Tablet for complete technophobe parent!

cormie

Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations on a tablet that can be customised for a complete technophobe. When I say complete, I mean the ipad was too confusing as it had too much stuff on the main screen and instead of "Internet" was Safari, instead of Music was iTunes etc etc.

My idea would be for a main screen with:

Internet - YouTube - Photos - Music

and then as they get a little more used to it add things like

E-Mail - Camera - Calendar

One important thing to note is that they would need things clearly visible, maybe larger icons would be handy with larger font, that kind of thing.

I'd like there to be more than one button aswell, separate button for volume, main menu, back, power etc would be nice.

Screen would need to be at least 9 inches and apps would need to be simple in that it will be easy to stop and start music from an easy to read and browse playlist or file directory.

Would also like the tablet itself to be of decent quality, the ipad is very nice in terms of feel and build quality, something similar would be nice with a screen that is easy to see, from all angles and is responsive etc.

Suggestions would be very welcome on this!

gzoladz

If ipad was confusing, android qill be even worse.

I'd say he needs ipad + some tech education.

cormie

I don't fully agree with that, I think android has the capability of being customised in such a way that will make it very easy to do the basic functions, more so than on an ipad, it's just a matter of finding the right device and rom/settings.

opinion guy

cormie wrote: »

I don't fully agree with that, I think android has the capability of being customised in such a way that will make it very easy to do the basic functions, more so than on an ipad, it's just a matter of finding the right device and rom/settings.

Just. No.
ipad much simpler to use. Also less likely to go wrong. I've not seen an android tablet that doesn't have annoying bugs requiring you to go into settings and muck about till you solve problem or else do factory reset and start from scratch.

cormie

The tablet will have 4 primary uses, viewing photos, listening to music, looking at videos on youtube and maybe the odd google search.

With the iPad, even the fact that music and internet aren't even named as such has thus far proven too much.

Bear in mind, the person who this would be for, already has an ipad and doesn't use it.

I'm thinking to just have 1 home screen, no flicking between screens or anthing, 1 home screen, 4 icons, each with their own obvious function.

Is there a device and ROM that could suit I wonder?

Zimmerframe

For a start, the person already owns the simplest, easiest to use tablet available.


You want:
"Internet - YouTube - Photos - Music"

On an ipad:
YouTube is called: Youtube
Photos is called: Photos
Music is called: Music
which leaves only one item
Internet is called Safari, now that can't be too difficult to learn.

On your home screen, move all the "unwanted apps" to another screen

cormie

Isn't music called "itunes" or "iPod" or something? Also, the fixed taskbar at the bottom is again adding more clutter to what I believe could be a much simpler starting point to get the person to actually use the device and not be presented with something so off-putting on turning on the device.

Zimmerframe

cormie wrote: »

Isn't music called "itunes" or "iPod" or something?

Not any more, now it's called "Music"

As for the task bar, why not put the 4 icons you need in it (Music, Safari, YouTube and Photos) and forget about the rest ?

Zimmerframe

summit like this ??

cormie

Might give that a go, is that definitely possible with ipad 1?

Is it possible to get music or photos from a laptop to the ipad WITHOUT itunes or any other third party software, just drag and drop and open it with some app on the ipad itself?

mickoneill30

I agree with the guys above. If you already have an iPad and he can't use it then you may be wasting your money getting a new tablet.
However, Android can be as easy to use as an iPad. I don't get the arguments from people saying it's more complicated. It is more customisable but you don't have to customise it, you can keep it as simple as an iPad if you want.

Here's a couple of screenshots from my Xoom that would be all your dad needs.

Firstly here's just a few icons.

Google Play does require some tech skills (from you). You need to use a US proxy to sign your dad up. This only needs to be done once. From then on you can upload music to his account and the music will appear on his tablet. He doesn't even need to be in the same house. As long as he can connect to WiFi it'll download the music.
There are simpler options where you just any music player (MortPlayer is good) and just copy the music over using a USB cable.

If he's one step up from Technophobe here are more options.


