Shopsmith Forums

Hey all you tech savvy folks out there, can you help an old man out? I need to replace a lap top. I'm thinking a tablet might be the way to go. The only thing we do is surf and email and occasionally print.
I'm looking for suggestions for a really good Windows based machine.
Thanks guys

Tablets and Windows generally don't go together today. Most Tablets are Android based, just like a phone. Printing with Tablets generally require a special (New) printer. Most Internet plug-ins (Adobe Flash) don't work or work so poorly they might as well not work.

By Christmas there will be Tablets that run Windows 8, it is going to be very confusing because some of them will run every Windows program/Plug-in ever written and others will run no existing Windows application.

If you use Outlook to get your mail then today you need a real Windows machine and if you want something tablet like you should look at the UltraBooks. They are light, have incredible battery life and have no moving parts. The downside to some is the lack of large amounts of mass storage (compared to a laptop not a Tablet), no touchscreen and the price. Performance blows any Windows computer away. By September you will see them come with Touch-screens.

If you have a more specific question I can provide more information or you can call me and we can discuss your requirements.

Thanks for the info, Paul. I may be calling you in Aug. The Ultra books look like the best of both worlds.
Any brands you'd recommend? ACER?

In my opinion there is only one tablet, that being the Apple Ipad. The rest are sad jokes.

That said you can buy some really nice laptops and netbook and the new term ultra books for what you would pay for an Ipad.

If you want to wait until around the first of the year this will probalby change once windows 8 and some of the new tabets that run windows 8 are released.

I expect to see touch screen laptops hit the market big time with the release of Windows 8. Once they hit I think this may change the whole complexion of the tablet love story that so many tell now.

If I was going to buy a tablet right now it would be a 32 gig IPAD without 3 or 4 G connectivity. Cost $599. For the same price or less I can buy a Lenovo, Asus, Samsung, Sony laptop with far more capabilities.

But i will admit my daughters IPAD is slick and great for sitting beside the chair at night and having instant access to "who is that actor?" and "which movie did they star in?" Also it is great to be able to pull out in a resturant and find which movie is showing where.

Most tablets have apps to print on most printers and all the 1 year old or less printers work with tablets with the drivers/apps shipped with them.

Below you will find a link where a Dad and Daughter talk about Dad's new I-Pad. I have to admit I laughed out load.


http://www.snotr.com/video/8965/

Ed

reible wrote:Below you will find a link where a Dad and Daughter talk about Dad's new I-Pad. I have to admit I laughed out load.


http://www.snotr.com/video/8965/

Ed

Beautiful, Thanks Ed I needed a chuckle. Jim

lightnin wrote:@ work we have Galaxy tablets They seem to be nice I have never used any others for a fair comparison though.
I doubt they are windows based. We use then on a 3G connection but I'm pretty sure you can do WiFi through a wireless router.

Got my wife a Galaxy a year and a half ago and she still uses it on a daily basis. We have a Verizon 3G account for when we are away from a WiFi Hotspot. We also use it as a Hotspot for when Comcast internet connect is down due to power failures. We connect our two laptops to the internet via the Tablet hotspot and it works great. Battery power lasts several days between charges. She likes it because she can carry it in her tote bag. It has a 7 inch screen and can be held in one hand without becoming too heavy. The full size IPad was too heavy and bulky for her taste. She also uses it to read her books.

I use an iPad 2. And I love it I was a die hard windows man but I have been impressed with my iPad. I download free woodworking plans in PDF form and I got around the flash issue with an app. I surf, check all my email and watch you tube videos and check the forum. My kids play the games on it. For my money $399 ipad2 16gb was plenty. There are apps for everything. My wife has one to and we are on the same account so what ever she buys I get also and vice versa.
That's my two cents.

Just pick something and buy it. It will be out of date by the time you get home from the store anyway.


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