topic Re: Need a new Tablet in Electronics

Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:29:05 GMT

Guess it's time for a new tablet. I had to get a new phone last year right after Christmas as it quit working. I couldn't even get into my contacts to make a call. I knew my tablet was getting outdated. My son-in-law hacked into it a couple of years ago and updated it past what the manufacturer allowed for. Did you know they do that? Planned obsolescence. The tablet was perfectly capable of handling the update, but they won't update without hacking into them, and then you have to be ready to buy in case the hack doesn't work and turns your tablet into a brick. I was at that point then. so I guess I got a lot more life out of it than I should have. I really love my case for it too which, of course, will not fit anything new that I get.

Tonight kinda drove home the point. We are having storms and tornadoes, and because I have DirecTV, anytime we get significant rain my TV signal goes out. Since we have tornadoes, I really want to keep up with the weather, and I cannot access the live stream due to outdated equipment. Luckily, I can still access it on my computer, but I like using the tablet for that.

I actually looked at tablets online a few months ago and was kinda disappointed in what I was finding. I have a Samsung Note and specifically want one that works with a stylus so I can use it to draw. My husband has an iPad, but they are so expensive and it seems like you have to pay for most of their apps vs Android. I was the first one to get a tablet when Android was all that was available and is also compatible with my Android phone. We both use Mac computers, but that is not really a factor in the decision.

Re: Need a new Tablet

patbz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 01:07:43 GMT

We are an anti Mac family; I use a Fire and DH uses a Samsung. If you were happy with Samsung, why not buy a newer version of that? I agree that Mac anything costs more than it should.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 02:53:00 GMT

@patbz , Yeah, kinda looks like my choice is between and iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. Those seem to be the only two that come WITH the stylus. If I get one without the stylus and add one I have to worry about storing the stylus, although I'm not quite sure if stylus storage is actually on-board either device. My husband's stylus which I think he got aftermarket stores on the case. Before he got the case, I think he kept losing it.

When I Google best tablets, even the newest reports talk about a Lenovo Yoga tablet that looks very interesting, but it appears they no longer make that tablet. It seems like nothing seems to have the functionality of my older tablet. I ran into that same problem when I had to replace my printer. None of the newer ones had the functionality of my older printer, so I ended up replacing it with the same older model.

I was looking the other day for a new sound machine to sleep to and nothing looks to be near as nice as the one I already have which has built-in radio, alarm, CD player. The only reason I'm looking to replace it is that it looks like the light is going out on it. If that happens, I won't be able to see the time in the dark and may not be able to see to change the alarm.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Toot1920 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 02:54:14 GMT

I have a lot of Apple products and I have only paid for 2 of my many apps. Most that I've seen and used have been free. Personally, I like that Apple products are so easy to use and are so interconnected. They are expensive but there are some deals out there. I used to have Samsung, Asus, and Fire tablets (which I still have but rarely use).

Re: Need a new Tablet

patbz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 03:31:56 GMT

@Icegoddess : Why don't you replace your sound machine with any member of the Echo family? You can operate it from your smart phone and we stick with free music from Prime. Sometimes we listen to ocean sounds or a storm. Sometimes it's James Taylor (or a number of other choices). The best part is echos start at $25 (I'd attach a small speaker for optimum sound). It's easily the best investment I've made for well under $100.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 04:28:22 GMT

@patbz wrote:
@Icegoddess : Why don't you replace your sound machine with any member of the Echo family? You can operate it from your smart phone and we stick with free music from Prime. Sometimes we listen to ocean sounds or a storm. Sometimes it's James Taylor (or a number of other choices). The best part is echos start at $25 (I'd attach a small speaker for optimum sound). It's easily the best investment I've made for well under $100.

I don't want Echo, Alexa, anything like that in my house much less in my bedroom. My phone even charges in the living room, not the bedroom. I do realize smart phones and smart TV's listen in all the time too, but I'm not adding more listening devices in. No TV in the bedroom either.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 04:31:35 GMT

@Toot1920 wrote:
I have a lot of Apple products and I have only paid for 2 of my many apps. Most that I've seen and used have been free. Personally, I like that Apple products are so easy to use and are so interconnected. They are expensive but there are some deals out there. I used to have Samsung, Asus, and Fire tablets (which I still have but rarely use).

@Toot1920 maybe things have changed. I just remember a lot of people complaining about having to pay for so many of the apps, but that was when it was a new device. Maybe now that it has become as accepted as Android and designers design for both the charging for apps has gone away. I do know that Apple has a higher standard for safety of apps before allowing them in their store.

Re: Need a new Tablet

JumpTheRope — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 05:25:12 GMT

As a former K/Fire Fan, with all sizes from 6”/8.9”,

I decided to “take a bite of an APPLE” and bought the

Gen.6/Rosegold Ipad for $249, on Sale.

I use a stylus that cost $1.

The FINTIE case was $10.

I gave away all my K/Fires except 2/HDX and the earliest 6”.

Havent touched them for a year.

This Ipad never drags, flickers, reboots, etc.

