Laptop or tablet?

[stanger89]

So I figure we've got a bunch of techies here so it would be a good place to ask. My "trusty" Dell XPS M1530 that I've had for years, may finally be developing the nVidia GPU failure that made all the news a few years ago. But that's rather beside the point.

The point is I'm looking for a "replacement". But I'm having trouble trying to figure out what I want/need. I know I want something lighter than my current laptop, and with better battery life. But beyond that I'm just not sure.

I've had a laptop for years in one form or another, so I'm used to being able to do "computer" things away from my desktop. That said, the primary uses of my laptop have been surfing/reading forums (this) and probably the other important thing is downloading/backing up my photos when I travel.

For quite a while I've sort of been stuck on MBPs (especially the retina) from a hardware standpoint, but I'm not sure I can make the jump to OS X. Recently I saw Dell has a Precision M3800 which seems hardware wise like what I've looked for in a laptop.

But then again, looking at what decent laptops cost and what I really use them for, I'm not sure that makes sense. At the same time I'm having a tough time picturing using just a tablet...

[tvmaster2]

it's a tough choice...nearly ready to say goodbye to my XPS1330 as well. when traveling, the iPad is usually all I need, especially where battery life is involved. but it truly is easier to manipulate things on a true laptop. I'm looking at a light, 11-14" Acer to replace the XPS...with battery life being my most important requirement. That's how the tablet has spoiled me.

[PiX64]

What I is primarily tablet for all of the reason listed above. If you install splashtop application and even logmein free version, its super easy to get around the "not having a desktop" hang up.

splashtop running on any one of the machine on my network with the ios app is pretty outstanding. I even used to use it for a sage client. works pretty stellar.

[Skybolt]

Man this IS a tough one to answer.

I never use my desktop anymore. Tablets are awesome for quick stuff, with a keyboard added they can get you by on most things. I find the display res to be inadequate on most tablets, which is what makes the newer iPad very attractive. But as you mention move to iOS? Not sure. Samsungs new tablet match the iPads res and has nice horse power to boot.

I tried using just my tablet (Android) for a few weeks. At first it was difficult then it smoothed out. I had to readjust to using only apps instead of the browser and remote desktop for everything. I found, for me, that a tablet cannot replace a laptop without making concessions.

I endded up with a VM runing all of the time, just to act as my laptop. And with that addition, tablet only use is a breeze. You just need to find the right tablet. I would recomend the Samsung because of it's resolution, and a nice BT keyboard.

One of my biggest grips with tablets, are not the tables themselves, but the websites forcing non-standard web pages because they see "tablet/phone" browser. Instant on and small size is great. I only use my tablet out of the house, but I find myself using my laptop around the house because I am just too use to a PC.

Good luck in your quest, leyt us know what you end up with.

[stanger89]

Are you talking the Galaxy Tab? Looks like those are "only" 1280x800 to me. I see there's a Galaxy Note 10.1 coming (will it be available wifi only?)

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Are you talking the Galaxy Tab? Looks like those are "only" 1280x800 to me. I see there's a Galaxy Note 10.1 coming (will it be available wifi only?)

I believe it's the note 2/3 arriving 4th qtr. and yes, IIRC, it's only WiFi. I will try and find the review I read last week. It is also quad core vs the dual's available now.

EDIT: Nope I was wrong they do have LTE versions.

http://www.gizmag.com/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1/28949/

[stanger89]

Well actually I'd want the WiFi one, I don't want to have to pay for a data plan. Heck I'm sorta PO'd at what I'm paying now for the service for my T-bolt, but I've got Unlimited Data still so I'm sorta stuck.

Actually if it weren't for being so convenient on vacations, I'd probably dump my smartphone all together.

Hm... now that's a thought, I wonder, could I dump my smartphone, reactivate my Razr (on T-Mobile or ATT) and get a tablet with LTE and only pay for the LTE when I go on vacation.....

[SWKerr]

Hard decision between Laptop and Tablet these days. A lot of the Android tablets will almost function as Laptops now with the optional keyboards. I love my Asus Transformer but it is not quite a Laptop replacement yet (Mostly due the x86 legacy apps I would like to run)

Tablet: Asus Transformer:
I have had the Transformer Prime for awhile now and love it.
The detachable keyboard makes it into a small laptop and also makes for a good stand. I keep it on the bedside table as an alarm clock and use it for just about every thing you could do with a PC. It has an office app included so you can edit real office spreadsheets and word docs.
They just announced a new version of the Transformer:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/a...-pad-infinity/
*but you can now get great deals on the old models.

Laptop: ASUS VivoBook
I have my Work laptop which is almost always in the docking station because it is just to big to lug around willingly. I bought a touch screen PC with Windows 8 for personal use. (Kids Homework etc.) The thing works well with SageTV and has a full office suite installed.
It only has a 11.6 in display but it fits nicely into a small Portfolio notepad I carry. The small screen is worth it for portability. At less than $350 it was a great fit for my needs.

Windows 8 Transformer:
This looked interesting: at only $350 you get a real x86 cpu that will probably run SageTV and just about any productivity app you would want. The real negative is the resolution but I doubt you would really notice.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/11/a...-1-for-349-we/


There are also some interesting convertibles coming out that will do Windows8 plus Android but they seem quite pricey.
Transformer Book Trio:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/a...t-to-a-laptop/

[Skybolt]

I also currently have the Asus transformer with keyboard dock. Good for what I needed it for last year, but I wouldn't buy another one. I also have an original iPad which I use as a controller for my HA. Even after having both - I plan on upgrading to the Samsung when it comes out. Simply because of the screen resolution. I find myself using my remote VM alot through my tablet.

