Tablet PC

[TheGreenRabbit]

Looking for a tablet to replace the large textbooks I use every day, effectivly I will just be viewing PDFs on it, I could use a Kindle but need a colour screen, I don't want to spend Apple money on a I pad, but could stretch to a Blackberry playbook, would one of the cheeper android tablets do the job ?

If you have anything like this let me know.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Most Android tablets come with a pdf reader, so they should be able to open .pdf files.
Even my Android phones (a HTC Desire and a Desire S) open them without hesitating.

 

[uktyler]

I just got rid of an android tablet, that opened PDF files with ease.

They are cheap enough on Ebay, prices go up with screen size, 7" screen is probably a little too small so look at a 10"

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EKEN-10-1-ePa ... 19c9391160

If you do buy from China/HK don't forget you might get stung for customs duty.

 

[Keath]

If I were you I would choose between Samsung Galaxy Tab and Blackberry Playbook. If you are going to use it only as a reader, buy an Android tablet. But if you store some secret personal data, pick up a Playbook as Google os has some problems with secuirity.

 

[Neil]

Adobe Reader is a free android market app. I'd say for your needs a reasconable sized android tablet would do fine. I've recently got one, 10” screen, Tegra dual core, 512M ram, 16G storage (micro sd slot as well, so there's another 32G card in there). WiFi only, though, but reasonable spec, cost a shade under £160 from ebuyer. Many tablet prices are tumbling, with what happened with the TouchPad, and other tablets subsequently sold at near firesale prices, either as loss leaders or to make way for newer models.

 

[yagamuffin]

Be wary of the Blackberry Playbook.
If you just want to use it as a book reader then it should be fine but bear in mind it has no 3G so you will need a Blackberry to tether with for Internet access when WiFi isn't available.

Also, the performance isn't great - in my experience the iPad is a million times better (as much as it pains me to say it).

I've not tried Android tabs but do love my Android phone, and working with PDFs is simple as...

 

[yagamuffin]

And I would recommend Android v3.0 (designed for tablets) rather than the 2.x (designed for phones). The Motorola Xoom is supposed to be very good and fetch about £200 on eBay.

 

[Neil]

And I would recommend Android v3.0 (designed for tablets) rather than the 2.x (designed for phones). The Motorola Xoom is supposed to be very good and fetch about £200 on eBay.

I wouldn't get too tied up about Android version - most can be upgraded, and there's some very good 2.3.x versions, with skins / themes that work very nicely.

As to the WiFi / 3g thing, I guess it depends how you're going to use it. If internet on the move is important, then 3g is probably a key factor, if not - it may well be an irrelevance. I don't miss 3g on my WiFi only Kindle - and truth be told, don't really with my Android tablet (on the move, I'd probably use it for video or reading).

As to web stuff, a tablet with a nice sized screen is handy, but doing anything like email or replying in forums there's not much between my smartphone and tablet.

 

[ringo]

Aren't Kindle bring out a colour version in the states at the mo...?

Might be worth waiting a bit...

 

[Neil]

Aren't Kindle bring out a colour version in the states at the mo...?

Might be worth waiting a bit...

Kindle do have some new models in the US market, we won't get them all in the UK though.

About the waiting thing, there's always going to be something new - the Bigger, Better Deal - just around the corner, and unless you're waiting for something specifically you'll always be waiting. because there's always something better, newer or cheaper around the corner.

If you can find a reasonably priced android tablet, with some support in the developer community I say go for it, you can run the Kindle app for free, or Adobe's pdf reader, and a whole host of other apps. I'm typing and replying, now on a Tegra dual core 10" Android tablet running 2.3.5 (albeit I've installed a newer rom), and it cost me a smidgen under £160. All I'm saying is that it's not iPad or nothing, there is some middle ground, and it doesn't have to cost hundreds. Some carefully chosen tablets make great bargains and work very well.