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Tablet / ChromeBook / laptop for tech hobby?

ntewinkel

Hi all, 

I’m thinking of getting a new tablet so that I’m not tied to my desk for hobby type projects.
I have a Mac as my main computer that I can use when I really need power and screen size, but for hobby things I’d rather work from the couch or table or art studio so I can be around my SuperArtGirl more.

I’m thinking an Android tablet gives the most choice and might be more compatible with external hardware.

I don’t know much about ChromeOS, but am curious what it can do.

We’re pretty much locked into Apple for everything else, so it might make sense to just go iPad in that it integrates with everything else.

Maybe upgrading my iPhone 8 Plus to something with a bigger screen might work? But then it would still have to be very portable, like pocket sized!

Mostly I’m wondering if a tablet allows me to work directly with Arduino and things like the Pi Pico, and tools like usb capable oscilloscopes and microscopes. Maybe the occasional 3D slicing and transfer to SD card for the printer, or run the CNC.

Maybe some functions can be sent to a Raspberry pi for final handling.

I feel like a laptop might be too big for general around the house browsing use.

What do you recommend?

Thanks!

Parents

  •   If function is more important than price, I second on the Surface.  Our sales team uses them and they are basically a laptop with a detachable keyboard.

    My "go to" after the laptop is an Amazon Fire tablet BUT, for you, I'd recommend the iPad.  Get the 10" screen.  Skip the smaller ones.  I have a low end generic Android tablet and a Chromebook and I almost never fire them up.

  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Also the pen capability has got really nice with these modern devices (Surface, iPad, and the high-end Samsung tablets) so SuperArtGirl might help sketch your ideas on the same device : ) 

    Incidentally I was watching a friend order some art supplies a while back (pens, pencils, paints etc) for their new hobby, and was amazed how expensive it all was. I did gently suggest that a tablet + pen would work out a lot cheaper over just a year, but the response I got was that it's not the same, and that the whole point of the new hobby was to use real pens and pencils : ) I lost this argument ; ) 

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  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Also the pen capability has got really nice with these modern devices (Surface, iPad, and the high-end Samsung tablets) so SuperArtGirl might help sketch your ideas on the same device : ) 

    Incidentally I was watching a friend order some art supplies a while back (pens, pencils, paints etc) for their new hobby, and was amazed how expensive it all was. I did gently suggest that a tablet + pen would work out a lot cheaper over just a year, but the response I got was that it's not the same, and that the whole point of the new hobby was to use real pens and pencils : ) I lost this argument ; ) 

Children
  • in reply to shabaz

    LOL yes SuperArtGirl Naomi already told me earlier today that she'd be ready to update NOW! and I can have her hand-me-down iPad Pro. Those are nice though - 13" screen is the same size as my old laptop! And even at 5 years old it's still super fast feeling. She does use it for sketching with Pro-Create (+ Apple pencil) all the time, which is why we bought it. It replaced one of those separate track-pad type of sketch tablets ("Bamboo" ? I think?), and also a very expensive pen-input monitor she had.

    She's part of the reason why I'm considering a tablet - she rarely uses her iMac these days, using the iPad most of the time, and the iPhone only while on the go. And she has an Apple Watch to see notifications and handle voice-input text messaging.

    And as you noticed - that doesn't stop the purchasing of allll of those regular art supplies! Laughing