Best tablet for reading (non iOS)?

[Astra.Xtreme]

I also agree with getting a tablet with e-ink. If you plan on doing extended amounts of reading, a lcd tablet will make you want to gouge your eyes out. They are cheap enough that you can buy one of those for reading and then something else for browsing/media needs.

[BajiRav]

There are two variants, the Surface, and the Surface Pro. The 'normal' Surface is launching with Windows 8, and is powered by a Tegra 3 ARM processor. It does not have digital ink capability. The Surface Pro, launching a few months behind the Surface, has a ULV Core i5 processor, and the Surface Pro does have digital ink capability (but only on the Surface Pro). The Surface Pro hasn't had its pricing revealed, but it's priced in-line with current ultrabook pricing. A price point of $999 is very likely.

I am guessing the Surface Pro will be priced $799 (64GB) and $999 ($128) respectively or rather I am hoping because I want to get Pro. :)

[Darrian]

hello

im going to go for the ccna exam (well the first part) and ill have to read some ebooks so im looking for a tablet. not intrested in ereaders as they have no added functionality. i dont want a ipad either.

im looking at either a android device or microsoft's surface. most of you will say the nexus 7 but no sd card and no pen (to hightlight stuff easier for example) is a bit of a turn off.........the htc flyer looked pretty ok but has no support. the galaxy note is weird in the sense it that it doesnt have the size of a phone or a tablet and would be pretty hard to read.

right now the surface is my perfered choice even if it is not on the market.

suggestions?

Well, if you're looking for something cheap I'd recommend a Nook Tablet and then putting CM9 on it, but since you're obviously interested in the Surface I'd just wait for for that. In fact, I am waiting for one, but for now I'm using my Nook Color (which is a bit slow, which is why I'd recommend the Tablet, instead).

[simplezz]

I think there's a way to use usb mass storage on the Nexus 7, so that should cover at storage issues.

It really comes down to how much you'll willing to spend. The Surface is probably going to be at least as expensive as iOS - the RT version anyway (which by the way won't have many apps), the x86 version will have the Windows back catalogue, but it's going to be bulkier, have less battery life, and be extremely expensive. Think 1k+.

If I were going to buy one right now, it'll either be a Nexus 7 or a Transformer.

[notuptome2004]

Just go for the nexus 7 it has the latest hardware quad core the works for $200 plus it is running the new Andriod jelly bean 4.1 while the other runs a custom based andriod 2.3 gingerbread with a custom UI ontop of it plus less ram on the other 2 512mb vs 1gb of ram in the nexsus 7 also Higher quality screen 7" 1280x800 with 223PPI as oppsed to the 150-160 in the other tablets

[siah1214]

There are two variants, the Surface, and the Surface Pro. The 'normal' Surface is launching with Windows 8, and is powered by a Tegra 3 ARM processor. It does not have digital ink capability. The Surface Pro, launching a few months behind the Surface, has a ULV Core i5 processor, and the Surface Pro does have digital ink capability (but only on the Surface Pro). The Surface Pro hasn't had its pricing revealed, but it's priced in-line with current ultrabook pricing. A price point of $999 is very likely.

Why do you think WinRT doesn't have digital ink capability? It's something built into all Windows versions since windows xp tablet edition.

The surface pro does come with a pen, but that doesn't mean you couldn't get the pen for the Surface.

[Kryspy]

In the past I'd call myself an avid Apple hater. Today I own an iPad 3 and so does my wife. I tried every Android tablet and I mean every one of them (9 in total).

Nothing beats the functionality of the iPad and I mean nothing. The thing just works and works well. Apps are polished. SD card slot can be overcome with apps like dropbox or like others said you could jailbreak it.

Honestly Android tablets aren't quite as polished and the main problem is app quality. Flash has been a non-issue on ios an dhaven't run into one roadblock yet.

I haven't tried the Nexus 7 but if the build quality is anything like the Transformer TF300 I wouldnt bother. Light bleed, cheap plastic construction.

Kryspy

[TheReaperMan]

Just add to add. I got a flyer in december for ?150(hot uk deals).

It looks to do everything you want. I run this lot on mine

ebook reader, kindle, kobo, pdf and epub format

web, iplayer, netflix, dvblink(live tv from mediacentre)

loads of games, gtaIII, pac mand and emulators.

fine control with the pen and ink(very good) for scetching

tv out(with extra cable) to hdmi tv. for my emulators and netflix

usb host, I plug a usb hub in and can use it with a usb hd

i also use it in the car as sat nav with sygic with a screen mount.

