Have IPAD2 and now considering Toshiba Thrive - Question for you

Well, this is the first time I have posted in this forum. I have spent hours in the Canon forums etc.

Situation and Question: I recently purchased a IPAD2 for my wife. I wanted her to have something simple and easy to use for browsing the net, listening to music ( already had IPOD/TOUCH and set up with itunes ) and looking at photos of family and trips. Some of the apps also intrigued her as well. So I got her an IPAD2.

For ME, however. Although I really have been impressed with the IPAD2, I don't like it not having the various ports, SD slots etc. I did get her the IPAD2 with both wifi and 3G which should suit her needs for connectivity.

I am learning about the Android based pads and thinking about the Toshiba Thrive. It seems to have a lot of nice features. Of the non Apple products / pads on the market, is the Toshiba Thrive at the top? I am still somewhat confused as that some pads are Android and I have seen that some pads use the Windows system. Can anyone explain the difference?

Bottom line: I am a photo enthusiast, I spend a lot of time on the net and I like functionality and flexibility. So is the Thrive a good product for me since my wife has an IPAD 2?
Thanks for your comments.
Denny
--
D. Zimmerman

Denny-

Whilst I don't think it is either right or logical to draw parallels here, but it seems from what you say that maybe we do share a lot in common in regard to thoughts and decisions on Tablets here.

I suppose I've had an interest for a short time now..sparked as much as anything by my endeavours in trying to help a good friend to decide if this was suitable to HIM. Amidst all this I inevitably got further interest myself- I must say that I've been "into" computers just about from the first time that ANY home computer came onto the market in UK... and that's a very long time ago. Since had numerous models.. taught myself quite a lot , used laptops for what must be 30 years or so.. used computers in a business situation and in more recent/later life I now just use them as a very main personal interest.

But this perhaps does set the scene to some extent when such as the likes of us do find ourselves getting an interest in Tablets.. inevitably I think, we DO think to a great extent along the lines of what we are familiar with - computers. I'm not really sure WHAT to think of Tablets really - are they in fact meant to catch the eyes/minds of already computer users.. or are they really meant to catch the eye of the pure non-computer user who wants a Tablet for what it can do entirely on its own merits. The latter idea I'm sure must be what has been in Apple's minds when they introduced the iPad. It was perhaps never meant to be a "computer-on-the-knee" sort of thing.. just a gadget that has some affinity to computers but works in quite different ways, with a lot of Apps etc that are never thought as having a computer basis, although many of course do have.

Anyway, in the midst of all my own thoughts and gathering of info on this matter .. lo and behold.. my Daughter suddenly had a desire for a Tablet. She is a regular computer user but mostly in regard to he School Headship work. She has a laptop provided for her and although it is an open-use kind of thing, there is some sort of understanding that as it IS a School-based one..it is not used too much in a purely pesonal way as of course this could lead to the possibility of School matters , held mainly on their Server, becoming a bit too open. Here comes HER interest then - a more personal thing that is HERS to do with as wishes..and Tablets come into the picture..

Hey-Ho.. what next..of course..the inevitable iPad.. and would you believe it..before you could sneeze almost (!!) she goes and buys herself an iPad2.. Tries it out in the store first of course - is HIGHLY delighted (as even that had a lot of Apple Apps that she could instantly work with and enjoy..) and in this last week or 10 days I've heard nothing but good things from Son-in-Law who says that she's never off it..d/loading such as Recipes and all manner of lady-like things !!

And THAT I think might well be the nub of it.. she's not the least bothered about pure computer type Apps . as long as it is one that does what SHE wants.. the iPads of course - say what we like of them otherwise - do have a superb display.. apparently loads of good Apps for many people .. AND most if not all with no potential niggles that can arise with others that are perhaps more open-market type ..

Part 2 follows !!!

--
eric-UK
Staffordshire

It's all down really to USAGE I'm sure.. do YOU honestly feel that YOU could live and enjoy a Tablet of the iPad type when it is a fact that there ARE a few ways to get an input/output flow - via an adaptor or two - but others such as the Thrive/XOOM/Galaxy/Acer Iconia.. have definite means of inter-connecting with the outside world..sockets that just do not exist on iPads .. and THAT is where we just have to come back to asking.. what do WE really expect to do with a Tablet... let it do what WE want or seem likely to want to do.. or just be happy to 'play' on an iPad2 with whatever it's built-in features can give.

Right now I have TWO choices in mind..I've had others..seen them..used one a little bit in-store... but decided that there are currently only two I think that seem likely to give me what I'm sure I would in mind bound to look for in having the use of a Tablet and NOT a computer laptop type. And that all boils down to "connectivity" .. frankly if there is none of that to a good extent.. for me..and maybe for you .. that sort of kills it.. would you be totally happy in working almost solely with Apple Apps.. and basically only on the Tablet itself - or wiould it please you more for the outlay, in being able to have connectivity with the other world via such as USB/SD cards/HDMI... iPads I just don't think give for me that ability.

