Mobile phones & tablets thread

I'm almost being sucked in by all the hype :s

just not quite convinced I really need one since I usually travel with my laptop anyway :dozey:

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Originally Posted by schmenke

Newbie to this thread, so apologies for questions that may have already been answered in the previous 66 pages :dozey: .

I’ve had my eye on a tablet for a while now but have resisted primarily due to the price.

I’ve recently come across a company-sponsored plan for the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 (3G, 16GB). Cost is $150.00 plus $20.00 per month for a 2 year data plan. Total would be approximately $630.00 after 2 years.

Alternatively I could purchase the wi-fi iPad 2 for about $620.

I can’t really see myself making full use of the 3G signal, as just about all my travels involve some kind of free wi-fi access.

So it boils down to similar costs for the two units, but spreading the cost of the Galaxy over 2 years versus a one-time up-front cost of the iPad.

Thoughts?

Also, does anyone know if the cost of the iPad 2 will likely drop once the 3 model is released?

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I wasn't really sure, so I went to Amazon. The 1st generation 64GB WiFi iPad that originally listed for $699 now lists for $569. The same 64GB iPad, but with WiFi + 3G, that originally listed for $829, is now $589. Nice mark downs. But at the low end, the 16GB WiFi, that originally listed for $499, is only marked down to $479.

As Mark said, if I was in the market for a tablet, I would wait a few days/weeks for the iPad 3. If the rumors about the screen improvements are at all close to the truth, it should be worth the wait.

Yeah, I'll wait for the iPad 3 reveal, but am currently leaning towards the Galaxy.
A quick apples-to-apples (no pun intended) comparison with the iPad 2 indicates similar functionality between the two units. However, the base cost of the Galaxy if far cheaper (e.g. 16GB Galaxy $400.00; iPad 2 $520.00). Unless the iPad 3 is a much improved unit at a reasonable price, it'll be the Galaxy for me :mark: .

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Originally Posted by donKey jote

I'm almost being sucked in by all the hype :s

just not quite convinced I really need one since I usually travel with my laptop anyway :dozey:

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When I next travel for work I'll only be taking an iPad. Laptop will be left at home.

Only company-approved hardware permitted for my travels, including the stanadard suite of MS applications :mark: .
Pretty much rules out anything fruity.

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Originally Posted by Andrewmcm

When I next travel for work I'll only be taking an iPad. Laptop will be left at home.

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That's my main problem... I doubt I could run any of the stuff I need for work apart from ("illegally") routing my emails outside the company net. Or are there apps for emulating windows and special windows applications? Heck is there even an easy to use USB port?

I often use my holidays as time to get some programming done, lately most of it Excel/VBA... I doubt the scripts would be compatible :s

Please try and convince me otherwise though, all I need is an excuse :D

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Originally Posted by schmenke

Only company-approved hardware permitted for my travels, including the stanadard suite of MS applications :mark: .
Pretty much rules out anything fruity.

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yep, same here :mark:

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Originally Posted by schmenke

Only company-approved hardware permitted for my travels, including the stanadard suite of MS applications :mark: .
Pretty much rules out anything fruity.

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Not at all. I switched to an iMac back in November and I run Mac OS and Windows OS (including any and all Windows based programs) at the same time, by way of a program called Parallels. My girl's nephew has Linux set up on it too, but I'm not advanced enough to play with that. As far as I know, Parallels works on any Intel based Mac (which I guess is all of the newer ones, including the MacBook Air series). As for the mobile devices from Apple, there is a new app called OnLive Desktop. If I'm reading this correctly, I believe you can run a virtual Windows desktop on iPads, complete with the MS Office suite.

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Steve Perlman built Quicktime video at Apple. Then he ran MSN TV at Microsoft. And through it all, he kept his famous talent for thinking outside the proverbial box.


If anyone can give you Windows on an iPad, it’s him.


On Thursday, Steve Perlman’s latest venture — OnLive — was due to release a free iPad app designed to do just that. And in typical Perlman fashion, it tackles the problem from an unexpected but completely sensible direction. Founded a year and half ago, OnLive is actually a gaming company. But rather than run games on your PC or your phone or your tablet, it streams them to your device over the net. Now, the company is doing the same thing with Microsoft’s Windows operating system.


Using the new OnLive Desktop app, your iPad can access a virtual Windows desktop running on a distant server, complete with software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

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IT departments/managers at various companies are "interesting". At a former company I was with, they allowed the Blackberry platform, iPhone/iOS and I believe Windows Phone on the network. But Android devices were/are strictly forbidden from being on the network, mainly because of compatibility and security concerns... potential "data leak" from certain apps.

I'm clearly not an "early adopter". But as these tablets get closer to having (or having access to) near full computer capabilities, sooner or later, one will call my name, I'm sure.

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Originally Posted by Mark

Get the iPad 3. There's no point in buying old hardware.

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True but in that case i suspect that the Galaxy tab 11.6 will be a nice product:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6 release tipped for MWC 2012 | T3

Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6: Leaked Specs and Release Date Imminent on MWC 2012 | TechSpy
iPad 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6 [Rumours] - Comparison - Know Your Mobile

Skygo out for Android if anyone's interested.