It seems like everyone is moving to tablets...

[Temetka]

The Note is a great phone.

I am saving my pennies to buy a used Note 2 from Craiglist/E-Bay. I'd go for the Note 1, but the specs of the Note 2 make me think it will last longer in terms of media consumption (video playback). Other than that, the Note 1 would be perfect for me. Big enough to write on, great screen for reading e-books, oh and it makes phone calls.

[pianowizard]

I am saving my pennies to buy a used Note 2 from Craiglist/E-Bay.

I bought my Note from eBay for $138 shipped. It was an unused unit with the wrappers still attached, though the S-pen was missing, and nothing else was included either. I don't need the S-pen anyway, and even if I did, it would cost only several bucks. Also, I already had plenty of micro USB cables and chargers lying around.

I'd go for the Note 1, but the specs of the Note 2 make me think it will last longer in terms of media consumption (video playback).

My Note's battery drains very fast, and an online search shows that many other users have had the same problem. So I bought one more battery as backup, in case I can't recharge often while traveling. The Note ii definitely lasts for longer, thanks to the more power-efficient CPU and a higher-capacity battery. However, it weighs more than the Note, its resolution was reduced to 720x1280 from the Note's 800x1280, and screen width was reduced significantly as well. The Note 3 is much better than the Note ii in every single way, including eligibility to update to Android L. If you can wait for another year, the Note 3 is the one to get. I don't mind waiting for two more years, which is why I am aiming for the Note 4.

What's your current smartphone? You may have told us but I don't remember.

[Saucey]

After I had gotten my S4 from Verizon in June of last year... seeing the Note I wish I waited a couple of more months.

My only gripe with Verizon and Samsung is that when I got my replacement S4 after I had a mishap, I wasn't able to root or put AOKP or any custom android roms.
I was back to stock performance and battery drain from default background programs, it sucks.
But I can live a year for when my contract dries up.

[ZaZ]

I had a Nexus 7 last year and it was a nice tablet, but I hardly used it. I prefer a keyboard and mouse. I also dislike the glare that is part and parcel of owning a tablet. I will say I know people who use tablets almost exclusively while their PC collects dust. In the end it's about whatever floats your boat.

I wouldn't mind a phablet, but don't want to spend much money on it.

[Temetka]

My current phone is a Galaxy S3, and I love it very much.

However my company is switching from AT&T to Sprint. Looks like i'll be able to get myself a Note 3.

[pianowizard]

I was back to stock performance and battery drain from default background programs, it sucks.

According to my Note's battery settings, the screen consumes by far the most power. Have you tried reducing battery drain by running an app that reduces screen brightness?

I had a Nexus 7 last year and it was a nice tablet, but I hardly used it. I prefer a keyboard and mouse. I will say I know people who use tablets almost exclusively while their PC collects dust.

If my computer usage was largely restricted to media consumption, or if I didn't mind typing very slowly, I can visualize myself using a tablet most of the time. My first tablet was an HP Touchpad, which I hardly used and so I sold it. But my interest in tablets returned after I started the habit of watching videos or reading eBooks in bed shortly before going to sleep. I realized that laptops weren't very convenient for this because the keyboard was in the way. Also, my iPad Air's instant on/off and very long battery duration makes it really convenient. I especially like turning the screen on or off by means of the Smart Case's magnetic cover.

I wouldn't mind a phablet, but don't want to spend much money on it.

Buying a phablet without a contract would cost a lot indeed, but if you are signing a new contract anyway, it would be quite affordable. Some of the previous-generation near-phablets (around 5-inch in size) can even be had for "free", for example the LG G2.

My current phone is a Galaxy S3, and I love it very much.

In this case, I am surprised you were considering upgrading to the Note ii, which uses pretty much the same technologies as the S3. The main difference is screen size (but not resolution).

However my company is switching from AT&T to Sprint. Looks like i'll be able to get myself a Note 3.

You are allowed to use your company-issued phone as if it was your personal phone?

[Temetka]

In this case, I am surprised you were considering upgrading to the Note ii, which uses pretty much the same technologies as the S3. The main difference is screen size (but not resolution).

I am well aware of that. I f we were going to stay with AT&T then I would have gotten a used Note 2 from craigslist. But our rep think he can get me a Note 3 for $50 from Sprint. So either way I am getting a Note phone, just which one remains to be seen.

[Temetka]

Well I confirmed it.

My company is going to buy me a Note 4. Not a corporate phone, but this one will be mine. All mine.

