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Can a tablet replace a laptop?

I spend a considerably amount of time on my laptop - probably more than is even healthy - and I am thinking of getting an upgrade to my Acer Aspire 5552, which is around 2 years old now. At present, here is the specification of said laptop...
AMD Athlon II X2 processor P320 clocked at 2.1Ghz in speed.
15.6" HD LCD display with a resolution of 1366x768.
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 with 256MB dedicated video RAM.
4GB DDR3 Memory/RAM.
500GB HDD plus USB ports and SD card slot for extending the storage.
Other than that, it is just a usual laptop with a DVD drive, wireless and a Li-ion battery. It performs fairly well, but I'd like something that offers a new and preferably faster user experience.
On a typical day, I spend a fair amount of time on my laptop - around 5 hours or so - and below I have listed what I usually do below.
Web browsing to visit sites such as the XDA-Developers (here).
Social networking and messaging through the likes of Facebook and Skype.
Listening to music through iTunes.
Watching HD YouTube videos.
Playing some light games (my laptop can't run high-end games, but small ones run fine).
Homework on Microsoft Office.
So, in all honesty, my laptop doesn't get any usage that I personally don't feel able to perform on my current Samsung Galaxy Note. The 5.3 inch device is pretty atypical and, whilst it serves quite well as a portable (7.0 inch) tablet/phone hybrid, I still find myself turning my laptop on a lot because of two things. Firstly, a 15.0 inch display is much more comfortable to look at for longer periods of time - regardless of the amazing resolution of the Samsung Galaxy Note - and, secondly, giving my phone the heavy usage of a tablet leaves me without battery life before I have even left the house (The Note's battery dies after 5 hours of screen time at a maximum).
I initially refused to purchase a tablet, as there are times where I simply need a keyboard for homework and more long-winded typing sessions. As an aspiring author and frequent Blogger also, touch-screen keyboards simply aren't good enough. But, I have recently discovered the Asus Transformer Pad 300. It is available to purchase here on PC World for £400 GBP including VAT, which is just about within my budget. A tablet would serve my usage, I think, rather well and the keyboard dock would allow me to complete some homework and heavy typing sessions. I'd still also have access to a main family PC which runs Windows Vista, so what do you think?
Do you think that, under my circumstances, the Asus Transformer Pad 300 could replace my present laptop and serve my daily usage well?
Attached
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/asus-...let-pc-with-docking-station-13657744-pdt.html
EDIT 1: Whilst I am here, I'd like to ask anyone here who has owned, currently owns or used an Asus Transformer Pad 300 (not the Prime or even more expensive Infinity) what they think of the device.

I actually might think you could be a candidate for a tablet to replace your laptop.... especially with the full keyboard and access to a full desktop.
I couldnt ever do it, but I use my laptop for alot more than you seem to.

Cinco5 said:
I actually might think you could be a candidate for a tablet to replace your laptop.... especially with the full keyboard and access to a full desktop.
I couldnt ever do it, but I use my laptop for alot more than you seem to.
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Click to collapse
Well, I use my laptop a ridiculous amount, but for actual dedicated Windows apps - not so much. With a keyboard dock, I could even manage to do my homework itself on the tablet thanks to Polaris Office. All I would miss from Windows would be Steam, which is a real shame, but I could still use our family PC as much as I'd want to play Steam games or do the few things not capable on an Android tablet. I am reluctant to replace my laptop with a tablet, but the more I think about it the more it seems to make sense from a convenience point of view as a tablet will be much more comfortable than my current process of using a laptop on the sofa. Thanks for your opinion, anyway. Do you think the Asus Transformer Pad 300 is any good, by the way? Has anyone here perhaps owned or tried one?

EDIT 1
Whilst I am here, I'd like to ask anyone here who has owned, currently owns or used an Asus Transformer Pad 300 (not the Prime or even more expensive Infinity) what they think of the device.

Well I don't have a TF300 but I do have a TF101 and all-in-all, I am extremely happy with it. In fact I use it more than my laptop. However, I do still use my laptop as a repository or sorts for hosting, downloads and some other Android-type things that a tablet just can't do.
There have been some stability issues with the whole line of Transformers in one form or another. But if you are experienced enough to figure out that it is not a hardware problem, then they all can be fixed one way or another.
I had always thought that tablets were nothing more than just large phones but then I used a friend's Xoom and realized that there was much more to them than that. So, I searched and searched and read and read some more about all types of tablets and what would best suit me. I wanted to know about support (XDA type support), Rooting, development as well as manufacturer support, O/S updates and basic compatability with my daily life.
After all that was done, I decided to purchase the TF101 (in Feb of this year) and have been happy with it. Later, I eventually bought a keyboard dock and between that and my usage patterns, it has beyond outstanding battery life (3-5 days with moderate use). There are several apps that emulate Xcel, Word, microsoft family as well as Polaris. Can watch HD YouTube vids just fine too. i had jury duty a few weeks ago and while I was waiting, I watched Netflix for about 3 hours and didn't put a dent in my battery life and it didn't get hot either.
Storage is unbeatable. Tablet comes with 16/32gb (I have 32gb version), External Micro-SD (up to 32gb) and the dock holds up to 32gb full-sized SD. So if you do the math that is 96gb of storage on a tablet.
I know you are thinking about the TF300 but this is my POV from the TF101. I say pull the trigger on it. You already have the laptop so it isn't like you have to choose between getting one or the other.

