What is a good tablet?

Depends on what you want to do with it and what your budget is! I have had two Surface Tablets from Microsoft and loved them because they were powerful little computers or they could be tablets. But they are now too expensive for me and even a keyboard is extra. ASUS has some nice convertibles as does Lenovo. Of course, if you want to pay for them, the Apple tablets are also good, but that's a completely different operating system. Samsung also makes some great Android tablets.

Mainly I want to be able to access the internet if my computer goes on the blink (which it seems to want to do) and I have to take it somewhere. But, if I'm going to spend money on one at all, I guess I want something decent. I really don't know what I can or would do with one as I don't know a thing about them. I don't even know how to make one work. Do you hook it up to your computer? Do you plug it in a wall? I haven't got clue one!

I have always used iPads. I’ve occasionally tried others but found iPads to be the best - and most reliable 👍

They ARE expensive but if you want a quality product they’re what I would definitely recommend.

And they are easy to operate …. If I can use one anybody can !!

My son and I bought an Amazon Fire Tablet a couple of years ago and considering the fact that it was quite inexpensive, we are both very pleased with it. It's better than we thought it would be. You can plug it into a wall to charge it and the full charge lasts about 10 hours or more, so plenty of time if you are out getting groceries or something and want to check your email. I use it sometimes to watch YouTube or Amazon Prime Video in bed before I go to sleep.

OK. So a brief primer then! A tablet is just a small version of a laptop. It will look and behave just like a laptop because you will probably get one with the Windows Operating System on it. You simple connect it to your internet and use it. You only plug it in to charge it. You can get most of them with a keyboard if you like too. They are not made for gaming except for the casual types from the Microsoft Store. As an example, this is a Surface Go 3. The snap on keyboard/cover is extra for $35 although you can use the touch screen too. I tend to use both.

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Su...3X3H44Y/dp/B093X3H44Y/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Or you could get a small screen laptop which would do the same thing. The tablets are just more portable. I got a small 13" screen laptop last year because I want a computer when I travel up to Iowa to visit my family. I mostly use it for reading, but when I want a small computer, I use that.

There are plenty of other options that do not use the Windows OS such as the Amazon Fire tablet, Chromebooks and of course the Macs.

Thank you. I've been doing some browsing and trying to write down questions. My head hurts now so I'm done for today!

After reading this I went and found my surface pro 2 Remember when I bought this Drac.... I used to use this alot when I was traveling and spending time at our lake house... IIt played most of my games with no problems... all my Carol Reed... and I have Kindle on it... I haven't turned it on for at least 2 years.... it took a moment to start and half a day to get the new updates loaded.. that new windows update was large... but all is updated and still going strong.... with that said... oldbroad... do you have a place you can actually go look.... touch.... and ask questions? There are a lot of good options out there... good luck and let us know what you decide....

Thanks Winfrey. I don't really get out of the house much. I haven't been able to do any browsing for that today. Been working on a grocery list which is an all day job for me. I am thinking a Tablet is not really worth my money though. Not sure yet.

I would want to be able to check my MSN email (which I think requires Windows ?) I don't know if I could access it on an IPad. An Amazon Fire is cheaper but seems like it might be limited (though I don't even know what I would be using it for anyway). An Android makes me shudder since I still cannot properly use my Android phone.

I would want to be able to look at an excel spreadsheet. I would want to be able to look at a walkthrough on it. I would want to be able to browse on eCollege PC if I ended up needing a new computer and this one zonked out on me. Other than the walkthrough thing, I would probably never use it as long as I have a working computer with internet. It would be more of an "emergency" thing.

Some show disk some and some don't ? Is a Wi Fi connection just entering my code that is on my modem? Some that I've looked at say "renewed". What does that mean? Some show the OS "in S mode". What does that mean?

Too many questions already. Probably all of them sound stupid.

Almost sounds like just a small laptop would work for you. One thing with tablets is you need to make sure you have a keyboard. My surface, I bought a bundle which included the keyboard. I would not like typing on a tablet. I believe the renewed is one that has been reworked. That is not something I would buy. S, is something Drac may know….. connecting should be easy and yes it usually just needs the code on your modem. There are a lot of laptops out there. As much as I love my iPhone I don’t think I want to switch to an Apple computer and relearn a system. Is there a price range you want to stick to?

I was thinking that renewed meant reworked or refurbished also, which I would not want. Not sure why a laptop would be any better. ? Honestly, I think $200 would be way too much. I just can't justify it.

A laptop wouldn't be any better, just another option depending on what you want. And if $200 would be too much, then I'm afraid you are out of luck for either a decent tablet or laptop!

Thank you so much, WInfrey for more and better information! I DO remember that Surface 2! It was the best to be had back then!

So what is going on with your desktop, oldbroad?

