OMO - Premium Android 10" Tablet Recommendations?

[Steve_God]

Oh Mighty Org! :)

Which of the Premium Android Tablets around today (that are approx 10", and running 4.1 Jelly Bean) would you recommend?

I'm replacing a netbook, but no-longer need something with a keyboard now I've got a proper desktop, but it needs to be decent enough to handle videos very well as it's also going to be used to watch TV on (via the TV Catch-up app).
It would also need access to the Google Play store, rather than the cheaper ones that have their own dedicated stores without the full access to all apps.

Although there have been several threads about Android Tablets (http://forums.sv650.org/search.php?searchid=4644694) (and of course iPads...), they have either centred around being cheap, a 7" model, or an iPad:
- Given it's also to be used as a TV, it can't be a 'cheap cheap' one that isn't capable of decent video playback
- Nor 7", as the missus wants it big enough to watch TV in the kitchen (likely to get either a stand-case or a slide-in wall mount.
- I also don't want an iPad as while I agree they have been better than Android in the main, with the new Jelly Bean update using 'Project Buttery', I now don't see benefit (especially as neither of us have other Apple products, Hackintosh aside, to be compatible with for those benefits)

Those I've currently spotted are:
- Google Nexus 10: (although currently out of stock): This is currently the best spec... but... didn't want to spend quite as much as £320.
- Sony Tablet S
- ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T (without the keyboard dock)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
- Toshiba AT300
- Acer Iconia Tab A510
(There are plenty of others with similar specs, but they're only running Android 3)
However, I'm ideally looking for one as cheap as possible with similar specs to the above, and would even consider a second hand one :)

Suggest away! :)

[tigersaw]

I have an Iconia A500, which shares the same screen as the A510.
I recently bought a smaller playbook which has a much more vibrant and brighter screen, so much so I've never touched the Iconia since. I know a 7" is not on your list, but I mention this to point out the Iconia may not be the best choice for viewing video and tv

[Jackie_Black]

I have a Nexus, Playbook and an IPAd. Just get the nexus. DOn't waste your time with anything else. It's easier to use and get along with and does everything plus the OS updates all the time and Google pretty much own the internet. You won't be disappointed. It's seamless and even my lass can use it.

[joshwalker094]

Google nexus, I have the nexus 7 and love it. :)

[Jackie_Black]

I will be replacing my iphone with the nexus phone soon too. The OS and stuff is that good.

[a_monkey_hint]

IMO It's between these:

- Google Nexus 10 - Nothing even comes close to this!!
- ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T - Appealing because of keyboard option
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - Budget leader.

[timwilky]

I have a 300t, with dock. I think you can only source it with the dock in the UK.

It isn't blindingly fast despite claiming a tegra3 processor. The dock does give youi the advantage of a real keyboard that gives a full size usb and SD card. So in my case a further 64GB of storage. and hard drive when I need it.

The dock feeds it power through the tablet battery, so that run downs first, which means about 10 hours. There were annoying issues for me such as the backspace didn't work properly under certain conditions. This has been fixed by a firmware upgrade and since buying the thing 4 months ago I have had 3 upgrades, 1 to JB and 2 kernel/bug fix. So Asus seem on the ball with putting fixes out there.

I stream video from my dnla server to the TV connected through the hdmi interface. This does appear a bit flimsy and I wonder just how many connects/disconnects it will stand.

But main issue. It is a 15v power supply that connects to a USB cable. Don't be fooled into thinking you can simply plug it into a USB port and it will charge.

What would I like the next versions to do. WiFI band and throughput, despite having a dual band wifi network at home, the transformer only supports 2.4GHz and I think it is an android issue 72Mb. Also improved resolution would be nice. As would a USB3 interface.

[Jackie_Black]

Also I stream 720 Hd from my server to my nexus wirelessly and it does this smoothly with no glitches. I can also run any file from my nas (documents etc) and read and edit them using docs to go, which is free. I'm not an apple hater by the way, it's just I have found a better way to do things and I suspect apple have now lost such is the power of the android software/hardware combo.

[a_monkey_hint]

Have you considered the Samsung Galaxy Note 10"?

[Steve_God]

Cheers for all the feedback so far peeps! :)
(It's definitely helping me rule out some I've been considering compared to the Nexus)

Have you considered the Samsung Galaxy Note 10"?
I have, but the extra price puts me off tbh given I wouldn't make use of the stylus with it.

[timwilky]

I do like the fact the 300t has 32GB on board plus micro SD and full size SD. So normally a 128GB device.

This meant I was able to insert the camera card and move off the photos every day on the recent holiday. I think the nexus does not support SD cards.

[a_monkey_hint]

I find internal memory nowadays is becoming a thing of the past. Constant internet access allows most storage to be hosted in the cloud.

[timwilky]

I find internal memory nowadays is becoming a thing of the past. Constant internet access allows most storage to be hosted in the cloud.

In theory,


I use mobile wifi from my phone to connect on the move. But most place I go I struggle to get a gprs not even 3g connection. So until such time that there is universal hi speed wifi or 4g everywhere I will carry all the music and films I want on a few sd cards.

work wont allow non work devices to connect to the network (need a special authentication client) and cannot get a mobile internet signal in the office.

I do use a couple of cloud stores but the free 30gig are soon used up. far easier to have a 3tb usb drive and store my life on that

[Jackie_Black]

Depends on usage, if it's mainly used in the house then just set up a nas with everything on and use the tablet as a front end. This is all I do as I never really take the tablet out. I can understand however the need to have a lot of storage if you are on the move a lot.

[a_monkey_hint]

In theory,

I use mobile wifi from my phone to connect on the move. But most place I go I struggle to get a gprs not even 3g connection. So until such time that there is universal hi speed wifi or 4g everywhere I will carry all the music and films I want on a few sd cards.

Agreed, its not quite here yet, and not suited to everybody's circumstances.

work wont allow non work devices to connect to the network (need a special authentication client) and cannot get a mobile internet signal in the office.

True - many organisations haven't yet embraced cloud technology - it's not quite at the level of maturity that some IT teams & businesses feel is acceptable to make the move.

Microsoft Small Business Server is now end of life, which is a prime example on how companies (e.g Microsoft) are now pushing their cloud solutions onto businesses.

Admittedly, I still have a 1TB nas drive at home that I still use for streaming content.

[Steve_God]

IMO It's between these:

- Google Nexus 10 - Nothing even comes close to this!!
- ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T - Appealing because of keyboard option
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - Budget leader.

Ok, so (putting aside the issue over on-board memory), so far this seems to be the consensus at the moment ^^

So given I'm not fussy about the keyboard, looks like I'm either to wait for the Nexus to become available again, or go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2?

Has anyone had any bad experiences with the Galaxy Tab 2?