Are Tablets Practical?

[GLaDOS]

So lately, I have been considering giving tablet PCs a try. I have been having are hard time figuring out what they are practical for though. They look like a lot of fun to play with from time to time, but what does it do that I couldn't do on a laptop?

Does anyone use a tablet regularly? If so, how does it fit into your daily life?

[tony_j15]

When you say "tablet" PCs, what do you mean? Current tablet PCs run Windows 7, which is horrible as a touch device. Wait for Windows 8 before even considering it.
If you are meaning to include iOS and Android, then they have slightly more value, but still suck for any sort of creative purpose.

[GLaDOS]

Sorry, I did mean to include Android and iOS in the discussion. I'm not much of an Apple fan but I do have to admit the iOS tablet looks like a lot of fun (and the new one is rumored to have a great display). I just don't see how and where people could really use them. They always look so great in commercials but in real life how much are they actually being used?

[RicheemxX]

It depends on what you consider practical and what you are planning on using them for.

For basic browsing the web, posting to TIMO and sites like Facebook, Twitter ect they are pretty nice. For playing a few of the basic games, Angry Birds type stuff, they are ok, the same goes for watching videos. For doing general things like a short email, short docs ect they are generally fine.

For a more advanced user that is looking for anything beyond that they really provide limited functionality. As we move to more cloud based applications that might change. But for me the lack of screen space and lack of true keyboard really kills the deal. There are add-ons like BT keyboards that can be used, but you still aren't getting the raw power you can get from a decent sized laptop.

[tony_j15]

Do you have a smartphone? Imagine that app selection and look/feel on a 7-10" device. It's fun for media consumption such as web browsing, videos, reading, etc. It's horrible for any sort of real "work".

TBH, something as simple as writing a quick email can be a PITA on a tablet compared to a PC.

Now that I've smack talked how horrible they are, I will freely admit that I would love to have an iPad or Galaxy Note 10.1. However, the price and what you can(t) do with them puts them out of my price range. Cheapest iPad is $499. It can't run MS Word, can't edit video (yeah, but not really), can't run photoshop, etc. My HP DM1 laptop has a 11" screen, weighs barely 3 pounds, has 10 hour battery life, runs games, runs Word, edits video, and has HDMI out. All for $379 at Best Buy. Tablets are still toys, IMO. But I guess it really comes down to what you intend to do with it.

[GLaDOS]

It depends on what you consider practical and what you are planning on using them for.

For basic browsing the web, posting to TIMO and sites like Facebook, Twitter ect they are pretty nice. For playing a few of the basic games, Angry Birds type stuff, they are ok, the same goes for watching videos. For doing general things like a short email, short docs ect they are generally fine.

For a more advanced user that is looking for anything beyond that they really provide limited functionality. As we move to more cloud based applications that might change. But for me the lack of screen space and lack of true keyboard really kills the deal. There are add-ons like BT keyboards that can be used, but you still aren't getting the raw power you can get from a decent sized laptop.

That's how I have always felt. Unless you just enjoy couch surfing or you're traveling a lot and need a handy way to read/watch media - a laptop always seems to top a tablet. It's more powerful and has much more functionality. I just never understood the fascination with tablets I guess.

[Whir]

Current tablet PCs run Windows 7, which is horrible as a touch device.

I have to disagree with you. I've had W7 on my HP tablet since I got it and it works great. Windows 7 wasn't built up to be a touchscreen OS, so it's not going to compare well with other built-to-purpose systems like Android and iOS. Windows 8 IS being built keeping touch tech in the front of the process.

I can't think of any practical reason to have a tablet outside of business use. But there are a lot of cool impractical ones that make having one worth it. I've had this clunky HP TouchSmart for a couple years now. I may just invest in a real and new one in the near future.

[Chuckiechan]

I see it as one more expensive gadget that really doesn't do much more than a laptop and a phone. It won't replace either. The benefit is that it is smaller, but it's really an expensive toy for people who by techno gadgets.

I think many people have lost respect for money. $ 500 should be considered a lot of money for your average working stiff.

It's business usage is limited, so for business use it's on your dime. I don't think many businesses will provide them.

I guess if you can't entertain yourself any other way while you wait for your coffee, you need one in case your phone goes dead and you don't have a place to use your laptop.

[RicheemxX]

Dang Whir not sure where the quote comes in but I'll side with you on this one. I've used TABLET PCs (not to be confused with tablets) with both windows xp and windows 7 and have to say W7 is actually pretty nice for a full on touch based OS. I've also used several of the touch screen AIO PCs and some of the companies out there have added their touches to it to make it all that much better.

