Tablet or lightweight laptop?

[BlueSkies]

Hi there,

 

Looking for recommendations for either a tablet or lightweight laptop for one of our staff who spends a lot of time out of our school, visiting other schools and needs a device to document minutes of meetings etc.

 

She doesn't always get access to wifi - so am looking at something that would have 4G/LTE connectivity. It would also be something that we could encrypt - due to the nature of the information that may be recorded.

 

Would also need to be able to connect to our Windows network at school so she can store documents etc on the network (and easily transfer between the two) - so that's why I am looking more at Windows based OS rather than Android ... but happy to be corrected!

 

Surface Pro/Lenovo Miix/Samsung Tab A are the ones I have been starting to look at.

 

Not sure whether a tablet or lightweight laptop would suit the job better. Budget-wise, I guess it would be something around £300 ...

 

Any suggestions of what to look at or advice on what to look for/avoid would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks

[p858snake]

We have Surface Pro 4 across our office as our standard device.

 

cons: 1X USB port.

pro: Standard windows install for the user

 

They don't do 4G/LTE internal, but we just do a USB wifi modem.

[Robertmap]

I recommend the Lenovo Miix 630, which comes with a 4G module, you can choose it if you don't mind it powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.

The list has more lightweight tablet and laptop https://www.myfixguide.com/lightest-laptops/

[BlueSkies]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at the Lenovo Miix and also the Lynx 12x64 tablet. The best prices seem to be purchasing them with Windows 10 Home pre-installed. We have MS EES licensing here but I'm not sure what would be the best version to install on it (we run Win 10 Edu across the site).

 

I have seen something called Windows 10 S but not sure what this is and what I would be best to install on one of these types of devices? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[LeMarchand]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at the Lenovo Miix and also the Lynx 12x64 tablet.

 

I've got a trolley of Miix 320s and another of Linx 12s at one site. Both have our standard W10 EDU image. (One day I'll get around to sorting it out so it's WIM based rather than image based). The keyboard on the Linx is an abomination, though the build quality on the "tablet" bit is much improved since the first-gen model I bought myself a few years back.

[BlueSkies]

I've got a trolley of Miix 320s and another of Linx 12s at one site. Both have our standard W10 EDU image. (One day I'll get around to sorting it out so it's WIM based rather than image based). The keyboard on the Linx is an abomination, though the build quality on the "tablet" bit is much improved since the first-gen model I bought myself a few years back.

 

Thanks for the info - would the Linx work with a different Bluetooth keyboard? As we are only buying one, I wouldn't mind paying for a nicer one if the Linx turns out to be our 'weapon of choice'!

[LeMarchand]

Thanks for the info - would the Linx work with a different Bluetooth keyboard? As we are only buying one, I wouldn't mind paying for a nicer one if the Linx turns out to be our 'weapon of choice'!

 

I don't see why not, but it's not going to be as compact/tidy - and you'll already need to add a USB 4G device (and probably a hub) to the carry. Though, having just had a very quick scan at the current batch of convertibles, a lot seem to be going for the "built into the cover" type keyboards which IMHO are generally horrible to type on.