i pad or ?

[Ziphead2]

We are planning a road trip out west for a few months and I have a question and need some advice. I have a lap top computer now and I am looking to replace it with another one but am also thinking of just getting a good I Pad? I dont create or send alot of documents or complicated items. I just pay bill or e-mail some time. I feel an I pad will do the job on the road and easier to use? Any suggestions? thanks

[Fizz]

We both have iPads . Wife had hers from day one. She uses it for everything, no problems. I still prefer my desk top or laptop. We spend summer at the cottage and we are both on iPad only, no problems paying bills, accessing bank accounts etc.
A lot of negative comments on Apple but the whole system is bullet proof, constant free upgrades and improvements.

[ktmrfs]

valhalla360 wrote:

Mayor30 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
For bill paying or email where I have to type, a laptop is more convienent.

Unless you are really desperate to save space/weight just take both.

You can get a separate keyboard for tablets.

Problem is with a tablet, it's typicaly going to push you to the "mobile" version of websites which are typically awkward to use.

Plus by the time you take a keyboard, you may as well take the laptop. This isn't an air flight where you are limited to a 15lb carry on. An extra 5lb to take the laptop along isn't a big deal.

my tablet doesn't "push" or go to mobile websites except on very very rare occasions. And even with the keyboard it is still way smaller than my larger laptop and still smaller the wifes Lenovo yoga.

And longer battery life. And it has a nice built in camera

[valhalla360]

Mayor30 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
For bill paying or email where I have to type, a laptop is more convienent.

Unless you are really desperate to save space/weight just take both.

You can get a separate keyboard for tablets.

Problem is with a tablet, it's typicaly going to push you to the "mobile" version of websites which are typically awkward to use.

Plus by the time you take a keyboard, you may as well take the laptop. This isn't an air flight where you are limited to a 15lb carry on. An extra 5lb to take the laptop along isn't a big deal.

[ktmrfs]

Mayor30 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
For bill paying or email where I have to type, a laptop is more convienent.

Unless you are really desperate to save space/weight just take both.

You can get a separate keyboard for tablets.

exactly. and most of the keyboards are bluetooth so no connection required.

My samsung galaxy tab has a very nice folder the tab fits into and when you open up the folder also is the keyboard. Or use it as a tablet.

Very handy when traveling.

[Mayor30]

valhalla360 wrote:
For bill paying or email where I have to type, a laptop is more convienent.

Unless you are really desperate to save space/weight just take both.

You can get a separate keyboard for tablets.

[valhalla360]

JaxDad wrote:
I’ll tell you my favourite reason for having an iPad, it makes a phenomenal GPS unit that you can see at a glance!!!

A real treat foe old and or tired eyes.

Pretty much every phone and tablet produced in the last 10yrs has a phenoenal GPS unit that you can see at a glance.

We have a cheap android phone on a mount that we use in the truck. It also readds books to us as we drive. If we needed bigger, just about any tablet of the size you prefer would do the trick. Being plugged into the truck, you can leave the screen brightness turned way up and never worry about running out of battery.

[ktmrfs]

if you are just doing some bill paying, occasonal internet etc. another option is a tablet android device like a smasung galaxy tab. I have one that also has a very nice bluetooth keypad, it's small enough to stash away, big enough for email, bill paying etc. and inexpensive. Mine is a smaller one, lots of options under $200 on amazon. Can go up to the $600 range for the largest ones. Has wifi built in, GPS works with Avenza maps, google chrome. most every android app.

[free_radical]

I love my 600$ Samsung Galaxy tablet so far. When it breaks Ill get this one

https://youtu.be/EIjjpOJ0ghg

[JaxDad]

I’ll tell you my favourite reason for having an iPad, it makes a phenomenal GPS unit that you can see at a glance!!!

A real treat foe old and or tired eyes.

[theoldwizard1]

Tablets are good when most of the time you are reading and not writing. Typing is just hunt and peck with a lot of wrong keys.

First. You need to decide what size screen you want/need. 10" is the minimum. Make sure it is an IPS screen (only the super cheap are not). You need to spend some time with one to see what size screen you like.

iPads are nice but expensive. Samsung is also good. Amazon Fire 10HD is the minimum I would go.

[ssthrd]

I travel with MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone, but can do most anything with any one of them. Overkill mostly I guess. IMO, it's important that if you use more than one device, they should be compatible so that file transfers like pics or docs can be shared easily.. My preference is Mac--yours may be different.

[joebedford]

I've been travelling with a desktop for many years. I'm finally going to switch to a laptop. Can't see a tablet in my future, but there are many things that are easier / possible to do with a smartphone.

[wa8yxm]

I'm not an Apple/IOS fan.. For assorted reasons that go all the way back to how they marketed the Apple II E... I just found those reasons are still valid. but marketing is kind of like Politics and I'm not discussing it here.

But I do use a lot of android products including a Samsund Galaxy Tablet. Phone. and some other 'droid tablets. and a pair of Chromebook as well (Related but diferent)

IF your use is sending/receiving E-mails.. Streaming Video and "Social Media"

All of them work well... I'd go with most likely a Cheap Chrome book or the Galaxy Tablet.. Note the Tablet I have has the ability to accept a SIM card and connect direct to Cell towers if I choose it also has GPS built in so I can use it for mapping and tracking (And have used it for tracking)

Or I can hook it to my phone's Wi-Fi hotspot or the House Router for uses as well.

I do not run a lot of "Apps" however other than some Communication stuff.. Some of which is not yet out for IOS..

But less than 100 dollars (I think I paid 80 for the Samsung Tab refurb at MicroCenter) v/s how much is the I-pad? (OUCH) .

[wildtoad]

I switched to iPad/iPhone years ago from a PC/Windows environment and won’t go back. Much more secure from malware, fewer updates, but a bit pricier than Windows based products. IMO well worth it. I used to have the opinion that Apples systems are too closed. For what 90+ percent of people need, closed is a good thing.