RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Topic started by: mike175 on Wednesday 02 March 16 10:42 GMT (UK)
-
I am genuinely interested to know how many people actually use their ipad/tablet for anything other than facebook or playing games. I've tried them from time to time and find the interface very unfriendly. When you're typing, the keyboard obscures the screen. It is infuriatingly easy to accidentally touch the screen and trigger some unwanted action. And you are constantly needing to clean off the fingermarks. Outdoors on a fine day the shiny screen is more use as a mirror than a screen.
As far as I can see they are OK for viewing 'stuff' but really no use at all for anything serious. More for viewing than doing ;)
Or am I just showing my age? My 4 year old grandson automatically tries to 'swipe' any screen whether or not it is a touchscreen ::)
Mike.
-
I use mine for virtually everything now. All my family history research is done on it and I find it really user-friendly and convenient as you can carry it around in a handbag.
Isobel
-
Hi Mike,
I use my pc and my tablet in very different ways.
I find my tablet is very handy and small enough to carry around in my handbag. My family tree is on the tablet, I can show my photographs to friends and I download TV & Radio programmes to watch or listen to on long journeys (very handy) I have similar apps on my mobile and tablet that are useful for weather, walks and planning on watching the stars..
More serious work....my PC :D
Sarah
-
I love mine too! I have an iPad mini. I use a stylus, as I'm not able to master the swipe action.
Use it for everything, has a fab camera, takes high res. Editable images, and a video, fits well into my handbag, I've made my own cover for it from polar fleece, lined with microfibre cloth, and a stick-on Velcro across the top. So not much in the way of finger marks, but a gentle rub over with the polar fleece cover takes care of that easily.
Initially I bought a mini keyboard to use, but find it simpler to use the onscreen.
I have a Kindle app on it, so plenty of reading material choice. Saves trips to the library!
I do my research from anywhere, my Ancestry tree, emails, websites, including Rootschat of course.
The only thing I can't do is post any of the images directly to Rootschat. The photos are named by image number only. Ie Image 1 Image 2. Etc. Not acceptable on here, as at some time there will have been such a name already used by someone else). If I have an image stored the iPad that I want to post on here, I just email it to myself from the album, pick it up on my PC, open my editing programme, change its name and post it from that.
I can use cables to connect it to my TV, so it will show ANYTHING that is on my iPad screen. Great if I want to log in to my tree and show to family.
I can be very comfortable sitting in the lounge, where I can look out at the garden, at the hills around, instead of being shut away in the bedroom where my PC is, looking at the wall, (or the unmade bed 😄).
The battery's great, especially if I'm on a train or bus read on the journey. On a plane, or some long distance car or coach trip, can charge with USB, connect to wifi if available, or use wifi hotspots around towns and cities!
Everything is saved in the iCloud, even a tracker, which can locate it if I lose it!
I find it much better than a laptop!
AND NO, I'm not being paid by Apple for this plug! ;D ;D
I just love it! And I'm really old! A very long time since my any of my grandchildren were 4!
Jeanne
-
They are useful due to their small size, portability and the fact that for general use they are as good as a laptop.
I find them more difficult to type on and they can be a pest if you accidentally touch somewhere you had not intended to touch, but, like everything, you get used to their limitations and work around them.
You need to practice more Mike. ;)
I love my ipad mini. ;)
-
The advantage over my smartphone is that I can read email attachments more readily.Have 2 one 8" android and the other (new ) Linx 8" Windows 10. So far this is the most useful
-
I bought my first iPad in April 2010, when they were really new, and there were no apps (other than iPod/iPhone apps x2). I was going to get the separate keyboard, based on Dick Eastman's review, but when I tried it out in the Apple store I found I was perfectly OK with the on-screen keyboard. I have always used it for taking notes, first with the built-in notepad, now with Evernote, which can sync with all my other devices. But then I once wrote a whole (short) book on a Psion - remember them?
I would hate to be without a laptop, because there are several functions that work better with a bigger screen and keyboard, but the big advantage of a tablet is its portability. I can carry a version my family tree in my handbag, on my iPad, although only for reference, I only make updates on the master tree on my PC. I use the camera to photograph documents as much as anything (although I do take the occasional actual photo, too). If you have a tablet with a decent amount of storage space, it's a good way of carrying document images with you, as well as old photographs.
I can check emails and look at the internet on my phone, but I find the tablet's bigger screen more comfortable and convenient to use. It's also better for watching video - more portable than a laptop and the image quality on the newer models is amazingly good.
I also found an unexpected advantage, when giving a scripted webinar the microphone will often pick up the sound of pages turning, but swiping a screen is silent. If you are also on camera, it's easier to have a tablet in your line of sight, without looking down at notes on paper. I've also had presentation slides on the iPad so I can see what is up next, although I have not yet been brave enough to run one from and iPad - although I know it is possible.
-
I just thought of something else! My iPad also serves as a dictation machine. I have been transcribing a lot of poems and speeches made by my great grandfather. Instead of typing them, I can now just read them out with the microphone on, and they will type right in front of my eyes. It has voice recognition, which soon kicks in, so knows me now. And puncutates too. I just have to say comma, or full stop etc, whatever is needed!
