I'm thinking the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 with a 7" screen. $250 is my limit.
Comments?
Looking for a Android Tablet
By jvolstad Follow Thu, 14 Jun 2012, 6:55pm 4,896 views 49 comments
In San Antonio TX 78254
Watch (1) Share
Quote
Permalink Like Dislike Viewing Comments 1-40 of 49 Next » Last » See most liked comments
|
jvolstad is moderator of this thread. |
Follow
Befriend (12)
10 threads
3,516 comments
Oakland, CA
leo707's website
Premium
It all depends on what you are going to use it for. In that price range I would seriously consider a NOOK color or perhaps the Kindle Fire.
I have been very pleased with my ASUS Transformer TF101, but I think that it runs around $299 now.
Follow
Befriend (12)
10 threads
3,516 comments
Oakland, CA
leo707's website
Premium
Oh and if you can wait there is also the Google Nexus 7 that is coming out soon.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
jvolstad, I was thinking of starting an under $200 tablet smackdown thread. I came up with two candidates in that category so far:
1. A refurbished Acer ICONIA Tab A100 for $169. Major cons: No GPS and battery life is fairly poor (still, at least 4 hours).
2. RIM Blackberry Playbook. Pros: Nice camera, business oriented tablet. Cons: Limited compatibility with Android apps.
To be frank, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, while over my $200 limit, seems to be the new price/performance/functionality leader in this category. From what I've seen, there are not a lot of compromises with this tablet.
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
leoj707 says
I like what I'm hearing about the Google Nexus 7. Will wait to see what it looks like later this month.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
I like what I'm hearing about the Google Nexus 7. Will wait to see what it looks like later this month.
I do suppose it's worth a bit of a wait (but isn't that the way with tech). The rumored $199 price point seems a bit of a stretch for a quad core system. I have a hard time believing it will sell for that.
Follow
Befriend (16)
764 threads
7,710 comments
Boca Raton, FL
Premium
Yeah, I'm considering getting a Google Nexus 7, too. As a developer, I'm interested in the Android platform and this tablet has been giving me hardware lust, you know, the feeling programmers get when they see a shinny new piece of hardware and can't wait to get their dirty hands all over it.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
The latest rumors for the Nexus 7 say no primary (front facing) camera.
Follow
Befriend (8)
204 threads
4,415 comments
Davis, CA
I hear you can pick up those RIM Playbook tablets cheap now.
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
EBGuy says
Nobody wants to see my ugly face. ;-/
Follow
Befriend (4)
334 threads
919 comments
I don't need a tablet. I haven't figured out this desktop.
Follow
Befriend (5)
1,070 comments
Santa Cruz, CA
Why just 7"?
I can't imagine less than 9.7"
There are various ones, check out walmart.com and tablets. The reason is the comments are useful, like Amazon.
I was thinking of the Coby or Le Pan ones.
What is interesting the Rim tablets were actually cool, I saw one up in Vancouver a couple weeks ago. I guess they're toast though.
Follow
Befriend (8)
204 threads
4,415 comments
Davis, CA
At 40, I laughed off the idea of reading specs.
When I passed 45 reality caught up, I found myself buying a pair.
Now there are some things I can't do on my iPhone and I reach for the iPad with it's 10" screen. For me at least 7" would be too small to fill that niche above phone. YMMV.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
I hear you can pick up those RIM Playbook tablets cheap now.
BestBuy has the refurbished units on sale for $139 right now (new $199). That is tempting as my Nokia n810 is getting a bit long in the tooth. Looks like I should be able to use it for geocaching (which isn't pleasant on the Nokia).
Follow
Befriend (28)
171 threads
4,211 comments
Premium
For a project, I had to pick up a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
Nice!
I didn't know the OS could be this complete. It's not an iPad but it organizes things well in its own right. And the integrated navigational system is kinda neat.
Just futzing with it but overall a sturdy piece of kit as far as I can tell.
Follow
Befriend (1)
12 threads
340 comments
Boston, MA
I'm still surfing the net like a mofo at home on a Dell D600 that my company was going to throw out 3 years ago. XP, 1 gig of RAM, and can still read what you clowns on Patrick have to say for...... FREE. It's fallen off the table 4-5 times in the last year, and it still works. no viruses, no BSODs, no problems. How do you like dem apples, eh? I'll probably get a tablet this time next year when they're around $150, and can do everything and has everything.
Follow
Befriend
229 threads
2,781 comments
Vicente says
Ha Ha Ha... I'm with you on that one, really sucks to have to use the "cheater" specs.... Go 10" screen, anything smaller is a larger iPhone.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
Nexus 7 is looking like it may be worth the wait. No primary camera (that is back facing, I misspoke above). There is a front facing lower res camera for video conferencing. They're also leapfrogging most of the other 7 " tablets (usually 1024x600) and going with a 720p screen (well, 1280x800). This should put some pressure on the other players in the market.
Edit: It does have GPS as well.
Follow
Befriend
16 threads
4,426 comments
EBGuy says
anything with a USB connection is worth waiting.. I will wait for the Linux hackers to make it even better.
Follow
Befriend
16 threads
4,426 comments
AverageBear says
have a 600 with multiboot.. xp, linux and haiku (beos)... works great.
you can boot system 7 and if your daring.. Mac OSX
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
anything with a USB connection is worth waiting.. I will wait for the Linux hackers to make it even better.
You brought up an interesting point. Some tablets are crippled by that fact that they only support slave mode; hopefully this device can also act as a USB host to a myriad of peripherals.
Follow
Befriend (28)
171 threads
4,211 comments
Premium
thomas.wong1986 says
Whatchu use to manage the boot loader?
