Tablet to replace Kindle (but also for Netflix and players)

r93kaey5p2izun · 25-04-2020 02:56AM #1

My elderly mother needs to replace her very basic, original Kindle.

She would also ideally like to be able to look at shows on the RTE player, Virgin player, All4, and Netflix, and be able to cast to an old Samsung Smart TV (totally out of date, not functioning in any smart way) using a chromecast. She does this from my ipad at the moment, but I need my device a lot more now for WFH so can't spare it.

Budget approx €250. She wants to be able to buy from a "real shop" albeit online, so Curry's etc rather than Amazon (there's no talking to her). She will lean towards a "famous" brand like Samsung, but obviously options there are limited. Xiaomi etc will be a hard sell to her.

I suppose all the tablets will run a Kindle app? But will one of the newer Kindle devices support the players, Netflix and casting?

Any suggestions on good deals out there at moment? I see the Samsung Tab A 10.1 for €229 in Curry's - would this do what she wants?

Thanks.

niallb · 25-04-2020 03:17AM

That budget will get you an iPad Air 2 at CeX. Might be worth considering what she's used to.

Online is https://ie.webuy.com

25-04-2020 01:00PM

Does she know that Amazon make the kindle?!

The new Fire 10 HD is probably ideal for those uses described. It has a much more powerful cpu than previous fire tablets and a decent screen - £150 so well under budget.

I think that they are on sale outside amazon also. make sure that it's the recent 2019 model, not some older one.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-fire-hd-10-tablet-1080p-full-hd-display-32-gb-black-with-special-offers/dp/B07KD63BQ5/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fire+10+hd&qid=1587819672&sr=8-2

it's in currys for 180€ so not a massive rip-off considering sterling rate

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/search-keywords/xx_xx_xx_xx_xx/fire%2Bhd%2B10/xx-criteria.html

just one proviso - not all the apps may not be on the amazon store - could be the case e.g. rte player but as a once off task you could easily enough "sideload" this

Mickeroo · 25-04-2020 02:43PM

If she likes reading books on her kindle I would get her a kindle paper white or similar and an android tablet for Netflix and the like rather than a tablet for both.

Each to their own but reading books on a kindle is a lot more pleasant than on the screen of a tablet imo.

25-04-2020 02:50PM

Mickeroo wrote: »

If she likes reading books on her kindle I would get her a kindle paper white or similar and an android tablet for Netflix and the like rather than a tablet for both.

Each to their own but reading books on a kindle is a lot more pleasant than on the screen of a tablet imo.

I have a paperwhite and would agree but the reading modes on tablets available for the last number of years are easy on the eyes.

depends on how much book reading would be done

news consumption is better on a tablet

but the OP is talking about the uses primarily being outside the scope of a kindle reader.

r93kaey5p2izun · 25-04-2020 03:10PM

Thanks for the suggestions and things to consider.

She already reads through the Kindle app on my ipad and finds it grand. The old Kindle was great because the battery lasted so long, but the downside was the lack of backlight made it difficult for her to see a lot of the time, no matter what reading lamp she tried.

My concern with the Kindle Fire is will it really support all the player apps? Can anyone confirm that RTE, Virgin and All4 apps definitely work on the Fire OS? I'm not very techy so side loading is not something I'd understand. Tbe Fire is a great price though!

I'm looking at CeX there and they have some good offers alright. What's there after care service like if there's a problem? That's her main fear about ordering from Amazon, even though she does know they make the Kindle!

25-04-2020 03:14PM

Stella Numerous Marksman wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions and things to consider.

She already reads through the Kindle app on my ipad and finds it grand. The old Kindle was great because the battery lasted so long, but the downside was the lack of backlight made it difficult for her to see a lot of the time, no matter what reading lamp she tried.

My concern with the Kindle Fire is will it really support all the player apps? Can anyone confirm that RTE, Virgin and All4 apps definitely work on the Fire OS? I'm not very tetchy so side loading is not something I'd understand. Tbe Fire is a great price though!

I'm looking at CeX there and they have some good offers alright. What's there after are service like if there's a problem? That's her main fear about ordering from Amazon, even though she does know they make the Kindle!

Amazon's service is known to be amongst the best.

if there is an issue you get a freepost return and they will credit you / replace the item pretty much immediately

problem at pcworld and it could be off "for repair" for a month

beauf · 25-04-2020 03:28PM

Stella Numerous Marksman wrote: »

...
Any suggestions on good deals out there at moment? I see the Samsung Tab A 10.1 for €229 in Curry's - would this do what she wants?.

