Need help picking the right tablet...

[Marc_G]

Hi folks!

Please help me pick the right tablet.

In a few weeks I'm heading across country to visit my parents. Mom is sick, Dad is doing his best taking care of her. He's got a dinosaur XP laptop connected by wires in the back bedroom. I'm going to bring him into the 21st century by presenting him with a wifi router and an Android 10" tablet.

Mostly he uses the computer for email and web browsing, and a nice wifi tablet would let him have connectivity wherever he is around the home and hospital (guest wifi) with her. No cellular connectivity desired.

So I'm looking for a cheap 10" Android tablet that's no SO cheap that it doesn't have Google Play or the real Google Gmail etc. apps on it. I know most uber-cheap tablets can be tweaked to eventually have real Google apps, but it's not worth the effort, particularly since after my visit any troubleshooting I need to do will be remote.

Originally I was budgeting $200 for the tablet but it looks like I may need to go up to $250. IT's OK as long as it's a decent system. My parents are worth a bit of extra coin. I've looked around Amazon (prime!) and been bewildered by the choices.


Here's what I'm looking for:

• Must be in the 9.7-10.x" class. No smaller.
• Needs to come stock with Google Play / Gmail
• Don't care whether it's ICS or JB (Dad wouldn't care!)
• I'd like to get with it a little protector with built in keyboard to help ease the transition for Dad.
• Wifi only; no cellular needed

Please steer me to the best tablets for the situation. Thanks! I prefer shopping through Amazon but any reputable dealer would be OK. There is a Fry's in my town too.

Marc

 

[ocnbrze]

Hi folks!

Please help me pick the right tablet.

In a few weeks I'm heading across country to visit my parents. Mom is sick, Dad is doing his best taking care of her. He's got a dinosaur XP laptop connected by wires in the back bedroom. I'm going to bring him into the 21st century by presenting him with a wifi router and an Android 10" tablet.

Mostly he uses the computer for email and web browsing, and a nice wifi tablet would let him have connectivity wherever he is around the home and hospital (guest wifi) with her. No cellular connectivity desired.

So I'm looking for a cheap 10" Android tablet that's no SO cheap that it doesn't have Google Play or the real Google Gmail etc. apps on it. I know most uber-cheap tablets can be tweaked to eventually have real Google apps, but it's not worth the effort, particularly since after my visit any troubleshooting I need to do will be remote.

Originally I was budgeting $200 for the tablet but it looks like I may need to go up to $250. IT's OK as long as it's a decent system. My parents are worth a bit of extra coin. I've looked around Amazon (prime!) and been bewildered by the choices.


Here's what I'm looking for:

• Must be in the 9.7-10.x" class. No smaller.
• Needs to come stock with Google Play / Gmail
• Don't care whether it's ICS or JB (Dad wouldn't care!)
• I'd like to get with it a little protector with built in keyboard to help ease the transition for Dad.
• Wifi only; no cellular needed

Please steer me to the best tablets for the situation. Thanks! I prefer shopping through Amazon but any reputable dealer would be OK. There is a Fry's in my town too.

Marc

well i think that the best bang for you bucks would be either the samsung galaxt tab 2 7" or the nexus 7.

 

[Marc_G]

Thanks for the thoughts but like I said above:
Being in the 10" class is a MUST. My parents eyes are not what they used to be, so a big screen is a requirement.

The Samsung is a bit pricey; the Nexus is flat out of my range.

My parents don't really care about latest / greatest, I'm just looking for a reasonably sturdy 10" unit that's got the google suite built in.

Other suggestions toward the lower end?

 

[Marc_G]

An update: IT looks like there are some good deals on refurb Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 units out there from reputable dealers, so I'm looking seriously into that.

I'll post over in accessories re: keyboards but if anyone knows a nice case/keyboard cobo that's not too dear, let me know... Thanks!

 

[shelliewnj]

If you can, the Samsung is great! And because it's play store enabled, you can download an app to go through the files remotely, if need be to help them out.

 

[Marc_G]

Yeah, I'm just about to buy it. Both WM and BB have refurbished units at a good discount. Since I can return it if needed, the refurb thing doesn't bother me.

 

[Marc_G]

Just to cap this off, I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 10.1" as a refurb (from Best Buy) for around $260. It was in perfect condition and came with the charging cable/plug etc.. I was able to update the software to Jelly Bean pretty easily (though I had to download quite a few updates before it got to the Jelly Bean).

I set it up for my parents' use. In doing so, I kind of fell in love with it and decided to buy one to have here at home with my family. The Best Buy deal is over but I got a comparable refurb deal on NewEgg. Should be here in a couple days.

This is a sweet tablet for $260.

Marc