Laptops and tablets and browsers, oh my!

[andrewducker]

I really like the look of the new EEE
Transformer which gives you a tablet form factor, a laptop form
factor, and 12-18 hours of battery, depending on whether the keyboard is
plugged in.

I realised recently that the laptop isn't used for anything terribly
complex - I read email on it, surf the web, watch videos in bed and that's
about it. And a tablet would happily do all of that.

The only thing holding me back is that the laptop runs Firefox, and I like
the customisation that that offers. I've tried Chrome, but the lack of
options for even basic things* frustrates me too much.

Anyone played around much with different browsers on Firefox?

*I want URLs to open in a new tab, not overwrite the one I happen to be
looking at. Is that too much to ask?

Comments

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

I get new tabs on my iPad.

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

WOW Same price range as iPad. That kinda hurts for an a-pad.

[andrewducker]

All of the decent 10-inch pads are in the same price range. Doesn't bother me, as I'd be buying it as a laptop replacement (which would cost me around the same amount).

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

Going by the pound dollar algorithm which seems to hold true for tech you'd pay between £650 and £750 for a laptop? Quad core chipset is okay at that sort of price for the base tablet but the keyboard price? Sheesh. I'm not being negative BTW, just commenting the price seems astronomical. Roy's apde is extortionate for accessories too though. It seems to be the way manufacturers recoup their money. We luckily picked up some stuff for his in Walmart clearance aisle. I hardly use my laptop these days.

[andrewducker]

Aaah, if it's $->£ then I'll be less interested. My current laptop cost me £450-ish, and I'm happy to look at things costing in that vicinity, but you're right, I'm not paying £650 for its replacement.

Of course, that price isn't going to include sales taxes/VAT either.

*sigh* I guess I'll be getting a laptop again next time...

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

There is a get it shipped from US type option. We did it for Roy's tablet. Or rather I brought it back in hand luggage. You may luck out but historically the exchange price is never at the rate. Look at Kindles as a good example and that's at the bottom of a price range. We do get economically screwed in the UK for tech.

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2011/11/meet-the-asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime-the-worlds-first-supercomputer-tablet/

The last sentence specifically:

Update: Asus has said that in the UK, the Transformer Prime will come bundled with the keyboard dock for £499, from early January.

So 32GB + keyboard for £50 more than your last laptop.

[andrewducker]

Aha! Cheers!

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

Same price range, double the storage at those price points though.

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

But apple keyboard way cheaper, so not quite as accurate. If you're adding a keyboard to both on like for like storage you're bringing the price within $30

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

Any examples? As I understood it there were plenty of 3rd party options for both devices that cover the gamut from desktop stand keyboards to cases with one built in. I doubt that iOS equivalents would be any cheaper - they're all just Bluetooth devices with a different key layout.

[andrewducker]

In this case the whole point is that the keyboard fits the tablet and turns it into a laptop, and has an extra battery in it for additional life.

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

Best going with the Asus then as the iPad equivalents are prohibitively expensive - http://www.pcworld.com/article/229284/the_250_case_that_turns_your_ipad_into_a_laptop_almost.html

(I should really do the code to turn 'prohibitively expensive' into a link, but meh)

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

I missed the keyboard had added battery. That then justifys additional cost.

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

Mmm, now with added battery ;)