Affordable quality tablets?

[il Padrino Ute]

Looking for a quality tablet for my daughter to use in school. I'm expecting to pay around $400 or so, but are there any that would cost less than $200?

I trust you folks more than the kid at Best Buy or other retailers) who has no idea what he's talking about.

Edit: If there's already a thread about this, I apologize and any mod is welcome to move this there and shame me publicly. Except YO. He's too mean.

[smokymountainrain]

Looking for a quality tablet for my daughter to use in school. I'm expecting to pay around $400 or so, but are there any that would cost less than $200?

I trust you folks more than the kid at Best Buy or other retailers) who has no idea what he's talking about.

Edit: If there's already a thread about this, I apologize and any mod is welcome to move this there and shame me publicly. Except YO. He's too mean.

Pretty sure the Kindle Fire is less than $200. Not sure how it compares in quality to the other tablets that come in under the Mendoza line.

[falafel]

What kind of work will she be using it for?

My son has a 32GB Google Nexus 7, which was $250. The 16GB version is $200.

[chrisrenrut]

At that price point, you are probably looking at a 7 inch instead of 10 inch (that's what she said).

But seriously, from what I have seen, the Google Nexus or Apple iPad mini are probably your best bets. My sister has a Kindle Fire HD, and she is frustrated with how tied in with Amazon you are forced to be. If was forced to be tied in with something, I would rather it be Google or iTunes.

[il Padrino Ute]

What kind of work will she be using it for?

My son has a 32GB Google Nexus 7, which was $250. The 16GB version is $200.

Mostly to take notes and perhaps a few apps. She also wants to use it as an ebook reader.

[falafel]

Mostly to take notes and perhaps a few apps. She also wants to use it as an ebook reader.

Hmmm. Take notes. She'll probably need a bluetooth keyboard then. Taking notes by hand would be very difficult.

Assuming you get that, I think the google nexus 7 would be a great fit. The 7-inch size is much better for reading on than a 10-inch tablet, IMO.

[Walter Sobchak]

Mostly to take notes and perhaps a few apps. She also wants to use it as an ebook reader.

Google Chromebook ($315) + basic Kindle ($90) =~ $400

[il Padrino Ute]

Hmmm. Take notes. She'll probably need a bluetooth keyboard then. Taking notes by hand would be very difficult.

Assuming you get that, I think the google nexus 7 would be a great fit. The 7-inch size is much better for reading on than a 10-inch tablet, IMO.

Thanks for the info. I've heard from a few others that have suggested the Nexus 7.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I played around with an iPad mini the other day. Was not impressed with the display quality.

[kccougar]

Too bad DDD isn't around to scoff, but I would suggest the Asus TF-300 (formerly the Transformer Prime). The price is right and you can buy a very nice hardbacked keyboard/mouse pad that basically makes it into a little laptop. Both my boys have them and have not had any issues.

[FMCoug]

I love my Kindle Fire HD. The UI tied to Amazon thing is an accurate observation. But I actually like that. I like the Kindle UI for what it is intended to be. Plus the Amazon Video integration is great. The Amazon app store has pretty much everything you would want.

For note taking, I use Evernote and it works great on the Kindle.

[falafel]

Too bad DDD isn't around to scoff, but I would suggest the Asus TF-300 (formerly the Transformer Prime). The price is right and you can buy a very nice hardbacked keyboard/mouse pad that basically makes it into a little laptop. Both my boys have them and have not had any issues.

That is a nice option.

[wuapinmon]

I bought a Nexus 7 for Christmas...16 gb. I love it. For notes and meetings, I got this:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VL8Y2C/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i02"]Amazon.com: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for Mac/iPad/iPhone (920-003884): Computers & Accessories@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MG1COcqJL.@@AMEPARAM@@41MG1COcqJL[/ame]

[marsupial]

I love my Kindle Fire HD. The UI tied to Amazon thing is an accurate observation. But I actually like that. I like the Kindle UI for what it is intended to be. Plus the Amazon Video integration is great. The Amazon app store has pretty much everything you would want.

For note taking, I use Evernote and it works great on the Kindle.

I like Amazon more than iTunes. Music is usually cheaper, too.

[FMCoug]

One thing though. I know being hip and following the crowd are important to you, so you might want to get an iPad.

Otherwise go with an Android device.