Following situation:

Living during the week in a condo in Bangkok. On my company laptop I cannot install anything apart from work stuff, so not much fun with that one.

I need a laptop, tablet, whatever that connects to the Internet, displays on a TV (full HD) and where I can plug an external hard drive in to watch movies.

Suggestions?

From your given scenario.... neither, android box.

Tv, movies and internet its the ideal option.

However if you have other needs not mentioned it could change.

For real work or intense use laptop wins, but sounds like work(for employer)wise you have that covered.

For light, portable entertainment and browsing large smartphone or tablet.

If just needed when got access to a tv(multiple locations ok) then android box with bluetooth fullsize keyboard and mouse (since you mentioned internet browsing).

Can the company laptop boot on an external drive? (Most can, unless they've set and locked it out in BIOS)

It's a company laptop. Now it's repurposed for evil pleasure ...it's Two laptops in one !!

Otherwise, some people like higher-end tablets matched with an Chromecast HDMI Stick (if your display has an open HDMI port)

Or, if weight/bulk isn't an issue go with a more versatile second laptop.

I tried an android box a while ago, it had serious problems playing movies from the USB hard drive.

Otherwise, it would do the trick.

Will try the USB boot stick next. Good idea!

Some of the earlier or cheaper android boxes (or sticks) didn't have the CPU/GPU horsepower or proper drivers to divide and render HD Video and Audio Streams.

Doesn't mean a more recent android box wouldn't. There's not much difference between an android box and many android tablets (other than the addition of a battery and a built-in touch display). It really comes down to the device specs and software build.

I have a 8-core android box that's now 3 years old that works just fine streaming 1080p HD video pulling data from a shared folder on my laptop over a double-hop WiFi connection. Added a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard so we're not working with a clunky remote control as an interface. Works fine for most YouTube streams off a 15/1mbps Internet connection.

Tablet isn't going to do what you want to do.

Tablet isn't going to do what you want to do.

Of course a tablet can do what he specified - "connects to the Internet, displays on a TV (full HD) and where I can plug an external hard drive in to watch movies."

I have an ASUS tablet with HDMI and USB and can do all of the above.

Of course a tablet can do what he specified....

yes, but usually with limitations.

Most tablets have no "real" USB, only a mini-USB "OTG" connector, which is useless, if you need to charge the tablet via this port.

Also no Ethernet port and the tablet OS, which includes codecs, HDMI/screen settings, Remote support, DTS passthrough, etc. is not "optimized" for media playback, like a box.

My Android box (Minix X8 Plus) has 3x USB, 1 USB-OTG, GB Ethernet and great support from Minix, if it comes to media playback of any kind.

Kodi runs as smooth, as it does on a "real" PC and the box supports even 4K material natively

Summary:

For all kinds of media playback, streaming, spotifying, youtubeing, etc. an Android box.

For general use, I would wait for the new generation of Windows 10 tablets, which should do most (if not all) of the above.

But they can also easily replace a Laptop, since they have a "full-size" OS and also a "Tablet mode".

So many combo tablets with detachable keyboards on the market now. ASUS and LENOVO both have a large selection to choose from. The problem with most tablets is when you want to type anything longer than a paragraph, the onscreen touch keyboards are slow and typos annoyingly easy. Detachable keyboards give you something decent to type with yet when you just want to hold the tablet and watch or play something, you can ditch the keyboard.

Shop around. Some have many more features than others such as HDMI ports, Bluetooth, ect.

I have a teclast X89 tablet 7.9 iPad mini size. Windows 8.1, micro HDMI. Micro USB that with a pass through cable can run full size USB and charge.. Total spend for tablet and cables 7,200baht.. There are cheaper 8" tablets were the total spend would be about 5,000baht.

I'm also waiting for a Microsoft wireless display dongle from the US, slightly more expensive than the Chromecast BUT it casts anything on the screen AND doesn't require a WiFi network.

This shop has stock of different windows and dual boot windows/ android tablets.

http://www.gadgetdoor.com/

This one does mail order. Generally has stock.

http://www.suc-seedshop.com/

Powered pass through hub. 600baht.

In my honest opinion a laptop is far superior in all respects, all Notes and Tablets have limitations, a decent Laptop has everything except being lightweight and easy to transport. I am no expert but having a new Note and an old laptop I got fed up and bought a new Laptop and this with a Smart phone suits me in all respects.

Used both ... small laptop much better .. imo

Billmont. What limitations does a tablet running Windows 8.1 have?

Matricom GBox Q or the cheaper and older MX2. Android/Kodi Helix on the former or bang OpenElec/Helix on the MX2, which removes all the clutter and just makes it a nice media player/TV streamer.

The Minix mentioned above is OK too.

Tablet with a Wireless Flash Drive?

Add Wireless Mobile Storage to Your Mobile Devices >> http://www.sandisk.com/products/wireless/flash-drive/

Or

Share a hard drive with everyone on your Wi-Fi network >>> http://www.cnet.com/how-to/share-an-external-hard-drive-over-a-wi-fi-network/

You can get tablets with a proper USB port; the ASUS TF700T that I had is such an example.

Powered pass through hub. 600baht.

These hubs don't work for 99,9% of all Android devices.

Only some Nexus devices with a patched, custom Kernel should work.

These hubs are more suited for some Windows tablets (like in your screenshots)

You can get tablets with a proper USB port; the ASUS TF700T that I had is such an example.

Yes, but the Asus transformer is almost three years now.

