What kind of tablet?

[DavidI]

My wife wants a tablet style computer for Christmas. The ipad2 is very expensive, so I am probably looking at the pc-based ones. Any recommendations?

[stomachmonkey]

You're going to get plenty of responses.

Not likely they will make your decision easier.

Personally I'm a fan of the iPad.

I'm a geek. I like to f around with stuff so from that viewpoint Android tablets are more customizable.

But I don't believe that's the real point of a tablet. Ease of use and functionality are their strong points. Having to swap ROMs and apply other homegrown fixes seems counter point.

Size on tablets is a big issue. I have large hands and still find the larger tablets annoying to use. 7 inch tablets are easy to handle but the screens are just large enough. 9-10 inches seems ideal to me.

If you go Android make sure it's Android 4.0

[nostatic]

We're developing on Android right now (Galaxy tablet) so I've spent a fair amount of time with that particular platform. I also own an iPad (first version) that I use regularly for music stuff and I recently switched from an iPhone to an Android phone.

Personally, for a tablet, using it to do a number of different things, it is iPad or forget it. Android just isn't there yet imho. I find the Android 3.x on the Galaxy to be a rather poor interface, and this despite me being fairly comfortable with an Android phone.

And the Kindle Fire is getting hammered in the reviews at this point so I wouldn't go there either.

[teenerted1]

[OffCamber00]

We are in same boat. Wife wants a tablet - but she works remote and needs Java to do her job. Wants the flexibility of being able to be 'away' and still respond. So, that pretty much rules out iPad. Think I am going Galaxy based on price and the fact that the XYBOARD and HTC Jetstream are getting hammerd. Far from an optimal solution.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You're going to get plenty of responses.

Not likely they will make your decision easier.

Personally I'm a fan of the iPad.

I'm a geek. I like to f around with stuff so from that viewpoint Android tablets are more customizable.

But I don't believe that's the real point of a tablet. Ease of use and functionality are their strong points. Having to swap ROMs and apply other homegrown fixes seems counter point.

Size on tablets is a big issue. I have large hands and still find the larger tablets annoying to use. 7 inch tablets are easy to handle but the screens are just large enough. 9-10 inches seems ideal to me.

If you go Android make sure it's Android 4.0

Let me add a couple of things

Android 4.0 isn't out yet on the Tablets, that I'm aware.

Here is a link to reviews of most of the Android Tablets

http://www.androidcentral.com/

Click on the "Tablet" tab

[LakeCleElum]

I can't recommend it for your one and only tablet, but here's the opposite of expensive:

Pandigital » Pandigital Novel eReaders

I wanted a screen small than my 10" netbook and larger than my I-phone. Mainly to be used as an E-reader, but wanna check email and the news on occasion. I paid $77 re-reburished.

Drawbacks are only: Touch screen needs more pressure than an Apple Product and you have to "root it" to take Android Apps...works good for what I want it for.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Let me add a couple of things

Android 4.0 isn't out yet on the Tablets, that I'm aware.

Yeah I think you are correct.

Keep seeing people announcing them but don't think any will show up till mid Q1 2012 at the earliest.

[fanaudical]

Hard to answer without good description of what your wife will use it for.

I found the Vizio tablet ($189 at Costco) to be a useful Android tablet. No 3G/4G, but WiFi works well and it syncs great with google aps.

[motion]

Isn't the new Kindle Fire the king of non-iPad tablets?

I recently discovered Flipboard for my iPad. Now I have a great new way to waste an hour at Starbucks every morning

[red-beard]

Edit - MIPS has a 4.0 tablet out for $99

It is only available for order from China and it is sold out...

I recently purchased a Galaxy Tab 7.0 which is Android 3.2. It is supposed to upgrade to 4.0 soon.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Edit - MIPS has a 4.0 tablet out for $99

It is only available for order from China and it is sold out...

I recently purchased a Galaxy Tab 7.0 which is Android 3.2. It is supposed to upgrade to 4.0 soon.

Yeah those were unobtanium pretty much out of the gate.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by motion

Isn't the new Kindle Fire the king of non-iPad tablets?

I recently discovered Flipboard for my iPad. Now I have a great new way to waste an hour at Starbucks every morning

Hardly. The Kindle Fire is the new kid on the 'affordable' tablet block. You are going to have to pony up more $$ to get a top flight android tablet that can compare more favorably to Mr. iPad.

I am buying the new Nook Tablet for my daughter this Christmas. Most of the online reviews I have read have it edging out the Fire due to external memory support, better display, and higher performance. The Nook is also heavily supported by the XDA community who have made it dead simple to root it so you can access the Android market.