My current two are the Thrive (which alas I just simply cannot find ANYWHERE locally to actually see and handle.. and the Acer Iconia which I HAVE seen and used for near enough an hour or so locally. And the Acer is presently the one I like. I could see it right against iPads also on working Demo.. AND I tried it against a XOOM.. which I WAS very pleased with at first..until I moved to the Acer..which took my eye instantly It was I thought an excellent display and fairly easy to use even on first hands-on.. AND of course it is readily obtainable to me now as I know...AND in this case I can get one as 32Gig Wi-Fi at what is a massive less price than the iPad2 with many of that outside-world possibilty just non-existent.

I'm STILL so undecided (I always am in this business of buying a new thing) but whilst I DO appreciate the qualities of the iPad..I just cannot somehow believe that I could find total pleasure from one when I know I just cannot do such as the simple thing of plugging in an SD card with some latest pics and just viewing them in a decent form.. or viewing in comfort (as I choose) such as a movie from my computer drive-store... or many other things.

It is , you see, that computer oriented mind that is behind it all the time...but THAT is what I'm sure you have to take heed of..

So there - THAT's out of my system !!.. and I hope might give YOU a few things to think about and help towards a decision.

By the way , as you do seem to incline to the Thrive....do SEE and handle one first...it IS thicker/bulkier than most , as it does have full-size soclets - so it cannot be otherwise. But the Acer is lovely in design and size/hold..and it DOES have a full-size USB (maybe the main one reallly).. but I believe myself with MY own ideas of usage in mind) that it probably edges the lead for me just a little bit.

--
eric-UK
Staffordshire

Eric -thanks so much for your insight into the world of the tablets. I totally agree with you. I have been a long time computer user and own a laptop and a desktop computer both using Windows / PC. So when I bought my wife the IPAD 2, it showed me a bit into the world of Apple. As I said earlier in my first post, I am totally impressed by the quality, ease of use etc. of the IPAD 2. I also like that my wife can easily pick it up and use it and access her music etc., TV shows etc. from itunes. That said, however, I have had issues trying to get photos, music ( non itunes ) put onto the IPAD 2 because of the operating system that the IPAD 2 uses. I also like that I got her the wifi / 3G version so she can access the net when wifi is not available.

Having said all of those nice things about the IPAD 2, I still find myself thinking about what I like to do and my expierience with the PC's. I do a lot of photography work and editing in Photoshop. Therefore putting photos onto a tablet easily and without a hassle is a big plus for me. While I like music MP3, I am not one to listen to hours of music anywhere. I also like to mess around with videos. I take video of my grandchildren at school plays, sports etc. I would like to share them with others on the tablet when we are traveling. The idea of having USB ports, SD storage, HDMI ouputs etc on the tablets intrigues me ( example the THRIVE ). I also want something that is dependable, easy to setup and use.

So is there such a tablet? I guess that is why I am visiting this forum. I look forward to more responses such as yourself.

I much appreciate your help. It is too bad that you can not find the THRIVE where you live. I live in the states and it seems to be available at stores here. I have not actually gone into one and checked it out but will today maybe.

Denny
--
D. Zimmerman

Denny-

Firstly,in response to what is maybe your last statement here... as it seems you have greatly better chance to actually handle and experience the Thrive...by all means I urge you to go to a store and literally get a real hands-on. In the BIG local Superstore branch of a National chain that I have here.. they have a big long counter-show where almost all the Tabs are fixed on working display - and remarkably by some other stores..I've been there and played about with these for as long as I wished..this last week I was on the Acer for at least 3/4 hour...NO intervention at all by Staff and I really found myself learning more and more about the machine than I could ever find just by browsing such as here or Google.

Alas they just do not have the Thrive - which I DO so miss the chance of.. but I DID get a wonderful sense of liking the Acer... a good display I thought (I had worked the XOOM a bit first - thought that good.. but it palled a bit when I first saw the Acer.)

But also - as to what you say you have been trying on your Wife's iPad2.. THIS is what you want..and it may well be of good use for your wife...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-in1-Camera-Adapter-USB-SD-Card-Reader-Apple-iPad-2-White-/190597092005?pt=US_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item2c6078d2a5#ht_2970wt_1187

Well.. that's the idea of it anyway.. but if you look on your Ebay I'm sure you will find a similar one that is outright Buy.. VERY cheap (Apple one is at least 4 times the price - and it does no more... )

But the idea generally is that with such a plug-in connection you then can 'import' such as pic files or indeed any other sutable file type , to the iPad.

