3G/4G only applies to cellular data, so if you’re going WiFi only, that doesn’t apply.
I don’t think the iPad supports a mouse. There is no onscreen pointer, so a mouse wouldn’t make a lot of sense–you just touch where you would use a mouse click. The version of the operating system coming out in the Fall is supposed to support more sophisticated uses of the keyboard. The Windows tablets do support mouse-based usage, I think. Not sure about Android.
All the tablets have built-in browsers for web usage. I think for any tablet, printing will require a network-enabled printer. I print from my iPhone and iPad all the time.
If you want backup of your writing, I’d suggest using Cloud-based storage like DropBox (free for small amounts of storage) or Google Drive. Using those will be extremely easy on any platform. For the writing itself on iPad, you can use the free Apple word processor, Pages, which can optionally use Apple’s iCloud service for storage (also free for relatively small amounts of data). There are also text-based apps designed especially for writers, like Scrivener, that you have to pay for. Microsoft Word on iOS requires an Office 365 subscription, I think, but that’s fairly cheap.
You didn’t say if you live close to an Apple store. If so, they offer free classes to teach you how to use their products–I think you might find that useful, should you choose to buy an iPad. And, again, you should try to get your hands on any tablet you are thinking of just to try it out before dropping several hundred dollars.
For browsing and reading tablets are great but FWIW tablets (in general) generally suck for productive writing, you really need a dedicated keyboard for that and most tablet bluetooth keyboards are (IMO) not really that great re size or keyboard feel for long term stints at writing. If you are really going to write several pages a day for a novel you really need a dedicated Mac or PC of some kind and (given your vision issues) a 27" monitor.
Not sure about this really. A netbook is heavier than a tablet, but it comes standard with a real keyboard.
#4
You are talking about USB memory sticks. Dime a dozen. It plugs into a USB port and is recognized as a new drive. Drop all you data there. Completely portable at least on Windows machines.
#5
A netbook is just a small laptop. In my humble opinion this would be better for word processing than a tablet. For printing, you would network into your printer, and print. Yes you want it wifi compatible to be able to hook into what ever network you are using.
Reading? No prob. But may be more than you want for laying in bed. I prefer reading on my phone or a Kindle.
Games? Don’t know. Depends on the games.
I put a 160gb solid state hard drive in my net book. Storage is not an issue.
Battery life may be less than you desire on a netbook. Like any device, it depends on what you do with it.
A netbook is just a small laptop, so yes, like the other devices it can be used on the internet. I’m using mine now to write this, and is what I use to check email, or do quick research on the net like recipes.
Hmmm. Fellow writer here. If you’re serious about the writing, I think you ought to be looking at cheap laptops. Tablets are the bomb, but I think you need the full kit to do proper writing.
What OS are you used to? I believe you can get a Windows laptop fairly cheaply. No need to talk Netbook.
If you like Apple, you’ll want to look into refurbished or used units. I have found good deals on eBay, but you’ll need to watch ratings carefully and buy from someone reputable.
Apple sells refurbished units. MacMall does as well. I have found good deals by buying products that they are closing out.
Apple is unquestionably more expensive.
As mentioned above, Kindle software will work on either. You can also get a cheap used Kindle at Amazon if you want a lightweight reader.
This is just MHO, but I really don’t think you can be productive long term as a writer on a tablet.
I’d be interested to hear whether anyone here has a different experience.
Netbooks hit the market right before the iPad and then android tablets started taking off so they died a pretty quick death. Part of the problem with them was that they usually ran Windows and Windows programs. But they were underpowered, had scant memory and just weren’t well equipped to for the task. Even the stripped down versions of Windows installed on them would eat up most of the RAM.
When tablets came along with operating systems and applications suited for the hardware, netbooks looked antiquated in a hurry. Maybe there’s some better optimized ones out there today (though most manufacturers stopped making them) and, as mentioned the Chromebook is a good lightweight solution if you want a mini-laptop.
Funny side-story: My wife used to work as an independent contractor in federal courts (interpreting for immigration cases) and would have downtime between cases where she’d be on the internet. If she used her tablet, everyone assumed she was goofing off and playing Angry Birds regardless of if she was translating a document or whatever. If she used her netbook, everyone assumed she was working even if she was just browsing Facebook. Tablets just got zero respect.
It sounds to me like you need a laptop and an e-reader. Trying to compose on a tablet sucks. Typing on one of those dinky keyboards only sucks slightly less. The nice thing about tablets is their mobility, but if you’re just going to be home all the time, why bother? If you’re dead set on a tablet, maybe there is voice recognition software you can use to dictate into text that you can edit later.
So this po’ mofo needs to look at…Gazelle? Overstock? Walmart refurbished?
I have a thing that looks like a breakfast tray but can be adjusted to several angles. Sitting here at the desk so much has caused a lot of swelling in my feet (vascular disease) but since I’m having ulnar nerve surgery in less than two weeks I figured I better break down and get something I can use while sitting in bed with my feet propped up, arm in a sling, and eating bonbons. And, oh yeah, writing The Great American Novel.
(Did you all know the ulnar nerve is the size of a pen or pencil? I did not know that.)
