Good tablet for someone who will be spending a lot of time in hospital

jozi

My mam will be getting treatment in hospital in 6-8 weeks which will involve a lot of nightly stays, she was recently in my uncles house and got playing with their ipad and liked it. This lead to my uncle hatching a plan to get her one between the whole family and I have the task of finding out if it's an ipad or something better we should get her. I'm leaning towards something else which has led me here :cool:

I haven't quite figured out the prices of these tabs but I gather that most, if not all, in it's basic guise will be priced similar to the ipad or cheaper, which is probably our price range - prob cheaper the better.

From what I can see the Samsung 10.1 is meant to be quite good, the nexus 7 also and this seems to be cheaper but also a bit smaller and finally the Asus, who's model naming I havent quite figured out because their all, Prime seems to also be very good.

I noticed from scanning a few reviews batt life seems to be around the 10hr mark, I've no idea how this translates into real time use, but problably the higher the better.

I know this is the android section but would an ipad be easier to use? She recently got a samsung galaxy mini and sort of struggled to use it initially but seems to have gotten the hang of it for the most part.

So what do you recommend that won't be any more expensive than an ipad and is also better than one?

subway

Get an ipad, everyone will hate you if you don't because they will continously point out that it's not the same as their ipad/iphone.

As much as I want to tell you to get her an android tablet you are setting yourself up for endless hassle.

_Whimsical_

I agree. Ipads are very user friendly, even idiot proof, I don't think the same is true of android tablets. Unless your mum is quite tech savvy she might prefer ios where every problem is solved by a click on the home button and the apps are more slick and more intuitive for complete beginners in a technical sphere. If you get her one try and get one that has 3g so she will always have an internet connection even in hospital where wifi is often flakey. If price is prohibitive check out adverts.ie, there are some very good bargains on second hand ipads there.

bogman

Nexus 7, class bit of kit, hope she will be ok

SomethingElse

panadols are always a good bet

/hides

efb

The blackberry tab is €180 with Currys atm

SomethingElse

Sorry I couldn't resist with the title of the thread! I hope she's ok, and I'm sure she'll be delighted to have a tablet to pass the hospital hours, hopefully there's not too many of them and she makes a speedy recovery! Hope everything works out ok

srsly78

Get her a nexus 7 and preload it with a ****load of her favourite genre of ebooks.

mickoneill30

The first question is what will your mam be using it for?
The second is what's your budget?

If it's just for watching TV programmes / movies then any el cheapo tablet will do.

If it's for a bit more and money is tight then the Blackberry Playbook in Currys is a good price at the moment.

The Xoom is a good Android all rounder. I'm not saying this is the best Android tablet but it's pretty good bang for buck. It's an older model now. I have a Xoom myself and will probably get a newer Samsung in the future but I'm hanging on as it's not an essential upgrade.
There are newer and faster tablets but if all she's going to be using it for is books / movies and bit of surfing then to me a movie on a Xoom looks exactly the same as a movie on a more expensive tablet.

With a Xoom you can buy a microSD card, load it up with movies or TV at home and pop it into the tablet in the hospital. If she's only in for a night or two this isn't really needed though.


IPads are easier than Android tablets. No doubt about that. But Android is still not complicated. Within 1 minute of showing my dad (who is totally tech illiterate) he was off opening apps and messing about. This stuff isn't rocket science. If you spend 5 minutes you can even make it easier for your mam by just putting the icons on the desktop for the apps she'll only use (video player, web browser, ebook reader etc.). Androids have a home button too so if a user gets lost they can press it easily.

Realistically though (and it pains me to say it) if you have family that already has gone the IPad route, I'd probably get her an IPad. That way if your uncle pops in with app recommendations he can support her. It'll cost more and it does the same stuff but you'll get less hassle from your family. If you're chipping in with your family I bet your uncle is looking at IPads. I think lifes too short to be trying to force one or the other. At the end of the day they all do the same stuff.

Edit: Actually I hadn't seen that she already has an Android device. If she can use the Galaxy Mini she'll have no problem at all with an Android tablet. Buying an Android tablet then would mean her phone stuff syncs to the tablet and vice versa. I find that dead handy for me.

3G is an option but you'll be paying for that every month and it may not be allowed in a hospital (I don't know). It also ads a significant cost to the tablet.
But again if she's only in for a night or two then a few books on the tablet and TV programmes will probably be enough for her and she might not need constant web access.
When she takes the tablet home does she have WiFi internet there. If she does I'd probably stick with a WiFi tablet. If she doesn't you may need to consider a 3G tablet.

Ballyman

I have had iphones etc. from apple and I got rid of them all because of the restrictions on them imposed by apple and moved to Android a few years ago. Couldn't be happier. I use HTC for phone and Xoom for tab. However I will say that the iPad and iPhone are easier to use for non techy people so I think you would be better getting her one of those. You have already said she struggled a little with the Samsung so for simplicity sake and the fact that it will probably do 100% of what she needs then I would go for the iPad.

BTW, I hope she gets better quickly, mothers are very precious!

MagicMarker

Well if it's to use in hospital then a nexus 7 won't be any good as it only has WIFI, and I've never been in a hospital that offers free wifi.

If all the family is chipping in then get the most expensive iPad you can find:) But don't forget that you'll need a data plan from Meteor/o2/Vodafone etc to use the 3g.

cookie1977

MagicMarker wrote: »

Well if it's to use in hospital then a nexus 7 won't be any good as it only has WIFI, and I've never been in a hospital that offers free wifi.

