Can a tablet do ....

[Scorpeo]

My mother is interested in getting a tablet, or something similar. I don't know much about tablets, but I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me any suggestions.

She wants to:
-be able to plug in a flash drive stick and transfer data
-present a visual powerpoint presentation with audio imbedded in the powerpoint on the tablet itself, and projected onto a screen.

She travels to foreign countries and attends conferences and gives presentations, and she needs to bring her own laptop/tablet. She has a relatively new computer, so she doesn't really need another in the form of a laptop, she just needs to be able to bring and present her audios and visuals. Is this something that a tablet could do?

 

[sjwaste]

You might need to do your own googling for this one. I'd suggest searching things like tablet usb host mode, tablet usb flash drive, etc.

The iPad can do #2 on your list, I'm pretty sure, using Keynote and the video output accessory.

 

[Alone]

Playbook can do #2. I'm not aware of any traditional tablet that supports USB On The Go, but I think that's in the works for the Playbook as well.

 

[NeoV]

flash drive - no go on ipads, I know for sure it works on the new Acer tab - not sure about the Xoom

not sure on the projector part

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Doesn't an Asus Transformer have an mini-hdmi out on the dock.

I know it has a usb port so how about using an hdmi to dvi or something converter from the transformer onto the screen?

 

[Raduque]

The only tablet I know of that specifically advertises USB Host mode is the Archos 70 and Archos 101 Internet tablets. I believe they have HDMI out, too.

 

[shortylickens]

Hello Newb!
WELCOME!

Stay the hell away from P&N.

 

[Scorpeo]

She has an amplified sound system and LCD projector available in the conference room. If she chooses an iPad (it seems like this is what she is leaning toward), what accessories (cables) would she need for the connections? They say that they will have cables to connect a laptop to the sound/video equipment, but not tablets. If it makes any difference, she will be giving the talk in Korea, though I assume she will use this method for future conferences as well.

She is used to saving her presentations to a USB device and using an available laptop and giving her presentation. I think that's why she wanted to have a flash drive connector.

I thought it would be easier to buy an inexpensive laptop to take with her for presentations. It's not like she would be using it all of the time, just to take with her to the conferences. My father is the one who is saying that the laptop is becoming obsolete and steering her towards a tablet.

 

[Scorpeo]

Stay the hell away from P&N.

What is P&N?

 

[Patranus]

iPad + Camera Adapter + Flash Drive + iFile = Win

 

[JBT]

Honeycomb 3.1 should introduce host mode USB to Andriod tablets. I know the Acer Icona tablet has a full sized usb port and can do this already . The Xoom only has micro USB, but could work with an adapter once 3.1 is pushed to it. The Asus Transformer main unit also only has micro usb, but with the keyboard/dock will have 2 full sized USB ports.

 

[rchiu]

Heh, well there is a reason tablet is discussed in the "gadget" section. It's a nice toy to read stuff and play games. But for professional work like presentation, laptop is still the way to go.

Not to say iPad and other tablet will absolutely not work but it's very likely most conferences won't have the necessary equipment to connect tablet to presentation equipments. Maybe you see HDMI connector in all home theater projector, but I don't remember ever seeing one in any of my business meetings. Most business projectors don't even have DVI connection but still use vga ones. Good luck connecting to vga with tablets...

 

[Dulanic]

So if she just needs to do presentations and transfer files why is she looking at a tablet? This really isn't something tabelts are meant for nor are they ideal. Sure I think you "may" be able to do this but it will not be simple or easy. Why doesn't she get a netbook/tablet running windows? I mean sorry to you tablet people but this is really a situation a tablet isn't meant for not will it do it natively.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220894

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220817

 

[gorcorps]

I say go for a netbook as well. This is exactly one of those things that tablets still can't do, or at least do well. All netbooks that I know of still have standard VGA outputs so any self respecting office will have all the cables necessary to hook up projectors. Depending on the tablet she'd have to supply her own adapters, and if she forgets them she'll be screwed. Plus, while they have office apps they are probably not advanced enough to use all powerpoint features like embedded audio and animation.

Too much of a PITA to do it on a mobile OS tablet. Get a netbook. If she really wants a touchscreen, get one of those swivel netbooks.

 

[you2]

The acer iconia ($450 at best buy) supports usb thumb drives without cable et all. You could pop over to a local best buy and let her try it out.
-
With regards to the presentation that is a bit tricky. There is a software package called polaris (it came with the transformer) but I've not used it so can't comment.

 

[McWatt]

When she looks over a presentation and realizes she needs to make some edits based on what she heard in her last meeting, she's going to be desperate for a laptop or netbook to make those changes easy. If she wants the wow factor of a tablet and is willing to pay, a Lenovo X series tablet combines the power of a real computer with the display-facing of a tablet. If she simply wants portability, a netbook will be cheaper and vastly more powerful and versatile than any tablet. The only reason to get a tablet is if she's specifically trying to impress people with her cutting edge gadgets.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

While I love the tablet idea, and love what my Galaxy Tab can do (if you're a stargazer, the Google Sky Map alone is worth it!), currently there's no tablet that can do as much a lowly netbook, when it comes to content creation.

Tablets are for media consumption (Apple's Garage Band notwithstanding!), while the PC remains king in media creation and editing.

As such, I can only recommend a netbook or ultraportable for the purposes outlined by the OP. The price difference simply isn't worth it. Better to get a netbook and a Nook Color for the price of a Xoom alone... and you'd get more flexibility and more bang for the buck.

 

[s44]

When she looks over a presentation and realizes she needs to make some edits based on what she heard in her last meeting, she's going to be desperate for a laptop or netbook to make those changes easy.

Transformer!

(Most Android office apps do PP editing -- never tested this function myself, though.)

 

[Scorpeo]

Thanks for the replies, I did pass on the suggestions. She did go to the Apple store to look around and ask the sales people, and they told her about the same thing.

I too think a netbook would be cheaper and easier for her to use. I will look at the suggestions from Newegg, thanks.

 

[sjwaste]

Thanks for the replies, I did pass on the suggestions. She did go to the Apple store to look around and ask the sales people, and they told her about the same thing.

I too think a netbook would be cheaper and easier for her to use. I will look at the suggestions from Newegg, thanks.

If image (personal/professional, not PC graphics) is an issue, she could also consider an 11" MacBook Air. There are plenty of adapters available for the MiniDP - HDMI, VGA, DVI at least. And it looks cool, if that's a concern, as I previously suggested.

Not to mention, an MBA is going to outperform most netbooks.

 

[Rayb]

As it has been suggested the Asus Transformer can do what you ask, the Polaris suite has a very complete set of tools to edit all sorts of office documents.

I too think a netbook would be cheaper and easier for her to use. I will look at the suggestions from Newegg, thanks.

The whole point of a tablet is that it will replace netbooks eventually, just because the iPad isn't capable it doesn't mean any other tablet can't do it. The MBA doesn't even qualify in this price bracket (MBA $1000 > TF $500).