Decent cheap Android tablets

ysabelkid

ysabelkid

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Hi Android fans, I'm looking for a decent tablet at an affordable price (cash, not contract) to use as an e-reader. I know I could just get an e-reader, but I want to read comics on the device, too, and I don't want to be tied in to one book format. I don't care about games or social media, I have my phone for that, but decent graphics, a touch of speed, and good storage are a must. Wi-fi at the least, 3G if possible.

I recently bought a Lenovo A720-F, which worked pretty well in terms of speed and graphics, but refused to save downloads to the microSD, which was annoying, since I'd changed the apps to point there. Fail. Comics are huge, they need more than 4GB of space.

I'm thinking of the Asus Z17CG, but have read a (UK) review stating that it's slow and loaded with bloatware.

I can't afford Samsung (unless you're going to tell me to look at second-hand options - is that even worthwhile?).

Anyone had any good feedback about Proline? Should I look at a different Lenovo? I'm enjoying my Sony phone, should I check out their tablets?

And then - where to buy locally?
 
You say you specifically pointed the apps to download to the SD- I think thats an android issue, more than a lenovo one, if im understanding you correctly. You can only save apps on the SD card if they are specifically programmed to allow it. The only way around it is to root your device and buy a program that will force the app onto the SD card. I've seen those apps on google play.
If it is a lenovo issue, One thing you could try, before buying a new tablet is installing cyanogenmod on your lenovo instead. That way you can get the latest, cleanest version of android without shelling out another grand or two for a new tablet.
 
That's odd. Do you think it's specific to tablets? My Sony Xperia Z5 has no problem allowing apps to access the SD card, specifically e-reader apps (which then download their content to the SD card, unlike the Lenovo).

I've already returned the Lenovo, but as it's going for much less now, I might buy it again and try the rooting and cyanogenmod methods. But then I can't return it if that doesn't work...
 
ysabelkid said:
That's odd. Do you think it's specific to tablets? My Sony Xperia Z5 has no problem allowing apps to access the SD card, specifically e-reader apps (which then download their content to the SD card, unlike the Lenovo).

I've already returned the Lenovo, but as it's going for much less now, I might buy it again and try the rooting and cyanogenmod methods. But then I can't return it if that doesn't work...
Click to expand...

I have 3 Lenovo's around the house. I use 2 of them as eReaders. Using Aldiko app. All my books etc, are on the SD card. I then "import" all the books etc. into Aldiko and there it is.

Not really sure what you are struggling with? Perhaps provide more detail so we can help?
 
ysabelkid said:
That's odd. Do you think it's specific to tablets? My Sony Xperia Z5 has no problem allowing apps to access the SD card, specifically e-reader apps (which then download their content to the SD card, unlike the Lenovo).

I've already returned the Lenovo, but as it's going for much less now, I might buy it again and try the rooting and cyanogenmod methods. But then I can't return it if that doesn't work...
Click to expand...

Oh, I think I misunderstood you. So its not that the app wouldn't install on the sd card, but that they couldn't even access it. That's really odd, especially if those same apps work on your phone. You may have just had a faulty unit

Yeah you'll void the warranty, but the solution I was proposing was to install the reader app itself onto the sd card, which may not help if there's something wrong with the sd card reader.

Another tablet you can look at is the Huawei mediapad T1 8"
it has a slightly higher res screen than the lenovo - 1280 x 800 vs 1024 x 600, and the screen is an inch bigger. (There is a 7" version that's a little cheaper, with the same 1024 x 600 screen)
 
MightyQuin said:
I have 3 Lenovo's around the house. I use 2 of them as eReaders. Using Aldiko app. All my books etc, are on the SD card. I then "import" all the books etc. into Aldiko and there it is.

Not really sure what you are struggling with? Perhaps provide more detail so we can help?
Click to expand...

I was able to read books that I imported onto the SD card when I used Aldiko and Cool Reader (via Calibre Companion).

However, when buying from Amazon instead of using files from my PC, the Kindle and Comixology apps refused to download to the SD card, even though Id swiatched them to the card and changed the settings to "download to SD card".
 
Avenue said:
Oh, I think I misunderstood you. So its not that the app wouldn't install on the sd card, but that they couldn't even access it. That's really odd, especially if those same apps work on your phone. You may have just had a faulty unit

Yeah you'll void the warranty, but the solution I was proposing was to install the reader app itself onto the sd card, which may not help if there's something wrong with the sd card reader.
Click to expand...

I did wonder if there was a problem with the unit itself, although I found a few complaints about apps not reading from the SD cards on some Android devices. Some of them were specific to the Lenovo in question, so I thought it might be a problem only with that model. I really like Lenovo, so I'll do some more searching (and check out the Huawei in the meantime).
 
ysabelkid said:
I was able to read books that I imported onto the SD card when I used Aldiko and Cool Reader (via Calibre Companion).

However, when buying from Amazon instead of using files from my PC, the Kindle and Comixology apps refused to download to the SD card, even though Id swiatched them to the card and changed the settings to "download to SD card".
Click to expand...

Why not just download to the internal memory and then move the book or mag to the SD card? A small schlepp but surely not a show stopper?
 
ysabelkid said:
I did wonder if there was a problem with the unit itself, although I found a few complaints about apps not reading from the SD cards on some Android devices. Some of them were specific to the Lenovo in question, so I thought it might be a problem only with that model. I really like Lenovo, so I'll do some more searching (and check out the Huawei in the meantime).
Click to expand...

Have you tried the kindle software on your sony- did it work on that? It seems like a lot of people are having trouble getting their books moved to the SD card on a range of different devices

Lenovo is great. Huawei is also a really decent make- they're both among the big players in the world.

You could also look at a kindle fire tablet. If anything should work with amazon software, it's that. Not all the models have an SD card slot though, so you'd have to do some research first.
 
Last edited:
MightyQuin said:
Why not just download to the internal memory and then move the book or mag to the SD card? A small schlepp but surely not a show stopper?
Click to expand...

When I did that, the app would throw up an error saying that the content couldn't be found. Pretty bloody annoying, especially since the files aren't saved under the comic/book names, but under codes - so I never knew which ones to move back to internal storage to read.
 
Avenue said:
Have you tried the kindle software on your sony- did it work on that? It seems like a lot of people are having trouble getting their books moved to the SD card on a range of different devices

Lenovo is great. Huawei is also a really decent make- they're both among the big players in the world.

You could also look at a kindle fire tablet. If anything should work with amazon software, it's that. Not all the models have an SD card slot though, so you'd have to do some research first.
Click to expand...

It all works fine on my Sony, hence my confusion at what was happening with the Lenovo. Both were updated to Marshmallow, too, so I don't think it was the OS.

There are three Lenovos I'm considering, two from 2014 and one from 2015. I'm going to do some thorough research before I buy, though!

I'm considering the Kindle Fire, especially now that I've found it's a tablet and not a pure Kindle device (so I can use Aldiko and my Calibre library). I know Amazon doesn't play nicely with Marvel Universe, but it owns Comixology, so that should work.
 
Bump

Hi Guys. Looking for a cheapie tablet to use as GPS in car with Live traffic, i think 1gb ram should be sufficient and it should also take 3g.

Any suggestions? I am hoping to spend under R800 if possible.

Thanks
 
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