OK, so I am considering a tablet. I spend a bit of time away from home, with work, and miss mu fix of the 'net. I have a work PC but is the security software is very restrictive and it wont connect to any wifi network that has a landing page. So would be used mainly for browsing and emails but need to be able to work on Office documents on occasion.

SWIMBO has an iPad - I am the only person it the world that does not like these!! Hate the fact that file transfer all has to be over the airwaves, a usb port really is a must for me.

So.....Windows 8 is on the horizon, will it be worth the wait?

I have a Netbook -that's pretty small and light -can do all those things - I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time typing on a tablet personally -I know that you can get keyboards for them but that defeats the point. If you have the money -an Ultrabook is probably up to anything you can throw at it. As for Windows 8

Edited 10 July, 201213 yr by greenstripe

I have an iPad and an Android phone. I only use the iPad for Internet. It's crap at everything else. If you use anything other than internet, wait for a tablet with 4.1

iPad is excellent as are the latest Android devices, pros and cons of both. Both now have decent App catalogues, can pretty much do whatever you need.

If you need USB then go for an Android tablet.

iPad and run it on chrome

iPad and run it on chrome

Does that get rid of crappy iOs and all its restrictions. Sounds a bit techie to me - just want something that works in a "windows - like " fashion

Does that get rid of crappy iOs and all its restrictions. Sounds a bit techie to me - just want something that works in a "windows - like " fashion

There isn't anything that runs "windows like" in tablets. Acer tried it once by putting Win7 onto a tablet. The interface doesn't work on one, it's too fiddly and frustrating.

I have an iPad but it is used for quick net access, facebook, email, showing photos and I put movies onto it to watch if I'm away. That's pretty much it. It is capable of a lot more but I have no need for that.

Until Win8 comes out (approx October), the only alternative is Android. Which is fine as long as it is v3 at minimum. Most run the same hardware, but that does not mean that they all perform the same. The two that have impressed me at present at the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the new Toshiba unit that has just hit the market.

Full size USB ports are dying out on Android tablets, they now have micro-USB and often a micro-SD slot (but not always), so don't count on being able to plug in a USB drive. This is being driven by the iPad, which is the market leader and has neither of those things, yet people are buying them by the thousand. That is telling the others that people don't need USB ports on their tablets, hence they are disappearing and the tablets are becoming cheaper.

Ones I would avoid: cheap chinese crap, Archos, Sony, Blackberry

OK, so I am considering a tablet. I spend a bit of time away from home, with work, and miss mu fix of the 'net. I have a work PC but is the security software is very restrictive and it wont connect to any wifi network that has a landing page. So would be used mainly for browsing and emails but need to be able to work on Office documents on occasion.

SWIMBO has an iPad - I am the only person it the world that does not like these!! Hate the fact that file transfer all has to be over the airwaves, a usb port really is a must for me.

So.....Windows 8 is on the horizon, will it be worth the wait?

I'd have thought a netbook would suit down to the ground...

I found my netbook was slower than the iPad. It also takes an age to boot and its small keyboard becomes a pain. Bulkier and heavier too, with 5hrs battery life vs. 10 hours for the iPad. As soon as I got the iPad, I just stopped using the netbook at all and sold it. A tablets touch interface is so much quicker to use than a trackpad.

While it is quite possible to do some serious work on a tablet or a netbook, I would not want to be working on them for very long.

Edited 10 July, 201213 yr by Mike Wrightson

I found my netbook was slower than the iPad. It also takes an age to boot and its small keyboard becomes a pain. Bulkier and heavier too, with 5hrs battery life vs. 10 hours for the iPad. As soon as I got the iPad, I just stopped using the netbook at all and sold it. A tablets touch interface is so much quicker to use than a trackpad.

While it is quite possible to do some serious work on a tablet or a netbook, I would not want to be working on them for very long.

I guess it's a case of horses for courses - I've used both and, as per the OP really don't get on with the ipad for anything other than reading the paper - at which it is great I admit.

I have two Asus 9" netbooks that I picked up for a few quid and then upgraded and run on XP absolutely fine but have to admit that the keyboards are small so if I were to change now I'd go for something a bit bigger to get a better keyboard nearer to full size..

I agree, the very best thing about a tablet (not just the iPad) is that you can just pick it up and in 2 seconds you can be browsing the net. They can also be stashed in smaller pockets than a netbook or laptop.

