Tablet for the Holidays? What Tablet do you have or are you going to get?

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Tablet for the Holidays? What Tablet do you have or are you going to get?

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Started 1 year ago by pbull221
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pbull221

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After doing a search that must have had the wrong terms, I concluded that I would start a new topic. Who has bought the new tablet computers? What platform did you buy and why? Android, Apple, other? What applications did you decide on before you chose the tablet you are using? Was the tablet a gift? Does 1/3 of a pound really make ANY difference when you end up carrying and using the thing for most of the day? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on why they have the tablet they do or why they've chosen the one they are going to get or to give. What are your personal experiences with these things and photography?

Thanks in advance as always.

Posted 1 year ago #
pbull221

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Another bit that I forgot to include. Does anyone know if there is a codec that has been written for any of these tablets that lets them view our NEFs?

Posted 1 year ago #
bjrichus

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A tablet for the holidays?

Paracetamol. :-)

I have been messing around with an Android device for a while and like the idea of it. Perhaps in a year (or two?) when all the software for connecting my camera brand of preference has been ported, full editing software has gone up a generation (to get the bugs fully worked out), and storage capacity is increased to the point where I can plug in a decent SD card (as in fast and capacious), I could be tempted... Just not THIS year.

Posted 1 year ago #
donaldejose

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None. I keep hearing people who have them say they are just a "big phone" and they really need a real laptop.

Posted 1 year ago #
BN7502

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SInce all the computers in my house are Mac; I went with the iPad. Since owning the iPad I have not loaded a single picture to it. I mainly use it for streaming TV or Movies and surfing the web. Really it is good for viewing. I tried to do a picture stream but the speeds were to slow to flip through photos quickly. Perhaps slide show with a few second delay would work, or because my phone is only "g" and my access point is not multi-channel, so everything is slowed down to "g".

If I need to do anything that involves more than a little input I go with my MacBook while not at my desk. My Macbook can do anything and everything the iPad can but is is nice when I wake up before the wife and I don't want to get out of bed yet. Simply plug in the headphones, power up the iPad, and stream live TV or catch up on the DVR recordings.

The iPad is really just a luxurious screen for media and games. With that said I use is everyday and the battery life is incredible. WIth my MacBook and heavy use the battery runs out in less than a day whereas the iPad with heavy use last an easy 2+ days.

Posted 1 year ago #
jonnyapple

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I have an iPad, but can't say I've used it seriously for photography. That said, NEFs come over just fine with the camera connection kit. I just bought the camera connection kit about two weeks ago and the iPad works like a lovely solution for external backup and review. One warning: the photos you view and work with are not NEF, but rather a smaller jpeg but still a reasonable size (maybe 6MP? I forget). While I haven't tried it personally, when or if you transfer them to the computer I understand they are read as NEFs again (no edits saved, obviously).

One app I would recommend whatever you get is splashtop remote desktop hd, which is available for android too. You run a server on your computer and then your tablet connects and it's like you're at your desktop. My wife wanted something that would let her and our son use an educational website that's written in flash since safari doesn't support it, and it has worked like a charm including the audio stream. The reason I recommend it is because you can do most anything on your main machine from your iPad even if it's not always so convenient, including Lightroom, Photoshop, or whatever else you use to edit photos. I wouldn't use for anything serious it except in a pinch, but it's nice to be able to do something like connect to your "home base," find a picture you need, and email it to yourself.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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iPad or iPad2. It comes down to the apps. Apple has them. Many, many great photo viewers.

Android & especially Blackberry have made a mess out of developing for them and many developers won't touch blackberry and really don't want to touch Android unless they have personal issues with Apple and their dominance.

NEFs? I'm not sure why in the world you would want to view NEFs on any tablet. The size alone will fill it fast. Export the Nefs as jpegs for normal viewing. As far as I have used them, they are "End Use" devices (viewing after the shoot). Some have used them tethered but the little I did it was way too slow for my style.

Adobe is abandoning Flash for mobile devices and probably will for computers in the next 2 years. Personally I wouldn't let it enter in a decision.

