another Ipad or a desktop

I have an Asus laptop which I love, with Windows 8.1 on it.  It is one year old.  I also have an Ipad 3 which I love. I have a desktop that is 9 years old with Windows XP and in January of this year, I got taken to the cleaners for $1,000.00 as I fell for a scam. I am a senior, but very knowledgeable about computers and can't believe I fell for this scam. The man said he was from Microsoft Windows and that our computer had been hacked. Long story. Anyway, I unplugged the desktop and it hasn't been on since January. I have a nice HP printer and a few keyboards and mice. Should I just buy a tower and get what is on the old one transferred over to the new one? Will a new tower be compatible with the printer?. It has a big blue plug in thingy that goes in the back of the tower. Someone told me that the printer will not work with a brand new tower. My husband wants my Ipad and wants me to get a new one when Apple comes out with it sometime this Fall. Or should I get a different tablet with Windows 8.1 which will in turn be 10? I use a wireless printer with the laptop. I just don't want to waste my money, so I hope someone can steer me in the right direction. I am really hoping that I get some kind of ideas from anyone who reads this post. Thank you all so much. I love your site by the way.

Edited by Chris Cosgrove, 29 July 2015 - 06:22 PM.
Moved to 'Which tablet should I buy?'

Well, if your computer hasn't been on since January do you really need to replace it?

How much do you print?  Odds are the printer won't work with a new computer as there won't be the necessary plug for it.

If you enjoy your iPad I'd go with your husband's suggestion and give him your current one and pick up a new one when the next ones come out.  If there isn't anything that thrills you about the new models you can pick up one of the current models cheaper then.

Hi Kilroy,

Thank you so much for your quick response. I have been thinking about what you have said here and I think you are right about the desktop. I am going to forget that idea. One thing I would like to ask you is should I get another Ipad in the fall or should I get a tablet with windows on it? I don't know anything about tablets and what to look for. I love the Ipad, but maybe I need a change. Please let me know will you? Thanks so much.

Well, I'd advise waiting until the fall to see what the new iPad has for features.  Unfortunately these days there isn't much that tablets can change, thinner and better cameras are the normal improvements.  Part of the problem with tablets is that you are locked into an ecosystem, Apple or Android, and need to repurchase any applications if you switch.

What do you do on the iPad?

What problem or need do you need to resolve with the new device?

Hi again Kilroy,

Thanks for the response.

On the Ipad, I get my emails, use Facetime, get on Chrome, play card games, go on Facebook, use Google maps and a few other features I use now and then. Can I do all of these things on a tablet other than Ipad? I love how the Ipad scrolls and all the icons are so easy to open. What different things could I do on a Microsoft tablet. This is what I don't know. The new Ipad is probably going to be pretty lightweight compared to the one I have now. Should I just stick with the new Ipad and forget about any other tablet. I am so confused right now. I trust your advice. Thanks for everything.

If you fell for that microsoft ' there is a virus on your computer ' scam than you probably have a bunch of malware on that desktop pc you may want to consider posting for help on removing in the ' Am I infected ' section of the forum.

As far as differences between Ipad and tablet ..I guess it is going to come down to what you use it for.  If the ipad has the features you want and use than you should go with it.. iTunes .. facetime ..etc.  You won't get that on a Microsoft Tablet.  A microsoft tablet may be better in some business environments /docking stations / microsoft only applications / external devices.  I laughed a little inside when you stated "I am very knowledgeable about computers" and yet have asked some pretty simple questions with answers found easily on the web. 

Anyway- You may get more information if you post your question about tablets in the 'Which tablet should I buy' section of the forum as this section is intended for new computers - which are not tablets/ipads.

Edited by YeahBleeping, 28 July 2015 - 09:59 AM.

An alternative solution. You keep the iPad you know and love and take your husband to the store and let Him buy one !

More seriously, the single biggest distinction between tablets and laptops is their different data storage capacities. A year old laptop probably has a 500GB hard drive in it, a top range tablet will hold 64GB. You already have a pretty modern laptop and a printer which works with it and you can network any tablet to the printer.

I am inclined to more or less agree with YeahBleeping on this one. Bin the tower with XP and the old printer. If you still have important data on there it can be copied to external media before you bin it but you will have to be very careful about transferring possible malware over with your data. And then you can have discussion with your husband over who gets the new tablet !

Since this particular thread is now about what sort of tablet do I buy I am going to agree with YeahBleeping's suggestion to move the thread to the 'Which tablet should I buy?'

If you have a problem with copying the data from the old computer with XP, start a thread in the XP section and you will get advice there.

