Need a Tablet recommendation

[Morgray]

Heya, I am asking this for a friend of mine. She wants to buy herself a Tablet to use comfortably on the couch and on the go. There are a couple of things she would like to have such as:

A large display >10" , LTE, should have Windows, preferably comes with a keyboard attachment, needs to be fast, atleast 120~Gb storage space.

At first I was looking at the Surface Pro 4, but it does not have an LTE option, so I thought maybe the Surface 3 might be sufficient aswell, but there are quite many devices out there, so I am hoping that someone here has a good recommendation.

Thank you

 

[cronos]

You're leaving out budgetary goal and the type of programs she'll be running. You're mentioning the SP4 so clearly she doesn't mind paying over $1000?

Either way, I don't think she's going to have a lot of options if cellular connection is a requirement. She might have to resort to tethering or carrying some sort of MiFi or USB dongle separately to truly open up dozens of options. There are some really good 2-in-1 convertible laptops out there right now.

 

[futurefields]

Your limited to the Surface if you want Windows and a keyboard and LTE aren't ya?

 

[cronos]

Your limited to the Surface if you want Windows and a keyboard and LTE aren't ya?

There are some 2-in-1s (essentially laptops with detachable/flippable keyboard) with LTE from Dell/HP/Sony/etc. But usually they are either underpowered or really expensive. Surface is somewhat of a safe, in between, option.

 

[sm625]

I basically just threw my windows tablet away because it is far too painful and frustrating to use on the couch. I cannot emphasize enough just how unusable and broken they are. Consider either an android tablet plus a standard notebook, or even just a large phone and a standard notebook.

 

[Commodus]

Does she insist on Windows, or run apps that specifically require it? The problem, as others have illustrated, is that finding a fast Windows tablet with LTE is very hard. You can get a fast tablet, or you can get LTE, but you can't really get both.

If it's simply because she's used to Windows (or has been cajoled into believing she wants it), she should probably consider something like an iPad Pro -- 9.7- or 12.9-inch depending on what she's comfortable with. It's fast, it has 128GB and 256GB storage options, there's an official keyboard attachment... and importantly, it's trivially easy to get one with LTE. You're going to find more tablet-native apps than on Android or Windows, for that matter.

The main question is whether or not it'll cover everything she wants to do. If Windows is a must-have, then it might be easier to get an LTE hotspot and connect to that in a pinch.

 

[Midwayman]

Why windows? I mean the office apps are on iOS and (I think) android. Is there something on windows they need specifically?

 

[cronos]

Why windows? I mean the office apps are on iOS and (I think) android. Is there something on windows they need specifically?

Yeah this is why I asked about the specific type of programs she'll be running. It makes a lot of difference if it's simply just for Office applications or if she wants to run games on Steam.

 

[Morgray]

Either way, I don't think she's going to have a lot of options if cellular connection is a requirement. She might have to resort to tethering or carrying some sort of MiFi or USB dongle separately to truly open up dozens of options. There are some really good 2-in-1 convertible laptops out there right now.

Thank you for that idea, I have not thought about this possibility. Might be worth considering, though I have the feeling that she would rather not have to do that. Yes paying upwards of 1000$ is an option for her.

The only reason Windows would be beneficial afaik would be for her to use a single program she needs for work, it is a type of accounting program I think for her physical therapy patients. Its called ADAD 95 if I am not mistaken.

Maybe it would really be best just to get an Apple product if she can do without the windows program, she does have an Iphone (5 I think).

Thanks for the suggestions so far, they have really helped me

What she definately wants is a fast device, so I was wondering whether or not the eMMC on the Surface 3 is actually slow? Does anyone here know?

 

[quikah]

Thank you for that idea, I have not thought about this possibility. Might be worth considering, though I have the feeling that she would rather not have to do that. Yes paying upwards of 1000$ is an option for her.

The only reason Windows would be beneficial afaik would be for her to use a single program she needs for work, it is a type of accounting program I think for her physical therapy patients. Its called ADAD 95 if I am not mistaken.

Maybe it would really be best just to get an Apple product if she can do without the windows program, she does have an Iphone (5 I think).

Thanks for the suggestions so far, they have really helped me

What she definately wants is a fast device, so I was wondering whether or not the eMMC on the Surface 3 is actually slow? Does anyone here know?

Yeah, it is slow, but it is all relative. It is slow compared to an SSD, it is not that slow compared to a HDD. It is fast enough for what I need it to do.

She needs to examine what exactly she wants to do on the device. Since you mention an accounting program it seems she wants something to use for work.

Why does she want a tablet as opposed to a laptop?

Does she need office? Is the mobile version of Office good enough? That is all that would run on an iPad. It is generally good enough for most people, but it will be missing some features. You can run the full office on a Windows tablet. Also be aware there is no touchpad/mouse on an iPad, so you would need to do everything short of typing on the touchscreen.

You can see feature comparisons of the various Office products here:
https://support.office.com/en-us/Search/results?query=compare+features+different+platforms

 

[gorcorps]

I basically just threw my windows tablet away because it is far too painful and frustrating to use on the couch. I cannot emphasize enough just how unusable and broken they are. Consider either an android tablet plus a standard notebook, or even just a large phone and a standard notebook.

To each his own, but based on my experience and uses I'd pick my surface Pro over any android tablet I've seen every time.

The thing to also keep in mind is that Windows can run android emulators if you like it that much better, so you have options. As long as the hardware is sound, you can have the best of both worlds.

http://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-emulators-for-pc-655308/

 

[Morgray]

She needs to examine what exactly she wants to do on the device. Since you mention an accounting program it seems she wants something to use for work.

Why does she want a tablet as opposed to a laptop?

Does she need office? Is the mobile version of Office good enough? That is all that would run on an iPad. It is generally good enough for most people, but it will be missing some features. You can run the full office on a Windows tablet. Also be aware there is no touchpad/mouse on an iPad, so you would need to do everything short of typing on the touchscreen.

You can see feature comparisons of the various Office products here:
https://support.office.com/en-us/Search/results?query=compare+features+different+platforms

One thing she mentioned is that she also wants to use it for simple (Amazon for example) shopping and watching movies while on the couch. Whether or not she really needs Office I am not sure.

I'll ask her about Office and let her know what you wrote.

Edit: I think comfortability/ease of use is the most important factor for her alongside a fast and responsive device, working on it is not a requirement from what I understood.

 

[Commodus]

One thing she mentioned is that she also wants to use it for simple (Amazon for example) shopping and watching movies while on the couch. Whether or not she really needs Office I am not sure.

I'll ask her about Office and let her know what you wrote.

Edit: I think comfortability/ease of use is the most important factor for her alongside a fast and responsive device, working on it is not a requirement from what I understood.

If work isn't all that essential... iPad Pro, most likely.

It's practically fast for what she wants to do, and she'll actually find more tablet-native apps for movies and such than she'd get if she were on Windows. And like I mentioned, it's much easier to get an LTE model. The only gotcha is that the official Apple Smart Keyboard isn't good on laps, but I suspect that won't be a big deal when she's on the couch watching movies.