Looking for my first tablet - Page 3

Catlady · 05-31-2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Isn't that something that should be taken care of by your company, or are you self-employed?

Self-employed. I just ordered an ASUS Transformer (T100TA-H1-GR). (See, I only dither indecisively when it comes to things I don't really need.) It has a 10-inch detachable screen so it doubles as a tablet (running Windows), but that feature was only coincidental--what I wanted was something with MS Office 2013. In a couple of weeks, I'll probably return to tablet shopping.

Thanks to everyone who offered input.

barryem · 06-01-2015, 02:14 PM

For what it's worth I have one of those also and I like it a lot. I've never used it for reading. I prefer a smaller screen for reading. But it sure does everything else real well.

Barry

Catlady · 06-01-2015, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

For what it's worth I have one of those also and I like it a lot. I've never used it for reading. I prefer a smaller screen for reading. But it sure does everything else real well.

Barry

Good to know, thanks. It's not going to be for reading, except in a pinch.

I had been very happy with my old ASUS netbook (also 10-inch screen) until it started acting up fairly recently (won't always charge, won't always recognize USB devices). I was hoping to get a larger screen, but in the end long battery life was more important. It's supposed to get here Wednesday.

Catlady · 06-03-2015, 11:11 AM

Got my ASUS Transformer this morning; now it's charging so I haven't played with it much beyond the initial setup. (It's showing that it's fully charged, but the instructions say to charge it for eight hours before using it on the battery, so I'm letting it sit plugged in.)

The screen looks great. I think I'm going to love this thing and may actually find myself using it as a tablet; it feels good to hold and isn't too heavy. It should be good for PDFs especially.

My first reaction to Windows 8.1 is intense dislike. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's frustrating. I don't like change.

HarryT · 06-03-2015, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

My first reaction to Windows 8.1 is intense dislike. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's frustrating. I don't like change.

You can upgrade to Windows 10 in a couple of months. Perhaps that will restore some familiarity for you.

Catlady · 06-03-2015, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You can upgrade to Windows 10 in a couple of months. Perhaps that will restore some familiarity for you.

Yup, right around the time I'll have gotten familiar with 8.1 ...

I haven't read anything much about 10; is it supposed to be more like 7?

DaleDe · 06-03-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Yup, right around the time I'll have gotten familiar with 8.1 ...

I haven't read anything much about 10; is it supposed to be more like 7?

I doubt we will every see anything like 7 again. 10 is still going to feature apps and touch screen support. Today on your 8.1 there is a tablet screen with its own apps and a true Windows screen that you can run current and older applications on, like Word and anything else you had on your older machine. So it is literally two totally different machines. I do expect the windows menu to come back in 10 but the big change is supposed to be to integrate the two products of 8.1 into one product so it will be more transparent on which kind of screen you are using. Hopefully the quick boot will remain.

I think the RT and phone OS products with apps will continue and mimic the actual 10 version as best they can. We do have a Windows forum to discuss this further.

Dale

Katsunami · 06-03-2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Yup, right around the time I'll have gotten familiar with 8.1 ...

I haven't read anything much about 10; is it supposed to be more like 7?

Windows 10 will re-introduce the smaller start menu, with more customization options than Windows 7. It will also offer the option to run Metro apps in a window instead of a full screen desktop.

If you dislike Windows 8, then install Classic Shell. You only need the menu, no other components. This application will create a 7-like start menu, and offer the option to disable the Metro interface, and all corner hover actions.

Windows 8.1 will work like Windows 7, with a 1990-era look to it... and some things moved around a bit. The one thing I then still hate with a passion is the lack of drop shadows. Everything is flat.... white, gray, and FLAT. I mean it. It's almost impossible to see which window is which, especially if the screen is not that good (which happens on many office computers, and laptops).

Windows 10 seems to be what Windows 8 should have been, just as Windows 7 what Vista should have been. (Vista wasn't bad per se, but its default configuration made it VERY slow, and there were no drivers available for any hardware for most of the first year...)

barryem · 06-03-2015, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

My first reaction to Windows 8.1 is intense dislike. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's frustrating. I don't like change.

I prefer Windows 7 too but 8.1 is fine with me. I have a bluetooth mouse for it and that makes it a lot easier to use when you get into the desktop screen. That screen is too small for the desktop to be easy with only touch. The mouse helps a lot. On the Metro screen touch is easier but I use the desktop a lot since most of the programs I'm used to are desktop programs.

Barry

Catlady · 06-03-2015, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the info about Classic Shell. I may try that if I'm still floundering after a few days. I loaded some of my familiar programs and done a bit of customizing, so the computer is starting to feel more like mine now, at least when I look at the desktop.

Bluetooth mouse is definitely something I should get. I am working with a cordless mouse now but that means using the only USB port. I like the touchscreen well enough, but the control with a mouse is so much better.

I've never disliked any previous incarnations of Windows--even Vista--because they never seemed to have much of a learning curve, until now. This just doesn't seem very intuitive, plus the terminology is new--it's hard to look up help on, say, the thingy over there on the side of the screen before you know what the Microsoft gods have named it!

barryem · 06-04-2015, 10:51 AM

It takes a while to get used to 8.1 but once you do you learn that it's really worse than you thought.

Actually I'm joking. I have OS preferences but they've never mattered a lot to me. I began using computers long before they had screens so all this seems like magic to me. The very worse OS I've ever used was the Atari ST version of GEM and it wasn't all that bad. The very best I've used was a 6809 system called Flex but it wasn't all that good.

