Best Tablet for Logos

I am looking at what I want in a tablet. Accessing Logos resources is an important consideration.

I would like to use the tablet while teaching (and occasional preaching) -- notes using Word on it, and running PowerPoint -- but that doesn't involve Logos so far as I can tell. On the other hand in a study group I'd like to have access to Logos Bibles, commentaries, and Bible dictionaries.

My choice right now is between an Android tablet (with SD card slot) and a Surface Pro 4.

I recognize there will be differences between the Android App and the full version of Logos on the Surface Pro. I'm not sure that's significant for what I'd use a tablet for unless I decided to use a Surface to replace the laptop which is still an outstanding question in my mind.

So the questions are:

For preaching or teaching, which would you choose and why?

For either Android or Surface, what RAM and storage specs would you choose to make it viable or most useful?

Dale

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Comments

Graham Criddle

I recognize there will be differences between the Android App and the full version of Logos on the Surface Pro. I'm not sure that's significant for what I'd use a tablet for unless I decided to use a Surface to replace the laptop which is still an outstanding question in my mind.

I'd recommend being sure about the differences between the mobile apps (Android or iOS) and what you can do on the full version.

On the mobile apps you can access Bibles, commentaries and dictionaries - but you can only have two open at a time and some of the functionality (running Guides for example) require Internet connection.

So are you able to be more specific about how you would want to be able to use Logos / access your Logos resources on this tablet device?

Fr Devin Roza

The Android / iOS app are good for reading a book and very basic functionality, but for certain types of research are poor. For example, the search functions are not very good or easy to use in the Android / iOS apps, even for basic word searches. And many of the more useful sections in the Guides are absent, etc.

But if you are doing your research on your main computer, and then just want a quick and light solution for consulting a book or two, the tablet apps are good options. If you foresee needing to do on-the-fly research, however, you'll be much better off with a Surface Pro.

Steve Maling

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861823#Comment_861823

As a "traveling companion" I'm about to enter my third year with the very satisfactory Asus VivoTab Note 8 with 64 GB drive running the full Logos 6 in Windows 10. This certainly doesn't replace my Dell Inspiron 17, but it is a very nice supplement. When I purchased almost 2 years ago a Dell tablet (8 inch, I think) seemed like a good alternative. My recommendation: compare the Surface Pro with PC tablets. But don't consider less than 64 GB on your main drive. I understand fooling around with an SD card is not the way to go.

Please let us know what you choose.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861825#Comment_861825

I own the Surface Pro 4 and it is a really nice computer that you can occasionally use as a tablet. It's not a full-blown tablet, really, because Windows 10 is not a tablet-centered OS. It is a great solution however, Get a dock and keyboard mouse and monitor and you have once computer to rule them all - tablet use on occasion, laptop use most of the time and even desktop thanks to dock etc.

As for Android, the best Android tablet available is the Galaxy Tab S2 in either 8 or 10 inch size. However, if you want a true Android experience without all the garbage that Samsung puts on top of Android, get the Google Pixel C. It's a great tablet and with a nice stylus like the Adonit Jot you can get a fine tip stylus experience on the tablet.

One drawback of the Pixel C is that it doesn't have the SD card you say you want. You really only think you want one because you may think you can load your library on it. You can't. Google is for some reason pushing away from SD cards in Android and Logos doesn't support moving to the SD card. some say they've done it, but it's not ideal. Get the 128GB Pixel C and you don't need an SD card at all. 128 is a lot of storage for an ANdroid device. 32 is not enough however.

If I could only keep one device of the ones mentioned above, I'd get the Surface Pro 4 with at least 128GB of storage. Second would be the Pixel C if you really want a tablet-first experience. Get the Samsung if you really do think you need the SD card, but don't plan to use it with Logos.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861818#Comment_861818

So are you able to be more specific about how you would want to be able to use Logos / access your Logos resources on this tablet device?

Not having had a tablet device, what I can practically do may be part of the question.

My impression is that what I can do with an app on a tablet will be quite limited. I would expect to be able to access any of my Bible versions. Granted I could do that with any Bible program, but I already own these, so why duplicate? I would expect if a discussion of a particular passage comes up if I'm sitting in a class, having a talk with a friend, or whatever, to be able to go a commentary or Bible Encyclopedia to look something up. I'd expect to use it as a reader for a book in the library I may be working through. With those two in mind, I'd be expect to be able to keep some books downloaded on the device related to what I'm doing at the time -- a book I'm reading, a commentary on a book I'm discussing with someone, the set of Bibles I have -- since WiFi is not always available. The other use -- in lieu of paper notes and to manage PowerPoints for teaching and preaching, doesn't have anything to do with Logos so far as I know now.