Here I've replaced the browser with a bookmark widget. Any bookmarks added to the device get put in here and the widget is scrollable, so as long as he can get back to the home screen (by pressing the home button) he can scroll to the website he wants and always be able to open it. My thinking there is you could set up his bookmarks for him. He'll eventually be able to do it himself but it can't get any simpler than seeing the icon for the site and hitting it.
I've put on the Music widget too. Flicking through music is as hard as hitting the next and previous buttons. If he wanted to get into the music player he'd just hit the album icon.

A common complaint I hear is that iPad is better because it has only one button. You can see above that the Xoom has 3. One is to go back (if you're in a web page it goes back, if you're in an album it goes back). The other is to go Home. The third is to swap between running apps. I never use it. But you can see that having 3 buttons does not require a degree in rocket science. For some technophobe users having the back button change locations in different apps would be a problem I would think.

Zimmerframe

cormie wrote: »

Might give that a go, is that definitely possible with ipad 1?

Is it possible to get music or photos from a laptop to the ipad WITHOUT itunes or any other third party software, just drag and drop and open it with some app on the ipad itself?

Yes, that screenshot is from my iPad 1.

Not really, but what's the problem with iTunes, it's free, it works.
Just tick what you want to sync and plug it in.

opinion guy

mickoneill30 wrote: »

However, Android can be as easy to use as an iPad. I don't get the arguments from people saying it's more complicated. It is more customisable but you don't have to customise it, you can keep it as simple as an iPad if you want.

Androids crash alot more. Usually requires some knowledge and tinkering to fix it.

Zimmerframe wrote: »

Yes, that screenshot is from my iPad 1.

Not really, but what's the problem with iTunes, it's free, it works.
Just tick what you want to sync and plug it in.

To be fair now zimmerframe, the little dots show that that is the right most screen - i.e. not the screen you will see when you turn it on first. AFAIK you can't delete all the apps on the home screen

Zimmerframe

opinion guy wrote: »

To be fair now zimmerframe, the little dots show that that is the right most screen - i.e. not the screen you will see when you turn it on first.

Jeez, happy now, moved to the left for you.

opinion guy wrote: »

AFAIK you can't delete all the apps on the home screen

WRONG

cormie

Thanks a lot for the replies again everyone.

Problem with iTunes, I don't want it anywhere near my computer, I don't like the way it works and would much rather the drag and drop functionality of android.

mickoneil, that's what I was thinking alright and the widgets would also make things a lot easier also. Infact, maybe a complete widget set-up would be best, this way there wouldn't be the trap of getting stuck in an app and you can just swipe screen to screen to do what's needed. I don't know how possible this is, to browse music file directories, webpages, photos from a widget without opening the complete app itself?

Android may crash, but probably not just performing basic functions and not messing about too much, often anyway?

You reckon the Motorolla Xoom would be a good one to go with?

Oafley Jones

cormie wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the replies again everyone.

Problem with iTunes, I don't want it anywhere near my computer, I don't like the way it works and would much rather the drag and drop functionality of android.

mickoneil, that's what I was thinking alright and the widgets would also make things a lot easier also. Infact, maybe a complete widget set-up would be best, this way there wouldn't be the trap of getting stuck in an app and you can just swipe screen to screen to do what's needed. I don't know how possible this is, to browse music file directories, webpages, photos from a widget without opening the complete app itself?

Android may crash, but probably not just performing basic functions and not messing about too much, often anyway?

You reckon the Motorolla Xoom would be a good one to go with?

Again, the idea of an Android tablet for technophobes is a terrible idea. I know from my own parents customization is the worst possible feature that they could have, they need something that they can't accidentally screwed with, that's completely locked down and that's the iPad.

As for Drag and drop, is the device for you are your parents? It's a feature I'd value but if they're anything like my lot you might as well be trying to explain quantum physics, it's a concept that'd be beyond them. Also there's no need iTunes on your computer.

LeinsterDub

Not sure why you are asking for advice op if your just going to ignore it. The ipad is the simplest tablet around. If that isn't simple enough you'll just have to sitdown with your father and explain how to use it as there isn't a technical solution here.

mickoneill30

opinion guy wrote: »

Androids crash alot more. Usually requires some knowledge and tinkering to fix it.

