Recommend a tablet please.

DaveRo said:
No. If you don't have a '3g' version your best bet is to get a mobile wifi access point or put the local SIM in a phone and use it as a hotspot. (I used Joikuspot in a Nokia N95 last year with an iPad).

This year I used a Nexus 7 with a Greek SIM. I found the battery life disappointing - the machine takes too much power (compared with my old Nokia N810). My wife's iPad was better - but I guess the battery is about 5 times as big. If I were buying again I'd get a 10".

You can cut a standard SIM down to micro size - I've done several.
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Surprised about the battery life as I find mine excellent, better than any other Android tablet or any iPad - I have heard of cases on Nexus 7's that don't like recharging after they've been fully discharged though. About the only bad thing I've heard about them. With a new model on the way they're down $149 for the WiFi only in the US and they will become cheaper soon in the UK too if you can cope with a 7" screen.

As for which 10* tablet, I'd go for an Asus TF300 if you want a keyboard (which also nearly doubles battery life). The TF101 is still supported but only for bug fixes, etc. It's not as robust either I reckon though I'm probably being harsh as I really abused mine before it finally broke. Otherwise I'd say Nexus 10 or Samsung Tab 10. I have a Samsung Note 10 now and it's absolutely great though I miss the keyboard. You'd be paying for features you don't really want though. If you want really cheap I'd look for a Xoom or similar on eBay or second-hand. You may well get a TF300 on eBay as well. It's perfectly good without the keyboard - absolutely no difference to any other tablet.
 
grumpy_o_g said:
Surprised about the battery life as I find mine excellent, better than any other Android tablet or any iPad ...
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It may be just me being disappointed rather than it being poor compared with other tablets. Mine replaces a Nokia tablet that was far more frugal - but then the Nexus does so much more. 3g may use a lot of power compared to wifi, I don't know; when I used phones as HSPDA modems they used to need recharging a lot - especially if reception was poor.

Power aside, having got one I think 7" is too small for browsing. The main advantage is that it can go in your pocket if you need to take it to the taverna to get wifi. But if you have 3g you can use it on the boat.
 
Currently keeping my eye on a Zoom 32Gb with wifi and 3G on the bay.
Also considering a Samsung GT-P1000 but these seem few and far between and command high prices.
Does the Asus TF101 have 3G as well? I can't seem to see that listed on the spec sheets I've seen?
I have seen Ipads for about £150-£180 with 3G ( usually 1st Gen with only 16Gb) but a bit unsure about purchasing (why sell it if they are so good?)

Why are there so many of these tablets for sale if everyone seems to rave about them? Are they a fashion accessory, the latest "must have" item or are they really a five minute wonder? How do they compare to say my Asus EeePC 1000HG notebook which has wifi and 3G capability, running Win XP and seems to do everything I ask of it? Would I be better to stick with that as an onboard comms system for email, internet, etc even though its not touch screen, weighs a bit more than a tablet and has a small keyboard. On the plus side, it does have a 160Gb HD, 10" screen, good battery life and the ability to have a USB Freeview stick so we can watch TV onboard. In the scheme of it, maybe the EeePC IS better than a tablet???

Finally, anyone here on the forum thinking of selling a Wifi/3G enabled tablet for under £150, please get in touch with me and let me know what you have. I'm up for one , the right spec at the right price.
 
mickywillis said:
How do they compare to say my Asus EeePC 1000HG notebook which has wifi and 3G capability, running Win XP and seems to do everything I ask of it? Would I be better to stick with that as an onboard comms system for email, internet, etc even though its not touch screen, weighs a bit more than a tablet and has a small keyboard. On the plus side, it does have a 160Gb HD, 10" screen, good battery life and the ability to have a USB Freeview stick so we can watch TV onboard. In the scheme of it, maybe the EeePC IS better than a tablet???
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It's all about portability, primarily. I had a little HP2133 MiniNote netbook which I used on the boat - it was OK, nice keyboard, but very slow processor. I sold it on eBay and bought a Nexus 7, which is excellent in many ways (especially to slip it into hand luggage when you fly abroad). If the EeePC does what you want to do, why change it?
 
mickywillis said:
Looking to purchase a Tablet computer.
Don't want an Ipad, so looking at alternatives.
So that would be an Anderoid/Windows based unit.
Ideally would like a 9"-10" screen, but not essential.
With my budget of £150 I think I'd be looking at purchasing a secondhand unit.
Now the main want with the tablet is GPS and 3G/Cellnet network capability, unlocked so I can use either my Vodaphone or Tesco SIM card (standard size, not micro SIM)

Anyone suggest a suitable device or point me in the direction of a new/used item? Been scouring Ebay for a few weeks now and have come up with the Samsung GT-P1000 as a suitable candidate, but can't find a decent one within the price range!!
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This is a review of the Top 10 tablets

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/10-best-tablet-pcs-in-the-world-today-1079603
 
mickywillis said:
Looking to purchase a Tablet computer.
Don't want an Ipad, so looking at alternatives.
So that would be an Anderoid/Windows based unit.
Ideally would like a 9"-10" screen, but not essential.
With my budget of £150 I think I'd be looking at purchasing a secondhand unit.
Now the main want with the tablet is GPS and 3G/Cellnet network capability, unlocked so I can use either my Vodaphone or Tesco SIM card (standard size, not micro SIM)

