Too many tablet choices this Xmas -- how to choose

[Tepid]

There's a Surface HD in the works now, too? I knew about the Surface RT (I actually like the idea and have thought about getting a pair) and the Surface Pro. Do you have a link to information about the Surface HD? Or can I just use my snarkiness as an example of how important accurate information it?

On a side note, where I to get a tablet purely for consumption, it would be the Nook HD or Nook HD+. I already use a Nook Simple Touch for books, and as someone who tends to prefer staying within an ecosystem, I'd find the Nook HD great for magazine subscriptions and mobile Hulu/Netflix viewing. The Surface RT would be great for my wife, who currently has a hopped-up netbook (11.6" Acer with an SSD and 8GB of RAM). She uses it mostly for web browsing and basic use of MS Office - nothing that Windows RT can't handle.

I would advise you to check out the Nook and Kindle apps on Win8. My Wife is very happy with it on the RT.
So, really, if you think about it, the WinRT or Win8 Pro tablets give you twice+ more options than a single eReader like the Nook or Kindle. She has a Nook Color now. But once I showed her what you can get with a Win8 tablet, she is convinced it is worth spending a little extra and getting so, so, so much more for the money.

Not only those things,, but also,,, Local Library ebooks. Which you can do I think on both the Nook and Kindle, but I think it is much easier on a Windows Tablet. Reader™ Public Library

and for Windows Phone 7 and 8, as well on the WinRT and Windows 8 in general..

OverDrive Media Console app for Windows in the Windows Store

I do suggest WinRT for those that are looking for a similar device like the Nook or Kindle. Seriously take a look at one and try it out.
From my Wife's experience and my own, the Nook App actually works better with magazines then the nook itself does.

not only the Nook and Kindle Apps, there are others as well. Like Britannica, and some other book repositories.

If people really look at the options over all in general without any bias at all, none, they will see the advantage is over all greater on a Windows Tablet, whether it be WinRT or Pro

 

[Coke Robot]

I need a tablet that does some of the same things as my desktop, say a personal assistant to my desktop.

 

[caperjack]

I need a tablet that does some of the same things as my desktop, say a personal assistant to my desktop.

well i don't think it gonna be Surface RT,I do think its a great tool but it looks like it will not run 3rd party programs we are use to using on our desktops ,unless the creator of the programs rewrite it to be a compatible App

get ready to use the new start that most people hate, Full time ,the IE with the bottom url ,but it does come with office home and student installed ,butcant be use asa business office unless you have a license for office 2013
Windows RT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
-----------
from above link .
Software compatibility

The only desktop applications supported by Windows RT are those that come with the operating system itself (such as File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Office); Windows RT only supports third-party software that are developed using the Windows Runtime (WinRT), such as those obtained from the Windows Store (which are cross-compatible with both Windows 8 and Windows RT), or sideloaded in enterprise environments. To ensure "longer battery life, predictable performance, and especially a reliable experience over time," developers cannot directly port existing desktop applications compatible with versions of Windows for Intel-compatible processors (such as Windows 8 and Windows 7) to run on Windows RT without re-building them as WinRT apps.[SUP][10][/SUP]

Additionally, Windows RT does not support "New experience enabled" web browsers; a special class of app used on Windows 8 allowing desktop web browsers to bundle variants that can run in the Metro shell and integrate with other apps, but still use Win32 code and other features unusable by normal apps

 

[rickig]

I have just started to use the Samsung 500T tablet with the Intel Atom processor as a companion device to my main notebook. With the new version off Microsoft Office 13 I can instantly track my food intake, exercise and blood sugar numbers to keep me healthy and on track with my diabetes. I've hated having to open a notebook and wait to boot it up etc before entering my numbers at the end of the day, having this tablet has really helped me track issues through out the day. There are many Windows 8 designs and I am also looking into convertible device because I do need a keyboard.

I do want to point out I am an Intel employee.

 

[Tepid]

if you haven't yet, you should check out a Win Phone also,, you can access that from Skydrive just as easily there also.
one edit, instant update and access on all other devices and whoever you might share it with.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

yes, this can be done in Office 2010 as well.
But I really like 2013. And if you use OneNote, there is a free OneNote App.

 

[Coke Robot]

I need a tablet that does some of the same things as my desktop, say a personal assistant to my desktop.

well i don't think it gonna be Surface RT,I do think its a great tool but it looks like it will not run 3rd party programs we are use to using on our desktops ,unless the creator of the programs rewrite it to be a compatible App

get ready to use the new start that most people hate, Full time ,the IE with the bottom url ,but it does come with office home and student installed ,butcant be use asa business office unless you have a license for office 2013
Windows RT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
-----------
from above link .
Software compatibility

The only desktop applications supported by Windows RT are those that come with the operating system itself (such as File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Office); Windows RT only supports third-party software that are developed using the Windows Runtime (WinRT), such as those obtained from the Windows Store (which are cross-compatible with both Windows 8 and Windows RT), or sideloaded in enterprise environments. To ensure "longer battery life, predictable performance, and especially a reliable experience over time," developers cannot directly port existing desktop applications compatible with versions of Windows for Intel-compatible processors (such as Windows 8 and Windows 7) to run on Windows RT without re-building them as WinRT apps.[SUP][10][/SUP]

Additionally, Windows RT does not support "New experience enabled" web browsers; a special class of app used on Windows 8 allowing desktop web browsers to bundle variants that can run in the Metro shell and integrate with other apps, but still use Win32 code and other features unusable by normal apps

Yeah, that's why I'm going for a Surface Pro. I know I will need AutoCAD, maybe Photoshop. As well as Office 2013 Professional as I'm an Outlook user and LOVE it. There's utorrent as well... and the plethora of device support RT doesn't have.

 

[caperjack]

first i heard of the pro, interesting google search ,64git a 899.00 and at 999.00 for the 128gig
i gotta get a job .