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General => General discussion => Topic started by: T_J_G on 17 October 2011, 18:54

Title: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 17 October 2011, 18:54
Right,

I really fancy a tablet for web browsing, photo viewing, and general stuff whilst at home or out and about.

I would love an iPad but can't justify outlaying £400 at the moment. Seen the Blackberry playbook on eBay for £299 but that's still more than I'd ant to spend really.

Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Ridg on 17 October 2011, 19:01
Archos 80 G9

http://www.archos.com/products/gen9/archos_80g9/index.html?country=gb&lang=en

not the best build quality but it's running the new ti dual core chip (faster than tegra), option to add on 3G if you want at a later date, runs 1080p h.264 movies (including mkv) smoothly (via a £13 plugin (most other tablets will struggle wont play mkv))) honeycomb 3.2, micro sd and usb host for more memory, 4:3 screen ration so idea for photo viewing and as an ereader, yours for £199.99

Your only other option is the samsung 7 which will command a premium of at least an extra £100 over the archos, for a slightly better build and probably gorilla glass.

Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 17 October 2011, 22:02
Archos have been in the tablet game for yonks, they do make good device at good prices - I would look into them for sure.

The Galaxy Tab 7incher is just over your price band but it is a nice device and as Ridg said Gorilla Glass which has been proven to be awesome, there was a video on youtube of someone shooting a brand new Galaxy Tab 7 when they came out with an AirRifle and not 1 scratch on it!  :cool:

There are other options, the Andy Pad Pro for £179 sounds like a decent alternative with HDMI out etc
http://www.andypad.co.uk/products/5-andy-pad-pro.aspx

Either way, let us know what you get and what you think of it.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: DubFan on 17 October 2011, 23:52
You could wait for Amazon's Kindle Fire, that promises to be decent and will supposedly be under £150.

Because the tablet device is so dependant on the feel of both the physical thing and the user interface, you need to go and try some.
I found that a big HMV in Central London (Toccadero) had a selection of tablets to try, including the Archos, Samsung and a few others I can't remember, alongside the obvious iPad.

Play.com are having a sale, here's an Archos (http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/18484300/Archos-101-8GB-10-1-inch-Android-Internet-Tablet/Product.html?searchstring=&searchtype=allproducts&searchsource=2&searchfilters=ae212{292082}%2bc{420}%2b&urlrefer=search) for £230.


Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Ridg on 20 October 2011, 16:32
pre-order price on the samsung 7" is $399 for the 16GB, so probably £399, can only see the kindle fire being good if it's literally to consume media as it's a very stripped down tablet and 8GB isn't really enough with the option to expand
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: bobotheclown on 21 October 2011, 06:40
Rim's playbook has come down in price if you like the look of the thing. I think you need a Blackberry to surf the internet though.

http://www.reghardware.com/2011/10/20/pc_world_currys_knock_150_pounds_off_rim_blackberry_playbook_tablet/
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 21 October 2011, 07:38
and no email as there is no built in email client program :laugh:

Most laughable tablet so far.



Another one would be the HP touchpad, the came down to around £80 ! Selling on ebay at £200+ now :sad:
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 25 October 2011, 10:57
Right, decided on this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Advent-Vega-Refurbished-Internet-Tablet-/120799059414?pt=UK_iPad_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item1c202f5dd6#ht_1838wt_1199&clk_rvr_id=276489559305&afsrc=1

£230 in PC world.

Then going to put a new ROM on, I've heard vegacomb is good. However I'm totally clueless about ROM's etc!
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 25 October 2011, 13:31
The Vega's were good for the money when they came out @ £250, I bet it's even more value for money now at that price :afro:

Some did have an issue where the screen wasn't as sensitive on side of the charger port whilst it was charging, maybe they fixed it with these refurbs.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 25 October 2011, 13:53
Should be good with vegacomb if I can get my head around rooting it...

For £130 it should do everything I want.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 25 October 2011, 13:59
Looks easier than others:
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/how-to-permanently-root-advent-vega-with-z4root/

Some more links:
http://android.modaco.com/forum/474-advent-vega-vegamodacocom/

I suspect Android 4 will also make it to the Vega.

Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 25 October 2011, 14:15
Thanks Jay, I'm sure I'll be bugging you with questions when it arrives.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: VW BUSH on 25 October 2011, 14:18
Dont get it, why does anyone need a tablet when you have a phone and a laptop a net book a desktop plus 20 other ways to waste time on the internet  :undecided:

I cant imagine how pissed I would be when after forking out £200 on a giant phone the screen starts to twitch out like all the other must have tech we are flooded with on a daily basis

Wheres me pipe and slipers....
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 25 October 2011, 14:28
Dont get it, why does anyone need a tablet when you have a phone and a laptop a net book a desktop plus 20 other ways to waste time on the internet  :undecided:

I cant imagine how pissed I would be when after forking out £200 on a giant phone the screen starts to twitch out like all the other must have tech we are flooded with on a daily basis

Wheres me pipe and slipers....

I don't have a desktop computer. I've bought this for £130 (not £200) for use around the house (don't have a TV in bedroom) and also when I'm out and about with work. I don't get why some people have to post a comment such as this when you clearly knew what was in this thread from title.

Maybe that's one of those '20 other ways to waste time on the internet' you mentioned.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: VW BUSH on 25 October 2011, 21:13
Yeah your probably right, long back story but ive found tablets very underwhelming and fell back to a laptop within a week
If thats all you have then good on you, everyone has a Troll in them and mine came out to play at lunchtime







and i spelt slippers wrong :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 27 October 2011, 14:08
If anyone else is interested in a cheap tablet, sh!t but cheap:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/disgo-6000-7-tablet-4gb-total-storage-with-wi-fi-49-97-bestbuy-1045793?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=txt&utm_campaign=Hourly%2BHot
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 28 October 2011, 20:10
This arrived today and just got it up and running on the standard ROM and so far i am impressed with the hardware and the screen for £130.

Ill be putting vegacomb on it next week :rolleyes: :grin:
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 29 October 2011, 22:24
Just installed vegacomb and its transformed this tablet for £130 I am very impressed.

Just need to work out why it won't let me download from android market.
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: Jay on 29 October 2011, 23:13
Do you have a google / gmail account?

if you go to http://market.android.com and sign in, click any of the free software and see if it lists the Vega in the installable devices. Could be that because it's not an original ROM /Hacked you can't use the market ? What did the thread/instructions say about the market on it?
Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 30 October 2011, 11:11
Got it sorted the app disappeared then came back this morning fully working!

Title: Re: Best tablet for under £200
Post by: T_J_G on 15 January 2012, 10:09
Possibly up for sale due to lack of use.