[ale] how do i find cheap tablet with decent features

Michael H. Warfield mhw at WittsEnd.com
Sun Dec 9 13:42:37 EST 2012 

On Sat, 2012-12-08 at 22:37 -0500, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
> Hi Richard,

> You do have a point there.  I'll have to see if it's worth that amount
> of $ to me.  I thought the nexus was over $ 200 though.  I guess it's
> a pretty good bet that the Google tablet would support Google apps.

My Nexus 7 (the larger model - 32GB) was $249 - base price from Google.
And they gave me a $25 credit in the Google App store, which I used to
upgrade a stack of apps from the free versions to the "pro" versions.
Those upgrades then apply to all the Android devices which are
registered to your account, which means 4 in my case, my Nexus and EVO
and June's tablet and her phone.  When I upgrade my phone (soon), all
those pro versions will migrate and install.

The smaller Nexus (16GB - only difference is the internal storage) is
$199 and it's a snap to throw CM10 / JB on it.  3/4 of what I was doing
on my EVO smartphone has been moved to that tablet.

Only downside to the Nexus 7 is that it has no MicroSD slot.  You're
stuck with the storage you've got.  You can get a "host mode" cable (I
have one) that will allow you to plug a USB key in but then you can't
charge it simultaneously.  Them's da breaks.  I still love it and would
do it again even without the $25 store credit.

If you can afford it, get the higher capacity.

> Sincerely,

> Ron


> Richard Bronosky <richard at bronosky.com> wrote:
> 
> >If you are willing to spend $150, it's a shame not to spend a little
> >more
> >to get the Google Nexus device. If you place ANY value on the time you
> >will
> >spend trying to hack a $150 tablet, the nexus will be cheaper. I spent
> >60+
> >hours figuring out how to root and mod my Samsung Galaxy S3 and that is
> >a
> >well supported device in the community.
> >
> >
> >On Sat, Dec 8, 2012 at 10:52 AM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <
> >atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Vernard Martin <vernard at venger.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> >On 12/7/2012 9:07 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
> >> >> Hi all,
> >> >>
> >> >> How do i find a 7" android ICS or jelly bean tablet for $150 or
> >less
> >> >with the following features?
> >> >>
> >> >> * full support of google apps including modern google play
> >> >> * micro sd slot, pref 32 gb capable
> >> >> * 1 GHz cpu / 512 MB ram
> >> >> * capacitive screen
> >> >> * bluetooth
> >> >>
> >> >> I might be willing to give up bluetooth but would rather not. 
> >Camera
> >> >is fine but not required.  Preferably easy to root.  Local store
> >with
> >> >return privilege is best, but I could buy online.  Cheaper is
> >better.
> >> >I would be even more impressed at $ 120 or $ 100.
> >> >>
> >> >> Sincerely,
> >> >>
> >> >> Ron
> >> >That is a tall order actually.  Maybe if you get one of the no-name
> >> >brands and load up your own custom load you can get that. I've found
> >> >that the prices are dropping but haven't quite hit that market yet.
> >> >
> >> >Closest I can think is getting a refurb Nook Tablet (8GB) version
> >and
> >> >load CyanogenMod 9 on it. THat'll get you IceCream Sandwich and
> >> >everything else that you asked for except blue tooth.
> >>
> >> That IS an interesting idea about the nook.  About a year ago, when I
> >was
> >> first wanting to get into tablets, I actually bought a nook.  I
> >didn't like
> >> all the restrictions BN puts on them and was considering romming it. 
> >My
> >> research at the time indicated that they had made that much harder to
> >do
> >> with newer models and I was afraid to brick it.  But, it is something
> >worth
> >> considering.  They're selling refurbished ones for $ 130, so that's
> >not too
> >> bad.  I know I could get something like a Nexus 7 in the $ 200 - 250
> >range,
> >> but, for the purposes I'm going to use the 2nd tablet for, it's just
> >not
> >> worth that much money to me.
> >>
> >> Sincerely,
> >>
> >> Ron
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9
> >Mail.
> >> Please excuse my potential brevity.
> >>
> >> (To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to
> >former
> >> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the
> >wrong
> >> address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new
> >address.)
> >>
> >> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want
> >to
> >> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate
> >energy
> >> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very
> >> quickly.)
> >>
> >> Ron Frazier
> >> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> >> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> Ale at ale.org
> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
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> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
> >>
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
> Please excuse my potential brevity.
> 
> (To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to former
> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
> address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)
> 
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
> 
> Ron Frazier
> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
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> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
> 

-- 
Michael H. Warfield (AI4NB) | (770) 985-6132 |  mhw at WittsEnd.com
   /\/\|=mhw=|\/\/          | (678) 463-0932 |  http://www.wittsend.com/mhw/
   NIC whois: MHW9          | An optimist believes we live in the best of all
 PGP Key: 0x674627FF        | possible worlds.  A pessimist is sure of it!
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