Tablet or Netbook suggestions

[SLM]

As I had posted in the "latest techonolgies" thread, I am currently considering the future purchase (within the next year or so) of either a tablet or a netbook. And it occurs to me that since so many members here use varying technologies for varying purposes, I'd love to get some input on the two options.

Basically, I fell in love with the portability of my laptop while staying with family. Since I didn't really have a place to set up a PC, I opted for the laptop, but truthfully, in my own home, my laptop remains fairly stationary. Honestly, the laptop I have I find a bit cumbersome to literally put on my lap, lol. So I'm thinking about returning to a PC when I do replace my current computer and getting either a netbook or tablet for portable use, even for just around the house.

My real need, or desire I guess, for portability is really just for access to the internet. So, bearing that in mind, I'd love to get some input to help me decide which option might be the most suitable for my situation.

Anyone who has used either netbooks or tablets or both, I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts on them.

 

[Praxius]

There's a couple that peak my interest. Besides the well-known IPad, there are these:

Blackberry PlayBook:
BlackBerry - PlayBook Is Here - New BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet - BlackBerry Tablet

Windows 7 Tablets:
Windows Tablet

HTC Flyer:
HTC - Products - HTC Flyer - Overview

There's a bunch really.... I'd prefer either the Blackberry or a Windows 7 Tablet.

 

[TenPenny]

I would think that if you want to surf the net, the lack of flash would make the iPad a second-place runner. Depends on what you want to see on the net, I suppose.

 

[petros]

I still wind my watch.

 

[karrie]

my husband bought an Acer netbook and I find it infuriatingly slow and incapable when it comes to surfing the internet. I rarely bother even touching the useless thing. I'd rather not be on the net, than deal with it. I'm finding it increasingly nice for my mental health to NOT be able to take the internet with me everywhere in the house. I now have to find good books or magazines that spark my interest. lol.

 

[Durry]

I have a Laptop, an iPod Touch and an iPad (2nd gen).

I only use my laptop when I have use some if the programs I have on it and if I am going to use the Internet a lot.

I use my iPod Touch the most for checking/replying to emails, visiting regular Internet sites and checking the stock market. It's very portable and I take it with me everywhere. Stbks is a favorite place to use it.

I find I am seldom using my iPad. Since the novelity wore off, it just sits on my coffee table..

I am writing this post on my iPad which watching tv.

Anyways, that's my experience!

 

[bill barilko]

within the next year or so.......

Is that meant to be ironic?

 

[taxslave]

We have two Macbooks and my wife has an ipad. that she carries everywhere. GOt rid of her cell as she can call out with it and receive text and email. She loves it.

 

[petros]

If it contains any of these elements buy it!

 

[Praxius]

my husband bought an Acer netbook and I find it infuriatingly slow and incapable when it comes to surfing the internet. I rarely bother even touching the useless thing. I'd rather not be on the net, than deal with it. I'm finding it increasingly nice for my mental health to NOT be able to take the internet with me everywhere in the house. I now have to find good books or magazines that spark my interest. lol.

You should try browsing the net on a Nintendo DSi..... no flash, very slow loading up pages and after about 3-5 pages, it runs out of memory and you have to wipe the history.

While you can upload pictures from the DSi directly to Facebook..... going onto Facebook itself on a DSi, you can't even load one page before it runs out of memory.

Makes me wonder why the hell they even bothered with a web browser on the DSi.

The Nintendo Wii's browser is actually pretty good in comparison and can play most Flash files & there's no issue of running out of Memory. I imagine the 3DS works a lot better then the DSi in regards to web browsing.....

In regards to the Acer Netbook..... I was never a fan of Acer brand.... their stuff always reminded me of Superstore's "President's Choice" or Sobeys "Out Compliments" brand..... very cheap and not the best quality.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

my husband bought an Acer netbook and I find it infuriatingly slow and incapable when it comes to surfing the internet.

