Choosing A Tablet

[dddave]

Just what this exhaustive thread needs; another update...Oh well.

A new 10" Onda tablet, the V971 has hit the shop on the 2nd level of Fortune opposite Samsung service. The shop name is "Digital Matters" I was purchasing a tablet for a friend upcountry. The V971 differs from the V40 in a few significant ways; most obvious is the addition of a 2 MP camera on the back as well as front facing one. Charging is now via mini USB, not a separate charging port. It is reported that this has slowed the charging down somewhat. The layout of control buttons has changed and several functions such as screen orientation and volume are now controlled off the settings menu. The "Home" button is off the front and now on the bottom edge, easy to confuse with the power button, also on the bottom. it still has an earphone and HDMI port.

This video shows it well:

Apparently, a "Jelly Bean" upgrade is promised for next month.

Marked price was B5900, I got it for B5600

Edited November 4, 2012 by dddave

[Pib]

Thanks....here's the specs on the V971 at the Onda web site. Something the Youtube video mentioned I didn't know/hadn't noticed that supposedly it's common for low cost Chinese tablets not to include Bluetooth? I use Bluetooth quite a bit to transfer files between my laptop and smartphone and would probably want to do the same with whatever tablet I get. My older laptop doesn't have the Wifi Direct feature; just standard Wifi. Guess I could just use Kies via Wifi or just a USB hardwire connection.

[Pib]

Question for your Onda owners. When I go to the Onda web site Download Section it shows a bunch of firmware update files but when you click on the individual file links nothing happens like they are not links, but just text/info. Do you have to register for a User ID first (login), maybe download via the Software update function of the Onda device, or is it just my computer? My computer don't have such problems with any other links on web sites.

Good the site shows updates....so many of the Chinese tablets don't even have web sites or very bare bones web sites since the Trade Names of the tablets are really just names slapped on tablets made by one or many Chinese electronics manufacturers....manufacturers who just make the product based on a order from company under trade name XYZ...but these manufacturers don't seem to provide any follow-on software/firmware support unless maybe the trade name company selling the product has a support web site which many times their site is very minimal on info/support. I definitely want to buy a tablet which at least has a satisfactory support web site.

[dddave]

Pib,

I'll confess that I've never gone to their website and checked the updates available. When I have more time later today I will register and download whatever is appropriate for my Vi40 and report back here whatever I find out.

I always hate doing this stuff as sometimes firmware upgrades bring on a new set of difficulties and I'm a hopeless troubleshooter.

[Pib]

Pib,

I'll confess that I've never gone to their website and checked the updates available. When I have more time later today I will register and download whatever is appropriate for my Vi40 and report back here whatever I find out.

I always hate doing this stuff as sometimes firmware upgrades bring on a new set of difficulties and I'm a hopeless troubleshooter.

Yea, I hear you. You know the ol' saying of, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." But with that being said, whenever a new firmware update came out for my laptop I downloaded/installed it with no problems and I would want to do the same with a tablet. And of course, I would never be able to resist a significant upgrade like going from ICS to JB. Thanks in advance for that future report and good luck.

[Pib]

This Link identifies some of the drawbacks of some low cost Chinese tablets, with one quote below and which I would really like to try to avoid if I end up buying one....it so nice being able to use Google Play and how it automatically keeps your Apps up-to-date on your tablet/smartphone. There been cases where I've seen some Apps on my smartphone updated to a new version several times during one week....without that Google Play capability a person would miss out on that.

On

One of the most commented drawback of being a non-brand Android device, is the amount of DIY work required to gather the applications you need: In theory, the Vi40 is as compatible as any major brand with same specs, but, out of the box, many standard applications are missing (YouTube, GTalk, Maps...) or will shows as not compatible on Google Play store. Despite the custom market fixes out there, you will need to obtains APK files to install some of them manually.

But it's also hard to argue that getting a 10 inch tablet in the 5000-6000 baht ballpark is a definite plus money-wise....which can meet the real, basic needs in how many people will use a tablet....having to chase down and side-load some Apps don't bother a person nearly as much when he counts the money saved on tablet buy, especially if the tablets passes-away shortly after the warranty period...and all tablets, high end/high cost or low end/low cost pass-away, get dropped, or get replaced by the urge for a new model at some point.

[Pib]

Question for your Onda owners. When I go to the Onda web site Download Section it shows a bunch of firmware update files but when you click on the individual file links nothing happens like they are not links, but just text/info. Do you have to register for a User ID first (login), maybe download via the Software update function of the Onda device, or is it just my computer? My computer don't have such problems with any other links on web sites.

