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[Ryne]

I'm still a junior, so sorry for high-jacking the thread a bit. I'm also in the market for a tablet/e-reader but for my girlfriend. I have a few options - the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kobo Arc 7HD.

I have asked her what she wanted and what her priorities are - reading is the most important, with the ability to listen to music and surf the web coming up second and third. She would prefer something she can hold easily, so I think 6 to 7" is the max.

What do you guys think about the options above, and is there any other ones that I could be missing?

 

[chickdigger802]

I'm still a junior, so sorry for high-jacking the thread a bit. I'm also in the market for a tablet/e-reader but for my girlfriend. I have a few options - the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kobo Arc 7HD.

I have asked her what she wanted and what her priorities are - reading is the most important, with the ability to listen to music and surf the web coming up second and third. She would prefer something she can hold easily, so I think 6 to 7" is the max.

What do you guys think about the options above, and is there any other ones that I could be missing?

nexus 7.

 

[Mook1e]

I agree with a lot of what you say, and even echoed your same thoughts in my thread. Especially about the need to contort the device in ways it wasn't necessarily intended for, to play Steam games and the like. The capability is awesome for those who want to do it and have the patience to plug in peripherals or configure GestureWorks, but if gaming is what's most important to you on a tablet, the iPad is obviously the way to go. I think Windows 8.1 tablets easily beat Android tablets in gaming though.


Parts of your post fall apart though. For example, I'm not sure what tablets you're referring to when discussing size and weight. All of the Windows 8.1 8" tablets come extremely close to the iPad Mini in dimensions and weight. It's like a .1lb difference, and that's mostly just because they're 16:9/16:10 instead of 4:3, so they're a tiny bit taller (yet still perfectly comfortable to hold long-term with one hand).

Not a "behemoth" at all, I really don't know which tablets you're directly comparing here. Are you sure you're not comparing the Nexus 7 to a 10.6" Surface? Other than the iPad Air, 10/11" Windows 8.1 tablets running either ARM or Bay Trail are almost the exact same size and weight of most Android tablets and the iPad 4.

Battery life is also not an issue like you claim. Yes, Desktop apps can run unhindered, but only when the device is actually actively being used. All Desktop apps are immediately suspended when you turn off the screen and the device goes into Connected Standby - only metro apps that utilize background tasks like phones/iPads/etc. do are allowed to run. The Dell Venue 8 Pro gets 7-10 days of standby life while still continuing to get email, IMs, Skype calls, etc. without issue. I know that's not nearly as good as an iPad, but it's a far cry from what you're describing too.



So while I completely agree with some of your sentiment, most of your post seems to be clouded by complete misunderstandings of the actual products available to buy now, how they compare to the competition, and especially when it comes to sizes and weight.

I can agree with you here. It sounds like he posted everything he thought the ipad air is best at to complain about the win 8.1 tablets without knowing how trivial most of the differences are.
Also, bluetooth controllers work really well with windows games and as I keep saying, I'm talking about older games as well. I don't use steam.

 

[Rokam]

Alright so I could use some help. I know jack shit about tablets, and my mom would like one for Christmas. She's looking for one in the 10-12" range, she'll just be using it around the house so don't need any plans will just be using the wireless. She'll mostly be using it for Facebook/Games/Internet, as she put it she wants something similar to her phone (Galaxy S3) but larger. $200 is what we're looking to spend which I know is kind of on the low side, but any help would be much appreciated.

 

[brain_stew]

Alright so I could use some help. I know jack shit about tablets, and my mom would like one for Christmas. She's looking for one in the 10-12" range, she'll just be using it around the house so don't need any plans will just be using the wireless. She'll mostly be using it for Facebook/Games/Internet, as she put it she wants something similar to her phone (Galaxy S3) but larger. $200 is what we're looking to spend which I know is kind of on the low side, but any help would be much appreciated.

Nook HD+ and you can flash cyanogenmod onto it, so that she gets a stock Android 4.2.2 experience. The performance (once upgraded to Cyanogenmod) is more than sufficient for your average user and she'll really appreciate the fantastic screen which wipes the floor with the displays in other sub $200 tablets. I've bought them for two relatives now and they really can't be beat for the price.

 

[Jag]

Nook HD+ and you can flash cyanogenmod onto it, so that she gets a stock Android 4.2.2 experience. The performance (once upgraded to Cyanogenmod) is more than sufficient for your average user and she'll really appreciate the fantastic screen which wipes the floor with the displays in other sub $200 tablets. I've bought them for two relatives now and they really can't be beat for the price.