Now that's just ill informed. If the device crashes you reboot it.

cormie wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the replies again everyone.

Problem with iTunes, I don't want it anywhere near my computer, I don't like the way it works and would much rather the drag and drop functionality of android.

mickoneil, that's what I was thinking alright and the widgets would also make things a lot easier also. Infact, maybe a complete widget set-up would be best, this way there wouldn't be the trap of getting stuck in an app and you can just swipe screen to screen to do what's needed. I don't know how possible this is, to browse music file directories, webpages, photos from a widget without opening the complete app itself?

Android may crash, but probably not just performing basic functions and not messing about too much, often anyway?

You reckon the Motorolla Xoom would be a good one to go with?

Androids may crash a lot more, if you buy the 90 euro ones. I've a Xoom, my missus has a Xoom. Neither of our tablets crash. I can't say never but it's so long ago that mine crashed that I can't remember when it was.
I didn't show you screenshots of my normal screen. It has widgets and icons all over the place. I use mine at least 2 hours a day. Every so often I install an app that has problems (rarely), the complicated procedure for those is to uninstall the dodgy app.

I've no problem with the Xoom and would recommend it. I have mine just over a year now. I was going to get a newer model but after seeing reviews comparing them on Youtube with the Xoom I cant justify the extra expense yet.

You get what you pay for. The cheaper ones may be fine for you too though.

For the scrolling widgets you need at least Honeycomb so bear that in mind.

mickoneill30

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Again, the idea of an Android tablet for technophobes is a terrible idea. I know from my own parents customization is the worst possible feature that they could have, they need something that they can't accidentally screwed with, that's completely locked down and that's the iPad.

I know little about the iPad so I'm not being smart here. Can you explain how the iPad is more locked down than the Android. I posted some screenshots up on post 11. What would a technophobe do to shag those up that they couldn't do on an iPad?

cormie

Thanks again for the advice everyone. I'm not ignoring the ipad suggestions at all, have been looking into how I can rearrange the ipad to make it less cluttered etc so can give that a go first. So far, the ipad hasn't worked.

The drag and drop won't be used at all other than for me putting stuff onto it in the first place, they won't have a clue how it got on or what drag and drop even is, but it's just to make it easier for me to put new things on they can enjoy more.

With regards being locked down, I definitely agree that they shouldn't be customising anything themselves as they'd mess it up, but you can lock the desktop on android to prevent this so that should combat such an issue?

I know android in general is a lot more customisable, techy etc than the iPad, but I'd be looking to make the android as simple as possible. The question is, can it be made even MORE simple than the iPad after a bit of tinkering?

opinion guy

mickoneill30 wrote: »

Now that's just ill informed. If the device crashes you reboot it.

No its not ill informed its experience. Rebooting is not always enough to fix problems. Speaking of direct experience of archos g10. Also have played with various samsung tablets and they strike me as schoking glitchy things (althou this is doubtless down to Honeycomb no samsung).


OP I don't understand thou - if your parent will not use an ipad - what makes you think they will use an android. They are not so different that they will suddenly become enamoured with an android if they didn't take to an ipad.

Don't waste your money on something that won't get used. Better to put effort into making the ipad easier for them to use.

mickoneill30

cormie wrote: »

I know android in general is a lot more customisable, techy etc than the iPad, but I'd be looking to make the android as simple as possible. The question is, can it be made even MORE simple than the iPad after a bit of tinkering?

I spent 2 minutes of tinkering and came up with this.


I installed Go Launcher.
I turned off the multiple screens so there is only one screen for them to see (no swiping left & right)
The icons on the right are fixed there, they can't accidentally move them around. They could still delete them if they long press them though.

