Tablet PC best buys?

[Deleted User]

I've done a lot of research on this topic so I'll post my results here - hope it helps.

I originally had a Motorola Xoom which was great but then it died and as there was no replacement I got my money refunded. It cost £330 at Christmas but then I decided I didn't want to spend that much now. (On the other hand Argos is now selling them for £250 - an absolute bargain for a fantastic tablet pc - it also has GPS and a great camera). I recently bought a Scroll Extreme from Ebuyer but had problems with 3 screens!! And it wouldn't do iplayer without stuttering. Got a refund!

Be aware that all tablet brands seem to have more build issues than any device I've ever bought cos they are made in China and unlike PCs seem to be hugely variable in build quality. Apple is a different story but I discounted the ipad originally cos you can't use a Flash card and I can't stand iTunes (I've got an Ipod) and it was so much more expensive if you want 32GB.

The Argos £250 Motorla Xoom seems to me to be a bargain if you want the 10.1 size screen.

However I've finally decided on the 7 inch format because of its portability and the fact they are cheaper.

My basic must haves are:

• Android 4.03
• Capacitive Touchscreen (NOT resistive)
• Wifi 802.11 b/g/n (not 802.11 b/g/)
• Minimum 1. GHz processor. (Dual Core is the best)
• Flash card slot
• Optimised for Skype and Iplayer (must say so in the description) Good specs doesn't mean that it will run Iplayer.
• Purchased from a UK supplier.
• IPS screen if possible (same as Apple)

They all seem to be using similar hardware: Cortex A8 Arm processor

Don't bother buying anything that does not have Android 4.03 which is designed for tablet pcs. The other versions are really designed for phones.

The main problem for a us is that you can't find most tablets in the shops which only sell big brands. The exception being Archos. I haven't actually seen any of the following list!! Just relying on user feedback, youtube video reviews and common sense.

No 1 is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (beware of all the confusing model numbers) sold online by Carphonewarehouse for £200. Unfortunately I haven't actually been able to find one in the shops!! This tablet comes with GPS and Bluetooth which none of the cheaper tablets has plus an Infrared port for controlling your TV. You can also stream music from it. All those pluses make it best of the bunch - and the fact that you have the assurance of a brand name and solid support and you can easily take it back if it goes wrong.

No 2 for me has to be the HYUNDAI A7HD from Ebay for £137. Nice and sleek looking, smaller dimensions than most, and it has an IPS screen.

All Winner A10, 1.5 GHz
Video: Mali 400 GPU
RAM: 1GB DDR3
SCreen: 1024 * 600 HD

No 3 is the Ainol Novo 7 Aurora II (dual core) for £105
Allstar A10, 1.5GHz
RAM: 1GB
Nand Flash: 8GB
1024 x 600 pixels, IPS screen
2.0 MP Front Facing Camera

No 4 is Ainol Novo 7 Advanced II £88 on Amazon
1.2 GHz Multi Core Allwinner A10 processor
512MB of RAM
8GB of storage
800 x 480 pixels

The rest are:

A1CS 7" AWA10 £80 Amazon
Sumvision Cyclone Astro (only wifi 802.11b/g I think) £85 from Ebuyer
V13 £90 from retailgadgets
NATPC M009S RTB ULTIMATE £110 Amazon
HYUNDAI A7 also looks good.

I'm not sure why I'm not buying Archos as they all seem fine to me.

Finally an 8 inch screen is even better but I can't find any that fit my criteria yet.

It seems OK to me to buy on Ebay from a high feedback seller via Paypal and from Amazon cos you can get your money back and the sellers do accept returns (check first).

Now I'm personally stuck between buying the Samsung or the Hyundai!!

My list is personal not definitive. There are others out there. I hope this info is a good start.

lordra

You can consider waiting for the new little iPad (7") coming this october. Sub £200. I would say go for the Samsung. Good customer service and Honey Comb right?

[Deleted User]

A sub £200 Apple tablet will be a miracle It's Ice Cream Sandwhich (4.03) you want not Honeycomb though. Plus there is yet another available this week:

Ramos w17 pro A9 dual core 1.5gh plus dual core mall 400 graphics processor form this seller - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Best-China-Tech?_trksid=p4340.l2563 at about £150

Also I saw the Samsung Tab Plus on sale at Expansys for the same price as the Carphonewarehouse Samsung Tab 2

shakeitright

I have this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prestigio-Android-Gingerbread-Capacitive-Touchscreen/dp/B005ORC74G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337001587&sr=8-1 now upgraded to ICS from the manufacturers website and am very pleased with it

shakeitright

They have also just released this http://www.very.co.uk/prestigio-pmp5097-97-inch-tablet-pc/1104454793.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f100362%2c4294926325%2fs%2fbestsellers%2c0&trail=4739-100362-4294926325 which I am very tempted by.

selfyselfy

Keveen can you advise where you saw the Novo 7 Aurora for £105 as this is the tablet im leaning towards. Is it the new one as I thought this wasnt available yet?

Juzza12

I was very close to getting the Scroll Extreme (want a 10" tablet) but think I will give it a miss now. Seen someone mention in another thread about problems with iPlayer

howsaboutit

Can I ask for your opinion on this tab http://www.futeko.com/products/TAB016.php

Look forward to our responses

mcja

Can i ask some advice? I am desperado for an Ipad or similar... unfortunatley I dont need one, I just want one!!

IF I bought an Ipad, I would want a 16GB so I can run movies and games with the kids. Would any of the above be capable of doing that? I think I may be asking for far too much.

Thanks for the advice

[Deleted User]

mcja wrote: »

Can i ask some advice? I am desperado for an Ipad or similar... unfortunatley I dont need one, I just want one!!

IF I bought an Ipad, I would want a 16GB so I can run movies and games with the kids. Would any of the above be capable of doing that? I think I may be asking for far too much.

Thanks for the advice

The Ipad 2 (not the latest) can be had for £260 - http://slrhut.co.uk/product/ID30C26/google. Obviously the ipad is a great computer. But it doesn't have an SD card slot or HDMI out to your TV though you can buy an adapter. Also the Ipad is probably the best size if you really want to use it a lot for viewing video. The only video I watch on a computer are clips, Youtube and stuff like that. I want to watch films on my TV but of course kids aren't bothered about that.And that Argos Xoom is great. The only reason I'm not getting another one is because I've decided on the smaller cheaper format. That's got HDMI out and genuine GPS - which means you can use the inbuilt GPS receiver without needing Wifi.

I was really looking at the sub £200 area.

[Deleted User]

howsaboutit wrote: »

Can I ask for your opinion on this tab http://www.futeko.com/products/TAB016.php

Look forward to our responses

Looks good doesn't it! Nice find. What I would do now is look at Youtube tests and reviews and see if it has any problems. It's a UK supplier to boot! Plus they do say it runs Iplayer.