[offroadnt]

I've got my big laptop loaded up with diagnostic software and technical information now and I'm thinking it might be time to protect it better and maybe avoid using it online so much so I've been thinking of getting a cheap laptop or tablet for my everyday computer.

For those of you that run tablets how do you like them for typing, surfing and such? To me it seems like an oversized smart phone and you loose half the screen to keyboard, I imagine you can buy wireless keyboards to run with tables, is that the case? Do any tablets have USB ports in them? If so I could run a wireless keyboard and mouse with a tablet, that would be good. Out in the field a tablet would be a little less awkward then a laptop I suppose. A decent tablet would cost more then a laptop also I think.

What's the preference for Tablets out there now, still the iPad? Windows or Android device? Is there larger tablets that are reasonably robust that you prefer these days?


Thanks.

 

[SWFarmService]

Tablets are awesome, I have 3 of them one for the house, one for the shop and an iPad that came with my DTN subscription. I hate the iPad, like my kindles, love my wife's Windows tablet

 

[tjdno1]

I have a desktop windows 7, a laptop windows 8, and an ipad mini 3. Each has their own qualities. I like to take my ipad when i go anywhere away from the house, I didn't get the one with the phone capabilities but use my phone as a hot spot for internet. After I got the ipad I bought a blue tooth keyboard for it, it comes in a notebook the ipad slides into and closes for protection. I wouldn't like to take the ipad outside without some kind of protection. If you use an iphone they are set up the same so easy to operate one to the other. That being said non Apple products are similar to use and most have the same accessories available for use. The blue tooth keyboard has a rechargeable battery that does need to be charged now and then.

 

[custom_farmer]

The blue tooth keyboard has a rechargeable battery that does need to be charged now and then.

Does it use the same charger as the pad? Drives me nuts that everything seems to need its own type plug

 

[meritmat]

sorry cant beat a laptop.

I just buy the cheapest one from Dell, think it cost me under 300 bucks. All I want is something to surf the internet don't need all the exter bullshit. When this one dies ill just order another, the 1200 dollar ones last as long as the 300 ones

 

[tjdno1]

no, and me too! The keyboard has a mini usb and ipad has an apple connection the same as iphone. I havent seen an Apple bt keyboard so I can't comment on that. Best Buy didnt have any others that fit the mini 3 the day I was there. The keyboard lasts a long time between charges.
It is like any other piece of equipment you buy, it depends on what you are going to do with it, systems you are used to using. Yes, even the color you like.

 

[phantom970]

Tablets are awesome, I have 3 of them

One under the pillow in the master bedroom, one on the couch and i guess one in the Dunny? I do wonder how you charge that one, never seen a power point in a toilet before. Ha ha, keep up the mega amount of posts per hour productivity SWfs.




4x4nt, I bought an Asus epad. Dont go there. Its crap.

 

[SWFarmService]

Its January in North Dakota, going stir crazy around here, busy in the shop but village idiots keep coming by so I post while I am ignoring them, takes a bit but they get the point faster when I hide behind my phone vs while I am working they stand over my shoulder and ask dumb questions

Ex: a guy that use to drive my truck bought his own and I was replacing some of his u-joints and as he is breathing smoke threw his rotten teeth over my shoulder he asks "how often do I need to grease them" my reply "I sure hope you greased them on my truck everyday!" Ever seen a deer in headlights?, that's what I seen," everyday!" "Yep" "oh"

See what I deal with? Crazies seem to be a lot less per capita
here

 

[RM-MN]

I have an "Asus Transformer Tab" (not quite the latest and greatest) that I use. It has a charging port at the bottom that takes a proprietary plug but you can attach a keyboard there instead which also has a battery that nearly doubles the battery life of the tablet. The keyboard has its own port for the use of the charger and adds a full size USB port, an SD reader, and a micro SD port for more memory. It runs Android and with that comes access to the Play Store (Google) with tons of apps, both free and paid.

With the keyboard folded up, it makes a very slim unit to carry and protects the screen. With it folded down, it looks like a small laptop. At any time I can detach the keyboard and have just a tablet. It includes WIFI, Bluetooth, and has an internal GPS but for better GPS I use an external Bluetooth receiver. I spent a little money on an app called CopilotGPS and have a GPS with a bit screen that covers all of the US and Canada that I use while travelling because it works better than my Magellan by choosing more rational routes and has more features.

 

[offroadnt]

Do tablets run websites like this in the mobile or computer setting? I'm not really a fan of the mobile version of most sites.

How about the virtual keyboard? Any issues with that? My fingers are big for my S5 but autocorrect catches most of it. Swiftkey is pretty nice as I'm slowly getting the hang of it.

