Tablet advice

civil12345

Hi, I've just started looking for a tablet. I have no idea about them. Therefore, I don't know if I just want something cheap or if I need something expensive. I'm also looking at upgrading my phone within the next month or so when my contract expires - currently using a Nokia Lumia Windows Phone which I realised is not good and not compatable with many apps.

Things I'd like to be able to do with Tablet in descending order...

Watch TV/movies
Use word/spreadsheet
Use internet
Use email
Use games/apps

Are there any big uses that I don't know about?

I have no idea if I need something with data (I know for internet/email I will) or if I can just download from my wifi. Thinking about getting Sky Q but currently don't have it.

Any advice or suggestions would be great.

Thanks

DCFC79

Are you going to keep the phone or upgrade ?

Are you comfortable with the tablet being Windows based or do you want to go down the Android or iOS route?

You say use Word and spreadsheets, how much would you be typing ? Not sure a tablet is ideal to type alot unless you bought a keyboard for the tablet as the keyboafd can take up half the screen so maybe a tablet thats a 2 in 1 eg the Windows based ones would be something to look at as you can get them thats a laptop but also becomes a tablet when you unsnap the 2 pieces.

Something else to consider is where would be using the tablet, just at home or out and about ?

Is there a budget you have in mind ?

cookie365

If you're prepared to buy from China look at techtablets.com for suggestions

Marvqn1

If you only intend to use the tablet at home then you don't need data. You can use your home wifi.

If you intend to use the tablet away from home then keep in mind that a lot of tablets don't have a SIM card slot. So if you get one of these tablets, to use the internet you'll have to use wifi, such as tethering the tablet to your smartphone or using public wifi.

civil12345

Hi all, thanks for the responses.

I am going to upgrade the phone. Not sure yet if it will be Android or iPhone. Currently paying £18 per month happy to pay up to £40 but hopeful of getting a good deal through Vodafone.

I started looking at tablets then I noticed 2 in 1 laptop/tablets which were appealing. Having looked around now I'm wondering if I'd be better off with a good laptop. Was looking to pay about £200 for a tablet but now thinking £500-£600 for a laptop. The laptop would be replacing a 5 year old desktop which I'm not happy with.

In terms of use, it would be mostly at home. Sometimes when out. Sometimes when commuting by bus or train. Guess laptop would be great for train but no good for bus.

Really feel like I know nothing when looking at these things. 10 years ago I was really up on the latest technology but a lot of it has just passed me by!

Again any suggestions or what I should be looking for would be great. Does anyone have a 2 in 1? Are they any good or are they just a poor laptop and poor tablet?

Thanks

DCFC79

civil12345 wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for the responses.

I am going to upgrade the phone. Not sure yet if it will be Android or iPhone. Currently paying £18 per month happy to pay up to £40 but hopeful of getting a good deal through Vodafone.

I started looking at tablets then I noticed 2 in 1 laptop/tablets which were appealing. Having looked around now I'm wondering if I'd be better off with a good laptop. Was looking to pay about £200 for a tablet but now thinking £500-£600 for a laptop. The laptop would be replacing a 5 year old desktop which I'm not happy with.

In terms of use, it would be mostly at home. Sometimes when out. Sometimes when commuting by bus or train. Guess laptop would be great for train but no good for bus.

Really feel like I know nothing when looking at these things. 10 years ago I was really up on the latest technology but a lot of it has just passed me by!

Again any suggestions or what I should be looking for would be great. Does anyone have a 2 in 1? Are they any good or are they just a poor laptop and poor tablet?

Thanks

You say use it when out but what would you like to do when out eg watch netflix so something that requires a data connection or just play games, do some typing which which may not need a data connection.

A question is why are you not happy with the PC ? Is it too slow ? Can easily be remedied that.

civil12345

Yeah it's slow. I was running Windows 7 and it became close to unuseable. Formatted everything, installed Windows 10 (which I like a lot) but it's still really slow. I'd also like to end up with a dual screen display which I can't do with my current graphics card (might even be integrated graphics).

Out and about I'd like to watch things that I've downloaded/stored. Sometimes typing/spreadsheets. Would say internet but can get that from phone.

Apologies if this is coming across as confused. It is!

DCFC79

civil12345 wrote: »

Yeah it's slow. I was running Windows 7 and it became close to unuseable. Formatted everything, installed Windows 10 (which I like a lot) but it's still really slow. I'd also like to end up with a dual screen display which I can't do with my current graphics card (might even be integrated graphics).

Out and about I'd like to watch things that I've downloaded/stored. Sometimes typing/spreadsheets. Would say internet but can get that from phone.

Apologies if this is coming across as confused. It is!

Its not confused.

I have a Samsung Tab S2 and i believe the screen is 8 inches but could do spreadsheets using the on screen keyboard for the reason i previously mention so would need to get a bluetooth keyboard.

Maybe a tablet with a bigger screen eg 10 inch and a bluetooth keyboard would be an option.

Maybe a good idea is to get an idea of the size in PC World/Currys or Apple store to get a feel for 1.

civil12345

S2 looks good. It's just at that sort of price I could get a low-end laptop/tablet combo which might solve all of my problems...

I think I need to go and think about what I'm trying to achieve. It's been useful look at the specs of a range of the things available to see what it out there at the moment.

DCFC79

civil12345 wrote: »

S2 looks good. It's just at that sort of price I could get a low-end laptop/tablet combo which might solve all of my problems...

I think I need to go and think about what I'm trying to achieve. It's been useful look at the specs of a range of the things available to see what it out there at the moment.

Theres other makes out there, some with larger screens than what I have.

What about buying a laptop and a tablet ? Would mean you get a device for when your out and about and a laptop for use at home.

I_have_spoken

Get a phone and tablet using the same OS to minimise learning and maximise sharing of purchased apps. You could try and get a deal when you renew your contract.

Any decent phone offers wi-fi hotspot so you don't need a SIM in the tablet.

If you went for a 2-in-1, we've been testing the Samsung TabPro S at work. The keyboard is a bit bouncy, but it's perfectly usable for Windows 10. I'd not go for anything cheaper, Atom powered Windows tablets are too slow.