Theres no shortcut to the app drawer so they don't have to see icons for 50 apps they know nothing about (easy to get back for a normal user).

cormie

If it is indeed possible to rid the home screen of all the clutter it might make things easier. Is there any way at all to get music/photos from my computer to an ipad, without needing itunes or any other third party program, if there was an app that could transfer files from SD card to IPOD/album even that would be great.

mickoneill30

opinion guy wrote: »

No its not ill informed its experience. Rebooting is not always enough to fix problems. Speaking of direct experience of archos g10. Also have played with various samsung tablets and they strike me as schoking glitchy things (althou this is doubtless down to Honeycomb no samsung).

Well, honestly I haven't used those so I can't argue. I had an Archos 101 when it first came out and hated it. I have had the Xoom since April last year so I've had it since Honeycomb 3.0 to now ICS 4.04 and I haven't had a problem that a reboot didn't fix and I haven't had shocking glitching problems so maybe Xoom is the way to go if Android is in the mix.

Zimmerframe

Apart from an iPad, I have had a Motorola Zoom, a Galaxy tab, a Hp touchpad, and a BB playbook and I can guarantee you there is nothing more suitable for your application than an iPad.
IOS is as close to idiot proof as is possible, and like I demonstrated you can delete/hide most of the unwanted stuff.
If you spend the rest of your life customizing Android, you won't get it as easy to use as the iPad out of the box.
There is no logical reason for hating iTunes either, given that you will only be using it as a once off, to put stuff on the iPad, you don't need ever use it again.
And if all that wasn't enough to clinch the deal, you already have an iPad.

mickoneill30

Zimmerframe wrote: »

If you spend the rest of your life customizing Android, you won't get it as easy to use as the iPad out of the box.

Can you tell me how my settings in post 22 above is harder to use for a Technophobe than an iPad out of the box?

cormie

mickoneill30 wrote: »

I spent 2 minutes of tinkering and came up with this.


I installed Go Launcher.
I turned off the multiple screens so there is only one screen for them to see (no swiping left & right)
The icons on the right are fixed there, they can't accidentally move them around. They could still delete them if they long press them.

Theres no shortcut to the app drawer so they don't have to see icons for 50 apps they know nothing about (easy to get back for a normal user).

Something like that looks pretty decent alright, thanks a lot for going to all that effort for me

So it does indeed appear possible to make the homescreen more user friendly. The crashing is an important point of course, but my own android only crashes due to ROM issues that other roms don't have or me messing about too much. It's generally fine and as mick is saying, the two xooms in his household rarely, if ever crash, so this wouldn't be too strong an issue with the right hardware and version of android. I believe the xoom, from what I've seen, is just as good build quality wise (ok the ipad may be a bit fancier, thinner etc, but the xoom is far from a cheapo chinese bit of plastic).

So far in favour of android there is:
Easier home screen
Easier for ME to manage putting new content on.

In favour of iPad:
Generally see to be more intuitive
Already have one
Less crashing/bugs


Now besides that, a very big factor of course is how easy is browsing, typing, selecting things, going back to the previous screen, getting out of somewhere, choosing another song while one is playing, stopping a song, getting the device to light up after it goes to sleep, selecting a video on youtube, being able to google something and not getting lost in a non relative webpage of one of the results. The general use of all apps. How would android compare there?

mickoneill30

cormie wrote: »

Now besides that, a very big factor of course is how easy is browsing, typing, selecting things, going back to the previous screen, getting out of somewhere, choosing another song while one is playing, stopping a song, getting the device to light up after it goes to sleep, selecting a video on youtube, being able to google something and not getting lost in a non relative webpage of one of the results. The general use of all apps. How would android compare there?

Is your biggest factor not the cost? The good ones still aren't cheap.
I'm obviously in favour of Android but if my folks had an iPad I'd imagine it'd be more efficient to get them used to it rather than try a new system.

Either will work for your folks realistically but you have to support it. Get the one you prefer. What have you got yourself?

As an example, a few years ago my folks PC died. I got them an old one and put linux on it. I put the icons on the screen for Firefox, email etc. To them it was the same as Windows. To me it was a pain in the ass as I'm a Windows person. When they needed Java updating or a new printer driver I had to go off and research whereas with Windows I would have done it in a second. I eventually got them Windows and set it up for them in a way that I could support. 3 years later they're still using it fine. You're supporting them, get what you can support.

