Best tablet $400 budget

[Morgoth780]

I'm looking to spend about $400 on my first tablet. I currently have my eye on the shield tablet and the nexus 9. I plan to use a tablet for gaming as well as some note taking in my classes (just typing, don't need a stylus), in addition to web browsing and youtube. I'd probably also use it for textbooks and maybe some other reading.

I'd be ok with 16GB of storage as long as it had a microSD port. From my understanding, there are microUSB to microSD adapters I could use on the nexus 9 to get more storage, but I'm not entirely certain. I don't need LTE. I don't need a ton of battery life.

I'm not really interesting in an ipad. I greatly prefer Android.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[gmaster456]

Nexus 9 or iPad Air.

 

[openwheel]

sounds like Nexus 9 is the perfect fit.
Perhaps Samsung Tab Pro can be found for a cheap price?

 

[Red Storm]

If taking notes is important then you're going to need a tablet that has the necessary hardware (i.e. Galaxy Note line).

 

[slackerinabox]

If taking notes is important then you're going to need a tablet that has the necessary hardware (i.e. Galaxy Note line).

You know, I'm a big iOS fan but think a stylus would rock for taking notes. Is stylus support in android half baked like in windows 8 (only works in certain apps, pretty convoluted even in supported apps), or can I actually jsut write freehand and expect the app to keep up?

 

[desura]

Get the apple device.

I have android devices. I have my reasons for getting them. They are relatively high end. They suck compared to Apple devices. Apple devices are over twice as responsive to touch commands as android devices and it shows. Android devices typically have response well over 100ms. Apple devices, even old ones, are like 40ms.

So get an ipad air or ipad mini 2.

 

[Morgoth780]

If taking notes is important then you're going to need a tablet that has the necessary hardware (i.e. Galaxy Note line).

I would mostly just be typing notes for my political science class, most of my classes are math/physics so I'd keep using paper for those. I just want something lighter than my laptop for those classes

 

[Red Storm]

You know, I'm a big iOS fan but think a stylus would rock for taking notes. Is stylus support in android half baked like in windows 8 (only works in certain apps, pretty convoluted even in supported apps), or can I actually jsut write freehand and expect the app to keep up?

The Note Line has probably the best stylus implementation that I've seen in mobile devices, including handwriting mode (instead of typing).

 

[rudeguy]

You know, I'm a big iOS fan but think a stylus would rock for taking notes. Is stylus support in android half baked like in windows 8 (only works in certain apps, pretty convoluted even in supported apps), or can I actually jsut write freehand and expect the app to keep up?

I tried the stylus with my Note 2 and was really disappointed. It took way longer to use that than it did to type on the keyboard.

As for the OP: do you prefer Android, Windows or iOS?

 

[Morgoth780]

I tried the stylus with my Note 2 and was really disappointed. It took way longer to use that than it did to type on the keyboard.

As for the OP: do you prefer Android, Windows or iOS?

I prefer Android.

Really should be remembering to post these things in the OP :whiste:

 

[openwheel]

I tried the stylus with my Note 2 and was really disappointed. It took way longer to use that than it did to type on the keyboard.

As for the OP: do you prefer Android, Windows or iOS?

That's because Note 2 lacks the proper hardware like the Note 3 and 4.

 

[rudeguy]

I prefer Android.

Really should be remembering to post these things in the OP :whiste:

Its ok.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...ng+galaxy+note

Would be what I would buy. Again I'm not a big stylus guy, so I'd also spend a couple bucks on a keyboard case if I was going to take a lot of notes.

There is also the Note Pro if you want the top end but its $250 more.
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...alaxy+note+pro

There is nothing wrong with the first one though.

 

[Morgoth780]

Its ok.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...ng+galaxy+note

Would be what I would buy. Again I'm not a big stylus guy, so I'd also spend a couple bucks on a keyboard case if I was going to take a lot of notes.

There is also the Note Pro if you want the top end but its $250 more.
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...alaxy+note+pro

There is nothing wrong with the first one though.

So is it not really worth it to give up a tablet with a K1 to get the Note 10.1?

Also, is the shield tablet just in general not a very good tablet? Is it worth it for the price, or should I basically never consider it?

 

[rudeguy]

So is it not really worth it to give up a tablet with a K1 to get the Note 10.1?

Also, is the shield tablet just in general not a very good tablet? Is it worth it for the price, or should I basically never consider it?

I haven't personally played with a Shield, so I can't comment. I'm not a big gamer so I never really paid any attention to it.

As for the K1, that's your call. Samsung has done a lot with software to focus on things like note taking and multi tasking. But they are by no means the only tablet out there. They are just what I'm most familiar with.

Full disclosure: I repair iPads for a living and use an iPad Air.

 

[Morgoth780]

From what I've seen Android optimization for the 32 bit K1 wasn't that great at launch. Has that gotten better?

I would assume it would be at least well optimized for the 64 bit K1 in the Nexus 9 because it's the Nexus 9.

Perhaps it's best to wait and see how optimization is?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Perhaps it's best to wait and see how optimization is?

Personally, that is what I would do. The Nexus 9 is perfect if the reviews come back positive.

 

[Morgoth780]

Personally, that is what I would do. The Nexus 9 is perfect if the reviews come back positive.

That's what I'll do then. Hopefully the reviews are good!

If it turns out it's not so good, should I probably consider the note 10.1 or the tab s 8.4? Or

 

[poofyhairguy]

That's what I'll do then. Hopefully the reviews are good!

If it turns out it's not so good, should I probably consider the note 10.1 or the tab s 8.4? Or

Yup, if the reviews are bad go Samsung. I hope they are good though, I might join you. I really like my HTC phone and dislike my Nexus 7.