OT: What Tablet would you recommend?

optimisticbiker

Close to deciding to buy a tablet... and the one thats top of the list is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (fully loaded). But is it the best value for money?

Thoughts?

edit: iPad is not on the list and never will be... no arguments OK.

FoldingJoe

I must admit, even though I switched from Apple to Android in terms of my phone, for a tablet I'd go with the iPad.

Mainly due to the fact that I had an app on my iPhone, Cue Play DJ, that I absolutely loved, and was loathed to give up, so that would be the first thing I put back on the iPad when I get one.

If the iPad doesn't do it for you, then the Kindle Fire sounds good value when it comes out.

Gussio

Only have experience of an iPad, which is great. Gets a hammering by the kids and still looks as good as new.

CiB

iPad, no argument. Saying you won't consider it is as daft as asking what the best bike is but specifically excluding <insert your preference for best bike manufacturer here>.

The iPad is the market leader because it's head & shoulders above the competition and has a huge variety of apps, and apps is what you want it for.

optimisticbiker

iPad is a non-starter for many reasons I haven't the time or inclination to go into here...

Kindle Fire's lack of camera, GPS or memory expansion makes it limiting. I definitely want to use Skype video calls.
Also looking to purchase in next 2 weeks as I'm off to Oz and need something to take with; too soon for UK version as, having now researched it, its not looking like a January launch.

DrLex

CiB wrote:

iPad, no argument. Saying you won't consider it is as daft as asking what the best bike is but specifically excluding <insert your preference for best bike manufacturer here>.

The iPad is the market leader because it's head & shoulders above the competition and has a huge variety of apps, and apps is what you want it for.

More like, recommend me a tricycle - I don't want one of those fangled two-wheeled contraption for reasons uncited.
Galaxy Tab is the best of the non-iPads if you can't find a deep-discount Xoom or PlayBook. There's the Asus Transformer if you think you might want a keyboard.

roger_merriman

I'd be sure what ever you chose has a upgrade path. while android OS moves on. the devices have a nasty habbit of being stuck, with out a easy upgrade. sure you you could probably hack it but thats not what these tablets are about.

secretsam

Aspirin

(someone had to make the obvious joke)

meanredspider

Viagra's good (apparently) but Cialis lasts much longer (apparently)

The only tablets I'm willing to comment on if the iPad's excluded (I've bought 5 iPads - that's my opinion)

DonDaddyD

I hate the very notion of Tablets. I don't even agree with Laptops. Desktop Computer man me, always will be.

That said I didn't know there another viable option other than the iPad.

FoldingJoe

In that case, if you must have Andriod, DO NOT TOUCH MOTOROLA.

Hate them as a company and their policy around Android upgrades and the non-US market, so yes, stick with the Samsung.

DonDaddyD

What happens next year when the next version of the Tablet you have is released and it has more - but not all - of the features that you really wanted but are missing from the tablet you bought?

No doubt it'll also come with a faster processor, more ram, hard disk space, better download speeds, better/a camera, ability to make phone calls and has been optimised to use the latest Android/Apple operating system that will undoubtably revolutionise the way you live your life far in excess of the now old version on your current Tablet.

Hate em.

roger_merriman

DonDaddyD wrote:

I hate the very notion of Tablets. I don't even agree with Laptops. Desktop Computer man me, always will be.

That said I didn't know there another viable option other than the iPad.

Laptops are great, in the summer need to do some work from home? sit out side in the garden drink in hand on the garden seat.

or simply want to check some stuff on the sofa with a cup of tea.

il_principe

Get over your prejudices and get an iPad. It's miles better than anything else on the market.

spen666

CiB wrote:

....
The iPad is the market leader because it's head & shoulders above the competition and has a huge variety of apps, and apps is what you want it for.

If I buy a tablet, it will not be for the apps.

I couldn't give a t*ss what apps it has available.

I personally would want it for surfing the net and sending emails. you may want it for different things and that is fine- each to their own.

You may want it for apps, but your last paragraph is as narrow minded a view as the one you criticise in the opening post

DonDaddyD

spen666 wrote:

CiB wrote:

....
The iPad is the market leader because it's head & shoulders above the competition and has a huge variety of apps, and apps is what you want it for.