As to your questions about the apps above. I'm not getting into it arguing about different apps on iPad & Android the homescreen was enough, but if you have an Android device yourself can you not answer those questions yourself.

LeinsterDub

Careful go launcher. If it auto updates it will forget your default settings. It can also prompt you alot to choose a defaults which is fine for technically minded but not so for a techo phobe

mickoneill30

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Careful go launcher. If it auto updates it will forget your default settings. It can also prompt you alot to choose a defaults which is fine for technically minded but not so for a techo phobe

1: I wasn't aware of that. I only spent a minute setting that stuff up. You can however turn off auto updates. So that problem is gone. Or update manually by the OP. To set the screen above took me little time so if the OP updated he'd have the defaults set back up in a couple of minutes.
2: Prompting for defaults is something that happens once per app (ever). How long would it take to go through the 5 apps I have on the screen?

There are loads of Launchers for tablets. I'm sure the Op can go through them and find the one most suitable for his folks if he goes the Android route.

LeinsterDub

mickoneill30 wrote: »

2: Prompting for defaults is something that happens once per app (ever). How long would it take to go through the 5 apps I have on the screen?

There are loads of Launchers for tablets. I'm sure the Op can go through them and find the one most suitable for his folks if he goes the Android route.

I've a side loaded nook so not sure if this is an issue else where but some things I can't select a default. I am always prompted

mickoneill30

LeinsterDub wrote: »

I've a side loaded nook so not sure if this is an issue else where but some things I can't select a default. I am always prompted

It might be a nook issue. I've Go Launcher as my default launcher on my phone. I don't have that issue at all. It would be a pain in the hole I'd imagine.

cormie

The point about going for a system that I support is a very valid one too. See initially, the ipad was bought as a gift between my brother and I and he said he would keep it up to date with new files as he was an apple person whereas I'm windows, that was the condition of going with the ipad as I wanted to go with android.

I originally sat down with him when we first put music/photos on, which was a huge pain through itunes and made me glad I didn't have to do it. He borrowed the ipad to test some website and ended up keeping it for about 9 months and it was handed back empty so rather than waiting another few months for him to keep to his word I was thinking to just sell the ipad and go android in which case I'd be able to easily support it without relying on him.

After seeing how annoying it was to transfer files from iTunes (I forget what exactly) and also after using the iPad myself, I myself would definitely prefer to manage an android so it's just a case of whether or not it can be made simple enough for the actual user. It seems, so far, with a bit of tinkering and customisation, it can certainly be made to appear simpler in terms of homescreens etc, but whether the functionality will go hand in hand with this, I don't know.

You saying cost being the biggest factor, isn't such an issue. I could just go for a 2nd hand Xoom and I'd make a fair bit off the iPad itself so I may only have to put a few quid towards it.

Mick, did you do much research yourself before buying, not one, but two Xooms? Were they coming up more favourable than other Android pad options? I was thinking something with actual physical "back", "menu", "select" buttons (like the original HTC desire) buttons would be nice but maybe the 3 buttons on the Xoom screen would be enough.

Zimmerframe

cormie wrote: »

I originally sat down with him when we first put music/photos on, which was a huge pain through itunes and made me glad I didn't have to do it.....
After seeing how annoying it was to transfer files from iTunes (I forget what exactly)

Beginning to wonder, who's the technophobe. :D

opinion guy

Agree the itunes is a pain in the hole.
Much simpler to just install dropbox onto it - then you can drag and drop files to dropbox on your desktop and open them on the ipad.

cormie

I use Sugar Sync instead of DropBox on my pc, seems they have an apple app too? http://www.sugarsync.com/products/mobile/ios.html

Is it possible to throw everything through here and then FROM the app on the ipad itself, put it on the iPad, out of the cloud onto the SD card?

mickoneill30

cormie wrote: »

Mick, did you do much research yourself before buying, not one, but two Xooms? Were they coming up more favourable than other Android pad options? I was thinking something with actual physical "back", "menu", "select" buttons (like the original HTC desire) buttons would be nice but maybe the 3 buttons on the Xoom screen would be enough.

