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Why should I really want a tablet? what am I supposed to do with it in my daily life?
I feel like the marketing push for tablets is huge right now and I am wondering why I should even care about this category... If I have a smartphone for my on the move needs and a laptop at home, why would I want to add another device into my life?
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fraseringermany's pick
For me, my tablet is a pure content consumption device. Sure, sometimes I pop out the occasional email, but I mainly use if for reading, whether that be using the Kindle app, the browser for general web stuff, or Newsr for my RSS feeds. I love being able to head over to a coffee shop with just my Galaxy Tab and peruse whatever I feel like. Normally I would have taken my laptop or my netbook but now it is almost always the Tab. In fact, I am going to sell my netbook because I hardly use the thing anymore.
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fraseringermany's pick
It's the current "in" thing and realistically, it doesn't do more than your smartphone does.
Think of it this way:
Cell phones became huge in the mid-late '90s. it took 10-15 years for us to figure out "what they're really for," which it turns out, is handheld computing. For the time being let's assume that the end-all thing for "phones" is to be the webOS/iOS/Android/WP7/otherOS powered devices that will rule our lives when out of the house.
Tablets have been popularized in the last 2 years. We still have no real idea what they're for (as your question suggests). At the moment they're scaled up smartphones or task-specific/impeded computers, depending on how you'd like to look at them.
So what are you supposed to do with it? Today it'll hum along and do things that you can already do, on either a smaller, thinner device than your PC or a bigger-screened device than your smartphone.
Tablets are going to get "sorted out," that's for sure, but the hype right now is so high and no matter how you look at it, the platform, the hardware, the whole idea is so grand-spankin new, we really don't know what they're supposed to be for yet. Buy one now because they're hip and with it, or just wait it out until you really see a need to get one. Either way, the game is just getting started.
Think of it this way:
Cell phones became huge in the mid-late '90s. it took 10-15 years for us to figure out "what they're really for," which it turns out, is handheld computing. For the time being let's assume that the end-all thing for "phones" is to be the webOS/iOS/Android/WP7/otherOS powered devices that will rule our lives when out of the house.
Tablets have been popularized in the last 2 years. We still have no real idea what they're for (as your question suggests). At the moment they're scaled up smartphones or task-specific/impeded computers, depending on how you'd like to look at them.
So what are you supposed to do with it? Today it'll hum along and do things that you can already do, on either a smaller, thinner device than your PC or a bigger-screened device than your smartphone.
Tablets are going to get "sorted out," that's for sure, but the hype right now is so high and no matter how you look at it, the platform, the hardware, the whole idea is so grand-spankin new, we really don't know what they're supposed to be for yet. Buy one now because they're hip and with it, or just wait it out until you really see a need to get one. Either way, the game is just getting started.
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For me tablets have greatly simplified my reading experience for web content. My Google Reader gets between 750 and 1000 new items a day and that is just way too much content to keep up with. So being able to leverage an application like ReadItLater or Instapaper has been fantastic for making sure I get to read things that I want. Add on top of this applications like Pulse, Feedly, Newsr and Flipboard are helping to really create a rich reading experience from the tablet. I also choose to leverage the tablet by using it to do any quick web browsing or information look up, as well as comic book reading.
Now I know that the above mentioned apps also work just fine from a phone but the difference is screen size. Reading a 500 word article is fine on a phone but sometimes the articles can be fairly long and reading that on a smaller screen can be cumbersome. Having the larger screen allows me to better view and read the article.
Other users may also like the convenience of being able to get rid of print magazine subscriptions in favor of the digital ones.
A tablet is not going to fit into everyone's life but for some it's great. It really comes down to a matter of use and how you plan to use it to enhance your day to day.
Now I know that the above mentioned apps also work just fine from a phone but the difference is screen size. Reading a 500 word article is fine on a phone but sometimes the articles can be fairly long and reading that on a smaller screen can be cumbersome. Having the larger screen allows me to better view and read the article.
Other users may also like the convenience of being able to get rid of print magazine subscriptions in favor of the digital ones.
A tablet is not going to fit into everyone's life but for some it's great. It really comes down to a matter of use and how you plan to use it to enhance your day to day.
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Used to get a newspaper, now I don't. Tablet is much more convenient than a laptop. Great for surfing, watching videos, email, etc. Again very convenient, especially when sitting down outside by the pool or inside on the couch/chair. Great for accessing my desktop via VNC to access or run programs that I can't do on my tablet. Excellent for capturing ideas or doing quick searches on the net. Gives me something to do during the commercials. The gaming is fantastic. Being able to see and update your photos while you are on travel is great. Yes I can do most of this using my smartphone, but size does matter especially for activities that last more than a few minutes.
I have gradually incorporated the use of my tablet (iPad) into a number of my daily activities.
I tried at one time to use a laptop for some of the activities I mentioned, but it was too heavy to hold, too hot on my lap, took too long to start up, applications would occasionally crash the computer, battery life was too short, etc.
I have gradually incorporated the use of my tablet (iPad) into a number of my daily activities.
I tried at one time to use a laptop for some of the activities I mentioned, but it was too heavy to hold, too hot on my lap, took too long to start up, applications would occasionally crash the computer, battery life was too short, etc.
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Until I got my iPad I didn’t think anything could replace my smart phone. But the added real-estate of the iPad really does make a difference.
I have read a lot of people say its for media consumption and not creation and to some degree I agree with this but not 100%. Myself I don’t carry my laptop around with me any more at work I take my iPad. I use it with Ever note in almost every meeting I am in. when I need to present in the meeting I just plug into the HDMI port of the projector. I also have an application on it that lets me control my PC from my iPad remotely for those things the iPad can’t do.
I use the device in my kitchen as a cookbook and I have even installed remote applications to make it a universal remote for my TV.
