[dobbin231]

I want a tablet for web browsing, watching videos and BBC iPLayer etc. I didn't want to pay as much as an iPad and my budget is about £150-£200.

I've seen a few Android tablets that look the business but I know nothing about Android or Tablet computers.

The best prices seem to be a company called iPadAlternative.

These are the 3 that I'm considering and I would like comments from you whether they are good and which is best.

1. Window N90 X2 Quad Core GPU/Dual Core CPU Edition 9.7 Inch IPS 1024*768 with 1.5GHz Android 4.0.4 Dual camera HDMI - HERE

2.Onda Vi40 Elite - Android 4.0.3 Tablet 16Gb - £144 - HERE

3.Onda Vi40 Dual Core ICS 4.0.3 1GB RAM 16GB 9.7 inch IPS 1024*768 1.5GHz 2160P - £161 - HERE

What do you think?

[Matt D]

Rather than buying some cheapo no-name, have you considered one of the more well-known non-Apple tablets that has since had a massive price cut?

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook was a commercial failure, however due to that it is now very cheap, e.g. £199 for the 32GB version

The Motorola Xoom is also a lot cheaper now than it used to be, again due to selling sweet FA. Probably not quite as cheap as the PlayBook, but you get a bigger screen and an OS (Android) that has more apps available than the PlayBook.

[alanwarwic]

"What do you think?"

First though was 'Spam.'
I have not heard of them so beware.
Might even use VOIP and pretend to be British/in the UK.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

"What do you think?"

First though was 'Spam.'
I have not heard of them so beware.
Might even use VOIP and pretend to be British/in the UK.

Think you're barking up the wrong tree Alan. But it is Friday evening I suppose

I mean using VOIP to pretend to be British ! - do you mean putting on a funny voice?

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by psionic

Think you're barking up the wrong tree Alan. But it is Friday evening I suppose

Did I miss something on their web site to reassure me?

[dobbin231]

Thanks for all the replies.

I can also buy one of the tablets through Amazon see HERE which I presume will give me the protection of the Amazon.co.uk company.

All these devices are for the chinese market and so not normally available in Europe however the specs look really good and the reviews looked good so I was hoping for a bargain.

I want a bigger screen about 10inch so that rules out the Blackberry Playbook which has a 7" screen. The bigger Motorola Zoom runs on an older version of Android OS and still costs twice as much as these devices.

Maybe I'm being a bit naive here and you only get what you pay for....however if I buy it through Amazon I am getting some protection and I might just give it a punt?

[alan1302]

If you are happy messing round with a few things then the Chinese ones are fine as you usally need to do a few things to get them working well...if not drop down to a 7" screen and get one of the new Galaxy Tab

[koantemplation]

What do people think about the disgo tablet 9104?

It looks good on paper but might be too cheap.

http://www.mydisgo.info/archives/2199

[alan1302]

It's fine

[Gormond]

After sales support for this is going to be great

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Gormond

After sales support for this is going to be great

Just get it it from a UK supplier - then any after sales is through them...and to be honest as long as it works then you won't need anything else.

[c4rv]

Picked up a virtually new transformer TF101including keyboard off fleabay for £225 recently. Come in packaging, couldn't tell it was used. Knock the socks of any chinese knock off

[omnidirectional]

The cheap unbranded Chinese tablets usually get good reviews on Amazon and other sites, but I imagine there will be little or no after sales support. Currently there is a 7" on Amazon with Android 4.0, 1.2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM and 16GB memory selling for £109.

[dobbin231]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Picked up a virtually new transformer TF101including keyboard off fleabay for £225 recently. Come in packaging, couldn't tell it was used. Knock the socks of any chinese knock off

I cannot see anything anywhere near that price on ebay. Any transformer with a keyboard is well over £300. You must have got a bargain.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by dobbin231

I cannot see anything anywhere near that price on ebay. Any transformer with a keyboard is well over £300. You must have got a bargain.

The prices do seem have gone up slightly but the are still the odd ones slipping though around £250 or under.

£255
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-EEE-P...item43b100dd33

£246
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Asus-Eee-P...item2ebf55d87f

£247
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-Eee-P...item20c70ebcb7

[Arkudos]

Google may be releasing a budget tablet, built by ASUS tomorrow at I/O and as its Nexus it should be the best for whatever its price ends up being. Alternatively, Archos (or their other brand Arnova) are a cheap yet well known company, though some of the dirt cheap ones come with AppsLib instead of Google Play.

