MS Surface RT or Surface Pro? Or Something Else?

Image Credit:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/which-surface-is-right-for-you

Microsoft Surface Pro or Surface RT? 

What would be the best choice for your library patrons?

These devices have their own list of pro's and con's. [See link below for stats.] The best way to address this issue is to compare the Surface devices with another brand to find out where your 'wants and needs' stand. Hopefully these articles will help us weed through the stats and make constructive decisions over the summer.

Surface RT vs. Surface Pro

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/which-surface-is-right-for-you

http://www.gizmag.com/microsoft-surface-pro-vs-surface-rt/26117/

Replacing your laptops?

If you are thinking about replacing your library laptops, the Surface Pro might be the way to go, weighing in at only 2 lbs.  You can add a 'type cover' for  the keyboard for $129, less if it's bundled.

With the apps running just like a laptop, it's definitely a better production device for college students  than the RT. 

Image Credit:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/which-surface-is-right-for-you

 

Image Credit:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/which-surface-is-right-for-you

Touch Cover might be an issue:

There are some negative reviews in Amazon concerning the 'touch' cover because the space bar seems to miss as you type. This would be very frustrating to continually edit your work. I'd rather be practical, even though some patrons might like the look of the 'touch' cover in Amazon's beautiful summer color choices.



Why not the Surface RT?  1.5 lbs.

What advantages or disadvantages does this device have over the iPad or the Kindle Fire HD? Seriously this is an upgraded tablet.  The RT is ultra-thin and light with a long battery life. The pixels are lower to enhance the battery life. The chart below reads, 'always connected and always up to date'.  It doesn't function like a laptop because it doesn't have the Pro's core processor.  The RT has a bit larger display, almost one inch; storage starts at 32GB, weighs a tiny bit more than the iPad and Kindle Fire HD, plus it comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home Student 2013.^.

Tablet Fight: Surface vs. iPad vs. Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 

Be sure to review this article that has an excellent chart for comparison.

http://mashable.com/2012/10/16/microsoft-surface-vs-ipad-kindle-fire/




Image Credit:
 http://www.gizmag.com/surface-vs-ipad/24591/

Surface RT vs. iPad
http://www.gizmag.com/macbook-air-vs-microsoft-surface-pro-specs-comparison/26175/

 

Image Credit:
 http://www.gizmag.com/macbook-air-vs-microsoft-surface-pro-specs-comparison/26175/

MacBook Air vs. Surface Pro
The cost of the Surface Pro plus the touch cover is the same as the Macbook Air.
http://www.gizmag.com/macbook-air-vs-microsoft-surface-pro-specs-comparison/26175/

Galaxy Note 8 vs. Kindle Fire HD 8.9



All Images this post: Credit: http://alturl.com/49ra8
 

iPad still tops the tablet arena!  Both the full size and the mini outsell all of the rivals.  Apple’s two biggest competitors, Amazon and Samsung, are showing what they are made of.   Galaxy Note 8.0 and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” are the newest successes. Both of these are terrific alternatives to the iPad and iPad mini.  See specs below to compare the Note 8 and Fire 8.9.



Kindle Fire's pixel density is 34 percent higher and  a much sharper image than the Galaxy Note.

Remember to consider speed, size, pixels, weight, cost difference, software, cameras, battery, fees for wireless, storage, RAM, processor and material type. These two devices are both plastic.



Note 8 has a faster processor
 

If you don't like plastic, you may want to consider the Surface or an iPad. Sounds like all these issues are similar to the topics we research when buying a smartphone, PC, laptop, iMac or MacBook Pro. See this excellent article below for all the specs to help unravel your decision.



$130 difference in price

Article from Gizmag April 23, 2012

http://www.gizmag.com/kindle-fire-hd-8-9-vs-galaxy-note-8-0-specs-comparison/27231/

 

Note 8 has double the RAM

 

Click on this link below. Scroll down to pictures and articles for comparing various iPads and tablets.
http://www.gizmag.com/kindle-fire-hd-8-9-vs-galaxy-note-8-0-specs-comparison/27231/pictures

iPad mini 7.9" vs. Kindle Fire HD 7"




Image Credit: http://www.apple.com/ipad/

iPad mini fits in one hand —

Yet it can do everything an iPad can do!

