A few tablet questions.

BoosHaus

Good afternoon everyone!

I know you get a lot of tablet questions here, so I'll try and keep it as brief as I can.

I'm looking for a very basic tablet - I'll be using it mostly for a couple of powerpoints and for watching Kindle/iPlayer on the train.

I've come across the Ployer Momo brand on Amazon - they seem reasonable and pretty cheap which is what I'm after. I've currently got my eye on the Ployer Momo9 Star.

However I've read a lot about the Chinese firmware bloating the tablets quite a bit. People are suggesting that rooting the tablet normally solves the issue but I'm not entirely sure I want to be messing around with something like that if it's going to be a pain to do. (I'll be honest - I'm not even entirely sure I know what that process is...).

Does anyone have any experience of this? I contacted one seller who said you could simply turn off the apps, but others have said this isn't always possible.

Thanks a lot!

sillygoose

A have a Ployer momo 8 Bird tablet and for its required use its been an excellent product. It did come loaded with some demo games and rubbish and such on it but they could be 'deactivated' curiously it also came 'factory' rooted so using an app like ES Explorer (free app on market) which can work with rooting, you can do what you like.

Also even if there is some rubbish on the tablet it doesn't matter unless you run out of space as like Windows desktop, you choose which icons/shortcuts you have on your homescreens so you can just remove the one for dross and forget about them.

Bit confused abouthow your going to watch iplayer on a train? unless there is free wifi (I don't use trains!) as iplayer streams over the internet so the tablet would need a connection - or be tethered to your phone and use its internet, can't see it working too well on the move.

might be worth asking the amazon supplier if they are already rooted though like mine was.

I get my movies by recording off my Sky box using a hard drive recorder but you could get also download stuff off the net or rip from DVD's. There are also programs out there that let you download movies from youtube and save to files to play off line.

Might be worth asking the Amazon supplier if its already rooted though like mine was from the factory.

BoosHaus

Thanks for the reply, SillyGoose.

I'm sorry I should have read the post properly earlier, I meant I was going to read a few books on the train and maybe watch iPlayer when I'm at home. I can see how that was confusing. Many apologies.

I'll definitely get in contact with the seller about the rooting issue, I'm glad the Chinese apps can be removed. A few people that I spoke to said they found it really difficult to get rid of them, but I suppose that it depends on how it came from the factory.

Since you've got the Momo8 may I ask how the WiFi situation is? Apparently the 8s are known for having signal issues - is this true?

sillygoose

BoosHaus wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, SillyGoose.

I'm sorry I should have read the post properly earlier, I meant I was going to read a few books on the train and maybe watch iPlayer when I'm at home. I can see how that was confusing. Many apologies.

I'll definitely get in contact with the seller about the rooting issue, I'm glad the Chinese apps can be removed. A few people that I spoke to said they found it really difficult to get rid of them, but I suppose that it depends on how it came from the factory.

Since you've got the Momo8 may I ask how the WiFi situation is? Apparently the 8s are known for having signal issues - is this true?

haha! no problem. The chinese apps are just that, apps. The actual firmware in mine is works ok and hasn't been particularly messed with by Ployer. The display quality is very good, I picked it carefully as largely a video player and some internet. I have no problems with wifi.

Its actually quite a clever thing, I have an O2 mobile internet USB dongle. The other day I plugged it in to see what it would do, not expecting much. But it detected it and happily connected to the internet with it meaning I can use the tablet anywhere I like.


Sadly - on the 9 Star it looks like they have left off the HDMI port, on mine with a cheap micro HDMI cable I can plug the tablet into most modern TV's and play iplayer or movies from the tablet. Great for holidays or nights in hotels as you can watch what you want.

My 8 Bird is strangely expensive now but if I were buying again I would buy the 8 IPS model instead, its considerably more powerful so is likely to be usable in more ways.

BoosHaus

Argh - sorry to bump and "old" thread, but I didn't really want to start a new thread about this considering it may very well end up being a non-issue at the end.

I received my tablet - I opted for the Momo9 2013 version. It was smaller than I wanted but it had a higher spec, so I can't really complain. The screen isn't amazing, granted, but it does everything I want it to so it's pretty much perfect.

However, I have noticed it takes an incredibly long time to charge. I would say about eight hours? (I nipped to the cinema so I had to charge it in two goes instead of just the one, so perhaps that has something to do with it?). I also noticed that the charger doesn't fit all the way in to the charging port and it tends to slip a little.

I contacted the seller, who has been incredibly lovely. He's offered to send me another charger (after I sent him a picture of the issue) and has told me that the Chinese ports are smaller and fit better, but because I've got a UK one "these things happen".

So I just want to ask: is this right? Surely if he sends me another charger it'll just be the same issue? I'd charge it with the USB but apparently that'll charge it even slower!