Windows 7 Tablets

[Reliant121]

To be fair, we have found that we never use our tablet that we have left (A GalaxyTab). The lack of proper microsoft office products (replacement office systems are...basic) and the lack of a desktop browser limit their use. if I want to do quick typing or quick web searches a smartphone is a lot easier. You can use the keyboard a lot quicker as you don't have to stretch your thumbs out (as I have found anyway. My typing speed on my phone was way better than the GalaxyTab or the iPad when we had one).

[IanKennedy]

Meh. From what I've seen in every tablet user I've ever encountered, the primary function of the tablet seems to be to allow the user to say, "Hey - look how cool I am."

In a hospital setting they can be extremely useful. A doctor can walk around with the iPad (and I say I pad only because that's what 90% of them use, because the apps have been written for them) and access any patients medical record, look at their x-rays, lab results and anything else they need. Carrying that lot around for every patient in the hospital would be a pretty impossible. The problem with a netbook is that they are cumbersome to hold in one hand, even more difficult to hold one while standing and type at the same time. A tablet is much easier to use in those circumstances. Plus a quick scan of PC-World website shows a typical weight for a netbook of about 2Kg (4.4lb) whereas the iPad 2 (for example) is only 613g (1.34lb). Now there may be lighter netbooks than 2Kg but the hinged screen still makes them pretty impractical for hand held use. Equally, I wouldn't want a doctor looking at my X-ray's / CT scans on a mobile phone and size of the image just would be large enough to show the whole image in enough detail for a doctor to spot important details.

[Nickswitz]

For me, one of the biggest things, since I'm going to be doing computer tech work, is to show it off and say I have a tablet, people seem to see it as a oooo thing, which is good for me; plus the one I have has a built in pen-support for me to do photo-shopping when I want to.

[Mikey]

Ian makes a good point, but that's one very specific example and not really relevant to the tablet users I encounter in my everyday life. I understand Nick's point, too - but is there any actual work that you can do on a tablet but not on an appropriate smartphone?

[Reliant121]

The short answer is...No. Not really. The advantage a tablet brings is much bigger screen estate which essentially makes browsing a lot easier, as well as photo browsing and document editing. But, for the most part, they use mobile operating systems (Predominantly Android or iOS) which makes them merely upscaled versions (although the new Android OS utilizes some features which bring it closer to desktop computers).

[Mikey]

That's what I was getting at. All indications (to my old stodgy eye) seem to say that a tablet is a less-portable smartphone, if a slightly faster one.

[Reliant121]

The screen estate is a big factor over a smartphone to be fair. You can fit full webpages on a tablet more effectively than a mobile and text is much larger. Tablets are often popular with those who are a tad bit older mainly due to their increased area for visibility.

[IanKennedy]

Ian makes a good point, but that's one very specific example and not really relevant to the tablet users I encounter in my everyday life. I understand Nick's point, too - but is there any actual work that you can do on a tablet but not on an appropriate smartphone?

Yes:

1) Document editing (iPad has versions of apples office suit providing a word processor, spreadsheet and slide editor), it would be non-viable on a phone.
2) Any number of kids apps where the extra size allows for small kids being less dexterous. Thus a learning aid.
3) While I was on holiday we got rained in one day and so I downloaded a film and we watched it, the problem was I only had the iPhone so we had to watch it there. Tablet would have been much better.
4) Photo review for professional photographers, even the screen on the back of my camera is larger than my iPhone screen, but you need more to check photos.
5) Server remote control. We have 5 servers at work that we have to keep an eye on 24x7, using remote control on the iPhone is a PITA.

Granted 4 and 5 are a little specialist...

[Reliant121]

I think the point that the above demonstrates isthat, fundamentally, the OS are no different. But there are a number of functions, document editing/movie watching/book reading and other specialist roles, where a tablet is much more convenient due to larger screen. There's no reason a phone cannot do these things, it's just a lot easier with a tablet.

