The official tablet (and other useless electronics) thread!

[CaptainHenreh]

I think we had the guilty pleasures thread as the unofficial watch thread, but what is your reasonable $ range? I'll make some recommendations

I mean not to be that guy but the cheapest one that meets as many of the above requirements as possible is gonna be where we start.

The tritium is gonna put a big limit on my choices soooo

[JPolen01]

Were we talking about drones in this thread? The FAA is no requiring all drone users to register their drones. $5 fee will be waived for all registrations done in the first 30 days of registration.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://gizmodo.com/you-must-register-your-drone-with-the-faa-starting-dece-1747894052">http://gizmodo.com/you-must-register-yo ... 1747894052</a><!-- m -->

[WRXtranceformed]

Just got your note, so here are a few recommendations:

Excluding Luminox, Armourlite and Traser make some decent tritium watches from what I have read, although I don't have any personal experience.

Here's one (face is bigger than you want but it ticks the boxes and has a good swiss quartz movement so it will be accurate): <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Armourlite-ColorBurst-Shatterproof-Scratch-Resistant/dp/B004EVJ3VS/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1450110099&sr=8-10&keywords=tritium+watch">http://www.amazon.com/Armourlite-ColorB ... tium+watch</a><!-- m -->

I also don't have any experience with S&W watches, but this one gets decent reviews, has a swiss movement and has a slightly smaller face: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWW-357-SS-Aviator-Stainless/dp/B000A3SHS4/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1450110346&sr=8-18&keywords=tritium+watch">http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWW- ... tium+watch</a><!-- m -->

and that box it comes in is kinda sweet. They make a titanium version if you want something that will wear lighter.

One thing to consider: T25 tritium is cool but it's not super bright. Like it's not going to really stand out at you even at night. If you want really bright tritium, there are a few companies who have the permits to obtain and make watches with T100. Check out Deep Blue watches, they are well known and respected. One like this one: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.deepbluewatches.com/brnewdascttr1.html">http://www.deepbluewatches.com/brnewdascttr1.html</a><!-- m -->. They always have holiday sales / coupons and such if you sign up for their mailing list (40-50% off) so you'd get that for about $400-$500.

If you can live without the tritium, frankly this watch screams "you" to me for some reason. And it's a brand you're familiar with and has a great movement and solar powered: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jomashop.com/citizen-bj7000-52e.html?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=googleproductsearch&gclid=Cj0KEQiA7rmzBRDezri2r6bz1qYBEiQAg-YEtlPOFb-ilsRHlKNmMsMHOw2Cze8YnBi1y3bNsVNvkSgaAsgR8P8HAQ">http://www.jomashop.com/citizen-bj7000- ... AsgR8P8HAQ</a><!-- m -->

That's probably the cheapest you will find a Nighthawk for as well right now.

There are a ton of Citizen and Seiko watches that meet most of those requirements minus the tritium, you can go to <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jomashop.com">http://www.jomashop.com</a><!-- m --> to get a feel for what is out there and what you like.

[JustinG]

If you don't own and you are curious about a Chromecast or Chromecast audio, you should get one now. $30 and comes with a $20 play credit. Or buy 2 for $55, and get the $20 play credit, unless you have 2 accounts then you can get another $20 play credit.

I want to try the Audio, gives you the ability to broadcast the same music to multiple chrome casts, ie living room receiver and speaker setup in a different room or outside, or you can cast different music to each, basically a poor mans SONOS.

[Jake]

Starting to think about buying a new laptop. The one I have is ancient, the trackpad sucks, the battery is wearing out, it's huge and clunky, the screen is dim and oh yeah the trackpad sucks.

I've been a Mac guy for ever and ever but gave 'em up when my last job gave me a MacBook Pro to use. When I changed companies, the MBP went back and I have a work-issued Dell that is so locked down I can't use it for much personal stuff (unlike the Mac). So, I'm rocking an ancient Windows machine that was given to me and has been a good stopgap for the past couple of years...

I love a good user experience and Apple has traditionally provided that for me. But, I'm not wedded to my iPhone anymore (have a 6, when contract runs up I may go Android if they continue to suck less). I do like my iPad and AppleTV but they are both pretty standalone.

So IF I were to get a Windows laptop... ugh, so many options. Hoping some of you can help narrow it down. I have not had great experiences with Dell in the professional world (my current Latitude is a great size, with awful battery life and poor build quality) and that's kind of all I know.

Wants:

• Large, high quality, precision, no bullshit trackpad. This is my #1, seriously. Apple has been the king of trackpads for years. Every Windows machine I've used has had some too-small, too-insensitive, bullshit trackpad and it drives me nuts. If the rest of the machine is amazing and the trackpad sucks, I don't want it.
  
