Question for Tech People

[lordlundar]

soo, I gather from your post that tablets are bad? what do you not like about tablets? my mom has been wanting one for a while now so any info you can give would be awesome

They're fine as an extra option, but not as a replacement to a proper computer. This is mainly due to the fact that the only way to get content on them is to download it. Unless you have the skills and materials to transfer copies onto it (which most of the IP holders will tell you is illegal) this means most of your stuff that you have that you want on the tablet you will have to buy again. That also assumes it's compatible in the first place which in the case of programs the answer is a resounding "not a chance."

I wouldn't mind so much personally if they were marketed as another option, but they're being marketed as the only computer you ever need which if you have ANYTHING you use on a computer already is a flat out lie.

[otakuneko]

For one, I despise on-screen keyboards. The only one I find half-way usable is the one on my 7" Galaxy Tab 2 (and even then, only in landscape mode). That's why I've put a lot of effort into finding phones with keyboards.

Second, a decent tablet is roughly the same price as the netbook it killed and not nearly as capable, and the lack of a keyboard makes it far less convenient for users like me--whose main use case for an ultra-portable includes a need for an actual keyboard. (Note-taking simply can't be done on a virtual keyboard, and terminal clients kinda need special keys not found on most virtual keyboards, such as arrow keys and ctrl/alt...) Yes, you can buy keyboards for them, but buy a good one and you might as well have just bought a laptop. The price just doesn't make up for the drawbacks, IMO.

Not to mention having to find Android equivalents for stuff I use, and not being able to simply connect to my network and work on files shared on another computer.

And then there's a trust issue, too. You can't even install a firewall on an Android device without rooting it first (a technical process which may brick your tablet/phone).

I also hate that my current Android 4.x devices, when plugged in via USB, show up as "Media Devices" instead of as a regular USB Mass Storage device--like a flash drive. This makes it more of a hassle to transfer files to and from, and, I'm convinced it's slower.

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

soo, I gather from your post that tablets are bad? what do you not like about tablets? my mom has been wanting one for a while now so any info you can give would be awesome

[otakuneko]

I wouldn't really consider a Chromebook a netbook. >.>

Tablets have effectively killed off the small, low-powered Windows/Linux-based segment we used to call netbooks.

I'll never forgive them.

[Silent-Hunter]

I wouldn't use one as a primary computer either.

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

True, I just meant that admittedly I didn't do my research & just went "oooh shiny!" & didn't think about how much stuff I use, software, games etc that are Windows based & therefore wouldn't be compatible with Google as an OS. And yeah space is NOT a premium on it either, I have ALOT of music, tv, movies & games stored & well, let's just say, thank God for external hard drives

So, I'd use a Netbook for traveling or as a back-up for when I couldn't use the laptop, but not as the primary computer for sure

[Silent-Hunter]

Actually, netbooks are great if you don't use Windows anyway. Although they are a little underpowered.

[Sleepwalker]

Nah, prebuilts can use a variety of different parts, or revisions of parts. Really, if I were you, I'd just get the DVDs, try using VLC(which will straight up ignore regional locks on many opticals) and make an ISO if VLC/your other preferred software doesn't work- it's not worth stressing over the dumbshittery of a ten dollar computer part.

"Does VLC support DVDs from all regions?

This mostly depends on your DVD drive. Testing it is usually the quickest way to find out. The problem is that a lot of newer drives are RPC2 drives these days. Some of these drives don't allow raw access to the drive untill the drive firmware has done a regioncheck. VLC uses libdvdcss and it needs raw access to the DVD drive to crack the encryption key. So with those drives it is impossible to circumvent the region protection. (This goes for all software. You will need to flash your drives firmware, but sometimes there is no alternate firmware available for your drive). On other RPC2 drives that do allow raw access, it might take VLC a long time to crack the key. So just pop the disc in your drive and try it out, while you get a coffee. RPC1 drives should 'always' work regardless of the regioncode."

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

hmm, well, I dunno the exact model of the drive, BUT I can tell you the laptop itself is the Vaio Fit series if that helps at all

[Sleepwalker]

You'd need to test with a different region's disc, yeah. If you can figure out the exact model of the drive, I could try looking up whether it is region locked or not.

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

How would I be able to tell without actually having to have a R2 disc whether it was the hardware or software? All the dvd sets I have are R1
Sorry for all the stupid questions, I know just enough about computers to be dangerous

I actually have VLC player on an external hard drive somewhere, I'll try that first & see what happens. I likely won't be getting these sets until Christmas so I'll have time to poke around online & see what's out there

And just to go off-topic just a bit, FYI for anyone thinking of getting a NetBook DON'T..I made the mistake of getting one & because Google Chrome is the OS, NOTHING that works on a Windows based computer will work. I'm working off of my mom's Windows 7 laptop currently & it's sooo much better

[Sleepwalker]

I use VLC, which ignores regions, but you'd still have to deal with hardware locks. I'd not start switching your region settings around if your hardware is locked, either find a software workaround or go iso like was mentioned upthread.

It'd be important to know whether or not it was your drive that was locked, though- try software you KNOW ignores regions and see what happens.

[otakuneko]

ok thanks...I went to the site you linked to & poked around, I did see it mentioned that Media Player Classic doesn't allow Region 2 dvds to be played, dunno how true that is, so I poked around on my laptop & I found how to change the region so I think I'll just stick with that..If I change the region on the laptop dvd player, it stays at region 2 until I go back in & change it again right?

Thanks for all your help guys, it's much appreciated

I played an R4 dvd with MPC-HC just fine...

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

Thanks guys for all the info...Naw, I don't intend to buy Region 2 all the time, it's just this particular show, which, like I said, for some reason DEK is resistant to releasing his shows on dvd..Now, maybe sometime down the line he may release 'Chicago Hope' in the U.S but I'm impatient so I'm not gonna wait years for that to happen

[Chromatix]

If you plan to buy a lot of DVDs from Region 2 (which includes all of Europe, plus Japan for some reason) but also from Region 1 (which covers North America), then you might want to fit TWO DVD drives to your computer, with one set to each region.

That's unless you can get a DeCSS equipped player to work. Then you'll only need one drive.