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Please advise me which Tablet would suit me
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Sarn
27-07-2012
And I'm not talking about prescription

I want to get a Tablet for the following use:

Internet
e-mail
Watching live streaming
Watching video's I've downloaded on my laptop and transferring them over to the tablet
Reading books

and that's basically all I want it for.

I'd like one because I want to take it on holiday, but I don't know which one to get - iPad (quite expensive), Google Nexus or many others that are out there on the market.

I don't want to have to spend a fortune, but as I'm not that technical, I really have no idea which would be best for me.

Could anyone please recommend one that you think might be suitable for me.

I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your help.
pumazooma
27-07-2012
They all do that.

Your best bet is to go to a shop like PCworld and try them out.
Sarn
27-07-2012
Does the Nexus do all that then?

If so, it's much cheaper than the iPad. Are there good reviews regarding the Nexus?
gds1972
27-07-2012
Have a read of this review amongst the many out there.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-...1087040/review
pumazooma
28-07-2012
Originally Posted by Sarn:
“Does the Nexus do all that then?

If so, it's much cheaper than the iPad. Are there good reviews regarding the Nexus?”

Don't forget though that the nexus is a lot cheaper mainly because the screen is 3in smaller.
John259
28-07-2012
While the Asus Google Nexus 7 generally gets very good reviews and is good value for money, there are also worrying reports from quite a few purchasers of the screen separating from the case on the lefthand side. Some people have had their devices replaced and had the same problem on the replacement.

There's another problem that might affect your requirement for live streaming. As with the iPad, it is not easy to run Adobe Flash Player. There are workarounds for the Nexus but they require quite advanced technical expertise to install. I believe that without Flash it isn't possible to view the BBC's iPlayer output on the Nexus yet, but the BBC may have a solution in the works.
Dark 1
28-07-2012
Originally Posted by pumazooma:
“Don't forget though that the nexus is a lot cheaper mainly because the screen is 3in smaller.”

Well that and it's being sold at near cost.

I was considering one, but I decided not to. For my use, 16 gig wouldn't be nearly enough, and strangely for an Android devise, you can't upgrade via an SD card. Hope the next version rectifies this oversight.
alanwarwic
28-07-2012
Originally Posted by pumazooma:
“Don't forget though that the nexus is a lot cheaper mainly because the screen is 3in smaller.”

By that logic the iPhone should cost closer to £99.

With so many people gravitating to larger smart devices, I'm now recalling my old theory that the 4s was purposely sized to stay behind the curve, and not impact on sales of the iPad.
Dark 1
28-07-2012
I too would suggest going to a shop and playing them them.

There is no perfect tablet. They're all compromised in some way. It's simply down to which combination of compromises you can best live with, which is of course entirely subjective.

Which screen size do you prefer - 10 inch or 7 inch?

Which OS do you like using most - Android or iOS?

Which hardware features/specs do you need or can live without - e.g. memory, SD card, camera?

Which ecosystem can you best live with - iTunes or Google Play (et al)?
pumazooma
31-07-2012
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“By that logic the iPhone should cost closer to £99.
”

If it wasn't a phone as well, probably yes.
56up
02-08-2012
I've never been an Apple fan, never had a IIe or a Mac (I even persuaded my company to switch to PCs). Not got an iPhone (Blackberry)

But our iPad in spite of it's infuriating hyper price has to be one of the best technology buys we've ever made. My missus had extreme problems with technology and was not good at using the home PC. But even she found the iPad highly intuitive and easy to use and I rarely get a look in.

It annoys me that the only way of communicating with it is via iTunes. I would much prefer that it showed as an external storage device (like my Blackberry and Cowon MP3 player do). But it works. I record TV programmes on my DVD recorder and rip them to MPEG4 which I can transfer to iTunes for transfer to the iPad. Great for dark evenings when away from home.

On a long flight you will be grateful for the long battery life.

I also have a generic Android 7" tablet. Dirt cheap and it shows. Leaving aside the resistive screen (there are plenty of capacitive screen Androids) the OS is clunky by comparison. It's slow to react and the battery life can be poor (3 hours tops on mine)

In the late 70s and early 80s there was a statement "Nobody got fired for buying IBM". Their mainframe computers were hugely expensive when compared to the opposition, but they worked. Same with the iPad.

