Buying a low-budget tablet. Need some help :) - maemo.org

bill_klpd | # 1 | 2014-10-15, 23:14 | Report

Hey guys! What's up?

So I am thinking of getting a tablet and I need some help from you...

The main uses will be:

surfing the net/chatting
reading pdfs/docs etc.
getting it with me in university
maybe doing some coding on the go(aide seems good on galaxy s3, so I assume it will be handy on a big tablet)
maybe watch some videos from youtube etc.
some gaming when bored(not really cared that much for that thought)

So I came up with these three 10.1'' tablets:

Asus Transformer Pad 10.1" TF103C -> cost: 230€*
LG G Pad v700 10.1" -> cost: 250€*
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 -> cost: 250€*

So what should I pick up? Does anyone of you have any of these tablets, and if yes what do you think?

I think that the Transformer Pad looks good, but I would choose it only if it comes with the keyboard in this price (I am not sure about that), but yet I am not sure about the processor(it is an Intel Atom Z3745 Dual-core 1.86 GHz and the other tablets have a quad core snapdragon processor)

They all have the same screen resolution, ram size and internal memory size and it is expandable with a micro sd card.

I don't really care about the camera that much(who chooses to take pictures with a tablet

)

So what is your opinion? What should I choose from these 3?

*the prices are from stores here in Greece, and I will probably get my tablet from one of these...

Last edited by bill_klpd; 2014-10-15 at 23:22.

endsormeans | # 2 | 2014-10-16, 01:04 | Report

Me I like having a physic keyboard when I want it or not..just like the n810 and n900..so I'm personally biased to either:
A-thinkpad x convertible tablet series
or
B-toshiba portege m convertible tablet series
they can be got cheaper than the 3 you mention (the lowly m200 or the x60 are great devices ...a little older and slower but good design...and still perform admirably) .or more expensive (ie. toshiba portege m780 or thinkpad x230t ......a wicked model I love...came out last year...)
they perform admirally with win or a wide range of linux distros...
much more user friendly when it comes down to keyboard usage..
If what you want... is to get what you need to ...done...
and without frustration...get a portege m series or thinkpad x series...When you pull one out ...it will turn heads. Also the depreciating value in laptops or tablets is much different than in convertible laptops ...convertibles hold their monetary value much longer...
However ...If you want to look chic and fit in ...get what everyone else uses.

Last edited by endsormeans; 2014-10-16 at 02:04.

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Kangal | # 3 | 2014-10-16, 01:21 | Report

Buy a last generation Android tablet that's used. Better than those Chinese Knockoffs.

I can't quite recommend Windows tablets unless they're hybrids like the New Lenovo Helix.

Or better yet, save up, and buy the Apple iPad Mini 3 (32GB).... the premium tablet experience.

malfunctioning | # 4 | 2014-10-16, 01:56 | Report

Definitely avoid buying new, and avoid buying off brands.

You can buy in the states a used (but mint) Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 inches in the auction site for $100 or less, and it satisfies all your requirements amply. Also has a microSD card slot (just upgraded mine from 16Gb to 64Gb cheaply).

I've got one of these with Cyanogenmod 10.1.2, inside an OtterBox (which can be bought also new/mint stateside for $25 or less), and it's 14 months now and works and looks like new. Cyanogenmod and the OtterBox case are a must. The case also improves ergonomics 10x, and also includes a stand.

Lemme know if you need help installing Cyanogenmod 10.1.2. Of course, I'd rather run Fremantle on it, but that's another story.

Also: Install and configure a firewall and set it up to run on startup.

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endsormeans | # 5 | 2014-10-16, 02:00 | Report

Agree with malfunctioning ...
If yur gonna slum it....slum it right

+1 for the tab 2

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malfunctioning | # 6 | 2014-10-16, 02:04 | Report

Originally Posted by endsormeans View Post

Me I like having a physic keyboard when I want it or not..just like the n810 and n900..so I'm personally biased to either:
A-thinkpad x convertible tablet series
or
B-toshiba portege m convertible tablet series
they can be got cheaper than the 3 you mention (the lowly m200 or the x60 are great devices ...a little older and slower but good design...and still perform admirably) .or more expensive (ie. toshiba portege m780 or thinkpad x230t ......a wicked model I love...came out last year...)
they perform admirally with win or a wide range of linux distros...
much more user friendly when it comes down to keyboard usage..
Want get what you need to ...done...and without frustration...get a portege m series or thinkpad x series...When you pull one out ...it will turn heads. Also the depreciating value in laptops is much different than in convertible laptops ...they hold their value much longer...
However ...If you want to look chic and fit in ...get what everyone else uses.

