$200 tablet purchase: new Nexus 7 or used 10 inch Xoom? Or other?

[s44]

If I can't watch hbo go on it or movies then that's a serious problem. Glad I asked. Think I'm leaning towards the nexus for sure now.

You should be focusing on the Lenovo... see if that has any particular issues.

 

[murphy55d]

You should be focusing on the Lenovo... see if that has any particular issues.

A quick search shows very little development going on for this...root, but not much else. No forum of its own on xda or anything.

 

[Midwayman]

If you need a cheap 10.1 inch tablet, I'd look around for a ASUS Transformer TF300. I've seen some of those go for under $300.


Edit: I should say I've seen used/refurbished TF300's under $300. So maybe look for one on eBay or Woot sometimes has refurbished ones on sale.

New, under $300
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/10inch-tablet-transformer-pad/prod8110283.ip?navAction=

 

[caveman017]

I'd personally still get the Nexus 7, but the Lenovo IdeaTab A2109 is middle ground at $229.99

http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...9-Tablet-9-16/

9" 1280 x 800
1.2Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 3
1GB RAM
16GB storage + microSDXC slot
3MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera
802.11b/g/n wireless
Bluetooth v3.0
GPS
microHDMI
microUSB
Dual speakers

The LCD sucks. Went to Best Buy to check it out. Holy inversion of colors with viewing angles

 

[murphy55d]

Ended up getting a nexus 7. Loving it. Flashed aokp and franco kernel and it's running great.

 

[frozentundra123456]

The fact you are asking this question makes me want to slap your parents. Just kidding. Nexus 7 of course.

I used to think nothing smaller than a 10 inch tablet would do, but after having a Nexus 7, I really love 7 inch tablets now.

I have a 7 inch tablet, and it is nice for reading books, but dont you find the virtual keyboard covers almost the entire screen when it pops up? I have a very hard time replying to e-mail, especially if there are several conversations in the subject because it is very difficult to see the parent e-mail and the reply you are typing when the keyboard takes up so much of the screen.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i would get nexus 7 of those two, but honestly nexus 7 is old now, the screen it too small, the bezel too big and tegra 3 sux bawls. id wait and get the nexus 7 II in a few mumfs

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Ended up getting a nexus 7. Loving it. Flashed aokp and franco kernel and it's running great.

love it, gist dont marry it, cuz you be wantin' da new verzhun in two mumfs

 

[zod96]

I used to think 7 inch tablets were to small also and that I could only use a 10 inch. Well I tried out a friends 7 inch Nexus and I love it. Can hold it in one hand very little and portable. The 10 inches tablets seem to be a bit to big and bulky. I actually think 8.9 inch is the perfect size. I tried the Kindle Hd 8.9 and it was awesome. Its just the Amazon crap that keeps me from buying it. I don't understand why no tablet maker like Asus, Acer etc don't come out with a 8.9 inch. Although in the end I got the Nexus 7 32GB on sale for $199

 

[Midwayman]

I don't understand why no tablet maker like Asus, Acer etc don't come out with a 8.9 inch.

Just a guess- They'd be seen as worse spec than the competitors, but probably not substantially cheaper to build. I imagine that now the fire hd 8.9 and nook hd+ have broken the ground you might start seeing a few more.

 

[vike105]

I used to think 7 inch tablets were to small also and that I could only use a 10 inch. Well I tried out a friends 7 inch Nexus and I love it. Can hold it in one hand very little and portable. The 10 inches tablets seem to be a bit to big and bulky. I actually think 8.9 inch is the perfect size. I tried the Kindle Hd 8.9 and it was awesome. Its just the Amazon crap that keeps me from buying it. I don't understand why no tablet maker like Asus, Acer etc don't come out with a 8.9 inch. Although in the end I got the Nexus 7 32GB on sale for $199

Congrats on your purchase, how did you get it for $199? I'm in the market for a nexus 7. Don't think I can wait for the refresh. I think the current version can handle all my needs.

Edit: Just realised you didn't purchase it recently. Nvm lol.

 

[dagamer34]

Just a guess- They'd be seen as worse spec than the competitors, but probably not substantially cheaper to build. I imagine that now the fire hd 8.9 and nook hd+ have broken the ground you might start seeing a few more.

I actually doubt that. I think the market is seeing a clear trend towards 7" tablets, and once they get high resolution displays, the 10" market will be an afterthought. I've always asked myself if the iPad was successful because of it's 10" form factor or because it was made by Apple, since there isn't another successful 10" tablet on the market, whereas I can name several 7" tablets that did decently well.

 

[Midwayman]

I actually doubt that. I think the market is seeing a clear trend towards 7" tablets, and once they get high resolution displays, the 10" market will be an afterthought. I've always asked myself if the iPad was successful because of it's 10" form factor or because it was made by Apple, since there isn't another successful 10" tablet on the market, whereas I can name several 7" tablets that did decently well.

Right. Because they are cheap. Lets get some premium 7" tabs out there and see how well they do vs 10" tabs when there is only a small difference in price. I doubt there is any large bias toward smaller size independent of cost and specs.

