I made it through the second surgery. Last time they must’ve given me something before hand, because this time I remembered a lot more of it. My doctor said this happens often. I thought it would be scary, but it wasn’t.
I’ve had my one day post-op. Gordon is still flabbergasted that we actually saw my surgeon for all of my appointments, not an assistant or an aide – and everything looks the way it should so far. I’m back to many drops, no lifting, and no bending over. The pets are upset by this development.
I have 20/15 vision in the right eye. Trees have leaves and they are in high definition. I’m typing this in high definition, too. Woo, letters.
My new vision came in handy yesterday when, while trying to explain to Jeaniene Frost that I can see the back fence and the gaps between its boards, I noticed that the latest tornado storm nuked one of our trees. It is all broken and droopy. I call Gordon.
Me: I think the tree is broken.
Gordon, sliding into his Appalachian: That’s a Bigfoot making his nest.
When the weather turns colder, my husband talks in a mountain accent and buys firewood. Words like washed suddenly develop Rs and discussions start about how cold is cold enough to light a fire. Heh. Sadly this year we have to wait on the fires because our main fireplace requires repairs.
On the work front, we’ve put another 10K on the manuscript last week. It promises to be longer again, just like the first one. It is super fun to work on.
I have to looks at some contracts today and get things going on the art front. We are commissioning a lot of art for various reasons, none of which I can share yet.
I want to ask your opinion about something. When we work, I normally have my iPad, because we have to reference manuscripts and images, but mine conked out after years of faithful service, and I decided to switch to Windows. A tablet or one of the tablet-like laptops, but not a chrome book. It needs to be largish, as big as the large iPad. Any recommendations?
Congratulations on getting through the surgery! I hope recovery goes well 😊
(oh, sorry, I don’t use a tablet so no help there I’m afraid. But I’m sure someone else will know 😊)
I had a windows surface for a long time. It got me through college and the first year of grad school. I took notes on it like an iPad but it also worked as a laptop. Don’t know what the newer ones are like, but I really liked mine.
I have had a Surface Pro – have used both as a laptop withe the detachable key board and as a tablet. it has gone to Europe with me several times since it is light weight and has come in very handy. My current version is more than 5 years old (probably closer to 10) and i am a rough user, but still going. Recommend
I also really like the Surface for a Windows based tablet. I am also currently using the HP Envy 360 which folds like a tablet and also works as a laptop. It is a bit heavy if using only as a tablet
HP makes very nice tablets. Try HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop 16-aa0047nr. It comes with a stylus,
So glad to hear the surgery went well!
Happy healing!
Best Buy has Outlets where they sell repaired old laptops and such. I’d recommend trying there. Their return and replace policy is still the best I’ve seen for computer stuff. Not really for the price more than for the selection. They should have tons of those lenovo tablets that run windows ten on them.
I’ve been using a Samsung tablet for a couple of years and love it. Yes, I still use a desktop for writing, gaming, etc but the tablet has gorgeous definition & syncs with my phone. I’m reading your blog on it right now with my morning tea. This might not work for you if you use iPhone however. Good luck! Great news about the eye surgery!
I use a Samsung Tablet for ereading, using all the apps. I love mine.
A friend has a Samsung tablet with a keyboard cover that works fabulously. It’s on Android rather than Windows. I don’t know how important the Windows part is or if you’re more familiar with iOS rather than Android.
The cover/keyboard works like a dream. It came with a pen as well, so that works nicely.
Hope you find something that works smoothly for you.
I have a Surface that got me through college and I used it for bills/emails regular life too. Both my big kids were gifted ones when they started college.
Mine and my Kid#1 however needed new ones because they are older and could not do the Windows 11 update. I got another surface but he got a regular laptop since he felt he didnt need all the bells and whistles since he has graduated and is now a mechanic.
Kid #2 got hers last year and loves the tablet/laptop mode feature and her ability to store docs on goggle and access them on her phone in a pinch if she needs its. She is a Sophmore this year.
Good luck with your choice.
Love my Surface Pro, comes in 12″ or 13″. Works as a tablet or a computer. Has an add-on keyboard as well as touch screen and on-screen keyboard.
For serious typing, I plug in an actual keyboard.
The new Surface has mini-USB ports so I use an adapter.
Glad you are doing so well after surgery! I just had cataracts in both eyes done (2 weeks apart). The surgery was a success but I developed inflammation from the preservatives in the drops. So recovery is taking a long painful time. Starting tto see the end of the road though (pun intended!).
Congratulations! You’ve done it! So glad the second surgery went well. I remember more of the first surgery myself, all the cool psychedelic lights!
