced modern macbook airs which were never in my previous comparison, so I stopped reading. ..
Good research though i know its hard to get info on specific macbooks.
you are 100% correct(not being sarcastic)
Steve

Not sure by what you mean by 'that you could get 500g hardrive in 2011.', but apart from that im glad my reply was helpful so.

Modern Macbook Airs are a more appropriate fit to comparison to the Advent you linked, as opposed to a Macbook Pro, let alone a 2009 model which could only be bought second hand.

riclad

ITS not just status,
certain laptops ,tablets are built to a higher quality.
if a toshiba laptop ,for example breaks down,
IT easier to get parts and manuals,

than get parts for brand x tablet, laptop.

Read reviews before you buy anything.

ie a good well built tablet will last longer than a cheap model.

I would not buy any tablet that does not have a sdcard slot in it,
unless it was very cheap.