Like most, I really don't use it for any photography stuff at all except keeping 100 or so photos to show family. Others have really integrated it into their business. I have not heard anyone who does not have a development background use an Android for that.

Posted 1 year ago #
DutchNikon

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Tablets just don't do it for me ( yet) they are to limited not supporting JAVA .. Maybe a windows 8 tabelet would do but we'll have to wait and see for that...

Meanwhile i prefer a mini laptop for "on the road" purposes with a 500gb HD in it, this works well for remote control as wel as to store pics, nefs, and if needed do first stage processing on them..

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

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I shall be getting one soon, for showing my photographs to potential clients

The iPad 2 seems best for this but I have not found a app that is good for searching or finding images

I dont need one just yet, so I am waiting for the D800 ..sorry I mean the iPad 3

As others have said, tablets are output devices. if you want edit your RAW files you need a laptop

As far as I know, nether lightroom or Aperture will run on a Tablet.

Posted 1 year ago #
scoobysmak

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Well you might call it a tablet but for me its a computer. I am using an Asus Eee Slate (EP121). It runs windows 7 64-bit, has 4 GB of Ram and has somewhere around a 12 inch screen. It does weigh more and is thicker than an ipad or similar devices but can do so much more. It is a total touch screen device and has 2 USB ports. The cost is probably double an ipad as well but it depends on how your going to use it if its worth it for you.

I built my own desktop computer a few years ago and not only does this tablet smoke my desktop its running more applications at the same time as well. I am sure in a few years it will be outdated, but that is pretty much the case with all electronic items in this day and age.

Posted 1 year ago #
pbull221

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We've finally started supporting Apple at my job. Then the upper management got iPads and they were followed by the nursing school. The 1024x768 does not impress me on the iPad2. That said, they are simple and light weight.

I've been looking into the Toshiba Thrive. The reasons seem many in favor of this and the applications manager is a big fan of Android and likewise does not like Apple because of their lack of philanthropy. I like the res on the Thrive and plan to try some hands on during this Thanksgiving break.

Hope the rest of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. My oldest friend is in the hospital after having major surgery so I am especially thankful for my friends and relative good health at this time (11 Rxs/day and I am "only" 51.)

Posted 1 year ago #
DutchNikon

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mm Looked into that Asus Slate, but it seems not to be available here anymore , so its of my list again.... to bad, looked prommissing...

Posted 1 year ago #
adamz

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I would go for Apple iPad, although that's just a solution for You only if You have a regular computer at home. As for using iPad for picture storage, well... unless You have the biggest version it doesn't work. In my case, when I travel I'm usually ending with app. 40gb of images per week, so for me even the biggest iPad will not do the work as a backup machine. It works, however, as a perfect platform for sharing pictures on the road with my friends and family. Together with Snapseed I was able to do on-the-road basic editing and uploading snaps to both Facebook and flickr.
If You don't care about picture editing nor sharing them with online media, and want to occasionally check internet and have access to Your mail, than get amazon kindle 3g - especially if You want to be in touch while traveling to remote areas where regular internet connections are expensive and where gsm coverage is present.

Posted 1 year ago #
bernard

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No tablet for me. I do prefer my MacBook Pro, even if it's heavier. For not much difference in price, it does a lot more than a tablet !

Posted 1 year ago #
adamz

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@bernard - tablet and laptop are two different things, for photo editing I also prefer my MBP/iMac, but for showing pictures to clients iPad is unbeatable

Posted 1 year ago #
bernard

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adamz said:
@bernard - tablet and laptop are two different things, for photo editing I also prefer my MBP/iMac, but for showing pictures to clients iPad is unbeatable

Yes I know :) I have many friends who bought a tablet, and I even bought an Ipad2 for my daughter two weeks ago. I was just saying that a tablet doesn't fulfill my needs: I run an Association which restores and maintains old airplanes in flying condition, and to make some money, our gift shop sells photos that I take and print. I tried selling CD's but aviation fans do not fancy that too much. They prefer nice prints. Don't ask me why… They must have many albums of standard size airplane photos, or they frame the largest ones.
I tried to display these photos on a computer or TV during air shows but they don't look at them. They do prefer to flip through stacks of prints, and they do sell, believe me ! The money we make from those prints, over the years, helped us a lot keeping those old planes in the air. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
mirtos

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I have an ipad2, but dont use it for photography. Its more than just a big phone, though. I use it as my email device, to keep up on the internet, and to do things when im on the bus.

