Convertible vs Laptop + Tablet

[IAmAndre]

Hi,

 

I'm hesitating between buying a budget laptop or a more expensive convertible laptop that would cost me the price of both the laptop and a Shield Tablet. For the convertible, it could be a 12-inch HP or Asus Windows convertible with a core M CPU, a 120GB SSD, a 1080p screen and 4GB of RAM at €600-700. I'm not sure which model I would get but the specs are generally very similar at this price point.

For the laptop, I could get something with a 14 inch 768p screen, a quad core Pentium CPU, 4GB of RAM (expandable), a 500GB HDD that I would replace with my old 120GB SSD, for €350-400. This would allow me to buy the Shield Tablet or another Android tablet (I could even afford to spend more since I won't buy them both at the same time).

In both cases, these devices won't be used as a main computer, but only when I'm not at home or when I just don't want to sit in front of my main rig. I'm a huge YouTube user, and I also watch Netflix and podcasts (stored locally), and for this purpose I think a smaller 8 inch tablet would be more convenient when I'm in my bed (I sometimes find my 10 inch Android tablet too awkward to use in this situation, especially when reading books), and the 14 inch laptop would be more convenient and I'm having breakfast. However, a 12 inch display would be a good compromise in both situations. The Pentium CPU seems to be at least as fast as the Core M, and having a bigger keyboard is a good point for productivity.

So let me know what you guys think.
Thanks

[21rkosta]

id say convertible laptop, but thats just because ive always wanted one

[Prysin]

5 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

Hi,

 

I'm hesitating between buying a budget laptop or a more expensive convertible laptop that would cost me the price of both the laptop and a Shield Tablet. For the convertible, it could be a 12-inch HP or Asus Windows convertible with a core M CPU, a 120GB SSD, a 1080p screen and 4GB of RAM at €600-700. I'm not sure which model I would get but the specs are generally very similar at this price point.

For the laptop, I could get something with a 14 inch 768p screen, a quad core Pentium CPU, 4GB of RAM (expandable), a 500GB HDD that I would replace with my old 120GB SSD, for €350-400. This would allow me to buy the Shield Tablet or another Android tablet (I could even afford to spend more since I won't buy them both at the same time).

In both cases, these devices won't be used as a main computer, but only when I'm not at home or when I just don't want to sit in front of my main rig. I'm a huge YouTube user, and I also watch Netflix and podcasts (stored locally), and for this purpose I think a smaller 8 inch tablet would be more convenient when I'm in my bed (I sometimes find my 10 inch Android tablet too awkward to use in this situation, especially when reading books), and the 14 inch laptop would be more convenient and I'm having breakfast. However, a 12 inch display would be a good compromise in both situations. The Pentium CPU seems to be at least as fast as the Core M, and having a bigger keyboard is a good point for productivity.

So let me know what you guys think.
Thanks

first off. Dont buy shield. Wasted money.

 

Get a 9.7" Samsung Tablet + a keyboard. That will do everything you want it to.

[IAmAndre]

1 minute ago, Prysin said:

first off. Dont buy shield. Wasted money.

Why?

 

2 minutes ago, Prysin said:

Get a 9.7" Samsung Tablet + a keyboard. That will do everything you want it to.

You mean one running Windows, right? I thought they were more pricey.

[Prysin]

8 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

Why?

 

You mean one running Windows, right? I thought they were more pricey.

Do not bother with shield. Because its a shitty platform.

The console performs well, but the whole ecosystem is rather shit. You would get better gaming on mITX PC

 

windows?

 

no, this one:

https://www.komplett.no/product/892497/pc-nettbrett/nettbrett-ipad/nettbrett-ipad/samsung-galaxy-tab-s2-97-32gb-4g-sort

 

they run android.

[IAmAndre]

4 minutes ago, Prysin said:

Do not bother with shield. Because its a shitty platform.

The console performs well, but the whole ecosystem is rather shit. You would get better gaming on mITX PC

 

windows?

 

no, this one:

https://www.komplett.no/product/892497/pc-nettbrett/nettbrett-ipad/nettbrett-ipad/samsung-galaxy-tab-s2-97-32gb-4g-sort

 

they run android.

I was talking about the Shield Tablet. Well, the newer version is the Shield K1 I believe.

