I have a Samsung NC10 netbook (Processor = Intel Atom CPU @ 1.60GHz, 2GB RAM, running Windows 7 Ultimate) that I am looking to upgrade in the next 12 months - I'm in no rush as the NC10 does everything I need it to do, some of the things it's replacement MUST do is:

Excel (or an equally good FREE widely used software for spreadsheets - for weekly time sheets and expenses).

USB, no ifs or buts - I use my netbook for VCDS, it's replacement MUST be able to connect to (via USB) and run VCDS.

3G currently I use a 3 3G dongle, I want to do away a dongle and have the sim card permanently installed.

MUST have a very good (8hrs+) battery life

10"(ish) screen size

Rugged - it will be 'thrown' in a bag when not in use

I love the iPad2 but it falls short when it comes to running VCDS, so it is a non starter

I would also like to be able to 'wake it up' quickly like the iPad2.

So what are people using / planning to buy? what's good and what's a waste of money?

Sounds like you need another laptop/netbook to be honest.

iPad 2 is way ahead in the tablet stakes due to one thing, the thousands of Apps.

Possibly wait for the Windows 8 tablets to start appearing.

I use an Advent Vega, runs microsoft office, 10" screen, can be hacked to run almost anything. Has a USB slot, Micro SD and HD output, can also get an integrated key board case from ebay for £10 so works very similar to a laptop. under £200 now aswell. Not everybodies taste though:

the tablet - http://www.myadventvega.co.uk/

the keyboard - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-LEATHER-CASE-USB-WIRED-KEYBOARD-7-TABLET-PC-MID-APAD-EPAD-STYLUS-/190574447738?pt=UK_iPad_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item2c5f1f4c7a

We've got a Samsung Q1 Ultra, Its got 80gb hard drive, 2gb Ram, 3G(sim card slot), USB ports and mine curently runs XP ........

This is a mobile PC rather than a tablet but has a touch screen etc.

My other choice would be a Notion Ink Adam Tablet with 3G and Pixel QI screen. This runs android and has USB, HDMI ports.....

You could use Open Office instead of Excel . Save yourself a bit of dosh as it's free.

Open Office is nearly dead, there hasnt been a useful update since Oracle took it over, all the original Open office coders work the Libré Office package now.

It sounds like you need the (banned) Samsung Galaxy Tab, available in 7, 8, and 10" formats.

In all seriousness, I would keep the NC10 going as long as possible, it is a well made piece of kit, and a lot sturdier than the tablets; have you not noticed the HUGE number of hard shell screen protectors on sale for the iPads??? Those screens are very vulnerable.

Love my ipad2 and using it to reply to this. Had an archos 70it prior to this and it was shockingly slow

The Vega and Galaxy Tab won't run VCDS as they're Qualcomm CPU and Android OS based. If VCDS is an absolute 100% requirement, then the Samsung range of UMPCs (Ultra-Mobile PCs) are pretty much your only hope. VCDS is Windows only, not even Linux/iOS, and there are virtually no "tablet" devices in the current sense of the word that run Windows.

Might change with Windows 8 when that comes out but even then I believe that VCDS would have to be rewritten in order to take advantage of the ARM architecture that tends to be used in tablet devices unless Windows 8 comes with some kind of software ARM/x86/x64 compatibility layer (doubtful IMO).

If it were me, I'd just be looking for another netbook, I've used the Samsung Q1 and I didn't really get along with it. I found it a very slow device, and very bulky for what it offered, it weighs as much as a laptop but is less usable for most tasks due to lack of physical keyboard. However for pure VCDS use it would probably be quite good as it's touchscreen and there's relatively little typing to do, pretty much just naming logfiles.

NC10 is a good bit of kit - I got one for my Niece and Nephew a while back and I much prefered it to my Eee-PC (although as you say no sim slot). In my experience it's much better than a tablet (proper keyboard for a start).

I have an EeePC901; it is pretty slick after installing 2gb of RAM and a replacement SSD (64GB RunCore Patriot). About the only thing it wont do tjhat I would like is play HD or MKV video files, normal avi files are fine.

Even those would probably run if I didnt have it weighed down with all the programs I have installed on my main PC while I am here in China

I've got an Eee Pad Transformer TF101, it fills the criteria of what you need but not directly a netbook..

Excel (or an equally good FREE widely used software for spreadsheets - for weekly time sheets and expenses).

Polaris Office comes free, Excel, Word, Ppt, most functionality is there but not all. Else theres a handful of other apps as good if not better.

USB, no ifs or buts - I use my netbook for VCDS, it's replacement MUST be able to connect to (via USB) and run VCDS.

Keyboard dock has usb (extra £50-70, but theres other advantages), tablet only = no.

Alternatively Bluetooth connection, it doesn't use RossTech but Torque app which is similar. To my knowledge no tablet uses windows/has the ability to use Rosstech.

