Anyone got a cheap tablet?

[ninja]

I really lust after an ipad but a) not sure if I'd actually love using it as much as I think I would b) think the kids would take it over

So... I was wondering whether buying a cheap tablet (like this would give me a chance to see if I like using one and also give the kids something cheaper to play with if I do decide I want I can afford an ipad.

Anyone got one similar, is there any point? The reviews seem Ok

We have an ipad (one of the early basic ones) and bought our kids a cheap tablet each (much the same as the one in your link) because we never got a look in. They MUCH prefer the ipad, the tablet really doesn't cut it.

So I would advise yes, if you're not planning an ipad, but no, if you are. If one your reservations about an ipad is wondering whether you'd love using it, I would say unequivocally that you WILL!

I've got that one, because I couldn't justify buying an Ipad.

It's ok for wireless as long as you're not too far from the transmitter, my wireless box is in the hallway (live in a flat) and it will drop out if I'm in the kitchen (point in my flat which is furthest from box)
It's ideal for the android market games and apps, but i wouldn't expect to be able to play a much faster/bigger game on it.
The web browsing is more than enough for me (mumsnet works well, as does eBay, news sites, facebook etc) but if your kids did take it over, they may get frustrated with it.

The sound is not fantastic, but I don't to hear anything, however I did test video quality on youtube, and it was surprisingly good.

The battery life is a bit poo, I used mine loads as something to do when breast feeding and would have to charge it twice a day in the early days.

The one thing I would advise with that tablet is that you buy a stylus as it's very hit & miss in regards to responding to finger touch.

The case advertised with the keyboard in the 'people also bought' is fantastic! The tablet works well with the keyboard and the case is v.protective.

Thanks - I think there's a good chance I will get an ipad in the end as I can probably use it for work too HuwEdwards but I was hoping my 8 and 3 year old could be fobbed off with the cheap one! Maybe not - I'll be sat working on the inferior model will I?

AWomanCalledHorse that's really useful, thanks

Your plan is the equivalent of saying "I really want to buy a Ferrari but I'm thinking of getting a Vauxhall Corsa and hope the kids will be happy with that and drive that instead of taking the Ferrari keys......."

and ..... what's wrong with that

I was thinking that a cheap tablet would save me having to buy a portable DVD plaer as well (anything electronic was taken by exh wehn he left last september).

You're not convinced?

If you or your kids know how to download movies and put them onto the tablet. And assuming your cheap tablet is powerful enough to watch them then yes your idea is sound.

Otherwise a portable DVD player isn't much nowadays.

anyway what's wrong with a corsa?

I don't know how to download them but coupld probably find someone who could. This tablet has a huge hard drive but mixed reviews and isn't much more than a dvd player

We've got an Archos one and I hate it. It doesn't stream to the TV (one of the reasons we got it was to stream from Love Film/Netflix) and the music software available is pants. I've got an HTC phone and wish we'd gone for the HTC tablet, as the cheaper ones are just crap.

If you only want it for internet then a cheap one will be ok, but anything more powerful and its a waste of time imo

I was covering a new camera for my birthday but seriously considering dropping that idea and just shelling out for an iPad.

Oh, and if you do go for a cheap Android one, check the weight. Some of them are really heavy and uncomfortable to hold

I just bought one for £60. It's yet to arrive. It's for DS who is 5 and plays a lot on my iPad. He can still play my iPad but I really don't fancy him breaking it. It should arrive tomorrow!!,

Thanks - seems that maybe my cunning plan isn't so cunning. I just need an ipad don't I - right off to go and tout for some more work to pay for it .....

Cunning let me know what it's like. If it's the one on Amazon it gets pretty decent reviews ....

We have got the Blackberry playbook for £170 and love it.

You can't get as many apps as with the ipad but other than that it comes up excellently when compaired against the ipad and it can play flash video/websites which the ipad can't.

Well worth the money and the 3 dc's (6, 6 and 4) love it.

OOh - I've never heard of that, I shall go and investigate!

Silly question, but if the main thing you'll use it for is streaming...why not just get a good spec laptop for the same price of an ipad?
The cheap pad would be rubbish for movies.

We've got a portable dvd player DH used when he works away from home, it's a half decent one, but he hates watching films on it as the screen is so small.

I was thinking it could be for movies as well as apps and internet - I don't want too much do I!

I think thr problem is I'm not sure what combination of electronic things will serve us all best ....

It's not the one from amazon It was this one www.minigadget.co.uk/minigadget-mg638-android-tablet-computer-p-50.html

It has ok reviews and for the price I think it will do a five year old who has no interst in a DS or the like.
God I probably shouldn't have posted it as no doubt someone has one and it's a bit rubbish...

Because I've already got a good spec laptop but I'm usually using it at the same time as film watching.

Our Archos wasn't that cheap though - 200+ I think

Here is a link to the Playbook

We bought it a few weeks ago as our old laptop finally conked out and it is great.

That looks pretty good - do you have a blackberry? (I don't) - I'll be getting a work phone though and it looks as if it's be great to have them together. Food for thought ....

TheCunningStunt did you get the cheap one - how is it?

You sound like you won't be happy with anything else.

Get an iPad.

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I've never even used it - it's pure lust