Do I even need a tablet?

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  iChopstick on 31/01/2012 - 08:25

  +1

  Who needs a reason? this is OzBargain, if its cheap, you buy it !!!

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  andy19363 on 31/01/2012 - 08:58

  I have 2….. a 7" and a 10".

  You are right, they are just big phones really…… That said, I do use my smaller one a lot… saves me booting up the pc just to check email, facebook, etc. It's about the size of a paperback, fits nicely in a bag, and has 3g to access anywhere (mostly).
  The 10 inch one is just too big and bulky. to carry around. It's about the size of a netbook, and personally, I'd rather go the netbook. I rarely use it…..

  my 2c :)

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  ESEMCE on 31/01/2012 - 10:24

  I lust after them too, but can't see any use for one that my phone (SGS) can't do adequately enough or that my laptop couldn't do quicker (even including walking to it, and waiting for bootup), easier and better.

  I'm holding out for the touchscreen ultrabooks to become commonplace.. which will conveniently be around the time my laptop dies of "old" age. They're going to start to appear soon and will offer the best of both worlds.. proper cpu/gpu, decent battery life, proper OS, touch control where it's useful, mouse/touchpad and keyboard control where it's not, lightweight, slimline.
  For me, it's the obvious next progression of the Tablet and Laptop and the $400-600 I'm saving (by not buying any of the half-decent tablets today) is going to go a long way towards making the upgrade a very easy one in 18 months time.

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  BuyoTheCat on 31/01/2012 - 10:43

  I was of the same thoughts as you.
  I bought the xoom at $299 at Retro on boxing day.
  LOVE it.
  it is so convenient. I've not booted up my computer for almost 2 weeks now. I use it to surf the web, skype calls, and watch pRon, I mean movies. What I love most, no booting up computer. I am waiting for a 32gb tablet for $299 again so that I can get one for mum and dad.

  The main thing is price. for $299-350 it is good value. I will not pay over $400 (so i will probably never own an ipad)

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  [Deactivated] on 31/01/2012 - 10:58

  You can have the best of both worlds already, for less than an Ipad or comparable costs.
  Go to Dell.com, find the Inspiron Duo and voila. I have many friends (some of them professional designers) who use them and they would not swap it for anything else. It is basically a small laptop with a flip screen.

  http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-duo/pd?refid=inspiron-duo&…

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    Shirty Grizzly on 03/04/2012 - 12:09

    That link says the duo isn't available anymore? :(

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  scrimshaw on 31/01/2012 - 11:13

  For me, a high end smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S2) replaces the need for a tablet. It fits in my pocket, is fast enough for some web surfing, takes good photos, and does push email. That's all I need my phone to do. I game a little on the device, but not so much it justifies me having to spend $300 on a tablet, which isn't quite as portable.

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  pharm86 on 31/01/2012 - 11:24

  If your phone is a Galaxy Note you do not need a tablet at all. If not I find tablets are quite handy to have since smart phone batteries don't last very long at all with heavy use (esp if the screen is a slcd or a large amoled screen). The large screens are also a plus as well.

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  nubzy on 31/01/2012 - 14:44

  I am also considering a tablet. I have an iPhone 3G and a laptop, but it is large and a bit too big to be easily transportable. Normally I am quite happy to write notes in uni but at times a small netbook or tablet would come in handy, just waiting for the right buy.

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    [Deactivated] on 31/01/2012 - 16:46

    As I said above, the Dell Inspiron Duo (or any other similar device if there is one) would be perfect for you.

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  slowmo on 31/01/2012 - 16:57

  Y U NO BUY NOW?

  ok, seriously, depends if you actually use it for something useful… and not play games on it all the time. ;)

  Because to put it in perspective, you buy a $700 platform to play a $5 game, whereas you could've used that money to buy a proper console (eg. PS3/XBOX) and the remaining money to buy at least 3 other games from myer with cool graphics, sound and all.

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    scrimshaw on 31/01/2012 - 19:24

    You could also buy a Core i7 notebook with $700, and play games ranging from $0 to $80.

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      slowmo on 31/01/2012 - 19:34

      that's only half the story, the $700 i7 would have a low end graphics card that can't render half of the crap in consoles the likes of ps3/xbox.

      which i think is pointless, because most of the people on forums who say they want an i7 laptop, actually just needs a i5 laptop with a better GPU.

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  freemoneyhunter on 31/01/2012 - 21:35

  I think a AMD FM1 chipset has a ati 5770 inside it, not sure if that chipset is a laptop one though.

  Yes I too have a smart phone, MSI netbook & desktop computer, I don't really need anything else.

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    slowmo on 01/02/2012 - 00:38

    all laptops GPUs uses the tuned down mobile versions of their desktop counterparts, for 2 very good reasons: power draw (battery life) and heat.

    so don't expect too much even if you are getting the likes of a top-range alienware laptop. A properly configured desktop will still win, effortlessly if you are talking about sli/cf configs.

    my reason of getting an android tablet is simple, i wanted a pdf viewer when i'm in bed and CBF to turn on the laptop/desktop, and I don't want to put up with kindle's half-ass render engine, nor ipad's itunes.

    It doubles up as my work tool as I will try not to lug my work laptop around.

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  [Deactivated] on 31/01/2012 - 23:00

  First you need to decide what you may want to use it for.

  Tablets are great for those who really arent into technology.

  If you are a bits and Bytes type person, then go with an Android based system. If you just want a device that you dont like the idea of having to get right into it to use, the go the iPad way.

  If you really wont be happy using last years technology at anytime, then its going to be a waste of money. When I read about those who are onto their third tablet, it tells me they are just techno buffs looking for that kind of thrill in life.

  This is NO judgment on which is better or on technology buffs. While many here may push you to go one way, because thats what suits them, its your money (or your Dads).

  But again, only you can evaluate if you will really need one. I was totally into my iPad, then it sat there for a few months, gathering dust, then I travelled with it overseas, and from then its been used regularly ever since. The usefulness is just supreme. Its an iPad1, and I have no inclination to upgrade it to an ipad2 or even 3. It just works and works well.

  So look past specs, fanbois and get back to the nitty gritty. Decide on whether a tablet can add value to what you do, then decide which tablet will be able to do that for you now.

  And cheap tablets in many cases are most likely the ones that people dont use any more…

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  Cheeper on 01/02/2012 - 02:53

  I've got one and hardly use it. I have a smartphone and it is fine for the times I need that sort of thing.

  In short… do you need one.. NO!

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  auna on 01/02/2012 - 03:06

  Tablets are fun - but against a Proper Notebook it can't compete.

  The real reason I buy tablets/phones is to get the games - and many of them are paid. If you are not going to be buying Android or iOS specific games/apps then don't bother.

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  h4lcyon on 03/04/2012 - 12:19

  Tablets are toys, therefore need = no, but want = yes.

  You decide if you have the spare cash :)