In less than a week, I head to Disney World with the family for 8 days. Neener, neener.

So, while I'm down there, I'd like access to my various forums and email. Up to now, I have successfully resisted being part of the cell phone zombie squad. So, no cell phone, no voice or data plans whatsoever. You need to call me, there's a phone on my desk.

That leaves me with tablets. WiFi is free in the room. I do not anticipate watching any movies or anything like that. Strictly some forum surfing and maybe a google/bing search or two. I am pretty much dead set against any Apple products, so no ipads. Wife's Kindle 3G is slow as hell, B&W only, and the keypad sucks. Is Kindle Fire any better?

Being that I have 3 days to get something, it means I need to be able to wrap my grubby mitts around it - no mail order. Searching Radioshack and Best buy leaves me wondering just what the hell I really want.

Anyone have a cheap tablet, and what do you think of them? Is the $99 Digix from RS worth getting? Bag the tablet idea and get a netbook instead?

Help me advance into the new digital age!

 

What's your budget? Any expectation of future use beyond this trip?

 

you can return any purchase through best buy within 30 days with receipt. id go that route so you can keep your options open. i use a tablet for school and i paid 260 shipped. its nice but if i could choose something to just browse quickly at home or traveling it would be a tablet, no need to flip open key board boot up etc. a 7 inch tablet would probably fit inside a coat pocket and hide nicely in luggage.

 

Budget is whatever it takes to do the job. Obviously, that doesn't mean a cool grand.

I'd like to kep it under $250, preferably under 150 if that's possible. Kindle Fire HD seems to be going for about 200, and I'm okay with that if it does what I need. Searching for alternatives right now. Not sure I need the HD, as I won't be watching movies on it. I just don't understand anyone wanting to do that unless they spend a lot of time on the road.

Clos561, I'd never do that. It's unethical. You buy something and use it, you can't return it unless it doesn't do what it's supposed to.

 

If you need a cheap tablet, it's hard to beat the Nexus 7. https://play.google.com/store/device...d=nexus_7_16gb

 

Then he can use ShadowDash on it and connect it to his MSPNP.

 

The kindle fire is nice, the GF has one. I prefer to browse on my iphone, since it's faster. But hey, go for the slower one cause Apple sucks!

I'd imagine the kindle fire HD would be good, since it's supposed to be bigger, faster, and lighter. Brightness wise, I don't think they've done anything to it's weight.

 

One thing I've been told about the Kindle Fire series (by a co-worker who owns one and recently replaced it with a Win8 tablet) is that the configuration of the OS isn't quite the same as a "normal" Andrdoid tablet, with the consequence that loading and running applications can occasionally be problematic.

That's the extent of my "knowledge" of them.

 

For the difference in price, I'd stick with a legit android tablet. The Nexus 7 is a great choice. I'm partial to Samsung tablets (I have the Galaxy Tab 8.9).

 

The Kindle Fire is a POS. It's a POS with Amazon's version of Android and it's only slightly better running CM. My fire is relegated to garage duty so I have an easy way of looking at gay donkey **** while masturbating with used motor. The HD costs just as much as the superior in every way Nexus 7. Don't waste your money.

Go buy a N7 and install ShadowDash. You can buy it at just about any big box electronics store and have it tomorrow.

 

To add to that the Kindle Fire does not have the Play Store where google apps are, it has the Amazon app store. If you ever get another android device you will hate that, because the Amazon app store is a pain in the ***. If you uninstall the app store, the apps cease to work.

 

its store policy so i dont see a problem. If you are not satisfied with a product you can return it.

 

So, what is the big advantage to a tablet over a laptop? Simply portability? If all I need is internet access, is it in my best interest to get a tablet or just find a cheap laptop?

 

If you sit at a computer and use A LOT of keyboard, a tablets not good for you. If you sit at a computer and exclusively use the mouse, it'll work great for you, as your hand replaces the mouse. Since you don't need the keyboard as much, it shrinks the computer's required room, and gives you much better mobility. That's not to sauté keyboard is useless, I typed all this on my "shitty" iPhone.

 

 

Say, saute, same thing. At least the iphone threw in the accent. **** happens at 6am.

 

Well, no tablet at this time. Neither sauted or fried. I've got a crappy old laptop to use for internet access, and the wife gets a new digital camera (Canon PowerShot 110, on sale).

At least she got me a new wireless mouse so I don't have to use one of those insuferable touch pads.

 

Probably a good decision. Tablets are flashy, and I like them, but they are not really that useful. Shiny toys is all they are.

 

But I want a new toy, dammit! She gets one, and I get to pay for it.

 

+1 for nexus 7.

For $200 it's hard as hell to beat, one of the fastest processors in the game right now, and the most bloat-free operating system you'll find.

I bought one for myself, and then I bought one for my gf. My sister brought up the idea of pooling our money for a tablet for mom for christmas, and I again researched price/performance/value and hands down the nexus 7 came out as the clear choice IMO. In fact, UPS just delivered that third nexus 7 to my doorstep this morning, now I can wrap it up for christmas.

And the 7 fits in your back pocket...how the hell can you beat that!?