Are tablets good for anyting? Why not just get a super big screen phone?

[gotsmack]

Because of the $100 staples coupon, I was tempted to get a tablet. Thinking about my situation, I only get real use out of my laptop when I travel for work (about 10 days a year). The other times I'm using my desktop or surfing the web on my Blackberry, so getting a tablet is just a waste of money.

What are people using the tablets for? Why not just get a big ass screen phone like the rumored 5.3" samsung phone to be announced in early September?

The only advantage I see in the tablet is larger screen and longer battery life.

 

[kaerflog]

I'll get a big phone when they start using Hitachi new 4.5" 1280x720 screen.
Big screen phones with 800x480 resolution just make your pockets heavier.

 

[smartpatrol]

I'm wondering the same thing, to be honest. It seems like 90% of the time I'd be using a tablet for the exact same things I use my smartphone for. The other 10% of the time I'd be using it for things that a laptop does better.

I've felt mildly tempted to get a tablet simply because they're such cool gadgets, but I really can't justify it at the moment. What is the "killer app" for tablets?

 

[LegendKiller]

I love my Nook Color, going to root it soon. It's awesome for reading on the train and in bed. Anything other than that it's just a gadget that isn't really needed.

 

[Pliablemoose]

My iPad 2 is a laptop replacement.

I don't crunch spreadsheets, just light email. It's perfect.

 

[SandEagle]

i was at a party and saw a guy walking around with his iPad2 taking pictures. lol. how an ipad replaced a camera was beyond me.

 

[Doboji]

For casual computing, and travel entertainment, nothing beats a tablet.

 

[Ns1]

my favorite analogy:

an 11" penis and 4.5" penis are similar, but not.

 

[Pliablemoose]

The iPad's screen is 6 times or so larger than my 4.3" phone, which one would you rather watch a movie on?

 

[cronos]

I did get a 5" screen phone and yes it's really hard to feel the need for a tablet, especially the 7" variety.

 

[chin311]

I never thought I'd use a tablet then I got one for the hell of it. Just sold my laptop last week lol

 

[Kanalua]

Using my Nook Color for the last couple of months, I have decided I'm not going to get any of the current crop or tablets. The 7" is the sweet spot for me...at least with the nook color. It's small enough to hold with one hand to watch videos while laying in bed waiting for my wife to sleep. It's small enough to slip into my pants pockets. It's pretty light, too. It really is the sweet spot for me.

 

[tonygeor]

I use my iPad to get news quickly, through pulse, and as a second computer. Since my wife has decided to use her smartphone as her only PC

 

[hanoverphist]

The iPad's screen is 6 times or so larger than my 4.3" phone, which one would you rather watch a movie on?

the one that fits in my pocket and doesnt really get in my way when carried. otherwise, if im stationary (train, airplane, etc) it would be nice. i carry enough crap on a daily basis as it is, i dont really want to add another thing that is fairly bulky (as a pocket device) around.

sitting on the couch? it would get a ton of use at my house between 3 teenagers and facebook. i would probably use it as a remote device to log in to customers puters if i didnt have my laptop out already too.

 

[Pliablemoose]

the one that fits in my pocket and doesnt really get in my way when carried. otherwise, if im stationary (train, airplane, etc) it would be nice. i carry enough crap on a daily basis as it is, i dont really want to add another thing that is fairly bulky (as a pocket device) around.

sitting on the couch? it would get a ton of use at my house between 3 teenagers and facebook. i would probably use it as a remote device to log in to customers puters if i didnt have my laptop out already too.

I just started carrying a man bag...

It's really nice to get all the crap out of my pockets...

 

[Puddle Jumper]

The iPad's screen is 6 times or so larger than my 4.3" phone, which one would you rather watch a movie on?

Honestly I wouldn't watch a movie on a tablet or phone given the choice.

 

[Oyeve]

10.1 portable adult movie device. That is the real reason for a tablet. Most just won't admit that.

 

[dguy6789]

Why use a screen larger than 10 inches on your PC or TV? The reason you would want a TV or PC screen larger than that is the same as why you would want a tablet screen that is larger than a smartphone.

 

[Sheep]

I never thought I'd use a tablet then I got one for the hell of it.

This was my attitude prior to purchasing and rooting a Nook Color. I don't have a personal laptop so the Nook Color fulfills a role to use the web or check email on the couch as well as being an e-reader.

 

[vi edit]

I've got an iPhone4 and an iPad. Web browsing on one vs the other is like watching a movie on a 19" TV vs. a 47" TV. You don't realize just how small that screen is until you've used something bigger.

I carry my phone all the time in my pocket and have no interest in trying to lug around a battery hungry massive phone in the form of a droid X. I just don't want that.

My tablet serves as a laptop replacement for my family. My wife and I use it check emails and catch up on social sites while we eat breakfast at the counter in the morning. My daughter uses it for movies while in the car. She also uses it as a high tech coloring book and entertainer while out to eat or waiting around an airport to board. I can use it as a ireader at night if I want to chill out and just read a book. My parents like messing around with it for reference stuff (maps, bird guides, travel stuff, ect) since it's a lot more convenient and easy to use for them than a traditional PC or laptop.

They are just great little compromise devices that take up very little space, rarely get screwed up, and just flat out work well for what a lot of people want to use them for.

And you can do most of that on a phone...but it's like taking notes on a post it note vs a full 8x10 piece of paper.

 

[Genx87]

Just got my Transformer a couple days ago. I can definately see my laptop being left at home. It is easier to carry, lighter, has better battery life, and does everything I need it to do while on the road(email, web browsing, movies, mp3's). It is the perfect size for watching movies while on a plane or in the car.

I am honestly looking forward to Win8 on a Tegra 4 device at the end of 2012. I think that is when Tablets will really take off.

 

[bobdole369]

I'm sort of waiting for the convertible tablet/phone to start up. Think something a bit smaller than an ipad2 screen (maybe paperback sized in total but thin like the ipad) - and a handset with a simple screen/razr style buttons. This device would almost be portable, not too bulky (so you could much easier take it places).

It connects via BT or whatever and provides the inet/wifi capability for the larger tablet.

THis way you can take the phone to make phone calls without having to deal with the BS of a smartphone, but still have smartphone capabilities when you have the devices together.

Probably a stupid idea for one reason or another.

 

[bobdole369]

we bought an ipad 1, and brought it back, there was simply nothing I couldn't do with that that either ubiquitous PC's (we (wife and I) each have a desktop, MBP, + HTPC + servers, etc) and iPhones. There is an awful lot of overlap esp considering we both use the MBP and iPhones for work.
The big issue was we couldn't easily bring it anywhere (no 3g version), it was bulky and were constantly paranoid of busting it. Also couldn't find a killer app, and always grabbing the iphone or MBP first.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Honestly I wouldn't watch a movie on a tablet or phone given the choice.

Hell, I watch tv on a 100" screen, but still enjoy watching Netflix in my iPad

 

[cronos]

I'm sort of waiting for the convertible tablet/phone to start up. Think something a bit smaller than an ipad2 screen (maybe paperback sized in total but thin like the ipad) - and a handset with a simple screen/razr style buttons. This device would almost be portable, not too bulky (so you could much easier take it places).

It connects via BT or whatever and provides the inet/wifi capability for the larger tablet.

THis way you can take the phone to make phone calls without having to deal with the BS of a smartphone, but still have smartphone capabilities when you have the devices together.

Probably a stupid idea for one reason or another.

This was I believe the original idea of the PlayBook.