7" Android Tab

|tera|

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So...

I'm getting myself an entry level, low cost 7 inch Android ICS tablet next week. Total cost R1174, including delivery.

My main reason was this. I was in the market for eReaders, but I'm strapped for cash. I can't afford Kindles and iPads and retina displays and LED screens and what have you's, so I'm left with limited choices.

I wanted to get a Prestigio 7" eReader or the Gobii from Kalahari, but then I saw the Prestigio PMP3370B Multipad Android Tablet.

So for literally a few R100 more, I can a full fledged Tablet, rather than a limited eReader, same size and better functionality.

So reading online and doing a bit of Googling and homework I saw that my new Tablet will have a plastic screen and not a glass screen, therefore it will be highly reflective to light, ok, negative point.

Then I looked at my phone and flicked the screen. It's a cheap Blackberry 9300. Yes, it's also plastic. So I'm used to a plastic screen then, so it won't bother me.

I'm going to use the Tablet mainly for reading eBooks as I'm starting a few courses soon and I'd like to hone my skills a bit in the direction I'm going.
If I could take my 23" Samsung monitor and crunch it up and mold it to something holdable I would do it, but I can't.
So my question is, since I haven't used a 7" device, especially a Tablet for prolonged use.

Do you guys think I am going to enjoy my purchase?

I spend quite a few hours a day on my phone as it is already (If I'm not in an argument with my SO and we chat on BBM), so I think the Tablet will be well suited and won't make me tired.

Any tips?

It seems 7" is the de-facto choice for Android fans out there. Will the size be large enough for reading comfortably?
 
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You can get the Alcatel One touch from Esquire for R799 ex vat. It has better specs than the Prestigio.

The Prestigio has a USB host port which has me sold and I've reserved it already, so I can't go back on the purchase.

What do you think of the size issue however? Would it be fine?
 
I have a 7" tablet (Huawei S7 Slim) and find it a tad on the small side for heavy usage. Don't get me wrong, I love reading on it and it does the job, but if you want to use it for more than just an e-reader then you should go 10.1".

I would love to get my hands on a 10.1" tablet! I'm constantly looking at the cellphone specials to see when the opportunity will present itself.
 
7" Should be plenty of screen real estate if what you are going to be reading is just plain text. Heavy graphics and PDFs would need something like a 10" to be a very comfortable reading experience. Most eReaders are 6" so compared to that you should be fine.
 
7" is awesome. I'm waiting for the next Nexus 7 to arrive so I can get rid of this iPad2.

Don't want to steal your thread but I'd like to know if there are any cheap 7" Android tablets out the with GPS and 3G. The idea is to load Waze on it and use that as a GPS instead of getting a new Garmin/TomTom. Plus you can load the music on it and connect it to the car's USB. Anyone?
 
Thanks guys.

You are awesome as usual. :) I can't wait to get it. :D
 
Teraside please give us a 3 line review after using your Tab for a few days. Also interested in a 7" tablet
 
The iPad was too big for me, I prefer the 7" nexus over it. I suspect the iPad mini would be the perfect size for me though, but I'll stick with the N7 until the 8" choice increases.
 
And since you'll be looking for a reading app I can highly suggest Mantano Reader. I've tested quite a few and so far it's the best one I've come across.
Cool, I'll check it out. Thank you.
Teraside please give us a 3 line review after using your Tab for a few days. Also interested in a 7" tablet
I will definitely. Wednesday will be my play day :p (holiday and all)
 
Just to clarify, I use a tablet for more than just e-reading, I use it also for network related tasks, amongst others, and I need a full keyboard with special keys (ctrl, alt, arrow keys and the F keys for example).

A great keyboard for this is "Hackers Keyboard", but it is useless on a 7" tablet, it takes up over half the screen. That is why I want a 10.1".
For reading in bed the 7" is really light enough not to tire you out and it is decent with web browsing, no complaints there.
 
Just to clarify, I use a tablet for more than just e-reading, I use it also for network related tasks, amongst others, and I need a full keyboard with special keys (ctrl, alt, arrow keys and the F keys for example).

A great keyboard for this is "Hackers Keyboard", but it is useless on a 7" tablet, it takes up over half the screen. That is why I want a 10.1".
For reading in bed the 7" is really light enough not to tire you out and it is decent with web browsing, no complaints there.

