How do YOU use your tablet? Gaming? Productivity?

[ibex333]

There is plenty of similar discussions on the internet, but I created this thread to get even more info...

More and more, people talk about how tablets are replacing laptops and phasing out netbooks completely. But are they really?

From my research, I concluded that very few people actually do something truly productive or awesome with their tablet. Most have it sitting around as a glorified toy. Things like playing games, watching porn on the toilet, aimlessly browsing the internet seem to be most common. There is also a crowd that reads books, and that crowd is split into two. Those who casually read text only books on a 7" tablet, and those who don't even consider a tablet unless it's 10" because technical books with graphs and charts are impossible to read on anything smaller.

There is also a cool few who have enough space on their desk to have a tablet sitting on a charge stand, constantly updating the user on mail, weather, tasks, etc, etc. (But then, why just not have a second monitor and put a few widgets on it to accomplish the same?)

There are also artists with their wacom styluses(styli?) but the truly talented ones are very very few. Off course my personal opinion on that has nothing to do with just how useful tablets are, which is why I want to hear your thoughts. What do you use your tablet for? How often? Does it really replace your laptop or netbook to the point of you not owning a laptop at all?

 

[Kaido]

I got rid of mine & switched to a Chromebook. I went through a laptop, a netbook, and an iPad before finally settling on a new Haswell-based Chromebook (Acer 720 series). I wanted something portable for accessing the Internet, with a physical keyboard & good battery life. I get the full Internet experience on it (minus Java), but without having to do any kind of maintenance at all - updates, antivirus, anti-spyware, etc. It does an occasional update with hardly a blimp on my radar.

I did opt for the touchscreen, but would not get it again - it's semi-convenient when scrolling & stuff, but 2-finger scroll & the spacebar work just fine. Also, the touchscreen on the Acer C720P is not that good (not the most responsive - I also have an 11.6" Acer touchscreen running Windows 8 as my work laptop & it's got a WAY better touchscreen). I'm a pretty heavy tab user & I've found 2GB of RAM to be just fine, so I'd just buy the $199 base model if I were to buy again.

We do have one tablet in the house - a Galaxy Tab for Kids. It's got a huge rubber bumper, a toddler-friendly handle, and a jumbo stylus the size of a marker. It's great when we need a quick "babysitter" when cooking dinner or cleaning up, or in the car when the fits start.

The only other "tablet" I'd consider buying at this point is an HP Slate 21, which is a 21" touchscreen monitor running Android. It's only a 2-finger touchscreen (not 10-finger input) & it's not portable at all because it has no battery, but it'd be amazing in the kitchen for recipes, Pandora, Netflix, etc. My plan is to mount one between my fridge & oven, mainly for recipes & music while cooking, once the "Pro" version comes out (Pro version is black; current one is white). Plus it's only $399, which is pretty reasonable for something that requires virtually no maintenance, unlike a Windows AIO would.

 

[paperwastage]

I actively use a dual-monitor desktop, hp touchpad tablet, kindle DX, asus T100 hybrid, nexus 5


I treat my asus T100(windows 8.1 bay trail) as a tablet, netbook and laptop




at home, anything demanding where I can sit down, I use my desktop (power, dual screen is more productive)

my hp touchpad tablet gets relegated to the bathroom... too slow

my kindle DX is for my commute for reading

my nexus 5 is for emails / quick on-the-go web browsing

my asus T100 hybrid is light and powerful enough to do anything else (eg commute / 10-15 minute period, I can just take it out and do 90% of what I can do on my desktop/phone, most of the time undocked as a tablet, enough battery life and performance)

 

[Yuriman]

I have a Nexus 7 2012 32GB which was gifted to me. I used it in place of my phone a lot when I first got it, mostly things like goofing off in class, reading forums/feeds in bed, looking at recipes in the kitchen. However after replacing my Galaxy S2 with a Moto X I have been using the Nexus primarily as my car-MP3 player because the X doesn't have sufficient storage for my MP3s anymore (no uSD), and has a more pleasant screen for browsing.