Anyone suggest a suitable device or point me in the direction of a new/used item? Been scouring Ebay for a few weeks now and have come up with the Samsung GT-P1000 as a suitable candidate, but can't find a decent one within the price range!!
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You can usually tether your phone to the tablet remember...
I have Nexus 7 and Asus transformer, but tend to use the 7 more, as it is fully portable.
One thing that really annoys me though about Android is just how long it takes major companies to develop for it. Navionics took forever to bring charts to Android, and Garmin still havent. Much as I hate Apple, I would have a think about what apps you might want bcz a 1-2 year wait for the android apps seems the norm !
 
mickywillis said:
Why are there so many of these tablets for sale if everyone seems to rave about them? Are they a fashion accessory, the latest "must have" item or are they really a five minute wonder?
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mickywillis said:
my Asus EeePC 1000HG notebook which has wifi and 3G capability, running Win XP and seems to do everything I ask of it? <snippage> it does have a 160Gb HD, 10" screen, good battery life and the ability to have a USB Freeview stick so we can watch TV onboard.
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You've answered your own question... :D

Tablets are the emperor's new clothes but that's purely my opinion - I like having a windows based, keyboard, machine....
 
alant said:
Explain reasons pls.
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Purely personal of course, but I prefer data entry via a keyboard (I've found that typing via a touch screen is fraught), and I've been bought up my entire computing life on Windows and prefer that operating system...

As to Emperors new clothes, I struggle to see the point in a tablet as they seem limited in function (no keyboard for easy data entry, small screens), fragile (my netbook at least closes to protect the screen), and the operating systems are usually Android/Mac neither of which I want to use as it would make data transfer to my other machines slightly more difficult....

Like I said, purely personal opinion....
 
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Fantasie 19 said:
Purely personal of course, but I prefer data entry via a keyboard (I've found that typing via a touch screen is fraught), and I've been bought up my entire computing life on Windows and prefer that operating system...

As to Emperors new clothes, I struggle to see the point in a tablet as they seem limited in function (no keyboard for easy data entry, small screens), fragile (my netbook at least closes to protect the screen), and the operating systems are usually Android/Mac neither of which I want to use as it would make data transfer to my other machines slightly more difficult....

Like I said, purely personal opinion....
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Looked at some in PC World.
Apart from the Apple lot, Windows Surface RT, the rest were androids of some description, from 4.0 to jelly beans & icecream sandwiches, whatever that means. The Windows Surface, was at least a continuation of 'normal' windows & easy to assimilate. however, the range of choices/colours, from 7", 9" & then 10", was akin to shopping in Ann Summers.

PS
Windows Surface RT, allowed multiple accounts, but non of the androids did.
 
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DaveRo said:
Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) supports multiple user accounts. (So do PengPods I expect.)
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Android 4.2 (as said) supports multiple accounts (I have two on my Nexus 7). Android 4.3, which is starting to roll out to Nexus devices now, supports not only multiple accounts but also allows you to restrict access on each account so you can stop the kids/missus using apps you don't want them to know about, etc. I think Surface and Android 4.2 (which pretty much means just Nexus tablets at the moment) are the only ones to have that.

It sums up Android vs iOS really. My Nexus 7 will get the latest Android pretty much as soon as it's available as would an iPad get the latest iOS. My Samsung Note 10.1 on the other is an expensive premium tablet yet is still running two releases behind, not because Samsung are being lazy but because it has some fantastic Samsung-supplied features (multiple and sizable windows, the pen and it's associated apps, etc.) that take a lot of effort to move to each new release of Android. Google haven't added that many features since 4.1.3 but I can't have multiple accounts for example. On the other hand, if I bought a Nexus 10 I wouldn't get the pen and Samsung software... It can get confusing with Android unless you are a bit geeky and like to know about this kind of thing. With Apple on the other hand you get what your given pretty much - the choice is limited but the choice is therefore a lot simpler and that default choice may be good enough (or even better) for you.

The apps situation is pretty level now I think, with the exception of the incredibly incompetent Navionics. I find MX Mariner better and it's just been explained to me why above - Navionics hides detail sometimes without you being able to control it. There's quite a few apps on Android only that get a lot of use from from that are Android only - Airdroid and Tablet Talk being two good examples. In fairness there may be equivalents from other companies on iOS but I haven't looked.
 
alant said:
Looked at some in PC World.
Apart from the Apple lot, Windows Surface RT, the rest were androids of some description, from 4.0 to jelly beans & icecream sandwiches, whatever that means. The Windows Surface, was at least a continuation of 'normal' windows & easy to assimilate. however, the range of choices/colours, from 7", 9" & then 10", was akin to shopping in Ann Summers.

PS
Windows Surface RT, allowed multiple accounts, but non of the androids did.
Click to expand...

Nexus 7 allows multiple accounts. SWMBO has her own account, and a charity type account on hers.
 
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