why should I buy a tablet

[Chocoburger]

I too felt the same way, but eventually I got sick of my Droid Charge phone, it was too slow and frustrating even when using the awesome Tweaked ROM.

Once I got my Nexus 7, Android for the first time, finally CLICKED for me! I finally understood what Google had envisioned for years now with their OS. Using Android on my phone was a chore, but on my Nexus 7, it actually became FUN!

Yes, the Nexus 7 is similar to a giant phone, only without the cell radios, but the screen size bump from 4.3 to 7 inches is quite dramatic. Everything is much more enjoyable to look at, and project butter makes the experience lovely.

I know you have a Galaxy S3, so project butter may not mean as much to you specifically, but to the millions of people who have 2009-2011 Android phones, Jelly Bean is a huge leap in quality.

 

[ciskowoner]

The reason i bought 2 nexus 7 is so my kids stop fighting over my samsung galaxy s3. They love gaming movies and i must say they even read on it

 

[DSaif]

Nexus 7 replaced my phone! I don't call much so it's fine. I think it depends on user preference and use.
Edit: My phone is now used for tethering only

 

[113]

For me buying a tablet was a great decision for a few key reasons.

-I'm currently a masters student and within the first 3 semesters of owning the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 it had paid for itself. Every semester I spend about $150-250 in textbooks and when selling them back (even online) you usually only get 30-60% of the value back and the vast majority of the time many of the books couldn't be sold back at all (old editions, etc...).

So buying eTextbooks, many of which you can rent for the semester at dirt-cheap prices, some of which you must buy for still fairly cheap prices just makes sense.

-Another reason I bought my orignal tablet was for Comics. I'm somewhat of a comic book nerd, but not so much of a nerd that I wan to have collections of comics lying around my house for people to stumble upon. It's much more convient and less embarrassing to just have 95% of my comics in a digital format. All accessible at the click of a button.

I recently sold my Galaxy Tab 10.1 because it had become really sluggish and frankly the 10.1 size actually was just too big. It was something I didn't even really like using in class because it felt redundant to the laptop (Macbook Pro 15 inch) in all honesty.

I recently upgraded (or downgraded if your going by screen size) to the Nexus 7 and I have to say this tablet is 100x better than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. I thought I'd hate 7inch screen (i initially thought the ideal size would be the 8.9inch screen) but after using the Nexus 7 and actually being able to comfortably put the Nexus 7 in my cargo shorts pockets and take it out to use (without feeling like a complete jackass) is great.

I like that the stock JellyBean for the Nexus 7 is laid out more like a smartphone and Google essentially ditched the whole Honeycomb layout. This works much better and the tablet is just more usable and inviting.

I watch movies just as much on this Nexus 7 as I did on my 10.1 inch tablet. Reading books is actually easier because I can take my tablet with me wherever I go. Surfing the web is almost as good as using a laptop in all honesty. Many times I'll go through the day now without even cracking open my laptop at all, I just strictly use my Nexus 7.

I can't say tablets are for everyone, but the way I'd describe them is that they fit perfectly into those little awkward moments in life where Laptops won't cut it, and Smartphone screens are too small (i.e. as someone mentioned here those times in the Library where you get up to the use the bathroom and you hate leaving your Laptop open and exposed at a table---with a 7inch tablet, you can just put it in your pocket and know it's safe).

 

[DSaif]

I must come in... I asked myself this question a million times. Why do I want our need a tablet.. I have my phone, my laptop, and my desktop. A PlayStation and even an app ridden television... I saw this thing drop and said to myself, quad core, nice screen, and not a giant iPad.. $200?!?!?!?! I finally decided to grab it up. Since that day, I haven't put it down. Yeah, it's extremely similar to my phone... but the screen is bigger and nicer. It's such as good web browser, and imo instant messenger on here.. laptop officially made the for sale bin. Lol. I would not trade this thing for the world now that I have it. And tethering with my phone on the go, I can take it almost anywhere.

I say try one out and get addicted like I did. You won't regret it if you don't already have a tablet.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2

You read my mind!