Woodrube said:
Well I don't have a TF300 but I do have a TF101 and all-in-all, I am extremely happy with it. In fact I use it more than my laptop. However, I do still use my laptop as a repository or sorts for hosting, downloads and some other Android-type things that a tablet just can't do.
There have been some stability issues with the whole line of Transformers in one form or another. But if you are experienced enough to figure out that it is not a hardware problem, then they all can be fixed one way or another.
I had always thought that tablets were nothing more than just large phones but then I used a friend's Xoom and realized that there was much more to them than that. So, I searched and searched and read and read some more about all types of tablets and what would best suit me. I wanted to know about support (XDA type support), Rooting, development as well as manufacturer support, O/S updates and basic compatability with my daily life.
After all that was done, I decided to purchase the TF101 (in Feb of this year) and have been happy with it. Later, I eventually bought a keyboard dock and between that and my usage patterns, it has beyond outstanding battery life (3-5 days with moderate use). There are several apps that emulate Xcel, Word, microsoft family as well as Polaris. Can watch HD YouTube vids just fine too. i had jury duty a few weeks ago and while I was waiting, I watched Netflix for about 3 hours and didn't put a dent in my battery life and it didn't get hot either.
Storage is unbeatable. Tablet comes with 16/32gb (I have 32gb version), External Micro-SD (up to 32gb) and the dock holds up to 32gb full-sized SD. So if you do the math that is 96gb of storage on a tablet.
I know you are thinking about the TF300 but this is my POV from the TF101. I say pull the trigger on it. You already have the laptop so it isn't like you have to choose between getting one or the other.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, and I'm going to be getting rid of my laptop should I get one of these. It is either a new 15" laptop or a new 10" tablet. I've never owned a tablet, just an old HTC Desire which had no storage and my first proper Android phone with some decent specifications is a 5.3" Galaxy Note. Do you find 10" enough to run desktop versions of websites comfortably and use it heavily? Will it be enough of a step up you think from my Note? So, it is actually one or the other.

Bump.

This may be a little off-topic, but if you upgrade and want to sell your laptop. PM me
Sent from my XT862 using Tapatalk 2

I was actually going to give it to a relative, so sorry.
Sent from my GT-N7000

The other issue I face is whether or not I even need a tablet with my 5.3 inch Galaxy Note always arm's reach away.
Sent from my GT-N7000

Not In My Opinion
I bought myself a HP TouchPad, now i know its not exactly the best lol, but the way i see it, is that if it requires WIFI for internet access then you may aswell just stick with the laptop.

Yes. I have a Note already which is kind of like a 7 inch tab almost anyway. I would rather save the money abd perhaps buy a new PC next year. Problem solved!
Sent from my GT-N7000

I honestly can't see myself using a tablet over a laptop.

I wouldn't get rid of your laptop honestly.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

My wife uses a laptop, I used to, but now I use my Acer A200 tablet which I am very happy with. Of course that is when I'm not on my Note which is quite good on its own.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium

i use tablet in the bed only for the web and notebook on the desktop for all :good:

I think it's going to be a while until a tablet can fully replace a laptop.
A tablet with a dock could nearly replace one for me, but not quite yet.

i know several people who think tablets can replace laptops but for me i'm afraid not

I never thought a tablet could replace a pc but when i got a tablet I virtually do everything i need on it. email, word processing, surf, skype, stream and probably play more games not then before (not any crazy 3d stuff of course). It really depends on the type of user.

nope
I don't think a tablet can replace a laptop..atleast not the ones that are currently out. But i think eventually all Laptops will be tablets..basically the screen just detaches from the keyboard and you can take it to go.

[Q] TF700 vs. Laptop

I have been wrestling with the issue of usefulness in a college situation, note taking, researching etc. It is quite a large investment and I wanted to make the right choice.
Two Questions:
1. Do you love your tablet?
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
I'm sure this thread has been made before, but the search function for the xda app is horrific.
Thanks!

1. Do you love your tablet?
Yes, no homo.
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
Depends on what you want. I don't have a laptop so I don't have a choice. If you want something powerful to run workstation type programs, then you need a laptop. If you only want to watch movies or edit documents, a tablet would be a good idea.

1. Do you love your tablet?
Yep! first tablet (had the prime, but its the same thing basically!) and so far its working really well...may not be as fluid as ipad (my other choice) but nevertheless very versatile and gets the job done (of taking notes)
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
It can replace a laptop depending on what your using for....i had a laptop for taking notes in skool but i upgrade to my custom build desktop and got the transformer instead. Did it replace the laptop for me? yep, easy to take notes with and is half the size and weight. not to mention you can play angry birds when your bored in class. But is it better than a laptop? Maybe not in terms of multi-tasking. but its still kick a** for a portable device that last up to 10 hours in battery life.
bottom line is if the transformer suits your needs. For me, it def did.

