Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: Using a Tablet As a Sole Computing Device?
cashman73 writes "My mother's six year old desktop computer finally bit the dust due to an electrical surge. It's out-of-warranty, and not really worth fixing. Plus, I'm 2,500 miles and two time zones away, so I can't exactly troubleshoot things from here. I recently got a new tablet, and even 80% of the things I do are done easier with it. Plus, she really likes the size, convenience, portability, and the screen. Virtually everything she does is simple web browsing, email, light photo sharing but no heavy editing, and other simple tasks. We're thinking that using a tablet as her sole 'computer' might be the best solution here. What are other Slashdotter's experiences using tablets without a separate desktop computer?"
Buy her a Chromebook. You won't be sorry.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
I'm sure she would like a Tablet. But you can't do everything on a tablet, why not get her a nice inexpensive laptop as well?
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
It already sounds like you made your choice, so why are you posting a question that is trying to convince us to agree with you?
For the cheaper price and the desktop functionality, if all you need it for is web browsing and email, I'd go with a Chromebook. If you want to go 100% tablet, you are almost certainly going to have to buy a keyboard, so it would be very hard to get a decent combo for less than the $249 Samsung or the $199 Acer Chromebooks.
Older people have worse eyesight and often require the tactile feedback of a keyboard.
I think typing is a big issue when you consider a tablet as your primary "computer". If your mother just browses the web, a tablet is fine, but if she types a lot (writing comments, writing notes, texts, long emails, long messages), then the tablet typing experience is sub-optimal, she will get tired of poking the screen.
Why not just buy a laptop?
Why do you suppose the manufacturers' requirements include a separate PC w/ specs that support an appropriate connection to the tablet. You don't really believe it's just to sell more hardware, do you?
You said it yourself. iPad, possibly a keyboard for her and you are done. Every person I've met that didn't have an iPad has said, I don't know what I'd use it for. Every person who has an iPad has said, how did I live without it? I've seen a lot of conversions, so I just bought iPads for my family and now I don't do tech support.
While it is a nifty idea your going to run into lots of problems. Be it due to the lack of support from your bank, an inability to print, or some fallback mode that your email provider forces on you all of the sudden.
When I initially did it everything seemed to work perfectly. Then disaster struct. I actually started using it in place of my computer when I went on the road. There are so many problems with tablets it isn't funny. Even for just consuming content.
Get her two tablets, gift-wrapped.
First, present her with one of those small personal-sized chalkboard tablets 1st graders use (with a piece of chalk for a stylus). Demonstrate how to use it as a word-processor, reader, and calculator. This shouldn't cost you more than $10, assuming you don't get the "Monster Cable" brand piece of chalk.
Once the laughs are over, present her with a real tablet.
Post the video of her using the "old school" tablet to YouTube.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
For the past year, my iPad has been entirely untethered from my Mac - it can self-update and self-backup to iCloud. Can't speak for other tablets, but historically you had to have a Mac or PC to tether your iPad to.
After all, we are all older mothers, so our experience counts a lot.
...Can really strain the hands... and the neck. And the eyes.
In fact, tablet use in general goes against 30 odd years of human interface ergonomics. I wouldn't wish it upon myself for extended periods of time, let alone an elderly loved one.
Buy her a sensible chair, 24 inch monitor at the correct height and a correctly fitting keyboard and mouse in a neutrally lit space. I don't care what you connect to those peripherals.
My mom is the very definition of computer illiterate -- my sister and I have been trying to teach her to use a computer (first a PC, later a Mac) since the mid '90s, and she simply cannot grasp the basic concepts. She can sort of work a keyboard (it looks like a typewriter), but mice constantly thwart her. Add to that the fact that she has trouble discerning "windows" on a desktop as being discrete items, and you can see why we finally gave up trying to teach her once we had both gone away to college.
About a year ago I managed to acquire an unneeded iPad, and made the decision to gift it to my mother. For a woman who has literally never used a computer without assistance, never mind owned one, she took to it immediately. She's now able to browse the internet, send and receive emails, and even navigate the app store when she wants additional functionality. And after a full year, I haven't received a single "oh no, I think I broke it" call.
That being said, my mother is not your mother (AFAIK), so your mileage may vary. If you think her needs can be satisfied by an iPad (web browsing, shopping, email, media consumption, and no more than light content editing), I highly recommend it. There's just no beating its ease of use. An external bluetooth keyboard would be nice for longer writing sessions, however.
Warning: Contents May Be Flammable. Keep Out Of Reach Of Children.
My Mom, she is 68 this year, has just switched from a 15" MacBook Pro as her only computer to an iPad 4 as her only computing device. She really only does e-mail, browsing, some e-banking and the odd video/movie every now and then. The MBP was clearly overkill for her in the first place, but the iPad does pretty much everything she ever needed with much less bulk, weight and cost. She certainly uses the iPad more than she used the MBP before that, so she must be satisfied with it.
I've got a laptop, tablet, and a desktop computer. I've been going back and forth for a couple of years now and I've discovered what matters to me and how I use them
I use the tablet a lot - and the desktop gets used a lot, too. The laptop just sits around collecting dust; it's been powered up once in the last three months - and only because I needed a file from it.
