Tablet, IPad, Notebook?

[Charlie_D_]

One of the lap tops is on it's last leg. Considering buying one of the above but don't know which one.

Looking for something that will let me use Wi-Fi, download and read books, do mail checking and social media. I need a key board (I think) Large fingers and problems such as spelling mistakes, etc.

What recommendations?. Wife has a Kindle Fire but have not used it and not sure if it is what I need. Don't need a large screen but something 8-10"?

[Naio]

Anybody know of a good (over 2ghz), cheap (under $300) device that has a matte screen?

I don't care whether it has a keyboard, as long as I can read the screen in direct sun easily :B. But, IIUC, touch screens are always glossies.

[htwheelz67]

I needed a tablet for work and for my music when I play guitar, I found this great tablet with detachable keyboard, it is also 12" much like the surface pro, has a retina display and it runs and has both windows 10 and android installed you can boot to either one, also has 3 full sized usb ports, mine also came with a stylus and it was just a bit over 300 bucks. Its been great, they make a windows 10 (early version) a dual boot win 10/android version and one with all and stylus. Chuwi Hi12

review

[Chris_Bryant]

About every 2 or 3 months these Lenovo Thinkpads come on sale on Woot for an extremely good price ($259.99 sale, list $799). They look like a good blend of tablet and laptop.
(Only thing keeping me from buying is figuring out whether I can wipe windows and run Linux).

[MrWizard]

There are days I don't even open the laptop

Yes the Maven has a full size USB and a micro USB
It charges from the power supply plug or the micro USB like phones do

I bought this one from Amazon seller Rigoberto
Shipped via priory mail arrived in 4 days

[JiminDenver]

The Cambio has a USB, micro USB and a micro HDMI port, I would think the Maven does too.

I got a 17 inch laptop back from my mother recently. It has almost as much power as my desktop and I think it weighs as much too. I have become so spoiled by my tablet that I doubt I'll ever take the laptop with me.

[captinharry]

Mr Wizard please keep me/us updated on the RCA. I have 1 question in reading the spec on amazon it looks to have both a USB2 port & a mini USB, can you confirm this. Also your opinion on the cameras as my wife skypes a lot & a decent camera is needed. Amazon has several sellers of what appears to be the same model with pricing all over the place. Who did you buy from. Thanks for anything you can offer.

[MrWizard]

Charlie
Sorry to hear about your bad luck, hopefully the next one arrives with no damage

[JoeTampa]

Charlie D. wrote:
I am terribly illiterate. I am familiar with Windows but know nothing about Android except for my Smart phone and can not tell a difference.

In that case, you might be best served with an iPad - much more intuitive, less prone to viruses/malware, more of a "just use it" thing.


I have a smartphone, an iPad, a laptop, and a desktop. They all have different roles:

Smartphone - communicating with others - phone/text, etc. Quick lookups - check weather on the go, etc.

iPad: Main "consumption" device - reading Kindle books, surfing the web (and typing replies to forum posts), Facebook, etc. Used for work when the tasks aren't too demanding (short email replies, reviewing documents, etc).

Laptop: For work when I am not at home and need to do more intensive tasks, write longer emails or papers, etc.

Desktop: 3 monitors, makes life much more productive.


Bottom line - if I had to choose ONE device only, it would be the iPad. I *CAN* do everything I need to do with it.

[srt20]

strollin wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
... it doesn't view my USB powered portable drive
i haven't figure out if its a power issue or a drive format issue
but so far not a problem for me ...

Most likely the USB port can't deliver enough power. Try using it with a powered USB hub.

X2. I can't USB my gro pro to tablet or phone without powered USB hub. Works fine with laptop though.
Though I do have a different action cam that will work with the tablet, but not the phone.

[strollin]

MrWizard wrote:
... it doesn't view my USB powered portable drive
i haven't figure out if its a power issue or a drive format issue
but so far not a problem for me ...

Most likely the USB port can't deliver enough power. Try using it with a powered USB hub.

[Charlie_D_]

Ordered one from Ebay. NINETY bucks. Arrived within 3 days via USPS and when opened the screen was cracked. Seller quickly sent me a RA with free return shipping. I have asked that they replace it not refund me.

There was an indentation on the outer box that aligns with the inner box in the area of the crack. Although well packed in both boxes there was nothing over the screen in the box it came in. Would have helped if some foam was over that area..

[Naio]

Thanks for the update, MrWizard! Glad you are liking it :).

[MrWizard]

i've had my RCA tablet for a (1) week today

i'm very happy with it

the large screen is great, Lollipop is easy to use, the keyboard snaps on in seconds letting me make long winded posts easier,
easier to edit my typos

turn the keyboard backwards and it becomes the stand holding the tablet in the perfect viewing mode for video, it works with my USb sticks for watching movies
stored on the memory stick, it doesn't view my USB powered portable drive
i haven't figure out if its a power issue or a drive format issue
but so far not a problem for me
and i was able to sync my bookmarks and apps with google, so i did not have to manually transfer the or my pictures
use time 6hrs or so on the web, heavy youtube cuts that to about 4 hours, part of that battery drain being the heavy wifi use for streaming
and the of course the constant updating of the large display

so far Great

[MrWizard]

Charlie if you can use your smart phone
You can use the android tablet
It really is a matter of personal preference , which one you like the best
Windows hybrid tablets where the keyboard stays attached but folds over have more models to choose from than android
I think android has more models with detachable / removable keyboards

Removal keyboards make it lighter in tablet mode,
Than the permanently attached fold over mode