SWFarmService, why do you like the Windows tablet best? I like the idea because it'll be similar to my Windows computer, I think it would make syncing and such easier, then I might make my next phone a more basic Windows phone.

phantom970, your talking about the Eee Pad? Ad makes it look pretty impressive but it's junk is it?

RM-MN, your Transformer appears quite similar to phantom970's Eee Pad, your's works good, they do appear to be a good idea for what I want... I think.

tjdno1, does your iPad mini seem small? I do like the large screen on my 17.5" laptop, I know the importance of protecting this stuff, I keep my laptop in a Pelican case, the thing is heavy but I know the computer is safe from almost anything. That's the advantage to having a tablet in the field also, no moving pieces to wear out and get dirty. Just have to protect it from the elements and dropping.

Thanks for your input again guys .

 

[SWFarmService]

My tablets ask how you want to run it, on your smart phone there is a little bar in top left corner of the page to go back to the regular way

The windows tablet has an awesome camera, doesn't seem to be racist to anything, plays well with acrobat reader and adobe, my iPad won't let me view images on parts websites (haven't tried again for about a year maybe it does now) faster loading of Google earth images, overall faster and is more like running a computer. Takes a bit longer to get use to it but when you get the hang of it its a lot easier to navigate

 

[offroadnt]

My tablets ask how you want to run it, on your smart phone there is a little bar in top left corner of the page to go back to the regular way

My Galaxy S5 Android does not handle trying to switch at all and barely works in the mobile version on here. I barely go on here anymore with it, it's so frustrating. NAT seems fine, other sites seem to be okay also, some ask to use the mobile setting, I just say no.

 

[lanwickum]

Windows surface. I just ordered one to replace my failing laptop. I have an older one that I really like. My wife has one also she uses as a nurse at work. Not cheap. That is because they are built very well.

 

[offroadnt]

The windows tablet has an awesome camera, doesn't seem to be racist to anything, plays well with acrobat reader and adobe, my iPad won't let me view images on parts websites (haven't tried again for about a year maybe it does now) faster loading of Google earth images, overall faster and is more like running a computer. Takes a bit longer to get use to it but when you get the hang of it its a lot easier to navigate

What is the make and model of your Windows tablet? How big is it? Like I said I think I'd like to stick with Windows.

 

[offroadnt]

Windows surface. I just ordered one to replace my failing laptop. I have an older one that I really like. My wife has one also she uses as a nurse at work. Not cheap. That is because they are built very well.

How do you mean "built very well"? They work good? There's no mention of durability on the website, $850? Keypad is separate?

 

[SWFarmService]

Surface 2, had to check on that

 

[tjdno1]

Quote: "tjdno1, does your iPad mini seem small? I do like the large screen on my 17.5" laptop, I know the importance of protecting this stuff, I keep my laptop in a Pelican case, the thing is heavy but I know the computer is safe from almost anything. That's the advantage to having a tablet in the field also, no moving pieces to wear out and get dirty. Just have to protect it from the elements and dropping."

To begin with it did going from my large laptop screen or desktop 37" monitor. But I got used to it pretty quick. It is easy to enlarge on the screen with your fingers. Also running it landscape with the keyboard makes it pretty good. It was alot better than my droid. Now with the Iphone 6 i can jump from one to the other quite quickly, As long as I dont forget my glasses. The more I use it the better I like it. The mini 3 is my first tablet. Oh, and I view this site on Safari as we view it on computer;

 

[Andrew_D]

One comment on windows phone/tablets/etc. I've been hearing that the windows platform is one of the last (if ever) for apps to be developed. (Specifically, ag based apps.) iphone/android first, then maybe BB, last is windows. Any truth to that?

Andrew

 

[SWFarmService]

They have come a long way in the past year but not equal yet, I think it's just a mater of a little more time, everything was headed for Apple but it seems Apple is on a downtrend so these tools are catching up to the crowd

 

[RM-MN]

RM-MN, your Transformer appears quite similar to phantom970's Eee Pad, your's works good, they do appear to be a good idea for what I want... I think.

My son had an ASUS Transformer Prime and liked really well so I bought one (used) for my wife and it has worked well. I decided I wanted one too so I bought a used Transformer Tab. This tablet has rebooted on me a couple of times when i didn't expect it but to be fair, used means someone else may have done something to it or it might have been a flaw that they knew about and sold it because of that. For buying used I cut the cost considerably.

If you know what you want to use it for, you can go to the Google Play Store with your PC and search for an app that would work for that. Apps are being added all the time so if you find that there isn't one that does exactly what you want, you can check in a month or so and it may have been added. Many of the apps that I have get updated regularly too.

I have my tablet to view webpages as a computer, not the mobile site but some sites insist that to "enhance my usage" they must be view in the mobile version. I'd like to tell them to quit "enhancing" my choices.