Black Friday Deals - Tablets & eReaders

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Blossom

My problem with this model and the Acer's model are the touchpad are huge! It makes no sense to have a touch pad that big.

I hate touchpads and never use them. I always use a mouse when using a laptop.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I hate touchpads and never use them. I always use a mouse when using a laptop.

My problem is typing with one and not hitting it. On some models you can disable the touchpad and that's what I usually do.

[hwlester]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Interesting... Amazon's press release states otherwise. Hope it's for everyone.

Here's the article I read from the LA Times which I saw on LinkedIn. From that article:

"Members of Amazon's Prime program have free two-day shipping and, under the new deal, can order items Friday and receive them Sunday. Customers without Prime will pay the standard shipping costs associated with business day delivery."

It implies that non-Prime members will pay the standard shipping rates they've always paid and get it on Sunday, but it's not clear, and perhaps the person who wrote the article was misinformed.

[KentE]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

When you buy a no contract phone, are you required to activate it? or is it just like buying a tablet?

The no-contract phone I bought last year was a Virgin Mobile, and I did not need to activate it to use it as a fully enabled android mini-tablet, with Wifi. Obviously no data capability through the phone, of course. My understanding is that that is the case with at least most of the Android phones, although I would check it out if before getting a phone from TracFone, Net10, or Straight Talk (which I think is a Walmart/Net10 collaboration), since those have traditionally been the most "locked down" phones. (I think it will work with them, but not sure.) I still get a Virgin splash screen when I power it up, and once in a while a screen that asks me if I want to activate the phone now, but that's the sum total of "phone behavior". No problem to use it without activation. From reading game reviews, there may be some games that won't play because they require access to phone data (for advertising purposes). My phone worked fine with Google Play straight out of the box, and installed the Amazon AppStore with no complication. By the specs, it's a relatively slow Android 4.0, but it's handled everything I've wanted.
KentE

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by KentE

The no-contract phone I bought last year was a Virgin Mobile, and I did not need to activate it to use it as a fully enabled android mini-tablet, with Wifi. Obviously no data capability through the phone, of course. My understanding is that that is the case with at least most of the Android phones, although I would check it out if before getting a phone from TracFone, Net10, or Straight Talk (which I think is a Walmart/Net10 collaboration), since those have traditionally been the most "locked down" phones. (I think it will work with them, but not sure.) I still get a Virgin splash screen when I power it up, and once in a while a screen that asks me if I want to activate the phone now, but that's the sum total of "phone behavior". No problem to use it without activation. From reading game reviews, there may be some games that won't play because they require access to phone data (for advertising purposes). My phone worked fine with Google Play straight out of the box, and installed the Amazon AppStore with no complication. By the specs, it's a relatively slow Android 4.0, but it's handled everything I've wanted.
KentE

Really appreciate the detailed answer. Recently, I've been thinking about a no contract phone with Android 4+, mSD card slot, speaker, and small screen (<4") to be used as an audio player - music, audiobooks, radio. Primary apps would be Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Audible, OverDrive, LibriVox, TuneIn Radio, Amazon MP3, AOL Radio, Pandora, BBC Radio, KING FM, old time radio shows, etc.

When WiFi is available, I'd stream. When not, a card slot would allow an ample supply of audiobooks and music. This device would supplement my Sansa Clip Zip and Nexus 4; not replace either of them. Not completely sold on the idea yet, but strongly leaning that way.

[Blossom]

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 from a member here so now do I really need a iPod Touch?

I am taking the Nextbook 7 back as I no longer need it. It has that view angle in portrait mode which ruins a very good tablet. Landscape works fine. Now I have or will have the SGP4.2 I no longer need it my SGP5 can keep running the apps like it always has.

[DianNC]

Originally Posted by Blossom

My problem is typing with one and not hitting it. On some models you can disable the touchpad and that's what I usually do.

THANK YOU!!! I bought a mouse for my Asus laptop because I HATED the touchpad, but it still got in the way when I tried to use the keyboard. I just disabled it (didn't know I could do that lol)!

On mine, it's FN + F9. Voila!!! NO MORE TOUCHPAD!!!

Gracias, gracias!!!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by DianNC

THANK YOU!!! I bought a mouse for my Asus laptop because I HATED the touchpad, but it still got in the way when I tried to use the keyboard. I just disabled it (didn't know I could do that lol)!

