Parents need tablet

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nedkelly

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#116280 23-Apr-2013 22:50

So my parents currently have this cheap and nasty android tablet that they got from Grabone that drive them and me up the wall.
They need just a basic tablet but need a micro sd slot so i am looking at maybe this one from The Warehouse http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Nextbook-7-Inch-Premium-Android-4.0-Tablet-7SE-4GB?SKU=1682424

Has anyone bought one or know someone who has one?

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#804614 23-Apr-2013 22:55

Save yourself and them the trouble and buy a decent brand name tablet. If they don't have an SD slot then get an USB adaptor. We have one for our ipad and one for our galaxy tab.

nedkelly

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#804620 23-Apr-2013 23:11

They dont want to spend that much on one though, I also came across this one.
http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Acer-7-Inch-Android-4.1-Tablet-8GB?SKU=1688025

Regs

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Snowflake

#804627 23-Apr-2013 23:32

I get my family and friends to buy iPads - I don't own one, and that way I don't have to support them myself. :)

also, you often get what you pay for. I'm not sure i'd trust a $200 android tablet to be a thing of lasting beauty...

PB Tech have the iPad mini starting at $477 - and a little cheaper on their sale days.

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nzgeek

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#804630 23-Apr-2013 23:44

If you really wanted to buy from The Warehouse, I'd probably say to look at this model: http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Vonino-Speedstar-S-Android-4.1-Jellybean-Tablet?SKU=1686003

The main things you need to look for are at least a dual-core CPU, a minimum of 1GB RAM (this is NOT the same as the storage space!) and a decent resolution screen. This will ensure that apps run smoothly enough that most people won't have a problem.

Personally, I'd recommend shelling out a bit more and looking at a 32GB Nexus 7. These are currently seeking for about $400 at JB HiFi. The onboard storage is big enough that you shouldn't need to add more, and you can use an adapter if you need it. Being a Nexus, it will get the latest OS updates, which helps to keep it protected.

gregor393

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#804645 24-Apr-2013 05:52

I've recently bought a 16gb Nexus 7. ($400 at DSE) It is so superior to a $100 piece of junk that I bought from 1-day that I can't believe they're related at all. The Nexus is fast and reliable, keyboard input is easy - I could go on but you get the picture.

tchart

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#804649 24-Apr-2013 06:51

gregor393: I've recently bought a 16gb Nexus 7. ($400 at DSE) It is so superior to a $100 piece of junk that I bought from 1-day that I can't believe they're related at all. The Nexus is fast and reliable, keyboard input is easy - I could go on but you get the picture.

This!

We went through a few cheap Android tablets and phones. Once you get a decent one you wont look back. Nexus 7 is definitely a good choice. My son has one and its even better than my galaxy tab.

Like others have said dual core at least. That new asus is attractive but doesn't stack up performance wise to the nexus.

jeffnz

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#804652 24-Apr-2013 07:20

you are basically going from one piece of junk to another so whilst it may sound cheap in the long run its false economy.

I agree with nexus 7 its quite a bit of kit for the price and gets good quick updates and supported well.

If you want long term go for Ipad although expensive its top of line still although android isn't far off the pace.

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vexxxboy

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#804659 24-Apr-2013 07:44

for a cheap one try an Aionol there are a few models , most have Specs equal or better than the nexus and are reliable and cheap and this company is reliable and quick delivery.

http://www.mp4nation.net/tablets-phones/ainol-tablets/ainol-novo-7-crystal-ii-quad-core-7-hd-screen-android-4-1-tablet-8gb-black

http://www.mp4nation.net/tablets-phones/ainol-tablets/ainol-novo-9-spark-9-7-retina-capacitive-screen-android-4-1-quad-core-bluetooth-16gb-black

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NonprayingMantis

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#804666 24-Apr-2013 07:58

Just to echo what everyone else has already said. Wshell out and buy a better one. A nexus 7 is pretty cheap now, as are ipad minis. And I say that not as some android or apple fanboy who wants the best technology no matter what, I say it as somebody who once owned a crummy cheapo tablet and got so intensely frustrated at the experience. The specs are usually pretty good, but the experience is terrible because the build quality is so poor. The touch screen is not responsive, they crash regularly etc

gzt

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#804712 24-Apr-2013 09:06

Bear in mind with iPad you get approx five years worth of operating system and security updates, so you can use most of the latest apps from the app store and you really will get five years use out of it.