You’re doing everything right. Things will just improve over time. So grateful for cataract surgery! Seeing every leaf will continue. My problem was noticing how much mynhouse needs a deep clean!
Please say hi to the Big Foot in tour backyard for me.
Microsoft surface might meet your needs
So happy you are doing well!
I have friends who love their Surface tablets. Samsungs Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is used by many of my clients. Still I love my Apple Ipad Pro. It’s the best!
Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 13. You can use it laptop or tablet mode. It comes with a pen. You can also splurge for the keyboard that detaches from the screen, but you can still type. I have it. I love it. I am in IT. I use it whenever I am away from my desk at work and at home.
Can you use it to download music on to a usb? Can’t on my iPads which makes me sad otherwise I love my IPads
I chortled over the Bigfoot nest, gotta remember that one! Good to hear your second surgery went just as well as the first and that your vision is awesome. I wish, but unfortunately no cataracts, just aging eyes.
Have listened to The Inheritance probably six times now and enjoyed it each time. Hillary and James did an awesome job. Thank you! I don’t recall, did you tell us what you’re working on or is it to be a surprise? Very excited to hear you’re both enjoying it so much, whatever it is! Can’t wait!
Sorry to say, I was gifted an iPad, which is the only reason I use it, but as a result don’t have any recommendations to offer. Would be most interested in hearing what you decide on.
I have a Samsung Tab S9+. It has so much more memory than my last tablet. I don’t use it much for Office stuff except the occasional Excel, but I play games on it, it’s my Kindle device (app), and I basically use it for everything I do on my laptop when I’m too lazy to go get my laptop. I don’t use it for extensive writing because it’s a soft keyboard, although I think it might have a physical one you can buy separately.
That said, it’s an Android, not Windows. It would be good for your research, but not to fill in for laptop when writing.
Happy to hear your second surgery went well. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Now, as to the Bigfoot—don’t let Gordon feed it or it will never leave!
So happy to hear you can see the fence!!! I’m certain the fur babies will understand your limits if you explain it with gentle woofs. As to your question about replacing your iPad, I have a Surface Pro that is bigger than an tablet but small enough to put into a floor stand. When my husband got sick and couldn’t hold books, we loaded it with a Kindle reader and he used an automatic page turner. You can get it with a keyboard, it accepts voice commands and is generally useful.
I’m glad everything went well. I might need those surgeries soon.
If you are looking for a Windows based tablet you can’t go wrong with a Microsoft Surface Pro (13″ touch screen).
If you are looking for an android based one than you can’t go wrong with a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (14.6″ touch screen).
Windows 11 defaults to storing ALL your stuff except music in their cloud, and apparently has been known to move files to the cloud even after the device owner has changed the settings to keep things stored on the hard drive.
If you don’t mind paying for cloud storage at some point, then I’d second (umpteenth?) what others have said about the Surface.
Good luck and I’m glad to hear the surgery went well.
I have a Galaxy tablet and a Lenovo laptop. Both work well for me.
I just bought an 11 inch iPad for $299 and I love it! My iPad mini is the love of my life and the best reader. I bought a Lenovo tablet for my mother and it was so full of google stuff and a challenge for her that I gave it away. I’ll be curious to hear how you feel about the change, I couldn’t do it.
My problem with iPad is the file storage system. It’s difficult to find things.
So glad to hear that you are getting better. Great news. Please take it easy and recover in your own time. We appreciate you <3.
On the tablet front, I have an iPad and a Microsoft Surface.
The Surface is great as a tablet and as a 'laptop'. I would recommend this- I can attach a 'proper' keyboard and peripherals (external drives). The Surface comes in lots of different specs, and you will have access of all the Windows Apps.
Good luck with your new Tech kit.
Glad the surgery went well. Isn’t amazing how many more details there are to see?
Patiently waiting to buy all the coming books.
Glad to read that the vision has improved.
I switched from Windows platform to the iOS platform (meaning from Windows computers to an Apple Mac computer). The big reason I decided no more Windows computers was that years ago, Microsoft announced to the world that Windows XP was going to be the “last” Windows software they were creating. They lied to the entire world about that. Plus, it seems like every two years, Microsoft wants everyone to buy their new operating system. It gets nuts after a while.
The only Windows computer I have is for work. That is fine with me. 😀
I think there is a way to stop Windows from automatically saving all your files to the cloud, if you don’t want files in the cloud. You might have to dig into the system list to do it. Microsoft doesn’t make it easy to find things anymore.
I don’t have any recommendations on Windows tablets. My e-reader is an Android system, and I have a mini-iPad for music.