Those who recommend a Chromebook - they don't consider that there will be times when you have no internet connectivity and want to use your tablet. This, and the availability of tablet apps that meet your needs will point your way to the correct tablet device for you.
Please replace ipad with tablet. It's all the same really.
I replaced my mother inlaw's e-machine running Linux Mint 10 with an Acer Iconia Tab last year. She loves checking email from the living room chair.
The government which is strong enough to protect you from everything is strong enough to take everything from you.
My girlfriend was in roughly the same boat a month ago. Her 8+ year old P4 desktop hasn't been turned on in many months. She planned to replace it soon.
I bought myself a Nexus 7 to take with me for my computing needs (video games, video watching, IRC, eBook reading, remote access to my home network, etc.) while at her place. She saw how much I could get done with it and quickly changed her mind about buying a new desktop/laptop.
She picked up an ASUS Transformer TF300T at a recent sale from Best Buy and has since used it more than she ever would have used a full blown PC. She previously used her iPhone to get her basic tasks done (tons of email, casual games, web surfing, YouTube, Pandora) but since having the tablet she only uses her iPhone as a phone (and no longer suffers with that tiny screen).
Posted laying in bed from my Nexus 7 with her playing Zen Pinball on her Transformer. :)
Just because you diffused the bomb doesn't mean you're not holding a half pound of C4.
we realize you've never taken a time out of your trickery, debauchary and entertainment time to learn electronics. Let me put your mind at ease. I've got a friend who didn't, until very recently, get a smartphone let alone know how to use a computer. He has no idea how to create a directory (folder) by simply right clicking. The first time he saw a window being drug across two monitors was like seeing a bootiful woman for the first time. I'm serious - he had half a pack of rolaids in his pants.
You should be able to do all your business with just a tablet. If you need to do something complex, you're at the mercy of finding someone else who knows the device really well, or using that brand new youtube thing to get a tutorial. Be careful using that though, because if you find the dark side of the internet, you won't be able to leave, and you'll lose your 6 million dollar account that hangs on you jumping through a hulu hoop immediately after beer-bonging a six pack.
Best of lucky, and always come back to get unbaised, unsarcastic, and completely true advise
Automatic backup. Lots of people of her own age group with reasonable experience if she needs help. If you're lucky a store nearby with employees who will actually help her when she needs it.
This is a frequent discussion among people in tech situations. My only question is when you can easily find a used laptop for 100 bucks or less, why bother?? A 100 dollar laptop will handle the occasional tasks needed by 90% of users. A decent tablet will run at least 300 bucks, plus a nice case, plus paying for needed apps(many of which have quality free alternatives on a desktop) and so forth. In the end going tablet only is both more expensive and less convenient. Why bother?
.. on what you want to compute.
To the OP : did you post your slashdot question using a tablet?
Or serious processing.
But if the stuff you do at home consists of watching youtube or playing games - I couldn't for the life of me imagine an existance so boring - go for it!
Religion is what happens when nature strikes and groupthink goes wrong.
Seriously...another post PC debate to advertise the iPad, my favourite part is the fact that its out of warranty!? If that sort of thing is a major issue. Do not go near an Apple product. The have got in trouble in both Europe (http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/04/02/123207/apple-is-forced-by-eu-to-give-2-years-warranty-on-all-its-products) for breaking the law by offering year instead of the statutory two years for returns, and in China(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-07-26/content_6549444.html) for putting used parts in new products that fair under warranty.
While we are talking advertisements...and while I'm with Linus wanting higher pixel density on all his (and mine) electronics devices...lets not push another shitty marketing term from Apple, who ironically have lower pixel densities than the opposition offered at half the price (and as for the mini *rolls eyes*) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_displays_by_pixel_density
The reality is having another article where iPad users, dutch rudder each other, everyone else I went out and bought a tablet (A Nexus 7)...and know exactly where the smaller more portable (capacitive) screen fits into my life, rather than the larger screen with the keyboard & mouse. Are we really meant to believe the author of this too lazy to search for "another post pc flamefest". Thank god Apples market share (down to 50%) in tablets is dropping like a stone, so we are not constantly bombarded with this nonsense.
Seriously while the incompetent mother in the suspiciously convenient scenario , who if she can't afford a new computer more than every couple of years...an Apple product is not happening...give her a good value Chromebook...and a $2 surge protector....and visit more.
Same here. My mom ordered one and had it in a few days. Migrated all her old email over to Gmail and it works flawlessly.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
Seriously let me break that long post down for you Android is "prone to Malware" and "Nobody wants it.". Wow Android has several layers of protection, cloud storage and is set to replace Apple so if it hasn't already. Advantages over Apple are not only price; better hardware/software, but also options with a real keyboard.
At the end of the day the only similarity between Android and Windows is market share. The fact that you use the boogeyman of malware to try and scare users *here* where the vast majority here have a great deal of familiarity with malware is just a nonsense..I don't think it works with the less technical either...who probably own an Android phone.
Those who recommend a Chromebook - they don't consider that there will be times when you have no internet connectivity.
You should read the reviews on Amazon where the Chromebook is the best selling computer. In short it does not require a permanent internet connection :).
I have a desktop, laptop, and iPad, and would consider myself a power user. In an effort to travel lighter I've tried taking the iPad only on some trips to see if it can fit the bill. The answer to me is a resounding maybe, and depends entirely on what you want to do.