But for photography? nope.

Posted 1 year ago #
aesnakes

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Ipads are just oversized ipods, I have an Iphone already so I went with a win7 tablet. The Asus eee2 had a wacom digitizer so I use lightroom and photoshop on it with no problems. it connects to my server at home and allows me to take it to do some sketching or editing on the road or sitting on the couch being lazy.

I always felt apple turned their back on artist when they released the ipad. The asus eee2 is not perfect but I got to say having the wacom digitizer and 4 gigs of ram really makes this the only tablet i thought worth buying.

Posted 1 year ago #
JorPet

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I use the iPad2 and a have a bunch of photo edit software, but really don't do too much with them when I'm at home. They are great when traveling. I put the Eye-Fi in the D7000 and download the jpg versions to the iPad each day, edit them with FilterStorm and then throw the ones I really like up on (InYour)Facebook ;) for all those people who are still at home.

I will say I also have the iPhone, so it is like having a larger and smaller of the same device. When the iPad isn't around, the iPhone can do pretty much the same stuff, albeit on a much smaller screen. Definitely go with a tablet that sports the same operating system as your phone. Way easier to move back and forth that way.

Posted 1 year ago #
caitsweet94

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Hi there pbull221 :-)
My dad's right up on all this computer stuff and he decided upon the Asus Eee Pad Transformer about a year ago. He's really enjoyed it, and when I get the chance to use it, I find it fantastic too - the honeycomb software blows Apple iOS out of the water that's for sure!! Having used a mixture of both Apple and Android products, I would say buy Android, you can usually find it a bit cheaper, because Apple overprices a bit as it has such strong brand loyalty.
If you travel a lot I'd definitely look into a tablet, since they're so light travelling with tablets is a breeze! Load up great apps such as TripIt and TripAdvisor and you're set! A lot of apps are now cross-platform too, so don't let that factor into your decision too much.

Best of luck on your tablet hunt!!
Cait

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveO

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If you want to get your feet wet in tablets and don't want to spend a lot of money, Pandigital makes a 7 inch tablet that costs about $80 that can download books, do the internet and e-mail. I bought mine at Ollies Outlet, but they also sell them at Big Lots. Big Lots will get a shipment of them or Android brand on Sunday and sell them out by Tuesday. They both use the Android system of apps. You may want to get one for a year and wait for the products to get better and cheaper. The Pandigital also takes SD card up to 32 GB . I assume the Android does too.

DaveO

Posted 1 year ago #
pbull221

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Thanks a lot caitsweet94! I was curious about that one but remember all the horror stories about Asus when they started making computers as the first commodity device. That likely has changed because you are a 2nd contact who has recommended Asus. I liked the Thrive because of the full sized SD port, Android, price, and resolution. Wish it was available above 32GB though. Guess I should look at the Asus more closely, thanks.

Posted 1 year ago #
shivaswrath

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thrive.....essential for any photographer, comes with a USB, SD, and HDMI input.....

iPad2's are way too annoying to manage pictures with...

Posted 1 year ago #
pbull221

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Of course after waking up and actually going to *LINK REMOVED* I guess I will be patient and see what v.4 and quad core tablets show up in February. I snoozed and it may be to my benefit in this case.

Thanks shivaswrath, have not seen one yet that beats the USB, SD, HDMI combo.

Posted 1 year ago #
pbull221

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OK. Change in direction. Now I am looking at this one:
Lenovo 64GB ThinkPad 10.1" Tablet with WiFi & Tablet Pen

3-in-1 card reader, USB, 64GB, plus.

anybody got one? More room for pictures. Display is 10.1" WXGA (1280x800) 16:10 IPS display panel with Corning Gorilla Glass. w 1080p full HD.

Now to find some apps...

Posted 1 year ago #