[fidget]

Originally Posted by PiX64

What I is primarily tablet for all of the reason listed above. If you install splashtop application and even logmein free version, its super easy to get around the "not having a desktop" hang up.

splashtop running on any one of the machine on my network with the ios app is pretty outstanding. I even used to use it for a sage client. works pretty stellar.

I, too, use Splashtop on my Sage server and I have no problems watching programs on my iPad over the local network. Because I have crappy DSL, I don't have enough bandwidth to watch TV from a remote location. It does work well enought so I can interact with the UI, but that is about it.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by fidget

I, too, use Splashtop on my Sage server and I have no problems watching programs on my iPad over the local network. Because I have crappy DSL, I don't have enough bandwidth to watch TV from a remote location. It does work well enought so I can interact with the UI, but that is about it.

Splashtop works great if it installed on a Windows 8 machine it is able to use windows 8 Gestures so very easy to manipulate Sage on a Nexus tablet.

[SWKerr]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

I also currently have the Asus transformer with keyboard dock. Good for what I needed it for last year, but I wouldn't buy another one. I also have an original iPad which I use as a controller for my HA. Even after having both - I plan on upgrading to the Samsung when it comes out. Simply because of the screen resolution. I find myself using my remote VM alot through my tablet.

The newest Transformer has 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.
I can't imagine needing more than that.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

The newest Transformer has 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.
I can't imagine needing more than that.

Nope, either can I. The cost of what my transformer was opposed to what a standard tablet cost's and how I use the tablet, is why I would not get another one. Performance is just fine and Asus is constantly updateing things.

I just think when a tablet cost is more then a Laptop, it should out perform the laptop, and that it doesn't do. But then that's almost comparing apples to oranges isn't it or is it?

[stanger89]

I guess that's part of my problem, I don't necessarily want a tablet (form factor). I don't care about a touch screen, or lack of keyboard, in fact I think I'd want to add a keyboard.

Maybe the answer is really simple, I want a laptop. Guess my question has been, can I "get away with" a tablet....

[cncb]

I haven't used one but the Microsoft Surface looks pretty cool. I recently got an email about the "Surface 2" coming out soon: http://surface.microsoftstore.com/

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I guess that's part of my problem, I don't necessarily want a tablet (form factor). I don't care about a touch screen, or lack of keyboard, in fact I think I'd want to add a keyboard.

Maybe the answer is really simple, I want a laptop. Guess my question has been, can I "get away with" a tablet....

It would seem that you want the same thing that we wanted a couple months ago, cured with a Lenovo Yoga. The 11" for portability, the 13" for the ability to add another mSata hard drive to that blank spot in the machine.

[panteragstk]

The asus transformer windows 8 vivotab is what I'm thinking about. Once the intels SOC's make a splash you can run full windows and android together if you wanted. Not yet though. If I were getting a tablet and wanted something small, I wouldn't look at anything other than a nexus 7 (1920x1080). For bigger than that the new transformer infinity (2560 x 1200) is the one I'd get. Even if you don't want a keyboard dock it is still one of the highest build quality tablets. The dock is a bonus IMHO.

[stanger89]

Well it seems my hand may be forced. Last night my Dell flaked out again, and I just shut it down, today the screen doesn't come on. Sounds like textbook nVidia 8600GT failure. So now what to do...

I'm thinking a tablet just isn't for me. I've got no interest in a touchscreen interface, and I'd really like a keyboard. That, and I may have been overestimating the cost of laptops.

I was going to list off my desires in rank, but it's probably nearly a three way tie between, battery life, weight and a good sized screen. I really just keep coming back to I want something hardware wise like the 15" Macbook Pro Retina. 15" screen, 4.5 Lbs, 7 hrs of battery. Actually better yet, the new Haswell Air, if it had a 15" screen.

Except I don't know that I'm prepared to jump to OS X, and they cost a ton.

I've always had an approximately 15" screen, I don't really want to give that up, but maybe I'll have to.

I was poking around, Lenovo has an Ideapad Flex, which is supposedly about 5 lbs, 15.6" monitor, 9hrs battery, but the resolution is low and they only offer up to 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD:
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops.../flex/flex-15/

There's the Y510p, it's got a better screen, and more memory but they don't offer a real SSD (looks like a 24GB SSD Cache drive) and supposedly only 5 hours of battery life.

The Yoga 2 Pro looks nice except for the 8GB of ram and 13" screen. And of course it appears to not be out yet.

I've sort of been oogling the Dell Precision M3800, also not out yet, but basically looks like a 15" Macbook Pro Retina, but with windows.

I'm sort of at a loss. Even discounting price I'm not having much luck finding laptops with just the feature set I want....

[davenlr]

If you are looking for battery life, make sure you get a 4th Gen Intel Core CPU. The Haswell CPUs really extended battery life. There are several coming to market now, and prices on an Core i5 are not that bad. Unless you are playing games, I really see no reason for a Core i7.

That CPU, will allow a bigger screen with the same battery life, and throw in an SSD, and it should scream.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by davenlr

and prices on an Core i5 are not that bad. Unless you are playing games, I really see no reason for a Core i7.

Video transcoding is a good reason.