…… Need tablet suggestions

patriotgal

Veteran Member
Was buying $100 dragonpads every couple years. Upgraded to Samsung and never looked back. No need to upgrade. Protected screens and cases. Sorry the lemons found you. Apple products are not available on boonies budgets.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
Haven't seen anything under $300 for an iPad. Guess I could brave black Fri at wally world when they put kids ipads on a deal..

As far as evil....apple Corp and Microsoft are twins. It is what it is. My Samsung phone and tablet get the job done. They run my Microsoft software just fine :apc:
 

Quiet Man

Nothing unreal exists
Haven't seen anything under $300 for an iPad.
As mentioned earlier on this thread... $299 pre-Order price on the new iPad 2021, WiFi, 10.2" screen, A13 processor, 64GB at Walmart and Amazon might be your best bet:

ETA: Thanks to SmithJ!
 
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Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
As far as evil....apple Corp and Microsoft are twins. It is what it is. My Samsung phone and tablet get the job done. They run my Microsoft software just fine
And every keystroke is reported directly to the NSA, as well as your exact location if you take it with you when you go out.

Why are you even on this forum if you don’t mind feeding the beast? (It sounds like you’re actually proud of doing so.)
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
I disagree. But not by much. Google was created specifically to extract information from citizens. Apple at least didn’t start out that way, though today that may also be true for them. Google is evil. Everything about them is evil. It always he’s been so.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
And every keystroke is reported directly to the NSA, as well as your exact location if you take it with you when you go out.

Why are you even on this forum if you don’t mind feeding the beast? (It sounds like you’re actually proud of doing so.)

Says the Alexa user....my sincere apologies.. it's been a rough week and I am too snippy.. My gadgets have restricted areas and my software has been locked down...not that it matters. Some of us can afford tracphones and some of us can and choose iPhone. Neither one is safe as far as privacy. If my ship comes in this lifetime, I might own a Mac. The papers I type are boring to the extreme. My location is boring. My life is typical day to day. That said, I would love to see big brother out of business.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Yes, I use Alexa. I have conversations only with my dogs. If the NSA wants to hear “Aww, who’s a good boy!” they can listen in all they like. Because I don’t have any secrets. I don’t have clandestine meetings with shadowy characters, I’m a member of no groups that could be considered “subversive.”

I hate Screwgle. I hate Android. I hate the Deep State. But this is all known by those keeping the files.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
Yes, I use Alexa. I have conversations only with my dogs. If the NSA wants to hear “Aww, who’s a good boy!” they can listen in all they like. Because I don’t have any secrets. I don’t have clandestine meetings with shadowy characters, I’m a member of no groups that could be considered “subversive.”

I hate Screwgle. I hate Android. I hate the Deep State. But this is all known by those keeping the files.

At least you are I good company with all of us. :)
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
My setup is similar. When my Kindle Fire died, I got a little Galaxy Tab A6 to replace it for bedtime reading, music and Spider Solitaire. But when it comes to doing actual work, I gotta have a keyboard.
Pretty much what I do. I need a keyboard.
 

lonestar09

Veteran Member
I Got a Walmart Onn tablet the end of last year. I mainly use it for an e-reader, also use it at times as a tablet. Works good for me and cost $100. you can also get a cheap insurance policy for 2 years for about $15 I believe. Used the insurance from walmart several years back when a nook hd+ went bad. Got reimbused for the purchase price of rhenook in short order.
 

Quiet Man

Nothing unreal exists
As mentioned earlier on this thread... $299 pre-Order price on the new iPad 2021, WiFi, 10.2" screen, A13 processor, 64GB at
I watched the pre-order prices on the upcoming 2021 iPads climb from $299 to $329 over a few days, but Amazon has them back at $299 again. I think they start shipping on 9/24, so the price might not last much longer.
 

Quiet Man

Nothing unreal exists
I realize this is a old thread but does anyone have any experience with the Panasonic Tough Pad?
Pros? Cons?
When someone asks a question like this, my usual response is: What do you plan to use it for?