If all the family is chipping in then get the most expensive iPad you can find:) But don't forget that you'll need a data plan from Meteor/o2/Vodafone etc to use the 3g.

As far as I know St. Vincents offers wifi for in-patients.

racer1

MagicMarker wrote: »

Well if it's to use in hospital then a nexus 7 won't be any good as it only has WIFI, and I've never been in a hospital that offers free wifi.

If all the family is chipping in then get the most expensive iPad you can find:) But don't forget that you'll need a data plan from Meteor/o2/Vodafone etc to use the 3g.

You can always buy a hotshot from o2 or any other provider:-)


http://www.o2online.ie/o2/shop/broadband/hotshots.php

jozi

Thanks guys for the comments and replies. She's going to be fine, her op a few weeks ago was succesful and now she needs to get treatment which will go on for a few weeks. As far as I know the arrangement is that the treatment is in the hospital 5days a week, she won't be staying there but in a hostel which is associated with the hospital - there may be wifi there, I'll try and find out.

mickoneill30 wrote: »

The first question is what will your mam be using it for?
The second is what's your budget?

This is the thing thats stopping me from getting a tablet, I don't know what I would use it for! I'd imagine for her it would be mainly facebook and email while in the hospital, I can see her using it while cooking for recipes and while watching tv. In saying that maybe if she had some time with one she'd fine more reasons to use it. Also, I'd like the use of it from time to time as well :P I need to talk to my uncle about the budget bit but since he sugested an ipad I'd imagine something in that price range.

Can someone tell me more about reading ebooks on them? Are they easy got, from where, free/paid, etc? She does read a fair bit.

I'm inclined to go for Android myself because she's a little familair because of her mobile. She mostly struggled with little things on it like hitting the home button to end call instead of the end call button. She surprisingly managed to use whatsapp without me showing her (after I told her I put a shortcut on her home screen). I've Linux installed on the pc, she can manage that she can manage Android

I'm not to bothered about the fam having an ipad, I'm always the one that gets the calls about computer related stuff they'll be grand knowing I recommended which ever tablet.

I'll have a look at those xoom tabs, where is best to buy them? I think something relatively light and slim would be best (think the asus are pretty slim?).

yabadabado

jozi wrote: »

Can someone tell me more about reading ebooks on them? Are they easy got, from where, free/paid, etc? She does read a fair bit.

I dont think any tablets are much good for reading books,much too hard on the eyes.I have a kindle for books and I have used the Kindle app on my tablet and I wouldnt recommend it for reading long term.

srsly78

I read ebooks on asus transformer all the time, is fine. Just is hard to read in sunlight.

Kindle is good, but is more limited in formats it will display.

jozi

So not really recommended then for books. Screen I imagine is like any mobile, not easy to see/read in the sun.

yabadabado

srsly78 wrote: »

I read ebooks on asus transformer all the time, is fine. Just is hard to read in sunlight.

Kindle is good, but is more limited in formats it will display.

I just find it very hard to read on a tablet for anything more than 20-25 mins.eyes get sore as the screen is too bright or something.

I think a programme called Calibre will convert any file type to display on the Kindle.

srsly78

Turn the brightness up all the way, and try changing the text from black on white to white on black depending on what suits you.

Similarly some people get eye strain from looking at computer monitors, just doesn't suit them for some reason. I have no problem reading for hours on tablet.

In the future newer screens will come out that also work in sunlight I have read.

yabadabado

srsly78 wrote: »

Turn the brightness up all the way, and try changing the text from black on white to white on black depending on what suits you.

Similarly some people get eye strain from looking at computer monitors, just doesn't suit them for some reason. I have no problem reading for hours on tablet.

In the future newer screens will come out that also work in sunlight I have read.

Thats fair enough but I would not recommend a tablet if its primary use would be an ebook reader much better to buy a Kindle imo.

Amalgam

jozi, best of luck to your Mum, whatever you decide to go with.

Just to say, make her aware that they're a desirable item, not to leave it around in the open unattended, in a Hospital or Respite care.

I know it isn't nice to think that way, but they're awful places for, opportunistic, petty theft..

jimmycrackcorm

The golden rule is iPads for mammies and android tablets for the real world.

jozi

Amalgam wrote: »

jozi, best of luck to your Mum, whatever you decide to go with.

Just to say, make her aware that they're a desirable item, not to leave it around in the open unattended, in a Hospital or Respite care.

I know it isn't nice to think that way, but they're awful places for, opportunistic, petty theft..

Thanks. She heard of things being nicked from the hospital, no idea what the hostel place is like for it.

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

The golden rule is iPads for mammies and android tablets for the real world.

Hehe, what about me then

Tigerandahalf

Glad I came across this as thinking of getting a tablet. I saw a Galaxy Tab 10.1 today for 250eur, Wifi only which suits me fine. Is this too good to be true. Ipads are much dearer at 400 eur.
I mainly do browsing on the internet. I would like to have something to watch a movie on a plane or download a programme from rte player or to watch streaming programmes. Wouldnt need it for music or anything like that.
What would you say?


P.S. I bought Galaxy S2 over a year ago and it has been a smashing buy. I do most of my browsing on it now. My eyes also get weary. Have to be careful.

croo

There is a Galaxy Tab 10.1 version 2 out and a Galaxy Note 10.1 was very recently announced, so the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 is probably greatly reduced now.

pickarooney

That sounds like an excellent price. The new version isn't even much of an improvement for over 100 euros extra - I think it just has an SD card slot which the first one hasn't. Both versions have a really nice screen.