Help me narrow down my 7-8 inch tablet choices!

ficbot · 06-15-2012, 03:03 PM

I am in the market for a cheap mini-tablet. I have an iPad and love it, but it's a bit heavy for bedtime reading. I have an iPod Touch and it's a bit small. I also have an e-ink Kindle but the lighting situation in the bedroom isn't great. I have experimented with book lights for ereading and don't like them. I'd like to sell my Kindle and get a backlit mini tablet.

So I am thinking of getting a 7-inch tablet and am not sure what to get. Ideally, I want to read books on the Kindle app, watch Netflix and maybe read Zinio magazines (that is not a deal-breaker though; I am on the fence about sticking with Zinio).

The Vox tempts me a little now that it can load Google Play, but I loathe the Kobo app and am not sure how easy it is to hide it or minimize it. I know I can add the Kindle app easily, but will I still have Kobo on the toolbar, or can it be removed? Also, I am not sure it is powerful enough to run Netflix.

Kindle Fire is not an option since I am in Canada.

Blackberry Playbook, I know nothing about. I do have a Blackberry phone and don't love the apps for it. I think Android is more popular. But I don't want games or anything, just Netflix and Kindle.

Is there another device I haven't thought of?

Ideally, my ideal device would be a mini iPad, and I know there have been rumors but nothing confirmed. I also am wondering if it's time for the Kobo Vox 2 and if that might be worth waiting for.

Ideas? Suggestions? Buy now or wait? What device? I welcome any help.

Cdesja5 · 06-15-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

I am in the market for a cheap mini-tablet. I have an iPad and love it, but it's a bit heavy for bedtime reading. I have an iPod Touch and it's a bit small. I also have an e-ink Kindle but the lighting situation in the bedroom isn't great. I have experimented with book lights for ereading and don't like them. I'd like to sell my Kindle and get a backlit mini tablet.

So I am thinking of getting a 7-inch tablet and am not sure what to get. Ideally, I want to read books on the Kindle app, watch Netflix and maybe read Zinio magazines (that is not a deal-breaker though; I am on the fence about sticking with Zinio).

The Vox tempts me a little now that it can load Google Play, but I loathe the Kobo app and am not sure how easy it is to hide it or minimize it. I know I can add the Kindle app easily, but will I still have Kobo on the toolbar, or can it be removed? Also, I am not sure it is powerful enough to run Netflix.

Kindle Fire is not an option since I am in Canada.

Blackberry Playbook, I know nothing about. I do have a Blackberry phone and don't love the apps for it. I think Android is more popular. But I don't want games or anything, just Netflix and Kindle.

Is there another device I haven't thought of?

Ideally, my ideal device would be a mini iPad, and I know there have been rumors but nothing confirmed. I also am wondering if it's time for the Kobo Vox 2 and if that might be worth waiting for.

Ideas? Suggestions? Buy now or wait? What device? I welcome any help.

Vox is $169.99 right now and does run Netflix, reading with Aldiko for all formats (even library books) except Kindle is a charm. You can get rid of the Kobo widgets by installing a launcher like Go Launcher.
Another choice could be the 7" Galaxy Tab 16 gb, it's at $249.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy and Future Shop until the 21st. Thin and light, looks at lot like the iPad and it has a lot of great features. Samsung hasn't given a date yet but their Galaxy Tabs will all be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich in the coming months.
I agree that Android is much better for apps than BlackBerry and if you also have an Android phone, you can "share" your purchased apps between devices. I think that since you are used to Apple products, you would be better off with the Tab because it's a fair bit faster than the Vox. You might find the Vox slow; I know I do unless I'm using it strictly as a reader.
Galaxy Tab listing here:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/Search/SearchR...Category=20356

ficbot · 06-15-2012, 08:59 PM

Thanks, Chantal! I played with one today at Indigo and liked it, it was faster and sleeker than I thought. I really dislike the Kobo app though so I am glad to hear I can get rid of their widgets. I am going to see how much I can get for my Kindle and then maybe buy one.

afv011 · 06-15-2012, 10:12 PM

If you are not in a rush, wait to see what's announced in 2 weeks at Google IO - rumour is a quad-core 7" tablet for $199. I personally would avoid the Kobo, it's only got a single core CPU, it was outdated when it came out over a year ago.

DebbyS · 06-15-2012, 10:32 PM

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). It arrived on Wednesday (6/13). It was $249. I couldn't find one locally; the tax would have been around $18. Amazon had it for $249 as well, with next-day shipping for ~$16, but no tax. Just an interesting factoid.

It did not come with an epub reader but before it came I stumbled across and downloaded the apk (program) for the free version of Aldiko (I can't find that site now, drat). I put that on the micro SD card and installed it easily onto the Tab. It works fine. The Tab came with a PDF reader and players for mp3, mp4 (video) and flv (flash video), and jpgs. It does everything I need it to, which is good as I don't have wi-fi at home (our apartment complex club house has it though). It seems that a high percentage of the apps that came with the Tab are wi-fi oriented (google play market, netflix, etc), but I gathered the most used apps in a file on my home page and that makes it easier to find them.

