Which Tablet Computer/

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Rikds

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I'm sure there are loads of threads on this but I have failed to find what I want.
The time has arrived to buy a tablet for home use. So I am told! Obviously I want some frills for navigation work. We don't want to go down the Apple route as the cost is unjustifiable. So Android it is.
What are people using, preferably in the lower price range but in the 10" screensize?
It MUST have its' own dedicated GPS. I have seen a number that claim to have GPS but are using WiFi as the locating system.

What is advised?
 
I think one of the acknowledged leaders is Nexus. They are due to launch a new 10" any day now so if you can wait then presumably the prices of the old model will be discounted. It is only a year or two since that was released and at the time people were raving about the quality of the display. It also has got gps but strangely no SD card slot. If it was me, that would definitely be my choice.
 
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Bearing in mind we all recommend what we know, Google/Ebay Motorola Xoom 10 inch. Mine has no SIM slot so I tether it via blue tooth to my phone when on the boat (typing this on the boat now-)

Out of production but of such a spec, able to stand its own ground now. GPS, sd slot and 32 gig built in and runs Memory Map fine. (struggles a little in sunlight like all ) 10 hours battery life and one hour recharge (max/min) Ebay now about £60/100. GET A FLIP CASE!!

FYI, tablets that say 'assisted gps' while they use the phone signal for quick lockup, do have a stand alone full GPS toO. The Xoom works inside houses

Nick
 
Had a disappointing tablet experience (Asus T300 transformer) and am back with a trusty 10" netbook which does have sd card reader, 3 USB ports, bluetooth, wifi, 8hr battery life, 320Gb internal storage, virtual dvd drive and runs a PC OS of your choice. It is more robust in a marine environment and easier to use at sea without the vagaries of a touch screen.
I can't help but think tablets sacrifice function for style.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-X101-10-1-INCH-320GB-1-6GHZ-NETBOOK-BLACK-/360813773612?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item54022d432c (No connection with vendor)
 
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markdj said:
Another vote for the nexus 10. I think you can get it for about £240 at the minute as a new one is impending. For a smaller, handier display size, the nexus 7 2013 would be my personal preference.
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I am not an expert in high end tablets (got a Hudl !) but maybe the fact that it is a Google brand and Google is also responsible for Android is a point in it's favour.
 
elton said:
Beware of "Post-purchase rationalization, also known as Buyer's Stockholm Syndrome, is a cognitive bias whereby someone who has purchased an expensive product or service overlooks any faults or defects in order to justify their purchase. It is a special case of choice-supportive bias."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-purchase_rationalization

Seen a lot of that on here :D
Click to expand...

And your personal manifestation of this condition is?:o
 
Having been down this route.

Net book, generally will need extra dongles...GPS, 3G...to work sensibly on a boat. Difficult to adequately protect from the elements, and more of a pain to move about, limited battery life. Most manufacturers have stopped producing them.

Tablet can come with integral GPS and 3G, easy to waterproof, easily portable, good battery life.

I've gone down the IPad route, extra cost justified as I also use it day to day for 99% of my computer needs.

So IMO tablet is the way to go. But if you are going down the none IPad route, can't advise.

Just thought, if you decide to go down the netbook/laptop route, I just so happen to have both a 3G and GPS dongle surplus to requirements...offers invited.
 
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A bit more cost perhaps, but the IPad or IPad mini is just brilliant.

I bought the kids them for Christmas last year, and shortly after had to buy myself one, because they got fed up with me using theirs.

Since and almost one year on all of us use them every day. Navionics App is just great along with Boatie and a myriad other Apps. Get the 3G one if you want to use it as a chart plotter because they don't tell you the wifi only doesn't include a GPS receiver.

I also have my entire boating document library loaded on Documents App, with backup on Dropbox - excellent and free Apps.

Ours are the IPad mini 16GB.

