Pen Tablet

[Halfdan]

I'm looking for a Pentablet for University. Which ones are good and worth testing? am i correct that i have 3 Options?  Android, IOS and Windows?

If so, i study Computerscience, so windows would probaly be the best?

 

What are Things i should consider? (size, runtime etc?)

[Chris Pratt]

Tablet-wise your choices (especially with a pen) are basically iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. Nothing else is worth considering. If you're okay with a 2 in 1, then a Chromebook might be a good option. You can run Linux CLI and apps on that, which would be great for CompSci stuff. The Surface Go tablet isn't going to be well suited to CompSci work, because they're really under-powered. You could do something like a Surface Pro, but that's going to be the more expensive of your options here.

[Halfdan]

I maybe have to add I have a Computer and Laptop. And don't know what I really need at the university. But as far as I can evaluate it, it's mainly for taking notes etc everything I would do with a pen otherwise.

 

I don't think I need it for programming/running stuff on it. I probably would do this anyway on my other devices that are more capable.

 

[Halfdan]

Double.

[Darkseth]

For digital Note Taking: iPad > Windows /Android.

iPadOS has the best apps.

 

But programming is not the best, so then you need MacOS or Windows.

Surface Pro 7~ it is, at least 128gb and 8gb Ram.

 

But... Tell us, which Applications you will need to use first.

[Donut417]

3 hours ago, Halfdan said:

I'm looking for a Pentablet for University. Which ones are good and worth testing? am i correct that i have 3 Options?  Android, IOS and Windows?

If so, i study Computerscience, so windows would probaly be the best?

 

What are Things i should consider? (size, runtime etc?)

The iPad is considered to be one of the best tablets in terms of experiences. Google no longer supports tablets so you pretty much have to hope that the vendor does a good job with their version of Android. The only Android vendor that really does support tablets well is Samsung. 

 

Keep in mind that a Windows tablet is running a Desktop grade OS. As such the MS Surface is more expensive. Not sure about pen support, I know you can buy a pen for it, not sure how well it works. 

[Halfdan]

21 hours ago, Darkseth said:

For digital Note Taking: iPad > Windows /Android.

iPadOS has the best apps.

 

But programming is not the best, so then you need MacOS or Windows.

Surface Pro 7~ it is, at least 128gb and 8gb Ram.

 

But... Tell us, which Applications you will need to use first.

It's mostly for notetaking. I don't know excactly what i need, but i have a Laptop and a Desktop PC at Home. So i don't think i need the Tablet for more than the basic stuff like notetaking/reading and marking text etc.

[Darkseth]

If that's the Case, i would suggest an iPad in your price range (in 1-2 Months, a new iPad and iPad Air could be released. Not iPad Pro, that will come 2021).

Long updates, very good optimized, alot very high quality Apps with diferent strenghts, solid/consistent Performance and Battery Life.

 

Problem with Windows: It costs alot more for less performance. Like a Surface Go 2 vs. iPad Air 3. The Surface Go 2 will have worse battery life, and worse performance.
Also, Windows is not optimized for Touch / Tablet-mode. You can manage, but yea.

But it can run x86 Apps if you need anything Desktop-grade stuff.

 

Problem with Android: Google gave up many years ago, they have basicly Zero optimization for tha Tablet Formfactor.
There are very little Tablet-Apps, most are just normal Phone apps, stretched out.

Also, note Taking Apps (Lecture Notes for example) can't compete with what's available on iPads (GoodNotes 5, Notability, Noteshelf 2, Margin Notes 3, etc). 

And there is basicly only Samsung left. Huawei can use Pens, but it's either a 2-year old Device now without Updates left, or the new models without Google.

Samsung does optimize some stuff for the Tablet Formfactor, but it's just not possible on the same scale as Apple can. Also, samsung can't change the Developer not focusing on Tablet Apps.

 

Also, only 2-3 years updates, vs. 5~ on iPads.

 

Disadvantage: Some workflows aren't as easy, for example sharing files between iPad and any non-Apple product.
But using a Cloud like Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive is a quite easy Workaround.

 

When i switched from an Android Tablet to an iPad Pro for Note Taking in school, it was my only Apple device, and even then, it performed very well.

But i mostly used the iPad itself to write AND study from it. Even tho i could backup all notes as PDF, and watch them on my Windows Desktop, i never did, because doing so on the iPad was more convenient.

