4 solid tablet work systems I use regularly

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  • 4 work tablets on my desk

    4 work tablets on my desk

    Tablets are not for everyone, especially for use as primary work systems. Whether a tablet can do everything needed for work depends on what the work is and how the individual feels best doing it. Many tablets on the market are capable and powerful enough to perform tasks that previously would be restricted to the realm of powerful laptops.

    I currently own four tablets, and each can be used as a daily work system. I do that regularly, taking the tablet that appeals to me on a given day. Here are the slates presented not in order of preference but the order I use most frequently. None of these units are better than the others, they are all different and work well in their own way.

    Since I write for a living I must use a keyboard and I’ve listed the one I use with each tablet.

    Photo by: James Kendrick/ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • iPad Air 2 / BrydgeAir keyboard

    iPad Air 2 / BrydgeAir keyboard

    The iPad is a good fit for what I need and is often the tablet I use for my daily work. When coupled with the BrydgeAir keyboard the iPad Air 2 is a mini-MacBook clone that is without compromise. The apps are the best on any tablet and with multi-tasking in iOS 9 the iPad Air 2 is as good as any laptop.

    This may end up getting replaced by the larger iPad Pro when it’s available in November. The larger display may be better for working for hours at a time but I’m not certain about it yet. The loss of portability I enjoy with the iPad Air 2 may put me off.

    See my review of the BrydgeAir keyboard for the iPad Air and iPad Air 2.

    Photo by: James Kendrick/ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Surface 3

    Surface 3

    The smallest tablet in Microsoft’s Surface line is not as powerful as the newest models recently released, but it’s still a solid workhorse. It is a fantastic size that is highly portable, yet a full PC when used with the Type Cover. While Windows 10 has some occasional issues, most of the time it works well on the Surface 3.

    The build quality of the Surface 3 is first-rate and the tablet is a joy to use. The Surface Pen is as good as any for any platform.

    See my extended coverage of the Surface 3.

    Photo by: James Kendrick/ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Jide Remix Ultra Tablet

    Jide Remix Ultra Tablet

    The Remix Ultra is an Android tablet designed to work like the Surface, with the keyboard cover that comes with the tablet. The interface is designed to mimic Windows 7 and does a pretty good job at that. While Android tablet apps are not as good as those for the iPad, they are good enough for my work.

    The Jide Remix Ultra is well constructed and is a solid performer. It has the unusual feature of letting multiple apps run onscreen at the same time which is handy.

    See my review of the Jide Remix Ultra Tablet.

    Photo by: James Kendrick/ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • iPad mini 3 / MS Foldable Keyboard

    iPad mini 3 / MS Foldable Keyboard

    The iPad mini 3 is not the latest small iPad tablet but it’s good enough that I have no desire to upgrade to the iPad mini 4. While the multitasking I enjoy on the iPad Air 2 would be nice on the iPad mini 4, the smaller display would make it less useful.

    I don’t use the iPad mini 3 that much for work due to the small screen size but I often carry it on weekends just in case I want to get some writing done.

    The little iPad is perfect for such work when paired with the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard. The duo is so portable they both fit in a cargo pants pocket, yet form a good writing system.

    See my review of the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard.

    Photo by: James Kendrick/ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

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I've been a tablet user since the early Tablet PC days, and I buy a lot of them to use for work. I currently have four good ones, any of which can step in and do everything I need.

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4 work tablets on my desk

Tablets are not for everyone, especially for use as primary work systems. Whether a tablet can do everything needed for work depends on what the work is and how the individual feels best doing it. Many tablets on the market are capable and powerful enough to perform tasks that previously would be restricted to the realm of powerful laptops.

I currently own four tablets, and each can be used as a daily work system. I do that regularly, taking the tablet that appeals to me on a given day. Here are the slates presented not in order of preference but the order I use most frequently. None of these units are better than the others, they are all different and work well in their own way.

Since I write for a living I must use a keyboard and I’ve listed the one I use with each tablet.

Caption by: James Kendrick

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