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1.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2016
I have an interesting story, perhaps, about my latest adventure with DirecTV, although some people might not think it's too interesting, and those would be the same people who won't think it's funny if I said I thought it was funny, too.
So I'll spare you all until the theater fills up a bit more and my chances of amusing someone with the tale are a little better...
The bottom line is that I may be looking for a tablet. Not for a headache, or knee pain, or a psychedelic journey, or advice from God, but for watching TV, especially football and movies.
The background would drag us all--even the reluctant among you--back into the above-mentioned story which we've already established may or may not be interesting and/or funny, depending on your perspective, but that's not important right now...
So:
Screwl me about tablets as far as what I need to know and can absorb on something close to a kindergarten level. If you know of one with a big, good-quality screen and lots of oomph (I believe that is the term) that will also handle full-sized HD cards so I can check trail cameras, that would be great. Otherwise, I'll just have to say, "Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga," suck up the serenity-defying micro-only capability, and move on.
I notice everyone is tits-over-paws about the inexpensive Fire, but then the cool kids seem to think the competition jumps to the $500-600 range. My understanding is that tablets still leave a little on the table (see what I did there?) in comparison to a good laptop, but what are you missing for $600 that a similarly priced laptop wouldn't have (besides a real keyboard)? Describe for me in non-mocking terms the type of people who actually get something useful out of owning a good laptop AND a high-quality tablet.
Let's start the education process at around a 10-inch screen, minimum.
:beer:
So I'll spare you all until the theater fills up a bit more and my chances of amusing someone with the tale are a little better...
The bottom line is that I may be looking for a tablet. Not for a headache, or knee pain, or a psychedelic journey, or advice from God, but for watching TV, especially football and movies.
The background would drag us all--even the reluctant among you--back into the above-mentioned story which we've already established may or may not be interesting and/or funny, depending on your perspective, but that's not important right now...
So:
Screwl me about tablets as far as what I need to know and can absorb on something close to a kindergarten level. If you know of one with a big, good-quality screen and lots of oomph (I believe that is the term) that will also handle full-sized HD cards so I can check trail cameras, that would be great. Otherwise, I'll just have to say, "Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga," suck up the serenity-defying micro-only capability, and move on.
I notice everyone is tits-over-paws about the inexpensive Fire, but then the cool kids seem to think the competition jumps to the $500-600 range. My understanding is that tablets still leave a little on the table (see what I did there?) in comparison to a good laptop, but what are you missing for $600 that a similarly priced laptop wouldn't have (besides a real keyboard)? Describe for me in non-mocking terms the type of people who actually get something useful out of owning a good laptop AND a high-quality tablet.
Let's start the education process at around a 10-inch screen, minimum.
:beer:
2.) bluecat - 11/03/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45202] Otherwise, I'll just have to say Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga,
[/QUOTE]
+ 2 for the obscure Bill Murray quote.
[/QUOTE]
+ 2 for the obscure Bill Murray quote.
3.) bluecat - 11/03/2016
+ 2 for the Airplane quote.
4.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2016
Thanks.
That's what I'm here for.
That's what I'm here for.
5.) DParker - 11/03/2016
So I take it that one of your use cases is watching gladiator movies?
Oddly enough, I've never owned a tablet, save for a cheap little obsolete model I bought just so my wife could use it as an electronic picture frame (it sits on an end table running an app that cycles through different family photos). As such, all I can do is pass along 2nd hand claims and theory.
My son has the Microsoft Surface 3 that he's overall pretty happy with. It has a 10.8" screen and can be had from Amazon right at the moment for [URL="https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Tablet-10-8-Inch-Windows/dp/B012DTDI2C?th=1"]$420.53 w/128 GB of memory and either Windows 8.1 or Windows 10[/URL] (oddly enough, that's a little cheaper than they're selling the 64 GB version for). The "Pro" version has a somewhat faster processor, but will set you back at least another $100, or more. He likes it because it's powerful enough to do most things that he'd otherwise do on a laptop, and if the touch screen isn't adequate for a given task then he can flip open the keyboard and use that.
Of course that's not much help if you're looking for an Android tablet instead.
EDIT: OK, so he just informed me that the one thing he doesn't like about the Surface 3 is that there's built-in SD card reader. But you can plug in any USB adapter for reading/writing SD cards, and those are dirt cheap.
Oddly enough, I've never owned a tablet, save for a cheap little obsolete model I bought just so my wife could use it as an electronic picture frame (it sits on an end table running an app that cycles through different family photos). As such, all I can do is pass along 2nd hand claims and theory.
