Related
Hi peeps been looking around at the android tablets on the market and wondering if i should take the plunge?.Thought i would ask here as you guys probably have more experiance than most.Can you recomend a couple?, i'm not looking to spend a fortune just want something that covers most bases and doesnt struggle to run the usual suspects.HDMI out would be a plus but any ideas you can offer or just give me ideas on what not to buy.Any helps good, thanx in advance.
I have a smoldering interest in a tablet as well but I will continue to hold off as my Lenovo X61t and Windows Phone compliment each other pretty well and I don't "need" one.
However, I have taken note of the Archos' that were just released. The general feeling is that they feel cheap in build quality but the price and performance is right there. This is engadgets take on the two tablets they have.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/
I have used the Samsung Galaxy S and it is a nice device. Gotta be honest though, nothing seems to be "more complete than the ipad", just in terms of docks, jailbreaking, best apps, etc.
There are so many 'knock offs' in this category, let us know what you find!
I agree in the upset front, it's a great piece of kit but I refuse to spend that kind if money. Have found plenty of cheap ones, and I don't mind the price tag but most are just a bit gutless lol. But yeah likewise bring the info if you find something good.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Back again, on the subject off cheapo knock off tablets have you seen the a-ok pad lol now don't laugh. I could be persuaded to gamble on something as (shall we say rough) if it ticked the right boxes. Anybody heard if them? Any horror stories?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Buying a new tablet
I'm in the market for a tablet, and have taken my sweet time for the last 3 months researching and looking for the best one to buy. I've done my fair share of research and now i'm asking you: Should I buy the ASUS Transformer Prime with the dock, od should i wait for samsung/htc/moto/lenovo/acer... next-gen tablet? My fear is you see, that I'll buy The Prime, and that it won't be supported by some software develeopers, and left out in the cold with some apps, or not on par with the next-gen 2012 tablets. I want the best hardware specs, possible future windows 8 compatibility, preferably tegra device, 3g isn't a must, nor GPS but preferred. I don't mind waiting for a few more months since this would be my first tablet, wich i don't really need. NO IOS/IPad talk please, android tablet only (but like i said, with a possibility of win8 in the future). Any reasonable advice is more than welcome, and thank you all very much in advance!
IIRC Asus Prime will begin getting ICS/4.0 Jan 12th.
With that said, I would definitely play around with one before buying. Numerous reported issues that can't really be fixed through OTA's or software. (GPS, WIFI, light bleed, glass/screen loose from rest of tab).
Typical Asus if you ask me, crapshoot on quality.
Also depends on what you want in a tab. If you don't really want to play around/mod/customize then I think the Ipad 2 or hold out a couple of months for an Ipad 3 would be your best bet.
If you have to have an Android you have one of two options. Wait for more quad core tabs to be released, or start looking at what's available now.
Samsung 7.0 Plus is probably the best out for 7"ers.
For the 10"ers it's a toss up right now. Galaxy Tab 10.1 has good support, decent performance, light, easy to hold, good screen, great speakers (for a tab). It's cons to me are the Tegra 2 isn't up to snuff with Honeycomb OS.
The HP Touchpad is a great buy for the OS and specs, and can also be ported to Android (Still need to play with one)
Asus Transformer TF101 is also a good buy but again a crapshoot on quality but can be had for a good price.
The new Moto Xyboards are getting good reviews but they are overpriced for what they are, are only sold through VZW and were "technically" outdated before they were even released. Also locked bootloaders are never fun if flashing kernels are your thing.
Right now I'm looking at getting another tab so I guess you could say I'm in the same boat as you. I have an OG Galaxy Tab 7 on the way b/c I got it cheaper than cheap and just wanna play with it.
Considering picking up an 8" Xyboard also.
ETA: I probably won't pick up a Xyboard however until they come down in price or a WiFi only version is offered.
The SGT 7.7 also sounds promising. Decisions decisions.
First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like I said I never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The things I'm worried hardware-wise are: the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
Now you may laugh at this seeing your sig, but in my mobile history (25+ phones) the worst were accually motorolas (v3 being the worst of the lot, but than again A925 was more than excellent) I'm not so fond of HP either, last month i sold my DV6 3020em, (that's the i7 touchscreen version for Europe since i'm european), and i can say it was utter rubbish, overheating, shoddy build quality, squeaky, noisy fans, you name it... That's why I sold it, but it had a touchscreen which was more than handy, and that's why i want a tablet, I just might look a bit more into the HP touchpad after all.
Acer is great quality for it's price, really great. But I only had Acer's laptops, and the Iconia tablet is as ugly as a bullfrog from chernobyl, so I wouldn't want one.
