Are Tablets the new netbooks?

[JimmiG]

Yeah, they even do a better job of combining all the drawbacks of a mobile phone and laptop than the netbook did, without the benefits of either. At least netbooks had a real keyboard. Tablets are just oversized phones (literally.. they share the same hardware and OS) that don't fit in your pocket, so they require a separate bag or carrying case, just like a laptop or netbook. If you're gonna need a carrying case anyway, why not have an infinitely more useful 13" notebook computer running a proper OS like Win7 or OSX?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Yeah, they even do a better job of combining all the drawbacks of a mobile phone and laptop than the netbook did, without the benefits of either. At least netbooks had a real keyboard. Tablets are just oversized phones (literally.. they share the same hardware and OS) that don't fit in your pocket, so they require a separate bag or carrying case, just like a laptop or netbook. If you're gonna need a carrying case anyway, why not have an infinitely more useful 13" notebook computer running a proper OS like Win7 or OSX?

Why? I want something with better battery life, instant on and weigh a little over a pound with a 10" screen.

 

[Imp]

I thought I really wanted one, but now I can't figure out what I'd do with one if I got it. Mobile internet would be nice, but that means a $25+/month data plan. My laptop can do that with a USB stick from my cell carrier. Obviously not as mobile, but I'd rather not parade my $500 gadget around the hood and subway; enough iPhone muggings occur already.

 

[Macamus Prime]

Yeah, I think they are here to stay. Apple is gonna keep pushing them down our throats until we're sick of them.

What is worse, they are the only ones! I mean, its not like OTHER companies are making these things!!!!

 

[masterxfob]

Tablets are here to stay, sorry.

You, like a lot of people on this forum, forget how most people use the internet and their devices. They don't have adblock plus, they don't root their phones, and they aren't overclocking every device they have to squeeze out maximum performance.

Most people are consumers, not producers of media and the tablet reflects that perfectly. Not only does it boot quickly, but the apps that are designed for it make consumption easier and more effective. It integrates your ability to read books, read websites, and play games, all in one relatively small device that you can carry around.

The tablet is the ultimate media-consumer device and it's a shame that few people here recognize that. Honestly though, you'll be choking on your words in a few years. Tablets, in their current form, are going to push paper out of so many industries -- magazines, newspapers, flight charts, sea charts, whatever -- especially as the platform and hardware matures and, hopefully, the prices drop.

i'm with Beau on this. i just purchased a tablet ($200 nook color) for the convenience of use at home. i like to read books and watch movies in my bed, so having a small, light weight device that is quick to boot is perfect. i can also make a quick search on the web before my laptop or desktop has even finished booting.

also, i'm not sure how good it will be as an organizer, but if it works, that would make it so much more useful to me. i would have something that could keep track of my appointments and also keep me busy while i'm waiting for them. beats a smart phone for reading books, and beats a laptop due to it's light weight and size.

 

[Rudee]

I had an opportunity to try out an iPad for a full week. At the end, I still prefered my Acer Netbook. The lack of physical keyboard was just too much of a pain in the a$$ that I never got used to.

 

[James Bond]

To everyone complaining about the keyboard:

Bluetooth keyboard. Problem solved.

 

[vi edit]

To everyone complaining about the keyboard:

Bluetooth keyboard. Problem solved.

Then it's yet another device that you have to buy, drag around and charge.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

To everyone complaining about the keyboard:

Bluetooth keyboard. Problem solved.

Then the argument to that is, why don't you just get a laptop?

 

[nageov3t]

To everyone complaining about the keyboard:

Bluetooth keyboard. Problem solved.

I'm trying to imagine how I'd lay on my couch balancing a tablet and a keyboard and can't think of a way that it wouldn't be awkward.

 

[Ns1]

Then the argument to that is, why don't you just get a laptop?

you can't remove the keyboard from a laptop and carry around a touch screen device when you want to?

 

[vi edit]

you can't remove the keyboard from a laptop and carry around a touch screen device when you want to?

That's why I have a smartphone?

It's this sort of useless overlap in tech that's my issue with tablets. A phone will do about 90% of what a tablet will do, just with less real estate and it's a device I'm carrying with me almost all the time. No need to overlap there.

