Ipad Mini V other tabs

[Buzz Billsberry]

Hi All 

 

Looking to buy my partner a tablet for Christmas. I like the I pad I have and wondered what the cheaper tabs are like. I've never used android etc. so I was wandering which is the best/usable against cost. Its going to be used for surfing etc all the usual tablet stuff really looking at probably 32gb if I go down that route but I like the look of the Samsung tablets but don't have a clue on Samsung?android spec etc

 

Any help or info on deals etc.. would be brill!

 

Cheers

 

Buzz

[Kingster]

Well - I've used quite a few as I develop for a living and need to test.

 

So have tried:

 

Android: Galaxy Tab 7.0 version 1 (android 2.2), Galaxy Tab 7.0 v2 (android 3), Galaxy Note 10.1 (android 4), Motorola Xoom (Android 3),

 

Apple: iPad 1 (iOS4 or 5) and an iPad mini retina running iOS7.

 

Windows: Asus Transformer - tablet with a proper keyboard.

 

Personally I tend to grab the iPad mini out of all of them - I really like it and it's a much better 'form factor' than a 7" Android even though it's around the same size. I don't tend to load games or a lot of apps on it, so my viewpoint is from a "grab it and surf" one. The only downside for me is iTunes - I hate being tied into it, so Android is much better in that respect.

 

My missus really likes her Galaxy note 10.1" - she prefers the larger screen and it is a very nice bit of kit, the pen is handy too. Android is a nice OS and quite similar to iOS in many ways, and I'm a big fan (have had Android phones since they first came out) although the Apple OS does feel that tiny bit 'slicker' if I'm honest.

 

The Asus is also very nice and useful for the wife if she has to do work stuff as it has Office on it - but I hate Microsoft software with a passion so am heavily biased against it - I tend to get very frustrated with the Win8 OS - it just sucks and lacks the intuitive feel of iOS and Android (in my opinion) - the actual hardware is nice though.

 

hope this helps.

 

Chris

[XTR2Turbo]

depends what you want to spend but at the lower price point I am very happy with my Google Nexus that was only £120

[CraigHew]

I'm in the same boat for Xmas with the wife's present. Currently awaiting the new google nexus 9 which will be released in a few weeks.

Purely personal choice but I'll never own an Ipad/Ipod/Mac

 

Having worked in IT I understand the differential attack risk scenarios of different OS platforms, but I just don't like the way apple tie their systems down.

[Castlecroft]

+1 for the Google nexus 

[Wagoneer]

If you can afford it, Apple all the way. I might be slightly biased having used Macs since 1988 (on a commercial basis) and have a particular dislike of Windows. Having said that I'm currently using a new (as in just bought tonight) Google Chromebook laptop and it's fantastic!
I looked at tablets first, several with removable keyboards as I didn't really want a full on laptop. This Chromebook fits the bill as it's somewhere inbetween. Much cheaper too!

[Buzz Billsberry]

Thanks guys some good info there ive a few weeks to go yet before I purchase so any more info out there please post

Thanks again

Buzz

[dombanks]

assuming you want it as a surprise how manufacturing a senario where you and her are shopping one day and getting her to try a few on the sly? sort of dress it up as "oh lets look at these ... which one do you like?" type thing she may give you a clue?

 

her indoors for me would see right through it tho and as she dislikes mac (cant write what she says) its easier for me.

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

I've had a couple of Kindles, 7" Fire HD and after that was stolen a 7" Fire HDX (with 3G/4G). I was pleased enough with the Fire HD I bought my wife a 8.9 Fire HD. 

 

Initially I was not sure about the Fire HDX but a recent update has transformed it,

My wife has not got on with hers though and it looks like an iPad Mini will be on the Xmas List.(she's an iPhone user)

 

As an Amazon Prime use I quite like the Amanzon fire because I can download Prime video content to watch while not connected, which is a real bonus when taking it on holiday or to areas without connectivity. None amazon devises can watch Prime video but not down load it.