It all depends on what you want to spend on your tablet.

for the price its great.

i also have a ipad and a acer a500 and a playbook but i like my flyer more due to how flexable it is.

[kurupy]

I will say that you wont miss not having a SD card in a device that much, once you get used to using dropbox or a similar service. i started using it on my tablet even thought i do have a microsd installed and i couldnt be happier.

its so much easier than taking it out, finding the adaptor plugging it in, copying it over then putting it back in, or finding the lead to connect it to the pc; and now that i have the htc one x that doesnt have a sd card slot its become the norm and i dont notice it anymore

[Prince Charming]

Why do you think WinRT doesn't have digital ink capability? It's something built into all Windows versions since windows xp tablet edition.

The surface pro does come with a pen, but that doesn't mean you couldn't get the pen for the Surface.

I'm sure WinRT has software support for digital ink. That's no problem. The problem is the Surface doesn't have a digitizer behind the screen to support a pen. At best you'd be using a capacitive stylus, which is effectively a finger on a stick. It's no use for writing, or drawing (unless you like finger painting). It won't support the official surface pen in the same way the Surface Pro will, as the Surface Pro has a digitizer for pen support that the Surface lacks.

[metro2012]

look get the nexus 7 tablet here is a comparsion

http://www.theverge....2506/3767/5147/ nexus 7 vs kindle fire vs nook vs

that chart is completely bias.

the nook tablet does have bluetooth and can be upgraded to ice cream sandwich and problably in the future to jelly bean. it also Google Play store. and how can it be only charged by wall and not by pc? completely bias.

I also agree with getting a tablet with e-ink. If you plan on doing extended amounts of reading, a lcd tablet will make you want to gouge your eyes out. They are cheap enough that you can buy one of those for reading and then something else for browsing/media needs.

i dont need a tablet for absolutly nothing. it just happens that i will get the tablet with browsing/media abilities. i just dont want some black/white thing as ive seen most e-ink tablets are just that: black and white :(

[tsupersonic]

that chart is completely bias.

the nook tablet does have bluetooth and can be upgraded to ice cream sandwich and problably in the future to jelly bean. it also Google Play store. and how can it be only charged by wall and not by pc? completely bias.

i dont need a tablet for absolutly nothing. it just happens that i will get the tablet with browsing/media abilities. i just dont want some black/white thing as ive seen most e-ink tablets are just that: black and white :(

You have to root (+ install ROM) the nook tablet to actually make it a tablet. Otherwise you're stuck in the B&N ecosystem, with very limited capabilities. It was one of the better tablets out there (with the Kindle Fire), but now with Nexus 7, they both are weak competitors. The Nexus 7 is the definitive best Android tablet on the market today bar none. The Nexus 7 has overwhelmingly positive reviews (hell even from iPad users). I've used both Nook Tablet (16GB, my roommate's) and I purchased a Nexus 7 8GB, and I can say the Nexus 7 is the better product.

Color e-ink is in line for the future...

[+Warwagon MVC]

I know you don't want an E-reader but have you ever seen an e-ink display before? Even though you think you don't want one, if you've never seen one i'd highly recommend you check one out before making your Decision. I will never read on an LCD screen. E-ink.

[notuptome2004]

check this out

ULTIMAte hack: Nexus 7 hooks up with external USB storage, floppy drive for retro-gaming

http://www.engadget....-storage-flopp/

now that is just great so now it is more worth it then before

[metro2012]

I know you don't want an E-reader but have you ever seen an e-ink display before? Even though you think you don't want one, if you've never seen one i'd highly recommend you check one out before making your Decision. I will never read on an LCD screen. E-ink.

no i havent but all ive seen are in black and white (grayscale) is there any android tablet with a color e-ink display?

[metro2012]

check this out

ULTIMAte hack: Nexus 7 hooks up with external USB storage, floppy drive for retro-gaming

http://www.engadget....-storage-flopp/

now that is just great so now it is more worth it then before

this isnt too impresive as since Honeycomb USB host mode has been supported.

and im not going to carry around a pen drive with all i need (mostly my large music collection) and be plugging it in/out.

dont get me wrong, the nexus is needed great but no external storage imo was wroth a extra 50 bucks (if google wanted to rape us that way for a sd slot)

[notuptome2004]

this isnt too impresive as since Honeycomb USB host mode has been supported.

and im not going to carry around a pen drive with all i need (mostly my large music collection) and be plugging it in/out.

dont get me wrong, the nexus is needed great but no external storage imo was wroth a extra 50 bucks (if google wanted to rape us that way for a sd slot)

Well they chose to not have those things because well cost but also so ya know on the nexus 7 it is required to root the device to have usb host i guess so that is not a big deal .