I don't have DSL at home. Stuck on 3G/HSDPA, so I won't use it a lot internet wise.

I see myself using it for a few months to a year and then passing it on to one of my nephews and going for a larger "proper" tablet. As this will be my first step into Tab territory and my first step into the Android world I think it's a good investment :p

Thanks :D
 
Where are you getting it from, tera?

This will probably not be what you want to hear, but I'll throw it out there anyway FYI:

My wife has one and I have this.

So instead of telling you what I don't like about the Prestigio, I'll rather compare mine to hers and you take it from there.
[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td]Feature[/td]
[td]Prestigio[/td]
[td]Mobii[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]OS[/td]
[td]ICS[/td]
[td]Jelly Bean[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Processor[/td]
[td]1 Ghz[/td]
[td]A9 1.2 Ghz[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Screen quality[/td]
[td]Good[/td]
[td]When reading in the dark on its very lowest brightness it sometimes flickers[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Connectivity[/td]
[td]Has no option to enter proxy details when using wifi[/td]
[td]No problems[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Usability[/td]
[td]Quite sluggish, especially once you're moving into 90% usage of the NAND memory[/td]
[td]Very fast[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Battery[/td]
[td]Last quite a long time[/td]
[td]Not as long as I'd like[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Packaging[/td]
[td]Only charger[/td]
[td]Charger, OTG cable and earphones[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Price[/td]
[td]Quite cheap[/td]
[td]Even cheaper than "quite cheap"[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

If there's anything you'd like to know then shout, and I'll check on my wife's :)

Teraside please give us a 3 line review after using your Tab for a few days. Also interested in a 7" tablet
See above :)

The Prestigio also comes with a whole bunch of preloaded apps as well as something like 200k ebooks - you might think that's a good thing, but only about 5 are in English :D
 
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Thanks YingYang,

Haha :p

Like I said.

The Tablet part will take the secondary role and I'm prepared to live with the sluggishness too. I've got a BB, so that teaches you patience on it's own :D.

I appreciate the Review and offer to help, thank you. I saw that Prestigio is a Cyprus based company, so yes, those 200K eBooks are going down the tubes quite fast with me soon, haha, since I don't speak Greek or Turkish, lol.

I'm getting the Tab from an online Shop in Durbs, I'll post the URL next week after I've received delivery, since I don't want to post it now as I haven't paid for it yet, I'm paying tomorrow when my salary is in (hence the reserved stock). They were really nice to reserve it for me and I asked a few other stores for stock and some didn't have and other's delivery charges were a bit hectic.

Where can I buy an OTG cable though and what type of sleeve or pocket or case do you suggest I get for the Tab?
 
Thanks YingYang,

Haha :p

Like I said.

The Tablet part will take the secondary role and I'm prepared to live with the sluggishness too. I've got a BB, so that teaches you patience on it's own :D.

I appreciate the Review and offer to help, thank you. I saw that Prestigio is a Cyprus based company, so yes, those 200K eBooks are going down the tubes quite fast with me soon, haha, since I don't speak Greek or Turkish, lol.

I'm getting the Tab from an online Shop in Durbs, I'll post the URL next week after I've received delivery, since I don't want to post it now as I haven't paid for it yet, I'm paying tomorrow when my salary is in (hence the reserved stock). They were really nice to reserve it for me and I asked a few other stores for stock and some didn't have and other's delivery charges were a bit hectic.

Where can I buy an OTG cable though and what type of sleeve or pocket or case do you suggest I get for the Tab?
No problem mate!

Ask the shop you're buying it from if they don't sell OTG cables. Shouldn't cost more than I'd say R30 bucks. Check this thread: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...gt-USB-Female-OTG-Cable-for-Samsung-Galaxy-S3

I can't help you with sleeve/case as I myself just slip mine into my inner jacket pocket or my bag :D

If you're a gamer you should also look at a decent gamepad. OTG gaming rocks :p
 
I imported a cheap 7 inch tab awhile back it has HDMI output but never tested cause it did not chip with the cable.. Anyone where I can a mini Type C HDMI cable?
 
Where can I buy an OTG cable though and what type of sleeve or pocket or case do you suggest I get for the Tab?
OTG cables you can get on BoB, I got one for under R50. My Prestigio 5080b came with a really super cover. Enjoy.
 
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