[Halfdan]

Very nice, thank you! Can you tell.me more about the iPad? What should I check out/aim for? Size, age etc

[Darkseth]

Depending how much you can spend, and what expectations you have.
But here are the Options from pricy and best, to cheaper and less specs, and also my personal "ranking"

 

- iPad Pro 2020. Comes with 128gb base storage, 6gb Ram, quad speakers, 120 Hz screen, and great performance. It's still a 2 year old Chip (A12Z), but it runs like hell.

Good Camera, with wideangle (basicly... ignore that, unless you do Augmented Reality stuff. Good Camera on a Tablet is worth for Document Scanning (Apps like Adobe Scan, Apple Notes can do that, or GoodNotes/Notability can do that too). Better Camera = Higher quality Scans.

Also, only Model with USB-C with the 2018 model, which is great for charging, powerbanks, adapters etc.

Either 11" or 12,9", whatever you prefer. 12,9" is way better for working, because more space. But it's heavier, and less portable. So YOU have to make that compromise.

iPad Pro 2020 and 2018 (the models with FaceID) have that new Design, 

 

- iPad Pro 2018. The 2020 Model is pretty much just a slightly upgraded version. Imagine like Oneplus 7 Pro --> Oneplus 7T Pro. Almost the same performance, but 64gb Base, and 4gb Ram. Perfectly fine, and still one of THE best Tablets. Only get those over the 2020 Model, if you can find one significantly cheaper (second hand, Apple refurbished store etc).

Rest same as above. Only these Face-ID Pros with USB-C and new Design can use the Apple Pencil 2!!!

All iPads below can use Apple Pencil 1.

All can use Logitech Crayon. Cheaper model, same tech inside, but without Pressure sensitivity (which you might not find all that neccessary for note taking)

 

- iPad Pro 2017. Despite the A10X Chip is quite old, it's still running good. Old Design with Touch-ID, but also 120 Hz screen, Quad Stereo Speakers, good Camera.

There is also a 12,9" Version, but since it's the old Design, the overall size is a bit bigger than the 2018/2020 Pros.

I recommend looking for second hand, because the Models will be up to 3 years old, and "new" prices are nonsense since it's been discontinued.

Advice: The 10,5" Model should NOT cost more than an iPad Air 3 with similar Storage size, if both are New.

Example: I found a great private second Hand deal for 400€~ (with Tax), while the Air 3 costs 500€. After i got it, i found out, it was only a year old, so quite good deal.

 

- iPad Air 3. Only 10,5" exists here. This one has an A12 Chip, while the Pro 2017 has an A10X (2 years older, but a stronger ipad Pro version). A12 has 20% higher CPU Performance, but A10X has 40% higher GPU performance.

Why i would NOT take the Air 3 over the old 2017 Pro:
- Air 3 has only 3gb Ram, 2017 Pro 10,5" has 4gb.

- Air 3 has only 60 Hz

- Air 3 has only Mono Speakers (2, but on the same Side)

- Air 3 has a worse Camera for Documents

 

Overall, the Pro will give you the better user experience.

 

- And now the cheap one, that will still work just as fine for Note Taking (that doesn't need much Power): iPad 10,2" (7th Generation, or iPad 2019). Comes with 32gb or 128gb

Slightly smaller screen, but same Body size as the 10,5" ones.
Non-laminated Screen (Tiny air gap between Glas and Pixels. You can get used to it, but try it out). only the regular A10 chip (at this point, almost 4 years old Chip, the A10X is alot faster despite same Generation).
But it still handles basic stuff quite well.

 

 

If you can wait 1-2 Months, do it. The succe ssor of the basic iPad will probably be updated to the A12 Chip, making a huge Leap of 2 Hardware Generations. I would take that. Also, always a Chance Apple will laminate the screen.

Very good chance, Apple will up the base storage to 64gb.

 

Also, the iPad Air 3, which came out early 2019, will probably be updated this Fall, with a 10,8" , and the modern Pro Design and maybe USb-C.

If so, this should become a very compelling device, that's not the cheapest base line, but still not as expensive as the Pro models.

 

 

You can do basic Note Taking as you would do in School/University with all of them. So you can let your Budget decide.
If you pay more, you get more