Ipad/tablet

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I have no idea about computer stuff but after seeing an apple (spelling) ipad in use on the weekend how great are they !!! I would like to buy one for my wife’s birthday and have no idea which one to get. I like the idea of having USB port on the side of them but was told to buy the Apple as its better then the rest, is compatible with the iphone which neither of us have yet but both getting one when current contract is up BUT the Apple doesn’t have a USB port and not likely to have one which I find a bit silly as it would be handy when we are away to be able to download to a usb stick then give to my mum or in-laws so they can print any photos they want of our 3 year old when they feel like it and none of them have computers so wouldn’t be able to email any pics to them. Also you can run oziexplorer apparently as well but on any of them or only certain ones ?? Sorry for the long question but I would really like to get one that will suit all our needs. I’m told I will be spending around $800 for a good quality one including a cover ?? The bloke was also using it as a camera ?? pics looked great but he wasnt sure how many megapixels it was, is this also some thing to look at ?? And last but not least he said if you want you can use as a phone (which he hasnt done so as of yet) WOW this this can do heaps and Im thinking how I wont need laptop when we go away so more room, Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thankyou, Steve

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

If you know nothing about computers Steve then you are one step in front of me, so this is a bit like the blind leading the blind. For a technophobe like myself I think the ipad is seriously handy. I am pretty sure you can get a cable to adapt to the USB sticks, we have a cable to cahrge the Ipad with a USB connection on one end.

Not sure about Ozi and whether it is compatible, however we have Ozi on our Dodgyoptions in dash unit and it is very complicated, we have the VMS app on the Ipad and that is much, much simpler to use. The maps app that comes standard with the Ipad is also very useful; as I found out on the last GTG recce, it can street navigate, but also you can view satelite images of where you are and the surrounding areas which is just brilliant if you are a bit geographically challenged.



Cheers Andrew

[Guest Close Guest]

Although I think that Apple products are good, I don't want to pay that much for it. Plus as you said, there isnt much you can do if you want to expand the memory via SD cards or USB sticks.

I myself have gone for the Acer Iconia A501 which has 32GB built in memory and GPS. It also has one USB port and a microSD card slot. I run Androzic (which is free) and have a bunch of ozf2 maps for Victoria which I ran while in the Grampians recently. The GPS on the Acer could be much better, so I bought a bluetooth GPS off ebay for $20 delivered
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320728125...84.m1497.l2649

The GPS works as it should now and I'm very happy with it.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Thanks Andrew, wow didnt know you could use VMS on it, thats great. And didnt know about the navigation system either, geez these things do everything LOL.....Interested about the cable and the USB stick will have to do ask some more questions at Dick Smiths this afternoon, dont really want to buy from internet incase there are any issues would rather by locally from some one. What brand is yours ?? A few here said get the Samsung Galaxy ?? Reckon there really good but not sure if compatible with iphone or even if this would be an issue. He said if you have an iphone and ipad then you can just pick up the service through your iphone using bluetooth ?? This will save costs as then I wont need a service card for the ipad although from what I have heard you can get 16g for $130 through optus so buggar all and when we get home it will just link upto the wifi we have already for the laptop so usage should be minimal on the optus usage when we get home and use wifi......Getting to sound confusing to me lol.Cheers Steve

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Thanks amts, now Im confused even more LOL...Was easier buying my house.Cheers Steve

[Guest Close Guest]

I have the HTC Incredible S phone and got it for $299 from Optus. It is a prepaid phone and therefore locked to Optus. I then got Live Connected on their $11/month no contract plan. http://liveconnected.com.au/index.ph...be-11-series-i. Live connected uses the Optus network.

The HTC has a wireless hotspot feature so the Acer can connect through the HTC to get onto the internet. This way, I don't need a separate data plan for the tablet.

I got the tablet when it was on sale for $349. So for $648, I got a phone and tablet that rivals Apple products.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

We have the Apple Ipad, Trish already had the Iphone, DJ has an Ipod, so Trish thought it best to stick with Apple so everything is compatible. More expensive than what AMTS has but it is really good quality.

Hopefully I will have some pics up in my rig build of how I am mounting it pretty soon!

Cheers Andrew

[light5light Member Find all posts View Profile Close light5light]

Hi Steve,

Personally I was using many of HTC Windows phone, Android phone, Iphone (in short time, never like them, just bought 4S for my wife only), also I was using/testing some different types of Tablet, Touchscreen Windows laptop, normal laptop, Ipad (still don't like it and sold quickly then), ZEPAD (one of cheap but good competitor of Ipad) which running Android Ice Cream, or Zenith (another competitor of Ipad, cheap and good on Android 2.3).

Following your demands from the tablet, which I can sum up here:
- Has USB (at least 2.0 USB, more than 1 port is better).
- Has convenient communication with other devices (such as phones, camera,...).
- Can run OziExplorer and other kind of topomap for off-road trips.
- Price should be reasonable.

I think that Ipad will not be your best choice, because after Ipad, you have to turn up to at least other 02 iphones and may be more than that. Also, working USB with ipad is not something convenient IMO with iOS. Furthermore, Ipad will not be a rugged tablet in any terms/conditions from the manufacture or in real life use. It is a fashion tablet.