My son has the Microsoft Surface 3 that he's overall pretty happy with. It has a 10.8" screen and can be had from Amazon right at the moment for [URL="https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Tablet-10-8-Inch-Windows/dp/B012DTDI2C?th=1"]$420.53 w/128 GB of memory and either Windows 8.1 or Windows 10[/URL] (oddly enough, that's a little cheaper than they're selling the 64 GB version for). The "Pro" version has a somewhat faster processor, but will set you back at least another $100, or more. He likes it because it's powerful enough to do most things that he'd otherwise do on a laptop, and if the touch screen isn't adequate for a given task then he can flip open the keyboard and use that.
Of course that's not much help if you're looking for an Android tablet instead.
EDIT: OK, so he just informed me that the one thing he doesn't like about the Surface 3 is that there's built-in SD card reader. But you can plug in any USB adapter for reading/writing SD cards, and those are dirt cheap.
6.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2016
[QUOTE=DParker;45211]So I take it that one of your use cases is watching gladiator movies? [/Quote]
LOL...+4 :laugh:
[QUOTE=DParker;45211] Of course that's not much help if you're looking for an Android tablet instead.
EDIT: OK, so he just informed me that the one thing he doesn't like about the Surface 3 is that there's built-in SD card reader. But you can plug in any USB adapter for reading/writing SD cards, and those are dirt cheap.[/QUOTE]
Okay, good points. What's the practical diff for a doofus like me between a Microsoft doohicky and Android? The smartphone I currently don't use is Android and if I were to get another I doubt it would be an I-phone. So for someone who has Microsoft/Windows experience on laptops and very little Android experience on a mobile device, what are my considerations? Since I'm somewhat used to Android, why would I ditch it? I assume you want your mobile devices on one system, but I don't know what problems, if any, arise when your laptop is Microsoft Windows and your other stuff is something else.
Also, I don't want to deal with dingles or dangles or dongles or whatever to look at pictures and such, so I would consider lack of a built-in card reader a negative.
LOL...+4 :laugh:
[QUOTE=DParker;45211] Of course that's not much help if you're looking for an Android tablet instead.
EDIT: OK, so he just informed me that the one thing he doesn't like about the Surface 3 is that there's built-in SD card reader. But you can plug in any USB adapter for reading/writing SD cards, and those are dirt cheap.[/QUOTE]
Okay, good points. What's the practical diff for a doofus like me between a Microsoft doohicky and Android? The smartphone I currently don't use is Android and if I were to get another I doubt it would be an I-phone. So for someone who has Microsoft/Windows experience on laptops and very little Android experience on a mobile device, what are my considerations? Since I'm somewhat used to Android, why would I ditch it? I assume you want your mobile devices on one system, but I don't know what problems, if any, arise when your laptop is Microsoft Windows and your other stuff is something else.
Also, I don't want to deal with dingles or dangles or dongles or whatever to look at pictures and such, so I would consider lack of a built-in card reader a negative.
7.) DParker - 11/03/2016
Well, it mostly comes down to what software you're wanting to use, and which operating system(s) that software is supported on. And if the stuff you use is supported on both Windows and Android (like some of the MS Office apps) you need to decide if the less functional versions of those applications (like MS Office on Android, which is less usable than the Windows-hosted version) are "good enough" or not. So perhaps we should back up and list your anticipated use cases, and which software apps you expect/want to use for those tasks.
8.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2016
Huh...Having never tried to use Office on a mobile device, I'm completely ignorant. It's 100% unknown unknowns, or turtles all the way down.
But everything I use is built for Windows, and Office. I can't think of anything that someone would want me to have that would be incompatible, since I suppose they are the big dogs.
If I had an up-front idea of which Office apps or other programs are buggy or lacking on Android, I could tell you better what's "good enough" and where we just have to jump ship, yell "Geronimo!" and go Windows all the way.
I suppose I'll have to do some reading. Commmunicating, writing, scheduling, calendar functions, desktop publishing are all things I can see doing on a mobile device if I had to. Taking pictures or viewing stuff? Yes. GPS, mapping and reading maps? Yes. (Humminbird and Garmin)
Creating my own spreadsheets? No. Drawing architectural plans or schematics for rocketships? No. Chasing pokemons? No. Joining Tinder? No.
What else is there?
But everything I use is built for Windows, and Office. I can't think of anything that someone would want me to have that would be incompatible, since I suppose they are the big dogs.
If I had an up-front idea of which Office apps or other programs are buggy or lacking on Android, I could tell you better what's "good enough" and where we just have to jump ship, yell "Geronimo!" and go Windows all the way.
I suppose I'll have to do some reading. Commmunicating, writing, scheduling, calendar functions, desktop publishing are all things I can see doing on a mobile device if I had to. Taking pictures or viewing stuff? Yes. GPS, mapping and reading maps? Yes. (Humminbird and Garmin)
Creating my own spreadsheets? No. Drawing architectural plans or schematics for rocketships? No. Chasing pokemons? No. Joining Tinder? No.