So, how do you decide what's best for your library? 

I'd like to have both:]

Image credit:

http://alturl.com/fv93g

iPad mini                                   Kindle Fire
Anodized aluminum                                   Plastic
Cost $ $329                                                7" $199
Lower pixels 163ppi                                   Higher pixels 216 ppi
Camera front/rear                                        Camera front
Superior apps library                                   Nominal # of apps
Not so crisp text/images                              Extra crisp text/images


So, the questions looms, does the extra iPad mini's 0.9" make a difference for the low pixels and at a higher price? [$329 vs. $199]

Would we pay extra for the best software selection and design of the iPad mini or buy the Kindle Fire for less and get a sharper image and faster processor? One funny comment I've read: "If it doesn't fit in my cargo pants, I'm not buying it....."  This guy is keeping his 7'' Kindle Fire.

Makes us wonder if the clothes designer's will make those cargo pant pockets bigger for the larger 'mini' electronic gadgets in the future or perhaps for the Samsung Galaxy4 and other super-sized smartphones? It's certainly interesting what drives the market these days.

 

 

Another choice might be the new Kindle Fire 8.9"

$269 with 254 ppi.





Image Credit: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-HD-9-inch/dp/B008GFRE5A



What do you think is the perfect device for library check out? 

Let us know what you are doing in your library.

 

Stats for iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000846051

 

 

Overview for Kindle Fire HD 7"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRB9E/ref=fs_j

 

Overview for Kindle Fire HD 8.9"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRB9E/ref=fs_j

 

 

Overview from Apple

http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/

 

Image credit: http://alturl.com/j3ffs

What's new this week?
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, an iPad mini rival,
to hit stores Thursday
Check out this article today:
http://alturl.com/qy8o2

189ppi, Wi-Fi, front/rear camera, 5 megapixel/1.3
$400

 

New iPad this summer?
http://alturl.com/pwmyy

Quote from USAtoday.com: "Speculation into the launch of a new iPad kicked off last week, after Fortune reported last week retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart were slashing prices on iPads and iPad Minis, suggesting Apple is poised to launch a new model."

The Best iPad Apps of 2012 from Gizmag

http://www.gizmag.com/ipad-mini-review/24855

Kindle 4G and New Tablet

Kindle Fire HD 4G and other new Kindle devices

 

All pictures on this page image credit: http://alturl.com/cpatv

 

 

It's just amazing what is being offered this holiday season in eReaders, tablets and iPads.  Good luck sorting all this out. Doing your research will definitely get you and your patrons the best fit for your library. At our academic library, we like the new choices, especially on a tight budget.  The cost shown below is for the low end memory devices.  See Amazon's web site for specs and all pricing.  http://alturl.com/cpatv

 

Presently we are using the 3G Kindle3 models to replace many of the worn out 'original' Kindle1's.  These older models served us well for the last four years and hope the new devices hold up just as well. Kindle1's were $359 in 2008, which makes even the 8.9" Kindle HD Wi-Fi device at $299 and the new $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" a bargain. 

 

We have many required titles for class reading that transfer smoothly to the new models. The Kindle Fire is popular here for required reading, assignments and terrific in class when students work in groups researching for a class project.

 

Next Blog:
New iPad mini

 

 

 

 

All pictures on this page image credit: http://alturl.com/cpatv

 

$499 HD 4G LTE Wireless 8.9"

$299 for Wi-Fi model

 

$159 no HD

$199 HD model

$139 3G w/keyboard

 

3G $179

Wi-Fi $119

 



6" B/W $69

iPads vs. Kindles vs. Nooks-2012





Image Credit: http://alturl.com/6whj8

"With ultra-affordable e-ink readers, mid-priced color tablets like the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, and even the more expensive iPads all vying for your e-book dollar, what's the best choice for you? It depends." This quote from CNET's John Falcone

Image Credit:  http://alturl.com/n75j5

Many students, faculty, staff, and neighbors ask me almost every day...."What eReader or tablet do you like most? or "Which one should I buy?"  These are difficult questions to answer if we don't know their lifestyle and budget. My first question is budget, second question is,  "Are you going to read 90% of the time or use the internet, social networking and email most of the time?"  Third question, "Do you want to replace your laptop?"

