Which one is best? I don't mean for portability, I just mean lazing around the house with a device in hand. Is the tablet too big and clunky?

I have both and prefer the iPhone for Skritter, but the tablet for reading and web surfing.

I also have both and I enjoy the tablet very much for writing.

The tablet version unfortunately didnt get the dedication it deserves, it doesn't have the dark theme, no horizontal/landscape view available and the design does not make use of the additional display space. Most of the times, for these reason I just stick to the iPhone version now.

Really? iPad app isn't well supported I guess. I understand that android isn't supported at all. You would think they'd have time to make the ipad app equal to the iphone if they only have those two to worry about. Pleco seems to hold the bar when it comes to app support. I wish Pleco would incoporte a writing add on like skritter.

I use iphone app for offline/travel use, but windows 8 tablet for around the house/when have good wifi - that way can access all the info in the web version while reviewing (e.g. words a specific character is used in etc.) - its very smooth and is the ideal.

Unfortunately the ipad doesn't support flash, so are limited to using an offline app which is perhaps best suited for iphone/ipod, but not sure we can blame skritter for apple's limitations.

Btw, android tablets do apparently still work to some extent (can search forum for this).

If more work on the offline side is made, I'd prefer it to be for windows 8 (gets the laptop and tablet win8 travel market), rather than tweaking/forking the ipad app further. Of course, those who use android phones may disagree ... that's the problem developers face with a split market ...

Remember pleco doesn't have a windows/mac version, so is no better on "all platform" support, just has made different choices ...

True, Pleco doesn't have a Windows/Mac version, good point. But iPod/iPhone don't have flash either. Android used to support it, but not the case now. So, ipad should be just as good as the iphone's app imo.
I was leaning towards an iPad instead of an Android Tab, but now that I realize the app isn't so great, I don't see the point really. I do prefer Android anyway. Maybe the online version of skritter on a tablet is better than the app on an iPad?

I think the way it worked was android used to support flash so skritter worked, ios didn't, so skritter developed an ios app given apple market share, then android stopped official support for flash.

However, ios apps add offline support which is a killer feature on its own. Android never had offline support. Hence, iphone/ipod for travel.

For me, none of the offline apps are ideal, as if I see a character I can't remember, I want to see which words I'm learning that use it etc. etc. I can't speak for them, but I suspect the ipad users wish they had all the online features on the offline ios version, given they have enough screen space ... and they can't use the online version as ipad doesn't support flash ...

hence, windows tablet is the way to go for skritter when you have wifi - more generally, I've had ipad and android tablets before, but windows tablets are now cheaper (well, than ipad, not android) and effectively full computers so why go to a limited platform unnecessarily - but that is a different discussion ...

Again you make a good point! Flash works on Android now, but soon it won't. A windows unit does make more sense since it's a full OS. But then I would lose the ability to use Pleco. Also, I prefer a laptop's full functionality over a Tablet PC.
I use Pleco more than any other app, so it's a deal breaker unfortunately. An iPad might be a good choice since one can use Pleco and skritter on one device, however, the thought of getting an iPhone/iPad makes me cringe.
I'm going to get an android tablet, sorry skritter, if you don't support android, I won't support you.

I'm in the same boat - I'd like to use Skritter on a tablet so I'm looking for a full Win8 tablet but also want to use Pleco etc. - Samsung has recently announced the Ativ Q - which runs both Win8 and Android - It's will be too expensive for me but I'm sure others will follow.

Welcome if helps - but how about get an ipod touch (there is a new cheaper 5th gen, or get secondhand 4th gen which must be peanuts now new ios7 won't work on it) and then get whatever tablet you want. ipod is silky smooth, and I think if you buy the ios pleco version, you can install same license on an android as well.

Basically, whatever else I've said, given how useful skritter is for learning Chinese (I'm not aware of anything comparable, pleco has its place, but not this), may be worth considering an exception to the no apple rule ...

