I need a tablet. Help me decide

[Batmeat]

I'm in the market for a tablet but I'm overwhelmed at how many there are available and which ones to avoid entirely. I figured I'd ask the people here what they recommend.

Here is what I want:

1080 p
between 8-10 inch.
detachable keyboard (some models like Asus and Acer have the keyboard doubleas a battery to increase longevity. This is a plus but not required.

expandable storage ( like micro sd card or something)
be able to output video ( micro hdmi or something)
Not APPLE (this is a must) I don't care if it's android or windows 8/8.1

Anyway, anyone got recommendations? I'm simply blown away at how many options there are on the market.

 

[sm625]

1080p is going to limit your choices severely. There have been a few deals for this type of tablet for under $300, with a bay trail processor. That's not bad at all. But they have always been 1366x768.

 

[s44]

1080p is going to limit your choices severely. There have been a few deals for this type of tablet for under $300, with a bay trail processor. That's not bad at all. But they have always been 1366x768.

Wrong. The 10" 1080p Asus MemoPad FHD has been ~$250 forever. It's CloverTrail+, but does have microHDMI out.

At 10" and somewhat higher price points, he basically has three options:
Asus TF701 - Android, 25*16, adjustable keydock, Tegra4, $430 with dock
Lenovo Miix 2 10" - Windows 8.1, 19*12, included keydock with one angle, Bay Trail, $500
Samsung Tab Pro 10.1/Note 10.1 2014 - skinned Android (adds multi-window), 25*16, no keydock, Exynos 5420, $430 for the Tab, about $50 more or less for the Note depending on new/refurb

At <10" there's this amazing little device:
Samsung Tab Pro 8.4 - skinned Android, 25*16, no keydock, Snapdragon 800, $350

The advantage of the Samsungs is that they're much lighter and offer multi-window even with Android. (The Note is slightly heavier than the 10" Tab -- still noticably lighter than the other options -- but has 3gb RAM and the S-Pen/Wacom digitizer.) I originally wanted a keydock myself, but it's turned out I'm much happier with a Logitech K810 over bluetooth ($72) plus an Anker metal stand ($12), which lets me use the tablet in portrait as computer monitors probably always should be when not gaming/showing movies.

 

[MrSquished]

I would strongly suggest this:

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=lg_g_pad&hl=en


It's a google play edition which means it runs stock android and you will get updates to Android faster than any tablet that isn't a Nexus or google play device. and no bloatware on it either.

has microSD slot, perfect size.

 

[Batmeat]

1366x768 (720p roughly) should still be ok. 1080p isnt' a must. Im at work, but when I get a chance I'm going to look at those tablets.

 

[s44]

Stock Android is crap for tablets. Two bars wasting space? No multiwindow?

There's no way in which the G Tab is better than the Tab Pro 8.4 at the same price. Now the sale stock G Tabs for ~$250... yeah, that's an option I forgot.

 

[MaxDepth]

My need for a tablet is >=10" and if it must be Apple, then explain why, please.
Don't need output to video but would prefer to have expandable memory.

 

[MrSquished]

Stock Android is crap for tablets. Two bars wasting space? No multiwindow?

There's no way in which the G Tab is better than the Tab Pro 8.4 at the same price. Now the sale stock G Tabs for ~$250... yeah, that's an option I forgot.

i'll take stock android over samsung touchwiz and bloat any day of the week and twice on sundays.

the nexus 7 is phenomenal. like it better than my samsung 7.7

 

[Batmeat]

My need for a tablet is >=10" and if it must be Apple, then explain why, please.
Don't need output to video but would prefer to have expandable memory.

This isn't what I said in my original post. Not sure if you're looking for a tablet too???

 

[North01]

If you can sacrifice the 1080p display, the ASUS T100 (Z3740 + 1366x768) is an outstanding device for the price.

$349 - 64GB tablet + keyboard dock

$369 - 32GB tablet + 500GB HDD in the keyboard dock

If you really need a 1080p display, the Dell Venue 11 Pro (Z3770 + 1920x1080) is an option.

$509 - 64 GB tablet
$137 - keyboard dock with extra battery

Or the Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 2 10 (Z3740 + 1920x1200).

