Electronics

[Moonchilde]

Each person purchasing a tablet has to decide for themselves what OS they would prefer, based on the info they have and *based on trying them out/demonstrations.* Whatever anyone advises, I don't think anything should be bought until hands-on of one or both OS has been tried out/played with, whether it's in a store or from someone you know. Nothing beats hands-on.

Once you know which OS you prefer, and why, you need to think about how much you will use it and what you will use it for most frequently.

No iPad is cheap, as in cost. But no iPad is cheaply (as in shoddy) made or has substandard technology. They are built to last more than a year. The updates to the OS are automatic and timely, which can't be said of all Android tablets.

Certainly the top-of-the-line Android tablets from major manufacturers will give you optimum tablet experience, Android style, just as an iPad would, and will most likely get you updates, if less to slightly less timely.

Nearly all of the inexpensive tablets have substandard screen resolution and many have substandard processors and RAM. Only the buyer can decide whether they will be unhappy with watching movies and videos on a blah screen, or with the slower speed in playing games and doing other things with an older processor. If you use something 30-60 minutes a day, none of this will matter much. If you use it more, it will start to matter.

If a $100-200 tablet malfunctions or crashes, there isn't going to be much help or recourse, as they are considered throw-aways by the industry, if not by the purchaser. They have short warranties. You won't have a sizable base of customers to give advice.

People buy tablets for many uses, and only they will know what is most important to them - features, cost, or something in between.

[KellyinColorado]

Go with the iPad.  It's the best, and you'll never regret getting the best!  I've had a couple of ipads, and my Windows laptop is in the basement - I haven't touched it in at least six months!  Yeah, my iPad was close to $1000, but I use it several hours a day and it never fails me (not to mention that the laptop that I never use was well over $1000!!).  

If you want to watch Netflix or other streaming from your iPad, get Apple TV ($100 when I bought mine), and it allows you to show anything on your iPad on your TV!  So family/friends can watch with you.  It's called AirPlay. I love it!!

[Nuttmeg]

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@nomless wrote:

I prefer other brands .... I have 2 tablets with resolution mre than 350 ppi which is great for reading. (I use my tabelts for reading, browsing and email.) The cost for these two was less than the cost of one iPad.  Because I use a tablet a lot, it's useful for me to have 2...when the battery on one needs to be charged, the other is ready to go.

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I have 3 tablets, an iPad and 2 Androids. Apple prooducts may cost more, but the technology is first class. My iPad is 2 years old and counting. The only concession I made was buying a fancy router. (My cell phone has an AC wireless card)  My devices connect nicely to the web.

My first choice in a full size tablet is iPad. My second choice is an 8" Samsung S2. Apple sells certified refurbished products on there site, and Samsung tablets can be found on sale.

[PinkyPetunia]

I wanted a tablet but didn't want to spend big bucks on the Apple, not knowing if I'd even use a tablet that much.  

I bought a LePan tablet from QVC last summer for well under $100 and it proved to be great.  I use it constantly to check email, weather, Google something, etc.  It's perfect for travelling as I don't have a smart phone and I don't want to fire up my laptop in an airline terminal. 

I taught myself to use the Android system--it's not hard.  I don't watch movies on this tablet but I believe you could. 

[Kachina624]

@dooBdoo   dooBdoo,  if I reset my iPad,  hopefully having backed everything up,  how do I re-install all of my data,  apps,  photos,  etc.? 

[dooBdoo]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@dooBdoo   dooBdoo,  if I reset my iPad,  hopefully having backed everything up,  how do I re-install all of my data,  apps,  photos,  etc.? 

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        @Kachina624, What I do is backup my iPad to iTunes on my computer, then erase the iPad or iPhone, then reconnect it to the computer and restore from the backup on iTunes.   The only things I keep on iCloud are my contacts and calendar info, and those sync for me after I do the restore.   I think you said your entire backup is on iCloud --  so I'd suggest you look at all the information on these 2 links to be sure you've done the backup and then follow the steps to restore from the iCloud backup.

iCloud Backup and Storage

at link:   https://www.apple.com/support/icloud/backup-storage/

and

How to erase your iOS device and then set it up as a new device or restore it from backups

at link:  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204686

        I can't remember... didn't you say there's an Apple Store nearby?  If so, since this process isn't a "comfy" one for you (it will be after you've done it once), why not call them and ask if you can set up a time to visit them and have them walk you through the process?

        It probably sounds silly, but there are times I wish I could zoom myself over to where a fellow poster is, so I could just sit down next to them and "walk through" some of these things, but I can't.  I really would if I could, though.

[Kachina624]

@dooBdoo  Thanks again for your help.   I'm going to give it a try but I can't check on a computer as mine is kaput.   Yes,  there is an Apple Store in Albuquerque.   I hate to go there because I can't stand for more than a few minutes.   I think I'll upload my favorite photos to Photobucket.   I had many treasured recipes on Evernote and when I downloaded the app on my new Samsung,  the recipes came with it so they're secure. 

I'm sure there are multiple users who wish you could drop in,  and I'm certainly one of them. 

[dooBdoo]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@dooBdoo  Thanks again for your help.   I'm going to give it a try but I can't check on a computer as mine is kaput.   Yes,  there is an Apple Store in Albuquerque.   I hate to go there because I can't stand for more than a few minutes.   I think I'll upload my favorite photos to Photobucket.   I had many treasured recipes on Evernote and when I downloaded the app on my new Samsung,  the recipes came with it so they're secure. 

I'm sure there are multiple users who wish you could drop in,  and I'm certainly one of them. 

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         You're welcome, @Kachina624!   I'm pretty sure the Apple Store folks would let you be seated. 🙂  But I'll bet you can do

this just fine on your own.  Remember, all your apps are available to be re-downloaded, so even if they didn't appear after the restore you could add them back.  You might want to do a screen shot of each of your "home screens" on the iPad as a sort of sketch of what was there and how it was organized, and send those screen shots to yourself in your email.   Also, email anything else you're worried about (notes, etc.) to yourself, if you want.  

        Thanks, you're very kind to say that.❤️

[Vickiv]

 Before I bought my I Pads  I had two other cheap tablets. They only lasted me a year and they broke. So I bought an I Pad Air 2 and an I Pad  mini. I love them I would never go back to an android tablet again . I Pads  are the best and they are easy to use I'm 74 and I can get around them just perfect. I don't even use my laptop anymore I gave it to my granddaughter.

[apple1964]

I did post to go with a IPad [my husband and I have those] But, my husband wanted a inexpensive tablet to take back and forth to work with him. He choose the Acer android 8 inch tablet. I think it cost him about 150. He loves it, easy to navigate and it came with a back lit screen  and HD  and he used that more then the IPad these days. He just ordered it from Acer a few weeks ago. I would not recommend any tablet with windows 10 or 8 had those and  I notice lagging and other problems  Happy shopping O/P.