Electronic gadgets - your suggestions?

Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (Full Version)

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PeonForHer -> Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 5:29:40 AM)
I'm getting fed up with all the fragile electronic stuff I carry around. Every time I travel I take a Kindle, a netbook and my mobile phone. What's the best way of combining all three in one gadget, if indeed that's possible? What I'm thinking of is something with a 7" screen (big enough to read and type on, small enough not to feel silly pressed against my ear), into which I could plug a keyboard when necessary.

searching4mysir -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 5:43:46 AM)
There are free kindle apps for the netbook, so if you downloaded it to the netbook, you could feasibly eliminate the kindle from your "stuff to carry"

PeonForHer -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 5:46:21 AM)
Isn't it hard on the eyes to read from a netbook for long periods?

sunshinemiss -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 5:48:08 AM)
Samsung galaxy - large screen for a phone, but smaller than an ipad mini. You could just use skype for your ipad and eliminate the phone. All you need are ear buds.

theshytype -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 6:35:50 AM)
I have a kindle app on my phone. It doesn't bother my eyes at all, the words are big enough, but I can see how it would bother some people. We have all sorts of gadgets here, but my phone is my everything and I rarely use anything else. My laptop is strictly for work, my Surface is for work while away from home, and my phone I use for the Internet, music, calls, games, reading... My husband has the Galaxy and he loves it. It's pretty large for a phone but still fits in his pocket. I haven't personally played with the iPad mini, but that may be another alternative. I know there are texting apps and phone apps you could use.

JeffBC -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 9:00:47 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer I'm getting fed up with all the fragile electronic stuff I carry around. Every time I travel I take a Kindle, a netbook and my mobile phone. What's the best way of combining all three in one gadget, if indeed that's possible? What I'm thinking of is something with a 7" screen (big enough to read and type on, small enough not to feel silly pressed against my ear), into which I could plug a keyboard when necessary. android tablet with voip? decrypt your kindle books and convert them to flavor du jour for your table (while at the same time securing the rights you have to the material which the publishers have failed to deliver on). Bluetooth keyboard for writing. What am I missing?

OsideGirl -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 9:15:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer Isn't it hard on the eyes to read from a netbook for long periods? The whole idea behind the Kindle was that it wasn't back lit like a computer or phone. It was like actually reading on paper. Less strain on the eyes. Even though we can't see it, computer/phone screens have a bounce, the Kindle does not. So, reading from a netbook or phone will be harder on the eyes. Especially for long trips.

MistressDarkArt -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 12:10:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: OsideGirl So, reading from a netbook or phone will be harder on the eyes. Especially for long trips. I solved this problem by using audiobooks. Since my vision sucks these days and I refuse to wear glasses except when driving, this has been a great option. It allows me to multi-task as well; I get my 'reading' in while hiking, doing chores, or while going to sleep. It's like having my own personal bedtime story-teller. A timer turns it off if I've fallen asleep. Headphones keep it private, or if others want to enjoy the story as well, speaker. Most library systems have free audiobooks for download anywhere (also kindle and pdf formats for the die-hard eye-readers.)

MercTech -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 12:33:20 PM)
I use a Motorola Atrix android phone. The smartphone with apps allows for audiobook, book reader, news feed etc. For serious work you get the plug in keyboard and a mouse and rock like a laptop. Not a replacement for a serious computer but a very handy portable for travel.

PeonForHer -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 1:27:10 PM)
FR From what I've found out so far from Mr Google, it seems that what I'm looking for is called a 'phablet' - a phone/tablet.

JeffBC -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 2:06:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer From what I've found out so far from Mr Google, it seems that what I'm looking for is called a 'phablet' - a phone/tablet. Just out of curiosity, why do you reject VOIP? Quality can be near as good as a phone call and at least in the US/Canada price point is fractions of cell.

freedomdwarf1 -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 3:16:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JeffBC quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer From what I've found out so far from Mr Google, it seems that what I'm looking for is called a 'phablet' - a phone/tablet. Just out of curiosity, why do you reject VOIP? Quality can be near as good as a phone call and at least in the US/Canada price point is fractions of cell. I can see where Peon is comming from. When I was in the US, I found that even with a native US-based cell phone, I found it very expensive to send/receive US calls and text compared to the UK. Over here, to receive calls and texts are completely free. And on many UK tarrifs, for a very tiny fee, you get free calls and texts to other cells/landlines too. And most VOIP services aren't free - even here. So even at a fraction of a cell cost - it don't beat free.

