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So what with my, um situation and all, my good friend (who's helped me out countless times over the years) has decided to buy me a tablet for my birthday at the end of this month. He's asked me specifically if I want a Kindle Fire HD 7" tablet, or the Nexus 7. Having been watching tablets and mobile OS development for awhile, I already said the Nexus 7 because it's a straight android OS from Google itself, and for the $200 price point you get a pretty darn powerful tablet and all.

But my question is, at around this price point, what are some other good tablets that could specifically be used for gaming purposes? I've been watching a few companies (and no, not the Coby stuff or anything like that lol) like Ainol Novo and they have a few lower priced tablets with similar (and in some cases better) specs than the Nexus 7 and related products.

To be specific, if the tablet can play Dead Trigger, Dead Space and Unreal Engine 3 based games smoothly, I'd be happy. I will also use the tablet when I have no pain meds and have to be in bed for most of the day. So besides gaming, watching movies would be another plus for the tablet. I know the Kindle Fire HD might be a better option for media consumption, but I already pretty much ruled out getting that one. Watching movies, obviously listening/steaming my music, and possibly reading some books also. But I'm not a big e-reader kinda person, so that's not a big thing for me to worry about. Oh and browsing the web also might be an important considering I guess.

So if any of you have any advice on a tablet other than the Nexus 7 (and Kindle Fire HD) I'm all ears. I'll continue to look into these tablets and try to find one that may or may not be a better fit for me than the Nexus 7.

:)

From a hardware standpoint, some may be better than the Nexus 7.

However, don't forget about the software perspective. Will you be happy with the upgrade cycle of the Android OS for that tablet? How about installing custom ROMs? Do you care whether you can only purchase all your apps on the Amazon App Store if the Google Play Store is unavailable to you? Keep in mind, most apps are updated faster on the Google Play Store than on Amazon.

Isn't upgrading the OS on the Nexus 7 easy and seamless compared to having to wait weeks or whatever for other companies to put out the new version of android OS? Either way, doesn't bother me to upgrade. Custom ROMs don't bother me, but I also don't want to root the device either.

As for the Amazon app store if Google Play is down or something, that's fine with me. I've used Bluestacks here on the PC and it's fine. :D

Yes, upgrading the OS on the Nexus 7 is easy. The upgrade cycle from Google is obviously the fastest. Many other tablet manufacturers don't even update the OS or are very slow in proving updates, hence the "need" for customized ROMs. The questions I asked were to make you think "Would I be happy with a tablet other than the Nexus?"

Google Play unavailability referred to no access at all. Only certain manufacturers/Tablets are allowed access to the Google Play Store (Though customized ROMs often work around this issue)

Ah yeah, I know about that, that some manufacturers are locked out of Google Play altogether.

But yes, I wouldn't have any problem putting a custom ROM on to get access to it, or another app store (I know there are a few, but most kinda suck lol). Nor do I have a problem having a tablet that isn't a Nexus 7. It's funny you mention that though, the Ainol Novo lines of tablets all have access to Google Play now that I've been looking into them a bit more. Pretty good for them I guess? :p

I recently bought a Kindle Fire (non-HD) as my entry point into the tablet market. Within a few days I was fairly happy a tablet was for me but really didn't like the Kindle Fire..

* It was a real brick in terms of weight

* No cameras

* Limited applications compared to Google Play store

* Significantly lower spec than Nexus 7

Within a few days I had sold the Kindle Fire and over christmas set about getting a Nexus 7. It seems to be a better tablet in every respect, and as has been pointed out it'll always get software updates the fastest as it's "googles own" device.

Obviously I appreciate you're talking about the Fire HD and not the regular Fire.. but essentially software issue will remain for the Kindle Fire HD. I think it's one of the biggest selling points of the Nexus.

Yeah, after watching countless reviews of both tablets (and many others) the biggest complaint about he Kindle Fire line is that the Amazon app store just doesn't compare to Apple's store, let alone Google Play. Which I totally get mind you. But as long as I can get the game I've been looking at, and use Netflix etc it doesn't really matter to me which store it is I'm using in the end.

Yeah, after watching countless reviews of both tablets (and many others) the biggest complaint about he Kindle Fire line is that the Amazon app store just doesn't compare to Apple's store, let alone Google Play. Which I totally get mind you. But as long as I can get the game I've been looking at, and use Netflix etc it doesn't really matter to me which store it is I'm using in the end.

Google Play is crap for books or music mind you, but you can still install the Amazon app stores for those onto the Nexus 7.

Gaming wise the nexus 7 is your best bet at the moment until tablets with the new qualcomm chips come out or the tegra 4 comes out or powervr 6 series tablets come out. In 4 months time the nexus 7 will be destroyed by all of these but for the time being it is your best bet. I'd be pretty sure the next nexus will have a tegra 4 if you can hold out for however many months until that is released. I'd also suspect that it would get a retina upgrade seeing as though so many smaller tablets and phones are getting 1920x1080 and higher resolutions.