My advice, stretch your budget and go for the iPad. We bought one just after release (model 1), no camera and we did not buy the 3g version but it still cost £600. We have never used close to the 64 Gb on board and if buying now would opt for the 32 Gb version. You can buy a 16 Gb model 2 from some sites at under £300.
Stuart_h
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by 56up:
“I've never been an Apple fan, never had a IIe or a Mac (I even persuaded my company to switch to PCs). Not got an iPhone (Blackberry)

But our iPad in spite of it's infuriating hyper price has to be one of the best technology buys we've ever made. My missus had extreme problems with technology and was not good at using the home PC. But even she found the iPad highly intuitive and easy to use and I rarely get a look in.

It annoys me that the only way of communicating with it is via iTunes. I would much prefer that it showed as an external storage device (like my Blackberry and Cowon MP3 player do). But it works. I record TV programmes on my DVD recorder and rip them to MPEG4 which I can transfer to iTunes for transfer to the iPad. Great for dark evenings when away from home.

On a long flight you will be grateful for the long battery life.

I also have a generic Android 7" tablet. Dirt cheap and it shows. Leaving aside the resistive screen (there are plenty of capacitive screen Androids) the OS is clunky by comparison. It's slow to react and the battery life can be poor (3 hours tops on mine)

In the late 70s and early 80s there was a statement "Nobody got fired for buying IBM". Their mainframe computers were hugely expensive when compared to the opposition, but they worked. Same with the iPad.

My advice, stretch your budget and go for the iPad. We bought one just after release (model 1), no camera and we did not buy the 3g version but it still cost £600. We have never used close to the 64 Gb on board and if buying now would opt for the 32 Gb version. You can buy a 16 Gb model 2 from some sites at under £300.”

calling Android - especially Jelly Bean - "clunky" is a bit old hat. Android has many more features than iOS and allows much more customisation. For some this is a bonus, for others its un-necessary.

Clunky ? No.

With the iPad you will pay a lot of money for much less features but (from what i read) even an idiot could use it as its just a grid of applications showing in an app launcher.

If you want a 7" tablet then the Nexus 7 is fantastic. If you want a larger screen then Id recommend one of the Asus Transformer models.
Stuart_h
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by John259:
“While the Asus Google Nexus 7 generally gets very good reviews and is good value for money, there are also worrying reports from quite a few purchasers of the screen separating from the case on the lefthand side. Some people have had their devices replaced and had the same problem on the replacement.

There's another problem that might affect your requirement for live streaming. As with the iPad, it is not easy to run Adobe Flash Player. There are workarounds for the Nexus but they require quite advanced technical expertise to install. I believe that without Flash it isn't possible to view the BBC's iPlayer output on the Nexus yet, but the BBC may have a solution in the works.”

I have a Nexus 7 and no issues yet. As with every new kit some people have issues (even with Aple products !). If my Nexus starts to show problems I will get it changed under warranty.

The route to using iPlayer isnt very complex. untick one setting and download 2 apps.
c4rv
02-08-2012
asus transformer TF101. Older version of the best android tablet there is, there are loads on ebay barely used for around 270 quid.

15 hours battery life, dead easy to use, excellent 10" wide screen with very good viewing angle. All the connectivity for removable devices that you could wish for and doubles up as a netbook as well. The dock nicely doubles as a stand and protective cover.

Movies can easily be transferred via USB cable (no need to install extra software, it appears as a external drive) or via USB key. You can also plug in a WD passport external drive (which it can power) and you have access to hundreds of gigs of storage if you need it. No need to mess with your file format that you are storing your files in as it can store just about any format you can think off. Also I took the HDMI cable with me and most hotels have a flat screen TV that you can easily plug the transformer into and watch on the main hotel TV (life saver if you are travelling with kids).
paulbrock
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by Sarn:
“Does the Nexus do all that then?

If so, it's much cheaper than the iPad. Are there good reviews regarding the Nexus?”

Nexus 7 does all that. And it's great. It has largely gone down well with reviewers and owners alike. Even mega Apple fans like MG Siegler concede its a great device.
http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/15/omg...ally-likes-it/

Had no problems with build quality on mine, and the size is a benefit. For a boy without a bag, being able to pop it in my jeans back pocket or inside jacket pocket means I can take it everywhere. Glad I didn't go for a 10" tablet.

And Jelly Bean is anything but 'clunky'. Comparing the Nexus 7 to the other cheap 7" nondescript Android tablets with old software is like comparing a dumb phone to a smartphone.
Gooby
02-08-2012
I switched from a 10inch tablet to 7inch (nexus) and never noticed the difference when watching/surfing/playing. It seems exactly the same but easier to carry around.