Tablets are terrible content creation devices. Writing an e-mail, editing a picture, cutting a movie, or even filling in a web form to buy something are all much more difficult. The lack of a keyboard is a big part of it, and can be mitigated with a keyboard for the tablet, but that's not the whole story. The lack of screen space, and the touch interfaces also make things less efficient.
However, they are excellent content consumption devices. I prefer reading e-mail and browsing the web casually on my iPad. I grab it for simple apps like checking the weather, or my portfolio. On trips it offers a vastly better interface for things like Yelp or UrbanSpoon. For older relatives, things like PhotoStream can be huge if you have other family members with the small children willing to use it.
As a geek, if I'm going away for a day or two and just want to casually stay in touch it's a winner. Smaller, lighter, better battery life. However if I need to do any work, it's right out as an option, more of a nuisance than a help.
So at the end of the day, it really depends on what your mother does online. Does she just want to read some e-mail and get pictures of the grandkids? A tablet may be an excellent choice. Does she make her own electronic scrapbooks? A tablet would probably be a horrible choice.
About a year ago I managed to acquire an unneeded iPad
If I had a sandwich everytime that happened..
I would bet that it's just a power supply that died. It's a great excuse to buy a new computer, but all in all, I'd give it a 90% chance it's the power supply that died.
Be seeing you...
All the different public clouds have Chrome web apps. Use DropBox or Skydrive or whatever you like.
A while ago, I had bought an Acer W500 as I was developing a specialized touch screen type of app for Windows 7. That project kind of died, so I ended up with a useless piece of hardware for almost a year. After Windows 8 was released, I upgraded for $40 and put that on there.
Recently, my MBP and Acer netbook both died, leaving me with nothing but this W500. My first reaction was to whip out the CC and go to apple.com. However, I gave the W500 a chance. Here's what I found:
- It works quite well as a desktop. I plug in my USB kb/mouse and 24" 1080p monitor. The traditional Windows desktop is perfectly responsive
- As a Putty client, it's great. I can easily have 4 big terminals open on the 24", and a browser open on the tablet.
- Demanding desktop apps can run a bit slow (it's only an AMD C-50), but it depends on what you're doing.
- With only 32GB, it's pretty space limited. Fortunately, I have a 64GB SD card which mitigates it a bit. Also, I can plug in my external 500GB.
- I'm also able to plug in my printer, scanner, camera, and external DVD, and they work for the most part.
- As a tablet, it's OK. It's no iPad, but there's already been endless discussion on that.
Overall, it's actually impressed me in that there's no way I could do this efficiently with an iPad. I give it a B for desktop productivity, and a B- for tablet functions. For reference, I'd give an iPad an A+ for tablet functions, and an F for desktop productivity (not intended as a knock). My guess is that an Acer W700 (core i5) would be an A for desktop tasks (since it's way faster and more capacious) and a solid B for tablet (since it's faster and has higher resolution).
In short, at the risk of getting attacked as an MS shill, I'd actually recommend one of the newer hybrid tablet-top Windows 8 thingies if you're looking for a single device. If you can, I'd wait until after CES and the market to settle down a bit before buying anything.
We got my 89 yr old mother an iPad a few years ago and it was a huge success. I believe she used it for 80% of her computing. Quicken was the big lacking functionality. What she really liked was not having to sit at the desk to play Scrabble with my brothers in California.
Your mother doesn't need anything too complicated. I would suggest you go for at least a 6-core Core i7 3.5GHz Extreme CPU, overclocked dual GTU 690 512-bit HDCP-ready GPU, hi-fi 24-bit sound card with DTS, 32GB DDR3 RAM, 80plus 1500W modular power supply, 140mm copper quiet bearing CPU cooler, twin-turbine blue LED case fans, 500GB SATA III 120,000 IOPS SSD drive, 16x BDXL Blu-ray burner, dual 2560 x 1600 350 cd/m2 1000:1 30" display, USB macro-programmable gaming keyboard, Razer 17-button wireless mouse, and a classy mid-tower computer case. Don't forget COD Black Ops and Assassin's Creed to help her pass the time.
I don't think a simple tablet will do.
I was in the same situation, and the iPad has worked out great. My mother switched off her ancient dial-up modem to broadband at the same time, and is having a great time sending text messages, video chatting with the grandkids, watching instructional crocheting videos, playing logic puzzle games, chiming in on Facebook conversations when they're only minutes old instead of weeks old, etc. She feels far more independent with the iPad than she did on the PC because she's more willing to try something for herself (search for and download a game, for example) that she would have been afraid could screw up the PC before.
The only thing we've found that she can't do on the iPad so far is downloading maps to her new automotive GPS. She has fairly convenient access to desktop computers at the local library and doesn't mind stopping by there occasionally if there happens to be one purchase or video or website or whatever that she can't make work on the iPad.
I've derided tablets as being restrictive and generally poor imitations of actual computing devices and bemoaned their lack of input options. However, this previous Christmas season, I think I've come around on the process. My aging grandparents, now in their 80s, struggle regularly with a laptop or desktop computer but immediately figured out how to use Skype, e-mail, web browsing and a handful of other day-to-day activities far easier than they were ever able to on a full computer.
