Looking for suggestions on a Tablet/Nook

[wittmeba]

I'm in the market for a small Nook-like tablet for portable use. I want a little knowledge before I visit a store and listen to a salesman.

I don't think I want a Laptop unless it is so very special and low cost that I can't pass it up.

I have Googled a few but don't see any glaring benefits from one to the other and pricing varies from about $60.00 - $400.00, 7-10 inch screens.

Does anyone have any suggestions that I should be considering that they feel is a great deal?

Must have internet access, rechargeable battery - other than that...what features should I look for?

[ShotgunBlast]

That's a pretty broad question that pretty much comes down to what do you plan on doing with it, what size screen is comfortable for you, and what's your budget.

I have a nvidia shield k1 tablet which is a sweet 8" tablet built for games. At $200 it's a sweet deal, but for someone who wants to read books all day that might not be the tablet for them since it doesn't have the best battery life. Someone with better vision might want a bigger screen (10"). Someone may want something lighter weight and less expensive (Amazon 7" Kindle Fire for $50).

Features:

Must have Internet access (you mean cellular access like a smartphone or just wifi? wifi is standard)
rechargeable battery - standard

what features should I look for - depends. Do you want an all-metal construction or is plastic ok? Do you watch a lot of videos to where front-facing speakers would be a nice feature? Do you even bother with speakers and just use headphones?

Until you provide a little more information, any recommendation is really just a shot in the dark.

[MarcSpaz]

This reminds me of the "What's the best gun/ammo for self defense" question. There are literally so many variables that they can't be counted.

I will tell you this... there are a few major platforms. They are:

Linux
Chrome (Linux variant)
Apple (Linux variant)
Android
Windows

If you already have another device or devices (phone, PC, tablet, etc.) on a specific platform, I highly recommend you stick with the same platform. In most cases, data migration/conversion is extremely difficult, if not impossible. The only reason I can see switching to another platform is if there is some function or feature you absolutely must have that simply doesn't exist in the platform you have.

Stick to brand names and you will be fine.

[SHMIV]

To add to the confusion, some tablets still have duel-core processors, while some now have octo-core. RAM is something else to consider, as is storage.

It's like buying a computer, because you ARE buying a computer.

My wife and I have been considering buying a tablet, too. The ones that I have been considering are specific Chinese knock-off brands, because they operate on both Windows and Android. While I don't much care to take care of serious business (ie, bill paying, banking, etc.) online, TBH finds it convenient. Some important sites give her problems on Android, so Windows is better for that. I, on the other hand, want the same apps on my phone to be on the tablet, so I will want an Android tablet. But, since neither of us are likely to use a tablet with great frequency, it's kind of silly to buy 2 of them.

So, as has already been pointed out, what do you want from your tablet? Are you just looking to browse the forum over breakfast at McDonald's, and catch up with the news at Starbucks?

Or, are you trying to mix some sick new dubstep beats on the fly, so that you can add it to the awesome music video that you are creating, heavily laden with special effects?

Or something in between?

Here is a fairly recent article on the topic (fairly recent meaning "written this year"):

http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/tablet-buying-guide

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[wittmeba]

I was just asking if anyone had any experience with any that are preferred - pros and cons.

Thanks, SHMIV. Good info in the buying guide.

[dorminWS]

I'm on my second Kindle. This one's a Kindle Fire. Didn't wear the first one out; left it at my daughter's house and she liked it so much I couldn't bear to take it away from her. Great for books; I read a lot. I live 75-80 miles from a bookstore, so it's a real handy item for me. Also, it lets you access and read your books across a lot of platforms. I can sync a book and read it on my desktop, then later take up where I left off on my Kindle, my i-Pad, or my i-Phone. Android phones, too, if I'm not mistaken. The Kindle has internet access (wifi only, though) using the "Silk" browser. It's good enough for checking out VGOF and Facebook, but that's all I ever tried it for except a few searched for what movies are playing and looking for restaurants. It seems a little klunky for general browsing; but that may just be me. I'm used to MS Explorer/Chrome on a pretty high-powered desktop.

[MarcSpaz]

I have owned kindle, ipad, a surface, and a chrome book. The Kindle Fire HD is my favorite. Fastest. Lightest. Cleanest picture. Best battery life. When the next o,e come out, it has trade-in value at any approved vendor. It does everthing I want a tablet to do.

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[MarcSpaz]

Forgot to mention I hated the chrome book. It just sucked.

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[OakRidgeStars]

I use an iPad mini all day for work, mostly because the apps I need are only available for iOS. Mine is a 64gb with Verizon 4G (company property, not mine). I also have a dock in the van that's similar to what you would use for a phone, which is spring-loaded to hold it to the dash. Battery life is excellent for how I use it, just plug it in when I get home or in the van.

You could easily use a 16gb Wi-Fi only mini and attach to free wi-fi or to your phone if it has a hot spot. As far as prices go, you'll need to shop around. You might even find a nice used tablet on Ebay. That's where I bought my own iPad2.

[wittmeba]

It didn't take long to decide. Ended up at Bestbuy from the encouragement of our son (he is a master of the technology) and bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 $300.00 - more than I wanted to spend but it is nice.

One of my objectives was to have something I can take to the gun shows and use at the VCDL booth. Since the VCDL does not have guns as such on display, I thought a video might catch the eye of passer-bys and give us a chance to provide information on the services provided by the VCDL and encourage them to sign up.

I can easily get to the VCDL.org site and the listed videos such as the recent Katie Couric specials and Diane DeGette magazine explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fbel4SASUPQ

This can also be used to present any information from the NRA-ILA. We will see how it goes -- might be fun.