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Thread ID: 129079	2013-02-01 09:55:00	Cheap Androi tablets - Yes, yes, I know	The Error Guy (14052)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1325992	2013-02-01 09:55:00	My girlfriends brother introduced his grandma/nana to his iPad which she saw him playing games on, now the kid is a little stray in his explaining so gawd knows how he showed it off/explained things. Anyway, end result is she wants to buy a cheap Android tablet... now when I heard this my heart sank out the bottom of my ass, because I knew where it was going to end up - a cheap no name android disaster!! They were looking at this - www.thewarehouse.co.nz It doesn't seem to bad actually, apart from being no name brand and probably featuring a very average display. Android 4.0 too which is good. I'm nervous about the fact they pre installed apps on it though (facebook, skype, angrybirds). That usually points to no app store support, which also points to a ROM that's been butchered. So since a dodgy no name tablet from the warehouse is no more risky than the same from trademe I had a look to see if I could find any vaguely decent ones, this review on the Ainol looked good www.thewarehouse.co.nz it does everything and there seems to be good support with patches to fix broken things, trademe doesn't have the exact model though www.trademe.co.nz TL/DR? My question is, what sort of sub $200 tablet would you recommend for grandma to play games on? That's all it will be used for, she has no Internet so we are going to purchase and pre install all the apps she wants. Not even sure what to put on it, tbh I don't think it's a great idea but SWMBO just tells me to shut it, grandma wants her tablet- and we're not after a 2nd hand $1000 device!! :p Any suggestions? I'm thinking anything that has average build with a nice screen. It's not really even going to leave the house I guess so battery doesn't have to be great. Cheers guys!	The Error Guy (14052)
1325993	2013-02-01 10:21:00	DONT TOUCH THEM. Cant stress that louder. That's from personal experience, SWMBO got one from the warehouse - even after I warned her not to - get what you pay for. After getting it replaced THREE times because even the suppliers (Phoenix Distribution) thought it was faulty it was later confirmed by them that the BATTERY LIFE IS ONLY ONE HOUR 1.5 hours max from a FULL CHARGE. All she was playing was Angry Birds Free and a couple of other games that came pre loaded. The damn thing wasn't even connected to the wireless during the time she was playing. Heres what they actually wrote back with ( its one of 3 email) We will organise for a replacement to be sent to you by tomorrow, so you have it in time for the weekend. Thanks for the feedback about the battery life. Could you please confirm if the games you downloaded were free versions or paid versions? With the Android OS, most free versions have built-in advertisements which can access wifi to update etc. These tend to draining battery life quite considerably. Also, if you could email me the 3 x games you were playing, I can investigate if there is any specific issues with those games. On their site they claimed 6-7 hours battery life, luckily I took a screen shot because they changed the site and removed the time after the second one was replaced - I told them I had a screen shot and that it was false advertising - They couldn't give us back our money fast enough. Edited: if you have it plugged in the power all the time it works fine, BUT once the battery goes flat within the hour, it then takes at least 18 hours to recharge. About the only thing that was good was the graphics - they were crystal clear.	wainuitech (129)
1325994	2013-02-01 10:25:00	Cheap made in China junk from Warehouse breaks in 5 minutes.... but at least they would replace it unlike some dodgy TradeMe seller.	Agent_24 (57)
1325995	2013-02-01 11:22:00	The warehouse (and a few other stores) has an acer Iconia B1 7" dual core android tablet for about $239 at the moment, it's cheap and plasticy and the screen is so so but it's as good as you can get at the price. At least it has a decent processor and expandable memory www.thewarehouse.co.nz	dugimodo (138)
1325996	2013-02-01 12:23:00	Well don't know about reliabilty/durability.. Anyway we took the plunge and brought three perhaps disposable tablets off ebay (my order in image for one of them) for our kids and grandaughter, for less than the price of a branded tablet. They are similar spec (A13's) to the Vigo's and cost around 73 - 80 NZ dollars. Did not want to fork out for the pricier branded ones for them yet... But as WT says battery life is short ~ 1.5 hrs for games or constant facebooking. Battery is only 1800mAh. Depending on the task, it shuts down I have found from 12% to 30% battery use. Seem to heat up slightly on intense games. Sometimes a bit of a repeat press on icons to start apps. Charging though is about 1.5 - 2 hours (5V, 2A, outputs, 2.5mm/0.7mm internal pin charger, much slower on the USB micro port). Just have to gingerly treat them I guess., i.e not too much gaming or video's, etc.	kahawai chaser (3545)
1325997	2013-02-01 12:26:00	Well don't know about reliabilty/durability . . Anyway we took the plunge and brought three perhaps disposable tablets off ebay (my order in image for one of them) for our kids and grandaughter, for less than the price of a branded tablet . They are similar spec (A13's) to the Vigo's and cost around 73 - 80 NZ dollars . Did not want to fork out for the pricier branded ones for them yet . . . But as WT says battery life is short ~ 1 . 5 hrs for games or constant facebooking . Battery is only 1800mAh . Depending on the task, it shuts down I have found from 12% to 30% battery use . Seem to heat up slightly on intense games . Sometimes a bit of a repeat press on icons to start apps . Charging though is about 1 . 5 - 2 hours (5V, 2A, outputs, 2 . 5mm/0 . 7mm internal pin charger, much slower on the USB micro port) . Just have to gingerly treat them I guess . , i . e not too much gaming or video's, etc . . . . and of course don't die prematurely . . . though I'm not really worried .	kahawai chaser (3545)
1325998	2013-02-01 19:16:00	I've come to recognise the merits of The Warehouse when purchasing Electronic goods. Take careful note of the brands at the Warehouse. THese are the brands you must NOT buy. Now go somewhere else with your list of brands to avoid, and buy something that will actually work, as expected, for more than a single day after being removed from the box. Also beware the same garbage repackaged under a number of different names. My own Warehouse disasters: Transonic DVD player (couldn't read burnt discs, the disc tray would retract the instant it had been opened, necessitating holding the tray in the open position while loading/unloading discs Crappy CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System). THis blocked up my Blue ink jets chronically. Meantime the black ink just kept dripping everywhere. Wall mounted fan heater. The motorised flap that directs the air downward failed on the second instance it was turned on. Seen the same model at my doctors. Same issue. THe flap is stuck shut, so there's sod-all air going through it, meaning in heating mode it is actually overheating internally, and cutting out via safety mechanisms, rather than turning off in response to warmer air temps. Total fire hazard!	Paul.Cov (425)
1325999	2013-02-01 20:06:00	Yeah, I wasn't expecting a huge amount of fan mail in response to this one :D I'll see if I can convince them just to buy a 2nd hand tablet from a decent supplier. I went into the warehouse to check one out (Porirua) and they said they didn't have one for viewing and wouldn't open one. You expect me to buy an electronic item ESPECIALLY a no brand android tablet and just hand you cash and walk out the door? Heeeeell no! I don't know any respectable supplier that wouldn't allow a customer to view before purchase if it was possible	The Error Guy (14052)
1326000	2013-02-01 20:19:00	www.dicksmith.co.nz Would be my pick. As the screen is pretty good and specs don't look to bad. Also it is not a no-name, so hopefully won't break down in five minutes.	Nick G (16709)
1326001	2013-02-01 20:26:00	They'd honestly be better buying a second-hand Nexus 7. If it's for your Gran, you don't wanna mess her around with going back and forth so reliability is key. On top of that, if they have butchered the ROM somehow, you don't want it to be crashing on her or not behaving like you'd expect, so again stick with a known brand personally. Edit: Yeah I'd go with that Acer B1 mentioned :)	Chilling_Silence (9)
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