A friend's mother reports a similar experience: from being unable to manipulate a computer into doing pretty much anything other than going to Google, she set up and checked her own e-mail account she hadn't accessed in years, made Skype calls to other relatives, downloaded and then effectively used several Bible-related applications, and watched a movie.
Tablets are a great choice for someone who only wants to consume content, with little interaction with it. While I don't understand how these otherwise very intelligent, although non-technical people can have so much trouble in the first place clearly there's an unmet need for consumer-functional computing out there.
"Can a tablet print to a network printer?", you asked. For my HP printer, the Windows, Linux and OSX machines all need a 50MB driver package set up, so I was happily suprised that the Android device needed only a xxKB apk with zero setup. It automatically detected the printer.
It doesn't work yet on the cheaper Samsung Chromebook, but that is supposed to be fixed soon. It does work on Linux as well - but it's not "on demand" like with Windows and Mac versions, the Linux version requires an "invitation" be sent out to the other remote computer. However, as the previous poster noted, there isn't really anything on the Chromebook that can go wrong or to "fix". Another way you could do it is to sign in to Chrome using her login on your desktop, and use Google Sync to make your version of Chrome work the same as hers. Then you can add or change any of the Apps from your Chrome browser, and hers will be synced automatically.
Android!? Better hardware than Apple?! LoL
Absolutely They rebadge cheap hardware, massive mark-up with a logo on the back, cashing in on their perceived first mover advantage. A business model that is only a success in two places US/UK and nowhere else..due to its hardware being leased on a subsidised model...although Apple has made it clear you only license it. If you want the highest PPI; Screen Size; Fastest Processor; Most Cores; Best camera; including such diverse hardware choices as projector; keyboard; joypad, electronic paper not crippled by proprietary Standards for hardware software, or plagued by dropped calls; Lens flare; Antenna problems. (however Minor) at a better value 3-6 months before Apple announce it and a further year till they refresh it ..you go Android. Seriously put say a Galaxy III vs iPhone and start with price, and when it was launched :)
P.S writing LOL on the end of a sentence is not a compelling argument.
Betteridge's law of headlines says no.
I concur.
If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
I'm not warning anyone against Android.
Here it is, stop repeating propaganda paid for by Apple, and Micro$oft in the media, that is designed to justify the "you only license my device, so I will lock you out of it", its not a walled garden..its a police state desined to lock you into their platform..while extracting as much money from its cattle. Malware as you describe it on the whole is rare...claims otherwise are vastly overrated. Android is secure...saying otherwise is a lie.
As for Malware...the sick thing is, regardless of platform, every damn program...sorry app is a piece of malware by my definition of the word, and its not relabled Angry Birds/Play Stores its your top ten Apps spying on every part of your life. Passing information about user's age, gender, and location, as well as unique identifiers for the phone.
They have a Windows desktop, but they don't use it anymore.
The iPad works great for them. I couldn't survive without a keyboard, but I live inside a vim terminal, pulling out to execute my code. My parents ... they don't code. Without that, there's literally nothing they do that can't be done on an iPad. Even things that seem more convenient (long emails) are tedious for them ("I have to go all the way _upstairs_ to do that? I'd rather sit on the couch, or compose it in the passenger set of the car."). They find it significantly more convenient than their desk top, and they argue over who gets to use it. They'll soon buy a second one.
Based on my parents' experience, I say have your mom ditch the desktop.
That's why many Android owners (who aren't on Slashdot) would rather have something else.
...a 2011 propaganda article in 2013. You really should have thought that through. since that article was written 2011Q3 Android has risen 52.5% to 72.4%...Apple on the other hand have lost market share from 15% to 13.9%...not so much following the vibe that time :) http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=2237315
Had my iPad 1 setting around, and my mother developed breast cancer. I gave it to her and set up facebook, email, scrabble, everything she needed. Gave her a bluetooth keyboard along with it that acted as a stand for typing long emails.
To say she loves it is a clear understatement. I thought she'd use it on days when she was exhausted from the chemo, or during the actual treatments, but she uses it everywhere. She doesn't use the PC I built her last year anymore.
She's especially enamored with the rouxbe.com cooking school membership - they're fully compatible with iOS safari. Works mint. And there's nothing better than a tablet in the kitchen for serving up that kind of content. Keyboards are splash attractors, and a touchscreen is trivial to clean
In my experience a tabled and a senior citizen do just fine. When it comes time to do taxes, she'll likely need her PC, but right now the tablet is the go-to device for everything.
Seriously...another post PC debate to advertise the iPad, my favourite part is the fact that its out of warranty!? If that sort of thing is a major issue. Do not go near an Apple product...
I think this post says more about you than the OP.
just like typing at a real computer, only difference, obviously, instead of mouse clicks, having to tap at the screen for functions (not much different really).
Yeah, except for the gorilla arm. And the fact that a capacitive screen is only accurate to about a quarter inch, which hurts on image editing, as you have to zoom in to make precise changes but have to zoom out to see the context in which you're making those changes. And the fact that you typically can't have more than one document visible on the screen because of the all-maximized-all-the-time window manager policy in iOS and Android. And that it might be difficult to balance the iPad and keyboard on your lap if you commute on public transit or travel as a bus, train, or airline passenger.
