IPad and other "tablets"

[Patler]

I need some information about these, and not just the advertizing hype. Can someone help me understand?

1. Comparing a tablet to a smart phone, what can a smart phone do (besides telephone calls) that a tablet can not?

2. I pay a “subscription” of sorts to have internet capabilities with my smart phone. Would I do the same thing for a tablet, or can I connect with a tablet only where there is an open wireless connection like at hotels, coffee shops and such where I can use my laptop or netbook?

[digitaldean]

From an iPad perspective, here's what is available:
1.) Functionality is pretty much the same, except for specific types of e-zines (e-published magazines built specifically for tablets like the iPad) like The Daily and a whole host of others. Also typing on an iPad is closer to typing on a QWERTY keyboard vs. a smartphone (where you'd enter in text with your thumbs or a just a couple of fingers).

2.) Speaking from purely an iPad perspective, it depends on what version you get. You can get just a Wi-Fi enabled iPad that will work wherever there is a wireless signal available. You also can get a 3G version with a data subscription through AT&T or Verizon. So you can connect to the Internet when you’re not within range of a Wi-Fi network. AT&T's data plan is 2GB/month for $25.00, while Verizon's max is 10GB/month for $80.

[Partial]

Wifi is pretty much every where today other than seemingly airports. Boingo is ridiculous but that's a different topic. Anyway, get the iPad wifi only model. The 3G is probably a waste of money unless you're constantly on the go/commuting on a train for work/etc. I have the wifi version of the iPad 2 for work and it is fantastic as a travel companion. It's so much ligher than my 13" MBP, and better for reading (resolution independence).

All tablets suck for data input. Surely it's not ideal for writing a novel, but for quick data input (I believe FreakOut does this on his job) or for graphic input, you can't beat it. For data consumption, it's a pretty incredible device.

The Android tablets all suck balls. I was looking at a honeycomb tablet at Best Buy and good lord was the OS a mess. The iPad dominates the market in the US. It has something like 90% market share. Apple is manufacturing 25 million iPads for the 4th quarter of this year. That's a disgusting amount!

[Patler]

So if I get a good cell phone, not a so-called smartphone, just something comparable to my old flip phone, and have a tablet, do I have all the capabilities of my current smartphone?

[Patler]

2.) Speaking from purely an iPad perspective, it depends on what version you get. You can get just a Wi-Fi enabled iPad that will work wherever there is a wireless signal available. You also can get a 3G version with a data subscription through AT&T or Verizon. So you can connect to the Internet when you’re not within range of a Wi-Fi network. AT&T's data plan is 2GB/month for $25.00, while Verizon's max is 10GB/month for $80.

That is the same as with our current smartphones, right?

Are there "apps" for tablets like there are for smartphones?

Some of my favorite websites have scaled-down pages on my smartphone. Do I get the scaled-down version on a tablet, or do I get the same one as on my computer?

I REALLY appreciate the help.

[Patler]

Wifi is pretty much every where today other than seemingly airports. Boingo is ridiculous but that's a different topic. Anyway, get the iPad wifi only model. The 3G is probably a waste of money unless you're constantly on the go/commuting on a train for work/etc. I have the wifi version of the iPad 2 for work and it is fantastic as a travel companion. It's so much ligher than my 13" MBP, and better for reading (resolution independence).

All tablets suck for data input. Surely it's not ideal for writing a novel, but for quick data input (I believe FreakOut does this on his job) or for graphic input, you can't beat it. For data consumption, it's a pretty incredible device.

The Android tablets all suck balls. I was looking at a honeycomb tablet at Best Buy and good lord was the OS a mess. The iPad dominates the market in the US. It has something like 90% market share. Apple is manufacturing 25 million iPads for the 4th quarter of this year. That's a disgusting amount!

Ya, I know Wifi is available lots of places, but not while you are traveling in a car, and only at discrete locations when you are up north or in a lot of places in the remote west. Walk out of your hotel, and you have nothing, so a broader access is of interest to me.

Can I have WORD and things like that on a tablet?
Do they have microphones or can I connect one? I use Dragon Naturallyspeaking a lot.

[Partial]

That is the same as with our current smartphones, right?

Yes

Are there "apps" for tablets like there are for smartphones?

Yes. However, there are not as many apps for iPad as there are for the iPhone. Facebook, for example, has not released an app for the iPad because you can use there website as you would on a traditional computer. There are a lot of cases like this.

http://www.slashgear.com/ios-apps-65000-vs-android-3-0-honeycomb-apps-at-100-02137192/

As of March, there was 65k iPad apps, compared to 100 android tablet apps. As you can see, Android on tablets is not taking off the way it has on phones.