Tf101 is ugly too by my standards, too big as well, but the looks aren't so important if it was an excellent performer, which none of the now available androids are compared to The Prime (at least not on honeycomb).
I played with samsung 8.9 a few days ago and I can report is't a great little device, thin, capable, satisfying all in all, but i'd like a bigger screen, and a real keyboard and it's not a tegra device (I play a lot of games so i'd like the tegra zone, as chainfire's plugins don't support all tegra tweaked games)
Now I do like to install a new ROM every few weeks on my SGSII but i srsly don't think that will be the case on a tablet (except Win 8, when it comes out).
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english
cavkic said:
First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like i said i never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The only thing I'm worried hardware-wise is the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.
littleemp said:
Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.
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Click to collapse
Tnx for the reply, and I have to say I think you misunderstood me. I don't think I said anything bad about acer's or asus's build quality just HP's (and only the perticular model of the DV6 I had), just that they're a bit on the ugly side, but that's totally a subjective stand, and irrelevant to anybody else.
As far as Prime's price goes, it should be available in Croatia, about 2hrs drive from my home in 10days for less than 700$ with the dock for the 32gig version, which is not a bad pricetag considering where I live, and I'm ready to give that kind of money for it. The dock is accually something i like about the Transformer, and it would probbably be a dead heat between TF101 just because of the dock) and the Sammy 10.1 if it weren't for the prime.
GPS, like I said, I don't mind. The SGSII has a great GPS reciever which i hardly ever use, maybe 6 times since i got it in july.
As far as ARM windows goes, I know what to expect from it , nothing special, but it would be nice to have that option when it's available
So you are happy with the TF101 and the Iconia? But would you recommend buying now the Prime if I'm happy with the price? I should mention I probbably won't buy it before ICS, and I'll try to get a hold of a stock ICS one when it's out after Jan. 12. because I want to make sure i missed the first version shipment
I believe you about Motorola. Until my Droid X I have ALWAYS hated Motorola. I never had a phone that worked right after some wear and tear and always had problems. From before smartphones thru the Droid 1, 2, and 3. (Went through multiples of those). I'm also a Samsung and HTC fan.
I've never had a problem with Asus computer components myself, w/ that said, there are quite a few complaints when it comes to the TF201 on quality. With that said, you, as I'm sure you do, have to take into account the dissatisfied ones are always going to moan and groan much more and louder than the happy customer.
I guess I just wish it was like cars when it comes to Tablets and would love for them to let me take the exact tab I'm looking to buy for a test drive. (Not leave the store but just open the box and get a good look at it and test everything to make sure I'm getting what my hard earned money is paying for).
I really want a TF201, but I'm going to wait til a few more Tegra 3 tabs come out. I really think Motorola would have hit a homerun if they would have put a quad core in their Xyboards and kept the price what they're charging now.
The three tabs I'm really torn between right now are the Xyboard 8.2, TF201, and Samsung 7.0 Plus. But man we are so close to seeing quad core as the new standard for tabs so the other part of me just wants to sit it out and wait.
So true what you said about the sitting and waiting for the quad core as the new standard, but on the other hand, HOW BAD DO WE WANT ONE!?!
Personally for me it's no competition between the Prime and other tablets, the Prime is just on another planet.
This morning the store answered my email saying that the Prime will be available mid january (in about 10 days) and said that maybe they could reserve one for me because of the small supply, but said the price may be different depending on the usd/euro stocks, but under 700$ for the 32gig version with dock...
Still I'm not planning on buying one before a test drive like you said (mostly to check for screen bleed). And yes, I took into account the moaners which is true like you said again...
I think I wathched every single review/comparison of the tablet on youtube, and read at least 10 reviews online, and it's all mostly positive.
I'll update as soon as i get my hands on a test one, hopefully in about 10 days.
Hello guys,
I am planning to get an Android tablet somewhere in the fourth quarter of this year (Christmas most likely).
I wanna originally wait for ASUS Transformer with the 3G....but...just this morning I found a new tablet from Archos which called Archos 80 G9.
www.archos.com/products/gen9/index.html?country=gb&lang=en
If I look at the price, I tend to choose Archos but ...I wanna know what you guys think first before deciding....I know, I know.... it is still quite some time till Christmas but I am too excited (My pocket must wait till Christmas, that is the problem)...
aaa said:
Hello guys,
I am planning to get an Android tablet somewhere in the fourth quarter of this year (Christmas most likely).
I wanna originally wait for ASUS Transformer with the 3G....but...just this morning I found a new tablet from Archos which called Archos 80 G9.
www.archos.com/products/gen9/index.html?country=gb&lang=en
If I look at the price, I tend to choose Archos but ...I wanna know what you guys think first before deciding....I know, I know.... it is still quite some time till Christmas but I am too excited (My pocket must wait till Christmas, that is the problem)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I also just discovered this tablet and I have the same questions. The specs on this tablet sound too good to be true. And the price is ridiculous. I done some reading, and only main issue some people have is Archos record of durability. $280 is not a bad gamble if you have 1 year warranty.
