Decent tablet for under $500?

MortonH · #1 09-11-2013, 10:54 PM

I fancy a cheap tablet for astronomy. Something that will run something like SkySafari and also a allow me to carry a collection of ebooks around.

General requirements are:

10" screen or thereabouts
Accepts memory expansion cards
WiFi only
Not a piece of cr@p

Any suggestions?

absolut (Rob) · #2 09-11-2013, 11:15 PM

Hey Morton!

I'll be heading down the tablet road myself eventually. I'm loving the Samsung Galaxy phones and I've had a play on one of the tablets and it was excellent. Turns out you can get the latest 10" Tab 3 for under $500...
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/samsung-...b-wi-fi-white/
Name brands without the Apple logo are still cheap.

Let me know which way you go!

Rob

glend (Glen) · #3 09-11-2013, 11:29 PM

You can run Sky Safari on Android or Apple tablets. The trend seems to be for more 7" tablets in the Android world, and I find that a good size for mounting on the stalk attached to my dob mount.

I'd recommend the fastest processor you can get, and your right there are heaps of Chinese knock offs that are terrible. If you go Android then try to get Android 4.3, as some earlier versions have wifi drop out issues, especially with slow processors.

MortonH · #4 09-11-2013, 11:42 PM

Looks like an interesting trade off in my price range will be screen size versus processor speed. I prefer the 10" screen for general use, but under $500 they come with lower-spec processors and often Android 4.1.

Guess I'll need to go play with some in store to see which screen size is best for me. The Galaxy Note 8" might be the go.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #5 10-11-2013, 12:02 AM

Under $500 gets you the latest iPad mini with retina display and latest processor, foregoing the memory card slot and in the smaller form factor...but it's not a piece of garbage

I was in JB the other day and it makes the note 8 look overpriced with its plasticy feel (subjective of course) and low resolution screen. Depends on its target purpose, but the new mini is better future proofed with the combination of hardware and Apple's OS update cycle.

Apple or Android often draws the fanboys/trolls out on both sides...but I've seen nothing from the competition that has made me switch so far.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #6 10-11-2013, 08:42 AM

Any particular features you are after?

- Screen size
- Storage
- Android/iOS

I have a Nexus 7" and it is a great little tablet!

RobF (Rob) · #7 10-11-2013, 11:42 AM

+1 for Nexus 7. Under $300, fast home delivery if you order online, ALWAYS the latest Android, fast. I sometimes thing my next purchase might be a 10", but I've never seen one you can hold in one hand for reading and surfing like you can the Nexus.

Only problem is finding the damn thing - the kids and wife love it too

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #8 10-11-2013, 12:35 PM

Google is set to release the updated Nexus 10 in about 2-3 weeks as well. Though the existing Nexus 10 isn't bad either.

The main differences I see between the Apple and Android camps, outside of app ecosystems is
1) the ability to get your own content on and off the device. Because Android has an exposed file system, you can plug it into any PC and drag and drop content, to or from the device, without aid or interference of 3rd party applications.
2) the ability share information is significantly better on the Android platform. Sharing is a native function of just about all apps as it is a native exposed API within the OS itself, ie click on any webpage and you are listed with every app that has information sharing capability, like Twitter, FB, printers, LinkedIn, Email, SMS/MMS, Skype, BT, Dropbox, Google+ Google Hangouts, etc etc. whatever you have loaded the exchanges information. Same happens for other information displaying apps.

glend (Glen) · #9 10-11-2013, 01:40 PM

Just be careful about what version of the Nexus 7 that you look at - if your considering that format. The new version (2013) model is preferred as it has the faster processor, later version of Android, longer battery life and much improved display. It's selling at JB Hifi for around $330, the old version is also still on sale for around $280. It's not a bargain as it will require an ANdroid upgrade, and rumours persist of it dropping wifi connections. Remember you want a tablet platform that can hold up the Sky Safari telescope connection for hours without dropouts (which may mean a re-alignment). I have three Android tablets, and only the 2013 Nexus 7 seems to be capable of holding up the telescope connection for hours at a time.

chrisp9au (Chris) · #10 10-11-2013, 02:07 PM

+1 for the Nexus 7.