It just works.

good luck in making your decision

Re: Need a new Tablet

Nuttmeg — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 07:48:11 GMT

@Icegoddess

I just purchased a Samsung Galaxy S5e 128 GB tablet for $409 from Amazon. The 64 GB tablet is $369. This tablet does not have a stylus. This was a great price.

Best Buy is selling these tablets for $30 more.

I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S6. It has a stylus. The tablet comes with 128 or 256 GB of storage, and Android 9.0.

The S4 tablet is a older product and has an older version of Android. You will not get updates as long.

Re: Need a new Tablet

SilleeMee — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:37:47 GMT

If I was in the market for a new tablet then I would buy me the new Google Pixel Slate tablet. That has the Chrome OS. I like that it has a bigger screen (12.3"). Pens and keyboards are optional purchases.

Right now I'm using a convertible 14" Acer Chromebook which has Google Play. So I can use it as a tablet just like any other Android tab. Mine doesn't work with a pen however. It's just a regular touchscreen. I really have no need for a pen so I'm fine without it.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:42:33 GMT

@Nuttmeg wrote:
@Icegoddess
I just purchased a Samsung Galaxy S5e 128 GB tablet for $409 from Amazon. The 64 GB tablet is $369. This tablet does not have a stylus. This was a great price.
Best Buy is selling these tablets for $30 more.

I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S6. It has a stylus. The tablet comes with 128 or 256 GB of storage, and Android 9.0.

The S4 tablet is a older product and has an older version of Android. You will not get updates as long.

@Nuttmeg I did realize after I posted that S4 was older and thought about coming back and changing it to S6 but didn't. I don't know why they changed the stylus to fitting onto the back of the device vs onboard storage like my Note has. Currently, it runs about $549. Haven't checked the pricing on the iPads.

I will want to get a keyboard and case for protection and travel and I see Amazon has several in the $30-$40 range vs the $100+ for Samsung's. The cases appear to be thinner than mine which makes them lighter, but not sure they are as impact resistant. My tablet becomes my laptop when I travel. I gave up on taking my laptop with me after having battery bloat issues on two different trips to high altitudes. And that was two different laptops.

Re: Need a new Tablet

software — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:44:45 GMT

I have a small Toshiba laptop.

I've never done anything to it and it's 12 years old

I browse websites, do email, look at Youtube, post on Facebook & do my taxes

Never had a problem, ever.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:38:20 GMT

@software I have laptops and that is what I use most of the time. But, what I need is a new tablet. As I said earlier, I don't want to travel with a laptop. It's just too much wear and tear on it.

Re: Need a new Tablet

patbz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:23:25 GMT

@Icegoddess : I think most cases help protect your tablet but, more importantly, he sure that you put a gorilla glass protector over your father's glass.

Re: Need a new Tablet

patbz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:24:42 GMT

@Icegoddess : I think most cases help protect your tablet but, more importantly, be sure that you put a gorilla glass protector over your tablet's glass.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Mindy D — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:20:18 GMT

There’s an economical iPad in the Apple Store online. You can use your iPad to watch Directv when storms are around. You watch Directv on WiFi.This is what I do and I love it. Unless you are into art you probably will not need the stylus. I have one and I don’t use it very often. I use my iPad more than my laptop or any other device I own.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Mindy D — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:22:31 GMT

Low price iPad starts at $329.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Mindy D — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:31:35 GMT

I have approximately 50 apps and I only paid for three of them. Most apps are free. I pay monthly for Microsoft Office for any five devices (originally I got this in the Apple App store, now you have to get it from Microsoft if you want ) my and the same with Netflix, I pay for one account that I can use on any five devices. Netflix I ordered directly from Netflix, not the Apple App store.

Apple gives you a year of Apple tech by phone free when you buy the iPad.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Mindy D — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:33:33 GMT

Sorry, I forgot to add that I like art so I did pay for an artist’s app called Procreate.

Re: Need a new Tablet

Icegoddess — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:26:45 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
I have approximately 50 apps and I only paid for three of them. Most apps are free. I pay monthly for Microsoft Office for any five devices (originally I got this in the Apple App store, now you have to get it from Microsoft if you want ) my and the same with Netflix, I pay for one account that I can use on any five devices. Netflix I ordered directly from Netflix, not the Apple App store.

Apple gives you a year of Apple tech by phone free when you buy the iPad.

@Mindy D , I do like that I could use Pages which is Apple's version of Word. I had to change a couple of documents over to something from Word because of some corruption issues and went with Pages. I fear the corruption will still be there if I convert it back to Word, so if I give those document to someone they won't be able to edit them.

But, OTOH, Samsung's S6 has a transparency feature that puts a transparent white layer that you can take notes on while still able to view the background. I would love to be able to use that feature for tracing.

If I go iPad, I will go with the Pro 11", not the cheaper models. I would then have to buy the pen which is another $100 while the stylus comes with the Samsung.

I am aware of the DirecTV app mentioned, but didn't think to try it last night. However, since none of my other TV apps would work with my equipment. I used that app a few years ago at my Dad's house (he had no wifi and iffy Verizon wireless. I used my phone as my internet and was still able to stream using the DirecTV app without any buffering.