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
jvolstad, Did you get a tablet?
Follow
Befriend (12)
10 threads
3,516 comments
Oakland, CA
leo707's website
Premium
@jvolstad
Yeah, did you get a tablet?
Follow
Befriend (28)
171 threads
4,211 comments
Premium
I got an Asus TF300 to futz with. Neat. Dropped in a 64Gb SD card to hold torrented movies for travel. Nifty! Tegra 3 has plenty of power. And the sound quality with a good pair of cans is impressive.
The physicality of the UX is nifty. I want to hook it up to a Kinect so I can type with karate chops.
Follow
Befriend
229 threads
2,781 comments
APOCALYPSEFUCK is Shostakovich says
Your tablet has tits???????? Are they implants?????
Follow
Befriend (28)
171 threads
4,211 comments
Premium
Cans. Trade term for head phones.
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
EBGuy says
No, I checked it out at Best Buy and wasn't all that impressed by it. My HTC Rezound with a HD 4.3 screen does fine for me. That as well as being more portable.
Follow
Befriend (1)
249 threads
4,739 comments
jvolstad says
Are you under 40? My peepers just can't see the tiny screen. Even with glasses there's a bit of eye fatigue eventually.
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
CaptainShuddup says
I just turned.....drum roll....the big Six Oh. Got the gray hair to prove it.
I take off my glasses when I'm using my Rezound. That and holding the screen closer to my face helps. The HTC Rezound has a true HD (720p) screen and the type looks great. Even if it's a bit small.
Follow
Befriend (16)
764 threads
7,710 comments
Boca Raton, FL
Premium
Nexus 7 Specs
------------------
7 inch 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)
Back-lit IPS display
Scratch-resistant Corning glass
1.2MP front-facing camera
8 GB or 16 GB internal storage (actual formatted capacity will be less)
1 GB RAM
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Review
Review
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/07/10/google-nexus-7-review/
Price $200 for 8GB internal storage, $250 for 16 GB internal storage
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_8gb
Cons
------
1. No HDMI or MHL. That's a big con in my opinion as attaching a tablet to a 50" plasma display is something I'd expect to be able to do.
2. Only one low resolution front-facing camera. Droid mobile phones have dual high-res rear cameras for shooting 3D video.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
Help me out Dan. You're expecting a 3D camera in a sub $200 tablet? As far as I can tell, 3D cameras are only available in $400+ devices (and for that matter, there are no high res. rear facing cameras in any of the sub $200 tablets on the market). Just trying to set realistic expectations.
Follow
Befriend (28)
171 threads
4,211 comments
Premium
Ha! For 200 bucks I expect a built in pizza oven!
Follow
Befriend
229 threads
2,781 comments
APOCALYPSEFUCK is Shostakovich says
Oh, I though you were referring to a pair of these.....
Follow
Befriend (16)
764 threads
7,710 comments
Boca Raton, FL
Premium
EBGuy says
Obviously not. Just pointing out what the trade-off is. However, I would expect one reasonably high-res camera given that they are pretty cheap nowadays. The main con is lack of HDMI support, in my opinion.
Oh, and just to clarify. There's no such thing as a "3D camera". 3D video is shot using two offset cameras. The 3D effect comes from the different perspective of each frame as seen by each camera.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
Dan said: 3D video is shot using two offset cameras.
You got me there as I wasn't thinking that much about it. Tablets are an interesting platform as you can get a nice parallax effect from sensors being located further apart at two corners. I believe, though, you have to pay a premium for the screens for viewing (though this depends on if you're using glasses, a dual screen, or a screen with diff view angles for each eye).
I do agree with you about the HDMI connector. There's cost savings but you think they could make that up by streaming more content to larger displays.
AF said: Ha! For 200 bucks I expect a built in pizza oven!
I believe you're thinking of the tablet based on the Intel AToM chip.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
Patrick, this is the problem with your audience, they're a bunch of cheap SOBs. Hasn't anyone purchased a Nexus 7 tablet yet? At $199 you've got Nexux 7 vs. a bit older Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. Here's my take:
Screen: Nexus 7 (1280x800) over Tab 2 (1024x600)
Processor: Nexus 7 (quad core) over Tab 2 (dual core)
Rear facing camera: Tab 2 (3 MPixels) over Nexus 7 (none)
Expansion port: Tab 2 (microSD) over Nexus 7 (none)
Edit -
Remote: Tab 2 (built-in IR blaster) over Nexus 7 (none)
Follow
Befriend (5)
31 threads
2,257 comments
Premium
I want one with infrared so I can use it as a remote control. My old Dell Axim x51v PDA could do that. Unfortunately the iPhone & iPad can't, then everybody copied Apple instead of innovating something better, so I'm still waiting.
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
EBGuy says
Cheap, money in the bank and debt free!!!! :-))))
Follow
Befriend (4)
992 threads
1,125 comments
San Antonio, TX
jvolstad's website
Yup says
I kind of like the looks of the Note II.
Follow
Befriend
4 threads
2,099 comments
Anyone want to defend the iPad mini? My initial reaction is that Apple missed the boat on form factor for a 7" tablet. While they've gone to HD aspect ratio screens on the iPhones, they're maintaining the 4:3 ratio on the iPad line. This make the iPad mini over 1/2" wider than the Android HD competitors. I know that in many reviews, folks like the fact that you can pocket the Android devices. Perhaps I'm making to much of that added extra half inch. It certainly makes sense to keep of aspect ratio for iPad app compatibility. No GPS, too, but you do get a 5 MP camera.