If I buy a tablet, it will not be for the apps.

I couldn't give a t*ss what apps it has available.

I personally would want it for surfing the net and sending emails. you may want it for different things and that is fine- each to their own.

You may want it for apps, but your last paragraph is as narrow minded a view as the one you criticise in the opening post

Why the bloody hell would you fork out the wonga on a tablet then.

When I get home, if I can't be arsed sitting at my PC then I will use my rather sizeable nearly 5 inch screen mobile phone to send and receive emails and surf the internet. It also works when I'm on the move as well...

Surely a tablet sans apps is just duplication minus the apps (which is ridiculous).

CiB

spen666 wrote:

You may want it for apps, but your last paragraph is as narrow minded a view as the one you criticise in the opening post

Each to their own. My iPod is a bit pointless without apps, much like my PC and laptop are. The biggest benefit of the iPod is that it takes only 5 seconds from picking it up to it being on & downloading mails, which is dead lucky if I need to know instantly that John Lewis have some good deals going on, or Purple Parking want me to park with them, or that Ebuyer have some goodies for sale that I didn't know I wanted.

The iPod is for piddling about on. When I get a tablet it'll be an iPad as it'll be easier to piddle about on. I'm not too worried about labelled an Apple fanboi or similar (I'm not), but for me there doesn't seem a lot of benefit in buying a clunkier slower version of the market leader for not much less dosh. Unless things have changed a lot in the last few weeks I haven't seen anything as good as the iPad.

Spen - I usually like your posts. Hold back on the bellicose attitude pls, just because you don't share my view on tablets. There's a good chap.

DonDaddyD

iPod or Pad?

vermin

OptimisticBiker wrote:

iPad is a non-starter for many reasons I haven't the time or inclination to go into here...

Kindle Fire's lack of camera, GPS or memory expansion makes it limiting. I definitely want to use Skype video calls.
Also looking to purchase in next 2 weeks as I'm off to Oz and need something to take with; too soon for UK version as, having now researched it, its not looking like a January launch.

Completely with you on the ruling out the iPad. Very shiny but hugely limited compared to the best Android devices.

The new Tegra 3 based systems are a significant step up from everything else that is currently available. I think the only Tegra 3 device available now is the Asus Transformer Prime. Its expensive (£500) but much, much more capable than anything else out there. It comes with a detachable keyboard that also provides good battery life and full sized usb/SD ports etc - great for importing photos from cameras or for printing/scanning/whatever.

Otherwise, consider whether a 7-inch would be more travel-friendly than the standard 10-inch tablets. The Motorola Xoom2 Media Edition looks great (I don't think the old Motorola prejudices count for anything any more, since they have dropped Motoblur and been bought out by Google).

All that said, IMO, a mini laptop (HP DM1 is great) or an ultrabook (£££) makes a much better purchase.

Or, if you're interested, I've got an old 7 inch tablet that I don't use that you can have.

CiB

iPod - the dinky little music player come toy, esp when I sit it in its speaker dock and use the Tune-In radio app to find a New York dance station to listen to in the bath on a Friday pm after a long wet commute home. In NYC it's early afternoon and there's a lot to be said for having a soak on a cold wet night in England to the sound of New Yorkers starting their weekends. Some good tunes too.

optimisticbiker

Oh gosh, what a can of worms I have opened almost as good as the Microsoft v Linux flame wars...

For the record, as I hope to get work to contribute to this, the main objection to the iPad is that it doesnt run some specific in-house developed applications i need (although i will have to do some porting work, I'm told its much easier to Android than Apple) and work doesnt support iPad or iPhone wifi connectivity but will allow Android tablets (something to do with the way Apple implement wifi security, Blackberry/Android/Windows Mobile all work fine). Plus iPad RDP clients don't (currently) support Remote Desktop into Windows 2008 Terminal Server (none of the ones we tested work properly with our challenge/response security, the Android ones do).

vermin

Where's ITboffin when you need him?

notsoblue

My biggest issue with Android is that manufacturers historically tend to whack it on substandard hardware. This is particularly bad at the lower end of the market and with the first three generations of Android devices in general. I was a fairly early adopter and had to put up with two underpowered Android handsets. I currently have an HTC Desire HD and I'm really happy with it, its over a year old but still runs everything (including games) very smoothly. So it looks like handset wise, HTC have at least got it right with Android now. I haven't checked out any recent Tablets but the ones I was looking at last year were pretty underwhelming. Main thing I'd be looking for is build quality and user interface. I'm a big fan of HTC sense, and their phones are well built. So I'm holding out for their 2012 tablet offering.