Not sure about that for his mom. I've flashed Cyanogen for nook tablets and while they work ok, there is still some jankiness. I would suggest a cheaper tablet that runs full android out of the box.

 

[juliushandle]

Last year's Nexus 7 is probably your best bet. Also look into the Asus Memo HD 7, which is cheaper in quality and in price but has things like a microsd slot.

if you can budget up to $249 I'd suggest the Lenovo Yoga 8. Form factor is unique, useful, and the battery life can reach 20 hrs, double that of any tablet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z1jqGqaeQw

 

[NomarTyme]

I pre-ordered the Dell Venue Pro 11, so hopefully it arrives the 1st week of December. Full Windows 8 and USB 3.0 is a win for me.

 

[Vanillalite]

Except none of the tablets you are all recommending are in the 10-12" range.

 

[juliushandle]

Except none of the tablets you are all recommending are in the 10-12" range.

wait, at the $200 price range too? They'll all shit under $200.

 

[Mook1e]

I pre-ordered the Dell Venue Pro 11, so hopefully it arrives the 1st week of December. Full Windows 8 and USB 3.0 is a win for me.

Yeah, the Dell Venue Win 8 tablets look great to me. I need to heft them to see if I can put up with their added weight, though.

 

[dem]

Words can't describe how awesome real multitasking is on a tablet

I have an ipad.. but the surface is my new go to

The app store isn't there yet.. but is coming.

The only thing I miss is a real good podcast app.

 

[NomarTyme]

Yeah, the Dell Venue Win 8 tablets look great to me. I need to heft them to see if I can put up with their added weight, though.

Yeah hopefully Walmart will put up a display for it like the 8 inch version.

Words can't describe how awesome real multitasking is on a tablet

I have an ipad.. but the surface is my new go to

The app store isn't there yet.. but is coming.

The only thing I miss is a real good podcast app.

Yeah I can't wait to try it out on my new tablet.

 

[Winterfang]

Last year's Nexus 7 is probably your best bet. Also look into the Asus Memo HD 7, which is cheaper in quality and in price but has things like a microsd slot.

if you can budget up to $249 I'd suggest the Lenovo Yoga 8. Form factor is unique, useful, and the battery life can reach 20 hrs, double that of any tablet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z1jqGqaeQw

I can't watch the video but that's a good price. It comes with a keyboard right.

 

[NomarTyme]

Last year's Nexus 7 is probably your best bet. Also look into the Asus Memo HD 7, which is cheaper in quality and in price but has things like a microsd slot.

if you can budget up to $249 I'd suggest the Lenovo Yoga 8. Form factor is unique, useful, and the battery life can reach 20 hrs, double that of any tablet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z1jqGqaeQw

Pretty cool but the cpu it too weak for my liking. Battery life is a game changer though.

Also I look forward to the Lenovo thinkpad Tablets.

 

[tino]

Words can't describe how awesome real multitasking is on a tablet

I have an ipad.. but the surface is my new go to

The app store isn't there yet.. but is coming.

The only thing I miss is a real good podcast app.

If you have an android tablet, you can have the video float on top of the browser and not waste the black space.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Everything I'm reading about performance stuttering is giving me pause to buy this tablet at it's current price.
I'm still investigating end-user success in alleviating the stuttering.

Put nova launcher on it. I have one. It's bloody amazing. I'm icebergisonfire on XDA. I actually got mine earlier, on October 2 when launch date was October 10. All of the slowdown comes from the Samsung apps.

 

[Rokam]

Decided on the Nexus 7, now need to find a good case, any suggestions. She's going to be using it around the kitchen so screen protection is a must, if that type of thing exists.. Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[Ovid]

Decided on the Nexus 7, now need to find a good case, any suggestions. She's going to be using it around the kitchen so screen protection is a must, if that type of thing exists.. Any help would be great, thanks!

Nexus 7 is a great choice. I'm an iPad guy but the Nexus is great little tablet.

 

[kurtrussell]

OP - Out of your choices, Nexus 10 all the way.

If you pick up an iPad, you're just going to be left with an operating system that doesn't really innovate and just blindly copies everything that Android does, about 18 months too late.

I also hear that there are now more apps on the Play store than the Apple market. It's a bit of a no brainer really.

 

[Via Purifico]

If you have an android tablet, you can have the video float on top of the browser and not waste the black space.

