Nexus for productivity - yay or nay?

**halimaw96** · 02-25-2013, 05:37 AM

I purchased an iPad mini for my mother because she wanted something she could read her emails on and browse. I used to think tablets were useless, but I'm really loving having tablet, I think I'm actually using it more than she is! I did want a tablet for myself though, and I was hoping to get me a N7. How is it for productivity? I have to write a lot of essays for my classes, so I wanted to see how word processing apps and the like fare on the device.

**Dude1134** · 02-25-2013, 05:51 AM

I've used mine to type a last minute paper on Google drive.

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**RazrMaxx1345** · 02-25-2013, 06:07 AM

I bought mine mostly for the purpose of typing essays and stuff. It is very good when in the car and when you don't want to haul a laptop around. The portrait keyboard is perfect to punch away at quickly with your thumbs, whereas my RAZR maxx was just too small to comfortably type on for long periods of time.
I use Google drive for writing essays and stuff. If you want to see a screenshot of how it is setup when typing (and how big the keyboard is and stuff let me know.) I don't think you would be disappointed with it though. I know I'm not.

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**Diknak** · 02-25-2013, 08:16 AM

Well, to be clear, no tablet will ever be as productive as a laptop. If you really want a productive device that is a mix, you should look into the Surface Pro since it is a full powered laptop in the form factor of a tablet. But it has its downsides as well (less battery life, heavier, etc).

As far as tablets go, Android tablets are typically more productive than iOS devices because of a couple of things. First, we get Swype, which is so much faster than pecking on a keyboard with your thumb. Second, we have the dedicated recent apps soft button so if you are referencing a website, copying and pasting, etc you can easily swap between apps.

**wunderbar** · 02-25-2013, 08:51 AM

I would never use a tablet as a main/only productivity device, but it is a nice companion. I don't usually do a lot of actual writing on my N7 but I do use it for editing quite a bit, especailly when I'm riding a stationary bike.

**halimaw96** · 02-25-2013, 07:50 PM

Yea I figured that I could use it just for writing notes and whatnot, and editing those essays at the last minute. I'm just concerned if there's any productivity suites that actually work really well with the device.

**wunderbar** · 02-25-2013, 08:11 PM

google docs works surprisingly well on mobile devices now. but past that there are approximately eleventy million office suite apps for Android. The one I currently have installed (though rarely use since I moslty use google docs) is OfficeSuite Pro, but others have other good suggestions as well.

**ScottColbert** · 02-26-2013, 01:01 AM

I've been using mine to edit a couple of short stories, works very well for light productivity.

**Diknak** · 02-26-2013, 08:44 AM

Evernote is amazing for note taking and organization of notes. It syncs with your PC client and it is simply fantastic for me at work.

I use Google Drive for my personal documents because that is pretty editable on N7 as well.

**xzb6np** · 02-26-2013, 11:48 AM

I use docs to go with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and do some pretty heavy duty word docs with it. My corporate emails comes in via touchdown sync'd to exchange. I get a lot done with my N7.

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**halimaw96** · 02-26-2013, 03:12 PM

Interesting bit with the keyboard, do you use one of those keyboard case things or a full size keyboard?

**Fmrvette** · 02-26-2013, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by halimaw96

Interesting bit with the keyboard, do you use one of those keyboard case things or a full size keyboard?

I use one of these:

Amazon.com: MiniSuit Bluetooth Keyboard Dock + Smart Cover Case with Kickstand for Google Nexus 7 (PU Leather): Computers & Accessories

(some of the Bluetooth keyboards don't have a 'tab' key). I don't have a mouse installed, but the keyboard does a nice job.

Regards,

Jim

**halimaw96** · 02-26-2013, 08:57 PM

Looks awesome, but I'm wary of the size. I have big fingers that get cramped on my 10 inch net book, is this about the same in size.

**ddonahueiup** · 02-26-2013, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by xzb6np

I use docs to go with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and do some pretty heavy duty word docs with it. My corporate emails comes in via touchdown sync'd to exchange. I get a lot done with my N7.

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I use Google docs and a wireless bluetooth keyboard as well, works great wrote a couple of grad papers already on it

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**wunderbar** · 02-26-2013, 11:16 PM

I do use a full size bluetooth keyboard with my N7 on a somehwat regular basis, but that isnt' why I don't like it so much for doing a lot of productivity. I just find the screen too small to really do a lot of heavy lifting. If i had a 10" tablet I could really see it paired with a bluetooth keyboard completely replacing the need for a laptop for me, but at 7" the screen is too small to be a full time replacement.