I am in no way technical but I solved the flash issue in about 15 minutes with a quick google for instructions.

OS on nexus 7 is very responsive and battery life is great.

I use it for all the things the OP wanted (except reading books - I have a kindle for that) and I have no problems with it.


I have noticed an increase in apps as a result of the popularity of the nexus!
alanwarwic
02-08-2012
Firefox and Dolphin happily accept Adobe Flash
I'm not sure about Opera.

For those with the old stock Android browser, Dolphin is claimed to be up to 10 times faster.
Dai13371
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by Stuart_h:
“calling Android - especially Jelly Bean - "clunky" is a bit old hat.

Snipped.”

Yep, its quite a quaint remark to make these days.
alanwarwic
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by paulbrock:
“ For a boy without a bag, being able to pop it in my jeans back pocket or inside jacket pocket means I can take it everywhere.”

Well I even managed to crunch up a credit card in my jeans back pocket so that sounds like it could be high risk.
paulbrock
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“Well I even managed to crunch up a credit card in my jeans back pocket so that sounds like it could be high risk.”

certainly an awareness is needed before sitting down. I practice I'm playing on it every opportunity so its more in my hands right now!
Stuart_h
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“Firefox and Dolphin happily accept Adobe Flash
I'm not sure about Opera.

For those with the old stock Android browser, Dolphin is claimed to be up to 10 times faster.”

Be aware that the latest version of Dolphon BLOCKS anything with Jelly Bean or above from using Flash .... i havent upgraded Dolphin and it looks like i never will
Sarn
02-08-2012
Thanks for all your replies and advice - I really appreciate it.

I'm still looking That's women for you.... we can never make up our minds

What do you think of this:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Tab-S...in&affid=73258

Is it what I need and is it better than the Nexus

I'm sorry if I'm driving you mad, but for me it's a big purchase and I want to get it right
grumpyoldbat
02-08-2012
Have you been into a shop and tried them all out - actually touching them, navigating around on them to see what they do and how they feel?

That'll give you a much better idea of what YOU will enjoy using rather than trying to purchase based on a bunch of specifications.

You might find you'd like a larger 10 or 12" screen, or smaller might be better for you. You might like one type of operating system over another etc. Only you can decide, which is why it's so vitally important that you go into somewhere like PC World where they'll have a bunch of different tablets lined up and you can try them all.

Good luck!
Stuart_h
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat:
“Have you been into a shop and tried them all out - actually touching them, navigating around on them to see what they do and how they feel?

That'll give you a much better idea of what YOU will enjoy using rather than trying to purchase based on a bunch of specifications.

You might find you'd like a larger 10 or 12" screen, or smaller might be better for you. You might like one type of operating system over another etc. Only you can decide, which is why it's so vitally important that you go into somewhere like PC World where they'll have a bunch of different tablets lined up and you can try them all.

Good luck! ”

^^ Agreed

On here you will get polar opinions from either Apple fans or normal people

Go to any shop, pick up a few, feel the weight, consider how and when you might use it (7" more portable for out and about or 10" for use at home etc), decide if you want to sell your soul to Apple or Google and then purchase online for the cheapest price.
John259
02-08-2012
Originally Posted by Sarn:
“What do you think of this:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Tab-S...in&affid=73258”

On paper that appears to be a good spec and a good price. It's got a significantly larger screen than the Nexus, which is obviously highly beneficial for usage but might be a bad thing if you want to carry the device round with you in a pocket etc. It's got a digital camera memory card slot which is potentially very useful and the lack of that is a serious deficiency of the Nexus.

The reviews mention that it might come initially configured for Japanese or Chinese users and is a bit tricky to switch to English. They also say the manual isn't all that good.

I've no direct experience of Samsung tablets but I've got a Samsung laptop which I'm extremely pleased with.

I can't judge the processor power as I've no knowledge of tablet processor model numbers. Nor can I say whether having an older version of Android is a disadvantage, or whether it could be updated to the latest version.

If you decide to go ahead, think about whether you want the 3G version which is more expensive but would provide Internet connection via a mobile phone network (sorry if that's obvious).

FWIW I'm of the opinion that it's vital to compare specs and read the products' manuals. In a physical shop there's far too much risk of being talked into an instant unwise purchase by a salesperson.
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