I'm 2,500 miles and two time zones away, so I can't exactly troubleshoot things from here
Assuming the problem that needs to be troubleshot isn't network related
In no particular order of preference
TeamViewer
LogMeIn
Techinline Remote Desktop
CrossLoop (I hadn't heard of this one before searching just now but it looks interesting)
Radmin
RemotePC
There are a lot of remote support options. Some good ones are even free.
My personal suggestion is Splashtop. It isn't a remote support tool but it has client's for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and BB 10/PlayBook OS2 so you could log into your mother's PC from your tablet and fix what needs fixing. It's also a one time cost opposed to a subscription.
At some point your mother will need to do something the tablet cannot do. You can still get an inexpensive tablet for her.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
why not get her a nice inexpensive laptop as well?
Because such devices don't exist.
I'm not going to do your Google for you, but of course you are absolutely wrong.
Cheap laptops with a 10" screen exist, but only on the used market. See the recent Slashdot story "Does 2012 Mark the End of the Netbook?".
I can't believe the comments here.
First get her a computer with the same Operating System as she already has. The older generation doesn't like change for the sake of change--they only want change when it offers significant improvements.
Second she will want a full size keyboard and a decent sized screen. As you get older your fingers are less nimble and your eyesight gets worse.
So I am thinking something like a 15"-17", used business class laptop from eBay (a few years old).
Coupons don't have printer drivers.
Computers do.
If your ipad or android tablet can print to your printer, it can print anything.
Not all tablets have the capability to print to all printers, but any modern printer that can be attached
to your network has a high probability of working.
Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
Betteridge's law of headlines says no.
I concur.
...and so are you. You should read the wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines the idea is that *so called controversial* headline probably isn't, based on some flimsy transparent premise
This is just an an advertisement for an iPad more along the lines of "Do you have hair loss?" its disgusting subterfuge, but nothing to do Betteridge...to make the law work you would have to change the headline you "Is this the end of the PC?"
Tablets are ergonomic nightmares;
I don't think its true of a 7" tablet which is essentially a book. Its more true for a 10" tablet...but then I would say the problem is from my experience is the weight after long periods...but I think the form factor reflects its use not the other way around.
you can resize windows and run side-by-side windows
Good job Google. Now when's this feature going to get ported to Android tablets? Even my Nexus 7 would be big enough for two side-by-side phone-sized windows, let alone a 10" tablet.
and where you've got tons of offline apps now, the Chromebook really seems to handle all the basic needs.
The mom of this Slashdot story is probably not like Bobby Tables's geek mom from xkcd, but the question remains: Can one develop an app for the Chromebook on the Chromebook?
I've thought about pushing my grandmother and maybe my family to tablet-only since they have similar use-cases you describe and I think it would ease a lot of support headaches on my side. The only main hangup I've thought of is printing; my dad still loves to print stuff, as it seems a lot of older people do, too. There are cloud print / air print options out there but they all seem to involve either new specific cloud enabled printers, or shared printers on existing PCs. Honestly, to solve that I've been looking to set up a Raspberry Pi as a print server. I think think using CUPS I could hook that directly up to a printer and have it "available" to any other device on the local network. Then I think I could if I needed have some sort of headless chrome install if I really needed Google Cloud print to print over the Internet. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet...still need a second Pi unless I free up my raspbmc install!
...but you can do a heckuva lot.
I actually just embarked upon this very experiment. With a Win 8 tablet no less. Today, you can get a tablet with an i5 processor and a full windows install. For the last 2 weeks I've exclusively used this tablet as my sole work platform, including this very moment.
Now I will say that some behavior modification is/was in order. Due to present day drive space vs cost limitations, Google Drive, Sky Drive, etc are now part of my every day experience for management of files.Counter tablet behavior is sometime called for too: I plug in to the an external monitor and full sized keyboard during the times than my highest levels of productivity are needed or as tasks demand.
IMO tablet only is going to be commonplace before anyone expects.Having the flexibility to bea workhorse, terrific communications and consumption device, and compact all-in-one package has been a terrific experience.
I don't see myself going back to a laptop/workstation. Especially with some tablets having 'snap-on' keyboards for when I want to go retro.
but but but it's open source!!! Even the KGB uses it!!!
Though, they did comb through the source and strip everything they didn't like out first.
Posting from $95 Dell C840. Beautiful, bright, tall, 4:3 display. Slow, low capped satellite internet so I can't watch videos anyway. Battery only last 30 minutes but I have a Galaxy 10.1 for when I leave home :)
Do people really print?
If I want to give someone a copy of a document or a photo, and she isn't yet technically inclined enough to have bought her own tablet or smartphone, she'll probably want paper. I've also had problems sending things from my tablet to a Kindle Fire tablet without bouncing it off an e-mail server because a Kindle Fire tablet lacks Bluetooth.
My limit before I get annoyed with onscreens is about 200 characters
When exceeding a tweet, break out a Bluetooth keyboard.
the support calls dropped dramatically.
..and set fire to her bins (or whatever the localised equivalent is)
Swype (notice the spelling)
When you were at Swype, did you try contacting the other major third-party keyboard application publishers to get the name of this product into their autocorrect dictionaries? Otherwise, Swype will continue to get red squiggly underlines and continue to get corrected to swipe if autocorrect is on.