My only other question is how much ram? I can't find that anywhere. If it's 1 gig, I think I'm sold.
Archos has historically used components that seem great on paper, but are sub par in quality. For example, they may claim to have an equivalent resolution screen, but chances are it is from a very cheap manufacturer, and performs at significantly lower levels (bad viewing angles, bad refresh rate, low brightness, etc). This "Equal in name, not performance" phenomenon seems to plague most of their products. It is not surprising that their component quality is lower given the price point.
However, it is 100% possible that this represents a complete shift from their previous trends. I recommend waiting for reviews from places like Gizmodo and This Is My Next before you pull the trigger either way.
@Animus_3.0 : Yes the RAM is 1 GB and here where I live, I usually get 2 years warranty for almost everything I bought, so I believe it will have the same 2 years warranty too.
@BananaPhone69 : That is what I am afraid of with such a price for such specs, bad quality product. I agree, it is still better to wait for the review.
BTW: If anyone has some experience using Archos products especially the previous tablets, please do share your experience...This 80 G9 could be my first Archos device ever.
aaa said:
@Animus_3.0 : Yes the RAM is 1 GB and here where I live, I usually get 2 years warranty for almost everything I bought, so I believe it will have the same 2 years warranty too.
@BananaPhone69 : That is what I am afraid of with such a price for such specs, bad quality product. I agree, it is still better to wait for the review.
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Click to collapse
Thanks aaa and Banana. Just a matter of waiting for reviews and a chance to play with them in the stores. I want to see the display quality, the overall build and how responsive it is.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Guys, some hands on from Slashgear.
http://www.slashgear.com/archos-80-g9-and-101-g9-tablets-hands-on-video-28161817/
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Been looking into these new archos tablets myself
From the story I read, some ship with 1gig ram some ship with half a gig, so i'd make sure you get one that has the gig
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
The screen is made of plastic not ape glass, this could be an advantage since it is lighter and won't brake so easily but it could also be a disanvantage since it can be scratched easily.
Hmmm....according to the preview on slashgear, the UI is not so smooth and the apps crash very often...this could be a big down side, if those bugs can also be found after release.. I hope they can fix them.
About the different RAM versions, I will just have to take a better look before buying.... man the price is really tempting
Hm... I was almost sold on a Viewpad 10s for its great community support and tempting price of 249EUR inkl. docking station and then discovered the Archos 101 G9 having the following advantages over the Advent Vega/Viewpad/Mobii units:
- way better CPU (+0.5GHz, NEON)
- more RAM (+512MB)
- more vertical resolution (800 instead of 600px, I don't like widescreen at all but 800 is a big improvement for me over 600px)
- easy and affordable 3G upgrade which also serves as a 3G USB modem for laptops
- probably better build quality (according to comparative reviews of the 101 and the Viewpad 10s)
- better viewing angles (according to hands on previews on youtube)
- Honeycomb included, no need to void warranty with custom ROMs
- built-in stand, no docking station needed to carry around when on the way
The only I concern I have atm: how stable will the stock OS be and will there be improved custom ROMs...
Opinions?
Yes. I also want to know how is the OS stability and smoothness of Archos 80 G9..and also Archos tablets/products durability in general, because I have never had any Archos products until now.
I am hoping someone in this forum can say several words regarding the durability first, since the G9 is not yet available in the market and no one has really tested it.
so...I could really use your comment on the durability term, based on your previous Archos experiences...please
You'll find a G9 discussion with great infos here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1137524
Thank you for the info. I will check your link right away.
aaa said:
Hello guys,
I am planning to get an Android tablet somewhere in the fourth quarter of this year (Christmas most likely).
I wanna originally wait for ASUS Transformer with the 3G....but...just this morning I found a new tablet from Archos which called Archos 80 G9.
www.archos.com/products/gen9/index.html?country=gb&lang=en
If I look at the price, I tend to choose Archos but ...I wanna know what you guys think first before deciding....I know, I know.... it is still quite some time till Christmas but I am too excited (My pocket must wait till Christmas, that is the problem)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the Archos 80 G9 for a week now and am loving it. Value for money it is excellent, the Honeycomb UI is sleek and responsive and I haven't really had any problems with it. Battery life is excellent.
I particularly like the size, it is great for two thumb typing when in portrait mode.
