3 Dec
2012
3 Dec
'12
12:54 a.m.
http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24562.htm
On Wednesday Aldi will sell a 7" tablet running Android 4.0 for $99. It's got
512M of RAM and 16G of storage but only a 800*480 screen (the same resolution
as a lot of phones).
I'm not sure whether I'll buy one at this time, getting another Android test
device for a mere $99 is a good deal, but the resolution sucks a bit.
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/10-inch-tablet-pc-android-16gb/
Kogan has a 10" tablet with 1024*768 resolution for $189 plus shipping, maybe
$210 all up. It's a fairly decent tablet (I own one and a couple of relatives
have them), but a lot more expensive.
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/google-nexus-7-16gb/
Then there's the Nexus 7 for $229 plus shipping which has a 1280*800 display
but it's only 7". It's a Nexus so there's got to be some nice features,
and
it has Android 4.1.
I'll probably get a $99 tablet because even if I don't use it much I won't
feel bad about wasting $99.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_S_3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Note_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droid_DNA
Next year when prices drop after Christmas I'll buy a fancy new phone.
Currently I'm looking at the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, or
something like the HTC Droid DNA aka J Butterfly.
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My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
3 Dec
3 Dec
2:47 a.m.
On Monday, 3 December 2012 at 11:54:27 +1100, Russell Coker wrote:
http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24562.htm
On Wednesday Aldi will sell a 7" tablet running Android 4.0 for $99. It's got
512M of RAM and 16G of storage but only a 800*480 screen (the same resolution
as a lot of phones).
I bought one of their last specials six months ago. I returned it for
two reasons: first, it wasn't possible to load apps, because the app
store didn't know about it. The other, more personal, was that I
couldn't find any use for it. More at
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#android
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#D-20120610-000316
and on.
Greg
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3:48 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Dec 2012, "Greg 'groggy' Lehey" <grog(a)lemis.com> wrote:
I bought one of their last specials six months ago. I
returned it for
two reasons: first, it wasn't possible to load apps, because the app
store didn't know about it. The other, more personal, was that I
couldn't find any use for it. More at
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#android
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#D-20120610-000316
and on.
Firstly you seem to have some aversion to tablets generally. The keyboard
issue isn't that different from an EeePC 701 or other real netbook for anyone
with typical adult finger size. There are a variety of Bluetooth keyboards
available, some are tiny (like the EeePC 701 keyboard) and don't support touch
typing and some are large enough for normal typing. But generally you don't
get a tablet for serious typing.
In terms of storage, it's not uncommon for devices with small internal storage
to devote all of it to Android and none of it for VFAT filesystem mounting.
Fortunately SD cards are cheap ($10 from OfficeWorks last time I checked) and
many people have spare SD cards from old phones.
From a Whirlpool thread you cited on your blog it seems that the Bauhn tablet
that Aldi sold you had Google market problems when there was poor net access.
The newer tablet is from Onix and would hopefully be better in some ways.
As you noted, you can take stuff back to Aldi, so it's not a great risk.
Also Kmart has advertised a $99 tablet in their latest catalogue but their web
site gives no useful details other than Android 4.0.
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My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
5:08 a.m.
On Monday, 3 December 2012 at 14:48:01 +1100, Russell Coker wrote:
On Mon, 3 Dec 2012, "Greg 'groggy'
Lehey" <grog(a)lemis.com> wrote:
Yes, as I said, that one's personal. But it's not so much an
aversion--otherwise I wouldn't have bought it in the first place--as a
lack of application. I couldn't find anything to use it for, not even
what I thought it might be good for.
I bought one of their last specials six months
ago. I returned it for
two reasons: first, it wasn't possible to load apps, because the app
store didn't know about it. The other, more personal, was that I
couldn't find any use for it. More at
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#android
http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-jun2012.php?topics=c#D-20120610-000316
and on.
Firstly you seem to have some aversion to tablets generally. The keyboard issue isn't that different from an
EeePC 701 or other
real netbook for anyone with typical adult finger size.
