Technology & Social Media Laptop/IPad??

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by Travelbug, 9th Feb, 2016.

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  1. Travelbug

    Travelbug Well-Known Member

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    Hi, I have an old IPad and now have a mini IPad.

    As we are travelling A LOT in the next 2 years I'm wondering whether I need a laptop.

    I have spreadsheets etc on my home computer but we will be rarely here.
    On the one had i think I can update stuff as I go but then I think, I don't do it that often at home so why not just do it every few months when I'm home?

    I also want to take lots of photo's and also write a blog. How do I get photo's onto the IPad easily? Once they are on there can I just transfer them to my home computer or do i need to store everything on a card?
    Sorry for the stupid questions but I'm hating the limitations of transferring things from my IPad. I have written diaries of trips in the past but don't know how to get it onto my computer to save it.

    So I guess I'm just looking for options. I don't want to waste money buying a laptop if I don't need it. But if it makes life easier for storing stuff etc I'll buy one.

    thanks.
     
    Travelbug, 9th Feb, 2016
    #1
  2. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Have a look at Bluetooth keyboards for the ipad to see if they fit your needs.

    Use Dropbox for transferring files between ipad and computer. Or for photos use Flickr to upload or Google Drive. But you may run out of the default size for Google drive but expanding is not expensive.

    I like Dropbox much better for most things but Google drive does some good things with photos- like automatically creating animated gift if you have a number of consecutive photos of on movement on a still background. Apparently they can automatically create paños but I haven't tried that.

    Have a look at Google documents and sheets (if you haven't already). They may well suit your needs better than MS Office, and can be accessed from any computer.
     
    geoffw, 9th Feb, 2016
    #2
  3. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    I'd look at a Microsoft Surface as they are sorta half way between both. They also have a USB slot whereas an IPad doesnt - this is where you can stick your camera to load your photos while on the road.
     
    D.T., 9th Feb, 2016
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  4. 4point5million

    4point5million Well-Known Member

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    I just bought a mac air and I really love it, though I have always just had little notebooks, but much prefer it to PC, it seems that with PC you can't do anything without it asking you a question,or wanting to update every 5 minutes
     
    4point5million, 9th Feb, 2016
    #4
  5. HUGH72

    HUGH72 Well-Known Member

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    Take photos using your ipad mini. Its easy it set up Dropbox on your home desktop and ipad which will ensure you always have access to files. I also use Goodreader.
     
    HUGH72, 9th Feb, 2016
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  6. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    I'm with @D.T. The new cross over type things are the go. A "laptop on a tablet" is my basic understanding! Plug in a key board as you need it.
    You want a tablet for travelling but there will be times you'll need to do more, I think they are a great and now have heaps of features.

    But if you want to stay with apples this might not help you
     
    bob shovel, 9th Feb, 2016
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  7. BarneyRubble

    BarneyRubble Well-Known Member

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    Tablets are (largely) consumption devices.

    Computers are production devices.

    Photos, blog, spreadsheet, etc sounds like you need the latter to me.
     
    BarneyRubble, 9th Feb, 2016
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  8. bashworth

    bashworth Well-Known Member

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    I have been using an Asus Transformer for the last three years which has enabled me to travel to Europe 5 times in that period while continuing to manage my Blog.

    I prefer to use a full version of Open Office rather than an app and find the full keyboard a great asset.
     
    bashworth, 9th Feb, 2016
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  9. Travelbug

    Travelbug Well-Known Member

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    Thanks everyone. i did look a at the Microsoft surface but it only has one USB which is limiting. I was thinking of puting Photoshop which it will not handle. But I think I'll leave that for now.
    I do like Mac but haven't looked at any as my. Or outer is PC. The thing I hate about the IPad is iTunes. It's such a pain.
    And I really do not want to resort to taking photos with the iPad.
    as there are things I cannot do on the iPad im thinkng a laptop me ease the frustration.
     
