Tablets

[Hamster]

So let me just say from the start: I've never been a fan of Apple and I have absolutely no reason to no like them, I just don't. I've played around with a friend's iPhone4 and an iPod touch, and I think they are.. meh. The only thing I really liked about it was Angry Birds (that game is AWESOME).

Now we've been playing around the office with the Galaxy S and at first I l thought that this thing is AWESOME!! Now, after playing some more with it I'm starting to think that it's "meh" as well. Thing is, my main argument for always wanting an Android tablet/phone was because it integrates with my Google accounts etc. but somehow that doesn't seem that important a factor anymore.

So now I'm thinking that the Blackberry Playbook (when it is launched) might be the one to get. Had a look at some of the video's and it seems fast. I like the look of the OS more as well. Maybe Android 3 (Honeycomb) will look better since it is developed for tablets.

The reason for this post is because I am considering getting one of these devices in the hopefully not too distant future. It will be for browsing the web etc and replacing my home laptop which I mainly use for browsing anyway (I have a work laptop for coding and doing other tasks, no use in having two). They are however, k*k expensive. I don't know if I can justify paying R7k or more for something that is WAY more limited than a laptop which goes for half the price.

So do any of you guys have an opinion on these devices? Are tablets maybe just another over-hyped concept that will die off within a year or two? Is it actually worth buying one of them.

 

[Ou grote]

When it can totally replace a laptop, I'll get one, until then they're pointless.

Even the biggest Apple fanboi at work stopped bringing his one to work after 3 weeks.
He went back to using his laptop and phone.

 

[satanboy]

no tablets here .... leaves

 

[mister]

He went back to using his laptop and phone.

*chuckles*

 

[House]

Well, according to me all tablets are only limited to games, music, movies and will not replace a laptop in the near future.

When the excitement wears off, so does the tablet.

 

[Valken]

When it can totally replace a laptop, I'll get one, until then they're pointless.

Even the biggest Apple fanboi at work stopped bringing his one to work after 3 weeks.
He went back to using his laptop and phone.

What??? Has nobody here heard of the Asus Eee EP121 Slate???

I got mine just a week ago - And this thing IS a laptop replacement! This is the first proper Tablet/Slate and runs windows 7 (The Asus EP121 is also being used as a test platform for the upcoming Windows 8)
Just do a search and you will see why!

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QhWKR7Fmv4jDLbBY

Asus EP121 Specifications

•12.1” 1280×800 AFFS+ Wideview LED backlit display (16:10 aspect ratio) ◦175 degree viewing angle in all 4 orientations
◦220 nits
◦Corning Gorilla Glass cover lens
◦Multi-touch capacitive digitizer
◦Wacom EM digitizer (256 levels of pressure sensitivity)

•Intel Dual Core i5 470UM CPU (ULV) with Intel HD graphics
•4GB Dual Channel DDR3 RAM
•64GB SSD
•Accelerometer sensor for automatic display rotation
•Radios ◦Bluetooth 3.0
◦802.11 b/g/n WiFi

•Buttons ◦Volume rocker switch
◦Power switch
◦Keyboard button to activate software keyboard (press and hold for ESC)
◦Rotation lock switch
◦Flip 3D button on front of display (press and hold for CTRL-ALT-DEL)
◦Reset button (pinhole)

•Inputs/Outputs ◦Stereo speakers
◦2 USB ports (USB 2.0)
◦Microphone
◦3.5mm combo headphone/microphone input jack
◦Mini HDMI
◦DC IN
◦SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC Card reader/writer
◦2MP Webcam
◦Integrated pen storage compartment

•Indicators ◦Power LED
◦Charge LED

•34WH battery (not user replaceable)
•12.28 x 8.16 x 0.67 inches / 311.91 x 207.26 x 17.01 mm
•2.53lbs / 1.15kg
•Included Accessories ◦Slim profile 19.5V 3.08A power supply with auxiliary 5V 1A USB charging port (can charge slate and mobile device simultaneously)
◦Slim profile Bluetooth keyboard with 2 AAA batteries
◦Folio case ■integrated pen holder
■flip out landscape easel
■flip out portrait easel
■anti-skid edges for upright landscape orientation

◦Wacom EM pen with eraser (no buttons on pen). Part number 04G514000902
◦Extra nibs for pen with nib removal tool
◦Recovery discs with support to create recovery USB thumb drive (BIOS will boot to USB drive automatically)
◦Cleaning cloth
◦Printed user manual (PDF version also included)
◦Warranty card

 

[Ou grote]

What??? Has nobody here heard of the Asus Eee EP121 Slate???

I got mine just a week ago - ...

3 weeks is the record

 

[xera]

That Asus EP121 has awesome specs, but pitiful battery life.

I don't enjoy reading books on my computer, or laptop. When I get a tablet, I intend to do a lot of reading on it. And I will break that 3 week record. By far.

 

[Neverwhere]

Hey there, where'd you buy yours from? And how much was it? Cheapest I see em are R8999 via Jump.co.za. I see the 64gb version is around $1100, so with delivery + customs etc I'm guessing it'll be around R9k as well.

 

[Ou grote]

What??? Has nobody here heard of the Asus Eee EP121 Slate???
...

3 weeks is the record

Ok, I just had a look at that tablet, and have to say WOW!

I will look into buying that one. It's way better than an android, osx or any other tablet out there.

This one you can actually do stuff with.

I think you'll break the 3 week record.

 

[bwana]

I've had a tablet since just before Christmas and I haven't come close to running out of new things to do with it. My job is heavily visual and it fits the bill perfectly. I've got my portfolio on it, I can hand it to a client in the studio and show them photos straight from the camera in real time, even invoice them then and there when the job is over. I use it as a second monitor when I need the extra screen real estate for my laptop - as a bonus it's touch screen.

On the leisure side its a great ebook reader, web browser, email client, video player . . . the kids love playing those educational games so much I know I'm going to have to buy a second one sooner rather than later.

To answer the OP's question I think tablets are here to stay.

 

[HarbingeR]

The EP121 is what I want. Other Tabs run apps, this thing can Make Apps.
Were is the best place to get on ein SA and what is the price?

 

[vinodh]

I use my iPad for reading eBooks, magazines, surfing the net and checking mail. I've watched a bit of South Park on via AirVideo and that's it. I don't play games or need to encode videos or any heavy stuff. My desktop does all of the fancier tricks. Obviously, I wish for a few improvements: USB port that supports flash drives, SD card expansion slot, wide screen display, ability to download files off the net, eg. Zip files and rar, flash support, support for multiple video codecs, and a few more that slip my mind.

 

[CriticalConsumer]

Judging from the Eee Slate specs and bwana's comments regarding the thing, I would say it kicks A55!!

Pity about battery life though Hope they make one with the new AMD Brazos / Zacate platform, that would be interesting to see in terms of performance and battery life.

 

[bwana]

Judging from the EePC Slate specs and bwana's comments regarding the thing, I would say it kicks A55!!

I don't have the ASUS.

 

[CriticalConsumer]

LOL ok - it seemed like it - apologies!

 

[bwana]

LOL ok - it seemed like it - apologies!

I've modified my post to clear up any confusion (I hope).

 

[TopCa7]

The Ideapad U1 Hybrid looks damn nice as well.