Note: this is the first Android product I've ever used, so if you're new to it, search around the internet for tips and tricks. The Samsung site offered a free download of the big user manual, and many sites talk about Android in forum formats.

I think for plain old reading though I'll stick to my Ectaco JBL

Flip Martian · 06-16-2012, 02:49 AM

Aldiko is a decent ebook reader for Android - I used to use it on phones. Like many other Android apps, its available on the Google Play - what used to be called the Android Marketplace - which is available on every Android tablet. Just hit the icon and go and search for it. The free version was fine for me.

JKatz88 · 06-18-2012, 01:27 PM

would definitely go for an acer iconia 100/200 or wait for the new Google Tablet to come out and just download the Amazon Kindle Reader app. So easy to work with and works like a charm. Just do not buy a Lenovo product if you want to do multitasking

Sweetpea · 06-19-2012, 04:25 AM

I'm still very happy with my Flyer and my husband with his Lenovo.

Does the Iconia make a drive letter when you connect it to Windows? (so you don't need a tool to transfer files to your device)

steven522 · 06-19-2012, 09:02 AM

Recently purchased and still exclusively use an Archos 80 G9 for my ebook / digital comic reading. I used an iPad but it seemed a little too unwieldy for comfortable reading. I also tried the nook Color, but found the 7" "widescreen" format a little too cramped for digital comics and heavily imaged books (had to constantly zoom in and out).

The 8" Archos screen at a 4:3 ratio and 1024x768 resolution is the best compromise for me all around. It's no too heavy for long-term reading, the screen is very nice for comics and so far I have gotten very good battery life (7.5 hours minimum up to 13 maximum between charges depending on the usage from movie viewing to basic web access to reading).

Oh, and they are constantly on/off sale at your local Staples for $199.

stanleystarrh · 06-29-2012, 03:54 PM

Nexus 7!

Then let me know how it is

ficbot · 06-29-2012, 06:00 PM

Update: bought one, played with it a few days and then returned it. I heard from an Indigo employee that there will be a Kobo Vox 2 in the fall, and I also want to wait on Nexus 7 reviews. The Nexus 7 is almost 15% lighter than the Vox and that makes a difference to me.

ucfgrad93 · 06-29-2012, 09:40 PM

The Nexus 7 looks pretty amazing to me.

HarryT · 06-30-2012, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

The Nexus 7 looks pretty amazing to me.

The lack of an SD card slot is a significant issue for me. I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 which I'm very happy with and would recommend.

JKatz88 · 07-01-2012, 01:49 PM

The lack of an sd-card will be an issue for many users, however I personally do not store more than 8-16gb worth of media on my device anyway. It slows it down tremendously.

However, according to the article I read about the tablet, The Amazon Kindle Fire Killer is out: Asus Nexus 7, now we have a tablet with 1GB of RAM, and NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 SoC processor. This will be great to stream video and work twice as fast than most tablets can currently.

I definitely want to get my hands on one to try it out myself.

HarryT · 07-01-2012, 02:01 PM

It will be a very nice device for streaming video, but not at all good for taking video with you on a trip, say. The 6GB or so which are available for storage on an 8GB device isn't very much if you're using it for video.

06-15-2012, 03:03 PM	#1
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Help me narrow down my 7-8 inch tablet choices! I am in the market for a cheap mini-tablet. I have an iPad and love it, but it's a bit heavy for bedtime reading. I have an iPod Touch and it's a bit small. I also have an e-ink Kindle but the lighting situation in the bedroom isn't great. I have experimented with book lights for ereading and don't like them. I'd like to sell my Kindle and get a backlit mini tablet. So I am thinking of getting a 7-inch tablet and am not sure what to get. Ideally, I want to read books on the Kindle app, watch Netflix and maybe read Zinio magazines (that is not a deal-breaker though; I am on the fence about sticking with Zinio). The Vox tempts me a little now that it can load Google Play, but I loathe the Kobo app and am not sure how easy it is to hide it or minimize it. I know I can add the Kindle app easily, but will I still have Kobo on the toolbar, or can it be removed? Also, I am not sure it is powerful enough to run Netflix. Kindle Fire is not an option since I am in Canada. Blackberry Playbook, I know nothing about. I do have a Blackberry phone and don't love the apps for it. I think Android is more popular. But I don't want games or anything, just Netflix and Kindle. Is there another device I haven't thought of? Ideally, my ideal device would be a mini iPad, and I know there have been rumors but nothing confirmed. I also am wondering if it's time for the Kobo Vox 2 and if that might be worth waiting for. Ideas? Suggestions? Buy now or wait? What device? I welcome any help.