IMO, you should look around a good used rugged or semi-rugged style tablet, which can name something like:

- Motion Computing LE1700, or LE1600 with 12.1" sreen. This is rugged tablet.

- Motion Computing LC900, newer version of the same company, better than Ipad in any circumstance IMO (same price with used one or even more expensive than Ipad).

- Or Motion Computing M1400, a little slower than LE1700 and LE1600, but still work all things you need quickly.

- Fujitsu Stylistic S5112 semi-rugged tablet with 10.1" screen.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

At the moment I think Im going to go the Samsung Galaxy, has 64 memory, sounds like its a bit better in terms of more compatibility with things then the Apple ?? Only going by sales lady at JB Hifi, as I said I no absolutely nothing about them, just she reckons that also there is talk of a new Samsung coming out next month with possible USB port built in which will allow me to send pics directly to a usb memory stick, some thing she said the apple cant do and probably never will. The samsung is just under $900 there is 2 under this which are identical except the memory drops down but all three have 3g, there are another 3 under again but dont have 3g which will be useless for my needs. Again Im only going by what the saleslady is informing me. In terms of mapping she said the samsung will download any app but also has an extremely good one built in already ?? anyway I still have a bit more home work to do before i do anything. There was all this other stuff she was talking to me about which started to go over my head, different connections things I can buy and plug this and plug that in and if I wanted I can get a bluetooth keyboard which she said can be handy while mapping etc etc..... she lost me in the end lol but extremly nice and helpfull lady and didnt get shitty with me after asking a million questions and I walked out with out buying one. she did tell me she would match the price if need be, told her I would be back......Thankyou for the replys which I forgot to print up and take with me as now reading back through there were a couple of things I forgot to ask her so will have to follow that up again........cheers

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

I can't believe I would answer a thread about IT stuff,but I thought I would agree with James (light5light)I have had motion tablets for the last 4years,and currently use a new motion F5 tablet which is provided by my employer and has been set up for work specific uses but is incredibly robust but simple to use (windows based). 3G connected.
The wife has only just got us a Asus tablet with a seperate detachable keyboard with its own 2nd battery for extended power range,or us without keyboard as a touch screen,this tablet is android based and can be used with usbs etc,and connect with smart phones of some sort,but seems a pretty good unit.
Me I just use it to look at pradopoint and eBay while sitting on the lounge using the TV remote to channel surf, but am going to look into some sort of mapping soon.I m sure you will get some good advice I guess it is a bit like asking what is better an Engel fridge or an Waco,or coopers or bf's
Cheers Russ

[light5light Member Find all posts View Profile Close light5light]

Samsung Galaxy is using Android. It can run OziExplorer with version for Android (not completed version and not powerful as the Windows OS version).

Most important, SS Galaxy is the same class as Ipad which is fashion tablet and would not be recommended for off-road use. I think it still can be used, but would be damaged/stopped working suddenly anytime on off-road trips because its components are not supposed for use with jumping LOL.

Anyway, if you just go around JB Hifi or something like that, they almost selling fashion tablet only, which suit most other needs except for off-road uses.

I don't claim they can't be used in short time, but they are not any kind of semi-rugged or rugged tablets that you want to mount on case when travel off-road.

Have fund with this task mate.

[Sozjot Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sozjot]

Steve,
The bride got me an iPad for my birthday last year. I use it all the time (right now in fact) and I have memory map on it which is pretty good for offload mapping. If you get the iPad make sure you get the 3G version as it has an internal GPS receiver that the wifi version does not have. I found a way to mount it in the 150 (have a search of the gps thread). All in al I am very happy with it.
Soz

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Must admit havnt even heard of motion tablets and F5 sounds like F1 cars to me lol. I hadnt heard of this brand till yourself and James bought it up, again I will also look into these ones as well and ask aboutmapping etc and compatabilty etc. The other thing I was told by some one at work was the apple doesnt have word so if some one was to send me an email with a word document attatched it wont open and also about for the life of me cant remember it but I went wow dont believe apple dont have it ?? Will have to ask again tomorrow as it will drive me nuts not remembering it. Just found this page, now Im even more confused lol jesus think Id rather buy another house.... http://www.cnet.com.au/samsung-galax...-339327989.htm Will definately check out this F5 for sure.Cheers guys much appreciated and given me things to check up on...........Cheers Steve

[Chewbacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chewbacca]

Steve,
The bride got me an iPad for my birthday last year. I use it all the time (right now in fact) and I have memory map on it which is pretty good for offload mapping. If you get the iPad make sure you get the 3G version as it has an internal GPS receiver that the wifi version does not have. I found a way to mount it in the 150 (have a search of the gps thread). All in al I am very happy with it.
Soz

Yes, I made that mistake and only realised after I had already paid for the vms app, thought I could sync it to my phone which has a GPS receiver however this doesn't work.

[light5light Member Find all posts View Profile Close light5light]

F5 is not for you Steve, I bet 100%. LOL

Sorry, revise the name of the one LC900 in the first reply above to CL900 (typo mistake) may be the best option for you from Motion Computing to compare with Ipad or Galaxy as it has same size and shape.