We have paid off all of our credit card debt and decided to save up for a "reward"; we are trying to decide between a tablet (like an iPad but cheaper) or a new laptop. What do you think is worth it? We went to Best Buy today and of course the kids had fun with playing Angry Birds (it was the first time any of us have ever played it) so they'd love a tablet. At first I thought of buying an e-Reader, but my husband thinks a tablet would be a better buy than an e-Reader. And both of us are thinking that maybe a new laptop would be more practical (but not as "fun" as a cool-looking tablet :-)
We don't want to spend more than $400 (before sales tax) so I'm not sure what to do...any suggestions? If you have a tablet, what kind do you have and do you like it? We already have a desktop and a laptop, but my laptop is a couple of years old; still good, but not sure when it might randomly stop working...but the tablets look fun and the kids might really like it....so I am being totally indecisive right now. Any opinions are welcome. Thanks!
Thanks ladies! Your answers have been very helpful. Since we have a desktop and laptop, I think we'll take the leap and buy a tablet as a fun reward. Now I need to decide which one to get! :-) Thanks for all your advice!
Based on what you want to spend and that it doesn't sound like you all have been in need of a computer thus far, I would suggest looking for a 1st generation iPad. The price is lower but still very cool and perfect for the entire family.
A 'tablet' or iPad... is more for internet/surfing online purposes and apps per playing games etc., and checking your e-mail.
A Laptop... is for when/if you need computer software/applications to do work on. Such as office applications, Microsoft office type applications (which they do have a Mac version) etc. And it is an operating system.
It is to do, work. As well as internet.
A tablet or iPad, is for doing fun web based stuff/games and checking or e-mail or watching YouTube type things.
It is not a 'computer'. It is not an OS. (operating system like a computer).
A tablet and iPad, are different. With an iPad, you can get Apple apps/games. Which are not widely available on other apparatuses.
These products, are comparing apples and oranges.
An iPad/Netbook tablet, does not replace, a standalone computer/laptop. But it is handy per using it for online things and taking it with you on the fly.
Differences from a Computer:
It does not support Flash or Javascript on webpages
It runs a mobile operating system and not a powerful desktop operating environment like Mac or Windows.
It only supports applications and softwares that are approved by Apple in the app store, and you cannot install 3rd party software without a jailbreak
It does NOT support pen input like other tablet PCs.
It does NOT have a USB or Firewire port for external devices
It does NOT have a port for Ethernet cables
It does NOT have a CD or DVD drive
You cannot upgrade the hardware
It is not, and should not be viewed as a standalone computer, as you need ANOTHER computer to sync your iTunes library to.
I got a tablet instead of a laptop and I don't regret it! All I use a tablet for is surfing the internet (mamapedia!), playing games, reading books and watching movies. My iPad is perfect for that! Plus I bought a bluetooth keyboard that's a real keyboard so it's JUST like a laptop in that regard. I can type up anything I want on it.
I did pay $800 for the whole setup, so I could have gotten a good sized laptop for that! However, I love my iPad and I still don't regret it!
I have a desktop computer for the heavy-duty stuff.
I'm replying from my iPad right now! I loooooove it. Before we got it (as a gift - my in-laws rock my world!) I wasn't sure what, if anything, I'd do with an iPad. The answer is... Everything! I use it as an e-reader (I wasn't sure about backlit - turns out it's not a problem, and I'm an avid reader). I use it to go online. I take it in my purse wherever I go - when I'm waiting forever at the girls' ballet lessons, I play Words With Friends, check Facebook, reply to emails, FaceTime with friends. I can't believe how useful this little thing is! I would definitely recommend the iPad.
Congrats on paying off your debt! Good for you! Enjoy!
lt all depends on what you want to do with it. A tablet is fun and more portable but is more difficult to any lengthy typing on. We use both and the kids really enjoy the tablet (an android, Ipad is too rich for my blood) but I'm not going to get any serious work done on it. We also have nook and kindle loaded on the tablet and use it to read in bed or on trips, but it is more of a gaming device than a computer.
As others have said, if you need to do a lot of typing on it, get a laptop. For almost everything else, an iPad is great!
I have a laptop because I mostly type (school papers, work documents, emails). My ex has both and he uses the tablet a lot and takes it with him always. It's like having a laptop, camera, GPS, and game machine all in one portable device. Our 9 year-old loves using it.
We have an iPad and iPad 2, plus laptops. For the money you want to spend you want to look at what you are going to use it for. If you just want something cool to play games, read books and magazines, and do light web surfing then you are better off with an iPad. If you want it for things like posting pictures or even photo shopping then you want a laptop. On a laptop you wouldn't have as much freedom for game use.
