Apple I-Pad v/s Samsung Galaxy

[kelly58]

My good lady feels like treating me to a tablet , so my question is , which would you recommend ?

[mtdloft]

viagra ;-)

[Mickt]

I have had a samsung since last year and find it very easy to use dont forget you can use like a kindle to download libary books

[kelly58]

mtdloft - 2013-04-01 1:03 PMviagra ;-)

You Wish !! would you like to buy some ?? as I do not need any yet.

Handy if you fall asleep on your back in the sun and get sun burned at least they help to keep the sheets off your body .

[peterjl]

Hi

 

you need to go in and try them out side by side - preferably using the apps you want to use.

 

I have had an ipad for a couple of years with which i am very pleased. When deciding which one to buy for my wife a couple of trips to John Lewis and PC world put them through their paces - eventually focused on galaxy, nexus, kindle, ipad mini. (not really impressed with ipad mini and, when i looked last year wasn't completely sure the galaxy would work with the newspapers as well but that may have changed). Came out wit the Nexus as best value/ most effective after the ipad but best for value for money. The only downside is the TIMES app which enables you to do the crossword online on the ipad but NOT on the nexus. Hence you need to look at the apps and how they work on each model.

 

For reading a book they all have a generic book reader plus you can use a kindle app. - Look at reading/print size as they all slightly differ and this impacts useability.

 

For me its partly about screen size, the ipad screen is big enough to include the data i want with readable font size on some of the apps. SOOO important to try them out - its horses for courses.

 

Good luck

 

Peter

[Caddies104]

Hi

Biased I know, but we would never be without our IPads ....quicker and easier than a laptop....we surf the net, read books / kindle, check e.mails etc and the App Store is brilliant along with I tunes for your music and films...

But have never tried the Galaxy!!

 

 

 

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

kelly58 - 2013-04-01 12:51 PM

 

My good lady feels like treating me to a tablet , so my question is , which would you recommend ?

 

Perhaps you would be better to explain what benefits you see from having such a device first.or what you hope to be able to do with it to give advise but............ ;-)

 

I had been looking at them for a while, my requirements were to have something that I could store movies on, rather than take physical DVDs, and the ability to watch them on the van TV for example, so needed an HDMI connection and a large storage capacity which ruled out most of them. On one of ours for example we have the entire series of The Wire, and 20 full length movies, together with loads of CDs ripped to MP3

 

OF course having a HDMI output connection is also handy if you don't want to be limited to the devices screen size, to see the Playbook Hi-def demo video on a large screen has to be seen to be believed, and of course should you wish to you can view anything on a larger screen.

 

I also wanted something that I could access email and the internet via wi-fi and or bridging via a phones internet connection.

 

You can also use it as an Ebook reader, although the missus prefers her kindle for that.

 

Although it shoots both HiDef video, and still pictures, and has forward and rear cameras for internet video chatting that is a feature we doubt we'll use, much prefer my compact camera.

 

I wasn't too bothered about the thousands of applications, such as a spirit level, so when I noticed the Blackberry Playbook was being heavily discounted I purchased one of those, so impressed are we that we purchased a second one just a few weeks after, as I couldn't get the original one off the missus.

 

We bought the 64 Gb version from PC world for £129, not bad considering they were nearly £500 at launch, and the quality really shows. ;-) all in all a fantastic bit of kit and very pleased with it.

[BGD]

Agree with all that's been said thus far, particularly about the utterly essential trialling of each of your shortlisted products, AND ensuring through plenty of research that the apps you want to use will work, and work well, with your favourite.

 

The only thing I would add is a personal view: do not be duped by the Apple/ipad hype per se.

If you end up thinking that an ipad is the best thing for you, having weighed all factors of importance to you, then fine.

But in my view it's very very overpriced, and also increasingly being overtaken technically by the Android-driven competition, notably from HTC and Samsung.

 

I used to have iphone.

Thought it was great to look at, and everyone else was lusting after them, so they must be the best mustn't they?

was prepared for a while to put up with the Apple non-PC-friendly operating system, limited and unexpandable memory, unchangeable battery, and stupidly high price tag.

Changed last year to an HTC smartphone, Android driven.

Utter revelation.

Twice the functionality, operating system as smooth as silk and significantly easier to use, never locks up; interfaces with anything PC style utterly seamlessly, NOT chained to iphone/itunes and other Apple-specific software; signal pickup much better on phone or wifi; gazillions of apps; and all for a price-tag that is more than a third lower then the iphone equivalent.

