I was in the Best Buy store the other day and I was playing around with a whole bunch of different tablets, and I found that many of them were not that straight-forward to use. I could really see some of my not-so-technical / non-technical friends picking up the Motorola Xoom and just being unable to navigate it. This prompted me to begin to think about all of the options out there that aren't the iPad, and honestly how usable they are. I mean, let's be honest, out of all the tablets, the iPad is definitely the least confusing the navigate. With only a single real button and a mostly non-multitasking focus, the iOS tablets are just the most straight-forward for any non-techie.
Having said all that, I'm wondering, out of all the Android-based tablets out there, which would you say is the most likely to be the best match for a non-techie user?
Question about
Which is the best option for an ordinary person when it comes to Android-based tablets?
top answers
sam's pick
The Barnes & Noble nookcolor. No, seriously. It's the only Android tablet currently out there designed for mass market / non-techie consumers in mind. Barnes & Noble have gone to great lengths to hide everything confusing about Android and left behind a fairly intuitive interface. Sure, it's underpowered, and sure, it's not truly a tablet in the sense most of us think of -- but it has tons of media support, an app store, and a color capacitive touch screen.
But it hits a few important points:
1. You can surf the web.
2. You can check email.
3. You can play Angry Birds on it.
But it hits a few important points:
1. You can surf the web.
2. You can check email.
3. You can play Angry Birds on it.
mark as good answer
14 people like this answer
Clicking the mark as good answer button helps us highlight the best answers.
sam's pick
From the feedback I've gotten from non-tech-oriented friends, surprisingly the original Galaxy Tab is winning in the usability category. It's a combination of the smaller size and the dumbed-down software that works for them. I can't stand the thing so I'm still wanting a Xoom but for them, it seems to be the right way to go. I would push them towards something that at least runs Honeycomb to give them a couple months of future-proofing but I don't know if they'd go for it.
mark as good answer
2 people like this answer
I am testing the HTC Flyer right now and find it to be the best Android tablet so far. I have tested many of them, including the XOOM, and I own the original Galaxy Tab. The Flyer has good performance and that optional pen that adds more value than expected.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I would recommend waiting for the Amazon tablet. If you have used a Kindle or shop at Amazon you know that they are going to own the segment when they get their product out.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I'd wait to see when the new samsung tablet comes out, maybe they made it easier to navigate with touchwiz.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Well since all of the new ones (Xoom, Transformer, 10.1, etc) all use the same operating system they are all going to basically be as tricky/easy as each other.
Just like in the phone versions I think that Android is more customizable than iOS, and so that means it is more complicated. With the use of widgets you can make a Honeycomb tablet pretty easy and straight forward.
I have a Xoom and I really enjoy it, I think if you are going for straight simplicity this most likely isn't the one for you, just based on the fact that the power/sleep button is on the back of the device, and no one finds it the first time they try to power on the device.
Just like in the phone versions I think that Android is more customizable than iOS, and so that means it is more complicated. With the use of widgets you can make a Honeycomb tablet pretty easy and straight forward.
I have a Xoom and I really enjoy it, I think if you are going for straight simplicity this most likely isn't the one for you, just based on the fact that the power/sleep button is on the back of the device, and no one finds it the first time they try to power on the device.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I've been looking at Android Tablets too, although right now my criteria is only that it be an android tablet and that it be using the Tegra 2. Most of the other things you'd want specs wise will pretty much be guaranteed to be there because my understanding is that the models sporting a Tegra 2 are already on the mid-high end range of the android tablets, is that right? But the Tegra 2 will give the flexibility to try some of the more visually demanding apps with less stutter. Which is what's really bugging me on my Samsung Galaxy S (Fascinate) at the moment.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
follow this question
share:
Related questions
13 users following this question:
This question has been viewed 240 times.
Last activity .
Tips for giving the best answers
Sometimes it's just little details that separates a great and not so great answer! Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:
- 1
- Be complete and thorough. Don't skimp on the details!
- 2
- Try not to answer with a question. Because that's not really an answer, right?
- 3
- A little research goes a long way. Back up your claims and assumptions!
- 4
- Try to be patient, tech questions can be complicated.
- 5
- You are awesome for both reading this and answering questions.