 

[ControlD]

I got rid of my iPad and went back to using a laptop for any heavy mobile lifting. I use my Note 2 for any tablet type duties these days such as reading ebooks and watching streaming video while I run on the treadmill.

I was surprised how little I actually missed having a tablet around. I can see me getting one in the future running a full desktop OS but I doubt I will go back to a phone OS tablet again.

When I did have the tablet, I used it mainly for web browsing, email, games, video streaming and ebook reading. Nothing fancy, but tablets are good consumption devices.

 

[ibex333]

Just want to add my personal thoughts which I didn't put in my OP.

I had an HP Touchpad which I immediately sold, because at the time there was no working hack to install Android on it, and I disliked the default OS.

Then I bought and iPad 2 which I actually used for internet and games but sold it later because it spend too much time just sitting idle.

After that I got an iPad 3 which I still use. It's great for reading due to its size, and I was actually able to study programming books(again due to the size).

Got a Nexus 7 (1st edition) to keep updated on the mail, tasks and other things and browsing in bed, but quickly sold, because the battery life was abysmal, and when completely drained was very hard to charge again.(a common issue). Also I'd love a tablet which has notification leds and sounds when off, but I dont know of any such tablet.


Now looking at Nexus 7(2nd ed) or a Galaxy Note 10.1. I love my Note 3, especially for it's note taking ability, only problem is poor in-call sound and bad speakerphone. I can imagine a Note tablet will be even better for notes.

 

[gmaster456]

Email and web browsing on the iPad. Productivity wise I would rather use a desktop, laptop or windows tablet. Not a huge gamer anymore either.

 

[Sunburn74]

Mostly email, web browsing, notes at work, and a few reference apps dedicated to my job. For airports and downtime the music ability is very nice, as you can spare your cell phones battery charge.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I think my use would fall into the toy department. I have a nexus 7 2013 which I use mostly for reading, email, and web browsing. I just got an iPad air today which I expect to be used for many of the same things, with perhaps a bigger emphasis on video and gaming due to the larger screen. Tablets fit my usage patterns pretty well at home. My primary home PC is now an HTPC, which isn't super convenient to attempt to use as you would a desktop, so most of my web surfing at home is done from the couch or recliner. Balancing a laptop in my lap just doesn't feel as comfortable and natural as a tablet in that situation.

I never really tried to justify a tablet in terms of productivity. I bought my first one because I thought it looked cool, and I continued buying them because it turned out to be a great convenience in my daily life. I'm pretty sure I can't go back to regular pcs for mundane web content consumption now. I eventually found use for them productively too, but I never would have discovered how if I hadn't made the leap to start with. That's icing on the cake for me though.

 

[CuriousMike]

My Tab 3 8.0 is the screen I use for bed.

Gaming and reading pretty equal, with a quick FB check once in awhile.

 

[zerocool84]

Reading

Forums, articles, magazines

I don't like mobile games and watching movies on a tiny screen sucks.

 

[Imp]

Got rid of my Playbook years ago because I wasn't using it. Wasn't into reading then, so no use as an e-reader -- way too expensive when released to be a glorified e-reader.

Recently got an e-ink Kindle for only $80 with access to the Kindle store, which is better than the Kobo store for me. Only complaint is that the keyboard is a bitch to use. Should have bought the Paperwhite version for an extra $60?

Love my desktop, but my laptop comes in handy all the time, and it was the same price I paid for a new Playbook.

 

[bearxor]

I use it for almost everything I used a laptop at home for. That's why they're popular. The ultra vast majority of people don't need to be productive with their computers. They need to look stuff up, maybe write papers if they're in school, pay bold, watch netflix, send email. All pretty basic stuff easily accomplished on a tablet. I could do my entire job as a help desk lackey off an iPad right now, including remote control support. I've been pushing to try to get my laptop replaced with a Venue 11 Pro (Bay Trail) but that's not going to happen. The very few things I absolutely can't do on an iPad, I do through RDP on the iPad to a home server.

