Recommend a 7 inch Tablet for me?

LakeCleElum · 07-03-2014, 04:13 AM

Size matters. I use a 10 inch netbook when traveling, so want 7 inches as something in between. Use will be mainly to check email, FB and read books...

I'm familiar with Apple, having a Iphone 5 and 4th Gen Itouch. Love them, but hate the whole I-tune thing to transfer files (books/music/pic's).

The Nexus 7 looks great, but has no expansion slots...They want you to use "the cloud".....I want to just plug in a thumbdrive or SD card and go. I have over 4,000 books and 3,200 songs of my own.

I rarely use I-tunes to sync. Seems like every time I want to, I have to download a new version and my music has disappeared.

Is there a Surface RT with 7 or 8 inch screen or does the "8" mean Windows 8?

Like to hear what you have....

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I have a Nexus 7 (as well as a Nexus 5 phone) and I love it. Like you, I was initially concerned about being limited by the amount of storage on the device until I found an inexpensive & easy workaround.

You need one of these Sony 32GB Microvault USB Flash Drive for Smartphone & this app Nexus Media Importer Do not install the software that comes with the Sony device. It is worthless.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Depending on how much you to spend, I would suggest a Samsung Galaxy 8.4 Pro or the Note 8.0. The 8.4 is definitely an upgrade. Better processor and screen resolution. But the Note 8.0 is excellent. They recently upgraded the Note 8.0 to the latest Android (4.4.2).

The 8.4 is around $330. If you look around, you can find refurb Note 8.0 for around $200.

Oh, and while these are 16GB machines, they have a micro-sd card slot allowing up to 64GB.

id10t · 07-03-2014, 05:04 AM

My tablet is a B&N NookColor that I immediately wiped and put CyanogenMod on. Works fine for what I do. Has microsd slot or can load via USB connection.

I also have a sub-mini-notebook based on the WM8650 chipset, runs either Android (uberoid) or an old version of Debian Linux. Can get newer versions on ebay for about $60-70 -

Kocaso 7" Android 4 0 Netbook 4GB WiFi 5 Colors HDMI Ethernet | eBay

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Oh, one App to get, ES File Explorer. This is fantastic. I can access all of my network drive as well as setup cloud and FTP sites. I use this to dump all of my photos to my network drive on a periodic basis, copy files, etc.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

I don't know what you use your tablet for but I am very happy with the Nexus 7. It does everything I was looking for at its price point.

I re-read your post - I see what you are looking for: if you don't wantto use a cloud, the Nexus 7 isn't for you.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

I have a Nexus 7 (as well as a Nexus 5 phone) and I love it. Like you, I was initially concerned about being limited by the amount of storage on the device until I found an inexpensive & easy workaround.

You need one of these Sony 32GB Microvault USB Flash Drive for Smartphone & this app Nexus Media Importer Do not install the software that comes with the Sony device. It is worthless.

I like this!

LakeCleElum · 07-03-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

You need one of these Sony 32GB Microvault USB Flash Drive for Smartphone & this app Nexus Media Importer Do not install the software that comes with the Sony device. It is worthless.

Thanks - Good info from all........Paul, quick question: If I had the Media importer, would it read any of my numerous thumb-drives?

gacook · gacook's Garage

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, and I quite like it. Wife has the Samsung 3-Lite and enjoys it; son has the 2 and it's been good to him. So, 3 iterations and no problems thus far.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

You can use the Nexus Media Importer with your existing USB thumb drives, but you would also need a USB OTG (On-The-Go) cable. They are useful to have around. Cost is around $4.
eForCity Micro USB OTG Adapter

JAR0023 · JAR0023's Garage

I'm not a tablet pro by any means but I like my Samsung. Until about a month ago my daughter and I were sharing an original Ipad. I gifted that over to her full time and picked up a 10" Galaxy Tab Pro. New Samsung is better in every way but it should be given the age of the Ipad. I'm also a pretty heavy Android user so no learning curve. Not sure about the smaller Samsung but the 10" has microSD expansion slot and can transfer files with a basic USB cable. -J

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

My tablet is a B&N NookColor that I immediately wiped and put CyanogenMod on. Works fine for what I do. Has microsd slot or can load via USB connection.