Finally, for once I will have the latest and greatest. I highly doubt it will ever happen again, so I expect to enjoy it while it lasts (latest phone that is).

[pianowizard]

In the past several weeks I experimented further with tablets, and so I came back to this thread for some more musings. The Apple iPad Air listed above is now my only remaining tablet. I have never been an Apple fanboy but have to admit this 5th-gen iPad may indeed be the best tablet on the market right now. Think about it, the product category that I initially thought was Apple's most superfluous invention ever is now my favorite! Of course, iPad Air's reign won't last much longer since Apple is expected to roll out the 6th-gen iPad this fall.

I came back to this thread to add an update. The iPad Air referenced above has since been sold. As much as I admired its hardware and flawless operation, I felt crippled by it. I never did anything fancy on it, just reading ebooks and PDF files, watching video files, and a tiny bit of web surfing. I disliked the fact that files could be transferred to it only through the cloud or iTunes -- it has no microSD reader, and it doesn't function as a storage drive when connected to a computer via USB. Even my $20 Nokia Lumia 521 can do both! Making things worse, when using iTunes to copy a file, I had to designate which app would open this file, and this app would become the only app that could open this file. If I wanted two apps to access the same file, I had to copy this file twice to the iPad. That wasn't just a waste of time, but also a waste of the limited storage space available on the tablet.

I replaced it with a bottom-of-the-line 2-in-1 Windows 8.1 tablet, an HP Pavilion x2. The hardware is very basic, but the versatility is orders of magnitude better.

[johnny9fingers]

The Dell Venue 8 7000 looks interesting. It has Intels Real Sense 3D camera and a micr sd slot. And the MS Surface Pro 3 calims to have enough power to repalce your laptop. It has at least one usb port and takes either sd or micr sd, can't remember. But the tablet market continues to make advances. If I could get all the horsepower of a T450, or X250 in a tablet form factor it would be hard to resist......
John

[ajkula66]

But the tablet market continues to make advances. If I could get all the horsepower of a T450, or X250 in a tablet form factor it would be hard to resist......

It really depends on the user...to me personally, anything and everything without a *real* keyboard is a non-starter...

[johnny9fingers]

Yes, a good keyboard is important. The Surface Pro keyboard has had mixed reviews and I wouldn't want to spend over $1000 unless it was proven high quality.

A traditional laptop still fills the bill for me...

[pianowizard]

It really depends on the user...to me personally, anything and everything without a *real* keyboard is a non-starter...

By "real keyboard", did you mean just any mechanical keyboard, or a really good mechanical keyboard? All 2-in-1 tablets (e.g. all incarnations of Microsoft's Surface) have mechanical keyboards. I am surprised by the decent quality of the keyboard that came with my HP Pavilion x2, and it's the cheapest 2-in-1 in the market.

Yes, a good keyboard is important. The Surface Pro keyboard has had mixed reviews....

Were you thinking of the Touch Covers? Those are indeed challenging to use, but the Type Covers are reasonable substitutes for conventional keyboards IMO.

[Dekks]

This thread started 4 years ago, and in 2015 it seems the mounting piles of unsold tablets in the channel suggest tablet sales have reached a peak and ppl are maybe waking up to the limited use for pure tablets.

Looks like the Thinkpad guys had it right when they brought out the X-Series T models.

[Temetka]

I am still using my Note 4 and I have to say it is very awesome.

I haven't used my Note 10.1 in months. I'm thinking of wiping it and giving to my daughter to replace the Nook color she is using now. (I kept the Nook Tablet for my bedside reader).

I use my Note 4 everyday for hours and hours. I do a lot of reading on it, e-mailing, media consumption, and as an LTE hotspot for my T410 when internet is not available. One of the huge things I love about TouchWiz (I actually really love TouchWiz, but that's another matter) is the ability to pin an action memo to the screen and use it as a sticky note. That's primarily what I use action memo for. I also make heavy use of S-Note and S-Planner. I have 4 calendars in my S-Planner now and it handles them all very well.

I am looking for apps to handle the following functions:

1. Contact management
2. Business card scanning

Right now I am using Contacts+ and it's very good. I have only been using it for about 3 weeks now, so I am still getting comfortable with it. I was looking at using CamCard for scanning in my business cards and for OCR input into Contacts+. If Contacts+ had integrated business card scanning with OCR it would be the app for me and I would gladly shell out for the paid version.

