by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 09/06/2017 at 15:02
by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 09/06/2017 at 15:02
No Tags
STARS: 1
I recently purchased am Acer Chromebook for my HS freshman son, and I was thinking about an Android tablet for my younger sons to help mollify them. I have zero experience with Android, but did have a long chat with a knowledgable employee at Best Buy (a rarity, to be sure). We talked at some length about the different flavors of Android OS, and what seems to me to be a built-in obsolescence to the OS. Apps that were developed for one Android OS will not necessarily work on newer versions. The tablet I’m looking at has Nougat, which, as I understand, is the latest version. And, at $99, the price is right. Should I be concerned about the future of this tablet? I need it to last at least three years.
"NojustNo" (front24200)
09/06/2017 at 15:14, STARS: 1
Any $99 tablet will be obsolete faster than a $200 to $300 tablet, like 1 to 2 years. They have less storage,slower cpu and less ram up front so don’t keep up well with software /app requirements.
"NojustNo" (front24200)
09/06/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 0
Oh and stick to name brands like Samsung Lenovo acer. its easier to get spare power cords and they tend to get more software updates and bug fixes
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
09/06/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
The newest version is called Oreo, I think. I have an older Galaxy S4 and a Samsung tablet of similar vintage running on KitKat or whatever (some older version they don’t bother updating anymore), and I have yet to discover an app that doesn’t run. Also, if you really want to, you can always root it and install the newest version of android.
"djmt1" (djmt1)
09/06/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 0
See when you say “last 3 years” do you mean that it will usable in 3 years time or that it will be nice to use in 3 years time because and (to be blunt) that tablet will most likely run like a dog with broken legs in 18 months time.
There is no cheap and cheerful in the world of tablets. You’ll be substantially better off getting them a cheap laptop since it will allow them to get proper practice at typing (a severely underated skill in my opinion) and you don’t have to worry about having to deal with credit card bollocks everytime they need a new app.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:19, STARS: 0
I say three years because by that time they will be freshman and will receive a Chromebook (or whatever is out there in three years time) of their own. I don’t want to buy them one now simply because brother has one.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 0
Unfortunately, I am shopping by price. At $99, I’d be okay if it dies in two years.
"djmt1" (djmt1)
09/06/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 0
I’ve done the whole £100 Android tablet and massively regretted it. It truly felt like £100 flushed down the loo. It’s worth investing in a good one especially if you’re going long term like yourself.
Like I said you would be better off jumping on Amazon and finding a refurbished low end laptop. It will as portable with a better battery life, more reliable, more durable and as cheap.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
09/06/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 0
I don’t think oreo is actually out yet. I have a Pixel XL so I get the updates ASAP but it’s possible my phone has updated without my knowledge.
"Lokiparts" (lokiparts)
09/06/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 0
Generally the problem with app obsolescence usually goes the other way. New versions of Android are almost always backwards compatible with older apps. The real issue is that most developers are actually good at updating their apps fairly quickly and if anything sometimes that will cause them to no longer be compatible with older versions of Android. However for the most part I have found this to be the exception rather than the rule. Most apps even when updated to play nicely with the newest versions of Android will still run with older Android versions going back fairly far. For example I currently have a Google Pixel Phone and a few older tablets. My Pixel is currently running Oreo (8.0)and I have tablets still running Jelly Bean (4.3). But I have the exact same apps installed on both of them and they still run them well. Whenever possible I highly recommend getting a device with the newest possible version installed because there is no telling when, or even if, that device will get updated in the future. It all just depends on how strongly the manufacturer wants to support it... and in my experience tablets don’t tend to get much love after a year or so from their manufacturers. But overall that still isn’t usually a deal breaker you just might occasionally miss out on a new software feature available in the latest Android version.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/06/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 0
Nougat is no longer the latest version. Oreo was just announced. The thing about Android versions is, unlike with an Apple device where Apple pushes out the updates, every Android device has little tweaks under the hood and it’s up to each individual manufacturer to decide whether they want to roll out an update to the latest version for that particular device.