Yes.

Personally I couldn't be bothered with side loading on a fire tablet. Kindle app works just fine on any Android device.

I would get a decent cover even if expensive especially one that folds over to a stand for watching video content.

25-04-2020 03:37PM

I bought my mother and myself a kindle fire HD 8 in currys just before Christmas.

Both get used daily by both of us. Currently in Currys for 99 euro.

Netflix definitely works on it. Not tried the other apps you mention but the OS is just a customized version of Android underneath its no different to any Android tablet or phone.

25-04-2020 03:46PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I bought my mother and myself a kindle fire HD 8 in currys just before Christmas.

Both get used daily by both of us. Currently in Currys for 99 euro.

Netflix definitely works on it. Not tried the other apps you mention but the OS is just a customized version of Android underneath its no different to any Android tablet or phone.

not a bad little tablet but the Fire HD 10 2019 is a lot more powerful in terms of the cpu which makes it more responsive and the screen is also a good bit better.

25-04-2020 03:56PM

The one aspect of the Kindle tablet that is not great imo is the Amazon focus of the interface.

But if you mum is just going to be selecting apps to run then I imagine that that would not be a big deal.

25-04-2020 07:29PM

glasso wrote: »

not a bad little tablet but the Fire HD 10 2019 is a lot more powerful in terms of the cpu which makes it more responsive and the screen is also a good bit better.

I find the ten inch too big for holding and handling, maybe just me. I only really use it for movies on flights. Otherwise its kindle/audible, and youtube and porn, err i mean educational videos.

r93kaey5p2izun · 26-04-2020 01:01AM

I discussed it with her today, and she informed me that her sister actually gave her a second hand tablet a few months ago, but she never took it out of the box and forgot about it(!). I found it this evening - it's a Kindle Fire HD 8. I've just got it turned on and it seems fine. It already has the Google Home app on it so chromecast should be ok. All4 was available in the Amazon appstore. No RTE or Virgin players. I'm going to see if I can follow those sideloading instructions above. We'll give it a shot and see how it goes. Maybe we won't need to spend any more at all.

It also has Mobdro on it - is that even legal?

Thanks again for the advice.

r93kaey5p2izun · 26-04-2020 01:28AM

Just went to the link above to download the files. Turns out it has already been done and Play Store is already installed which I had not noticed. I have now downloaded the two players.

Obviously someone other than my aunt has set this tablet up.

Looks like we might be all set.

26-04-2020 11:14PM

Stella Numerous Marksman wrote: »

Just went to the link above to download the files. Turns out it has already been done and Play Store is already installed which I had not noticed. I have now downloaded the two players.

Obviously someone other than my aunt has set this tablet up.

Looks like we might be all set.

good to go then!

the fire hd 8 is a bit slow but should do the job for those apps once your mum is not too impatient

(bought one for my dad before)

26-04-2020 11:17PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I find the ten inch too big for holding and handling, maybe just me. I only really use it for movies on flights. Otherwise its kindle/audible, and youtube and porn, err i mean educational videos.

ooh matron.

for prolonged use of a 10 incher a stand is advisable.

or more likely / useful -> cover with built in stand.

something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JETech-Amazon-Tablet-Generation-Release-Black/dp/B0793QM6VN/ref=psdc_1499996031_t1_B075RWPXY8

Dravokivich · 28-04-2020 12:11PM

The 8 is just more pleasent to use in your hands, which should be the porpuse of a Tablet. If you've to place it down to use it, we are starting to talk about Netbooks. I've a 10inch windows tablet and if it didn't have a keyboard, it'll be rather difficult to turn to. And I use it more as a Netbook as a result.

OP, I'd also advise holding onto the Kindle itself regardless of what tablet they go for. It's better for long screen usage. It's easier to add your own ebooks. the Fire Tablets make it difficult and I'm not sure what the eReader apps are like in Amazons Appstore.

The Google Play store takes a bit of work to side load (4 apks in a specific order), but once in, you can install most apps from it. Including content you've purchased. So I'm using the Moon+ Reader pro.

28-04-2020 01:21PM

in the end on the fire hd 8 I put lineage OS on it.

was a bit of work and I think that amazon has blocked off that option now but it's a much nicer UI

Tablet to replace Kindle (but also for Netflix and players)

Comments