[randytsuch]

I am seeing lots of deals for cheap Android tablets these days, and I expect to see some Black Friday or Cyber Monday ones.

Waste of money or good deal?

Or does it depend on what you are getting, and what Android OS it runs?

I really don't need another toy, but for less than $100 it gets tempting since I don't have an Ipad (my kids do, is that fair?)

I have a laptop that I use a lot at home, and I'm really not sure what I would do with a tablet.

Opinions?

[kevin360]

In this modern day of network connectivity, a tablet makes a great remote control. I use mine (an old HP device on which I've loaded IceCreamSandwich) to operate my Bryston BDP-1 and a Sony bluray player. >$100 sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Heck, now that you mention it, I may pick up something newer if I can find a great deal on one with better wireless performance than the HP tablet (which is barely passable in the man-cave). I tried a newer Samsung device, but it's worse (darn metal roofs) – works great in the house, where I use it with a SONOS.

So, it's more than just a toy. You may find it can be quite useful. 

[Early B.]

I'm thinking of purchasing a cheap tablet primarily to store music files and plug it into an an old boombox in a bedroom system. Kinda like a large iPod.

[jarcher]

I though for a long time that I could do without one as I had a PC & a smartphone.  Honestly though so much reading takes place on a screen - whether text / web / etc - that it's very nice not to be tied to a desk or to strain your eyes on a smartphone.  So for those reasons, and to serve as a remote control as previously mentioned, and lastly because the price has come down so much, I think the answer these days is "yes".

Not sure what the best choice is at or below $99.  If your budget stretches a bit more, I'd see if I can scope up a cut rate Nexus 7 8GB, which there are rumors that they are being closed out at Staples for $159. Not available nor appearing on their website.

http://androidcommunity.com/8gb-nexus-7-down-to-160-at-staples-stores-20121112/

The Nexus 7 is likely to give you the best processor + screen for the money - and can be updated to the lastest Android OS.  Of course the 18GB is widely available for $40 more, but if your looking for rock bottom, I can see that would be more than you want.

Otherwise I think the Kindle Fire 7" are pretty decent as well & am pretty sure they can be had for under $100 used.

[Bob in St. Louis]

If you're wanting a toy, then a hundred bucks is a no-brainer. It doesn't sound like you "need" one, or even have a specific use for one. But for that price, they certainly are fun to play with.

I paid $500 for a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 for the sole use of controling my music server. The ability of having a 10" screen as a "touch mouse" is pretty cool. Of course all the other apps available for it are nothing more than a distraction from life. But hey....if that's what you're needing, then for $100, I'm thinking yhou're getting off pretty cheap.
I've since discovered a pretty cool app called "Unified remote" that allows you to use the tablet as a touch screen mouse to control just about anything you can think of.

Sometimes, I'll take my tablet into my workshop, start Pandora and let the tablet be my "source", and use the headphone jack to power an old receiver for some open baffle speakers I've got mounted on the ceiling. Works out pretty well. Plus, the cool factor is a solid "10". In a workshop environment, it's nice because I can get it all dusty (yea, the $500 unit) and use compressed air to clean it off since there are no air vents that allow dust inside.

It really pisses off my wife when I set the unit on the steering column of my truck and use the navigation/map functions while I'm driving. 

Bob

[randytsuch]

This is the one that caused me to ask the question

http://www.bensoutlet.com/products/pandigital-novel-7-touchscreen?utm_campaign=1511014&utm_content=5724011504&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision

$50 for a low resolution, no name 7" tablet.

With me, it's not really a question of budget, except this would come out of my audio budget.

$50 is hard to resist, except I figure I would probably want a better tablet after using this one.

Randy

[jarcher]

Personally I'd really recommend a 1st gen used kindle fire as the minimum acceptable. I've seen these go for as little as $65. That pan digital has a svga display & is really low on system memory. If you want a blurry tablet that's gonna crash all the time - go for it
It'll feel like 1999 all over again!

There's is sometimes such a thing as too cheap. Unless you plan to use it only as a remote control, I'd stay away.

[Crimson]

No. It'll ruin the experience.

[Doublej]

Only if it runs Android 4.x. Otherwise its a waste of money.

[cjr888]

An "ancient" topic but I figured I'd chime in.  I'd only consider the low-end priced tablets to use as a remote.  For a lot of us doing computer audio or the bare basics there isn't much point in spending a lot of money if you're looking for a single purpose task that doesn't require much...and you don't already own a tablet and can use it as double duty...or you want to separate functions, ie. leave the "remote" laying around for other people to use vs. having a tablet you use for many functions but also keep on your person and bring it around everywhere.

That said, I'm still not a tablet owner.  Things change fast and prices will continue to drop.  When it comes to "gadgets" I'm typically not a person who jumps on the next .(x+1) release each year.  I still keep thinking about buying one and it will most likely be the Nexus 7.  To be it's the best balance of doing what I need it to do and not having a sticker price that is above my sticker shock figure.

My computer/audio setup doesn't -require- the distant touch screen remote setup yet.  If I eventually switch rooms I would consider on of the tablets that are super cheap for a dedicated function.  For anything else though, I wouldn't buy top of the line but I also wouldn't skimp either.

[wushuliu]

An "ancient" topic but I figured I'd chime in.  I'd only consider the low-end priced tablets to use as a remote.  For a lot of us doing computer audio or the bare basics there isn't much point in spending a lot of money if you're looking for a single purpose task that doesn't require much...and you don't already own a tablet and can use it as double duty...or you want to separate functions, ie. leave the "remote" laying around for other people to use vs. having a tablet you use for many functions but also keep on your person and bring it around everywhere.

That said, I'm still not a tablet owner.  Things change fast and prices will continue to drop.  When it comes to "gadgets" I'm typically not a person who jumps on the next .(x+1) release each year.  I still keep thinking about buying one and it will most likely be the Nexus 7.  To be it's the best balance of doing what I need it to do and not having a sticker price that is above my sticker shock figure.

My computer/audio setup doesn't -require- the distant touch screen remote setup yet.  If I eventually switch rooms I would consider on of the tablets that are super cheap for a dedicated function.  For anything else though, I wouldn't buy top of the line but I also wouldn't skimp either.

I just bought a used Nook Color for $89 off ebay and hacked it w/ the CM10.1 (Android 4.1). Now it's an Android tablet! The CM10 is VERY easy to install on Nooks and since it's done via a SanDisk SD, just remove it from the Nook to have the Nook back its stock software. Takes all of 15min. to do. Of course it's the researching that always takes frickin' forever, so if anyone wants me to go into detail on how it's done just let me know.