If I needed something portable to actually do serious work on then it would be a bigger laptop of 13" - 15" size, but if the OP doesn't need to do that very often, then a tablet would actually work well for him.

Some of the cheaper Android tablets are absolutely shocking and have no use other than novelty -it's a bit of a minefield for someone that doesn't know too much about them. There's no point in discussing iPad in this thread as OP already stated he doesn't like them. A netbook or small laptop will offer a familiar computing experience at a much lower price than a half decent tablet.

I have a Galaxy SIII, so for me no point in having a tablet as well. Galaxy Note would be an option but battery life doesn't seem too hot -there is a newer version due out soon. An option if you're in the market for a new phone.

Fujitsu make a Win7 tablet the Stylistic Q550.

If you want to be persuaded to buy an iPad get the Fujitsu. Looks 10 years older than the iPad and has a pen input but stupidly no dock to put it in so it's tied on with a string and swings about.

It is functional and usable but Win7 isn't really set up to be a touch screen OS, it just doesn't work as well as Android or iOS.

iPad is no use for Office since there is no Office App. You'd have to log in to something like Office 365 to use it and tablets aren't really suitable for typing a lot of content. Same for Android really.

MS's new Surface Tablet wne it comes out would probably do the trick if you could live with Win8 but I suspect it'll be overpriced.

My suggestion would be a netbook type device or an Ultrabook if you have the money. You can go on the web and type if need be plus install office if that's what you want to use. Probably all doable for much cheaper than a tablet too.

iPad has iWork(Pages, Numbers, Keynote) which opens office documents.

iPad has iWork(Pages, Numbers, Keynote) which opens office documents.

and which is a complete dog to use IMHO.

I appreciate all the advice and responses my OP. I did say at he beginning I did not like the iPad and that view is unlikely to change.

Following the Nexus 7 thread I have to say that it looks interesting, but suspect I will wait until W8 ships to see if it is any good.

Not trying to persuade you to get an iPad, just responding to a comment above. Pages is very easy to use, easily the best word processor app you will get on a tablet. If you struggle with that perhaps a ultrabook/netbook is the way forward.

Nexus 7 will be too small for much work, looks good for browsing and other tablet duties though.

IPAD 100% beats all the rest hands down, I use iWork and it's awesome I never use laptop or my iMac anymore iPad is fantastic

Tablet vs netbook/ultrabook will depend on how often you will need to do work on it. If it's just occasionally then you'll get away with the tablet, otherwise the laptop will do it better. There is one that combines the two and that's the Asus Transformer, very nice idea and I like it, but at £500 we don't see an awfull lot sold.

A few people have asked me in the store about replacing a laptop with a tablet and I always say that they are not a laptop replacement. As a companion device they are brilliant, but as a primary computer? Absolutely not.

IPAD 100% beats all the rest hands down, I use iWork and it's awesome I never use laptop or my iMac anymore iPad is fantastic

This post was brought to you by the ghost of Steve Jobs past

This post was brought to you by the ghost of Steve Jobs past

You haven't put him on your ignore list yet?

Really appreciate the replies to my OP. I don't need to do much work on the machine other that very occupationally access Spread sheets or Word documents. I have my work laptop but can'y use it to access the internet or personal emails when away from home.

Thanks again but why the F**k to people keep bringing iPads into the thread when the OP clearly states I don't like them!!!

Thanks again but why the F**k to people keep bringing iPads into the thread when the OP clearly states I don't like them!!!

Because the Fanboys just can't help themselves!

I was having a play with an Acer Iconia A200 in HMV yesterday.

It has a 10.1" screen, nVidia Tegra2 1GHz dual core CPU, 1GB RAM, full size USB port, expandable memory (micro sd) and comes with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Think it was £279 but might get it cheaper elsewhere.

Also Currys had two Samsung tablets. A 10.1" for £299 and a 7" for £199.

Phil

If you hate ipads why would you like android tablets. They do the same thing, have a lot of the same apps and bottom line they are not that different.

I would buy a nexus 7 see if you like them.

If you hate ipads why would you like android tablets. They do the same thing, have a lot of the same apps and bottom line they are not that different.

I would buy a nexus 7 see if you like them.

Don't like the iTune, don't like the fact that there is no USB (or similar) port to connect to external storage, and certainly don't like the way Apple controls every thing you do.

Will have a close look at the Nexus 7 but suspect I may end up waiting till I can get a play with a proper W8 tablet.

Apple don't control anything you do.

Waiting to see what windows tabs are like too.