As to "love", that is purely subjective. I do enjoy it if that helps.
As to which is better for your situation, that is going to depend purely on your needs. Not a knock on the Infinity, but if you get the dock station keyboard, that make the cost $650 to $750US. You can get a pretty decent laptop, non-apple. Although, there are plenty of apps that can handle most things people want to do, tablets, at this point, are just not as robust as a laptop with say, Windows 7.
If you're just taking notes in class, writing papers, surfing the web, maybe some research on the net, probably be fine. If you're a computer science major and need to do code, not likely.
I've owned laptops for about ten years. Have used them in the class room setting. Been using PCs for a little under twenty years. I graduated college a little thirteen years ago. I've only been using Android for about a year and half on a Evo 4G--email, IM, media, writing notes using Dos2Go, using spreed sheets in Docs2Go, games, rooted, and so forth. Only got the Infinity a few days ago myself. Despite not being well versed on the Infinity, I think I may have an decent idea.
On top of that, make sure the school doesn't have some kind of requirements in regards to the PC you may be able to use. Some may have requires because of how homework is turned in or exams are done.

The infinity (or any of the Transformer models) is great for taking notes because of the keyboard dock. The device is super thin, super light, has a keyboard dock, long battery life, completely silent and pretty damn powerful! I use my Infinity for all note-taking at work. I use an app called "Classic Notes + App Box" - it does everything! You can type in your notes, attach sketches, attach pictures, etc. You can even do stuff like look up zip codes, convert measurements, etc. Really powerful app.
And the really nice part is that it's 100% searchable! If I need to look something up in my notes, I just search for whatever I'm looking for and shows me all of the matches almost instantly. It has tons of other features and the author provides the best support that I've ever seen. Want a new feature? Let him know and if it makes sense, it will be there shortly!
Highly recommended..
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

upstandingcitizen said:
I have been wrestling with the issue of usefulness in a college situation, note taking, researching etc. It is quite a large investment and I wanted to make the right choice.
Two Questions:
1. Do you love your tablet?
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
I'm sure this thread has been made before, but the search function for the xda app is horrific.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes I like it a lot.
2. It depends. When I'm at home I use mostly my PC or the Infinity depending on what I want to do. When I'm travelling <3 weeks I take the Infinity with me because it's light and has a good battery life.
However if I would've to travel for a longer time (+3 weeks) . I would definitely take my laptop with me but I haven't done that for over a year now so my laptop is now collecting dust which is a shame because it was quite expensive.
So I would say if you have a PC get the Infinity if not buy a good laptop.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda premium

1.) I rely heavily on Jorte calendar to keep me headed in a straight line. I've given up on my companies outlook calendar and simply transfer meetings over to google calendar (Jorte pulls in google calendar) at work. This along makes me depend on this tablet. I don't "love" this tablet, as any similiar device would do, but I would be at a big loss with out it. I keep HDMI cables in my bag so I can watch movies on my hotel TV while traveling and when the kids are with me on the road they can watch Cars or other toons while I take care of other things.
2.) No it absolutely does not replace my laptop. Never could. But I would never expect it to. Everyones different, so if you do alot of reading on your laptop and basic web surfing it may work fine for you. Even the occasional paper being written would be ok. But for me I rarely sit down and type anything other then email and forums that is less then 5+ pages. Windows is my "get stuff done" OS. Android is more of my assistant, entertainment, makes life easier OS.

i love my tablets and have more tablets than either desktops or laptops (but not combined, lol).
tablets are better at certain things than a laptop. you can get better battery life without spending over a grand on an ultrabook. plus the portability, instant on, touch interface (i can't stand track pads, but somehow the transformer trackpad seems to work well). For portable entertainment, it's hard to beat.
that the only laptop that the tablets have replaced was my "netbook." actually an acer 12" timeline. it was far better spec-wise, but not as portable.

upstandingcitizen said:
1. Do you love your tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far I really like my tablet. This is kind of a nonsense question...of course we love our tablets.
upstandingcitizen said:
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
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Click to collapse
Simply? No. Of course not. But it can be better in some situations like note taking, as you suggested. I'm personally planning on using this thing for note taking and simple tasks, but more powerful tasks will be done on my laptop. My suggestion is to have a laptop or desktop around to do more power-hungry tasks, but for most simple cases it should work just fine.

upstandingcitizen said:
It is quite a large investment and I wanted to make the right choice.
Two Questions:
1. Do you love your tablet?
2. Is it better than or does it replace a laptop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
________________________________________________
1. Ummm...I like my tablet
2. In no way does it replace a notebook
$500.00 can buy a pretty decent notebook.
My last notebook has the AMD Vision quad core APU with 16 GB of RAM.
It handles Photoslop CS5, MAYA and PoserPro 2012 like a champ.
When Android tablets are able to run desktop graphics 3D rendering stuff like these they will no longer be toys for the gadgeteer!

1) Yes
2) As others have said, its highly dependent on both what your needs are and how much you're willing to tinker with things to get it doing what you want. Simple web browsing and lightweight document editing? Sure. Photo editing or software development? Maybe. Anything more than that? Probably not.

