Tablet and ext. HD advice

[Donald]

One for the tech gurus.

This is going to be blunt since my internet is being a total rhubarb this evening and I've just been logged out as I was posting, so I've lost what I wrote before. This is probably for the best as I'm a boring muffin at times.

I'm interested in personal experience over reciting a comparative spec list from myosisthebest.com unless you know what you're talking about and can relate this to everyday use. Keep your iOS vs. Android vs. your mum opinions to yourself unless you're being constructive.


Basically I'm looking at getting a tablet of some sort because I'm getting the arse with lugging a laptop around for minimal use.

Needs:

Quick enough that it wont be noticeably slow when browsing multiple tabs and other stuff
Some sort of word processor built in or app that isn't total dogshit
Good display, I don't want to feel like I'm using a Sony Ericsson from 2003
An interface that makes sense and doesn't look like someone with too much Duplo experience designed it
A touchscreen that works, none of this press the screen and 5 seconds later something happens
Small (so probably sub 8" otherwise I might as well stick with my laptop)
Fairly decent battery life, I wont be watching tons of videos, mainly for browsing
Nice amount of storage but not essential
Maybe with the option of 3G but as long as it has WiFi I'm not too bothered
I don't care for cameras

Looking for suggestions of what's on the market today, but since I wont be getting anything until autumn a heads up on releases later this year would be appreciated The Nexus 7 seems to be a good shout at the moment. Wifey has the iPad Mini and it's pretty slick and runs Pages but I'm sure there are much better alternatives out there for less money.


Also external hard drives. Lacie seems to be the go-to brand, any other suggestions? 1TB with Thunderbolt would be nice.


Cheers!

[andypont]

I have a Kindle fire hd. Wireless connection and display quality seem as good as anything. Battery life is also pretty impressive. Only potential drawback with your wishlist is they don't have a word processor as standard (I don't think), but there might well be an android app than can be downloaded.
I didn't do an awful lot of shopping around before buying mine, but think the quality for the price is excellent. They now do 7" and 8.9" options. I like my 7" as it can fit in a good sized coat pocket so is very handleable.

[Pushki]

I like my 7" as it can fit in a good sized coat pocket

[andypont]

As soon as I submitted that post I thought I could maybe have worded it differently!!

[indigolemon]

I have the Nexus 7 and honestly can't fault it, bang for buck it's the daddy in the sub 10" tablet market. Battery life, speed, size, weight, responsiveness - all have been brilliant. Plenty of cracking office apps around for it, also - and what I use - google drive too!

My dad was unconvinced by it, so I've loaned him it for a fortnight, you can read his experience here: http://ittechpoint.itturningpoint.com/n ... est-drive/

It's due a facelift and update this summer, and can only get better really.

Any Q's just holler!

[FrontBackSide2Side]

i have a Asus eee pad slider. it has a built in keyboard which folds away and comes in REALLY handy. When i bought mine i checked out the reviews on techradar.com and they helped me make my decision, they do a top 10 of tablets and mine was at number 3 at the time but ticked more boxes than the two above it for me.

I chose to go android as our phones are all android so they are compatible for sending stuff between devices etc and also you dont have to plug it in to a laptop to update the firmware etc (i don't know if you still have to do this with the ipad??)

[Riverghost]

Have a look into the Blackberry Playbooks. They were a huge investment by blackberry, who then killed them off in light of a organisational restructure. what this resulted in was some quite pricey bits of kit selling for well under the rrp. generally review well and seem pretty good overall, just cant be sure how you would do with repairs and stuff (saying that, who repairs rather than replaces these days, aside from our preludes ofcourse! )

EDIT - Just noticed a plug for the Nexus 7 - must agree, if you pay the money for it, its by far my fav tablet out there at the moment (never had much love for the Apple fanboy train)

[Donald]

Cheers for your input chaps

Had a look at the Playbook and I'm not convinced the fact that you can't even buy it direct from Blackberry doesn't bode well.

Seems a no brainer on the Nexus then @indigolemon. Might pay to just wait for the next one to come out. Especially since I no longer use any of Apples native apps on my iPhone or Macbook... Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube app... all run rings around the alternatives.

I've just noticed as well that what I thought was Google Docs is now Drive

[lxstuart]

i too have a nexus 7, its great for what i wanted it to do, though i'm not convinced thats its a viable laptop/pc replacement.

[Donald]

Cheers lx.

Not after a laptop replacement, just after something more portable (if that makes sense) and convenient.
With Google Drive I can start something there and just continue on a laptop/desktop when I get to one.