What exactly is a "tablet" used for?

[Phoenix84]

Thanks for asking wrongsideof30,

I've been wondering the same thing. I never saw the point of tablets myself. If I want to use a computer I'll use one. I got a samsung tablet for work and it's a pain in the ass to use. It's so small and hard to hit anything with the suer interface. But I have bad eyes so staring at small screens gives me a headache.

Tablets to me just seem like computers with a different interface.

Only real use I can see for it is watching movies on the go. Maybe checking the internet real fast for something.

If I want to play games I'll play games on my PC or XBOX. If I want to do work there's no way I'll use a tablet. If I want to watch movies I'll watch them on my 24 inch monitor on my computer or my big screen TV.

If I'm on the go, I'm content with my MP3 player.

I never saw the point of the kindle either. I prefer just listening to books on tape on my MP3 player. I don't have to use my eyes at all and it's much lighter than even an Ipad.

[muttleynfelix]

My husband and I love our iPad even more than we thought we would. We use it for surfing the internet, playing games, we have games and educational activities for DS, we keep our schedule on it (between the 2 of us we've been averaging about 1 dr appt a week the last 2 months), I use an ap to keep lists on it to keep me orgnanized, I use the mint ap to do a quick check of our overall financial picture (still need the computer with MyMoney to pay bills). It is fun to sit in bed with DS and let him play games or watch TV shows while I rest. I can read books on it. When I had to do my 3 hr glucose test, it was nice to just bring the iPad. I could play games, surf the net, and read books all on one thing. We also have Skype on it. I'm really looking forward to Skyping with my parents from the hospital after DD is born. I think it is going to be great that they will actually get to see her instead of just pictures. I'm also looking forward to Skyping over the holidays. Yes you can do all this stuff on a computer. The tablet is immediately up and running - unlike a laptop. It fits in my purse. If I didn't have kids, I don't think I would be as excited to use it, but with kids - it is awesome. DH loves to take it out in the garage when he takes a smoke break rather than looking stuff up on his phone. I have a cover on mine that doubles as a stand. I can stand it up 2 different ways. My hands never get tired (most of the time I'm not holding it). My only problem is that DS thinks it is his and when we say time is up, he throws a fit.

[thyme4change]

My only problem is that DS thinks it is his and when we say time is up, he throws a fit.

Sounds like a behavior problem, not a technology problem.

[muttleynfelix]

Nov 12, 2012 12:00:37 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My only problem is that DS thinks it is his and when we say time is up, he throws a fit.

Sounds like a behavior problem, not a technology problem.

Ya think. Yes it is not a problem with the iPad itself. It is a problem with my child reacting to the limits we place on it.

[grumpyhermit]

I love my gadgets, and for the longest time resisted getting a tablet, I too did not see the point. Once I finally took the plunge I did not regret it.

I opted for a 7-inch android tablet because of how I knew I would use it. Most of my internet browsing is done while laying down on the couch, so I wanted something I could hold in one hand. I use my laptop mostly for browsing and chatting. If I am going to be doing a lot of typing I switch back to the laptop, I am not a fan of touch screen typing. I could actually type faster on my teeny tiny physical Blackberry keyboard then I can on the much larger touch screen keyboard on my new phone.


For me the 10 inch tablets were of a size that I figured I might as well just be using my laptop.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 12, 2012 11:35:05 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Thanks for asking wrongsideof30,

I've been wondering the same thing. I never saw the point of tablets myself. If I want to use a computer I'll use one. I got a samsung tablet for work and it's a pain in the ass to use. It's so small and hard to hit anything with the suer interface. But I have bad eyes so staring at small screens gives me a headache.

Tablets to me just seem like computers with a different interface.

Only real use I can see for it is watching movies on the go. Maybe checking the internet real fast for something.

If I want to play games I'll play games on my PC or XBOX. If I want to do work there's no way I'll use a tablet. If I want to watch movies I'll watch them on my 24 inch monitor on my computer or my big screen TV.

If I'm on the go, I'm content with my MP3 player.

I never saw the point of the kindle either. I prefer just listening to books on tape on my MP3 player. I don't have to use my eyes at all and it's much lighter than even an Ipad.

It is far more portable than a laptop.

TD got me a iPad for Christmas last year. In fact, I got to unwrap it in the hospital. In the past years, 4 hospitalizations and a stint in a reab unit, it has literally saved my sanity. My laptop was too big and unwieldy to deal with, and the iPad holds a 10 hour charge, far longer than most laptops.

Right now, on the book angle, the one advantage is that since I'm not horribly mobile, I can buy reading material now.

[Deleted]

Now with Windows 8 tablets (specifically the Intel based ones), you can have your PC and tablet all in one. As soon as Samsung starts to ship their ATIV 700T's, I'm going to pick one up. www.samsung.com/us/computer/tablet-pcs/XE700T1C-A01US

[Deleted]

DH set me up with logmein so I can use my desktop remotely on my ipad. It shows up with the same screen and everything. I just bring a keyboard with me. I think the surface works way better for that though. The resolution had to be really low for me to be able to use excel on my ipad.