I'm currently looking at buying a tablet as I plan to start travelling more and setting up a blog to document my adventures. A tablet is alot easier to carry about with me compared to a laptop but there seem to be a lot of them out there! :confused1:
During my research I believe that the the google nexus would be a good choice but wondered if anyone had any opinions on these tablets or other similar devices.
The nexus 10 with the 32gb hardrive falls nicely into my price range (£400) and seems to fit my needs nicely. Good battery time will be important for my travels and I need a resonable hard drive capacity so I can put a few films/comics on it.
:NGaugersRule:
I use a Nexus 7 for general internet browsing, webmail and as an e-book reader, which it does very nicely indeed.
It has a 7-hour battery life for constant use and has a standard micro-usb charger. Fabulous little machine. :)
I'm assuming at that price it is with 3G capability which does reduce your options over wi-fi only Tablets...
When I bought mine the final choice was between the Nexus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab2. In the end I went for the Galaxy as I got a good deal via the Network I already had a PAYG mobile internet dongle with which brought the price for the same spec as the Nexus you're looking at down to just under £300!
I still use a laptop as well for content creation tasks - you will get frustrated using the on screen virtual keyboard all the time though add on keyboards are now available for many of the popular Tablets.
Paul
I use a Google nexus 7 for,er, this...
and for work - emails on the move are readable and fetch in the attachments without bother.saves a lot of laptop lugging.
the kids think its not so good for watching movies, but I've watched one, and the screen format is fine with me. at the minute I have to do a bit of 'show and tell' with graphics and photos, and it works well.
iPlayer doesn't quite work 100% on android yet (download not possible), but its getting better, and they are continuing to work on that.
I've got a mobile card in mine so it works anywhere with a mobile signal. it goes wireless preferentially, when available, and it doesn't get itself confused if there is a wireless signal about that it is not hooked up to ( unlike my HTC phone)
Nexus had (and I belive still has) a major problem in that it's not expandable ... no SD slot.
That was one of several issues that made SWMBO (after asking me to review the two) plump for the Galaxy Note, and she's not regretted it in the slightest. She went 10", and can do both wireless (for in the house & any hotspots) and 3G (for travelling around).
Mike
Quote from: mr magnolia on May 15, 2013, 08:28:08 AM
iPlayer doesn't quite work 100% on android yet (download not possible), but its getting better, and they are continuing to work on that.
There are third party apps that do download for iplayer just fine. The BBC seems to spend its time going around getting them taken down.. read into that what you will 8)
The nexus 10 is a beautiful screen, and very nice device. It has no SD slot - it's assuming you'll be keeping your stuff in the cloud or synching over wireless etc. For a lot of uses thats fine but not for all.
It's probably the nicest of the "high end" tablets. You can spend a lot less for one with a slightly weaker screen and touchpad.
Alan
Thanks for the suggestions, I think the Nexus 10 is the one to go for.
Quote from: MikeDunn on May 15, 2013, 09:42:37 AM
Nexus had (and I belive still has) a major problem in that it's not expandable ... no SD slot.
That was one of several issues that made SWMBO (after asking me to review the two) plump for the Galaxy Note, and she's not regretted it in the slightest. She went 10", and can do both wireless (for in the house & any hotspots) and 3G (for travelling around).
Mike
You can use a USB drive as storage with the nexus, just need a conversion cable and a 3rd party app. This would hold more than enough films/books as I have a 64gb drive already. For this reason I might go for the 16gb model and save myself £70.
Quote from: PLD on May 15, 2013, 07:54:11 AM
I'm assuming at that price it is with 3G capability which does reduce your options over wi-fi only Tablets...
I still use a laptop as well for content creation tasks - you will get frustrated using the on screen virtual keyboard all the time though add on keyboards are now available for many of the popular Tablets.
Paul
The price is £389 for the 32GB version and this is WiFi only which for me is not a problem. I'll mainly be using it when travelling abroad so using 3g would be rather expensive. When travelling across Europe there are no shortage of Wifi hotspots either.
I have considered the Nexus 7 which is considerably cheaper, but for films and comics the 10 inch will be much better.
Quote from: EtchedPixels on May 15, 2013, 10:18:42 AM
It's probably the nicest of the "high end" tablets. You can spend a lot less for one with a slightly weaker screen and touchpad.
Alan
As I'm spending a considerable sum anyway I may aswell just go for the high end model.
