thai
Full Member
Posts: 164
|
Post by thai on Jan 7, 2014 8:32:27 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Specifically I am wondering about "IPads vs Everything Else".
I know zilch on this topic and my research only makes my confusion worse.
I am not a gamer and only want something that I can do a web search, my banking, check email.
For heavens sakes, I can get a Kindle Fire for $140 and from what I have read, this will do what I want far cheaper than an IPad?
Any thoughts?
Thanks and Happy New Year...Thai
|
|
|
|
Post by cyberdiva on Jan 7, 2014 10:00:13 GMT -5
Thai, I think we should talk about tablets, since according to many reports they're the hotest selling part of the IT market. I don't own a Kindle Fire, so I can't comment on it. I do own a Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB 7" tablet, which I like a lot. It's less expensive than an iPad, but more than a Kindle Fire. I bought mine for $269 as soon as it came out. I think that over the holidays people found them for somewhat less, and the 16GB version has been available at times for $199 or even less (its retail price is or was $229, I think). The Nexus 7 (2013) has a very high-resolution screen; I've read reports of its being better than the iPad mini's retina display, but I have no experience with any iPad, so I can't say. The advantage for me, in addition to glowing reviews, is that it's an Android and thus has access to a more varied assortment of apps than are available in the more carefully controlled App Store. (Of course, that's sometimes a minus as well as a plus, but I've been very happy with the apps it came with and those I've added.) Also, my husband has an Android phone, and we can share books that he buys. I would imagine that both the iPad and the Nexus 7 offer considerably more apps than the Kindle Fire, but that's just my impression. I realize that this doesn't address your main question. If you don't get more knowledgeable answers here, you might try some of the forums devoted to iPads, Android devices, or Kindle Fires. The forum I look at fairly often is forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-7-tablet-2013/ . (BTW, the "2013" is to distinguish it from the earlier Nexus 7 version, which came out in 2012, I think.) |
|
drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581 
|
Post by drcard on Jan 7, 2014 22:00:43 GMT -5
Hi Thai,
I have done some research into this and currently have a Nook Color and a Kindle Fire HD.
For Tablets, each person's opinion of this tablet or that tablet really depends upon what you what your tablet to do and be. The price is also according to what it does, but you must look at the total package. Here are some example facts.
The Nook Color is a ereader with tablet functions. For those that would use the tablet for reading books, the Nook is the best choice. Very easy to use, retains data in tablet (cloud storage devices require internet connect in order to read stored books), memory is expandable, and long use per battery charge. One draw back is you must purchase ebooks from Barnes and Noble, but it is the same with the Kindle Fire (Amazon). Over all most think Barnes and Nobles has a better selection. My wife loves it, as she finishes one book she immediately downloads another with less than 2 or 3 minute delay. The Nook is easy to set up connection for full Internet connection to handle any Internet business. Nook can facebook, e-mail, and most other basic tablet functions. I don't know of any text editors for the Nook.
The Kindle Fire HD is more of a tablet than an ereader. Kindles are cheap, but to view movies, books, etc. you are expected the become a big Amazon customer. They even rent movies to watch on the Kindle. Kindle has very limited capabilities in which format and resolution movies can be viewed. Most users will not have this format and resolution, thus having to rent or buy a movie they already have just to view it on the Kindle. The Kindle only has about 4 GB of storage (which can not be expanded) and after the OS and installed apps you have about 2.5 GB of storage space, so you'll only be to keep a couple of movies at a time on the Kindle. Kindle does connect to your PC through the USB connection allowing to load and unload data from the Kindle and PC. There is a solution for the Kindle's low storage space, which I recently purchased. Kingston makes a battery operated, WiFi connectable, external HDD. I got a 64 GB one. You download a free app that installs on the Kindle. That app connects the Kindle and the HDD via WiFi and makes all the data on the HDD available. The Kingston HDD connects to a PC for loading and unloading. With a video converter I can load my movies on DVDs onto the Kindle for viewing.
The main reason for the higher priced tablets are functions that are more like a PC, such as handling text documents, creating pdfs, and functions that the other tablets do not have. If you need that function, then spend the money and buy the one that has it; otherwise, you'll be happy with the lower priced tablets.
|
|
|
|
Post by drmark on Jan 7, 2014 23:51:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by cyberdiva on Jan 8, 2014 0:36:21 GMT -5
I might note that you don't need to buy a Nook or a Kindle to read e-books. I have a free Nook app on my Nexus 7, along with a reader from Google Books. If I wanted to, I could also add a free Kindle app.
|
|
|
|
Post by drmark on Jan 8, 2014 2:19:34 GMT -5
Good point Cyberdiva, and since Thai was asking about tablets to begin, I would add that your recommendation of the Nexus 7 would be mine as well.  |
|
thai
Full Member
Posts: 164
|
Post by thai on Jan 8, 2014 8:13:36 GMT -5
Reading books is certainly not on my high priority list for a tablet, which is not to say I won't or wouldn't if a tablet had that ability. As I originally said, this is to search, email, bank, etc.
Thanks for all the input guys and it appears the Nexus 7 is the choice of those here. I will certainly research that option but if you guys are on board with it, no doubt it will be my next toy!
I am surprised that I did not hear about the Samsung...only because they are in every flyer I pick up these days!...not because I know anything about them...or any of them for that matter.
Thai...off to research.
|
|
drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581
|
Post by drcard on Jan 8, 2014 19:04:18 GMT -5
Hi Mark & Thai,
I guess more time has passed than I thought since I did that tablet research. As I said it was the Nook Color which was an earlier version before the Nook HD came out. At that time the Nook Color out ranked the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Nobles did have a better selection and reviews than Amazon. At that time there was no way to download from Barnes & Nobles except with a Nook. It appears that all that information has done a 180 and just the opposite of what it used to be.
I am sorry than my information was so old that it was no longer useful or mislead you.
|
|
