New Device

[Dale M.]

Best use for table is Maps and GPS functions.... Other wise would rather read a book with real paper pages and have yet to watch a movie on it.... Oh, and astronomy programs for night sky.... And when I accompany wife to mall and she is doing what ever women do in stores I can sit and play Majong or Solitaire, or Blackjack...

Dale

[MtnDon]

We all like different things. And I am a slow adopter of change.

I like a laptop (15") for everyday computing... websites, document work, photo editing.

I like a small tablet (7" android) for reading books. I am a public library user and ours has a good selection of e-books available through three different services. Any bigger is too heavy to be convenient; smaller is harder to read.

I like either for my email.

The problem with tablets for web sites is too many sites are not friendly to small mobile screens. Forums are especially bad unless they have tapatalk implemented. This will become better over the next year or so I believe. All it takes is the webmasters changing to more modern responsive designs that resize and reshape the web content for the different screen sizes. Google is trying to nudge webmasters in that direction. My problem with that is learning new tricks when writing the webpage code. Change!!!! Grr.

[mustangcats]

I used to keep up with all the changes in electronic devices...but that was before the days of home computers. Now everything has become so complicated to operate. I still insist on a desktop computer with its full size keyboard as my primary computer. I did buy a Microsoft Surface to take on vacation so I can keep up on email and surf the internet whenever I find a WiFi hot spot. I did buy the keypad to go with it, but the keys are too close together that I end up resorting to one finger typing. I don't see how people can get by with just a laptop or tablet, but they seem to like them.

[rebapuck]

I have a computer at home. My flip phone is in my pocket, turned off, for when I fall down and can't get up. Any more than that I can't see getting.

No one seems to talk to the person they are with. They prefer whoever is at the other end of their connection. Camping used to be a time to relax and enjoy nature. Now, we are surrounded by the constant sound of ringing phones, people talking (but not to you) and others seeming to ignore you because they are reading a screen.

It's changed camping for me.

[jstrubberg]

It's changed camping for me as well. For the better.

The weather app is invaluable.

I read on mine constantly. Nothing wrong with a paper book, but I can easily take 300-400 books on vacation with me. I'm a compulsive reader and this saves tons of packing space, not to mention bookshelf space at home.

SkyView- This app uses the camera on your device and overlays star charts. It's a blast sitting around the campfire and stargazing.

We also use the tablet constantly for looking up questions around the campfire. Could be tomorrow's road route, might be trying to pin down the species of tree next to the campsite by it's leaves.

The augmented reality apps are great for sightseeing, too. Again, they use the camera on your tablet or phone, but they overlay things such as place names and descriptions, reviews of restaurants, etc. I can hold up the table in a new city and find out how far a walk it is to an attraction, then just click on the attraction icon to get more information if I need it.

[MtnDon]

We also use the tablet constantly for looking up questions around the campfire.

Most of the places we really like to camp in have no coverage. There are lots of "holes" out here in the west.

[Zipline65]

It's changed camping for me as well. For the better.


The augmented reality apps are great for sightseeing, too. Again, they use the camera on your tablet or phone, but they overlay things such as place names and descriptions, reviews of restaurants, etc. I can hold up the table in a new city and find out how far a walk it is to an attraction, then just click on the attraction icon to get more information if I need it.

Can you suggest some overlay apps? I'm not familiar with them. I use the weather apps all the time.
Liz

[jstrubberg]

It's changed camping for me as well. For the better.


The augmented reality apps are great for sightseeing, too. Again, they use the camera on your tablet or phone, but they overlay things such as place names and descriptions, reviews of restaurants, etc. I can hold up the table in a new city and find out how far a walk it is to an attraction, then just click on the attraction icon to get more information if I need it.

Can you suggest some overlay apps? I'm not familiar with them. I use the weather apps all the time.
Liz

Wikitude is the most complete one I have used. Google has one called Field Trip that also works well, although it's map based rather than being an overlay like wikitude.

[dogscats]

I believe it a age thing for learning to use these .As my granddaughter at 4 can hack the world. With my fat fingers they work on cranking the telephone.

[tony.latham]

We don't have cell service in most of our camps, but when we do, I find the weather radar invaluable for decidng to pitch the shade/rain shelter. You can select the loop mode and see where the cells are tracking.

I've also found Allstays RV app worth the $10. It'll show you a map of where your at and where the private and public campgrounds are plus information about each site. You can toggle over to the satelite veiw too. Extra handy when you are on the road in unfamilar territory.

Tony

[Vedette]

I have decided idea to return this tablet and buy another (smaller) laptop with a keyboard
The touch screen is just not cutting it for me?
I have figured it out, but just don't like it as much. My fingers are just too rough for it.
Brian

[cheri832]

Brian,
For years I have used a "netbook". It's a great option for a small laptop. Overall size. 7" x 10" but opens up with a real keyboard, decent size keys, and no need to learn Android or I-pad language. Might be worth a hands on look in the store.