From what you say about being a little indecisive I have to suggest you try this first.... you have the iPad2 - it only needs a VERY modest cost to see just how it may serve you via the iPad...could be that for this less complicated usage an iPad may indeed do much of what you have in mind..there's no doubt it IS a superb display..just sadly lacks the comfortable ease of importing other things...but the "simple" pics etc..or I suppose..such as Docs.. CAN be done..

By the way..as for movies - your own Camcorder shots etc .. you may well have read that almost all the Tablets DO accept such as pics/movies.. but there are restrictions on the type of file they use. JPG's no trouble.. on an iPad perhaps RAW s more doubt (it can be fine on the Thrive/Acer ).. camcorder/movies have to be a certain kind..your own Camcorder very likely already produces the accepted type.. mostly it is such as AVI and a few others that Tabs just do not want to know.. but via the above adaptor again..the right type CAN easily be used on the iPad as far as I understand it...

Edit: Re that above adaptor by the way...do a bit more searching on Ebay..I believe there are others of same kind..multi-socket switched.. that actually have the required plug for the iPad socket...THEN a short cable to the main block with the switched varied sockets for external connection. THAT is better..since a small separate plug of course gives FAR less strain on the one I referred to above, where the whole block exerts some strain on the iPad when plugged in of course.

--
eric-UK
Staffordshire

This is what I may have had in mind..a bit more expensive but well worth it to reduce any chance of strain on an expensive socket !!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-pins-pin-data-cable-adapter-USB-HUB-Card-reader-Combo-Apple-ipad2-ipad-/250904933755?pt=US_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item3a6b19757b#ht_10094wt_1187

--
eric-UK
Staffordshire

I'll jump in here.

First, if you want to do real editing, you need a Windows PC. There are tablet versions, but they tend to be more expensive, heavier, and have a shorter battery life, compared to an Android tablet. Plus, the smaller Windows ones have slow processors.

With Android tablets, the top option depends on what you want. The Asus Transformer has the most flexibility, but you need to buy the keyboard add-on (which makes it more like a netbook) to get the USB host ports - but that also gives you very long battery life and a decent physical keyboard. The Toshiba Thrive gives you full size ports AND an SD slot compared to the micro SD slots that are in most of the others, but it is relatively thick. The Acer Iconia gives you the USB host port with a micro SD slot. The new Sony S has a slightly smaller screen, an SD port, and a USB OTG port, which is a micro USB port that can become a USB host port with a simple adapter.

Here's what I do with my Iconia: I take the CF card out of my Canon 7D and connect it to the USB host port with a standard USB card reader. I then backup the RAW shots to a microSD card in the tablet. I view the RAW images using CR2 Thumbnailer (under $10), select the ones I want to show to others and then convert those to JPGs and save them on the tablet. I can then do a slide show with the selected JPGs on the tablet, and give copies to others on a thumb drive (via the USB host port). Finally, I can use an App to connect the tablet to the camera with a USB cable and remotely control the camera in Live View - I can see the image on the tablet, and set the exposure and focus point using the nice large image before taking the shot with a button on the tablet.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

Denny-

Take heed of what Jeff may say here..he's the Expert.. and will certainly advise on anything in particular that you wish to know additionally.

But I came back again to tell you that additional to what I mentioned above regarding Videos having to be the correct kind for an iPad (indeed I think most any Tablet..) I now find that on the iPad, there is actually already installed or simply waiting for an easy install - an App called Handbrake..and THAT converts any (well..most I presume..) Vids that are not themselves right for an iPad..it will convert it to the right type..apparently fairly easily..

So again... maybe you may find the iPad you already have (or your wife does..) can do a lot more that will be gladly used by you.

--
eric-UK
Staffordshire

ericN2 said:

regarding Videos having to be the correct kind for an iPad (indeed I think most any Tablet..)

Click to expand...

There are MANY video player Apps available for Android. Some can play most of the common formats.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

Well thanks to everyone for their input. I decided to get am sending this reply from my new Toshiba Thrive. So far very impressed. Need to better understand how to use the special ports etc.
Thanks again--
D. Zimmerman

If you live in the US, the first thing you should do is get the Amazon App store. You have to go to the Amazon site and request it, and they send you a link for the download. Then, you'll be able to get a free App every day, and find Apps that have more safety testing than those in the Google Marketplace, but less restrictions than those in the Apple App store.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

Thank you. I will do that. I may return here for some advice with using peripherals, if you don't mind.
--
D. Zimmerman

Jeff Peterman said:

I'll jump in here.

First, if you want to do real editing, you need a Windows PC. There are tablet versions, but they tend to be more expensive, heavier, and have a shorter battery life, compared to an Android tablet. Plus, the smaller Windows ones have slow processors.

Click to expand...

I am waiting for Windows 8 and its tablets to come out next year, then I will acquire a tablet, up to now it is not good enough for me, as what I want is to replace my small laptop with a good tablet that will run Office, Photoshop 5 and Power Director 9.