• Thin and light
  
• Large SSD (256 GB would be ideal)
  
• Tons of RAM (8 GB)
  
• 13" screen is ideal, given how many pixels are packed onto 'em now
  
• Good battery life
  
• Backlit keyboard

A touchscreen could be cool, but isn't a requirement. The above stuff matters more.

Any ideas? Not looking to spend a ton of money if I do this, so... I'd say between $500-900 is ideal.

[JustinG]

Do you need Windows? just asking cause you can get a nice Chromebook for surfing the interwebs, watching pron, etc

[WRXtranceformed]

Agreed with Justin, I bought my wife a $180 Asus Chromebook and that thing is freakin sweet for what it is. Even streaming videos and stuff it is fine, we watched a Prime movie last night with it hooked up to our TV through HDMI and it rocked. It has a massive battery life, is small and light and boots up instantaneously. Just a thought, if you are gaming and stuff that is a different story but honestly that little Chromebook is massively impressive.

[Jake]

Do you need Windows? just asking cause you can get a nice Chromebook for surfing the interwebs, watching pron, etc

I want a real OS, yes. I already have one "hindered" device (iPad 4 w/Retina) so I need a full-featured machine with either Windows or OS X, for the sake of things like iRacing, various BMW diagnostic software, photo editing, etc.

[WRXtranceformed]

Do you need Windows? just asking cause you can get a nice Chromebook for surfing the interwebs, watching pron, etc

I want a real OS, yes. I already have one "hindered" device (iPad 4 w/Retina) so I need a full-featured machine with either Windows or OS X, for the sake of things like iRacing, various BMW diagnostic software, photo editing, etc.

Gotcha. I have pretty much only used Dells over the years, but right now my work laptop is a Latitude E7240 and it is a little beast. I travel with it constantly, it gets knocked around etc. and hasn't skipped a beat in a few years now I think. Here are the specs:

General
System Type - Ultrabook
Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition / Windows 8.1 Pro
Preinstalled OS - Windows 7
Processor / Chipset - CPU Intel Core i5 (4th Gen) 4310U / 2 GHz
Max Turbo Speed 3 GHz
Number of Cores - Dual-Core
Cache - 3 MB
64-bit Computing - Yes
Platform Technology - Intel vPro Technology
Features - Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Memory - RAM 4 GB ( 1 x 4 GB )
Max RAM Supported - 8 GB
Technology - DDR3L SDRAM
Speed - 1600 GHz
Slots Qty - 2
Empty Slots - 1
Storage Main Storage - 128 GB SSD
Display Type - 12.5" LCD Backlight Technology - LED backlight
Resolution - 1366 x 768 ( HD )
Widescreen - Yes
Features - Anti-glare
Audio & Video
Graphics Processor - Intel HD Graphics 4400
Camera - Integrated webcam
Sound - Stereo speakers , microphone
Input
Type - Touchpad, backlit keyboard
Keyboard Layout - English
Communications
Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 LE, 802.11ac
Wireless ControllerIntel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Network Interface Gigabit Ethernet
Compliant StandardsIEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, IEEE 802.11ac
Battery
Technology4-cell lithium ion
Capacity42 Wh
AC Adapter
InputAC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Output65 Watt
Connections & Expansion
Slots1 x PCI Express Half Mini Card 1 x PCI Express Mini Card
Interfaces3 x USB 3.0 LAN Headphone/microphone combo jack HDMI Mini DisplayPort Dock
Software
Software IncludedMicrosoft Office 2013 (Trial), Windows 8.1 Pro (DVD)
Miscellaneous
DockableYes
FeaturesIntel Rapid Start Technology, Intel Smart Connect Technology
Dimensions & Weight
Width12.2 in
Depth8.3 in
Height0.8 in
Weight3 lbs
Environmental Standards
ENERGY STAR QualifiedYes
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support3 years warranty
Service & Support DetailsLimited warranty - 3 years - on-site - response time: next business day

Ticks most of your boxes including touch screen (you can probably upgrade the SSD for more memory) and it's about $675 online

[WRXtranceformed]

Erm, the Rakuten price was $675, it looks like Amazon and other retailers will be in the $900 range. I also noticed that my version has the Core I7 processor not the I5. I would imagine this would put you at the top of your range but it is an awesome little laptop man!

[Jake]

I have pretty much only used Dells over the years, but right now my work laptop is a Latitude E7240 and it is a little beast.

Heh, my work laptop is also a Latitude E7240 and it's "fine" but I would never spend money on another one. Started life on Windows 7 and now has Windows 8. In both instances, the battery life has proven to be only a few hours (2 is all I can count on). The fan runs far more than it should given it has a SSD, which only helps to kill the battery faster. Trackpad is decent but not to Apple standards. And the rubber "frame" around the screen has come unglued and is hanging off, just from not-quite two years of office use, with some occasional couch and table use if I work from home.

