How to use a 2-in-1 laptop?

[JEDI]

so i was at Costco and played around with a 13.3" 2-in-1.

i folded it in half so it's like a tablet (vertical) but when holding it, i didnt like that my fingers were pressing on the keyboard. it didnt affect anything since the laptop went into tablet mode and turned off the keyboard.
but i didnt like the feel.

was i doing it wrong?

 

[TheStu]

Not doing it wrong, that's just how foldable 2-in-1s work. For a more 'pure' tablet experience, you'd need to look at the Surface line (and Surface Book), since those can detach from their keyboards, the Galaxy Book S (I think that's the name), and Huawei used to sell the MateBook E, but I'm not sure if they still do.

Personally, I don't much care for touchscreen Windows or tablet Windows, and unless you desperately need a full Windows/Linux environment on your tablet, I'd recommend an iPad or Android tablet. I haven't actually spent much time with Android tablets, bur between my iPad Pro and MateBook E, the iPad is the superior _tablet_ experience (meaning finger/gesture driven, not-at-a-desk/table computing environment)

 

[piokos]

so i was at Costco and played around with a 13.3" 2-in-1.

i folded it in half so it's like a tablet (vertical) but when holding it, i didnt like that my fingers were pressing on the keyboard. it didnt affect anything since the laptop went into tablet mode and turned off the keyboard.
but i didnt like the feel.

Yeah, I have the same problem (but I use them rarely - mostly during presentations at work).
I know people who use them on daily basis and they somehow got used to it.

Some 2-in-1s let you detach the keyboard or even attach it rotated (so the keys are hidden in tablet mode).

Personally, I don't much care for touchscreen Windows or tablet Windows, and unless you desperately need a full Windows/Linux environment on your tablet, I'd recommend an iPad or Android tablet.

Are Android tables still "a thing"? They're totally useless at work and phones almost match them in size for consumer needs...

Sometimes an iPad is OK, but Windows is still more usable and popular.
Sure, it's easy to notice that tablet feature was added (forced...), while iPads were built as tablets from ground up.

 

[WelshBloke]

I can tell you how I use mine.

At a desk I just use it like a regular laptop.
Watching Netflix in bed I fold the screen over so the whole thing is like a tent or inverted V. It's pretty comfortable to watch videos like that when you are propped up on pillows.
If I'm watching a film at my desk I'll sometimes fold the screen over so the keys are facing the desk and just the screen is facing me.

I very rarely use it with the keyboard folded all the way back. 2 in 1s are a bit heavy to use as a pure tablet.

 

[JEDI]

Watching Netflix in bed I fold the screen over so the whole thing is like a tent or inverted V. It's pretty comfortable to watch videos like that when you are propped up on pillows.
If I'm watching a film at my desk I'll sometimes fold the screen over so the keys are facing the desk and just the screen is facing me.

I very rarely use it with the keyboard folded all the way back. 2 in 1s are a bit heavy to use as a pure tablet.

why even fold it back into a tent to watch netflix?
whats wrong with leaving it as a laptop with the keyboard in front of you to watch the movie?

 

[WelshBloke]

why even fold it back into a tent to watch netflix?
whats wrong with leaving it as a laptop with the keyboard in front of you to watch the movie?

It's just more comfortable when you're lying down not having the keyboard flapping around between you and the screen.

 

[WelshBloke]

Oh, if you are going to get one the first accessory you should get is a soft cloth to clean the screen. It's going to get smudgy really quickly !

 

[JustMe21]

Also a thick screen protector to take most of the hit if you drop it. Since Microsoft finally has the keyboard pop up in tablet mode when you click search boxes, it's become a lot more usable as a tablet. The down side is not as many applications are written for a Windows Tablet than for Android and iPad. I also like that since it's Windows 10, it is always getting updates, unlike Android or iOS, which stop doing updates at a certain point. I have a 5 year old Windows tablet that I upgraded from 8.1 to 10 and it still gets all updates despite only having a 32 GB drive.

 

[IntelUser2000]

I very rarely use it with the keyboard folded all the way back. 2 in 1s are a bit heavy to use as a pure tablet.

My XPS 12 is bit heavy at 3.5lbs but something like this I can see it being used much often.

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Personally, I don't much care for touchscreen Windows or tablet Windows, and unless you desperately need a full Windows/Linux environment on your tablet, I'd recommend an iPad or Android tablet.

For me, touchpads just suck. It's nothing like a mouse. For laptops touchscreen is a must. Opinions seem quite divided though. All in all both are right since whatever fits you is what you should have.

Are Android tables still "a thing"? They're totally useless at work and phones almost match them in size for consumer needs...

Sometimes an iPad is OK, but Windows is still more usable and popular.
Sure, it's easy to notice that tablet feature was added (forced...), while iPads were built as tablets from ground up.

If you have them you'll use them, I can tell you that.

The Galaxy Tablet I have is portable and doesn't heat up. And touch features are far superior to Windows-based ones.

I'm hoping 10X makes Windows Tablets much better. Windows 8-10 just doesn't work. 10X goes back to icons and is similar to iOS/Android. I don't care at all about the dual/folding screens. It's the UI change I see the potential in.

For Windows I'd like to see Intel Lakefield based hybrids and 2-in-1s. Yes it probably won't be the best laptop, but it'll be a much better Tablet.* You do have to choose which point in the Tablet-Laptop slider is optimal for you.

*Convertible(not detachable) with 2 lbs weight, 11-12 inch screen and good pen support please!

 

[ElFenix]

If I'm watching a film at my desk I'll sometimes fold the screen over so the keys are facing the desk and just the screen is facing me.

i fold this way for in bed as well so i can angle the screen toward me, instead of above me.

 

[piokos]

For me, touchpads just suck. It's nothing like a mouse. For laptops touchscreen is a must. Opinions seem quite divided though. All in all both are right since whatever fits you is what you should have.

They aren't supposed to be like a mouse. They aren't replacing them. It's a different input method, excelling in different scenarios.

If you have them you'll use them, I can tell you that.

The Galaxy Tablet I have is portable and doesn't heat up. And touch features are far superior to Windows-based ones.

But you don't buy a tablet for "superior touch features". You buy it to do some tasks - just like any other device.

The most obvious selling point of Windows tablets is that they run Windows. So they're automatically usable in all kinds of scenarios when you're relying on Windows software.
And yeah... one can also run Linux, but it's sadomasochistic experience most of the time.

iPads also work well in Apple-based ecosystems. And they have some nice iOS-only software.

Android tablets really don't bring much to the table. A well built, powerful one will cost as much as an iPad - still offering less in software and use experience.
And on the other end: cheaper Android tablets are just really slow and behind Android smartphones on features.

So I'm just really surprised that people - having already bought a 5-7" smartphone - are willing to pay for a second device that doesn't offer anything beside a slightly larger screen.

 

[Sak78]

i fold this way for in bed as well so i can angle the screen toward me, instead of above me.

You did a great job.