I don't want a convertible running Android. Actually I'm currently using an Asus Transformer and Android is really not ready for productivity work. My favorite OS is Linux, which is why I want a laptop. In the worst case, I could get a Windows convertible that is much more capable than any Android device.

[GoodBytes]

Windows convertible system that are actually good, are sadly expensive (see Surface Pro line...). Rumor has it that a new Surface 4 will come out in the future this year, but seeing that the low end Surface Pro 4 uses a Core M CPU, the Surface 4 will probably be powered by Intel latest and last ever Atom CPU (Intel is discontinuing it)... mind you, it could be a slower Core M CPU as well... or wait until the end of the year with Surface Pro 5, where the non-Pro gets Core M CPU, and the Pro 5 remains with the U series. Anyway it is all speculation.

 

You have alternatives from Dell, HP and Lenovo, so you can check them out.

[IAmAndre]

3 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Windows convertible system that are actually good, are sadly expensive (see Surface Pro line...). Rumor has it that a new Surface 4 will come out in the future this year, but seeing that the low end Surface Pro 4 uses a Core M CPU, the Surface 4 will probably be powered by Intel latest and last ever Atom CPU (Intel is discontinuing it)... mind you, it could be a slower Core M CPU as well... or wait until the end of the year with Surface Pro 5, where the non-Pro gets Core M CPU, and the Pro 5 remains with the U series. Anyway it is all speculation.

 

You have alternatives from Dell, HP and Lenovo, so you can check them out.

I agree with you, but that wasn't actually the question. The question was whether it would wise/cost effective to get two devices instead of a convertible.

[GoodBytes]

3 hours ago, IAmAndre said:

I agree with you, but that wasn't actually the question. The question was whether it would wise/cost effective to get two devices instead of a convertible.

Ah! Sorry about the miss understanding.

That really depends, but 2 devices you'll fight in having both in sync, unless you put everything on the cloud, or don't mind plugging your tablet (assuming iOS or Android) to your system to pass files in or out (if it a Windows system, sadly you can't do this, so you need a USB flash drive, or network share if it is at home).

 

Ultimately, it depends on your setup, and preference. For me, I'll gladly pay the premium for 1 less device. Less to worry about being charged, reduce weight, don't have to carry both devices all the time as I don't know which one can be best at the moment notice.

 

But the question you should perhaps ask, is: Do you care about the pen?

 

Basically, nearly all Windows tablets features a digitize pen. Yes, some are good, some are not so good, some are included, some is an extra accessories, granted, like everything.. but that is not the point. My question is to see things, perhaps, differently.

 

The pen gives you the ability to hand write your notes on the device with great precision compared to the stylus. Plus, you have hover detection and palm rejection. I am not going to claim that it is identical to pen and paper... and there is indeed some getting used to, and depending on your handwriting style, it can be easier or harder to adjust. The Surface Pro 4 pen is simply, at least currently, the best in note taking. The multiple tips (sadly, it is an extra, but isn't expensive.. well depends on where you live) options, allow you to get more close feeling to pen and paper, or to preference. So that means it can potentially also replace, if you are a student, pen and paper for your note taking, and include class PDF files or PowerPoint (do this before class starts, as it can take a few minutes) and complete them as if you printed them and writing notes on them. Great for math class as well, can change colors, not split examples in multiple-pages, can insert anywhere content, etc. OneNote (free) really gives you this nice ability, and everything is sync as you work on the cloud (OneDrive), so all your systems can access it.

 

Despite not perfect (mind you I didn't try the Pro 4, but I doubt these things are yet perfect), this has been very useful in my student days, and very valuable to me. I used to have a laptop, and, while great to do homework on the go, it was not great in class, especially my classes, where I had a lot of symbols and things or that off math equation in a theory class. I don't see, in my particular case, how having a standard tablet and laptop would help me, nor even now... I mean I use my convertible system (Surface Pro 3) in my work, when I draw plans, GUI layouts, and so on (I am a software developer), and keep things organize per project.