Now that the market place has a  nice variety of good quality devices under $200, it's time for consumers to do their homework.  No guessing!  Go to the different stores and try each device.  Go to the library or at home and do some internet research.  Go back to the store and look at your top three choices. 

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/dxb3c

 

I have found several good web sites they might help you get started.  Take notes and ask all your friends and neighbors what they like. Make a 'pros and cons' list. You might not find anyone to loan you one, unless you try a library.  You might find that you are a trusted friend indeed if someone loaned you their precious device, because after you have your own, you won't let it go.  Good luck on your adventure into the digital eReader world!

 

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/q5hi6, http://store.apple.com/us

 

"Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad:

Which e-book reader should you buy?"

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/dxb3c

May 5th, 2012 CNET

by John Falcone

http://alturl.com/6whj8 

 

"I want my kids to read.
They want to play games."
2nd device purchase? 

Quote and Image Credit: http://wearebothright.com/2012/05/ipads-kindles-and-nooks/



 

Readers who don't want to share their eReader/tablet/iPad with their kids or grandkids. What 2nd device to purchase? Can they find a device that could meet both of these requirements?

 

Quote from Tracy from her blog, We Are Both Right.

"The iPad was the first to be eliminated. I deemed it too expensive and too heavy for little hands prone to dropping things. Yes, there are many cool book apps. However, my goal was to get them to read first and then shoot birds across the screen later. Book apps aside, there’s just too many other media offerings on the iPad to distract my children from reading." 

Many of us believe that good readers make great students.

  Good parenting skills Tracy!

See her blog below for more tips!

http://wearebothright.com/2012/05/ipads-kindles-and-nooks/

Apple Rumors: 8 inch iPad? 3 different iPad3's? 8 GB iPad? Dual processor iPad3? iPad 2S or iPad 2X? Apple Announcement on March 7th

Apple Event in San Francisco March 7th

Image Credit:http://http://alturl.com/gndif

We have found so countless rumors concerning the March 7th announcement for the new iPad3 release concerning the level, mid-range and high-end market divisions.  Maybe an 8 inch iPad, 8GB iPad2  or iPad3, iPad2s or iPad2x and the new iPad3 with dual processor...Quad core A6 CPU or Logic Board with A5X?

 The rumor mill is endless!

 The competition with the new Kindle Fire's and Nook Color, size and price seems to be key.  Rather than rehash these rumors in this blog, click on the links below that interest you and review the rumors.  Let's see which ones come true. We will be on Spring Break at Palm Beach State College the week of the big announcement and we will get back to this blog the week of March 12.

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/gndif

Feb. 29th Apple rumored to release 3 different versions of iPad3.

From CBS News "techtalk", we find the latest 'new' rumors surfacing of three possible models of iPad 3. The link below reports that 9to5Mac is claiming sources close to Apple revealed this information. This also cites earlier speculation by DigiTimes that Apple gave two versions of the new tablet to "upstream partners for development," code, called J1 and J2.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57387950-501465/apple-may-release-three-versions-of-ipad-3/



March 1st  iPad News from DigiTimes

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20120229PD220.html

Feb. 14th- 8 inch iPad?

http://blogs.denverpost.com/techknowbytes/2012/02/14/tablet-news-8-inch-ipad-and-galaxy-note-release-date/3280/

Feb. 22nd

Rumor mill is endless... Quad core A6 CPU  or Logic Board with A5X

http://ziarra.net/2012/02/22/ipad-3-specs-release-date-and-other-rumors/




Image Credit: http://alturl.com/gndif

 

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/x85r2


Feb. 9th

Thicker and Sharper?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57373866-501465/apple-ipad-3-rumors-thicker-sharper-coming-soon/

Feb. 10th $299-$399 iPad2?

