Tablet for Mother

[FedCOM]

So i am looking for a tablet to get for my Mom to replace her old MacBook 13 in Aluminum body laptop.

 

I am torn between a Windows RT, Windows Pro, Android and iOS tablets.

She is really not that ingrained into any eco systems, as she has an Android phone, and the MacBook.

 

The main purpose for this will be:

1. Portability. Something she can take with her where ever she goes.

2. Ease of use

3. E-mail (she uses gmail)

4. Dealing with on-line Banking, paying bills

5. General Web Surfing, youtube, twitch, etc.

6. Reading books (I am considering getting her a Kindle Paperwhite for that actually)

7. Being able to store and show of pictures (goes back to the portability part)

8. Being able to watch videos, movies stored on my home server (WHS2011, prefer not to have to deal with PLEX)

 

I would prefer not to go above 1k in price but I understand that the Windows Pro tablets are up there in price.

 

What would you guys recommend for this this?

 

 

[CtW]

You can get the old surface pro for only $600 which is a pretty good deal for its specs and form factor.

 

Link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microsoft-surface-pro-128gb-black/7952262.p?id=1218862422867&skuId=7952262&st=categoryid$pcmcat209000050006&cp=1&lp=5

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

The latest iPad.

 

There honestly no real competitor.

[Tech_Dreamer]

why not an ipad air? windows RT/Pro is comparitively safer to android. so there you go

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ninja loves his moma

[Cacao]

Pretty much modern tablet can do the things you listed, however it looks like she could benefit quite a bit from a keyboard and possibly a bigger display. How about an ultrabook? If not, MS Surface would be my next suggestions.

[dizmo]

Dell makes some solid offerings. Don't even consider RT as an option, and if she does any kind of Office work then I'd go with Windows.

If it's really basic browsing and such than Android is a good choice as they're generally much cheaper.

I can't comment on iOs as I dislike Apple.

[kuzimins]

ipad air.

[nj4ck]

why not a nexus 10? no need to spend 1k on something that will be used for browsing and emails. Or maybe an Asus Transformer Pad if she wants a keyboard..

[ciprian97pop]

Lenovo Yoga Ultrabook?

[FedCOM]

I was thinking of Android since she does have an Android phone, or iPad (air or standard) since she use have an iPhone before and is currently using a Macbook so she is somewhat use to either of those 2.

I am a bit reluctant about RT though, unless it is the Pro and than that gets a bit pricy and the battery goes down a lot.

 

She wants something she can easily take with her so ultra books are a bit out.  My dad has a Yoga 2 Pro and it is a bit too big for her, so something with a 9.7 (iPad) to 10.8-11 (surface pro) would do.

 

I do like the keyboard with the surface but I read that the iPad's bluetooth keyboard is not bad.

 

As for office, I have a 365 Home Pro subscription and the new apps for android/iOS from what I read are pretty good.

 

Ultimately she will need to feel out each one and see which she feels more comfortable with.

 

My biggest concern with iOS is the lack of Flash and I am not fully sold on the youtube apps as the one for android is lack luster in comparison to the website.

 

I think the biggest pro for iPad is that it is very well build and you will get updates to new OS for some time.

You do not get that with Android unless you go with the Nexus line.

As for RT, you get updates but the app eco system is very meh so far.

 

Thanks for the comments though guys, i really appreciate it.

[Kevinkt]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-tegra-origin-pc-watch-dogs-directstylus,26712.html#xtor=RSS-998 get your self a new pc and give her the tablet that  comes with it. win win? Or. if you're on verizon if you get a new phone you'll get a tablet. (that's the only reason i have a tablet)

[NickTheMajin]

Very little still uses flash. The YouTube app is fantastic on iOS and I've never had an issue. Neither Android or iOS actually still supports flash. Neither gets updates. You can install flash on android or download a browser that supports flash on the iPad. And they will both be imperfect.

[FedCOM]

I was not sure about the state of Flash.  I know a while back I wanted to see something and it was a mess.  Though this was on a Kindle HD and trying to watch a youtube video was a no go.  Things might have changed a lot.

 

I am sort of leaning towards an iPad due to the construction and lets face it, love it/hate it, nearly every app that comes out is on iOS first or iOS and Android.

 

I like the idea of a windows tablet, but i feel that it is too restrictive and for a general user might fall short of the user experience.  Now for me, I would get my self a Surface 2 Pro of a Dell Venue Pro and have a nice laptop/tablet with fully functional windows , but for my mom i think that might be overkill and she would  not utilize all the things that come with Pro so it would be a waste of money and battery life.

 

One thing that still bothers is the lack of being able to easily access a USB flash drive or an external drive from the iPad.

[SSOB]

Since she is used to the MacBook ( Apple ecosystem ). I would say an iPad is the best option honestly. Maybe the Xperia Z2 can also be a nice alternative also. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCml0D-alWk

 

Windows tablet is a choice that i feel is not mature yet. Maybe in 1-2 years after windows 8.2. It may be the best for productivity but that's it.

Anyway if you want a windows tablet go with:

Thinkpad Tablet 2

 

My personal choice would be the Xperia Z2, Watching movies in bath/jacuzzi is really nice and it looks the best ( IMO.) Performance is on par with every other tablet ( Except for those Core i5 windows tablets but that's a whole different league.)

[solosdk]

iPad Air for sure. Its easy to use, excellent battery and portability. No other tablet touches it.

[kungpaogao]

/!\ WARNING /!\ Do not get an Apple device. They are overpriced and there are significantly cheaper and more productive alternatives.

 

(Side note: I am not saying Apple devices are terrible, they are decent and well optimized, but other devices will last longer and be able to do more.)

 

Since it is a replacement for a MacBook, I decided to find bigger devices that I thought were outstanding specs-wise.

 

ALTERNATIVES:

 

Google's Nexus 10 [Specs]

 - Stock Android (supported by Google)

 - Exynos 5250 (Samsung manufactured), Dual-core at 1.7 GHz

 - 2 GB RAM 

 - ~299 ppi, 10.1-inch screen

 - 16/32 GB 

 - WARNING: The current (only available) version is already 2 years old... a new improved device is due to come out (hopefully).

 

ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T [Specs]

 - Comes with keyboard and trackpad dock

 - NVIDIA Tegra 4 chipset (most powerful gaming mobile gaming chipset, at the moment), Quad-core at 1.9 GHz

 - 2 GB RAM

 - ~299 ppi, 10.1-inch screen

 - 32/64 GB

 

Others: MS Surface (both generations are fine), Lenovo has some nice stuff. Look for tablet PC's, they match your criteria pretty well.

 

For smaller tablets:

 - ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) or the Nexus 8 (next generation) is rumored to come soon

 - EVGA Tegra Note 7 

 - (iPad Air)