Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

I need - that is, want - something teeny and light for light websurfing and watching movies when I'm stuck in hotels in the middle of nowhere.

Some of the movies will be HD .mkv as well as DVD rips and the odd divx.

An Android tablet would be the perfect size and price, but I'm not sure if Android can cope with mkv.

Obviously W7 can but I'm not convinced it'll work on a tablet while we're waiting for W8.

And obviously a W7 laptop will do all that but will be significantly heavier and bulkier.

Any suggestions? I'm looking at:

• Asus EeePad Transformer TF101 as an option for the Android tablet
• Acer Aspire ICONIA TAB W500 as an option for the Win7 tablet
• Lenovo ThinkPad X121e as an option for the laptop

Anyone used a combination of those? Or have any other suggestions? Don't want to pay more than about £480.

Thanks :)

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

What about a Netbook?

Mine will play 720HD but not 1080HD, but thats no real issue on it.

Battery life is huge.

It doesn't have a optical drive, but I use my laptop to rip DVDs to a folder the put them on a USB HDD.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Pardon me if sounds a little too conventional but the iPad isn't just a marketing gimmick - it is actually rather good and if you are ripping/converting the movies you want to watch, it's simple to put them into a format the iPad will play.

I opted for the iPad over a basic netbook before the summer and I've never looked back. For content consumption a tablet is a far superior option to any kind of laptop and is very easy to carry around (although Mrs T. bought me a Joey-style manbag for it as she was fed up of always having to have it in her handbag :D ).

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Really want something a bit more responsive than a netbook.

I really don't want to be spending time converting the movies, I just want to copy them over and play.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

There are some avi player apps for iPad, such as AVplayer HD which happily plays divx and MKV 720p files downloaded off the web with no conversion required.

I also vouch for the iPad, am using it right now to reply. It's the best tablet out there and really does well for using while travelling and what not.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

I own a netbook, and while I thought it was great at first, it just isn't suited to run a full OS like Windows. It's just too slow and tedious.

Personally, I'd be tempted to at least look at a tablet as well.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Third vote for the iPad.

In a hotel at the moment, using it to web surf, watch converted films, read ePub books, check email, etc etc.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Not checking the Scotland football score?? ;)

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Pshaw!

tbf, I don't follow footie.....

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Another iPad vote here...

Light, portable, instant-on, high battery life (10 hours) device for general browsing, playing games, watching videos, etc. A lot of the time there's no point in me firing up the desktop, I can just use the iPad. It's just... convenient.

My wife was very sceptical when I bought mine six months ago... Now she has her own! :D Again, similar uses. She lugs her laptop and netbook around a lot less now that she has an iPad.

More convenient for travelling too. We went to London on my birthday a couple of weeks ago, and both took our iPads with us. Two player Scrabble on the train there, videos on the way back. Much better than trying to watch videos or play games on a smartphone while travelling, and a lot lighter and portable than a laptop. I took mine to Blackpool a few months back (as did a few others here ;) ). Five hour train journey from Cambridge. Perfect for videos, games, and web browsing while travelling.

iTunes format (.mp4) videos will obviously play natively. For anything else, e.g. xvid/divx within the .avi container, or H.264 within the .mkv container, I just use AVPlayerHD...well worth the £1.99 cost. I also stream from my PC to my iPad using AirPlayer, which will stream from UPnP/DLNA media servers.

---------- Post added at 20:50 ---------- Previous post was at 20:48 ----------

But if you do go for a tablet other than the iPad, go with Android, and avoid Win7.

The EeePad Transformer is meant to be good, and the Moto Xoom has had quite a price cut after failing to sell very well at all. Be aware though that there are fewer tablet-optimised apps available on Android.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Another vote for a tablet, just not necessarily an ipad, you can get the transformer for a fair bit cheaper than you have linked to even with the keyboard which you don't really need. And its as good or even better than the ipad. Only loosing out slightly for simplicity.
Do you need to buy it right now because the next wave of tegra based android tabs are supposed to be getting launched in the next month or so and if anything can handle a raw mkv it will be a 4 core tablet. And if you don't go for one of those it will almost certainly have a knock on effect on the price of the lower tegra 2 droids that are classed as high end now saving you a packet.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

My vote goes to the Asus Transformer. Check out Youtube for some excellent reviews.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

A couple of reviews:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-...view?artc_pg=1

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/lapto...nia-tab-w500/2


Doesn't sound that great, really, especially compared to an iPad or a high-end Android tablet.

