[domeffire]

I was wondering why iPad and tablets are becoming so popular. We have powerful PCs for work, gaming, power-hungry applications, heavy entertainment Then we have laptops, which can be powerful, but are mostly used for work and entertainment as they are quite mobile as work stations and have almost all the capabilities of current PCs. Then we have smartphones, which are very mobile and powerful enough for web browsing, music listening, almost all types of communication, some light gaming, but are not good as work stations. These are just my opinions, but each of the above have their main advantages that compensate for their disadvantages by their level of mobility. Now we have tablets and iPads, which are more mobile than laptops, but are not great as work stations and yet they are too big to fit in your pocket like smartphones. Your web browsing experience is more enjoyable than on smartphones due to their screen sizes. Movie watching is also more enjoyable for the same reason. However, you can find laptops with far more features and nearly as slim and light that are capable of exactly the same and far more. That makes tablets oversized smartphones for the purpose of entertainment because they lack functionality of laptops. So, out of available computing devices (PCs, laptops, smartphones) that seem to be more about need than want, tablets seem to be simple toys without need and mainly want. I guess their price is another consideration, but are they really a compromise between smartphones and laptops?

[incimisiche]

Essentially because a tablet combines the following things needed for proper mobile computing:

Hardware specs.
Screen size.
Form factor.

[Saqwnht]

For me personally, it's more than a toy.

I have a 16.4" laptop that is essentially a desktop replacement and stays on my desk in my room 90% of the time and is used if I need to type something lengthy or if I'll be in my room for an extended period of time. Sure, it's mobile, but it's a little too bulky, heavy, and warm to lug around with me constantly.

Then I have my 7" Kindle Fire which is perfect for browsing the web, watching youtube or netflix, reading books, reading magazines, getting recipes, or playing flash games in the living room, on the porch, in the bathroom, kitchen etc..

Then I have my 4.3" Droid X which pretty much ends up being used for texts, GPS, phone calls, and work e-mails, with web browsing or apps being used only if there's no other option.


I can definitely say I use all three daily. There's room for them all if you're a techy like me, especially considering I work in IT.

[cQT6nmEc]

My Asus Transformer Prime has pretty much replaced my need for a standard laptop/netbook.

The thing with a tablet is that it's generally easier I've found to browse the web and read/scroll with a touchscreen than it is with a mouse or a trackpad. It's simply an ease of use thing (iOS and Android and their apps for example are far more simpler to use than a regular Windows/Linux desktop OS) combined with the fact that they are more mobile and adequately powerful enough now to handle most types of normal day to day media.

It'll be a long while yet before they replace desktops (if ever), but the writing is already on the wall so to speak for laptops/netbooks I reckon.

[Frdsdx26]

Laptops are too big to really be usable on the move, and I've yet to ever see one with a battery life long enough to realistically work untethered. Smartphones fit the bill alright, but the screen size is too small to realistically allow you to browse the web or actually enjoy... anything. You have to peck carefully, zoom way the hell in on links, it just isn't comfortable to use for every day use, but when you need to google something in a pinch it does the job.

So then we have tablets, which actually are small enough to be mobile, power efficient enough to work untethered for long periods of time, and yet they have a sufficient screen size to let you do the things you want to do.

I have a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smart phone, and of the four the laptop is the most neglected by FAR.

[alexbookhyip]

Angry Birds.

[preptarra]

My Asus Transformer Prime has pretty much replaced my need for a standard laptop/netbook.

The thing with a tablet is that it's generally easier I've found to browse the web and read/scroll with a touchscreen than it is
with a mouse or a trackpad. It's simply an ease of use thing (iOS and Android and their apps for example are far more simpler to use than a regular Windows/Linux desktop OS) combined with the fact that they are more mobile and adequately powerful enough now to handle most types of normal day to day media.

It'll be a long while yet before they replace desktops (if ever), but the writing is already on the wall so to speak for laptops/netbooks I reckon.

How re u enjoying your prime? I just got mine today and I love this thing. I will be receiving the dock this week.

[Slonopotam845]

When you can remote desktop your PC using your iPad or Transformer, the tablet becomes exponentially more useful--especially when on the road or on vacation. It's like you never left home!

I plan to get my first tablet this year but I will wait and see what iPad 3 has to offer first.

[vulikox]

How re u enjoying your prime? I just got mine today and I love this thing. I will be receiving the dock this week.