Why the Tough Pad? Do you have a special requirement that it meets best? Just based on discounted price? etc.?
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Pretty much what I do. I need a keyboard.
Get an inexpensive bluetooth keyboard. Works great.

I had a Lenovo A8 tablet sometime back; it was a good tablet. Didn't use it much, gifted it to someone here on TB2K some time back.

I've got a IPad 5th generation, 64GB no cellular/wifi only. I use it a little, once in a while. It's ok, meshes seamlessly with my MacBook and my linux laptops via bluetooth. It's ok.

Out of the current offerings in tablets; an IPad will suit your needs. I HIGHLY recommend getting an OtterBox protective case for it. IPads always felt like handling a wet dinner plate to me; kind of slippery. An OtterBox alleviates that problem.

If the OS was supported, or new tablets still available for that matter, I'd recommend a Blackberry Playbook over anything on the market. ANYTHING on the market currently. Build quality was incredible, it felt solid, not weighty but solid- worked flawlessly and in an OtterBox it felt so solid you could throw it at windows and break them without issues. I have mine in my "toy cabinet", still gets charged regularly and I use it once in a while. Some day there will be interest in retrofitting another OS into the Playbooks; when that happens my IPad will be happily given away to the first TB2Ker that wants it.

It's funny-I don't trust Android or Apple OSes. I'm a linux guy. But recently for my main phone I found a Blackberry KeyOne. It was a Blackberry that ran an Android OS. They sold almost none here and have been out of the market worldwide since 2020. I bought one from overseas, and it started as having an Android OS at least when I got it :) .Not no more...... It's been tweaked beyond recognition under the hood and it's now as safe as the old BB OS 10; functions flawlessly and it's got a physical keyboard. It's secure.

I use it more than I've ever used my IPad.
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I realize this is a old thread but does anyone have any experience with the Panasonic Tough Pad?
Pros? Cons?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...NParams#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div
Panasonic TougHPad G1, FZ-G1 MK3, Core i5-5300U @2.30GHz, 10.1-inch WUXGA Multi Touch + Digitizer, 8GB, 256GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE, Dual Pass, 2 Cameras, Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)

Refurbed is $455
New is $2499
Yes. I use one daily at work. Here's the one I use-

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-To...anasonic+toughpad&qid=1708650682&s=pc&sr=1-14

Great little device. It runs some company specific software and I literally use this one daily. Company replaced our Panasonic Tough Pad laptops with these about 4 years ago.

They're hard to find, but well worth the money. One problem with these tablets though. If you're using one in rainy conditions, rain drops hitting the screen will drive it crazy. Keep it dry.
 

LoupGarou

Ancient Fuzzball
If you want a good android running tablet, I would suggest one of the Lenovo ones. I have quite a few over the years and have had no issues with any of them.

If, on the other hand, you want something that can run Linux or Windows, get a good used Panasonic Toughpad. I have quite a few of those as well. Perfect if you want a real machine to run real programs instead of apps.

For a full laptop, Lenovo T series or P series, or if you want something bulletproof (and you don't mind the weight), any of the older Toughbook laptops.
 

tnphil

Don't screw with an engineer
I only use Samsung. They've worked reliably.
I have over 9 Samsung tablets, purchased 2015 to 2023. All functional. I did change the battery in one from 2016 last year.

Same with Samsung phones, changed batteries in our two. Do NOT leave them on wireless chargers, they get hot and cause the battery to swell.

My 2016 (or before?) ipad is still functional.

Keep the junk files cleaned off, notifications, etc. Samsung makes it easy. Use "battery saver" or hibernate. Again, pretty easy.

And... don't leave on charge constantly. Fully charge, then use until it gets down to 50% or less. Don't go below about 20% before charging. Note that some Android tablets appear to be unable to restart if discharged until they shut off. A key combo (maybe power plus volume down?) held for 10 seconds will usually bring them up.
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
If you want a good android running tablet, I would suggest one of the Lenovo ones. I have quite a few over the years and have had no issues with any of them.