So glad the surgery went well! I chuckled at washed with an R. My mom lived in Kentucky for the first 9 years of her life and the occasional r still pops up in strange places. Warshed being the most common.
So happy to read everything went well !! It’s always a good idea to build a fire in my opinion. We wanted to this year, because the flat we purchased came with a fireplace, and then we learned it was actually a handmade fireplace by previous owners and it was actually very dangerous to use (he used wood hide the tubing… yeah) 🙂 so no fire for me for some years, until we have time and money to renovate everything up to safety standards and purchase a nice wood stove. I think I’ll have it in a decade or so :’)
I am unfortunately still an apple girlie so I can’t be of help apart from saying : the iPad is so nice.
Rest well, can’t wait to finally behold all you are working on behind the scene ! I’m p*tient and very chalant.
As Windows tablets go, I’ve generally been very happy with the Surface Pro. Great 13″ screen, fast, good battery life. Like the iPad, the keyboard is separate, cheaper than the iPad keyboard but more than the iPad folio cover.
Apple Ipad. We are an Apple family.
I like my Lenovo
I use a surface, and I love it they have capabilities as a laptop, are fairly sturdy, and have (at least some do) ports for thumb drives etc. but can also be used with the laptop or desk top to mimic/copy/ update
I recommend a Surface or Surface Pro. Good size laptop with detachable keyboard and tabley functionality.
Have you looked at the Samsung tablets? Galaxy ones….
I am already on my second Microsoft Surface Pro (had the first one several years). I love the flexibilit. I mostly use it attached to my docking station, but also as tablet or normal laptop at university. I do some light image processing in lightroom, and have never had issues.
Disclaimer that it has been a few years, and maybe the competition has caught up, but when I did my research a few years ago, the Surface line really were at the center of the venn diagram for touchscreen + tablets form factor + running full Windows. It’s priced for a full laptop (because it has the performance of one) so I recommend it mainly if your use case needs all three. If you don’t need all three, you can probably find something cheaper that works well.
Second disclaimer, I haven’t used the new Surface devices with AI and whatnot, I expect that slows performance, but I bought mine refurbished and a few models behind from the Surface website and it’s been trekking along for years. They pitch the Surface keyboard + pen heavily, but the actual device will pair to any Bluetooth keyboards, and if you don’t think you’ll use a pen, just connect any mouse/use your fingers.
If you do want to use a pen, get their pen though. I think they’re all backwards compatible so pick the one that fits your hand best, but omg, the experience is like butter. No lag, just writing, I handwrote all my college notes in OneNote on a surface for years (including grad school) and nothing beats it, just phenomenal design. Everything else that ran Windows had a little stutter either when using the pen or trying to run Windows software.
You guys have such a fun relationship.
Glad surgery is in the past now!
Samsung Galaxy Tab. I think you can get an 11″ one now.
Happy everything is well post operation. We too have had the how cold is cold enough for a fire discussion. It’s been so warm! Hopefully all continues to go smoothly at the Andrews residence!
Another reader who likes her Surface.
I use the fire tablet by amazon. its operating system is the Amazon version of android. I also recommend the origami case for it. I am on my 8th tablet, generally I replace it yearly, because that’s cheaper than replacing a battery. the longest I have had one tablet is 3 years and the life of the battery was very annoying by that point. my experience does not include pet stress testing.
Microsoft surface works quite well, I use an iPad now, but when I was needing to work while on trains and buses I used a surface pro as it was compatible with all the office programs I needed to use. I found it tended to get hot after about half an hour but mine was the first model and I hope they’ve sorted it by now. It offers you tablet/keyboard mode, but go and hang out in the store and ask someone to do a demo. I sill have my surface pro so it has good longevity. Sadly I don’t think the operating system will upgrade.
I have a samsung galaxy tablet and I love it! Samsung has one of the best update policies and mine is a few years old and still going strong. I don’t know how big Ipads are, but Samsung galaxy tab S11 ultra has a 14.6 inch display.
Touch screen laptop is the way to go. Make sure it’s one of those that can fold back on itself to become a tablet. I have one on my treadmill and it’s fantastic. I use it for video appts. all the time.
Sorry, I’m an iPad girl. My husband uses the largest size iPad for everything, too. He’s a musician and it has all his music on it. I don’t think I could move to another format.
Glad to hear your second eye surgery went well.
I am also on my second listening to The Inheritance Audible. I love it.
Windows tablet – Surface Pro. I just bought one so I have a light tablet for traveling.
I’m a Surface Pro fan, somewhat biased though since I work for Microsoft.
I can share my employee discount/access to the company store with friends, which I think some of my favorite authors definitely quality for .. if House Andrews wants to get a Surface with the discount, send me an email!