Tablet for my aunt

[Shephard]

My aunt has an ancient garbage Mac and she wants a tablet after seeing her friends iPad. She doesn't have a lot of money. Budget is around $400-450 AFTER tax Canadian prices.

It has to have a camera, be able to play HD movies (not compressed to the max), not take time to open simple apps, and expandable storage.

I really distaste tablets myself so I can't recommend her anything.

Any suggestions? I like the look of the Surface but it's out of budget.

Looks like ASUS makes some nice tablets in the range but again I have no experience.

 

[R0H1T]

My aunt has an ancient garbage Mac and she wants a tablet after seeing her friends iPad. She doesn't have a lot of money. Budget is around $400-450 AFTER tax Canadian prices.

It has to have a camera, be able to play HD movies (not compressed to the max), not take time to open simple apps, and expandable storage.

I really distaste tablets myself so I can't recommend her anything.

Any suggestions? I like the look of the Surface but it's out of budget.

Looks like ASUS makes some nice tablets in the range but again I have no experience.

Nexus 10 ?

 

[dma0991]

7" is a good size, 10" might be too big to lug around. Its either an iPad Mini or the new Asus Fonepad. iPad Mini is the only one with a camera but I don't like tablet cameras as picture quality isn't good; plus there will be a model refresh soon and its a bad idea to get it right now. I'd go with the Fonepad, some variations come with camera while some don't.

 

[Sohaltang]

Used ipad. Older people like apple simplicity. Checkout cowboom for used stuff. It's bestbuys buy back reseller. You can find coupon codes too.

 

[dma0991]

Used ipad. Older people like apple simplicity. Checkout cowboom for used stuff. It's bestbuys buy back reseller. You can find coupon codes too.

You'd better hope that they never have to use iTunes.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Used ipad. Older people like apple simplicity. Checkout cowboom for used stuff. It's bestbuys buy back reseller. You can find coupon codes too.

Her garbage mac is probably more functional than a tablet. For sure a new 400.00 laptop would be. Any chance you can change her mind?

Îf not I would go with iPad as well. If necessary get a used one or new previous generation. My in laws have one and they love it. Personally I still don't get the appeal, but it is much nicer than the android pos that I made the mistake of purchasing.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I would say iPad too. Simply because she owns a mac and her friend got an iPad too. And thats what she got as her wish reference.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

used ipad 3. dont get foggies anything but apple, trust me on that

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Her garbage mac is probably more functional than a tablet. For sure a new 400.00 laptop would be. Any chance you can change her mind?

Îf not I would go with iPad as well. If necessary get a used one or new previous generation. My in laws have one and they love it. Personally I still don't get the appeal, but it is much nicer than the android pos that I made the mistake of purchasing.

hes right. the best thing would be a brand new cheap windows laptop.

 

[Shephard]

She will probably get a new computer in the future and I will build it for her.

She is on the go and wants something to watch movies in bed or take out with her, etc.

Her Mac is an 800mhz eMac. It is not even supported Apple anymore. It's garbage.

She really doesn't care if it's a Mac, Android, or Windows. It just has to run smooth and do what I said above.

I want an SD card on it for her for HD movies and pictures.

 

[R0H1T]

For expandable memory you'll have to go with Android, its the only viable alternative, cause Apple doesn;t believe in extra storage & Windows RT is too expensive !

 

[Fx1]

Not in the CPU and overlocking forum for gods sake.

 

[dma0991]

She is on the go and wants something to watch movies in bed or take out with her, etc.

I want an SD card on it for her for HD movies and pictures.

There's also the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet. Tablets in the 7-8" range are light enough to be used in bed. The 10" iPad is sturdy but it is also heavy; albeit I dislike the plastic build quality of some Android tablets.

The Note 8.0 comes with a camera and with expandable storage. Plus, it has a stylus which she may find to be useful.

 

[Abwx]

Current tablets are overpriced crap most of wich will be thrown
in the scrap bins in at most two years once X86 based products
are common.
Best would be to wait since AMD s Temash will pop up in about
two months and surely that the dual core version will be in your
price segment.

 

[xXdragonbatXX]

Nexus 10. My grandpa loves his way more then his Galaxy.

 

[VirtualLarry]

here's an atom x86 tablet for under $400.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1268318/

 

[blackened23]

Dude. Do not get anything except an iPad or iPad mini.