 

[Red Storm]

Right. Because they are cheap. Lets get some premium 7" tabs out there and see how well they do vs 10" tabs when there is only a small difference in price. I doubt there is any large bias toward smaller size independent of cost and specs.

I know I like smaller tablets better, and I know that of my five relatives who own iPads, all five of them like the Mini better than the normal iPad specifically because of the reduced size.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The iPad Mini is the perfect size. It is the first iPad I have really wanted, and I would have one if the first version wasn't so obviously flawed.

If the Mini 2 has a retina screen and the iPad 4's GPU it will be hard to say no.

 

[lopri]

"Retina" iPad mini is a simply idiot-proof prediction, IMO. All Apple needs to do is pack in A6 or A6X and it'll receive rave reviews as long as Apple doesn't screw up whatever version of iOS it debuts with. I bought a mini for my nephew last christmas but it's because he's 7 year old. It's really a nice tablet nonetheless.

 

[Midwayman]

I know I like smaller tablets better, and I know that of my five relatives who own iPads, all five of them like the Mini better than the normal iPad specifically because of the reduced size.

Yes, the plural of anecdote is 'data'. FWIW the mini isn't 7" its closer to 8"

 

[Red Storm]

Yes, the plural of anecdote is 'data'. FWIW the mini isn't 7" its closer to 8"

It's much closer to 7 than 10.

 

[lopri]

I've just looked at Samsung site and Galaxy Tab 2 7" is $199 now for 8 GB version. It is in some ways better featured than Nexus 7.

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/GT-P3113GRSXAR

Pros
- Micro-SD slot
- USB Host mode native (no root necessary)
- Touch Wiz if you're into it
- Likely better build quality
- 50 GB Dropbox account
- Office app built-in
- Rear Camera

Cons
- Only 8 GB (just as the first N7 @$199)
- Likely slower CPU (dual-core Exynos 4, compared to quad-core Tegra 3 in N7)
- Lower resolution (1024 x 600)
- No front camera

And they've got Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for $350, which sounds quite reasonable compared to what they used to cost. (Though at that point you might as well go with Nexus 10)

 

[OBLAMA2009]

I've just looked at Samsung site and Galaxy Tab 2 7" is $199 now for 8 GB version. It is in some ways better featured than Nexus 7.

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/GT-P3113GRSXAR

Pros
- Micro-SD slot
- USB Host mode native (no root necessary)
- Touch Wiz if you're into it
- Likely better build quality
- 50 GB Dropbox account
- Office app built-in
- Rear Camera

Cons
- Only 8 GB (just as the first N7 @$199)
- Likely slower CPU (dual-core Exynos 4, compared to quad-core Tegra 3 in N7)
- Lower resolution (1024 x 600)
- No front camera

And they've got Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for $350, which sounds quite reasonable compared to what they used to cost. (Though at that point you might as well go with Nexus 10)

the screen resolution is the deadbreaker here, regardless of everything else

i agree the ipad mini is the best tablet out there. the screen dimensions make it not seem too small unlike android 7"'s

 

[Midwayman]

It's much closer to 7 than 10.

Sure, but that extra inch makes a world of difference. My wife has a mini and it feels substantially larger than than the android 7" tablets I've used.

 

[Red Storm]

Sure, but that extra inch makes a world of difference. My wife has a mini and it feels substantially larger than than the android 7" tablets I've used.

So if we're saying the Mini is the perfect size, then the 7" tablets are closer to that spec than the large 10" tablets.

 

[Midwayman]

So if we're saying the Mini is the perfect size, then the 7" tablets are closer to that spec than the large 10" tablets.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying everyone liking the mini's size indicates a preference towards a larger tablet than 7". I think a large part of the mini's popularity is that is much cheaper than a full size ipad. I have had a couple women tell me they liked it because it can fit in their purse however. I think the 'ideal' size for most people will be in the 8-9" range. That'd put us with phones upto about 6". small tabs at 8-9" and maybe a market for home based tablet computers in the range of normal laptop screen eventually. Things are still shaking out.

 

[dlock13]

I think if Vizio were to come out with this tablet, I'd be completely sold because it has a more svelte design than the Nexus 7.

I'm really debating on what I want to ask for my birthday. It's a toss up between a Nexus 7/10 or waiting until the Nexus update in June/July. I had a Motorola Xoom for a while and I liked the size. Then I had an iPad which was nice, but I couldn't justify keeping it because of the price. I want a Surface Pro, but that's so very expensive.

Man, this market is making my indecisiveness give me anxiety problems. :l

It also doesn't help that I have the Droid DNA which is good, but then I think about wanting a tablet/laptop or trading this phone for a Note 2.... My gosh... I'm ridiculous.

 

[s44]

It also doesn't help that I have the Droid DNA which is good, but then I think about wanting a tablet/laptop or trading this phone for a Note 2.... My gosh... I'm ridiculous.

Split the difference? Keep the DNA, get a Note 8.0 as the tablet.