Realistic alternative to the iPad....? With Poll

[bumzo1]

2 of my friends have archos tablets and they are complete crap. The screen was absolutely terrible and had about a 2° viewing angle. It felt cheap, ran laggy software with not very many compatible apps. They paid $300 around the time I got my iPad 2, one of them broke within the first month and had to be replaced. I do not at all recommend those pieces, they belong in a trash dump.

 

[palpatine]

I might have worded that better. I really liked my iPad, but even when it was the only device I owned, sometimes found it awkward to carry. At 10" it isn't quite pocketable. (Granted, a 7" device is probably no better in that regard.) For example if I had it with me and I went shopping, I hid it under the seat of my car so I didn't have to carry it all over the mall. And one time I forgot it in a restaurant because I had set it down by my feet and forgot about it when I left. Thankfully it was still there when I remembered 30 minutes later!

Ultimately I was "forced" to give up my iPad because of strict IT security policies at work -- tablets were forbidden from the workplace. But iPhones seem to be allowed. (I know, I know... don't ask.) So I went and got an iPhone. For a few months I had both. But because the iPhone was always in my pocket and the aforementioned (lack of) portability, the iPad tended to stay home. On the other hand, I really missed the bigger screen when browsing, playing YouTube videos, and I never worried about battery life on the iPad whereas I have to keep my iPhone topped up every day and I watch that battery meter religiously. Eventually I sold the iPad to a friend.

I guess what I'm saying is that I miss the big screen so I would like a tablet again, but I'm willing to consider a cheaper and less fully-functional alternative because this time, arguments like "but it doesn't have a camera!" can be met with "well, that's OK, I have the camera on my iPhone". And because I liked the big screen of the iPad (but a bit TOO big to carry conveniently) and the portability of the iPhone (but it's a bit TOO small to use like a tablet), I feel like perhaps 7" is a reasonable middle ground.

I hope that makes sense. Oh, and absolutely agreed that different people have different needs, which is further reason why I think that "there is no match for the iPad" is a meaningless statement.

i don't understand. the it people think a 7" tablet is ok but not a 10" one?

get a man bag. it will solve all of your problems. the ipad is always with me. and, i prefer looking suave and debonair with my man bag to looking like a nerd with a utility belt (phone clipped to my belt? no way).

the only reason the ipad is too big for you is because you lack the proper gear. it is sort of like people complaining about the cold, the rain, the snow, the ice, the hot weather, or the wind. wear proper clothing and you realize it isn't the weather, but you who has the problem

 

[sracer]

i don't understand. the it people think a 7" tablet is ok but not a 10" one?

get a man bag. it will solve all of your problems. the ipad is always with me. and, i prefer looking suave and debonair with my man bag to looking like a nerd with a utility belt (phone clipped to my belt? no way).

the only reason the ipad is too big for you is because you lack the proper gear. it is sort of like people complaining about the cold, the rain, the snow, the ice, the hot weather, or the wind. wear proper clothing and you realize it isn't the weather, but you who has the problem

Serious inquiry. Please post a link to this man bag that is suave and debonair. I've never seen one, but would buy one if such a specimen existed. The ones that I've seen have been very feminine. Thanks!

 

[palpatine]

Serious inquiry. Please post a link to this man bag that is suave and debonair. I've never seen one, but would buy one if such a specimen existed. The ones that I've seen have been very feminine. Thanks!

Waterfield VertiGo.
http://sfbags.com/products/vertigo/vertigo.htm

I believe I have the small one and the iPad + keyboard + incase origami fits just fine. It is lightweight, well-designed (I love the shoulder pad), and quite inconspicuous. I do most of my work with the iPad nowadays, so this is all I carry. I've gone paperless and have all of my books/research in the iPad, so even though everyone else on campus (including faculty) have big ol' backpacks full of stuff, I am actually carrying around more than everyone on campus put together. Cool.

 

[DryEyez]

I'd quite like a kindle fire if I'm honest, but no sign of that anytime soon in the UK

 

[palpatine]

I'd quite like a kindle fire if I'm honest, but no sign of that anytime soon in the UK

read the reviews first.

you may not like what you see if you are expecting an ipad alternative. it's different, it's cool, and i am sure many people will get it, but it is something else entirely.

 

[poloponies]

read the reviews first.

you may not like what you see if you are expecting an ipad alternative. it's different, it's cool, and i am sure many people will get it, but it is something else entirely.

I've now spent the better part of the weekend playing with one. It's a nice $200 device, but I couldn't conceive of giving up my iPad for it.