OK - those of you helped me with my dilemma on another thread have got me to this stage. I have started a new thread because I didn't want to go back and upset stephen?

My dilemma was to go for a Samsung, Lenova or even originally an Apple refurb.

( I started to read some other posts here and as you can gather I am totally lost with marshmallow, lollipop, etc, etc at 70 years of age they mean other things to me.)

Anyway yesterday we went into Currys to get hands on with one of these to make a final decision. I had come down to thinking that it was between the Samsung at £199.99 or the Lenova Yoga 310 at £149.99. (My cousin had said why not start off with a reasonable price tab and not go for Apple.)

My husband will be trying to use this and was leaving it to me to decide. However, after awhile in the store another assistant said why aren't you looking at an Apple for all the advantages e.g. updates, longevity, etc.

Apple Air 2

So he took us across to look at one and had my non-tech husband hooked. He was show him how he can talk to it and he thought that was wonderful.

I asked what 'sockets' it had and he said none - all wireless!

(1) My thoughts this morning - I enjoy using my KOBO to dowload books from library (you wonderful people helped me come to my own decision on here what to go for.)

So if my Laptop stopped working - would I be right in thinking an Apple put stops to me downloading my books?

(2) There is no socket to say put in a memory card say for say e.g. photos.

(3) He also said downloads keep going I think he said with Apple where other tabs have a problem after awhile. Not sure if I understood that correctly.

Samsung and Lenova

(1) Could plug in my KOBO
(2) Extra Memory Card

Conclusion

Nearly made a choice but then Apple came back into play. He said they hardly ever go wrong and last so much longer, etc he was an Apple Geek.

Coming back home I thought well I was thinking seriously at one stage about a refurb Apple but if they hardly go wrong mmmm.......

So basically it feels like if I go to an Apple route - it means my little world here with Laptop and Kobo changes - it is almost as though I have to become Apple.

The other thing with my husband feeling he can talk to Apple - I said I am sure he could do this with Samsung.

Help appreciated - am i going into this too deep?

I've got an ipad and I have an Lenovo yoga. (different model to you) My ipad rarely goes wrong. But, there are no usb ports. Although, there is a cable you can buy to connect it to your TV. You are in part, paying for the name.

Have you actually had a chance to sit down and a proper play around on the tablets you've listed?

Your first mistake was to walk through the door of Currys Your second was to believe a single word the sales person told you The primary reason for him pointing you towards the Apple stand probably had nothing to do with those products qualities but his pay packet at the end of the month! He probably gets far more commission for flogging you an iPad than a Samsung.

What exactly do you mean by "plugging in my KOBO"? If you mean you can some how plug a KOBO reader tablet into a Samsung tablet you may be disappointed. I very much doubt that would work.

You can get a KOBO reader app for both Android OS as used on the Samsung and iOS as used on the iPad so should have no problems reading books on either. The major issue may be getting your already purchased books onto the tablet.

I wouldn't worry about Apple refurbs if they come from Apple, you can't tell them from brand new. A lot of the time, the refurb could just be a returned item, or something replaced under warranty and Apple have now fixed the problem and are re-selling it.

I have bought maybe 10 plus items on Apple refurb, from laptops, ipads, desktops and phones, and have never had a problem. In fact it's often said if tech is going to go wrong it's likely in the first few months, so any refurb would of been sorted, and most likely Apple would of given it a once over as well.

As for Andriod OS v Apple iOS I like Apple, people will give you all the reasons why Android is better, but for 90% of the population they don't care. And it just comes down to which you prefer.

You can get a kindle app for most devices now, so maybe look at going over to kindle books, but reading on a tablet isn't as good as a dedicated reader, except magazines which do benefit from a colour display. I will say though a tablet is a great holiday/travel device. With one device I can read, write, watch, listen and do other basic computer tasks, most better than a laptop.

I think that you'll still need to use your laptop to transfer library books to your Kobo unless you go for a tablet running Windows and install Adobe Digital Editions on it.

It would be possible to read library books on an Android or Apple tablet using the Overdrive app but you won't be able to connect the Kobo and transfer books over.

Sorry to complicate matters further!

Have you considered the 10.1" Amazon Fire HD? A decent choice if you get books form them...

Most apps you can get on both android and apple. I may need to get a new tablet soon. My last two have been ipads. May get an adroid this time. Having used mum's, there doesn't, imo, appear to be a huge amount of difference between the two.

