experience with tablet vs laptop

[PiratePast40]

I know there are several threads about difference between brand but wanted to get some real world experience opinions. From everything I've read, all of the current OSs work well for entertainment and email purposes. But what I'm looking for is something that can perform some office functions without being online.

For example, while on a plane without internet access, can I still access, modify, and perhaps even create a MS Office spreadsheet? What about PowerPoint presentations? Can I import pages into a presentation using my templates and backgrounds?

The reason that I ask, is that I frequently do this on a laptop but would like the capability of shedding a few pounds from my travel bag.

I also end up working on word and excel documents at night in a hotel room. Often times, I need to print something out. For that, I sometimes use the hotels printer in their office center. Most PC's have a regular sized USB port and I just copy my files to a thumb drive and then plug that into the hotels computer. Do the same thing with presentations so also archive my presentation and then hand it to someone at a conference for use with the common use projector. I see that many tablets don't have full sized USB ports and only have SD card ports. Any workaround for this?

My big concerns are the ability to work on common office documents without being connected to the cloud and also use of a common file storage media.

I know that there are many android apps available but to be honest, I'm leery of accepting the story from an office supply store salesman that everything will work just fine. I don't know anything about Apple products. I current use all PC's as does my companies main office. Not too interested in changing everything. Microsoft Touch seems interesting. Is that what I'm looking for?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

If you do a lot of spreadsheet work, you aren't going to like a tablet.

I have a Google Nexus tablet but I have a MacBook Air if I am doing much work while I am traveling.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I was afraid of that.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I like my tablet for what I do with it, but I would never try to do any serious work with it, the laptop still goes where I go, I have not found a transfer to what I can do on my laptops.

 

[Pony]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I would take a look at some of the Windows 8 hybrids........like the Surface for example.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I would take a look at some of the Windows 8 hybrids........like the Surface for example.

I tried two of them, I would not choose a Surface for anything.

 

[aspeck]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I like my iPad, but not for work. Laptop is never far away.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I tried two of them, I would not choose a Surface for anything.

I like mine (surface RT), just not for a primary machine. For something portable that is capable of running MS office it is a good choice.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

For your use, get an Ultrabook. Full functionality with less weight. I own an Asus Transformer tablet and while I like it very much, I don't think it fits the bill for much in way of productivity apps.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

32GB Surface RT Tablet, Black Touch Cover Included | Staples?
This Windows RT looks like it might do the job. It comes with MS Office RT version. Also has a full size USB port as well as a micro SD port. I prefer a mouse so the USB port works well. My file storage would be the SD card since that's what I do now - I sync my work files to a USB drive from my desktop and transfer them to my laptop when traveling. Would do the same thing with this.

It doesn't seem to have Outlook but suppose I could live with the mobile version for the times on the road. Just haven't worked with it much. Don't know for sure how things like contacts, calendar, and shared folders.

Also wondering if there is any difference with connecting via a remote VPN and mapping virtual drives.

The ad says that the Office programs work with apps available at the Windows Store. Hope this isn't going the same route as Apple with proprietary code and no open source software.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

When I tried the 2 different version of the Surface, I felt it was difficult trying to do any real productive work with them, in addition to the incompatibilities with some RT versions of the software. I eagerly awaited the release of these machines and was quite disappointed when I actually purchased them, I was hoping to replace my laptop, but that didn't work out for me, if you do get one, make sure you know the return policies of the company you purchase from, just in case it does not fit the bill for you.

One of the things I really had trouble with, were the keyboards, I didn't feel I would ever get used to it, difficult to use if your a competent touch typist, which I have been typing for over 40 years now and couldn't get the feel for them.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

For your use, get an Ultrabook.

I second this. I have a MacBook Air 13" and it is a perfect size.

If you want smaller, you can also go with an 11" ultrabook. This is too small as far as I am concerned and is also why a tablet doesn't work for me either.

If you really want a surface, wait a few months and get them for $99 when Microsoft starts having their fire sales!

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

Looks like a significant price premium for the ultrabooks. Think I'll just stay with my 14", HP DM4 for as long as it lasts. The shop was able to repair the motherboard/keypad ZIF connector so it should be OK for a few more months anyway.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

32GB Surface RT Tablet, Black Touch Cover Included | Staples?
This Windows RT looks like it might do the job. It comes with MS Office RT version. Also has a full size USB port as well as a micro SD port. I prefer a mouse so the USB port works well. My file storage would be the SD card since that's what I do now - I sync my work files to a USB drive from my desktop and transfer them to my laptop when traveling. Would do the same thing with this.

It doesn't seem to have Outlook but suppose I could live with the mobile version for the times on the road. Just haven't worked with it much. Don't know for sure how things like contacts, calendar, and shared folders.

Also wondering if there is any difference with connecting via a remote VPN and mapping virtual drives.

The ad says that the Office programs work with apps available at the Windows Store. Hope this isn't going the same route as Apple with proprietary code and no open source software.

You can actually get outlook for RT if you upgrade to the 8.1 preview. Personally I'd wait until 8.1 is released to upgrade.

Connecting to VPN and network drives works the same way as with any other windows machine.

