Cheap Windows Tablet

[mike9009]

Hi

My Dell laptop is nearly dead. It is not a bad spec, but with a cracked touchscreen, broken USB socket, constant CPU throttling and dodgy power supply issue I am considering it’s replacement.

My use is light internet/ email. I don’t want a Chromebook, and quite fancy a Surface Go.

But, there are numerous ‘cheap’ Windows Tablets which look attractive. Linx 12x64, Chuwi, Fusion 5, jumper etc. Anyone bought one of these devices and able to recommend it? I don’t trust the reviews on Amazon much.....

Thanks


Mike

[AlexC1981]

Cheap tablets use flash memory storage rather than a having a proper SSD. That coupled with crappy Celeron or Atom processors will make it dead slow. Windows updates will take up to an hour rather than a few minutes on a decent spec PC and it will run badly whilst an update is happening in the background.

A few years ago I bought my sister a second hand Dell Latitude 13 7350 and it's a really lovely little machine. Easily fast enough for what you want and light, passivity cooled with a long battery life. The tablet clips in and out of the keyboard and stands up so you can use it on your lap when in the keyboard dock, unlike the silly Surface that needs the back rest flipped out and to sit on a table.

Dell probably have a more modern equivalent, but one of these is still going to be better than any of those tablets you mentioned.

[mike9009]

AlexC1981 said:

Cheap tablets use flash memory storage rather than a having a proper SSD. That coupled with crappy Celeron or Atom processors will make it dead slow. Windows updates will take up to an hour rather than a few minutes on a decent spec PC and it will run badly whilst an update is happening in the background.

A few years ago I bought my sister a second hand Dell Latitude 13 7350 and it's a really lovely little machine. Easily fast enough for what you want and light, passivity cooled with a long battery life. The tablet clips in and out of the keyboard and stands up so you can use it on your lap when in the keyboard dock, unlike the silly Surface that needs the back rest flipped out and to sit on a table.

Dell probably have a more modern equivalent, but one of these is still going to be better than any of those tablets you mentioned.

Yep, I completely understand what you mean, hence my post. Have you actually tried one?

[S6PNJ]

I'd say the opposite! I have a Linx 10 tablet, as does my wife, both are used for more than browsing and email and both handle it fine. Whilst they are not used for intensive processing (Adobe Photoshop, large spreadsheets, CAD etc) they handle generic home user work just fine and run Office (2003-2013) or Office365 fine without any issues. Yes, I agree, they are not the quickest at running Windows updates, but they are a low end processor, but they can do the updates when you are not using the tablet (use the settings within Windows itself).

The Linkx 12X64 has 4GB RAM, ours only have 2GB and I also have a 1GB Link 8 which is a bit slow but still perfectly usable for internet browsing and email.

Can you borrow one for a day or s to see how you get on?

The processor benchmark for the old Atom tablets is: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Ato...

and the spec for the newer Linx12X64 is : https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Ato...

So you can see the new one is faster and my old one copes just fine.

[AlexC1981]

mike9009 said:

Yep, I completely understand what you mean, hence my post. Have you actually tried one?

Yes the Linx12X64 as it happens! It is definitely usable, but don't expect to be able to use it in the same way as a half decent laptop. S6PNJ's suggestion of scheduling the updates for when you are not using it sounds like a good idea. For an extra £150 or so you will get a much better experience from a proper laptop and Windows doesn't work well with small touchscreens.

Mine's sat in the drawer because the laptop is nicer to use for longer browsing and the phone is more convenient to look up something quickly. The "kickback" style stand isn't as nice to use on the lap either. I bought it with the intention of mounting it on an arm by the sofa, but it looked daft and was too heavy for the arm I bought anyway.

I also have a Linx Vision 8 which is an 8" tablet that sits in an X-Box style game controller cradle. This works well running emulated Megadrive and Amiga games, but it would be rubbish to use for browsing daily.

If I wanted a cheap tablet, I think I would get a better user experience with Android.

[mike9009]

Thanks both,

So would a Surface Go be equally unusable with it's 'slow' processor, 4GB memory and eMMC drive? This is what I am trying to grapple with - is it worth doubling the budget for web browsing/ streaming/ email and simple spreadsheets??

I have not been very impressed with my Dell laptop (purchased through the Outlet about three years ago) in terms of longevity and general issues mentioned above (i5 with SSD).

The amazon reviews of the cheap Chinese stuff are quite mixed, maybe driven by expectations (??) - hence thinking a Surface Go might just be a safer option.

The update thing wouldn't really bother me, except when I first get it.

Ta


Mike

[The_Jackal]

Why does it have to be Windows if you only do light web browsing and email?
You would have a lot more established choice.

[mike9009]

The_Jackal said:

Why does it have to be Windows if you only do light web browsing and email?
You would have a lot more established choice.

Because I am a luddite and 'stick-in-the-mud'. .

The kids have Fire Tablets and wife an Ipad - I just cannot get into them. Plus I occasionally use Excel/ Word/ Powerpoint at home.

Hence my quite specific questions.....

