[ale] how do i find cheap tablet with decent features

Mon Dec 10 13:31:01 EST 2012

Hi Mike W,

That's good info to know.  I hate when when they don't have an SD card slot.  I use the SD card as a means of getting files on and off the tablet.  Also, most of the places I go to around town each day, restaurants and stores, etc., don't have wifi.  So, once I leave my house, I don't have connectivity.  I have the 4G Verizon Jetpack, but I don't have the $ 60 / month budget to feed it unless I'm on travel on vacation.  Even then, I have to turn off all podcast downloads and software updates and just use basic web pages and email to stay under the 3 GB limit.  For my normal usage, I'm downloading about 10 GB of podcasts or so every week.  I use the internal memory / SD card on my existing tablet to store audible books and podcasts so I'm never without enlightenment and entertainment, even if I don't have a wifi connection.  So, lack of an SD card might be a show stopper for me.  The $ 200 - $ 250 price tag is probably a show stopper, since I'm considering this for a secondary tablet, to be used for less critical purposes and more for experimentation.  On the price issue, it's interesting to note that the extra 16 GB of flash in the Nexus commands a $ 50 price premium, but I can buy a 16 GB SD card these days for $ 16.  These things are certainly something to consider.  Thanks for the info.

Sincerely,

Ron

"Michael H. Warfield" <mhw at WittsEnd.com> wrote:

>On Sat, 2012-12-08 at 22:37 -0500, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
>> Hi Richard,
>
>> You do have a point there.  I'll have to see if it's worth that
>amount
>> of $ to me.  I thought the nexus was over $ 200 though.  I guess it's
>> a pretty good bet that the Google tablet would support Google apps.
>
>My Nexus 7 (the larger model - 32GB) was $249 - base price from Google.
>And they gave me a $25 credit in the Google App store, which I used to
>upgrade a stack of apps from the free versions to the "pro" versions.
>Those upgrades then apply to all the Android devices which are
>registered to your account, which means 4 in my case, my Nexus and EVO
>and June's tablet and her phone.  When I upgrade my phone (soon), all
>those pro versions will migrate and install.
>
>The smaller Nexus (16GB - only difference is the internal storage) is
>$199 and it's a snap to throw CM10 / JB on it.  3/4 of what I was doing
>on my EVO smartphone has been moved to that tablet.
>
>Only downside to the Nexus 7 is that it has no MicroSD slot.  You're
>stuck with the storage you've got.  You can get a "host mode" cable (I
>have one) that will allow you to plug a USB key in but then you can't
>charge it simultaneously.  Them's da breaks.  I still love it and would
>do it again even without the $25 store credit.
>
>If you can afford it, get the higher capacity.
>
>> Sincerely,
>
>> Ron
>
>
>> Richard Bronosky <richard at bronosky.com> wrote:
>> 
>> >If you are willing to spend $150, it's a shame not to spend a little
>> >more
>> >to get the Google Nexus device. If you place ANY value on the time
>you
>> >will
>> >spend trying to hack a $150 tablet, the nexus will be cheaper. I
>spent
>> >60+
>> >hours figuring out how to root and mod my Samsung Galaxy S3 and that
>is
>> >a
>> >well supported device in the community.
>> >
>> >
>> >On Sat, Dec 8, 2012 at 10:52 AM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <
>> >atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Vernard Martin <vernard at venger.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >On 12/7/2012 9:07 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
>> >> >> Hi all,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> How do i find a 7" android ICS or jelly bean tablet for $150 or
>> >less
>> >> >with the following features?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> * full support of google apps including modern google play
>> >> >> * micro sd slot, pref 32 gb capable
>> >> >> * 1 GHz cpu / 512 MB ram
>> >> >> * capacitive screen
>> >> >> * bluetooth
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I might be willing to give up bluetooth but would rather not. 
>> >Camera
>> >> >is fine but not required.  Preferably easy to root.  Local store
>> >with
>> >> >return privilege is best, but I could buy online.  Cheaper is
>> >better.
>> >> >I would be even more impressed at $ 120 or $ 100.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Sincerely,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Ron
>> >> >That is a tall order actually.  Maybe if you get one of the
>no-name
>> >> >brands and load up your own custom load you can get that. I've
>found
>> >> >that the prices are dropping but haven't quite hit that market
>yet.
>> >> >
>> >> >Closest I can think is getting a refurb Nook Tablet (8GB) version
>> >and
>> >> >load CyanogenMod 9 on it. THat'll get you IceCream Sandwich and
>> >> >everything else that you asked for except blue tooth.
>> >>
>> >> That IS an interesting idea about the nook.  About a year ago,
>when I
>> >was
>> >> first wanting to get into tablets, I actually bought a nook.  I
>> >didn't like
>> >> all the restrictions BN puts on them and was considering romming
>it. 
>> >My
>> >> research at the time indicated that they had made that much harder
>to
>> >do
>> >> with newer models and I was afraid to brick it.  But, it is
>something
>> >worth
>> >> considering.  They're selling refurbished ones for $ 130, so
>that's
>> >not too
>> >> bad.  I know I could get something like a Nexus 7 in the $ 200 -
>250
>> >range,
>> >> but, for the purposes I'm going to use the 2nd tablet for, it's
>just
>> >not
>> >> worth that much money to me.
>> >>
>> >> Sincerely,
>> >>
>> >> Ron
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and
>K-9
>> >Mail.
>> >> Please excuse my potential brevity.
>> >>
>> >> (To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying
>to
>> >former
>> >> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the
>> >wrong
>> >> address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new
>> >address.)
>> >>
>> >> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might
>want
>> >to
>> >> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate
>> >energy
>> >> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages
>very
>> >> quickly.)
>> >>
>> >> Ron Frazier
>> >> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
>> >> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Ale mailing list
>> >> Ale at ale.org
>> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>> >> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
>> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>> >>
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> 
>> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9
>Mail.
>> Please excuse my potential brevity.
>> 
>> (To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to
>former
>> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the
>wrong
>> address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new
>address.)
>> 
>> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want
>to
>> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate
>energy
>> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very
>quickly.)
>> 
>> Ron Frazier
>> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
>> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Ale mailing list
>> Ale at ale.org
>> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
>> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>> 

--

Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
Please excuse my potential brevity.

(To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to former
messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com