Good the site shows updates....so many of the Chinese tablets don't even have web sites or very bare bones web sites since the Trade Names of the tablets are really just names slapped on tablets made by one or many Chinese electronics manufacturers....manufacturers who just make the product based on a order from company under trade name XYZ...but these manufacturers don't seem to provide any follow-on software/firmware support unless maybe the trade name company selling the product has a support web site which many times their site is very minimal on info/support. I definitely want to buy a tablet which at least has a satisfactory support web site.

I figured out a way to download the rar files by using my download manager by cutting/pasting the download link. I downloaded two rar firmware files for two models. Had tried the download manager before posting above but it just didn't do anything this morning. Anyway, when downloading the rar files each of the two I looked at contains three files: 1) a Windows program to install on your computer....this program provides the interface/connection between your computer and the tablet for the firmware upgrade....2) you then select firmware image file and update your tablet following the instructions which is the 3rd file in a .doc format...unfortunately the instructions are in Chinese. You can use Word or Google Translate to translate the document but like most such translations it leaves a lot to be desired and questions in your mind....and in doing a critical firmware upgrade it would be nice to have clear instructions in English for us English speaking folks. Maybe there are some English instructions on the site I just haven't found yet.

Edited November 5, 2012 by Pib

[Pib]

This Link identifies some of the drawbacks of some low cost Chinese tablets, with one quote below and which I would really like to try to avoid if I end up buying one....it so nice being able to use Google Play and how it automatically keeps your Apps up-to-date on your tablet/smartphone. There been cases where I've seen some Apps on my smartphone updated to a new version several times during one week....without that Google Play capability a person would miss out on that.

Looks like some Onda models may be having Google Play issues...hopefully the updates will fix it (at least for a while): Link

Edited November 5, 2012 by Pib

[Chicog]

Question for your Onda owners. When I go to the Onda web site Download Section it shows a bunch of firmware update files but when you click on the individual file links nothing happens like they are not links, but just text/info. Do you have to register for a User ID first (login), maybe download via the Software update function of the Onda device, or is it just my computer? My computer don't have such problems with any other links on web sites.

Good the site shows updates....so many of the Chinese tablets don't even have web sites or very bare bones web sites since the Trade Names of the tablets are really just names slapped on tablets made by one or many Chinese electronics manufacturers....manufacturers who just make the product based on a order from company under trade name XYZ...but these manufacturers don't seem to provide any follow-on software/firmware support unless maybe the trade name company selling the product has a support web site which many times their site is very minimal on info/support. I definitely want to buy a tablet which at least has a satisfactory support web site.

They look like links to me, but they aren't hyperlinks, so you'll have to copy and paste into your browser's address bar.

[Pib]

Question for your Onda owners. When I go to the Onda web site Download Section it shows a bunch of firmware update files but when you click on the individual file links nothing happens like they are not links, but just text/info. Do you have to register for a User ID first (login), maybe download via the Software update function of the Onda device, or is it just my computer? My computer don't have such problems with any other links on web sites.

Good the site shows updates....so many of the Chinese tablets don't even have web sites or very bare bones web sites since the Trade Names of the tablets are really just names slapped on tablets made by one or many Chinese electronics manufacturers....manufacturers who just make the product based on a order from company under trade name XYZ...but these manufacturers don't seem to provide any follow-on software/firmware support unless maybe the trade name company selling the product has a support web site which many times their site is very minimal on info/support. I definitely want to buy a tablet which at least has a satisfactory support web site.

They look like links to me, but they aren't hyperlinks, so you'll have to copy and paste into your browser's address bar.

No, I tried that also. But by cutting and pasting the links into my download manager that worked.

[Pib]

I figured out a way to download the rar files by using my download manager by cutting/pasting the download link. I downloaded two rar firmware files for two models. Had tried the download manager before posting above but it just didn't do anything this morning. Anyway, when downloading the rar files each of the two I looked at contains three files: 1) a Windows program to install on your computer....this program provides the interface/connection between your computer and the tablet for the firmware upgrade....2) you then select firmware image file and update your tablet following the instructions which is the 3rd file in a .doc format...unfortunately the instructions are in Chinese. You can use Word or Google Translate to translate the document but like most such translations it leaves a lot to be desired and questions in your mind....and in doing a critical firmware upgrade it would be nice to have clear instructions in English for us English speaking folks. Maybe there are some English instructions on the site I just haven't found yet.