Here are some images of the Archos 80 G9 next to an iPad 2 to give you an idea of the size: http://www.todoleo.com/2011/10/archos-80-g9-with-apple-ipad-2.html
Feel free to ask any more questions.
Wait for the new tegra3 transformer prime instead
todoleo said:
I've had the Archos 80 G9 for a week now and am loving it. Value for money it is excellent, the Honeycomb UI is sleek and responsive and I haven't really had any problems with it. Battery life is excellent.
I particularly like the size, it is great for two thumb typing when in portrait mode.
Here are some images of the Archos 80 G9 next to an iPad 2 to give you an idea of the size: http://www.todoleo.com/2011/10/archos-80-g9-with-apple-ipad-2.html
Feel free to ask any more questions.
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Click to collapse
Can you play downloaded 720p MKVs? My Asus transfer could not without re-encoding. I have a Nook Color and had an Asus Transformer. 7" was to small for an everyday tablet and 10" was too big to read in bed at night. Im thinking a 8 or 9" might be better.
I bought a 80G9 Turbo with HDD, and I think I love it.
I put a lot of books and videos on the HDD. I always take it with me when I go on holidays.
It's not the last product, but, I think, a very very good product.
Also you can attach a Harddisk or an external Wired Network adapter to the 3G usb-port on the rear. I used this during trade shows.
So my mother in law got my 7 year old a tablet for christmas this year. Nice, only it was the horrifyingly worthless Sylvania that Toys R Us and CVS were giving away on black friday. So my boy thinks he's got a tablet just like dad's Galaxy Tab 10.1, but not so much. It's the thought that counts, right?
I thought maybe it had been rooted and could run CM7 or something, but no such luck. Locked down and it doesn't have the enthusiastic dev community around that I am used to with other devices... to say the least. Compile that with the substandard hardware and it's a paperweight. This is the type of device that gives android tablets a bad name.
He's disappointed, it's a brand new tablet, and to him should work like the others he's used, but of course doesn't. I'd planned on handing down my Incredible when I upgrade and setting it up as a wifi only device for him, but am considering just purchasing an inexpensive tablet that is decent quality and fully enabled (or can/will be).
I'm perfectly comfortable with rooting and flashing roms. I would like something with either current or expected support from CM. I'd like something that could run things at least as smoothly as the incredible can.
Right now I'm looking at a few different options:
Nook Tablet - Pros: nice hardware, should run CM9, expandable storage Cons: No camera
Kindle Fire - Pros: works out of the box with the Amazon app store, should run CM9, $199. Cons: only 8GB storage, not expandable, hardware not quite as good as the Nook Tablet, No camera
Acer Iconia A100 - Pros: Out of the box it is complete. Tegra 2. Expandable storage. dual cameras. except for the shorter battery life it compares to my Galaxy Tab. Cons: over my price range of $300.
Opinions? Am I wrong for dismissing Velocity Micro, Archos and the like without giving them a shot? Any good deals I'm overlooking?
CM9 on the Nook Tab? Doesn't it have a locked bootloader. I'd stay away from it.
Kindle Fire is nice but I think it lacks Bluetooth and cameras (which are becoming important for tabs)
Try to get a TouchPad
Yes, get an TouchPad - you can find it at very low price - and install CM.
c0x91 said:
Yes, get an TouchPad - you can find it at very low price - and install CM.
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Click to collapse
This. You can get a TouchPad for $200 and it's worth more than that. You can't find a better deal.
bleach168 said:
This. You can get a TouchPad for $200 and it's worth more than that. You can't find a better deal.
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Click to collapse
I triple that.
Currently running Xron b2.9 on mine.
Agreed if you can get your hands on a touchpad. Or maybe pick up a 16 gig playbook (199) it's only a matter of time till a developer on here gets android up on it and the hardware is pretty solid
TouchPad +1
Awesome hardware (for the going rate of $225), 10" screen, and big following here. webOS is nice, elegant, simple, and stable. But, there are very few apps. I'm not a fan of Gingerbread on a 10" screen, but ICS is coming along, and GB should fill the android and app craving until its here.
I almost got a Vizio tablet ... but as you said a cheap tablet with poor popularity here is a bad combo. I don't regret for a second spending a little more a getting the TouchPad over the Vizio tab, or Fire.
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
OK, some questions about the Touchpad...
The 4:3 screen, most android apps are developed with 16:9 screens in mind. I can see this not being an issue with an app which uses a dynamic layout, but with games which have static assets how does this work out?
This tab will be used primarily for games and children's books, how is compatibility running CM7, any issues?
Once CM7 is installed is it seamless? WebOS holds no interest for me because of the lack of apps.
If I go the ebay route, I can likely get an A100 for the same price as a touchpad, does the TP still hold up?