3G currently I use a 3 3G dongle, I want to do away a dongle and have the sim card permanently installed.

I believe there is a version of tf101 which has 3G so I assume you can stick a sim in directly? Research required for that one. Else, dock and usb.

MUST have a very good (8hrs+) battery life

9 hrs tablet, 16+ hrs with dock , mod-able to have more (underclock/overclock, undervolt). Those estimates are very conservative. I ran 6 hrs of solid films etc, some 720p and I had ~20% left using tablet only.

I love the iPad2 but it falls short when it comes to running VCDS, so it is a non starter

TF101 is faster and more versatile than the pad2, 720p playback, stereo speakers and, its not an i-product.

tbh though after saying all that, you put the same amount of money in a netbook you can get much better performance than a tablet anyday. I use mine for films, music, browsing and the odd bits here and there as its very portable. If I wanted some proper work down I would've got a netbook/notebook (~13").

Only problem with Android tablets is the lack of proper tablet apps.

Only problem with Android tablets is the lack of proper tablet apps.

eg? (in terms of comparing with say pad's etc)

eg? (in terms of comparing with say pad's etc)

Yes compared to the iPad there are a fairly limited number of native tablet apps, this should improve over time.

Excel (or an equally good FREE widely used software for spreadsheets - for weekly time sheets and expenses).

USB, no ifs or buts - I use my netbook for VCDS, it's replacement MUST be able to connect to (via USB) and run VCDS.

3G currently I use a 3 3G dongle, I want to do away a dongle and have the sim card permanently installed.

MUST have a very good (8hrs+) battery life

10"(ish) screen size

Rugged - it will be 'thrown' in a bag when not in use

If you need Windows for VCDS, then THIS is a candidate.

Runs Windows, run any software that would on the netbook, has a USB port.

WiFi only, if you have a smartphone, use the mobile hotspot function for 3G?

Only 6hr battery life though.

There is no tablet around that I would describe as rugged. Get a decent case for it and it should be OK.

Or keep your current netbook going.

Edited 8 October, 201114 yr by Mike Wrightson

We use the Motion CL900 Rugged Tablet PC running Windows 7 for our clients who work in the Hostile Agricultural sector .

They dont compete with the Ipad for tactile ability but are non the less perfectly functional and built to last.

Motion CL900

Ah, fair enough then, I was only thinking about consumer market units.

Try the Viagra Tablet...

It's hard/stiff case, has excellent performance & long life too.

If you need Windows for VCDS, then THIS is a candidate.

Runs Windows, run any software that would on the netbook, has a USB port.

WiFi only, if you have a smartphone, use the mobile hotspot function for 3G?

Only 6hr battery life though.

There is no tablet around that I would describe as rugged. Get a decent case for it and it should be OK.

Or keep your current netbook going.

Have one at work, its absolutely horrific! Complete waste of plastic imo..

Build quality is **** poor, screen scratches at the lightest touch. Worst of all, its no where near powerful enough to run windows 7, neither is windows 7 even usable with just a touch screen. Weighs an absolute tonne and you need fingers like match sticks to use it.

Yes compared to the iPad there are a fairly limited number of native tablet apps, this should improve over time.

Oh, what ipad productive apps can you get which is native for tablets? few friends have ipads but i dont see many of them doing anything productive with them.. so not sure myself.

For the iPad, you can get

Pages, same as MS Word,

Numbers, same as MS Excel,

VMware management Tools, and lots more business apps that have specific ipad versions.

We are considering getting a couple for work to remotely manage our Vmware infrastructure without having to lug a laptop around.

A lot of the android apps are designed to run on android based phones with smaller low res screens, so on a tablet look and feel odd.

We use the Motion CL900 Rugged Tablet PC running Windows 7 for our clients who work in the Hostile Agricultural sector .

They dont compete with the Ipad for tactile ability but are non the less perfectly functional and built to last.

Motion CL900

Lol, I tested this for my comapny recently. The guys at Motion are lovely and I really like them and they work hard but this machine was a bit slow and laggy.

I also had their F5v which was packing an i7... it was a powerhouse! Loved it but really enterprise focussed.

I have a Lenovo X61T 12.1" laptop, has an SSD in and the High Capacity battery, it does not check all the boxes, but I get 6+ hours from the battery and it's a Core 2 duo 2.2ghz CPU and 4GB Ram, N series wifi, Bluetooth and the docking station with DVD Writer.

Blagged it off eBay for £200 complete with the docking station and swapped out the 80GB disk for an SSD. Decent (ish) laptop power in a small form factor, makes a great VCDS tool, Screen flips round and folds flat for use as a tablet PC.

Turning off the blue tooth and wifi when not needed should make that last 8 hours easily; and if you can find a way of tuning one core off, it should go even longer.

I use a MacBook Pro, mid 2009 with Windows XP on Boot Camp for VCDS.

Cable from the swedish distributor of VCDS, Svenska Vag-Com.