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intro to tablet pc, first tablet
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kate36
13-11-2011
I'm looking for a budget internet pad for myself while i am out on the move, or just to use at home for web surfing, watching the odd film etc, i ilke the idea of having an expandable memory slot and being able to connect external hard drives if possible
something fairly sturdy and responsive, im a realist in that what i want and the budget i have wont be anywhere near the standards of the top range pads out now but something easy to use, connectivity and be able to download apps and watch movies and surf would be just fine
any suggestions?

i did like the look of this one;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-X220-TA...f=cm_cd_f_pb_t
but i think i read on amazon it doesnt recognise external drives

or this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARCHOS-10-1-...1170018&sr=1-5

i dont have a massive budget so under £200 is my goal
kate36
13-11-2011
Feel free to post feedback!! Lol thanks!!
advb69
13-11-2011
Hi,

I asked a similar question recently and got a lot of good advice. Have a read through this thread and see if it helps:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1572040

A refurbished Advent Vega may meet your needs but you would probably have to upgrade the ROM. It depends on whether you want something that works out of the box.

I also considered the A1CS machine but the very active support forums for the Vega are pushing me towards that.
kate36
13-11-2011
Originally Posted by advb69:
“Hi,

I asked a similar question recently and got a lot of good advice. Have a read through this thread and see if it helps:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1572040

A refurbished Advent Vega may meet your needs but you would probably have to upgrade the ROM. It depends on whether you want something that works out of the box.

I also considered the A1CS machine but the very active support forums for the Vega are pushing me towards that.”

ooh i havent considered that one yet, still researching!!
thanks very much, very helpful, have you decided yet?
i just dont have the finance for an ipad but to be honest i dont want to be 'locked into' apple world lol,
plus i like facebook games which need flash and a lot of internet content needs that also so there you go
like you i'd want to be fairly future proof but without breaking the bank
not asking for much then!!
c4rv
14-11-2011
Originally Posted by advb69:
“I also considered the A1CS machine but the very active support forums for the Vega are pushing me towards that.”

You can find support for the A1CS (basically a Flytouch3) here,

http://www.apad.tv/apadforum/
kate36
14-11-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“You can find support for the A1CS (basically a Flytouch3) here,

http://www.apad.tv/apadforum/”

thanks v much!
am i right in thinking the flytouch is american? will i still be able to access the full android market?
there's another pad i have seen i like the look of on amazon;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...5TMMYN7D8EZ5Z4
alanwarwic
14-11-2011
Most of those budget ones use the slower and older ARM 11 CPU. (2.5 times slower at the same clock speed I think)

The faster 101 is sleek and is/was available at £150.
The even faster Arnova 10 G2 is on offer at Maplin for £150. (mentioned in another discussion here))
101 wins for low weight sleekness, the Arnova certainly wins for power.
kate36
14-11-2011
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“Most of those budget ones use the slower and older ARM 11 CPU. (2.5 times slower at the same clock speed I think)

The faster 101 is sleek and is/was available at £150.
The even faster Arnova 10 G2 is on offer at Maplin for £150. (mentioned in another discussion here))
101 wins for low weight sleekness, the Arnova certainly wins for power.”

thanks alan, i will look at the arnova as well..
kate36
14-11-2011
i cant remember if i posted a link to this one...but its on my list of ones to research further!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tabtech-A816...pr_product_top


and this one
i'm probably being a bit naive but how would you pick up free wifi, surely you'd need a subscription to a service provider?? [one of the feedback comments on amazon mentioned 'picking up free wifi']

i like the A1CS tablet too;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-X220-TA...d_rhf_cr_p_t_2
although the CPU on this one is of the ARM11 variety, would that slow it down?

this one would appear to have more up to date software ...and i think will win the race..hmm!! lol
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-CAPACIT...pr_product_top
it has a samsung CPU, anyone know about these?
c4rv
15-11-2011
Just as a comparison of different ARM chips, from here http://www.eeejournal.com/2009/12/ar...cortex-a9.html

ARM11: 1.2 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A8: 2.0 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A9: 2.5 DMIPS/MHz

So a 1GHz ARM8 is going to be 2.0/1.2 = 1.66 times faster then a 1GHz ARM11.
kate36
15-11-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Just as a comparison of different ARM chips, from here http://www.eeejournal.com/2009/12/ar...cortex-a9.html

ARM11: 1.2 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A8: 2.0 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A9: 2.5 DMIPS/MHz

So a 1GHz ARM8 is going to be 2.0/1.2 = 1.66 times faster then a 1GHz ARM11.”