Chief Geek said:
1.) I rely heavily on Jorte calendar to keep me headed in a straight line. I've given up on my companies outlook calendar and simply transfer meetings over to google calendar (Jorte pulls in google calendar) at work. This along makes me depend on this tablet. I don't "love" this tablet, as any similiar device would do, but I would be at a big loss with out it. I keep HDMI cables in my bag so I can watch movies on my hotel TV while traveling and when the kids are with me on the road they can watch Cars or other toons while I take care of other things.
2.) No it absolutely does not replace my laptop. Never could. But I would never expect it to. Everyones different, so if you do alot of reading on your laptop and basic web surfing it may work fine for you. Even the occasional paper being written would be ok. But for me I rarely sit down and type anything other then email and forums that is less then 5+ pages. Windows is my "get stuff done" OS. Android is more of my assistant, entertainment, makes life easier OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This ^^ pretty much sums up my usage, except I use Touch Calendar and Work Calendar (hospital shifts). The 700 is a great appeaser as far a small kids (I have a 4- and a 2-year-old) go.

1. Yes i love my tablet
2. Yes and no it will all depend on the person and your personal usage. I find no need whatsoever to have a big and bulky laptop when i can have my Tab with me when i need to be mobile. When I need a lil more power I use my gaming rig back in my dorm
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

I was planning to replace my laptop; but the inability to connect to monitor over DVI puts a crimp in my plans. All my monitors are DVI only, and the TF700 won't work with any of them using the DVI/HDMI adapter. It's a pain to code on the 10" screen.

I got this thing 2 days now and I love it. It is a replacement for my old laptop wich I used to edit text and stuff like that. surf a little. And watching movies with that old thing was a no go anyway. Now with this I can even use AirPlay to play stuff on my TV or something else. I love it
So to 1 a defenite YES.
And to 2, for me it is a yes. But I use my desktop for the heavy stuff. like gaming and all that crap.
And to have a touchscreen and a keyboard, I never did stuff this fast and nice. I love it. And the batterylife on this is 4 times longer then my old lappy.

1. This is my first tablet and so far I really like it. It is very light which makes it easy to bring to class and you are able to do most of your class work with it.
2. Currently, I do not think it will replace a laptop. There are numerous reasons as to why and I am sure people before me have mentioned it. But if you have a tablet and laptop, you could look into RDP (Remote desktop) to access your desktop through your tablet. There are a bit of issues with it, but it gets the job done (depending on what you do)
All in all, 500 dollars is a big investment and not to mention that you will probably buy accessories too. I would really determine what you will be doing at school and in your leisure time. After, weigh each pro and con for each device and go from there. I hope this helps
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

My Surface Review from an android fanboy.

So I bought the surface about a week ago and decided to write up a review for it. Before I purchased it I went on a 2 day "journey" examining why not to buy it. See I already own a nexus 7, but since Microsoft debut the surface I've been in love with its beauty, plus I'm realizing that 7 inches is enough for me. So I was going to choose between a Nexus 10 and a Surface, and.....an iPad.....
My initial thought was to go with the Nexus 10, I mean, I love android on my phone, HTC One X, my apps would all be able to be re-downloaded, I use google everything, music, drive, docs, etc.... So no brainer right? Wrong, actually the first thing I did was eliminate all Android tablets from thought, for one reason, they are pointless. My nexus 7 was literally a 7 inch version of my HTC One X, not a new experience, it was a big phone. I don't want a big phone, I love my phone, I want a tablet, and in my opinion, the Android OS does not do enough to differentiate the two. So suprisingly I was left with the Surface vs the new iPad. This became an easy choice of do I wan't flash or not, and I choose flash, like I already have.
The specs of the surface don't do it justice, you have to use the device to see the difference. The screen is beautiful, I wouldn't say as beautiful as the iPad screen but the colors are certainly better than the Nexus 10. Plus it shows more on the screen at once than both of the those tablets while having the same clarity in text thanks to Clear Type. Just spend 5 minutes with one at a Best buy and you'll see what I mean. I don't do a lot of tablet gaming, any really sans emulators. And the GPU in the surface is just behind the one in the iPad according to tech sites like anadtech, which still puts it in front of the amazing Exynos in the Nexus 10. Plus, the only browser benchmark I found for it says it scores a 994ms in the sunspider test, which is better than the Nexus 10's 1384ms by a decent amount. So this is a good example of specs being worthless, mostly.
Now to what I love the most about the Surface, IE 10. Feels like I'm browsing on my desktop, not a tablet. I browsed to youtube.com as soon as the tablet booted up for the first time, it loaded right away, fast, and was youtube.com. Not youtube mobile which my nexus 7 likes to send me too, even in chrome.... The video played fine and I cannot overstate how amazing the touch accuracy is, even when using dolphin browser on my nexus the process of selecting 1080p option or even skipping through video is frustrating to say the least... In IE 10 it works exactly like it does on my desktop. And then there is multitasking! Example, yesterday I had google music playing in one tab, was at gmail.com in another g chatting, and used the multi-window feature thingy reading espn news in the espn app, and it felt almost as natural as on my desktop. Another thing that was nice was g-chatting while watching twitch.tv, it feels nice not to have to re-buffer the video, just because I wanted to answer a message on facebook chat. Things like that tell me that I have something more than just a big phone.

Great write-up.
I get what you mean when you say that an Android Tablet is just like having a big phone, and even then, not everything with Android likes the larger screen.
Thanks!