I have a business class phone that handles all my important work stuff very, very well. Now to find some business class "serious" apps for professional reasons such as networking, contact management, communication, etc. Now that Microsoft has released Office for Android, I have all my work documents in my OneDrive account and sync them to my phone. Finally native Office document editing and revewing on my android device. I've been asking for this for years. More importantly, it doesn't cost me a dime. The app and the cloud account are free. Now that's just perfect. Thanks Microsoft!


I am glad to see this thread still active after all these years. We can use it to track where we have been, and where we are going.

[GomJabbar]

I've been with my present employer for 3 years and counting. With them, they have a Safety Points program where each employee gets so many points per quarter (4x/year) based on seniority, provided there are no recordable accidents or safety violations. With those points, we can shop at one particular website; Wayne Enterprises.

I never looked at the program until late last year figuring I didn't have enough points accumulated to get anything worthwhile. Lo and behold, I had enough points accumulated to get an iPad mini 3, top-of-the-line!

I've had my iPad mini a couple of months now. It's nice for what it is, watching videos, web browsing, email, taking pictures, etc., but it will never replace my ThinkPad X220 with a real keyboard and trackpoint. It seems my fingers and touch devices don't get along all that well. Either I touch the screen and nothing happens, or my hand gets near the screen and my webpage or document gets closed inadvertently.

[Temetka]

Free iPad.

Nice.

[Saucey]

I was back to stock performance and battery drain from default background programs, it sucks.

According to my Note's battery settings, the screen consumes by far the most power. Have you tried reducing battery drain by running an app that reduces screen brightness?

The screen does take juice, but compared to the stock Verizon android compared to less resource hungry AOSP rom, there is much more background tasks, slolwy taking up juice.

I was able to tweak and flash Hyperdrive Rom onto my S4, it is still TouchWiz, but most of those background apps are gone, so space is freed up from it. Plus no 'bloat' apps I'll never use that send data or take RAM memory for just running silently.
It has a glitch here or there, its performance isn't up to snuff to AOSP but its much better. Plus I like the little parts of customization I get that can't be had from a rooted S4 running stock Verizon android.

I do want to get a 1080p Kindle HDX and fix my Nexus 7. Sadly it croaked, I am guessing there is a fault in the design somewhere.

[wisdomkeeper]

I will never move to tablet only. Here are some of the problems:
1.OS Limitations:
----------Most tablets come with Android/WindowsRT - I can't use all the software I want.
2.Hardware limitations
--2.1 Comfort
----------Small Screens
----------Low resolutions
----------No hardware keyboard - big problem if you type a lot.
----------
--2.2 Functionality
---------No upgrades available or even possisble
---------Slow hardware because of heat dissipation and power consumption limitations
---------A few expansion ports available
3.Conclusion
If you use computing device for chatting, reading emails and wathing youtube videos the tablet may serve you well. If you need to use specific professional software, if you are typing a lot of text, if you need expansion ports, if you prefer the ability to upgrade, if you want/need bigger screens or hardware keyboard, if you want to use hardware demanding software like video games, you need either Laptop or even PC.
I hate to type on virtual keyboards on the tablet screens. It's so imprecise and slow.

[laowai]

This was almost me. I almost pulled the trigger on a new helix...the lack of a keyboard with hinges killed that idea for me. As did the fact that to get anywhere near the amount of ram desired, it was stupidly overpriced.

For a tablet, just get a windows tab, I got a surface 2...some oddball model that's been scrapped and never made it to the US for like $200. To me, it's a toy. It's good for an emergency, it's good for a travel laptop, it's good for watching movies on, but that's it. I'm holding out now to see how the T450(p) turns out. If it's a bomb, i'll just wait another year or two... if it's any good, I'll pull the trigger on it.

[Puppy]

I wouldn't say "moving". It is just another device for specific usage. It is not meant to replace notebook in general, especially when you create/write stuff. I bought ThinkPad 8 tablet (sale 35% off) with LTE as a replacement of my (good old) X31 travel machine I use for consuming content. It is not bad since Windows is the only acceptable OS for me. Thanks to Windows 8 and Intel Atom I can run full-featured applications like Thunderbird (I use addon to resize toolbar buttons for touch screen) instead of crippled ModernUI Mail application. I use old small bluetooth wireless mouse as "replacement" for missing pen digitizer and it servers its purpose suprisingly good when I need to setup anything in classic desktop environment.