I foresee a future in which what we call a "computer" doesn't exist. You'll have a phone, tablet or large screen, it'll connect to a cloud-hosted OS that holds all your files, programs, settings, etc. you'll connect and everything will be accessible everywhere and the interfaces will adjust themselves depending on the device type and resolution. Traditional computers will still exist, but will be purchased more for specific tasks as opposed to general use.

 

[Zaap]

I use my Nook HD+ currently to flip through PDF files of storyboards and scripts for TV shows I'm currently editing while at a workstation. I already max my screen real-estate on the desktop and don't want to bother messing with that rather than just offload the duties to a tablet. The tablet being portable is an invaluable advantage over just piling more fixed tasks onto the desktop.

I can carry around an entire season of work media files and refer to them whenever there's a question I need to ask of a director or anyone else involved in the process. Rather than going and retrieving hard copy, I can just bring my tablet over and say "Hey, what's going on with this scene?" and just show them and get an answer using the tablet.

My desk used to be piled high with hard copy. One year I saved just half a season worth of all this material (tens of thousands of storyboard and script pages) and stacked it next to my desk- the stack nearly reached the ceiling.

So now my tablet saves me from dealing with an avalanche of paper and makes my life a lot easier.

I also keep the animatic movies and first color edit movies of shows I work on my Note 3, so I can refer back to prior episodes during a season from anywhere. An SD card slot is a must for me, because I don't want to be limited by a tiny amount of internal storage, I need tons of work media with no worries about space. (Currently I work on two TV series for two different employers, so I'm constantly rotating multiple edits at various stages of up to 48 episodes.)

Basically, anyone that works in film and dealing with edits in constant flux before final cut could probably make use of a tablet. It's a different tool than a laptop (I use my rMPB a lot, but it's not a tablet substitute for me, nor is a tablet a laptop/desktop substitute.) It's a tool that I find has its own advantages.

I'm currently planning an upgrade to a Galaxy Note Pro 12.1, or possibly a Windows 8.1 tablet. I'm leaning more to the Note Pro 12.1- the size will make reading storyboard PDFs that much easier, and it's a safe bet it'll chew through large files faster than my Nook HD+. Basically, I'll replace all my work functions (for a tablet) with it, as well as use it for drawing, light note taking, and the usual tablet duties. (eBooks, comics, email, surfing, monitoring a few IP cams, etc.)

My Nook HD+ is also my bedside "grab it and surf" toy, and I watch the occasional movie or TV show on it (usually in bed when my wife is asleep and I don't want to wake her with the TV, or bother going to another room). We have another Nook HD+ that's become a coffee table surfer, as well as a dedicated XBMC remote for the den. (Absolute KILLER use for a tablet or smartphone, BTW).

When traveling, I like just throwing a tablet in a bag and have a quick entertainment platform/sketchpad/reader for the plane, or if I get cooped up somewhere.

Replacement for a desktop? No way in hell. For a laptop? Still no. But I see it as filling different needs than either.

 

[jhansman]

My Nexus 7 is used mostly for reading, some games, some web browsing. Tried two Samsung 10.1" tablets and both went back. Technology was fine, but too much bloat and not enough reason to keep them for what they set me back in cost. As my Kindle used to be, the Nexus is now just what I carry around with me all the time. It's better at some things than my SG3, not as good for others, and neither can replace my desktop.

 

[Raduque]

I have a TF101. I don't use it for games and I barely use it for video because the Tegra2 is a terrible chipset and completely ball-less when it comes to horsepower.

I use it mostly for browsing and recently got a BT keyboard to type on it easier with. I also read books and comics on it. I wouldn't consider any tablet to be usable for me if it was less than a 10" screen, because my eyes are pretty bad.

 

[Darknite39]

I use my Touchpad with cm10 for pdf reading and Google music at work due to the great speakers. I bought my nook hd+ just to read comic books. I would like to get a bigger, higher resolution tablet with a microSD slot, but I can't afford it. Maybe in a couple of years I'll grab one. I can't really complain about my current setup. I use my triple monitor desktop for real work and a slightly smaller setup running off of my T61 while at work (they only supplied me with a crummy dell).