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06-15-2012, 08:59 PM	#3
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Thanks, Chantal! I played with one today at Indigo and liked it, it was faster and sleeker than I thought. I really dislike the Kobo app though so I am glad to hear I can get rid of their widgets. I am going to see how much I can get for my Kindle and then maybe buy one.

06-15-2012, 10:12 PM	#4
afv011 Captain Penguin Posts: 2,963 Karma: 2079777777 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Device: Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Libra 2, Nook Glowlight	If you are not in a rush, wait to see what's announced in 2 weeks at Google IO - rumour is a quad-core 7" tablet for $199. I personally would avoid the Kobo, it's only got a single core CPU, it was outdated when it came out over a year ago.

06-15-2012, 10:32 PM	#5
DebbyS Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1472692 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: Jetbook Lite; Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)	I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). It arrived on Wednesday (6/13). It was $249. I couldn't find one locally; the tax would have been around $18. Amazon had it for $249 as well, with next-day shipping for ~$16, but no tax. Just an interesting factoid. It did not come with an epub reader but before it came I stumbled across and downloaded the apk (program) for the free version of Aldiko (I can't find that site now, drat). I put that on the micro SD card and installed it easily onto the Tab. It works fine. The Tab came with a PDF reader and players for mp3, mp4 (video) and flv (flash video), and jpgs. It does everything I need it to, which is good as I don't have wi-fi at home (our apartment complex club house has it though). It seems that a high percentage of the apps that came with the Tab are wi-fi oriented (google play market, netflix, etc), but I gathered the most used apps in a file on my home page and that makes it easier to find them. Note: this is the first Android product I've ever used, so if you're new to it, search around the internet for tips and tricks. The Samsung site offered a free download of the big user manual, and many sites talk about Android in forum formats. I think for plain old reading though I'll stick to my Ectaco JBL

06-16-2012, 02:49 AM	#6
Flip Martian Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 45512 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 350, iPad, Sony PRS-T1	Aldiko is a decent ebook reader for Android - I used to use it on phones. Like many other Android apps, its available on the Google Play - what used to be called the Android Marketplace - which is available on every Android tablet. Just hit the icon and go and search for it. The free version was fine for me.

06-18-2012, 01:27 PM	#7
JKatz88 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Ideapad A1	would definitely go for an acer iconia 100/200 or wait for the new Google Tablet to come out and just download the Amazon Kindle Reader app. So easy to work with and works like a charm. Just do not buy a Lenovo product if you want to do multitasking

06-19-2012, 04:25 AM	#8
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I'm still very happy with my Flyer and my husband with his Lenovo. Does the Iconia make a drive letter when you connect it to Windows? (so you don't need a tool to transfer files to your device)

06-19-2012, 09:02 AM	#9
steven522 binomial: homo legentem Posts: 1,061 Karma: 25222222 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, USA Device: iriver Story HD; Archos 80 G9	Recently purchased and still exclusively use an Archos 80 G9 for my ebook / digital comic reading. I used an iPad but it seemed a little too unwieldy for comfortable reading. I also tried the nook Color, but found the 7" "widescreen" format a little too cramped for digital comics and heavily imaged books (had to constantly zoom in and out). The 8" Archos screen at a 4:3 ratio and 1024x768 resolution is the best compromise for me all around. It's no too heavy for long-term reading, the screen is very nice for comics and so far I have gotten very good battery life (7.5 hours minimum up to 13 maximum between charges depending on the usage from movie viewing to basic web access to reading). Oh, and they are constantly on/off sale at your local Staples for $199.

06-29-2012, 03:54 PM	#10
stanleystarrh Banned Posts: 31 Karma: 212044 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: none	Nexus 7! Then let me know how it is

06-29-2012, 06:00 PM	#11
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Update: bought one, played with it a few days and then returned it. I heard from an Indigo employee that there will be a Kobo Vox 2 in the fall, and I also want to wait on Nexus 7 reviews. The Nexus 7 is almost 15% lighter than the Vox and that makes a difference to me.

06-29-2012, 09:40 PM	#12
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	The Nexus 7 looks pretty amazing to me.

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07-01-2012, 01:49 PM	#14
JKatz88 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Ideapad A1	The lack of an sd-card will be an issue for many users, however I personally do not store more than 8-16gb worth of media on my device anyway. It slows it down tremendously. However, according to the article I read about the tablet, The Amazon Kindle Fire Killer is out: Asus Nexus 7, now we have a tablet with 1GB of RAM, and NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 SoC processor. This will be great to stream video and work twice as fast than most tablets can currently. I definitely want to get my hands on one to try it out myself.

07-01-2012, 02:01 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It will be a very nice device for streaming video, but not at all good for taking video with you on a trip, say. The 6GB or so which are available for storage on an 8GB device isn't very much if you're using it for video.