 

[BoberFett]

PC's and laptops are actually on their way out, tablet/smart phone combos are going to take their place. Everyone is going to eventually carry one around like a wallet that carries their "Internet presence". They'll connect wirelessly to larger screens at workstations and to TV's when needed.

 

[Ns1]

That's why I have a smartphone?

It's this sort of useless overlap in tech that's my issue with tablets. A phone will do about 90% of what a tablet will do, just with less real estate and it's a device I'm carrying with me almost all the time. No need to overlap there.

hey, that's my argument too. There is no NEED to overlap but if I had a few hundred dollars spare it would be cool as fuck.

 

[jhu]

hey, that's my argument too. There is no NEED to overlap but if I had a few hundred dollars spare it would be cool as fuck.

I'd rather use the money elsewhere, such as my crack habit. But, these things seem pretty good at entertaining toddlers and cats, at least for a short while.

 

[Ns1]

I'd rather use the money elsewhere, such as my crack habit. But, these things seem pretty good at entertaining toddlers and cats, at least for a short while.

fuck the kids and the cats that shit could entertain me for hours.

 

[theeedude]

I am hoping Asus Transformer will bridge the netbook-tablet gap.

 

[Farang]

I think tablets and e-readers are going towards the same end. They should be primarily media consuming devices, because for anything else the bottom part of your laptop is not inconvenient and not something you want to get rid of (not only is it a keyboard and mouse, but it offers a comfortable sitting position for you to look at the screen and do work). Tablets and e-readers will replace the need for printed published materials like magazines and books. The price point is going to have to be under $200.

 

[jhu]

fuck the kids and the cats that shit could entertain me for hours.

Hours? You'd need enough crack to cause heart attacks for that time period.

 

[Ns1]

Hours? You'd need enough crack to cause heart attacks for that time period.

you're trying way too hard to be an apple hater.

 

[Martin]

Take a look at these two: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/asus-eee-pad-slider-and-transformer-are-here-for-those-that-can/

Nothing says you can't have a sliding or clamshell type of tablet, so your question doesn't make that much sense.

 

[vi edit]

Take a look at these two: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/asus-eee-pad-slider-and-transformer-are-here-for-those-that-can/

Nothing says you can't have a sliding or clamshell type of tablet, so your question doesn't make that much sense.

Again, I just don't see the appeal. They are over 2 pounds, and 2x-3x more expensive than a netbook/laptop and still less functional IMHO.

Is a touchscreen worth that much to a person for the drop in functionality?

 

[Capt Caveman]

IPad cuts 'dramatically' into laptop PC sales

 

[zerocool84]

IPad cuts 'dramatically' into laptop PC sales

Well yea we already knew netbooks are going away. Those are for people that are going to be doing the exact thing as they do on a tablet. It's like people that have smartphones and never really get their "use" out of them.

 

[fatpat268]

I really think that's the last block to going completely paperless - no one makes a good pencil replacement for mobile usage. I have an awesome Wacom Intuos4 tablet, but I have to tether it to a desktop or laptop. If you could have a nice, small iPad to tote around with a pressure-sensitive input pen and a display where you can't see the pixels so it actually looks like a good line, that'd be perfect! I don't think we're too far away from it.

Well, there's a small startup that is planning to release an E-ink tablet called the NoteSlate. Supposedly it'll retail for $99, but who knows if it'll be released. It's a pretty neat looking idea, and I'd definitely be interested in one.

http://www.noteslate.com/

HP and Dell were both using nTrig (think that's the right name) for their stylus, and it was interesting. I tried one of the Touchsmart TX2Z (?) 13" laptop/tablets, but they just weren't that good. Was too cumbersome, and while the pen input was ok I wasn't that impressed by it. Performance wasn't stellar either, and battery life was just too low. The biggest problem was that the display was awful because they put this film or something over it which made it look really poor. The display wasn't the highest quality to begin with, so it was a double whammy and made it practically unusable for me.

The HP convertible tablets were never that great. The good ones came from IBM/Lenovo and Toshiba, and a good majority of them had Wacom digitizers.