Ok, newbie here.... Who makes the touchpad? How are the tablets from China? Are they just a waste of money?
I think the Touchpad recommendations are spot on, but I'll tell you that the Acer A100 is a good device. I got one for my daughter (same age as your kid) and have been happy with it. No rooting, running both Android Market and Amazon Appstore. Found it for around US $250 on Amazon.
Good luck on your purchase.
I will buy a kindle fire and install cm9..
Ok, figured out the touchpad is HP Still curious about the tablets from China if anyone has insight.
4yo
I've had a similar tale. Currently my 4yo has confiscated my HD2 running a CM7 ROM be hes practically taken over his mothers transformer. Needless to say she's not happy about that and he doesn't get his hands on my flyer without supervision so I've been thinking about getting him his own tablet.
I have an old 7 inch tab that i've had since the dawn of time it seems and and it worked well with the help od slatedroid before XDA opened up to tablets. Once we upgraded it was his defacto tab, until he broke the power switch.
My boys has had a lot of exposure so hes good with technology but hes young and not always as aware of the value of things as I'd like. I'd love to get him something to save wear and tear on his mothers tablet but id like something that he can load his existing android apps on and just enjoy.
I'll be watching this thread closely for any suggestions that aren't a touchpad.
I would also recommend the Touchpad. I also have a kindle fire and the form factor does not lend itself to the comfortable web browsing experience that you get with a Touchpad + CM7 and Maxthon/Dolphin/Boat.
It is good for reading books, and checking the web/email in a bind - but screen real estate is limited and the lack of hard keys is at times annoying.
Kindle Fire, enough said
I am running cm7 on my wife's nook color. Works well for when my boy wants to play games, but for reading, the original nook software is better, so I just have a dual boot setup... it just runs cm7 off the sd card. I like the setup.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Kindle Fire is a really nice tablet in hand, I know your complaints were technical ones, but out of those cheap tablets I still vote for the Kindle Fire.
I vote for an HP Touchpad w/ dual boot to webOS or Android or an original Samsung Galaxy Tab 7"er
withoutname90 said:
I will buy a kindle fire and install cm9..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think c9 will be a good option down the road on a kindle. It is not ready for prime time yet.
Great to play. Not a daily driver.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/9/2695314/asus-eee-pad-memo-me370T-tegra-3-price
The new standard of low price tables. Ics out of box, camera, tegra 3, and other good stuff. best of all its $249
uk buyer looking for an inexpensive entry to the world of tablets.
am looking for a device primarily for web browsing, media with dlna, & ebooks. i've no need for gps, bluetooth or 3g connectivity.
so, thinking i would just wait for the kindle fire to get a uk release & then hack a fresh rom into it, i'm seeing many alternatives appearing in the same sub £200 bracket & welcome suggestions for essentially a solid wi-fi enabled tablet with a half decent resolution & the technical capability & support to take a custom rom.
been looking at the TABTRONICS - A10 M009SC http://tinyurl.com/83mfk62 & NATPC M009S http://tinyurl.com/7v9hgl7 which both appear no-thrills solutions but are they capable?
i see xoom's are down in price but i really cannot justify a big spend on a device i'm certainly wanting but can't say i need. hehe, don't we all say that
any suggestions welcomed
Hi, I played with a NATPC M009S today, my housemate just bought one as a gift. I was impressed for the price that is for sure, the screen and interface were quite fast, although not perfect. The browser seemed fine, although I didn't try any flash videos. Angry birds played smoothly, but fruit ninja felt a little slow.
As far as custom ROMs go I wouldnt hold your breath, I cant find any other mention of the device on here besides this post. Same goes for any kind of support in general really. The box it came in had a logo of a company called GPAD, more info might be available searching for that.
The device has:
Android 2.3.4
Power socket from a plug
mini B usb port (can charge over this too)
"TF" card slot, not worked this out yet, presumably SD will work
Mini HDMI out (not tested)
Any other questions feel free to ask me
Nookcolor, you can install cm7 on it, for $200 its one hell of a tablet, there's a lot of support here for the nookcolor, check out some you tube vedios or look at cyanogenmod website
Sent from my HTC_A510c using XDA App
Any progress on this?
I am looking for a £100 ish tablet.
Based in UK so Nook colour doesnt seem to be available here.
Looking for one that can be rooted and upgraded with ROMS etc.
Any advice?
There's this touchBox thing I've had... Can't post a link though. Still trying to get 10 posts in order to post updates about ICS on Galaxy. :/
I cant seem to find anything on this touchbox?
Any other info you can give?
-Sie- said:
Any progress on this?
I am looking for a £100 ish tablet.
Based in UK so Nook colour doesnt seem to be available here.
Looking for one that can be rooted and upgraded with ROMS etc.
