Tablets are ok for writing stuff, but I wouldn't want to write a novel on one. Well unless it's something like the ASUS transformer asnd then you can use the docking station with full keyboard and USB support for a mouse.
Reading documents is fine on a tablet, or even a kindle.
I saw a new concept recently which is a normal tablet, but when keyboard comes up the texture of the tablets surface changes to give you raised keys, which is pretty cool.
The issue with Android tablets is that you can't run microsoft office (unless you use citrix), so would have to use open office or similar.
Same is true with Windows RT tablets as they won't run normal PC applications like Office.
There are some new tablets coming out now which run a full version of Windows 8, so you will be able to use the same software as on your PC/Laptop, but they will be expensive.
-- Edited by Paul on Wednesday 23rd of January 2013 09:07:18 AM
I'm considering getting one of these - being persuaded by all the fancy adverts I see on TV. But one thing still concerns me. They're OK for LOOKING at things but are they any good for actually DOING things. By that I mean you can swipe away at photos, websites. pdf files but what about actually typing anything. Or spreadsheets. Are they a waste of time for that?
I'd prefer to read HMRC manuals on a tablet compared to a PC or laptop. It's just I know how much a pain it can be typing things on an Iphone. To correct things you have to start at the end of a word and work back the way. You can't put the cursor in the middle of the word. I wouldn't know how to begin things in a spreadsheet. Formatting things etc. This is just Apple - what is it like with other companies and operating systems? Or are tablets not really designed for writing?
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
I have an ipad with a case that includes a keyboard and it does pretty much anything that a laptop can do. I can create, edit, print etc in spreadsheet or word processing apps and it fits in my handbag (admittedly as a mother I have a large handbag!). I now don't take my full size MacBook out to clients as there is no need, I can do everything on the iPad.
I think Microsoft are *sort of* heading in the right direction with Surface, other than the specs are a bit naff for the price, and Windows 8 is a bit naff.
Ideally, what I'd like is a tablet that runs my desktop OS (and therefore the desktop software I use, which for me pretty much means the OS has to be a version of Windows), and has a decent amount of memory and storage, and connections to the outside world - including a number of USB ports and HDMI.
That way, I can keep a 1080p monitor, external hard drive for backups, and a keyboard and mouse on my desk at the office and at home, which I can connect the tablet to in order to use it as a normal computer, but when sat around anywhere, I can just use it as a tablet to read stuff.
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
I think Microsoft are *sort of* heading in the right direction with Surface, other than the specs are a bit naff for the price, and Windows 8 is a bit naff.
Ideally, what I'd like is a tablet that runs my desktop OS (and therefore the desktop software I use, which for me pretty much means the OS has to be a version of Windows), and has a decent amount of memory and storage, and connections to the outside world - including a number of USB ports and HDMI.
That way, I can keep a 1080p monitor, external hard drive for backups, and a keyboard and mouse on my desk at the office and at home, which I can connect the tablet to in order to use it as a normal computer, but when sat around anywhere, I can just use it as a tablet to read stuff.
That's exactly what I want. Get making it.
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
Paul: I was referring to the Surface Pro. The older one, while its heart is my favourite CPU (anything from ARM - long time Acorn user!), it's no good to me precisely because it runs on that CPU; the desktop software I need to run won't run on it.
The Pro, however, still isn't good enough. One USB port? I'd prefer three or four (yeah, I know I can get around that with a hub - but I find some things don't work quite as well via a hub as they do directly connected; a wireless keyboard and mouse I use with some computers, for example). 128GB? Nowhere near enough. 4GB? I'll reserve judgement on that - I think 8 would be better, but there might be less of a need with Win8 and/or whatever they replace it with. Where's the HDMI output? Not all monitors have a DisplayPort input, and I've found DisplayPort/HDMI adaptors to be a bit hit and miss. There is a headphone socket, but no microphone socket - as with the USB, that can be sidestepped using a microphone that uses USB, but then there's that single USB port and the need for a ruddy hub.
As for the keyboard that comes with it for an extra wedge - they can keep that piece of rubbish. I want to use a proper keyboard. One with a good, solid movement to the keys, and which sits at a sensible angle instead of being almost flat. Yeuck!
Peasie: I do software, not hardware. :)
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
This maybe a chance for Peasie to hit me with the old OCD comments lol, but does anyone else have a problem with using hardware that you have to 'touch' the main part that you read?
I've seen people sat outside coffee shops with their sticky buns and sticky fingers using their IPads. Finger prints on screens are a no no for me.
Paul: I was referring to the Surface Pro. The older one, while its heart is my favourite CPU (anything from ARM - long time Acorn user!), it's no good to me precisely because it runs on that CPU; the desktop software I need to run won't run on it.