[LordGrover]

mike9009 said:

...
The amazon reviews of the cheap Chinese stuff are quite mixed, maybe driven by expectations (??) - hence thinking a Surface Go might just be a safer option.
...

I'm not so sure a Surface Go is a 'safe option'. I've been a little disappointed with mine.
Even web browsing is pretty slow, and outlook/excel is only 'acceptable'. Both can take a while to start up, but once they're running they're okay. The problem though, is that the whole point of this was to just pick it up and do a quick task - but it's just too slow starting up both windows and the programs/apps. Left in sleep/standby battery life is not great either.
I was expecting it to be more like an iPad where you flip open the cover and you're ready to go, but no chance with this. Plus Windows is clunky to use without keyboard/mouse, the touchscreen experience is pretty poor.

I've had a Surface Pro before too, but passed that on in short order. Windows just isn't a tablet OS.

[Coolbanana]

My daughter has a Surface Go for Uni that she preferred to have over an aging laptop recently. It works very well for her use and appears to be a capable machine and I think next year I might get a Surface 3 laptop.

I have a Dell XPS 15" laptop at the moment but last week I bought a tablet for the first time in years - a Samsung Galaxy S6. I wanted something small and light to carry on trips away instead of lugging the laptop around but given I stopped using iPad's some time ago as I didn't get on with them for work stuff, I didn't want just another tablet that would never be used for more than Netflix on a plane when my mobile is good enough for that.

The Samsung has its 'Dex mode' function, which basically mimics a 'Window's' appearance and function but using apps. For me, it is ideal. Full Word, Excel etc, browsers with multiple tabs, windows all looking like my laptop does and keeping important documents updated on all my devices via the Cloud.
I bought a Microsoft Surface mouse for it and a separate portable keyboard rather than the cover version. I didn't need the 256GB option since it has an SD slot for extra memory (added 256GB to the in-built 128GB already) and I didn't need the SIM version since it can hotspot from my Samsung S10 mobile when away from Wi-Fi.

So, for me, the new tab is a 'cheap' Window's tablet. Not the same as a Surface Go, granted, but I actually prefer it - it's fast because, well, it is app-based and the AMOLED screen is the best I've seen on a tablet. I use it in Dex mode 99% of the time and can hook it up to external monitors using that mode too.

Edited by Coolbanana on Thursday 31st October 08:48

[guitarcarfanatic]

Picked up a Surface Go a few weeks back. It's bloody fantastic!

Make sure you get the 8gb model. I power through web, email and excel without issue. The pen function is useful - I annotate documents for marketing/presentations for our design team to change. Saves me loads of time.

Battery life only about 4 hours, but charges off USB C. It's so light and compact, it saves me lugging my 13 inch business laptop to meetings etc. Keyboard is fab too.

[The_Jackal]

mike9009 said:

Because I am a luddite and 'stick-in-the-mud'. .

The kids have Fire Tablets and wife an Ipad - I just cannot get into them. Plus I occasionally use Excel/ Word/ Powerpoint at home.

Hence my quite specific questions.....

Fair enough if you are a luddite.
Just wondered why Android hadn't been touched on.
Fire tablets dont really count as they are the worst piece of tech ever invented.

[Oakey]

My Linx tablet lasted 11 months before the battery started failing to charge. I couldn't return it as I couldn't find the receipt so I stuck it in a draw.

I found the receipt the other day and went to retrieve the tablet with the intention of returning it and the battery has 'exploded'.

It's basically expanded pushing the case apart a few inches and cracked the screen.

[ging84]

everyone wants a chromebook, its just not everyone realises they do

[AJB88]

I would look at decent spec Android tablet, Chromebook or refurb iPad.

Stay away from Fire tablets there version of Android is so old now.

[Skyedriver]

Can I weigh in with a bit of a thread hijack please.
My wife has a Nexus 9 which we've had almost since they came out. It's done her well but of late the screen has gone scrambled after a little use so we are looking for a replacement.

She's not sure if she wants a new tablet or a lap top.

Nexus is Android, she uses my sons PC which is Windows 10.

She likes working with a mouse, and the touch screen of the Nexus is OK, she doesn't like using the lap top touch pad as it's "too fiddly"

Any suggestions please?

It is used mainly for browsing, emails, research of family tree, bank account etc

Thinking as I write, one of those lap tops where the screen detaches and is a touch screen??

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and apologies to the OP but maybe this query helps.

[mike9009]

Just updating this thread for completeness.

I have taken the brave step of moving from a Windows based tablet.

I bought a Lenovo yoga smart tab in the black Friday deals. Just over £200 with 4gb / 64 GB.

It serves my needs fine, sometimes don't like typing on a touchscreen. It seems really good, very quick, nice sound, nice screen, easy to setup. Just toying with the idea of getting cloud based storage.....Google drive perhaps?? Also finally set up my printer wirelessly which again work seamlessly.

Not really tried any spreadsheet tasks yet and getting a cover seems difficult (not much availability).

I might get a Bluetooth keyboard/ cover thing - undecided on these though?

Thanks for the advice.

Mike