At the time I had an Archos. This was running Gingerbread and it was slow and the screen was crap. So I sold that and the Xoom was the first with Honeycomb so I got it. After a couple of months of my missus borrowing it we got one for her. So that was all my research. There's nothing that's a killer feature on other tablets that I want except for the super high resolution on the new iPads. That would be handy for reading.

Since then I was thinking of getting the Prime but it's a lot pricier and reviews on the internet say it's not "much" quicker than the Xoom so I'll hang on for another year or two.

As for the hardware buttons they're on the way out, even on the phones. It's not complicated though. I gave mine to my dad to play around with and he was flying around it in a few minutes. He's 66 and just about manages email on his PC.

cormie

Cool, thanks for the info. The track pad on my desire is invaluable in my opinion, just much handier for correcting typos and the likes in a block of text, but I guess the screen buttons would still be ok. Is the taskbar on the Xoom always there throughout all apps? I'm guessing it disappears in full screen mode on different apps?

Resolution and speed wouldn't be an issue with this so I'd say the Xoom would be grand for what it's needed for.

mickoneill30

cormie wrote: »

Is the taskbar on the Xoom always there throughout all apps? I'm guessing it disappears in full screen mode on different apps?

The task bar is always there. When reading an ebook or using some video players the icons change to small dots. So they're always present, just unobtrusive for those types of applications.

strandroad

Zimmerframe wrote: »

Beginning to wonder, who's the technophobe. :D

Excuse me, I work in IT and iTunes is a dreadful piece of software. I certainly would not expose an innocent older person to it.

Zimmerframe

mhge wrote: »

Excuse me, I work in IT and iTunes is a dreadful piece of software. I certainly would not expose an innocent older person to it.

Excuse me, so do I and no it's not and no one in the thread mentioned an innocent older person (whatever that is) using it.

p

cormie wrote: »

After seeing how annoying it was to transfer files from iTunes (I forget what exactly) and also after using the iPad myself, I myself would definitely prefer to manage an android so it's just a case of whether or not it can be made simple enough for the actual user. It seems, so far, with a bit of tinkering and customisation, it can certainly be made to appear simpler in terms of homescreens etc, but whether the functionality will go hand in hand with this, I don't know.

I don't want to get into an Android vs iOs argument here. I have an Android phone, I also own an iPad. I'm agnostic about technology as long as it does the job. I've also actually seen people in usability tests and understand the issues people have, as well as designed many apps for both platforms.

Having said all that, my informed opinion is that you should not go with an Android tablet, it's just not there yet. Just suck it up and use iTunes, and then never open it again. Just because you can't use/don't like iTunes doesn't mean you should punish your folks by choosing a harder system to learn for them, just so you can be a bit lazier - come on!

Zimmerframe

p wrote: »

Having said all that, my informed opinion is that you should not go with an Android tablet, it's just not there yet. Just suck it up and use iTunes, and then never open it again. Just because you can't use/don't like iTunes doesn't mean you should punish your folks by choosing a harder system to learn for them, just so you can be a bit lazier - come on!

Exactly what I said m8,
I have just bought a Htc One X for myself, and at the minute, the tablet I usually use is a BB playbook, but for this "job" the iPad is the best tool.

cormie

p wrote: »

I don't want to get into an Android vs iOs argument here. I have an Android phone, I also own an iPad. I'm agnostic about technology as long as it does the job. I've also actually seen people in usability tests and understand the issues people have, as well as designed many apps for both platforms.

Having said all that, my informed opinion is that you should not go with an Android tablet, it's just not there yet. Just suck it up and use iTunes, and then never open it again. Just because you can't use/don't like iTunes doesn't mean you should punish your folks by choosing a harder system to learn for them, just so you can be a bit lazier - come on!

My main fear would that be itunes would interfere with my own music collection and I don't want any breadcrumbs left over from using it. Will have mess around on the iPad next time I get a chance.

