Recommend me a new(cheapish) tablet (or even Chromebook)

[Lord Camomile]

Buuuumpitty bump*

Urban hive mind, what suggest ye for the following criteria:

• around £50 or so (second-hand)
• Android
• not Kindle/Amazon
• screen around 10"
• preferably somewhat futureproofed (i.e. won't be unable to run new apps for a good few years)
• to be used primarily
  • a) as a 'smart clock'/calendar thing, so I can leave it on my desk and my schedule/task list is always super visible, rather than hidden away in another window on my laptop/phone
  • b) for general media streaming (don't care about HD, just want something with enough processing power that it won't buffer all the time)

I've been looking at Samsung's Galaxy line, particularly as I have a Galaxy phone (another hand-me-down...), but anything from the past 5 years (i.e., the S series) is generally £100+. I'm happy to keep waiting for the right deal to show up, but have decided it might be worth getting something cheap that'll do the job in the meantime.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated



*usual "apologies if there's a more suitable/obvious destination for this

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Buuuumpitty bump*

Urban hive mind, what suggest ye for the following criteria:

• around £50 or so (second-hand)
• Android
• not Kindle/Amazon
• screen around 10"
• preferably somewhat futureproofed (i.e. won't be unable to run new apps for a good few years)
• to be used primarily
  • a) as a 'smart clock'/calendar thing, so I can leave it on my desk and my schedule/task list is always super visible, rather than hidden away in another window on my laptop/phone
  • b) for general media streaming (don't care about HD, just want something with enough processing power that it won't buffer all the time)

I've been looking at Samsung's Galaxy line, particularly as I have a Galaxy phone (another hand-me-down...), but anything from the past 5 years (i.e., the S series) is generally £100+. I'm happy to keep waiting for the right deal to show up, but have decided it might be worth getting something cheap that'll do the job in the meantime.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated



*usual "apologies if there's a more suitable/obvious destination for this

That's tight. Honestly at that budget I'd look Amazon, because they sell them for bugger all profit so you use their services, they are the most capable budget tablets.

Plus using the Fire HD toolkit to remove all Amazon feels like your getting one over on them.

 

[Lord Camomile]

That's tight. Honestly at that budget I'd look Amazon, because they sell them for bugger all profit so you use their services, they are the most capable budget tablets.

Plus using the Fire HD toolkit to remove all Amazon feels like your getting one over on them.

Hmm... cheers, I'll def look into it (plus I pretty much always buy second-hand, so wouldn't even be handing money over to them directly), but would still like to avoid 'em if at all possible.

 

[teuchter]

Any new options since the last bump?

 

[Sasaferrato]

Hmm... cheers, I'll def look into it (plus I pretty much always buy second-hand, so wouldn't even be handing money over to them directly), but would still like to avoid 'em if at all possible.

Have a look at Morgan Computers. Cheap laptops, PCs, Computers, Monitors, Printers, Digital Cameras and accessories | Morgan Computers

 

[MBV]

(thread drift) Seeing Morgan Computers reminded me of a time when one would buy a magazine to read about PCs

 

[editor]

(thread drift) Seeing Morgan Computers reminded me of a time when one would buy a magazine to read about PCs

Their website still looks like it comes from that time!

 

[teuchter]

Plus using the Fire HD toolkit to remove all Amazon feels like your getting one over on them.

Is this a once-only operation, that makes it into a somewhat standard Android tablet? Reason I ask as I am now looking for something that can be set up for someone else, moderately technically proficient but who won't want to have to fiddle around doing special stuff each time there's an android update or whatever.

Not having had an android tablet before, I'm not sure if it's similar to android phones where updates get pushed out by the manufacturer with their various modifications and so on.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Is this a once-only operation, that makes it into a somewhat standard Android tablet? Reason I ask as I am now looking for something that can be set up for someone else, moderately technically proficient but who won't want to have to fiddle around doing special stuff each time there's an android update or whatever.

Not having had an android tablet before, I'm not sure if it's similar to android phones where updates get pushed out by the manufacturer with their various modifications and so on.

No. I believe because Fire OS is a branch of Android it won't get updates unless you go out your way.

 

[DaphneM]

That's tight. Honestly at that budget I'd look Amazon, because they sell them for bugger all profit so you use their services, they are the most capable budget tablets.

Plus using the Fire HD toolkit to remove all Amazon feels like your getting one over on them.

can you install a vanilla android OS on it? or would it have to be Fire?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

can you install a vanilla android OS on it? or would it have to be Fire?

I believe you can root it and install Linage OS.

That's a lot more work though then removing the Amazon stuff and installing play store

 

[Pickman's model]

I got a Samsung A8 tablet (android 11) recently, 10.5" screen, very very happy with it. 32gb internal storage but space for a mini usb. £180, but money well spent

 

[teuchter]

No. I believe because Fire OS is a branch of Android it won't get updates unless you go out your way.

Having looked into this, I see that you need to fiddle around using a Windows PC, to remove the Amazon stuff, and what you get is something a bit more like stock Android but it's still based on quite an old version (Android 9?).

I'd worry that in a couple of years the Android version would get sufficiently out of date that apps would start not to work, and the only route to an update would then be to revert it to the Amazon setup, update the OS and then go through the removal process again.

Seems like it's a good option for someone reasonably tech savvy and willing to faff around a bit (and with access to a Windows PC) but maybe not otherwise.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Having looked into this, I see that you need to fiddle around using a Windows PC, to remove the Amazon stuff, and what you get is something a bit more like stock Android but it's still based on quite an old version (Android 9?).

I'd worry that in a couple of years the Android version would get sufficiently out of date that apps would start not to work, and the only route to an update would then be to revert it to the Amazon setup, update the OS and then go through the removal process again.

Seems like it's a good option for someone reasonably tech savvy and willing to faff around a bit (and with access to a Windows PC) but maybe not otherwise.

You might be right. At the price they are in the sales it's something I'm willing to live with, but yes, could be an issue.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Slight tangent, but our original Kindles, now 12 years old, are still going strong.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Lord Camomile

CEX, 10" TABLETS FROM £20 UP admittedly older tablets, but, available in your price range.

And CEX provide a 2 year warranty on everything!

CeX

uk.webuy.com