[Mikey]

Ian makes a good point, but that's one very specific example and not really relevant to the tablet users I encounter in my everyday life. I understand Nick's point, too - but is there any actual work that you can do on a tablet but not on an appropriate smartphone?

Yes:

1) Document editing (iPad has versions of apples office suit providing a word processor, spreadsheet and slide editor), it would be non-viable on a phone.
2) Any number of kids apps where the extra size allows for small kids being less dexterous. Thus a learning aid.
3) While I was on holiday we got rained in one day and so I downloaded a film and we watched it, the problem was I only had the iPhone so we had to watch it there. Tablet would have been much better.
4) Photo review for professional photographers, even the screen on the back of my camera is larger than my iPhone screen, but you need more to check photos.
5) Server remote control. We have 5 servers at work that we have to keep an eye on 24x7, using remote control on the iPhone is a PITA.

Granted 4 and 5 are a little specialist...

#1 applies as work that can be done on a tablet but not (easily) on a phone. #4 and 5 would, but as you say are about as relevant to general business use as the doctor example. #2 and 3 are nice features, but would hardly count as anything like an essential function. I think there are better devices on which to watch a movie when rained in than a phone, tablet, or laptop... a television comes to mind.

[Nickswitz]

About number 2, it's especially useful for kids with disabilities. Where they need the feedback, and they need to be able to interact with the screen.

[IanKennedy]

Ian makes a good point, but that's one very specific example and not really relevant to the tablet users I encounter in my everyday life. I understand Nick's point, too - but is there any actual work that you can do on a tablet but not on an appropriate smartphone?

Yes:

1) Document editing (iPad has versions of apples office suit providing a word processor, spreadsheet and slide editor), it would be non-viable on a phone.
2) Any number of kids apps where the extra size allows for small kids being less dexterous. Thus a learning aid.
3) While I was on holiday we got rained in one day and so I downloaded a film and we watched it, the problem was I only had the iPhone so we had to watch it there. Tablet would have been much better.
4) Photo review for professional photographers, even the screen on the back of my camera is larger than my iPhone screen, but you need more to check photos.
5) Server remote control. We have 5 servers at work that we have to keep an eye on 24x7, using remote control on the iPhone is a PITA.

Granted 4 and 5 are a little specialist...

#1 applies as work that can be done on a tablet but not (easily) on a phone. {/quote]
There's no way you could work a spreadsheet on a mobile phone. It's just not practical.

#4 and 5 would, but as you say are about as relevant to general business use as the doctor example.

Yes, I did say that.

#2 and 3 are nice features, but would hardly count as anything like an essential function. I think there are better devices on which to watch a movie when rained in than a phone, tablet, or laptop... a television comes to mind.

Yes, but it's hard to carry around a television, especially on an international flight. Plus the fact that televisions are not touch sensitive and so the input is not related to the actions. Making it much more difficult for kids to get to grips with.

[IanKennedy]

About number 2, it's especially useful for kids with disabilities. Where they need the feedback, and they need to be able to interact with the screen.

Yes, especially autistic kids.

[Mikey]

I didn't say anything about carrying a television. Yo said you were rained in while on holiday - surely, anywhere you are rained in (e.g., your hotel) has some form of entertainment media more advanced than a Punch-and-Judy show?

[IanKennedy]

I didn't say anything about carrying a television. Yo said you were rained in while on holiday - surely, anywhere you are rained in (e.g., your hotel) has some form of entertainment media more advanced than a Punch-and-Judy show?

You obviously don't go on holiday in Europe. The all seem to speak some sort of foreign language, it quite odd. All there television programs also, for some reason I've yet to figure out, also seem to be struck by the same affliction. Every single channel, it's as if they have no respect for the master language and the needs of it's speakers.

Plus the TVs in most hotels you go to are rather old. They don't have much in the way of digital external inputs, or analogue ones for that point. Connecting things to them would require quite an arsenal of cables to be taken with you.