Are the cheap Android 4 tablets OK or junk?

Forums › Android › Are the cheap Android 4 tablets OK or junk?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

2983 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 135

ID Verified

#721487 22-Nov-2012 18:11

look at ainol tablets, probably looking at $200 or less for better specs.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Dinx99

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#724661 29-Nov-2012 13:41

I was thinking the Paper Plus Zeus Octavo looked pretty good compared with the Warehouse 7" Vigo, much better for same price.

I've got a Vigo but as soon as I find a replacement I'm returning it, its got a faulty charger, only charges if in just the right postion which means I can't use when charging and has pretty short battery life. Better specs look good especially screen res for reading on the net etc.

Was googling last night and it looks pretty similar to a Ramos W17 or maybe Ramos W19 rebadged.

I know its quite likely to have faults on cheap chinese tablets which is why if I buy local I can push a bit more for an exchange or replacement/refund if that happens, it will be my only tablet on a budget so I don't want to be without any while I send it back overseas if faulty.

Its harder to ignore a customer when they are standing in your store being vocal ;-)

vexxxboy

4339 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2075

#724671 29-Nov-2012 14:07

the ainol 2 seem to be very hard to find at the moment, must sellers say sold out so not sure what is happening

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Handsomedan

7770 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7408

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#724783 29-Nov-2012 17:54

vexxxboy: the ainol 2 seem to be very hard to find at the moment, must sellers say sold out so not sure what is happening

It would appear that there is plenty of love for the ainol.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

SteveC

stevec
489 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 95

Lifetime subscriber

#733351 17-Dec-2012 08:24

Anyone had a serious look at, or even bought, a Paper Plus Zeus Octavo yet? My partner is considering one for reading books (Kobo - philosophical objection to Kindle because of Amazon's DRM things), with the option of lots of Android Apps.

skewt

752 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 215

#733354 17-Dec-2012 08:40

I received a 'Ployer Momo7' last week from McBub (I had ordered an Ainol but they weren't coming back into stock)

It's a pretty nice tablet for $150NZD
Dual core 1.6GHz CPU
Quad core GPU
1GB Ram
16GB Memory
HDMI
Thin and light
Nice Build Quality
IPS Screen

Puts my Quad Core CPU/GPU Sanei N10 to shame, but that really needs a firmware update, they are being slow releasing it

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

skewt

752 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 215

#733365 17-Dec-2012 09:05

SteveC: Anyone had a serious look at, or even bought, a Paper Plus Zeus Octavo yet? My partner is considering one for reading books (Kobo - philosophical objection to Kindle because of Amazon's DRM things), with the option of lots of Android Apps.

Haven't seen them but they are apparently the same as a Ramos W19 2.0 but with extra RAM so you might find more details on that model

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#733366 17-Dec-2012 09:06

I'm interested in the Paper Plus Zeus Octavo also. Looks to have a high res screen and ticks all the other major requirements I have. Currently $199 too. Plus it has some physical buttons which I personally quite like...

Dinx99

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#733413 17-Dec-2012 10:20

SteveC: Anyone had a serious look at, or even bought, a Paper Plus Zeus Octavo yet? My partner is considering one for reading books (Kobo - philosophical objection to Kindle because of Amazon's DRM things), with the option of lots of Android Apps.

I think as with any backlit tablet, it will be a bit more straining on the eyes for long periods of reading compared to the black/white ereader ink style screens. But then again I don't read for hours on end and prefer something android with more flexibility.

I'd suggest first having a play with a similar budget tablet somewhere like the Warehouse (usually the music bar has one you can look at), then go ask to handle the Octavo one and see what you think. It seems fine to me but I do wonder what they are going to be like with returns and warranty issues etc? My local owner operator store are crap even with just gift cards and lie about why they wont scan....long story but I don't trust them. If I buy one it wont be from that branch.

timmmay

20859 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#733441 17-Dec-2012 11:15

I have a good tablet and I'm about to get an e reader. Tablets are really heavy to hold in one position for a long time, screens are too shiny to use in the sun both because they're not bright enough and because they reflect.

