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Recommend a good, CHEAP tablet...

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iPad mini if you can spare the extra few dollars. Really, go to a store and play with the Nexus 7 and Mini side by side for a few minutes and you'll see what I mean.

iPad feels infinitely better in the hand, and the display, while low-res, is really good. I've been looking for a reason to buy one, and almost considered even-trading my iPad 3 for it.

That said, I am a much bigger Google fan than I am Apple.
 
amdhunter said:
iPad mini if you can spare the extra few dollars. Really, go to a store and play with the Nexus 7 and Mini side by side for a few minutes and you'll see what I mean.

iPad feels infinitely better in the hand, and the display, while low-res, is really good. I've been looking for a reason to buy one, and almost considered even-trading my iPad 3 for it.

That said, I am a much bigger Google fan than I am Apple.
Click to expand...

I owned both. iPad mini definitely has some nice points. It's so thin and light, feels extremely quality, unlike the Nexus 7 that was built by blind monkeys ASUS is using as slave labor. I also particularly like all the screen space. It's a 7.9 inch screen but physically that much bigger, the 4:3 ratio is awesome for webpages, and no gigantic on screen buttons wasting space (damn Google needs to fix that).

But my god, my eyes bleed looking at that 160 DPI resolution now. No matter how amazing everything else was, the screen resolution is just a deal breaker for me. I tried to like it and couldn't.

I'm hoping ASUS has the build quality issues mostly resolved by now. I went through 5 Nexus 7 tablets before I got one without the glass popping out the left side. Other than that though, I do love the feel of the soft touch back, and the narrow width makes it fit in one hand easily. The large onscreen buttons kinda suck and the color quality of the screen is not good, but it's sharp and I was able to forget about the washed out colors after a while.

I actually like the Kindle Fire HD the most. Though, I didn't mention it as a recommendation because you need to root it, load Google Play and some services, to make it a decent tablet, and that's not for everyone. I love that the colors are better, the speakers are amazing sounding for a tablet (and stereo in landscape), and the wifi is really nice. But it's also a slower tablet too.
 
I saw some second-handed and refurbished Nexus 7's (as well as iPads) at a local Gamestop for $160~170. Of course YMMV but they have a no-questions-asked return policy within 15 days for those, so if you have a Gamestop nearby you may give it a try to get a feel of it.
 
Well, nothing... unless you care about storage space (only 4GB?!?!?), processor speed (single-core A8?), manufacturer support, or about having a screen that isn't godawful.
 
I would buy this NOW because:

http://www.target.com/p/maylong-7-a...-keyboard-case-and-earbuds-black/-/A-14216324

1) It's on sale, could be back to regular price at any moment.
2) $99 with Android 4.0
3) Brand new, 30 day return policy at your local Target store (no mailing back hassle or expense)
4) because I said so?

The following items must be returned within 30 days: Computers, netbooks, laptops, eReaders, tablets, cameras, camcorders, digital audio players, GPS systems, video game hardware, personal DVD players, and no-contract cell phones. For these items purchased between 11/1 – 12/25, the 30 day refund period will start on 12/26.
Click to expand...
 
Anomaly1964 said:
How about this?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...300&CatId=6838
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Less horrible, but Tegra2 is severely outdated, certainly not worth only $40 savings. The only pre-Tegra3 chip you should consider is the OMAP 4 in the Galaxy Tab 2 ($160 refurb at Wally) and Nook/Kindle HD. Tegra3 is still way faster though.

RossMAN said:
Wow what a great suggestion, if only the OP's budget/needs could afford the N7.
Click to expand...
It can.
I have another possibly better and cheaper suggestion ... waiting for OP to reply again.
Click to expand...
Your Target suggestion couldn't possibly be worse. Single-core A8, 512mb RAM, mind-bogglingly low-res screen, crap battery life, no Jelly Bean... There's not a single thing up to spec on that thing.

Anomaly1964 said:
I can't find an N7 for $200...?

Where are they at this price?
Click to expand...
here
 
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Come on OP. Quit trying to find something cheap and just get the Nexus 7. My reasoning is that when you try to look for something around the $100 mark, you're looking at something that is not just half as good as the nexus 7, but many many times worse in every way. They're selling these tablets for $100 and making money off of them at that price, while google is selling the nexus 7 at or near the cost of manufacturing for $200.

I remember an article from Ars Technica that should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone looking for a bargain tablet.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/11/worst-gadget-ever-ars-reviews-a-99-android-tablet/

That article is a couple years old, so I would think that the bargain tablets have gotten better since then. All that means is that you'll have the same problems to a somewhat lesser degree probably.
 
SlitheryDee said:
Come on OP. Quit trying to find something cheap and just get the Nexus 7. My reasoning is that when you try to look for something around the $100 mark, you're looking at something that is not just half as good as the nexus 7, but many many times worse in every way. They're selling these tablets for $100 and making money off of them at that price, while google is selling the nexus 7 at or near the cost of manufacturing for $200.

I remember an article from Ars Technica that should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone looking for a bargain tablet.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/11/worst-gadget-ever-ars-reviews-a-99-android-tablet/

That article is a couple years old, so I would think that the bargain tablets have gotten better since then. All that means is that you'll have the same problems to a somewhat lesser degree probably.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I will go with that...

Anyone wanna buy my Asus TF300T with docking station and full case?

DSCN2880.jpg
 
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