Thinking of getting a tablet computer but dunno which one is best?

Mics_chick

Hi peeps
Would much appreciate any help or advice in this area.

Had little go on my bro's iPad but he said that u can only buy apps from Apple.
Do all tablets have the same restriction?

Cheers Gail

diable

Why do you want one?

Timay

Mics_chick wrote: »

Hi peeps
Would much appreciate any help or advice in this area.

Had little go on my bro's iPad but he said that u can only buy apps from Apple.
Do all tablets have the same restriction?

Cheers Gail

With the Ipad you can only buy apps from the apple store, this is the same with all makers of tablets except with Android tablets you can only by from the Android app store and with a windows tablet you can only by from the Microsoft store etc.

If you are going to buy a tablet either get an Ipad or an android device though as they have by far the greatest number of apps with the most people working on developing new apps

bluesnake

there are 2 basic types e-ink and back lit displays.

The old kindle is an e-ink device, one colour, no fast moving graphics or films, but easy on the eye and fantastic battery life often measured in weeks, plus great for reading in the sun.

Backlit display like ipod offer poor viewing in sun, poor battery life measured in hours, but have many more uses.

Both apple and Samsung, among many other make great devices. Apple though are very restrictive as in you can only buy from iTunes and the volume control on the Beats headphones £100+ phones only adjust on apple due to patented technology. You can of course invalidate the warranty and jailbreak the thing to install your own software.

There are at least two android stores and if you root (administrator login - in windows terms), you can easily install android apps without going to a Store. Many android apps are free. Android devices are more open, but imho the apps not as polished, but most work very well.

For apple you need iTunes:( and for Android you drag and drop like on a usb key:)

As you probably have gathered the potential money maker is not much in the physical devices, but in the iStore or Google Store. Possibly you will keep on buying the same familiar ?upgraded? apps for newer models over and over again.

I prefer the Android route, but many have gone with Apple.

Windows 8 on mobiles is bit too new. MS never seemed to put much effort into the mobile end of the market. I had 2 windows phones v2 and v6.5 both were really buggy, crashed and locked out a lot, plus other strange things. I thought going from v2 to v6.5 would have given then enough time to get their act together, but I was very wrong, they seem to have collected the money and run.

malcumms7898

bluesnake wrote: »

Windows 8 on mobiles is bit too new. MS never seemed to put much effort into the mobile end of the market. I had 2 windows phones v2 and v6.5 both were really buggy, crashed and locked out a lot, plus other strange things. I thought going from v2 to v6.5 would have given then enough time to get their act together, but I was very wrong, they seem to have collected the money and run.

That was true for windows mobile, but "windows phone" is the new system and has been greatly overhauled. It is actually really good apart from the (relative) lack of apps available. Just saw an advert for the new Microsoft surface and I am quite tempted to get one, although it is new so I don't know how it will compare to the ipad or android tablets.

As for the original poster, I think Android tablets can allow you more freedom in what you can do but this also has its drawbacks. You are more likely to catch some malware on Android, so if you struggle with that sort of thing maybe the iPad could be a better choice?!?

Mics_chick

diable wrote: »

Why do you want one?

Thinking of buying one for my 7 yr old son for Christmas.
Might seem OTT for some but he has Asperger's Syndrome (type of autism) so he is very bright but also struggles in social situations and this sort of tech has been recommended to help autistic kids to cope as they can 'have a break' by using a personal portable type device.
But I want to get him something more 'useful' than just a Nintendo DS type thing.
We stayed with my bro and his family for a week during summer and he enjoyed using my SIL's ipad.
If we went down Apple route would probably try to get him an older version than latest module

Cisco001

There are free app at android.
When you say best. You mean in terms of spec or in terms of good value for money?

thegirlintheattic

A note on Microsoft Apps -whilst there are not many at the moment, Windows 8 is going to be shipping with most new computers which suggests there will be more apps being added due to the increase in users. Android started off with very few apps but has grown.

coolagarry

The first thing you have to decide is 7" or 10". My grandson was all set to buy a 7" but went to PC World first and found the 10" much easier to read although heavier to carry. Some say a 10" if it is only going to be used indoors and a 7" if it is going to be carried about a lot. Take the lad to a store to compare the sizes.
Both "Computer Shopper" and "PC Advisor" are doing comparisons on tablets this month.

Darksun

Timay wrote: »

with Android tablets you can only by from the Android app store

Actually on an Android tablet you can install apps from any source (you have to enable an option in the settings first to allow it though)

Im_just_careful

I'm not sure there is a "best".

For a similar specification the Google Nexus 7 is considerably cheaper than the iPad Mini and when I had a go in a store I liked them both.

If a device of that size or larger is needed then probably for cost reasons I would get the Nexus 7 for a child. I would also get a good case !

You might also consider the iPod touch which my son (now 13) has had a lot of fun with.