It also has two of the big drawbacks which I think are common to Win 7 tablets: Higher weight and a lower battery life.

The iPad 2 weighs around 600g, and the battery lasts for 10 hours. I think that Android tablets such as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Eee Pad have similar figures.

The Iconia? Well, from those reviews it apparently weighs two and a half times as much, and the battery lasts ~half as long ;)


Ditto for another Win 7 "tablet", the Dell Inspiron Duo:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35293862-post17.html

[Actually, you should check out that whole thread: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/19...alaxy-tab.html ]


Until Windows 8 comes out, enabling Windows to run on ARM, I do not think you'll see any Windows tablets which have the battery life, weight, and dimensions of the iPad and the Android tablets. So as you say you want something "teeny and light" and not heavy and bulky like a laptop, I really think you should just scratch Win 7 off your list.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

I'd say get one of the Samsung Galaxy Tab varieties. They've got exceptional format support and will play 1080p MKV out of the box without any extra software. The streaming media support will also allow you to stream to, from, and through various DLNA devices and your network media centre(s)/TVs and you also get HDMI to hook straight up to a TV.

You'll also get the more open (if slightly harder to use) Android platform and more power for less money than an iPad. Not to mention the far superior AMOLED high-def screens on the latest models.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

More power?

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has the same CPU as the iPad 2 (dual-core ARM Cortex-A9), more RAM (1GB rather than 512MB), but an inferior GPU (GeForce ULP rather than a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2)[1 2 3]. Fairly balanced, I think... Although I'd rather have the superior GPU of the iPad 2 than the increased RAM of the Tab 10.1.


Less money?

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 costs exactly the same as the iPad 2... e.g. £479 for 32GB WiFi only, £100 extra for 3G. Looking at e.g. Currys, there appears to be a 64GB model on the way (with & without 3G), which, again, costs the same as the iPad 2.

[The Motorola Xoom and RIM PlayBook also initially cost exactly the same as the iPad 2... but had their prices slashed after rather poor sales...Will the Tab go the same way? The sales figures do suggest that the majority of tablet consumers simply aren't interested in non-Apple tablets priced the same as the iPad. Amazon may have more luck, due to the lower price, and due to it being the only company other than Apple to understand that it's about content and not specs, and the only company other than Apple to also control the whole ecosystem]



The only Galaxy Tab to have the (admittedly lovely) Super AMOLED Plus display is the Galaxy Tab 7.7, for which I can't find a release date or price. I think 7.7" is a little small for a tablet, but I suppose others may prefer it.


The iPad may not play .mkv out of the box, but it's hardly a hassle to download an app. Ditto for UPnP/DLNA streaming. No HDMI port, but you can buy an adaptor...which I believe is also necessary for the Tab 10.1, as I think that has no built-in HDMI port? No SD slot either, but again the Tab doesn't have one of those too. Both need an adaptor for that.

EDIT: Here we are, HDMI adaptor for the Tab 10.1, SD card adaptor for the Tab 10.1.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Thanks everyone :) I think I'll hold on until the new higher power ones that ZrByte mentioned come along. If I happen to need something before then I'll pick up the nearest cheap Fusion laptop to tide me over.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Well I did say the new generation. The Tab 7.7 has a 1.4Ghz CPU vs. the iPad 2's 0.9-1.0 depending on who you ask. Plus with more RAM and better wireless connectivity (on both the 3G and non-3G models) even if it's the same price you get more power for the same money (or you can step down and get the same power for less).

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 (current) has the same CPU, twice the RAM, better connectivity, a higher resolution screen, and seven times the battery life for music playback, not to mention better format support and better cameras, for slightly less (£10-£20) at reputable retailers. At less reputable retailers (eBay, grey imports, etc.) it's £100 to £200 cheaper. And it supports flash, and doesn't restrict you to just the apps Apple choose to approve. And can play full HD without needing to be pre-converted. All that and that's before we start looking at the next-gen models, or cheaper Android alternatives.

Oh and you can actually make mobile phone calls with it.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

You said "I'd say get one of the Samsung Galaxy Tab varieties". At the moment, that's just the 10.1, as the 7.7 isn't out yet it would seem. No date or no price from what I can find.

You only mentioned the new generation when saying at the end "Not to mention the far superior AMOLED high-def screens on the latest models. "... which as previously mentioned is only on the as yet unavailable 7.7.


