Laptop or Tablet?

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Captain Cavalier's avatar

Captain Cavalier

Senior Member

208 posts
Jan 4, 2014 10:09 AM
The wife and I would like to get a second route to the net. We only have 1 PC and 3 kids.

Time at the PC is a premium.

The wife and I don't do games, facebook or twitter.

I do post sometimes on these type forums.

Mostly we surf the net and e-mail.

Seems some of the prices of tablets are close to laptops.

So, laptop or Tablet?
Jan 4, 2014 10:09am
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Jan 4, 2014 10:26 AM
It's going to come down to preference. If you're used to a PC, it will be an adjustment to use a tablet. Not to say they are difficult to learn how to use...it's just that some people don't like using "a big phone" for their surfing/emailing.

If you're not planning on doing any type of word or excel or powerpoint stuff with the new purchase, I'd say stay away from a laptop. Tablets will be less expensive. You just have to know where to look.

I would suggest, though, going a different route and looking at a Chromebook. They are fairly inexpensive and were built to be that tablet/laptop hybrid. You can find them for less than $300 and it sounds like it would suite your needs.
Jan 4, 2014 10:26am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 4, 2014 11:11 AM
2nd the Chromebook suggestion. It'd be perfect for you.
Jan 4, 2014 11:11am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Jan 4, 2014 11:26 AM
How fast do you need your internet? Tablets are fun and easy to carry around, but they aren't as fast as pc's that now are so inexpensive they are practically giving them away. OK, maybe not giving them away but for $500 or so you can get an extremely quality pc.
Jan 4, 2014 11:26am
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jan 4, 2014 2:12 PM
I love my tablet it has pretty much completely replaced my PC for personal use.
Jan 4, 2014 2:12pm
GoPens's avatar

GoPens

Senior Member

2,339 posts
Jan 4, 2014 2:36 PM
I pretty much do everything on my tablet. Love it.
Jan 4, 2014 2:36pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Jan 4, 2014 4:05 PM
Yeah, two things about tablets
1) much slower to surf the internet (maybe newer tablets are better, but my ultrabook just destroys my phone and tablet)
2) posting on message boards is so much better with the physical keyboard

I like tablets for regularly viewing of content (i.e. WSJ) and sites that you have book marked or an app for...I have little patience on a tablet for typing out a post or even a search phrase and will just grab my laptop.

Chromebook is probably the way to go if you're just looking to use the internet.
Jan 4, 2014 4:05pm
JD413's avatar

JD413

Senior Member

131 posts
Jan 4, 2014 5:30 PM
dlazz;1562195 wrote:2nd the Chromebook suggestion. It'd be perfect for you.
This.
Jan 4, 2014 5:30pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 6, 2014 10:57 AM
I like a tablet for games but I prefer the physical keyboard for any heavy text stuff.
Jan 6, 2014 10:57am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 6, 2014 11:46 AM
mucalum49;1563439 wrote:Not sure of your price range but I'm leaning toward a 2 in 1 soon. This one has gotten consistently positive reviews on most tech sites.

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-12-5-Inch-Convertible-Touchscreen-Ultrabook/dp/B004GAR91S
We test drove one of those at work and it was a piece of shit. I kid you not, half of the time it wouldn't even power on correctly.
Jan 6, 2014 11:46am
S

Sonofanump

Jan 6, 2014 1:14 PM
ccrunner609;1563474 wrote:desktop.
C64 and no AC.
Jan 6, 2014 1:14pm
mucalum49's avatar

mucalum49

Senior Member

1,639 posts
Jan 6, 2014 1:23 PM
dlazz;1563455 wrote:We test drove one of those at work and it was a piece of shit. I kid you not, half of the time it wouldn't even power on correctly.
Thanks for the heads up. Most 2 in 1's seem to suck right now but this seemed to get the best reviews (tallest midget I suppose). Might hold off for a little longer.
Jan 6, 2014 1:23pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 6, 2014 1:34 PM
ccrunner609;1563474 wrote:desktop.
Sonofanump;1563505 wrote:C64 and no AC.
No wonder he's having issues posting on the site. Time to upgrade.

Jan 6, 2014 1:34pm
Me?'s avatar

Me?

Senior Member

547 posts
Jan 6, 2014 1:48 PM
You can get a hybrid laptop/tablet and have the best of both worlds. For what you described, as others have mentioned, a Chromebook would probably be your best bet and they're very affordable. I just bought a new Toshiba laptop and it's phenomenal, but my iPad is great too and I mostly just use the laptop for work because I need Office. I would say it depends on how you use it...are you laying on the couch when you're browsing or are you sitting up at a chair? A tablet is just so easy to lounge around with.
Jan 6, 2014 1:48pm
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Jan 6, 2014 2:13 PM
justincredible;1563525 wrote:No wonder he's having issues posting on the site. Time to upgrade.

Looks like he needs to upgrade from a DOS based system to Windows 3.1.
Jan 6, 2014 2:13pm
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MontyBrunswick

Jan 6, 2014 2:14 PM
justincredible;1563525 wrote:No wonder he's having issues posting on the site. Time to upgrade.
I think the type of computer is the least of his issues.
Jan 6, 2014 2:14pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Jan 6, 2014 2:56 PM
If you want a tablet, then don't get a hyrbid or 2-in-1....get a tablet and then get a bluetooth keyboard (or the ASUS Transformer series is pretty good with attachable keyboard).
Jan 6, 2014 2:56pm
Classyposter58's avatar

Classyposter58

Senior Member

6,321 posts
Jan 6, 2014 3:07 PM
Get the iPad air, has the iWork suite loaded and a bluetooth keyboard for it. I've got an iMac at home and love it, recommend
Jan 6, 2014 3:07pm
Chesapeake's avatar

Chesapeake

Senior Member

1,603 posts
Jan 6, 2014 7:24 PM
ccrunner609;1563474 wrote:desktop.
What he said.
Jan 6, 2014 7:24pm