Some of my favorite websites have scaled-down pages on my smartphone. Do I get the scaled-down version on a tablet, or do I get the same one as on my computer?

Yes, sometimes you do. It's really annoying. A lot of sites now check if it's a tablet, or a smart phone based on the browser agent. This will only get better in time, but as it currently stands, yes, you do get the mobile sites sometimes. For what it's worth, the only happens on two of the twenty-seven sites I have book marked on my iPad: Lifehacker and Gizmodo.

Can I have WORD and things like that on a tablet?

Microsoft does not currently make a tablet version of Word, but Apple does have a product called Pages which integrates beautifully with word. With something called "iCloud" coming out very soon, when you save/update a file on your desktop, it will automatically show up on your iPad/iPhone. When you save a file on your iPad/iPhone, the changes will show up on your desktop. This applies to Windows machines in addition to Macs.

Do they have microphones or can I connect one? I use Dragon Naturallyspeaking a lot

They do have built in mics and cameras. You can get a 3rd party mic accessory as well.

So if I get a good cell phone, not a so-called smartphone, just something comparable to my old flip phone, and have a tablet, do I have all the capabilities of my current smartphone?

In theory, yes, but in practice, probably not because you're not going to be able to carry your iPad into all situations like you could with a pocketable iPhone. Having said that, it's a great device, I'm a huge fan of mine and keep it in my backpack whenever I'm not at work. If I'm just walking around the mall or something I don't have it on me, but I do pretty much keep it in my car and take it wherever I take my backpack.

If a smartphone and a tablet are at the same location, will pages load at the same speed on both?

Lots of factors in this. It depends on the CPU/GPU of the device and it's ability to push pixels, it's reception, whether the data was previously cached, etc. Typically the faster the device, the faster it will load stuff. It's a safe bet the tablet will be a tiny bit faster because typically they're getting higher end system on a chip (processors, for all intents and purposes). More than likely the difference will be negligible.

[Patler]

If a smartphone and a tablet are at the same location, will pages load at the same speed on both?

[Patler]

Thanks. I really appreciate the simple basic information. If I understand what each device can do, it is easier to decide which ones I really want to have. I hate trying to discuss this with store clerks, who either don't know or can't dumb it down enough for me to understand half the time. Most can't (or won't) answer a simple question with a simple answer. The last time I went into Best Buy I came out more confused than when I went in.

[Partial]

Thanks. I really appreciate the simple basic information. If I understand what each device can do, it is easier to decide which ones I really want to have. I hate trying to discuss this with store clerks, who either don't know or can't dumb it down enough for me to understand half the time. Most can't (or won't) answer a simple question with a simple answer. The last time I went into Best Buy I came out more confused than when I went in.

Sure thing. I added some answers in after initially answering, so the location question in answered at the bottom of the long set of answers.

[Patler]

Sure thing. I added some answers in after initially answering, so the location question in answered at the bottom of the long set of answers.

Ya, I caught that. It made for a nice question and answer summary the way you did it!

[red]

please keep adding more info if you have it partial. i only recently have been thinking about them, but i'm a complete noob in that category

i store near me just had a door buster sale on HP touchpads for 99 bucks. i almost had to go get one, even though hp was dropping their supportat that price it was pretty stupid not to go buy one, but oh well

[Partial]

please keep adding more info if you have it partial. i only recently have been thinking about them, but i'm a complete noob in that category

What do you want to know? I'll answer any questions.

I should note that I never use my iPad at home. If it wasn't free from my company, I don't think I would have bought one as I don't really need one. My 13" laptop is pretty mobile as it is and I code a lot, so it's much better for that.

[red]

What do you want to know? I'll answer any questions.

I should note that I never use my iPad at home. If it wasn't free from my company, I don't think I would have bought one as I don't really need one. My 13" laptop is pretty mobile as it is and I code a lot, so it's much better for that.

so you don't see much of an advantage over a decent laptop? i'm one of those people that wants shit, even though i don't need them at all

i mean i have a decent cell phone, a nice laptop, and a nook. do i really even need a tablet?

but they are so damn cool

[MJZiggy]

so you don't see much of an advantage over a decent laptop? i'm one of those people that wants shit, even though i don't need them at all

i mean i have a decent cell phone, a nice laptop, and a nook. do i really even need a tablet?

but they are so damn cool

Depends on your Angry Birds addiction level. I've seen it played on a tablet and it is a lovely thing to behold.