The 10.1:

Yep, already said it has the same CPU but more RAM. What you missed off your list though is that it has an inferior GPU. Personally, I'd rather have the GPU than the RAM. The iPad 2 doesn't suffer from the lower RAM, but definitely benefits from the superior GPU.

Better connectivity? How so? Like the iPad, it has a proprietary dock connector and requires an adaptor to use SD cards and an adaptor to use an HDMI cable.

Higher resolution screen? True, but not by anything you could call a significant amount (like iPhone 4 compared to earlier iPhones and other smartphones, or Nexus Prime compared to all other smartphones. OK, phones not tablets, but you see the difference). The only reason it's a higher resolution is because the Tab 10.1 is 16:9 while the iPad 2 is (sadly for videos) 4:3.

Format support? Solved by a variety of apps. HD videos without converting to .mp4? Solved by a variety of apps.

Cameras? True, but... who cares? When would anyone ever want to use a tablet to take photos? It's not suited for planned photos, it's not suited for spontaneous photos. If someone's at a wedding, a party, on holiday, at the zoo, out on a Friday night, or wherever, whatever, etc. etc. they'll surely use a dedicated camera or a camera phone. Who would ever whip out a tablet to take photos? The only use for cameras on a tablet, IMO, is for video calling / chatting...And the iPad 2's cameras are perfectly fine for that.


Flash? LOL. Again... who cares? The overwhelming majority of tablet consumers don't, as they all have iPads (which will hopefully help drive the decrease of the use of Flash in general). The iPad 2 does not need Flash for BBC iPlayer (app, website), 4oD (app), ITV Player (app), YouTube (app, website), live streaming Freeview TV (app, website), Sky/BBC/C4 news (apps), Sky Go (app), Facebook games (app) etc. ... What other uses are there for Flash? Adverts? I don't want to see those. Browser games? I don't play those. Sure, some do, but it's hardly a loss and there are some excellent games on the App Store. Flash based websites? Abominations... I have never missed Flash when using my iPad, and tbh I rarely - if ever - even use it on my PC.


Phone calls? Why would anyone want to make calls with a tablet? Wouldn't it be a bit big? ;) OK, use a handsfree kit, but... why? I wouldn't want a second mobile number for my tablet, and I wouldn't want to have to faff around swapping the SIM from my phone into my tablet and vice versa.


Plus of course there are more iPad apps available than Honeycomb apps. OK, Honeycomb tablets will also run non-tablet Android apps, but then again, the iPad will also run non-iPad apps.

---------- Post added at 19:58 ---------- Previous post was at 19:50 ----------

Fair enough :)

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Wait it out until Xmas next year for Windows 8 tablets.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Do love fanboy points of view :D

Me personally I dont\wont buy into Apple's want for world domination & find Android a far more open\free-er\expandable platform.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

The hat3rz point of view is equally entertaining. ;)

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

LOL touché ;)

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

For media viewing check out Archos. They were doing this before anyone even thought of tablets and netbooks. One of the problems with many tablets is limited storage. Many Archos units have hard drives. The range of screen sizes means you can get units that will fit in your pocket - great for confined spaces such as air travel, but they can also offer connectivity such as to a TV so if your stuck in that hotel room ....

My Archos 5 Internet Tablet, handles .mkv files and indeed most a/v formats. The only thing you have to watch is whether these are excessively detailed in terms of bitrate, so it can get juddery, which I'd expect to be an issue with many tablets that have limited processor capacity. Most 720p formats are OK.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Yes, I did also look at the Archos - it was the build quality and questions about how it would cope with big file HD that put me off.

Come Windows 8 the problem will solve itself. In the meantime the new Samsung Slate 7 looks perfect but a bit too pricey.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

I can definitely recommend the Asus Transformer as far as Android tablets go. With the keyboard dock the battery life is fantastic and Asus so far have been really fast at rolling out Android updates.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

You can get a Tosh Tablet AT100 for £320 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-AT1...8616089&sr=8-1

16GB, but with SD card, mini-USB and full-size USB 2.0 ports ( and it plays flash and avi).

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Well the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab Plus also have it. And a few others. But yes, they're not widely available yet.

I disagree here. I'd rather have more RAM. None of my Galaxy devices have any issues with graphics despite the slower GPU. I have however, crashed a few iOS devices owing to lack of RAM. Interestingly, despite the slower GPU, the Tab still plays 1080p video while the iPad doesn't. Why? Only Apple would know...

Better wifi, better 3G, better bluetooth.