I let my nephew use it while in the car and he watched Disney’s cars twice on it while we were on a road trip he’s 3 so anything to keep him happy in the car was a welcome relief for me and the others in the car .
I am no musician or much of a talented person when it comes to the arts but I have friends that are and one bought the iPad 2 and uses it to record his music and do some basic editing of it he has turned it into another instrument he uses. With the applications he has found he has definitely taken it in a direction I had never even considered.
The thing about the iPad is that it’s really surprising what you can do with it because of all the applications that are out there and this applied to both the iPad and android tablets as well. I have been surprised by how much more useful a tablet can be when there are applications out there for it not just games either.
I have read a lot of people say its for media consumption and not creation and to some degree I agree with this but not 100%. Myself I don’t carry my laptop around with me any more at work I take my iPad. I use it with Ever note in almost every meeting I am in. when I need to present in the meeting I just plug into the HDMI port of the projector. I also have an application on it that lets me control my PC from my iPad remotely for those things the iPad can’t do.
I use the device in my kitchen as a cookbook and I have even installed remote applications to make it a universal remote for my TV.
I let my nephew use it while in the car and he watched Disney’s cars twice on it while we were on a road trip he’s 3 so anything to keep him happy in the car was a welcome relief for me and the others in the car .
I am no musician or much of a talented person when it comes to the arts but I have friends that are and one bought the iPad 2 and uses it to record his music and do some basic editing of it he has turned it into another instrument he uses. With the applications he has found he has definitely taken it in a direction I had never even considered.
The thing about the iPad is that it’s really surprising what you can do with it because of all the applications that are out there and this applied to both the iPad and android tablets as well. I have been surprised by how much more useful a tablet can be when there are applications out there for it not just games either.
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I wondered same thing but went ahead and bought the Blackberry Playbook. Haven't traveled with it yet but so far it's good for this: when you wake up in the morning or after you get in bed at night, it's better than reaching for your phone and checking mail. So far, that's it.
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I was the same way until I got offered a free Xoom. Playing around with it for a while, the tablet is way better than my smart phone and laptop (In some ways). The size, and weight make it easy to just pick up and go around the city. If you're riding the bus you can hold it up and work, unlike with a laptop. They are just so convenient and portable in ways that most laptops are not.
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To be honest, it seems to me that other tablet makers (not apple) are wondering the same thing, and it seems that the public (you and I) are too! They are not doing well, and I think you've hit the reason why! What really is the purpose?
Don't get me wrong. I love my iPad! It may have something to do with the fact that I am still using a stupid phone, so coupling my 3G iPad with my dumb phone seams to be working for me. And we have only one other usable laptop in the family and my wife us it a lot for video editing. Therefore, this iPad has really become my computer, and for the mostpart it's great! This is why I agree with mr. Jobs when he originally stated a 7" tablet will be useless. Because that just doesn't seem to fill that "possible computer replacement" use that I have found my iPad to do wonderfully.
Love to hear other thoughts as well! I hope that made any sense :)
Don't get me wrong. I love my iPad! It may have something to do with the fact that I am still using a stupid phone, so coupling my 3G iPad with my dumb phone seams to be working for me. And we have only one other usable laptop in the family and my wife us it a lot for video editing. Therefore, this iPad has really become my computer, and for the mostpart it's great! This is why I agree with mr. Jobs when he originally stated a 7" tablet will be useless. Because that just doesn't seem to fill that "possible computer replacement" use that I have found my iPad to do wonderfully.
Love to hear other thoughts as well! I hope that made any sense :)
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I, like many of the others, use my iPad mostly for consuming information. I keep up on news sites and blogs and surf the web with it. I use it in tandem with my DSLR, allowing me to do some photo confirmation and simple editing. I also use it as a remote for my simple home entertainment setup. I do some gaming on it (mostly strategy gaming) and have also used Netflix on it extensively while traveling. It's been a great travel companion, allowing me to leave my laptop at home most of the time.
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if you have to ask yourself that question then most likely you wont have any real practical use for it. it'll end up in your desk drawer in a month keep your money.
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I think if you're looking for a reason why you NEED a tablet, then you don't really need it. A tablet is a device you want and then purchase because of the want. I use my iPad for internet browsing, games, occasional reading of magazines or books, and checking the weather. For me there's not a huge need for a tablet. It's just nice to have and I enjoy using it on the couch.
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I have owned an iPad for a year and Playbook for close to a month. It has become clear to me that the two devices are good for different uses.
My wife and kids love the iPad because it is cool with numerous new apps to explore, and can be conveniently used anywhere in the house that they may wish to browse information or play games. I have become addicted to 'consuming' newsy items using FlipBoard. The experience of this kind of gesture based browsing application is superior to any other way of reading electronic content.
The Playbook is a different story. For me it is just a much better mobile application tool than a smart phone. The screen real-estate on a smart phone is just too limiting for me to want to use it for anything but the most basic tasks, like accessing my contact list. The potential for enabling my mobile office needs is tremendous, but I confess it is a little limited now - still useful though - since the applications (software) have not caught up to the potential of this form factor and physical capability yet.
My wife and kids love the iPad because it is cool with numerous new apps to explore, and can be conveniently used anywhere in the house that they may wish to browse information or play games. I have become addicted to 'consuming' newsy items using FlipBoard. The experience of this kind of gesture based browsing application is superior to any other way of reading electronic content.
The Playbook is a different story. For me it is just a much better mobile application tool than a smart phone. The screen real-estate on a smart phone is just too limiting for me to want to use it for anything but the most basic tasks, like accessing my contact list. The potential for enabling my mobile office needs is tremendous, but I confess it is a little limited now - still useful though - since the applications (software) have not caught up to the potential of this form factor and physical capability yet.
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