 

 

I guess in the end you've really got to get to a clear and detailed spec about exactly what you want such a product to do for you; and whether the one you're considering is the best value for your hard-earned.........and maybe, whether you really do need it?

[Cliffy]

Bought a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1" £269 from Tesco two weeks ago and am very pleased with it. My son has an iPad he said one is as good as the other to him except the iPad screen seems easy to operate reliably but that could be that he is used to using the iPad. (Which cost him over £400)

 

I believe the iPad can't use Adobe PDF or Flas Player.

 

I did not think it was worth the extra money to buy the Galaxy Note we did not want to use as a phone or use the Internet at the price it is.

 

What I do like about the Galaxy is it has GPS facility which means you can record where you have travelled during the day. I haven't used it yet so I can't say how good it is.

 

I would recommend that you buy a case for it at the same time, they are around £22 but sometimes you get a discount when you buy them together, make sure it is made for the Galaxy so it allows access to the charging socket and the camera. The generic ones don't

 

 

[Mel B]

We have a tablet - can't remember what it's called, but it's 10.1" - but I just don't like it much preferring a proper keyboard (I'm a touch typist), so I've just 'won' this on Ebay and will take it away with me in the van rather than my 15.6" laptop.

 

Samsung NP-X120

 

We seem to have got it for a 'song' as they are selling very similar ones for much more than this on their 'Buy it now' section, and others are selling them at higher prices too. Battery life seems to be 'debatable' but that's not a major issue for me as I'll be using it in the 'van so can plug it in if necessary.

 

Should get it on Thursday so will report back then as to how I get on with it! :-D

[gocro]

I wont buy into the Apple Corp handcuffs.I've had my Samsung 7" for around a year and whilst I'm quite happy with it, given a choice again I would buy the Nexus 7" tablet.

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

Mel B - 2013-04-01 11:44 PM

 

We have a tablet - can't remember what it's called, but it's 10.1" - but I just don't like it much preferring a proper keyboard (I'm a touch typist), so I've just 'won' this on Ebay and will take it away with me in the van rather than my 15.6" laptop.

 

Samsung NP-X120

 

We seem to have got it for a 'song' as they are selling very similar ones for much more than this on their 'Buy it now' section, and others are selling them at higher prices too. Battery life seems to be 'debatable' but that's not a major issue for me as I'll be using it in the 'van so can plug it in if necessary.

 

Should get it on Thursday so will report back then as to how I get on with it! :-D

 

 

Errr, the OP wants a tablet, not a Windows laptop /netbook ????? :-S

[peterjl]

Cliffy - 2013-04-01 10:43 PM

 

Bought a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1" £269 from Tesco two weeks ago and am very pleased with it. My son has an iPad he said one is as good as the other to him except the iPad screen seems easy to operate reliably but that could be that he is used to using the iPad. (Which cost him over £400)

 

I believe the iPad can't use Adobe PDF or Flas Player.

 

What I do like about the Galaxy is it has GPS facility which means you can record where you have travelled during the day. I haven't used it yet so I can't say how good it is.

 

 

 

The ipad reads adobe (and word) but does not operate flashplayer which is being phased out anyway.

 

I would agree with an earlier coment about the android system which is why i went for Nexus rather than Galaxy which uses a customised android system.

 

Peter

[Homenaway]

Hi,

My other half has an ipad 1 that she loves - she was always reluctant to use my netbook. I bought a cheapish Chinese 7" Android slate running ICS last year which is a bit slow so having studied the reviews I'm getting a Google Nexus 7 for my birthday. 

I'm hoping it will be a bit smoother and reliable than the cheap one that didn't have GPS or bluetooth and has a short 2 hours battery life, but it did have HDMI and mini USB ports and a micro SD slot which the Nexus hasn't (but its 32GB should be enough internal memory)

I've just found out that the Nexus which only has a micro USB power connector is very fussy about 12v chargers so I will have to get a new one as the Griffin 2.1A ipad one apparently won't work. Seems a crazy oversight not to supply one when it has GPS installed.

