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Three to try before you buy a Tablet

By
Home Inspector with Elliott Home Inspection

Hi Everyone

Been spending lots of time researching into buying a tablet lately.

Sure I have a phone and many other gadgets

including:

1) HTC LTE Android through Sprint.

2) 2Go Netbook which is totally shock proof and very small

3) HP quad core Desktop with 6 gigs of ram

4) Samsung Android camera which I bought all the way back in October (when they first came out)

5 ) Toshiba laptop with 4 gig ram and Sandy bridge processor

The above is not enough now that I am totally addicticted to remaining connected.

Sure I have a Bluetooth "JawBone " speaker for my laptops (left out a really old Toshiba that came loaded with "XP")

however I am right now in process of needing instant on and ability to take notes and run my report software.

After all I am a Home Inspector and people want those reports detailed but fast with lots of comments and pictures .

 

Yes you can buy fantastic 10 inch Tablets

Yes there are as many brands as the sky has stars.

My personal research has me feeling besides instant on and system conciderations size matters and bigger is not always better.

1)The 10 inch models make you almost feel like you are back to lugging a laptop around so I did not spend much time with them.

2) The 10 inch models for the most part (decent ones) run about $500 which is expensive for mobile apps ability .

 

My attention went to the smaller and better models.

Let me narrow this down to what I consider the top 3.

[prices are based on time of writing]

 

* Nexus 7 the new version (just came out) ($269)..Android

This Tablet is a monster for the price at 7 inches and has the best grapics (check out online specs)

Most reviewrs say it is the best for the money as well.

It has the latest Jelly Bean and quadcore processor .

It feels almost sexy in your hands (narrow and rubber like back cover) and very solid.

 

* Galaxy Note 8.0 ($379)...Android

Has pretty much same specs as the Nexus in a 8 inch screen but has features the Nexus does not.

It has expandable storage through micro SD cards

It  has a multi screen mode which lets you watch "You Tube" and check mail or calanders on line for instance at the same time.

It has a scribe pen which when pulled from the unit immediatly opens a note pad and you can use handwriting recognition if you wish.

(It is not bad but not great)

 

* Mini i pad ($329)...Apple

It is good and Apple has many fans plus there are more apps made for tablets on their app market

Must admit not being a "Apple" guy however I do understand it runs smoother despite having about

30% less proccessor power than the other two.It also lacks being able to see flash sites.

The good is the incredable support system and many companies that offer extras for their product (s)

 

The Galaxy Note is what I settled on.

Yes it costs more but heck for that extra $100 it sure is fun.

 I have 7 more days on my 14 day period to return it to Best Buy so...

If you can talk me into something else please do it now.

Meanwhile I will be sitting out back listing to Pandora,checking forums,and looking at videos at the same time.

Might get bored and start sketching with the S Pen .:)

Comments (41)

Gerard Gilbers
Higher Authority Markeing - Asheboro, NC
Your Marketing Master

This was great information, I have been contemplating getting a new tablet. I have an original ipad but currently do not plan to stay with the ipad platform. I will probably go with a larger screen like the 10" to save the stress on my eyes.

Dec 14, 2013 04:15 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Well, it is easy for me: i've been with Apple last 10 years( macpro, Iphone, ipad) and I don't have any plans to change it. It is easy these ways since all my devices are connected and I do trust their product.

Dec 14, 2013 06:29 PM
Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning and this is some great Info for all,  keep up the good work and good luck in 2014 with your business,  E

Dec 15, 2013 03:07 AM
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Thanks for the info. I am caught between a rock and a hard place. I was about ready to order a tablet when our brokerage issued all of us the new Surface 2. Thebrokerage has developed several presentations for Power Point on Widows 8. Do you know anything about any of the Windows tablets? I want my own device and I want one that runs the full Windows 8.1. I picked up one of the Verizon Ellipsis 7 tablets on Black Friday. It was free with a 2 year $10 a month plan for two years. It is great for surfing the web and reading books, but for work I would want a 10".

Dec 16, 2013 11:36 AM
Bob Elliott
Elliott Home Inspection - Chicago, IL
Chicago Property Inspection

Hi Tom

My hands on experience with windows tablets is limited because the kind of stuff I want to do with the M.S OS is usually software involve and I mainly prefer my desktop for that.

 

My little net book was obviously under powered which converted to tablet form with stylus.

 

Personally IMO you should compare processor type and amount of storage plus ram as with any P.C.

The rest is personal preference with screen size,battery life,etc.

 

Here is a little trick that you should know and many do not .

Use the windows experience test as it rates user experience categories and compares them to other models.

