4 ms·

I bought a tablet awhile back, not really knowing what I'd use it for, but thinking that it might encourage/inspire new things. In practice, I found only one e

I bought a tablet awhile back, not really knowing what I'd use it for, but thinking that it might encourage/inspire new things. In practice, I found only one extremely limited use for it. The 10" screen, turned vertical, most approximates paper books (compared to a phone, e-reader, or widescreen monitor). For textbooks, or other ebooks that need layout and color, it's good, and convenient that I don't need to be at the desk. But that's it. That's the only thing it's good for. If I'm just reading a text-based ebook, then an e-ink reader is better, even with the smaller screen. If I'm wandering around somewhere, the phone is more portable. If I'm doing anything that requires an actual user interface more sophisticated than 'tap', then a laptop or desktop is better. As a consumer device, I found the tablet to be a solution without a problem. It excelled at nothing. It wouldn't surprise me if tablets drop back to specific industrial/commercial uses where a laptop/chromebook is too inconvenient and a phone is too small.

weavejester 11y ago
Tablets are also useful for watching video in cases where a large TV is impractical or just plain unnecessary. They typically have longer battery life than laptops, which makes them extremely useful on long haul flights, and easier to pull out of a coat pocket than a laptop. They're also typically cheaper; I don't mind using a £100 tablet on a train to check emails or whatever, but I'm more leery at pulling out a £1200 laptop.
icefox 11y ago
I have a iphone, ipad and macbook. At home my go to device is the the ipad when I am not at my desk. The laptop takes way to long to un-suspend, easily gets too hot in my lap, and the battery life all too easily gets turned into something that is just a few hours by the wrong running program. The power jack is located up in my office. It is a portable computer, but spends most of its time on my desk and is handy for several times a year when I bring it out of the house (and the last time I actually grabbed the ipad over my laptop...). When I need a quick and dirty question what was that movie that came out in 1984 about that cowboy or whatnot pulling out the phone and browsing it is a perfect fit. Same goes for wasting 5 minutes playing a game, checking stocks, maybe see what is new on hacker news. But at home while the phone is on me, the ipad is usually around the living room and it has all the apps the iphone has, but with a much bigger screen. After selling the ipad2 and getting the Air my only complaint about weight also went out the window. For casual consumption the ipad is my device of choice. A screen big enough that I can read articles, go to websites like ebay and get a real interface and not their tiny mobile version, read pdf's, netflix, play neat games, youtube etc. Given that it has the same charger as the phones there are several charging spots around the living area of the house so it is not off hidden in my office all day. I have caught myself a number of times starting to browse the web on my phone only to stop, put the phone in my pocket and grab the ipad to continue where I was. I wont be bringing the ipad to work or around town, that is what the phone is for, but around the house be it the living room, backyard, etc the ipad is my preferred choice. Lastly for kids while I don't give my daughter my phone or my laptop she can use the ipad. I am not sure how universal that is, but just about every parent I know does the same. To answer your question the tablet is a better device for longer term consumption around the house than a laptop or a phone is. The upgrade cycle is slower than the phone, but I am not just spouting my opinion I am putting my money where my mouth is and in fact I am expecting a Air 2 in the mail next week.
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stock_toaster 11y ago
I mostly use my tablet to: * watch movies -- traveling (works ok with hdmi dongle in hotels too), when sick in bed, or when wanting to be quiet (headphones) * play the occasional game (mostly board games like forbidden island, small world2, lords of waterdeep, etc) * occasional web surfing if my phone is charging I thought I would use it more. Occasionally I find I will use it heavily for a few days or weeks, then use it not at all for weeks or months. It is great when I need it, but I don't always need it. I seems to occupy a rather weird place in my digital lifestyle.
smokey_the_bear 11y ago
I'm an app developer, and I own two dozen phones, tablets, and iPads. I never use any of the tablets or iPads personally, I use my MacBook Air for couch computing. My kids love the iPad. But my parents are the ones that surprised me. They each sit in their recliner and use their iPads for basically all of their free time.
ux-app 11y ago
>As a consumer device, I found the tablet to be a solution without a problem. When I'm at home (and not working), my preferred device is the iPad. I much prefer to browse the web on the iPad from the couch than from my desktop. It's also come in very handy recently as a baby monitor screen. The iPad gets used daily in my household. I have a 4th gen device. It's definitely good enough at this stage. I'm not sure what combination of features it would take to make me upgrade to a newer model.