As for the mouse, it also has built in Bluetooth so you don't really need to use the usb port unless you want a corded or standard wireless mouse.

 

[jkust]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

So I have all work provided apple products. My tablet then is the most expensive Ipad they make including the cellular package. I will say that the monogram of my name is nice and that's about it. I carry it exclusively when I travel which I appreciate not having to take it out of my bag at the screen since I didn't get the TSA Pre invite. It is very cumbersome and difficult to use it for any real work other than responding to emails. I have the quick office app on it which i think was $20 and it is nearly useless. It fights against me more than anything for work purposes. I have a keyboard for it that is to me a must even for emails. For entertainment like when we are on vacation in northern MN it is great given even a single bar of 4G is really fast. (no matter where we go up north, a single bar of AT&T 4g is all I seem to get). I just generally don't use it for entertainment and let the kids use it.
I will say however that while I think apple stuff is like really cool equipment it if were still 2007, it is slightly more reliable than my Wife's Asus Transformer tablet but the Asus was a third the price, with a bigger screen and a lot lighter.

I read that Microsoft is taking a large charge due to the unsold Surface tablets as it was not the big seller they expected. I can only assume they will be severely discounted soon. In a perfect world, I would want a tablet that does what my PC lap top does.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

I read that Microsoft is taking a large charge due to the unsold Surface tablets as it was not the big seller they expected. I can only assume they will be severely discounted soon. In a perfect world, I would want a tablet that does what my PC lap top does.

They already discounted them down to $350 now, soon after the write off announcement. I think that the surface is a great package, but they over estimated the premium that people would pay for them over a brand X pc tablet. I think they mistakenly looked at iPad pricing and though that was what they were competing against. In reality, the Apple fanboy market isn't your competition when releasing a windows device - most of them are not going to be swayed regardless of how much cheaper and powerful a windows tablet might be

 

[jkust]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

They already discounted them down to $350 now, soon after the write off announcement. I think that the surface is a great package, but they over estimated the premium that people would pay for them over a brand X pc tablet. I think they mistakenly looked at iPad pricing and though that was what they were competing against. In reality, the Apple fanboy market isn't your competition when releasing a windows device - most of them are not going to be swayed regardless of how much cheaper and powerful a windows tablet might be

Well, I can say that I don't care for apple but I'm forced to own it. The idea of paying more money for a lesser product just confounds me. The thing that I see as a struggle for non-apple and non-android equipment is the lack of app support. For example my whole house audio system is controlled via any android or apple mobile device as is my main flat panel tv (ie they obviously have remote controls but wifi control via a phone or tablet allows you to control it from anywhere within wifi range) I could never own anything but even if the other brands are better devices.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

In reality, the Apple fanboy market isn't your competition when releasing a windows device - most of them are not going to be swayed regardless of how much cheaper and powerful a windows tablet might be

Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPad Dominates Tablet Usage
There must be a lot of Apple Fan Boys!

I personally bought a Google Nexus 7 because I wanted a GPS in my WiFi only tablet. Apple doesn't offer GPS in their WiFi only iPads. There is a reason Apple is so popular.They make a very high quality product. One of the reason I bought a Macbook Air is because after using a bunch of ultrabooks, they had the only touchpad that actually worked decently.

I can't tell you how many times applications just die on my Android tablet. I have to remove the application and completely load them up again. Not sure if that's an Android thing or a Nexus thing.

The idea of paying more money for a lesser product just confounds me.

At my company, we make test equipment for OEMs of high speed switching networks. The ipad was selected as the hand held device that controls our hardware if you don't use a desktop PC. Android option is not offered because it was deemed unstable and not reliable for our customers.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPad Dominates Tablet Usage
There must be a lot of Apple Fan Boys!

I personally bought a Google Nexus 7 because I wanted a GPS in my WiFi only tablet. Apple doesn't offer GPS in their WiFi only iPads. There is a reason Apple is so popular.They make a very high quality product. One of the reason I bought a Macbook Air is because after using a bunch of ultrabooks, they had the only touchpad that actually worked decently.

I can't tell you how many times applications just die on my Android tablet. I have to remove the application and completely load them up again. Not sure if that's an Android thing or a Nexus thing.

I think another reason that the iStuff is so popular is that it is monkey proof. My parents, both in their 60's have iPhones and iPads and I as their former computer support guy I couldn't be happier. If an iPad fits your needs then you don't need an actual computer. Android is a whole other discussion - infinite number of monekys on an infinite number of workstations developing marginal software

 

[jkust]

Re: experience with tablet vs laptop

Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPad Dominates Tablet Usage
There must be a lot of Apple Fan Boys!


At my company, we make test equipment for OEMs of high speed switching networks. The ipad was selected as the hand held device that controls our hardware if you don't use a desktop PC. Android option is not offered because it was deemed unstable and not reliable for our customers.

Yep agreed. My Ipad as much as I don't care for it is stable and really never have had an issue. Wife's Asus android tablet has had it's share of app related issues. Of course the kids just pack the apps onto her tablet. The difference however is again that the Ipad is far more expensive and so I expect it to be better in some ways.