 

You can do this hands on with any windows tablet you have in your hands at the time by going to computer then system properties.

 

  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-experience-index

 

Below is a screen shot off my Toshiba laptop which I am using tonight.

 

 

windows experience index

Dec 16, 2013 12:16 PM
Kathleen Clinton
Mimbres Home Inspection - Silver City, NM
I use a 11" MacBook Air, but I run Windows 7 using Parallels. My partner uses the Nexus 7 which is more portable than the MBA, but I like having a full screen.
Dec 17, 2013 08:45 PM
Roger Johnson
Hickory, NC

You can't go wrong with the Galaxy.  It takes some getting used to but the S Pen tech is pretty awesome once you do.  I went with a Samsung ATIV 500 which has the S Pen but runs on Windows 8.1.  Now, I have the mobility of a tablet but the full function of a windows PC.  Overall, it's been really great.

Dec 17, 2013 09:38 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Food for thought.....

Bring up a iPad Mini Browser window and a Galaxy Note Browser window and you will see 35% more viewing area due to 0.9" additional space on the iPad mini.

Hands free Siri commands to write a text to [name], set up 9 am showing at [address] with [name], driving directions to [address], email [name] requesting best day and time for appointment, etc. will save you a traffic ticket with hands free, help you document your appointments immediately, and get you to your destination quicker without having to pull over to type a text or get an address.

250,000+ apps specifically for the iPad mini plus free word processing, free spreadsheet, and free presentations via cloud storage.

Once you tire of viruses on PC's and switch to Mac's, I was adamant that I NEVER would switch, I have found the interaction between my Mac devices for using apps downloaded once for all devices (phone, Mac, iPad) and iCloud access to all my files from any of those devices is essential.  I can start listing or contract docs on my Mac and complete them on my iPad or iPhone and email or DocuSign them over to my client.

The price is $259 or $279 (not $329) depending on which competition you have where your Best Buy is because Best Buy price matches the competition.

Good luck with your new device!

Dec 17, 2013 10:12 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

One more thing....whichever device you get, you should look into getting the sleeve type case which allows you to slip your hand into the back so you can walk around during your inspections and video/take photos during your inspections and still have a hand free for your flashlight.

Dec 17, 2013 10:16 PM
Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070
Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA
Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

What a great post. This is the kind of post I'll be searching for one day when I need a good recommendation. Thanks for saving us some reserach time.

Dec 17, 2013 11:21 PM
Mark Fidgett
Mark Fidgett - www.NotaPennyDown.com - Vancouver, BC

Great insight :-)

Dec 17, 2013 11:38 PM
Jamie King
Hoty Enterprises, Inc. - Huron, OH
Sandusky, OH

Bought a Nexus 7 in July. Love it! I especially like that I can send things to my printer wirelessly. Graphics are incredible.

Dec 17, 2013 11:52 PM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

I have have last years version of the Nexus 7 and love it- but the extra features on the Galaxy Note are making me jealous!!!  Keep us posted on how it performs!

Dec 17, 2013 11:54 PM
Bill Morrow
Keller Williams of Central PA - Mechanicsburg, PA
Bill Morrow, Associate Broker

I wish you would have made this post 3 weeks ago.

 

Dec 18, 2013 12:49 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Thanks for the review.  A tablet is on my wish list, but do not know where to start.

Dec 18, 2013 02:23 AM
Cat Zwicker, CRS
Desert Sky Real Estate, LLC - Redmond, OR
Down to Earth Service; Out of this World Results!

Excellent timing as a tablet is on my gift list for me in the New Year and you have helped me reduce some of my research and brought forward a few points I had not yet considered. 

 

Thanks

Dec 18, 2013 02:28 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Nice product reivew, Bob.  I hope you'll give us periodic updates on how you're using the Galaxy Note, what aps you're using, etc.

Dec 18, 2013 02:52 AM
Christi Farrington
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
~ Your representative in Fairfield County, CT

Oh, I agree with Lottie.  Please give us updates because I'm an Apple fan and don't plan on changing from iPad, iPhone or Mac - I don't think! 

Dec 18, 2013 05:41 AM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

I really haven't used my iPad as much as I thought I would in the almost 2 years since I got it. A smaller tablet might be more useful. My daughter loves the Kindle line, since she reads a lot & is a book reviewer/editor, but I believe the top-of-the line ones do a lot that other tablets do. Will get her to bring it along when we get together for our lunch next week.

Dec 18, 2013 08:10 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Bob, thanks for this wonderful summary!  I have a lightweight 14" laptop and a small tablet that meet my needs. I'm saving your post in case I replace my tablet in the near future.

Dec 18, 2013 03:58 PM