Chromebook vs. Tablet for Pattern Keeper

Once upon a time I had a Samsung Galaxy tablet that I loved. It got to where the battery wouldn’t hold a charge so Vince was going to open it up and replace the battery. I kept saying “No! I don’t want to do that. I can use it while it’s plugged in.” I will spare you the sad ending to that story. I’ve had an iPad for years, mainly because of Knit Companion, but that Samsung tablet was my favorite tablet. I know nothing lasts forever but I was so, so sad when that tablet was gone.

We tried several different Android tablets after that and didn’t like any of those. It wasn’t that they didn’t compare to the old one . . I just didn’t like them at all and ended up not even using an Android tablet til . . Pattern Keeper for cross stitch requires an Android based tablet.

Last year about this time, I bought a Samsung A7. As soon as I opened it, I was disappointed. I’m sure it’s a good tablet but just not my favorite. I think the main thing I don’t like is the long, narrow keypad. I also know that most of us get used to anything we use after a while. The Chromebook I got last week has a long keypad because it has the number keys on the side. Therefore, my hands are more to the left of center when I’m typing and that took me a day or so to get used to. I’ve had those kinds of keyboards before and it’s amazing how hard it is to go back and forth from a regular keyboard to one with the numbers on the side. I know if I got used to the shape of the Samsung tablet keypad, I wouldn’t have a problem with it but . . I only use it for PK and . . it will never be my favorite. There are other things that don’t thrill me with – not just the keypad.

Last week, I was emailing with a blog reader who was looking for a Chromebook for PK. I thought . . wait a minute . . I can use a Chromebook for PK too. The new Chromebook is 15.6″ and that’s really too big to have sitting on the arm of my chair while I’m stitching. They do make holders for tablets for the Lowery stand but I think a Chromebook might be a bit large for that.

I was telling Vince and that night, he found an 11″ touchscreen Chromebook on sale for $149. An S7, which is what I have for PK now, with 64 GB of storage is about $275, though I don’t need a new one.

NOTE: The 11″ Chromebook is out of stock right now at Amazon, the price has gone up so I’m not recommending you buy that one but if you use or want to use Pattern Keeper, I’d recommend purchasing a small Chromebook with a touchscreen over a regular tablet . . unless, of course, you just want a tablet.

The new Chromebook arrived yesterday and I couldn’t wait to get it all charged upand updated. It worked so much better for me than does the tablet. I wish I could show charts just to show you how well it works, how large I can get it and with it being touchscreen, I just tap the squares with my finger or a stylus to mark them stitches. So, so much bettr for me.

This little Chromebook does a full 360 where the back of the screen and the back of the keyboard come together so it does feel like a real tablet.

The good thing about this is that I can take ONE tablet with me when we go out of town. I can write blog posts, check email, play on the internet, and use Pattern Keeper.

It’s just another option for those of us who use Pattern Keeper and prefer Chromebooks as our regular computer.