If, on the other hand, you want something that can run Linux or Windows, get a good used Panasonic Toughpad. I have quite a few of those as well. Perfect if you want a real machine to run real programs instead of apps.

For a full laptop, Lenovo T series or P series, or if you want something bulletproof (and you don't mind the weight), any of the older Toughbook laptops.
I'm a fan of the General Dynamics rugged laptops myself. Got a GD8000 rugged laptop that works great with linux. The ToughPads are also good-used one daily for 3-4 years for inspections unti we got swapped to the ToughPad tablets. Still using it to this day.

TOTALLY agree with IBM for a great laptop. Try an older W series work station laptop. I've got a W 500 workstation laptop and it's blistering fast with Linux as an OS. Fantastic laptops.
 

Babs

Veteran Member
Verily, the tablet device of great repute in the current market is the Apple iPad Pro. Yon sleek and powerful device doth boast a high resolution display, swift processing power, and a plethora of applications for a multitude of purposes. It is hailed as a top choice for those seeking a versatile and reliable tablet experience. -Mimir (My software engineer son's personal AI)
 

WildDaisy

God has a plan, Trust it!
I dont think you have many choices under $300 that arent Samsung. Apples are well into the $800+ range.

I have a Kindle Fire HD that I use solely for reading and small aps. But it is very limited and isn't compatible with a lot of things.

If I had my choice, it would be an Apple IPad Pro. But thats big bucks. But you can do the most with it. You can get way older IPads for cheap, but many apps no longer support them (which is why I got my Fire HD - My older iPaid no longer works with many of the apps I had on it and wont upgrade the iOS further to get the newer apps that are out there.
 

ktrapper

Veteran Member
When someone asks a question like this, my usual response is: What do you plan to use it for?

Why the Tough Pad? Do you have a special requirement that it meets best? Just based on discounted price? etc.?
Thr price is not that big of a deal to me. Looking for ruggedness. I work in the oil field and work on heavy equipment as well and would use it for my repair manuals.
We four wheeler and snowmachine back forth home about 8 miles most of the winter. Throwing gear and back packs around, in and out of truck beds and atvs etc. We have killed a few laptops, physically. We have Panasonic Toughbook laptops we use now with Windows 10 Pro. They are surviving quite well. Replaced the keyboard on one successfully. So thats the reason I was looking toward the Panasonic Tough Pad. More mobile, not as heavy, same operating system as we are using now and I can more easily take it on a plane. I am not against a I pad. I have a I phone and its ok.
I am not at all a computer nerd so I kinda like what I already know.
 

Barry Natchitoches

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am using a iPad I bought in 2018. It was one of their cheapest iPads even way back then.

still works good, but it seems to need charging every time I turn around. It used not to be that way.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
I am using a iPad I bought in 2018. It was one of their cheapest iPads even way back then.

still works good, but it seems to need charging every time I turn around. It used not to be that way.
The lithium batteries used by most all portable equipment these days starts to age-out after about 300 charges. By the time you get to 600, the battery is essentially gone. You’ll need to replace it.
 

kjacks

Senior Member
I will never buy another Samsung product. I don’t know how you feel about Apple, but I’ve never had an equipment failure in 15 years.
Using the Samsung GT-N8013 that our son got in 2010, use it every day, and outside of a couple programs that won't load due to the age/version of software it works just fine.
 

Hfcomms

EN66iq
The lithium batteries used by most all portable equipment these days starts to age-out after about 300 charges. By the time you get to 600, the battery is essentially gone. You’ll need to replace it.

And those are accumulative full recharge cycles. I have four ipads and the oldest is a Gen2 and it still works. I hardly ever use it as it is a backup to a backup but it will run six hours on a charge and for a casual user that is all they need. More of a performance and old app’s that can’t be upgraded anymore more than a battery issue.
 
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