Looking for a tablet for video, word and and pdfs. Not an iPad.
April 26, 2011 8:17 AM Subscribe
Looking for a tablet-like media device that plays ripped DVDs, and easily saves and views PDFs and Word docs to take with me travelling. Fitting in a small carry bag would be great as well.
Difficulty: Not an iPad.
My wife and I are planning some traveling, and we would like a media player/tablet that allows us to watch movies and read travel books on Word and PDF. Wireless capability and intenet/email accessibility would be a bonus, but since I will be bringing my iPhone, it is not necessary.
However, I am looking for something cheaper than the iPad (or even the refurbished previous generation), as I'd rather not spend the money, and I'm waiting for the next iPad generation before I consider getting one. I'd also rather not get a netbook.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
My wife and I are planning some traveling, and we would like a media player/tablet that allows us to watch movies and read travel books on Word and PDF. Wireless capability and intenet/email accessibility would be a bonus, but since I will be bringing my iPhone, it is not necessary.
However, I am looking for something cheaper than the iPad (or even the refurbished previous generation), as I'd rather not spend the money, and I'm waiting for the next iPad generation before I consider getting one. I'd also rather not get a netbook.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Best answer: If your criteria is Not an iPad, you have some options - chief among them the Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom.
If, however, you want something cheaper than an iPad, especially significantly cheaper, you've got exactly one option (right now) and it's the Color Nook. I don't know how its battery life will hold up under video playback, but it can do video now, and it's first and foremost a book-reader.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:21 AM on April 26, 2011
If, however, you want something cheaper than an iPad, especially significantly cheaper, you've got exactly one option (right now) and it's the Color Nook. I don't know how its battery life will hold up under video playback, but it can do video now, and it's first and foremost a book-reader.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:21 AM on April 26, 2011
You can use a Nook Color to watch *.mp4 files without it being hacked - I do it all the time. You can also view PDFs, and I *think* with the new update you can view Word documents as well. Not sure on that though.
posted by Lucinda at 8:23 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by Lucinda at 8:23 AM on April 26, 2011
The new app store for the nook color offers this in its description, but I can't seem to find it in the actual store:
"Quickoffice® Pro takes mobile productivity to the next level for NOOK Color. Enjoy the ability to CREATE, VIEW, and EDIT, Microsoft® Office files including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. Conveniently ACCESS files remotely from your Google® Docs, Dropbox, Box, Huddle™, SugarSync, and MobileMe™ accounts or from your SD card with an enhanced Connected File Manager. Also included is an advanced PDF viewer. "
posted by Lucinda at 8:31 AM on April 26, 2011
"Quickoffice® Pro takes mobile productivity to the next level for NOOK Color. Enjoy the ability to CREATE, VIEW, and EDIT, Microsoft® Office files including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. Conveniently ACCESS files remotely from your Google® Docs, Dropbox, Box, Huddle™, SugarSync, and MobileMe™ accounts or from your SD card with an enhanced Connected File Manager. Also included is an advanced PDF viewer. "
posted by Lucinda at 8:31 AM on April 26, 2011
Yeah, the latest update to Nook gives it the app market, which will let you download free players like VPlayer or Mobo to play various video types. Adobe has a free reader available.
The update to the Nook gives it Barnes & Noble's app market, not the general app market. VPlayer and Mobo aren't offered, but you don't need them if you have *.mp4s, which you can create with a ripped DVD.
posted by Lucinda at 8:41 AM on April 26, 2011
The update to the Nook gives it Barnes & Noble's app market, not the general app market. VPlayer and Mobo aren't offered, but you don't need them if you have *.mp4s, which you can create with a ripped DVD.
posted by Lucinda at 8:41 AM on April 26, 2011
Response by poster: The Nook Color like a good option, but as a Canadian, I'm a bit concerned about its compatibility for me in Canada. Anyone have any experience?
posted by evadery at 8:48 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by evadery at 8:48 AM on April 26, 2011
Archos has a whole line of Android tablets that are significantly cheaper than the iPad. However, if it was me I would pick a netbook, like an Asus EEE PC. Cheaper than an iPad and does so much more - it will meet all of your requirements with ease.
posted by rfs at 8:59 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by rfs at 8:59 AM on April 26, 2011
Response by poster: > WiFi is WiFi. It will work everywhere.
Not true - you need a B+N account and it says you can't get one without being an American. However, I've found a Canadian site that puts my fears to rest a bit, but any firsthand info would be helpful.
posted by evadery at 9:09 AM on April 26, 2011
Not true - you need a B+N account and it says you can't get one without being an American. However, I've found a Canadian site that puts my fears to rest a bit, but any firsthand info would be helpful.
posted by evadery at 9:09 AM on April 26, 2011
I've seen the 7" Galaxy Tabs on sale at Best Buy in Ottawa for less than $150 CAD
You can buy a Nook off of eBay, for example, but with shipping to Canada and HST at the boarder, it would almost certainly be more than that.
A BB Playbook will also do (most of) what you want---they do MS office stuff pretty well actually---but they're $500+ at the moment.
posted by bonehead at 9:33 AM on April 26, 2011
You can buy a Nook off of eBay, for example, but with shipping to Canada and HST at the boarder, it would almost certainly be more than that.
A BB Playbook will also do (most of) what you want---they do MS office stuff pretty well actually---but they're $500+ at the moment.
posted by bonehead at 9:33 AM on April 26, 2011
On review, that is certainly the case. It's $149 on three year contract to Rogers. Two year contracts are very uncommon in Canada.
posted by bonehead at 10:06 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by bonehead at 10:06 AM on April 26, 2011
If you put CyanogenMod on the device, you won't need a BN account to use it, so location becomes moot.
posted by andrewpendleton at 11:56 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by andrewpendleton at 11:56 AM on April 26, 2011
Response by poster: Is the video playback on the Nook any good?
posted by evadery at 12:23 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by evadery at 12:23 PM on April 26, 2011
Archos ARNOVA 4GB 10-inch Android Tablet for $189
Haven't used it, so no idea about the quality
posted by WizKid at 1:51 PM on April 26, 2011
Haven't used it, so no idea about the quality
posted by WizKid at 1:51 PM on April 26, 2011
You don't even need to void your warranty to hack the Nook Color. You can run custom firmware off of an SD card, leaving the stock firmware untouched. As such, you could continue to use the stock firmware for any reading you want to do (as its stock reader is superior to the Market-downloadable one you can use in CM7) and then pop the card in the SD slot when you want to watch movies.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:53 PM on April 26, 2011
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:53 PM on April 26, 2011
On non-preview:
If you're considering anything other than the Xoom, Transformer, or Tab, just get the Nook. Everything else out there is terrible by comparison. The Nook represents an unprecedented sweet spot on the price/value comparison. The other three are more powerful, and more open without hacking, but anything else is a waste.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:56 PM on April 26, 2011
If you're considering anything other than the Xoom, Transformer, or Tab, just get the Nook. Everything else out there is terrible by comparison. The Nook represents an unprecedented sweet spot on the price/value comparison. The other three are more powerful, and more open without hacking, but anything else is a waste.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:56 PM on April 26, 2011
from a non hacked POV, the video on a nook color is....okay. I haven't quite figured out the intricacies of adjusting Handbrake (there's no automatic setting for the nook) to get the best picture, so sometimes my videos are either pixellated or huge.
posted by Lucinda at 8:34 AM on April 27, 2011
posted by Lucinda at 8:34 AM on April 27, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by andrewpendleton at 8:20 AM on April 26, 2011