[android tablet] Recommend me an Android Tablet

[enjay]

Mrs Enjay has agreed to get me a tablet for Christmas. Can anyone recommend me a good or bad model, or specific things to look out for?

 

Please let's not make this an Android versus iPad argument, by the way :-)

[Guest Guest]

Creative Ziio = possibly worst device I have ever used.

 

Don't waste your time with a resistive screen get a capacitive.

 

Get the latest version of android you can, iirc a new one is on its way.

 

Make sure the device has the android market, if it doesn't it quickly becomes a very expensive doorstop.

[enjay]

Thanks @j17sparky, really good post.

 

Re. Android versions, at quick glance most of them are running 2.2, with a handful of 2.3. I know that 3 was specifically written for tablet not smartphone, but there aren't many which have it, and those which do are significantly more expensive (and out of my price range just now) - is the difference that pronounced? v4, which was announced last week, is (I think) a re-write of v3 for phones so I see little point waiting for that.

[themanfromict]

The ASUS Transformer commonly regarded as the best android tablet.

 

There is a new quad core model coming out in the next few days too. Think it's called the Transformer Prime. Both will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich too.

[enjay]

Asus Transformer definitely out of my price range. I have the £150/£200 needed for many tablets, but not the £400-500 for things like that. Really just want something for surfing rather than sitting under my laptop, so Quad Core etc is overkill (I still have my PC, after all).

[sted]

The ASUS Transformer commonly regarded as the best android tablet.

 

There is a new quad core model coming out in the next few days too. Think it's called the Transformer Prime. Both will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich too.

 

I have a transformer and my vote would be to wait for the quad core prime esp if you want to watch video files on it the transformer can struggle badly with some files and tbh id wait for ice cream sarnie and hope battery life is better on that version as every update to my transformer has made battery life worse than the stock 3.0 rom

[penfold]

I've been looking at a similar price range and at present the Arhos 101 is on offer in HMV which is why I resurrected LittleMiss review thread. I would guess that in your price range all tablets would suffer from similar problems and slowdown over time due to the hardware.

 

I'll keep an eye on this thread as I'm interested into what people think too.

[plexer]

Take a look at the AndyPad Pro.

 

Ben

[crt404]

Mrs Crt404 bought herself an Acer Iconia A500 tablet for £299 from John Lewis - although they seem to have increased the price to £349 now. We bought it as it was £100 cheaper than the IPad and it was running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb I think - I'm an Apple man so I get confused).

 

I'm not a fan of Android, but the device is cracking. The only disappointment seems to be the stablility of Flash, I can now understand why Steve left it out of IOS.

 

As a device, if you can find it for £299, you won't be unhappy.

[titch]

You can get an advent vega fo £130. Has good community support and easily upgradeable to android 3.2. Really fast and stable my only gripe is the screen has poor viewing angles.

[penfold]

You can get an advent vega fo £130. Has good community support and easily upgradeable to android 3.2. Really fast and stable my only gripe is the screen has poor viewing angles.

 

Where? I thought the only one's selling at that price were refurbished ones with 3 months warranty?

[titch]

Where? I thought the only one's selling at that price were refurbished ones with 3 months warranty?

yer that is true, mine was a refurb. Think it comes with 6 months warranty though.

[enjay]

You can get an advent vega fo £130. Has good community support and easily upgradeable to android 3.2. Really fast and stable my only gripe is the screen has poor viewing angles.

Do you mean 3.2 or 2.3?

[titch]

3.2 Honeycomb with update

[le4ne]

I can recommend the ASUS Transformer, I'm loving mine!

 

However, I would agree with sted, wait for the Asus Prime which is due out later this month.

It looks very nice

[flyinghaggis]

I'm holding out until Amazon bring out the Kindle Fire in the UK as it sounds ideal for what i want it for. I'd like an android tablet to play with and for general web browsing on the sofa but dont really want to spend more than £200 as I don't think it's something I'd use all that often.

[GrumbleDook]

I've hear that the App LeiP Hone is quote good ....

 

On a serious note ... from the devices I have looked at the Transformer seems to be the best right now, but for those with a budget the AndyPad Pro seems to be a good choice. Kogan was getting some good news in the summer, but that seems to have gone quiet now ... not sure if anything new will happen there.

 

With a budget you might have to accept some limitations. This could be around the OS version you can move to or how much modding you want to do. Also think about the life expectancy ... how much do you think you will need to move to a later build and try to pick a device where you would be happy if, should the worst happen, you cannot upgrade / mod it. Once you make that choice some of the devices already fall by the wayside.

[enjay]

@titch that Vega is looking tempting, where did you get the refurb one from?

[enjay]

Not overly fussed about a long life expectancy - at £150, I could afford to change it every few years and it still wouldn't cost the same as an iPad or the Asus Transformer.

[enjay]

That AndyPro does look well specced for the money, but with that big white bezel, it is far from pretty...

[titch]

@titch that Vega is looking tempting, where did you get the refurb one from?

 

refurbished advent vega tablet £129.97 @ ebay (currys_pcworld) - HotUKDeals

[enjay]

You got instructions on how to hack that to 3.2?

What are Advent like for quality? I hear mixed reviews of them...

[titch]

You got instructions on how to hack that to 3.2?

What are Advent like for quality? I hear mixed reviews of them...

 

I would say the quality is good. Looks pretty slick and sturdy. Nice weight. Hardware wise its spot on, compares to all the big names speed wise (except for the new quad cores that are coming out). Dont expect it to feel as slick as ipad or galaxy tab but its defo a step up from the cheapo £100 chinese jobbies that float around. Took me 20 mins to change the rom using these instructions How to install vegacomb 3.2 advent vega - Android @ MoDaCo. So for £130 I have top spec tablet with the latest android software (not including ice cream sandwich). Again my one gripe is the viewing angle of the screen. But I can live with it.

[enjay]

Thanks Titch. What is wrong with the viewing angle?

[enjay]

Also, does the Advent one have the proper Android marketplace on it?