I don't expect to do anything beyond that. If I'm wrong and there are practical things beyond that which can be done with an iOS or Android app, then I'd like to know. Generally serious study and things that would make use of much more than that would be difficult to do on a tablet even if it had the capability because they would require keeping multiple screens open at once. On my desktop I use two 24" monitors and it still stretches me.

If I got a Surface Pro, I would use it just as described above for the most part. The difference would be that when I'm traveling I might use it in lieu of my laptop, in which case I would do things on it that I normally do on a desktop. If I had an Android tablet on the other hand, then I'd still take and use my laptop for desktop functions while traveling.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861825#Comment_861825

This certainly doesn't replace my Dell Inspiron 17, but it is a very nice supplement...But don't consider less than 64 GB on your main drive. I understand fooling around with an SD card is not the way to go.

In what ways does it not replace your Inspiron 17? I ask because I normally travel with a Dell XPS 15 and then the XPS15 serves the desktop function. If I couldn't replace the XPS15 then I think I'd be less likely to go with a Surface Pro -- though one of the uses for a tablet is that I'd like to try it for when I am teaching, and occasional preaching.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861828#Comment_861828

I own the Surface Pro 4 and it is a really nice computer that you can occasionally use as a tablet. It's not a full-blown tablet, really, because Windows 10 is not a tablet-centered OS. It is a great solution however, Get a dock and keyboard mouse and monitor and you have once computer to rule them all - tablet use on occasion, laptop use most of the time and even desktop thanks to dock etc.

One thing I'm pondering is whether if I get a Surface Pro it is a viable option to replace my laptop when I'm away. At this point I'm inclined to say no, which may have me leaning towards an Android for the tablet functions themselves. But at this point I'm still undecided.

As for Android, the best Android tablet available is the Galaxy Tab S2 in either 8 or 10 inch size. However, if you want a true Android experience without all the garbage that Samsung puts on top of Android, get the Google Pixel C. It's a great tablet and with a nice stylus like the Adonit Jot you can get a fine tip stylus experience on the tablet.

I had been looking at the Galaxy Tab A because it had a stylus. But I like the specs better on the S2 (or upcoming S3). Do you know if the Adonit Jot would also work on a Galaxy S7 Edge/S7 phone?

I thought Logos was reviewing adding the ability to move your library to an SD card, but I don't think that means they've decided to do, or when. I didn't know that Google was pushing away from SD cards in Android. What do you mean by that? I knew the Pixel C didn't have one, but that the Tab S2 did. Maybe the Pixel C is a better choice since I could keep more downloaded, but at the same time I wouldn't expect to use an Android table like a desktop or even a laptop, so perhaps the Pixel C is better just for the simplicity.

If I could only keep one device of the ones mentioned above, I'd get the Surface Pro 4 with at least 128GB of storage. Second would be the Pixel C if you really want a tablet-first experience. Get the Samsung if you really do think you need the SD card, but don't plan to use it with Logos.

Thank you for that summary. It all makes sense except for the 128GB of storage on the Surface Pro 4. My SSD on my desktop machine is currently using 180G in addition to which my Logos library takes up 25G on my data drive. Last time that happened Adobe Bridge caches were the problem but I thought I fixed that. I'll have to check. Regardless, Windows always seems to have trouble for me keeping the storage to a reasonable level.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861823#Comment_861823

But if you are doing your research on your main computer, and then just want a quick and light solution for consulting a book or two, the tablet apps are good options. If you foresee needing to do on-the-fly research, however, you'll be much better off with a Surface Pro.

Thanks. That's about what I expected. Knowing for sure that's the case will help me think through it.

Bill Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861887#Comment_861887

My impression is that what I can do with an app on a tablet will be quite limited. I would expect to be able to access any of my Bible versions. Granted I could do that with any Bible program, but I already own these, so why duplicate? I would expect if a discussion of a particular passage comes up if I'm sitting in a class, having a talk with a friend, or whatever, to be able to go a commentary or Bible Encyclopedia to look something up. I'd expect to use it as a reader for a book in the library I may be working through. With those two in mind, I'd be expect to be able to keep some books downloaded on the device related to what I'm doing at the time -- a book I'm reading, a commentary on a book I'm discussing with someone, the set of Bibles I have -- since WiFi is not always available. The other use -- in lieu of paper notes and to manage PowerPoints for teaching and preaching, doesn't have anything to do with Logos so far as I know now.

