Tablets
 

What is the difference between tablets,
Kindles and nooks? Can you do all the same things on each of them? What one is the best? Would like to get a tablet or laptop. Husband has a game
that he has to use the CD in the computer so not sure if I can get rid of the desk top like I wanted to.

I have the kindle touch and the kindle fire hdx7. The nook can read book through Barnes and Noble and the kindle has access to books (and movies/videos) from Amazon. The HDX can also watch movies (Amazon has a bunch of free ones) and it has great sound for movies. I will not get rid of my laptop (nor will DH abandon his desktop just because he has a tablet), we are just too vested in using Word, Excel and fancy photo stuff -- as well as there being some limits about going to some web sites (I have trouble with Quilting board, for instance on both the HDX and the windows tablet).

Tartan is right - it all depends on what you want to do.

My husband has an iPad, but we both agree it's more of a toy than a useful work tool. He originally wanted to use it for work; doing presentations, taking notes, etc. But it doesn't come anywhere near having the functionality of a laptop.

I had one of the earlier versions of a Kindle (before I cracked the screen), all you could do on it was read books. However, I believe some of the the newer generations of Kindles have internet and gaming capabilities, which would place them in the same category as iPads.

It comes down to what kind of operating system the machine is running and what you want to do. If you want to browse the internet, check Facebook, Quilting Board, and other websites, and play games, a tablet will work fine.

I use software such as Photoshop and Electric Quilt, and create presentations and spreadsheets. Software is increasingly available for use in the cloud, but I decided I wanted the functionality of a laptop.

I suggest you go down to Best Buy and do some side-by-side comparisons of Kindles, tablets, and iPads. Ask the sales associate to explain and show you in simple, non-technical terms what each one does.

Thank you every one. I don't do much with the computor already except to download pics
check mail and banking and of course surfing and visiting the quiltingboard. I used to want
a small laptop to use in the sewing room so when I needed help I wouldn't have to keep
running in the other room. When we first got our computor I used to download pics alot
and do things with them. A few years later now about 5-6 yrs I'm not doing much with that.
And having the smartphone been taking more pics with the phone than my camera unless
we go on vacations. I guess because the tablets are so popular now I am kind of wanting
one. The bible is the only book I read. So I guess I wouldn't be getting getting it for reading
and I only have word search on my phone that I rarely do. Well I think I may have already
figured out sounds like a small laptop would be sufficient. But still am going to go and compare
them. Not going to get one anytime soon but still want to explore.

I went through the same questions a few months ago. I did buy a Samsung tablet as it was preloaded with MS Word, Excel and powerpoint. I wanted something portable so I could access a work excel file if I was away from home for several hours during busy times and wanted to be able to access online weather info on the go. I can read books on it; access internet; get email, etc. It's not the easiest to type but does have a bluetooth keyboard available. It also can use an SD card (similar to cameras) for file storage or up/downloading. I like it. But am not getting rid of the laptop or desktop at all. All 3 have their advantages/disadvantages. I don't have a smart phone and don't pay for a data plan on the phone or the tablet so I need to rely on public networks for internet access when I am away from home but that's okay for me.

I so agree it depends on what you want to use it for.

You may be surprised at how affordable some of these laptops will be. My previous laptop was purchased for me by my husband, and it was about $1000. When it died, I told him I didn't want to spend that kind of money again, and we found the laptop I have now for $350. It does what I need it to do just as well as the $1000 laptop did. My husband's iPad was $800 and has less functionality (fortunately, we didn't pay for it, he won it in a competition at work). Check Costco and Best Buy. They sell "student" laptops; they are basic laptops in the $300 price range.

You might want to check this out: from www.buzzfeed.com (here's hoping it works)

www.file:///C:/Users/User/Pictures/mind-blowing-tricks-every-iphone-and-ipad-user-should-kno.htm

You can read books on a tablet as well. I subscribed to Book Bub (free) and download freebies to my home computer, then transfer them to my tablet when I want to read them (would work the same with a Kindle). The reason I do that is to keep my tablet from having too many books on it at a time. With Book Bub, they come from Amazon as well as Kindle. With Book Bub, you set up your preferences as to what you want them to email you on a daily basis, and you can pick and choose, or delete the email. Personally, I've never purchased a single book - I don't see the need... And, you can "check" books out of libraries as well.

I have a Kindle Fire and my SO has a Nook...We neither one use them much....

I have 2 IPADS. One is for my personal use and the other is for work.

For work I use Excel app, i take NOTES, i place my work orders (my employer has an app for our customer orders) , i use a photo resize app, i can lock documents as .PDF files, i listen to Sirius radio, PAndora radio, I can listen to any radio station in the U S A on one of my apps. Calendar apos. Scanner app. Ebay app........I buy and download books from amazon onto my Kindle app.

I download documents...large and small...from my email. It can handle it! I download my sewing machine manuals to my IpAd. They store to Ibooks. Patterns, the Bible, etc.

The functionality goes on and on! There is an app for practically anything.

I "sync" my apps between my Ipad, my work Ipad and my Iphone5. That way I have all of my apps with each device.

Sandy

I bought an iMac years ago that I still use regularly, bought a Sony ereader that I gave to a new home because reading books on it was difficult for me due to eyesight problems, (seizure disorder) and then wanted a tablet instead. In my research, I found that if I wanted it to work with my iMac, it had to be an IPad, so that is what I have now. The IPad does have problems on some sites, (youtube has few IPad compatible videos, and Facebook is really abbreviated on the tablet) so for those sites I use the IMac. I love the portability of the tablet, and when we travel, I can use public wifi to find directions. DH loves to play games on the tablet but just got his own computer for Christmas, (Microsoft ) so his and mine will not play together but he is learning to use his own now. I can read books on the iPad, play games, surf the 'net, read email, take and alter pictures, post anything I chose to use. Apps are low cost or free, and if I need a reminder, it does that too. I just pray it never needs replacing, how will I live until I get a new one????! Lol!

The biggest difference in tablets verses laptops is that you can not download software onto laptops, but you can use apps for many things but not all. I have the Nook color and the Nook tablet. Both will let me get onto the internet and view and save pdf files and also they have a version of Microsoft Office that is an app. The Nook has lots of memory and can be expanded with SD cards where the iPad's memory cant' be expanded. The Nook can get books from many places, not just barnes and noble, it supports lots of formats. I bring it to work and listen to Pandora's radio on it and I can watch movies on it, read, etc. My grandson loves the "read to me" books. The chromcast laptop (about 250 on military base) is nice and light, it doesn't have the cd drive built in which makes it lighter but you can get portable cd drives for when you need a cd drive like to install software or listen to music, etc. If you just want to search the internet, facebook, an organizer, or other things that apps can provide there are lots of tablets that are available in lots of price ranges. My first choice was the Samsung Galaxy 3 (which also has a camera) but I went with the Nook because it was less than half the price with the additional warranty and I dont' need a camera on my tablet. Plus, we have the stores all around us and they give great support without dealing online with a person you can't see. I have a 17in laptop for my digitizing but its too heavy to carry back and forth. I want a screen bigger than my netbook but lighter that the 17in. I really want the HP envy split 2, its a laptop plus you can take the screen off and its also a tablet, both of best worlds.

I have a tablet and a kindle fire HD I would/could not do without either of them, after a year of bad health the tablet was great, I made many new friends playing Words With Friends, and also kept my mind alert playing spelling games with my new internet friends.
The Kidndle I keep beside my bed for the hours sleep is not possible, I have the tablet and kindle linked so that I may read the same book on either device.