It's really the programs I use that make a difference.

Barry

Catlady · 06-04-2015, 12:41 PM

I started with MS-DOS but soon afterward I remember having to add memory to the computer so it could run Windows and MS Office. I think we were using Office 2.0 then.

Probably Vista was the worst, but still not that bad--it seemed to have the most compatibility issues with older programs.

robko · 06-04-2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I've never disliked any previous incarnations of Windows--even Vista--because they never seemed to have much of a learning curve, until now. This just doesn't seem very intuitive, plus the terminology is new--it's hard to look up help on, say, the thingy over there on the side of the screen before you know what the Microsoft gods have named it!

The biggest problem with Win 8.1 is figuring the bleeeping thing out

. As you said, the help isn't really helpful. Once you get used to it though, it's pretty good for tablet use and really does become pretty intuitive and handy. I can see how I would have passionately HATED it if I had got it on a laptop 1st, but having used it on tablet first the transition wasn't hard. Of course I went from a Blackberry Playbook to Windows tablet so some things (like swiping to switch between windows) I was already used to.

Stick with it and it gets easier!

Sweetpea · 06-05-2015, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

The biggest problem with Win 8.1 is figuring the bleeeping thing out

. As you said, the help isn't really helpful. Once you get used to it though, it's pretty good for tablet use and really does become pretty intuitive and handy. I can see how I would have passionately HATED it if I had got it on a laptop 1st, but having used it on tablet first the transition wasn't hard. Of course I went from a Blackberry Playbook to Windows tablet so some things (like swiping to switch between windows) I was already used to.

Stick with it and it gets easier!

I keep swiping on my android tablet...

I love Windows 8.1 on my tablets, but I still don't want it on my PC.

Catlady · 06-05-2015, 10:52 AM

I'm already trying to swipe the monitor on my desktop PC!

I haven't been able to play much with the Transformer yet or do more than quickly peruse the available apps. I'm still transferring files and reinstalling programs from the old netbook (using the opportunity to do some decluttering and archiving of material). I have a small digital collection of old comic books, and I was very pleased when I tried viewing one--the screen seems just the perfect size.

I've added a 32gb micro SD card since it's what I had on hand, but I'll probably pick up a 64gb. I also want to get a case of some sort--I want one for when I'm using the computer as a tablet, something to protect it so I can throw it in my purse and go. (I already have a case that will accommodate it with the keyboard attached.)

I still want to get a 7-inch Android tablet, but I'm extremely happy with the Transformer.

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06-01-2015, 02:14 PM	#32
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	For what it's worth I have one of those also and I like it a lot. I've never used it for reading. I prefer a smaller screen for reading. But it sure does everything else real well. Barry

06-03-2015, 11:11 AM	#34
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Got my ASUS Transformer this morning; now it's charging so I haven't played with it much beyond the initial setup. (It's showing that it's fully charged, but the instructions say to charge it for eight hours before using it on the battery, so I'm letting it sit plugged in.) The screen looks great. I think I'm going to love this thing and may actually find myself using it as a tablet; it feels good to hold and isn't too heavy. It should be good for PDFs especially. My first reaction to Windows 8.1 is intense dislike. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's frustrating. I don't like change.

06-03-2015, 07:52 PM	#40
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Thanks for the info about Classic Shell. I may try that if I'm still floundering after a few days. I loaded some of my familiar programs and done a bit of customizing, so the computer is starting to feel more like mine now, at least when I look at the desktop. Bluetooth mouse is definitely something I should get. I am working with a cordless mouse now but that means using the only USB port. I like the touchscreen well enough, but the control with a mouse is so much better. I've never disliked any previous incarnations of Windows--even Vista--because they never seemed to have much of a learning curve, until now. This just doesn't seem very intuitive, plus the terminology is new--it's hard to look up help on, say, the thingy over there on the side of the screen before you know what the Microsoft gods have named it!

06-04-2015, 10:51 AM	#41
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	It takes a while to get used to 8.1 but once you do you learn that it's really worse than you thought. Actually I'm joking. I have OS preferences but they've never mattered a lot to me. I began using computers long before they had screens so all this seems like magic to me. The very worse OS I've ever used was the Atari ST version of GEM and it wasn't all that bad. The very best I've used was a 6809 system called Flex but it wasn't all that good. It's really the programs I use that make a difference. Barry

06-04-2015, 12:41 PM	#42
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I started with MS-DOS but soon afterward I remember having to add memory to the computer so it could run Windows and MS Office. I think we were using Office 2.0 then. Probably Vista was the worst, but still not that bad--it seemed to have the most compatibility issues with older programs.

06-05-2015, 10:52 AM	#45
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm already trying to swipe the monitor on my desktop PC! I haven't been able to play much with the Transformer yet or do more than quickly peruse the available apps. I'm still transferring files and reinstalling programs from the old netbook (using the opportunity to do some decluttering and archiving of material). I have a small digital collection of old comic books, and I was very pleased when I tried viewing one--the screen seems just the perfect size. I've added a 32gb micro SD card since it's what I had on hand, but I'll probably pick up a 64gb. I also want to get a case of some sort--I want one for when I'm using the computer as a tablet, something to protect it so I can throw it in my purse and go. (I already have a case that will accommodate it with the keyboard attached.) I still want to get a 7-inch Android tablet, but I'm extremely happy with the Transformer.

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