iPad vs "the rest"

The point is, there's a tablet that will be able to compete directly with notebooks & desktops. That ability for any tablet to be able to run applications rather than just apps is totally new.

From RT to Pro, you get the faster processor & video along with a USB that can do more.

Remember, RT is still Windows. There are many more features on it than what you can do with a phone. As for the Office, that analogy doesn't fit. The options available are just like what you would otherwise get, definitely not a dumbed down version as we've seen with the conversion of applications to apps.

 

One thing I've noticed with iPad 'apps' is they have localized, independent, file systems per app. This significantly reduces the risks of virus or security compromise. It also means app-to-app communications is all but nonexistent but that comes with the architecture.

Bob Wilson

 

I attached my USB hub, then plugged a portable hard-drive, a regular external hard-drive, a track-ball, and a full-size board. All worked fine all at the same time. I have also plugged in my digital camera, a SD-card with an adapter, and a memory key. I even plugged in my USB Blu-Ray drive to copy files from.

 

For ideas on Surface Pro prices, there are current Ultrabooks that are combo keyboard/touch screen device similar to Surface. Slight bigger screen 12.5" and i5 chips vs. Surface, more ports that run for $1,149.

I'll probably get one of them vs. Surface as the 10" screen on my iPad is just a bit too small.

 

http://ozar.me/2012/10/why-im-returning-my-microsoft-surface-rt/- This videos there are insightful.

The person who posted this mentioned the above guy is a Microsoft MVP and from About Me | Brent Ozar, it doesn't look like he's normally an MS basher.

 

I thought apps is short for applications which is made for portable ARM based devices. Programs is for full OS such as Windows XP, Win7 and Win8.

The Pro is a whole different ball game. We're talking about the RT right now, not the Pro. You mention RT is still Windows but so is Windows Mobile. They both allow users to change registry to manipulate the setting that would otherwise unchangeable through the apps/program's settings. The included apps for the RT may run just like the full OS counterpart but it is still an ARM based app. You certainly won't be able to install the programs that were meant for the full OS.

The Surface with RT directly competes with the iPads and the Android ICS tablets. I wouldn't use the RT it replace my laptop or desktop.
The Surface with Pro's nearest competitors are tablet PCs and slate PCs and Modbooks.

Let's break it down
USB hub - basic USB device
portable hard-drive - storage
a regular external hard-drive - storage
digital camera - storage. iPad has a camera connection adapter that turns the charging port into a USB-OTG port.
SD-card - storage
memory key - storage
USB Blu- Ray drive - storage
a track-ball - HID
a full-size board - HID
All the devices you've listed are pretty much plug and play devices that don't need special drivers on Windows PC. If it's plug and play on Windows, it'll probably work on the RT or Android.

 

iPad Mini, fourth-generation iPad reviews arrive | Apple - CNET News - has summaries of and links to many reviews of both

Nexus 10: Google declares tablet war on iPad | ZDNet

The title of this video

seems to be a shot across the bow of Siri.

 

The purpose of a tablet is the portability. But for the typical user, they don't take advantage of what laptops or desktops offer anyway. So, it can actually serve as a replacement. As a content creator, I'll still have something more powerful/capable as well.

However, the touch interface clearly offers an advantage laptops or desktops do not. It only takes a few days of using Windows 8 to notice the conveniences not available with a mouse.

 

For someone who has never had a tablet before and consider buying one, Surface RT is a great choice. It ranks up there with the Nexus 10 and more capable than the iPad. But for someone who already has a tablet, be it iPad, or high end Android, They're better off saving their money and get the Surface Pro.

 

It will be very interesting to see how things play out. Are current tablet owners looking for a do-everything portable device or simply something that can do more?

I was looking for a tablet with a responsive easy-to-carry keyboard, full-blown document & spreadsheet applications, and decent power for photos & videos... things my droid fell short on. RT filled those requirements well.

 

I've owned an iPod Touch and iPad. I'm curious but not looking for the following reasons:

• 32 GB iPod - limited battery, it played podcasts my tunes for my morning and evening commute as well as internet radio at work. The only apps bought were weather and audio recorder. But the battery was only good for half a day. Still it was easy enough to keep it charged. I would also use it at WiFi spots to Web access e-mail and scan the news. Unfortunately it fell into a cup of coffee and did not recover.
• 32 GB iPad - replaced the iPod with four times the screen-estate and a battery good for 8-10 hours. I also bought a cover with bluetooth keyboard. It does everything the iPod did but I've added: ssh, schematic capture and SPICE model, spreadsheet, craps and checkers, sync photos from Mac, and network NTP access tester. It also has two recording acceleration apps, a flight instrument simulator, and bluetooth GPS.

I am interested in an OBD/KWP via bluetooth app but so far have yet to find one that allows me to enter Prius specific codes like the Scangauge and record the metrics for later analysis like my Graham miniscanner and AutoEnginuity. In the meanwhile, I use MacBooks with AutoEnginuity or my Graham Miniscanner. Both MacBooks can use a GPS mouse for total energy studies.

