Tablet Instead of Laptop for Storing Images When Travelling

Jackwow · 19 Feb 2012

Is anyone doing this?

I'm looking at getting a Samsung Tablet, maybe the new 7.7" as it is the latest and has the best screen, and would love not to have to take my laptop with me when I travel.

Is it easy enough to download images from a CF card via the USB adaptor (the Samsung SD card adaptor will presuambly handle images taken on S95)?

TG. · 19 Feb 2012

Am i right in thinking that Tablets only have limited hard drive i.e. in the case of the Samsung i think it's about 16gb, if your wanting to store photos from holiday thats quite small, well it wouldn't do for me anyway, why not consider one of the 11in laptops, nice and small with around 300gig of hard drive, plus you can install programs like photoshop, look HERE

freefall · 19 Feb 2012

I have the 8.9 but don't use the adapter as I don't have it. I found the wifi direct is fast. Even good old Bluetooth aint that bad for a few photos.

woodpigeon4 · 19 Feb 2012

Fairly easy, but as others have said, disk space is an issue, and I find the method of image transfer clunky and difficult. It's also difficult to make last minute adjustment on images as you obviously don't get fully-fledged image editing suites on tablets. I usually find it easier to carry around an ultraportable laptop - Asus and Samsung make some good ones, and if your budget will stretch to it a macbook air would be fantastic

Jackwow · 20 Feb 2012

TG. said:
Am i right in thinking that Tablets only have limited hard drive i.e. in the case of the Samsung i think it's about 16gb, if your wanting to store photos from holiday thats quite small, well it wouldn't do for me anyway,.....

The Samsung Tablets come with different hard drive sizes, usually 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. Also the 7.7" version supports microSD up to 32GB. So I don't think storage space is a problem?

Jackwow · 20 Feb 2012

woodpigeon4 said:
I usually find it easier to carry around an ultraportable laptop - Asus and Samsung make some good ones, and if your budget will stretch to it a macbook air would be fantastic

I've thought about a netbook but really want a Tablet. I wouldn't be doing any photo processing on it just storing the images until I returned home and transferred them to my PC.

woodpigeon4 · 20 Feb 2012

Jackwow said:
I've thought about a netbook but really want a Tablet. I wouldn't be doing any photo processing on it just storing the images until I returned home and transferred them to my PC.

Well then the Samsung would be quite a good choice

I just can't help thinking that the awkward methods of data transfer and the need to download third party apps to do just about anything would begin to get annoying. I've had various iPads and android tablets and currently have a blackberry playbook, and although I've enjoyed owning all of them, I never really use them for anything more than browsing, light gaming, and watching the occasional film in bed. If for example I'm going on holiday and want to review my shots, I'll leave the tablet at home and bring a laptop for sure.

Dave * · 20 Feb 2012

Jackwow said:
I've thought about a netbook but really want a Tablet. I wouldn't be doing any photo processing on it just storing the images until I returned home and transferred them to my PC.

It would be a lot cheaper to just buy 2 extra big memory cards, 2 32GB cards would be more storage than the biggest tablet.

A small netbook must still be the cheapest back up device available. 320gb for around £100 second hand just seems more logical.

Jackwow · 20 Feb 2012

Dave1 said:
It would be a lot cheaper to just buy 2 extra big memory cards, 2 32GB cards would be more storage than the biggest tablet.

The main purpose of the tablet would be web surfing and emailing but if it could fulfill the storage issue as well then great. You are of course correct that a few big cards would also do the job but they wouldn't allow me to look at my pics in my leisure and delete any duds or share with friends.

Dave * · 21 Feb 2012

Jackwow said:
The main purpose of the tablet would be web surfing and emailing but if it could fulfill the storage issue as well then great. You are of course correct that a few big cards would also do the job but they wouldn't allow me to look at my pics in my leisure and delete any duds or share with friends.

You are correct with regard to image preview on a tablet as opposed to cards, but then it could be said a small laptop or netbook would do the same for much cheaper.

I wouldn't be without my iPad, but find the idea of using it as back up storage an expensive ill suited device (having said that, I have used if for previewing images, but not storing them).

If I travel, my iPad is for email, net and books/magazines. My 11.6" laptop is for "computer" purposes like backing up/editing etc.

Jackwow · 22 Feb 2012

I have found one person who has the 10.1 tablet and they were able to connect their D40 direct to the tablet via the USB adaptor and view and select images to save or save the lot.

Also a colleague who has the 7.7 tablet has downloaded images from a CF card via a card reader connected to the USB, although his tablet didn't recognise his D70!

So one way or the other I should be okay.

However I'll wait until closer to the time before buying a tablet as Samsung seem to bring out a new model every month or two!

Thanks for the replies.