Then I email them to myself, pick them up on the PC, check them over, alter any errors I may find, and print them.
An example - for you. I am currently dictating this sentence to you! But I do have to go sleep now.
Goodnight!
Jeanne
-
Well, you're all doing your best to convince me :)
I guess if I did more travelling I might find one useful. Not sure I could get used to the handbag for carrying it around though ;D
For now I can use my Blackberry for many of the things listed, and it sits in my top pocket so I don't need that handbag.
Mike.
-
I download (free) books and read them upon it. I read the local paper (free) every day upon it.
I read and reply to e-mails upon it, check the weather, football results, view photographs.
It saves me running upstairs to the computer all the time if I keep it with me downstairs but on the negative side I do find it difficult doing any serious ancestry on there as I find it difficult to switch between the numerous sites I like to keep open ;D
-
And puncutates too. I just have to say comma, or full stop etc, whatever is needed!
Jeanne
So... what would you get if you said "The car came to a full stop!" ?
The car came to a. ?
-
I have a tablet but don't particularly use it very much.
My family tree is mainly held on Family Tree Maker on my desktop - is there an FTM app I could put on the tablet?
Pheno
-
When I go to the Scotland's people centres I take my tablet with me and use it to view the ancestry version of my tree. It allows me to double check the info I already have without having to carry a lot of paperwork.
-
I have a tablet but don't particularly use it very much.
My family tree is mainly held on Family Tree Maker on my desktop - is there an FTM app I could put on the tablet?
Pheno
As far as I am aware there is not a specific FTM App as Ancestry developed their App for diffferent reasons - this may come as FTM has new owners.
However, any of the Apps currently available will import a Gedcom file and display your data from that.
-
Use it far more than laptop.Sit comfortably with feet up whilst researching.Take picture of a census ...send it to laptop to print.Quickly find recipes and use in kitchenDownload books from library as well as magazines.Ive got iPad 3 and am still finding things to do ....recently dictating emails.
Useful to take away where most places have wifi and its small to carry.Easy to use but if you have clumsy fingers use a stylus which are very cheap to buy fromAmazon.
Ringrose
-
When I go to the Scotland's people centres I take my tablet with me and use it to view the ancestry version of my tree. It allows me to double check the info I already have without having to carry a lot of paperwork.
Like Mike I find the functionality of them wasted. Though when I didn't have an internet connected phone I did use a Pad to take pictures of Family History pages in the State Library and to take notes on or transcribe notes on the train trip home.
Maybe it is a ManBag v Handbag thing.
-
I really like my iPad Air, but do find it easier to do some things on the laptop. For instance, it is quicker to cut and paste on the laptop. I expect if I had to to it all the time on the iPad it would get easier.
-
I use my ipad.... Like right now... To get on roots chat while my husband is watching sports on Tv... Answer emails on the bus going to work, look up stuff on pinterest, take pictures and send them to my family....
For me its much easier to quickly respond and get on line in a second that going to my laptop in another part of the house.
-
I do not have a tablet and when I visited my daughter I asked for a newspaper - she replied that newspapers were outdated (I am 68) and handed me her tablet. BOY that fly never knew what hit it
-
And puncutates too. I just have to say comma, or full stop etc, whatever is needed!
Jeanne
So... what would you get if you said "The car came to a full stop!" ?
The car came to a. ?
-
I have a tablet but don't particularly use it very much.
My family tree is mainly held on Family Tree Maker on my desktop - is there an FTM app I could put on the tablet?
Pheno
As far as I am aware there is not a specific FTM App as Ancestry developed their App for diffferent reasons - this may come as FTM has new owners.
However, any of the Apps currently available will import a Gedcom file and display your data from that.
If you buy a Windows tablet rather than an Android or Apple one, you can install FTM on it, subject to having a licence. Most Windows tablets have a full version of the operating system, although microsoft do sell some which don't. ::)
-
LOL! Dictating now - my car came to a. ;D ;D ;D
But I can still take out the full stop with my stylus and add the word, space whatever, then carry on with the dictation. It can be a combination of both methods.
I forgot about Stuff! stuff.co.nz - That's our free interactive NZ site for online news and "current affairs" website which is very comprehensive, free, and covers world, national and local news etc, and most of the other things that a newspaper provides, puzzles, horoscopes, social stuff etc.
Also breaking news and video clips! Comment sections on articles!
Worth taking a look at, and great to keep up with the NZ news when travelling.
Take a look at www.stuff.co.nz and you will see what I mean!
Jeanne
-
Thanks!
-
I analysed the evidence to draw a conclusion. The better the sources and information, the stronger the evidence, which leads to a reliable conclusion!.... ;D
-
Hallmark it was only a fly
-
;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Bet it made a mess on the screen . . . ;)
-
I've only had my iPad since last summer (didn't think I needed one with a desktop pc and laptop at home and working on a computer all day too), but decided I didn't want to get left behind!