Tablets in particular are often orphaned by their manufacturers without any updates. Assuming you’re talking about the Acer tablet in the picture, generally Acer never bothers to push out updates. That particular Acer tablet also has a low resolution screen and a low-end processor. Your kids might end up complaining that it doesn’t run very well.
I bought my wife a low-end Acer tablet a couple years ago and it was never updated, and as apps get more demanding on processing power, it just couldn’t keep up. It’s already been replaced, by an Asus Zenpad 3S 10 (Z500M) which is super nice. I want to say I paid $329 for it a while back, and now the price is down to $289.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (SM-T580) is a little cheaper at $249 most places. I actually bought one of these first but returned it in favor of the Z500M. It’s a lot bigger & clunkier to hold, and its specs aren’t nearly as good. They’re better than that Acer in that the screen is sharper and the processor is at least decent, but the Z500M blows it away.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:34, STARS: 0
I wholeheartedly agree with the laptop idea. And I agonized over getting my older son a Chromebook vs a laptop, but went with the Chromebook for various reasons. Thing is, I can’t bend over and get my younger sons (twins) the same thing that big brother has because there is a lesson to be learned in waiting until the right time. It’s okay for big brother to have something different since he’s older and his needs are greater. I was hoping to make them happy for lots less money (each), since their birthday is coming up next month.
Thing is, for what they need, a tablet would be fine. They play games on their phones and watch YouTube. A tablet would be perfect, but I don’t want to spend that much.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
09/06/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 0
You can change the OS on some if the hardware is compatible. We’ve had 3 Android tablets in the family. Got two years from first (Dell) before a thunder storm surge killed it, 2nd (1st Asus, Memo 7) went 4 yrs before wife stepped on it, the newest an Asus 64GB Zenpad is now two years old and she loves it. We have other Apple and Windows stuff in the house so its just another piece of electronics but for a cheaper alternative to an Ipad I’d recommend this one. It plays movies pretty well and streams TV from WiFi. It is used on trips and is very handy , can be had if you search for under $90. Its far better than the first two Androids we had and the past few years Zenpad have Corning Gorilla Glass like iPhones and iPads.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
And therein lies my dilemma. We own iPhones, and I’d love to stay in the Applesphere, but I certainly don’t want to spend the money for iPads, but I know they will hand around for a long time to come. The vagaries of Android concern me. I even considered a Kindle Fire, but I learned today that side loading will no longer be possible in the latest device, so that’s out. Another plus for a tablet is that my wife hopes they might do more reading on a tablet than with traditional books, but I don’t want to get them a BW Kindle that they would not use otherwise.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:38, STARS: 0
Asus Zenpad. Thanks. I’ll check it out. A friend gave his son a smaller Asus tablet a few years ago and it’s still working well.
"djmt1" (djmt1)
09/06/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 1
Ah I had the same dilemma with my nieces where the older one ended up getting a smaller but technically superior iPad. From her eyes it looked like the younger one got preferential treatment since her’s was bigger. Considering you said they have phones, I would say abandon the tablet idea and invest the money in new phones or their high school computers.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 0
The one game the boys play a lot, FIFA 17, works on Nougat. I installed it at the store and it seemed to run fine. Others have talked about screen resolution, but I also went through some YouTube videos, and I think my boys will be perfectly happy with the screen. Ultimately, though, it seems like a bit of a roll of the dice.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:43, STARS: 0
We’re already paying loads for 5 lines. I’d rather not get a new phone, but that might be the best way to mollify them. They’re using our old iPhone 5s right now. But they can’t have a better phone than I do!
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 15:45, STARS: 1
High school is three years away. And once big brother leaves HS, assuming the Chromebook lasts that long, we will get him a proper laptop for college. It’s hard for kids to understand timetables like this, and that we aren’t made of money.
"scoob" (scoobsti)
09/06/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 1
A cheap Android tablet is almost definitely not going to be updated. Even more expensive ones from well known brands might not get updated, unless they’re the flagship line/model. Also it’s going to run terribly sooner or later.
