Deb, I'm thinking about this too. I'm wondering if any of them are good for writing documents. My son tells me his friend has an i-pad and uses it with a keyboard to write documents. I may look into that.

 

Good info...I looked at the Android tablets. Still leaning Windows, though. To be cont'd...

 

They now have an actual bluetooth key board for the IPad. Runs about $99 or less

 

Deb, I just went through this. I was close to moving to the iPad for no other reason that their popularity. But in the end I went with the Asus F201B1CG. I have very good success with Asus in the past and it is the only tablet that I looked at the was using a quad-core processor. I felt that it had a longer time to obsolescence. It is also upgradable to Android 4.0 which is the latest and greatest tablet OS.
It also has a docking station with full keyboard available.

 

Deb, as a lifetime Windows user I went kicking and screaming into the Apple world.

Too expensive. Store too far away. And the program limitations! Favorite programs I had to give up going to a Mac included MS Publisher and Word Perfect. I kept thinking I’m too old a dog to learn new tricks. I don’t need the hassle.

I bought an iPad 1 last December for travel and to have a second access in the house to the Internet. No iPhones or other techy links in this house!

I found the iPad pretty cool but substitute for a PC. But that was not what I bought for. Still after getting familiar with the Apple world by using it I started to see the light. The iPad’s keyboard is fine for answering emails etc. but I can’t imagine having to use a flat screen keyboard all the time. Others seem to take to it immediately. Not me.

After trying a new Windows laptop I discovered I don’t care for laptops either. I still prefer a standard keyboard, if fact, I love a wave keyboard.

I bought a 27” iMac in February of this year along with a wave keyboard.

Bottom line, I really love both my Apple products. Something you would never have heard me say about Windows products! I view both of them as totally different.

If I was looking for something that was primarily a reader I would buy a Kindle over an iPad, because of glare issues.

Bill, as for software, initially I bought the Apple products called ‘Pages’ and another called ‘Numbers’ for $20 each. I quickly found out I did not like them and in turn bought ‘MS Office for Mac 2011’ Home & Student (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) for $100. Like finding an old friend, with some minor changes. As I mentioned above I would not want to use an iPad to create work documents. I do want to look at the keyboard to see what keys I am typing.

Deb, I would strongly recommend you give the iPad 2 consideration if the only thing keeping you away is being a lifetime Windows user as I was. After a year of Apple products I don't miss Windows at all!

 

If you're just going to use it for email and internet, then it doesn't matter whether it's WIndows or not. The "Mail" application will be able to access all your email. I use mine to collect work email (from Microsoft Exchange), home email (from the ISP) and Gmail. No problem and easy to set up. Same with the browser. You'll have Safari, which renders pages better than Explorer. The iPad/iPod interface really works well. You'd learn it in a day.

I have an iPod Touch, which is also an excellent alternative and goes for $199 and up. It has all the same apps. If you don't need the size (I'm amazed how much I can do on that small screen) it's a great option. Reading email is easy. I use mine as a way to avoid the $30/month for a smartphone data plan.

Give it a look.

 

One of the best features of the Lenovo TPT is a leather (leatherette?) portfolio case with a build-in USB keyboard which also has a hybrid joystick/touchpad mouse in it. USB means you're not transmitting keystrokes for all the world to capture, if you use it in public places (and it eliminates the need for extra batteries and so on).

The portfolio doesn't work well with the TPT in hand-held tablet mode, though.

This tablet also has USB flash-drive support, which is not true of all Androids. HPH

 

Hands down....this is the combo for me !!! The ipad2 is awesome...I was sold at the last Dragon Event that I went to...When all the guys in the Lodge lobby had these...that did it for me....

This is the most addicting thing I have ever purchased !!! I too...have the Windows desktop, with 2 monitors, and a 17.5 inch laptop... I haven't even taken the laptop outta the case since I bought the pad....It is...just amazing !!! Take it in the "S"....everywhere I go...slips right into the seat pouch, or under the seats...with plenty of room to spare...and, on top of all that...it just plain feels good !!!

...and with this...well, I need say no more...

http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zagg...-keyboard-case

 

Well, addiction is partially why I haven't gotten one. We are becoming a society of peeps staring at a handheld. Face to face interaction is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. I don't like it. So...if I do get one, I will be careful to keep it in perspective.

 

Deb,

The key thing to ask yourself is what exactly are you going to use it for. Once you figure that out, the decision becomes much less difficult.

I spend most of my time in the Windows environment, but lately I've been forced to support clients (mostly younger clients) who use Macs.

I have an iPad2 and like it a lot for what it is. It isn't a device that you can use for computing (unless you are in the cloud) but for e-mails, surfing the web, an e-reader and such it can't be beat. It works very well for online banking and online stock trading as well. You can do all of this from your computer, but the iPad (or any other tablet) is much more convenient to use. For example, you probably wouldn't sit down on the couch in front of the tv with your computer, but you will with your tablet. The iPad is the standard in the tablet market as 62% of all tablets are iPads. Because of this the iPad is probably the best bet as it will be the best supported both by Apple and the developers writing apps.

That having been said, almost all of the apps that are worth having have also been written for the Android platform. I find the Android operating system more interesting than iOS, but if you want a straight forward, easy to use operating system that's easy to learn and easy to use Apple's iOS is the one. And, Apple's iOS works very well.

I thought about the Samsung Galaxy Tab because I find the size to be right but because the tablet market is so disproportionately using iPads I went with it. I haven't been sorry.

When I bought my iPad I really wasn't sure I'd get much use out of it. Much to my surprise I find that I use it an awful lot. Everything from reading the newspapers to getting my e-mails to reading .pdfs. I don't much play games, but Liz uses it to play solitaire and Angry Birds. I do use it to surf the web both for fun and for work. I've even downloaded an app that allows me to use it as a second monitor for my notebook computer when I'm at a client. There is even a rumor that Microsoft is preparing a "lite" version of Microsoft Office to run on the iPad. Supposedly the apps (word, excel, etc) will be $10. each. That remains to be seen. There is also a rumor that Microsoft is abandoning the development of it's own tablet as the operating system will conflict with Windows7/Windows8 which is a cash cow for the company. My point is buy your tablet with confidence you will find more uses for it than you'd ever imagined before buying it.

I still haven't upgraded my phone (remember my thread on that subject). I've decided not to get the iPhone 4s and instead wait for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I want an Android device and the Galaxy Nexus is coming out with the new "Ice Cream Sandwich" version of Android, and no added on manufacturers crapware.

If you do buy an Android tablet wait for the tablet to come with "Ice Cream Sandwich". It is supposed to be a significant improvement over "Gingerbread".

I hope all of this helps.