Having said all that, Apple do tend to get it right first time. The iPad is lovely. I just prefer Android as an OS.

rick_chasey

No use to the OP, but if you have a smartphone and a laptop, where is the value in having a tablet?

DonDaddyD

CiB wrote:

iPod - the dinky little music player come toy, esp when I sit it in its speaker dock and use the Tune-In radio app to find a New York dance station to listen to in the bath on a Friday pm after a long wet commute home. In NYC it's early afternoon and there's a lot to be said for having a soak on a cold wet night in England to the sound of New Yorkers starting their weekends. Some good tunes too.

yeahbuhwhat?

I'm sorry. New York. Soak. Dance Music. Bath. An iPod Touch!?

You clearly aren't how my minds eye pictures you.

FoldingJoe

vermin wrote:

I don't think the old Motorola prejudices count for anything any more, since they have dropped Motoblur and been bought out by Google).

Erm, that hasn't even been approved yet, and when\if it does it won't be an instantaneous transition to Google's view of how Android should be handled in the market.

optimisticbiker

I'm a great fan of HTC, have a HD2 Windows phone and a Wildfire S, and would probably go for an HTC tablet if there was one available.

Had a play with several c£200 tablets and they are a little sluggish. The Galaxy is a joy to play with, but at a higher price point. Not had a chance to play with a Transformer but like the idea.

vermin

FoldingJoe wrote:

vermin wrote:

I don't think the old Motorola prejudices count for anything any more, since they have dropped Motoblur and been bought out by Google).

Erm, that hasn't even been approved yet, and when\if it does it won't be an instantaneous transition to Google's view of how Android should be handled in the market.

Moto has dropped Motoblur, which was the primary obstacle to prompt software updates. Google has bought the company and is unlikely to want to derive negative publicity for/from the brand. I reckon it's at least worth putting old prejudices which resulted from the use of Motoblur and distance from Google on hold for now.

apreading

Unless I am mistaken, the Ipad doesnt do flash, which rules out iplayer, youtube etc along with many other sites.

I fancy a tablet but would only be interested if it had a proper browser that does flash, Microsoft Word editor & PDF viewer, mapping (google maps & viewranger) and Kindle. Other than that, I dont want too big - 7" would be fine but I do want battery life to be as good as possible.

sketchley

I have an iPad2 a gift from a supplier. I have a HTC Desire phone. The iPad frustrated me immensely when I first switched it on. Probably a great box for non technical people but technical people and programmers it's pain in the @rse. You cannot do anything with it unless it's an app. Most apps cost money. What more I got given from iTunes vouchers but I couldn't spend them in apple on line store to buy a case. At every turn since opening the box apple seems to want more money from me, be it for iCloud or Apps blah blah blah.

There is no functionality to transfer files / music from the media server without installing iTunes on my PC & I don't want to do that. In the finish I have to buy a £6 app that does it, but it cannot write to the iTunes library as it's read only in the API so have to run it's own storage library. I can do this for free on Android.

I do not like the way apple insist you do it there way or not at all.

I cannot watch premiershiprugby.tv as it doesn't do flash, I could on an Android tablet.

If I was buying one for myself I would go down the Android route.

In short iPad2 great hardware spoilt by over restrictive OD and a desire to extract money from you. Good web browser though apart from the no flash thing.

Anyone want to buy one?

sketchley

apreading wrote:

Unless I am mistaken, the Ipad doesnt do flash, which rules out iplayer, youtube etc along with many other sites.

I fancy a tablet but would only be interested if it had a proper browser that does flash, Microsoft Word editor & PDF viewer, mapping (google maps & viewranger) and Kindle. Other than that, I dont want too big - 7" would be fine but I do want battery life to be as good as possible.

To be fair most site have adjusted to this but not all. There is a youtube app and an iPlayer that work fine and are free.