Any advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy a Nook color brandnew from ebay, root it and install cm7 or ics
Sent from my HTC_A510c using XDA App
i suggest you to look for Archos tablets, for me very good tablets and far away to be too expensive take a look if you mind
When you buy a Tablet.
Don’t buy the cheapest but the best
If you are willing to wait for a UK release of the Kindle Fire, then I would do it. First of all, stock isn't bad, but there is a fully functioning build of CM7 for the Fire, as well as MIUI, and best of all, there is a build of ICS, that only has a few issues left to be resolved before it is fully functioning, and it is good enough that most people use it daily now, including my self. Plus, if you just want to stay on the stock interface, it is very easy to root and install the market, to open it up a little. Also, TWRP2 is a an awesome recovery, and works really well. This is a great device for the money, and the development/support for it is fantastic.
Take a look on this ubislate.com. ubislate 7+ model. I bet its worlds cheapest. 3200 inr. Which is 65 us $!!!!
700mhz, usb storage/host. Resistive 7 inch, 2.3.7 ,2gb internal, wifi,bluetooth.. no 3g( well u can plugin a 3g modem/usb 3g stick. Made in india. Heavy rating. Only prebooking for march is available. Stocks went out like wind. Well u cant get an ipod nano for that price. Can u???
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium
zyad said:
When you buy a Tablet.
Don’t buy the cheapest but the best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best advice one can give.
If you buy a small, underpowered tablet, you will quickly realize the shortcomings and will end up spending more on a better tablet.
This rule applies to just about anything from pocket knives to laptops.
I have just purchased the "NATPC M009S 8GB Capacitive Android 4.0 (ICE CREAM SANDWICH) , 7" , 1.6 GHz Super Slim Android Tablet PC with Responsive Capacitive Screen" for £110 on Amazon. Put that title in.
The device is amazing for the money. Full custom ROM set (Seby) and the amazon discussion has lots of help.
HDMI out works perfectly and the screen is super smooth.
I got a nook color and a nook simple touch at USD149.00.
BTW, there are tablets sold at amazing low price in China. Of course you can not hope any support from the seller. That's why I didn't choose one like that....
Eagle Eye Tablet
There is a new release of cheap tablet here in UAE from a Canadian company (Eagle Eye). The tablet was of course made in China. Specs as follows: 7" LCD capacitive multi-touch screen, 1.2Ghz Single Core processor based on Cortex A8 with Mali 400 GPU, 512MB RAM, 8GB built in flash memory (expandable up to 32GB microSD card), 1.3MP webcam for video chat like Skype (front only), Android 4.0.3 ICS OS, HDMI out, mini USB with OTG cable included (PC connection and charging also), USB 2.0 host, Wifi 802.11 b/g/n, some pre-installed apps like Google Play store (full access), Super HD player that plays most video format up to 2160p, file manager, browser (HTML and full flash support), music player (I changed mine with PowerAmp and working perfectly) but no bluetooth (external 3G not mentioned if supported and I haven't tested also). The price is only 399AED or US$108.
Bodegroes said:
I have just purchased the "NATPC M009S 8GB Capacitive Android 4.0 (ICE CREAM SANDWICH) , 7" , 1.6 GHz Super Slim Android Tablet PC with Responsive Capacitive Screen" for £110 on Amazon. Put that title in.
The device is amazing for the money. Full custom ROM set (Seby) and the amazon discussion has lots of help.
HDMI out works perfectly and the screen is super smooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are quite a lot of reviews on the M009s (Tabtronics, Natpc, player momo9) on amazon. Seems like quite a value purhcase.
mystvearn said:
There are quite a lot of reviews on the M009s (Tabtronics, Natpc, player momo9) on amazon. Seems like quite a value purhcase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does seem a good buy given the reviews. Latest has double the memory at 16gb for £5 more, hence me buying one!
Sent from my HTC Magic using xda premium
I think its best to wait slightly. SmartQ T15, T19, T20 are the first dual core china tablets. Its getting favorable attention at Slatedroid
I bought a 16GB NATPC M009S for £70 on Amazon. It was "Used - Good Condition" from the seller of the new tablets. I got her assurance that this would mean just minor scratches, so I thought "What the hell, worth a go!". I must say that I'm very impressed. After I ordered it I thought "What have I done!", but it's brilliant (when I can get my hands on it - the kids like it a bit too much).
It's running ICS 4.0.3, came pre-rooted (which I wasn't expecting) and handles most things well. The HDMI out works well and the videos run smoothly. It's got expandable micro SD memory, 1GB RAM and on the whole works smoothly. Not as smooth as a much more expensive branded tablet, I dare say, but then this was a sacrifice I was willing to make rather than have no tablet at all.