But I now use it all the time, it's really useful to take to archives / records centres etc, make notes in the cloud, check your tree, take photos etc. I also take it to work, to read or do a spot of FH at lunchtime, when the office internet is really slow.
I do find copying a pain, and didn't realise it would take dictation (will try that), but I'm really pleased with it.
-
think Deidre has it right. Doing this now on tablet (Linx 8")running windows 10convenient to use and not too big
-
I have a cheap android tablet, but it's pretty crap and annoys me intensely. Might be swapping it for a windows 10 version in the near future....
I've also got a Kindle (one of the original ones not the newer version) and I'm impressed. Very well made and built to last. If the newer versions are as good, I might go for one of those instead.
-
I love my kindle (again never wanted one but inherited my mum's - she didn't like the idea but the huge print option sadly became necessary in her last few years) especially if i just want to read, otherwise i read on the ipad (you can download your Amazon books to any number of devices and they will know where you are!!).
-
A friend of mine has an 10" Linx with Windows 8 which she's had for the last year. Very pleased with it. Partly bought on my recommendation, she'd look into it and asked my view. If I didn't already have a 10" netbook that doesn't get used much, I'd probably buy a 10" Link, albeit the Win8 version which is still about seems better value and spec than the newer one. :-X
-
OH has an original Kindle - it's brilliant but there is something about a proper book ::) I guess there's no hope for me . . .
I too have a cheap Android tablet . . . somewhere. Can't remember when I last used it. If I eventually give in and replace it, I think it will have to be Windows 10 so it will 'sync' with my other Windows devices.
Mike
-
I agree Mike, something about a proper book! But I have to say that after my DIL sneaked in and put the FREE Kindle App on my iPad, I've never been back to the library, and never bought another book.
Amazon is great! "Books" are either free or very cheap! Every genre you could wish for!
You can adjust the size/colour of the print to suit, and choose single page view or double page view, and a few other things! Worth giving it a try, as the app. is a free download! Doesn't take long to get used to!
-
Jeanne, I do have the kindle app on my laptop and I agree the number of free books is amazing. I'm wrestling with the complete works of Dickens at present, which should last me a year or three if I stay the course. But I do think the real Kindle (the original one, anyway) is in a different league with its non-reflective screen which really is the nearest I've seen to ink on paper. Much easier on the eyes, even when reading over her shoulder ;) ;D
But I still do 90% of my reading in paperback form . . .
Mike.
-
I must admit I do love my kindle and updated from the original to the Kindle Voyage a year ago. I like the fact that I can read it in sunlight or, as it has a back light, can see it just as easily in a dim light. I like being able to download a sample of a book as soon as someone recommends it as well. The biggest advantage though, is that I can carry a whole library of over 200 books in my handbag when I go away. ;D ;D
-
I agree Groom, I never lacked any reading material on my trip to UK! Long flights very boring and I didn't have to bring any books in my hand luggage! USB Charging no prob on plane!
-
I had an Android tablet, and I thought it was almost useless............
::)
It was wifi only, so no access to the internet here apart from on the Guided Busway, but trying to do anything on it while being bounced around in a 'bus was a pointless exercise!
The only thing it was good for was sharing digital photo's - the 10" screen was bigger than 5*7 prints, and it was much more convenient to lug around than an album; provided the battery lasted, of course...........
::)
I prefer to use the lappie for everything. I prefer the keyboard, the screen size, internet access (a 3g dongle is a lot cheaper than a 3g tablet), the choice of software I can use, and I don't find it a problem carrying it about - it's light, and I can get other stuff in the same bag!
;)
Now the (irreplaceable) battery has given up the ghost on the tablet I won't be getting another one, unless it's cheap enough to warrant only using for photo's.........
Just my opinion.
;)
-
There is no point getting a tablet unless you either have access to Wifi or subscribe to a data plan, otherwise they are a complete waste of time and money. The first tablet I had was android and was rather slow, and software limited but they have improved since then and my iPad is faster than my laptop.
I think in a few years, they will probably overtake laptops in popularity, especially as they are now used a lot in schools. So the next generation will grow up accepting them and phones as the things to use to access the Internet.
-
You can purchase add-on keyboards for many Windows tablets (and probably others, haven't looked) so the chances are they will become more poplar than Laptops, albeit that a 15" or larger tablet is unlikely to be as poplar as the smaller more portable ones so larger screened laptops could well remain popular.
-
I also invested in a kindle fire a few months ago and find it just the right size for carrying around with you ...I was away in New Zealand and Australia recently and used it quite a lot for keeping in touch with family back home ...was also able to check out rootschat :) best investment ever
Rosie :D
-
I have a cheap android tablet, but it's pretty crap and annoys me intensely. Might be swapping it for a windows 10 version in the near future....
I've also got a Kindle (one of the original ones not the newer version) and I'm impressed. Very well made and built to last. If the newer versions are as good, I might go for one of those instead.
Have a Windows 10 version from LINX (stocked by Sain**b*rys ) Strangely assembled in the UK which has to make it worthwhile. Cost me £80. Also have a Samsung Galaxy Android which I got with my phone 3 years ago. Both OK