[motion]

I guess I read an analyst report that said the Fire would decimate the Android tablet market. Its easy to root, too and is already running ICS: Kindle Fire gets unofficial Ice Cream Sandwich port, mixes temperature metaphors -- Engadget

[porsche4life]

Have you read the thread with everyone *****ing about the kindle fire?

We just picked up iPads for both of my parents... Honestly, of all the devices I've messed with, the iPad is the top pick.

Seriously, get uncheap for a few minutes, and buy an iPad.

[JavaBrewer]

The boys at Lab126 are working hard but the android market is very competitive. If someone is already invested with the Amazon cloud then maybe...but then probably not. Too many negatives and that price point is very active.

[intakexhaust]

My daily 'meat and potato' PC is an HP TX-2 tablet / PC. Best of both worlds but of course the moment you pit against an tablet VS PC, well then spend for one of each.

By no means am I a fan of HP but in '09 purchased new in a virgin sealed box, a TX21025dx with a dual core AMd proc. 4 gig ram and with a decent ATI graphics card. Simply fell into the deal at a Best Buy clearance and refused to let them get their muddy paws on it (meaning don't allow them to set it up). Paid $665 incl. the extended warranty (2 years on top of the factory 1 yr.). Came with the dreaded Vista Ultimate but received FREE later the full version Win 7 Ultimate. That was a promotion fluke and all I can say is wow!

A full blown workhorse for graphics, real world business functions, ACAD usage, webcam, audio SRS-Altec Lansing to plug into or bluetooth to aux. speakers, remote built-in to send to TV / mon. DVD burner, pen writing, drawing, even capable of online race league gaming, bla-bla... More important its a rugged traveling machine (ally chassis) with a practical 12.1 HD touch screen. The screen even took an accidental hard hit once and did the psychodelic thing, I turned it off and then back on... still works perfect.

Without shouting of why and how good it is and utility, I'll skip to the early problems (but now is perfecto). The problem was with Vista OS. Apparently, Gates was excited on the tablet PC direction and lots of resources went into it however it never took off. Why? I don't know.

This thing was a slug with Vista and further ran hot and burned up the main cpu. But once I had the replacement board done by the factory and installed Win 7 Ultimate, its a whole different machine. Runs 16 hours a day, everyday, heavy used ACAD applications and now no issues. It's often running with a second moniter AND running Win 7 with XP Pro (VM - virtual machine)... excellent feature. With its smaller screen for a laptop it easily runs an honest 5 hours with the screen full bright using the bulkier 8 cell battery (which elevates the rear slightly and now come to appreciate that feature too). What I'm saving in money to run all my older software on the XP Pro o.s. is outstanding and quickly discovered all of the early software works on the touchscreen feature. Awesome.

I deleted all the HP garbage and run the free Avast AV with MS Defender. Because of the Win 7 Ultimate and XP pro (VM) it really blows away anything I've come across. Yes its heavier and bulkier than a dedicated tablet but its no comparison how superior it is in when you need it all and in a compact size. Quite remarkable for the price too. I'm considering another with the i5 processor and with 8g ram. That package can be had in that $1100 to $1200 range.

As a secret to the nerd world and if your'e willing to risk somewhat on ebay and do the work you can pick up a later model unit on ebay for around $250. A CPU heat sink is attached (you-tube instructions) and install to Win 7 Ultimate.

[Head416]

My wife wants a lightweight option for emailing, but wants to be able to type on a keyboard. We're probably gonna pick up the Acer AO722-0473 for her for $320. I know you said tablet, I'm just throwing this out there.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

he Nook is also heavily supported by the XDA community who have made it dead simple to root it so you can access the Android market.

True - I rooted my wife's color nook with an $18 micro SD card off Ebay....As soon as I got it going, BN releases the same reader as a Tablet....It's a good tablet, smaller screen than the Ipad though.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Have you read the thread with everyone *****ing about the kindle fire?

We just picked up iPads for both of my parents... Honestly, of all the devices I've messed with, the iPad is the top pick.

Seriously, get uncheap for a few minutes, and buy an iPad.

Ok lets get real here for just a quick second. The average user is browsing the internet, checking email, playing angry bird, listening to music, and a few other basic things. I agree the buttons and menus are nicer looking on the iPad...but functionally...how does one make the distinction? Accessing Web/Mail/Pictures/etc... is basically the same on iOS and Android. Am I wrong?

FWIW, I recently switched to a MacBook Pro as my main development box. I am really liking it. I have an android phone (Galaxy S) that I develop mobile apps for. My family runs on Win7. Just so it's clear...I'm not wearing a team jersey.