The Tablet Thread

[1990C4S]

I have 'relocated' for work and now I'm without a home computer. I don't like to lug my laptop home each day, and my phone is too small to use as a browser, so I'm thinking I should get a tablet.

My primary use will be youtube, Pelican, and movies. Co-workers have told me I need a 10" tablet for videos, anything smaller is a poor choice, but I'm not sure that's correct. I will want to run Kodi (it's legal where I live) or something similar for most of my video .

I also have had various people say 'don't go Amazon/Samsung, you're too restricted', some say '16G of memory is fine', some say 64 is the minimum. Most say 'just get an android machine'.

I am forced to use an iPhone for work, so an iPad might make sense, but I am not an Apple fan, I don't have iTunes or any other Apple products, and I don't like the price/size ratio, so I am NOT inclined to go that route....

Prices seem to range from under $100 to about $400. (And I'm a cheap *****).

Suggestions? (And feel free to correct my misconceptions or bad assumptions)

[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

[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.

[red-beard]

Samsung Tab S2 Wifi, if you are planning just a Wifi machine. New, the Tab S3 is killer. I need one that is 4G/LTE GSM and the Tab S3 is going to be $775

[Sooner or later]

I use a Samsung Tab 4, 7"

If it were any bigger it would be a pia to type.

[Sooner or later]

Oh, I have 16 gig of memory with half used in a couple of years.

[widebody911]

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 a few months ago and it's been awesome.

[1990C4S]

Anyone have an RCA Maven Pro? Dirt cheap, decent reviews...

[red-beard]

On the internal storage, get at least 32Gb. The primary storage is used for e-mail and apps. The external SD card can house everything else.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Same here. I have a personal iPad and a Surface Pro 3 for work. It's a pretty competent PC, and reasonable tablet, though if you're used to an iPad, the UI takes a bit of getting used to. I generally use it with a mouse and the keyboard/cover.

It's awesome to travel with. lightweight, small power supply that has an additional USB out for charging phone etc.

I added an AOC USB display to my travel bag for remote work when I need more real estate than the Surface provides.

Great set up.

The Pro + Mouse + keyboard cover (which feels / types a lot like a Mac keyboard) + AOC display combined weigh in less than the 17" MacBook Pro I used to carry.

If the Surface ran OS X it would be perfect.

Apple is missing the boat on the 2 in 1 market.

[scottmandue]

I am seriously considering a Surface for my next computer.

However at the OP's price point I think a 10" Amazon fire might work.

I have an old fire... I think it is a 7" and it is okay for reading books and playing games.

Don't ask me about movies because if it ain't over 50" I won't watch a movie on it.

[JavaBrewer]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (3 years) and a iPad (5 years old). Both have been great for general web browsing, music, games, and pictures. The Galaxy is still going strong however the iPad has become very slow and locks up routinely since the last few SW updates. I'm no Apple hater, our household runs 3 MacBook Pro's, but my Galaxy has been the better in the tablet department.

[RKDinOKC]

Personally wouldn't try to do it all with one computer. Get a Roku, Android, or cheap computer media player and install Kodi on that. Have Kodi installed on an AppleTV and watch a 65 monitor with it.

Use a laptop, big external monitor, keyboard, and mouse for my computer. My old eyes like reading bigger on the big monitor (set to a lower resolution so it magnifies everything), and the regular keyboard/mouse is nice.

Have tried using a tablet and found myself going to the computer when I need to type. And that includes emails, forums, and URLs.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

............Have tried using a tablet and found myself going to the computer when I need to type. And that includes emails, forums, and URLs.

My experience also. I have a Kindle Fire 10" which is great for Google, general surfing, movies, etc.
But it sucks for typing, I go to the PC for the same as RDK, i.e. emails, forums, etc. I started reading this thread on the Fire but am entering this response from the PC.

[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.

[1990C4S]

I was afraid iPad would be the answer.

I don't want to type, I do that on my phone or at work. I don't want to shop, I don't want to take pictures, I don't think I want o read books on it, etc.

I want to browse and watch videos....

[id10t]

I'll say stick with whatever OS your phone is running, unless it is a Windows phone.

Not a lot of choice if you have an iThing - a few different model iPads and thats it.

For Android though, the Galaxy tablets are nice, and I liked my LG G Pad 7.0 LTE (V410) after I put a pure Android release on it and got rid of the AT&T crapware.

Think the "killer device" for Android though are the sub-sub-notebooks on fleabay. If you like to tinker, get 2, they can often be made to run Debian or other "pure" Linux distributions.

Crap, just bought an AR, but this for $110 screams "buy me!" Intel Netbook Smartab 10" HD IPS Touchscreen 64bit Quad-Core 32GB Webcams WiFi | eBay

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 a few months ago and it's been awesome.

I have the Tab A 8.0 (LTE) and a TAB S 8.4. The TAB S is far and away a better screen, etc, but it is showing it's age. My Tab A only has 16GB of main storage and it is tough keeping all of the apps on there.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

.....
My primary use will be youtube, Pelican, and movies.......

Cheap, sub $300 laptop, or a chromebook.

Add a chromecast to stream movies to a largescreen.

[red-beard]

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.

And the iPad doesn't have a serious files system. We can go back and forth all day.

I do agree that if you are an iPhone person it makes sense to have an iPad. If you are an Android person, stick with that.