Google Nexus 10
If you want a shed-load of pixels - 2560 x 1600 or 4,096,000 of them, since you ask - and Android in its purest, no-I-don’t-want-water-in-my-whiskey form then this is the tablet for you. And thankfully there haven’t been many Nexus 4-style supply cock-ups, so you can actually buy one of the things if you have £320 lying around. With a 299dpi pixel density, the Nexus 10’s screen is the sharpest of any tablet here and, thanks to a Samsung-made 1.7GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 chip, it goes like a scalded cat.
The whopping 9000mAh battery gives iPad-like run times between charges while the rather fine front-facing speakers make it a top notch media and gaming device. The slender but curvaceous profile and matte plastic body make it a more comfortable hold than the sharp-cornered iPad or the super-smooth Galaxy Note 10.1 too. The only serious fly in this otherwise fragrant ointment is the lack of a Micro SD slot. With that in mind, spending the extra £70 for the 32GB version is clearly the clever thing to do.
More Info Google
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2
The first ThinkPad Tablet was an Android affair and though not a bad slate, I always got the impression Lenovo thought Android was a bit below the ThinkPad brand. Looks like I was right because for version 2 Lenovo has ditched Android for full-fat Windows 8. The new tablet is lighter than the old, has a bigger battery and with its Intel Atom Z2760 engine feels faster than the old Nvidia Tegra 3 model too. You get the distinct impression Lenovo has delivered its A-game this time around and built a device it’s proud of.
Where the ThinkPad Tablet 2 really scores big is with build quality and battery life, both of which are super, and the accessories. The Bluetooth keyboard is by far the best Windows tablet keyboard around right down to the red ThinkPad thumbstick, excellent trackpad and click bar combo. It has a typing action that feels just like a proper - and very good - laptop. There’s also something called the Enterprise Dock which adds three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and Ethernet to the tablet’s single full-sized USB connector. And don’t forget the optional Wacom digitising pen, VGA adapter and tailor-made sleeve to keep it all shipshape.
More Info Lenovo
Next page: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
COMMENTS
Re: Conclusion?
I think you're being unfair. How can there be a conclusion? He's gone through 3 different operating systems, and 2 of those also have a stylus option (which allows even more possibilities). So, for example, at the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note he says, this is great if you want a stylus, otherwise go for the Nexus 7.
There is no right answer here. The Android tabs are now pretty good. Assuming the Windows 8 ones are as well, it's all now a matter of horses for course (Mmmm lasagne...).
I bought the iPad 3, at the time I got that, I would have said it was by far the best tablet going - with an honourable mention to the Asus Transformer - although as I recall that was going through one of its periods of stock non-availability at that precise moment, or maybe the radio problems on the previous version.
If I was buying a tablet now, it would be a far harder choice. There's Nexus to save cash, Windows or Samsung for stylus-lovers (of which I'm one). The iPad is still excellent (if locked down) and still has the best designed-for-tablet apps, unless there's something specific you need that Apple won't let you have. Although full-fat Windows has the whole lot of programs that run on that, so it's the only plausible option for a laptop replacement - if the Lenovo keyboard is really that good. The Asus Transformer is good for getting some typing done, but from everything I've read it's not quite up to being the only laptop (unless you only have very limited use for one).
In conclusion they're mostly very good, so pick on the features that are most important to you. Choice is good.
10 inch Ainol Hero (snigger)
I've got a 7" Ainol Fire (snigger) and it's the perfect size. Fits in the inside pocket and bridges the gap between my Huawei G300 and 13" laptop. It's cheap and Chinese but actually solid build, decent battery life and reliability. Great screen res as well. It was this or a Nexus 7 but the Nexus 7 didn't have an SD slot.
There's also the 10" Ainol Hero (snigger) which you might want to check out.
Someone in Ainol's marketing department is either a genius or an idiot (slogan, top right)... http://www.ainol.com/
Re: Life's too short for indecision and dithering
Actually l would never use cheap stuff like an iPad. That's a mere china made toy for those who can not afford a proper tablet pc or convertible made in Japan
Re: 10 inch Ainol Hero (snigger)
"enjoy life, enjoy ainol" lol
Re: @Spartacus
Another big selling point for the Nexus range is the regular updates from Google.
