Galaxy Tablet v. iPad?

[Sheldon Cooper]

First, I apologize if this is the wrong group to post this in. I have a 10.1 Galaxy Tab tablet through my cell phone provider, and I like it pretty much. However, I now qualify for an update on my account and I can get a new iPad Retina for a pretty reasonable price.

Question is: should I? I'm satisfied with my Tab, for the most part. The thing that I don't care for is the touch keyboard, but I'd have that problem with an iPad too, right? Basically, I'm wondering if there's any significant difference between the two and is it worth making the switch. For the record, I have an iPhone and I really like it, but I've never used Mac systems before - always PC.

Comments and opinions appreciated. Thanks.

[Denninmi]

1. I got an iPad in August.

I really like it, but it is still alien to me vs. Windows platform. I may buy a cheaper Windows tablet after Xmas to make it easier to work on things like Word and Excel files.

[onehandle]

3. The full office suite is coming to the iPad early next year. nt

[Xithras]

9. It won't be a full office suite.

Microsoft is releasing Office Mobile for both Android and iOS. You will be able to use it as a document viewer, but you'll have to pay $100 per year for an Office 365 Home subscription if you actually want to edit anything. Even then, the Office Mobile app itself will be a very simplified version of Office designed for rudimentary editing, and nowhere near a "full" word processor. It's basically an updated version of the old Office Mobile that has been available for Windows phones and Symbian devices for years, and that you can already get for Windows Phones right now.

Microsoft, being Microsoft, will only be releasing their "full" office suite for tablets running Windows RT, and that product will be released as Office RT. They have no interest in helping either Android OR iOS displace their own operating system, and are prepping a marketing campaign that will present the Windows 8/RT devices as tablets for people who "want to get real work done".

Microsoft only releases products for other platforms when it benefits Microsoft. Helping Apple and Google doesn't do that.

[jrandom421]

11. The heck with it

Save your pennies and get a Surface. Surface RT works just fine for me. You might want a Surface Pro, but juggle that against higher cost and lower battery life.

[Xithras]

12. I hate to admit this...

...but I did get to play with a Surface tablet last week and was genuinely impressed with it. Technologically it's the equal of either the iPad or the Android. I have serious doubts about whether it will make any real dent though. It's really late to the market, and the fact that it's from Microsoft is going to keep a lot of techies from buying it. Microsoft's only real chance is to market the Surface Pro to the enterprise, and backdoor the technology into the consumer market (the same way they drove Windows adoption in the first place). I can tell you that the lack of Active Directory and Domain support is a huge hindrance to corporate adoption to both iOS and Android devices. The business market has been clamoring for tablets to support existing authentication and security models, and Microsoft is the first company to do that.

Even so, they are going to have a real chicken and egg problem with apps. Major app developers aren't going to want to invest in writing for the platform until there's a user base. Home consumers aren't going to buy the platform until there's a decent number of apps. The Palm-based Touchpad had the same problem, and couldn't manage to overcome it. HP has nearly as many resources as Microsoft does, so I'm not convinced that Microsoft is going to be able to pull it off.

Still, if Microsoft is one thing, it's a tenacious company. While I wouldn't bet on them taking over the Tablet market, I'm not dumb enough to bet against them either. Somehow even their crappiest products tend to turn into financial successes, and the Surface is actually a pretty good one. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

[jrandom421]

22. Here's the reason developers will embrace making software for the Surface

Last edited Sun Dec 9, 2012, 02:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Common code base with Windows 8 and Windows 8 Phone. You create an app for the Surface RT that goes into the Windows Store, you can install and run it on those two other platforms. Think of it.

Lack of AD and Domain support? Not a huge thing. If you want that, go Surface Pro. Surface RT supports Bitlocker, and management through Windows InTune, With a connector, enterprises can use their current Configuration Manager infrastructure to download policies, updates and software, as well as being able to do a remote wipe, if the device is lost.

[Sheldon Cooper]

5. The things I use the Tab for are web surfing and the Kindle app.

I love to cruise the internet and read books from my kindle on it. But I couldn't imagine using it for a lot of text-based stuff like Word, and also Excel. I just don't find the touch pad to be real user friendly when there is serious work to be done. That's why I was wondering if the iPad was any different in that regard.

[onehandle]

2. If you have an iPhone, you should have somewhat of an idea of what it's like.

Go to an Apple Store or other retailer and just play with an iPad. It's much more than a bigger iPhone.

There is no comparison.

Also, Samsung is a foreign company that employs a tiny fraction of workers compared to Apple in the U.S. They got caught stealing technology from Apple and other American companies and will be coughing up billions in lost lawsuits.

[Sheldon Cooper]

6. I do like my iPhone.

I was really just wondering if there were any big differences in terms of functionality between the two. Thanks!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Aside from not having a phone function built in, an iPad is very much like

an iPhone as far as the apps are concerned. You can use many of the same ones or ones that have been modified only slightly.

I have LOTS of music (13 days worth, or so iTunes tells me) and LOTS of video (125 hours of TV programs from cable channels that I don't subscribe to), so I keep the music on the iPhone and the video on the iPad, where it looks terrific.

I read e-books on both the iBook and Kindle apps, keeping one copy on the phone, which lives in my purse, where I can read during any random downtime (waiting for a bus, waiting in a doctor's office), and another copy on the iPad.

When traveling, I use the iPad as a one-stop entertainment center. It really helps while away those long plane rides to Japan.

[dawg]

4. To me, the only advantage of the iPad is ...

the app store. I'm not familiar with all the apps available for Android, but there are a million cool apps for the iPad.

[Sheldon Cooper]

7. I really haven't paid much attention to the android apps, to be honest.

I do have a few cool ones on my iPhone.

[intaglio]

8. You might like to look at the Nexus 7 n/t

[NV Whino]

13. I have an iPad and love it

It is BluTooth compatible so you can use Apple's wireless keyboard with it. Since an neuropathy problem prevents me from touch typing, the touch keyboard doesn't bother me. But the dictate function with the iPad is really good.

Apple has Pages, (about 10 bucks) which can save to Word or PDF. Numbers=Excel.

But then, I'm an Apple person so what do I know.

[Little Star]

14. Seeing that you are an Apple person maybe you can answer my question..

I've been thinking of getting an iPad for when I vacation travel but...

Due to having a stroke, I like using a mouse to surf the net when in a hotel, condo or other vacation rentals. Can one use a mouse with an iPad?

[NV Whino]

15. Yes.

Wireless, BluTooth mouse.

I think Apple calls it the Magic Mouse. I use both keypad and mouse with my Mac Mini. Both can be used with iPad.

[Little Star]

16. Thanks for the help!

[mucifer]

18. I have a friend who had a stroke and loves his Ipad

He has a keyboard with it. The touch screen is very helpful because he has limited hand movements.

I have another friend who has ALS who also loves his Ipad and has some limited movements to his hands.

[Sheldon Cooper]

17. Thanks everyone for the help.

It looks like I'd need to get a wireless keyboard and mouse in order to get the most use of the iPad, so I'll probably stick with the Galaxy for a while longer. I appreciate all the input.

[JCMach1]

19. Why would you exchange something just as good?

Apps. basically samesame...

Functionality, similar...

Personally prefer Android OS.

So unless you have a compelling reason to switch to Apple's OS, like work computer... why bother

[Sheldon Cooper]

20. I don't really have a compelling reason, I just have the

chance to get an iPad for a relatively cheap cost, and basically I was just wondering if there was a big enough difference between the two to justify it. I'm glad to hear that you prefer the Android OS - I think it works just fine, too.

[JCMach1]

21. Depends on how cheap!

Free would be nice!