Tablet or netbook PC or cheap laptop for a present for my wife?

[hypernova]

I'm looking at buying one of these two things for my wife this holiday season.  Which would you suggest?  I'm thinking along the lines of a Galaxy, Xoom, or Kindle Fire tablet.  Also thinking of one of the cheaper laptops available.  One of the tiny netbooks would also be nice...but are these things kind of pointless with the advent of the tablet PC?

She's not proficient.  She would likely use it for facebooking, maybe a little skyping (if possible) and just some websurfing (including youtube and such).

What would you suggest?

[yotsuya]

Get her a good tablet. I got my wife a netbook two years ago, and although she likes it, she could basically do the same thing on a tablet.

[ark_ader]

Get something with a Tegra 2 Chipset.  Like a Galaxy Tab.

It plays Mame wonderfully.

[Red]

How do you print with a tablet if you don't have a wireless printer?  Or is it not possible?

Thanks.

[Samstag]

How do you print with a tablet if you don't have a wireless printer?  Or is it not possible?

Thanks.

It doesn't need to be wireless.  It just needs to be on your network.

But you need to check compatibility between the tablet and the printer model.

[ark_ader]

How do you print with a tablet if you don't have a wireless printer?  Or is it not possible?

Thanks.

I have an Epson Wireless Printer (515) in the bedroom and it prints on the network just fine, but if I use my Android Tablet, I have to get into Terminal Services and print from there.  I had a look on the App store, and Epson has a app called Epson Connect that actually interfaces to the Wireless Printer.  I have to cut and paste web pages into it, but it does print whatever I throw at it, from where ever I want.  I could be on a train, VPN and bingo the print is sitting in the tray when I get home.  I hate bookmarking articles, it is easier to just print it out.

http://www.epson.co.uk/Explore-Epson/1228074427989

[Howard_Casto]

I would like to point out that many of the higher end tablets have a docking station with a keyboard attached, so you could just get that and cover all bases. 

Just a thought.

[hypernova]

Wife so far is not loving it.  Any useful apps?  I'm referring to utility type apps, not stuff like foursquare and games.  I found one for grocery list making.  Stuff like that.  Suggestions?

[yotsuya]

What did you end up getting her?

[Howard_Casto]

Wife so far is not loving it.  Any useful apps?  I'm referring to utility type apps, not stuff like foursquare and games.  I found one for grocery list making.  Stuff like that.  Suggestions?

Well the IGoogle apps are all on a tablet.. while on the go those are useful. 

You've also got tvguide and imdb. 

There are versions of "office" for tablets as well.  It's a pain in the butt to type without a keyboard though. 


Honestly.. except for getting on the net or checking email tablets aren't super useful.  They are meant to be more of a toy, what with games and neat apps and stuff. 

[Red]

Howard,

Did you get the Vizio Tablet for Christmas?  If so, how do you like it?  Did you root it or are you using it stock?

[CheffoJeffo]

I'll disagree with HC that tablets are meant to be toys, although there is a lot of quick, fun gaming to be had.

For me, the tablet allows me to do lots of things that I would normally have to sit down at a computer to do, some of which is surfing and checking email.
 
My tablets will never completely replace my computers, but they do allow me to do lots of things untethered from my computers, which is fine with me since I spend all day with them already.

[Howard_Casto]

Howard,

Did you get the Vizio Tablet for Christmas?  If so, how do you like it?  Did you root it or are you using it stock?

Nope the whole country is apparently sold out.    I got a IOU for xmas and I'm waiting for them to come back in.  Here's the thing..... walmart and sams sold the things for 200 bucks, which I'm assuming is a new unit as it's a retail store.  Online I can get them for that price, but they appear as "refurbished".  I don't want a used tablet... sorry.  Now I can get one right now elsewhere online.... for 300 bucks.  When you raise the price of the vizio to $300 it suddenly seems less appealing as there are dual core tablets in the $300 range.  My mom got her boyfriend a toshiba thrive for xmas.... those are around $340, have a dual core 1.2 ghz processor and have all the stuff a vizio has minus the ir-blaster. 

So I'm waiting....  Now that it's after new year's the sale should start coming out and I'll pick one up. 

[Howard_Casto]

I'll disagree with HC that tablets are meant to be toys, although there is a lot of quick, fun gaming to be had.

For me, the tablet allows me to do lots of things that I would normally have to sit down at a computer to do, some of which is surfing and checking email.
 
My tablets will never completely replace my computers, but they do allow me to do lots of things untethered from my computers, which is fine with me since I spend all day with them already.

What things?  Because getting on the net and checking email is NOT work.  Don't get me wrong, a lot of people do it at work. 

[Blanka]

Does she create stuff: netbook
Does she consume stuff: tablet
Totally in doubt: grab an Asus EEEpad, you can always throw Linux or Windows 8 on it later, if Android turns out to be not your thing (very good possible).