Maybe try looking for refurbished or like new higher end tablets?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/06/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
It’s easy enough to have a multi-OS household. My wife and I have Android phones and tablets, she has a Chromebook, and I have a Macbook Pro. So basically we’re all Google except for my computer. But I also had an iPad before my current Android tablet. I just like Android better.
One thing to consider is if your wife and kids will be using the thing, most of the cheaper 10.1” Android tablets have a 16:10 aspect ratio screen which combined with larger bezels makes them unweildy to hold for those with smaller hands.
Cheap Android tablets can be tempting, but they’re just not all that good. Cheap Android phones, on the other hand, can be pretty damn decent. But actually, the higher-end Android tablets have gotten pretty cheap. My two current favorites are my wife’s Asus Z500M and the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Plus which is the same price. They started out more like almost $400.
(I wouldn’t get the Yoga Tab 3 Plus for your wife & kids, it’s a weird shape with a goofy built-in kickstand. I have the older Lenovo Yoga Tab 2 10 which is still holding up halfway decently after 2 years and I happen to like the goofy kickstand, but I don’t think it’s the best thing to give to your wife and kids. That’s why I got the much more manageable Z500M for my wife.)
The 9.7” non-Pro iPad, and Asus Z500M, have a a 4:3 aspect ratio with skinny bezels and much more manageable for a not-much-smaller screen. They’re both nice and thin and light. If I were you, I’d consider my choices either spend $329 on that 9.7” iPad, or save 40 bucks on the Z500M.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
09/06/2017 at 15:52, STARS: 1
Only the 32gb Zenpad 8 can be had very cheap at times. I bought the 64gb around Christmas from Amazon and it was an older model 8" but was about $150 for it and they sell for double that usually. I paid $120 for the other Asus , a MeMo 7 for the price and being many yrs ago it was decent. We got a leather cover for the Zenpad 8 with magnetic closure like the iPad ones from eBay for about $15. It allows you to have it protected and props it up if you want to watch TV or a movie. It has a micro SDHC slot for additional memory.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0
Thing is, I’ve got to buy two. I’ve got twins. That’s what makes the $99 (each) attractive.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/06/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 1
I’m still running a phone that stopped updating at Marshmallow (6.0.1) and have had no problems with apps not running because it’s old. I think if you get something with Nougat you’ll be fine for plenty of time to come. Especially if it’s something that recently came out, you can probably count on at least 1 major update to the next version of Android. My phone was released in 2014 with KitKat (4.4.4) and got updates till Marshmallow (6.0.1)
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 16:09, STARS: 0
That’s good to know, but your phone probably has a stouter processor than this cheap tablet.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/06/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 2
I guess the biggest concern with cheap tablets is that they won’t care to update it.
I think at this price no one can promise you that you’ll be future proof. But it may just be good enough for what you paid. And if 2 years from now your kid complains that his tablet won’t play some game, tell your kid to get a job so they can get a better tablet, haha.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 16:27, STARS: 2
I like the way you think.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/06/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 0
Haha thanks! And honestly even todays best tablet will be like 3 to 8 generations behind by the time September 2020 rolls around.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/06/2017 at 16:38, STARS: 1
Ah, I thought you were going to be buying one for them to share.
Looking at this Acer...
It has 2 GB of RAM which is the bare minimum for a decent Android experience. 32 GB of storage is fine for plenty of apps.
Nougat is still a nice new version of Android which hasn’t had a bunch of crap layered on top of it like Samsung.
It has front-facing stereo speakers.
The low resolution screen means the weak CPU will have an easier time because it doesn’t have to render higher-resolution graphics.
It’s just...not all that good. But if you think this is decent enough where having 2 of them for your kids will keep them occupied, then it might do the trick.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 0
Good analysis. Thanks. I think it will do just fine for what they will use it for. And at the price, if they crap out in a year or two, it’s not the end of the world.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 1
But a new or even recently used iPad will still be going strong. Decisions decisions.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
09/06/2017 at 17:47, STARS: 1
If it can play porn, your son should be ok for a few years
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/06/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 1
We’ve already had that discussion....