I got a fantastic deal on a Motorola Xoom (10" screen), now running
Android 4.1 and I've rooted it myself.
When my computer went down I used the Xoom to surf and search for
a new mother board. I use a used bluetooth keyboard that
cost $10 at Goodwill; it's very nice, small in size yet large keys.
I got tired of it quick, not sure why, miss a mouse (?). I put a spare
computer together to used until the motherboard showed up.
I hope I never have to rely solely on a tablet again.
If one is going to use a tablet and it's locked or doesn't allow
say a HOSTS file to be installed, It really needs to be rooted.
Read this Privacy Policy http://www.rovio.com/Privacy this is the
norm for unrooted cell phones, tablets, and future UEFI protected OS's.
It's for Angry Birds, one would think they would make it a free program
seeing how much personal information is collected and the tracking they do.
http://www.rovio.com/Privacy is a favorite example of mine, I've mentioned it
on many occasions as most don't read nor care about ToS's. This ToS is
the same for most programs now. A direct quote from that link "Please note
that certain features of the Services may be able to connect to your social
networking sites to obtain additional information about you."
My HOSTS file for my PC is almost 600K and I thought that was huge
The HOSTS file for a rooted device is over 900K (Adaway).
Root the device or at the very least download and run Android_ID
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bzgames.androidid&feature=search_result
Get your number and paste it here http://www.flurry.com/user-opt-out.html
-Android assumed
Those who recommend a Chromebook - they don't consider that there will be times when you have no internet connectivity and want to use your tablet.
How should that stop anyone from choosing Chrome apps designed with offline first?
A few months ago my wife started using my old iPad 2 more and more. Pretty soon it was all she was using and the kids were using her MacBook. For Christmas I got her a new iPad 4 and she was thrilled.
She mainly uses the web and email, with some rare Excel and Word document reviewing with iWork. For light photo touch up iPhoto has been fine too.
If all she does is "simple web browsing, email, light photo sharing but no heavy editing, and other simple tasks" then a tablet would fit her needs perfectly, as long as she also gets a keyboard for it. Those virtual keyboards become an act of miserable frustration if you need to type anything more than a couple short sentences.
I recently got a windows 8 surface and it can definitely be used as a laptop replacement. The keyboard is not great but it beats a software keyboard by a mile (or kilometer).
I have a tablet, a laptop, and a desktop. They all get used.
For media consumption or quick stuff or one-handed use the tablet is the best bet. For more stringent but "light" stuff (or if I'm too lazy to go upstairs) the laptop gets picked. For anything where I'm going to be doing a lot of typing I'll use the desktop (which is really another heavier but more powerful laptop that's almost always docked) since it has a 1920x1200 IPS screen, ergo keyboard, and proper mouse.
I tried showing my mom how to use a PC a long time ago but she tried to pick the mouse up off the table to make the cursor move up the screen.
She would complain there were too many things to remember and too many steps and clicks and double clicks.
So I got her the 1st gen iPad back when it first came out and she has been loving it ever since. She figured most of it out on her own without any instruction.
I synced it to my iTunes on my PC with my iTunes account. This way I can control what goes on there and she doesn't have to keep up with anything at all. Also she doesn't have a credit card. I just update all the apps every time I visit every month or two and update the iOS every so often when I think to bring my laptop with me.
There are times when I wish I could see her screen when she has a question about a web page not showing correctly or acting right.
All in all she loves it and says it's the gift that keeps on giving!
--- Nothing is secure.
Wife bought a tablet recently to replace her laptop, thinking that her requirements were modest enough that a tablet could handle it. The requirements (which were all met by her laptop) were:
(1) Runs the Kindle app
(2) Allows access to her Yahoo email
(3) Allows her to play Facebook games
(4) Allows her to see videos (ok, soap operas) on the ABC website.
So, kindle, check. yahoo email, check. Facebook access, check, but none of her facebook games would run. Also, all videos on the ABC site gave her the error "this video can not be played".
After a few very frustrating weeks the tablet has become pretty much shelfware. She's gone back to the laptop and only occasionally uses the tablet to read her kindle books.
Now, what she was missing, turns out, is flash. Yes, we all know why, and that websites should be switching to html 5 or something, but the fact remains that a lot of sites are still using it, and as a consequence, no currently available Android or Apple tablet will display the content. Therefore, it'd be important in your case to explore exactly what your mother's expectations are before pulling that particular trigger.
Yes, I know that you can dink around with an Android tablet and get flash to work. On some implementations it works great, on others it's prone to crashing. In any case, it's not something she's going to be able to fix herself, so you may have to steel yourself to do some sysadmin on the device and be on the hook for support. Just sayin'.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
Chrome has Angry Birds in the web store. I've played it on the Chromebook - works well.
I bought an iPad and at first loved it. I travel and I was hoping that finally I could stop lugging round the laptop I use for work.
I think Android is a lot less limiting and only a little less intuitive. I was sorely disappointed with the iPad though. It's bizarre but it's almost like they are deliberately crippled to being a toy. Although it was very nice to sit down with like a book I ended up selling it because I'm not the soprt of person to have unneeded things in my life.
