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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Looking into a tablet PC
#13416371 - 10/31/10 11:13 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm trying to find a good tablet pc to use as an ereader mainly, also to run windows applications. I like the ipad but that is way too much money for me. Does anyone have any suggestions? I tried looking for some info on the google android tablet but can't really find anything on it.
I don't want a phone or anything that has a contract either.
What should I get???
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13417552 - 11/01/10 10:37 AM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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youre not going to be able to run windows apps on either an ipad or android powered tablet.. youll need to get a full blown tablet pc like a thinkpad x series which is way out of your price range if you think the ipad is too much.
how much are you looking to spend?
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: frith]
#13418005 - 11/01/10 12:53 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dang, I only want to spend up to $150. I guess I will have to wait a few years for prices to drop. Looks like I will just get a kindle.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13418152 - 11/01/10 01:28 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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CosmicJoke
happy mutant



Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 10,848
Loc: Portland, OR
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13418281 - 11/01/10 01:55 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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i think that if you plan to do any serious reading w/ such a device, a tablet isn't worth the eye strain.... the e-reader's e-ink is way easier on the eyes.
-------------------- Everything is better than it was the last time. I'm good. If we could look into each others hearts, and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. It takes a lot of courage to go out there and radiate your essence. I know you scared, you should ask us if we scared too. If you was there, and we just knew you cared too.
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: CosmicJoke]
#13419792 - 11/01/10 06:46 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah the eye strain was a concern about choosing a tablet over a ereader. I like the kindle because it has the built in dictionary so you can look up the definition by just putting the cursor over the word. What are the pros of an eslick compared to a kindle?
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CosmicJoke
happy mutant



Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 10,848
Loc: Portland, OR
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13420025 - 11/01/10 07:25 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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i guess according to the article frith posted, with an eslick you wouldn't have to worry about the books you've purchased vanishing when amazon decides to yank them from their network.
-------------------- Everything is better than it was the last time. I'm good. If we could look into each others hearts, and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. It takes a lot of courage to go out there and radiate your essence. I know you scared, you should ask us if we scared too. If you was there, and we just knew you cared too.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: CosmicJoke]
#13420082 - 11/01/10 07:36 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
CosmicJoke said: i guess according to the article frith posted, with an eslick you wouldn't have to worry about the books you've purchased vanishing when amazon decides to yank them from their network. 
true.
all the software running on the eslick is open source.. YOU own the device.. youre not (essentially) renting it from the manufacturer like you are with the Kindle, Nook, or Sony ereader.
eslick has a really cool option that i dont think any others have called Reflow. it basically reshapes text in PDF documents to the most readable way possible.
see reflow here at 3:30:
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: frith]
#13420442 - 11/01/10 08:44 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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How would you get ebooks for the eslick if you cant get any from amazon or barnes and noble if you can't download the books you bought? Can't you buy a ebook with the kindle and then copy the file from the kindle on to your PC?
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13420629 - 11/01/10 09:19 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Equals said: How would you get ebooks for the eslick if you cant get any from amazon or barnes and noble if you can't download the books you bought?
http://www.ebooks.com/
Quote:
Equals said: Can't you buy a ebook with the kindle and then copy the file from the kindle on to your PC?
no.
you can redownload from Amazon's servers but if you exceed the number of times Amazon allows you to download it you will need to repurchase the book.
the number of times you are allowed to redownload isnt a set number either.. some books 10-15 times, some books are once or twice.
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: frith]
#13420711 - 11/01/10 09:36 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Wow that makes the Kindle really lame Well can't you just buy books from the website you just gave me and convert it to read on the kindle? I really like the search options and dictionary of the kindle. Do you know of any free program that can convert epub files to pdf? I have a converter that can change pdf into files for the kindle already.
Does the latest eSlick have a search option and dictionary? If so that would seal the deal for me to buy one of these. I do like the option of how it will reshape a pdf to fit the screen. I have a few pdf's that don't work on the kindle ereader for the pc.(Meaning it probably won't work on the kindle device).
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13420814 - 11/01/10 09:56 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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i dont believe the eslick has a dictionary.. probably not since it is not connected to a data network all the time. the Kindle is connected to 3G all the time so it has the ability to look stuff up over the internet.
you can download a bunch of different formats from ebooks.com including ePub and PDF. i dont know about loading files onto the Kindle though.. it may just be designed to sync with the Amazon store.. honestly not sure. 
ive used Calibre on linux to convert PDF to ePub.
the company behind the eslick wont force obsolescence on you since its all GPL code.. they cant. never quite sure with Amazon though..
i have a real tough time trusting closed software from a company with questionable business practices..
id rather KNOW i own 100% of my hardware/software/information than assume the manufacturer allows me to have some control over something i spent a lot of cash on.
Amazon deleting the book 1984 from the Kindle without warning or permission is ironic to say the least.
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: frith]
#13420890 - 11/01/10 10:16 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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I just downloaded a free book from barnes and noble and was able to download it from there and converted the file to a mobi with the calibre program and it worked with the kindle pc app. So I am assuming now I can buy books from other places besides amazon so I can download them so I can convert the files to the proper type.
If this process will work on the kindle device then I am set. I will own my ebooks and have the files on my pc so if amazon deletes a book it won't matter. I will also be able to use the search feature and dictionary of the kindle. Only thing that I won't have is the pdf reform thing of the eslick.
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daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: Equals]
#13437527 - 11/05/10 06:39 AM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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I am on my iPad right now. I really don't even use my Macbook Pro (or any other PC) outside of work. I work on the computer all day long and love using touch devices for personal computing, it does everything I need except watch flash videos. It's not a reason to not buy an iPad though.
$150 won't get very much these days. An ebook reader isn't a tablet. HP just released a slate running Win 7, but it's $800 and the fact it runs windows means it's no better than any other MS tablet PC out there.
The samsung galaxy tablet and the Blackberry playbook are coming out next year but both are more expensive than the iPad. The ipad is the best way to, and worth saving for. If you want and a cheap disposable portable PC, look into the netbook market.
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snoot
look alive ∞




Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 9,641
Loc: 45º parallel
Last seen: 4 days, 22 hours
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ipod touches are cool, but they are really only good for checking stocks while you're pooping at work.
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∞ I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. - Simone de Beauvoir -
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Equals

Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 99
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Re: Looking into a tablet PC [Re: snoot]
#13441542 - 11/05/10 11:31 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah I decided to settle for a kindle, it fits my budget and now I can read all of the ebooks I have. An Ipad would be nice but I rather wait a few years on that for the price to drop and for more improvement.
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