On mine, it's FN + F9. Voila!!! NO MORE TOUCHPAD!!!

Gracias, gracias!!!

You're welcome!
I would be typing and the cursor would move causing me to invent my own words.

[Tabatha]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 from a member here so now do I really need a iPod Touch?

I am taking the Nextbook 7 back as I no longer need it. It has that view angle in portrait mode which ruins a very good tablet. Landscape works fine. Now I have or will have the SGP4.2 I no longer need it my SGP5 can keep running the apps like it always has.

I wouldn't touch Apple anything if it was given to me. Can you tell I'm a die-hard Samsung fan. Samsung SGP5, SGP4.2, Galaxy Tab 7+ (best tab ever) and a Note 10.1.

My niece's kids (9yr old triplets) had the Nextbook, and they are now looking to replace them after 1 yr as they are now having problems with them all. I'm a "you get what you pay for" type person, don't really believe in the cheapest being worth the money on some things, expecially Tech Toys.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Tabatha

I wouldn't touch Apple anything if it was given to me. Can you tell I'm a die-hard Samsung fan. Samsung SGP5, SGP4.2, Galaxy Tab 7+ (best tab ever) and a Note 10.1.

My niece's kids (9yr old triplets) had the Nextbook, and they are now looking to replace them after 1 yr as they are now having problems with them all. I'm a "you get what you pay for" type person, don't really believe in the cheapest being worth the money on some things, expecially Tech Toys.

The one I have just came out this year. It's nicer than last year's version but viewing angle ruins it. The display is okay about the same as my phone when it comes to text rendering. The SGPs text is much better though. I don't need mine now. I have my eye on a Nexus 7 even though I have a Kindle Fire HDX.

[wawasteele]

Originally Posted by Tabatha

I wouldn't touch Apple anything if it was given to me. Can you tell I'm a die-hard Samsung fan. Samsung SGP5, SGP4.2, Galaxy Tab 7+ (best tab ever) and a Note 10.1.

I also have the Galaxy Tab 7+ and love it. I am curious though, why you consider it the best tab ever?

[hwlester]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's nicer than last year's version but viewing angle ruins it.

Originally Posted by Tabatha

I'm a "you get what you pay for" type person, don't really believe in the cheapest being worth the money on some things, expecially Tech Toys.

Definitely so. My first tablet was a Viewsonic I picked up cheaply from Woot! to see if it's something I would use without spending a pretty penny. The major downside was that it had a very narrow view angle as Blossom described with her cheap tablet (I read it was using an LCD intended for a monitor). I liked and used it enough that I decided that it wasn't worth getting a cheapo deal. My next tablet was a Sony Tablet S which was good except Sony's support was lacking, then I got the Nexus 7 when it came out. My primary tablet now is the Nook HD+. It's definitely worth spending a little money on to get something nice. I stay away from the cheapo Android tablets like the plague.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by hwlester

I stay away from the cheapo Android tablets like the plague.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by hwlester

Definitely so. My first tablet was a Viewsonic I picked up cheaply from Woot! to see if it's something I would use without spending a pretty penny. The major downside was that it had a very narrow view angle as Blossom described with her cheap tablet (I read it was using an LCD intended for a monitor). I liked and used it enough that I decided that it wasn't worth getting a cheapo deal. My next tablet was a Sony Tablet S which was good except Sony's support was lacking, then I got the Nexus 7 when it came out. My primary tablet now is the Nook HD+. It's definitely worth spending a little money on to get something nice. I stay away from the cheapo Android tablets like the plague.

Yeah what's up with this view angle on these tablets anyway? It makes no sense. The Colby tablet I bought but returned a few years ago didn't have this problem. Who came up with idea? I am really leaning toward a Nexus 7.

[koland]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Yeah what's up with this view angle on these tablets anyway? It makes no sense. The Colby tablet I bought but returned a few years ago didn't have this problem. Who came up with idea? I am really leaning toward a Nexus 7.

Well,if you are checking your stocks or bank acct on one, you don't want as many people to see it...


Of course, the real reason is that it is a less expensive screen, just as with TV's - the better viewing angle from the side, the more expensive and the same from a lower viewpoint (little kids right under the screen) -- that translates to tablets, as well as notebooks and monitors.