Computer neophytes ask me for tablet recommendation... help!

[bupkus]

I have these friends who know very little about computers so they asked me about getting a tablet.
I asked her why she and her husband wanted one and she said to use in the car to find restaurants and movies for the evening's entertainment.
I admitted I have no experience whatsoever with tablets but that I would ask around.

So?? Which one?
Obviously, they want cellular with the 3Gs(see youtube) or better for internet.

Thanks.

 

[zerocool84]

If they want a tablet right this second, get the iPad 2. Me personally I'd wait until June to see how good the rest of the big names tablets are but for right now, iPad 2 is still the best tablet.

 

[bupkus]

If they want a tablet right this second, get the iPad 2. Me personally I'd wait until June to see how good the rest of the big names tablets are but for right now, iPad 2 is still the best tablet.

They don't want to spend that much and I don't know if the best is what they need for their purposes.

I think she mentioned an Acer that she saw at Best Buy. The sales person was totally useless so she says.

 

[yh125d]

If thats really all they need it for, one/both of them should get a smartphone instead. Tablets aren't any better at that sorta stuff, but are more expensive, don't have contract subsidizations, and require a separate, probably more expensive monthly 3g bill

 

[Bateluer]

I have these friends who know very little about computers so they asked me about getting a tablet.
I asked her why she and her husband wanted one and she said to use in the car to find restaurants and movies for the evening's entertainment.
I admitted I have no experience whatsoever with tablets but that I would ask around.

So?? Which one?
Obviously, they want cellular with the 3Gs(see youtube) or better for internet.

Thanks.

They need a smartphone with a good GPS for this. NOT a tablet of any kind.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I vote a 3G Galaxy Tab:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?Inv...gn=SPH-P100-LN

They can sign up for the 3G service with Sprint if they want.

 

[s44]

Nice deal for wifi use, but if they're using it in the car and aren't tech-savvy enough to set up tethering from their phones (and let's face it, it sounds like they're not), they should get a data contract version. $200 at Sprint (new) with $30/m for 2gb; $350 at AT&T (refurb) with $15/m for 250mb or $25/m for 2gb; $150 (refurb) or $200 (new) at T-Mo with $30/m for 250mb or $40/m for 2gb (gah!); $150 (refurb) or $200 (new) at Verizon with $20/m for 1gb.

Bottom line: Galaxy Tab on Verizon is the best deal for a data plan user.

7" is a good size for a car situation...

 

[gsaldivar]

Why buy a bulky tablet when all they need is an inexpensive phone that fits easily in a pocket or purse?

Virgin Mobile Optimus V $199

$25/month + No Contract
Unlimited 3G Data/Web/Apps
Unlimited Text Messaging
300 Anytime Minutes

Anywhere they get a Sprint signal they can:

- Find restaurants, read reviews, make reservations...
- Find movies, watch trailers, check showtimes, buy tickets...
- Google Maps Navigation will take them there, through the least amount of traffic, and bring them safely home. :thumbsup:

 

[Bateluer]

Why buy a bulky tablet when all they need is an inexpensive phone that fits easily in a pocket or purse?

Virgin Mobile Optimus V $199

$25/month + No Contract
Unlimited 3G Data/Web/Apps
Unlimited Text Messaging
300 Anytime Minutes

Anywhere they get a Sprint signal they can:

- Find restaurants, read reviews, make reservations...
- Find movies, watch trailers, check showtimes, buy tickets...
- Google Maps Navigation will take them there, through the least amount of traffic, and bring them safely home. :thumbsup:

This. At least I'm not the only one that seems to make sense in this thread.

 

[boomhower]

For what they are wanting to use it for they are limited to the Tab, Xoom, and iPad/iPad 2. Of those the iPad 2 is the way to go. That said, I agree a smartphone is what they need. Speding $500+ and $30 a month for that use is insane.