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Thread: Looking for a tablet

  1. #1

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    Looking for a tablet

    Hello, I'm looking for a tablet to replace my phone and my laptop.. I will be using it for school, so it must be capable of running some kind of spreadsheet, text editor, presentation applications. (Google Docs(or drive??) will suffice) And of course since I don't leave home without my laptop, I came up with the idea that I wanted a tablet that had the capability of calling and sending text messages, using a 3g sim card. preferred OS, Android, of course...

    any suggestions?

  2. #2
    PowerPoster techgnome's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    unless you use Skype or some other similar communication app, a tablet isn't going to make calls for you... nor do I think they can send/receive text messages. Mine can't. soo.... you'll still need your phone.

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    PowerPoster stanav's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    A tablet that can replace your cell phone + your laptop?... You're not going to find one in any near future. Sure, there's a 7" tablet phone out there but 7" screen is way too small to work on... Besides, it's an Android device so it won't work nice with MS Office.
    At the present, I suggest to keep your phone. You can replace your laptop with a Windows 8 tablet, but I'd say that's more of a downgrade. And of course, if you're like me, keep both the phone and the laptop and add a tablet to the arsenal. You soon will find out that tablets are more or less toys because it's a pain to do any real work on a tablet.
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  4. #4
    PowerPoster techgnome's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    for work & development stuff, I just use the company issued laptop... but for home, I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, and a Chromebook... between those two, I seem to have all I really need. And even then it might be too much as I'm considering switchign to a stupid phone next year and just buying the darn thing outright.


    -tg
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  5. #5

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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by techgnome View Post
    unless you use Skype or some other similar communication app, a tablet isn't going to make calls for you... nor do I think they can send/receive text messages. Mine can't. soo.... you'll still need your phone.

    -tg

    Quote Originally Posted by stanav View Post
    A tablet that can replace your cell phone + your laptop?... You're not going to find one in any near future. Sure, there's a 7" tablet phone out there but 7" screen is way too small to work on... Besides, it's an Android device so it won't work nice with MS Office.
    At the present, I suggest to keep your phone. You can replace your laptop with a Windows 8 tablet, but I'd say that's more of a downgrade. And of course, if you're like me, keep both the phone and the laptop and add a tablet to the arsenal. You soon will find out that tablets are more or less toys because it's a pain to do any real work on a tablet.
    I just assumed it was possible since i read that some tablets could use sim cards.. but if it isn't possible then it doesn't matter.. an example would be the asus padfone.

  6. #6
    PowerPoster techgnome's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    yes... they use sim cards (some do... depends on the wireless provider) but that's just for a data connection to the network... trust me... I tried... I thought the same thing when I got my Galaxy Tab... once I realized a cell # had been assigned to it... I tried to send it a text message.... it never arrived... and there isn't a dialer app on it so there no means for which to send or recieve calls on it (at least not with out Skype or something similar)

    -tg
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    * How to get EFFECTIVE help: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Getting Help at VBF - Removing eels from your hovercraft *
    * How to Use Parameters * Create Disconnected ADO Recordset Clones * Set your VB6 ActiveX Compatibility * Get rid of those pesky VB Line Numbers * I swear I saved my data, where'd it run off to??? *

  7. #7
    PowerPoster Arnoutdv's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    The Asus PadFone could be a solution.
    It's just a smartphone, which also can be connected (inserted) in a screen then it will become tablet.

    You could use QuickOffice (Android App) or Office 365 (web application) to do document editing.

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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    I don't have a tablet, but for Android have you tried the viber app. It allows you to place calls/text via data so you'd have to been connected to wifi or have a data plan. The only caveat is that the recipient of the text would also need to be using viber, I wonder if you could use it on a tablet.

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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by Arnoutdv View Post
    The Asus PadFone could be a solution.
    It's just a smartphone, which also can be connected (inserted) in a screen then it will become tablet.

    You could use QuickOffice (Android App) or Office 365 (web application) to do document editing.
    I've tried quickoffice on my phone, it's hit or miss.

  10. #10
    PowerPoster dilettante's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    QuickOffice is pretty good. Polaris Office is another good choice.

    Where they run into limitations first is support for all of the radically incompatible "cloud drive" services out there. Of course MS Office is even more handicapped in that regard, though it makes a bigger target for 3rd party add-ins.

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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    I am not sure that you can find a tablet that can fulfill all your needs but I thing that "Samsung Galaxy Note 8" would be the answer of most of your needs. It is undoubtedly the best tablet for students.

  12. #12
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    the original galaxy 7" tablet was capable of making calls if you had the european version. The US version had the phone dialing software deleted from it. You can make and receive sms messages on any android tablet- I've done it with google voice but some carriers have a web app for it. If it is a 3g tablet you can make calls from it with "line2" which is also capable of receiving /sending sms messages. It costs $10 a month and it has issues with some android devices (i had it installed on two different old android phones and it would place calls on either but not receive them on one of them) but there are other apps that are similar. NONE are free though as they charge for the phone number.

    Office365's web app may be all you need for documents but you also may be able to get by just simply using google docs which is built into google drive now.

    Finally, for a work tablet that you will be constantly using, 8" screen just isn't going to cut it. I have a amazon nook hd+ and it just barely makes the cut. On the bright side it was only $150 and it has a built-in mic and bluetooth for keyboards and headset so you could use it with a mobile hotspot such as a myfi with no problem and it's much cheaper than other choices. You could get the hdmi out and a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and hook it up to your tv when at home as a computer. I double mine as a streaming box, although the hdmi out was expensive.

    I also own a 7" tablet and while it was able to be put in my pocket, it just wasn't big enough.
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by techgnome View Post
    unless you use Skype or some other similar communication app, a tablet isn't going to make calls for you... nor do I think they can send/receive text messages. Mine can't. soo.... you'll still need your phone.

    -tg
    Yes, i I think you are right I think you"ll still be needing both even if you purchase a tablet.

  14. #14
    coder. Lord Orwell's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    depends on your carrier. some have text messages available on line. it also bears mention that you can replace a windows 7 computer with onlive desktop which turns your tablet into a client for a windows 7 virtual machine that comes with office 2010 installed. however it requires broadband to work so you have to be in good wifi.
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  15. #15
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    Re: Looking for a tablet

    Many tablet are available in the market, these tablets are very good what you are looking for your work.

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