I'm both surprised and sorry to hear that, I've been thinking of getting one instead of a laptop (they're really a bit cumbersome) for traveling, so I can keep in touch with places like this, and my email, and backup my photos when I'm away. The specs I've seen on them wouldn't suggest they'd be so underpowered, it doesn't take a lot of power to surf, that suggests to me that it's misconfigured somehow, or has a lot of unnecessary junk running on it. All off the shelf systems do, which is why I generally build my own systems from components and a generic OS disk, so I don't get all the crap software the vendors like to add. Little tough to build a laptop or netbook from components though, off the shelf's the only realistic option there. Glad to see that caution, I'll be sure to insist on some serious testing before getting one. Or not, as the case may be.

 

[SLM]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not a very technologically minded person so I find it helpful in my decision making process to hear how people actually use these devices.

I guess what I want is to be able to do is check email, post online, read news stories etc from where ever in the house. I rarely watch video online and I never play games. My laptop is extra wide because it has the numeric keypad and so I find it cumbersome and rather uncomfortable to really use it unless it's on a table. It's definitely not something I can curl up with on the couch and check email or read an online magazine.

My thinking is that I can get a decent desk top pc and either a tablet or a netbook for about the same cost as a really good laptop.

I had briefly looked at netbooks when I was shopping for my daughter's grad gift a year and a half ago, but I opted to go with buying her a laptop. My impression, at the time, was that they were great for students (email, web surfing, note taking) but didn't offer much else. So it occured to me that, since that would actually be all that I need it for, it may be option for me.

I'm sort of leaning towards a playbook if I go with a tablet, only because I currently have a blackberry and I quite like it. Brand loyalty I guess.

 

[DurkaDurka]

I'm sort of leaning towards a playbook if I go with a tablet, only because I currently have a blackberry and I quite like it. Brand loyalty I guess.

I would hold off on the Playbook until the fix the software issues with it, namely; A lack of a Mail client, Contacts, Calender and a lack of third party applications.

I have played with the device on a couple occasions and I think it has potential, solid hardware, new OS (QNIX)and it's not Apple. Unfortunately though, the software is its killer right now. It feels like a beta product, RIM shouldn't have released it when they did.

PlayBook could be a contender, but not yet - Technology & Science - CBC News

 

[karrie]

You should try browsing the net on a Nintendo DSi..... no flash, very slow loading up pages and after about 3-5 pages, it runs out of memory and you have to wipe the history.

Been there, done that. My daughter was very pissed about it. Spent all that money, and it's useless at browsing.

 

[shadowshiv]

Been there, done that. My daughter was very pissed about it. Spent all that money, and it's useless at browsing.

They should offer a rebate to customers for selling a product that doesn't do everything that it is supposed to(and that a software update won't be able to fix).

 

[cranky]

They should offer a rebate to customers for selling a product that doesn't do everything that it is supposed to(and that a software update won't be able to fix).

I like your comment, but have to half heartedly point out a quote from a former Motorola CEO that went something like this: "I get to manufacture and sell a product that doesn't quite work the same way as it is intended
"

LOL

 

[shadowshiv]

I like your comment, but have to half heartedly point out a quote from a former Motorola CEO that went something like this: "I get to manufacture and sell a product that doesn't quite work the same way as it is intended
"

LOL

With a comment like that, I can see why there is a former in front of Motorola CEO.

 

[SLM]

I would hold off on the Playbook until the fix the software issues with it, namely; A lack of a Mail client, Contacts, Calender and a lack of third party applications.

I have played with the device on a couple occasions and I think it has potential, solid hardware, new OS (QNIX)and it's not Apple. Unfortunately though, the software is its killer right now. It feels like a beta product, RIM shouldn't have released it when they did.

PlayBook could be a contender, but not yet - Technology & Science - CBC News

Yes, I'd heard about those issues and will definitely wait until they are resolved before buying one. If I end up going with a playbook in the end that is.