The internet seems a bit slow, I use Dolphin by choice, but I've heard that there's a tablet version of Dolphin, so will see if that improves things!
It was such a positive purchase that a couple of weeks after I purchased a similar but slightly lower spec tablet (8GB 512MB RAM and no HDMI out - also Used Good Condition from the same seller) for the staggeringly low price of £30. I can't believe it, in some ways it is better than the original one (running ICS 4.0.4).
I used to think that you had no chance of getting anything even half decent in the tablet market for that kind of money, but here I am with two perfectly good devices for £100 for the pair!
I'm interested to see what ROM's are available. If I'm right it's anything that is for a MID tablet?
Anyway, happy hunting!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
So, I've got a US LTE 32GB that connects only at HSPA speeds in most places, and I'm about over the tablet.
What device is out there that:
-Is approximately 8" form factor
-Has LTE that works in the US
-Includes a microSD port and some way to do HDMI out so I can hook it up to a standard TV
-Isn't completely bootloader locked / must have root and XDA Dev support
Frankenscript said:
So, I've got a US LTE 32GB that connects only at HSPA speeds in most places, and I'm about over the tablet.
What device is out there that:
-Is approximately 8" form factor
-Has LTE that works in the US
-Includes a microSD port and some way to do HDMI out so I can hook it up to a standard TV
-Isn't completely bootloader locked / must have root and XDA Dev support
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huawei MediaPad M3 8.4"
Thanks. Looks like only international version / no warranty available on Amazon. Seems like a concern to me. Any other devices more available in the US , with warranty?
Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
Lol, I just got into the market for a tablet myself.. I spent almost a day researching the perfect tablet.
Here's what I found.
Top Android tablets.
1) Pixel C, tegra X1 cpu. No sdcard slot. 10inch screen. $600 for 32gb. Performs slightly better than K1 tablets in most benchmarks, but 100% better in others.
2) Nvidia shield K1, tegra K1 cpu, sdcard slot, front facing speakers, hdmi out, 8inch screen. Great display. $200, discontinued and can't find anywhere other than ebay for well over $200...
3) Nexus 9, tegra K1 cpu, no sd card slot, front facing speakers. cheap build quality, screen has light bleed, scores 20%worse than shield tablet in benchmarks. 8.9 inch display. $290 for 32gb black WiFi, will be gone soon. Or $500 for 32gb lte
That's it.. all the rest of the Android tablets are subpar. The Galaxy tab S3 is the only other honorable mention. Doesn't perform as well as K1 cpus but looks like a solid tablet... But $500?? Get outta here...
I wasn't looking to spend over $300 on a tablet... I intend to use it for gaming and web browsing and watching movies. Clearly the shield tablet is the best bang for the buck by farrrr... So I kept checking eBay over the last 2 days and found a pristine one for $200 from a reputable seller ...
TL: DR - the Nvidia shield tablet is still the number one Android tablet on the market, at least for my needs. The pixel c is seemingly great, but too big and heavy, has no expandable storage, and far over priced.
Why don't you just drop data on the tablet and turn your phone into a hotspot?? I hotspot for my PC from my pixel XL all the time when my net goes out.. im able to competitively game in twitch games with only an extra 25ping...
All the other tablets lose something to gain something. THE PERFECT tablet would be the cancelled shield tablet 2 with the x1 cpu.. looks like their deal with Nintendo caused them to back out of the tablet game for a bit. I don't expect to see it for another year maybe two. If ever.
lucid888 said:
Lol, I just got into the market for a tablet myself.. I spent almost a day researching the perfect tablet.
Here's what I found.
Top Android tablets.
1) Pixel C, tegra X1 cpu. No sdcard slot. 10inch screen. $600 for 32gb. Performs slightly better than K1 tablets in most benchmarks, but 100% better in others.
2) Nvidia shield K1, tegra K1 cpu, sdcard slot, front facing speakers, hdmi out, 8inch screen. Great display. $200, discontinued and can't find anywhere other than ebay for well over $200...
3) Nexus 9, tegra K1 cpu, no sd card slot, front facing speakers. cheap build quality, screen has light bleed, scores 20%worse than shield tablet in benchmarks. 8.9 inch display. $290 for 32gb black WiFi, will be gone soon. Or $500 for 32gb lte
That's it.. all the rest of the Android tablets are subpar. The Galaxy tab S3 is the only other honorable mention. Doesn't perform as well as K1 cpus but looks like a solid tablet... But $500?? Get outta here...
I wasn't looking to spend over $300 on a tablet... I intend to use it for gaming and web browsing and watching movies. Clearly the shield tablet is the best bang for the buck by farrrr... So I kept checking eBay over the last 2 days and found a pristine one for $200 from a reputable seller ...
