chris_tribble Posted January 27, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 27, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think I'd like a tablet, but am paralysed with indecision when faced with a choice between Android, Apple and Windows 8RT. I also meet determined opposition from my son when it comes to the IPod - which is kind of sexy... He's a committed Linux user and declares that the Ipod's locked-in OS (where every application has to work in its own silo) makes it worse than useless for productive purposes + I have a general suspicion of devices that are primarily aimed at consuming stuff rather than doing things (which I think is the case with tablets). Has anyone out there found a compelling reason for a photographer to buy a tablet (especially one which has a fixed storage capacity, a fairly short battery life and a 12 month upgrade cycle). My current laptop is a two year old Sony Vaio that will last me for another two or three years and can be used for everything from browsing and emails to image and audio editing + showing work to clients. I'd sort of like a tablet, but I've not yet seen how one would seriously add to my life. Being able to use google in the bathroom doesn't quite do it for me... I think I need counselling on this... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted January 27, 2013 Share #2 Posted January 27, 2013 NO. The iPad won't view DNG's. Maybe the others will, but I suspect doing anything with big Leica files will take forever. My new Samsung Galaxy III note does virtually everything my iPad does ..... and with unlimited data usage..... I have an iPad mini with OS 1:25000 mapping that I use for walking as the ability to set my route before I go and the GPS is handy ...... None of these gadgets are much use to serious photographers except for file storage and simple JPG viewing..... Having said all that, you wouldn't be asking if your finger wasn't poised over the 'add to shopping cart' button...... so I fear you are too severely infected with the notion to save.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indina Posted January 27, 2013 Share #3 Posted January 27, 2013 A tablet is very useful if you quickly want to check emails, browse forae, check the news, show photos and not switch on a laptop or desktop pc for this purpose. A perfect sofa tool! I use mine every day and never regret having bought it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayewing Posted January 27, 2013 Share #4 Posted January 27, 2013 I cannot offer any opinion but I will be most interested in replies from forum members who use tablets. My son has an iPad and urged me to get one over a year ago. He has only a casual interest in photography so could not answer my questions. I did vist an Apple dealer and asked about using the iPad. I think I was unlucky as the assistant was keen to sell me an iPad but did not know much about photography. When I learned that I would need an add-on plug in device to enable me to load my photos (which he could not demonstrate as the device was not in stock) I must admit that I lost interest and made a quick departure. I currently use a laptop running Windows 7 and I have Lightroom, FastStone and Picasa installed which allows me to do all the things I need while on my travels as well as internet, emails etc. I do not really need a tablet but I am interested. I have a birthday coming up in the not too distant future and my wife has asked for hints on what I would like! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 27, 2013 Share #5 Posted January 27, 2013 NO. The iPad won't view DNG's Yes it will if you use the right app... https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/photoraw/id413899112?mt=8 I've been using an iPad for a few years and it gets used every day - the iPad not the above software. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted January 27, 2013 Share #6 Posted January 27, 2013 I have an ipad and use it extensively, but it can't replace my laptop for photo editing, word processing, spreadsheets, etc... My primary uses are for reading (newspapers, magazines, books... I no longer have any newspaper or magazine subscriptions delivered), viewing emails, internet surfing and storing documents like camera manuals, etc... It has lightened my load tremendously. It will not read DNG files and editing photos is a slow, cumbersome process(so I don't edit on the ipad) but it will, of course read jpeg files and it is great for viewing photos. There are also apps that allow you to easily access your online photo service. I use Zenfolio and the Zenfolio ipad app is quite powerful and flexible. My daughter is an electrical engineer and hates the closed OS on Apple products (it is almost a religious issue for that generation of techies), but if you're not creating your own apps, that doesn't matter and it does offer better protection from things like malware which is now making its way into the android world: "is Google Helpless to Stop the Scourge of Android Malware?". http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/who-can-fight-android-malware-not-google/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted January 27, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks - interesting to see that others face the same issues. At the moment my finger's not hovering over the "buy" button - but I'm still intrigued. I'm certainly not technophobic using computers every day in academic work (corpus linguistics) and in teaching and training, + I've worked with digital editing since at least 1998 when I started scanning film... My first laptop was bought in around 1988 in Hong Kong and I can remember the sense of liberation this gave me as suddenly I could use Wordstar (remember?) and Lotus 123 anywhere. I was also an early adopter of e-readers and love the latest version of the Sony Reader. Tablets feel different though. Their makers and marketers seem to assume that you'll always have access to the internet, that you don't mind paying for a 3G or 4G data contract. They also along way from saturation as a technology (unlike the dying dinosaur the PC). Is it just me, or does it seem that good old capitalism is desperately attempting to create a need here when one doesn't really exist? I don't think it's a generation thing (I have friends in their 20s and 80s who love the IPads... I just haven't got it yet... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted January 27, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 27, 2013 Seems to me the an IPad etc is an internet access device. It is not, as far as I can see, a working tool for anything I need to do. My business needs Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Quickbooks and a real keyboard. Photography as I do it requires Photoshop Elements and Picasa. My Windows laptop works very well for these applications, and it also works well as a sofa+TV machine. I also feel no need to be “connected” at every moment of the day. If you have to wait for 2-4 hours to communicate with me – that is perfect. Instant access is not always better or desirable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted January 27, 2013 Again, interesting. A bit of a gap in things this afternoon, and browsing around it looks as if the next iterations of Windows 8 tablets may begin to look sensible (the Samsung Ativ Tab looks good, but just seems to fail). If I can get something that has useful touch + untethered useablility and long battery life + is on a pat with Apple for screen quality / colour calibration AND can be docked with a keyboard and extra storage when needed, it may begin to look like something that would be halfway useful... Interesting then to see if Adobe will start to produce some form of RAW image editing apps, though otherwise I'll wait until there's an Intel powered Windows 8 Pro tablet and run the usual applications. PS - I currently use Windows 8 on my PCs and (once you've installed Start 8 so that you can escape from the START screen!) it's rock solid and gives better performance with Lightroom than with the same machines running Windows 7. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_murray Posted January 27, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 27, 2013 A tablet is very useful if you quickly want to check emails, browse forae, check the news, show photos and not switch on a laptop or desktop pc for this purpose.A perfect sofa tool! I use mine every day and never regret having bought it. +1 And if you happen to have a cheap airprint printer you can print wirelessly from the sofa as well. Oh, and if you have apple tv you can stream photos, videos and films from your ipad to a smart tv, wirelessly and from the same sofa. Life is hard sometimes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Seeney Posted January 27, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 27, 2013 I use an IPad and it is very convenient in day to day use for internet and mail - din't have 3g because it's fairly easy to find wifi and not essential for me to be connected 24/7 In terms of photography I have found it very useful for showing clients both static images and slideshows. Perhaps the biggest benefit is when travelling and needing a temporary backup - i copy all my photos to the ipad when travelling from the SD cards (without deleting the SD card obviously). Gives me a backup without having to lug a laptop and hard drive about. I don't do any processing on the iPad - don't really have an interest in that. Also when travelling its handy for city guides etc if you are on a short break and want to review where to go - found this exceptionally handy in Bucharest last year. Indispensable - no, very handy - yes Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted January 27, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 27, 2013 Thanks - interesting to see that others face the same issues. Their makers and marketers seem to assume that you'll always have access to the internet, that you don't mind paying for a 3G or 4G data contract. ... I did not buy an ipad with integrated wireless cell capability, but I utilize a mobile hotspot with my iPhone so as long as I have cell service I have an Internet connection and since I upgraded to the iPhone 5 I have LTE service which is blazing fast service... Usually > 10Mbps download speed and 2Mbps upload speed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted January 27, 2013 In terms of photography I have found it very useful for showing clients both static images and slideshows. Perhaps the biggest benefit is when travelling and needing a temporary backup - i copy all my photos to the ipad when travelling from the SD cards (without deleting the SD card obviously). Gives me a backup without having to lug a laptop and hard drive about. I don't do any processing on the iPad - don't really have an interest in that. Rob - I assume you have to get an SD reader to do this... How fast is the transfer? I shoot RAW only as a matter of course - Seems a pity not to be able to review them - so I suppose PhotoRaw + the SD reader begins to make it interesting. With a 64GB model, how much free space do you manage to get? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted January 27, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 27, 2013 I used to have an iPad for all of four weeks. No reasonable handling of DNGs, no way to upload pictures to forums and more. I gave it to the "children" who apparently don't use it, either. I now own two Androids tablets: a 10" Asus with attachable keyboard which doubles as a mobile office PC and a 5" Galaxy Note which can also be used as a mobile phone. I have a prepaid SIM card with a flat rate of roughly 2 USD for each day I use the internet from the device. I may install Linux on the 10" one of these days. But then, I may not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted January 27, 2013 I now own two Androids tablets: a 10" Asus with attachable keyboard which doubles as a mobile office PC and a 5" Galaxy Note which can also be used as a mobile phone. Any thoughts re the Android with images - at least for viewing / presenting to clients? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 27, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 27, 2013 I have an iPad and found it unpractical and limited enough to buy a Macbook Air 11". The Pad is gathering dust...The MBA runs LR4 and PSE without problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Seeney Posted January 27, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 27, 2013 Rob - I assume you have to get an SD reader to do this... How fast is the transfer? I shoot RAW only as a matter of course - Seems a pity not to be able to review them - so I suppose PhotoRaw + the SD reader begins to make it interesting. With a 64GB model, how much free space do you manage to get? Hi Chris I had the 64GB version. I used an apple SDcard reader and the transfer wasn't too bad - uploaded about 24GB of shots (shot a wedding while I was over there) all in RAW. I did it back at the hotel room - a 4gb card took about 10 mins or so - I just kept putting them in while I was packing my case. Viewing them is a non -runner, you get quite a poor image because it doesn't render raw properly. However, all I was interested in was that the shot was there in case my SD cards failed. Once home, I transferred them off the iPAD without problems to my computer. With a 64 GB you get about 60GB free I think if you clear it down - more than enough unless you are doing some serious shooting. I had movies to watch on the flight/train journeys etc so had about 34GB clear i think. Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angora Posted January 27, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 27, 2013 Chris, if you don't really know what you need a tablet for, then you should probably refrain from buying one; and let both your ideas and the market mature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted January 27, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 27, 2013 I'm a huge fan of my tablets and I use both Apple and Andriod tablets extensively. My current crop is an iPad mini, a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and a Galaxy Note phone (moved oved from iPhones of various generations). There are many things I use my tablets for. I do 90% of my emailing and web browsing on my tablets. I read books and magazines (I no longer purchase paper versions except for coffee table volumes). I do the majority of my letter typing and other "office" work on my tablets. 95% of my web surfing and forum visiting. I use my tablets as occasional image storage when I'm travelling. I also use tthem as entertainment devices. Music, movies, Youtube etc. I also make huge use of digital radio when I travel. I don't know where ideas about poor battery life come from. 10 hours of actual usage is better than any laptop I've owned including a MacBook Air. Apple's iOS has some advantages in some areas: * LFI magazine is available on iOS but not Android. * The closed ecosystem works well for the non-techie. * There are hundreds of thousands of apps. About half are free and 5% are actually very good. That's still a lot. * The optional camera connection kit works really well, and it's so easy to use. Just shoot DNG+medium jpeg and you can then store the raws and edit the jpegs for uploading to Facebook or blogs or websites or even dropbox. * The screen is fantastic, out of the box. It's a great way to show off images to family and friends. * There's an app that lets you import files, keyword, sort and rate them that connects to Lightroom on your main computer. The plusses for Android are: * It's potentially easier to hook up peripherals. Potentially because somtimes the Samsungs have a proprietary connector to make it more difficult. * The open system is more customisable so if you don't like the vanilla skins you have thousands of options. * The active Wacom digitiser in the Galaxy Note series is fantastic for both note taking and basic photo manipulation. * You can hook up a mouse to an Android machine if you want a more "laptop" like experience with Andriod. My tablets have freed up my main computer for the "heavy lifting" tasks. I've uninstalled skype and any messaging programs taking up resources. Nowdays I really only use my computer for serious photo work, my accounting softaware, some video and for working on the website. The alternative would be to get an ultrabook or a MacBook Air and I know many prefer this approach. But I can't see myself doing any serious work in Lightroom on an 11" or 13" screen anyway so it seems kind of pointtless. I love my tablets. YMMV. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDFlood Posted January 27, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 27, 2013 I have had half a dozen iPads now. Would never be without one. I use a mini and iPad3 daily. It replaces nothing and extends your digital world tremendously. I shoot many cameras, usually Nikon D800, I do jpg as backups, and view those on iPad. The 2500 by 1,600 (there abouts) is phenomenal for showing photos. Photostream moves them around all I devices... Apple TV projects to my 70" monitors, seamlessly. But that is only a tiny reason to buy one. All my magazine subscriptions, books, newspapers, and web research gets done on my iPads. Hard core photo processing is still on a PC or my laptop. But, you do so many things you would never do elsewhere than a tablet, you have to have one to realize it. I would only get an iPad, the connectivity and synergy with other Apple products is a major feature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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