New laptop or Ipad?

[Bigshow]

My 'old reliable' Sony laptop is getting old.
I use it for emails, internet (forums and searching stuff), storing pictures, and writing some letters for printing > into envelope > mailing (yes, some of us still do this the odd time)
I don't use it for any business records, as we have a dedicated desktop for this. I also dont play any games.
Question / advice needed --- seeing as I have Iphone4S, would Ipad suffice?
I like the cool factor of the tablets, but storing pics from my digital camera wouldnt work, right?
Looking for input...

[Evil Eye]

Newer laptops have a TON more performance for roughly half the price of the iPad. I just bought my son a quad core with 8GB of RAM with a decent graphics package for under $400 shipped. You just have to know what you are looking for and keep watching. Now is a GREAT time to buy up laptops since the new models are out and they are switching to the new stuff they began developing for CES a couple of months ago.

[Dave]

TO store pics you would need an SD card reader.

Ive got a Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1. Love the thing. The only thing I dont like about it is the on screen keyboard if you do alot of typing.

If all your gonna use it for is web browsing get the tablet

[jeffc]

I would say go with an iPad. Really, it depends on your tastes and needs. I do a lot of heavy computing between work and play, but a good portion of my time is now spent behind an iPad. If you want to be productive and efficient and rely on a full blown OS, using a tablet tends to be counterproductive in that regard.

For what you are describing - couch surfing, email, etc. you should be fine with a tablet. Battery life is exceptional, they are extremely portable and are becoming more and more powerful. Picture storage is one of my favorite aspects of iOS 5. If you set up an iCloud account, any picture taken with your iOS 5 device will upload automatically upload to all devices, including your PCs and Macs that have the client installed. You can add existing pics to the account via a Mac or PC.

If you spend an extra $100, you can get an Apple TV and use Airplay to show what's on your iPad up on your TV. I love my setup at home.

[Idahoser]

tablets are little more than very large cell phones that don't make phone calls. If you need a computer, they do not suffice.

[Six0~Stroker]

True...



But I have grown to love my Ipad for surfing the web and emails ect...





OP, keep in mind though that Ipads dont have usb.... so data transfer with microsoft product is not the best...

[dieselmatt]

Laptop. It would be much better for your purposes. The Ipad would be great, but only as an addition to a laptop or desktop.

[Bigshow]

Thanks for the input guys.
I looked at some ipads the other day. 16/32/64GB, some w/WIFI, some with WIFI & 4G.
Has anyone used the remote keypad device as well?
I struggle with these purchases - yet know full well that the development happens so quickly that anything is obsolete too soon!
I had a hard time switching from BBerry to Iphone...
If I get a laptop, it might be a Mac???
Keep this going, as I know there are lots of readers with decision questions like mine, and a wealth of knowledge and experience from members on here!!!
Just a question - could I do truck programmer updates for my truck with an ipad? a Mac?

[strokinpower]

Get a macbook.

[dieselmatt]

If you get a mac laptop then the cost argument goes out the window.

I have a Macbook Air and it is incredible! Lightweight, super thin, and because it uses solid state memory instead of a spinning hard drive it is really fast!