Well SZ'ers my "backup" older HP laptop finally crapped out today and will not power up anymore,
My Newer Lenovo stage laptop is fine for now,and does the job night after night .......WOW!!!... But now I have an excuse to Buy a new TOY....possibly my chance to delve into my first 10" TABLET to use on gigs...?
Anyway my needs are this for a tablet...I have hundreds of NOTEPAD Lyric files I would need to transfer and use when needed on the Tablet....what would be the best lyric program App for this purpose & why?..

Secondly....I would need a great MP3 player with a great search feature to look thru 10-20 gigs of tunes.....
and be able to play SINGLE songs and STOP when finished after each song.

Also I would need to keep a few folders open at once on screen to navigate, search etc, while playing.

I hope some of you with experience using a tablet on stage can lead me in the right direction?..if you need to ask me any questions on my needs please do,

Thanx

I would recommend an Android Tablet. I use an Asus model for passed 2 years and it is very reliable.
I see the downside of ipads is having to be locked into iTunes plus having to buy addition adapters to be able to simple use USB,s or HDMI cables which my Asus is already provided with these inputs.
But it,s all down to personal choice.

Graham I'm leaning toward android for some of the reasons you mention plus I'm more used to it as my Galaxy phone is Android based also I just have to be sure what I have outlined above for MY needs can be done flawlessly while performing.

Donny,
Go take a look at both the Windows Surface and the Surface Pro. I nearly bought one of these this year but elected to stay with my iPad. The neat thing about the Surface was it would accept a thumb drive plus when I took a thumb drive loaded with my PDF lead sheets it displayed them without needing a third party program.
The Surface is a tablet - the Surface Pro is actually a computer device.

Deane

Donny, that's a tough one . Android tablet makes sense because you have a Galaxy Android phone, but Windows surface as Dean mentioned is a good choice both have their pros and cons, it's personal choice. iPad probably isn't for you.

Dean, Steve I hear ya,.....one of my concerns has been addressed...I just found an Music Player APP called MortPlayer

MortPlayer App

unlike many others this player app has a setting for SINGLE SONG playback only in the options which is critical when performing so that the next song doesn't start playing.
I tested it on my phone and it works flawlessly so I know on a Android tablet it will work also.....I also was able to transfer my NOTEPAD lyric folder from Pc to phone and with File manager it lets you read lyrics, change look, fonts etc,.....so that's another good thing... I will certainly look into the Surface which should work well, don't think I need the pro for my gig needs, My next concern is setting up the display screen on stage so that I can KEEP multiple folder LISTS open and situated, re-sized etc, on screen to look at all at once., different MP3 folders, lyrics text, etc,..
I usually have Three open plus the player in the top right corner..........please keep the suggestions coming I appreciate all of them.. So I guess the surface or Surface 2 pictured here will do me fine? I like the storage options also. So Apps can be got for android just like the cell phone also?. And I would assume some kind of firm mount would be needed also on stage..?

SURFACE

Surface 2

Thanx

Get a 12 inch windows pro tablet... You will not regret it...

Donny,
I have both the Hercules and the GigEasy mounts. Google them and read the company info. I like either of them but the hercules is sturdier.

Deane

If I may possibly muddy the waters, and further to Bachus' comments...

by total coincidence I've just purchased a manufacturer refurbished Fujitsu Lifebook T730 Windows Tablet / Notebook. 12.6" 1280x800 touch screen, core I5, under £300.

I had been wondering about a 10" tablet to use as my on-stage music library, but don't really want to get tied into iPad. Also my current 10" netbook is windows Xp and also I was really noticing the sloooooow performance and worried about obsolescence to the extent that I was going to put a newer official Windows on it (I need proper ms office). I stumbled on this machine whilst randomly googling and thought it was worth a go and so far so good. I've fitted 8 gig of RAM which also helps!

If you look at it just as a tablet then compared to an iPad it may have a bigger screen but in all other respects the iPad display is seriously better; compared to a pure tablet this thing is big and heavy with worse battery life.

However as a windows laptop it is quite compact and the performance seems pretty good. Windows 7 is not a fabulous touch interface out of the box but if you set everything to be large then the inaccuracy of the fingers is less of an issue. I'm wondering whether to use one of the freeware metro-like front ends for Win 7 to see if that helps. Fujitsu state that this model is mot supported on Windows 8 but there's certainly people out there who have it working and the hardware components of the PC don't look that peculiar.