I don't expect to do anything beyond that. If I'm wrong and there are practical things beyond that which can be done with an iOS or Android app, then I'd like to know. Generally serious study and things that would make use of much more than that would be difficult to do on a tablet even if it had the capability because they would require keeping multiple screens open at once. On my desktop I use two 24" monitors and it still stretches me.

If I got a Surface Pro, I would use it just as described above for the most part. The difference would be that when I'm traveling I might use it in lieu of my laptop, in which case I would do things on it that I normally do on a desktop. If I had an Android tablet on the other hand, then I'd still take and use my laptop for desktop functions while traveling.

It sounds to me that an iOS or Android tablet is what you want. You've articulated a use scenario for which the Surface Pro would be overkill. You don't require a tablet to be able to download all of your Logos resources for use offline. You are prepared to accept the searching limitations of the mobile apps. You don't say that you have lots of personal books that you want to be able to access. For your other use case of managing PowerPoints for teaching and preaching, you can use an iOS or Android tablet for that.

The only thing you haven't indicated is what size of tablet you want. You can get an iPad with a screen up to 12.9 inches, or one with 9.7 or 7.9 inches. I'd guess the 9.7 inch screen would be most ideal, because with that size you can still have split-screen windows open in the mobile app to view a Bible on one side and say, a commentary on the other. It's what I have.

Paul C

I don't think you've covered all the bases till you look at something like the Asus transformer book. As mentioned above the surface pro is overkill...It can kinda sorta act like a tablet in a pinch. Whereas the transformer is powered like a tablet, and can kinda sorta act like a laptop, in a pinch. You already have a workable laptop. I, Personally insist on a Windows based tablet ... so I can have full desktop functionality on the fly. Here's a link to one for $250. Some serious window shopping might produce one for less. Several companies have similar units.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-Transformer-Book-T100HA-MS-GR-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.328071400

Bill Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861928#Comment_861928

I don't think you've covered all the bases till you look at something like the Asus transformer book. As mentioned above the surface pro is overkill...It can kinda sorta act like a tablet in a pinch. Whereas the transformer is powered like a tablet, and can kinda sorta act like a laptop, in a pinch. You already have a workable laptop. I, Personally insist on a Windows based tablet ... so I can have full desktop functionality on the fly. Here's a link to one for $250. Some serious window shopping might produce one for less. Several companies have similar units.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-Transformer-Book-T100HA-MS-GR-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.328071400

Paul, do you have one of these? Do you run the Logos desktop app on it? How does it perform?

Paul C

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861933#Comment_861933

Hi, Bill;

No I don't. I do have a venue 8 pro with a similar processor and only 2GB ram and it handles the full desktop software amazingly well. That's why i said several companies make similar units.. $250 for a tablet with keyboard is hard to beat.

Steve Maling

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861935#Comment_861935

Dale, my Asus tablet has too small a screen and too little power to be satisfactory except when I'm waiting for my wife at the super market or for my medical providers. It's handy for use while sitting behind the wheel (but not while the car is in motion!). For me it's definitely an "on the go traveling companion" rather than something for a motel desk.

mike

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861940#Comment_861940

iPad Pro 12.9"
Surface Pro 4 12.3"
Samsung Note Pro 12.2"

In this order.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861920#Comment_861920

It sounds to me that an iOS or Android tablet is what you want. You've articulated a use scenario for which the Surface Pro would be overkill.
For your other use case of managing PowerPoints for teaching and preaching, you can use an iOS or Android tablet for that.

The only thing you haven't indicated is what size of tablet you want. You can get an iPad with a screen up to 12.9 inches, or one with 9.7 or 7.9 inches. I'd guess the 9.7 inch screen would be most ideal, because with that size you can still have split-screen windows open in the mobile app to view a Bible on one side and say, a commentary on the other. It's what I have.

Bill, so far as an iOS or Android tablet here's what I'm looking for in one.

A stylus.
A calendar that would let me set an event alarm at whatever time I want, and also set a snooze to the exact number of minutes I want. My wife's iPhone won't do that, but there is an excellent Android app called Pimlical that will do that, so I'm leaning toward Android.
The ability to run PowerPoint on a projector from it and write on the PowerPoint slide / use it as a whiteboard.
The ability to have readable notes on it to teach/preach from as opposed to using paper notes. I doubt I could do this and run PowerPoint at the same time, though, so I expect I'd have to choose by situation.
It would need to be light enough to hold and use easily while teaching, but big enough to read easily. Thus I'm thinking about 9.7 - 10.2 or possibly 12.3. I plan to look at and hold some and see what I think. Comments on this are especially welcome.
The ability to hand write notes, and even better the ability to have them converted to text.
The ability to function as a comfortable and usable e-Reader.
I don't know if the Logos app is significantly better in iOS or Android or about the same.