I don't have any mobile phone, on purpose. I can also use it as LTE mobile hotspot for my X220 because Lenovo blocks LTE WWAN modem in BIOS, moreover the EM7345 is more versatile than MC7710. I can't imagine to use it as a replacement of notebook even with external keyboard and mouse. It is slow, especially the eMMC storage.

Nothing lasts forever: Tablet Shipments Fell 12% In Q4 2014, Its First Decline Ever

[pianowizard]

----------Most tablets come with Android/WindowsRT - I can't use all the software I want.

Many tablets run full Windows, allowing you to use all the software you want.

----------Small Screens
----------Low resolutions
----------No hardware keyboard - big problem if you type a lot.

Most have small screens but some have 12" or larger screens. The biggest is the 18.4" Dell XPS 18, which is sort of a hybrid between a tablet and an all-in-one desktop.

--2.2 Functionality
---------No upgrades available or even possisble
---------Slow hardware because of heat dissipation and power consumption limitations
---------A few expansion ports available

The fastest tablets have Core i processors. But I agree with you on expansion options.

It is just another device for specific usage. It is not meant to replace notebook in general

Exactly. I am surprised that nearly 5 years after Apple introduced the iPad, so many people still fail to understand that slate tablets and laptops serve different purposes -- Steve Jobs explained that clearly when he introduced the original iPad. (He said something like "We have had laptops and smartphones for a while...Can we come up with a new category of mobile computers?") Laptops and slates are almost as different as desktops versus laptops. Neither can truly replace the other. Yes, I've heard of people who have managed to completely replace their laptops with slate tablets, but these folks either rarely need to type (e.g. they mostly just watch videos or read eBooks), or they type sooooooo slow even on real keyboards that virtual keyboards don't slow them down much if at all. Since they don't need real keyboards anyway, why not replace their laptops with slates to save money and space, and to cut back on travel weights.

For a few months last year, somehow I insisted on watching videos in bed every night just before going to sleep. Laptops were inconvenient for this purpose because their keyboards were in the way, and they were also too heavy to hold with my hands. Lightweight, keyboard-less tablets worked far better. That was how I finally understood why media-consuming users actually prefer these seemingly superfluous devices.

[wisdomkeeper]

Many tablets run full Windows, allowing you to use all the software you want.
Most have small screens but some have 12" or larger screens. The biggest is the 18.4" Dell XPS 18, which is sort of a hybrid between a tablet and an all-in-one desktop.
The fastest tablets have Core i processors. But I agree with you on expansion options.

Do you really even consider using something like AutoCad or Photoshop on tablet? Tell me, what is the price of the Core i tablet and what is the price of the Core i laptop? Did you think that you can put full power Core i CPU in the tablet? You can fully replace tablet with one laptop and one modern smartphone.
When I want to watch a movie, I just put my laptop on my desk and...watch from my bed. Wireless mouse solves almost all of the problems. There is place for tablets, of course. If you use computing device only for media/books and etc. But for work and some serious computing like programming, professional programs - laptop is the only portable that can do the work.

[pianowizard]

Tell me, what is the price of the Core i tablet and what is the price of the Core i laptop?

You didn't mention price as an issue before. Yes, tablets cost more than laptops with comparable specs, but we buy tablets for convenience. The same can be said about buying laptops instead of desktops.

Did you think that you can put full power Core i CPU in the tablet?

Does a tablet need "full power" Core i to be powerful? Is the Surface Pro 3's i7-4650U (Passmark score of 4176) still not enough for Photoshop? Sure, it's expensive, but if you can't afford it, it's your problem, not Surface Pro 3's problem.

But for work and some serious computing like programming, professional programs - laptop is the only portable that can do the work.

A tablet with a keyboard attached can do that too, though I do realize that technically a keyboard-attached tablet is no longer a tablet.

[Puppy]

If you use computing device only for media/books and etc. But for work and some serious computing like programming, professional programs - laptop is the only portable that can do the work.

Yes, for programming it is almost impossible to use tablet because the hardware is slow and some CPU does not meet requirements for hw virtualization. Still, this is not typical use for most of notebook owners anyway.

You can fully replace tablet with one laptop and one modern smartphone.

Almost true. I could buy a 6" phablet instead of 8" tablet but I couldn't run Windows native applications like Thunderbird (there is no good ModernUI email client) on it and (well, that's my personal issue) I simply don't want to have any phone Now I have special data-only SIM card without a phone number and SMS capability.