I agree about keyboard convenience, but small bluetooth keyboards with integrated mousepads work pretty good on Android and are cheap.

But if the OP doesn't mind the extra heft, Thinkpad X6x or X20x series are a nice deal. However, the downsides are: size, weight, and incapable graphics hardware for modern standards (gaming).

They are a great bang for the buck noeadays, though. I just bought a like new Thinkpad X201 for $125, and I set up a triple boot system on it (Windows 7, Ubuntu, and Windows XP to run some legacy software).

I also have an X61, and an X24 running Suse 10 (I think) which was my fiorst Linux system.

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endsormeans | # 7 | 2014-10-16, 02:25 | Report

ya...aren't the thinkpad x series great?....sure the older x60 and x61 have a time with recent games...but...x61 and x60 can run a whack of linux distros with little hassle...and I think it is the x60 which is considered suitably perfect for gnu/linux libre distros. If you are gonna spend the bucks anyway...shuck it out for the x230...that baby can run ....and ya it is a bit heavier...but not as heavy as the m780...which is a beast with the optical drive...but ...you can simply take it out and throw in a 2nd hard drive bay...more storage...more distros ....a pretty mean beast with guts...wheeee!

But ya...bt or wireless keyboard will do in a pinch with a simple tablet.
And ya ...I agree...with the amount of current support for past models...

I wouldn't buy a new one either ...with what you need and wish it for...and at the "middling" price point you are aiming....either go lower and aim at specific usages...or go higher...go all out...then you most certainly will get the device you really want and need and it'll be ahead of the "depreciatory curve" ....so to speak.

Otherwise ...buy the brand new "middling" and you'll prob. regret the money spent for the value of the product and feel let down with what it can do....and for how long it can do it for...

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malfunctioning | # 8 | 2014-10-16, 02:26 | Report

Originally Posted by Kangal View Post

Or better yet, save up, and buy the Apple iPad Mini 3 (32GB).... the premium tablet experience.

Or just buy the used Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, put a sticker of your favorite fruit or vegetable in the back, get a system you can upgrade easily (ROM and storage) and avoid making some fat cat in Wall Street richer.

malfunctioning | # 9 | 2014-10-16, 02:29 | Report

Originally Posted by endsormeans View Post

ya...aren't the thinkpad x series great?....sure the older x60 and x61 have a time with recent games...but...x61 and x60 can run a whack of linux distros with little hassle...and I think it is the x60 which is considered suitably perfect for gnu/linux libre distros. If you are gonna spend the bucks anyway...shuck it out for the x230...that baby can run ....and ya it is a bit heavier...but not as heavy as the m780...which is a beast with the optical drive...but ...you can simply take it out and throw in a 2nd hard drive bay...more storage...more distros ....a pretty mean beast with guts...wheeee!

But ya...bt or wireless keyboard will do in a pinch with a simple tablet.
And ya ...I agree...with the amount of current support for past models...

I wouldn't buy a new one either ...with what you need and wish it for...and at the "middling" price point you are aiming....either go lower and aim at specific usages...or go higher...go all out...then you most certainly will get the device you really want and need and it'll be ahead of the "depreciatory curve" ....so to speak.

Otherwise ...buy the brand new "middling" and you'll prob. regret the money spent for the value of the product and feel let down with what it can do....and for how long it can do it for...

Yeah, Thinkpads are awesome. I still wish IBM hadn't sold the division to Lenovo, though.

And what really bugs me is the keyboard on the X230. That's a sascrilege!

endsormeans | # 10 | 2014-10-16, 03:11 | Report

haha...yeah.
truth...
also...another sad thing is the fact that other than lenovo...there isn't really any new convertible tablet pc devel. out there any more.
I love my x series and I love my m200, m700 and m780's.
I think these suckers are the perfect "all-arounders"
I love doing tab stuff on them...stylus or touch.
They are perfect for diagram, artwork (especially love it for that...it's the only thing I use for graphic comp work) handwriting (to text) ...etc...list goes on.
I still believe convertible tablet pc's are the future (look at the love for the n900 form factor still...)...having had a rocky takeoff and now are getting thinner, lighter, faster, and more powerful.