Chris Cosgrove

Hello to everyone who replied to my questions, including YeahBleeping and Chris Cosgrove. First of all, I am truly sorry for posting to the wrong forum. I guess I had the questions in my head and didn't think about which forum I should be on. As far as my desktop is concerned, after I got fooled by the Microsoft scam, I called the bank, unplugged the computer etc., Then I called Best Buy where I purchased this laptop, to ask them what I should do about everything. I was told to bring it into them and they would scan the hard drive for viruses etc. and then transfer any files I want to keep to an external hard drive or to a new desktop. Of course, all this would cost a fair bit of money. When I said I think I am knowledgeable about the computer, I meant just on the desktop. I worked full time on a desktop as a payroll\/human resources manager for many, many years. I used to talk to IT people a lot of times. As far as tablets, laptops and Ipads, I don't know a lot, although I am pretty good now on my Ipad since I have had it for three years. This is my first laptop and I have never worked on a tablet. I do apologize for my ignorance. I am sorry too for asking such simple questions, but I want to say that I am new to asking questions on a site such as this one. You are absolutely correct in saying that I could have got on the web to ask the questions, but who better to ask than people such as yourselves who are experienced computer people. I thought I was doing the right thing. Obviously not. I feel really stupid now that these things have been pointed out to me. As far as the answer to my questions about tablets and Ipads, I am going to get the new Ipad in the Fall whenever it comes out as I do use Facetime and Itunes and it was pointed out to me that tablets don't have these. My husband doesn't want the new Ipad, so he is getting the 3 year old one. I am also not going to get a new desktop at this time.

Thank you everyone for helping me out and again I am very sorry for posting to the wrong forum and asking obvious questions that I could have found answers for on the web. I hope that if I ever want to ask a question again from a professional person, that someone at Bleeping Computer would help me find the correct forum and give me the correct answer. I will for sure, give any questions I have, a lot of thought before I post a topic in a forum. I am sure that by the time you reach my age (74), you will have much more knowledge about technology than I do and won't have to ask questions like I have done.

Thanks again for your input. It is very much appreciated. 

I had the topic moved to the What Tablet Should I Buy forum, so we're all good now.

I understand your logic for posting here on Bleeping over scouring the net.  YeahBleeping doesn't consider "There is nothing so stupid as the educated man if you get him off the thing he was educated in." - Will Rogers.  Those of us who deal with technology regularly tend to forget that the information that we take for granted isn't common knowledge.

Other than Facetime, which is Apple specific, you can do all of the rest on any tablet.  If you switch to Skype you'll be good with Apple, Android, or Windows.

I'd suggest waiting until we get closer to the next iPad release and then check to see what is available in the tablet world.  One advantage of not going with the iPad is that most other tablets are about half the cost.

This is to Kilroy,

You are truly a saint. You are so nice and considerate to me. I feel really good now that you have written back to me with your kind words. Obviously, you understand me and the position I am in. In all honesty, I do know what they were getting at. They were just being knowledgeable people. I am a novice, not an expert and truly appreciate all the help I have received. You are a true gentleman Kilroy and I appreciate your writing back to me. Thanks so much.

Clorey70

p.s. Thanks for moving my questions and answers to the correct forum.

As a character in a novel I read a while ago said "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask."

From your original post it seemed you might be considering buying a new desktop so it was in a perfectly correct position in BC. Then it turned out you were actually considering a tablet so the suggestion was made, which I acted on, to move it to the section we have on buying tablets. The reason we have these two sections is that while they are all in a sense 'computers', tablets and desktops are quite different beasts meeting quite different needs. As well as that we have members with different areas of expertise. As an example, i know quite a lot about desktop and laptop computers but only the basics about tablets because I don't have one because they don't meet my needs. Try using one to store several thousand photos on when you don't have an internet connection of any sort !

Enjoy your new tablet when you get it.

Chris Cosgrove

To: Chris Cosgrove,

Thank you for your response. I appreciate and understand what you are saying about changing the forums. Originally, I was considering getting a desktop because I wanted to be able to use the keyboard, mouse, monitor and printer that I already have that are in good condition. Now I know that this probably wouldn't work. Then I did want to know about about Ipads and tablets. I have a laptop and love it. I am not in any way upset about you changing forums. I didn't even realize that it was you who moved my query to another forum.  I was just being a little over sensitive about remarks that were made and I do apologize for this. I understand by your remarks, that you don't have an internet connection. That really sucks. I can't imagine not having the internet. I am so spoiled and fortunate.  If and when I ever have another question about computers or whatever, I will get in touch with Bleeping Computers as I know that someone will help me. It makes sense to me, that each one of you has their own specific field of expertise, just as you do. I have learned a lot from this experience. Thanks for your help and kind remarks. 

Clorey70

Go for MacBook with m2 or m1 chip that would be more good.