why should I buy a tablet

[Tidey_]

I'd like to say as well how after I've bought my Nexus 7 I use my laptop less but I wouldn't ever say it's a substitute for a laptop. My Nexus can do so many things but it's still convenient to have a laptop/desktop which I still use for documents and work and I can also use to put all my music and videos from onto my various devices.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Android Central Forums

 

[VDub2174]

We honestly can't talk you into getting a tablet. I buy tablets because I'm addicted to technology and have found them to be useful for me in my everyday needs.

I have a total of 3 in my house. I use one for reading before I go to bed, another incase I need to fix something in stories/reviews I write for another site (don't like using my phone for something like that) when I'm not at home, and the third one I let family members use as an eReader.

There will be a million reasons as to why we would "need" a tablet but all that won't mean anything to you. It sounds like you're happy with getting a laptop and there's nothing wrong with that. I still use my laptop for plenty of things.

 

[pworm14]

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.

^^^^ This ^^^^

90% of my computer time/needs is reading news, tech news, forums, Google searches for stuff, etc., nothing really "productive" in a "work" sense of the word. Normally this is done in the comfort of my recliner or out on the patio via my laptop. While obviously the laptop could handle all these tasks and more, the biggest issue I have is heat buildup and fan noise. My laptop gets HOT and I hate it for general surfing and such.

While I still use my laptop to do stuff like presentations, docs, Quicken, etc., the tablet does the other 90% with much more comfort and convenience. It?s simple, quick, easy to carry around the house, and easy to use, and NOT hot!

I had always been intrigued with the tablets, and until now (Nexus 7), I couldn't get myself to pull the trigger. I didn't/don't really want anything Apple (except maybe an Apple Cinema Monitor) and all the Android stuff seemed too glitchy (?). Also, one of my requirements was real GPS so I could run Navionics, and to get GPS in an IPad you have to spend an extra $100 and upgrade to the 3G model.

So, even with the few quirks that the Nexus 7 has, so far it?s been an awesome ?in between? device.

 

[giograves]

Honestly, the N7 feels like a oversized phone for most apps and web browsing. It is excellent sized for e-reading/e-mags though, and that where I think it shines in the form factor. It sure is portable.

True you will use your laptop MUCH less with an N7 but it's really not that much of a routine changer IMO. If I didn't have it, i'd just hit my desktop or my phone... The iPad was/is a game changer because of the tablet optimized apps and accessories for it. Until they are available on Android in abundance most people end up using the tab the same way they use their phones, just with a bigger screen.

This is by far the best Android experience to date though and if your an Android fan with 200 bucks to blow, its not a terrible purchase by any means. But it just needs more accessories like docks and tab apps (for Pete's Sake iMuscle or Jefit) to really make a solid use case if you already have a bunch of other mobile devices.

 

[TauntingBull]

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.

This is an excellent response. I could not have said it any better....

 

[TauntingBull]

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.

Good points.... I am also starting to use tablets more and more... It really is becoming a laptop replacement at home....

 

[TauntingBull]

Double post...

 

[TauntingBull]

^^^^ This ^^^^

90% of my computer time/needs is reading news, tech news, forums, Google searches for stuff, etc., nothing really "productive" in a "work" sense of the word. Normally this is done in the comfort of my recliner or out on the patio via my laptop. While obviously the laptop could handle all these tasks and more, the biggest issue I have is heat buildup and fan noise. My laptop gets HOT and I hate it for general surfing and such.

While I still use my laptop to do stuff like presentations, docs, Quicken, etc., the tablet does the other 90% with much more comfort and convenience. It?s simple, quick, easy to carry around the house, and easy to use, and NOT hot!

I had always been intrigued with the tablets, and until now (Nexus 7), I couldn't get myself to pull the trigger. I didn't/don't really want anything Apple (except maybe an Apple Cinema Monitor) and all the Android stuff seemed too glitchy (?). Also, one of my requirements was real GPS so I could run Navionics, and to get GPS in an IPad you have to spend an extra $100 and upgrade to the 3G model.

So, even with the few quirks that the Nexus 7 has, so far it?s been an awesome ?in between? device.

I have an iPad 3G.... And from my experience the Nexus 7 is a much better option with the exception of a 3G signal.... But that can be fixed by tethering the device if one has unlimited data on their phone....