Almost all current devices unfortunately don't have a full-size USB port.

Powered pass through hub. 600baht.

These hubs don't work for 99,9% of all Android devices.

Only some Nexus devices with a patched, custom Kernel should work.

These hubs are more suited for some Windows tablets (like in your screenshots)

You can get tablets with a proper USB port; the ASUS TF700T that I had is such an example.

Yes, but the Asus transformer is almost three years now.

Almost all current devices unfortunately don't have a full-size USB port.

Get a Windows 8.1 tablet then and have ALL the convenience of a computer on a tablet.. I'm loving mine.

Get a Windows 8.1 tablet then and have ALL the convenience of a computer on a tablet.. I'm loving mine.

I'll wait for the next generation with Windows 10 and at least 3-4 GB RAM.

But as a media player and home server, I will definitely keep my Minix Android Box.

Samsung Tab S. Either the 10 inch or 8 inch model. Super Amoled screen better than most laptops and you can buy additional keyboard to go.

Samsung Tab S. Either the 10 inch or 8 inch model. Super Amoled screen better than most laptops and you can buy additional keyboard to go.

What's the resolution and pixels?

Samsung Tab S. Either the 10 inch or 8 inch model. Super Amoled screen better than most laptops and you can buy additional keyboard to go.

What's the resolution and pixels?

1600x2560 ~359ppi

Best budget (dual boot) tablet is the Teclast X98 Air II 3G. Will meet all your requirements - providing you power the external HD from a separate source.

http://www.banggood.com/Teclast-X98-Air-3G-Quad-Core-9_7-Inch-Dual-OS-IPS-Tablet-p-967230.html

Samsung Tab S. Either the 10 inch or 8 inch model. Super Amoled screen better than most laptops and you can buy additional keyboard to go.

What's the resolution and pixels?

1600x2560 ~359ppi

That's the 8". The 10.1 is about 300ppi.

So not dissimilar to the teclast X89 7.9" @ 324ppi or the X98 9.7@ 264 (same as the iPad mini and Air)

Any comments on the windows surface product? I have seen the windows surface pro 3 and it look amaizing. Powerful as desktop but size of a tablet and work as tablet or laptop? I read than the new model pro 4 is about to be release next month with even higher specs?

Any comments on the windows surface product? I have seen the windows surface pro 3 and it look amaizing. Powerful as desktop but size of a tablet and work as tablet or laptop? I read than the new model pro 4 is about to be release next month with even higher specs?

Yep, the pro 4 seems to be truly high end stuff, up to 16gb of ram according to some sites, 1tb hard drive, new Intel chipset and the whole 9 yards.

Also up to 2000$ for top end model (not in Thailand, more ).

Check this article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/04/04/microsoft-surface-3-vs-surface-pro-3/2/

They conclude that the surface is a cheap consumer laptop replacement and the pro series is a business machine so perhaps no need for a pro model?

Any comments on the windows surface product? I have seen the windows surface pro 3 and it look amaizing. Powerful as desktop but size of a tablet and work as tablet or laptop? I read than the new model pro 4 is about to be release next month with even higher specs?

Yep, the pro 4 seems to be truly high end stuff, up to 16gb of ram according to some sites, 1tb hard drive, new Intel chipset and the whole 9 yards.

Also up to 2000$ for top end model (not in Thailand, more ).

Check this article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/04/04/microsoft-surface-3-vs-surface-pro-3/2/

They conclude that the surface is a cheap consumer laptop replacement and the pro series is a business machine so perhaps no need for a pro model?

Yep. Thanks. I am actually a Mac user. I used to have a Macbook Air which was great, especially for the mobility. I bought it in 2011 and decided to give to my wife end of last year and I bought a new Macbook Pro, 15", top model (I7) which also good. My decision to go for a pro 15" was mainly because I am using it in the office and thought about bigger screen. But as I am traveling a lot, spending lot of time on the planes and in airport transit, I miss my Macbook Air for it slimness and easy to carry. I was then waiting and about to buy the New Macbook 12" but once it was released, I have been little disappointing for the specs vs the price. Then I saw this Windows surface product and was amazed. I used to have an iPad before but from my point of view, the iPad is not replacing a laptop. But the windows surface seems for me to have laptop function but size of a tablet.

Yep. Thanks. I am actually a Mac user. I used to have a Macbook Air which was great, especially for the mobility. I bought it in 2011 and decided to give to my wife end of last year and I bought a new Macbook Pro, 15", top model (I7) which also good. My decision to go for a pro 15" was mainly because I am using it in the office and thought about bigger screen. But as I am traveling a lot, spending lot of time on the planes and in airport transit, I miss my Macbook Air for it slimness and easy to carry. I was then waiting and about to buy the New Macbook 12" but once it was released, I have been little disappointing for the specs vs the price. Then I saw this Windows surface product and was amazed. I used to have an iPad before but from my point of view, the iPad is not replacing a laptop. But the windows surface seems for me to have laptop function but size of a tablet.

I am also like you traveling a lot each year, overseas for working and coming back to Thailand and I uses a (slim) Dell 13" when traveling.

It's about max size I want to go, bigger than that and it's too big to lug around.

I am also considering a Surface (Pro?) when its time to replace the Dell as you can just use it as a tablet when traveling and then get the keyboard out of the bag when getting to the hotel.

In my house I use a desk top PC in my man cave, hard to beat and love my 27" Dell super HD monitor.

I never tried any Apple products so I don't really have an opinion on them but some swear to them but they are not cheap.