I can only afford to take (purchase) one and I wanted to see what kind of experiences people have had on deployment with gadgets. I'm going to 6th fleet soon and I understand we'll have access to wifi. Grazie!
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Tablet vs Laptop on deployment (kids these days I know)
- Thread starter jugg34naut
- Start date
Laptop. I've done both and while the tablet is nice you will at some point need a keyboard, etc, to type more than a few words or just surf the internet.
I found the opposite was true on my last cruise...I brought both and used my tablet constantly but hardly ever turned on my laptop. I did most of my typing on the work computer. But this was onboard a ship so the only way an email or file was getting off of the ship was via the ship's network. I used the tablet for books, games, movies, etc. The tablet was also a lot more portable for liberty. Actually by the end of my tour I'd only take the tablet to the hotel but I'd carry an iPod touch around on liberty (an iPhone would work just as well). That way I could FaceTime the family from wifi spots in hotel lobbies, Starbucks, etc (for the record the Hong Kong four seasons lobby has excellent wifi).
Of course as zippy has pointed out, if you only bring one you can acquire the other when the urge for some mid cruise retail therapy hits. if you play your cards right you should be able to buy a decent laptop and have scratch left over for a new truck.
If it's a 7th Fleet cruise you'll probably save a bunch on all that liquor you're not allowed to drink!
I did one CVN cruise with just a notebook then 2 cruises with notebook+iPad. I used the hell out of the tablet on those cruises and only went to the notebook for certain games, video editing (before the Owen Honors incident), and Skype (no cam on iPad 1).
So, like everyone else has said. The notebook will do more, but the tablet will get used more. I wouldn't deploy without a tablet for easy, in-rack reading and video consumption.
EDIT: Just realized you're a maritime dude, so F U; you won't see the boat and can easily afford both devices with your "deployment" per diem
So, like everyone else has said. The notebook will do more, but the tablet will get used more. I wouldn't deploy without a tablet for easy, in-rack reading and video consumption.
EDIT: Just realized you're a maritime dude, so F U; you won't see the boat and can easily afford both devices with your "deployment" per diem
$49 for an Amazon Fire 7" tablet: https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Fire-7-Inch-Tablet-8GB/dp/B00TSUGXKE (Kindle + Netflix + most games and streaming services)
$179 for an Acer 11" Chromebook: http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.G85AA.002 (Fantastic if you have steady Wifi access and don't need MS Windows)
$179 for an Acer 11" Chromebook: http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.G85AA.002 (Fantastic if you have steady Wifi access and don't need MS Windows)
That's for the down payment on the truck upon return.
Your story is suspect and un VP like...
Why put a downpayment on an asset that's just decreasing in value immediately after you buy it? Everyone's offering near 0% financing anyways ... A few hundred dollars (or even a thousand) isn't going to make much difference in the monthly payment either way.
Therefore one must conclude your wife is making you buy a minivan...
If you're a PC guy (not politically correct, that's a different thread) you might want to check out the Lenovo X1 Yoga - does a kind-of tablet mode by flipping the screen backwards, and Thinkpads are very durable. Also it's lighter than a macbook, and heavier than some tablets.
Thank you gentlemen for your responses. Has anybody had any experience with the surface pro? Does it really bridge the gap between tablet and laptop?