 

[droidntn]

I myself have given this a LOT of thought as technology continues to grow and become cheaper all around. Unless you're loaded in $$, most of us feel a need to justify most purchases.
As in, just because it got cheaper, do you actually NEED a TB backup?

There is not a 'one size fits all' answer. Like most things, it depends on YOU.
I use my phone for 90% of my tech needs and wants. My desktop is used mainly because it's in my man cave and my space is cool there.
IF I didn't have that cool space to retreat to, I'd probably use a tablet more.
My KF, running Go Launcher, is a really great toy.
It isn't in a requirement in my life, but I love it. It's a fun $200 bucks to do things like this on:
Read a magazine subscription, read a book from the Amazon prime collection or play some word games while sitting in the recliner watching tv.
Prop it up in the kitchen to read a recipe on in the rare instance I wanna impress the family with my culinary skills from allrecipes app. while it streams Pandora jazz.
Show pictures to people. Much easier to see them than on the phone.
Watch Arrested Development during lunch at my office desk.
One thing that I will say could be a NEED is if you are 'connected' a lot, FB/text messages, etc and even the old fashioned live phone call, having a tablet frees up your cellphone to do other things with.
It's frustrating to be in the middle of something on your phone, game/movie/etc and have one of the kids or wife text or call or whatever and you gotta break connection on your phone to answer them. Not that I don't want to talk to them, but still, gotta start all over with the phone.
And, if your tablet is running, then you're just pausing it.
That said, I have no quams in saying I canNOT justify spending the extra $$ on anything "I". A toy should not be that expensive when you can get a similar experience for less.
Not dissin iPads, it's just they are too expensive. Are they a better product? Perhaps, I dunno.
I do know, that my $200.00 KF does what I need.
Another note is the size of what you want. I have to sort of have an inside laugh at people whipping out these HUGE Iplates. There is no privacy. A lady pulled one out last night at a ballgame and I sat behind her and all of her email and FB and whatever was like a glowing billboard. It's even funnier when they hold their plate up to take a picture.
I can stick my KF in my back pocket if needed and take it with me anywhere. A 7" tablet is a convenient size.

I did read an interesting review saying a guy said he used to have to decide if taking his iPad was worth the trouble of taking it because it's so big. He has a N7 now and he says "I just take it with me and never have to weigh the benefits like I did with an iPad".

I am deliberating on getting myself a spanky N7 and bequeathing my KF to my wife as she really doesn't enjoy tech much and would love to have a rotary phone back. But she does enjoy reading a lot.

So, in the end, it's not what the technology does for you, but rather how YOU use technology that'll dictate if you should expand into a tablet arena.

You could conceivably mow your yard with your weedeater and cut out the cost of the lawnmower.
Just because it's possible...
doesn't mean it was better.

Good luck on your decision..

 

[dralezero]

I realized my usage habits on my phone don't warrant the fees. Most the stuff don't on my phone is not actually important to me. Only important things are camera and gps. And I don;t need internet to upload and share pictures. Its not important for me. I wait till I get home anyways to process, and crop, etc. I check gas prices, and do texting when I am out and about. I may be saving gas, but then I have to pay for the mobile data. But without gps then I drive around a bit more trying not to get lost lol. (I;ve only had a phone for a year, I use to scribble maps and go on up to 3-4 hr trips to places just fine, just need to make more time for getting lost in town)

So I bought the tablet to get rid my phone. But I will miss having the camera. I have been using my old dumb phone for a few weeks now. Hardly a text. Hardly a phone call.

I was at a friends house and we randomly decided to get out the N64 and gameshark. Instead of getting out my laptop, booting, etc. I just used his tablet. was faster. Cut back on some time to get everything setup and ready to play the games.

Thats just me though.

 

[Diknak]

It is a device primarily served for content consumption. It is a great web surfing experience, especially when your favorite site has their own app (like Reddit). Sure, there is very little you can do with a tablet that can't be done on a laptop, but it is portable and a more engaging experience. Don't spend your money on it unless you simply have some extra cash to spend, because it is most certainly more of a splurge item, not a need to have item.

 

[npark2012]

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.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-7-tablet/256041-nexus-7-do-buy-here-why.html

 

[malizumbul]

Answer is simple - for fun!