Laptop replacement tablet?

gropingmantis · 29 Dec 2013 at 23:09

I was just looking at the Dell Venue 11 and started to think. With all the new Windows 8 tablets and tablets coming out with x86 processors. Are we finally at a stage where using a tablet as a total laptop replacement is viable?

I am talking dual-booting such that you can run Android/Sailfish when on the go and then Windows/Linux, and a USB keyboard+/mouse for working whilst away? Is there a way to make this a reality yet?

Currently I have my main desktop at home and a Nexus7 for keeping up with news/entertainment whilst away from home. I have toyed with SSH sessions back to my home server to perform updates etc but the android apps for doing so coupled with the size of the screen makes it prohibitive. Also if you are somewhere with no internet then Vim on android and C4Droid are pretty much useless other than for rapid prototyping. I want a way to enjoy the easy media consumption of a tablet with the ability to actually work using the same device.

kefan77 · 29 Dec 2013 at 23:12

Are we finally at a stage where using a tablet as a total laptop replacement is viable?

no.

/thread

gropingmantis · 30 Dec 2013 at 01:16

kefan77 said:
no.

/thread

Really? I mean my hardware requirements are minimal, my current linux install is very lightweight (more so than android I would warrant) and I use my mechanical keyboard with my laptop anyway (laptop keys are total garbage tbh). All that is really required is an x86 system and a usb port that can be used to charge and have a keyboard at the same time.

andy_mk3 · 30 Dec 2013 at 01:35

I sold my ipad and got an 11" netbook. Far more productive.

Nikumba · 30 Dec 2013 at 13:59

andy_mk3 said:
I sold my ipad and got an 11" netbook. Far more productive.

To be fair that is a bit of an apples to oranges comment. A netbook is vastly different to an iPad.

Where a Windows 8 tablet is the same as a Windows 8 desktop for the most part so can easily be compared.

I am not sure how you go about dual booting a Windows tablet of it is even possible though.

Kimbie

Glaucus · 30 Dec 2013 at 15:28

Of course its possible,
Most of the windows tablets have attachable keyboards, even win rt tablets have office.
And you can get ones with i7 in them, althouh i5 is the more common cpu.

Several have desk docks as well, so you can easily plug in external monitors/periphrals

Why you would want to dual boot though.

Uriel · 30 Dec 2013 at 17:09

A 2 in 1 like the Asus t100 might be feasible but you'll struggle for storage.

I can see something based on Bay Trail or a successor doing the job.

theheyes · 30 Dec 2013 at 20:31

Dual booting might be a headache depending on the UEFI/secureboot implementation. It's in the spec to allow end users to disable secure boot, but in the real world I've found OEMs don't offer very good documentation.

Just be aware.

gropingmantis · 30 Dec 2013 at 20:37

Glaucus said:
Of course its possible,
Most of the windows tablets have attachable keyboards, even win rt tablets have office.
And you can get ones with i7 in them, althouh i5 is the more common cpu.

Several have desk docks as well, so you can easily plug in external monitors/periphrals

Why you would want to dual boot though.

The dual boot is because I want to have a touch based OS for when its a tablet, but a keyboard driven one when I want to do work. What I want to do is run something like Android or Sailfish (preferably Sailfish) then have arch avaliable for when I want to do some work.

Glaucus · 31 Dec 2013 at 01:07

gropingmantis said:
The dual boot is because I want to have a touch based OS for when its a tablet,

It's called windows 8. It is both a full OS and a tablet os and is fantastic at both and the app store is rather large now as well. Zero need to dual boot.

Rich_L · 31 Dec 2013 at 01:42

Up until the Baytrail 2in1s I would have said no, Android/Apple/RT tablets aren't capable or flexible enough and the pre-Baytrail x86 tablets didn't have the battery life or performance.

The Venue Pro 11 with the battery keyboard absolutely nails it though, great screen with 1080p resolution and runs most things just fine (15-16 hours battery life with the keyboard attached) as a laptop for most of your computing needs yet I can pop out the tablet and sit on the couch browsing, playing games like Asphalt 8 or watching videos through Plex and it's a very acceptable tablet experience also. Plus plenty of connectivity, HDMI out, full USB slot, 64Gb on board and microSD support and replaceable battery are pretty good too.

sas.wlv · 31 Dec 2013 at 07:47

I can honestly say, I will not touch my laptop again after getting a surface pro 2. There's nothing it can't do that my laptop could. However, it does depend on the tablet, there's no way I could use my iPad as a laptop replacement for example.

gropingmantis · 31 Dec 2013 at 08:46

Windows 8 may be great an everything but my work is linux based software development....so not overly useful in that department.

Rich_L said:
Up until the Baytrail 2in1s I would have said no, Android/Apple/RT tablets aren't capable or flexible enough and the pre-Baytrail x86 tablets didn't have the battery life or performance.

The Venue Pro 11 with the battery keyboard absolutely nails it though, great screen with 1080p resolution and runs most things just fine (15-16 hours battery life with the keyboard attached) as a laptop for most of your computing needs yet I can pop out the tablet and sit on the couch browsing, playing games like Asphalt 8 or watching videos through Plex and it's a very acceptable tablet experience also. Plus plenty of connectivity, HDMI out, full USB slot, 64Gb on board and microSD support and replaceable battery are pretty good too.

What you describe there is pretty much exactly what I am looking to do.