If just for games and you can wait until Christmas time Amazon is releasing the Kindle Fire ($199) that will play games, stream movies, access books and magazines, and let you do some surfing. The only thing is that you would have to buy games, movies, and books from Amazon.
Also you can purchase online refurbished iPad 2 for under $400.
Good luck and happy shopping.
If your looking for something to type on...then get a lap top.
If your looking for something to play games, watch movies, read, and/or surf the internet....get a tablet.
I would go with an Ipad. Just because I feel Apple makes the best tablets. The touch works the best, they have upgrades, and I think the majority of people/companies make applications for Apple vs any other tablet.
A tablet is great for reading, web surfing, quick emails, playing games, and for kids' games, books, etc. Not so great for doing anything complicated, like typing a long letter, word processing, design, photo retouching, etc. For the latter stuff a laptop is a must. Many programs that are available for Mac or Windows are starting to become available for tablets, but they're a "lite" (reduced-functionality) version. Although I should clarify that I'm only familiar with iPad, not any other tablet (Android, WebOS, etc.)
I absolutely love my Kyros Coby 8025. It was about 170. But it comes with the older versions of some of the software and you need to be pretty technically adventerous to find the forums online that tell how to update everything. I did it myself and it's awesome. If you spend about 250, you can get the next up version and I LOVE it!
I also like my laptop and it's a Dell. :) I bought my daughter an Asus for 400 even. But you know how that goes. Shipping, taxes, and it was 435 or so.
I ended up buying a laptop this last summer only because I need the keyboard.. I cannot use the tablets keyboard because I want to rest my finger on "home row" but when one does that with a tablet you start typing a bunch of crazy stuff.. so then I thought well you can always get a keyboard attachment and I was looking at the picture and it looks like a laptop but for much more money.. BUT I get that the tablets look bunches of fun.. I had a hard time being practical when deciding this past summer..
laptop.
You can play angry birds on google chrome on the laptop.
You can do SO much more on a laptop.
if you HAVE to have a tablet.
Get a Nook Color.
Yep it's an e reader, but it's got the functionality of a tablet.
It's got apps just like a regular tablet but it only costs 250.
I have both the ipad and a laptop and use them both every day but for different purposes. I like to throw my ipad in my purse when I'm going to be somewhere waiting on the kids like piano lesson or say McDonald's where I can use their Wifi. It's great for surfing the favorite spots like facebook and checking email without the bulk of a laptop. There is an app for everything you can imagine and many of them are free. The typing is a little more work but I saw at Best Buy recently that you can buy a mini keyboard for the Ipad so I put a little hint in Santa's ear already for that. I also use my ipad as my ereader, I just use the Nook app. When I traveled to Texas for four weeks this past summer, I only took my ipad and it was great to be able to do everything I would have done at home in Floriday, especially paying the bills with the BofA app. As others have said, there isn't any word processing on it but I don't do that much of it anyway so I can always come back to the laptop or the regular desk computer if need be. I know you said you don't want to spend over $400 but I would really recommend you save up the extra tiny bit more to get the ipad that is in the low $400 range. It will be more than enough memory to have tons of apps, you will be more than pleased with it. The problem will be the fights it causes when everyone in the house wants to play it...I got mine for Christmas last year but didn't get any serious time on it until well after the new year because the rest of the family was hogging it! LOL
If you already have a desktop and a laptop, I'd go tablet. I love my iPad and you can probably find a first generation iPad for around $400 if you wanted to go refurbished. I would get a tablet over an e-reader any day. Tablets are much more versatile.
I'm in the cult of Apple so I have to have everything they have (except I don't have an iPhone...boohoo!!!). You need to think of what you'll use it for. I have an iPod and I LOVE it, but I can't print from it (unless I get an HP printer that is compatible, but I use my iMac for that) and when you go to websites, it recognizes it as a mobile device (as opposed to viewing it on a computer) and no Flash support (at least not yet, here's hoping). But my 3 yo son loves it. And he knows how to work it all himself too. There are so many games and apps for it opposed to other tablets (but I'm an Apple geek so Im a lil one sided on that stuff). So if you can still print ok from your desktop and you have a laptop that still works, then go for an iPad.
Since you only have $400, you can get a first generation refurb from Apples site. Here is a link: http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB292LL/A. It's $399 for a 64gig which is a fantastic price since its $100 cheaper than the 16 gig 2nd gen model. But, if you decide to go for it, I wouldn't wait because I've checked this page a bit trying to convince my husband he can get a refurb cheap (so he will keep his hands of mine) and the 16 gig and 32 are already sold out and I believe the price on this has dropped since the last time I looked at it 2 months ago. Trust me.... iPad..especially if kids will be playing with it!