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Think I've said this a few times recently...
my tablet history in chronological order:

Ainol Nova 7 - Spent more time with roms than using... minus watching Archer on a 10+ hour train ride. It's on a shelf right now, was going to give it away but the ROM on it isn't stable enough to give away and I don't care enough to fix it up

iPad Gen4 - This is the wife's. She uses it a lot, has since we got it Christmas 2012. It's replaced a laptop for her, but she only browses, watches movies, and listens to music. I used to use it for browsing and a few games.

Nexus 2013 - When I got this at release I completely stopped using the wife's iPad and my laptop use went down. It was used for movies, browsing, and reading. And occasionally playing Plague and trying to wipe out humanity..

Dell Venue 8 Pro - Got this the second week of December and haven't looked back. I haven't touched or missed my Nexus 7, minus Qi Charging, since I got it. I use it for movies, browsing, reading, AND Office. In fact I'm at a coffee shop right now typing this whole thing from a BT keyboard. I just finished typing up a 13-page essay on it and I absolutely love it. This tablet hit both points, it's useful AND fun...

 

[Demo24]

Nexus 7: mostly for living room internet surfing, YouTube remote, email, and news. I use it most every morning as I drink a cup of coffee and get caught up with what's going on.

Surface pro 2: I use it for everything from work to play. During the day its my work laptop that travels with me. On the weekends it can be whatever I need it to be. Pretty fantastic device really. Probably used a tad more as a laptop though.

I don't really use my laptop anymore, which is a shame since its fairly nice. Desktop is upstairs and used these days for things like bill keeping and mostly gaming.

 

[number29ag]

I use my tablet for gaming, podcast listening, email and web browsing. I don't need a tablet to be productive, I have no use for a productive computer of any sort other than at work, and that's a desktop machine that sits on my desk.

 

[nOOky]

I have a Kindle Fire that I use mainly for reading. Very rarely I'll use it for a video or something, or maybe a quick game or two before bed. I probably would be able to get by with a cheap tablet just for reading.

I have a gaming laptop that basically just sits there also. I never used it for it's intended purpose, gaming on the road while traveling for work. I should sell it, but it probably won't fetch nearly what I paid for it.

I don't watch videos or movies on any of my mobile devices, let's face it a movie with tinny sound on a small screen sux.

 

[Oyeve]

Adult cinema.

 

[desura]

I use my tablet less than I thought I would.

It turns out that I use my smartphone a lot because I can take it anywhere. And I use my desktop when I'm home because it is so capable.

But my tablet is in-between. So it doesn't really get used much.

 

[Red Storm]

I have a work issued laptop, a gaming desktop at home, and a Note 10.1.

The laptop is only ever used at work, though I have to take it home with me everyday. The desktop is only used to game on. I don't do Photoshop or Autocad or any of that stuff. x86 Windows has only one purpose in my life, and that is to play PC games. I use the Note 10.1 for everything else. I love the mobility, I love the stylus, and I love the selection of apps that covers all my needs. I tried using an iPad as my main computing device but that experiment quickly came to an end because iOS is too confined. Android tablets work much better as "computer substitutes", at least for me anyway.

I don't watch videos or movies on any of my mobile devices, let's face it a movie with tinny sound on a small screen sux.

A tablet sits much closer to your face than a TV. The size actually favors the tablet when you factor that in.

I actually prefer to watch videos on my tablet than on our TV. It's hard to describe, but it just feels more "personal" and immersive to me. Maybe it's because my headphones are very good lol.

 

[Instan00dles]

I have a surface RT and I use mine for a bit of everything. Over christmas break it was the only computing device I had with me and I can only think of one time where I wished I had a laptop with me. Was able to plug in a AIO printer to the table, scan a will with one note OCR, edit it in word and reprint the will with the changes. Watch streaming tv shows and wireless transmit it to my friends WD media box. Most of the time I use to for web browsing and general media consumption, just with it was a bit faster.