Well, this thing doesn't have a keyboard at all. And you can't
touch-type on a touch screen.
There are a variety of Bluetooth keyboards available,
some are tiny
(like the EeePC 701 keyboard) and don't support touch typing and
some are large enough for normal typing. But generally you don't
get a tablet for serious typing.
Agreed. In fact, this thing *does* support a normal USB keyboard.
But as you say, that's not the purpose.
From a Whirlpool thread you cited on your blog it
seems that the
Bauhn tablet that Aldi sold you had Google market problems when
there was poor net access.
And when there was good net access. Google doesn't seem to have
recognized them, and thus refused to download any software.
The newer tablet is from Onix and would hopefully be
better in some
ways.
You'd hope they would have learnt, wouldn't you?
As you noted, you can take stuff back to Aldi, so
it's not a great
risk.
Agreed. If you buy one, I'd be interested to know what you think.
Greg
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2:49 a.m.
A thing I forgot:
On Monday, 3 December 2012 at 11:54:27 +1100, Russell Coker wrote:
I'll probably get a $99 tablet because even if I don't use it much I
won't feel bad about wasting $99.
You can return it for a complete refund within 60 days as long as you
still have the packaging. One of the best things about ALDI.
Greg
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8:51 p.m.
On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24562.htm
On Wednesday Aldi will sell a 7" tablet running Android 4.0 for $99.
On the subject of cheap Android/Linux tablets...
http://www.arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/100-androidlinux-tablet-hits-fun…
11:59 p.m.
Hi,
I have a Zatab which is based on A10 as well
I will try to liberate, linuxilate it using the instructions here:
http://pengpod.com/pengwiki/index.php?title=Porting_to_a_new_A10_device
Thanks
Peter
On Tue, 4 Dec 2012, Aryan Ameri wrote:
On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24562.htm
On Wednesday Aldi will sell a 7" tablet running Android 4.0 for $99.
On the subject of cheap Android/Linux tablets...
http://www.arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/100-androidlinux-tablet-hits-fun…
goal-ships-in-january/
4 Dec
4 Dec
4:03 a.m.
Hi,
On 4/12/2012 7:51 AM, Aryan Ameri wrote:
On the subject of cheap Android/Linux tablets...
http://www.arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/100-androidlinux-tablet-hits-fun…
Yes, I was going to suggest PengoPad, but their website has limited
product information AND the resolution of the devices are quite low --
Russell wouldn't be happy with 1024x600 -- I know I wouldn't be too ;)
Cheers
AndrewM
5:26 a.m.
On Tue, 4 Dec 2012, Andrew McGlashan <andrew.mcglashan(a)affinityvision.com.au>
wrote:
For $100 I'd be happy with that resolution. $100 and a wait isn't so good
though.
--
My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/
My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
http://www.arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/100-androidlinux-tablet-hits-f
unding-goal-ships-in-january/
Yes, I was going to suggest PengoPad, but their website has limited
product information AND the resolution of the devices are quite low --
Russell wouldn't be happy with 1024x600 -- I know I wouldn't be too ;)
5 Dec
5 Dec
1:01 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Dec 2012, Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24562.htm
On Wednesday Aldi will sell a 7" tablet running Android 4.0 for $99. It's
got 512M of RAM and 16G of storage but only a 800*480 screen (the same
resolution as a lot of phones).
I've just bought one. They are selling rapidly and I don't know how long they
will last - probably you could get a returned one next week if you can't get
one today. But if you like pink then you may be able to get one (the black
ones are selling out).
The tablet seems like a nice piece of hardware, solid construction and it
feels nice to hold. Mine has a minor screen defect, but that's the sort of
thing you expect from a cheap device, apart from that the display is good.