Or use skritter until finally stops working on android (pay month/six monthly), then export to pleco (which is a one off payment) ...

The criticisms on the forum are more asking for more polish on the diamond - skritter is still a diamond that it'd be a shame to miss ...

I didn't know about the Ativ Q! Looks awesome, but not out until December. Wonder what price tag will be.

"secondhand 4th gen which must be peanuts now new ios7 won't work on it"

^^ This is why I ban apple products, they're pirates.

If I didn't hate Apple, an iPod touch isn't a bad idea, but I prefer a tablet's size for writing. However, for flashcards a phone is an ideal size for me.

"Or use skritter until finally stops working on android (pay month/six monthly), then export to pleco (which is a one off payment) ..."

Exactly my plan brutha. Jelly bean will be around a while and it can use flash so I'll still play some skritter (I find it somewhat relaxing), or if it's unsupported there's still other good apps for Android (Chinese Writer).
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm looking at the new pressure sensitive Note 8. Apple who/what? :D

Wasn't nice that apple sold 4th gen ipod until just before announced ios 7, that's true ...

Ativ Q does look sweet - but I'm guessing could buy an ipod, mid-level android phone and atom windows 8 tablet for what it will cost though ... it seems to have android running on top of windows 8, which is a nice way of doing it so files etc shared, but maybe wouldn't run smoothly on atom processors (two o.s.'s at once) - if so could be a while before have cheaper win8/android tablets - hope I'm wrong and it is sooner though!

I reckon Ativ Q price must be north of Microsoft Surface pricing. It also weighs twice what atom win8 tablets do, so you can work on your biceps at the same time as skrittering ...

Agree Win8/Android tablets will be great though ... just when ...

I'll check out ChineseWriter out of curiosity, not come across it, thanks.

iPad version is great. I use it all the time, and it feels more forgiving to me. On iPhone the smaller real estate makes for more of a challenge on dense 繁體字.

One thing I like better about phone is the clock stops when pulling up the character info screen.

Otherwise there is zero significant functional difference between the versions.

Basically Skritter, Pleco and Anki is my learning stack.

Apple vs Android = guys with lifted pickups arguing Ford vs Chevy... :)

Yep - Skritter, Pleco and Anki - and add chinesepod perhaps - is definitely the pick of my chinese learning bunch. Anki being free on android, $25 on Apple though!

Agreed re pick-ups, no point discussing with people who don't just know Chevy is best ;)

"Apple vs Android = guys with lifted pickups arguing Ford vs Chevy... :)"

There is some truth to that. However, android is more customizable, however many people don't beyond changing the background picture. The proprietary bs is what I find most frustrating. All companies have their share in that, but apple takes the cake on being the most ruthless. For example, if you buy the apple truck, after the first year, it will only allow you to make right turns.

Haha yeah no doubt. I use both for work and am honestly indifferent. Each good at different things. I carry Nexus 4, iPhone and iPad as my everyday personal devices and love them all.

One thing I'm really into right now on Android is the spoken turn by turn directions when set to Chinese. I use it every time I drive. Is teaching me how to give directions to taxi drivers in Taiwan!

BTW the other key part of my learning stack is Facebook for endless stream of native 中文……

Whaaaaat?! Drive around guided by a Chinese co-pilot?! Awesome!! The ideas from the members of this forum are more valuable than the membership itself!
snowcreature: I guess Android and Apple can play nicely together. I don't actually hate apple, (I'm typing this from a macbook) just iphone.
What I really liked about Android was the ability to use flash. But since that feature is disintegrating, it's equalizing the two OS's. Still prefer the bigger screen though, and customization.
Anyway...still debating iPad retina vs Note 8.

I ended up getting a Galaxy Note 10.1. When I saw that apple still isn't installing memory card slots on their machines, it helped in the decision. Skritter doesn't like 3 browsers I've tried so far. I like Pleco a lot more anyway. I'll use Chinese writer to write, it does textbooks just like skritter. :D