I think you are right, that if I get a Surface Pro it would be for other reasons.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861928#Comment_861928

the transformer is powered like a tablet, and can kinda sorta act like a laptop, in a pinch. You already have a workable laptop. I, Personally insist on a Windows based tablet ... so I can have full desktop functionality on the fly.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-Transformer-Book-T100HA-MS-GR-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.328071400

I had thought of a Surface Pro as a laptop replacement. I hadn't thought of getting something like this not as a laptop replacement but as a tablet with a little extra functionality. Not a bad idea. The problem is that I'd have to find one with larger memory. My experience has been that have full desktop functionality in Windows you'd better plan on a minimum 256G SSD, though perhaps for one that is primarily a tablet you could fudge that a bit. I may consider a closer look at this, though.

As I think about it, though, there is a lot of software that I can't access now because it is only available on Android or iOS/Android. That is a consideration.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861940#Comment_861940

my Asus tablet has too small a screen and too little power to be satisfactory except when I'm waiting for my wife at the super market or for my medical providers. It's handy for use while sitting behind the wheel (but not while the car is in motion!). For me it's definitely an "on the go traveling companion" rather than something for a motel desk.

Thanks for confirming that. I always buy Windows laptops loaded to the max because I need the power when traveling. If I bought something like this I can see it would not replace a real laptop, just be a tablet with slightly more oomph perhaps. But then I'd miss out on the Android apps I can't get now, and I'd still have to carry my laptop some of the time anyway when traveling, so occasionally I'd be carrying both, though probably not for the preaching/teaching use.

Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861993#Comment_861993

There is a new option that I was excited about...but early reviews put battery life as being very poor, fan being loud..and that is the Asus Transformer Pro (Asus T303UA). It is like a surface pro 4.

The surface pro 5 will come out at some point in 2017. Unfortunately, no word on whether it will be in the Spring or Fall.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861942#Comment_861942

iPad Pro 12.9"

Surface Pro 4 12.3"

Samsung Note Pro 12.2"

In this order.

Mike, a few thoughts...

Why that order?
I might consider an iPad in a tablet if I get an Android phone to have access to those apps. But why the Pro rather than a different iPad version?
The Samsung Note Pro 12.2 seems like a great tablet, but it appears that they are now only available used. I did find one on an Amazon reseller that is like new and even includes a stylist [my wife might take exception to that, and it would be another mouth to feed as well]. <g> Do you have any experience with the Samsung S2 soon to be replaced with the S3? I don't think it comes natively with a stylus but one was mentioned elsewhere that I think will work with it.
For most uses a larger tablet has advantages. For preaching and teaching I'm still not sure what the right balance is between readability and ability to handhold it while you speak.

Dale Lundy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861994#Comment_861994

There is a new option that I was excited about...but early reviews put battery life as being very poor, fan being loud..and that is the Asus Transformer Pro (Asus T303UA). It is like a surface pro 4.

The surface pro 5 will come out at some point in 2017. Unfortunately, no word on whether it will be in the Spring or Fall.

Asus does make some good products, though the early reviews you mention make me think this may not be the best choice. I might hold out for a Surface Pro 5. But then I understand I could probably get a good deal on a Surface Pro 4 from Bill Belichik.

Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/862000#Comment_862000

Asus does make some good products, though the early reviews you mention make me think this may not be the best choice. I might hold out for a Surface Pro 5. But then I understand I could probably get a good deal on a Surface Pro 4 from Bill Belichik.

I guess you are in the same quandary as I [:)]

mike

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861995#Comment_861995

iPad Pro 12.9"

Surface Pro 4 12.3"

Samsung Note Pro 12.2"

In this order.

Mike, a few thoughts...

Why that order?

I might consider an iPad in a tablet if I get an Android phone to have access to those apps. But why the Pro rather than a different iPad version?

The Samsung Note Pro 12.2 seems like a great tablet, but it appears that they are now only available used. I did find one on an Amazon reseller that is like new and even includes a stylist [my wife might take exception to that, and it would be another mouth to feed as well]. <g> Do you have any experience with the Samsung S2 soon to be replaced with the S3? I don't think it comes natively with a stylus but one was mentioned elsewhere that I think will work with it.

For most uses a larger tablet has advantages. For preaching and teaching I'm still not sure what the right balance is between readability and ability to handhold it while you speak.

