Ok, techie people, a little help

[sparkindarkness]

Since it's that time of year again, we're looking at presents and Beloved, very kindly, wants to upgrade my tablet.

The thing is, I'm not convinced that a newer tablet is especially necessary given my current - so I need people more technically minded than I to counter Beloved's shiny addiction.

My tablet  is

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

One of these

Comments

[masterde]

1) You do need a new screen and you might as well get a whole new tablet for what you'll end up paying for the replacement screen.
2) You do need a bigger screen. Bigger is always better. ;)
3) You do need G's. The G's are important. It lets you do more with your tablet.
4) If you want your tablet to double as a pseudo-computer then go with the Nexus 9. It makes typing with a tablet much easier.

[sparkindarkness]

I think a new one may be more expensive, but yes I'm beginning to suspect this may the case

Ahhh but portability is a thing - besides the new Tablet is smaller, I threw that in to say it's not a deal breaker

Gs are shiny - but if you can nearly always guarantee wifi access, are they necessary? Do they do other stuff helpful?

[masterde]

Well, for what you'd pay for a replacement screen, it's more cost effective to get a current version of a tablet. Here in the US, it only costs about $75-$100 USD more to get the most current tablet over replacing the screen of an old one. So, yes, it is more expensive, but it's a better long-term investment.

With the Nexus, it's a detachable keyboard, like the Windows Surface tablets have. So it remains as portable as an tablet should be. It's just easier to type out documents on a proper keyboard than on an on screen keyboard.

It doesn't matter if you're getting your data through a cell tower or through WiFi. It's a data plan. No matter how you get your data, you'll still have to pay for the usage, so you might as well have WiFi/tower connections. You think you'll never use it but you'll go on holiday to Nice some day, end up relaxing (as much as people like us can relax), and there will be a crisis that demands our immediate attention. It doesn't have to be Nice if you're not much for the idea of being a tourist in France or

[twicet]

I have the same tablet as you, and I love it however to repair a tablet is usually expensive. I wouldn't go with the smaller screen, and the one thing I would add after taking my tablet on the last two holidays would be 3G or 4G.

[sparkindarkness]

Hmmmm, I wonder if we can get the Nexus 9 in a big screen?

[ephemera]

The one thing you might want to look at is whether you're using any of the Samsung Note specific software features - the Nexus series run stock Android, and Samsung put there own skin over the top which adds and tweaks some stuff. My partner has tried both, and has a strong preference for stock android, but I'm perfectly willing to believe that other people have an equally strong preference for the Samsung TouchWiz version of Android.

Re:

[sparkindarkness]

as far as I'm aware, I don't... as far as I'm aware I only use apps. But then, I know as much about technology as baboons know of arctic expeditions

[gement]

I concur that replacing a broken screen, especially if you don't have the tools and expertise to do it yourself for fun, will cost almost as much as a new tablet

[sparkindarkness]

Daaaaamn. I hoped it would come in at £70 - but with a new one at £400, really if it's over £200, may as well buy new - and this Nexus does have the later version of Android which, I assume, won't run as well on the current machine.

Technology moves forwards unpleasantly quickly - but, as you say, a contrived manner

[aviv_b]

How about a fablet? I have a galaxy note 3 and it small enough to work as a phone, big enough to browse the interwebs. I've even done spreadsheets on it. (Not easy but it can be done).

[sparkindarkness]

I have.... no idea what that is? I have a smart phone but really want something bigger than that

[aviv_b]

It's a larger than usual smart phone (android). The Note 4 came out not too long ago, so you can get a pretty good price on the 3. You can get an idea of the difference in size between the Note 3 and an iphone 5 here: http://www.stylepicture.info/galaxy-note-3-size-vs-iphone-5/

One warning - it probably won't fit on a front pocket of your trousers. But given the choice of carrying a phone and a tablet or carrying one device- this does the trick for me. Don't know that I'd watch a whole movie on it but for short clips or net browsing its fine.