Windows 8 or Android

feeddagoat · 30 Sep 2013 at 23:47

I'm looking to pick up a tablet. After a ton of reviews and user opinions I'm no wiser. I've narrowed it down to the galaxy note and thinkpad tablet 2. Aside from hardware differences and possible new devices on the horizon my dilemma is coming down to android vs windows. The aim will be for the tablet to compliment my laptop rather than replace it.

The main uses/features are

1. Handwriting notes:- I've no experience using OneNote but it seems to be the holy grail for note taking. I honestly don't know if text to type conversion will be useful but some of the indexing features might. Does android have a suitable alternative in this area or is s note good enough?

2. E-Books:- This will be another big use. How does the likes of google play books behave in windows 8 and on touchscreen? This leads on to.....

3. Multitasking:- Having a book open or the browser and being able to make notes from it would be good. Reviews seem to suggest that multi window on android is lacking but a great start. How does it compare to windows 8 snap view?

4. How difficult is tasks such copy paste on Android?

5. Very light photo editing like croping, changing brightness etc. The galaxy comes with a photoshop app that suports the s pen. I'm assuming there is something similar on windows 8 or is the OS too heavy for the likes of the thinkpad?

Is the galaxy note good enough or is windows 8 TPT the best route to go? Both devices aren't perfect but since I can't get my hands on a windows 8 tablet with a pen, I'm even more in the dark about the feel of it.

All experiences and advice is welcome

kefan77 · 30 Sep 2013 at 23:56

Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 + e-ink reader like Nook Glowlight or Kindle for ebooks.

cu3ed · 1 Oct 2013 at 00:04

ThinkPad is pretty much going to be the best option, its not a tablet OS in such that its the FUll W8 OS.

One Note is brilliant, I use it every other day on my Surface RT, as you say, snapped to the side as IM working on something else, usually email or something. leading that to I havnt seen Multitasking done better on any other OS for tablets.
Lots of App photo editors available in the Windows Store, but then again you have a full desktop as well.

You honestly need to try them both at a store if you can though.

Brenn47 · 1 Oct 2013 at 00:17

I love my Nokia 920 and Windows Phone 8, but I bought a Nexus 7. Why, everything's free on Android, the OS is a mess, most of the widgets look rubbish but it's ok'ish to use and I certainly wouldn't put my bank details in it. If the Surface Mini was wireless charging I'd go for that.

Hyburnate · 1 Oct 2013 at 00:20

Brenn47 said:
I love my Nokia 920 and Windows Phone 8, but I bought a Nexus 7. Why, everything's free on Android, the OS is a mess, most of the widgets look rubbish but it's ok'ish to use and I certainly wouldn't put my bank details in it. If the Surface Mini was wireless charging I'd go for that.

This is exactly my problem with Android.

feeddagoat · 1 Oct 2013 at 00:24

Yea, It won't replace my desktop so whatever the tablet can't handle can always wait till then. I've had some experience in Curry's with win 8 but it's still not the full feel I'd like to get. Same with the SGN tho there is only so much you can do on the display model that I'm concerned it isn't the full experience. Touchscreen win 8 devices are i5 laptops which isn't quite the same experience and like the SGN I can't really get the full feel for it. It does seem awkward without a keyboard tho but that is just the initial adjustment of learning something new.
What makes onenote as good as it is? What features make it stand out over anything for you cu3ed? I've no experience with it so I am a wee bit in the dark trying to imagine what I'll need from a note taking program.

Brenn47 said:
I love my Nokia 920 and Windows Phone 8, but I bought a Nexus 7. Why, everything's free on Android, the OS is a mess, most of the widgets look rubbish but it's ok'ish to use and I certainly wouldn't put my bank details in it. If the Surface Mini was wireless charging I'd go for that.

My feelings about android are similar. I don't use more than 1 home screen and don't use widgets apart from a power toggle one that doesn't really work. It feels messy and sluggish but ultimately its the app store that would keep me there. I do feel it is the best option tho I long to go back to blackberry or even a lumia device. When it comes to tablets tho it does hold its own especially considering the limited options of pen input tablets.