JeffBC -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 4:14:49 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1 Over here, to receive calls and texts are completely free. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Out of curiosity, are your plans more reasonable than our also? In other words, your calls obviously aren't "free", they are a part of a plan. The last time I had a plan in the US it as $130/mo for voice & data. In Canada they are about the same so I use a pay-as-you-go phone (extra security also) and pay about $9/mo (no data)

NuevaVida -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 4:40:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JeffBC Bluetooth keyboard for writing. And Bluetooth earpiece for the phone part. I can't remember the last time I held a cell phone to my ear.

PeonForHer -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 7:31:28 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JeffBC The last time I had a plan in the US it as $130/mo for voice & data. In Canada they are about the same so I use a pay-as-you-go phone (extra security also) and pay about $9/mo (no data) Gawd. I don't pay more than £15 for that.

PeonForHer -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/6/2013 7:32:45 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: NuevaVida And Bluetooth earpiece for the phone part. I can't remember the last time I held a cell phone to my ear. But, surely, when someone phones you, that means your having to move pretty damned quickly both to answer the phone and get the bluetooth gizmo into your ear?

NuevaVida -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/7/2013 12:39:24 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer quote: ORIGINAL: NuevaVida And Bluetooth earpiece for the phone part. I can't remember the last time I held a cell phone to my ear. But, surely, when someone phones you, that means your having to move pretty damned quickly both to answer the phone and get the bluetooth gizmo into your ear? Not really. I keep it next to my phone. Phone rings, I put blue tooth in ear, click on it to answer, and voila. The few times it fell to the bottom of my purse I just answered the phone without it. On an iPhone it's easy to select Phone, Speaker or Bluetooth without having to change screens. I'm a hands free kinda girl lol.

freedomdwarf1 -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/7/2013 4:25:14 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JeffBC quote: ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1 Over here, to receive calls and texts are completely free. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Out of curiosity, are your plans more reasonable than our also? In other words, your calls obviously aren't "free", they are a part of a plan. The last time I had a plan in the US it as $130/mo for voice & data. In Canada they are about the same so I use a pay-as-you-go phone (extra security also) and pay about $9/mo (no data) I also use a PAYG phone here in the UK. On my tarrif, I pay nothing whatsoever - not one single red cent. For that, I get free calls up to 500 minutes, 200 texts and 5GB of data/internet. It really is free - I pay not a penny. [:D] If I use up my allocation, it would cost me and unused allowance isn't carried over. But a single month's allocation would last me a year. I never use my phone for data/internet (I have a proper PC for that) and I have no use whatsoever for internet on the move. I rarely call or text either. And.... there is no minimum top-up requirement or other hidden catches. I didn't have to buy a new phone from their store either. My phone is a 2nd-hand clam-shell phone I bought on ebay that had no sim card. It could just as easily been one of the smart phones - if I could afford one of those. I can add a VOIP service to that but it would cost me 5p a minute to use it. Still waaay cheaper than standard cell calls but why should I pay anything at all?? ETA: my old Sharp phone has IR and Bluetooth which I pair with the BT in my car so I can use it hands-free [;)] That also means I can hook it up with any BT earpiece stuffed behind my ear or plug in a set of ear buds/headphones into the ear jack. It'll also take a cheap 16GB SD card so I can take up to 9,000 pics (at 2.6 M/pixel resolution) without having to dump them off.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/7/2013 5:21:26 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer I'm getting fed up with all the fragile electronic stuff I carry around. Every time I travel I take a Kindle, a netbook and my mobile phone. What's the best way of combining all three in one gadget, if indeed that's possible? What I'm thinking of is something with a 7" screen (big enough to read and type on, small enough not to feel silly pressed against my ear), into which I could plug a keyboard when necessary. SD card, coffee stand, hot chic "hey...mind if I....?" (I'm here all week).

littlewonder -> RE: Electronic gadgets - your suggestions? (9/7/2013 8:17:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss Samsung galaxy - large screen for a phone, but smaller than an ipad mini. You could just use skype for your ipad and eliminate the phone. All you need are ear buds. Yup, this is what I have and while I'm still getting used to it since I had an iphone before, I do like the big screen and I can do all of the above on it.

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