[simplezz]

dont get me wrong, the nexus is needed great but no external storage imo was wroth a extra 50 bucks (if google wanted to rape us that way for a sd slot)

The Nexus 7 is designed to be a cloud-based storage device. You have Google Music, or DropBox to store all your albums/files. Or when at home you can stream music directly from a PC or server.

and im not going to carry around a pen drive with all i need (mostly my large music collection) and be plugging it in/out.

You could always get a low profile micro-usb stick and leave it plugged in. They are so small you'll hardly notice they're there. Amazon has a ton of them.

But if you prefer paying $1k vs $199 for a tablet then wait for the Surface (if it ever arrives).

[Hardcore Til I Die]

Nexus 7.

Dropbox and Google Play Music (assuming you're from the US) more than make up for the lack of an SD card slot.

[+Warwagon MVC]

no i havent but all ive seen are in black and white (grayscale) is there any android tablet with a color e-ink display?

No color text, but the the lack of eye strain is bar none!

[metro2012]

No color text, but the the lack of eye strain is bar none!

the thing is that the books ill be reading use diagrams with colors for different wire connections as stuff. if i was reading text only, then it wouldnt matter much.

[metro2012]

talked to someone yesterday and he mentioned a lot about the e-ink (he has a sony i belive it is). he told me that the way e-ink worked (some of you have said this) the refresh rate simply isnt enough and it wont be able to be used as a tablet for android apps.

this weekend a friend is going to show me a ereader with eink and ill judge for myself :)

he did mention that ereaders use a .epub format that is made for ereader type devices; im going to be mainly reading books that have been ported to pdf. some of these books ive seen are native while some ive seen are just scanned copies. he mentioned that pdfs are horrible on ereader devcies and really hard to read as a the epub format adjusts itself to the screen...

any opinions/takes on that? thanks

[notuptome2004]

talked to someone yesterday and he mentioned a lot about the e-ink (he has a sony i belive it is). he told me that the way e-ink worked (some of you have said this) the refresh rate simply isnt enough and it wont be able to be used as a tablet for android apps.

this weekend a friend is going to show me a ereader with eink and ill judge for myself :)

he did mention that ereaders use a .epub format that is made for ereader type devices; im going to be mainly reading books that have been ported to pdf. some of these books ive seen are native while some ive seen are just scanned copies. he mentioned that pdfs are horrible on ereader devcies and really hard to read as a the epub format adjusts itself to the screen...

any opinions/takes on that? thanks

Just as i siad before so have other get the nexus 7 Tablet it is the most powerful Tablet out ther for $200 8gb model and they give you a $25 credit to use on the Play store and as of right now so many peaple have cutomized the thing after rooting it is crazy enabled other thing but you know it make a great classic game system as you can downlaod from the play store emulators and stuff. anyways for Reading it will do well because the screen is very hiogh resolution and has a very high PPI so text and everything will be smooth on the screen

just go on to youtube and watch some user reviews on it

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_8gb&feature=home-cip-4#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDcwMCwiZGV2aWNlLW5leHVzXzdfOGdiIl0.

[metro2012]

Just as i siad before so have other get the nexus 7 Tablet it is the most powerful Tablet out ther for $200 8gb model and they give you a $25 credit to use on the Play store and as of right now so many peaple have cutomized the thing after rooting it is crazy enabled other thing but you know it make a great classic game system as you can downlaod from the play store emulators and stuff. anyways for Reading it will do well because the screen is very hiogh resolution and has a very high PPI so text and everything will be smooth on the screen

just go on to youtube and watch some user reviews on it

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_8gb&feature=home-cip-4#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDcwMCwiZGV2aWNlLW5leHVzXzdfOGdiIl0.

i agree that e-ink is way better than lcd for reading

[notuptome2004]

i agree that e-ink is way better than lcd for reading

not for what he will want to use for reading i mean the stuff he needs you know graphs and stuff. he should just spend $200 order a nexus 7 tablet it will do for what he needs and more