It has nothing to do with the particular features of Flash. Similarly, Apple doesn’t allow Java. Apple doesn’t allow you to run a Commodore64 emulator, because the C64 had a BASIC interpreter!

No interpreters of any kind are allowed. Because once you allow any interpreter of any kind (including Flash), users can use it to run any program they want, (even write their own programs!) without Apple being able to exercise a veto.

*Which is probably why Apple refuses to allow Flash for iOS application development. They know that if they let them tons of companies will hire programmers who only know how to hack things out in Flash, and the resulting poor performance will make iOS look bad.

For me, a tablet’s killer app is the ability to carry around a database of annotated papers. They also double as an excellent e-reader. I have an iPad, but I imagine Windows and Android gadgets would do this too.

I have one of the original Chromebooks that Google sent out for free in early 2011. Specs-wise, it’s dated, and it struggles to run the latest Chrome OS. That said, it is my go-to laptop and serves about 90% of the needs I have that sit between a full desktop and my iPad. I program on it, I write things on it, and I use it for Google Reader (which is a terrible experience on the iPad). So based on my experience and knowing that the Samsung Chromebook is likely to have better hardware, I would recommend it.

If by some bizarre chance, anyone at Google or Samsung is reading this, and wants to send me a free Chromebook, happy to review it ;) Like a few of the people above, I have a phone running plain vanilla Android, that can serve as a tether for Internet access. Thanks all for the recommendations.

What I should have said (because this is what I had in mind) is “No one should use Flash.” Flash puts unnecessary burdens on computers. There are other ways to produce Flash-like animations that do not place such burdens on the processor (e.g. HTML5). And as already mentioned Flash-compatibility is not available on all devices. That being said, using Flash places unnecessary burdens on computers and unnecessary limits on those looking to buy computers.

I wish you’re children’s school had not committed to a Flash-based curriculum. It poses unnecessary obstacles for computers and for the parents who have to decide what computers to purchase.

I am glad that the Chromebook will work out for you.

An alternative would be to buy a cheap Android tablet (there are a few respectable no-name ones for less than £100, and people report names in online forums, though I’m afraid I don’t know what they are).

The Register has a good overview of 7″ tablets today – none are less than £100, but with care a couple at least can be bought for just above that (the RIM Playbook is £109 and doesn’t use Android but does run some Android apps; the Acer A110 is £130 after cashback). http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/06/ten_ipad_mini_alternatives/

Was just going to say that. My Google Nexus mini-tablet only has wi-fi, not 3G, but I can tether it to any 3G enabled phone and off I go. Or just use one of the expanding number of free wi-fi services provided by local coffee shops, pubs or restaurants.

And if I may, since we’re on a techie question thread – I’m looking for a tablet-like device for my daughter, who is coming up 5. I’m not looking to spend very much, but it’s birthday and Christmas combined, so I’ve got, say, a £100 budget top wack. Reviews seem to suggest that tablets designed for children are pretty good, but they look so chunky and stupid, and experience suggests that computer devices for children turn out to be under-performing and over-priced. Any thoughts/recommendations/warnings?