Ian W Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Guys Following on from this thread, I'm looking to upgrade / renew the MacBook (it's had six good years and will still be kept, I just can't really rely on it being my only computer anymore). Question is, should I get a new laptop / desktop linked to my tv / a tablet? If I'm honest I pretty much use it for web browsing, tunes and video etc. Very rarely will I edit a photo, video or word document these days and if I do then I'd still have the Macbook / Susan's Win7 laptop. Would a tablet (iPad or Galaxy Tab) work okay for my needs or would it be insufficient for my large itunes library? Basically it boils down to this: iPad / Galaxy Tab - £400 Mac Mini - £650ish with mouse and keyboard New laptop (would stay Mac) - £900 So, what do you guys use and what would you recommend / do differently? Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 If you would like to hook it up to your TV on a permanent basis as a media player then I would go with a Mac Mini or similar (HP & others do a mini computer too). If its just for media playing capabilities on a TV then you might also want to consider Apple TV. Other than that - if you are keeping the existing MBP then whats the need for another one. imi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 To be honest I don't think there's a need for another laptop. We have Susan's Win7 laptop and as you say I still have the Macbook (albeit I don't really trust it to last and would be backing it up every two minutes now!). It'd be really for browsing and media....my only concern is how an iPad or similar would handle a relatively large media library which is currently held on an external hard drive (i.e. would I have to sync part of it only to the iPad to make use of it?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 For backup - use TimeMachine AND carbon copy cloner. TM has come a long way with SL and Lion although I still wouldnt trust it 100% which is why I would also suggest using CCC in tandem. BTW: I have a brand new IPAD2 Wifi / 3G - 32GB for sale if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 I will likely look into that as well, Imi. Either way, the MacBook is staying and being used as and when it needs to be.....but, I really want something newer and perhaps better suited for browsing / media playback (hence the original question). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Will perhaps save myself some money and get an iPad in the US in September. Would there be any issue with buying one there rather than in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambisdad Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 While there is no doubt that computing is going increasingly mobile, I would not like to be without at least one desktop pc in the house as part of a home network. I have a large music and photo collection which is stored on a NAS device with a mirrored RAID array. This effectivly acts as a media server wirelessly sending to the rest of the network as well as over the internet. Having a robust infrastructure gives you options that can help with security and back up and while it is nice to have laptops and tablets, on their own they do not have the performance for power hungry applications. Since you already have a decent laptop, I would go for a i5 or i7 processor, loads of memory and Windows 7 (64bit) in a tower and perhaps an android tablet as well if the budget will stretch to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Look at the ASUS Transformer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 I want a home computer AND tablet then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I want a home computer AND tablet then If you have two laptops in the house already, one mac and one win7 I wouldnt bother, just get yourself a tablet. Did you check out the ASUS Transformer, a tablet with detachable keyboard http://uk.asus.com/websites/Global/products/gHh4q7I8dvWJzhdV/P_500.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 It does look pretty good, Wez. How does it stack up against the new iPad performance wise? The Galaxy tab seems to lack a little, but I'm sure they'll release a quad core tab soon enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 It does look pretty good, Wez. How does it stack up against the new iPad performance wise? The Galaxy tab seems to lack a little, but I'm sure they'll release a quad core tab soon enough. Dont rate the Galaxy Tabs, they have a nice screen but that's about it, but then I wouldn't have a Galaxy phone either, for me the HTC Desire wipes the floor with them for real world use. The ASUS Transformer is great, I got the misses one a while back and she is very happy with it, I use an iPad2 which to be honest is just a little more slick to use, the iPad is also lighter and the battery life is crazy, mine gets charged once or twice a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Best advice is go to Currys, PC World or Comet and try them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Plethora Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 If you have to stick with apple lifestyle technologies then I would go for the mac mini, you will find the ipad too restrictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 If you have to stick with apple lifestyle technologies then I would go for the mac mini, you will find the ipad too restrictive. Mac Minis are great but its basically an expensive PC that you would hook up to the TV, not really portable and is it really required with two laptops already in the house? Just my opinion obviously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share Posted April 13, 2012 Right. I'm pretty much set on a new iPad, with a Mac Mini to follow at some point. Question is, is it worth springing for the extra space of the 32gb or will the 16gb suffice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 It does look pretty good, Wez. How does it stack up against the new iPad performance wise? The Galaxy tab seems to lack a little, but I'm sure they'll release a quad core tab soon enough. Dont rate the Galaxy Tabs, they have a nice screen but that's about it, but then I wouldn't have a Galaxy phone either, for me the HTC Desire wipes the floor with them for real world use. The ASUS Transformer is great, I got the misses one a while back and she is very happy with it, I use an iPad2 which to be honest is just a little more slick to use, the iPad is also lighter and the battery life is crazy, mine gets charged once or twice a week. Don't let ScottM hear you say that! He will go berserk! Right. I'm pretty much set on a new iPad, with a Mac Mini to follow at some point. Question is, is it worth springing for the extra space of the 32gb or will the 16gb suffice? Depends on how much media you are likely to store on it, If it is just for browsing, streaming media, some pictures and some movies then 16GB will be fine, though if you are someone who likes saving loads of pictures, movies & large games then I'd go for the 32GB. Personally I'd go for the 32GB, just so then you have the extra space. Easier to sell on too then once you don't want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 Am on the new iPad I purchased today. My only question is why didn't I get one sooner! This thing is so fast. The iPad optimised apps are fantastic and the screen....just wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Am on the new iPad I purchased today. My only question is why didn't I get one sooner! This thing is so fast. The iPad optimised apps are fantastic and the screen....just wow. Wait till you forget to charge it! Need to charge mine now after last week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 Been on it for a while now and it's still at 100%....my MacBook would be half dead by now lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 iPad battery life is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 iPad battery life is great Mine lasted a whole flight from Manchester to Orlando, with a combination of games, movies, music and reading. I think it was still ~20% when we landed (Airplane mode on, auto-brightness, bluetooth off). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 What cases you guys using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I have the iPad smart cover, when I close it the iPad goes to sleep and it also folds into different shapes so you can stand the pad up or tilt it for typing on a desk etc. http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MD310 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Yeah I was looking at those, Wez. A few reviews say they're prone to scratching the case though? I think I may want something that protects the back too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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