Help me decide

[Guest Gwyn400]

I recently built a desktop PC so I no longer use my laptop very much, I'm only really using it when I'm away from my PC which is just in the evenings when I spend time with my family watching TV or to watch films in the background while I play games on my PC. So I've decided to replace my laptop with a tablet seeing as everything I use my laptop for should be easier on a tablet and carrying my fairly large laptop around is a pain.

 

I cant quite decide what to get but I've narrowed it down to either the Hudl2 or this Voyo A1 Mini http://bit.ly/1zbcacz and after browsing around for a bit I thought you might be able to help me decide.

I will only really be using it for basic internet browsing, talking to friends on Skype, watching Youtube videos and watching films/TV shows from SD card or USB, I've never owned a tablet before so I dont really know the technical reasons to choose either. I'll list my personal pros and cons and hopefully you can help me on the technical side.

 

Hudl2:

+ I used to have an Android phone so I have a bunch of Android apps/games already

+ Made by a large trusted company so I'm assuming it has good build quality

+ Probably has a larger community of people who could help with various issues I may come across

 

- More expensive

- I've heard some android devices have trouble playing some encoded videos or something?

 

Voyo A1 Mini:

+ Cheaper

+ I'm already used to using Windows 8.1 on my PC/Laptop

+ More storage space

+ I'm guessing it wont have trouble playing any videos my laptop could play

 

- Chinese so probably has poor build quality and poor battery life

- Screen resolution isnt as good as Hudl2

- I've heard Windows 8.1 isnt great with touchscreens

[Guest Mark_He]

Well, the Hudl will definitely do what you want. It's now playing every video I throw at it. You might want to note that it officially only supports 32gb cards, although people have got 64gb working.

I used a win8 tablet recently and didn't actually hate it, which surprised me, but I can't see it running smoothly on a cheap Chinese tablet to be honest.

Also, the Hudl has really good speakers for the price, if you're going to watch without headphones.

[Guest Gwyn400]

Ok thanks, I was mostly worried about wether or not the Hudl 2 would play the videos I wanted it to so as long as that's not a problem then it seems like the best choice. I'll probably get a Windows tablet when I can afford to get a decent one

[Guest QLF]

I have had a number of cheaper tablets, and can honestly say that its worth spending a little more for the hudl2.

The touchscreen is the main interaction method, and if its crap then it doesn't matter how good the rest of the specs are. You'll get frustrated, put it down and the "cheaper" option becomes a lemon.

The hudl2 touchscreen is excellent, and the specs are pretty much what you'll need.

[Guest Ricey155]

A large trusted company :) my vote xiaomi mipad awesome kit

[Guest Desolutional]

A large trusted company :) my vote xiaomi mipad awesome kit

I though Xiaomi got outed a while back for tracking user data via their cloud service? Anyway, the MiPad is definitely a great tablet for the money and can easily be rooted and flashed unlike the Hudl², but I'd suggest grabbing the Hudl² and sticking with it just to see how things turn out. I got mine for £65 with clubcard boost, and it's a wonderful tablet! The only issue I'm having is the stupid adaptive contrast whilst watching movies on it.

[Guest seanspotatobusiness]

I have had a number of cheaper tablets, and can honestly say that its worth spending a little more for the hudl2.

The touchscreen is the main interaction method, and if its crap then it doesn't matter how good the rest of the specs are. You'll get frustrated, put it down and the "cheaper" option becomes a lemon.

The hudl2 touchscreen is excellent, and the specs are pretty much what you'll need.

 

I don't think the touchscreen is excellent. Have you got a protector on it? I have the Tesco-supplised protector on mine and whilst swyping on the keyboard the swypes sometimes get broken into multiple words when I never actually lifted my finger from the screen.

[Guest mbalax]

I don't think the touchscreen is excellent. Have you got a protector on it? I have the Tesco-supplised protector on mine and whilst swyping on the keyboard the swypes sometimes get broken into multiple words when I never actually lifted my finger from the screen.

 

Some touchscreens are badly affected by screen protectors, and this may be one of them. It works very well without a protector, and as long as you treat the thing well it should survive without scratching.

[Guest Desolutional]

Some touchscreens are badly affected by screen protectors, and this may be one of them. It works very well without a protector, and as long as you treat the thing well it should survive without scratching.

Yep, I don't usually invest in a screen protector unless it is composed of glass, the plastic ones usually ruin the sensitivity and general viewing experience.

[Guest QLF]

Yeah, def don't bother with a screen protector on any device. Not worth the hassle to fit, or the extra "protection" they give.

If it takes a hit, it will still smash. Most modern devices will take a lot to show scratches etc. The hudl2 is no exception. Plastic screen protectors aren't worth the money IMHO.

[Guest Aaron UK]

Windows 8 is actually a really nice experience if you use a touch screen, however I am a large fan of android tablets with my choice being a Nexus 7 2013. Windows 8.1 however has the ability to run programs that your laptop runs but be aware that although its windows it most likely won't perform like a laptop would. Android has and probably always be my first choice.