REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

achiam · 10-12-2011, 08:44 AM

Hi all, I've never used/owned any of the iPad/touchpad/tablets so far. I'm starting a new lab position in January, and will be using Excel intensively. As I'd be walking around a lot, a tablet would be far more convenient than a laptop. Does anyone here use a Windows tablet and use Excel/Access a lot? I don't care about graphics/speed as it'd only be for work/basic surfing. As well, it'd have to be a full version of Excel capable of graphing/formula entry etc.
TIA!

PornMaster · 10-12-2011, 08:57 AM

Word processing (excel, access) would be horrible on a pad.
A pad is mostly for entertainment purposes only.

ForbiddenX · 10-12-2011, 09:09 AM

You could look into the ASUS EEE Slate. It's running windows 7 but it's pretty big.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Eee- ASUS Eee Slate EP121

I'm just not too sure if like documents to go or polaris has exactly the same thing as excel. I know they have spreedsheet editors but not sure if it's as functional as excel.

Jmac · 10-12-2011, 09:20 AM

At the moment, the Touchpad is just terrible for Excel ...

No tablet is good for it, but the Touchpad is probably the worst of the bunch in this department.

SkinnyPupp · 10-12-2011, 09:25 AM

It's for playing throwaway games for a few days, and watching tv shows or browsing the web. Nothing more. Don't pay more than $200 for a tablet, they are just toys.

InvisibleSoul · 10-12-2011, 09:26 AM

The Eee Slate might be the best choice as it runs Windows and comes with a wireless keyboard for times using the touchscreen isn't sufficient.

There's also the Eee Transformer that converts between a tablet and notebook, but I don't think there's a Windows version of it at the moment...

NCIX.com - Buy ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101-B1 10.1IN ips LED TEGRA2 Android Honeycomb 32GB Tablet - ASUS - TF101-B1 - in Canada

TheNewGirl · 10-12-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

It's for playing throwaway games for a few days, and watching tv shows or browsing the web. Nothing more. Don't pay more than $200 for a tablet, they are just toys.

Speak for yourself. I can get quite a bit of work done on my tablet. I take care of most of my banking and stuff from it on the fly, log into my office comp and check data when I need it, and deal with a wack ton of emails. It really has freed me from having to carry around a laptop when I'm not in my office which is very valuable to me personally.

That said I would never do extensive word processing on mine or spread sheeting.

You MIGHT want to look at the Asus Transformer, which is a tablet with an detachable keyboard (which has an extra battery in it, getting you up to 16 hours battery time). This would make data entry easier but still not as efficient as with a number pad (I wonder if you could hook a detachable number pad to one, I haven't tried).

The only problem for you with the Transformer is it is Android and uses Open Office. I'm not sure what compatibility issues you would have there.

Alternately, a netbook running windows may be a less sleek but more practical solution for you.

Zyzz · 10-12-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

It's for playing throwaway games for a few days, and watching tv shows or browsing the web. Nothing more. Don't pay more than $200 for a tablet, they are just toys.

hmm i think this is quite true...

I recently got an iPad 2 for 700 HKD (legit and brand new), otherwise I would never get it, and I have a really hard time coming up with stuff to do it with.

Like to me, I always need to open 3-4 pdf files at the same time, while drawing on a CAD tool or typing a document, while looking up papers on the internet simultaneously. This is impossible to do on the iPad. For outdoors, I have my iPhone to check and reply emails with. For home, I have my iMac, and for work I have my macbook. Yes I am a mac whore and i still think the iPad is useless.

Seems like people who use the iPad for work must be working in dumb jobs imo.

freakshow · 10-12-2011, 10:09 AM

No matter what tablet you have, they're only good for consumption, not creation.

No tablet, unless it's running W7 will be good for editing excel sheets. Viewing them, maybe, but not editing.

!MiKrofT · 10-12-2011, 10:48 AM

Agreed with the above. If you're working on excel or doing real work get a real Windows 7 type tablet or a convertable one like a Fujitsu or Lenovo X series.

604nguyen · 10-12-2011, 10:52 AM

I use my asus transformer everyday for work, since I'm on the road most of the time, I don't want to carry a laptop.

