A dedicated "tablet" for web browsing

[PerdioPal]

Most of this afternoon and evening I have been reading about pure maths and on a few (quite a lot) of occasions wanted to look something up "on the web".  I could lift the lid of the laptop, start a browser or open a tablet and do the same, these all take time and lose my concentration.  I wonder if there is such a tablet type of thing that is just a browser (a bit like a Kindle,  just for books) that has a long sleep battery life and quick wake up. Perhaps a "Wonderll" would be its name.

[Mike Watterson]

No, any dedicated Web tablet would be a rubbish gimmick.
Though a 10" approx Lenovo Yoga Tab (Wifi only or Wifi + Mobile options, Android) has the best battery life I've seen for a tablet and wakes instantly. I turn off WiFi before hitting sleep as that saves power & WiFi reconnects very quick. Loads Firefox browser & pages faster than my laptop. A fraction of price of equivalent Apple iPad or Samsung.

I never turn on WiFi on my actual ereaders (I have 3x models of Amazon Kindle and 3x models of Kobo. Kobo are far superior, not none are any good for the web).

[PerdioPal]

That has got me thinking, I have a Galaxy tab s5e that I hardly use because it eats the battery when on standby. Most times I used to go to use it the battery was flat, so I started shutting it down, takes too long to wake for any reasonable "instant" use. I do see they do a charging dock, that doesn't work with the case on (see later) and can be inductively charged. I will get a "wireless" charger and see how much RF rubbish it puts out, I can then leave the tablet on it ready for use. If it wakes when I take it off that would be a solution. The later bit, hack a hole in the case and make a "pogo pin" (those springly test pins) stand, pick up, open cover, ready for action.

Some experimentation is required, watch this space.

PP

[CambridgeWorks]

I have an old Galaxy tab pro and a newer Tab A, that I am using now. Battery life is maybe 3 or 4 days on standby with internet on. I also use my Nokia 6.1 smartphone for browsing. A few minutes ago on this tab A, replying to a facebook post, I needed to check something, so just looked it up on my phone.
I must admit, I am well satisfied on battery life of what I use, even though they are all more than 3 years old and used regular.
My reason for buying this tab A was because the old tab pro hasn't received updates for years and occasionally gave a security warning.
My pc (win 10, ssd) is just used for longer browsing sessions or if lots of pictures need uploading.
These days, using tablets and phone a lot of the time must help in keeping the electric bill down.
Rob

[PerdioPal]

I have just realised that the tablet won't wireless charge, it has a metal case, oops silly me. Regarding standby life I am terrible at remembering to charge things, I pick up my calculator and expect it to work, same for a tablet. That isn't going to be so. I have searched for the pinouts for the tablet pogo dock to no avail, so I ordered a (now discontinued) docking station from eBay. I envisage a sort of holster on one of the kitchen table legs where it will sit waiting for use, nice and fully charged. The current case is held on by magnets, a magnetic plate?

When doing the kitchen I put a floor box in the middle with mains and ethernet to obviate trailing wires from the table, one of the most useful things I have done in the house.

[Mike Watterson]

Wireless charging is a lie. It's inductive charging and the mat needs a cable and charger! You can use a USB charging phone or tablet relaxing in bed or in an armchair, but you can't easily use a so called "wireless charging" one. Use a decent length of USB cable.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab has a big battery bulge. Intermittent use is easily over a week. Important to have BT off and only turn on WiFi for Internet. Sleep is not so good if WiFi and/or BT are on as it wakes often to check with out turning on the screen.

Also don't have screen too bright. Switch off auto-brightness.

[Mark Hennessy]

Entry level iPads are £319

Looking at Amazon, Lenovo Yoga Tab range from £198 to £801. From a quick look, I think the nearest equivalent to the entry-level iPad is £275.

Hmm. Hardly a "fraction of the price of equivalent"...

We have an older Lenovo - can't remember the exact model, but it's the same basic form-factor, with the battery bulge that contains a fold-out stand. We paid around £200 for it. It's quite good. Or rather, it was quite good. After about a year, it received an Android update and became a lot slower and much less stable. After a few more updates, it became almost unusable - unless you are very patient. But better than the Google Nexus 7 that we bought a couple of years before that. That was lovely at first, but was "bricked" by an Android update after about a year. That, by the way, is not exaggeration or hyperbole - it really is unusable. As a result of these (and other) direct personal experiences, we would need a lot of persuasion to buy another Android anything. We've given it a fair shot over the years - and I would hope it's better now, but that's not the impression I get from friends and colleagues who for some reason seem willing to persevere with them.

A few years back I bought a digital sound desk that can be remote-controlled by an iPad. Upon learning that it was iPad-only, I almost changed my mind about buying that particular model. But then I discovered that iPads aren't as expensive as a lot of people seem to think - given that at this point, I'd already wasted well over £500 on Android - and was expecting to have to buy a new £200 Android tablet for the sound desk - I was delighted to learn that iPads start at just over £300. And really, really pleased that I went with the sound desk I did, as it's lovely.

