So Many Tablets But Which One?

[mowestusa]

I don't have a smart phone, and probably won't because of the cost of the monthly data plans and it is rare to not be near my home phone or work phone (currently get by with just a Tracfone for when I need a cell phone). This would be my only Android device. I really enjoyed reading Pat's series on the Archos 101, but I'm wondering the following:

- How do you know if the tablet you buy now will run the next version of Android (Honeycomb?) and is that a big deal if it doesn't?
- There are a lot of devices that are either Android 2.1 or 2.2 should that concern you?
- There are some neat 7" and some 10" models. Which is the way to go, because cost is not that different at times?
- How do you know if you are getting the full Android Marketplace or not?
- Where are the websites with the best information that show all of the specs and all of the features?

I would like to use the tablet for the following:
1. Light reading (would be really nice if you can bookmark and annotate books too, but I don't know if it is possible) I don't picture myself reading a lot on it, but perhaps I would change my mind once I had it.
2. Reference PDF's or Documents for work that I frequently use for information procedures, check lists, another items.
3. Perhaps a mobile shopping list too.
4. Skype family - however we will be getting a new laptop at home that would do this as well.
5. Watch Hulu (is this possible at all?)
6. If I could hook up an external USB keyboard to use as a moble text editor at times that would be wickedly cool.
7. Simple web browsing
8. Check email and send short responses (Gmail account)
9. Check google calendar (would love to be able to take it with me if possible and sync when back on wifi).

I have looked at the Nook Color which is supposed to have 2.2 support and Android market place and the screen looked beautiful and the multi touch was really nice. I definitely want one that has multi touch, they seem quicker and more responsive. I tried a 7" tablet at Best Buy that was wifi only and it was not multi touch and I had to be very exact and firm when touching it. I like the 7" because it would be more portable and closer to my old Palm Pilot that I used for many of the things listed above, but I'm really being influenced by Pat's good review of the 10" and my time with an IPAD. I really like the Nook Color, but don't know if it will fit the bill after they introduce the 2.2 version of Android on it. The Galaxy Tab is out of the running because of price along with the IPAD (and it is Apple). The Archos 70 and 101 look to be winners. The Viewsonics seem to get good reviews. There are probably others that would be great too that I don't know about. I would like to stay at $350 or below, my sweet spot would be $200-$250, but that might not be possible.

[Patrick]

I would like to stay at $350 or below, my sweet spot would be $200-$250, but that might not be possible.

I paid $280 for the Archos 101. Give it a little time and I'm sure they'll sell for $250. 2011 will be the year of the Android tablet.

[mowestusa]

Pat,
What do you think about the Archos 70 vs. the Archos 101? What made you choose one over the other?

[Patrick]

Pat,
What do you think about the Archos 70 vs. the Archos 101? What made you choose one over the other?

The 101 became available first. So far I still like it.

[richardhughes]

I just saw this on tech bargains

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1 ... ndroid-22/

Is this a good tablet / deal ?

[Marc_uk]

prozac ?

[marc]

I just saw this on tech bargains

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1 ... ndroid-22/

Is this a good tablet / deal ?

Richard, don't buy this one. The view angle on it is horrible. However, the unit's constant crashing simply updating it's own software was the last straw. I returned it.

This was back in the middle of December, the update issue may have been fixed however since the view angle is very very very narrow, it's practically worthless. This is a terrible shame considering the horse power it has.

I knew to give up on this one when Viewsonic's tech support recommended that I return it as soon as possible because of firmware issues. Did you know that Viewsonic has a separate support group for the Gtablet? Hmmm... Sounds like viewsonic is re-badging
somebody else's product.

Marc

[Patrick]

I just saw this on tech bargains

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1 ... ndroid-22/

Is this a good tablet / deal ?

The hardware is nice but the customized version of Android they've shipped is pretty much a disaster. The good thing is cyanogenmod is running on it and it's pretty easy getting a nice custom build of Android on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3stXbQM17A
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?t ... date_Guide

[eddie]

Update: Never mind as it allegedly will not run Android 2.2.



Anyone tried this one:
Coby Android 2.1 7" Tablet Coby MID7015-4G:
http://www.frys.com/product/6488512?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG

[marc]

I just saw this on tech bargains

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1 ... ndroid-22/

Is this a good tablet / deal ?

The hardware is nice but the customized version of Android they've shipped is pretty much a disaster. The good thing is cyanogenmod is running on it and it's pretty easy getting a nice custom build of Android on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3stXbQM17A
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?t ... date_Guide

Nevertheless, it's view angle is incredibly poor. Please take time to have a gander at it. I'm sure it will surprise you how difficult it is to get a good position on the screen to see it well. With such a narrow view angle, reflections become even a worse issue than usual.