The non phone devices can get internet off an Android phone anyway and I can't think of many times I'd carry tablet and not phone.
Quote from: cookiescrumble on May 15, 2013, 11:23:25 AM
You can use a USB drive as storage with the nexus, just need a conversion cable and a 3rd party app. This would hold more than enough films/books as I have a 64gb drive already.
Yes, you can. Not exactly a neat solution, having a USB drive dangling be a cable instead of having an SD card securely stored always-on inside the case though ;)
The Nexus devices have historically been tech-example systems from Google, to encourage other mfrs into doing better things (see the Google phone as a good example of them not bothering to do more, or support it as well as mfrs). I don't see the Nexus tablets as anything different.
But - your money, your choice :D
Mike
Hi all,
I am following all this with huge interest. I am traveling to the UK in August and then on to Europe (I live in Oz). Three years ago I took my laptop with me (the very same one I'm typing on now) and am glad I did 'cos while I was in York there was a minor emergency back in Australia and was able to transfer money on the computer. However, it would have to be the heaviest machine on the planet and I have vowed not to drag it around on my up-coming sojourn. So anything little will be welcome. This thread is giving me ideas, so thanks, everyone!
Mind you, being an old Commodore 64 man, I could always throw that in the bag.... :D
iPad vs Commodore 64 - Which Should You Get? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEEoFQ5GJ50#ws)
Frodo on Android is a nice C64 emulator
Alan
Quote from: EtchedPixels on May 15, 2013, 11:49:41 AM
The non phone devices can get internet off an Android phone anyway and I can't think of many times I'd carry tablet and not phone.
I looked into tethering but I have an iPhone :D. This wouldn't normally be a problem but as I'm with giffgaff it's not supported :-X.
Quote from: MikeDunn on May 15, 2013, 12:12:11 PM
Quote from: cookiescrumble on May 15, 2013, 11:23:25 AM
You can use a USB drive as storage with the nexus, just need a conversion cable and a 3rd party app. This would hold more than enough films/books as I have a 64gb drive already.
Yes, you can. Not exactly a neat solution, having a USB drive dangling be a cable instead of having an SD card securely stored always-on inside the case though ;)
Mike
I can't see this being a major inconvenience to be honest. I understand an sd slot would be better and surprised it doesn't have such a basic feature. If I'm watching a film or reading I'll be sat somewhere on a train or plane for example.
Quote from: cookiescrumble on May 15, 2013, 12:41:50 PM
I can't see this being a major inconvenience to be honest. I understand an sd slot would be better and surprised it doesn't have such a basic feature. If I'm watching a film or reading I'll be sat somewhere on a train or plane for example.
As I said - your money, your choice :D
As to being 'basic' - well, no. Like I mentioned, the Nexus range is historically an encourager to the other mfrs. Most (all ?) other tablet makers have put in this feature, and others. Google just don't see why they should produce an all-singing-&-dancing system instead of doing the usual - provide the basics & let others do a lot better ;)
Anyhow, enjoy whatever tablet you get :)
SD-slots are so has been
next you'll be wanting a 3.5" drive in the tablet
Well, to be more specific, it's a micro-SD slot that can accept up to 64GB. Very useful to move off data etc that would normally sit within the more limited built-in store. Just look @ the HTC Desires as an example of limited store.
And 3.5" disks ? Please ... SSDs or nothing !
I can see that storage is an issue to be considered, but really, these things are not, to my mind, for serious data storage, or even computing. they are for web browsing and emails.
all my important data is on my backed up laptop and the server. I really don't want to complicate life by lugging around even more extra data that I become too scared to bucket, as it is a 'nearly up to date' or, 'more up to date' version of other stuff.
I have my emails, and I can dump big files up via drop box or similar and have them available whilst travelling. Then I can take them down again when I get back. hurrah!
having said that, it is baffling that there is no SD card arrangement.
What - you don't want to store your entire music collection, or a couple of series of TV programmes onto it for using when you have nothing to do & not necessarily any way of changing it (eg, on a train or a plane) ?
These devices aren't, as you say, designed for serious usage; well, not yet anyway ! But the time is coming ...
Hi,
Just to put my tuppence in, we have Samsung Galaxy, excellent piece of kit. It is the wifi only version.
SWMBO mainly uses it and she has technophobia. She watches all the on demand tv services with no problems (even though we have two SMART LED tv's that can do this :goggleeyes:)
My son who is a software developer and all round techno head, managed somehow to tether it to his mobile via a cable, and used his mobile to access the web, so no need to take out another subscription for a sim or dongle.
