Purchasing Check List

This is for the latest four tablets purchased for SELV (4/15/2015):

Shopping List from old e-mail: 

1. Tablet: 10" Tablet, with the full 2560 x 1600 screen resolution.   There are two options:
   1. Nexus 10 Tablet (either the 16GB or 32 GB is acceptable, oddly the 32 GB is always cheaper).  This model is  no longer in production, prices have been rising steadily as inventory sells off.  These tablets are now $120 higher than when we purchased back in December.
   2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S (note the complete model description, only this one has the hi-res screen) ...Samsung actually makes the Nexus 10, and right now the price for the Samsung brand is lower than Nexus.  We've never bought this model, I have no experience with how much adware or bloatware comes pre-installed on the Samsung-branded units.
2. TP-Link TL-MR3040 Router: make sure that you select the "battery powered" model when ordering.
3. Dual USB Wall Charger, with a minimum of 3A output
4. Dual USB Car Charger, with a minimum of 3A output
5. Carrying Case: Amazon offers their own basic branded case, that can't be beaten value
   

Equipment selection notes:

Tablet Analysis on 3/30/15

Having tablets with an integrated SIM slot has always been a preference for this project.

 This past weekend I re-examined what's currently available in the US marketplace,   there are a few tablet with SIM card slots, all of which entail compromises:

1)  Asus TL300 series    http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-TF300TL-B1-BL-10-1-Inch-Tablet-Blue/dp/B009CQPZ4O

     >>>The display is 1280 x 800.   This is one half the width of the Nexus 10 and one half the height of the Nexus 10.   That means the total screen real estate is one fourth as much as the Nexus 10, which would force the user to constantly scroll.

2)  Samsung Galaxy P5100     http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Silver-Android-Tablet/dp/B008H50IUM

  >>> Same limitation as the Asus tablet – the display is only 1280 x 800.

3)   Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3SOHNU  

   >>>   Samsung released two versions of this tablet.   Both have a full 2560 x 1600 display.    But the only version that includes the SIM card support is available exclusively through T-Mobile, and comes locked to their network.   The version available through regular retailers (including Amazon) does not have SIM card support.

4)  Samsung Galaxy Note® Pro 12.2        http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-12-2-Black/dp/B00HWMPSK6

   >>>   Samsung also released two versions of this tablet.   Both have a full 2560 x 1600 display – on a 12’” screen no less.    But the only version that includes the SIM card support is available exclusively through AT&T, and comes locked to their network.   The version available through regular retailers (including Amazon) does not have SIM card support.

5)  Nexus 9    http://www.amazon.com/Google-Nexus-Tablet-8-9-Inch-Black/dp/B00M6UC974

  >>>  Google spec’d this to compete with the iPad Air 2.   It does support SIM cards but apparently only for HSPA and LTE protocols (which are not the same as regular 3G).   It also has an 8.9” display, with 2048 x 1536 resolution.   That’s a 20% reduction in resolution for both the vertical and horizontal axes, compared to the Nexus 10, enough to force some side-to-side scrolling.  And it comes with Lollipop (Android OS v5) pre-installed, which is rumored to be a battery-killer.    It is apparently possible to downgrade the device, at least back to 4.4.4.   However, retesting would be still be prudent.