So, if (like me) you rely on windows software, but would like that available as a tablet on a music stand, this could do that job. It is in no way a direct replacement for an iPad or Android tablet, it's bigger and heavier so you wouldn't want this in your hands all day. Battery life is about 3-4 hours but that's not an issue for me.

FWIW... My choice and major tool now is Samsung Galaxy S3, 8-inch tab. $279.
Mine is not a phone...but you can install Magic Jack and it becomes a phone anywhere you have WiFi access.

When gigging it sits atop my KB with lyrics when I need 'em, MP3s when needed. I guess I could play my SMF there to, but I put them in my KB.

All my computer repair files are on it with all clients' info, plus calendars, photos, etc., etc., etc.

Moving files to and from a pc is also ez-pz.

JMO.

Eddie

I stopped thinking of my iPad as a replacement to a laptop - it's not. It's a new tool. A fresh approach to the internet and your own stuff. New apps make it so easy to personalize to your life ... it's the best made, best designed product I've ever bought. I was very used to the layout and functionality of my laptop, but this is clearly better. The union between my desktop Mac, iPhone and iPad is seamless, painless and SO convenient. I never get viruses - no blue screens - just great performance, night after night ... and all day at school. It's become my notebook, my jukebox, my dictionary, my file cabinet, my sketchpad, well .... my everything creative "go-to toy"
Donny, You'll hate it because it's not a clone of your phone, but for someone with an apple mindset ... there's no competition.

People ..you are all getting "toy" minded..

No tablet..ipad or Android is going to replace a laptop..

They are limited (Ram), nearly impossible to "hot rod" them...poor performance when multi tasking...

Apps are "demo" versions of real programs..Example Garage Band..compare their App to the full version...I don't want to give up quality performance for a gimmick use..

If you must get a new toy...don't lock yourself into i tunes...get an Android..


All this lightness and inadequate gear is making me dizzy

I have had a Motorola Xoom android for a couple years. It easily runs a word processor, has nice picture, very good camera, has USB and card slots, etc. I got it refurbished off Woot for a little over $200.
It doesn't multitask well. You can have several tabs open, but only one at a time can do stuff.
I really haven't integrated into my music setup, but I got it with that intention.

I can play a music file in the background while I search the net for a lyric, and keep a notebook window open in the background to instantly access a chord chart if need be. The iPad multitasks extremely well, and it's no where near "locked in" to iTunes ... it just shares better because of it. The program I use to play files can display lyrics, search the iTunes playlist, change key and tempo - REMEMBER the changes per tune and it stops after each song ... if you choose that option.
Apple/Bose people know what I'm talkin' about.

Don I have a Archos 70...similar to your results, except the camera stinks..I think my ram max is 256 mb..I don't think any tablet exceeds 500 mb...Not enough ram to multi task..It does have 250g HD..

of course for modern Microsoft addicts the Surface is pretty good, I think the pro models are the ones that really hit the spot.

One of my bugbears with the android tablets is that a lot of the models get stuffed with bloatware which I don't need. Lenovo seem quite bad for this. If android is the answer then as you are already used to Samsung I'd suggest sticking with the brand to minimise the learning curve and we know it is quality gear

So I'm on line at the store checkout with a NEW Surface2 in my hand & while waiting I check my phone email & look at SZ also......then I see this reply from Fran Carango and say to myself "WHAT AM I DOING" ? ....and for ALL the reasons mention above I know I'm not going to be happy with a Tablet for MY needs vs a LAPTOP as I'm used to!! So I returned it to the shelf with a BIG sigh of relief ...
What was I thinking?
Thank you Fran for bringing me back to reality as usual
A Laptop man I remain on stage happy & Content.

Hi

Tablets are for content CONSUMERS.
PC's and laptops (any OS) are for content PRODUCERS.

Regards
Jørgen

Donny, I wasn't gonna say anything, but I'm glad you came to your senses. Fran's a pretty smart cookie, ya know.

Gary

I have the Microsoft Surface Pro

For vArranger it's perfect

Just been running my Fujitsu T730 as a tablet on battery

1) Window 7 is indeed not fabulous as a touch interface
2) Battery life doing serious stuff - under 2 hours
3) Use on a good music stand - weight is an issue

Now I'm looking for a decent 15" budget laptop under #350.00..


BUdget LaPTOP

Check Woot.com for bargains on laptops.

Thanx Don Im there........