# Tablet recommendations sought
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 15, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008 "2013-11-15T19:47:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/21 "2013-11-16T18:33:13Z")
> [@HubZilla](#):
>
> I’m looking at $50-$100 [tablets like these](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/trio-stealth-lite-4gb-mp3-player-black/7561112.p?id=1218908835590&skuId=7561112&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=7561112&extensionType=%7Badtype%7D:%7Bnetwork%7D&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!%7Bkeyword%7D!%7Bmatchtype%7D!%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D!%7Bnetwork%7D!%7Bifmobile:M%7D!%7Bcreative%7D&kpid=7561112&k_clickid=56a41774-eb5a-4388-1b4a-00001d086bf5).
Absolute junk. Almost certain to break in a matter of a few weeks. Do _not_ buy those no name sub-$100 tablets. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Lite-Touchscreen-Ultra-Mobile/product-reviews/B00AMAHXUI/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0) are some Amazon reviews you must read. Note the clever mimic name “Trio” vs. “Treo”. Spend $150 and get something that will last for a couple years.
Oh, and they are too slow as well.
My current recommendation for an Android tablet: Nook HD+. Being sold for very little and just as powerful as much pricier models. Can run native software or do like I have and install [Cyanogenmod](http://www.cyanogenmod.org/) to have a more recent Android OS.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/22 "2013-11-16T19:05:20Z")
> [@HubZilla](#):
>
> I’m looking at $50-$100 [tablets like these](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/trio-stealth-lite-4gb-mp3-player-black/7561112.p?id=1218908835590&skuId=7561112&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=7561112&extensionType=%7Badtype%7D:%7Bnetwork%7D&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!%7Bkeyword%7D!%7Bmatchtype%7D!%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D!%7Bnetwork%7D!%7Bifmobile:M%7D!%7Bcreative%7D&kpid=7561112&k_clickid=56a41774-eb5a-4388-1b4a-00001d086bf5).
Agreed that they’re pretty crappy. And, at a 4.5" screen, it’s less a “tablet” and more of a smartphone without phone capabilities.
If you don’t want to mess with trying to turn a Nook into a “normal” tablet, I’d recommend a [Kindle Fire HD](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CU0NSCU/ref=fs_jw) for a small, relatively inexpensive quality solution. The downside is that you’re stuck using the Amazon app store unless you root it but the app selection should be more than enough for a four and eight year old and the hardware quality is sound.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/23 "2013-11-16T20:52:01Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> If you don’t want to mess with trying to turn a Nook into a “normal” tablet, I’d recommend a [Kindle Fire HD](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CU0NSCU/ref=fs_jw) for a small, relatively inexpensive quality solution. The downside is that you’re stuck using the Amazon app store unless you root it but the app selection should be more than enough for a four and eight year old and the hardware quality is sound.
The Nook HD and HD+ _are_ “normal” (Android) tablets. A lot more “normal” than Kindles. They use Google Play for apps (but some are B&N specific, which more advanced users like me don’t like). And more bang per buck. (You can install the Kindle reader and Amazon App store on them if you want to be perverse.)
One of the big mistakes B&N made marketing them was failing to publicize that they are really just Android tablets.
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### Author:  [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/24 "2013-11-16T22:41:58Z")
> [@Chimera](#):
>
> This is not true. I haven’t found an iPhone app yet that I can’t use on my iPad.
Yeah, almost all iOS apps are universal these days, meaning they are designed to work on both. And apps that are phone-specific also run with scaling on the ipad.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/25 "2013-11-16T22:52:08Z")
> [@ftg](#):
>
> The Nook HD and HD+ _are_ “normal” (Android) tablets. A lot more “normal” than Kindles.
Ah, it looks as thought they upgraded the Nook since the days it needed to be rooted to perform as a standard tablet. I’ll admit I hadn’t been keeping up. In any event, we both agree that there’s solutions in the $140ish range that are a huge leap ahead of what’s in the $50-$100 range.
It’s one of those situations where you’re honestly better waiting another six months if you need to in order to purchase a $140 device later rather than purchasing a $50-$75 device today because the $65 one will always be disappointing for the cost. You’d be better off buying the kids $65 worth of Legos or XBox games than a clunky, ill performing tiny tablet-wannabe.
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### Author:  [@sevn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevn)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/26 "2013-12-05T12:41:07Z")
what size do you prefer?
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### Author:  [@sevn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevn)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/27 "2013-12-05T12:45:44Z")
I’m also on the market of tablet, some one recommend me the Ipad mini, I think it’s a little smaller, so I found [Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10](http://best7inchtablet.org/lenovo-yoga-tablet-10-review/), how’d you think this one?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/28 "2013-12-05T13:06:06Z")
Reported post by **sevn** as spam
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/29 "2013-12-05T13:23:41Z")
The best bang for your buck is going to be the Nook HD+. A phenomenal tablet for the price it’s going for right now. I have one and probably won’t get another tablet for a long, long time.
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### Author:  [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/30 "2013-12-05T16:03:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Reported post by **sevn** as spam
Better safe than sorry or a bit too hasty?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/31 "2013-12-05T16:07:25Z")
No. I reported that user because of the spam link in its second post.
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### Author:  [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/32 "2013-12-05T16:11:10Z")
I have a Nexus 7, It’s a model from last year but I love it. The new ones I imagine are even better I presume.
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### Author:  [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/33 "2013-12-05T17:08:49Z")
I just bought the new Nexus 7 after owning the original for a year and I love it! The size is the perfect balance between portability and usability, the display is beautiful and the price can’t be beat.
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### Author:  [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/34 "2013-12-05T20:28:43Z")
Based on the recommendations in this thread, I just ordered a Nook HD+ from Target. It’s ready for pick-up now so I’ll swing by there on my way home. Can’t wait!
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tablet-recommendations-sought/674008/35 "2013-12-06T01:57:27Z")
I’ve been considering upgrading mine to something with a better display. I’d been waiting to see if an upgraded version of the Nexus 10 was coming out (the existing would actually do for my purposes, except for the end-of-support-cycle concern); I might go with either the Nexus 7 (definitely the 32GB version, given the lack of a memory card slot) or going all-out for the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition (which looks like a great tablet held back by bloatware and a bizarre decision to install an offscreen home button).
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