OK, found some instructions in English under the News menu. Link

[guzzi850m2]

This one looks really nice.

http://www.onda-tablet.com/news/onda-new-quad-core-android-tablet/

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thanks....here's the specs on the V971 at the Onda web site. Something the Youtube video mentioned I didn't know/hadn't noticed that supposedly it's common for low cost Chinese tablets not to include Bluetooth? I use Bluetooth quite a bit to transfer files between my laptop and smartphone and would probably want to do the same with whatever tablet I get. My older laptop doesn't have the Wifi Direct feature; just standard Wifi. Guess I could just use Kies via Wifi or just a USB hardwire connection.

Pib, I too have noticed lately to my surprise that a lot of the cheapo tablets seem to lack Bluetooth...

Depending on the model, Bluetooth also can be the means of connecting an external keyboard or other peripheral, as well as for wireless file transfers.

These days, though, I seem to rarely use it for wireless file transfers anymore, since apps such as Dropbox and SugarSync now have built-in options for automatic file uploads (at least photos and video) from your Android device to your PC. Set it and forget it... even have a setting to restrict the automatic uploads to only when you have a wifi connection, so the uploading won't take up any 3G bandwidth service the user might have.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This one looks really nice.

http://www.onda-tabl...android-tablet/

How can you tell?

No model name or number, no specs, no info at all beyond the screen details and vague chipset reference. Nor any release date.

[Pib]

This one looks really nice.

http://www.onda-tabl...android-tablet/

How can you tell?

No model name or number, no specs, no info at all beyond the screen details and vague chipset reference. Nor any release date.

Just the mention of the retina display will peak the interest in many folks...it did for me. Maybe it will be released just before Christmas---or not! But hey, there is always a new model with better specs planned for near term release...at some point a person just needs to buy with the understanding what he buys today will soon be yesterday's model.

But at this millisecond in time I'm going to start seriously considering some of the Onda tablets like the V971. Seems Onda does make an effort to update their firmware and I think from looking at the Onda web site, finding those English firmware instructions, and reviewing some YouTube videos that the firmware update is pretty much a piece of cake "if I can get it download." While playing around in attempting a couple of downloads from the Onda website I was only sucessfull two times....it don't work from just putting the links in the browser address and when using the Orbit Download Manager it just stays on 0% download--expect those two times this morning....I think it's just a Onda server thing.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I was just looking around the Onda website's list of products and their specs... Pretty decent at least on paper, though the couple I looked at didn't have Bluetooth, as discussed above.

I wouldn't be interested in a 10 in Android tablet. But their latest/best 7 inch model seems to be offered at $129 on the Onda website, which pretty much equates to the 4000 baht price discussed above regarding the models at Big C and Tesco... though I didn't compare the specs among those different versions.

[guzzi850m2]

This one looks really nice.

http://www.onda-tabl...android-tablet/

How can you tell?

No model name or number, no specs, no info at all beyond the screen details and vague chipset reference. Nor any release date.

Nooo but Retina display like the apples and quad core sounds pretty good to me, but off course only a test/review can tell if it's good or not.

Edited November 5, 2012 by guzzi850m2

[naboo]

For those of you wanting better options for Onda firmware, try this site. Plenty of custom downloads, and pretty quick to update to modded versions of the official updates.

[Pib]

For those of you wanting better options for Onda firmware, try this site. Plenty of custom downloads, and pretty quick to update to modded versions of the official updates.

Thanks....from reading some of the forums one of the posts mentioned something that made me realize many of the low cost Chinese tablets are not going to have something I would like to have in a tablet: a GPS receiver. Link

While my Toyota Fortuner has a factory GPS Navigator the GPS data disk is approaching four years old and don't have some of the newer roads....and Toyota wants an unbelievable 18,000 baht for the latest GPS DVD disk....and I've checked with several dealers over the last year....been unable to find a less than genuine latest-and-greatest GPS data disk (if you know what I mean).

If I don't watch out, I going to talk myself out of a low cost tablet and possibly end up with a Samsung Tab 2 10.1 or something similar; somewhat of overkill in what I really need on a day-to-day basis, but at least it has GPS, Bluetooth, SIM card slot if I decide to use 3G without using a dongle, etc.

Oh, the choices a person must make.

[guzzi850m2]

Thanks....from reading some of the forums one of the posts mentioned something that made me realize many of the low cost Chinese tablets are not going to have something I would like to have in a tablet: a GPS receiver. Link

While my Toyota Fortuner has a factory GPS Navigator the GPS data disk is approaching four years old and don't have some of the newer roads....and Toyota wants an unbelievable 18,000 baht for the latest GPS DVD disk....and I've checked with several dealers over the last year....been unable to find a less than genuine latest-and-greatest GPS data disk (if you know what I mean).

