Tablets

[Melissa G]

my little samsung notebook is dying. I was thinking about buying a tablet. I prefer one that has the ability to have an actual keyboard attach so it becomes like my notebook except without such a weak connection between keyboard and monitor. (that is what is dying on my notebook.)

There is a groupon for a Motorola Zoom.
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-10-inch-motorola-xoom-tablet?c=all&p=19

I don't prefer keyboards that are on the screen.

Thanks for your help!

[ChromeFoundry]

1. Microsoft Surface releases on Oct. 26

It sounds like it might be along the line of product you are looking for. It may be worth your budget to wait a month since the RT version is rumored to be priced at $199. Not too bad for a tablet/notebook that runs a x64 Windows 8 OS. The Surface Pro will be a bit more in price.. .but it will be bigger, faster and offers more connectivity options. Depending on your needs, both versions allow for storage expansion, unlike anything from Apple.

[Melissa G]

3. That sounds really good!

I think I can nurse this notebook another month. I hope so anyway!

Thank you so much for your insight!

[AgingAmerican]

20. Windows 08 will be the biggest flop in MS history

We installed it on a PC at work. Reminds me of a fisher price toy or something. Once again, what the hell were they thinking?

MS surface might be cool though, once it is rooted and a good OS put in it.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. This looks like a good tablet.

My questions would be: Does it come with a warranty and for how long? Is 32 GB enough storage? Are there any Windows programs that you will need that don't have android equivalents?


Here is a link to buy from motorola with a 1 year warranty: http://www.motorola.com/us/consumers/XOOM-Family-Edition-%28Refurbished%29/73969,en_US,pd.html?cgid=tablets

Best of luck.

[Melissa G]

5. Thanks for the link.

The Microsoft Surface mentioned above sounds like a good deal. I think I will stall for that, unless you know of something better.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. I would wait and maybe try both devices.

I can't really say a lot because I really prefer a larger screen and generally use a docking station and second monitor unless I'm traveling. If your purposes are light use, like surfing, email and writing, a tablet seems like a fine option.

I'm a bit of an old school type.

Let us know how it's going, which you pick and share you opinions.

[Mnpaul]

13. I'm old school as well

I wanted a real tablet that runs programs. I bought a couple of used Fujitsu Stylistic ST5032Ds off eBay. There is no comparison. It has 2 USB ports, a 12" screen, a firewire port, finger print recognition for log ons, external monitor jack, sd card slot, pc card slot, smart card slot, headphone and micro phone jacks, 3 IR ports that allow me to use my IR keyboard, a nifty docking station that allows you to rotate the screen and has two more USB ports an external monitor port and a DVD. It runs on XP,Vista and Ubuntu with no problems. You can get models with a dual core processor for $200-$300(ST5112,ST6012). These were originally over $2000 and are built to last. Parts are cheap and widely available. All I need now is a mobile adapter for my HP photo printer and I will be able to take pictures, download them to my tablet, edit them and print wherever I go. They also have some new models comparable with the iPad(Q550) and even nicer the Q702. Fujitsu invented the tablet and knows how to build them

Here is what mine looks like

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

14. How much RAM is installed/max?

Looks like a great option to me.

[Mnpaul]

15. I picked up 2 - 1 gig sticks at Microcenter

Refurbished pc5300 ddr2 - $8.00 each. It has 128mb shared video ram. The ST5112 has 256. It has 1024X768 native resolution and will go up 1600X1200 with an external. 4 hrs run time with standard bat. 9-10 with the extended if you use Fuji batteries. Stay away from the China models. I bought an extended for $30.00 and it has less run time than a standard Fuji.

I'm running a 1.8" ssd purchased for an OQO with an adapter. The Fuji has and IDE interface and a motion sensor that parks the drive if dropped. The ST5112 gives you Sata.

The paid $40 for the current one I'm using, minus HD, power supply, hd cable and dock. It had a locked bios but was able to unlock it. I paid $50 for the other minus the HD and power supply. I was able to us the power supply and keyboard from my older unit. You can get power supplies for 15.00 bucks on eBay and docks for $14.00

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. cool :) thanks n/t

[Mnpaul]

17. No problem

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me. I can help you get the right parts. I bought the wrong dock but was able to modify it to get it to work and I just found out how to get the restore disks from Fuji for $28.11

[Melissa G]

21. Thanks to you and others for their assistance

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)

I just bought a used/reconditioned Dell Latitude E4300. The guy who sold it to me was able to transfer my Clear wimax service, so that was a lot of the appeal. This is bigger than my little Samsung NC 10 notebook, but about as light and has way more power and a DVD player.

Except for the irritatingly, noisy keyboard I am quite happy.

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latitude-e4300/pd

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

22. You're welcome...

...and good luck with your Dell.

[sir pball]

4. Asus Transformer Prime, no question about it

It's a hybrid; it looks and acts just like a little netbook until you give the screen a good yank and it pops out as a standalone 10" tablet. It has a high-DPI display, Tegra3 quad-core CPU, batteries in the screen and keyboard for 18 hours of battery life when it's docked, it's made of metal...and did I mention it has a REAL KEYBOARD?

http://eee.asus.com/eeepad/transformer-prime/features/

[Melissa G]

7. Sounds spectacular!

but maybe more than I had budgeted. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=Asus+Transformer+Prime

Sounds like I'd be at twice the price of the MS Surface by the time I got it home. correct?

[sir pball]

8. Depends on what rumors you're watching, probably not double.

I've seen good arguments for the base Surface intro'ing at $199, but I've also seen equally good arguments for $299 or even $399; I'd bet on $299 since it is a good bit larger and more capable than the Fire HD but MS has to significantly undercut the 10" competition like the Transformers or iPads (good luck with THAT). I haven't heard it will come with a keyboard dock so figure another $100 for that and you're looking at $100-150 difference.

That, and the Transformer is a proven popular product, buying MS hardware these days always carries the risk of being stuck with another Zune..

[RoccoR5955]

9. Personally, I prefer

An LSD tablet.
You will see all the colors, and hear all the sounds for the mere cost of a few bucks!
And you won't have to buy any hardware. The wetware, you already own.

[Berserker]

10. check to see

if the tablet you choose has printing capabilities or what you have to download to be able to print.

[Melissa G]

11. Excellent point

Thanks!

[whistler162]

12. My Xoom can handle a bluetooth keyboard.

and also has the option of adding a microSD card.

[Melissa G]

19. Any thoughts about the new Nook 32 gig

Last edited Mon Oct 8, 2012, 10:14 PM - Edit history (1)

coming out the end of Oct? The tech guy at the Barnes and Noble who is on vacation has his old Nook hooked up to a bluetooth keyboard and they say he likes it a lot. The new one coming out is supposed to be more powerful. I have one on reserve in case I want it.

Should I want it? Anything I should know about bluetooth keyboards?

Thanks for your opinion!

edit for link
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-hd-plus-barnes-noble/1110060512