Tablet Reccomendations (under $250)

Reverend_Chaos

Hey guys and gals,

I am in the market for a new tablet and would love your input.

Here is what I am looking for.....(Needs to be under $250, but I am hoping to get closer to $200 or under if I can.)
It needs to have a detachable keyboard (really my only sticking point) as I will be using it primarily for typing. (Also, just an aesthetics thing, but if the keyboard has keys with some 'pushback' if that makes sense)

In the future I might be doing a little bit of work in Photoshop or GIMP making simple T-shirt designs and things, nothing huge.

I will not be using it for any kind of gaming. It would be nice to have Netflix on it but not a deal breaker.

I really just want to get the most for my money.

Reverend_Chaos

P.S. - Just as valuable as your recommendations, any brands to stay away from?

bowen

You could get a microsoft surface 2 that's been refurbished for about $200, but you'll be locked into the windows store and all the garbage that goes with that (since it's not a pro).

I'd probably recommend the fire.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VKIY9RG/

Though it looks like they do have some okay offerings for android so that'd cover you there

https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=4734916851270416020&hl=en

Netflix should be fine.

Hahnsoo1

200 dollars is kind of the low end for a tablet, but ASUS makes a model called the Transformer that has a decent keyboard and it is detachable. It's Windows, not Android. It won't win any performance battles, but the keyboard is sturdy and feels like a typical laptop keyboard, and the keyboard comes with the thing (unlike a lot of other tablets, where the keyboard is sold separately). The latest models are up to 300 dollars, but you can often find them on sale for much less. Older models will run around 200 dollars.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/01/asus-transformer-book-t100-review/

bowen

I wonder if you wouldn't be better off getting a cheapo laptop.

Hahnsoo1

You mentioned Photoshop/GIMP... are you intending to get a tablet with a digitizer and stylus, or do you primarily use a mouse?

The ASUS Transformer does not have a digitizer and does not use a stylus, either. If you are looking for a tablet to do heavy typing AND have a digitizer/stylus, the options out there aren't cheap.

Reverend_Chaos

Hahnsoo1 wrote: »

You mentioned Photoshop/GIMP... are you intending to get a tablet with a digitizer and stylus, or do you primarily use a mouse?

The ASUS Transformer does not have a digitizer and does not use a stylus, either. If you are looking for a tablet to do heavy typing AND have a digitizer/stylus, the options out there aren't cheap.

I had not given it much thought (Any really) - I am glad you brought that up. I have a home PC that I "could" do any of this with, but I have to compete with my wife for it, and my kids are getting more and more homework that requires them to get online, so I was looking for an option that would give me maximum mobility. It would be nice to be able to use a stylus, but I don't know if I can convince my wife to go much higher than $250, but if it's going to be worth it, I am willing to try.

mRahmani

The original Surface Pro is still a bit out of that range, but you might be able to score one for $350 or so if you can stretch the budget a bit. That would give you full windows/photoshop capability.