Recommendations for alternatives to the TouchPad

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dclegg

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#88760 23-Aug-2011 12:13

Now that the TouchPad fire sale has come and gone, and I was too slow to grab one, I'm wondering if there are any viable alternatives to consider for around the same price. Ideally I'd like to spend < $200. I know there are a lot of budget Android tablets out there, but I want one that has a reasonable build quality and won't be frustratingly unresponsive to use.

Also bear in mind that the tablet is an intended christmas present for my daughter, so one that doesn't require a degree in Geekology would also be appreciated.

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#510539 23-Aug-2011 12:32

It seems that the next best option is ..

nate

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#510586 23-Aug-2011 13:25

At that price point, my suggestion would be go second hand.

dclegg

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#510591 23-Aug-2011 13:28

nate: At that price point, my suggestion would be go second hand.

Thanks, but I'll pass on that. May have to either plan B it or up the budget. I'm hoping some of these TouchPads end up on TradeMe unopened and without ridiculous markups

bazzer

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#510605 23-Aug-2011 13:43

dclegg:
nate: At that price point, my suggestion would be go second hand.

Thanks, but I'll pass on that. May have to either plan B it or up the budget. I'm hoping some of these TouchPads end up on TradeMe unopened and without ridiculous markups

The market would decide I guess. Pretty lame to buy up just to throw on Trade Me but each to their own. I think a lot of people wouldn't pay more than the fire sale price so there might be a few cheap ones going. I wonder what these are really "worth". I'd like one, but I probably wouldn't pay more than $150-$200 I guess.

dclegg

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#510609 23-Aug-2011 13:47

bazzer:
The market would decide I guess. Pretty lame to buy up just to throw on Trade Me but each to their own. I think a lot of people wouldn't pay more than the fire sale price so there might be a few cheap ones going. I wonder what these are really "worth". I'd like one, but I probably wouldn't pay more than $150-$200 I guess.

Thats my thought too. Probably not more than $200 for the 16GB and $250 for the 32GB.

floydbloke

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#510702 23-Aug-2011 15:19

dclegg:
bazzer:
The market would decide I guess. Pretty lame to buy up just to throw on Trade Me but each to their own. I think a lot of people wouldn't pay more than the fire sale price so there might be a few cheap ones going. I wonder what these are really "worth". I'd like one, but I probably wouldn't pay more than $150-$200 I guess.

Thats my thought too. Probably not more than $200 for the 16GB and $250 for the 32GB.

My, what turned out to be a 'pre-order', went through on Acquire this morning at $210 for the 32GB but I ended up missing out with demand outstripping supply many-fold.
Not too fussed though, after subsequently reading reviews and articles about this gadget. Huge fail for HP, methinks some heads will roll. 3rd example of 'how to damage your brand in one easy step' in the last few weeks.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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dclegg

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#510705 23-Aug-2011 15:24

floydbloke:
Not too fussed though, after subsequently reading reviews and articles about this gadget. Huge fail for HP, methinks some heads will roll. 3rd example of 'how to damage your brand in one easy step' in the last few weeks.

The only reason I was interested in this product was the cheap price. At less than $200 I think its functionality failings can be looked at in a more favourable light.

floydbloke

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#510709 23-Aug-2011 15:28

dclegg: The only reason I was interested in this product was the cheap price. At less than $200 I think its functionality failings can be looked at in a more favourable light.

True, deep down I'm probably bitter and in denial

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

dclegg

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#510714 23-Aug-2011 15:31

floydbloke:
True, deep down I'm probably bitter and in denial

Its hard to be bitter when on the same day I missed out on a cheap TouchPad, I picked up a cheaper (free) iPad 2. Internet giveaways FTW! :-D

mattwnz

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#510749 23-Aug-2011 16:03

dclegg:
bazzer:
The market would decide I guess. Pretty lame to buy up just to throw on Trade Me but each to their own. I think a lot of people wouldn't pay more than the fire sale price so there might be a few cheap ones going. I wonder what these are really "worth". I'd like one, but I probably wouldn't pay more than $150-$200 I guess.

Thats my thought too. Probably not more than $200 for the 16GB and $250 for the 32GB.?

Yss but that wasn't a sustainable price, but a price to get rid of old stock. For the hardware HP may have been making a loss. The ipad I think is still the best value tablet, and isn't under powered like a lot of them.

tonyhughes

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#510751 23-Aug-2011 16:10

I have a Telecom Tab v9 (ZTE Light).

Its "okay".

Redeeming feature is a used prepaid SIM card that was in the box, that is still running 3G data 4 - 5 months later (every day), and I have *never* topped up. (Not sure whats going on there, but I have no reason to check it).

Worst feature is the resistive touch screen.

Best feature is how portable a 7" tablet is, especially with 3G built in, plus regular SMS, plus regular voice calling (with speakerphone, or wired/bluetooth headset).

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blakamin

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#510766 23-Aug-2011 16:31

dclegg:

The only reason I was interested in this product was the cheap price. At less than $200 I think its functionality failings can be looked at in a more favourable light.

That was the reason I was after one for my daughters birthday. Something she could read on (she's a big reader) and play angry birds etc.
The price got me interested and now I'm a bit disappointed as it would've made the perfect present. I should've just taken 30 mins off work.

Let me know if you find something somewhere.

dclegg

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#510774 23-Aug-2011 16:57

blakamin:
That was the reason I was after one for my daughters birthday. Something she could read on (she's a big reader) and play angry birds etc.
The price got me interested and now I'm a bit disappointed as it would've made the perfect present. I should've just taken 30 mins off work.

Let me know if you find something somewhere.

Yep. As I mentioned earlier, this was going to be a Christmas present for my daughter who has been lusting after an iPad (which she has no chance of getting :-)).

I'll be sure to let you know if I find any. I'd recommend bugging JB HiFi though, as they do have stock, but told me today that they're not allowed to sell it.

dclegg

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#511042 24-Aug-2011 10:38

One of the daily deals site has an Android 2.2 tablet on sale today. Does anyone have any input as to whether this would be a cheap and cheerful option for playing games and light web browsing, or would it be more in the cheap and nasty camp?

nate

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#511135 24-Aug-2011 12:04

dclegg: One of the daily deals site has an Android 2.2 tablet on sale today. Does anyone have any input as to whether this would be a cheap and cheerful option for playing games and light web browsing, or would it be more in the cheap and nasty camp?

Capacitive screen - avoid.

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