ragtop69gs Posted March 3, 2016 #1 Posted March 3, 2016 What should I consider for specs and features in a tablet to carry on the bike for road trips? I like a large screen size, but my 17" laptop takes way too much space. I do not plan to add it to my cellular plan at this time, but may do so sometime in the future. Which would be better , lots of internal *?GB's or external SD slot. How much is enough? I'd like to keep costs to around $250 if possible.
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #2 Posted March 3, 2016 get one that is waterproof, can grill hot dogs and knows how to ride a scoot.. :Im not listening to:big-grin-emoticon: sd,, easy to transfer data to a real puter - and they are cheap 2 replace and u can still remove and save all your pics even if the puter gets smashed falling off cliff. pic n vid capible, larger screens are easier on fat finger touch screening, processer speed still important, so is memory size. make sure photo lens works backwards - makes taking selfies easy. love our cheapy samsung,, great for packin on the scoot and has proven durable.. oh yea raggy,, get a good case right from the get go... best o luck bro!!
ragtop69gs Posted March 3, 2016 Author #3 Posted March 3, 2016 Your thoughts on SD card are what I was thinking. My new cell phone does not have an SD slot and I'm missing it, even with 64GB of internal storage. Most every tablet I've looked at lately does not have an SD slot or USB port I hope the healing is going well for you. The drugs must not be working too well, you are still typing in coherent sentences!
MiCarl Posted March 3, 2016 #4 Posted March 3, 2016 The answer will depend a lot on what you want to use it for on the road trip. I was contemplating the same purchase you are three years ago. Here were my requirements: + Get weather on the road. + Use as an e book reader. + Big enough to see and use but small enough to pack easily. At that time the only thing that met my requirements was the Google Nexus 7 (7"screen) with GSM (AT&T, T-MOBILE) data and of course wi-fi data. I believe it has 16GB internal memory. I purchase prepaid AT&T data for it when I'm going to be traveling where there is no wi-fi. Primarily I use it as an e-reader in bed before going to sleep. I also use it when traveling to keep up on email and some web browsing. I'm pretty happy with the size. It's big enough to see but travels easily. Since I read on my back holding it up I definitely wouldn't want anything heavier. If you're not going to hold it like that you might find a 10" preferable. Built in memory will be faster than an SD card. I'm only using about half of the 16GB I've got, but enough that 8GB would be a problem. As @cowpuc pointed out you need a camera that points toward you for selfies. You need one that points away to take the pics without you. That's probably the biggest drawback to my Nexus, it only has a camera facing the user. Google did away with that two years ago though. I think you'll also find a fast processor will be important to your enjoyment.
MiCarl Posted March 3, 2016 #5 Posted March 3, 2016 Most every tablet I've looked at lately does not have an SD slot or USB port I'm surprised you're finding them without USB ports, I thought that was pretty much required. In any case, make absolutely sure it has a USB port. Something (apparently software) went horribly wrong with mine yesterday, rendering it unusable. This morning I had to re-image it to bring it back to life. There would have been no way to do that without a USB port.
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #6 Posted March 3, 2016 keep lookin bro,, the sd cards have saved my backside many times in our camera's.. it is too easy for something bad to happen and being able to remove the sd from a puter that has fallen off the back of the scoot is a MAJOR advantage.. Raggy,, this is what we have been using that last couple years.. i wouldnt by used or refurbished but, this model works perfect for doing what you are talking about.. kids got it for us for christmas to keep tabs on us when traveling on the scoot,, been an awesome device to beat on brother, imho of course.. gotta be something similar out there brand new still.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-3-7-0-SM-T217S-16GB-Wi-Fi-4G-Sprint-7-Android-Tablet-/311316001180?hash=item487be1319c:g:bGIAAOSwEK9UALKe drugs? no drugs - naturally incoherent - you should know that ,, thank you for the well wish raggy!!!
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #7 Posted March 3, 2016 heck ya,, 8 to 16 gig internal storage with a 32 gig sd storage card is awesome!! simple to send all pics, vids to the sd when ya take em, then remove card when ya wanna jam em onto a puter and send em to us to make our day.. only thing i have not figured out on the tab is how to take pics small enough to send directly to VR but i am sure there is a way,, the tab is just slightly smarter then me is all:puzzled:
BigLenny Posted March 3, 2016 #8 Posted March 3, 2016 Just curious; Why is nobody mentioning iPads? We have an iPad2 that we take on the bike, and we've had a wonderful time with it. It has 32GB built in, but no external memory card slot. I have an accessory that plugs into the lightning slot with an SD card reader on it so I can load the pics and vids onto the SD card. Also, we download the pics and vids to our desktop to keep plenty of space on the iPad. I just this last week won a sales contest at my company, and they are mailing me a new iPad Mini4. I'm looking forward to using that on the bike. The smaller size is gonna be more beneificial, i think. It's not like I'm an Apple freak, but our iPad has been bulletproof for us for 5 years now, and I have a tendency to stay with it.
Venture n Dixie Posted March 3, 2016 #9 Posted March 3, 2016 get a good case right from the get go... You've been warned.
MiCarl Posted March 3, 2016 #10 Posted March 3, 2016 I've got nothing against an SD card for the pictures, audio files etc. The machine will run much faster though if the actual applications are on internal memory. Just curious; Why is nobody mentioning iPads? Well, I mentioned what I have, no experience with an iPad. He did say he doesn't want to go above $250, which will be hard with Android and I believe impossible with Apple.