$499 - 64GB tablet + keyboard dock

There is also a Lenovo ThinkPad 10 (Z3795 + 1920x1200) coming soon and it will have options for a Wacom stylus and keyboard dock, but it is expected to cost $600+.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Viewing angle looks much better on the Thinkpad 10. Shame they screwed it up on the Mixx 10.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I'd personally go with the Samsung Tab Pro 8.4", very nice android tablet with excellent high res screen, priced reasonably.

 

[Batmeat]

Asus Transformer T100 64gb and 500gb keyboard hardrive combo in the mail.

Can't beat the price and battery life with this.
Thank you all for your comments.

 

[Oyeve]

I'd personally go with the Samsung Tab Pro 8.4", very nice android tablet with excellent high res screen, priced reasonably.

I concur, I love mine.

 

[boneycat]

I got my wife the ASUS Transformer Book T100 and she loves it. I think you made a good choice.

 

[toughtrasher]

I have the Samsung Note in 10" and it's an awesome tablet, also useful for note taking, etc

 

[Geekbabe]

I have the Samsung Note in 10" and it's an awesome tablet, also useful for note taking, etc

I have the 2014 Edition of the 10.1 Note & I love it, the screen is breathtaking.

 

[Skel]

MS is announcing something this month in regards to it's Surface line. I'd say wait until then before making a final choice. Not saying it'll be worth a damn, but you never know.

 

[toughtrasher]

I have the 2014 Edition of the 10.1 Note & I love it, the screen is breathtaking.

Damn, lucky.. Never got my hands on the latest Note.

MS is announcing something this month in regards to it's Surface line. I'd say wait until then before making a final choice. Not saying it'll be worth a damn, but you never know.

I couldn't purchase a tablet the week it comes out lol, too expensive and just not worth it at the beginning.

 

[southkrn]

Sony's been making some pretty pimp tablets lately.

 

[Raduque]

I needed a new tablet so I bought a Surface RT 64gb. Replaced my Asus Transformer TF101. Well worth the price of $299 ( less the $100 I sold my TF101 for). Does everything I used my previous tablet for, but better.

 

[Skel]

Damn, lucky.. Never got my hands on the latest Note.



I couldn't purchase a tablet the week it comes out lol, too expensive and just not worth it at the beginning.

I wasn't suggesting you buy whatever new version they're pushing, I'm saying the prices should be in flux after this announcement. Older versions tend to price drop when new ones are released.

 

[lopri]

On Android front Samsung tablets are still the best. With the exception of LG 8.3 Google Edition, perhaps. I know people (including myself) dislike Touchwiz interface with passion, but if you visit local Bestbuy or Microcenter and compare them with dozen other tablets from other vendors' offerings, the difference in quality and performance is unmistakable. Heck most tablets other than Samsungs' are still running 4.0~4.2. Almost all of them are laggier than Touchwiz, including Kindles.

 

[Zaap]

Almost all of them are laggier than Touchwiz, including Kindles.

Personally, I think Touchwiz hate is just geek-fashionable. It's just something to dislike because supposedly it sounds techy and cool to do so- like you're on the Android hip-track.

I've owned an S3, Note 2, Note 3 and Note 12.2 and several Nooks and various other Android devices running stock Android, and honestly, I couldn't even tell you what exactly "Touchwiz" is on any of the Samsung devices, beyond the stock launcher, which I *NEVER* use, so why would I care about it?

With Nova Prime (pretty much the first thing installed on any Android device I own) and most of the Samsung/carrier junk turned off/hidden/frozen I couldn't *begin* to tell you difference Touchwiz makes on the Samsung devices. It just seems to me such a moot thing to be complaining about. If you're geeky enough to care what it even actually IS physically on the phone (I'm pretty geeky and even I don't really care that much) then you're also geeky enough to turn off anything it supposedly effects. If you're noob enough not to care one way or the other, then... you don't care one way or the other.

 

[desura]

Android kinda sucks for tablets. I wouldn't say that android is the best for phones either...

Just get an bay trail atom based windows 8 tablet. You won't regret it.

I would also seriously reconsider the ipad...the larger screen really allows the care taken to polish iOS really shine through. Also ipad apps really shine in showing how much better it is than android.