Looking for Android Tablets for Xmas 2011 - Just Don't Buy a Turkey!
Android Apps

Looking for Android Tablets for Xmas 2011 – Just Don’t Buy a Turkey!

Christmas is racing towards us, there is nowhere to hide, it’s definitely going to happen whether you’re ready or not! If like the majority of the UK, Europe, and America, you’re suffering cash flow issues due to the economic climate, with prices rising for almost every essential living expense and little or no money to cover the costs, it’s essential you make the correct choices when present buying.

There is bound to be a list long enough to circle Earth numerous times requesting Android smartphones/tablets this Christmas. If your cherished family member will be lucky to be receiving such a device from yours truly, we implore you to do your homework meticulously before you make an expensive purchase that may end up a complete turkey.

At this seasonal time of year, almost every advert on TV, every newspaper, or magazine, is saturated with must-buy bargains at unbelievable knock-down prices. It’s human nature to begin to salivate at such offers and make a mad dash to the high street to snap up this mega bargain or to enter your card details online before the item is sold out, and all before you have time to think clearly. Stop. Take a breather, have a cuppa, a cold shower if you have to, but do not buy on impulse.

Once you’ve stopped perspiring and your heart rate has steadied, take the time to analyze the offer and maybe acquire a second opinion. Is the item in question what you think it is? Did you read the details correctly or did your eager grey matter make its own assumptions?

Xmas Turkey Example

Heavenly Android is not proud and does not feel at all clever to admit that we almost went through the exact scenario described above just this weekend. As we were happily chilling in front of the TV, an advert flashed before our eyes. We could not believe what we were seeing and were almost hyperventilated as we prepared to jump in our car and exceed the speed limit in our attempt to capture the prize.

The source of our excitement was the Archos G9 80 tablet, slashed to half price in HMV, from £249.99 to £129.99. Wow, what an amazing find! We had only recently written about the tablet in question, and we had to have it. Or so we thought.

We decided to investigate further before we committed ourselves. We discovered that in our eagerness our brains had deceived us. We, in fact, weren’t looking at the tablet we thought we were. It was a completely different model; an older, flawed model, namely Archos 101 Internet Tablet. Before you ask, no, we were not even remotely tipsy at this point. We realize they don’t even slightly resemble each other!

End of Line

If we had gone with our initial impulse and snapped up the offer at HMV (which incidentally has expired), we would have been sorely disappointed. Instead of the brand spanking new Archos G9 80, with its impressive specs, we would have ended up with a clearance, end of line item, that will soon be no more use than a chocolate teapot.

Archos 101 Internet Tablet has many faults: It runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) and is unlikely to enjoy an update. Tablets are optimally for running 3.1 ( Honeycomb). Google Android Market does not come as standard on this device. Slow CPU. Is glitchy and freezes whilst watching videos. Rumored not to support Flash. In short, a shadow of the item we thought we were seeing. Archos seems to be rather confusing with its range of tablets, just as plenty of other technology companies’ goods are confusing also. It pays to do your research, take time to decide which specifications you need in the item, which you can live without, and most importantly, don’t compromise just to save a few quid.

Conclusion

In short, check and triple-check what you’re buying, especially when you’ve spied a deal you can’t resist. Expect, as the old chestnut goes, to get what you pay for. Where technology is concerned it is likely that a sale item is outdated and possibly soon to be unsupported. In the case of Android tablets, you will end up with a rather slow and glitchy DVD player. You are definitely not going to get cutting-edge technology given to you for peanuts.

On the other hand, if you are after an entry-level tablet/phone, a make-do device, and only require the basics from it, offers like the one above are fine. Go for it. Otherwise, fellow Android fans, shop wisely, or buy at your peril!

Froyo 2.2. Downloaded and Raring to Go