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Thread ID: 138926 2015-02-11 09:46:00 iPad Mini 2 vs Surface 2 vs Nexus 7 2013 Nick G (16709) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1394137 2015-02-16 19:01:00 A tablet is a complementary device, not a replacement. Exactly right. They have their uses and do certain things very well. wainuitech (129)
1394138 2015-02-16 21:52:00 +1

I'm not planning on hammering out ten thousand word documents on one. Taking notes from lectures + mettings, yes. Watching video lectures, yes. Viewing docs/spreadsheets that I wrote on my computer, yes.

So consumption, sure. But also work, of a kind.

Agreed and I don't think anyone would expect you to. If I was attending a lecture or in a meeting that required lots of note taking I would take a laptop rather than a tablet. Having said that, if I was door knocking and interviewing people or a mobile money/lending manager and collecting a specific set of data for research purposes then a tablet with a specifically designed UI may be more suited to the task.

All of these work descriptions fit into the category of "real work".
Webdevguy (17166)
1394139 2015-02-16 22:12:00 For note taking I find the stylus on my note3 easier than the onscreen keyboard :) I still wouldn't use it for more than a casual note or two but I can see how a Tablet with stylus could be very good for this purpose. I advocate Laptops for real work but I can see in some situations a tablet might be more convenient. dugimodo (138)
1394140 2015-02-17 21:08:00 Well I've had a good long play with both the Nexus 7 and iPad mini.

Nexus 7 has a nicer finish to it, it's grippier and easier to hold.

I prefer the iPads screen size and ratio, but it's a little more pricey.

I'll get one of these two, just need to decide whether the nicer screen size is worth the extra $$.
Nick G (16709)
1394141 2015-02-17 22:26:00 I am considering upsizing to the Nexus 9 from the Nexus 7, purely to get the extra screen size, but I have not been able to lay my hands on one to see if there is a difference that is significant in practical terms. Perhaps Nick, if you are wondering about the relative sizes of the Nexus 7 and the iPad mini, you may want to have a look at the Nexus 9? They are made by HTC (whereas the Nexus 7 is made by ASUS), and I hope the build quality is comparable, because I have been very impressed by ASUS quality (I also own an ASUS laptop). I certainly prefer Android to Apple OS these days. John H (8)
1394142 2015-02-17 23:03:00 I am considering upsizing to the Nexus 9 from the Nexus 7, purely to get the extra screen size, but I have not been able to lay my hands on one to see if there is a difference that is significant in practical terms. Perhaps Nick, if you are wondering about the relative sizes of the Nexus 7 and the iPad mini, you may want to have a look at the Nexus 9? They are made by HTC (whereas the Nexus 7 is made by ASUS), and I hope the build quality is comparable, because I have been very impressed by ASUS quality (I also own an ASUS laptop). I certainly prefer Android to Apple OS these days.

I've considered the Nexus 9, and it was definitely tempting, but I think it's priced a bit high for what it is. Same with the Z3 Tab Compact.

The iPad Mini 2 32GB is $520, which is ~$100 more than the Nexus 7, but is cheaper than the Nexus 9.
Nick G (16709)
1394143 2015-02-18 01:31:00 Just a last salvo for the laptop camp, atom based full windows 8 notebooks and tablets can be had for less than that :) random example here www.pp.co.nz

You certainly wouldn't game on one but for general use it should be fine.
dugimodo (138)
1394144 2015-02-18 03:24:00 +1

I'm not planning on hammering out ten thousand word documents on one. Taking notes from lectures + mettings, yes. Watching video lectures, yes. Viewing docs/spreadsheets that I wrote on my computer, yes.

So consumption, sure. But also work, of a kind.

Taking notes on an iPad [Penultimate & noatbility] isn't great, they heat up really, really fast and the battery tends to die too.
Cato (6936)
1394145 2015-03-07 02:16:00 I've been using iPad mini for quite a while now and recently got Surface 2 for work. They have different pros and cons and I can say that it's really up to the user's way of using it. I prefer the iPad mini since it has the best features that I can actually use the most. ruellesmith (17277)
1394146 2015-03-07 04:12:00 I've been using iPad mini for quite a while now and recently got Surface 2 for work. They have different pros and cons and I can say that it's really up to the user's way of using it. I prefer the iPad mini since it has the best features that I can actually use the most.

Someone with both! Want to do a mini review of each one? I'd be keen to hear your thoughts; 90% sure I'll be getting the iPad mini but you never know!
Nick G (16709)
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