I also have a sub-mini-notebook based on the WM8650 chipset, runs either Android (uberoid) or an old version of Debian Linux. Can get newer versions on ebay for about $60-70 -

Kocaso 7" Android 4 0 Netbook 4GB WiFi 5 Colors HDMI Ethernet | eBay

I can't stress this enough, ANYTHING that can run Cyanogen is where you want to be.

zakthor · zakthor's Garage

Dell Venue 8 Pro? $250 and runs all PC software. I love it.

Full real office, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and runs every piece of software I want. Also complete windows drivers for printers, scanners, raw converters, etc.

LakeCleElum · 07-04-2014, 08:01 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I read reviews on each and am pleased to see no one recommending the Ipad Mini or Surface......Leaning toward the Galaxy or Nexus 7, especially after the suggestion by Paul Heery.

Regarding rooting a Nook Color, with Cyanogen: About 3 yrs ago, I rooted my wife's color Nook with something else and she was never happy with whatever I put on it. I may give the Nook another try after I get my new 7 inch......I also have 2 cheap 7 inch Pandigital Novels I use mainly as book readers. The processer it too slow to do much else, but might play around with Cyanogen on one of those?

island911 · 07-04-2014, 08:49 AM

They don't make a Surface that small. I love my Surface Pro 2, btw. It's small enough that I can palm it, if needed. Altho' often, when sitting w/ my feet up, I'll kick the kick-stand out and hang the device over my knees. Most often, it's docked, running my high res 30" monitor, and a bunch of USB peripherals; CMM, 3D printer, 3D mouse... and running my 3D engineering software w/o hesitation.

If you dare venture up to the big city, I would recommend going to the Apple and Windows stores and checking out each for their offerings. (the stores are a few hundred feet away from each other at either U-village Seattle, or Bellevue Square) ..all stores have great customer service.

Google/android stuff - ack.

island911 · 07-04-2014, 09:41 AM

ps, since you "hate the whole I-tune thing to transfer files " I will suggest that you stay away from android too. -forces you to use Googgle Play for any apps. Fortunately, for the consumer, Microsoft is lagging on that control (the consumer) curve. -it's much more open to running software that you may have from years back (and like). IOW, the name of the software game is 'planned obsolescents' ... and Googgle is herding 100's of millions into that pen.

pps zakthr has good advice. there are a few 7-8" Windows tablets that are super cheap. Again, heading to Bellevue, might be your best bet.

stealthn · 07-04-2014, 11:38 AM

OK I'll recommend the iPad Mini them :P

Use iCloud instead of iTunes to Sync everything; if you don't want to use either then you'll have to look elsewhere. I have almost one of everything (business) but I prefer the new iPad Air over everything else, but that's just me.

Like others have said it's what you want to do with it; if it's just music and reading any device will do.

MysticLlama · 07-04-2014, 11:49 AM

I have a couple Dell Venue 8 Pros. Quad-core, runs full Windows 8.1 so it'll run anything, 8" screen, and $230, sometimes less if you find a sale.

Can also get a stylus for it, which I use often, but isn't useful for some people.

LakeCleElum · 09:23 AM

I just want to thank all for their input. Besides reading every comment, I read reviews on each model you suggested. Especially want to thank Paul Heery, ID10t, and Scott R for leading my down the path I went.....

As my needs didn't require the very best/latest, here is what U did:
Ebay purchase of a 16G Nexus 7 with 90 day warranty. $129
Did the CyanoMod to my wife's Color Nook with preloaded 16G mini SD card. ($21 on Ebay) - I've have taken that over to replace my crappy Pandigital Novel.

I had bought her the nook when the Color 1st came out. She promptly left it in a parking lot where a car ran over it before the police returned it to her. I then bought a 2nd and she has lost/found it twice......So, didn't spend that much to upgrade her to the Nexus.....I had put an older version of CyanoMod on her Nook a few yrs ago and she would never use it....Always booted to the B&N.

Now, I have her old Nook running Jelly Bean 4.3. There was room on the SD card for my collection of over 3,000 books, some music and Fav Photos.....I load books onto it directly from my public library via the "Overdrive" app......

Couldn't have done it w/o the input here. Thanks again....

Oracle · 07-20-2014, 10:08 AM

I have a nexus 7 and I'm very disappointed... Slow as hell.
I really hate that every time I get to use it's pretty much is near useless cause it's too busy downloading upgrades to the apps... Just like a PC at startup with the antivirus.

I see my gf's iPad mini and that thing is pretty stunning.
She just laughs when I'm swearing at the nexus.

I will not buy an Android tablet when this one dies (I may assist)