When I look at the Androids, I keep seeing 'me too but cheaper and you can buy a replacement next year.' When I look at the Slate, I see Microsoft marketing, 'bait with a low price teaser but bring big bucks.' I bought an iPod but lost it in a cup of coffee. I replaced it years ago with an iPad and it does everything expected. If someone ports a ScanGauge and AutoEnginuity capable app to the iPad, I'll add it, not swap platform.

Bob Wilson

 

I second Bob's comment on a ScanGauge capable app for the iPad This I would really like to see.

 

Earlier this year, Costco had a table of HP tablets the day HP announced they were dropping that line. But the price at Costco did not go down and the table was gone a week or so later.

So Saturday I was as Costco and asked,'Do you sell any tablets or pad computers?'

Well the clerk came back and gave me a glowing recommendation for the Galxey citing 'They are over by the jewelry area and it has the best, high resolution display that nobody, even Apple matches. I have one myself.'

So I explained:

I've had my 32GB iPad for two years and it has all of my CDs, the music I've bought, and my daily podcasts. The daily podcasts solves the problem of valley radio that s*cks and is what I listen to on the way to and from work. I bought the iPad to replace my iPod that was lost in a coffee cup accident. The display quality is not important for old-man eyes like mine. But you have a return policy?​

He said 90 days and I explained, great, I can test one and see how well it works.

I went to the table and they had three models but none of them has GPS built-in. If (or when) I buy my next tablet it will have:

1. built-in GPS - the tablet will have to do double duty in my airplane.
2. cell-phone data and voice - again double duty to get in-flight weather and provide flight path tracking.
3. inertial MEMs - the tablet will run flight instruments as an independent backup to the primary flight instruments.
4. bluetooth - to record data from the engine management system and support phone calls.
5. 8 hours battery - this covers the duration two, full tank, flights.

This tablet is not something I need to buy TODAY. Rather, it is what I'll need in about a year.

Bob Wilson

 

The closest tablet available today with your spec is the Galaxy Note 10.1

1. Built in A-GPS and GLONASS support. GPS Test shows it does pick up GPS and GLONASS satellites.
2. 3G version of the Note 10.1 can make and receive cellphone calls, SMS and MMS (real phone calls not VoIP like Google Talk or Skype. It uses the phone number on the SIM card) 21mbps HSPA+ data on AT&T network. Since it's not an AT&T device, AT&T does not know it's a tablet. Therefore you can use the least expensive data plan, $15 for unlimited data. I don't know of any other tablets that can make phones besides the Samsung tablets.
3. Not too sure what inertial MEMs are but it has accelerometer, compass and gyroscope.
4. It has Bluetooth 4.0 Not sure what all the protocols it supports but I know for fact that it supports bluetooth phone calling. I had it connected to my Prius and made a few calls to test out.
5. battery life is pretty good. I've gone 3 days light use without charging before it hit 10%. Engadget tested the Note and it lasted 8 hours. I have never gone less than 10 hours of heavy use before requiring charging.

Next year I'm sure Galaxy will release the Note 2 10.1 possibly with 2560x1600 res. with even more capable features.

 

Thanks!

I did not see the A-GPS or the SMS/MMS listed on the Costco 'bingo card' which surprised me. Once I hang the new engine, I'll review what is available.

Bob Wilson

 

No, No, No, The one sold at Costco is Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 WiFi version. That's why it's so cheap.
Samsung GT-P5110 Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 WiFi 16GB Specs | Technical Datasheet | PDAdb.net

The one I'm talking about is Galaxy Note 10.1
Samsung GT-N8000 Galaxy Note 10.1 64GB Specs | Technical Datasheet | PDAdb.net
Currently, only the 16GB is available but there's a MicroSD slot. It works with the 64GB MicroSD card and most likely will support the 128GB card when it becomes available.
The 3G version of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 might be able to make phone calls but I'm not 100% sure.

 

1. If you want GPS in an Apple branded tablet, you have to buy the ones w/3G or cellular. The ones w/o it don't have it. See Apple - iPad - View all the technical specifications. and the note about iPad at iOS 6: Understanding Location Services.
2. Apple has never advertised iPads as phones, but I suppose you could do it via a VoIP app like Skype over cellular data, but you need the +3G or +cellular versions.
3. The sensors listed at Apple - iPad - View all the technical specifications. may/may not be enough. Sensor Monitor for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store can help. I've used this utility to look at sensor values.

 

I bought a bluetooth, GPS mouse that works with my WiFi iPad . . . sort of. It turns out to be more trouble than it is worth so I don't want to go that way. But I also have a work, iPhone so I might test some of the flight operations on this smaller device. In aviation, less is more. <grins>

Bob Wilson

 

How good are tablets at doing video conference calls?

 

Pretty negative review of Surface:
Surface: Is it &#039;Microsoft&#039;s iPad&#039;, or something else? | ZDNet