Has anyone tried using the tab as a laptop replacment

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I don't have one yet, considering this and new Lenovo that has keyboard, but that brings up my main point. You ask a GREAT question for the times, but I think you need to do a poll or categorize it w/regards to use. That is, what (use/function) is it replacing? I'd love to replace my laptop, but to do that, I MUST have a flawless keyboard for significant email/data entry for work, And really would like to see a native Open Office implementation - even though that would approach bloatware on a tab. But it does open and edit almost any MS office tool, is free, and would allow me to truly function as a work tool. Also, I need a VERY flexible VPN app. Cisco LEAP, configurable tunneling protocols, etc since it has to work on my company's network AND multiple client wifi networks. For me, I'll always have a home machine for storage, vids, access to home network, etc, and would do any video/concall stuff across that wired interface for cost reasons, but those could be primary to some folks, hence the need to delineate use patterns for this question to be more meaningful.

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[sgastel]

There are weeks that I go with our touching my computer or my keyboard at home. My Xoom has really been doing the job for me when it comes to personal stuff. But when it comes to the job it just has not been able to cut it. It is nice when I am out running around doing IT work, but all I use it for is to remote back to my Desktop so I do use it but it is like cheating, I use it to gain access to my real machine. I think it is eventually going to be my main device but for now it is still a distant 2nd.

 

[whiteshadow001]

For me its more like an accessory to my laptop. I use the tab at school for books, and to email my teachers and edit documents on the go.

Sent from my Thunderbolt using tapatalk

 

[gazcart]

It can only replace your laptop if you do things that the tab is able to do. Internet, music, letters etc fine but any deep, not light, coding, graphic manipulation it will be hard.

I have a BT keyboard, USB adaptor and wireless mouse, and a stand, when i set this up to write right docs/letters etc it works great.

I have links setup to access file storage on others machines that i own and are on and i remote into them.

For the great, screen, battery life and light weight the Tab is a laptop replacement for me just ask yourself what you really do on your laptop first.

 

[dwaynewilliams#WN]

It would be able to replace the computer at home but not the one at work.

 

[ggr]

I bought my tablet when my main PC's PSU burnt out. Since my desktop is Linux, all I had to do was to move my HDD over to another PC.

To replace the main PC, I had a choice of either a laptop or a tablet. I already have 3 laptops, so went with Samsung Tab 10.1. Bought it the 2nd day it was released in June.

I should say, I have used my main computer less since then. There are certain functions that I can do on the tablet and some functions I cannot.

Tablet comes very close to what a Laptop can do, but there are some pit falls.
1. I was able to read this forum entry on the tablet browser, but it would be a pain to zoom in and to type in the reply. Browsing websites, which are not mobile friendly is a pain, specially when the website forces font size and minimum page size.
2. There are no good Upnp players which can stream content from your existing setup. I have a boxee box, pogoplug and run mediatomb on my Linux desktop. There are not many "good" apps to play them. I have to use PlayOn, which runs only on Windows and it seems way better than the other I have used.
3. Streaming music is not an issue, but streaming movies is a pain. Well I can watch Netflix and YouTube movies, but streaming movies of high resolution from local boxee box or pogoplug is just painful.
4. No external storage or USB port to download content of camera or attach extra storage.

Other than these, tablet is awesome. Used it on a road trip, tethered to my phone. Drove for 6.5 hours, used Google Maps all the way. Streamed Google music while on the beach and reading a book. I can carry it around like a book and if I need to show or discuss something with a friend or co-worker, it is easy to pull out the tablet, show them the website or design or something immediately.

Games! I was never a gaming person, but since I have had the tablet, I play a lot of games on the tablet. I always thought that I would not be wasting money buying Apps, but since I have had the tablet, i have bought a lot of Games and Applications which are very useful.

 

[ziggster]

It can only replace your laptop if you do things that the tab is able to do. Internet, music, letters etc fine but any deep, not light, coding, graphic manipulation it will be hard.

I have a BT keyboard, USB adaptor and wireless mouse, and a stand, when i set this up to write right docs/letters etc it works great.

I have links setup to access file storage on others machines that i own and are on and i remote into them.

For the great, screen, battery life and light weight the Tab is a laptop replacement for me just ask yourself what you really do on your laptop first.

After purchasing all of those accessories and taking into consideration the $ and multiple parts to keep up with, why wouldn't you just use a laptop?

 

[profjoe]

I do not know why none of the android-based tablets will allow you to connect to an RGB presentation projector. I would love to ditch my first gen ipad, but this is the main feature holding me back.

While I agree with most that no tablet will completely replace a laptop, there are some instances where it certainly *could* (like giving an already-prepared presentation) if it had this simple functionality. (Who wants to cart a whole stinking laptop around at a conference just to present a talk that was completed before you even left home?!)

