Spot of advice needed from the gadget experts pretty please....

An old family friend (she's 80) wants to take her first step into the world of tablets. She has been recommended the ipad mini but I'm wondering if there's anything better for her out there.

She will only be using it for internet browsing and sending/receiving emails.

She will be totally reliant on free wifi hotspots both in the UK and she travels a lot to Canada and Australia so will need to be able to use it easily and cheaply whilst she's in either of those countries.

Any recommendations based on the above?

Thanks in advance x

Get something that runs 4G.

http://tablets.findthebest.com/saved...est-4G-Tablets

Samsung better than iPad for 4G.

"We were regularly getting speeds over 20Mbps with the Galaxy Tab 8.9 in the Sydney CBD while the best the new iPad, with a Telstra sim-card accessing HSPA+, could manage was double figures."

http://www.techguide.com.au/blog/101...g-tablet-title

I quite like my iPad but I definitely would not get an iPad mini. Don't see the point of that, especially as she is older she might find the full size one easier to use, it's not exactly big and bulky.

Well, first off the iphone is getting called a 'granny phone' now, because the OS is so old and feature poor it's easy for your granny to use (that carries across to the ipad). However, connecting to free wifi spots negates this since its a pain in the **** no matter what OS you use. As such I'd take advantage of the cost benefit of Android.

Given the age, I would tend to go for a bigger 10 inch tablet. They aren't so convenient and portable, but they are a lot easier on old eyes, and easier to type on as well.

The travel component suggests something with GPS & maps. I'd also say that reading books with large print would be a use case. I also find that iplayer access is used, and you can get bluetooth<>hearing aid converters.

Obviously hyper resolution isn't exactly a prime requirement...

Hell, if I were looking, I'd probably be looking at something like the Aldi Tablet I'm about to take back - 10 inch screen, 3G, GPS - $249. Maxi ipads are a lot more expensive, not worth it.

If she doesn't get on with the on-screen keyboard you can get a bluetooth one for $20, or a case with a keyboard built in for similar.

My MIL (72) has a Kindle Fire HD which has email and web access as well as a great reading screen. She uses glasses and travels and finds it an extremely convenient tablet and has no need of iPad or any other tablet. I think it cost her something like 250 quid back in UK.

Thanks heaps guys I was thinking the Kindle Fire HD as it looks so easy to use and it just seemed pointless for her to fork out £300+ on an ipad when she'll never use the apps and when she could get a Kindle for £150. Have heard that they're very easy to use. But just wasn't sure about how easy they were to use abroad and whether she'd be faffing around with dongles and sim cards and stuff. So was thinking the Nexus 7?? If anyone else has some suggestions in the next few hours it would be great to hear as she's pootling down to John Lewis this arvo to buy something!

Thanks again x

In that case the Fire wins hands down, my MIL is NOT tech savvy and was extremely confident using it in McDonalds WiFi spots and using my network. She never had a sim or dongle or anything.

As an addition to that, the Fire was so good and easy to use my wife wanted to buy one......but they don't do them in Oz!!

There is a new Nexus 7ii coming out soon. The current one doesn't have Gorilla glass. But it is a nice device.

Sorry, being a bit thick here, whats Gorilla glass??? Is it a new form of screen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT8xI4PEU8c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhoF564nJ_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3mhAVC6cBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfgKLwGnOZs

Nexus 7 beats Kindle Fire HD - every time.

Nexus 7 MkII is right around the corner. Much better device, roughly same price - I'd wait, unless you can get a very good deal on the old model.

230 bucks delivered.

Kindle HD...


http://www.techrific.com.au/product_...221#myshopping


Nexus 7 is cheaper delivered at 215 bucks approx... Looks better specs.

http://www.topbuy.com.au/tbcart/pc/A...TBLC-XX1029587

$215 is very cheap for a great tablet. I paid about $250 for mine and got the GST back at the airport

As I say, there are some cheap deals, clearing stock ahead of the Nexu 7 MkII launch.

The MkII is likely to be a 1,920 x 1,200 (retina class), Snapdragon 600/S4 Pro, with an LTE option, and a rear camera.

Nexus 7 MkI was launched on 27 June last year .....