I have the older Wifi 32gb version, rooted and with CyanogenMod installed.
Runs Sky Safari Plus perfectly; I've removed all other astronomy apps because they just don't measure up.

I also have a 10" Asus Transformer TF101G, older Android tablet, rooted and with the Katkiss Mod installed. Also runs Sky Safari perfectly.
The display is bigger of course, but the 10" tablet is a lot heavier, to the extent that I'm probably going to sell it.

I find I use the Nexus 7 for just about everything these days, and can really recommend it!

It doesn't have an extension port for SD cards, but I've got stacks of ebooks, music and pictures on it, no problems with drop outs at all.

Chris

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #11 10-11-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glend

It's not a bargain as it will require an ANdroid upgrade, and rumours persist of it dropping wifi connections. Remember you want a tablet platform that can hold up the Sky Safari telescope connection for hours without dropouts (which may mean a re-alignment). I have three Android tablets, and only the 2013 Nexus 7 seems to be capable of holding up the telescope connection for hours at a time.

Never had a problem with Wi-Fi on my "older" N7. Never had connection drops and I stream movies regularly to it from my media server.

The size of the N7 is great, not too big, not too small.

MortonH · #12 10-11-2013, 05:38 PM

After playing about with a few today, the 7" ones seem slightly small to me. The 8" screens seem to be a sweet spot for screen real estate and ease of use.

Now to decide on Android or iOS. I have Macs for my desktop and laptop but Android on my phone, so either one will be fine.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #13 10-11-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Never had a problem with Wi-Fi on my "older" N7. Never had connection drops and I stream movies regularly to it from my media server.

The size of the N7 is great, not too big, not too small.

+1. Never had a problem either.

Steffen · #14 10-11-2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

After playing about with a few today, the 7" ones seem slightly small to me.

A lot (all?) of the 7" tablets also have an unfortunate screen aspect ratio, which makes the screen even smaller than it sounds, especially for apps like Sky Safari.

Me? I'd get the new retina iPad mini when it comes out later this month, that's a no-brainer. Actually, I'd take the iPad Air, but that would blow the $500 budget cap.

Cheers
Steffen.

MortonH · #15 10-11-2013, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steffen

A lot (all?) of the 7" tablets also have an unfortunate screen aspect ratio, which makes the screen even smaller than it sounds, especially for apps like Sky Safari.

Me? I'd get the new retina iPad mini when it comes out later this month, that's a no-brainer. Actually, I'd take the iPad Air, but that would blow the $500 budget cap.

Cheers
Steffen.

Yep, the Retina mini is very tempting...

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #16 10-11-2013, 08:57 PM

If you're a Mac user, you already know what you want

MortonH · #17 10-11-2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

If you're a Mac user, you already know what you want

Maybe. I'm happy with my Android phone, although I chose it simply because they're available on cheaper contracts than iPhones (I'm a light user so don't need a big plan).

But any tablet I get will be WiFi only, so I guess it's all about the functionality.

I did like the feel of the iPad mini in the store this arvo. Can I hold out until the Retina model is available...?

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #18 10-11-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steffen

A lot (all?) of the 7" tablets also have an unfortunate screen aspect ratio, which makes the screen even smaller than it sounds, especially for apps like Sky Safari.

Me? I'd get the new retina iPad mini when it comes out later this month, that's a no-brainer. Actually, I'd take the iPad Air, but that would blow the $500 budget cap.

Cheers
Steffen.

I'm curious about this unfortunate screen aspect ratio you talk about, wide-screen movies and TV fit perfectly without black bars top and bottom

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #19 10-11-2013, 10:18 PM

It's unfortunate for reading books and web browsing, too wide or too narrow, pick your poison

Steffen · #20 10-11-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

wide-screen movies and TV fit perfectly without black bars top and bottom

TV productions, yes. Wide-screen movies not, unless they've been cropped to fit the TV format (most movies thankfully haven't). CinemaScope and Panavision are a lot wider than 16:9. If they show on your device without black bars then your device is cropping the content.

Even with wider black bars an iPad mini will show a larger movie picture than a Nexus 7.

Cheers
Steffen.