So iPhone 4 is significantly higher resolution than other smartphones that have 960x640 (0% increase) or 960x540 (18% increase) while the difference between the Tab and the iPad 2 (30% increase) is not significant? Lovin' the logic of an Apple fanboi...

Yet the resolution is higher in both dimensions.

So you lose the only real reason to get an iPad - ease of use - because you have to install a ton of apps and convert your videos to get them to play. Aside from the easy-to-use interface, tell me one thing the iPad (2) can do that any cheaper Android tablet can't.

So as long as a feature matters to you it matters to everyone, and if the iPad loses on something it becomes "who cares"? To be honest more people care about the camera than they do about 512 vs 1GB RAM or 1.0 vs 1.2Ghz CPU. Cameras are one of the headline features of portable smart devices these days.

IMO they're not. VGA resolution might have been fine for video calling ten years ago. But that doesn't explain the other camera on the other side of the device, which can't be used for video calling. And if nobody uses the camera, why do things like this exist:

http://www.sw-box.com/Tourmate-Optic...d-2-Black.html

(Ridiculous as it may be)

I care. Somehow my opinion is worth less than yours? Yes, the majority of major sites have, thanks to Apple's marketing clout "mobile" version of sites designed for iPad or iOS devices. But some don't. Take speedtest.net for example. The the web version requires flash - there's an app but it's significantly inferior (accuracy wise) to the flash web version. I don't like m choices being restricted by what a now-dead person once thought I should or should not be able to do with my property. I make my own decisions, thanks.

Incidentally most speedtest sites that are any good use flash or java. Neither of which the iPad has. And no, in most cases the app version is far inferior (that includes iPlayer and Youtube).

Just because the overwhelming majority of people are lemmings with low standards doesn't mean everyone has to be. Some of us can think for ourselves.

Why not. Why carry two devices around when you could just have one. Isn't that the point of all these convergence smart devices that do everything? Why carry a second device just to make phone calls with? If my tab can do everything my phone can (which the Galaxy series *can*) then you don't need to waste another half a grand on an iPhone. But then again, some people like wasting money like that.

Far more free apps on Android though. In fact, I don't think I've ever had to pay for an app. Even Angry Birds is free. Yes, iTunes has a bigger app market, and they also cost more. You can still get the same thing... for less on Android.

Oh and I guess you forgot how I mentioned as a media device, the Galaxy wins in just about every respect. So basically for what the OP wants (web surfing and playing HD movies in MKV or XviD):

For movies:
Galaxy Tab has 10% worse quoted battery life to iPad (Tab loses)
Galaxy Tab has HD display, iPad 2 doesn't (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has plays XviD and MKV out of the box, iPad 2 needs additional apps for both (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab plays 1080p videos. iPad 2 can't cope with 1080p MKV at all (and needs them downconverted) (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has widescreen display, iPad 2 is 4:3 (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has stereo speakers (if you're stuck without externals). (Tab wins)

Dunno about you but the main clincher for me would be waiting an hour for each and every full-HD MKV video you have to be converted into an iPad-compatible format. That would bug me more than anything else. With the tab you just copy it straight on.

For web browsing:
iPad has a 4:3 ratio, ostensibly better for reading (Tab loses)
iPad browser is locked down, Apple does not allow alternative browsers. Tab lets you use any browser you want, including ones that support Flash (Tab wins)
iPad and Tab have similar browsing longevities under WiFi (Draw).
Galaxy Tab has faster and more power efficient 3G radio (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has faster and more efficient Bluetooth (if you want to use an external modem for your internet). So whether you get one with or without 3G, Tab wins on speed and battery life with anything but wifi.

So... For what the OP wants, Galaxy Tab - 9, iPad 2 - 3.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

Great post qasdfdsaq - just as I'd decided to hold on I now might rethink and get a Galaxy. :)

I'd discounted it before because of the oil slick issue but after a bit of googling it seems that's resolved.

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

re alternative browsers - I have Puffin (which lets you view flash videos) and Atomic Life.

And before I get accused of fan-boyism, I have an iPad2, a Motorola Xoom, and a HP Touchpad (but I mostly use the iPad for ease of use).

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

"Fanboi"? Pot. Kettle. Black.

RAM vs GPU... Fair enough. I don't see the lower RAM as an issue, and prefer the GPU. You don't see the GPU as an issue, and prefer the extra RAM.

Better WiFi? How? Genuine question. Both have A/B/G/N. Does the Tab 10.1 have faster N than the iPad 2?

3G... OK, the Tab has HSPA+.