To the guy who's post got deleted saying my parents are idiots and it being ridiculous I offered to pay somebody to root and guide me through upgrading the ROM on my phone, I'm sorry, but what's ridiculous? I use my phone for business and want minimum downtime and if I can upgrade to a better system and get it done by an experienced person and throw them a few bob, what's the problem? And please understand that intelligence comes in all different forms, so while we all may be able to post ****e on an internet forum and can't fathom anyone not being able to do such simple tasks on a pad, maybe we wouldn't have a clue about more important things which they may be au fait with

Amalgam

Does the tablet have to be branded?

Browse Colonel Zap's channel on YouTube, he reviews umm.. 'happy go lucky' Chinese tablets (Android) of various types and current favourites like the Ployer Momo 11 and the Onda Vi40 would certainly fit the physical aspects of your wanted specs, screen size and IPS..

http://www.youtube.com/user/SchlumpfiHB

---

I'm not in IT, I can't stand iTunes.

osnola ibax

cormie wrote: »

My main fear would that be itunes would interfere with my own music collection and I don't want any breadcrumbs left over from using it. Will have mess around on the iPad next time I get a chance.

To the guy who's post got deleted saying my parents are idiots and it being ridiculous I offered to pay somebody to root and guide me through upgrading the ROM on my phone, I'm sorry, but what's ridiculous? I use my phone for business and want minimum downtime and if I can upgrade to a better system and get it done by an experienced person and throw them a few bob, what's the problem? And please understand that intelligence comes in all different forms, so while we all may be able to post ****e on an internet forum and can't fathom anyone not being able to do such simple tasks on a pad, maybe we wouldn't have a clue about more important things which they may be au fait with

I deleted the post mate, I had a few drinks on board and it was out of order. I apologise.

cormie

Hehe no prob

Amalgam, thanks for the suggestion, but would probably prefer to stick to something like Motorolla to minimise the amount of potential bugs or hardware issues. It's not just the screen size etc I'm after, but the overall build and component quality

cormie

Hi folks, I was in Curry's the other day and had a chance to mess around with the Xoom and a Samsung 10.1 I think it was called? Both very nice, Samsung appeared to have a clearer and brighter screen and maybe a bit fancier, but about €100 more.

The Xoom was €349, or €329, I forget, but I'm not sure if this is the Xoom 1 or 2. Mickoneil, which one do you have? Is there much difference between the Xoom 1 and 2? Is the Xoom wifi the Xoom 2, or are all Xooms with wifi? I remember being told PC world were stopping one Xoom as they were getting the newer one, so is the one I would have been messing with (it was on display next to ipad and samsung) the newest one I wonder?

lafors

I'm in the same position cormie, need to get a tablet for the father in law for his birthday (from the mother in law).
He's on the edge between technophobe and thinks he's not but I spent A LOT of time undoing his techno mishaps :rolleyes:

I'm ruling out the ipad immediately. As someone said earlier I'll be doing the fixing and i don't like dealing with itunes etc. So looking at
Xoom 2, Asus Transformer Prime, Asus Transformer (TF300), Samsung Galaxy 10.1

Out of those few which would others recommend?

cormie

Good stuff, I'm thinking, I might just bite the bullet and get one, see how they like it or if they can use it, if it's the same story, I'll sell it on, may lose a tenner or 20 quid but at least I'll know. If they adapt to it much better, I'll sell the ipad.

Just found out Xoom comes with 32gb which is nice.

There seems to be a few Xooms,
Xoom Wifi
Xoom 3G/4G
Xoom 2
Xoom Family Edition

I don't think there's too much need for the latest in terms of Ice Cream Sandwich or more power etc. Just need something simple that works. I haven't looked into any other ones like Samsung or Asus, but Motorolla seems to be the most affordable and would probably be just as suitable as any other android tablet, so if it works, won't have a lot of bugs (so stock ROM I guess rather than messing about with custom roms for features that will never probably be utilised fully) and is most valuable in terms of price and features that will be taken advantage of, I'll probably go with it.

cormie

Anyone have any idea of the going rate for a 2nd hand Xoom? There's a thread in adverts with a guy selling one about €80 more than RRP and he won't budge on the price Just not sure which one exactly I should get..