 

Good luck with a difficult choice.

[Stuart]

Purely personal choice but I'll never own an Ipad/Ipod/Mac

 

Having worked in IT I understand the differential attack risk scenarios of different OS platforms, but I just don't like the way apple tie their systems down.

 

What he said.  Having switched from iPhone to Android phone a few months ago I will never go back.  I hated iTunes with a vengeance.  Now I can just click and drag my media from PC to phone and vice versa.  Lovely.

[djm]

Another vote for the Google Nexus 7 2nd Generation, great bit of kit.

[Dodgey]

If you want to get her a tablet, and she doesn't care what make it is, then you have no reason to buy an ipad unless you are iLoyal. There are Android tabs out there now that are the same or better than the iPads for a fraction of the price. Android is so good now that a new user would have no harder time grasping Android or iOs. Android has become extremely streamlined. A few years ago, when peolpe asked me what to buy for their other half, or parents, I'd say an iPad, as it was foolproof and perfect for people who don't care or want to know about the technology behind it. Android has become that good now too. 

 

As for specs - it's down to physical size and looks these days. As long as you don't buy some cheap Chinese knock offs you won't notice performance differences between any modern half decent tabs now. I'm an ex IT director and I never even checked what processor my Sony Xperia tablet Z has (it is admitidly top of the range, or was). My g/f has an old  Nexus 7 version 1, and I've not seen slow down on that at all.

 

People will go on about retina displays, but on a 1080p modern tablet you need a magifying glass to see the pixels. You really will be amazed at 1080p. on 10 inch tablets and less. Retina is a marketing tool to make ipad owners needlessly upgrade.

 

Comparable to the iPad mini in dimensions, I'd get the Tesco Hudl 2. It's 8.5 inches 1080p, super light, fast, rapidly gaining the reputation as the best value tablet out at the moment, and it's £120, or as little as £60 with clubcard points. It really is a mega bargain.

 

FYI - I've always scoffed at apple, in my work it was a ludicrous proposition, but a few years ago, there was nothing like the iPad. Nothing came close. I bought one. I was happy for around 10 months. It's a tablet with a small OS. It doesn't do much. Hence it's smooth and fast. Then came iOS 7. In a blink, my tablet had miraculously become jerky and not smooth any more. Fine, I'll go back to iOs6 - nope - Apple don't allow it.

 

How on earth did an OS update slow it? I'll never know - it's not like it's doing more in the background, or the screen resolution has changed. It's a con, and I'm far from alone in thinking that.

[Buzz Billsberry]

Thanks for the additional input and the additional overview dodgy I've narrowed it down to the Samsung or the hudl2 which is nice bit of kit for the price.....

Thanks again everyone for your help

Buzz

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

After returning a faulty lenovo yoga (worst customer care I've ever dealt with!) I have just bought an Acer Aspire Switch 10.  It runs Windows 8.1.  I was only really looking at Android until I stumbled on one of these in the shop for a pretty decent price and went home to do some googling.  First impressions are pretty decent to be fair.  

 

Solid state drive so it's pretty quick.  It has some xbox based music thing for free on it which I haven't really played with too much yet but basically seems like free music once you have internet access. Comes with a detachable keyboard and has micro HDMI out which is handy.  Free copy of MS office included too.

 

Also unlike many other windows based tabs, it runs a full version of windows rather than the cut down windows RT so you can install any software you want on it.

 

John Lewis at 249 seems the best price on them I've found and has a two year warranty which seems fair to me!

[Kezman]

I'm a big apple fan so of course I would personally recommend the iPad. Wether it be full size or mini. Taking care to not buy from an apple shop but somewhere like John Lewis where you will certainly get two years guarantee as standard and sometimes three.

However...... I will totally admitt with Dodgey, that Tesco's Hudl 2 is indeed Bargin of the year. I've had a play and it is butter smooth, great specs and handling late versions of Andriod no problem at all. For that price. Brilliant.