I mainly use it emails and some very light word processing/excel work

but if your going to do a lot of word processing / excel, id stay away from a tablet, just my experience,

achiam · 10-12-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakshow

No matter what tablet you have, they're only good for consumption, not creation.

No tablet, unless it's running W7 will be good for editing excel sheets. Viewing them, maybe, but not editing.

Ya I'm kinda getting that idea as well. It's really a shame. Any basic processor from even a phone is more than capable of running basic spreadsheets and graphs. Idea sprung to me as I would be walking around a lot and entering data into a spreadsheet and running graphs right away.

JKam · 10-12-2011, 11:35 AM

asus transformer can read normal excel files easily. Only problem is editing them.

SkinnyPupp · 10-12-2011, 06:26 PM

I thought I would be able to use the ipad for very simple database entry (benchmarks while testing) but even for that it is much better to use a laptop.

If you do "banking on the go" and "checking data at work" and stuff that you really don't need to be portable, these are just more examples of it being a toy. You are just coming up with things you CAN do with it. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes toys are for 'work' too. That doesn't mean it's not still a toy

JKam · 10-12-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

I thought I would be able to use the ipad for very simple database entry (benchmarks while testing) but even for that it is much better to use a laptop.

If you do "banking on the go" and "checking data at work" and stuff that you really don't need to be portable, these are just more examples of it being a toy. You are just coming up with things you CAN do with it. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes toys are for 'work' too. That doesn't mean it's not still a toy

you can also go to the bank to do your banking. Why not get rid of your computer too?

Just because YOU don't have a use for tablets doesn't mean the rest of us don't. Get off your high horse.

The tablet makes things more convenient, just like your cellphone. I'd rather use my tablet to surf the net, pay my bills and check into RS than my computer. My laptop can't come with me to take a shit conveniently nor can I flick through comics/books before I go to bed. Your home/corded phone can make calls, what do you need a cell phone for? There's pay phones if you need to call from outside your house, why don't you use those?

Now before you say anything about reading comics, sure I can read comics on my computer but its not as practical. Since I got my tablet I've only used my laptop at work and to download music. Everything else is on my tablet.

Depending on how useful it is to you, it can be a toy or a tool. In your case, you're a tool. I mean, you're not using it as a tool.

In the end, tablets are about convenience. It just depends on how (often) you use the tablet.

oh lastly, you of all people should know that tablets are for consumption and not production. Why would you get an iPad to do database entry? That's just stupid.

JKam · 10-12-2011, 11:21 PM

To answer the OP, try the tablets first.

Put a sample doc that you would normally use on a USB and stick it into an android tablet. See if it can do what you want it to do. If it does, buy it. If it doesn't, don't buy it. Playing with the demo units is the best thing you can do. Try different models too. Each brand will have small differences but it can be a big deal to some people.

SkinnyPupp · 10-12-2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKam

oh lastly, you of all people should know that tablets are for consumption and not production. Why would you get an iPad to do database entry? That's just stupid.

After that idiotic diatribe, you come full circle and end up agreeing with me. Then called me stupid for it...

!MiKrofT · 10-12-2011, 11:37 PM

He's doing spreadsheets. Using a tablet for spreadsheet data entry is a huge pita and not practical on a tablet. The on screen keyboard is gonna block most of the spreadsheet data.

SkinnyPupp · 10-12-2011, 11:44 PM

Yet Apple has a whole site dedicated to it

JKam · 10-12-2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

After that idiotic diatribe, you come full circle and end up agreeing with me. Then called me stupid for it...

actually no... I'm pointing out you're an idiot for purchasing an iPad to do data entry when you already know it's not beneficial.

There's a difference between iPads and android tablets for data entry. Android tablets are compatible with major data formats (.doc/.xls) and have USB ports which make them more productive than the iPad.

iPads can be useful to read documents but its difficult to edit them and transfer them.

so.. no I'm not agreeing with you.

I just want OP to get the other side of the story on tablets instead of your "tablets are useless because I think they're useless" posts.

