Do I need a new laptop/tablet?

CR CRUISER wrote:
The wife announced that she would like to get me a new laptop for Christmas. I am using a 5 year old Toshiba Satellite right now and it does everything that I need. It does have a few drawbacks though. It is brutally heavy and the battery is marginal to the point that I can only watch a 90 minute movie before recharging.

I use it mostly for a portable workstation for my business but I do take it with me on holidays. We are going on a Panama cruise this spring and she thinks that it will be too heavy and awkward to lug around with us. She has the same laptop as well as a Microsoft Surface tablet and can't decide which one is better.

A nice new tablet sounds inviting but without a DVD drive it limits me on some of my work projects. Is the battery life much better with a tablet? Is there such a thing as a portable DVD drive? I also need a proper keyboard as my calloused finger tips don't do well with a touch screen.

Decisions, decisions.

. .
I have had the same questions for the past year. I have concluded that I need a small laptop with good speed and a DVD player. The laptop these days may be easier to use, not as expensive as a tablet, will be faster than a tablet, and you can get the screen size you want.
ken

If you go for a tablet do NOT get win8 RT. Win8 isn't bad, but win8 RT is something totally different and doesn't run any of your old software.

I just got win8 tablet and I can tell you that without a keyboard and mouse windows is weird. I haven't used it enough to get used to it.

If you need a DVD drive often then you should probably have a laptop with one built in. The external ones are small, but it is extra weight and cables. In the end it will be bigger than a laptop with the built in DVD.

If your old laptop is running winXP you should consider getting a new machine because microsoft has stopped supporting it and you are more vulnerable to viruses and malware. You maybe able to upgrade the OS, but new laptops can be bought for only a couple of hundred more than the upgrade will cost. If the old machine is running vista or win7 the OS is still supported.

You should find out if your software will install on win8 and if you will need to buy an upgrade.

kaydeejay wrote:
Just be aware that some of the newer tablets do not have a USB port.

There are always options, even with a tablet with minimal ports.

DW & I have two ASUS VivoTab Smart tablets which have only a mini-USB OTG (USB On The Go) port and a mini-HDMI video port.

Even with only that limited single USB port, I can still run all my necessary peripherals -- HP OfficeJet 100 printer, Neat Mobile scanner, Seagate portable 1 TB hard drive, and ASUS DVD drive.

The secret is to have a USB OTG to USB adapter & a AC powered 4-port USB hub. The hub supplies 2.0W of power (4 x 500mw - USB standard) to all peripherals without requiring power from the computer, which a USB OTG port can't supply.

My DVD drive requires 2 USB ports -- 1 for data transfer and 1 for power, but it works fine.

And, since it runs Windows 8.1, it runs all my software as well.

So, choose whatever computer style that works for you -- unless your peripheral needs are very unique, there's always a way to make them work.

Anyone able to point to a checklist of what to look for in a new laptop? E.g., memory, disk size, processors? Ideally one that gives options for how one will use the LT?

I have a very nice and expensive Toshiba ultrabook that I've had for a couple years and I really do like it. I was given a Surface Pro 3 to use for a couple weeks and I must say I have been lusting for one since I had to give it back. I personally really like Windows 8.1 that I have on my work 27" desktop and find myself wishing the Ultrabook was touchscreen as well.

The Surface Pro 3 should handle any software you have that is Windows 8 compatible. Just make sure you get the Surface Pro 3 as there are still some older Surface models still being sold that operate on their older mobile platform and you would have software compatibility issues.

Kathy wrote:

I love my ASUS tablet... can run MS Office programs (only Surface and Asus T100TA can do that

Actually, any tablet with Windows 8 can do that. For example, Dell has a Windows 8 tablet. You also have IBM, Toshiba, etc.

I love my ASUS tablet... can run MS Office programs (only Surface and Asus T100TA can do that) has a detachable keyboard... and the cost is much less than the Surface. (When I did the research these were the only two that could fun MS Office programs the way I needed them to.)

Asus T100TA-C1-GR 2-in-1 10.1" Laptop
Model: T100TA-C1-GR
Windows 8.1 32bit.

PRODUCT DETAILS
An entry level 2-in-1 ultraportable notebook with a 10” detachable tablet.
Made from durable and scratch-resistant glass, the IPS panel for wide viewing angles at a 1366 x 768 resolution.
• Intel Atom Z3740 1.3GHz, up to 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache Processor
• 2GB LPDDR3 system memory
• 64GB EMMC hard drive
• 10.1" 250nit WXGA IPS display
• Wireless Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n + BT4.0
• 1.2MP webcam
• High quality stereo speakers
• 31Wh Li-polymer battery: Up to 11 hours of battery life
• Dimensions: 6.76" (L) x 10.36" (W) x 0.93" (D) (2.36 lbs.)
• Windows 8.1
• 1 Year limited warranty

I agree with Strollin. Get a Windows 8 tablet. The Surface Pro is the Microsoft tablet but there are other manufacturers that build Windows 8 tablets.

CR CRUISER wrote:
After doing some research, I've found out that my accounting program won't work on a tablet or on a Mac based system. Now I have to figure out if my mapping and charting programs are compatable. If not, then I'll stick with what I've got.

I'd bet that your accounting program will work on the Surface Pro 3 and it will run the same mapping and charting programs that your laptop will run. That's what's great about the Surface, it has the power of a laptop and the portability of a tablet. The Surface comes with Win 8.1 which is a perfectly fine OS if you give it a chance and not make up your mind about it without ever trying it.

After doing some research, I've found out that my accounting program won't work on a tablet or on a Mac based system. Now I have to figure out if my mapping and charting programs are compatable. If not, then I'll stick with what I've got.