You can do the same in w8 desktop mode. The thing that sets the metro multitasking apart is that it is a much more consistent experience, resizing two windows at the same time beats resizing them separately.

 

[Mook1e]

OP - Out of your choices, Nexus 10 all the way.

If you pick up an iPad, you're just going to be left with an operating system that doesn't really innovate and just blindly copies everything that Android does, about 18 months too late.

I also hear that there are now more apps on the Play store than the Apple market. It's a bit of a no brainer really.

My wife already has a Nexus 10 and we have about 10 Android devices in my home.
I'm leaning closer to the Windows 8.1 tablets now. If I were to go Android, it would be for one of the newer Snapdragon 800 tablets or the Nexus 10 reboot if one exists.

 

[Mook1e]

I can say, however, that the apparent embargo on Win 8.1 reviews is really getting annoying.

What is the deal?
My mother-in-law, who embodies the term neophyte with regards to technology, sent me a text asking about the Dell Venue 8 pro. If she's hearing the buzz, it's not insignificant.
Yet the major review sites are relatively quiet when it comes to these tablets (yes I've seen the few reviews of the Venue 8 pro.)

I haven't seen a full-fledged Venue 11 pro review or one for the HP Omni 10 anywhere.
The numerous complaints in the comment sections on cnet regarding this subject tell me I'm not alone or imagining things here.

 

[aznpxdd]

iPad Air is the only answer. The tablet ecosystem on iOS takes a big shit on others. The design and feel also trumps other 10 inchers.

 

[6.8]

Win 8.1 with an Atom CPU unless you want a boring ipad

 

[Mook1e]

iPad Air is the only answer. The tablet ecosystem on iOS takes a big shit on others. The design and feel also trumps other 10 inchers.

Except it only has 1gb of ram and i explicitly don't want reloading tabs when i browse.
I've tried it in the store and it sucks. I browse with multiple tabs and multi-task alot.
I have 10 tabs open right now and waiting for them to reload, not to mention having to pay for more data because of it when I'm traveling overseas is annoying and unnecessary.
If it weren't for that, I would totally agree.

 

[Deku Tree]

Except it only has 1gb of ram and i explicitly don't want reloading tabs when i browse.
I've tried it in the store and it sucks. I browse with multiple tabs and multi-task alot.
I have 10 tabs open right now and waiting for them to reload, not to mention having to pay for more data because of it when I'm traveling overseas is annoying and unnecessary.
If it weren't for that, I would totally agree.

Are you an international business dude? I guess you don't have to answer that.

But personally when I regularly travel abroad I turn off my Data on my iPhone. And I have a WiFi iPad Air. I only use internet when abroad over the numerous WiFi networks I encounter which all seem to allow unlimited data.

I would think that if I was some kind of international business person then the cost of the extra data on the go due to tabs reloading would be absolutely nominal especially compared to other costs.

 

[rrs]

Except it only has 1gb of ram and i explicitly don't want reloading tabs when i browse.
I've tried it in the store and it sucks. I browse with multiple tabs and multi-task alot.
I have 10 tabs open right now and waiting for them to reload, not to mention having to pay for more data because of it when I'm traveling overseas is annoying and unnecessary.
If it weren't for that, I would totally agree.

You can have more tabs open w/o reloading, but you would need to force clean out the RAM/programs with a program on Cydia - and no exploits to get it on the Air so far. I think you'll want a x86 powered Windows tablet.

Also from my own experience from a 12.5" screen laptop, the large screen is interesting to work with to say the least.

 

[kudoboi]

if you have disposable income, get the asus transformer book trio

its windows 8 and android in one laptop hybrid

 

[maeh2k]

I can say, however, that the apparent embargo on Win 8.1 reviews is really getting annoying.

What is the deal?
My mother-in-law, who embodies the term neophyte with regards to technology, sent me a text asking about the Dell Venue 8 pro. If she's hearing the buzz, it's not insignificant.
Yet the major review sites are relatively quiet when it comes to these tablets (yes I've seen the few reviews of the Venue 8 pro.)

I haven't seen a full-fledged Venue 11 pro review or one for the HP Omni 10 anywhere.
The numerous complaints in the comment sections on cnet regarding this subject tell me I'm not alone or imagining things here.

Fuck the major tech sites. Windows and the performance are pretty much the same on all new tablets.