The only annoying things for me are: the keypad type screen I am sat here using doesn't have a delete key just backspace, so you can only edit delete to the left of the cursor, plus I tend to hit the neighbouring keys tii often !
 
Rikds said:
I'm sure there are loads of threads on this but I have failed to find what I want.
The time has arrived to buy a tablet for home use. So I am told! Obviously I want some frills for navigation work. We don't want to go down the Apple route as the cost is unjustifiable. So Android it is.
What are people using, preferably in the lower price range but in the 10" screensize?
It MUST have its' own dedicated GPS. I have seen a number that claim to have GPS but are using WiFi as the locating system.

What is advised?
Click to expand...

superheat6k said:
A bit more cost perhaps, but the IPad or IPad mini is just brilliant.
Click to expand...
Yet more evidence that Apple users can't read.

Not to mention Buyer's Stockholm Syndrome.
 
Samsung Tab 3, Samsung Note or Nexus as recommended - based on specs and the fact that their tablets works well, is supported by the "must have" software and has all top-range specs i.e. high resolution and bright screens for charts, two-finger zooming, and so on. Personally, I prefer the older ones for on the boat because they are thicker and more robust for "boat use". I have heard of several less known brands having issues with Navionics e.g. because they did not have an internal SD card, etc.

Samsung regularly goes on "special" for less than a cheap alternative - a week ago I paid £99 at Tesco for the latest Samsung 7" Tab 3, without vouchers. samsung often does cash-back deals as well e.g. at PC World, etc. For me, unless you pay below £70-ish for something with the required specs, Samsung is a no-brainer.

Don't get it with 3G, future proof your tablet by getting a separate mifi device which converts your 3G/4G/5G signal into Wifi for the tablet to use.

Oh, and before anyone mentions buyer's syndrome... I have an iPad under the bed (ok, it runs some stuff nicely) and have tested/used - and often returned - several other brands as well.
 
elton said:
Yet more evidence that Apple users can't read.

Not to mention Buyer's Stockholm Syndrome.
Click to expand...

What utter nonsense. I clarified my answer re the OPs cost concerns for Apple equipment, so I had read his post actually. It didn't cost that much, and as said in my thread I haven't put the bloody thing down. Ever stood on a tube train reading emails from a laptop stood up ?
 
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superheat6k said:
What utter nonsense. I clarified my answer re the OPs cost concerns for Apple equipment, so I had read his post actually. It didn't cost that much, and as said in my thread I haven't put the bloody thing down. Ever stood on a tube train reading emails from a laptop stood up ?
Click to expand...
When someone writes
We don't want to go down the Apple route as the cost is unjustifiable.
Click to expand...
I take that to mean they don't want to go down the Apple route as the cost is unjustifiable. What is it with Apple fans? Are you all on commission?
 
I have an early Nexus 7.

It has Navionics on it and runs very well.

Because of the links with google the operational system has just been automatically been updated to 4.4.2

I am thinking about a 10" display and cannot decide between a low cost imported tablet, to wait for a new nexus 10 or just to buy a small chart plotter.

All have their advantages. The netbook I once used had too many bits of 'string' dangling on to it.
 
superheat6k said:
.....

The only annoying things for me are: the keypad type screen I am sat here using doesn't have a delete key just backspace, so you can only edit delete to the left of the cursor, plus I tend to hit the neighbouring keys tii often !
Click to expand...
You not download an alternative keyboard ? I do not know about ipads but on Android there are dozens of alternative ones, some of which have amazing predictive text which can save a lot of time.
 
If it must be Android then go for Nexus.

On the Apple point though, you say it's unjustifiable but are assuming that the usage would be the same either way. I've owned various makes and models and know many others who do too and the Apple ones tend to be used considerably more. The cost per use is therefore more justifiable. If you take the longer view then Apple devices are actually cheaper since they hold their value much better for resale. If you can't afford one then fair enough but there is more to cost justification than purchase price :)

No Elton, I'm not on commission :)
 
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