The Wifi doesn't seem to have as good a range as some other devices (such as
my phones and the more expensive 10" tablet I got from Kogan). This isn't a
problem for me (the data intensive uses for this device will be in the same
room as the AP) but could be a killer for some people. If you use your phone
as an AP and it's in your pocket while using the tablet then it should be
fine. I found Youtube unusable due to slow downloading even when sitting next
to the AP but I can play videos downloaded from iView that are on my local web
server (which is more important to me). I haven't tested it yet, but I hope
that I can play TED talks on it.
I had no initial problems with the Google Play store, but I did have it hang
on me after using it for a while, maybe due to a Wifi issue.
The people who build Android for modern devices seem remarkably stupid when it
comes to partitioning, every device I've seen has only a small fraction of the
storage usable for apps. This tablet is the worst I've ever seen, it has 16G
of storage of which there is 512M partitioned for apps of which only 400M is
free when you first get the device! It comes pre-installed with outdated
versions of the Facebook client and Google Maps (which isn't very useful on a
Wifi device) and some other useless things. If you upgrade them to the latest
versions then you'll probably lose another 100M of the 512M!
Also Angry Birds Star Wars doesn't work, that's really annoying. I have yet
to find a device that can play that game.
In conclusion, it's not the greatest Android tablet. But it can be OK value
for $100. I don't think I'll return it.
--
My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/
My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
1:24 a.m.
On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 12:01 PM, Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
On Mon, 3 Dec 2012, Russell Coker
<russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
Also Angry Birds Star Wars doesn't work, that's really annoying. I have
yet
to find a device that can play that game.
I know it doesnt fall in to the "cheap" market but my Samsung Galaxy 10.1
TAB 2 plays all the angry bird games really well
In conclusion, it's not the greatest Android
tablet. But it can be OK
value
for $100. I don't think I'll return it.
--
My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/
My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
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hurtling down the highway"
"The difference between e-mail and regular mail is that computers handle
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the other computers"
3:54 a.m.
On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 12:01 PM, Russell Coker <russell(a)coker.com.au> wrote:
Also Angry Birds Star Wars doesn't work,
that's really annoying. I have
yet
to find a device that can play that game.
Plays just fine on all my devices, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus and
Motorola RAZR.
Frankly, with the price of Nexus 7 as it is, I just don't understand the
need for any other (cheap) tablet. Yes $100 is less than $250 but frankly,
the Nexus 7 is more than 10 times better than any other cheap tablet I've
seen. And it will only get better as it gets the latest versions of
Android, something that all these cheap tablets can only dream of.
Cheers
--
Aryan
6:49 a.m.
On 5/12/2012 2:54 PM, Aryan Ameri wrote:
On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 12:01 PM, Russell Coker
<russell(a)coker.com.au
<mailto:russell@coker.com.au>> wrote:
Also Angry Birds Star Wars doesn't work, that's really annoying. I
have yet
to find a device that can play that game.
Plays just fine on all my devices, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus and
Motorola RAZR.
Frankly, with the price of Nexus 7 as it is, I just don't understand the
need for any other (cheap) tablet. Yes $100 is less than $250 but
frankly, the Nexus 7 is more than 10 times better than any other cheap
tablet I've seen. And it will only get better as it gets the latest
versions of Android, something that all these cheap tablets can only
dream of.
I believe you are 100% correct, I couldn't argue with any of that!
Cheers
A.
6 Dec
6 Dec
8:31 a.m.
On 5/12/2012 12:01 PM, Russell Coker wrote:
I've just bought one. They are selling rapidly
and I don't know how long they
will last - probably you could get a returned one next week if you can't get
one today. But if you like pink then you may be able to get one (the black
ones are selling out).
Aldi at Ferntree Gully on Burwood Hwy had 4 left when I visited. The
box had a "pink" picture, but a black dot on the side -- so guessing
they are actually black ones. I didn't buy one, don't think I will
either. Too much is changing in the tablet land and better devices are
being released time and time again.
Cheers
A.
3757
days inactive
3760
days old
13 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Andrew McGlashan -
Aryan Ameri -
Greg 'groggy' Lehey -
Hiddensoul (Mark Clohesy) -
Peter Ross -
Russell Coker