For the Venue Pro 8 you can check out Paul Thurrott's articles on http://www.winsupersite.com. If you are looking for an 8" Windows tablet, it's a great choice.
For the Pro 8 and the Pro 11, you can get a pretty detailed impression over at http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/dell/. There's really a ton of activity on the Pro 8. The owners thread is already at 300+ pages. Even for the Pro 11 there's already a lot of information from owners.
There are a couple of Omni owners in the HP section, too.

Also, the Asus T100 and the Surface 2 would be good alternatives. I don't consider Windows RT a flaw, but a feature. It may not be full Windows, but does your mother-in-law really need it? RT also has advantages such as no malware and not being able to fuck it up by installing crap.

I don't think you can really go wrong with either of these and I doubt you'd regret going with one over another. Because of the OS and the similar performance there aren't that many differences between the devices.
I think the most important decision might be the screen size. Go with 8" for portability and comfortable (one-handed) reading or with 10" for browsing the web on the sofa?

 

[Mook1e]

Are you an international business dude? I guess you don't have to answer that.

But personally when I regularly travel abroad I turn off my Data on my iPhone. And I have a WiFi iPad Air. I only use internet when abroad over the numerous WiFi networks I encounter which all seem to allow unlimited data.

I would think that if I was some kind of international business person then the cost of the extra data on the go due to tabs reloading would be absolutely nominal especially compared to other costs.

Sure, something like that. But they don't have free wifi everywhere I travel and the tabs reloading would even be annoying over wifi. Sure, the cost isn't breaking my bank, but why put up with it?
I don't use alot of apps, either, so the app ecosystem isn't as important. It would be cool to be able to access the ios ecosystem, though, I agree.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

I got the Dell Venue 8, it's great, apart from speakers.

I am also getting a LG Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition.

 

[Mook1e]

Fuck the major tech sites. Windows and the performance are pretty much the same on all new tablets.

For the Venue Pro 8 you can check out Paul Thurrott's articles on http://www.winsupersite.com. If you are looking for an 8" Windows tablet, it's a great choice.
For the Pro 8 and the Pro 11, you can get a pretty detailed impression over at http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/dell/. There's really a ton of activity on the Pro 8. The owners thread is already at 300+ pages. Even for the Pro 11 there's already a lot of information from owners.
There are a couple of Omni owners in the HP section, too.

Also, the Asus T100 and the Surface 2 would be good alternatives. I don't consider Windows RT a flaw, but a feature. It may not be full Windows, but does your mother-in-law really need it? RT also has advantages such as no malware and not being able to fuck it up by installing crap.

I don't think you can really go wrong with either of these and I doubt you'd regret going with one over another. Because of the OS and the similar performance there aren't that many differences between the devices.
I think the most important decision might be the screen size. Go with 8" for portability and comfortable (one-handed) reading or with 10" for browsing the web on the sofa?

Thanks for the links. I'll check them out. I'm probably going to get the Venue 11 pro.

 

[TheGoddamn]

I bought my mother a T100 as an upgrade over her ~2009 Eee PC. In the week between my buying it and my giving it to her (I set up her Windows 8.1 and Office account, plus I can only go to the family home during the weekends), I started to want one for myself. And this is coming from someone with a Yoga 2 Pro, which is the best 13-inch convertible out there.

You can't exactly say no to that 12+ hour battery life, IPS screen, USB 3.0 (and OTG if you forego charging), micro-HDMI out, expandable memory, and included keyboard dock for USD 400. That's not even mentioning the sales prices that that thing gets.

With Atom finally coming into its own, I honestly see no point in Android and iOS tablets for the productive user. You've got Metro for consumption (and the entirety of Microsoft's computer software history-- including MPC, VLC, Sumatra, foobar, and all of them portable to boot) and real honest to goodness desktop programs for getting things done. You certainly can't run Photoshop, NotePad++, or SketchUp on a Nexus 10 or iPad. 1366 by 786 was (and unfortunately still is) a standard resolution for years for more reasons than affordability, and it's perfectly usable on a ten-inch screen.

 

[Mook1e]

So my wife was disappointed that she couldn't buy me a big present this year, but I'm glad I waited. These new Windows/Android Tablets coming and announced at CES as well the new convertibles with more RAM and options from Asus and Lenovo are looking awesome.
I'm thinking about getting the Lenovo Thinkpad 8 with the microsoft wedge keyboard.

I'm about to leave on a business trip in 2 weeks, otherwise I would wait and get one of the larger models which can run Android possibly with an i5.

Once I return from my trip, I'll have even more options and my Alienware is 2 years old, which is usually my excuse to get a new Laptop.