[Darthchaffinch]

The Google tablet.is sounding v. interesting! Screen is too small for the op though.

[dobbin231]

Originally Posted by c4rv

The prices do seem have gone up slightly but the are still the odd ones slipping though around £250 or under.

£255
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-EEE-P...item43b100dd33

£246
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Asus-Eee-P...item2ebf55d87f

£247
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-Eee-P...item20c70ebcb7

Thanks. I will keep looking for a bargain. DO you think £250 max for the TF101 plus Keyboard is about right? Quite a few people seem to be looking for a lot more than that.

I've never purchased anything electronic and used from ebay. I always been a bit wary as there are no guarantees. For me (as for most people) £250 is a lot of money to lose if the item is faulty or develops a fault soon after purchase. However I'm prepared to give it a go.

I keep getting tempted with a refurbished Apple iPad2 from Apple store for £259. I have an Apple iMac and and apple ipod touch so I have some experience of Apple products. However it is my experience with the iPod touch that makes me wary. I find it quite frustrating at times to be so tied down to how I use the iPod Touch. I would quite like to try a device that wasn't so tied down by the manufacturer.

[dobbin231]

Originally Posted by Darthchaffinch

The Google tablet.is sounding v. interesting! Screen is too small for the op though.

Yeah I was quite excited when I saw the headline but as you say the screen is the smaller 7 inch which isn't what I am looking for.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by dobbin231

Thanks. I will keep looking for a bargain. DO you think £250 max for the TF101 plus Keyboard is about right? Quite a few people seem to be looking for a lot more than that.

I've never purchased anything electronic and used from ebay. I always been a bit wary as there are no guarantees. For me (as for most people) £250 is a lot of money to lose if the item is faulty or develops a fault soon after purchase. However I'm prepared to give it a go.

I keep getting tempted with a refurbished Apple iPad2 from Apple store for £259. I have an Apple iMac and and apple ipod touch so I have some experience of Apple products. However it is my experience with the iPod touch that makes me wary. I find it quite frustrating at times to be so tied down to how I use the iPod Touch. I would quite like to try a device that wasn't so tied down by the manufacturer.

I wouldn't pay more then £250 and the AFAIK the transformer has not got any specific design issues. There are at least 6 guys in the office with one, most from when they first came out and not one has had an issue. Of course your are buying second hand and there is always a chance of abuse but there are no moving parts and as long as its been treated OK (which you would hope for a £400 device) then I would not expect problems.

The iPad is still a great device for most people unless you like to tinker and if you already an apple user it does integrate nicely. For me personally I like to tinker so I'm in the android camp. Both of my sisters have ipads (one with just ipad2 and other has ipad2 and ipad3) and both are happy with them.

I am going to buying my first apple product soon as my kids school is doing a lease purchase deal after summer on itouch and will be using them as part of lessons and homework so expecting most parents to take them up on the offer.

[Arkudos]

c4rv I wouldn't bother with the iPod touch 'deal', the current one out is nearly two years old and is essentially on its last legs in terms of tech and support from Apple.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by Arkudos

c4rv I wouldn't bother with the iPod touch 'deal', the current one out is nearly two years old and is essentially on its last legs in terms of tech and support from Apple.

when is the new one due, we will be looking at buying in September.

[Arkudos]

Perfect time then, Apple usually update the iPods mid-Sept.

[dadioflex]

I bought a VI40 Elite through Amazon - very happy with it, though like all the cheap Chinese tablets the battery life isn't great (maybe 4 hours browsing over wifi) and it feels plasticky.

If you're tempted to spend the money to get a dearer Android tablet, I'd honestly just buy a reconditioned iPad2 from the Apple Store. The iPad will give you a much better experience than any Motorola or Samsung tablet of a similar price, unless you have a specific reason to need the open system, and possibly Flash.

Me, I love cheap Android tablets - I virtually have one in every room in the house and one I keep at work. And I have an iPad 3, which get the majority of use.

Cheap Android tablets can be picture frames, Internet radios, movie players - all sorts of toys.

The RIM Playbook is dead - I wish people would stop recommending it. The price isn't even that great and development on it will be non-existent.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

If you're tempted to spend the money to get a dearer Android tablet, I'd honestly just buy a reconditioned iPad2 from the Apple Store. The iPad will give you a much better experience than any Motorola or Samsung tablet of a similar price, unless you have a specific reason to need the open system, and possibly Flash.

That is a massive price jump from £70 to £100 device up to a ipad 2