First Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Or Other?

[smokeysmoo]

I've got a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and love it.

Miss Smoo recently got a mini iPad and she loves that.

I had talked her into a Nexus 7, but when we went to have a look at them I didn't know there was no rear facing camera, and for an 8 year old that was a deal breaker, hence the iPad.

Your budget suggests you won't, but if you do go the Apple route I'd recommend buying from an Apple store, as a retail experience it really does takes some beating.

 

[HLaB]

Why is that mate? Do you think 7" is adequate enough for web browsing without lots of zooming, or do you also take it out and about with you also, as I would imagine this would make 10" a bit of a pain?

Ive recently entered the tablet world (well the electronic stuff ), with the tab 2. The 7 inch is ideal for browsing with the occasional zoom on some site. However, I tend to use it in landscape mode and the screen keyboard obscures half the page its no longer ideal.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I've got a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and love it.

Miss Smoo recently got a mini iPad and she loves that.

I had talked her into a Nexus 7, but when we went to have a look at them I didn't know there was no rear facing camera, and for an 8 year old that was a deal breaker, hence the iPad.

Your budget suggests you won't, but if you do go the Apple route I'd recommend buying from an Apple store, as a retail experience it really does takes some beating.

To be honest I have £500 to spend as it is a gift from work for 25 years service. I was going to put it towards a bike but have changed my mind. I just think with what I want to use one for it is a waste of money as I am not really bothered about cameras, I admit a high quality screen would be nice but it is not a deal breaker for what I want. I guess I am just anti-Apple to be honest and like the Android operating system. Then again Google seem to be going the same way so maybe an Ipad would be a good idea. I had just planned on buying another gadget with the remainder of the cash, half decent camera, bike GPS. I think these would be more use to me than an Ipad with a retina display.

Work had to purchase the items and there is certain guidelines as to what can be purchased.

 

[ColinJ]

I have a Mk 1 Galaxy Tab - the 8.9" version which is a good compromise between the 7" and 10" sizes. It has the resolution of the bigger model, but in a more convenient package. I don't watch movies on it. but 720p YouTube videos look great.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Ive recently entered the tablet world (well the electronic stuff ), with the tab 2. The 7 inch is ideal for browsing with the occasional zoom on some site. However, I tend to use it in landscape mode and the screen keyboard obscures half the page its no longer ideal.

Yes that's a good point. My soon to be ex wife had a pretty good HP 11.6" netbook that I bought her and that was a great bit of kit could play HD video no bother (not a shoot Intel Atom one), good battery life, keyboard. I sometimes wonder if a netbook would be better. It is just the odd time if I wanted to take it out somewhere that has me leaning towards a tablet. And what you mention makes me definitely lean towards a 10".

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The nexus devices are pure android and it shows in the performance, Samsung devices have that sense ui overlay which impacts performance.
Apple pads have a great interface which is simple and highly controlled, and although it was once vastly better than android once it is no more, the hardware is under spec compared to the competition and they need to up their game.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes that's a good point. My soon to be ex wife had a pretty good HP 11.6" netbook that I bought her and that was a great bit of kit could play HD video no bother (not a s*** Intel Atom one), good battery life, keyboard. I sometimes wonder if a netbook would be better. It is just the odd time if I wanted to take it out somewhere that has me leaning towards a tablet. And what you mention makes me definitely lean towards a 10".

I have a 12" widescreen Dell laptop, which is a tad too big to be called a netbook. I bought it for its portability and I was happy with it until I got the Tab. I still use the laptop at home (I'm on it now) but nowadays I always carry the Tab instead when travelling. There is a surprising difference between 1 pound and 4 pounds when you have to carry it on foot or on a bike, and the Tab takes up a lot less room in a rucksack.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I have a 12" widescreen Dell laptop, which is a tad too big to be called a netbook. I bought it for its portability and I was happy with it until I got the Tab. I still use the laptop at home (I'm on it now) but nowadays I always carry the Tab instead when travelling. There is a surprising difference between 1 pound and 4 pounds when you have to carry it on foot or on a bike, and the Tab takes up a lot less room in a rucksack.

Thanks Colin. To be honest I will probably not that often take it out of the house, but for the odd time I do, I fancy a tablet. If I was going to be doing lots of typing on the device I would definitely get a netbook. I never thought that I would like a touch screen mobile phone for texting but using swype makes it pretty good. The size of a tablet, well a 10" one I could imagine swype being a pain in the arse, but a bigger touch screen keyboard should hopefully make using forums etc not that much of an issue.

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks Colin. To be honest I will probably not that often take it out of the house, but for the odd time I do, I fancy a tablet. If I was going to be doing lots of typing on the device I would definitely get a netbook. I never thought that I would like a touch screen mobile phone for texting but using swype makes it pretty good. The size of a tablet, well a 10" one I could imagine swype being a pain in the arse, but a bigger touch screen keyboard should hopefully make using forums etc not that much of an issue.

I've just bought a medium-sized Bluetooth keyboard to use with the Tab when I am doing more typing than I want to do on the touchscreen. It is pretty good - an Advent K512. You can get them on eBay for £10-14 'Buy It Now' or less in auctions.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The thing with 7 inch tabs is they feel great in your hands specially if reading, you can type holding it with one hand.. a ten inch tab is a little too large to do this with so you end up resting it on your lap or other places.
A 7 inch tab is easy to type on with swipe, while a ten has the keyboard characters so far apart you use it like a traditional keyboard

 

[MossCommuter]

Another to consider. Cheap and with an SD card slot and Beats Audio

http://h20386.www2.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=E0H92AA&opt=ABB&sel=PCNB&view=reviews

 

[Duckehhh]

Just to add. I first got a Nexus 7 last July at launch. Then got a Nexus 10 some time after as I felt for home use. 10 is much more comfortable. The 7 is unbelievably portable though. Fits in a pocket

 

[PaulSB]

After much research and worry! I got a Nexus 7. Extremely pleased as its excellent for both work and leisure which is what I wanted. Web pages and watching TV is fine and the screen is plenty large enough. Very portable a d comfortable to hold.

I have used iPhones for years and didn't appreciate why people like Android. I'm a convert now but would still use an iPhone in preference simply because I like it!

I bought a stylus which is great for spreadsheet entry. The keyboard swipe typing for other functions helps me as I have chubby fingers.

The Samsung did seem to have a better screen so might be your choice for films etc. All round though I feel the nexus is far more flexible.

My only grouse is it has a front facing camera, something I hadn't heard off. I would assume front facing means it faces away from you but in fact it points at you and the only images you can take are of yourself. Daft! Why it can't have a reversible camera like the iPhone is beyond me.

 

[stephec]

Slightly OT maybe, but what exactly is swipe typing?

 

[Duckehhh]

Slightly OT maybe, but what exactly is swipe typing?

Swiping your fingers across the keys to spell. Rather than pressing each individual letter. Actually works using two thumbs on each side aswell