Now, the thing about iPads (and iPhones) is that Apple support them for at least 6 years from launch. Right now, my work phone is 6 years old, and still works just as well as it did when I got it - only, of course, there's lots more functionality that's been added by the various updates, and it's still receiving regular updates for security as well as functionality. I only qualify for a replacement when it's finally out of support, which is likely to be in September this year (although it will continue to function for many years after this point, of course). Prior to moving across to Apple, we were changing our Android phones every 2 years because they were being rendered slow and unresponsive by the updates, and then abandoned by the manufacturer. So we've had 3 times the service life at only perhaps 25-50% more on the initial purchase cost. That's an incredibly ROI by any standard.

As for the iPad, I've had it now for 3 or 4 years, and like the phone, it's still like new. Still getting software updates, still quick and responsive. The battery is excellent. I don't use mine much between gigs, but left sitting, it'll last for a few weeks before needing a charge - I can't tell you exactly as I've never managed to run it down between using it in anger. And to get that standby life of weeks, perhaps a month or two, I don't need to mess about turning off stuff - wifi and Bluetooth are just left as they are. I really can't be faffing about like that - life it too short.

Despite how it might sound, I'm not an Apple fan-boy. Far from it. I know almost nothing about their laptops and desktops, and - for the sake of balance - I have seen a lot of Louis Rossmann's videos about Apple products, and would probably avoid their laptops as a result. But 6 years of experience demonstrates to me that they've done a really good job with iOS (iPhone/iPad). It just works. No more having to reboot devices every few days, no more having to turn things off or force-quit apps to keep it stable, and no need to hold off installing updates until you've found someone else who's already tested them before you. As long as you avoid the expensive stuff, the price of entry is only slightly higher than the Android equivalent, but you'll get a much, much longer service life. Batteries last well, too - my 2016 iPhone is still on the original battery, and lasts nearly as long between charges as it used to. Should it become necessary, the official battery replacement cost for my particular phone is £49, but you can do it for about half that if you want to risk the small high-street repair places or DIY it.

In short, a £319 iPad meets the original request, and is what I would recommend, based on extensive experience with both platforms. Simple thumb-print to unlock, single touch of the browser shortcut if it wasn't left open before, and you're good to go - all in less than a second. Ignore it, and the battery will last weeks between charges.

If £319 is a bit much, it's worth checking the second-hand market. We've had good results with CEX for iPhones - there was only one that was a problem (caused by inexpert battery replacement), but they happily refunded in full and we bought another from them the same day - 2 years on, it's been as good as gold. There will be cheaper on-line suppliers, but I'm happy to pay a bit more and see it in the flesh, and it's so much easier if there's a problem. If going s/h, read up about the various models, so you know what to look for. Personally, I don't see a reason to move up the price scale, especially not for just web-surfing, so you might not want/need an "Air" or "Pro".

For the sake of balance, my laptop is Lenovo. I think they make decent enough hardware, and I've nothing against them as such. Likewise Asus, who made the Nexus 7. Similar comments apply to all the Android devices I've bought over the years...

[BusyBee]

Perhaps not the answer but just for comparison purposes, I have an old HP Stream 11(.6?) inch laptop which, although showing it's limitations with Windows as it was the 32GByte memory model, actually works well with Linux and with a small permanent USB stick I find it more versatile than an ipad, and a lot cheaper. The main irritation is having to enter the password when I wake it up. My issue with ipads has always been that they are governed by Apple and cannot use them to their full potential. The HP is a useful test computer easily carried and setup alongside equipment in the workshop.

Tracy

[PerdioPal]

"No, any dedicated Web tablet would be a rubbish gimmick.", That is almost what I want, a simple instant on web browser that I don't have to remember to charge. Keeping the thing connected will use power so I think my "holster" for the S5e may be the way to go. All I would need to work out is how to make it go to sleep when in the dock and wake on lifting out, that may need a magnet to fool it the the cover is closed. Just had a fiddle, a magnet works from the back too, progress. Another thought if I store it "screen in" dust will be reduced.

I have an iPad mini (the latest) and love it, this gadget will be for times when all I want is an instant web search, and as I hardly ever use the S5e it is the ideal candidate. I like separate devices for different things, books (paper or electronic) for reading, landline 'phone for 'phone calls, laptop for computery stuff and typing. One device that does all is a bit limiting, for example reading a book want to look something up? I reach for the web browser unit (to be created here). FOr calculations I use my HP15C in great preference to a "PC" one.

Of course this won't be a dedicated browser gadget unless I can only have it display a browser, but if it leave it with the browser open...

[Radio Fixer]

"...landline 'phone for 'phone calls, ..."

Where are you able to get that now? Mines gone as it has for many.

Gary