To ask if you have a tablet, what do you use it for?

[gchali]

If you also have a smartphone too?

I've been considering buying an iPad but I'm in two minds about it as I do also have an iPhone and I don't want it to be a pointless purchase. I was thinking of using it for myself but also have maybe for DS in the future (he's too young though atm).

What do you use yours for that you don't do on your phone? Be interested to hear people's opinions

Reading (Apple books and kindle app), games, internet browsing with a larger screen than my phone, tv and films while travelling (wistfully remembering travel...), typing up quick word processed documents / letters to send air print printer. Online shopping (again bigger screen makes things easier).

I have a work laptop that I can use for personal use if needed but I use my iPad for most things other than more complicated formatted documents and spreadsheets or long typed documents as I don’t have an iPad keyboard and typing long docs on a touch screen gets annoying.

Thanks @babblingbumblingbandofbaboons, that's really helpful

I have an Amazon 10" Fire tablet and use it all the time. Reading, internet stuff, games, email, movies, paying my bills, online shopping, etc. The price of the Fire can't be beat, either. The screens resolution is incredible.

I’ve got a smart phone and we share an iPad. We use the iPad for watching tv (catch up) in bed, zoom calls, checking our website back end when we are not in the office, parent pay for school. My 5 year old uses it to read books (Oxford Owls were put in there for free during lockdown) and both my children use it for squeebles (maths and spellings) and occasional games. They don’t have their own tablets. It’s also really good for long car journeys - we download films, audio books and tv programmes and strap it to the back of a headrest. Our iPad is now fairly old (6 or 7 years) but it’s still going strong. The iOS can’t be updated now but anything we can’t use we just ignore.

I hope that helps a bit

Mumsnet on a bigger screen .

Sounds good, @Tinty

I have a Samsung phone & tablet - use my tablet for loads: browsing the Internet, online shopping, social media, streaming Netflix, Amazon & YouTube, reading occasionally (though I do prefer my Kindle/Kindle Fire for that). If you have an iPhone, I would get an iPad so everything will sync. Once you get one, you'll definitely find a use for it!

Have iphone so went for Samsung 7 tab
Love it use it for everything

Sorry for butting in. I have an amazon fire. Can I read books on it? Total novice. Thanks

Internet browsing, online shopping, reading newspapers and magazines, games, checking emails.

I only use my smartphone for calls, texts and WhatsApp, plus for internet browsing when I'm out of the house.

If I need to type long documents I use my laptop.

Thanks @Bumfuzzled. I was thinking about using it for catch up tv too and also for DS when we are out and about and need to keep him distracted. It can be a pain having to use our own phones for YouTube for him as it means we can't use it at the same time

@burglarbettybaby

Yes for books. The Fire comes preloaded with the Kindle app. It's brilliant.

@bwfcchick88 I like your username

Very little. I have a decent Samsung tablet but I use my phone or work's laptop if need be. DH uses his every single day though, the only difference in our usage really is I read and he watches 'TV', all other shopping, banking, playing games etc is the same.

Cheap smart phone use iPad for everything else- daily paper, MN, emailing ,photos, shopping, zoom calls couldn’t do all that on a little screen

You could also get your son a Fire tablet for Kids. It has built in parental controls and is loaded with age appropriate games, books, etc.

Netflix/sky go/prime in the evenings. It's just a fire so nothing fancy but does the job.

Thanks for asking this OP

Will Amazon Fire run spreadsheets at all? I could really do with that in a more portable form.

[quote gchali]@bwfcchick88 I like your username [/quote]
Haha, thanks! I'm increasingly embarrassed by it these days 🤣

My iPad was the best tech present ever. I had an iPhone already and now use a MacBook too.

For doing work stuff, shopping and banking I prefer to use the laptop. For browsing, games, travel/holidays and watching online programmes in bed the iPad is great. .

Sadly iPad is now very old, think it was 1st generation, still good for Netflix etc but i can't use some apps so have ordered a new one - this is my 2020 treat to make up for no holidays/nights out etc this year.

Browsing internet, watching TV on the go or in bed (don’t have a TV in bedroom), doodling/making notes (I like to use the Apple Pencil too), and since lockdown I’ve started playing a few games - never been into video games before but playing the free call of duty app on the iPad is great. You can also connect Bluetooth PlayStation controllers to play on the iPad which improves gaming experience

I’m on my laptop a lot for work so it’s nice to change to my iPad

@AcornAutumn

I work on spreadsheets on my Fire using Google Docs, but I'm sure there are other platforms that would work as well.

Watching 'tv', playing games,

I'm wondering if it might be worth waiting until Black Friday to have a look at the prices before purchasing?

I love my iPad. I use it for reading books via the kindle app, accessing my Times online, internet browsing, etc.