What do you use your tablet for?

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Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
What games do people play on their tablets? Not counting Angry Birds and its countless derivatives.

Anyone trying the Zenonia series? Rise of Ayden HD? The Settlers HD?
 
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Doboji

Diamond Member
May 18, 2001
7,912
0
76
I use my tablet for (iPad2):

Reading:
Magazines, Comic Books, Kindle... Magazines and Comics really pop on a tablet... absolutely a pleasure to read. Using it like a Kindle it suffers from the same issues you'd expect from a backlit screen... it does hurt the eyes over time.

Gaming:
I play lots and lots of games on the Tablet... being a married man this is now my goto gaming platform since I can't get away with breaking out the Xbox anymore...

Work:
Email and Calendaring is a snap... I also use it to read technical docs, and to review presentations while waiting my turn to present.

Media:
Movies, TV shows... Youtube... whatever.. Great way to show off pictures to people.

I only have the 16GB wifi iPad 2... I need more space..
 
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runawayprisoner

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2008
2,496
0
76
Let's see... I use my iPad 2 for the following. In terms of importance:

0) Test my apps.

1) Quick news queries. Weather, tech news, business news, Anandtech, etc...

2) Quick web search. Google is literally at my fingertip.

3) Maps + GPS. Big 9.7" screen is much better than anything smaller.

4) Import photos from my DSLR, do quick edits, and upload them to Flickr, Facebook, etc... Also works as an awesome image viewer.

5) Check out some cool videos on Youtube, watch Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc... AVPlayerHD handles all of my 720p videos without a hitch and Air Video plays the rest of the 1080p crowd, plus I get a full HDMI port, so there is no complaining here.

6) Read PDFs, books, documents, spreadsheets, etc...

7) Take notes and sync notes to my Macbook.

8) Read and check my multiple email accounts.

9) Skype, FaceTime, Yahoo!

10) Sketch small simple concepts, blow them up in vector apps and go in-depth before transferring to Macbook and Photoshop for final touches.

11) Check eBay and Craigslist via dedicated apps.

12) Remote computing using VNC, SSH, and the likes...

13) Play a quick game of Tetris, Chess, or Monopoly while waiting for stuffs to finish.

14) Use the various utility apps on the App Store.
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
Using Nook Color with CM7 for reading books, web browsing, or just toying around. I got more than my money's worth, but I'm glad I didn't get suckered into the tablet hype as if a tablet can ever replace my desktop PC.
 
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alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
have an ipad 2, iphone 4, chrome laptop and android phone at home. rarely use the latptops now. ipad 2 is the best of them all. had an android phone for a few months and would never pay more than $50 for one
 
S

shurato

Platinum Member
Sep 24, 2000
2,398
0
76
I have an Asus Transformer. I use it to read things in bed, on the toilet, on the balcony. Play mindless games on long road trips/vacation while intoxicated. Watch the occasional movie. Disappointing I have to convert mkv's to mp4 using handbrake though. Video/audio playback on divx files can even have issues with multiple different players on my tablet.

Overall i think it's pretty good for a toy. The screen is very clear and text is quite easy to read however it get's rather uncomfortable holding it for reading for long. I got rid of my netbook but kind of wished I had kept it in hindsight. My tablet hasn't blown me away or anything and am kind of dissapointed at the performance of videos and flash video. For $400 I guess it wasn't so bad all things considered. If I could do it over again I'd probably wait for the next gen android tablets only because I only really bought this one out of curiosity and not any kind of need.
 
mooncancook

mooncancook

Platinum Member
May 28, 2003
2,874
50
91
Browse web on the couch, in the bathroom, and in the bed. Read manga. Watch videos in the bed. Play casual games when I want to kill some time. Listen to online radios. For all these light non-productive tasks I prefer the tablet over my notebook most of the time.
 
Cogman

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,284
138
106
Bateluer said:
I installed some of my fitness apps that work well on my phone and some others that I use extensively, and they all functioned. With some shrinkage from the higher resolution displays. But, conspicuously absent, Netflix, Hulu, Skype with Video, etc. You know, the things that'd actually make a tablet better than a paperweight. I can see retarded studios and executives delaying NetFlix and Hulu over licensing issues and fears of their own irrelevance in the modern age, but why the delay with Skype Video? Other than being owned by Microsoft, Skype doesn't have to pay licensing fees or work with carriers to produce a tablet app?
Click to expand...

:), small note, the Touchpad tackles Hulu like a champ. Just visit the Hulu webpage and watch your videos. It's awesome that way.

As far as internet browsing experience goes, the Touchpad is pretty dang amazing. It is has all the features that you would want in a web browser (other than adblock.. It doesn't have that yet.)
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Cogman said:
:), small note, the Touchpad tackles Hulu like a champ. Just visit the Hulu webpage and watch your videos. It's awesome that way.