Tablets, are capable of the work they just aren't built around it. Tell me a dual core tablet with 512mb or more of ram can't run photoshop!! If you could put PS 9 or something older on there it would run like a dream compared to some of the fully built PCs I had back in the day. The operating systems and the chips just aren't built for the raw power needed but thats not to say they aren't capable. It might not be as fast as we want we just expect more out of our systems the days.

[Chiguy]

I remember reading an iPad review some time back and there was a section on practicality. Simply put, if you get a tablet, you need to make a conscious effort to integrate it into your daily computing activities. Otherwise, it just sits around gathering dust as an expensive paperweight. I suppose the idea is that you find practical uses for it as you do this.

[KarmaKiller]

I remember reading an iPad review some time back and there was a section on practicality. Simply put, if you get a tablet, you need to make a conscious effort to integrate it into your daily computing activities. Otherwise, it just sits around gathering dust as an expensive paperweight. I suppose the idea is that you find practical uses for it as you do this.

This is very much true. I picked up a HP touchpad when they put them on fire sale, and honestly it's a very nice little device. I find myself using it for emails on the go (so much easier to type on a tablet then small phone keyboard), I stream movies/music with it often while I'm cooking or laying in bed. I even take mine to meetings with potential clients for websites, to show them options that could be included.

That said, unless you actually TRY to incorporate it in your daily routine, it will sit on the desk and gather dust. My g/f used it all the time when we got it, now she barely even touches it. I imagine it's much the same for many users.

All in all, for the price I paid, I think it was a good purchase. Especially after I put ICS on it.
Would I ever pay more then $300 for one... no

[JLK03F150]

I like the iPad. It is easy to use for forum surfing and I can use it with the vmware app to remote into work during off hours too. My wife had a serious WTF moment the first time I showed here the WinXP remote desktop. Lol

[tony_j15]

Speaking of remote desktop, Xenapp and OnLive Desktop are two good options.

[gbrainerd]

I do home inspections and I love my tablet. It's an older Toshiba M-200 convertible running XP. It's not the fastest machine, but it runs my inspection software very well, it does everything that my desktop does- if a little slower. I can carry it around the house with me as a tablet and check boxes and write notes or I can set it up as a laptop if I meed to write something long.

What I really like is that it was pretty cheap on eBay. It bounces around in my truck and travels around jobsites with me, so it's always at risk of theft or damage. At $175 (2 years ago), if something bad happens- oops.

Many will turn their noses up at an older machine, but if you're not doing high end graphics or games, they work just fine. I use mine as a data collection device and I selected it as a businessman- what will work reliably for the least expense. It's a little larger and heavier than the new ones, but if a pound or so makes that big a difference, I need to check into the nursing home.

The only thing I don't like is that stupid Wacom stylus.My last tablet was a Fujitsu 3400 that anything reasonably stylus shaped would work. The Wacom guys must have been great salesmen- they got people to pay extra for a less useful item.

[nemowolf]

Speaking of remote desktop, Xenapp and OnLive Desktop are two good options.

Onlive is not an option as it is currently violating licensing from microsoft.

[tony_j15]

It is still available in iTunes and Android marketplace. All that is happening is MS is attempting to work our a different licencing agreement with OnLive over a possible ToS violation. If OnLive plays their cards right, this will all get sorted out on the back end and won't affect end users.

That's AFAIK. I haven't heard of the service being suspended or pulled yet. Perhaps you have more current information than I do.

[RicheemxX]

@gbrainerd - I wouldn't really consider any of the older convertible tablets as a part of the conversation with today's tablets. For that matter I wouldn't consider most of today's convertibles or slate PCs to be part of that same conversion. They function in totally different ways, have completely different formats and run on totally different operating systems. With the full on convertible its more like carrying around a fully functional laptop with touch input and a lot less like carrying around most of today's tablet devices.

[GLaDOS]

Remoting into another computer definitely makes a tablet (i.e. iPad, ASUS, etc.) seems a bit more practical.

[nemowolf]

It is still available in iTunes and Android marketplace. All that is happening is MS is attempting to work our a different licencing agreement with OnLive over a possible ToS violation. If OnLive plays their cards right, this will all get sorted out on the back end and won't affect end users.

That's AFAIK. I haven't heard of the service being suspended or pulled yet. Perhaps you have more current information than I do.

True, but why offer a solution that is in litigation and may not be viable in six months time?

Personally, I am just at home using my Ipad to check mail, surf, and play random games as i am on my computer. I only use it to play SWTOR at the moment.

That aside, Tablets are more "practical" when you have a function that takes advantage of its resources and strengths. If your going to be doing CAD or movie editing, portability is probably not on the top of the list of must-haves for the device your using.

As many have already stated, you have to have a need for the tablet, or in my expansion of this concept, a need for its strengths. You cant expect a tablet to do everything much the same way you wouldnt expect an "old" computer to do everything a more modern computer could do instead.