Author Topic: Tablets (Read 7612 times)

linklord231 · « **on:** February 20, 2015, 07:20:52 PM »

I'm thinking about getting a tablet for use at the gaming table. I'm looking for something in the $300-$500 range, probably with an 8" screen or bigger. It absolutely needs to play nice with PDFs and web browsing, but I'd also probably use it for watching youtube videos and netflix when I'm not gaming. Expandable storage via SD card is highly desired, and it absolutely must be Android (I hate iOS and Win8). Top contenders right now are an Nvidia Shield Tablet, Nexus 9, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing, or suggestions for other tablets to look at?

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2015, 07:42:43 PM »

The fact you're looking for an android thing basically guarantees PDF compatibility.

Though I have no experience because I loathe the things. Either my phone or my laptop's enough.

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2015, 07:55:04 PM »

Personally I think that's way too much to pay for one that size. You can get some for under $100 that should do everything you're wanting just fine.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2015, 08:13:34 PM »

Quote from: phaedrusxy on February 20, 2015, 07:55:04 PM

Personally I think that's way too much to pay for one that size. You can get some for under $100 that should do everything you're wanting just fine.

£129 for a supermarket own-brand one here. But it does everything desired. Twice what you've suggested.

I'd be leery of ordering electronics that cast all of... well, £65. It's either second hand or of terrible quality, and BOTH of those are bad news for something you want to rely on.

linklord231 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2015, 10:09:06 PM »

There are exactly 2 $100 tablets that are any good, those being the Nexus 7 and the Kindle fire hd 7, and both of those are too small for what I'm looking for. 7 inches makes the text on a pdf unreadable at any distance.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2015, 10:14:35 PM »

Quote from: linklord231 on February 20, 2015, 10:09:06 PM

There are exactly 2 $100 tablets that are any good, those being the Nexus 7 and the Kindle fire hd 7, and both of those are too small for what I'm looking for. 7 inches makes the text on a pdf unreadable at any distance.

... zoom in? If you want PDF's for RPG reasons, the dual-column tendency really helps.

linklord231 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2015, 10:45:45 PM »

The whole point is that I want to see the entire page all at once

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2015, 11:01:54 PM »

Quote from: linklord231 on February 20, 2015, 10:45:45 PM

The whole point is that I want to see the entire page all at once

You're weird. D:

Nunkuruji · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2015, 11:28:54 PM »

It always takes people at my table longer to go through their pdfs on their tablet than their laptop.

linklord231 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:07:22 AM »

Quote from: Nunkuruji on February 20, 2015, 11:28:54 PM

It always takes people at my table longer to go through their pdfs on their tablet than their laptop.

Probably because laptops are generally faster. Or they could have the same problem that I do with using pdfs on a small screen, where turning pages is slow and cumbersome when you have to zoom in to read.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:21:07 AM »

Quote from: linklord231 on February 21, 2015, 12:07:22 AM

Quote from: Nunkuruji on February 20, 2015, 11:28:54 PM
It always takes people at my table longer to go through their pdfs on their tablet than their laptop.

Probably because laptops are generally faster. Or they could have the same problem that I do with using pdfs on a small screen, where turning pages is slow and cumbersome when you have to zoom in to read.

I can find things on my phone just as quickly as my laptop. :T

Chemus · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2015, 02:17:50 AM »

I understand where you're going with this, but the lowball price advice will likely net you a supremely crappy screen and processor. If you do go with a low priced tablet, make sure you take a large pdf in to the store and try it on the display model (via a flash drive on an OTG adapter is an easy method, or for those tablets with microsd slots, use that)

I get that you don't like Win8 tablets, but the Toshiba Encore (the 10" version) can be had for fairly cheap, and the win8 tablets perform exactly like netbooks did. It's exactly like having a small laptop.

Good hunting.

linklord231 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2015, 03:23:43 AM »

That's not a bad idea. Will they let you do that?

Chemus · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2015, 07:08:19 AM »

The functional displays I've dealt with are easy to move about; just unplug the power cord and replace with the otg, or plug the microsd in.

linklord231 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:42:57 PM »

Oh speaking of Windows tablets, does anyone have any opinions on an Asus Transformer? It seems like they come in both Android and Windows flavors, but I'm not sure if there's a difference other than the OS.

Chemus · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:28:42 PM »

I haven't seen the android ones for a while, but the T100 (Win8) is 10" or so and comes w/ a keyboard-battery dock that makes it handy for typing and has up to 11hrs battery life. Usually ~$300-$400. Ok screen as well.

linklord231 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:37:57 AM »

I ended up getting an LG G Pad 8.3, which was not even one that I was considering, but I got it for free.

Any recommendations for the best apps for use with tabletop gaming? I'm considering getting a subscription to Syrinscape, but I'm not sure if I'll use it often enough. Anybody tried it?

On my phone I have copies of the D&DTools Character Builder and Compendium, but they seem to be removed from the Play Store. Anybody know where I can find a copy of the apk, or if there's a way to transfer the app from my phone? I saved a copy of the expanded database the app can be configured to use, so that's not an issue.

Chemus · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:58:43 AM »

Try linking your phone to a PC, and find the dndtools apk in the...data/app folder mine is called com.jellware.charbuilder-1.apk (character builder), and com.jellware.dndsheet-1.apk (the main app)

Unfortunately, I forget whether you have to have rooted your phone (Don't!!) in order to have access to the folder. I retrieved the folders and apk names from my rooted tablet. XDA Developers forum may have a way for you to gain superuser permissions via command prompt programs (nvflash and one other iirc) but it's been over 2 years since I had to recover my bricked android tablet, so ymmv.

Good hunting (dndtools has a new url extension/mirror; pw)

awaken_D_M_golem · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2015, 04:05:39 PM »

Where's that smiley face that shows that whole post went Over my head?

I got a Nobis android 4.4 with 8" screen, but otherwise el cheapo. Way improved on a 4.0.

I'm getting a "DataCollection Has Stopped" warning every now and then.

News:

Author Topic: Tablets (Read 7612 times)