Steve  

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

I think you'll find most if not all tablets although having GPS sensors built in do not have mapping software on the device itself, and rely on Wi-Fi to access the likes of google maps, no data connection= no maps, so about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. ;-)

 

 

[JeffersonCampervan]

We have/had tablets in all 3 major os's: ipad 3 , android(Galaxy Note, ASUS 10" Transformer, 2 Nexus 7s) & windows 8 (full). Also had a BB playbook when they first came out.

 

The clear winner for sheer power and fexibility is Windows 8(full, not RT version), but unlike many, we need to be able to run legacy windows programs for business. Asus Smart 10" is a good value choice, coupled with a bluetooth keyboard, it functions as both tablet and netbook for a good price.

 

For traveling, I prefer the Nexus 7 - right size, right price. Get the most memory

available (32gb just now).There's a model that takes wireless data SIM as well. Like the ipad, you cannot add a sd card for expanded memory. We used an app called maps to go to download maps right to the device and it worked very well with GPS on our Xmas trip to Iberia. Note that a new Nexus 7 is right around the corner.

 

My wife used the ipad when in the camper, but for walking around we always took the nexus - slipped into a cargo pants pocket easily. Also found the wifi better than on ipad.

 

We have the ipad because it has the most developed app ecosystem, mainly due to its head start.

Android is gaining fast and so far Win 8 is the weakest - but it's only been out 5 months and most of what you need is available (unlike BB, which is missing travel-critical Skype).

 

Next trip, however, we'll take an ASUS Taichi dual screen Win 8 convertible tablet/ultrabook, a Galaxy Note for walking around and I'm sure my wife will take her ipad.

 

For ereaders, we use Sonys - don't care for tablets as readers.

 

YMMV.

[gonewalkabout]

Do you have a Smartphone? - this could influence your decision.

 

We went for the Samsung Tab2 as I have a Samsung Smartphone S2. Both run Android and it is easy to swap between the two, plus the Apps are generally the same.

 

If you do go for the Samsung check out their website to see if they are offering Cashback. We got £50 cashback, altho it wasn't being advertised in the stores just before Christmas. This helped to confirm decision.

 

If you have an iPhone then presumably the iPad would be more logical.

[tonyishuk]

 

Are Apps better / more reliable / less virus-y on an Ipad ?

 

Rgds

[Mel B]

1footinthegrave - 2013-04-02 9:38 AM

 

Mel B - 2013-04-01 11:44 PM

 

We have a tablet - can't remember what it's called, but it's 10.1" - but I just don't like it much preferring a proper keyboard (I'm a touch typist), so I've just 'won' this on Ebay and will take it away with me in the van rather than my 15.6" laptop.

 

Samsung NP-X120

 

We seem to have got it for a 'song' as they are selling very similar ones for much more than this on their 'Buy it now' section, and others are selling them at higher prices too. Battery life seems to be 'debatable' but that's not a major issue for me as I'll be using it in the 'van so can plug it in if necessary.

 

Should get it on Thursday so will report back then as to how I get on with it! :-D

 

 

Errr, the OP wants a tablet, not a Windows laptop /netbook ????? :-S

 

Just giving info on the 'alternative' to a tablet that's all ... :-S

[peterjl]

tonyishuk - 2013-04-02 6:00 PM

 

 

Are Apps better / more reliable / less virus-y on an Ipad ?

 

Rgds

 

My understanding is that the ipad has not yet had a virus. The apps are walled off within the os to give greater security. Don't know about android systems.

 

Peter

[Mel B]

Some offers on refurbished Apple products here:

 

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad?afid=p231|camref%3Aii4P&cid=AOS-UK-Aff-PHG

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

Or if you could live with a slightly smaller screen, and save yourself £270 against a similar spec Ipad at £399 refurbished

 

a 64 Gb Blackberry Playbook, two of which we own and are excellent, can be had for £129 here, but don't tell everyone ;-)

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/blackberry-playbook-7-tablet-64-gb-10647930-pdt.html?srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~Laptops+%26+Netbooks~10647930&istCompanyId=9a35962d-802d-4e67-9721-0a3328ca1f02&istItemId=xairxapm&istBid=t&gclid=CJnWuJPrrLYCFfLLtAodhjkAJg

[JeffersonCampervan]

peterjl - 2013-04-02 1:56 PM

 

tonyishuk - 2013-04-02 6:00 PM

 

 

Are Apps better / more reliable / less virus-y on an Ipad ?

 

Rgds

 

My understanding is that the ipad has not yet had a virus. The apps are walled off within the os to give greater security. Don't know about android systems.