I agree that you do NOT want to be doing serious writing on a tablet, even with a keyboard. I can’t even stand to do Facebook messages on mine. I think laptop is the way to go. As for where to look, where are you comfortable buying? You don’t need anything spectacular and a very basic one will do, so you can buy pretty much anyplace. I like Amazon because I can look at the reviews. The same for Walmart.
What size screen do you think you’ll need?
I buy lower-end laptops because I don’t do a lot that requires any heavy-duty hardware and no matter what I spend they die in 2.5 years. I’ve had two Toshibas and an Acer-all dead at 2.5 years. I’m on my second Acer that should die any time now. I bet some here will scream about Acer but they’ve both been great low-end laptops. I’d rather have a new Acer than a refurbished anything. My luck with refurbished has not been good.
You’ll probably have to learn Windows 8.1, but there are people here who can help with that, too.
I’m leaning toward a netbook for you, too. I have a 10.1" Samsung Galaxy Tab which is only an inch or so less than a netbook and while I like the Galaxy, I’m really wishing I had bought the netbook. Netbooks have a dedicated keyboard, instead of an aftermarket bluetooth keyboard such as I bought for the Galaxy. They do everything your computer does, including use MS Office or other office suite programs you like, and print to a wireless printer if you have one, or can be cabled to your wired printer.
While not visually challenged per se, I am getting older and my vision isn’t as sharp. Almost any portable computer - tablet or netbook - can be adjusted to have the print on screen be as big as you need it. When it’s late and my eyes are tired, I appreciate being able to ramp up the print size when needed.
I would agree with everyone else in buying the best one you can afford, whichever you choose. Definitely look into a refurbished unit, particularly since it’s your first. Once you’ve had one and played with it, you’ll have a better idea of what features you find necessary and which you don’t use.
Thank you Helena330! And this is sounding good. After measuring my tray table thing, I’m going to look for an Acer with a screen smaller than 15". And plug it in the wall and call it love, I think.
Acer owns Packard Bell and Gateway, also eMachines. Just FYI. If you see a deal on one of those, they’re the same company.
If you’ve got a CostCo near you, try looking at whatever they’ve got on special. We got our last machine that way.
Amazon is also a good resource.
I don’t know if you can still get WordPerfect or not, but if you can it will be so different from what you’re used to that it will be like re-learning from the beginning. Most Word Processing now is dominated by Microsoft Word, but there are several options out there. I recommend getting a few different trials of the options and seeing what feels easiest or most comfortable to you.
When you’re ready to start writing, start a new thread. I write in MS Word sometimes, but I use a different software to organize the manuscript called Scrivener. Basically it’s software that was designed to help writers write. It handles long manuscripts far better than Word does, including research materials or notes. I’m guessing other writers here have similar software or other tips to offer to help you get going.
Sorry to hear about the surgery. I’m in the same place myself, just a few weeks ahead of you. Just fractured my ankle in early June. I’m sitting in bed typing on a laptop right now.
Well, I’ve always appreciated that people sometimes ask questions and say Talk to me like I’m two. Then even I can understand it.
We don’t have a cell phone and the only (neat) thing I know about the new portable is that it has a loudspeaker.
While laid up I’m going to figure out what else the portable will do, maybe get a cell phone, learn the word processing system on whatever device I get, and write The Great American Novel. Hey ddsun if I buy the writer’s “organizer” it sounds like, would it work on the laptop and my desk PC, too?
Consider something like the HP Stream - see here for a review
and here, for pricing -
It’s a full Windows 8.1 laptop, 13 inches, for under $250. That includes a year’s subscription to Office 365. The specs are modest - Celeron cpu, integrated gpu, 2gb ram, 32gb built in hard drive - That’s expandable via memory card or usb flash drive. It’s very lightweight and the battery life is excellent. . The performance is surprisingly good, despite the low specs. It’s not that great at multitasking but you could certainly write on it.
The only downside is that it’s not much of a gaming machine. I’m not sure what sorts of games you’re looking for. It will play Bigfish type games, if you enjoy those (I do, myself.) Not so much with modern PC games, otoh.
I have the 11", which I use just for goofing around when I’m watching tv, and it’s surprisingly useful. From a hardware perspective, it’s basically a tablet with a built in keyboard. I use it more than I thought I would.
Mind you, this is definitely a budget laptop, but it might just fit the bill. I’d buy this over a Chromebook because Windows is just more useful.
With the money you’d save on the laptop, you could buy a Kindle Paperwhite for reading.
When my iPad died after five years of hard use, I visited an Apple Store assuming I’d have to buy a new one. I kept mine backed up to iCloud, so I was given a refurbished tablet for a nominal fee and a short time later I was good as new!
Instead of buying a word processing program, you might try Apache’s Open Office first. It’s free. This is the whole suite with word processing, spreadsheets, all that, but I think when I installed it there were options to install individual modules. It may not have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft products (I wouldn’t know, haven’t used one in quite awhile!) but it’s worked very well for me for probably four years.
but they’ve both been great low-end laptops. I’d rather have a new Acer than a refurbished anything. My luck with refurbished has not been good.
Hope the worst of the hurt is over.
Talk to me like my parents haven’t met yet. (Thanks for starting this – I wonder about these new-fangled gadgets too!)