[Puppy]

Does a tablet need "full power" Core i to be powerful? Is the Surface Pro 3's i7-4650U (Passmark score of 4176) still not enough for Photoshop? Sure, it's expensive, but if you can't afford it, it's your problem, not Surface Pro 3's problem.

Unfortunately it has serious CPU throttling issues for long time work. This is silmar to most ultrabooks. That's why "slim" workstations has been introduced now that might finally fill the gap. I guess it is better to have a tablet and notebook, both suitable for its primary usage. Having two (cheaper) devices is good because you always have a spare device when one of it fails (or is stolen in countries with high crime rate like here)

[FryPpy]

I could buy a 6" phablet instead of 8" tablet but I couldn't run Windows native applications like Thunderbird

I believe that sometime a man can install (inject) normal Windows into this small body. But normal Windows as a smartphone OS - only for enthusiasts
Atom is a normal CPU for windows - the rest is a problem with making loadable firmware and searching drivers for devices. Moreover - ASUS have made 4" model with atom inside

As for me, I don't like smartphones and tablets. And don't go there until i find use case for them.

I have oldschool mobile phone for voice calls. And it is best for this job. With a big battery no one smartphone can challenge it in terms of uptime. It can walk to the internet and get my mail but with small screen it is a bit of pain. Most of my thinkpads have 3G/4G cards so i can simple insert data SIM from phone to laptop and go. Many years only touchable device was GPS navigator. And when i have got X61t began adopting myself to touchable user interface.

Now days main use case for tablets is content eating (web surfing for movie watching). But i believe there are other use cases for this devices.
To understand tablets better it is interesting to read or watch Sci Fi novels. Long time before iPad presentation i have seen movie - "Minority Report". And there are some prototypes of HiTech tablets was in there. And yes main use case for them - separate handheld (movable) screen of big stationary PC used for presentation or navigation. (Remote desktoping or Steam In-Home Streaming already is here) Nowadays tablets have enough firepower to perform any tasks (except content creation where good keyboard and screen must be). And next generation or two in CPU tech can make all things better. I think that in a near future doctors, police and service (car or any other mechanical thing) people will use tablets as main tool for their work. Lack of keyboard can be eliminated by various RFID and optical ID techs. And USB OTG can be used to communicate with special devices (cars, robots).

[Puppy]

But normal Windows as a smartphone OS

It does not make sense, of course. I just wanted to point out there are some advantages of tablets over phones. If there was useable ModernUI email client than can work with multiple accounts and identities I could live with it.

[wisdomkeeper]

Does a tablet need "full power" Core i to be powerful? Is the Surface Pro 3's i7-4650U (Passmark score of 4176) still not enough for Photoshop? Sure, it's expensive, but if you can't afford it, it's your problem, not Surface Pro 3's problem.

You know that price is aways a concern/issue and everything needs to be economically justified. If I buy expensive tablet and attach hardware keyboard and mouse, I'd better buy a laptop. You cannot run a tablet with constant load to the CPU. It will overheat. You cannot use the tablet for hardware demanding applications. So even with i7 processor it woud be like installing Ferrari engine in old FordT. If you even try to run it on full power/full load, it will break.
So, because of the heat dissipation and power consumption limitations, the hardware in the tablets is also with limited in terms of performance. There is no way to make smaller, but faster and high performance devices compared to laptops or PC's. There are fundamental design limitations.

[jdk]

I wish there was more diversity in the tablet market. Something like the old Nokia E7 in tablet form, or even the Lenovo Yoga concept from half a decade ago:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... screen.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3656/3351 ... 7b6a7c.jpg
http://images.pcworld.com/news/graphics ... a2_350.jpg
http://images.pcworld.com/news/graphics ... a1_350.jpg

I also liked the original Thinkpad Android tablet, and I believe there was a Windows version (I remember trying it @ the Microsoft Store) but they royally messed up the trackpoint on the keyboard, making it work more like a BlackBerry trackpad.

But I just ordered two Dell Venue 8000 2's as gifts:

http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1406236/ ... 8-7000.jpg

As well as the new Jolla tablet (for myself), which will arrive in the summer:

http://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/201 ... iegogo.jpg

So I am going to try the whole Desktop + tablets thing, because 1) it was much easier and cheaper to build a solid Broadwell desktop, and 2) since laptops are disposable and unservicable these days with undervolted processors, why not just get a cheaper tablet with the same limitations and have 10+ hours of battery life?

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