Analysts are predicting that Apple will lower the price of the iPad 2 when they the release the iPad 3.

http://www.fiercecio.com/techwatch/story/apples-ipad-3-will-be-unveiled-first-week-march-says-report/2012-02-10

Feb. 21st- iPad User Satisfaction Chart



Image Credit: http://alturl.com/cykb7

Feb. 21-Office for iPad?
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19754/apple_ipad_3_retina_display_rumors_intensify_office_for_ipad_imminent

Feb. 10th-Apple's iPad 3 will be unveiled first week of March, says report - FierceCIO:TechWatch

http://www.fiercecio.com/techwatch/story/apples-ipad-3-will-be-unveiled-first-week-march-says-report/2012-02-10#ixzz1nKMZwYv7



Image Credit: http://alturl.com/gndif



Cast your vote for 2012 Read Together Program by Feb. 24th-EAP Class Semester Loan Project and our NEW Kindle Fire and NookColor devices

We have added 25 Kindle Fires and 15 Nook Color devices to our eReader/tablet collection.

  



Nook Color  

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/fepfp



Kindle Fire
Image Credit: http://alturl.com/2x5jm


These are the new titles below that we have purchased to help students, faculty and staff cast their vote for the 2012 Read Together Palm Beach County Campaign.
Vote by Feb. 24.
Cast your vote in our library on either floor two or floor three, or at their web site below.  March 12th will be the announcement for the 2012 book choice.
http://readtogether.palmbeachpost.com/

  

/



Image Credits: http://readtogether.palmbeachpost.com/

Nook Color and Kindle Fire devices are

7 day loans.

Dr. Richard Shepardson is Palm Beach State's EAP Cluster Chair. He is working with our library this semester to promote reading using eReaders in his EAP 0420 classes, with approximately 25 students in all. Students will have the opportunity to use a Kindle Fire and/or a Nook Color this semester. We hope to receive a lot of feedback from students concerning their likes and dislikes about each device.




Image Credit: http://alturl.com/3uxeg

 

Tech Services added a new book, The Appointment, to each Kindle Fire and Nook Color, to start off the semester. If students find other books they would like to read, with Dr. Shepardson's approval, we will download these requests. We are very excited about these new devices and hope this program will bring many excellent books to our fiction collection.




Image Credit: http://alturl.com/ou422

 The Year of the Flood is assigned reading by one of our teachers.  Students are very pleased that they can check out a Kindle Fire to take home for this assignment.

Kindle Fire vs. Nook Color Semester Class Project

Image Credit: http://alturl.com/fobud


Dr. Richard Shepardson is Palm Beach State's EAP Cluster Chair.  He is working with our library this semester to promote reading using eReaders in his EAP 0420 classes, with approximately 25 students in all. Students will have the opportunity to use a Kindle Fire and/or a Nook Color this semester. We hope to receive a lot of feedback from students concerning their likes and dislikes about each device.

Tech Services added a new book, The Appointment, to each Kindle Fire to start off the 1st class this Monday.  If students find other books they would like to read, with Dr. Shepardson's approval, we will download these requests. We are very excited about this new device and hope it will bring many excellent books to our fiction collection.



Image Credit: http://alturl.com/jmtpc



The Kindle Fire Wi-Fi connection is easy with our college system.  Students sign in with their Panther Web ID and password. Off campus they can connect using any Wi-Fi system at their disposal without their college sign in information.   For students assigned or approved reading, once the book has been purchased and downloaded by our library staff, students can read anywhere without Wi-Fi.

Image Credit: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-color-barnes-noble/1100437663

We are unpacking boxes of Nook Color devices today in Tech Services and processing these new devices for students in Dr. Shepardson's class for check out..  
We will post more information about this remarkable semester project very soon.

Kindle Fire is in the LLRC Building!

Image Credit and Quick Tour: http://alturl.com/k72d3

Our library received 10 new Kindle Fire units this month.  We are very excited to implement these into our patron loan program, joining our other Kindle devices, iPads, Nooks and Sony's. 

As we gain experience and a working knowledge of these new devices, we will post again real soon.  Presently the Kindle Fire units are in Tech Services where our Library Tech is adding them to our LINCC catalog system. 

So far these new devices are working flawlessly with our Wi-Fi system here at the college.  By the beginning of our Winter Term, the Kindle Fire should be available for 7 day loan.

Image Credit and: http://alturl.com/k72d3