Ill ask him how he did it, and if it is not to complex, and will post it up. No doubt there will be others on here who have done the same and give a better response.
Ian.
Quote from: mr magnolia on May 15, 2013, 02:23:56 PM
having said that, it is baffling that there is no SD card arrangement.
It sort of assumes that you'll be using things like cloud storage (Amazon cloud drive, Ubuntu one, Google Drive etc) for any large scale storage.
Alan
If storage ever becomes an issue you can sign up with things like Google Drive, Microsoft Drive or Sugarsync. Most of these sorts of thing give you 5GB of free cloud storage that you can easily access your stuff on a tablet or even a phone.
Quote from: Trev on May 15, 2013, 02:45:36 PM
If storage ever becomes an issue you can sign up with things like Google Drive, Microsoft Drive or Sugarsync. Most of these sorts of thing give you 5GB of free cloud storage that you can easily access your stuff on a tablet or even a phone.
Well ... I have to deal with the Cloud @ work ... frankly, I won't use it for personal usage ! You are giving your data over to an unknown company in an unknown location to datamine as much as they want ... :o ...
no thanks ! Remember -
nothing is free ... you may not be paying them in cash but
you're still paying them.
Quote from: IanUK on May 15, 2013, 02:39:37 PM
My son [...] managed somehow to tether it to his mobile via a cable, and used his mobile to access the web, so no need to take out another subscription for a sim or dongle.
Not difficult - but he's using his phone contract's data usage ... if he goes over his limits he'll get stung.
Who takes out a contract for a tablet ? £12 buys you 3 months/3GB data on an anonymous SIM -
and you can use the thing as a phone too :smiley-laughing: Who'd'a'thought, eh ? :P
Quote from: MikeDunn on May 15, 2013, 03:47:29 PM
Well ... I have to deal with the Cloud @ work ... frankly, I won't use it for personal usage ! You are giving your data over to an unknown company in an unknown location to datamine as much as they want
You can just as easily use sshfs off your own box or owncloud or just encrypt the data before synching it (encfs etc)
Comptometer, anyone? :dighole:
Prefer an abacus myself. Especially if all the sliders are fruit polos
ICL 1901A computer will do. All the free model bricks from the card punches.
I have a Asus Transformer tf300t which is pretty good, detachable keyboard included which also provides extra charge for the pad. Only problem is its wi-fi only which is not a problem for me I mostly use it at home through my router. I have heard you can link it through a phone but mines a I-phone 4 so not sure about that if you had a android phone I think it would be easy to link.
I'll chuck in my tuppence worth for the Nexus7
Bought one to replace a 1st gen iPad, and personally i think its the dogs danglies.
Battery Life
Stability of OS
Sharp screen
Using for mail, browsing, movies on the go... basically everything bar serious office work when at home
For storage I thought of the USB cable-port but opted for the Dropbox App and dropbox account, more space than I need and as I have the 3g model with a PAYG sim I just buy a day at a time when I cant piggyback a connection
Might get a foldable keyboard to experiment with but not got fed up with the onscreen one yet
Rgds
Mark
Bought my wife a Google Nexus 7 32GB for her birthday and she absolutely loves it. Having used it myself I can vouch that it is well made, quick and has a great screen. I was going to buy Paula an iPad Mini but the Nexus 7 has a better spec and at £200 is a steal.
Bear in mind though that it is expected that Google will announce the Nexus 7 Mark II this year.
Paddy
Quote from: westie7 on May 16, 2013, 11:33:23 PM
I have the 3g model with a PAYG sim I just buy a day at a time
The Note's the same ...
Re the SIM - who're you with ?
It was a T-Mobile sim which is EE.
Got the my T-Mobile page as a book mark and login, top up via debit card and off you go
Real handy
Well, I've gone and done it ;). I went for the Nexus 7 in the end and bought a new 32gb version for £170.
After consideration, couldn't really justify the extra £220 to get the Nexus 10.
Quote from: cookiescrumble on May 17, 2013, 09:56:59 AM
Well, I've gone and done it ;). I went for the Nexus 7 in the end and bought a new 32gb version for £170.
After consideration, couldn't really justify the extra £220 to get the Nexus 10.
Well done and a very good price. I will be surprised if you are disappointed.
Paddy