Compare that to trying to get the latest OS and updates for an Android device. You are lucky if you get one major version and even minor update delivery is hit and miss.

When you add the high resale value of iDevices - after purchasing the first device any subsequent hardware upgrades cost about the same as a mid-range android.

Apple is extremely restrictive the way users are locked into the Apple device management system but if that is not an issue it makes a lot of sense.

nzgeek

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#804729 24-Apr-2013 09:25

gzt: Bear in mind with iPad you get approx five years worth of operating system and security updates, so you can use most of the latest apps from the app store and you really will get five years use out of it.

Compare that to trying to get the latest OS and updates for an Android device. You are lucky if you get one major version and even minor update delivery is hit and miss.

You're right about this, except when it comes to the Nexus devices. These always get the latest updates (so long add the hardware is capable of running it), and they get the updates fairly quickly (usually within a few weeks of a new Android version coming out). It's about as close to the iDevice experience as you've likely to get.

tchart

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#804735 24-Apr-2013 09:38

Another thing to add...

Im an Android Fan. I have a Galaxy Tab, my son has a Nexus 7. My wife on the other hand likes her iPhone, iPad (2 + mini).

Thats said a few things you should take into account;

1) I don't have to operate as a help desk for my wife. Shes a whizz on her Apple devices.
2) As gzt said, Apple devices have good resale value and good OS upgrades.
3) External device support. We recently bought a wireless printer. Support from Apple devices was amazing - the wife was up and running in less than a minute. For my tablet I had to download the Brother App first only to find out printing support is hit and miss. Printing works by using the "Share" function in Android and guess what, there's not Share button on the stock Email app. So I cant print emails! Go figure.

macuser

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#804739 24-Apr-2013 09:52

iPad, iPad, iPad.

I would recommend a Windows 8 convertible tablet but then I figure it would actually just end in disaster. 1000 tool bars in IE and at least 5 'your trial has expired' pop ups on boot after a year with the folks.

tdgeek

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#804740 24-Apr-2013 09:54

tchart: Save yourself and them the trouble and buy a decent brand name tablet. If they don't have an SD slot then get an USB adaptor. We have one for our ipad and one for our galaxy tab.

Can you please clarify how you use the USB adaptor on the iPad? I understood that you can only use the Camera Kit, and that is just for importing photo/video from an SD card or camera?

gzt

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#804743 24-Apr-2013 09:57

nzgeek:
gzt: Bear in mind with iPad you get approx five years worth of operating system and security updates, so you can use most of the latest apps from the app store and you really will get five years use out of it.

Compare that to trying to get the latest OS and updates for an Android device. You are lucky if you get one major version and even minor update delivery is hit and miss.

You're right about this, except when it comes to the Nexus devices. These always get the latest updates (so long add the hardware is capable of running it), and they get the updates fairly quickly (usually within a few weeks of a new Android version coming out). It's about as close to the iDevice experience as you've likely to get.

Well yes, but the literal translation of "so long as the hardware is capable of running it" is "when Google decides it is not financially rewarding to backport it".

If you compare the actual length of time the devices are provided with updates and major versions:

- Apple: Around five years if you buy the latest model.
- Nexus: Around two if you are lucky.

Five years is just a historical fact. There are no guarantees there. But, Apple did support PowerPC for around five years after they switched to Intel architecture and that is a good sign. I would guess similar support if they switched iPhone/iPad architecture, to keep the ecosystem running.

For features and many other reasons I agree there is no reason to buy Apple and several against, but resale value and long term support life are not members of that list.

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