 

[chaunsey]

im kind of in the same situation.

im not a student, i dont work an office job or anything im a contractor, so a tablet would have little to no actual productivity use for me, it would be just for entertainment, the only reason im even considering it is because its so affordable, something like the ipad or note 10.1 you have to need to spend that kind of money. at $200 i dont need all that much justification to want one just cause.

i already have a PC which covers me for most gaming, i dont even play consoles i prefer to sit down to proper games with keyboard and mouse. i do play games when away from my PC on my phone some nowadays though, especially now that ive got a gameklip and n64 emulator.

ive got a samsung galaxy s3 which already does everything any tablet can do and more.

i am a gadget lover, though, i love tech, i build my own PCs, i love open source, modding etc, and im really loving android, so im almost to the point of getting a N7 just to have another cool gadget to play with plus root customize etc. i can afford to spend the money even if its just for fun, ive spent more on things just for fun before that i dont use often.

so ive been kind of going though a mental tug of war on this, i do really want t get one, but the other side of my brain keeps yelling at me telling me i dont need one and it will just end up gathering dust.

i guess the main thing holding me back is i just cant think of much i would actually do with it, the only real thing is that it has a larger screen, i dont watch movies tv etc on my phone even with the awesome SGS3 massive screen, i feel like i might with a tablet, but then at the same time i feel like a screen larger than 7" would be better for that.

so my question is, does the bigger screen really make that much difference from 4.6" to 7"?

is that alone worth the cost?

convince me! make me want it! tell my brain its stupid, wrong and i DO need a 7" por...err...game and movie device.

 

[ScandaLeX]

I'd love to say my phone does all I need it to do but it doesnt. It's limited by it's screen size which makes having a tablet enjoyable for me. Also, when attempting to make a phone the end-all be-all device, the battery will drain pretty quickly and I need my phone to be a phone when I need it!

To that end, my tablet becomes the main driver and my phone picks up the slack during those times the tablet is on the charger or I'm out and about.

My 1st tab was the iPad, then iPad 2....they weren't "needed"....just wants. My 1st Android tab was SGT10.1 with KB dock. I still have it but there are times I am not able to take it with me. Next I got the SGP 5.0 which was pleasant enough but a particular BT issue I was having made me jump on the SGT 2 7.0 bundle. I felt that deal was a steal and at 7" it's the perfect size for my needs. Cloud storage is great but not always an option so having my media on SD is a plus for me.

Tap'n from my White SGT2 7.0 SE

 

[knightfall]

I remember seeing the iPad announced years ago and thought it was a silly idea and redundant from a laptop. That opinion changed rather quickly after time as I saw it and other tablets in use over time.

Once my laptop died, I decided to grab a tablet instead. I do freelance work for small websites, video, and graphic design, so having a demo reel I could carry around everywhere, including to meetings, felt like a good plan.

Turns out it was too. Over a year later and I haven't missed the laptop once.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

 

[runer112]

Kief Halek

As college student with Limited income a tablet isn't required nor prudent.
I too was in a similar situation but recently picked up a Nexus 7 before doing some work travel.
I used it on the plane and on the go and it was the perfect size to fit in the cargo pants pocket that I could unzip and pull it out - much quicker and more convenient than a laptop.

Get a Nexus 7 for cheap in year and it will still be decent.

Mabruk on the GS3 - you'll get by fine with that

allah ybarek feek.


-------------

The thing is, tablets from where I am from are not your typical "$200-$500" gadgets. They can go up to "$700" with ease (They do) that's IF I found one. Google Play for me is limited to apps and I don't have an online purchasing method to buy ebooks/movies and so a Tablet is basically rendered into a phone in my case.

It literally does what my phone does but just with a bigger screen. No tablet benefits.

I am interested in the "Note typing" part of the tablet experience ... do they allow that in colleges? And if so ... how quick is the typing on it?

 

[tony bag o donuts]

I won an Ipad 2 which has been a godsend when I have photo assignments...using the camera connection kit allows me to create a backup and send off a photo or two right away.
Wish android had this ability.
My two kids 7 and 5 have nook tablets and one is rooted. Not as great as a true tablet but still for the price last year and the use they get out of it, it's more than just a novelty. No long boot up times, etc. like standard laptops.

 

[sccpmusc26]

I once had an iPad but it was short lived. My MacBook Air is portable enough, just as quick to boot up, and much more powerful. At this time, a tablet is simply a large phone, no matter what anyone tells you. There is no difference between my Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7, aside from 2.5".

 

[djf_dc]

Warning ..

If you love your laptop - don't buy a tablet - you will rarely if ever use your laptop again.

Why ...

tablets are too convenient - they do not heat up, they can stay next to you all day without wires or needing a charge and they do 90% of the things you do on a laptop - lay on your back or either side and the tablet is just like reading a paper or your book - plus the apps are much cheaper and far more plentiful.

 

[gpdaddy95]

Hello

I think this question was asked a dozen times before, but I thought why the hell not. So I have seen the Nexus 7 unveiled at Google I/O last month, and it was a very nice looking piece of technology.

Around the same time I had picked up a Galaxy S3.

My question is, why would I want to buy the Nexus 7/iPad/Any other tablet? What does it do that my phone doesn't already do? It already costs a lot of money around here, and if I want to spend that amount of money I would rather spend it on a new laptop with super capabilities.