Wow. I was practically in the same scenario as you. I'm not gonna rewrite it here cuz I already have explained why I chose the surface cuz I already have in numerous other threads but ..I too purchased a htc flyer over a year ago thinking it would be awesome cuz its android and I love android...but it was just like my htc phone. even then, my phone was better cuz it was always connected to the internet. So I returned it a week later.
Anyhow, great write up.
Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express

You pretty much summed up my own thoughts on the Surface.
Many people slate (excuse the pun) the Surface for not having as many apps or for having a low-res screen or for having poor hardware specs. I can only assume those people have never used one. I have yet to meet someone who owns a Surface who doesn't absolutely love it.
I've owned Asus Transformer, Nexus 7, and every iPad from 1 to 3 and the Surface is the only tablet that I can actually do some work on.

I updated the EOS3 to 4 on my Xoom yesterday night and found it really counter intuitive compared to the Surface, I've got loads of apps on Play though but the kids can use that and I'll use the Surface as I can see myself shifting from Google to Microsoft, have a Surface now and a Nokia 920 on order..

Trig0r said:
I updated the EOS3 to 4 on my Xoom yesterday night and found it really counter intuitive compared to the Surface, I've got loads of apps on Play though but the kids can use that and I'll use the Surface as I can see myself shifting from Google to Microsoft, have a Surface now and a Nokia 920 on order..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made the shift in total.
Android Tablets to Surface
Android Phones to WP8 (920 here as well)
GMail to Outlook.com (I hate what Goggle did to their IMAP that makes it almost useless for non-android phones)
Google Calendar to Outlook
Google Drive to SkyDrive
I am not totally untethered from Google and love it! I have not lost a thing and in some respects, gained a lot!!

I looked at a surface next to a new iPad, sorry iPad's screen alone beats the crap out the MSFT offering.
If I need a smaller factor tablet I think Nexus 7 is a top contender tied with NoteII, I just despise Samsung TouchWiz interface.

Nice to hear, I wasnt a huge Google fan to start with but then I got my DHD and then a few tablets, the only thing that I'll end up keeping on Google is my YouTube account by the looks of it..
One thing I do want to be able to do it have a map that shows all friends in a group by address as I run a club that I have everyones address for, if I could show that on a map, either with google or bing that'd be pretty neat..

lqaddict said:
I looked at a surface next to a new iPad, sorry iPad's screen alone beats the crap out the MSFT offering.
If I need a smaller factor tablet I think Nexus 7 is a top contender tied with NoteII, I just despise Samsung TouchWiz interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have to agree here. As an iPad 3rd gen owner and a new Surface RT owner - the iPad screen wins hands down. I am enjoying my time with Surface, but I cant help but feel in the back of my mind that I will be missing out on a LOT when the Pro comes out. After checking out some of the hands-on across the web regarding the Pro I have to say I am very impressed.
I'll have to give it a lot of thought, as the Pro variant will be a lot more $$. There are some things I have been using as a workaround, such as using RDC when I want to use desktop apps - but the trade-off is how slow it is if I am working remote. I also am not a fan of IE10 at all, TBH - but all the other offerings are terrible.
As someone that was an early adopter of the 1st gen iPad, I remember what that was like and how much more restricted I felt then than I do now with the iPad. In a lot of ways I feel the same with Surface in the sense that I pick it up to do a few things but get an itch to want to switch to another device to get it done easier and/or more quickly.

GaresTaylan said:
Have to agree here. As an iPad 3rd gen owner and a new Surface RT owner - the iPad screen wins hands down. I am enjoying my time with Surface, but I cant help but feel in the back of my mind that I will be missing out on a LOT when the Pro comes out. After checking out some of the hands-on across the web regarding the Pro I have to say I am very impressed.
I'll have to give it a lot of thought, as the Pro variant will be a lot more $$. There are some things I have been using as a workaround, such as using RDC when I want to use desktop apps - but the trade-off is how slow it is if I am working remote. I also am not a fan of IE10 at all, TBH - but all the other offerings are terrible.
As someone that was an early adopter of the 1st gen iPad, I remember what that was like and how much more restricted I felt then than I do now with the iPad. In a lot of ways I feel the same with Surface in the sense that I pick it up to do a few things but get an itch to want to switch to another device to get it done easier and/or more quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What device do you switch to in an attempt to get more work done? Just wondering.

zacsxe said:
What device do you switch to in an attempt to get more work done? Just wondering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still using both my 3rd gen iPad and my Surface RT. I use both for work. Depending on the task, I keep switching between the two. I have a Galaxy Note 10.1 as well - but I primarily just use it as a media consumption device, and its usually in the hands of my wife.
The company I work for, like many Im sure, is primarily a windows shop. The Surface does integrate much easier with native Office for example. On the iPad, I was using Pages, Numbers & Keynote for Word, Excel and PPT. As a heavy mac user at home, I was used to these apps, but if I need to convert docs from Pages to Word for example, so others can open the doc - sometimes I run into compatibility issues.
Where I run into issues though... since I cant install legacy apps on the surface I can work in software such as IBM Access, Mochasoft, etc. There are apps for these in the app store for the iPad. Once the Surface Pro comes out, I have a feeling that my iPad will be moving more and more to the side as a straight media consumption device.

