Tablets! Tablets! ... or laptop!

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Dubes

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I'm driving myself crazy with choices here, so I thought I'd share it... maybe someone can give input or opinions.

I have a cellphone contract up for renewal and I've been considering using the upgrade for a tablet. Now I realise most devices can be bought cheaper cash, although sometimes with the "free" data thrown into contracts this is not always the case, but this is not an option I'm considering.

So.... I went from being set on the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. Sanity then prevailed and I started questioning how much more this adds to the S5 I currently have, besides screen size. I then questioned whether it'd add value from a work perspective. This then got me considering Windows tablets but the pickings are rather thin with the ISPs. This lack of options had me considering hybrids and then laptops.

I've now reached the point where I am being terribly analytical and comparing specs and costs for the following devices. Now I know there are much better out there but cost is a big factor so I'm not interested in anything too expensive.

In order of my train of thought:

Galaxy Tab S 8.4 R229pm from Vodacom. Con - can't run work programs

Nextbook 8 Cash from Makro R1499. Con - small storage space which can be alleviated with an SD card but then 1GB RAM too little for work apps.

Acer Iconia W511 R399 with 500MB data. 2GB RAM makes this compatible with work programs but not much data with this deal.

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Acer Aspire E5-571 R399 with 2GB data. i3 1.9, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD. Even more RAM but the i3 is a more battery intensive processor so I drop to 4.5hrs battery from the 9 hour rating for the Iconia. More battery life obviously better for work on the road.

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HP15 R289 with 1GB data. N2810 2GHz Celeron, 2GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive. I became price conscious again and thought do I need anything more than a celeron for my work... I'll need to check app specs.

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Any input on any of these devices. Any I should certainly avoid? Or any +1s for any of them? Thanks for bearing with me while I think out loud :D
 
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Maverick Jester said:
Following this thread. Looking at a few of those as an option for the SO while she's at home.
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Hope we get some decent feedback. Choices based on paper alone are always worth less than real life experiences in my opinion.
 
Acer Aspire E5-571 the best from the above but the price is steep.
 
You need to be a bit more specific in terms of what you want to run. Also how you want them to run.

Myself for example:
I have the Nextbook 8. I use it for debugging code and watching documentaries on the bus to/from varsity.
 
What are you going to use these devices for? If it is a Windows device you are probably better off due to the ecosystem already being well established.
If you need MS Office and the like then I would still go with a laptop because its a pain trying to use those apps on a tablet even though it may have a keyboard.
 
Thanks. I have come to the realisation that I'll definitely be better off with a Windows device.

The programs are proprietary applications for various companies. I know the specification need for each but at the moment I'm really looking to possibly eliminate some of those through others personal experiences.

Some companies have online quoting systems which makes any device suitable.

I do not need major processing power but as mentioned one app does call for 2GB RAM.

CriticalConsumer, that comment re Office is interesting. I do certainly use excel and the like but just recently started making me use of Google Sheets etc so that I can use my phone etc on the go. So office is not critical. But the applications do require a certain amount of data input.

I'd work exclusively on an Android device is it were not for those applications that need Windows.
 
Dubes said:
Thanks. I have come to the realisation that I'll definitely be better off with a Windows device.

The programs are proprietary applications for various companies. I know the specification need for each but at the moment I'm really looking to possibly eliminate some of those through others personal experiences.

Some companies have online quoting systems which makes any device suitable.

I do not need major processing power but as mentioned one app does call for 2GB RAM.

CriticalConsumer, that comment re Office is interesting. I do certainly use excel and the like but just recently started making me use of Google Sheets etc so that I can use my phone etc on the go. So office is not critical. But the applications do require a certain amount of data input.

I'd work exclusively on an Android device is it were not for those applications that need Windows.
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Noted. I think that if you go with a tablet, the ability to work effectively with MS Office / Google Docs / Apps all depends on the network connectivity you are going to use, then the ability to cache all the data to load and display on the tablet - let alone manipulate it. So you would need sufficient RAM...and a tablet's RAM is not upgradeable.

I used to own an Android tablet and had all the Google Apps on them but found trying to do formulae and other mouse intensive applications a pain. Multi-tasking on a tablet is not where it should be just yet on an Android device.
 