I have a top of the line laptop and a HTC EVO 4G LTE phone. I bought a Nexus 7 as my first tablet and could not be more pleased. Phone usage has dropped by 80%. The heavy laptop is used 2 or 3 times week. I spend a great deal of time reading, catching up on things and relaxing with my nexus. It is definitely the device I use to relax and goes everywhere with me because of it's size. Is it necessary? Probably not. Does my phone do everything the tablet does? Yes. Does my laptop do everything my nexus does? Pretty much. Does my Nexus do it better than my phone laptop combination? Absolutely. Try reading a book or watching a movie on the beach and you'll see what I mean. Try reading the latest Android Central with a 2-year old granddaughter running amuck and you'll see what I mean. Catch up on Google+ in bed and you'll know it's a wise purchase.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sting7k]

Other than that point, I don't see a reason why a tablet would do something my phone isn't already capable of doing and doing better. And personally I still haven't gotten used to reading ebooks, I am the type who whenever the urge of reading hits me I would like to grab a printed book and reading it physically.

That varies with different people of course.

Also, I love new gadgets and new technology, I really do, but I don't work (I am yet to start college next year) so I don't particularly have any disposable income to allow me to buy a tablet (They are pretty damn expensive here).

I would like to hear more opinions if possible.

I feel the same as you. I already have a tablet that fits in my pocket. Why do I want a larger one? I will need to carry it around in a bag and it doesn't do anything else besides have a larger screen. I play Tetris and Angry Birds on my pocket tablet. If I want to play a video game for anything length of time I'm going to play it on my big TV on the Xbox or PC. And no I am not interested in playing phone games on my TV; that's why I have an Xbox.

I live with my bro and sister law. They have a Kindle Fire and an iPad between them. Every day they are both sitting the couch with their iPhones while the tablets sit on the coffee table and are barely ever touched.

IMO it's a luxury item. You don't need it. For a college student you need a computer to do actual work. I couldn't imagine doing all my college work on a tablet.

Stop calling your phone a phone. It's a pocket tablet that can make phone calls. Then you will feel better, at least I do.

 

[skidmark]

For me buying a tablet was a great decision for a few key reasons.

-I'm currently a masters student and within the first 3 semesters of owning the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 it had paid for itself. Every semester I spend about $150-250 in textbooks and when selling them back (even online) you usually only get 30-60% of the value back and the vast majority of the time many of the books couldn't be sold back at all (old editions, etc...).

So buying eTextbooks, many of which you can rent for the semester at dirt-cheap prices, some of which you must buy for still fairly cheap prices just makes sense.

-Another reason I bought my orignal tablet was for Comics. I'm somewhat of a comic book nerd, but not so much of a nerd that I wan to have collections of comics lying around my house for people to stumble upon. It's much more convient and less embarrassing to just have 95% of my comics in a digital format. All accessible at the click of a button.

I recently sold my Galaxy Tab 10.1 because it had become really sluggish and frankly the 10.1 size actually was just too big. It was something I didn't even really like using in class because it felt redundant to the laptop (Macbook Pro 15 inch) in all honesty.

I recently upgraded (or downgraded if your going by screen size) to the Nexus 7 and I have to say this tablet is 100x better than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. I thought I'd hate 7inch screen (i initially thought the ideal size would be the 8.9inch screen) but after using the Nexus 7 and actually being able to comfortably put the Nexus 7 in my cargo shorts pockets and take it out to use (without feeling like a complete jackass) is great.

I like that the stock JellyBean for the Nexus 7 is laid out more like a smartphone and Google essentially ditched the whole Honeycomb layout. This works much better and the tablet is just more usable and inviting.

I watch movies just as much on this Nexus 7 as I did on my 10.1 inch tablet. Reading books is actually easier because I can take my tablet with me wherever I go. Surfing the web is almost as good as using a laptop in all honesty. Many times I'll go through the day now without even cracking open my laptop at all, I just strictly use my Nexus 7.

I can't say tablets are for everyone, but the way I'd describe them is that they fit perfectly into those little awkward moments in life where Laptops won't cut it, and Smartphone screens are too small (i.e. as someone mentioned here those times in the Library where you get up to the use the bathroom and you hate leaving your Laptop open and exposed at a table---with a 7inch tablet, you can just put it in your pocket and know it's safe).

Do you use your Nexus 7 for taking notes in class? And if you do, do you use a stylus? Which app do you use?

 

[TauntingBull]

There's a big difference sitting on the couch doing things on your phone vs. a tablet. I know I don't need a tablet, yet I have 3. And that's because I just sold two. I love gadgets. Anyway, I read a post not too long ago and the poster said you need to find a way to make the table work for you. Everyone has different "needs". And I say "needs" because most of us here just love Android and/or technology and don't really need a tablet.