The Pro, however, still isn't good enough. One USB port? I'd prefer three or four (yeah, I know I can get around that with a hub - but I find some things don't work quite as well via a hub as they do directly connected; a wireless keyboard and mouse I use with some computers, for example). 128GB? Nowhere near enough. 4GB? I'll reserve judgement on that - I think 8 would be better, but there might be less of a need with Win8 and/or whatever they replace it with. Where's the HDMI output? Not all monitors have a DisplayPort input, and I've found DisplayPort/HDMI adaptors to be a bit hit and miss. There is a headphone socket, but no microphone socket - as with the USB, that can be sidestepped using a microphone that uses USB, but then there's that single USB port and the need for a ruddy hub.
As for the keyboard that comes with it for an extra wedge - they can keep that piece of rubbish. I want to use a proper keyboard. One with a good, solid movement to the keys, and which sits at a sensible angle instead of being almost flat. Yeuck!
Peasie: I do software, not hardware. :)
My first proper computer was an Acorn Electron, then a BBC....god I'm old!
Agree that that even the Pro doesn't have enough USB ports, HDMI output is missing and no mic socket.
However it is one step nearer to being able to run all your normal windows apps on a tablet, which is what everyone really wants.
Hopefully some other vendors will start making tablets which will run full Windows 8, but I suspect the price will put a lot of people off.
I've just looked again. Yes, they are on the main unit, on the side of the keyboard. How does that make them accessible when in tablet mode, though? I want them on the tablet itself, so that I only have to carry that around with me, and I can connect it to a decent size monitor, a proper keyboard and mouse, etc when at any of my desks.
The keyboard and frame to make it an ultrabook are very much surplus to requirements - except that they aren't if I need them to plug my more useful peripherals in, and if I therefore need that then it defeats the object of replacing what I have now. Except that it'll be smaller/lighter - the one real benefit, which is countered by it running Windows 8.
Edit: Using the site's buttons to zoom in on the pictures and view them from different angles, I can't see any sign of the ports on the tablet part at all. The only edge I can't find a clear image of is the bottom, so it's possible they're on there - but there's no possible way I would be willing to fork out over £800 plus VAT "just in case" I can put the keyboard and frame to one side and use the tablet how I want to.
(The machine I use for work purposes is a Lenovo ThinkPad, which I've had a few years - and very nice it is, too. The battery is a bit ropey now, so I've started running it off the mains, but it'll be good for another few years. By which time someone will hopefully have produced something sensible in the tablet-as-a-main-machine market. And Microsoft will have rolled out something more usable and productive to replace Win8!)
-- Edited by VinceH on Friday 25th of January 2013 08:51:26 PM
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Inclusive of VAT so real price comes down to £816 (ish) if your VAT registered.
I didn't think the price was unreasonable for a machine not only warranting the XPS badge but also coming with a real keyboard as well as being a tablet.
I came across it whist doing a search for a couple of new XPS desktops whilst you can still get W7 as a no cost option. Unfortunately it seems that Dells love affair with AMD has come to an end and I rate their processors better than the Intel one's (even if the Intel processors are faster).
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
That is one seriously powerful little machine Shaun.
I could do with a standard 1TB HD as well as the SSD though.
Totally agreed.
To be honest though if I was in the market for a laptop is would have to have a little alien on the hood as since Dell bought them my impression is that they have backed the XPS brand away from competing on the graphics and raw processing power that was evident on the older machines.
And as we know, you have to have the latest top of the range graphics cards for Excel spreadsheets... lol.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I glanced at that Dell machine earlier, but didn't have time to reply at the time.
My main problem is that it's sold as an ultrabook, so you pretty much have to have the keyboard and frame for the tablet-as-screen. Just sell me the tablet (for a lower price), damn it, and let me plug my own choice of peripherals into it.
The 256 gig SSD is a step better than the Surface Pro, but I'd still like more. I think it had two USB ports - again, that's an improvement on the Surface Pro, but I'd prefer three or four. And where are they located? On the tablet part, or in the main unit when it's in ultrabook mode? Given that the tablet seems to fit inside a frame to make it the display in that mode, the edges of the tablet will be covered, which suggests they'll be on the ultrabook part, with perhaps some other interface between that and the tablet. And the other thing I remember spotting was that it had no HDMI, only a DisplayPort again. Oh, and the keyboard looked very flat.
Meh.
(But it was only a very quick look!)
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
just had a glance at the pics on the Dell site and the USB ports are in the main unit so still accessible when in tablet mode.
looking at the design all it is is a touch screen that swivels on a pivot.
I'm sure that IBM / Lenovo had something similar a while back (well, without the touch screen capability though).
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Ha! And I've just seen it advertised on TV and I've just realised I've misunderstood the concept.
I thought the screen *separated* from the keyboard and frame to be used as a tablet, rather than rotating within the frame so that the keyboard is hidden away in the back in tablet mode. D'oh!
However, I still say a tablet only, with no built in keyboard (and the cost of that and the frame), but with the necessary ports etc I want is, well, what I want.
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
There's a free app for the ipad call Log Me In, which you set up to connect to your desktop and, as long as your desktop is left in hibernate/standby mode you can access it using the ipad on the move.
