Tablet Owners: Do you really USE it?

[Pliablemoose]

The next generation of tablets, with 1080p playback and virtualization support, will kill my laptop as well.

Yep, I'm thinking the same thing, was thinking of getting another MBA to replace the one I just handed down to my kid, but I think I'll just wait for the next generation of tablets, sort out some external storage (heck, I'll prob just use the cloud), and I'm golden with a wireless keyboard.

Unless Apple comes up with a touchscreen MBA....

 

[poofyhairguy]

Unless Apple comes up with a touchscreen MBA....

If it runs iOS and I can't remove the keyboard then it loses my favorite part about a tablet- the form factor. I just have always hated the laptop form factor. Ever since I first watched Star Trek I have been waiting for tablets to kill bulky laptops.

People claim that there is a huge difference in creative power between a tablet and a notebook, but personally after years of either 20+inch dual monitors or my current 27ich monitor any laptop on the planet pales to my desktop for creative power. The exception might be if you have a 16 or 17 inch 1080p laptop, but at that point the form factor can't compete at all with a tablet.

The only reason I still carry around a laptop is to bang out a random spreadsheet or document on the go, or to play some of my 1080p mkv connection over HDMI to hotel TVs via an external USB drive. My wife's iPad 2 is close to doing this when I bring my bluetooth keyboard, the only issue is that even though it can play 1080p its HDMI output is crippled.

I expect a Transformer 2 will finally get me to that future I have dreamed of.

 

[Kanalua]

My nook color hasn't replacement laptop. I can't see any tablet doing so anytime soon. I do use my nook all the time. Great for surfing from the couch and in church (like now). The nook fits in my pocket, another bonus.

 

[zerogear]

I don't use it daily but enough that I feel I am getting my $500 worth. To the user that said it's a gateway drug, I would agree. The iPhone 5 is going to be my next phone so I can consolidate OS's.

I'm the opposite. After getting the transformer tablet (had ipad2; returned it), I feel like I want to completely switch out of the crappy ecosystem lock that iOS devices have. I will be selling my iPhone 4 very soon and probably looking at Nexus 4G.

On another note. I think that 3.2 Android pretty much rivals iOS in its current state, and I believe future revisions (4.0) will blow it out of the water.

 

[kmmatney]

Just bought an iPad2 yesterday, but before that I had a rooted Nook color, that wasn't much fun to use. I tried to use the Nook more, but it was too slow and Android 2.3 is just not that great on a tablet. I'll be using the iPad 2 a lot more - the next step is jail breaking it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Just bought an iPad2 yesterday, but before that I had a rooted Nook color, that wasn't much fun to use. I tried to use the Nook more, but it was too slow and Android 2.3 is just not that great on a tablet. I'll be using the iPad 2 a lot more - the next step is jail breaking it.

Which OS did it ship with? If it's 4.3.3, don't update it...

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

In my room I have a 27" iMac, a PS3 hooked up to a 25" monitor, an iPhone 4, and the Playbook tablet.

When I am gaming, I am either on the iMac or the PS3 (rarely). When I am on the net I am on the iMac. When I am out and about I am on the iPhone. When I go out for dinner I would sometimes bring my Playbook with me. When I am on a roadtrip I would bring my Playbook. At night when I am in bed I would have my Playbook with me. When I am on the can I would have my Playbook with me sometimes.

The Playbook comes into play about 15% of the time roughly on any given day. If it was an iPad I would definitely NOT have taken it out for dinner/outings or have it with me in the can.

The size of the tablet comes into consideration greatly to how often and where it will be used. 7" is the perfect size for me for occasions outside the home.

 

[CatalinaRobie]

I have one tablet , before wanna know what I can do inside of this tablet and its performance is possible as good as expect ( like my favorite games, race gams, high definition videos etc) so i install the apps / firmwares inside.
I feel interesting since some of firmwares do not works, some of them perform are unexpectable good.

And this is cheap !! so I am happy to use this all the time!

 

[postaled]

I have a Tab 10.1 and I don't use it nearly enough, nor did I use my Nook Color or my Ipad enough either.

If I am at home... I use my laptop for reading(i don't have to hold it up in bed) or my desktop for gaming and other functions.

For using something on the couch... I just don't really besides MAYBE my phone.



I should probably sell the tab but I'll keep it for a while for trips I guess, only place I could see myself using a tablet.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I hate laptops so I don't have one. Use my desktop when I'm at home; when that's not handy, I use my smartphone. A tablet would be a nice step up but it's not worth the cost since tablets aren't portable enough to take with me places.

 

[Oyeve]

I Pretty much use my iPad 2 exclusively now, so much in fact that I sold my laptop. 99% of my mobile computing is web surfing. I figured why lug aound this 15.6" beast when a tablet can handle most of my usage and my desktop can pick up the slack.
I sold my Thinkpad w510 and bought a PRS guitar. It gets 10x the use my laptop had near the end.