So if you have some $$ to burn, pick up a N7. If you don't like it, return it. I think once you start using it though you'll want to keep it.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[natehoy]

My question is, why would I want to buy the Nexus 7/iPad/Any other tablet? What does it do that my phone doesn't already do? It already costs a lot of money around here, and if I want to spend that amount of money I would rather spend it on a new laptop with super capabilities.

In my case, I already carry an Android phone for work (Thunderbolt), but I was finding that the screen size of my beloved Tbolt is a bit too limiting and the single-core processor and Gingerbread OS are really starting to show their age.

My work offers an option for "bring yoru own device" where they pay a stipend. I seriously considered this and the purchase of a work-discounted Galaxy S3 on AT&T, but they'll still insist on MobileIron and other remote software on it. And the screen will still be small (albeit bigger than my Tbolt, but still...).

What I wanted was a device for reading email and catching up with the news, watching shows and reading books in the evening, and playing some games. The Nexus gives me all that in a device that I control, I own, and I am beholden to neither my employer nor a telephone company for. And the screen is just about right for everything I want to do - I very rarely log in to my account on the desktop computer any more.

If I didn't have to hassle with MobileIron and a 15-minute timeout to a complex hard-to-type password, I might very well have gone the "larger phone" route. I'm not sure if I'd be happier with it. My phone takes care of all the stuff while I'm away from home, and my tablet is used when I am at home, and $250 wouldn't have bought me much of a laptop...

 

[natehoy]

The thing is, tablets from where I am from are not your typical "$200-$500" gadgets. They can go up to "$700" with ease (They do) that's IF I found one. Google Play for me is limited to apps and I don't have an online purchasing method to buy ebooks/movies and so a Tablet is basically rendered into a phone in my case.

It literally does what my phone does but just with a bigger screen. No tablet benefits.

Then why are you feeling that someone or something is compelling you to need a tablet? For a lot of us, the Nexus (or another tablet) is an affordable and useful addition to our lives - albeit still a luxury item for most of us as well.

If tablets are very expensive where you live and you don't see any benefit from owning one, then why even ask the question? You already answered the question in your original post.

It's pretty obvious from your posts that you have no need for one and feel your money would be better spent on a laptop. So go buy a laptop and enjoy it.

 

[supabenben]

I didn't read all the replies, but of those I did, no one mentioned kids! That's a big reason I bought one. We had a Kindle Fire for the kids to use and me to play with when I'm home. Selling the Fire to buy a Nexus 7 was a no brainer for me. The only problem with that is I always get grief when I want to take it with me somewhere. So for our family, it's a nice way to keep kids off the laptop and my phone.

 

[Kmcferrin]

So at the risk of perpetuating a stereotype, usually tablets are oriented at media consumption. Laptops are more targeted at productive work rather than passive consumption (or gaming). So how do you use technology? Do you consume media, or do you create content? I love having a tablet, but in my opinion the interface is not optimal for productivity-related tasks. However, if you get a tablet that has a keyboard (like the Asus Transformer, or something that can leverage a bluetooth keyboard) then you do get more flexibility. You have a nice media consumption device that can also double as a light-duty productivity device. Add in a nice remoting tool like Splashtop that gets you access to your home PC, and you've got a solution that I think is far better than a laptop for traveling.

The only real downside about tablets is that many of them use the 10" format. That's a great size for watching videos and browsing the web, but when using the device as an e-reader (aka, Kindle) the device gets a little heavy. I actually think that the 7" format would be ideal there.

As far as comparing a tablet to your phone goes, it really depends on how you use your phone. I always have my phone with me, so if I need to look something up quickly, read or respond to emails, check social networking feeds, etc, that's my quick go-to. However, my phone is my primary communications device rather than a media consumption device (for me). Watching movies on the phone is unbearable, as is reading an ebook. I hope I'm being clear here.

My third main device is my desktop PC. If I'm doing anything truly heavy-duty (development, serious gaming, running virtual environments, etc) then that's the device I use there. It's also where I do my most secure transactions (banking and shopping) because the likelihood of my losing my desktop PC is a lot lower than losing a tablet or phone.

So basically my hierarchy is:

Desktop PC: compute-intensive or security-sensitive workloads

Tablet w/keyboard (Transformer T700): watching movies, surfing the web, remote access to home while traveling, reading, maps, primarily leisure activities, etc.

Smartphone (Droid 4): responding to email, tracking my calendar, business functions, phone calls, and quick bits of lite media consumption (including social feeds), taking photos, etc.