TL: DR - the Nvidia shield tablet is still the number one Android tablet on the market, at least for my needs. The pixel c is seemingly great, but too big and heavy, has no expandable storage, and far over priced.
Why don't you just drop data on the tablet and turn your phone into a hotspot?? I hotspot for my PC from my pixel XL all the time when my net goes out.. im able to competitively game in twitch games with only an extra 25ping...
All the other tablets lose something to gain something. THE PERFECT tablet would be the cancelled shield tablet 2 with the x1 cpu.. looks like their deal with Nintendo caused them to back out of the tablet game for a bit. I don't expect to see it for another year maybe two. If ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks @lucid888 for a great post.
Using my phone as a hotspot is doable if necessary, but it becomes a frying pan quickly, and the battery dies fast. I've considered dropping the idea of an LTE tablet and instead getting a mifi/jetpack whatever dedicated hotspot too, and turning it on whenever I want to run the tablet away from normal wifi zones, but that's complicated and it's another thing to lug around. Sigh.
I just loved my tablet with built in LTE that I could take anywhere and it just worked well. Now it works slowly. Another sigh.
I've no idea why LTE-enabled Android tablets are so few and far between. I know lots of "iOS" people that have iPad minis, and they all have the cellular version. Then again, they probably couldn't figure out HOW to tether it to a phone or mobile hotspot, so they need the built in connectivity.
I'm tempted to pop for one of those MediaPads on a lark... but it could be an expensive lark due to lack of US warranty.
For now I'll just sit tight. Sooner or later the right device will show up. If you (or anybody reading this) finds anything new, please post about it here!
I'm seeing the mediapads on Amazon with a US warranty for $300, WiFi only though. I did look at the mediapad m3, but it's gpu the Mali 8800 m4 is underwhelming and performs ~40-50% worse than the K1 gpu. It has bottom firing speakers, apparently they are great though. Also has the miu os to deal with, which for me is a huge turn off.
From what I can see, the only tablet that can beat the shield is a non existent 8" X1 powered tablet, priced around $300 from either Nvidia, Google or htc. Thanks to Nintendo I don't think we'll see one too soon. Maybe a Snapdragon 835 tablet would do the trick too... But the $500 Galaxy tab S3 is only using the 820..
Also take a look at the mediapad m3 development section on XDA, there is literally nothing.
lucid888 said:
Lol, I just got into the market for a tablet myself.. I spent almost a day researching the perfect tablet.
Here's what I found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came to a lot of the same conclusions.
- Pixel C: way too expensive.
- Nexus 9: while I have loved a lot of HTC devices, this one is nothing special.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3: Also way too expensive. 9.7" form factor is also bigger than I want, as it seems Sammy has abandoned the 8"-ish form factor in their high end "S" series tablets. I might be able to overlook that. But I'm still sore about how Samsung handled the Tab Pro 8.4. Zero major updates (just a few patches) so it was stuck on the Kitkat it was released with (if not for the dev community which kept it kept for a bit). And many folks (myself included) suffered battery charging issues, which the company never acknowledged.
- Huawei MediaPad M3: Good price, cice hardware, but crap software. And zero developer support means you can't do anything about that.
All in all, I've decided my Shield K1 is sufficient for my needs; especially considering the lack of a worthy replacement. I'd like something a little snappier (especially since I upgraded my phone to the OnePlus 3T with Snapdragon 821). But I'm content to wait and see if anything better comes around.
I'd be perfectly happy to upgrade to the next version Shield, be it X1 or whatever it would be. But I am skeptical there will be a "next" version.
The only thing I feel lacking on the K1 shield is the memory capacity, and maybe it's battery life. The 2gb doesn't seem to be enough for Albion online which I was hoping I'd be able to play on it.. apparently it used to work but now crashes while loading or two seconds after loading. Hoping it gets fixed, but they do say in their minimum the game will eventually require 3gb min ;(...
I really love everything about the shield from it's size, it's front facing speakers, it's HDMI output, it's graphical capability, sd slot. I don't want to lose any of those features... I may be able to live without the front facing speakers but I really like how versitile the device is being able to plug it into the TV and play movies and emulators with zero input lag. There isn't another device I'm aware of that can do that. A next gen shield is my only hope for a succesor to this device. But again it's not happening any time soon thanks to Nintendo, and lmao my phone literally just auto suggested Nintendo without me even typing N.
Hopefully their non-compete with Nintendo doesn't last long, and by then they can hopefully produce at least an X1 tablet around the ~250 price range.
Lack of LTE for K1 is a deal breaker for me, and my original shield doesn't do more than HSPA+ due to modem issues not yet fixed...
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