I'm not sure I can describe it properly. I was worrying about the hard drive because I hear it (or something) clicking kind of often. Then it sometimes takes a very long time for screens to change. I'm sure some of that may be my internet but it feels like more than just slow internet, unless my modem is going bad. The other day it became unbearably slow and not loading things, such as Steam and had take a very long time to boot up. Steam was just stuck there.I was able to close the window but a little later when I was trying to do a restart it was showing Steam and some other something (I don't know what it could have been) open. Then, after a while some Halloween scene took over my computer. The whole screen including the task bar. Possibly somebody was trying to hack me. I don't know. I wish I would have taken a better look at the screen to describe it but it was a pretty Halloween scene and there were places to click for something, which of course I wasn't going to do. But it looked like something maybe you could actually go on some sight (something legit) and find this as some Halloween fun or something. Anyway, I did a hard shut down and waited awhile before booting up again. It seems to be okay since then. Still more slow than I think it should be but I haven't heard the ticking for two days. That doesn't mean anything though as it does come and go. Oh, and casual games crashing sometimes, I think because it is just taking too long on the scene changes or I click too fast for it or something. I often have to wait while the little blue circle spins. I have always had that happen since I got the computer though.

Something you can do to check your internet speed is run something like this to check the speed... https://www.speedtest.net/


Do you have Malwarebytes on your computer?

That Halloween screen showing up out of nowhere is not a good sign. You could have grabbed a screenshot by pressing the Windows key and Print Screen key at the same time. Good move on the hard shutdown. I would suggest two things. Run a speedtest with the link Winfrey gave you... that will tell your internet speeds. Then run a full Malwarebytes scan and a full scan with your anti-virus. The ticking could be a fan. And if you haven't opened up the case to clean it out - especially the cat hair off the fans which is MY biggest problem! - I would get some compressed air and give it a good cleaning.

Our Amazon Fire tablet is something we purchased during Prime Day and it cost about sixty dollars. A really good deal and it has definitely been worth it for us. Based on what you were saying you would be using a tablet for, it sounds like it would be adequate.

Wow, that is such a great deal for a Fire tablet! I have gotten a few things during Prime Days which I never would have gotten if not for the huge discounts.

Only reason I suggested a laptop is they have a keyboard attached, typing on screen could be a problem for some... but with 200 a goal... laptop is out also I just saw the prices on the new Surface pro's....WOW!!!! you could get a decent pc for some of those... I had a Fire Tablet once... I liked it...

Ah, didn't think of a fan ticking. I hope that is it! I have a very slow internet speed to begin with. I do recognize some other signs though of the modem not working right maybe. Such as pictures that don't load in my emails, and once or twice lately when I open Steam it will say "No Connection" for a minute. When my old modem was getting too old and overheating, that's the same problems I had in my Windows 7 computer. I had the modem replaced when I bought this computer in 2019.

I know the Fire Tablets seem like my best choice price wise to at least get a feel for a Tablet. Would I be able to access my MSN mail on it? I think I have to use my Microsoft account for that? What about my Office Excel sheets? Could I come to GameBoomers on it and open up a walkthrough to use in the other room? Would I be able to browse computers at eCollege? If I can do these things on the Fire Tablet, I'll try one.

Winfrey, that's why I said I'd rather just buy a new computer. In a few years I will be purchasing a computer with Windows 11 and I won't skimp on that. Need to save my pennies up!

Oldbroad, there is talk that Windows 12 will be released in 2024...

I don't have personal experience with all of the things you mentioned that you would like to be able to do on a Fire tablet, but I am pretty sure that you can do most or all of those. Hopefully others will weigh in.

You can do anything that requires an internet connection such as checking your MSN email. I just looked at a 10" Fire tablet and it does say it includes Office, so you would be able to use Excel spreadsheets and Word. Amazon Fire tablets don't come with keyboards although it looks like you can buy one separately. Keep in mind too, there is only 32 GB of storage, so you wouldn't be downloading anything to keep on it. You almost sound like you want a tablet to be a replacement for a full computer? I would say it would be used to do email, watch movies, post here at GB... that sort of thing. But not gaming unless you get a pretty expensive one.

You may not need to buy a new computer to get the free Windows 11 update. If your motherboard has the required TPM 2.0, all you have to do is activate it and then do the upgrade. I would email ecollegePC and ask them about it. They should have your information and which motherboard was installed. I still haven't done it myself. And IF there is a Windows 12, it will just be an update from Windows 11.

Did you do the speedtest Winfrey linked you to? That will give you information to help you figure out what is amiss.

Thanks for all of that, Drac. I can play Big Fish games on the tablet, but I don't. I much prefer the larger screen that I use with my desktop.

Good advice about contacting ecollege PC. They have terrific customer support.

Not wanting to play games at all on the Tablet, nor watch anything. Strictly just an emergency use type of thing for if/when I may be without my desktop internet for any reason.

I already know my computer is not upgradeable to Windows 11, nor would I want to do that. I would prefer to keep the 10, just as I have kept the 7.

Does a Fire Tablet have an OS?

Thanks for the heads up about a Windows 12!? Have not heard of it.

Yes... it must have an OS in order for us to be able to use it. Fire tablets are based on the Android OS, but have an Amazon "skin" over it. So, they call it the Fire OS! It doesn't use any of the Google apps or services. More info here...

https://www.howtogeek.com/232973/amazons-fire-os-vs.-googles-android-whats-the-difference/

Thank you. I'll take a look at the link a bit later this evening.