 

Peter

 

here's a good summation, but note point # 10:

 

http://www.esecurityplanet.com/trends/article.php/3936411/Top-10-Fun-Facts-About-iPad-Security.htm

 

 

"10. Safety is an illusion. Whatever you do, don’t lull yourself with the notion that somehow an iPad is "safe." It is not. Case in point: posts on hacker sites are talking about Weyland-Yutani Bot, a Zeus-like malware injection kit, with an iPad-specific version supposedly about to go on sale to cyber creeps (for amounts in the vicinity of $1,000 U.S.). With so many tens of millions of iPads out there, the plain fact is that the target it tempting -- and it will only get more tempting."

 

The last point is telling - Apple has always proclaimed how Windows is more subject to attack than Apple computers (as opposed to iPad/iPhone). Really had nothing to do with Apple being more secure - Windows has/had 90%+ of the computer market - why would a hacker waste time with such small fry as Apple? The reverse is true in the tablet world.

[JeffersonCampervan]

1footinthegrave - 2013-04-02 4:42 PM

 

Or if you could live with a slightly smaller screen, and save yourself £270 against a similar spec Ipad at £399 refurbished

 

a 64 Gb Blackberry Playbook, two of which we own and are excellent, can be had for £129 here, but don't tell everyone ;-)

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/blackberry-playbook-7-tablet-64-gb-10647930-pdt.html?srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~Laptops+%26+Netbooks~10647930&istCompanyId=9a35962d-802d-4e67-9721-0a3328ca1f02&istItemId=xairxapm&istBid=t&gclid=CJnWuJPrrLYCFfLLtAodhjkAJg

 

 

 

I had the 64 GB Playbook the day it came out.

It's likely the best built of the 8 or so tablets I've owned thus far.

And it has some compelling technology as well in its multitasking and flash abilities.

As a Canadian, I'm also chauvinistically inclined to support it ( although I sold all our RIM stock and returned the Playbook after having it a week- and saved myself from a very cold financial bath!) We had BB phones for a decade until we tried out iPhone & Android a year ago & switched to Android.

I still think BB does core tasks better than iOS,Android or Windows 8. However, it's strong on the steak, weak on the sizzle.

 

The main problem is the lack of apps - so make sure it does everything you need it to do.

If it does, at the current discounted pricing, it's the best deal out there.

 

(BTW, my wife has decided against another iPad in the future, due to the frustrating lack of Flash).

 

None of the solutions are perfect, but each has compelling virtues and each has at least one telling weakness.

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

JeffersonCampervan - 2013-04-02 9:56 PM

 

1footinthegrave - 2013-04-02 4:42 PM

 

Or if you could live with a slightly smaller screen, and save yourself £270 against a similar spec Ipad at £399 refurbished

 

a 64 Gb Blackberry Playbook, two of which we own and are excellent, can be had for £129 here, but don't tell everyone ;-)

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/blackberry-playbook-7-tablet-64-gb-10647930-pdt.html?srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~Laptops+%26+Netbooks~10647930&istCompanyId=9a35962d-802d-4e67-9721-0a3328ca1f02&istItemId=xairxapm&istBid=t&gclid=CJnWuJPrrLYCFfLLtAodhjkAJg

 

 

 

I had the 64 GB Playbook the day it came out.

It's likely the best built of the 8 or so tablets I've owned thus far.

And it has some compelling technology as well in its multitasking and flash abilities.

As a Canadian, I'm also chauvinistically inclined to support it ( although I sold all our RIM stock and returned the Playbook after having it a week- and saved myself from a very cold financial bath!) We had BB phones for a decade until we tried out iPhone & Android a year ago & switched to Android.

I still think BB does core tasks better than iOS,Android or Windows 8. However, it's strong on the steak, weak on the sizzle.

 

The main problem is the lack of apps - so make sure it does everything you need it to do.

If it does, at the current discounted pricing, it's the best deal out there.

 

(BTW, my wife has decided against another iPad in the future, due to the frustrating lack of Flash).

 

None of the solutions are perfect, but each has compelling virtues and each has at least one telling weakness.

 

Just a note, since you owned yours the OS has been updated, Email support, much better browser, and more apps by the day since the launch of BB10, built like a tank, the quality really shines out, and here in the UK a real genuine bargain now from the original price of near £500 ;-)