Portable device for Word?

[Aragarthiel]

I'm taking my first on-campus class this semester, and the computers there are either old and slow or equipped with Windows 10 and I really don't like 10. I want my own device to take to class for notes and I could take my laptop but I'd like something smaller and easier to carry around. I'm considering a cheap tablet but those are mostly for internet purposes and I don't know if it's possible to get Microsoft Word on there (or OneNote, it might be better for this particular class). I don't need a lot of storage space, since my notes will likely go straight to my laptop when I get home.

Can anyone recommend a device that might work for me?

[mjr]

I'm taking my first on-campus class this semester, and the computers there are either old and slow or equipped with Windows 10 and I really don't like 10. I want my own device to take to class for notes and I could take my laptop but I'd like something smaller and easier to carry around. I'm considering a cheap tablet but those are mostly for internet purposes and I don't know if it's possible to get Microsoft Word on there (or OneNote, it might be better for this particular class). I don't need a lot of storage space, since my notes will likely go straight to my laptop when I get home.

Can anyone recommend a device that might work for me?

Why not look into a small digital voice recorder??

It does look like there's something similar to OpenOffice for Android tablets...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...enoffice&hl=en

Also, if you Google "OpenOffice android tablets" you'll probably get some other results.

[Kheldarson]

Honestly I'd recommend a tablet and Google Docs. Then it'd be stored in the Cloud and you can transfer it when you get home.

[Aragarthiel]

Honestly I'd recommend a tablet and Google Docs. Then it'd be stored in the Cloud and you can transfer it when you get home.

Google Docs can't be used offline though, can it? I've heard from several sources that my college's internet goes down quite a bit and that would render google Docs useless for note-taking.

[csquared]

Google has an offline feature that I know works on Android devices. Not sure about others.

To me, the biggest issue is typing on a tablet. I hate it. Main reason why I won't get a tablet.

[Kheldarson]

Google has an offline feature that I know works on Android devices. Not sure about others.

To me, the biggest issue is typing on a tablet. I hate it. Main reason why I won't get a tablet.

Yeah, you just mark the file as something to use offline and it keeps a downloaded copy on the device that it updates to and from the Cloud.

As to typing, I recommend getting a Bluetooth keyboard to pair with a tablet. I bought one with a cover and it sets up just like a laptop. This setup and Docs is how I do all my writing at work during breaks.

[Chromatix]

You could try getting one of the old netbooks, such as the Asus EeePC series. There should be some floating around that are still perfectly good for this sort of job (which is, after all, what they were designed for).

If you get one running Linux, I recommend using Abiword.

[Aragarthiel]

I looked up the EeePC and it's not a touchscreen- that's my only issue with it. I'd love the touchscreen for those flowcharts I was talking about, it's not easy to draw a decent one with a touchpad.

I've been looking into old Surface Pros, they seem perfect but a bit out of my price range. Is there anything out there like that I might be able to use? I'm also considering the tablet + bluetooth keyboard combo but most tablets don't say if they'll run Office so I'm having a hard time finding one that I can be sure will and won't blow my budget.

[cindybubbles]

What about cheap iPads? Apple has its own Office editing software, and even if you can't get that, you can get Office apps at the Apple Store.

If not, check the Google Play store to see if they offer Microsoft Office apps.

[Aria]

Well, I love my Blackberry Passport and it works great for creative writing. It might be a touch expensive though.

[Food Lady]

I have an Acer chromebook and it will store stuff on the disk or in the cloud. It only weighs 3 lbs and it's the size of a piece of notebook paper. I'd rather have it than a tablet because I like a keyboard.

[Aragarthiel]

So I think I found a tablet that will work, though it's barely inside my budget without the keyboard. I thought about it and the keyboard isn't absolutely necessary, but it runs Word/OneNote and comes with a pen, which were the main things I needed. Thanks for all the great suggestions though!

[Chromatix]

There's also the Asus Transformer Book, which is essentially a small tablet with a detachable keyboard.

[Aragarthiel]

There's also the Asus Transformer Book, which is essentially a small tablet with a detachable keyboard.

If only it had a pen XD

[Gravekeeper]

I've been looking into old Surface Pros, they seem perfect but a bit out of my price range. Is there anything out there like that I might be able to use? I'm also considering the tablet + bluetooth keyboard combo but most tablets don't say if they'll run Office so I'm having a hard time finding one that I can be sure will and won't blow my budget.

Asus has a few budget netbooks with touchscreen capabilities that will run or even come with Office. Long as you aren't looking to do any Serious Business(tm) computing with them they should work. Being budget netbooks they're kinda balls for anything more intense than Office and Youtube.

That said my eeePC served me faithfully for years as a small, lightweight Word + Youtube machine to keep me sane on shift overnight. So I have a softspot for netbooks. I'm not terribly fond of tablets for the lack of a real keyboard.

There's more than a few touchscreen netbooks, from the low end ( Asus, Acer, etc ) to the high end ( Samsung, etc ). I don't know what your budget is though.