 

If you plan to use the tablet just to have a PDF or whatnot on the side, or reading eBooks, or watch videos on it, then any, practically, low cost tablet will do. But if you seek a device to actually help you augment your experience, like a pen, then get a convertible, with the best pen technology, as this is the key thing you are going for, especially that the technology is, despite improving yearly, not perfectly there yet, but works without fighting, unless you go cheap. The downside, is that convertible system aren't portable gaming laptops if that was your plan. You are stuck with a weak Intel integrated graphics, and a dual core CPU, especially if you go with a Core M, over a Core i5 U series.

[NumLock21]

convertible = components are house under the keyboard, roomy, and the screen flips all the way back becoming a tablet. can upgrade certain components

laptop = components also house under keyboard, have room to breath, screen has a limited open angle, can also upgrade some parts

tablet = all components are house within the screen, cramp space and no room for upgrading.

[GoodBytes]

Convertible is stored in the screen as a tablet also. or partially. It depends.

Surface series has all the components in the screen, The Surface Book has everything behind the screen as well, but the GPU and more (most) battery is under the keyboard.

[IAmAndre]

5 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Ah! Sorry about the miss understanding.

That really depends, but 2 devices you'll fight in having both in sync, unless you put everything on the cloud, or don't mind plugging your tablet (assuming iOS or Android) to your system to pass files in or out (if it a Windows system, sadly you can't do this, so you need a USB flash drive, or network share if it is at home).

 

Ultimately, it depends on your setup, and preference. For me, I'll gladly pay the premium for 1 less device. Less to worry about being charged, reduce weight, don't have to carry both devices all the time as I don't know which one can be best at the moment notice.

 

But the question you should perhaps ask, is: Do you care about the pen?

 

Basically, nearly all Windows tablets features a digitize pen. Yes, some are good, some are not so good, some are included, some is an extra accessories, granted, like everything.. but that is not the point. My question is to see things, perhaps, differently.

 

The pen gives you the ability to hand write your notes on the device with great precision compared to the stylus. Plus, you have hover detection and palm rejection. I am not going to claim that it is identical to pen and paper... and there is indeed some getting used to, and depending on your handwriting style, it can be easier or harder to adjust. The Surface Pro 4 pen is simply, at least currently, the best in note taking. The multiple tips (sadly, it is an extra, but isn't expensive.. well depends on where you live) options, allow you to get more close feeling to pen and paper, or to preference. So that means it can potentially also replace, if you are a student, pen and paper for your note taking, and include class PDF files or PowerPoint (do this before class starts, as it can take a few minutes) and complete them as if you printed them and writing notes on them. Great for math class as well, can change colors, not split examples in multiple-pages, can insert anywhere content, etc. OneNote (free) really gives you this nice ability, and everything is sync as you work on the cloud (OneDrive), so all your systems can access it.

 

Despite not perfect (mind you I didn't try the Pro 4, but I doubt these things are yet perfect), this has been very useful in my student days, and very valuable to me. I used to have a laptop, and, while great to do homework on the go, it was not great in class, especially my classes, where I had a lot of symbols and things or that off math equation in a theory class. I don't see, in my particular case, how having a standard tablet and laptop would help me, nor even now... I mean I use my convertible system (Surface Pro 3) in my work, when I draw plans, GUI layouts, and so on (I am a software developer), and keep things organize per project.

 

If you plan to use the tablet just to have a PDF or whatnot on the side, or reading eBooks, or watch videos on it, then any, practically, low cost tablet will do. But if you seek a device to actually help you augment your experience, like a pen, then get a convertible, with the best pen technology, as this is the key thing you are going for, especially that the technology is, despite improving yearly, not perfectly there yet, but works without fighting, unless you go cheap. The downside, is that convertible system aren't portable gaming laptops if that was your plan. You are stuck with a weak Intel integrated graphics, and a dual core CPU, especially if you go with a Core M, over a Core i5 U series.

Thanks for the info. Actually I can't afford a Surface Pro or any high end convertible and (correct me if I'm wrong), most convertibles at this price range (up to €600) don't offer a pen, except HP who sells it separately. On the other hand, nvidia's Tegra Note claims to have a better digitizer than the competition. So let me reformulate my question: should I get a budget convertible (core M, 4GB of RAM, probably no pen) or a budget laptop (around €400) and a gaming tablet?

That said, I understand your other points (having to choose which device to take and synchronization)