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #11 Posted March 3, 2016 like this raggy,, 85 bucks and brand new,,,, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-3-Lite-SM-T110-8GB-Wi-Fi-7in-White-/161994473466?hash=item25b79f7ffa:g:~owAAOSwWTRW1nRX
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #12 Posted March 3, 2016 I've got nothing against an SD card for the pictures, audio files etc. The machine will run much faster though if the actual applications are on internal memory. Well, I mentioned what I have, no experience with an iPad. He did say he doesn't want to go above $250, which will be hard with Android and I believe impossible with Apple. totally agree carl!! i really did not even know they made one that used the external storage device for the operating system,,, didnt know that...
MiCarl Posted March 3, 2016 #13 Posted March 3, 2016 totally agree carl!! i really did not even know they made one that used the external storage device for the operating system,,, didnt know that... I don't think the OS can. But applications can, if the developer sets it up to allow that.
michaelclaw Posted March 3, 2016 #14 Posted March 3, 2016 One thing i like after picking up my nexus 9, i realized 32gb of internal storage is nothing as you never fully get that much space (Android, Formatting etc.), If you choose a tablet without an SD Slot no problem! Pickup one of these, (Link) I currently have the 32gb (Prices dropped :C paid 30 bucks for the 32gb lol) and i love it! You might need some technical know how to initially setup if your tablet doesn't support OTG Drives but all you need to is download an app (The paid OTG File manager is best) and know how to navigate your tablets files. This should expand your options unless you don't wanna have to carry a tiny little USB drive (Its really small!) in your case. I personally use mine for movies just in case i ever needed my tablet to kill a lot of time.
Huggy Posted March 3, 2016 #15 Posted March 3, 2016 You've been warned. Good case of what??? Rye, bourbon, beer, STD, vodka, gin, rum??????
cowpuc Posted March 3, 2016 #16 Posted March 3, 2016 Good case of what??? Rye, bourbon, beer, STD, vodka, gin, rum?????? that Huggy,, he is kinda rotten isnt he ,, my kinda rotten though Love it Huggy!!!
aharbi Posted March 4, 2016 #17 Posted March 4, 2016 $250 will get you a nice tablet and even an iPad mini 2 (till this Saturday) http://www.frys.com/search?query_string=7919410+7919420 If you have an Android smartphone go with an Android tablet. If you have an iPhone go with an iPad. Much easier to share apps and data between like devices. Look for: 1) best screen resolution 2) fast multi-core processor 3) most internal RAM 4) USB connection, micro SD/XC (will allow 64GB+) card slot. Note both USB flash drive and SD memory goes for .30/GB on sale. Most current release of Android is 6.0, most devices are running 4.4.4 or 5.0 I have a 96GB (32RAM + 64SD) dual core Android tablet running 4.4.4 and an iPad mini 2 (which I'm using now), my wife has an iPad Pro which I got her for Christmas and an iPad mini. For ease of use, dependability I preferr the iPads. In our house we move data (pictures, video, music) between all our devices including cameras, iPhones & Linux PC using GB WiFi. I take my iPad mini whenever I travel on or off the bike.
alwrmcusn Posted March 4, 2016 #18 Posted March 4, 2016 I like the Galaxy tablets. 16gb and an SD card for extra storage.
ragtop69gs Posted March 4, 2016 Author #19 Posted March 4, 2016 Thanks to everyone for their insights. I am an android phone user, as such, I feel moving to an iPad would complicate things. Am I wrong on the learning curve? How much crossover with android is there among apps? $250 is an arbitrary number I am not stuck on but would like to stay around. Most of why I want one is for email, Web browsing and route planning . Photo taking would be low on the list unless I happen to have it in my hand at the time, my samsung note 5 cell takes awesome photos but has no SD slot so I will need somewhere to upload the photos to, hence the tablet with SD. and NFC. Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
aharbi Posted March 4, 2016 #20 Posted March 4, 2016 If I were to buy a $250 Android tablet, I'd seriously consider this one: ASUS ZenPad Z580CA-C1-BK Intel Atom 2.33GHz 4 GB Memory 64 GB eMMC 8.0" 2048 x 1536 2K IPS 8 MP Camera Touchscreen Tablet Android 5.0 (Lollipop) http://www.asus.com/us/Tablets/ASUS_ZenPad_S_80_Z580CA/specifications/ I have a number of ASUS products (motherboard, 27"LED display, AC Router) and have been very pleased. They use the latest technology, have great tools to configure/setup their products. Just sayin... yes there would be a learning curve for the iPad Android apps are the same across devices (tablet apps being a little more robust)
Venture n Dixie Posted March 4, 2016 #21 Posted March 4, 2016 Good case of what??? Rye, bourbon, beer, STD, vodka, gin, rum?????? All the above are valid cases to have one of these! http://ebookfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Proporta-BeachBuoy-Waterproof-Tablet-and-E-reader-Case-540x540.jpg
MiCarl Posted March 5, 2016 #22 Posted March 5, 2016 All the above are valid cases to have one of these! http://ebookfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Proporta-BeachBuoy-Waterproof-Tablet-and-E-reader-Case-540x540.jpg I've got mine in a durable cover that protects from bangs, scrapes and most drops. I stick it in a zip-loc bag when it's somewhere it might get wet.
Rmar Posted March 5, 2016 #23 Posted March 5, 2016 I use a Samsung tab 2 wifi only. Use my cell phone as a wifi hotspot and love it. No additional phone charges.
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