Yeah, I'd love to wait for the Tegra 4 based tablets, but since my friend is buying me this tablet for my birthday and he has a limited time table to do so himself, it's either the Nexus 7 (or whichever) or nothing. And I really want a tablet :D

And yes, Project Shield sounds great. Wish I could get one now!

Hmmm, interesting, never thought of that. Thanks for the heads up.

Also, I know the Nexus 7 (nor the Kindle Fire HD) support mini/micro-SD expansion slots etc for memory, but a friend of mine was telling me you can hook up some dongle adapter or something to allow a USB stick to be used for storage or whatever. Anyone have any experience with this, or know what he was referring to? Since he never finished telling me, I don't know what he was talking about lol

if you want to use a controller, I can tell you from experience that the ps3 controller works great with the help of this android app https://play.google....250cm9sbGVyIl0.

it's even got special setting you can set up so you can use the controller with games that only do touch controls

edit: and for usb you just need one of these cables (if you go with the Nexus 7) (doesn't need to be that exact one either as long as it's micro usb male to usb female) http://www.amazon.co...b+to+female+usb and you'll need to be rooted and use this app https://play.google....Glja21vdW50Il0. this will allow you to mount usb drives

another advantage of the Nexus 7 is it supports smart covers http://www.ebay.com/itm/150876914092?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 works great for propping it up when playing games with the controller too :)

another advantage of the Nexus 7 is it supports smart covers http://www.ebay.com/...984.m1497.l2649 works great for propping it up when playing games with the controller too :)

I have something similar to that for my kindle fire hd. http://www.amazon.com/rooCASE-Origami-Dual-View-Leather-Amazon/dp/B0096T97OG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358131905&sr=8-1&keywords=roocase+kindle+fire+hd

I have something similar to that for my kindle fire hd. http://www.amazon.co...+kindle+fire+hd

ugh, i hate those slip cases personally, they're just too bulky IMO

that's why i like the case i linked so much, it's minimal because it just snaps on yet it gets the job done :) took forever for a non bulky one like that to come out for the nexus 7 though

anyway, i didn't realize that the fire hd supported smart covers as well. it's really a nice feature when you can get a cover that makes use of it

The only downside to the Nexus 7 that I can see is the small HD size. I have a kindle fire hd and love it, you can always use websites to get apk's that amazon doesn't offer.