If I don't watch out, I going to talk myself out of a low cost tablet and possibly end up with a Samsung Tab 2 10.1 or something similar; somewhat of overkill in what I really need on a day-to-day basis, but at least it has GPS, Bluetooth, SIM card slot if I decide to use 3G without using a dongle, etc.

Oh, the choices a person must make.

Yes life is not easy, eh.

This tablet topic have been very useful to me and I learned a lot (at least I think so. lol). I think I will wait for the time being and see how that new Onda unit turns up, but I might end up buying a top brand as you also are considering, the new Nexus 10 looks promising.

As for car navigation I prefer Garmin, yes I know: another gizmo added to the collection, he-he, but it looks like it the way it's going, I also have 2 pcs Kindle readers and prefer them anytime for serious book reading.

I also have a Note 1 which is handy for internet browsing on the go so a 7" tablet is pretty useless to me.

A 10" tablet will be a nice add to the collection, short holidays, browse the i-net around the house but honestly I don't need one (have a netbook too), but I want one, end of story.

My wife sometimes thinks I am crazy, she only browse the i-net on the desktop pc and can't even use my Note as a phone and asks: where are the bottoms.

[Pib]

Just what this exhaustive thread needs; another update...Oh well.A new 10" Onda tablet, the V971 has hit the shop on the 2nd level of Fortune opposite Samsung service. The shop name is "Digital Matters" I was purchasing a tablet for a friend upcountry. The V971 differs from the V40 in a few significant ways; most obvious is the addition of a 2 MP camera on the back as well as front facing one. Charging is now via mini USB, not a separate charging port. It is reported that this has slowed the charging down somewhat. The layout of control buttons has changed and several functions such as screen orientation and volume are now controlled off the settings menu. The "Home" button is off the front and now on the bottom edge, easy to confuse with the power button, also on the bottom. it still has an earphone and HDMI port.This video shows it well:

Apparently, a "Jelly Bean" upgrade is promised for next month.Marked price was B5900, I got it for B5600

The Jelly Bean download for the V971 is now available. Link. I just downloaded it...337MB worth...just in case I get a V971 which I'm looking for. I looked in several malls and small stores/shops over here in western Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom but haven't seen any Onda's for sale yet. Edited November 7, 2012 by Pib

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Pib, why not head on over to the Fortune Town Shop mentioned above?

As for Dave's review post comments above, the V971 appears to be charged by a MICRO USB port, not the mini USB port he mentioned.

Lastly, re the V971, it seems to me that a 1024 x 768 display on a 10 inch tablet is a bit low resolution for today's market for -+10 inch tablets, which mostly seem to be at 1280 x 800 or better. My own 8 inch (not 9.7 inch) Android tablet runs a 1024 x 768 display.

Edited November 8, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Pib]

TallGuy,

I just hate driving over to central Bangkok...so much traffic...but I may go. Regarding the display resolution, I've looked at various tablet displays in the 1024x768 and 1280 x 800 ballpark and personally I think for basic usage it's hard to tell any difference when the tablets have good brightness and color. I really think people get too wrapped around display resolution specs in making their tablet buying decision. A person really just needs to "look" at the display to see how good or bad it looks to them....just like buying a TV...specs don't tell the whole story and I know I preaching to the choir. . With that being said I haven't personally seen a V971 display yet so I can't say how good (or bad) it looks to me.

If (when) tablets start coming out lets say with 4000x3000 resolution displays, will we look back on today and think 1280x800 ballpark displays must have looked grainy and bad with such low resolution?...wonder how people could have ever used them?

Cheers,

Pib

Edited November 8, 2012 by Pib

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I agree, Pib, that getting a good tablet display involves a lot more than just the horizontal and vertical pixels counts.

The metric that seems to get used a lot as a better yardstick is the number of pixels per inch of screen display, generally shorthanded as PPI. But then you also get into screen brightness, levels of reflectivity, contrast ratio, etc etc.

It also depends on how a person intends to mostly use their tablet. I hear a lot about avid movie/video viewers being better customers for 16 x 9 ratio displays, whereas supposedly 4 x 3 ratio displays are supposed to be better for book/magazine and page reading.

[thaicbr]

Thanks....here's the specs on the V971 at the Onda web site. Something the Youtube video mentioned I didn't know/hadn't noticed that supposedly it's common for low cost Chinese tablets not to include Bluetooth? I use Bluetooth quite a bit to transfer files between my laptop and smartphone and would probably want to do the same with whatever tablet I get. My older laptop doesn't have the Wifi Direct feature; just standard Wifi. Guess I could just use Kies via Wifi or just a USB hardwire connection.

use WIFI FILE TRANSFER PRO from the Play store.. works a treat.