The ipad mini has been around 300$ for several weeks now - while some like android tablets, they will always be second rate compared to what the ipad offers. It kinda pains me to say that, but as a user I would say that it is definitely the superior overall package. Using an android tablet always forces me to question "how do I do this" in reference to a feature that the ipad offers out of the box and is easily doable - whereas the android tablet would force me to do some ridiculously convoluted process to get the same thing done. Or in the case of the Kindle Fire, it is impossible due to not having stock android. (note that I DO think the kindle fire HD is pretty good especially if you are an amazon prime consumer) Anyway, iPad is just a better experience than any android tablet, and is MUCH easier to use for those who are computer illiterate.

Keep in mind software updates and whatnot will require itunes - as the software is many years old now (excluding recent updates of course) i'd imagine her current mac would do that fine.

 

[badb0y]

iPad

 

[dma0991]

Using an android tablet always forces me to question "how do I do this" in reference to a feature that the ipad offers out of the box and is easily doable - whereas the android tablet would force me to do some ridiculously convoluted process to get the same thing done. Or in the case of the Kindle Fire, it is impossible due to not having stock android. iPad is just a better experience than any android tablet, and is MUCH easier to use for those who are computer illiterate.

Keep in mind software updates and whatnot will require itunes - as the software is many years old now (excluding recent updates of course) i'd imagine her current mac would do that fine.

How is it that I find it easier to use Android than it is to use iOS? I have an iPod Touch and for someone like me who turns on/off wifi frequently, swiping down and tapping wireless once is far easier than going into Settings and searching for wifi. The only gesture I liked about iPads is closing a program, everything else is just on par with current Android.

Updating does not require connection to iTunes but file management/syncing does and that's where the headache starts.

 

[Shephard]

as I said her current computer it is not supported anymore. The current version of iTunes does not even recognize new iPhones or iPads. Forget that computer. Pretend she doesn't have one because it's trash.

iPad 2 non retina is $399. That would fit the budget after taxes. But it's 16gb no expandable storage. Not good at all for holding HD movies. You could constantly have to delete stuff off the iPad and put new movies on.

 

[blackened23]

In response to DMA (above)

I'm an amazon prime customer. I can't use amazon prime videos on android, except in a browser window - and prime videos in browsers cannot be HD (limitation of amazon's playback). That leaves the ipad having the best experience for using amazon's ecosystem without limiting myself to the kindle fire HD - which while being a pretty good tablet, has other issues.

Additionally, google play is just not nearly as complete as the itunes/ipad ecosystem, period. You can rest assured you can get anything you want on an ipad. Android? Maybe. Sometimes. There are far more movies available on itunes as compared to google play.

I can fire off a hundred examples here, but I won't. You have your preference, but i'd easily take an ipad over an android tablet anyday - the only valid reason to ever get an android tablet is if you really hate apple that much, or can't afford the ipad that you want. I'm not saying the last statement facetiously, generally speaking android tablets are for those on a budget. There are a few outliers but the ipad still offers a better experience IMHO.

 

[blackened23]

as I said her current computer it is not supported anymore. The current version of iTunes does not even recognize new iPhones or iPads. Forget that computer. Pretend she doesn't have one because it's trash.

iPad 2 non retina is $399. That would fit the budget after taxes. But it's 16gb no expandable storage. Not good at all for holding HD movies. You could constantly have to delete stuff off the iPad and put new movies on.

Using local storage for everything on a tablet is dated thinking. Use cloud. I play practically everything on my ipad from cloud. Using local storage only will limit you incredibly, I don't personally know of anyone that does that. The only exception is when you need to fly somewhere and will not have access to wifi - then in those cases I may load a movie onto local storage. Otherwise, local storage is for applications only while using cloud for everything else.

Again, I don't know of anyone that uses local storage for all media on the ipad. It's pretty insane to do that, especially for music.

 

[Shephard]

Using local storage for everything on a tablet is dated thinking. Use cloud. I play practically everything on my ipad from cloud. Using local storage only will limit you incredibly, I don't personally know of anyone that does that. The only exception is when you need to fly somewhere and will not have access to wifi - then in those cases I may load a movie onto local storage. Otherwise, local storage is for applications only while using cloud for everything else.

Again, I don't know of anyone that uses local storage for all media on the ipad. It's pretty insane to do that, especially for music.

cloud for HD movies that would take forever...?