As far as internet browsing experience goes, the Touchpad is pretty dang amazing. It is has all the features that you would want in a web browser (other than adblock.. It doesn't have that yet.)
Click to expand...

The two BB's near me have an HP rep on site to 'sell' the TouchPad. But, they really haven't done a good job, at least, when I've looked at the WebOS TouchPad and the HP Printer with the 7in tablet addon. For starters, they don't have the TouchPad connected to any sort of app account, so there's no way to view their app market or download apps to the TouchPad in the store. The floor models have only had the basic stuff the tablet comes with out of the box. Compared to the Android tablets where BB has their store account set up with purchasing blocked, so you can view the Market and download free apps.
 
yllus

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I do a lot of browsing on my PlayBook, plus reading Twitter and Facebook and watching videos on various websites (I heart its Flash player performance).
 
Cogman

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,284
138
106
Bateluer said:
The two BB's near me have an HP rep on site to 'sell' the TouchPad. But, they really haven't done a good job, at least, when I've looked at the WebOS TouchPad and the HP Printer with the 7in tablet addon. For starters, they don't have the TouchPad connected to any sort of app account, so there's no way to view their app market or download apps to the TouchPad in the store. The floor models have only had the basic stuff the tablet comes with out of the box. Compared to the Android tablets where BB has their store account set up with purchasing blocked, so you can view the Market and download free apps.
Click to expand...

Well, TBH the app market for the HP tablet is not all that great. Most apps available are built for the phone, and the way HP decided to handle running phone apps on their touchpad simply sucks (tiny screen that doesn't expand)

It does have some good apps available, but certainly nowhere near the volume of Ipad or Android apps.

Internet browsing and multitasking are the Touchpad's strong points.
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
I'm really trying to find a reason to buy a tablet. :p

It concerns me that so many people this thread are using a device primarily controlled through touch input for toilet reading and porn. Yuck.
 
M

mcmilljb

Platinum Member
May 17, 2005
2,144
2
81
Tristicus said:
As I said, I look at a tablet as a toy. But, in trying to reason with myself, I am waiting for the Thrive. The Thrive sports the same specs as the other laptops, but has a full size SD card slot, full size HDMI, full size USB port, and feels great apparently. It is as heavy as the Xoom, but the way it is built makes it feel lighter (according to Engadget). Toshiba built a file browser for it, so you can plug in the SD card or any USB drive and use it as an actual hub for your files, unlike the Iconia, whereas I last checked, was unable to actually utilize the USB port it has like it should. The battery is removable, so is the back - Toshiba seems to really be supporting the open ended-ness of its tablet, and maybe that is why they also didn't put any skin (well, at least in the pre-release builds) onto 3.1 Honeycomb. It starts at $429 for a measly 8gb, but you can pop a <$30 16gb SD card in there and be at 24gb at least. I will be springing for the 32gb version more than likely - I haven't pre-ordered it for the simple fact that I want to see the reviews for it.
Click to expand...

It's called using 2 hands ;)

I enjoy my Xoom for browsing and reading. This is my first android device, so I am just getting used to it. Only the weight bothers me. Due to the Xoom's SD defect, its price has been dropping. That's why I managed to snag one for $450 after tax. You can get it for $450 before tax right now at Staples.

I think the Xoom, Galaxy and Thrive are good competitors. Solid build quality compared to the Acer and Asus tablets. Each one has a bit of an advantage. The Galaxy is for someone who wants thin and light weight and maybe sparse attachments. The Xoom adds weight, but stays slim with always present additional ports in their smaller form factor. Cheaper due to the lack of a functional microSD slot. If it gets its microSD problem fixed, it's ready to actually compete again. The Thrive is heavy and chunkier but full size ports. Although I think most people switching to tablets will have microSD because of their phone. Plus you can carry an extra battery if you need one.

You can find one for your needs or price.
 
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mcmilljb

Platinum Member
May 17, 2005
2,144
2
81
Bateluer said:
I'm really trying to find a reason to buy a tablet. :p

It concerns me that so many people this thread are using a device primarily controlled through touch input for toilet reading and porn. Yuck.
Click to expand...

Hey, it made toilet reading lighter! lol
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Bateluer said:
I'm really trying to find a reason to buy a tablet. :p

It concerns me that so many people this thread are using a device primarily controlled through touch input for toilet reading and porn. Yuck.
Click to expand...

i play angry birds on mine when im on the shitter


i also use it for web browsing and such when im watching TV. us eit for videos when i travel for work. I just reencode them with handbrake and toss a bunch on to fight boredom on planes/airport
 
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