Cheap Tablet

smspencer

Looking for a cheap tablet. Has anyone got any recommendations please?

I just can't see what's wrong with this one - http://www.retailgadgets.co.uk/SA8-Android-2.3-Tablet-1.0GHz-Samsung-A8-Cortex-Processor.html - seems a good enough spec??

Thanks in advance.

Hammyman

Android 2.3 is a mobile phone OS. 3.0 and 4.0 are more geared to tablets.

Myser

I hear Paracetamol is cheaply available these days!

(Sorry, couldn't resist:rotfl:.)

smspencer

Paracetamol lol :-D

I can't afford anything with Android 3, Hammyman. I know that Android 4 is just round the corner too :-\ Aren't they all updateable then? I know my htc sensation is meant to be getting the Android 4 update - aren't tablets the same?

I know what you mean about Android 2 being geared to phones but i did look at an Advent Vega today - looked good and not phone-ish at all. Out of my price range though :-( And the htc tablet which is presumably android 3 did seem just like a big phone.

The only thing that's half decent that I can afford seems to be the Archos 101. But that's the android 2 version, not the newer gen9 one, which again, is out of my price range :-(

Myser

Apologies for the previous post - on a serious note:

Modern tablets are just nowhere as good as iPads. The touch sensitivity and scrolling on an iPad is very slick. Not that I'm trying to sell them - far too expensive for me!

I think it's better to wait for the next generation of Android OS which may be smoother.

If you compare various tablets in stores, you'll soon find that the scrolling and use of Android based ones isn't as smooth as an iPad.

I think they still have a long way to go to compete.

My advice would be to wait until Android 4 is out. I know it's tempting to own a tablet PC with all the hype at the moment. I would like one too but I think I'll wait until the Android OS is a bit more refined for tablet PCs.

MonkeySaving?

Myser wrote: »

Modern tablets are just nowhere as good as iPads.

LOL, because iPads don't run a phone OS at all do they :rotfl:

To the OP, look for an "Advent Vega" which can be had on ebay for less than the price of the A8 cortex. Then you can install Honeycomb 3.0 (dedicated tablet OS) on it, it's a dual core tegra tablet like the Asus Transformer/Tab 10.1

jaydeeuk1

Go for one of these

http://www.futeko.com/products/TAB006.php

£119 - good for the cash. Will get ICS soon too. Only downside is resolution imo

Myser

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Go for one of these

http://www.futeko.com/products/TAB006.php

£119 - good for the cash. Will get ICS soon too. Only downside is resolution imo

That looks like a great product - they also seem to be releasing firmware upgrades fairly often too! Good support and a large user community.

paddyrg

Be aware a cheap tablet will not 'be' an iPad - many people expect they'll get the same experience for £150 as for £700, so just bear that in mind. You'll get better value, certainly, but it won't be a premium unit at the price :-)

smspencer

Thanks so much, guys, for your help. I'm aware that I'm not going to get an iPad for the money I have to spend, but I just want to be sure that I'm getting the best I can.

Thanks for the link, jaydeeuk1 - would have been perfect but I really want a 10" rather than a 7" :-( Can you find me a link for a 10" now please :A

Monkeysaving - yes, the Advent Vega I really like - I liked it today when I was looking in Currys. How would I get Android 3 onto it though? It's all so complicated. Are some updateable and some not then?

MonkeySaving?

They are all updateable, and the upgrade is very straightforward assuming you follow the instructions in the right order. If you buy one drop me a PM and I'll show you how to do it.