Computing, Media Centers and Tablets

[DisgruntledGoat]

So this one is a bit strange but I'm looking for some input. My father asked for my opinion, he didn't like it so much but I decided to do some more searching to find an adequate solution for him.

Basically what he wanted to do was replace his current laptop with a media center pc connected to his living room HDTV and a tablet (specifically an Ipad 2). He would use the ipad for internet surfing and general tablet usage while using the media center pc for movies, tv and music on this HDTV. Then came the kicker, he wanted to use his media center to do his other computing that he couldn't do on is ipad. Such as word processing etc, work programs etc. I explained that was a really bad idea and that a PC connected for to a tv isn't going to be very useful as an actual PC. Especially if his comfy chair is over 15ft from the screen.

What I'm hoping for is some interesting and ingenious ideas of solving his problem. He wants to be portable but not have a bulky laptop but he also wants a PC media center for his tv. Intially I though of windows 7 tablets. He would have the functionality of the PC and be able to stream to his TV if he wanted while having the portability of the tablet. However Windows 7 tablets are expensive, bulky and have terrible battery lives. The real issue is he still needs to be computing and therefore he really can't eliminate that part from his hardware. If his computing needs could be met by the IPad he could have his ipad and his media center and everything would be perfect.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[Freddie]

I don't know much about the ipad's functionality but I do believe it comes with an HDMI out (or you can use HDMI via a converter) so in theory he could connect his ipad to a monitor hook up a keyboard and mouse and use the ipad as a mobile Mac. the hardware inside the ipad is more then capable of running basic office apps.

If that's none starter I suggest he looks at one of Dell's new tablet PC's but to be frank the hardware in these really isn't up to it. You might do well to wait and see what AMD brings to the table with it's new range of APU's which has the potential to open this market right up and if you don't want to do that then I suggest you Dad buys a new laptop and gets a light weight one with a 13.3" screen. My girlfriend had super slim laptop and its very light and to be frank its better then my HP I bought last year because it's much lighter, the best thing about the laptop is it can treated like a docking station where all your peripheral devices (monitor, keyboard mouse, printer etc) and connect to it which I don't think you will be able to do with the ipad (although I could be wrong as I haven't properly used one before).