weavejester 11y ago

Tablets are also useful for watching video in cases where a large TV is impractical or just plain unnecessary. They typically have longer battery life than laptops, which makes them extremely useful on long haul flights, and easier to pull out of a coat pocket than a laptop. They're also typically cheaper; I don't mind using a £100 tablet on a train to check emails or whatever, but I'm more leery at pulling out a £1200 laptop.

icefox 11y ago

I have a iphone, ipad and macbook. At home my go to device is the the ipad when I am not at my desk. The laptop takes way to long to un-suspend, easily gets too hot in my lap, and the battery life all too easily gets turned into something that is just a few hours by the wrong running program. The power jack is located up in my office. It is a portable computer, but spends most of its time on my desk and is handy for several times a year when I bring it out of the house (and the last time I actually grabbed the ipad over my laptop...). When I need a quick and dirty question what was that movie that came out in 1984 about that cowboy or whatnot pulling out the phone and browsing it is a perfect fit. Same goes for wasting 5 minutes playing a game, checking stocks, maybe see what is new on hacker news. But at home while the phone is on me, the ipad is usually around the living room and it has all the apps the iphone has, but with a much bigger screen. After selling the ipad2 and getting the Air my only complaint about weight also went out the window. For casual consumption the ipad is my device of choice. A screen big enough that I can read articles, go to websites like ebay and get a real interface and not their tiny mobile version, read pdf's, netflix, play neat games, youtube etc. Given that it has the same charger as the phones there are several charging spots around the living area of the house so it is not off hidden in my office all day. I have caught myself a number of times starting to browse the web on my phone only to stop, put the phone in my pocket and grab the ipad to continue where I was. I wont be bringing the ipad to work or around town, that is what the phone is for, but around the house be it the living room, backyard, etc the ipad is my preferred choice. Lastly for kids while I don't give my daughter my phone or my laptop she can use the ipad. I am not sure how universal that is, but just about every parent I know does the same. To answer your question the tablet is a better device for longer term consumption around the house than a laptop or a phone is. The upgrade cycle is slower than the phone, but I am not just spouting my opinion I am putting my money where my mouth is and in fact I am expecting a Air 2 in the mail next week.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

stock_toaster 11y ago

I mostly use my tablet to: * watch movies -- traveling (works ok with hdmi dongle in hotels too), when sick in bed, or when wanting to be quiet (headphones) * play the occasional game (mostly board games like forbidden island, small world2, lords of waterdeep, etc) * occasional web surfing if my phone is charging I thought I would use it more. Occasionally I find I will use it heavily for a few days or weeks, then use it not at all for weeks or months. It is great when I need it, but I don't always need it. I seems to occupy a rather weird place in my digital lifestyle.

smokey_the_bear 11y ago

I'm an app developer, and I own two dozen phones, tablets, and iPads. I never use any of the tablets or iPads personally, I use my MacBook Air for couch computing. My kids love the iPad. But my parents are the ones that surprised me. They each sit in their recliner and use their iPads for basically all of their free time.

ux-app 11y ago

>As a consumer device, I found the tablet to be a solution without a problem. When I'm at home (and not working), my preferred device is the iPad. I much prefer to browse the web on the iPad from the couch than from my desktop. It's also come in very handy recently as a baby monitor screen. The iPad gets used daily in my household. I have a 4th gen device. It's definitely good enough at this stage. I'm not sure what combination of features it would take to make me upgrade to a newer model.