It is funny that Apple gets pounded for eliminating "legacy" compatibility (I am looking at *you* optical-drive-less mac mini), but the ipad con do RGB and no android tablet can.

 

[sekao8]

I could go either way with saying it has replaced a laptop

I work in excavation (Dirt Construction) I keep every copy of every contract and plan on a remote server, so with my tab I can pull it all up on an instant and use it in the field at the ready and not have to try to predict my day and try to take things from my office. It works great in that sense.

If I had to compare it to something I would compare it to an art museum everything is there, but don't touch it. If I want to edit something I bring it up on the laptop save it in two places and then view it on the tab at a later date.

I have had a couple documents get corrupted either in Dropbox or Quickoffice and I have lost my trust in those two applications, but if I save everything as a PDF and just view it, it works spectacularly.

The only step it needs to surpass my laptop is a certified Microsoft Office App, and as soon as Windows 8 fails I could easily see that happening

 

[wcdove24]

Really the only time I use my laptop is to upload music to my Google Account. Being in the military most of my work can't come home due to secret material. My Xoom does all that I can ask it to do.

 

[drethos]

I've been using my g-tab over my laptop for a good while now. The only reason i pop onto my lappy 9000 is to download tv shows. I'm tired of the mediocre windows os that microsoft has shoveled down our throats. I go about my day in my house hanging about with my g-tab while my laptop mindlessly downloads. But i have no professional need for either its merely consumer.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

 

[scmguru]

Im the owner of both a galaxy 10.1 and an ipad.

I think they are great for data consumption, browsing websites, looking up articles, reading forums, watching movies, etc.

What they are not all that great at IMHO is data creation (except for pictures maybe)

Typing is pretty tedious and I'd never consider drafting a letter or building a PowerPoint presentation on a tablet.

Serious text entry and manipulation is just more effort than its worth.

Particularly with hc3.1. For the life of me, I can't understand why its nearly impossible to accurately select a line of text or put the cursor where I want it on a URL.

My froyo smartphone blows hc3.1 away in that aspect.

I'm still seriously considering just ditching tablets for now and picking up a macbook air or something.

At this point I use my galaxy tab as a fancy magazine with live feeds.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[cdf3]

I don't use my tablet as much as I used to. Guess the newness has worn off.
I still like it, but I can get more productivity out of my netbook and laptop.

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[erwaso]

Can you print out documents and web pages through a wireless printer?

 

[millemots]

Can you print out documents and web pages through a wireless printer?

Out of the box, only to supported Samsung WiFi printers. With a 3rd party app (I use PrinterShare, paid version), yes. I WiFi print to an Epson Artisan 810.

 

[RandomNickname]

Thread Necromancy!!

So I've been using my Tab for about a month, and with the addition of a BT Keyboard (ZAGGFolio for the curious), this has become a hell of a productivity machine for a lot of work.

I've been using it for email, messaging, paper writing (with an office app and google docs), Skyping, etc, and for a great deal of these tasks, it fits the bill. I honestly haven't switched on my laptop since starting this experiment for anything related to normal productivity. It's been useful both in business work and schoolwork as well, and outside of the graphics work I have to do on my desktop (3D Work and all), it is a nice replacement (and a hell of a lot more portable too).

It won't be a replacement if your laptop is your primary or only computer, but for the type of stuff I'm using it for, I am pleasantly surprised at how viable it is.

 

[anon(549921)]

This is an interesting thread as I have plans to replace all our PC's at work with tablets, not sure how its going to work or if we are definitely going to do it but its in my grand scheme of things. Would definitely prefer to do it on Android tablets but there are some corporate email security issues that need to be addressed by Google before we can do so.

 

[saltychino]

The only problem I have is with writing documents. my tab has replaced almost every function except two. One is connecting to large external HDs and the other is writing word and excel documents like a laptop does with all the bells and whistles such as citations and other footnotes.

Other than those two, I actually prefer my tab over laptop!

 

[TrendyProfessional1]

I havent read through this entire thread. Yes lazy...
But has anyone tried using a bluetooth mouse while
using the keyboard dock?
Thanks

 

[Billy95Tech]

Time to bring this thread to life again!

I have 2 Android tablets Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and the Galaxy Tab 2 7(As a back up) and a powerfull 11.6 inch Windows 8 tablet Acer Iconia W700(I5 core).

I only use my Acer Iconia W700 just to:

Edit my Youtube videos and upload to Youtube.
Surfing the web
Watching videos

On my Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 i do:

Light Gaming(Angry Birds, Labyrinth, Racing, Soccer Rally, more)
Surfing the web
Watching videos
Read the news
Checking emails
Checking the weather
Write scripts for my Youtube videos
Record my Youtubs videos using the rear camera(8MP)

So what leaves my gaming Windows 8 laptop = i only really use it for hardcore gaming like FIFA sometimes and it is a back up for my file storage.

It is safe to say my tablets have replaced my laptop for most of the time.