Good tablets around $200-250 ?

[Vmack]

Want to get a tablet that I can use to study/read notes/ebooks on while I'm on the bust to/from work and school since I'm riding 45 mins while away on a placement.

Ideally an 8" or bigger screen. The 7's seem too small to me.

Any suggestions? Preferably android, but will consider other OS. Not too sure on Windows as I have no experience with their newer stuff

Currently looking at the following:
Lenovo S8
http://shop.lenovo.com/ca/en/tablets/lenovo/s-series/s8/

Samsung Galaxy Tab (anything around 200-280 seems like its a few years old now)

Apple iPad Mini


Anything else/better? Figure with Black Friday/Cyber Monday, this is probably the best deal I'll find.

Also would obviously consider something much cheaper if its a good product

[Phihalo]

This:
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/samsung-galaxy-tab-4-8-16gb-android-44-tablet-with-12ghz-quad-core-processor-white/6000187603511

not too old, 240 included tax, can't go wrong. Ordered it on wednesday, delivery is next monday.:thumbsup:

[Mitsu3000gt]

The Nexus 7 (2013) is the easy choice in that price range but if 7" is too small, you have to look at lower-end tablets to keep your price range. This one is probably the best you can do for the price range IMO:

http://www.costco.ca/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-4-Wi-Fi-Tablet-%7c-Quad-Core-%7c-Kit-Kat.product.100119404.html

Reading is absolutely horrible on every tablet compared to an e-reader though, and vise versa (tablet activities are horrible on e-readers).

[jwslam]

If you're using it for reading, are the Kobo's supposed to be easier on the eyes?
http://www.amazon.ca/Kobo-Arc-Touchscreen-Colour-eReader/dp/B00ATGDU7A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1417191450&sr=8-5&keywords=kobo

[Vmack]

Originally posted by jwslam
If you're using it for reading, are the Kobo's supposed to be easier on the eyes?
http://www.amazon.ca/Kobo-Arc-Touchscreen-Colour-eReader/dp/B00ATGDU7A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1417191450&sr=8-5&keywords=kobo

How do the Kobo products work in regards to regular Tablets? Are they limited like the Kindle series?

[Vmack]

Originally posted by Phihalo
This:
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/samsung-galaxy-tab-4-8-16gb-android-44-tablet-with-12ghz-quad-core-processor-white/6000187603511

not too old, 240 included tax, can't go wrong. Ordered it on wednesday, delivery is next monday.:thumbsup:



Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
The Nexus 7 (2013) is the easy choice in that price range but if 7" is too small, you have to look at lower-end tablets to keep your price range. This one is probably the best you can do for the price range IMO:

http://www.costco.ca/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-4-Wi-Fi-Tablet-%7c-Quad-Core-%7c-Kit-Kat.product.100119404.html

Reading is absolutely horrible on every tablet compared to an e-reader though, and vise versa (tablet activities are horrible on e-readers).

Considering both of those. Wish there was a tablet that functioned well as an e-reader and as a tablet

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Vmack


Considering both of those. Wish there was a tablet that functioned well as an e-reader and as a tablet

Sadly there isn't one, however you could grab that tablet from Costco and then grab this deal for $99:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/black-friday/ereading?ref=shop%3ahome%3ahome-main%3ahome-sb4%3aB4

[Vmack]

my Walmart apparently has stock on iPad mini's, the regular non-retina. Its $230 + $20 gift card. would that be worth doing? I don't know much about them, but figure app-wise has to be similar if not lots more than android.

I'm not gonna be doing custom ROM's or rooting. At least not planning to right now

[bulaian]

Originally posted by Vmack
my Walmart apparently has stock on iPad mini's, the regular non-retina. Its $230 + $20 gift card. would that be worth doing? I don't know much about them, but figure app-wise has to be similar if not lots more than android.

I'm not gonna be doing custom ROM's or rooting. At least not planning to right now

That first gen iPad mini is kinda slow and dated vs tablets out today.

Resolution is 1024 x768 and 512 MB of ram. they are upgradeable to the newest OS however and will have access to all the apps for iOS

[bulaian]

If you have an American friend or somewhere to ship to south of the border, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4" is on sale down there for $200, normally $300

In Canada, it's currently on sale for $300, regularly $420
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_Pro_8.4

2560x1600 resolution, 2 GB RAM, 2.3 GHx quad core processor

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Vmack
my Walmart apparently has stock on iPad mini's, the regular non-retina. Its $230 + $20 gift card. would that be worth doing? I don't know much about them, but figure app-wise has to be similar if not lots more than android.