Some of the problems I encountered:
- needing a desktop to activate it; thanks BestBuy for doing that for me in the shop
- no preloaded maps & reliant on internet in general
- pretty cool for typing quick comments on say, slashdot... but it soon starts to annoy when you relise how much quicker it would be with a laptop
- couldn't print
- couldn't plug in a usb printer
- really difficult to pass a file to someone on the road... no usb
- generally dependent on that internet connection for everything... something that is highly variable on the road, ditto for printers
- bank balance attrition on the apps. If you were to root it and start pirating stuff then you lose security. Android is much better but then I think really you need to know what you are doing.
It's a shame but I came to the conclusion that this new fad is... nothing but a toy!
It doesn't have to be... it shouldn't be and I keep thinking it isn't... but that's what I found and continue to find.
I'm hoping that an Android Transformer type thing will prove me wrong but I think for me where I get irritated with Gentoo's new lack of apps that I would quickly get annoyed by it.
However, the mother is a different use case to all of us here. I think it's going to be a lot rarer that she would find something that isn't available for a tablet. With an Android tablet you might be able to get away with it but I think it's best to play it safe at this stage.
If the psychology of feeling like you're buying the same thing again is too painful...
bear in mind there has been a lot of progress in the desktop area too. You can get very small form factors which are also much quieter and I would expect her to like the saved space. That's the sensible choice anyway.
Everybody may recommend a laptop straight away. But I like the idea of having a set place at which to work and in an ergonomic way - a big keyboard, a screen at the right height and all in set place.
It comes down to a philosophical choice.
Do we want something that's nice for sitting in bed wasting time... and can get by on the important stuff most of the time, maybe...
or something that's good at getting the banking done?
A blog I run for the wealth
OK, I'm going to explain something us "web-browser developers" know that you OS types obviously didn't know.
Our web-browser thingies have something called a plug-in architecture, which is now an integrated part of rendering a web page. Plugins can be called on each type of resources embedded on a page, or all of them, and can even be run on resources after another plugin has run.
AdBlock is one of those plug-ins. After Seamonkey (or Firefox) has fetched a HTML document, the parser sends each URL to AdBlock for processing. AdBlock's list of user- and community-defined blocked URL's is ready and waiting in RAM, and AdBlock will remove and prevent the browser from processing the URL. Instead, it places a placeholder on the page instead of another plugin, an image from the ad-farm, or whatever.
So the point I've made all along is that AdBlock isn't actually using the Operating System's DNS stack to block at all - it appears in the execution cycle before the DNS query or the fetch.
Also, this is the same on any and all client OS - Win, Lin, And, iOs etc.
This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
The problem with a bluetooth keyboard is if I'm going to that trouble, why don't I just use a laptop?
Because they don't make 10 inch laptops anymore, according to this Slashdot story.
If you buy a tablet with a keyboard (like the ASUS transformer), she'll have great hardware that's good for almost all the things people do with tablets.
The big problem with all the tablets out there is that their browsers aren't full desktop browsers. There are some that you can tell to run in "desktop mode", and that helps, but some sites will still not work. Most annoyingly, there is still no good "desktop-like" solution for Google Docs itself.
Chromebooks are another alternative, but they don't have that many apps for them, and they only give you a choice of a single browser.
Your best solution may still be a laptop running Ubuntu: it's pretty easy to use (easier than Windows 8) and fairly straightforward to maintain. There are lots of built-in apps, and web apps work as well as on a Chromebook.
The article I linked states that Acer, the manufacturer of the Aspire One netbook, has announced the end of production of Aspire One netbooks. Once Walmart runs out of its final shipment, which I expect to happen sometime this year, the only 10" laptops will be used laptops.
My daughter who is a university student and needs to type quite a lot of stuff recently bought herself an Archos tablet.
It has a screen protection cover that doubles as a keyboard.
The "caveat" is that the various text processing software she tried are "ok" for a letter, but when she needs to really create a "professional" document she still feels the need to go back to her old linux box with libreoffice...
In practice any tablet with a decent keyboard addon can serve for almost 100% of most people needs....
You could think of it this way: :-)
-- consumer who just use the device to access content (aka TV replacement) and access some services (mostly bank and shopping) => tablet is good enough for them
-- consumer with some brain who sometimes produce something => add a keyboard
-- person who actually write documents that might be printed by somebody and looked at =>
==> either a cheap 13.1 laptop with windows (do not forget to provide the phone number of a IT repair for pay person that lives near your "customer")
==> macbook air (personally I really like the aerodynamism and the distance they can fly when you throw them out of the window
but hipsters like them, and they fail less than windows)
==> a cheap 13.1 laptop running linux (there will be much less technical issues, but of course any issue will be "your fault" since it is not a "common choice"
so YMMV
-- person who actually is using a computer for something complicated => don't worry she'll know what she needs
My sister previously used a laptop, but after she got an iPad, she simply stopped using it. Well, at work, she still uses it, but at home, it's the iPad all the time. Sometimes, she's forced to use the laptop since her 1 yr old kid keeps screaming for it if it's not surrendered to him. But other than that, she uses it more frequently than she ever used the laptop. For instance, looking up cooking recipes, bill management and the like - she rarely used laptop programs that did those, or look them up. But ever since starting on an iPad, the experience has been different.
