[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I have the ASUS MeMOPad HD 7-Inch 16 GB Tablet, Blue (ME173X-A1-BL) 2013 Model that I got for $99 and it works perfectly for what you want. I think it's just the older model of your pick, and it's fast enough for what you want, battery is definitely good enough. I got it for when I had to proofread a book in PDF format so I didn't have to suffer sitting at my PC doing it and it works absolutely great for that. It plays simple games like Candy Crush without lag, although I rarely use it for that. I've been happy with it all around for what I bought it for and haven't had any problems with it.

Thanks. I was looking at this one and another earlier version, but I'm worried about the OS--I'm thinking it should at least be KitKat. My previous smartphone quickly became dumb when so many apps wouldn't run anymore on its old OS.

I don't know anything about the Toshiba, but keep in mind it's got half the memory of the Asus, only 8 GB, and the resolution is 1024 x 600, vs 16 GB and 1280 x 800 on the Asus as probably the biggest differences. And considering the bad reviews you found, I'd stick with the Asus. But then you're buying it from Amazon, you should be able to return it without any problems if it doesn't work out.

Half the price though! I figured the trade-offs were worth it until I saw some reviews that said it kept crashing. That gave me pause.

Originally Posted by Wearever

The Memo Pad might be the best one in this price range. Or you could also look at refurbished tablets that have been properly restored to like new condition, places like Amazon will offer a one year warranty, just like new tablets. Just a thought.

Thanks for the idea. I generally shy away from refurbs, especially when I'm new to the device and unsure about what I need, beyond certain basics. My main concern is that the thing lasts for a couple of years.

ETA:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Might be able to get a refurbed Nexus 7 (2013) for around the MeMOPad's price. Twice the RAM and a much higher resolution screen (since this is primarily for reading).

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'd second the recommendation for the Nexus 7. It's an excellent device.

As above, I'm hesitant about a refurb. Also, the Nexus OS is Jelly Bean, not KitKat. Would the better resolution and RAM matter that much when I wouldn't be doing videos or gaming?