Smart Phones, Tablets, Gadgets, etc....

[Zanshin]

Yeah, I tried that ReadyBoost with a netbook, and it's marginal at best.

[Sgt PSN]

I was walking through Best Buy today and noticed some decent prices on tablets and netbooks. Some of the smaller 8GBs tablets with 7-10 inch screens were down under $200 (including the samsung galaxy)

I'd mainly be looking to buy one as somethnig smaller than my laptop that I can bring to class to use to write down notes and do work and etc. Would I be better off just getting a netbook for that or are some of the tablets out there too good to pass up on?

I'd even be willing to go with one of the "Cheaper" brands (lenovo, asus, etc) unless someone here has a good reason not to.

If you want it for class so you can take notes, I'd probably just go with a netbook. 

If you go the tablet route though, there is no shortage of cases with keyboards out there.  I bought some generic case off ebay for my ipad and 2 years later and the thing still works perfectly and I usually go about a month between charges.  Only paid like $30 for it too.  Point is, you can go tablet without taking on a lot of aftermarket expense with keyboards and cases. 

This is basically the case I have, just to give you an idea. 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/iPad-1-2-2nd-3-3rd-4-gen-Retina-Stand-Leather-Case-Cover-with-Bluetooth-Keyboard-/171019222595?pt=US_Tablet_eReader_Cases_Covers_Keyboard_Folios&var=&hash=item27d18a3e43 

[Munson]

I've seen some of the plug in keyboards for sale for pretty cheap, but I guess I'd have to take a look at the store to see what I would need/what would work with whatever tablet I selected.

Any brands to avoid? Anyone recommend anything? I'm a little apprehensive about getting an iPad simply because I'd like to avoid any compatibility/conversion headaches in case I need to submit or transfer something from it. I guess I could have those same problems from an android too, I just haven't heard as many complaints about that from classmates as I have with their apple products.

According to Best Buy's site, this is a "hot selling" tablet..
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Galaxy+Tab+2+10.1+with+16GB+Memory+-+Titanium+Silver/5215429.p?id=1218625359021&skuId=5215429

The only two netbooks they have according to their site that are cheaper than that are Acer, not sure what the quality is there. I could have sworn I saw more of a selection at the store though.


Also another question that a technerd like GF might be able to answer...is there a huge difference between an Intel processor and one of the other brands? I'm seeing full sized HP laptops for sale for less than $300, but they have things like the "AMD E-Series processor" or something like that.

[General_Failure]

Anything will be fine there, so long as the netbook doesn't have overheating issues. A processor burning away at 120+ degrees with only an eighth of an inch of plastic between it and your hand is not as much fun as you'd think.

[Sgt PSN]

AMD makes a very good processor.  The last PC I bought back in 2006 had an AMD.....Athlon I think was the model name/version.

[Munson]

I didn't know how much "worse" the performance was with those, if at all. It's amazing how much having the name "intel" on the computer seems to add to the price.

[Sgt PSN]

The performance on my desktop was great.  I couldn't tell you a damn thing about AMD today though since I've got a Mac, but do a google search for the AMD processor and see how it compares to Intel.....more specifically, see which Intel processor it most favorably compares to. 

[shorebird]

My son swears by his mac.

[Munson]

Even with my student loan money I'm now getting I don't think I can justify paying the price for a macbook when I've still got a perfectly working HP. Some of the ipad prices are a bit more reasonable though, especially the ipad minis...but I've had a lot of classmates having trouble submitting assignments from their apple products for whatever reason. I don't really know enough about android to know if that would be any easier though. I mean, it's not windows, so I assume there would also be issues with that?? No idea.

[General_Failure]

You can't afford Mac. You can barely afford Big Mac.

As for submitting things, I suppose it would depend on what you're submitting and how.

[Sgt PSN]

Even with my student loan money I'm now getting I don't think I can justify paying the price for a macbook when I've still got a perfectly working HP.

Oh I'm not saying to go buy a Mac (though you should once your income allows for it), just that since I bought mine I haven't used a computer with either and Intel or AMD processor.  My desktop that had the AMD was an HP and like I said, I thought it was great.  The same exact HP with a comparable Intel processor was about $200 more if I remember correctly.  And that PC lasted me 6 years before I went to the Mac.  Point is, if you're concerned about and AMD processor, don't be.  Especially if you're looking at a netbook or laptop specifically for school.

Some of the ipad prices are a bit more reasonable though, especially the ipad minis...but I've had a lot of classmates having trouble submitting assignments from their apple products for whatever reason. I don't really know enough about android to know if that would be any easier though. I mean, it's not windows, so I assume there would also be issues with that?? No idea.

What problems are your classmates having when they submit assignments from Apple products?  If they need to be in Word/Excel/PP, they do know that there are compatible apps for that, right?  Don't they have a PC that they can sync with to pull those docs from their device and then actually save to Word/Excel/PP format before submitting?  I used my iPad and iPhone with a PC for 2-3 years before getting my Mac and had no problems using them for work related stuff.  Me thinks your classmates are doing it wrong.     

Also, if it's Windows compatibility you're looking for, then why not look into a Windows tablet?  They start out around the same price as iPad minis I believe. 

[Rome]

The Galaxy S 4 is absolutely ridiculous.   It makes the iPhone 5 look quaint by comparison.  Apple needs to step it up next time.

[reese125]

theres a fire sale today on some apps if youre interested celebrating the app stores 5 year anniversary

http://gizmodo.com/the-best-free-apps-in-apples-app-store-anniversary-fir-700455273?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_twitter&utm_source=gizmodo_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[Don Ho]

We got the Nokia Lumia 920 as company phones back in April.  Love it. Keep in mind we had Blackberry Bolds the past 3+ years and they went obsolete overnight so my bar was very low.  The Nokia is huge.  Thing is pretty thick. 

[Sgt PSN]

The Nokia is huge.  Thing is pretty thick. 

Now you've got Chuggie wanting to stick it up his ass.