Nexus 7

[martint235]

My kindle is surprisingly well built. I've even fallen on it when p***ed leaving a train station. It picked up a scuff mark on the corner of the case and that was it

 

[Norm]

I may consider one of these after bein robbed by amazon for a Kindle that broke !

The Nexus has survived over a month in my rucksack, pocket, bag etc without any sign of not being new. It's about the same size and weight as a Kindle, which most will know makes it much smaller and lighter than an iPad.

I'll use the Nexus for email, web and the odd bit of gaming. It's basically to stop me having to get up from the sofa.

It should be good for that, although I'm finding the portability a big bonus. Cargo pants pockets will easily carry it, so it even comes out on the bike if I think I'm going to stop off somewhere like a coffee shop or when watching the kids doing sporting stuff.

 

[martint235]

It should be good for that, although I'm finding the portability a big bonus. Cargo pants pockets will easily carry it, so it even comes out on the bike if I think I'm going to stop off somewhere like a coffee shop or when watching the kids doing sporting stuff.

That's the secondary use, my local does free wifi so will be popping in there with it from time to time

 

[MacB]

Thought I'd piggy back on this thread rather than starting a new one, to pick some brains.

After following a thread on here we bought a netbook for Jane, a Samsung N220, in Jan 2011. It's held up well, especially battery life considering it gets used daily by Jane and the boys. Only one issue where the mousepad doesn't work properly anymore. I reversed the left/right click buttons as only the left button works so it now behaves as the right one used to. Plus bought a wireless USB mouse which seems to deal with it fairly well. However the machine has gradually slowed, and yes I need to give it a decent cleanup, but it is also a touch small and underpowered for the amount of work Jane does on it.

So we're thinking full size laptop now, or ultrabook whatever that is, and we're looking for something solid and workmanlike rather than jazzy. A lot of powerpoint and typing goes on plus the upload and download of these sorts of files. This isn't planned for use on the move so bigger screen/keyboard is a plus, though not overly heavy.

Alongside that Jane also has a Kindle, no problems so far and I've been getting Kindle envy. However I was considering whether I might be better to snaffle Janes Kindle for myself and replace with the new Kindle Fire HD. Thus giving her the option of the full laptop for working on or the lighter tablet for general browsing/shopping.

Come on you techno gods, help a guy out here...remember keep it simple

 

[MacB]

Hmmm, been wading through techical jargon and reviews and I think the Ultrabook is off the menu, seems to lie somewhere between a netbook and a laptop and lacks the optical drives etc. Also the Nexus is looking better than the Kindle fire. how about this idea:-

1. reconditioned ex corporate laptop from here - http://www.tier1online.com/Category/76/_pb/skip/160/page/40/sort/Price,Asc
would a 14.1" screen bit a bit too small, should I be looking for 15-20"?

2. a Nexus or maybe a slightly larger Samsung tablet - either of which can run the Kindle app for reading purposes.

I was hoping to keep the combined spend under £800, possibly well under if it's a refurb laptop we go for.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Depends why Jane loves the Kindle, if it's because of the screen the I'm not sure the Kindle Fire would be a good replacement. I've not seen the screen but I don't think it's e-ink.

 

[martint235]

I'm a big fan of the "get the tool for the job" idea. Much as I love the nexus 7,you can't beat the original kindle if you want to read a book.

For the laptop, if it's going to take some serious use rather than just run of the mill home use, get a Lenovo. They are built like a tank and have I anything improved on the IBM model they took over. If you think that's too business like then the Acer range are good vfm (vfm not meaning cheap but meaning worth what you pay)

 

[MacB]

Ta guys, the Kindle Fire/Nexus was more a sort of browsing/shopping idea than an e-reader. I was just thinking of something more portable to save firing up the full sized laptop. Having said that a larger tablet may be more fit for purpose here.

But the tablet idea is really secondary the laptop is the main bit and thanks for the direction Martin. Having spent a while reading up last night I had decided a Lenovo was the ticket. Robustness etc but also that it seems to be rated highest by those that touch type, which Jane does.

So that takes me to the which Lenovo? question, I've been comparing the three ranges, Thinkpad, Ideapad and Essential, and think it's going to be a Think or Idea model and I'm leaning more to the Thinkpad.

 

[martint235]

Personally I'd go for the Thinkpad. That's the one I've always used for work until recently and it's the model that Lenovo inherited from IBM.

 

[Edwards80]

+1 to what norm has said.

Got a Nexus 7 last week and it is excellent. Barely touched the phone or laptop at home since I got it, it just seems to do everything very nicely. Wifi only is not a problem thanks to being able to create a hotspot with a phone if necessary.

I've used it to connect to the servers at work and work on them at home, Sandwich in one hand/prodding away at some work in the other is the future

Highly recommend "Swiftkey 3 Tablet" if you type a lot. The stock keyboard is grand but this improves it

 

[MacB]

Personally I'd go for the Thinkpad. That's the one I've always used for work until recently and it's the model that Lenovo inherited from IBM.

Agreed, so now it's T/Edge/L/W series?...I'm guessing Edge wins on pricepoint here?

 

[martint235]

I take it the X1 isn't an option then?

The Edge 525 looks pretty decent.

There also seems to be a lot of older stuff kicking around really cheap

Here. SWMBO is still using the baby brother of this, the X61, for work.

 

[MacB]

I take it the X1 isn't an option then?

The Edge 525 looks pretty decent.

There also seems to be a lot of older stuff kicking around really cheap

Here. SWMBO is still using the baby brother of this, the X61, for work.

I don't know to be honest Martin, I know Jane is sick of the cramped keyboard and too small screen of the netbook. It's fine for mooching but we underestimated just how much work she would need to be doing in the evenings.

1st priority is the keyboard and the Edge series gets weaker reviews on this than the other Thinkpads

2nd priority is screen size, I'm just concerned that the ultrabook X1 option isn't a big enough jump in screen size from her netbook. Also it lacks an internal optical drive and comes at a very hefty pricepoint.

As for the rest of the potential features/function - to be honest almost any of them would meet her needs. E-mail, Word, Powerpoint and PDFs are her main work useage. She doesn't do games or watch movies, though I suppose if we get one that can then she may watch some catchup TV or the odd movie on it.

 

[martint235]

The first X1 I saw on the Internet was £1000 plus, I was attempting to be funny.

It sounds like the keyboard is important so I'd try to find a shop with stock and get your missus to have a try. I have no problem touch typing on an X series but then I learnt to touch type on a zx spectrum

 

[MacB]

Sorry mate, humour bypass...however mooching around has brought me to the idea of the Ideapad Y580. I know that extreme portability isn't required and you seem to get more bang for your buck from the Ideapad range. I understand that they aren't as bombproof but I know she'd prefer the big high def screen etc.