Nice trade-off for guitar sweetness!

Anyhoot, I use my transformer for web browsing. Really no MUST HAVE apps for any tablet imo. Its a toy for me, not a productive tool. I really dont think anyone uses it as a real productive tool. And if they say they are they are full of crap. Any netbook will do tons more than any tablet. In the future tablets may be necessary but right now they are toys plain and simple.

 

[Slammy1]

Use it everyday (reading and music mainly, but contacts and such to a lesser extent). 48GB of data storage. Much lighter than my laptop, which gets no love unless I'm fixing someone's system.

 

[Ns1]

Tablet + logmein = excellent. Only thing I wish I had was an SD reader. Ran out of space on my memory card and it had no where to go.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I got myself an iPad 2 two months ago, and I find if I rarely use it. I rarely take it with me because it doesn't fit in my pocket like a smartphone can, and I rarely use it at home because my laptop has more functionality.

Every time I use my iPad, I usually find myself wishing for a bigger screen, a real keyboard, or some software application (like OpenOffice or Flash) that isn't available on that platform.

Sure, it's nice for viewing pictures or playing Angry Birds. I don't think that functionality is worth $600, however.

Does anyone else feel that way about their tablet, or am I the only one?

Last Xmas I got my wife and original 16GB iPad1 Wifi-only and it was the first thing I've bought her that she uses regularly.

This thing sits in the living room and she uses it to play games (Sudoku, Minesweeper, Word Search), surf the internet (IMDB, CNN/MSNBC, department stores (Nordstrom, VS, Amazon, Wikipedia), listen to music (all of it is synced), etc. almost daily. I find myself using it in the same manner about half as much as she does.

Of course, we have no need for this in mobile mode beyond out home.

 

[BabaBooey]

I just traded my ipad a couple days ago but used mine daily and through out the day...now I miss my ipad...can I have yours OP ?


:whiste:

 

[akugami]

I don't use the iPad much but I have software that is suited for my Mom (helps babysit a lot) and my daughter.

On the iPad, I can't recommend the iReading books if you're using an iPad enough. They come in both Chinese and English (both languages I speak) and you can record your own voice. More awesomely, they have almost a new book for free every two weeks or so for those with kids and an iOS device. I've bought some iReading books but many were gotten free. She also watches a lot of Youtube, which I monitor, and uses the PBS Kids apps to watch videos like Sid the Science Kid.

My mom plays slot machines mostly and watches the PBS Nature shows.

 

[you2]

I purchased my tablet (transformer) for when I travel; so no i don't use it every day but it gets tons of use when I travel - much more than a netbook i used to own (which I gave away after acquiring the tablet). On my last trip I used it two or three hours day; and the trip before that one even more.

Does exactly what I wanted (method to read mail/web/watch movies while on plane/visiting parents/vacations/....).

 

[shurato]

My Transformer has already replaced the laptop as my couch device. I also use it as a remote for my HTPC. Typing this post from it now actually.

Hey sounds like a good idea. I have a transformer and it's pretty much collecting dust. I just built a HTPC for the living room so this might be a good use for it. Can you point me in the right direction?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Hey sounds like a good idea. I have a transformer and it's pretty much collecting dust. I just built a HTPC for the living room so this might be a good use for it. Can you point me in the right direction?

This is what I use, it requires XBMC software on the HTPC for playback:

https://market.android.com/details?id=org.xbmc.android.remote&hl=en

 

[HeXen]

This is what I use, it requires XBMC software on the HTPC for playback:

https://market.android.com/details?id=org.xbmc.android.remote&hl=en

that looks pretty cool but i was wondering, does your HTPC have to have bluetooth i assume to make the remote work?
does the app pair it or do you just pair the phone to the HTPC and then the app works?

 

[Dice144]

Alot use your home Wireless to connect the phone and remote. I use to use the vlc remote on my Android and Iphone.

 

[sm625]

Which OS did it ship with? If it's 4.3.3, don't update it...

These kinds of comments make me cringe. Is there a "jailbreaking manager" app of some kind that tracks all these stupid games that apple plays and makes sure that your pad stays jailbroken? Like, seamlessly, without having to worry about what apple does?

 

[Fritzo]

My laptop is gathering dust because my Android tab is so much more convenient. Don't have to wait for it to boot, I can get to the web instantly, and it's battery lasts forever instead of a couple of hours.

 

[tonygeor]

I use my iPad for work, RSS feeds, and games...it gets a lot of use

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I use my iPad for work, RSS feeds, and games...it gets a lot of use

What app do you use for RSS feeds?