[vicktrick]

Hi

I would like to buy a tablet. I know of iPads but I do not want an apple product. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. I wondered do Samsung do a tablet and if so, is it any good?

I will really only be using it for facebook/twitter/emails/forums, that sort of thing. A few apps, the camera.

I assume they use wifi? do they also use 3g or whatever it's called... sorry I really am not sure about this sort of stuff.

Any help would be welcomed.

Thank You

[JulesandSand]

There's a variety of sizes and prices.

Perhaps if you gave an indication of budget and what size of tablet you'd like it would help.

FWIW - I have an Asus Transformer Prime and love it.

Amazon link

[vicktrick]

Nice but yep, a bit costly. I have no idea how much they even are, say £300?

[John259]

One idea would be to visit a few of the well-known retailers' web sites (Amazon, Play.com, Tesco Direct, etc) to check models, specifications, prices and purchasers' reviews. Most of these sites now have a sub-section within "Computers" for tablets.

AFAIK most or all tablets have wi-fi but only certain models have 3G which adds to the price.

Samsung do make tablets.

[JulesandSand]

Son has one of these,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Tablet-...1317266&sr=8-1

Very nice it is too. Don't be put off by the fact it's only 16GB as it takes a full sized SD card. Runs Android 4 aka Ice Cream Sandwich.

[ssr]

This tablet takes some beating by any manufacturer for the price shown, comes with 25 5* reviews

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ployer-Momo8...1319702&sr=1-1

[c4rv]

What is your budget ?

have you thought about screen size. Where are you going to be using it ? Most out and about, on public transport, hold it, etc 7" is much more portable, lighter thus easier on the wrists. 10" tablet offers around double the screen area but of course will weight more and my not easily fit into your bag.

If you are looking at 7" devices then right now unless you are on a tight budget then I would wait as the google nexus looks very well specified, especially the screen. And support should be miles ahead of the cheap chinese tablets.

If you are looking at 10" devices then there are a range of cheaper lower resolution tablets under £150 mark or higher resolution offering starting at around £300 (or refurbished / 2nd hand for £250). The lower resolution ones are fine for playing back media but some people struggle with them for reading text (like web pages) because the text is not always sharp. I personally have a couple of Advent Vega (around £100 from ebay) that the kids use and they love them.

Next up is the older technology but higher screen resolution like Motorola Xoom and Transformer TF101, these are around £250. Beyond that is new technology, faster processors, then for there is not much better value then Transformer TF300 (around £400 with docking station).

[pumazooma]

Rather than blindly picking one from amazon, you should go to a Curry's or PCworld and try them all, even the Apple one. Without having a go you don't really know how they suit what you want to do. Then you can at least make an informed choice.

[gds1972]

Originally Posted by c4rv

If you are looking at 7" devices then right now unless you are on a tight budget then I would wait as the google nexus looks very well specified, especially the screen. And support should be miles ahead of the cheap chinese tablets.

Agreed the Nexus 7 looks like a great tablet (made by ASUS for google).

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/asus-go...48510-pdt.html

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by pumazooma

Rather than blindly picking one from amazon, you should go to a Curry's or PCworld and try them all, even the Apple one. Without having a go you don't really know how they suit what you want to do. Then you can at least make an informed choice.

Yes, try them out if you can but places like currys or pcworld probably don't stock the cheapo chinese ones.

[Esot-eric]

For 7" tablets i really don't see the Google Nexus 7 being bettered this year. Unless you really want a camera on the back or expandable storage, it's probably the way to go.

£159 for an 8GB one, or £200 for a 16GB. The 8GB looks like it'll be exclusive to the Google Play Store, but the 16GB should be available in retail stores, such as PC World and Tesco, by the end of the month.

They're both Wifi-only, but with the remainder of your budget you could pick up a Fon Router to add to your home broadband connection, allowing free access to all the BT/Fon hotspots (over 3.5 million in the UK, 6 million world-wide) or a 3G Mifi device (or tethering your current phone if your provider allows it) for access on the go.

[Rodney McKay]

One thing to be aware of is many Android tablets do not come with Google Market (Play Store) installed by default and often have other app stores that don't have the full range.