Mine doesn't get banged around and it's kind of a POS It's the i7 with 8 GB of RAM so it's zippy - mine doesn't have the backlit keyboard though. And the screen is... okay.

[WRXtranceformed]

Ha crazy, does yours have like the carbon fiber design on the top of the case? Maybe I've just been lucky with this one. I did have to replace the battery as it wouldn't hold a charge after a while. The new battery has been fine, I can get 3-3.5+ hours out of it now.

[Ken]

Starting to think about buying a new laptop. The one I have is ancient, the trackpad sucks, the battery is wearing out, it's huge and clunky, the screen is dim and oh yeah the trackpad sucks.

I've been a Mac guy for ever and ever but gave 'em up when my last job gave me a MacBook Pro to use. When I changed companies, the MBP went back and I have a work-issued Dell that is so locked down I can't use it for much personal stuff (unlike the Mac). So, I'm rocking an ancient Windows machine that was given to me and has been a good stopgap for the past couple of years...

I love a good user experience and Apple has traditionally provided that for me. But, I'm not wedded to my iPhone anymore (have a 6, when contract runs up I may go Android if they continue to suck less). I do like my iPad and AppleTV but they are both pretty standalone.

So IF I were to get a Windows laptop... ugh, so many options. Hoping some of you can help narrow it down. I have not had great experiences with Dell in the professional world (my current Latitude is a great size, with awful battery life and poor build quality) and that's kind of all I know.

Wants:

• Large, high quality, precision, no bullshit trackpad. This is my #1, seriously. Apple has been the king of trackpads for years. Every Windows machine I've used has had some too-small, too-insensitive, bullshit trackpad and it drives me nuts. If the rest of the machine is amazing and the trackpad sucks, I don't want it.
  
• Thin and light
  
• Large SSD (256 GB would be ideal)
  
• Tons of RAM (8 GB)
  
• 13" screen is ideal, given how many pixels are packed onto 'em now
  
• Good battery life
  
• Backlit keyboard

A touchscreen could be cool, but isn't a requirement. The above stuff matters more.

Any ideas? Not looking to spend a ton of money if I do this, so... I'd say between $500-900 is ideal.

Pick up a Surface Pro 3 on a deal - maybe during the return season deals binge? If so, I would go with the Surface 4 type cover since the trackpad is improved.

[HAULN-SS]

So many specs and crap here I didnt feel like reading. I was laptop shopping a while ago, and on paper, I really liked the Dell XPS 13 - never got around to seeing one in person though:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.engadget.com/products/dell/xps/13/2015/">http://www.engadget.com/products/dell/xps/13/2015/</a><!-- m -->

I also have seen and used Surface Pro 3 a bit, and I really liked it.

In the end, I bought a like-new top shit MBP 15" for $1900 off ebay. I do a little bit of app development on the side, and had been using an old work computer but when I changed jobs had to give that back.

[Apoc]

I've been shopping for the last two months. If I was buying something with a small screen, I'd definitely go Surface Book.

[davej]

Lee, is your's a touch screen? My main work one is a E7440, i7, ssd, 16gb of ram, etc, it has the carbon fiber case and is touch.
It's been a work horse for me, but the battery life is less than ideal. (to be fair, I don't let it manage itself and leave it cranked to 11 all the time)

Jake, I'll dig around and see if i can find the slides from our last Dell hardware roadmap meeting, they had a couple of cool things in the works.

edit - never mind, Dell never sent us that deck, some NDA whateverwhatever. I think it was an XPS 15 that they had as a demo, it was really slick, but spendy.

[Mike]

Mac.

[davej]

Mac.

pcmasterrace, bro.

[Mike]

Mac.

pcmasterrace, bro.

[.RJ]

Wants:

• Large, high quality, precision, no bullshit trackpad. This is my #1, seriously. Apple has been the king of trackpads for years. Every Windows machine I've used has had some too-small, too-insensitive, bullshit trackpad and it drives me nuts. If the rest of the machine is amazing and the trackpad sucks, I don't want it.
  
• Thin and light
  
• Large SSD (256 GB would be ideal)
  
• Tons of RAM (8 GB)
  
• 13" screen is ideal, given how many pixels are packed onto 'em now
  
• Good battery life
  
• Backlit keyboard

A touchscreen could be cool, but isn't a requirement. The above stuff matters more.

Any ideas? Not looking to spend a ton of money if I do this, so... I'd say between $500-900 is ideal.

You just described a 13" macbook pro, so get one of those on refurb. There's no compelling reason not to, you dont NEED windows for anything. And, the force touch deal is nice.