For reading a e reader is far preferable. I'll get a kindle as I've used my partners and it works fine, but the Kobo is apparently good, there are models comparable with the latest kindle.

vexxxboy

4339 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2075

#733449 17-Dec-2012 11:35

timmmay: I have a good tablet and I'm about to get an e reader. Tablets are really heavy to hold in one position for a long time, screens are too shiny to use in the sun both because they're not bright enough and because they reflect.

For reading a e reader is far preferable. I'll get a kindle as I've used my partners and it works fine, but the Kobo is apparently good, there are models comparable with the latest kindle.

sorry off topic but have a look at the sony ereader , Bond and bond have it on special for $179, $50 off, from Wednesday the 19th and it gets good reviews.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#733450 17-Dec-2012 11:35

Yeah if you're after a device honestly for reading primarily then you really should be looking at a dedicated e ink reader. They have no back lighting and matt screens, just like a book essentially.

If you're after access to the Android apps, such as angry birds, google maps and web pages etc then you're into backlit tablet territory. They really are two different beasts.

timmmay

20859 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#733454 17-Dec-2012 11:41

vexxxboy: sorry off topic but have a look at the sony ereader , Bond and bond have it on special for $179, $50 off, from Wednesday the 19th and it gets good reviews.

Xmas present request was lodged with my gf a couple of months ago. I read around and decided the kindle paperwhite was for me.

Jaxson: Yeah if you're after a device honestly for reading primarily then you really should be looking at a dedicated e ink reader. They have no back lighting and matt screens, just like a book essentially.

If you're after access to the Android apps, such as angry birds, google maps and web pages etc then you're into backlit tablet territory. They really are two different beasts.

The new paperwhite has a LED built in, for reading at night.

neilinnz

165 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#734055 18-Dec-2012 06:45

SteveC: Anyone had a serious look at, or even bought, a Paper Plus Zeus Octavo yet? My partner is considering one for reading books (Kobo - philosophical objection to Kindle because of Amazon's DRM things), with the option of lots of Android Apps.

I picked up one of these yesterday (as a present for the in-laws) so here's a quick review...

I come from an iPad background and this is the first Android tablet I've really used. The device is slightly heavier than it looks. it has a glass screen which on full brightness looks good but doesn't have a great viewing angle. Having a smaller bezel helps with the screen real estate.
The Wifi on it is poor, where I get full signal on the iPad I barely get a signal on the Zeus and this makes a big difference to using it. Everything seems to run a lot slower when the wifi signal is poor, moving to a better signal improved the experience a lot.
Google play works great and I managed to install loads of apps without any problem. Two apps installed directly from Google play do not work though, Chrome browser and YouTube! Chrome just hangs, and YouTube just says it's Stopped whenever you try and use it. The Android browser doesn't seem too bad and it did sync my Chrome bookmarks so that's not a deal breaker - however because it's crippled in the same way as the iPad in having no Adobe Flash, the YouTube app is very useful. After a bit of research I managed to find an older version of the app and had to change my security settings in order to install it - not a great user experience and something which definitely should not be required on a brand new device and with Googles own software!! The older version does work though and YouTube is fixed.
Other software like Google Current, Gmail, Google Drive, Path, Facebook etc. all work good, I've not tried Skype yet. Videos play OK although I've not tried any 1080p stuff.
All in all this is not a bad device, it's no where near as responsive as an iPad but then it's no where near the cost of an iPad. Sometimes when typing on the keyboard it will appear to have missed a key so you press it again and then it catches up with itself and you get two key presses. That said, at $199 and less than half price of the cheapest iPad it's probably worth the money.
If you only have $199 to spend it's a great deal.

Sorry I cannot compare it to any other Android devices.

SteveC

stevec
489 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 95

Lifetime subscriber

#734066 18-Dec-2012 07:57

neilinnz:All in all this is not a bad device, it's no where near as responsive as an iPad but then it's no where near the cost of an iPad.

Thanks for your excellent summary of your OOBX (Out Of the Box eXperience). This certainly looks like a good machine for my partner. We do have Android experience, so will see what we can add to your summary when she has hers. Have you tried Opera, Dolphin, or Firefox browsers? My personal favourite on my ASUS Transformer is Firefox, but sometimes I have to try a site on all five (these three plus Android Browser and Chrome) before I decide which works best. Android world is different to Appleville.
Could you give a brief summary of how to get YouTube going please?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12