I'm not gonna be doing custom ROM's or rooting. At least not planning to right now

The original iPad mini is pretty bad, you can do better. I wouldn't bother with one of those at all. Has 1/4 or 1/6 of the RAM as everything else, crappy screen, and it's just quite weak overall. I can't believe they are still asking $230 for that thing. The Mini 2 Retina is *way* better for not a whole lot more if you like iPads.

[Vmack]

Originally posted by bulaian
If you have an American friend or somewhere to ship to south of the border, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4" is on sale down there for $200, normally $300

In Canada, it's currently on sale for $300, regularly $420
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_Pro_8.4

2560x1600 resolution, 2 GB RAM, 2.3 GHx quad core processor
very enticing, I'll see if any of my fam down south might be willing to take the shipment for me

is that from best buy?

[Vmack]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/121501393719?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

might pull the trigger on this one. even if it is a return/refurb. probably the best i'll come across for the price

[bulaian]

Originally posted by Vmack

very enticing, I'll see if any of my fam down south might be willing to take the shipment for me

is that from best buy?

Yes it's on bestbuy.com (US) right now.

Probably the best tablet specs, for the price right now

[Xtrema]

Beware of cheap tablets unless you know you can put in your own rom on it and keep it secured.

http://bgr.com/2014/11/26/cheap-black-friday-android-tablets/


Always big fan of Nexus line but 2014 products are 1" too big for my taste. Both phone and tablet.

Bought gf a Tab Pro and it's excellent all around except battery life. But still no fan of all the Samsung bloatware.

If I remember the Tab line correctly, Tab Pro > Tab S > Tab 4 in term of newest to oldest.

[Tik-Tok]

I made the same thread 6 months ago, lol. I ended up with an Asus memopad 8 for $200. It's not awesome, and pales in comparison to my wifes iPad mini 2 (retina), but works quite well.

For reading ebooks, I found it too bright, but installed "screen filter" app, which dims it even lower than.

[Vmack]

I ended up buying the Lenovo S8. Was on sale for 170$. Hoping for the best

[project240]

Can anybody recommend a good tablet that is capable of video screen capture?

[jwslam]

Originally posted by project240
Can anybody recommend a good tablet that is capable of video screen capture?
I'd bet you could just screenshot like on any android with power+vol down though I've never tried it...

tried just now: works on Nexus 5 with youtube

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Beware of cheap tablets unless you know you can put in your own rom on it and keep it secured.

http://bgr.com/2014/11/26/cheap-black-friday-android-tablets/


Always big fan of Nexus line but 2014 products are 1" too big for my taste. Both phone and tablet.

Bought gf a Tab Pro and it's excellent all around except battery life. But still no fan of all the Samsung bloatware.

If I remember the Tab line correctly, Tab Pro > Tab S > Tab 4 in term of newest to oldest.

The "S" is above "Pro" as far as Samsung tablets go. The "S" models are all the latest flagships with by far the best screens.

[Kobe]

This is on sale for $199 right now.. $200 off..

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/kobo-kobo-arc-10-1-16gb-android-4-2-2-tablet-with-nvidia-t40s-processor-black-kobo-arc-10-hd-16gb/10271008.aspx?path=39f10241c6fe53844327275c623aed38en02


I don't know what the fuck I'll use it for if I buy it but seems like a really good deal? thoughts?

[Xtrema]

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/best-buy-199-kobo-arc-10hd-10-1-16gb-android-4-2-2-tablet-1600779/


Great screen resolution and price. However, the problem is the lack of software support. No custom ROMS, no KitKat and now the late system update has blocked rooting. Kobo heavily skinned the OS, so it will slow down.

Buy it for the hardware. Software development is at a dead end.

I have not look deep enough on custom roms but if this can't go on to 4.3 or 4.4, you have no trim and you get 1 year tops on usage before the tablet is slowed to a crawl.

[Kobe]

also realized you can't put a micro SD card into it, going to pass...

thanks

[jav_]

does anyone have experiences with Chinese tablets like xiaomi, onda, teclast etc.?