For you downside, for many others it's an advantage. The Nexus 7 is portable, can be held in one hand, fits in your jeans pocket, and offers pretty decent screen real-estate - 7" at 1280x800 (which is the same as kindle fire hd 7"). Nexus 7 is far superior than Nook/Kindle Fire without any doubts - there is no third part lockdown like Kindle/Nook and specs on Nexus 7 are better overall. Unless you are invested in Amazon Prime services, there is absolutely no reason to get the Kindle (same with Nook). You can just download the Kindle/Nook apps and use their marketplace if you wish to do so on Nexus 7.
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    • Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair review: The Ikea of chairs by Steven Parker I've reviewed a few gaming chairs over the past three years or so and generally found them to score well in our reviews. SIHOO reached out asking if I was interested in taking a look at their flagship chair, the Doro C300 Pro V2. I never got the chance to check out its predecessor, but the V2 is described as an "Adaptive Ergonomic Chair." It became available to buy in April of this year. Let's get things rolling with a closer look at the specifications and features. Specifications Doro C300 Pro V2 Model Ergonomic Materials Mesh Back and Seat; Soft PU Coated Armrests Height adjustability 45.5 - 53 cm / 17.5" - 20.9" Seat (w+d) 52 x 43 - 47 cm / 20.5" x 16.9" - 18.5" (adjustable) Backrest 52 – 60 cm / 20.5" - 23.6" (adjustable) Lumbar support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Armrest adjustability 8D Bionic Armrests Rocking angle 105°, 120°, 135° (fixed) Neck support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Net weight 27.3 kg / 59.64 lbs Weight support 150 kg / 330 lbs Colors Black, White Warranty 5 years (upon registering) Price $499.99, $539.99 Introduction At first glance, it looks like a chair that in another life wants to be a Herman Miller; It certainly looks like my Aeron Remastered, but the Doro C300 Pro V2 has quite a few more features and costs quite a bit less. SIHOO says that it is made up of a "DynaCore" system that tracks your movement and synchronizes the headrest, backrest, lumbar support, and armrests as you shift, twist, or recline. They also say that the "SyncroFlex Backrest" molds to your spine, which kind of describes how the mesh fabric works in most ergonomic chairs, but anyway. Below are the meat and potatoes measurements for the chair. Here is the same tech sheet, but in inches. Durability I would be remiss to not talk about the various durability testing this chair underwent before coming to market, as this is claimed on the product page. First of all, the chair is BIFMA-, SGS-, and TÜV-certified. As for durability, the tests undergone were: 100,000 Castor cycles tested 120,000 Armrest cycles tested 120,000 Recline cycles tested 120,000 Gas lift cycles tested 60,000 Armrest durability cycles tested 120,000 Rotation cycles tested Nothing about weights testing, though. Now that's all disclosed, now onto my own personal findings. Assembly The Doro C300 Pro V2 came in two large boxes (1) (2), and everything was packed very well, protecting the different parts of the chair. In the box, there is a folded sheet that explains the 12 steps to assemble it; they are: Remove the bottom cover on the aluminum base; Insert the five legs into the aluminum base and use ten screws to fasten them; Insert the castors into the legs; Replace the bottom cover on the bottom of the aluminum base; Place the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder into the aluminum base; Screw the bottom part of the arm rests, taking care of the orientation using two screws on each side; Use three torx screws to fasten the footrest to the bottom of the seat; Fasten the backrest to the seat using four torx bolts; Fasten the armrests to the backrest using four Torx bolts (two on each side), taking care to note the orientation; Place the chair onto the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder; Insert the headrest into the top of the backrest; Use two torx screws to fasten the headrest to the backrest. There's also an online guide you can refer to. 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Also, to complicate things further, although all the parts are labeled from A to X (yes, that's 24 parts) unhelpfully, these letters do not appear on the parts themselves or the package with the bolts, screws, and washers. There's also a pair of protective gloves in the box, but I think they were made for much smaller hands than I have. Even my friend, who is 5.1, had difficulty putting them on. Once assembled, I needed to sit down. Anyway, as I said, it looks quite similar to my Herman Miller. And here is the back of it. If you look at the product page and on Amazon, it seems like a lot of thought has gone into the chair itself and what it's capable of, but there is no mention at all about the castors, and this is an area where I think the chair trips up quite quickly. I found it difficult to move the chair in any direction. I asked a friend who came to visit me earlier this week to test my findings, and she said that the wheels were "no good," so it definitely isn't just me. 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However, the backrest cannot be locked into place, and this is actually a feature; as you shift or recline yourself on the chair, the backrest moves with your body. It took some getting used to. The lumbar gives ample support, but I would have preferred an adjustable one built into the seat base, as this causes the backrest to move up and down at will. Again, as with my previous chair review, this chair is also rated for tall people, but nowhere in the product documentation does it say how tall. Being 6'2 myself, I'm happy to say that the backrest is tall and wide enough, and thought has been given to being able to adjust the neck rest, but as others have mentioned in their reviews, people as tall as 6.2ft is about the limit for the neckrest. Conclusion What I didn't like The footrest is rated for 15kg (33 lbs), which to me seems a bit light, and after looking online, it seems like a chair footrest for adults must be at least twice that rating. In all honesty, they are just hollow metal tubes, so it is not recommended to let a kid sit on them. I also feel like it doesn't really go out far enough for my height, so that kind of puts the dampener on me being able to use it regularly. I'll just have to continue to use my subwoofer as a footrest! I do not like the armrests being able to shift around as easily as they can, and they are a little too forward-positioned in the chair to comfortably sit close to my desk, because even in the lowest height position, they don't allow me to go under the desk like is possible with my Herman Miller. I also feel like this chair could have been delivered partially constructed, especially the armrests on the seat, and why the aluminum base wasn't already pre-constructed (without the castors) is baffling, considering it would have fit in one of the two boxes that way. The instructions also need to be clearer. On the pamphlet, there's an A to X listing (which is also used in the steps), but none of the physical parts use this lettering system! What I did like I'll be honest, I haven't used it for very long, just one week, and seating comfort is subjective after all! Any spills wiped straight off it, the stitching, and the lines look great, not a fray to be seen or stitch out of place. It looks kind of cool, too. My favorite feature of these seats is the nap mode. While you're not lying completely flat, it leans far back enough to make you easily doze off after a heavy gaming or working session. Overall, this chair offers plenty of comfort features. The MSRP does vary quite a bit depending on the region, at £549.99 in the UK, and €580 in Europe, and $599 before tax in the U.S. However, shipping is free, which is a bonus for such a heavy item. Is it worth it, though? At three years' warranty, I think it's a decent deal. Another firm out of Germany sent me a free replacement hydraulic gas spring for a chair that failed after almost four years, so it was well outside its two-year warranty. My advice is to always try, as you might have the same luck I did. If I could fault it at all, it would be the constant shifting of the armrests and backrest. Where to buy Although the footrest variant normally costs $539.99, it has been discounted to $469.99 on the official website in Black or White. In fact, the non-footrest variant is only $40 cheaper. On Amazon, it currently costs more at $499.99 links below. Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $469.99 (official website) Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $499.99 at Amazon US SIHOO provided a free sample without any review or pre-approval. Good to know This Amazon link is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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