Should I get a tablet?

[Chicago Jake]

Google's new Nexus 7 tablet is coming out, and the geek in me wants one. But I can't imagine WHY I want one, other than for the coolness factor. But at a mere $200, maybe that's enough?

When you read the reviews (or reviews for just about any tablet), you get told all the things they are great for:

1. Reading books and magazines
2. Playing games
3. Watching movies.

Thing is, I can't imagine doing any of those things with it! I would use it for basic internet connectivity (email, web browsing) and productivity (document creating and editing) when I'm away from my desk. But I don't know if tablets (especially 7 inch tablets) are really good for those types of tasks.

Any thoughts? What tablet - if any - do YOU use? And what is it good at or bad at?

[Ardbeg... innit]

Dont consider getting one for serious document creation. Ann has one and tried it for that, and it gets old quick. Her biggest use for her tablet (iPad) is reading books, magazines, quick note taking and playing sudoku and angry birds. If you have the $$$ for it and accept the limitations, they are fun, just dont expect it to live up to the hype for "productivity".

Given your work, consider it as a toy with benefits and you wont be disappointed, consider it as a laptop or desktop replacement and you will regret it.

Edited: I did use it this past winter when teaching curling to newby's. Its very easy to video the people's delivery then play it back on a reasonable size screen to point out where they can improve. How that would translate into your world is up to you to determine.

[Ardbeg... innit]

BTW- I voted for "Spunge" because I would love to see a "lunging splurge", or is it a "plunging splurge"?

[nolaflacav]

We both have iPads. And we both like having them and use them a lot. But it is 95% personal and 5% business stuff right now.

We both do all of our home internet and email via iPad. It is just too convenient and less cumbersome. I find myself online with it during most of my TV watching now. I am looking up related stuff, discussing the show with friends, etc.

I have just started watching video and I am hooked. It is great to grab it, head outside to sit by the pool in the evening, and catch up on an HBO show. Not a big gamer but I keep some basic stuff on it to pass the time when I am traveling.

I do not like to read books on it and I have tried. First I like the feel of a book in my hand. It is part of the experience. And second I get easily distracted. If I hit a slow patch in the book I will quickly opt out to go online rather than plow through the reading.

In my mind it sucks for work productivity. I still opt for my laptop if I need to push out any sort of documents. But I do like the iPad when I go on vacation. I can travel much lighter than with my laptop. And I can stay just in touch enough with the office to handle anything that might pop up.

[Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III]

I have an iPad and find it great for casual email and internet surfing. Using if for business documents is out of the question, however. I have an app on my iPad that lets me watch my home Dish Network anywhere I have a wireless connection. I can easily hook the iPad to my TV via an HDMI cable and VOILA! - instant satellite TV anywhere I go. I've gotten rid of cable TV at our Condo at Paradise and just use the iPad via wireless to watch TV.

I found a small notebook by ACER that is just a wee bit thicker than my iPad and actually both will easily fit in my backback when I travel. It has 4 gigs of RAM and easily runs Windows 7 Home Premium. For business, I prefer the notebook (bigger keyboard, Windows Office installed, etc etc).

[Alice]

Gary got his Nexus 7 tablet yesterday. I don't think it has replaced his Xoom for most things but it is easier to carry. Jake, email him and ask what he thinks about it. He doesn't get on TNMC very much.