She also has a Galaxy phone, and while on the road, she uses that for things like directions, restaurant or movie ticket bookings and so on. Note that she's not a neophyte w/ computers - it's just that they're not all that convenient to lug around, and their interfaces are just not that conducive for travelling either. The phone is particularly handy for travelling, and the iPad, well, it used to be a great help in managing the baby, and now, the baby acts like it's his. On the downside, she's had to buy protective equipment after her kid damaged the iPad twice, so now it's much better protected.
My sense of it - most people who are technophobes may be more receptive to tablets or phones than they ever were to laptops.
For me a tablet can never replace my laptop. I make and edit videos on a regular basis and depend on my USB webcam, HD-PVR, and Kdenlive to do so. Until tablets are fully capable of doing EVERYTHING my laptop can, a tablet only computing life will NEVER be an option. Even if it could do all these things, I'd still prefer my laptop because on a tablet I'd have to be constantly plugging/unplugging everything.
A tablet is a fine computer for consuming information and researching things.
Tablets fall down when it comes to creating content but I expect they'll improve at that.
You can get a keyboard for an iPad - there are many third party alternatives and the official Apple wireless keyboard. I have the Apple version for use with my iPad and it's great. However I still use my MacBookPro for most creative work. For reading on the go or in bed I prefer the iPad.
Do I choose the red one or the blue one. hmmm?
The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
Don't do it. Just get her a cheap 11" laptop. Tablets are great for watching video, listening to audio, video chatting, playing games, and the OCCASIONAL email or web browsing. Occasional being the highlight since without a real keyboard it's awkward and time consuming trying to do any appreciable amount of text-based communication, not to mention that many websites simply don't work right on tablet browsers. And please don't use your tablet as a camera. No, Just no.
My 85yo mom's 10yo laptop was dying so she asked for a new laptop. Her #1 complaint was that it was hard to see the screen of the old laptop. So I bought her a cheap ($450) large screen laptop (17"). She is very happy. No tablet can address the aging eyesight issue better than a large screen device...
My wife ditched her iMac for an iPad. She could have got a Android tablet, but all available Android tables were not white. And she wanted the *white* tablet computer. The choice was made.
Let's not exagerate. Not only copy/paste is nonintuitive on all tablets for now, but it's extremely basic, limited to text-only clipboards IIRC.
If the OP's dad uses to create emails with images pasted into them, then he's out...
Herve S.
The answer is "Yes, these new-fangled non-pc devices do cover everyday tasks for the layman user and thus are a good full-time replacement for a PC."
Personally I'd check out the Asus Transformer and the Chromebook for devices with KB integrated, and the Google Nexus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 line of tablets.
Remember to clarify a few things first:
Printing required?
Data transfer / backup required?
Optical media reading required? (Audio CD, DVD Video?)
There are solutions for 1 and 2, especially on Android, some involve using WiFi for data transfer, so your mom would maybe need some kind of external WiFi HDD or something. ... Dunno if WiFi optical drives exist.
If optical media is required, you'd have to look carefully at what's needed and search for an apropriate drive.
All those things aside, if your mom isn't a developer, designer or about to go into video editing or something and doesn't need a full M$ Office suite because her friends all use it to send stuff around, then a modern tablet is a very good computer.
My 2 cents.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
I use www.teamviewer.com there are others
I thought they were 18 inch (Although I could be wrong). I bought three of them for my kids. Then they went 22 inch intel and now the big bastards. Stopped at an i5 though. They didn't need an i7.
1) your ranting and diatribe have completely ignored the point I made about the plug-ins coming before the OS stack when it comes to WHETHER to do a DNS request (thru the OS) at all!
2) I haven't even had mod-points since you started all this down-modding ranting, hasn't it occurred to you that I'm correct on the on-topic tech subject and that you're trolling? I told you, I don't even bother modding you down when I do moderate.
This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
If I need some crack, can I borrow from your stash? It seems like you get the good stuff.
But I'll use my own pipe. You got turd-breath.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
(I wouldn't use 'rape' either, because webmistressrachel *might* not like it... due to experience with it!)
Ah. "Do as I say, not as I do."
Go back to running your pathetic horse-pr0n server, and try not to spoodge your keyboard.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Did the public library let you use the computer again? I thought you were kicked out, for "bathing" in their restrooms again.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Get yourself an account ad karma-fight like a man. I haven't had mod points in years, but I wouldn't need 'em to rip your head off, and shit down your neck - you disgusting, pus-slurping piglet.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
You call a black man "boy", and you better be able to back yourself up, peckerwood.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Excellent.
You sir, are a racist. And have been...
TROLLED.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Sarmatian
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
MEEEEEPT!
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
He seems to be completely unreceptive
The tests I gave him showed no sense at all
His eyes react to light, the dials detect it
He hears but cannot answer to your call
There is no chance, no untried operation
All hope lies with him and none with me
Imagine through the shock of isolation
When he can suddenly hear and speak and see
His eyes can hear, his ears can see, his lips speak
All the time the needles flick and rock
No machine can give the kind of stimulation
Needed to remove his inner block
Go to the mirror boy
Go to the mirror boy
I often wonder what he is feeling
Has he ever heard a word I've said
Look at him in the mirror dreaming
What is happening in his head
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."