[Lite Beer]

Today I got myself a 9inch i mobile i note.

4990 Baht from Tesco.

I am not clued up enough to compare it with more expensive tablets but it seems to work Ok.

Has Google Play Store.

http://product.i-mobilephone.com/mobiledevice/992_i-mobile-i-note-wifi-9-tablet

Sent from my i-mobile i-note WiFi 9 using Thaivisa Connect App

[guzzi850m2]

Today I got myself a 9inch i mobile i note.

4990 Baht from Tesco.

I am not clued up enough to compare it with more expensive tablets but it seems to work Ok.

Has Google Play Store.

http://product.i-mob...e-wifi-9-tablet

Sent from my i-mobile i-note WiFi 9 using Thaivisa Connect App

The specs. are pretty crappy, what on earth are you using it for? playing cards on-line? Screen resolution of 800X 480 is not good, so I assume you don't watch movies on it?

[Lite Beer]

Nope. Just a back up around the house and the garden to keep in touch with Thai Visa and internet when not in front of the computer.

What do you expect for less than 5,000 Baht?

If I want to watch movies I use the television.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's the latest IDC research data on worldwide tablet sales for the 3rd quarter of 2012... Apple down to about 50% of all tablets sold in the quarter, but that was prior to the launch of the Ipad Mini.

The tablet market grew 49.5% year over year in 3Q12 and 6.7% over the second quarter of 2012. Android shipments, led by Samsung and Amazon, surged during the quarter, at the expense of Apple, which saw its share slip notably during the quarter.

"After a very strong second quarter, Apple saw growth slow as both consumer and commercial (including education) shipments declined, and rumors of a forthcoming iPad mini began to heat up," said Tom Mainelli, research director, Tablets at IDC. "We believe a sizeable percentage of consumers interested in buying an Apple tablet sat out the third quarter in anticipation of an announcement about the new iPad mini.

Now that the new mini, and a fourth-generation full-sized iPad, are both shipping we expect Apple to have a very good quarter. However, we believe the mini's relatively high $329 starting price leaves plenty of room for Android vendors to build upon the success they achieved in the third quarter."

Apple's slowdown put a sizeable dent in the company's commanding worldwide market tablet share, which slipped from 65.5% in 2Q12 to 50.4% in 3Q12. The remaining top five tablet vendors all gained share during the quarter as a result. Most notable was the impressive quarter turned out by Samsung—driven by its ever-growing portfolio of tablets. Samsung shipped 5.1 million tablets worldwide in 3Q12, up 115.0% from 2Q12; that's an increase of 325.0% from 3Q11, when it shipped 1.2 million tablets.

http://www.idc.com/g...Id=prUS23772412

Meanwhile, IDC's latest data on smartphone sales shows Android continuing to blow-away IOS phones on a worldwide basis.

http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23771812

Edited November 9, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Pib]

Mobile Operating System Highlights

Android, having topped the 100 million unit mark last quarter, reached a new record level in a single quarter. By comparison, Android's total volumes for the quarter were greater than the total number of smartphones shipped in 2007, the year that Android was officially announced. Samsung once again led all vendors in this space, but saw its market share decline as numerous smaller vendors increased their production.

iOS was a distant second place to Android, but was the only other mobile operating system to amass double-digit market share for the quarter. The late quarter launch of the iPhone 5 and lower prices on older models prevented total shipment volumes from slipping to 3Q11 levels. But without a splashy new OS-driven feature like Siri in 2011 and FaceTime in 2010, the iPhone 5 relied on its larger, but not wider, screen and LTE connectivity to drive growth.

Apple definitely makes good hardware and iOS is also a good operating system, but their hardware is pricey and they they seem to want to tightly control the Apple eco-system...which of course keeps prices and profits high.

But I think above quote from TallGuy's post/link above says it loud and clear that the Android hardware and operating system eco-system is quickly become the dominant player with lower cost hardware (not to imply low quality hardware), a much wider variety of hardware for all price points, and an open operating system.

Plus, as more and more people go through their first buy of a tablet/smartphone and get over the thrill of that first buy, I think many become much smarter and more practical about future buys, get a better understanding of what their real tablet/smartphone needs are, what specs are important (and those that are not), and also get over the "status" thing since most everyone will have a smartphone/tablet. Buying tablets/smartphones, sooner versus later, will turn into a "non-event" buy....kinda like buying a simple 2G phone, DVD player, etc...pricing and discounts versus hype will be a major, major factor in what is bought.