[Q] Best laptop replacing tablets

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to gather people's thoughts on the best tablets currently out, or due out in the coming 3 months, that would be viable laptop replacing options.
I am currently in this situation, where I want to purchase a tablet and sell my Macbook 13". I travel a lot and a tablet would be very useful because of it's size, portability and the fact that my Macbook is from 2008, so an update is about due I think!
Currently I use my laptop for :
- Browsing the internet
- Occasional listening to music (Use my phone more though)
- Occasional word editing (however, not that often to be honest)
- Transferring photo's from my camera (Sony NEX-6), viewing photo's and occasionally doing minor editing of said photo's
So as you can see, my usage is fairly limited these days. A good screen is of importance to be because of the photo's, as well as watching movies whilst travelling.
Operating system is not a massive deal, I've used all three. I got bored of IOS after I had the iPhone 3GS for a while, then moved to Android (currently using). I've also played around with Windows 8. All have there own advantages and disadvantages.
I have to say, even though most things I say about Apple these days is negative (I feel they've stalled quite a bit in the past 2 years), the Ipad probably still has the best look and feel, but I'm not sure if I would grow bored again with it's tired and outdated looking operating system? I love the photo options and journal options though!
Android is more customisable, I still find new ways to keep myself entertained on my HTC Sensation, thanks to amazing developers, but would a tablet just be an enlarged phone for me then? Would this become unappealing?
Windows 8 looks lovely, it's a fresh faced interface, something new and shiny! It's great fun to play with, but the current Windows RT version is quite limited I'm not sure it's worth gamling on any of the current lineup of Windows Tablets, perhaps not until they get to there second generation at least.
So what would everyone top choice be for a laptop replacing tablet? Personally, I would want something within the same budget as the iPad 4 or less. But, would love to see opinions for any value!
Mike

I don't have experience with the Windows tablets, but the Transformer Infinity - TF700, is a great choice in the Android department. The keyboard dock allows for easy document-editing when you want it, but without being stuck with it.
The older versions of the Transformer line can still offer good performance - not sure what your budget is. You can use bluetooth keyboards with other tablets, and that's an idea, but the integration on the Transformer line is great. Since I built a desktop, I have largely stopped using my laptop and have replaced it with one of the Transformer tablets. With Flash and Drive and office software it does everything I needed my laptop for now that I have a desktop for the video games that require a bit of oomph (and I'm enjoying the gaming on the tablet as well - something I never really got into on my phone).
Not sure how your camera works for transferring photos, but the TF series docks have full-size USB ports and a full-size SD card reader (as well as the microSD slot in the tablet). I have hooked an external hard-drive up to it and all went well.

Pennycake said:
I don't have experience with the Windows tablets, but the Transformer Infinity - TF700, is a great choice in the Android department. The keyboard dock allows for easy document-editing when you want it, but without being stuck with it.
The older versions of the Transformer line can still offer good performance - not sure what your budget is. You can use bluetooth keyboards with other tablets, and that's an idea, but the integration on the Transformer line is great. Since I built a desktop, I have largely stopped using my laptop and have replaced it with one of the Transformer tablets. With Flash and Drive and office software it does everything I needed my laptop for now that I have a desktop for the video games that require a bit of oomph (and I'm enjoying the gaming on the tablet as well - something I never really got into on my phone).
Not sure how your camera works for transferring photos, but the TF series docks have full-size USB ports and a full-size SD card reader (as well as the microSD slot in the tablet). I have hooked an external hard-drive up to it and all went well.
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Click to collapse
I've done quite a bit of research on the TF700, I even came close to committing, however I've just read about too many issues with the I/O and internal memory performance that has put me right off. It seems to be a problem for almost every owner I've encountered. I love the look and style of the tablet, also the connectivity and battery are brilliant. But I want something with excellent performance and I think this is outdated already in that regard. The fact that you have to void your warranty to root it and then install a ROM to make it smooth is a worry.
I was hoping Asus came up with an update to it at CES, but it seems this won't be happening.

The TF700 and the Nexus 10 are the two I consistently hear people say are the best and the fastest right now. I'm not sure about the N10 as laptop replacement, it seems like for that or a tablet without a dock that you'd have to do so many work-arounds that you might look into an ultrabook instead. It would try my patience, but I suppose it's personal preference what you're willing to do and put up with.

I'd recommend you take a look at the Surface RT tablet. It is not anything like as limited as you might think and it would meet pretty much all your requirements. I have one and for most purposes I have stopped carrying a full-on laptop and just take the Surface.
There is also the Pro coming out this month - it would be over your budget but actually is a genuine laptop replacement. There was a review of it on the Verge yesterday.

Inadorel said:
I'd recommend you take a look at the Surface RT tablet. It is not anything like as limited as you might think and it would meet pretty much all your requirements. I have one and for most purposes I have stopped carrying a full-on laptop and just take the Surface.
There is also the Pro coming out this month - it would be over your budget but actually is a genuine laptop replacement. There was a review of it on the Verge yesterday.
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Click to collapse
I wish I could have a play with one in a store... Hopefully soon. What is the screen like? This is an important aspect for me. It doesn't need to be as good as the Nexus 10 for example, but a HD screen would be a minimum I think for me.