Could you please list exactly what you want to do with your tablet?
Also, what's the business with the Kobo? As pointed out, you can't use a Kobo with an iPad or an Android tablet. If anything, you need a PC to upload books onto it. You could use a Windows tablet to do that...

I quote - Could you please list exactly what you want to do with your tablet?
Also, what's the business with the Kobo? As pointed out, you can't use a Kobo with an iPad or an Android tablet. If anything, you need a PC to upload books onto it. You could use a Windows tablet to do that...

Note: At this point in time I am not even sure if I am using right description i.e iPad or Android tablet or Windows tablet

Anyway could I have a 'tablet' that will enable me to -

1. Search internet.

2. Send/receive emails.

3. Plug in a hdmi cable from my TV into a tablet?
(At present I use my Laptop and have watched a Catch Up program direct onto TV,)

4. My KOBO - what I am saying is - say my Laptop went wrong.

(a) Can I have a tablet that allows me access - via internet - my Library Website.
(b) Can I download Adobe Digital Editions onto tablet?
(c) If answer to (b) is 'Yes' then I would want to be able to plug in my KOBO lead into Tablet and download book.

5. I have a HP e-printer. So could I print direct from a tablet?

6. To have a 'tablet' that allows my husband to search on internet without having to sit in front of my laptop. It has been said that many 'older' people find a tablet easier for this purpose.

So some of the points above would be benefits and having help on here could help me choose the 'right' product in the first place.

I do not expect the tablet to take the place of my laptop where I use it for 'office' work.

Thanking all of you for any help.

The definition (very loosely) of a Tablet is any computing device that is self contained and uses a touchscreen display for it's primary input. Which would include iPad. Android and Windows really refer to the operating system running on the tablet.


Yes


Yes


A qualified Yes. Not every tablet device has an HDMI compatible output but they do exist.


a should be Yes if it is a website.
b you can get ADE for Android and iOS for use on tablets if necessary Though judging by the reviews you would be better off finding a better alternative reader app!
c is a no. You cannot plug your Kobo (I assume you mean the e-reader tablet device) into another tablet via a USB lead. It very likely won't work. You would have to download books by some other means


Qualified yes. Might depend on the exact printer model.


Only you and hubby can answer 6 Though equally I have found people struggle with an onscreen keyboard and trying to enter text into boxes on webpages with a tablet. Sometimes a mouse and keyboard make life a bit easier. If you have a Smart phone and use that for web browsing and get on OK with it then a tablet should be second nature.

Looking at the Kobo website it appears you can get the Kobo app for all tablets, iPad, Android and Windows 8 and 10, so you'd just sign in with your account and all the books you have on your Kobo will be downloaded onto your tablet as well. Never used it myself so you'd need to check that.

If your Kobo has a USB lead then you can plug it into Windows 10 tablets. They are, technically, a Windows PC/Laptop so if something worked on your Windows laptop it will work on a Windows 10 tablet like the Linx.

Same with HDMI, you can plug in any HDTV with a HDMI lead and play movies or use it to surf the net etc.

Most Windows tablets have a SD card slot to expand the storage. Very useful and far less than paying Apple for more storage when buying an iPad!

What laptop do you have, Windows or Apple? If you have a Windows 8 or 10 laptop then a Windows tablet will be familiar and will automatically share the main folders like Photos, Documents etc.

Windows tablets have two totally different screens. They have the normal PC/laptop screen and they have a Tablet screen where it works as a tablet. That screen is full of icons (Microsoft call them tiles), all the buttons are big and easy to use with fingers and so on. In tablet mode all apps open full screen, just like the iPad and Android tablets, while in Desktop mode they open in windows you can move around and change size, just like a PC or laptop. So you can choose which way to use it. If you want to do some serious work and dock it into the keyboard it will automatically change into Desktop mode and is then effectively a laptop.

Windows tablets can run all Windows programs, as well as Windows apps.
iPad and Android have a lot more apps, but can only run apps. They can't run full programs.

Some websites are designed so you can't scroll up any more, so the on screen keyboard covers the text box so you can't see what you are typing. I don't know about iPad or Android but on Windows you just undock the keyboard and you can move it to the top of the screen where it isn't hiding the text box.