Why? Because iPad Pro 12.9" is running mobile version of logos in comparison to Surface, also Samsung Note Pro speed is much slower because its the oldest them all.
Why? Because going big is easier for the eyes when preaching. You don't have to really look down to find where you left off and you get to keep your formatting space, just like how you see your note in your PC. With the smaller screen, sometimes the formatting & the spacing changes.
No
These tablets are 12"+ !!! You don't hold it. You leave it on the podium or on the stand before the service starts (or when the worship team practice). You don't want to be seen walking to the podium carrying an iPad Pro. And leave the tablet also while leaving the podium.

Bill Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861989#Comment_861989

It sounds to me that an iOS or Android tablet is what you want. You've articulated a use scenario for which the Surface Pro would be overkill.
For your other use case of managing PowerPoints for teaching and preaching, you can use an iOS or Android tablet for that.

The only thing you haven't indicated is what size of tablet you want. You can get an iPad with a screen up to 12.9 inches, or one with 9.7 or 7.9 inches. I'd guess the 9.7 inch screen would be most ideal, because with that size you can still have split-screen windows open in the mobile app to view a Bible on one side and say, a commentary on the other. It's what I have.

Bill, so far as an iOS or Android tablet here's what I'm looking for in one.

A stylus.

A calendar that would let me set an event alarm at whatever time I want, and also set a snooze to the exact number of minutes I want. My wife's iPhone won't do that, but there is an excellent Android app called Pimlical that will do that, so I'm leaning toward Android.

The ability to run PowerPoint on a projector from it and write on the PowerPoint slide / use it as a whiteboard.

The ability to have readable notes on it to teach/preach from as opposed to using paper notes. I doubt I could do this and run PowerPoint at the same time, though, so I expect I'd have to choose by situation.

It would need to be light enough to hold and use easily while teaching, but big enough to read easily. Thus I'm thinking about 9.7 - 10.2 or possibly 12.3. I plan to look at and hold some and see what I think. Comments on this are especially welcome.

The ability to hand write notes, and even better the ability to have them converted to text.

The ability to function as a comfortable and usable e-Reader.

I don't know if the Logos app is significantly better in iOS or Android or about the same.

I think you are right, that if I get a Surface Pro it would be for other reasons.

If you want an Android tablet, the choices are limited because few have active digitizers that allow the use of a stylus. Yes, you would want an active stylus like in the older Samsung Note series tablets. Samsung is coming out with the 10.1 inch Tab A on October 28 that has a pen. See this CNET article for details.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861905#Comment_861905

I had been looking at the Galaxy Tab A because it had a stylus. But I like the specs better on the S2 (or upcoming S3). Do you know if the Adonit Jot would also work on a Galaxy S7 Edge/S7 phone?

yes it will

I thought Logos was reviewing adding the ability to move your library to an SD card, but I don't think that means they've decided to do, or when. I didn't know that Google was pushing away from SD cards in Android. What do you mean by that?

Google used ot let you move apps over, but in more recent versions they don't. You only need to look at their own devices, the Pixel C and now Pixel phones which don't have sd cards, to see that they're moving away. In recent versions of Android working with SD for anything other than pictures, movies and photos is a little hard. We've been asking for Logos to make storage on an SD card work for a long time. They keep saying it's not supported even though other Bible apps do allow this and it works fine. They may see the handwriting on the wall from Google and aren't interested in adding support. That's all conjecture on my part. But it's based on some good evidence.

As for the Surface Pro 4 being a good laptop replacement, yes. It is my laptop on the Windows side. I don't own any other Windows computer that I use. My Windows desktop is unplugged and unused. I also have a MacBook and a Chromebook because of my part time job working for a mobile tech blog (see signature).

(‾◡◝)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861905#Comment_861905

I had been looking at the Galaxy Tab A because it had a stylus.

You were probably looking at an older version of the Tab A (with stylus and measures 9.7"). The 2016 version of the Tab A (which is currently available and measures 10.1") has no stylus.

However, a new version of the Tab A will once again have the S Pen and will be available starting this Friday (Oct 28th) :

http://www.sammobile.com/2016/10/24/samsung-galaxy-tab-a-10-1-with-s-pen-us-release-date-confirmed/

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-A-10.1-with-S-Pen-goes-on-sale-in-the-U.S._id86961

(‾◡◝)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/862113#Comment_862113

I would also recommend the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga which is a laptop that converts into a tablet and also comes with a built-in stylus.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/x1-yoga/?menu-id=thinkpad_x1_yoga

Here and here are interesting YouTube reviews (and there are a lot more).

Bigger (14" vs. 10.1") and more powerful than the Tab A, it will run the full Logos program as opposed to the app. It can get pricey depending on the configuration (and your budget) but there are lots of significant sales/promos available via the internet.