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Cheap 7" Android 2.2 device
Eater Sundae
18-09-2011
Right. Let's set the scene. I have a cheapish laptop (Pentium T3400, Vista, 2GB memory, 160GB storage, and chosen mainly because of its 17" screen) which is adequate for everything I need to do. General browsing, a bit of on line buying, emails, DS Forums (), filing photos etc. All pretty low grade stuff. No power hungry games or file downloading etc.

We sometimes have demand exceeding supply, with Mrs Sundae and Miss Sundae also wanting to use it (Mrs Sundae for Facebook, and Miss Sundae for CBBC games, KS1 & 2 workbooks etc). In the house, we also have a little Asus Eeee (with 7" screen), which I sometimes use. (Also a Kindle and Nokia 5800 for if I absolutely need to get on line when the other computers are not available).

I have seen lots of different Google Android 2.2 Tablets with 7" screens for sale on Amazon - all around the £60 to £70 mark. I appreciate you get what you pay for, but can anyone advise if any particular model is better than the others (or not as bad as the others)? I neither need nor want to pay the price for a top of the range 10" Tablet. All I want is a touch screen device for occasional browsing and forums. I sometimes browse using the Asus Eee in bed - I think a touch screen would be easier than the Eee's little keyboard when pointing and clicking, dragging etc. I happen to be very short sighted, and so can happily read a small screen just a few inches in front of my nose (so I don't need to spend on a big screen). However, I would like a good quality screen with good resolution - this is probably the most important feature. (Oh, and the ability to play Angry Birds, to keep my daughter happy). It would always be mains operated, so battery life is not an issue.

I am not au fait with the screen qualities of different machines. Are some better than others, if so, which? Any particular recommendations? Failing that, are there any particular features in the specifications that I should be looking for? Also, if anyone has one of the many available machines and is also familiar with the Asus Eee, can they advise how the tablet screen compares to the Eee (both 7"), to give me an idea what I might expect?

Thanks in advance.
Roush
18-09-2011
At that price point they're all pretty much the same apart from the case they're in, so choose whichever one you prefer the look / feel of.
5mistry
18-09-2011
Do not buy a device with a resistive touch screen even at that price the experience will be awful, almost unusable.
Eater Sundae
18-09-2011
Originally Posted by 5mistry:
“Do not buy a device with a resistive touch screen even at that price the experience will be awful, almost unusable.”

Although I haven't read spec sheets for all the 7" tablets in my price bracket, I have presumed that they are all resistive type. My only experience of a resistive screen is on my Nokia 5800 and on my (ebuyer own make) sat nav. Both of these seem fit for purpose when I use them, either with the stylus or with my finger nail. I've never used any other type of screen.

I've never used a touch screen tablet, so do not know what to expect? Does anyone know: Are they worse than on such as a Nokia 5800? ie is the Nokia a "premium" resistive screen in comparison to these tablets? Do resistive screens come in different quality, or are they all much the same as each other?
c4rv
18-09-2011
Originally Posted by 5mistry:
“Do not buy a device with a resistive touch screen even at that price the experience will be awful, almost unusable.”

not true at all. I have a apad which has a resistive screen and works fine. of course its not going to be as good as a £300 device but myseld, my mrs and my kids all find it very usable. The only thing to get used to is that you use your finger nail instead of pad of your finger. It takes around 15 minutes to get used to else use a stylus.

BTW, if you are talking about using it for kids, then 100% they find it much more intuitive over using a netbook with keyboard. My 4 year old happily uses my tablet without needing to show her without problems.
alanwarwic
18-09-2011
You have to bear in mind that there is more power in that EEE PC than any of the tablets currently available.

You can buy a new Disgo 6000 for £57. Its not great but there is some stuff both incredibly bad and deceptive in their descriptions at that price level.
£150 gets you a decent one such as the Archos 101 or even the Hannspad.
Eater Sundae
18-09-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“not true at all. I have a apad which has a resistive screen and works fine. of course its not going to be as good as a £300 device but myseld, my mrs and my kids all find it very usable. The only thing to get used to is that you use your finger nail instead of pad of your finger. It takes around 15 minutes to get used to else use a stylus.

BTW, if you are talking about using it for kids, then 100% they find it much more intuitive over using a netbook with keyboard. My 4 year old happily uses my tablet without needing to show her without problems.”

Don't I just know it. I've let my daughter play games on my Nokia 5800 since she was 5. Every so often she'll say "what do I do now, Daddy?", when she gets stuck. I look and find that's she's got into some feature that I never even knew existed. It's quite demoralising to see how easy and natural she finds everything.
c4rv
18-09-2011
Originally Posted by Eater Sundae:
“Don't I just know it. I've let my daughter play games on my Nokia 5800 since she was 5. Every so often she'll say "what do I do now, Daddy?", when she gets stuck. I look and find that's she's got into some feature that I never even knew existed. It's quite demoralising to see how easy and natural she finds everything.”

plus there are hundred of good quality kids apps for android (along with hundreds of not so good ones). Most only cost a could of quid or are free.
alanwarwic
18-09-2011
You have to bear in mind that there is more power in that EEE PC than any of the tablets currently available.

You can buy a new Disgo 6000 for £57. Its not briliant but there is some stuff both incredibly bad and deceptive in their descriptions at that price level.
£150 gets you a decent one such as the Archos 101 or even the Hannspad.
Dai13371
19-09-2011
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“You have to bear in mind that there is more power in that EEE PC than any of the tablets currently available.

You can buy a new Disgo 6000 for £57. Its not great but there is some stuff both incredibly bad and deceptive in their descriptions at that price level.
£150 gets you a decent one such as the Archos 101 or even the Hannspad.”

A colleague has one and whilst it is what it says it is, a no frills device which offers affordable tablet computing, it is absolutely diabolical.
alanwarwic
19-09-2011
To use Flash you have to use Skyfire and the list of APPS available is smaller with the included Android Slideme.

It gets good reviews from those who don't expect a high end experience.
Missy Moo
19-09-2011
I've been eyeing up the Archos 7 which is seems a steal for £74.99 at Carphone Warehouse

Any thoughts?
alanwarwic
19-09-2011
About its worth.
Probably better with more memory and available apps. But certainly slower.
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