The Tablet Thread

[fanaudical]

I've got a Samsung Tab A 7" (for in-the-coat-pocket portability). My wife and son both have Tab A 10". Very useful and reasonably priced at Costco or Best Buy.

Typing is my main turn-off on these. I do have a laptop on my desk for "serious" work. My son has abandoned all other devices and pulls out a $20 blue-tooth keyboard when he has a lot of typing to do.

[red-beard]

I think your best option for value and price and quality is a Samsung Tab A 10.1

Amazon has them new for under $300 and Refurbished for under $200.

[RKDinOKC]

I really like the feature of if I start typing something on my iPad or iPhone, I can hand off to my Mac Laptop and it will put me in the same place in the same app ready to get busy typing.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Ipad hands down, Droid devices get too fragmented and eventually won't be upgradable. Surface is fine for a laptop but that is jot what he wants it for.

Rotate the Surface 90 degrees, it goes into tablet mode.

I agree with the fragmentation, it's an issue.

The only Android device I've ever been happy with was the Nexus 7.

Best bang for the buck 7 in tablet out there and consistent 1st day upgrades.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

The only Android device I've ever been happy with was the Nexus 7.

Best bang for the buck 7 in tablet out there and consistent 1st day upgrades.

So wouldn't a Nexus 10 be a decent choice? $135 used on Amazon....

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

So wouldn't a Nexus 10 be a decent choice? $135 used on Amazon....

In theory, yes.

Based on my experience with the 7, I would not hesitate to buy the 10.

Was a rock solid device.

[red-beard]

I just picked up a Samsung Tab S2 9.7 for T-Mobile on Amazon for a bit over $300. It is about a year old but in nearly perfect condition (one almost unnoticeable scratch). It is replacing a Tab A 8.0. A few comments:

Wow is it fast!
Colors are as good as my Tab S 8.4
Battery seems to be quite good.
It definitely does a better job as a remote interface for my Desktop Office PC than the Tab A
The 4G LTE connection works well.
It synced up fine to my keyboard and mouse.
It is "obviously" bigger and heavier than the TAB A. But the resolution is superb!
I think the 8" is better for a "reading" tablet for kindle, just for the form factor.

I'm sure the Samsung Tab S3 is better, but there is no GSM/LTE version that works fully with T-Mobile.

[stomachmonkey]

Woot has the ASUS Transformer 3 refurb, i7, 512 SSD and 16 GB ram for just shy of $800.00

That's a monster deal and around 40% off new retail, that's if you can even find that configuration in the US which you can't.

I looked for one a few months back and they were unobtanium.

If I were not out of my return window on the Surface i'd ship it back and buy two of the ASUS.

[red-beard]

Which generation i7?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Which generation i7?

6500, not latest but the entire package for $800 is a steal.

Slightly larger screen than the surface pro. +

520 gpu vs Iris on the Surface -

True Wacom digitizer. +

USB C, HDMI, USB 3 and 2 ports compared to Surface USB 3 and display port only +++++

At the price point it's a hard box to resist.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I just picked up a Samsung Tab S2 9.7 for T-Mobile on Amazon for a bit over $300. It is about a year old but in nearly perfect condition (one almost unnoticeable scratch). It is replacing a Tab A 8.0. A few comments:

Wow is it fast!
Colors are as good as my Tab S 8.4
Battery seems to be quite good.
It definitely does a better job as a remote interface for my Desktop Office PC than the Tab A
The 4G LTE connection works well.
It synced up fine to my keyboard and mouse.
It is "obviously" bigger and heavier than the TAB A. But the resolution is superb!
I think the 8" is better for a "reading" tablet for kindle, just for the form factor.

I'm sure the Samsung Tab S3 is better, but there is no GSM/LTE version that works fully with T-Mobile.

At $275 that looks pretty good...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

6500, not latest but the entire package for $800 is a steal.

Slightly larger screen than the surface pro. +

520 gpu vs Iris on the Surface -

True Wacom digitizer. +

USB C, HDMI, USB 3 and 2 ports compared to Surface USB 3 and display port only +++++

At the price point it's a hard box to resist.

For a 6th gen, that is a great price

[aschen]

My wife has a newer inexpensive fire which seems 100% fine for watching netflix, amazon movies, and youtube

This is all she uses it for, FB as well I suppose.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by aschen

My wife has a newer inexpensive fire which seems 100% fine for watching netflix, amazon movies, and youtube

This is all she uses it for, FB as well I suppose.

How much are the fire's, these days?

My sister gave one to my mother. It seemed very thick and heavy for a 7" tablet. I prefer a straight android, but I can see some people wanting an even simpler interface.

[epbrown]

Try a Lenovo Yoga. In your price range, 10" display, lightweight, separate keyboard and drawing surface (if needed), and offers the option of running Windows 10 or Android.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

How much are the fire's, these days?

My sister gave one to my mother. It seemed very thick and heavy for a 7" tablet. I prefer a straight android, but I can see some people wanting an even simpler interface.

I dont think it is the slickest device, but I think it was like 85$ for the top of the line model on prime day......delivered of course.

He said his sole use is watching videos and interwebbery. It seems perfectly fine at that though I have admittedly never owned an I bad or any fancy tablet, so I may not know what I am missing.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Out of your budget range but I'd suggest a Surface Pro 4.

You can find NOS or refurb 3's in your price point.

Very versatile little bits o kit.

I'm about as big a Mac fanboy as you'll find and I really like my Surface.

https://www.woot.com/offers/microsoft-surface-3-10-8-64gb-tablet-2?ref=eml&utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_content=B&utm_campaign=Daily+Digest+22+09+17&utm_medium=email&ref=eml_w_dly_tl&ref_=pe_3185080_255031580

Decent deal?

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by red-beard

How much are the fire's, these days?

My sister gave one to my mother. It seemed very thick and heavy for a 7" tablet. I prefer a straight android, but I can see some people wanting an even simpler interface.

I have several tablets including the new Fire HD, 32 gb.....It will work just fine for what he stated his uses are.....Works fine for me, but Amazon apps have a long way to come to match Android and Apple Apps.....Quick examples are weather and map apps....Can't beat the price.......Luv my Nexus 7 also.......Just bought my wife an Ipad 4 (10 inch) for $179.........No experience with the surface.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by aigel

I hate tablets. You can't type **** on it. Compared to 75 wpm on a keyboard, I feel like I was amputated 8 fingers. If you ever type (search, forum posts etc.), I'd get a laptop instead. It may be okay to watch movies, but even watching stuff on youtube, I usually want to search and can't stand having to type on the screen.

I bought a tablet a few years ago for family visitors. It sits in the corner until they visit again. Nobody uses it.

G

Many/most tablets these days either come with a keyboard or have one as an option. I have a logitech keyboard for my iPad that is my "screen protector" when not in use. I think it was $100.

[masraum]

new IPads start at $329. I'm about to pick one up for my mom.