    Travelbug, 9th Feb, 2016
    #9
  10. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    Is something like this kosher? Screenshot_2016-02-09-20-01-36.jpg
    $10 Ebay
     
    bob shovel, 9th Feb, 2016
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  11. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    I travelled with an ipad mini, a cheap android phone, and a compact camera with WiFi. With wifi you can tranfer photos to your iphone. The phone and camera I had in my pocket, the ipad I used with public WiFi. That was sufficient to transfer photos to Google drive. However, loading ohotos from Google drive to the cloud took a lot of time, even on reasonable WiFi- uploading is slower than downloading, and I take a lot of photos.

    I didn't need to do a lot of spreadsheet type of stuff. I actually typed blog entries on the phone, but a Bluetooth keyboard would have been easier, though not as good as a full size keyboard.

    I don't know if it was an android problem generally or specific to my cheap model, but I did have trouble with the phone randomly changing time zones overnight. It happened a number of times, and when it happened it was always a consistent time jump in that country. The ipad clock was always reliable.

    16gb is too small for an ipad. If that's what you have it may cause problems.
     
    Last edited: 9th Feb, 2016
    geoffw, 9th Feb, 2016
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  12. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    If you have an iphone and ipad any photos you take can be synced to a home system with Photo Stream and to each other.
    If you are going to be home somewhat regularly then I would leave Excel for home and get a keyboard for the ipad mini or normal Ipad. That will help with writing up blogs/notes etc as typing on screen is a ****.

    We have this keyboard/cover for the Ipad and it's pretty handy for what you want to do
    Buy Logitech Keyboard Folio Type+ iPad Air 2 Black | Read Reviews | Dick Smith Online Shopping

    If you have a proper camera then there is a little adaptor you can get for an ipad which lets you plug in the camera data card and transfer the photos in. Lightning or 30 pin connector

    Sorry for using Dick Smith links - I know they are going down down but that is where I knew most of the stuff was from.
     
    Westminster, 9th Feb, 2016
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  13. hammer

    hammer Well-Known Member

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    I've done this. The ipads wont cut it for real work. Windows pcs are great but get a lot of viruses and crap on them easily - they'll need maintenance.

    Your best bet is to get an 11 inch macbook air and a Google account. Put a huge password on the Google account and access it from the macbook air. The air is small, light, avoids most malware and lasts all day on a charge. The Google apps can be used offline and will ensure that youll never lose your work.
     
    hammer, 10th Feb, 2016
    #13
  14. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    I'm intrigued to know the swear word choice in this sentence :oops:
     
    bob shovel, 10th Feb, 2016
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  15. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    Knowing me something mild like **** @bob shovel
     
    Westminster, 10th Feb, 2016
    #15
  16. dmb1978

    dmb1978 Well-Known Member

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    I have the Lenovo Yoga Thinkpad. It has USB3.0 and another usb port. You can use it as a laptop or flip it fully for tablet mode. It's an 11inch and i wouldn't go back to a large laptop again.
     
    dmb1978, 10th Feb, 2016
    #16
  17. TMNT

    TMNT Well-Known Member

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    If only one usb port is a limiting factor for the surface then the ipad shoulf be completely eliminated off your list
     
    TMNT, 10th Feb, 2016
    #17
  18. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    The OP already has an old iPad and a new iPad mini.
     
    geoffw, 10th Feb, 2016
    #18
  19. radson

    radson Well-Known Member

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    I have used a macbook air on all my expeditions. SSD works at altitude, runs photoshop and lightrooon and charges in less than a day from solar if not too cloudy. Has been flawless
     
    radson, 10th Feb, 2016
    #19
  20. TMNT

    TMNT Well-Known Member

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    usb port seems to be a prioroity , so Iwould suggest selling both and getting a surface,
    not sure if I would recommend a top of the line surface or not,
    as they seem expensive

    what about a lapotop and tablet in 1, or whatever they are called
     
    TMNT, 10th Feb, 2016
    #20
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