CHEAP Tablet Options

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tdgeek

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#138007 16-Dec-2013 19:59

My daughters solo mother friend would like to buy a tablet for her boy, has to be cheap.

I recall a while back there were cheap Android tablets but some could not access Play Store, IIRC the issue was they were made in China for China, and then imported.

If she buys at a regular store here, aka Warehouse etc, will there or could there be any Play Store problems?

Tks all

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#953306 16-Dec-2013 20:19

Shouldn't be any issues with accessing the play store if it's not from an importer. However low end cheap android devices are usually terrible and not worth bothering with.

Bananabob

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#953308 16-Dec-2013 20:19

I bought a cheap tablet from Warehouse Stationery some time ago and yes it was able to access the play store. You can check the tablet in store to see if it is ok. (well you could the last time I looked).

SATTV

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#953311 16-Dec-2013 20:21

I bought one for about $80 from PB Tech and it is not worth the time, you need to get one worth a few hundred dollars or so.
John

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tdgeek

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#953326 16-Dec-2013 21:01

SATTV: I bought one for about $80 from PB Tech and it is not worth the time, you need to get one worth a few hundred dollars or so.
John

Yes, I appreciate that, but if it works ok, and used by a child, and can access the Play Store, it would be fit for for purpose I feel. I assume the child is around 5 to 9 years of age. Basically, a toy, but better than the do 5 things toy tablets that are seen at toy stores. Workable SATTV in your opinion?

nathan

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#953336 16-Dec-2013 21:20

in this category of low cost tablets, you basically get what you pay for

maybe take her into a shop and have a play with a few

I bought a cheap one to have a look recently and its pretty crap, but I totally understand why people are buying these things. Because they're cheap and its still a "tablet"

SATTV

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#953359 16-Dec-2013 21:43

It is a good idea to try them first, mine slowed down after a day or two when several apps updated.
I tried to load a couple of games, the connect four game take about 3 seconds from toughing the screen until something happens, typing an email is almost impossible and I tried to load a decent game and it wont run, it loads kind of but wont run.
Buying a cheap tablet will be a disappointment,

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mattwnz

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#953362 16-Dec-2013 21:58

tdgeek:
SATTV: I bought one for about $80 from PB Tech and it is not worth the time, you need to get one worth a few hundred dollars or so.
John

Yes, I appreciate that, but if it works ok, and used by a child, and can access the Play Store, it would be fit for for purpose I feel. I assume the child is around 5 to 9 years of age. Basically, a toy, but better than the do 5 things toy tablets that are seen at toy stores. Workable SATTV in your opinion?

I suspect there will be some good deals on tablets in the boxing day sales. Tablets are the must have Xmas present this year so the good ones are still pricey.

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tdgeek

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#953383 16-Dec-2013 22:21

Tks for feedback, appreciated

Hows this, Nextbook. I've heard of it on GZ I think

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Nextbook-7-Inch-Premium-Android-Tablet-7SE-8GB-M757ND?SKU=1718122

mattwnz

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#953390 16-Dec-2013 22:44

tdgeek: Tks for feedback, appreciated

Hows this, Nextbook. I've heard of it on GZ I think

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Nextbook-7-Inch-Premium-Android-Tablet-7SE-8GB-M757ND?SKU=1718122

They were sold out at my local warehouse so couldn't try one out. But if I was going for an android tablet, I would probably stick to the teir one brands like samsung, as they should be supported for longer, and the build quality should be better. The cheapest ones tend to use old outdated versions of android, with poor quality screens both poor veiwing angles and screen resolution, and poor battery life.

Archer77

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#953508 17-Dec-2013 09:24

I bought one of the cheap 7" Newsmy tablets from PB tech for $69+gst. My experience is quite poor (same as other posts here). It is basically unusable due to how slow it is, and all I wanted it for was web browsing. I've got some young children so was planning to give it to them, but even then it'll still be difficult for them to play games with the extreme lag. I should have bought an Asus memopad or something (branded but cheap), I think they are $188 in the shops.

I had also previously bought a 7" tablet from the Warehouse (ordered online). It seemed okay except for the fact it was used, had a few apps installed including someone's saved games and stuff (yes it was meant to be a new unit).

1101

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#953752 17-Dec-2013 14:25

SATTV: I bought one for about $80 from PB Tech and it is not worth the time, you need to get one worth a few hundred dollars or so.
John

I bough a APAD from PBTech
Google Play store didnt work out of the box, I had to find a 'fix' for that
The screen was pretty bad, even sitting next to a sunny window it would be almost unreadable.
Was OK away from bright windows, the screen wasnt very bright.
Other than that, it was usuable if patient, too slow for most newer games though. Even angry birds it struggled with.

I now have a Samsung tablet. Its a thing of beauty in comparison.
Good tablets are more than you want to pay though, so recommending a $300 Tab isnt much help.
:-)

Oblivian

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#953755 17-Dec-2013 14:35

Incase anyone was wondering

https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1727131?hl=en

Anything else is either manually loaded store APKs (much like you do with cyanogenmod) or hacked to bits to make it work, but some apps will reject (like ones that rely on certified google API etc)

BigMal

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#954030 18-Dec-2013 07:41

If I was short on funds I'd go for a used 2012 Nexus 7 off Amazon. For me they're better than those other chinese imports.

jonolynn

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#954040 18-Dec-2013 08:20

I managed to pickup a 2012 Nexus 7 off TradeMe on the weekend for $180. I am very happy with my purchase, running stock Android 4.4. Even got the box and receipt.

Batman

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#954074 18-Dec-2013 09:17

Bsiacally if u get a cheap tablet it must have thee otherwise don't bother

1) ram
2) storage
3) dual core if possible

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