Yeah, I was planning on waiting anyway because then all of the companies start with the college student sales over the summer, and I'll need to get my ID before I start. I'm just starting to get input from those who are knowledgeable about technology. I don't really want it as a "second laptop" as much as I want it for an ereader, notepad, and occasional web browser. For longer papers, I definitely prefer a laptop (a desktop works too, but I like working on the couch). Last year, our publications lab got taken over by standardized testing, and the newspaper staff were forced to work on netbooks. After about three days with it, I asked my teacher if I could throw it out the window and then take an axe to it. This taught me never to get anything smaller than 14-15 inches for my main computer. Also never to get a netbook. But a touch screen tablet wouldn't be so bad. On the occasions where I've borrowed my mom's iPad it hasn't been terrible, but my laptop is easier for web browsing and all. I would have to get a keyboard because it was frustrating typing on the touch screen.
If that is all you want, save yourself a ton of cash and go with something like a Nook or a Kindle Fire. A 32 GB, add free, wifi Fire HD is around $315 and will do all of that. A 64 gb, add free, 4g lte fire HD comes in a little over $500 + data plan.
Hmm..if I'm going to do that, may as well get an iPad mini. I looked into a Kindle, but I need it to support ePub files, which the kindle does not. I was thinking somewhat larger though since I would be doing math problems on it. Plus I know the iPad supports One Note, which then syncs to my laptop and iPod Touch.
I love my iPad mini. A much better form factor than the iPad.
What do you use it for? And what makes it better than an iPad?
Mostly reading, be it textbooks, news articles or forums such as this. Occasionally I take some quick notes or play a game. I find it to be better than the iPad because I can more easily hold it with one hand. The smaller size also makes it easier to pack when going somewhere.
Thanks, I think my solution is going to be go to Best Buy one day and play with all of the tablets on the showroom floor and get some input from the sales people. There's this one salesperson there who sold my mom her iPad and my laptop to me and I trust to be honest without him just trying to make a sale. Thanks again.
I can see it doing some good if you have a Windows 8 tablet, but other than that, if you have a keyboard, most likely you have a start key that does the same thing.
The Windows key on a keyboard does not open a start menu on windows 8. It toggles back and forth between the Metro and traditional desktop interfaces.
It goes to the start screen on mine. Then all I have to do is type in the name of a program and it pulls it up.
I tried it before I posted. The windows key between the Ctrl and Alt keys just toggles me back and forth between metro and desktop.
Hmm. Help and support says its supposed to take you to the start screen.
If you hit the windows key and start typing it will take you to search, but that is not the same as the start button. It is one feature of it, but you can also access a full directory tree of all program/apps as well as all of your settings (eg, control panel, printers, etc.) from the start button.