Resolution... iPhone 4/4S (960x640, 326ppi) has a higher resolution and pixel density than the original iPhone and the 3G/3GS (480x320, 163ppi), the Galaxy S (800x480, 233ppi), and the Galaxy S II (800x480, 218ppi), and slightly higher than the HTC Sensation (960x540, 256ppi) and HTC Evo 3D (960x540, 256ppi). As I mentioned, the Nexus Prime (1280×720, not yet confirmed) will however beat them all [Oh no, that's two posts now where my "Apple fanboi logic" has said the upcoming Android flagship phone would have the best display! :shocked:]... I consider those to be larger jumps (though not as much with the HTCs) than iPad 2 (1024x768) versus Tab 10.1 (1280x800) [and that's only a little bit higher in one dimension].

Oh, and you don't have to "install a ton of apps and convert your videos to get them to play". You only have to install one app to play non-iTunes videos (e.g. AVPlayerHD as previously mentioned) stored on the device, and - if you want - one other app to stream non-iTunes videos from a PC (e.g. AirPlayer). No need for converting, either, if you install that one app... I have Handbrake installed on my PC, but haven't actually used it to convert anything because I simply play all my Xvids and MKVs (yes, sadly only 720p ;) ) using AVPlayerHD... No conversion required. Why play 1080p on a 1024x768 or 1280x800 screen anyway?

Cheaper? But the Tab 10.1 is the same price.

If more people care about the cameras, why are they almost all buying iPads instead of Tabs or other non-Apple tablets? Ditto for Flash. Speedtest, eh? One thing? So, I still say... Who cares? Sure, a small minority such as yourself consider them to be USPs, but a huge majority don't appear to give a monkey's. It's not a deal breaker for me, and it's obviously not a deal breaker for the millions upon millions upon millions of people who have chosen the iPad instead of a non-Apple tablet. Oh, wait, they're all "lemmings" right :rolleyes: Cameras may be a headline feature on phones, but on tablets? Meh. I take my phone with my everywhere, in my pocket. It's portable and easily accessible for taking photos. I can't fit my iPad in my pocket, nor a Tab 10.1. Tablets are too big to carry around for spontaneous photography, and they're just not suited for planned either. People use phones or dedicated digicams. You don't see people waving tablets around taking photos.

Phone calls... Again, part of the above: Too big, not as portable. I can put my phone in my pocket, or on a holster. You can't carry a tablet around with you everywhere, unless you want it permanently slung over your shoulder or something. Doesn't seem at all practical to me for using as a mobile phone.

Oh, and Flash versus apps... The YouTube mobile website is superior to the YouTube app... And it uses HTML5 and H.264 and works perfectly using the iPad/iPhone's browser ;) iPlayer? The app is actually excellent, but if you prefer you can again use the browser instead of the app.

"Some people like wasting money like that"... Ah, another nice little dig there. You call me a "fanboi", and then you make comments like that and the "lemmings with low standards" comment. Why is it always the Android "fanbois" that have to insult people like that? Did I at any point in any of my posts insult you, or make any sweeping and insulting comments about all Android users? I don't think so. Sure, some Apple "fanbois" can be bad, but you don't see them constantly calling Android owners "sheep" or "lemmings" or whatever the Android equivalent would be, and you don't see them accusing Android owners of being poor / cheap / spec-obsessed nerds like you see Android owners constantly accusing Apple owners of only buying Apple because it's expensive, or for the brand, or because they "like wasting money like that", etc. etc. ...:rolleyes:

Anyway, isn't the SIM free price of a Galaxy S II £400 or more? Sure, it's cheaper on a contract than an iPhone is, but you're obviously not comparing contract prices given that you mentioned "half a grand". Or is it OK to spend £400 on a GS II, but if you spend a bit more on an iPhone, you're some sort of "money wasting lemming" or whatever?

More free apps: Yes. And yes, even Angry Birds (with ads though). But as I said, there are more tablet apps for the iPad than there are tablet apps for the Tab 10.1.

Alternative browsers? Erm, yes you can (although they have to use WebKit, so you are partially correct). I use iCab Mobile, and used to use Atomic Web Browser.



Anyway, our little "Fanboi argument" seems to have derailed this :erm: so I'll leave it alone now.


https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/10/37.jpg

Re: Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?
 

I used to have the Archos 7, nice bit of kit but doesn't play many video files out of the box and to unlock these features cost a fair few quid. Not sure if the newer versions of Archos are the same.