[Rhodes22-list] new/used Rhodes

Sat Apr 19 11:35:10 EDT 2014

I have an iPad with a Zagg keyboard/clamcase.  It is great for web
activities but I needed to have some of the functions of a laptop.  James
hit on a great point with IOS's failure to easily attach items to email.  My
iPhone and iPad drive me nuts when I need to email attachments!

I purchased an inexpensive Lenovo Lynx last summer to try out Win8 on a
tablet.  The screen is 11.6" which I found to be a welcome feature over the
fairly small iPad and many of the other tablets I reviewed. The battery life
of 8-10 hours was terrific but the Intel Atom CPU is just too slow.  It
works well but I really needed more power.

I have just completed my first month on a Dell XPS 12, a Win8.1 convertible.
The unit may be used as a laptop and screen flips to fold down over the
keyboard to function as a tablet.  I recommend the Intel Core i5 CPU as a
reasonable tradeoff between battery life (8 hours) and power.  So far, it
has been everything I need.  I purchased it at MicroCenter for $600.

Mike
s/v <-no name -> ('91)
Nissequogue River, NY

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of James Nichols
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2014 10:59 AM
To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] new/used Rhodes

My switch from an older windows version to 8 was pretty rough because of the
changes to the start menu, other than that, the system is much more stable
than anything I have ever used before.  Once you get over the way the new
start menu system works, it think it is much more intuitive and much less
frustrating than the mouse accidentally slipping off what you want and
deciding to show something else.

The other thing is Metro.  Most people are uncomfortable with a windows
machine that does not allow them to have multiple windows showing on the
desktop and only has programs that take over screen.  Android and iOS do the
exact same thing and they are happy with it.

However, there are some solutions out there for those that want their old
look and feel while not losing the stability of the new operating system.
There is a program called Start Is Back that will give you a start menu like
you are used to on older windows systems.  I think it is like 4.00 and it
works great and seriously customizable.  Also, you can avoid metro based
programs.  There are desktop versions for anything you want to do.

As for the price and keyboard, I looked at one at Fry's for just under 700
for the base model, so yes, a bit more expensive than an iPad, and a lot
more expensive than the Android, but it does come with a keyboard that snaps
on and off magnetically and acts as a screen protector when you aren't using
the device.  Then easily flips around the backside when you just want to use
it as a tablet.  Not many other devices come loaded the way the Surface does
out of the box, for my 10" Android device I'll spend another couple hundred
bucks to get the keyboard and kickstand and it still won't function as well
as the surface.

However, my real point is, purchase a device that suits how you use it.  If
all you do is browse the web, watch netflix, check email and play a few
arcade style games, an android or ipad may suit you well.  If you use your
device for productivity, need to make sure you get the full web experience
instead of being directed to the mobile sites all the time or want the
security that a commercial product such as office will be updated as soon as
a weakness like Heartbleed if found instead of having to wait on the
community to protect your personal information, then a full-fledged
windows/OSX  laptop may fill your requirements better.  The surface gives
you the best of both worlds in portability and flexibility.

Personally, I use a Toshiba Ultrabook that converts into a tablet.  Slightly
larger screen than the surface and it runs the programs that I need for my
work but still gives me the tablet functionality when I want it. 

James

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of
R22RumRunner at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2014 8:05 AM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] new/used Rhodes

The Microsoft surface is expensive. By the time you add in all of the non
standard equipment it isn't such a deal. They range in price from $800.00 on
up  and if I'm not mistaken, that doesn't include a keyboard. They come with
Windows  8 which is a dead operating system. Software developers as well as
hardware  manufacturers are not going with it.
I did the beta testing with 8 when it became available and Microsoft didn't
listen to the testers. They basically said that this is what you will get
and  like it. (That entire development team is now gone) It's a crappy
operating  system for anything other than a touch pad and even that is very
hard to get  used to for the average user. I personally use a Lenovo product
with the Android  operating system. Thousands of free software choices and I
paid around $150.00  for it. Around Christmas time I spent more time
downgrading other people's  Christmas presents from 8 to Windows 7. Most
manufacturers now allow you to  order their products with 7 installed at no
extra charge. 

Rummy

In a message dated 4/18/2014 6:45:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
jfn302 at yahoo.com writes:

Check  the Surface out,  It is a full computer that you can use like a
tablet as  well,  you will like that much better than the limitations that
the ipad  has. My brothers experience with the ipad convinced me that it is
not much  more than an entertainment device. And any of the boating specific
applications that the ipad does the Surface can do just as well if not
better because of its full computer status. 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on  Android

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