Maybe the thinkpad tablet 2 could be a good choice for you. It has win8 pro, is beautifull and light. So no RT limits, no IOS boaringnes, real USB port, HDMI port and a good display.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

olarf said:
Maybe the thinkpad tablet 2 could be a good choice for you. It has win8 pro, is beautifull and light. So no RT limits, no IOS boaringnes, real USB port, HDMI port and a good display.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Looks quite nice. Concerned about the battery life being reported on most of the Windows tablets though? As i'll be travelling quite a bit, this could present an issue?

Hi guys, is the Lumia series of Nokia can be an option to replace a laptop computer?

Anyone else have any thoughts?

I recommend Nexus 10 is way to go especially when your priority is photos. Ipad could be the best choice, but if you want to enjoy quality with reasonable price, Nexus 10 won't disappoint you.

lkirra said:
Hi guys, is the Lumia series of Nokia can be an option to replace a laptop computer?
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No comment
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2

Magnector said:
I recommend Nexus 10 is way to go especially when your priority is photos. Ipad could be the best choice, but if you want to enjoy quality with reasonable price, Nexus 10 won't disappoint you.
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This is probably my top choice right now, although I'm in the UK, so have to wait until they are back in stock to even consider it... I don't have to rush out and get something luckily, I can probably hold off until around May / June before I will have to buy. So it might be worth me waiting as there are bound to be some new releases by then. Hopefully a few Tegra 4 devices start showing themselves by then.

Mikeparakh said:
Looks quite nice. Concerned about the battery life being reported on most of the Windows tablets though? As i'll be travelling quite a bit, this could present an issue?
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So far all tests talking about 10 hours of serious use. I get one tomorrow so soon i can tell you if 10h is a fact.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

olarf said:
So far all tests talking about 10 hours of serious use. I get one tomorrow so soon i can tell you if 10h is a fact.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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I'd really appreciate that, thanks! Is it the Surface RT you've bought?

No the thinkpad tablet2 with win8 pro. So far it is great but still loading so i have no idea about Akku durance. Soon i have
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

I have a Surface RT, and it gets the job done pretty well. I know some people still complain about a "lack of apps" on the Windows RT platform, but it hasn't been an issue for me - IE10 as a browser and Office (just Word, PPT, Excel, and OneNote, of course) comprise most of my use.
I get between 7.5 and 9 hours of battery life out of the device, depending on what I'm doing. On average, it'll get me through about a day and a half of classes - that's three hours each day, plus about 1.5 hours of additional use outside of that on each day (until the battery runs out after usually 8 or so hours). It charges really fast, though - I don't often have to charge it for much more than an hour to nearly fill the battery. A full recharge from a dead batter will probably take you 2 hours, though.
About the only thing I miss on it is the ability to run some programming interfaces (Python, Java, etc.), but with that fancy new jailbreak tool this may be changing - they've already ported most of Python 2.7, for example. I'd heartily recommend the Surface, given both its advantages and shortcomings.

MacBook replacement?
Mikeparakh said:
I'd really appreciate that, thanks! Is it the Surface RT you've bought?
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Have you purchased a replacement for the MacBook? Would love to get your thoughts.

Best computing options for general use
Mikeparakh said:
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to gather people's thoughts on the best tablets currently out, or due out in the coming 3 months, that would be viable laptop replacing options.
I am currently in this situation, where I want to purchase a tablet and sell my Macbook 13". I travel a lot and a tablet would be very useful because of it's size, portability and the fact that my Macbook is from 2008, so an update is about due I think!
Currently I use my laptop for :
- Browsing the internet
- Occasional listening to music (Use my phone more though)
- Occasional word editing (however, not that often to be honest)
- Transferring photo's from my camera (Sony NEX-6), viewing photo's and occasionally doing minor editing of said photo's
So as you can see, my usage is fairly limited these days. A good screen is of importance to be because of the photo's, as well as watching movies whilst travelling.
Operating system is not a massive deal, I've used all three. I got bored of IOS after I had the iPhone 3GS for a while, then moved to Android (currently using). I've also played around with Windows 8. All have there own advantages and disadvantages.
I have to say, even though most things I say about Apple these days is negative (I feel they've stalled quite a bit in the past 2 years), the Ipad probably still has the best look and feel, but I'm not sure if I would grow bored again with it's tired and outdated looking operating system? I love the photo options and journal options though!
Android is more customisable, I still find new ways to keep myself entertained on my HTC Sensation, thanks to amazing developers, but would a tablet just be an enlarged phone for me then? Would this become unappealing?
Windows 8 looks lovely, it's a fresh faced interface, something new and shiny! It's great fun to play with, but the current Windows RT version is quite limited I'm not sure it's worth gamling on any of the current lineup of Windows Tablets, perhaps not until they get to there second generation at least.
So what would everyone top choice be for a laptop replacing tablet? Personally, I would want something within the same budget as the iPad 4 or less. But, would love to see opinions for any value!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For general use like web surfing , email, youtube and netflix watching with a little gaming to pass the time away I would say a tablet ( your choice ) . If its for all that plus working in office regularly along with photo editing and such I would say a laptop . You can get them from basic like an i5 or i7 or even a Celeron or pentium based ones to almost as powerful as a desktop ( Razer , Alienware , MSI, are all gaming laptops and workstations like thinkpads and such and are very powerful ) If you will be doing anything harder like working in CAD or developing or 4k video editing and exporting although many laptops can do these you would be better suited using a desktop , (the CPU , ram , mother board components will be more robust and able to keep cool longer under load than in a laptop). Tablets like the iPad or android tablets are great to pass the time away , are capable to play games or watch videos on and for many people is all the computer they need . I only used my iPad for 3 years ( before that I ran several windows pcs , 4 Macs, and a linux desktop running all the programs I used in my computer repair business ) until I got my MacBook but honestly with what I do on the laptop now the iPad did just as well . I am retired now so my time on the laptop is nothing like what I had done for many years before ( since 1994).

