7 inch tablets

[pretzelb]

Anyone have experience with both a 10" tablet like the iPad and a 7" one like the kindle fire? I have a regular kindle and I love it for books. I also have an iPad that I like for email, web browsing, and some of the apps. I have my eye on the new nexus tablet running android but the smaller screen concerns me. I do tag articles in Evernote and read them later with the iPad and I find a bit of zoom is needed at times. I'm afraid it would be too small on the 7" screen to be useful and productive. I think email and all the rest would be fine though or at least good enough. Any thoughts?

[nukediver]

I briefly owned a Kindle Fire, thinking it would be a better option for travel than an iPad (I.e., cheaper to replace if it got lost, stolen, or damaged). I didn't really like it. The screen was too small for me (I'm 50, if that helps), and the Fire was on the heavy side. I also have an iPad, which I much prefer, primarily because of the screen size and apps. Was there some particular reason you were considering the smaller tablet in the first place?

[barefoot]

We have both an ipad2 and a nook tablet at our house. Both are used daily for email, web browsing, youtube, netflix, hulu, and games. I prefer the smaller size of the nook tablet, especially since I mostly use it lying down in bed. I don't have a problem with font size, it is adjustable. We buy great covers from Oberon Design to keep them safe, well dressed, and a pleasure to use.

[pretzelb]

Was there some particular reason you were considering the smaller tablet in the first place?

I was considering a new tablet for a few reasons. First, the better half is starting to steal my iPad a bit too much. Second, the one thing I can't seem to do with the iPad is edit Google Docs and I use it for a lot of cloud documents. I was going to go for a 10" Android tablet from Asus or Samsung or whoever when they finally got one with a high resolution near the new Apple display but that is maybe still a month away. Plus, if I am going to get an Android device I prefer it to be as vanilla as possible so the Nexus is interesting to me. They may have a 10" model planned but not sure when, that would be my ideal depending on price.

[nukediver]

I was considering a new tablet for a few reasons. First, the better half is starting to steal my iPad a bit too much. Second, the one thing I can't seem to do with the iPad is edit Google Docs and I use it for a lot of cloud documents. I was going to go for a 10" Android tablet from Asus or Samsung or whoever when they finally got one with a high resolution near the new Apple display but that is maybe still a month away. Plus, if I am going to get an Android device I prefer it to be as vanilla as possible so the Nexus is interesting to me. They may have a 10" model planned but not sure when, that would be my ideal depending on price.

Sounds like it will be worth the wait for a 10" Android tablet then. At least there are finally some more choices out there.

[Shiva]

HI Pretzelb: I think there is a way to edit google docs on the IPad. There is an app for it...I am quite sure....

[Moose]

Hi Pretzelb, I want to say up front that I'm challenged by technology. I have a Kindle Fire and an I phone. For me they get done what I need to do but after awhile surfing becomes tedious. The Kindle is great if I'm traveling and want to read a book or check out the TB forum but I wouldn't want it to be my primary gadget. The screen is just too small and as nukediver said, that puppy weighs a ton. I really want and ipad but cannot find my way to justify the cost, yet.
Take care,
Moose

[Frank II]

And now there are strong rumors of a smaller Ipad coming out in October. Somewhere between 7 and 8 inches.

I was going to wait to see but I've decided to get the Ipad now. I was hoping to get the smaller one to save weight except to do any real work I'd need to take a separate keyboard. The weight of the keyboard and the smaller ipad--or any 7" tablet--would be the same as the current Ipad which I could work on without a separate keyboard.

[pocketsize]

Frank, you'll love the ipad. I have an original but I really want to trade it in to Apple and get the ipad3. Best Friend bought herself a 3 for her birthday and even with the giant Otterbox case she put on it...this ipad, with the original case, is still heavier.

[lonestar6]

Pretzlb
We have an iPad which is awesome. For what it is worth I almost got a fire but then i did my normal obsessive research amd found for an additional 50 dollars I can get a Samsung galaxy 7" with more capability and what I perceive to be a crisper screen. I prefer the smaller size mostly because it meets my needs without the weight.

[pretzelb]

I think the 7" screen might be too small. I have been paying attention to my habits with the iPad lately and there are times when I am zooming quite a bit even on the 10" (or 9 point something) screen. I would like the smaller 7" to lug around but if I can't read sites comfortably then it defeats the purpose.

I did see where the Asus Transformer Infinity (which has a resolution just shy of the iPad 3) is finally starting to ship from places like Amazon. It has the expensive but nice option of the $150 keyboard / charging station. But I still would really prefer a pure Google tablet to avoid bloat software and get quick updates. That is why the new Nexus 7" appeals to me. And the price is pretty sweet too.

[lonestar6]

I read on a tech blog somewhere since this post started that apple may produce a smaller ipad and amazon is considering a larger fire. Goldilocks lives!

[Eire]

I have a nook tablet that i love. I bought a n2a card on Amazon which instantly turns the nook into a full fleged android tablet without voiding the warranty. If you want to go back to the nook software you simply remove the n2a card.

[backpack]

The iPad is the best, hands down.

I have been an Apple owner for a very very long time and I kept and transfered my iTune data from one device to another without any problem, even non Apple devices.

When I want iTune, I launch it.


Kindle can access the device library data remotely, they might start to charge taxes automatically, even on older items. Nooks is going to charge taxes as well, I am sure.



Unfortunately, Windows, Android, Kindle and Nook operating systems do not seem to understand my need for privacy and for me, that's a big red flag.

[pretzelb]

Unfortunately, Windows, Android, Kindle and Nook operating systems do not seem to understand my need for privacy and for me, that's a big red flag.

Privacy in the Operating System? Actually the one only OS in the past that has forced me to identify myself has always been Apple. All the others have gladly let me install without providing any kind of identification. Windows does require me to register but that just involves the key from the package and is no way related to my identity.

Privacy usually comes into play with applications like Facebook. These days the applications are made for all the Operating Systems and the level of privacy isn't altered from one OS to the other (unless they fall behind on features for a certain OS).