thanks for that i'm not that au fait with that depth of techie know how lol howeverI may be ARMed with more knowledge after this article though, thanks
i just want to be able to browse the web, send the odd email, play media files and get wi fi access
should be enough i'd say,

what about the VIA 8650 CPUs then, any good? i've noticed 2 of the tablets i have liked on amazon have got those..
hmm more research needed i think!

ps accessing wifi whilst out and about, i read somewhere about tethering my pad to my mobile account?

i feel my wish list is getting longer!
kate36
15-11-2011
aha looking at archos now, mixed reviews but overall good and a fairly decent processor AND i can tether it to mobile account so no extra data charges!
not sure if i can upgrade the memory on this one though, some take up to 32gb..hmmm
clonmult
15-11-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Just as a comparison of different ARM chips, from here http://www.eeejournal.com/2009/12/ar...cortex-a9.html

ARM11: 1.2 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A8: 2.0 DMIPS/MHz
ARM Cortex A9: 2.5 DMIPS/MHz

So a 1GHz ARM8 is going to be 2.0/1.2 = 1.66 times faster then a 1GHz ARM11.”

And thats before you start to consider the various GPU options (and how well the various firmwares make use of the GPU features ....)
alanwarwic
15-11-2011
Above is possible right if the ARM 11 actually has a die shrink to A8 standards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rocessor_cores

edit - does shows as about 1.66. Maybe on a like for like die size?
alanwarwic
15-11-2011
2.5 times is actually the jump from an A8 to an A9 dual core. (Advent Vega)

And seems that the Maplin Arnova is still A8 so the 101 is better on so many ways.
kate36
15-11-2011
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“2.5 times is actually the jump from an A8 to an A9 dual core. (Advent Vega)

And seems that the Maplin Arnova is still A8 so the 101 is better on so many ways.”

i do like the look of the 101..good price too
alanwarwic
15-11-2011
I forgot about the £200 Archos 80 G9.

http://android.modaco.com/topic/3472...-80-g9-review/
http://blog.dawid.lorenz.co/2011/11/...g9-review.html

And read between the posts. Each device has its set of fanboys.
kate36
15-11-2011
well i still like the A1CS 10.2 tablet but havent given up researching the product yet!
looks like it will do for what i want plus at an affordable price - i it has bluetooth i should be able to tether it to my mobile account
or the tabtech which does have bluetooth for definite

either way i dont want to spend a fortune just get the best i can afford in my budget range which is fairly future proof, im not looking for a high end machine otherwise i'd save up for one, just something i can boot up quickly, do a bit of web surfing, play a few flash games and have relatively few issues with
kate36
15-11-2011
let me get this right, if my tablet and phone are both blue tooth enabled, i can tether my tablet to my mobile and use my mobile data package for wifi. Is that correct?
alanwarwic
15-11-2011
I'm not sure the A1CS would get to do many flash games whatseoever.
Some Flash video may be your lot.

The battery also looks like a 2 hour one being a smaller clone .
I've usually tethered gadgets via wifi from my phone.
kate36
16-11-2011
i think i like this one..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HONEYCOMB-Ca...1422219&sr=1-2
clonmult
16-11-2011
Originally Posted by kate36:
“let me get this right, if my tablet and phone are both blue tooth enabled, i can tether my tablet to my mobile and use my mobile data package for wifi. Is that correct?”

Possibly, depends on your phone. You can possibly use bluetooth to tether, or preferably (if you're using an Android or Symbian phone) you can have the phone become a wifi hotspot.

Either way, its not something the operators like in the slightest - they have this idea that you should be paying extra for a tethering data tariff, regardless of data just being data, be it coming from your mobile or tablet.
Perdue
16-11-2011
A1CS X220 TABLET 10.2" ANDROID 2.2,

I would avoid the above tablet it's hard work loading up heavy graphic web pages
flash is only partially implemented. No bbc iplayer, Itv player etc.
kate36
16-11-2011
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“Possibly, depends on your phone. You can possibly use bluetooth to tether, or preferably (if you're using an Android or Symbian phone) you can have the phone become a wifi hotspot.

Either way, its not something the operators like in the slightest - they have this idea that you should be paying extra for a tethering data tariff, regardless of data just being data, be it coming from your mobile or tablet.”

but im already paying for a data package!
kate36
16-11-2011
Originally Posted by Perdue:
“A1CS X220 TABLET 10.2" ANDROID 2.2,

I would avoid the above tablet it's hard work loading up heavy graphic web pages
flash is only partially implemented. No bbc iplayer, Itv player etc.”

thanks perdue, i've already binned that one,
i do like the new cambridge sciences G7-III which has Android Honeycomb, a little dearer but hopefully a little more future proof
i've already got a netbook, this is for when i'm truly mobile though i will use in the home as well
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