I'd personally take the contract and change it to purely data with a MiFi device included, then look at getting a notebook separate that is more suited to what you want to do. The E5-571 deal is actually pretty decent considering MTN bundles 2GB with it. Vodacom has the same deal for the same laptop model. That is a Haswell U-series chip in there, so I wouldn't be surprised if you manage to stretch it out to five hours or more on the battery if you're browsing with Internet Explorer or Firefox. Pop in a SSD from Samsung, Intel or a Corsair LX and you'd probably see a 10% improvement in battery life overall.

Vodacom also has a Dell Venue 8 Windows 8.1 tablet for R399 with 2GB of data. It has a quad-core Intel Bay Trail processor and 2GB RAM and I think that particular Venue comes with the Pro edition of Windows. It works best with a Microsoft Wedge and makes it almost feel like a Surface device.

I would also consider Telkom's Lenovo + Office 365 deals. The SmartInternet 2.5GB deal is pretty decent.
 
CataclysmZA said:
The E5-571 deal is actually pretty decent considering MTN bundles 2GB with it. Vodacom has the same deal for the same laptop model. That is a Haswell U-series chip in there,
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Indeed. Although I see the Vodacom one is listed as a E1. Sadly specs are lacking as regards actual processor models but Vodacom have promised to get back to me on that.

I had a bitch about the fact that they are very vague on the laptop specs. Suppose the man on the street usually doesn't give a damn, or doesn't even know better.

Vodacom also has a Dell Venue 8 Windows 8.1 tablet for R399 with 2GB of data. It has a quad-core Intel Bay Trail processor and 2GB RAM and I think that particular Venue comes with the Pro edition of Windows.
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I did see that but specs were lacking. Thanks for the detail.

Edit: I see specs were listed. It shows an atom processor.

I would also consider Telkom's Lenovo + Office 365 deals. The SmartInternet 2.5GB deal is pretty decent.
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Thanks again. I'll look into that.
 
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Giving that Dell a decent look!

Dell Venue 8 R399 with 2GB data from Vodacom.
Acer Iconia W511 R399 with 500MB data from MTN.

Knock off the data costs (R99pm for Vodacom and R39pm for MTN) and you are looking at cost for the device over 2 years of R7,200 for the Dell and R8,640 for the Acer.

Just not sure I'd be getting value with the Dell at that price. Amazon (just for the sake of comparison) shows the Dell at R3,500 and the Acer at R7,700.
 
Depending on what you want to do, there is still quite a gap between what a notebook can achieve and what a tablet can, despite what people say. Each definitely has it's place though. I wish I could find the thread where Bwana and me argued about the merit of the recently released original 'iPad' I was dead set against the ideas of tablets. A couple colleagues bought them as we travelled a lot and I started changing my opinion. 3 years on, my iPad2 is still used almost daily. The gaps in graphic/web design and trying to deal with terminals got a bit much and I bought a personal notebook recently so I enjoy the best of both worlds now.
 
I think that's the appeal of something like to Iconia W511 "hybrid". But you certainly are needing to compromise somewhere when squashing a laptop into a tablet size device.

I keep flip flopping directions here. I seem to have moved totally off tablets and now onto "hybrids" but still think maybe just a laptop will suffice. Chances are the tablet will be kept docked when working and maybe only be released at home after hours anyway....
 
Dubes said:
I keep flip flopping directions here. I seem to have moved totally off tablets and now onto "hybrids" but still think maybe just a laptop will suffice. Chances are the tablet will be kept docked when working and maybe only be released at home after hours anyway....
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That's part of the charm, but you have to own a hybrid device before you can figure out if it works for you or not, which is the stupid part. I can see the bonus in having it docked by a display with a USB hub and wireless mouse and keyboard for work and when you're finished, unplug it and take it home with you. I personally haven't had the need to own one yet, but I might look at a Nextbook when they start shoving Braswell processors in there with 4GB of RAM.
 
Upgrades on contracts aside...the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro hybrid seems to kick butt however lacks a little in the battery department...check it out.
 
OK, so I eventually went for a laptop because I just couldn't ignore the offer!

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The 3GB per month data would cost you R169 per month. That means over the term of the contract you are paying R4,560 for the i5 laptop which retails at R7,999. Even at the full contract price you are paying only R8,616 over the 24 months.

Asked them if it was a mistake as the HP with the i3 processor and only 500GB hard drive is also going for R359pm over 24 months with 3GB data. Unless there is something I am missing...
 
Where in the hell did you find that deal? If it is a fluke, don't say anything about it to Vodacom. I think my dad would like to get on something like that as well.
 
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