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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!

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  • Hi Nico,

    I bought my first Chromebook about 6 months ago, and surprisingly I have rarely used it. It's been sitting on a shelf for months* : (

    Personally I think an Android tablet (or iPad) would be better.
    I have an iPad and although I don't use it as much as I should, I still use it, more than the Chromebook. 

    Also, a large powerful phone is a great idea, it replaces the PC for a lot of things I do - I frequently bring up datasheets, take photos, screenshots etc on the phone, since it is always at hand. I have an Android phone and usually just replace with the nicest one I can find or afford. The cost of the phone easily pales into insignificance considering the use it provides as a computing device.

    Also, regarding Pi, I usually have one running, or ready to easily run to test things out, but I have a permanently powered up Intel NUC running Linux too, so I can SSH into that and just try things out. It's been very reliable in continuous operation (had it since 2018).

    I'm not really much of an Apple user, prefer Android, but the new iPhone Max looks like a beast, if I were used to the Apple ecosystem, I would probably get that. Large phones are still practical as far as I'm concerned, they should be as large as possible : )

    * Actually, I tell a lie, at least the Chromebook's power supply brick has been very useful - it's USB-C, I use it as a spare charger for the mobile phone : )

  • in reply to shabaz

    Thanks Shabaz!

    Interesting about your Chromebook - I wondered if they had gotten more useable over time, but I guess they're still too web-based and (maybe?) underpowered?

    I might have to look into the iPhone Max - it seems the new ones are physically smaller than my 8+, but have far bigger screens!

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  • in reply to shabaz

    Thanks Shabaz!

    Interesting about your Chromebook - I wondered if they had gotten more useable over time, but I guess they're still too web-based and (maybe?) underpowered?

    I might have to look into the iPhone Max - it seems the new ones are physically smaller than my 8+, but have far bigger screens!

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  • in reply to ntewinkel

    Hi Nico,

    I found the Chromebook competent for general office work, but nothing compelling compared to normal laptops, and tablets and phones. If I'm writing (say) a Word doc, then it's fine to do it with a Chromebook, but then I may as well bring out the larger high-res laptop and have the space to browse, pull up documents in parallel, edit diagrams etc all much nicer on the full Windows machine. Also the Chromebooks are built down to a price-point, and it wasn't much lighter either, in fact it felt approximately as heavy as the larger full PC. Guessing it's aluminium versus magnesium.