Until recently, I’ve been using an iPad 2 as my sole tablet. I like the iPad. I use it for four main functions: writing, browsing, video and reading. The 10-inch size is perfect for the first three, but it was a bit too large for the last.
Because I also use my tablet for scheduling and task management, I tended to take it with me to networking events and client meetings. I always felt a bit silly pulling out such a large device to schedule a meeting or jot a quick note.
About a week ago, I bought a Nexus 7 tablet, and it’s changed some of my routines. I don’t use it for writing. The screen is just too small, especially for my older eyes. Video is gorgeous on it, better than on my iPad 2, but again, I prefer the larger screen, especially when I’m on the exercise bike. Web browsing depends. For a quick Google or Wikipedia search, the Nexus 7 is fine, but for anything more, I still prefer the larger screen.
Where the Nexus 7 shines is in portability. It’s the device that goes with me on client calls. Pocket Informant for Android doesn’t have all the features of the iPad version, but it’s good enough. I can take quick notes in Evernote without taking up too much room at a tiny table at Starbucks.
Best of all, I love it for reading. It’s the perfect size for my hands, and the screen resolution is gorgeous.
So tablet manufactures are probably very happy with this post, because I think the well-equipped techie really needs both a 10-inch tablet for serious work, and a 7-inch for easy portability and quick trips.
Yes, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
The iPad is used for three things in my house:
1. FIFA 13, Need For Speed
2. Testing
3. Bugs and Buttons
For me, the Nexus is the perfect ereader-cum on-the-go productivity device. If I wanted to do really serious work for an extended period, I might plump for a bigger screen, but on the other hand, I’ve already done loads on the Nexus. Go-anywhere access makes a lot of difference. Contemplating a bigger tablet for home productivity, but I’m already using an Android PC-on-a-stick (Rikomagic) for home entertainment.
One critical thing that I think that the screen size of the 7″ misses on is web browsing. I’m using an iPad mini and, not withstanding its resolution, is a great balance for just about everything, including web browsing. I’d say the only real compromise is with writing, but for reading it’s quite good and it feels like an infinite book with the web, articles from Longform, blog posts from feedly, books from the books apps, the newspaper, and so on.
Bud, I completely agree with you on web browsing on the 7″ screen. I’ve done it in a pinch, but I much prefer my 10″ iPad screen for that.
While I was at a conference this week, I was playing around with someone’s Mini, and while it was nice, I don’t think I could use it to get down to one device. She was using it in my social media seminar to work on Facebook in the browser, and after struggling with finding and tapping the gear to change accounts she was posting as, I was loving my 10″ that much more.
The elusive “one device” goal! All the smarter for Apple giving people the choice.