An App is a Program and a Program is an App. App is simply an abbreviation of Application, ie computer software written to perform some task. So in many respects there is no difference at all between an App and a Program.

The main difference between what people call Apps and Programs may be in the user interface and functionality due to the limitations of the device the software is running on.

I would argue that there is a difference when people are talking about using a PC or a portable device. Apps are programs optimised for portable, touch, devices like phones and tablets. They generally have reduced functionality due to limitations of the touch interface and the hardware they typically run on. Programs is accepted to mean full feature software running on a full PC with a keyboard and mouse.

So with a Windows tablet you have the choice of the Word app or full Word. The Word app is far easier to use if you're on the train or sitting on the sofa editing a document. The full Word program give you far more features when you're at a desk using a keyboard and mouse. You can have both on your tablet and use whichever one suits your need at the time.
On an iPad or Android tablet you are far more restricted and can only use an app version of software.

Have managed to get back to this again - I need to get out and really look at these. (Foot op has stopped me driving for 3 months.) Anyway I googled Windows Tab and came up with this. The DELL under £200 seems interesting - or - doesn't it for what I want mm..... thoughts appreciated.
http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile...-prices-916134

OK - I will go for JL without a doubt to get my 2 year guarantee. I spoke to JL on the phone and they did say the build of the Lenovo was not as good. Did't really mind which model - around same price.

http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-tab-...idnight%20Blue

I have virtually chosen the Samsung Galaxy and with the pen. It may be that my husband finds it easier to select 'things'.

http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-gal...6?colour=White

I appreciate any thoughts but when I did a comparison the pixels on the Samsung was less. Would we really notice a difference?

Sorry - I expect you will all be pleased when I have bought one!

The Lenovo is a much better tablet, and I don't think the Samsung is worth anywhere near that price. I've heard the screen on the Samsung is terrible.

You can get a stylus very cheap to go with the Lenovo. It won't be as accurate as the pen that comes with the Samsung but still fine for selecting things. Most of the time when you buy a case from Ebay, you get a stylus for free.

Thank you - your thoughts are really appreciated.

What I will offer, is with an iPad if you are local to an Apple store they will give you free lessons in how to use your device. If you search for Apple workshops you can find out more. That is something none of the other manufacturers really offer, and could prove invaluable in helping you get the most out of your device

Thank you. I am not located near an Apple store at all. It seems Apple will be too restrictive for our needs i.e. everything is wireless plus maybe not such a good starter for us. I must admit I was very tempted. Oh! I also have a Windows 10 laptop.

I think the choice is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A - from John Lewis. I will get the 2 year guarantee and will also get the telephone support. Plus if anything goes wrong it is easy to send back via our local Waitrose store.

I did look at the Lenova Tab 2 A10 tablet on JL but they did not have it in Currys only the Lenova Yoga and that doesn't have voice recognition which my husband wants.

Not easy to make decisions in this new world of technology.

What about the Lenovo Windows 10 tablet from John Lewis?

Having the same operating system as your laptop will mean it will be far more familiar and easy to use, as well as automatically sharing documents, photos etc with One Drive.

As a tablet you can run it in tablet mode, where it runs everything full screen, has big program icons on the desktop etc to make it easy to use as a tablet or you can use it in the exact same Desktop Mode as your laptop which means you will not need to learn a new OS.

The specs on this are identical to my Linx, except this has a micro USB compared to the Linx full size USB.

Can anyone give me their thoughts please - I just watched a u-tube on this Samsung and it is making me wonder if the cheaper one is better i.e. more pixels or whatever they call it. I can see the battery doesn't last as long but ... are their other advantages.

http://www.johnlewis.com/compare-products?2219177[:234838306]=samsung-galaxy-tab-e-tablet-quad-core-android-9-6-8gb-wi-fi&2009426[:234475299]=samsung-galaxy-tab-a-tablet-and-s-pen-snapdragon-400-android-9-7-16gb-wi-fi

At the end of the day to us, two 70 year olds, will we be happy with the not having the battery being charged so often and the resolution - well - what would we be comparing it with.. I know this time next year and Apple

I'd question the "doesn't have voice recognition" as the vast majority of all modern tablets support this.

In fact Windows devices are somewhat unique in that Cortana, unlike Siri and Google Now, can work without a network connection. If you're going to use this at home it won't matter, but if you take it out and about it could be useful.