Most Android tablets can get the Google Market on them but that often requires a bit of messing around.

Personally I wouldn't have a tablet that doesn't have it by default.

[Zack06]

Just get the Google Nexus 7 by ASUS for £159.....Quad Core processor, HD Screen, pure Android 4.1 experience and a device that will get the latest updates before nearly every other device. You can't go wrong. It's a bargain.

[ssr]

Originally Posted by Rodney McKay

One thing to be aware of is many Android tablets do not come with Google Market (Play Store) installed by default and often have other app stores that don't have the full range.

Most Android tablets can get the Google Market on them but that often requires a bit of messing around.

Personally I wouldn't have a tablet that doesn't have it by default.

The Ployer Momo8 Bird is fully licenced by google for the Play Store

"Android 4.0.3 Tablet, with fully licensed Google Play pre-installed "

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by vicktrick

Hi

I would like to buy a tablet. I know of iPads but I do not want an apple product. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. I wondered do Samsung do a tablet and if so, is it any good?

I will really only be using it for facebook/twitter/emails/forums, that sort of thing. A few apps, the camera.

I assume they use wifi? do they also use 3g or whatever it's called... sorry I really am not sure about this sort of stuff.

Any help would be welcomed.

Thank You

Why don't you want an Apple product?

[John259]

A year or two back one of the major considerations when buying a tablet was whether the screen was resistive or capacitive (resistive being considerably less expensive but requiring a stylus or much more finger pressure).

Would I be right in thinking that these days all tablets have capacitive screens?

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by John259

A year or two back one of the major considerations when buying a tablet was whether the screen was resistive or capacitive (resistive being considerably less expensive but requiring a stylus or much more finger pressure).

Would I be right in thinking that these days all tablets have capacitive screens?

nope, there are still tablets using resistive screens at the bottom end of the market but tbh the price difference between those and capacitive screens is small enough that you might as get a capacitive screen.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by Zack06

Just get the Google Nexus 7 by ASUS for £159.....Quad Core processor, HD Screen, pure Android 4.1 experience and a device that will get the latest updates before nearly every other device. You can't go wrong. It's a bargain.

Not much good if you want a bigger screen.

[Zack06]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Not much good if you want a bigger screen.

Well the OP didn't specify that. And since they are cautious about costs, running out to buy a 10" tablet isn't exactly going to be a low cost excursion.

7" isn't that small, and it provides the best of both worlds, small enough not to attract too much attention, but big enough to enjoy content/internet on a larger HD screen. Plus it's more powerful than the iPad, and far far better value, and it doesn't look ugly. It was just a suggestion.

[dadioflex]

Hi! I want to buy a car. I don't want to give you an idea of my budget, but I definitely don't want to buy a BMW. Please help.

I only want to use it for travelling on roads, driving, getting from one place to another and commuting.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

Hi! I want to buy a car. I don't want to give you an idea of my budget, but I definitely don't want to buy a BMW. Please help.

I only want to use it for travelling on roads, driving, getting from one place to another and commuting.

Some sort of Maserati would be idea

[vicktrick]

Originally Posted by Batwing

Why don't you want an Apple product?

Thanks all, will have a read of this thread more when I can later. I just thought Apple products were really expensive and you just paid for the name. Remember I know nothing!

[grumpyoldbat]

Originally Posted by vicktrick

Thanks all, will have a read of this thread more when I can later. I just thought Apple products were really expensive and you just paid for the name. Remember I know nothing!

It depends if you listen to someone who's anti-Apple or someone who's pro-Apple.

Just go to a store, try them out, including the iPad and see which one YOU like best. It's your decision.

[John259]

Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat

try them out

That's obviously vital but IMHO there's also a need to check the spec and things which aren't perhaps so obvious such as how they handle printing, whether the battery can be replaced by the user when it fails to hold a charge and whether the programs (apps) that you want to download are available.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by vicktrick

Thanks all, will have a read of this thread more when I can later. I just thought Apple products were really expensive and you just paid for the name. Remember I know nothing!

If you know nothing then don’t start dismissing things you know nothing about! LOL