Toshiba Releasing a 13" tablet

[glendalekid]

I've not used a tablet as yet, so this question may be naive as I may just not understand tablet use. But, is there some reason to pay $649 for a tablet when a good laptop can be purchased for quite a bit less?

[Barty]

If it were eink, it'd be great for PDF.

Kind of an awkward resolution. I hate 16x9 monitors, so I'd probably hate this. They should've gone for 1920x1200.

[Caleb666]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

i hear all the time right here on mobile read that people are looking for something closer in size to actual A4 for reading technical and professional documents

Well, this tablet is also 16:9, so there's going to be a lot of space wasted.

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by glendalekid

I've not used a tablet as yet, so this question may be naive as I may just not understand tablet use. But, is there some reason to pay $649 for a tablet when a good laptop can be purchased for quite a bit less?

Tablets aren't laptops - they perform different functions. For example, I haven't owned a 'desktop' PC for over a decade - my laptop handles all those functions, and I now use a tablet for most of the tasks that would have previously required a laptop.

But the tablet doesn't replace the laptop, any more than my microwave replaces my oven. Different requirements, different tools.

[afv011]

I think 13" is probably a niche market, but kudos to them for trying. The price is a bit steep, but not outrageous compared to what else is out there.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by afv011

I think 13" is probably a niche market, but kudos to them for trying. The price is a bit steep, but not outrageous compared to what else is out there.

LOL some of the comments here are making me laugh the actual size difference of 10" to 13" isn't that great with regards to holding it. However the 3" more will offer a better experience for reading, watching movies, and playing games.

Toshiba is betting on the stat that most people don't travel with their tablet. I'm thinking that if most people traveled with their 10" tablet the 3" size increase would be a big deterrent.

For me the price is going to be more of a deterrent than the size.

=X=

[afv011]

Originally Posted by =X=

LOL some of the comments here are making me laugh the actual size difference of 10" to 13" isn't that great with regards to holding it. However the 3" more will offer a better experience for reading, watching movies, and playing games.

I'm not knocking it down, but 30% is significant, especially when the bezel is rather large as in this case. But for people who use it only at home, it may be a good option.

[ilovejedd]

To me, it's not so much the size of the screen but the weight. The extra 3" diagonal isn't really all that big particularly when you consider the 16:9 form factor. It'll be nice for watching movies - not so much for text. *sigh* Wonder if/when we'll ever get tablets with matte screens...

[=X=]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

To me, it's not so much the size of the screen but the weight.

That's a valid point, 2.2 lbs vs ~1.3 (Average 10" tablet ) is nearly twice the weight. Might be too heavy for reading and just good for watching moving and surfing the web.

[kevinp]

Originally Posted by glendalekid

I've not used a tablet as yet, so this question may be naive as I may just not understand tablet use. But, is there some reason to pay $649 for a tablet when a good laptop can be purchased for quite a bit less?

I'm with you. It doesn't make sense to me either. You're getting less of a machine for more money to the tune of "more convenience". My Nook Tablet was more than I wanted to pay for a tablet, but I got a good deal on it (I guess). The Nook is more convenient to haul around with me. I can't see lugging a 13" tablet everywhere. If I was just going to use a 13" device at home on my couch, I'd rather have a nice laptop that does so much more than an Android tablet.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by =X=

LOL some of the comments here are making me laugh the actual size difference of 10" to 13" isn't that great with regards to holding it. However the 3" more will offer a better experience for reading, watching movies, and playing games.

Toshiba is betting on the stat that most people don't travel with their tablet. I'm thinking that if most people traveled with their 10" tablet the 3" size increase would be a big deterrent.

For me the price is going to be more of a deterrent than the size.

=X=

If my math is right, the device will be 60% larger. That's pretty substantial - in both positive and negative ways.

[yoho]

Originally Posted by =X=

I've heard often enough, from folks here on mobileread looking for 11"+ tablet, well Toshiba has answered those request and more by offering a 13" tablet.

At first I didn't think too much of the 13" tablet, considering 7" tablet is my preferred form factor. However since most bloggers are bashing the 13" tablet I'm thinking this might become a hit--considering bloggers are new "movie critics".

Toshiba's gamble here is based on the studies that have 85-90% of the tablet users using tablets at home, and 85% of those while watching TV.

Below are the specs. I believe the starting price for the 13" tablet is $649.

a 13 inch tablet? i think the size of a tablet should be confined within 10.1 inch, which is already the largest tablet in the market.

[howyoudoin]

I think the aspect ratio needs to be made relevant in any choice. 16:9, 13in for movies, and 4:3, 10in for pdfs.

13in in 4:3 would have been the perfect pdf reader.

[morriss003]

I have poor eyesight, so a big tablet with large type would be a nice thing.

[Sil_liS]

I'm a little confused about the comments on the thread. I's not like Toshiba decided to put all it's eggs in one 13.3" basket. There are 3 new models announced: 7.7", 10.1" and 13.3".

The biggest model stands out because it's bigger than what other tablet makers are going for.