I probably shouldn't have attacked you but I feel like your mind is so closed on the whole tablet idea. (you used a poor argument of TheNewGirl just listing of things she can do with it, the same argument can be used for pretty much anything)

JKam · 10-13-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

Yet Apple has a whole site dedicated to it

Here, I'll give you an example of how my company uses iPads for work since you don't get the idea of iPads/tablets being useful.

We have an online CRM tool (salesforce). If I wanted to pull up a work order or job while I'm on the road, I do it on my iPad. I have an iPhone but the screen is tiny and it's hard to show customers. I also have a macbook but that's a pain in the ass to bring out and set up to show customers.

iPad is nice and light and easily does what I want which make it a productive work tool. Another app that helps this is Roambi. I can create any charts/graphs from my work computer and show clients how the job is progressing or how much of the budget is being used. Yes, I can do it on the macbook but again, I don't want to carry it around when I'm on the road. The iPad is just a tool for me to display information to clients.

I know that iPads are for consumption so I use it to consume. I use the tool the way it is meant to be used.

There are ways that tablets/iPad are productive. I'm not sure if you are getting my point (I've repeated it several times), it just depends on how you use it and what your needs are.

SkinnyPupp · 10-13-2011, 12:05 AM

Not sure if I should bother but

1) I didn't say I got an ipad for data entry, I said I thought it would be useful for that, since that is one of the things it's marketed for. And it is one of the things OP asked about.

2) I didn't buy it, I acquired it in exchange for some work. I would never spend that much on a tablet.

3) I never said tablets are "useless" i said they are "toys". Big difference. And like I said before, even toys can be used for work in certain ways. And often they increase productivity.

4) I didn't list things she can do with it, I responded to the things she said she did with it, and explained that they were perfect examples of tablets being toys. In an attempt to argue with me, she proved my point perfectly. Just like you did a couple posts back (edit: and the post right above this). I'm sure others recognize that even if you didn't.

And finally, instead of getting all upset and calling me names and being all sarcastic and snarky, how about providing your point of view and leave it out there for people to read? I am tired of getting attacked personally every time I make a post that is contrary to someone else's opinion. Why can't people just accept that others see things differently? Some may be right, some may be wrong...

JKam · 10-13-2011, 12:08 AM

agree to disagree

SkinnyPupp · 10-13-2011, 12:13 AM

FINALLY!

But I bet you don't even know what you are disagreeing with

Because I think if you put more thought into it, you would see that you actually do agree with me. Tablets are not at the point where they are useful tools yet. In the future, maybe. But right now, they are just goofy toys. You might find a particular use for them here and there, but that's about it. Unlike a computer or a notebook or even a smartphone to an extent, you can just 'not have one'.

JKam · 10-13-2011, 12:28 AM

I don't know why I bother but I'm disagreeing with the usefulness of tablets.

To YOU they are not useful tools. To me, they are valuable tools to make my life and people in my company's lives easier. To YOU they are goofy toys, to ME they are business tools which is what they are advertised as. No where in your link does it say anything about data entry other than basic things like email/notes/internet.

Quote:

Not sure if I should bother but

1) I didn't say I got an ipad for data entry, I said I thought it would be useful for that, since that is one of the things it's marketed for. And it is one of the things OP asked about.
Sorry my mistake. I misread your initial comment thinking you got it for data entry.

2) I didn't buy it, I acquired it in exchange for some work. I would never spend that much on a tablet.
Again my mistake. I shouldn't have assumed you purchased it, usually when people acquire something they purchase it.

3) I never said tablets are "useless" i said they are "toys". Big difference. And like I said before, even toys can be used for work in certain ways. And often they increase productivity.
If it increases productivity, it isn't useless. In my opinion, if it's a toy, it's not needed, therefore useless

4) I didn't list things she can do with it, I responded to the things she said she did with it, and explained that they were perfect examples of tablets being toys. In an attempt to argue with me, she proved my point perfectly. Just like you did a couple posts back (edit: and the post right above this). I'm sure others recognize that even if you didn't.
Again, just because you can do it on another device doesn't make it an example of the tablet being a toy. If your definition of a toy is not NEEDING to use the device, everything is a toy. (ie. a calculator is a toy if you can just do it by hand)

I'm not sure why you baited me back in to the debate when I already gave up on it.....