Hello fellow EFers

Am thinking about getting a tablet computer, principally to read books and watch films while travelling, secondarily internet and email (based on the assumption that internet roaming via telephone abroad is prohibitively expensive and you don't usually get service up in the sky). I always travel with a laptop, but battery life is usually poor and am wanting somethinga little more lightweight and quicker to "grab" and get up and running with.

However, this is all new to me, so would welcome any recommendations/advice about what to get. Comments about follow-up pitfalls (e.g. not being able to get English books/films easily etc.) would be welcome.

The obvious - I can hear the groans already - choice would be the ipad (2), and as I have an itunes account and iphone (not by choice I hasten to add) am vaguely familiar with the whole set up. However, I've also seen that HTC and Samsung have a smaller 7' versions running Android, however this OS is something I know nothing-nada-zilch about other than it seems to be on the other side of the fence from Apple.

I've read on-line reviews, but all these seem to say is that really I should get one of each, because they are all so-gosh-darned brilliant.

So thanks in advance forthoughts/suggestions/tips based on personal experience(s).

My Dad has a Samsung Galaxy Tab. It's a very nice device and fits in my hand nicely. But in terms of functionality, ease of use and access to lovely apps...the iPad wins every time

I'm of the opinion that the iPad is the only tablet to get just now. Some (dawiz) would disagree.

I played with a motorola XOOM at the airport and didn't like it much at all. The new Galaxy tab 10.1 is the only real alternative the iPad...and I'm not sure that's even been released in Europe yet

8 hour or longer flights, and nothing matches the iPad. The rest are out of battery.

Hey Carlos

I fail to see the groans about the ipad, it simply works. I however wouldn't go for one with the 3G it seems to me to be super expensive to run even on the pay as you go sim, instead for the time you want net and mail set up a personal hotspot to your iphone and use the data subscription from that.

If you are aware of the coco touch interface and OS of the phone the ipad is simply an extension of this and once again just works. From what I hear the android tabs are like the phones and eat battery power; that is just what I hear but it could be hype, I have never looked into it as they are of no interest to me, I don't find them innovative but simply copying the apple led trend...

depends what you really need. i have a tablet (android) but also have a fujitsu p1610 convertible notebook which has a 6 hours battery life and touch screen. unlike with ipad/android tablets you can buy spare batteries to get even longer battery life.

I have an HTC Desire HD and an iPad 2. Get the iPad. Unless you desperately need to change the font under the program icons in which case, get a life
EDIT:
Oh yes, I am a frequent traveller - I fly twice a month or more. My iPad is the wifi one. My desire HD shares the internet in Switzerland and I have a mifi with data contract in the UK (with 3, 11 quid a month) and a payg data sim for Germany (cheap). IMO, getting a mifi is better than getting the 3G iPad because it serves data to my phone and laptop too.

IPad2 hands down. I'm not an Apple geek, but the proven durability of the Apple hardware has conviced me to purchase my 2nd Apple device.

http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/products/xp18000/

iPad 2 - for all the reasons above and ease of use ....

Be aware though, if you download movies from DVDs, the soundtrack can be very low ... make sure you have headphones that allow you to pick the soundtrack up clearly - or your ripping software allows you to increase the volume

I have no hesitation in recommending the iPad...

Alternative to Apple iPad2 is the New Galaxy Tab 10.1 out this month:-
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/ipad-and-t...view-50002447/

Alternative , yes, competitor/rival.....nah.

Use an android phone. The system sure rocks. Sure there will be an early learning curve, but once you get the hang of the android system, you won't go back apple. unless you are a fanboi.
If you are fanboi, I would suggest, buy only apple, because then nothing will ever beat apple, no matter what, and you will always find faults in your device, and drink yourself to depression for having bought a non apple product

Since everyone has more experience with tablets than me (I got one 4 weeks ago) I will only give you my experience on the book reading side. An e-Ink dedicated book reader wins over a tablet anytime, as it doesn't use backlight, uses way less battery than any other device (1 charge goes weeks) and puts less strain on the eyes. I have a Barnes & Noble Nook and a Kindle DX (love both, although I prefer the Kindle as it has a HUGE screen), and if I fly within Europe I only take my reader, no tablet. I hardly have the time to watch a full movie in a 2 to 3 hour flight anyhow, which I could do on my laptop or iPod too (pros and cons aside). eBook readers play MP3s, so I don't have to carry the iPod either.

Given the small size and weight of tablets and ebook readers I can only suggest that you consider the tablet for apps and video, and leave book reading to a dedicated device. They are light weight, affordable and a better choice when it comes to books only. If you can spare some CHF250 for the extra device, you'll love it. Too bad we're kind of far, but you can borrow mine any time for a test drive.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/s...b-10-1-review/

Another review of the galaxy 10.1. The widescreen must be nice for watching movies...I HATE the bars on the ipad

OI!!!!!

porsch1909... What's that groan about???

Cheers MATE!!! lol

You could ditch the laptop and go for a Macbook Air. Watching films you'll get a good 4 hours of battery life - enough for me on a return trip from the US with a few zzzzzz thrown in.

And it then allows you to be data productive - as opposed to just a data consumer.

Agree in principle, but have a Sony Vaio that's good for 6+ hrs, so for work it is fine. But booting it up just to read a book/watch film on a 1-2 flight? Not really worth it unless I have work to do. US/long-haul flights: have adaptor for power

LOL.

Listen and repeat: Nobody. needs. a. tablet.

It's a gimmick. And since the iPad in a decent configuration costs just as much as an MacBook Air I know what I'd go for.

And I know what I went for!! The ability to load my website onto the Air before I go away and update as I go is great - I can edit/delete photographs as I go. I was working away in June - and it was great to have the website updated within hours of taking photographs.