Yep it's great, it really is a joy to use...:encouragement:


Again to the OP, if something is aesthetically superb and just feels right, then you'll want to use it more anyway. You can't separate style and substance...

The use of that last phrase, “style over substance” has always been, as Oscar Wilde observed, a marvellous and instant indicator of a fool. For those who perceive a separation between the two have either not lived, thought, read or experienced the world with any degree of insight, imagination or connective intelligence. http://www.stephenfry.com/2011/10/06...hw-item-999999

[CxofxJFm]

Yep it's great, it really is a joy to use...:encouragement:


Again to the OP, if something is aesthetically superb and just feels right, then you'll want to use it more anyway. You can't separate style and substance...



http://www.stephenfry.com/2011/10/06...hw-item-999999

Are you having any problems with ur WiFi? I noticed reduced speeds on mine but it seems to be better today. A lot of people are having issues though.

[Starichok]

Are you having any problems with ur WiFi? I noticed reduced speeds on mine but it seems to be better today. A lot of people are having issues though.

Mine is fine tbh, have a look at this post (and the link when it's back up post SOPA protest) :-

http://futuremark.yougamers.com/foru...=1#post1650663

Earlier BBxxxxx S/No. models seem to be affected the most.

[TravelMan]

...

You have no idea how much the iPad is invading the business world, because most of the work is simple data viewing and data entering and does not require much power as you assume.

An iPad allows you to do that very mobile and while it does not replace a fixed workplace, it is beginning to replace paper which was previously used for mobility.

[ReginaPerss]

You have no idea how much the iPad is invading the business world, because most of the work is simple data viewing and data entering and does not require much power as you assume.

An iPad allows you to do that very mobile and while it does not replace a fixed workplace, it is beginning to replace paper which was previously used for mobility.

Digital agencies make quite a lot of use of them (probably a lot of other industries, but I can't speak for them). They are great for taking notes in meetings, project collaboration, testing etc. We also have a couple on a coffee table in reception with loads of magazines on them. I'm pretty sure there is plenty more that businesses use them for. Stocktaking I imagine would benefit.

[adesseridopaw]

I'd never have one as my only 'computer', but the size and convenience means it's replaced my laptop (and at times PC) for a lot of things. I don't think they're a fad. They'll be here to stay.

[occallExtet]

The business world is starting to take on to the Slate style devices too. The Android and Apple devices won't fit as easily to most companies (a lot of things required to make them a suitable replacement), although the Windows Slates in the business world I can see replacing laptops very quickly.

I've finished configuring the HP Slate 2 (or Slate 500 in USA), and its a handy little device although not that powerful, but I'm also going to get in the Samsung Series 7 Slate with W7Pro, Core i5, 4GB Ram, 64GB SSD etc. It's certainly a beast of a Slate and I can really see this one quite happily replacing most laptops and quite a lot of PCs (except the exception for CAD etc though).

[Si8jy8HN]

although the Windows Slates in the business world I can see replacing laptops very quickly.

Working with, yes. Replacing, IMHO no. They are great complimentary devices, but most people I know in the business world use a laptop as their primary computer and even with a keyboard a tablet isn't convenient for day to day work.

[c-cialis]

Working with, yes. Replacing, IMHO no. They are great complimentary devices, but most people I know in the business world use a laptop as their primary computer and even with a keyboard a tablet isn't convenient for day to day work.

When the internal specs are pretty much identical to a laptop, after you've connected it to an external monitor for better viewing (if required), what would you think makes it inconvenient?

[zuhraliyana]

When the internal specs are pretty much identical to a laptop, after you've connected it to an external monitor for better viewing (if required), what would you think makes it inconvenient?

Mainly because you lift up a laptop and move it around, or you pick up a tablet and move it around. Once you have to start messing around with either they become less convenient. Sure, geeks will love combining the two, but most managers / sales people / office staff can't be bothered with that.

[cliceperperIa]

When I'm in front of the tv browsing on my phone I find myself wishing it was a tablet.

I'm probably gonna get one in the next couple of months.

[Helloheshess]

I'll wait a few more months until I get one. I'm not too impressed with the honeycomb tablets. They seem sluggish and lacked the polish of Ipad2. With Ice Cream Sandwich it seems like a better option, but so far apple has the best tablet in terms of polish. I prefer android for the open platform.