Tablet to replace field laptop

[HCHTech]

I do almost 100% onsite residential work, and currently use Samsung 3g SSD netbooks in the field. Their current use boils down mostly to configuring routers / WAPs & googling problems when the onsite internet is horked. If my payanywhere service is down for some reason, I also use them to process credit cards through the firstdata portal but this is rare.

I'm thinking about finally jumping to MHelpDesk, and would like to replace these netbooks (there are two of us) with tablets. We have Droid Razrs that can act as hotspots, so I don't need cellular in the tablets, but I do need the ability to connect to wired ethernet for configuring routers, which appears to be the tricky thing to find. The dongles are freely available but many tablets don't have usb and many that do don't support an ethernet connection.

I also like the keyboard-in-the-cover thing that the Surfaces can get (for another $120 of course).

I've been looking at the Nexus 10, the Surface RT, the Surface Pro and the Galaxy Tab 2 10.

Most sites don't publish the list of things the particular device DOESN'T do, so it's difficult to get exact answers on the ethernet connectivity.

- iPads clearly don't do this (which is why they are not under consideration).
- The Nexus 10 might do this since it has a mini usb
- The Surface Pro would clearly do it (but way more expensive)
- The Surface RT might do it
- The Galaxy Tab 2 10 apparently doesn't do it (I found a couple of folks complaining they couldn't get it to work, but no definitive prohibition)

So...if anyone is currently using a tablet like this, would you care to share which model you have and your general level of satisfaction with it?

 

[nlinecomputers]

If you really need Ethernet then I think you are better off sticking to a real laptop or even an Ultrabook. No Tablet with it's hardware and software limitations is going to work. Surface Pro might be fully able but then you have Windows 8 and it's issues which might not run programs like Cisco connect to configure cisco routers. I carry a Nexus 7 to handle basic web surfing and mHelpdesk and use my phone as a hotspot when I can't connect. I have an old laptop to use for the few times I need to configure routers. Don't think you'll be able to do better if you want a real tablet. You'll have to buy both.

 

[brandonkick]

Another vote for laptop.

There is just so much more you can do with them. If it's size/weight/portability then go with a 13 or 14" screen size.

 

[codegreen]

So, you want a keyboard in the case and ethernet connectivity? Sounds like you need... a laptop.

Is there a particular reason why you want to switch to tablets? Because, just based on what you've posted, it sounds like you're trying to force a tablet into a role it doesn't work well in. No tablet is going to be able to what you want as easily as a laptop (even just a netbook) can.

 

[FoolishTech]

+1 for a real laptop.

I did use a netbook for a long time to increase portability and loved it (but eventually it just ended up being too slow as I started running more and more software apps on my end while onsite.) Now I use my main with an i7/8GB.

But a tablet? Sure, one with a keyboard and wired nic and the ability to run real software that I might need onsite - oh wait - yeah nevermind.

 

[HCHTech]

Ok, thanks everyone. My main goal is to carry as little as necessary. I gave up a "real" laptop years ago to save weight. I love the netbook answer, but the ones I have now are already starting to get long in the tooth, so to speak, and since netbooks are not being made anymore, I'm trying to think ahead.

I could certainly get an ultrabook, but as I said, I'm trying to consider all of the possibilities. Pricing is also an issue, I don't want to spend more than I have to.

Let me clarify my thinking: I personally made just over 1,000 home visits last year, and I can only remember one instance where I used the netbook for anything other than googling, credit cards or router setup. I used it as a conduit to copy files from a customers bare hard drive (from an old machine) directly to their new external hard drive.

This fact pattern is what got me thinking tablet. Thin & light, longer (or at least as long) battery life, and does the same tasks (including MHelpDesk once I sign up)? That would make it at least worth a try in my book. The only task I'm trying to nail down is router configuration. Yes, it's doable wirelessly (I've done it from my phone at least once), but way easier wired.

Cisco connect? Oh, that's the thing they try to explain right ABOVE the "Configure Manually" button...

If I actually had call to DO more things that were laptop territory, I would agree with all of you in a second - but I'm not there just yet.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I carry both an old laptop that I almost never use and a Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 gets far more use. I have to use my phone for Square as it doesn't work on Nexus 7. Not sure how a Nexus 10 would fare on it.

 

[brandonkick]

Maybe take both with you? But it honestly sounds like a decent enough portion of your needs are not suited by a tablet.

There are plenty of options available for a light portable laptop with good battery life. I'm sure when compared to a tablet they will be much heavier and the battery life just won't live up, but when it comes to versatility I don't think the tablet holds a feather to the laptop.