What else is there?
9.) bluecat - 11/03/2016
Well you might see if it has solitaire. That's pretty high on most people's lists.
10.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2016
LOL...
Is that what has everybody so fascinated?
Is that what has everybody so fascinated?
11.) bluecat - 11/03/2016
Good one. Sad, but true.
+ 2 for finding that.
+ 2 for finding that.
12.) Dan-o - 11/14/2016
Honest Opinion:
I'm a technologist, and enjoy consumer technology almost as much as guns and bows, so I've had and tried a lot of stuff. Kinda have to with my job. I used a Surface 3 Pro for work, own various Android tablets for the kids to play on, and still sometimes can't resist the opportunity to buy an Android tablet when it's on sale for 79.99, but my preference is:
Buy an iphone and an ipad. Fast, reliable, intuitive, easy to use, and nothing to learn. Identical experience on the phone or the tablet.
My iPad 2 still works just fine for everything watching Netflix and my recorded stuff on the Direct TV app, and it's like 8 years old. I use an iPad Pro, and it's rendered my fancy laptop obsolete. I use an iPad Mini for piloting my drone. I use the Androids, well for very little, and when I try to, I want to throw the pieces of shit out the window after 5 minutes.
I'm a technologist, and enjoy consumer technology almost as much as guns and bows, so I've had and tried a lot of stuff. Kinda have to with my job. I used a Surface 3 Pro for work, own various Android tablets for the kids to play on, and still sometimes can't resist the opportunity to buy an Android tablet when it's on sale for 79.99, but my preference is:
Buy an iphone and an ipad. Fast, reliable, intuitive, easy to use, and nothing to learn. Identical experience on the phone or the tablet.
My iPad 2 still works just fine for everything watching Netflix and my recorded stuff on the Direct TV app, and it's like 8 years old. I use an iPad Pro, and it's rendered my fancy laptop obsolete. I use an iPad Mini for piloting my drone. I use the Androids, well for very little, and when I try to, I want to throw the pieces of shit out the window after 5 minutes.
13.) Dan-o - 11/14/2016
[url]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018SZT3BK/ref=ods_gw_tab_dualcreative_gza?pf_rd_r=FP6SPHBS0VRA4SCSXKFC&pf_rd_p=8fe12260-e946-4586-90af-827a6736b2af[/url]
Can't really go wrong with the Amazon Fire Tablets. The HD 8 is 90 bucks. The regular Fire is 50.
But you'd enjoy an Ipad a lot more :)
Can't really go wrong with the Amazon Fire Tablets. The HD 8 is 90 bucks. The regular Fire is 50.
But you'd enjoy an Ipad a lot more :)
14.) Swamp Fox - 11/14/2016
Thanks for that, Dan-o.
If you had to say something nice and then also something bad about the Samsung tablets, what would come to mind? By way of comparison to the I-pads, I mean.
I think that's what it's coming down to. My laptop may be on the fritz a little, so if I buy something new it might have to be good enough to take up some slack, at least temporarily.
If you had to say something nice and then also something bad about the Samsung tablets, what would come to mind? By way of comparison to the I-pads, I mean.
I think that's what it's coming down to. My laptop may be on the fritz a little, so if I buy something new it might have to be good enough to take up some slack, at least temporarily.
15.) Dan-o - 11/14/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45403]Thanks for that, Dan-o.
If you had to say something nice and then also something bad about the Samsung tablets, what would come to mind? By way of comparison to the I-pads, I mean.
I think that's what it's coming down to. My laptop may be on the fritz a little, so if I buy something new it might have to be good enough to take up some slack, at least temporarily.[/QUOTE]
Samsung tablet would do just fine. They are good devices. For me, it all comes down to the easy to use Apple operating system compared to the more complex, but more feature rich Android operating system on the Samsung's. I just prefer the simplicity of the iPad but you will be fine.
If you had to say something nice and then also something bad about the Samsung tablets, what would come to mind? By way of comparison to the I-pads, I mean.
I think that's what it's coming down to. My laptop may be on the fritz a little, so if I buy something new it might have to be good enough to take up some slack, at least temporarily.[/QUOTE]
Samsung tablet would do just fine. They are good devices. For me, it all comes down to the easy to use Apple operating system compared to the more complex, but more feature rich Android operating system on the Samsung's. I just prefer the simplicity of the iPad but you will be fine.
16.) Swamp Fox - 11/14/2016
Simple is good for me, LOL, but we'll see. :-)
17.) Dan-o - 11/14/2016
I bought my mom a Android tablet, and I was constantly getting calls about how to do this and how to do that. I gave her my old iPad and the calls stopped.
18.) Swamp Fox - 11/14/2016
LOL!
I guess I'll take that as a warning! :-)
I guess I'll take that as a warning! :-)