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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

  • Pick a tablet that has a good stylus feature capable of allowing you your work without delay. Most importantly look for RAM and Internet options on your new Tablet. If you can determine how much power, data, and time you consume on your regular system doing the same work operating the same software then you can choose alternatively the same type of tablet you want as well. If you also have budgetary restrictions then it would also be helpful for me to determine which Tablet is extremely compatible with you. 
    Layout the details of you Softwares and RaM usage history and daily power consumption chart I will list after researching on your behalf.
    Keep Well Stay Safe.

  • in reply to rodreig89kishore

    Thanks for that and the offer to research it Slight smile

    The problem is I'm not 100% sure. I have my main computer that does all the things requiring extra coding / power / storage / display size. And my phone is useful for quick look things too, but nearly impossible to use for any coding type things.

    I think I would be using a new device mainly for the same things as my iPhone, but with an easier to see bigger display, and I would like to add the ability to update Arduino firmware right from the tablet - this allows me to be in a more social setting while working on those things, while my wife works on her art in the studio, for example.

    Budget is definitely a concern. The new iPad Pros look nice, but at $1500 (CAD) I'm not sure it's worth it for me right now. The big brand names like Samsung are expensive too. That's why I think the Amazon Fire might be a good option - brand name, good specs, but still affordable. No sense spending money on extra features, power, and storage that I might never use much.

    I like your idea of looking for stylus support - seems very handy, plus that would make it feel another step less like work!

  • in reply to ntewinkel

    If it's just coding only that you are looking at then any tablet will do but you will have to redo the entire firmware for the best customer support on your hardware. Plus there is a heating issue present in tablets while performing coding-related tasks Testing code often leads to the system on a tablet hanging up for a while. If you are ok with that then there is no need for time delays to think about it. otherwise, if that is a concern then will have to consider a durable tablet. If your work involves more than codings like drawing flowcharts or schematics tools or designing new projects then you will need a more battery life for that tablet. Plus the software you use might act up so you will have to delete old firmware and remove all possible tools except the OS. So modding is also in play for your needs. Hardware and software customization is in direct need to your budgetary requirement. 
    Think over it and relay me some numbers and facts and we will see how to bring you the best available product.

  • in reply to rodreig89kishore

    it wouldn't be for work, just simple little hobby bits. Anything work-like will be on my Mac.

    I know I can use Arduino Cloud IDE in a browser, but I wonder how hard it would be to connect it up to the Arduino to update the sketch. Some do OTA so that might not be a big issue anymore, as long as my favourite dev boards are supported!

    I just realized I have a little Motorola Android phone work bought me a few years ago... I might have to just test a few apps and things on it to get a feel for what can be done.

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  • in reply to rodreig89kishore

    it wouldn't be for work, just simple little hobby bits. Anything work-like will be on my Mac.

    I know I can use Arduino Cloud IDE in a browser, but I wonder how hard it would be to connect it up to the Arduino to update the sketch. Some do OTA so that might not be a big issue anymore, as long as my favourite dev boards are supported!

    I just realized I have a little Motorola Android phone work bought me a few years ago... I might have to just test a few apps and things on it to get a feel for what can be done.

Children
  • in reply to ntewinkel

    The Arduino Cloud IDE needs the Arduino Create Agent. The agent will recognize the Arduino boards and other supported devices connected to your computer via USB, allows you to upload sketches from your web browser to your boards via USB or through a network and read data from serial monitor, as well as write to it.

    There are Arduino Create Agent versions for Windows, MacOS and Linux, you can download the code from github arduino/arduino-create-agent: The Arduino Create Agent (github.com)  I am not aware of any attempts to port the code to Android.

    One other thing to keep in mind is that the Arduino Web Editor is not free. The free plan only allows 200 s/day of compilation time which is insufficient to compile code for non-Entry Level boards.

    Between choosing an Android tablet or an Apple iPad, for development projects I prefer the Android. I have an iPad thanks to an award from element14 and I hate it even though I came to work at Apple in one of my first jobs and I was a Macintosh evangelist. Apple doesn't allow developer tools on iPads, or I haven't been able to find them, it's really frustrating.

  • in reply to javagoza

    mbed also works with Android : ) From memory (I think I tried it a long while back), it's fine creating, building and transferring the binary to any mbed board, no issue, from Android phones/tablets. From my perspective, Mbed is in many ways a nicer alternative to Arduino (doesn't support the same set of boards though).

  • in reply to javagoza

    Oh dang it I forgot about that Create Agent!

    I am painfully aware of the subscription cost of the web editor too, and have run into that free limit before. I also had a lot of general issues with it just recently that makes it clear it’s still a work in progress. Thanks for reminding me about its limits, I had kind of glossed over it!

    What you say about the iPad is exactly what I was worried about - it’s great if we’re happy playing in their safe little sandbox, but too limiting for anything beyond basic use.

    I’ll have to test on my wife’s iPad if I do decide to go that route.

  • in reply to shabaz

    You know, I was just wondering about mbed just minutes ago! I also remember using it but at the time I didn’t like that it was all online - I’ve reversed my opinion on that now Smile

    I’m not sure if I ever tried it on a tablet, but it’s worth exploring that option again.

    Now I’m also wondering if Pi Pico is supported on mobile…

    All of these technologies (iOS, Android, Arduino) have been around for more than a decade, haven’t they? It’s kind of disappointing they don’t all play nice together yet.