Do you REALLY need a tablet?.. why I sold my Nexus 7 (2013, 2nd gen, Wifi version)

There was some weird voice in my head when I saw the new Nexus 7 (2nd gen) coming out: "buy it, you need it, you want it, you deserve a new toy". I have a few friends that were really happy with the 1st gen Nexus 7, so I was tempted to buy the 1st Nexus7, but didn't.
I should have really thought it through before buying the 2nd gen Nexus7. After having it for 4 months I concluded that the only reason to have it is if you like games.
Downsides and reasons I decided to sell:
- portability. Even thou its portable enough, i found that my old HTC Desire Z has the same functionality and use as the Nexus7 for daily tasks, plus also offers the portability of fitting into a pocket without tearing it.
- no vibro. I am used to have tactile feedback when writing messages, getting alerts and such
- no 3G/4G LTE The whole thing about the tablet is using it to consume stuff online and the 3g version costs 50-100 pounds extra. That's unfair
- influences to play games. Having something as powerful as it and not playing games seems like a waste of money and the crisp clear screen
Why would I want something as powerful as the Nexus 7 just to check my email, read news, e-books and the like? I can read mail and news on my phone and read books on my Kindle.
Don't get me wrong, the Nexus worked really smoothly and with just an occasional hiccup. But before getting it I would look at girls in public transport awkwardly and sometimes even get enough balls to actually say "hi" to them instead of turning my eyes red in that 7 inch, 50Hz shining light-bulb that seems to exploit my brains psychological fallacy to stay "on top" of (not important) news, games and apps.
I decided to get a Asus EEE for work and learning, Linux my Kindle and read PDF's on it (the battery holds in the count of weeks not days) and use my phone for android and stuff on the go.

After I built a desktop just for gaming I replaced my laptop with an ASUS Transformer - it's lighter, the battery lasts longer and I like it a lot better than a netbook. I still use my e-ink Kindle because I much prefer reading books on e-ink. My phone is pocket sized but isn't the best when I'd rather have a keyboard to type with.
For me, this is what works. It's all about arranging the tools in your life to work best for YOU.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

There is nothing better than hardware keyboard and mouse in notebook or PC. In most cases tablets are running Android, so they can't run programs like PowerPoint or Excel.

I use it mostly for watching videos... Works great for that purpose. Still prefer reading on my kindle though. Also browsing the web is a little easier on the larger screen.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app

- no 3G/4G LTE The whole thing about the tablet is using it to consume stuff online and the 3g version costs 50-100 pounds extra. That's unfair
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Click to collapse
What about tethering then?

I wanted to buy tablet for myself for few times, but i dont see point now with my phone. Almost all that i can on tablet, i also can on my phone. And for some serious work i need keyboard and thats that. My wet dream is ultrabook but i cant justify cost
Pennycake said:
After I built a desktop just for gaming I replaced my laptop with an ASUS Transformer - it's lighter, the battery lasts longer and I like it a lot better than a netbook. I still use my e-ink Kindle because I much prefer reading books on e-ink. My phone is pocket sized but isn't the best when I'd rather have a keyboard to type with.
For me, this is what works. It's all about arranging the tools in your life to work best for YOU.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Transformer is only called tablet, but it is much more

A tablet has no advantages.

1) The main thing I use my Galaxy Tab 3 for is reading e-books.
It's pretty cool having a portable library where you can change the text size and color (red is easier on my eyes).
I really like to read, both fiction and non-fiction, and a phone is too small for that, even my Nexus 5, it's just too small. 7" is perfect for reading, as is 10"
2) Also, I have taken some vacations this year, and took a bunch of pictures that my family wants to see. Very easy to just bring a tablet if a family member is in the hospital (I have such a person) or if I go somewhere else, and I can show them come pics and videos right on the 10" tablet.
3) Work. Some of us work in fields where we would like to show pictures of things we sell or explain things to customers, and this comes in handy as a tool.
4) Games. I play chess and checkers on the 10" tablet sometimes and it's pretty fun. Some games really shine on a bigger screen.
Now what I find ridiculous, and I have seen this recently at a concert and at the zoo, is people taking pictures with their tablets, namely iPads. It's pretty crazy that you brought a tablet to that venue, and you're using it as a camera?
Really don't get that.

Lamalord2 said:
A tablet has no advantages.
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SIZE. Bigger than a phone, smaller than a laptop.