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I tried searching and came to the conclusion this does not exist. I would like a tablet with the following features:
- Easy to install (or pre-installed) LineageOS, or some other open source OS that doesnt require any fighting with bloatware or control over updates (please give your opinion on what is best)
- Easy to open up and repair (and mod) the device hardware myself without any special tools (ie, standard electronics screwdrivers, etc)
- Matte screen with dynamic range that allows the screen to be bright enough to use in the sun but dark enough to use while falling asleep.
I don't plan on using it for anything besides basic web browsing and pdf reading, so it should be cheap. However, price is no object if it has those features. There was one other soft criteria but it sounded like an ad so I removed it... See if you can guess.
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Ask the Community: In the Market for a Modern Tablet
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Tuesday After Lunch is the cosmic time of the week.
(Score: 4, Informative) by DannyB on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:00PM (5 children)
Chromebook is NOT a tablet. So maybe that disqualifies right off the bat.
They are inexpensive. Modern ones run Android apps out of the box, includes play store (be sure to check before buying). (eg: LineageOS not needed)
I'm not sure what you mean about bloatware or control over updates. I like the turnkey nature of Chrome OS with it's built in Android. If you put it into developer mode, it is fully rooted (more below in link). It's a geek paradise if you put it in developer mode. You can run chrooted Ubuntu desktop (but not "installed" from an ISO). Choice of several targets you can "chroot" supported by Crouton script.
I do not know if this is helpful.
I also cannot say anything about opening or modding the hardware since I long ago forgot which end of a soldering iron to pick up.
Q. how many software developers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A. none, that's a hardware problem.
(Management asks: but maybe the device driver software team can produce a patch that works around the hardware problem?)
I bought a Pixelbook last month.
See some of my posts in the recent SN article: ChromeOS Gains the Ability to Run Linux Applications [soylentnews.org]
In short:
* it might be pricier than what you're looking for (about $1000 and up, but right now $100 off)
* starting config at 128 GB SSD, and 8 GB RAM
* Chrome OS is turnkey, self updating, runs Android apps if you care to, play store built in
* It is already a glorified web browser which can read PDFs.
* It is a laptop, but it folds around 360 degrees to become a tablet.
* Excellent screen, and it is very bright, enough to use outdoors (but see YouTube videos for yourself)
Drawbacks as a tablet:
* To suspend, you re-fold it back around 360 into a closed laptop
* It's a bit heavier than a tablet
Advantages as tablet:
* nice big screen in portrait is nice for reading full page documents
Before buying a Pixelbook, I was looking real hard at an Asus C302, under $500, with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB SSD with Chrome OS + Android. I don't remember if this one folds around into a "tablet", so that might be a deal killer for you. I also can't speak to screen brightness.
If we sing a slaying song tonight, what tools will be used for the slaying?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:09PM (2 children)
This is actually really important so thanks. Can you comment on the minimum brightness level?
Also, I don't really like the idea of using any google developed software, and I don't consider constant auto updates to be a feature (instead of just security they are always changing my settings, the appearance and menu layouts, etc). All that stuff just makes me think the device is an adversary trying to spy on and manipulate me, when I just want to read a few webpages or documents with it. However if there are instructions to install a different OS available then it might work.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:45PM (1 child)
I do use it at night in bed to read text. (white text on black background) I do not turn it down to it's dimmest setting. That is not a very detailed description.
I understand what you are saying, which explains your preference for LineageOS.
I don't think it is spying so much as product influence coming from ill conceived poorly thought out ideas originating in a dark place of eternal suffering, torment and anguish, otherwise commonly known as Marketing.
Have you looked at whether you can re-purpose a cheap Kindle tablet?
If we sing a slaying song tonight, what tools will be used for the slaying?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:59PM
See the below discussion about e-Readers. The main issue is that everything will be in black and white. I just don't know how much of an issue that would be. I see color e-ink is still not developed: https://goodereader.com/blog/e-paper/color-e-paper-will-not-be-a-reality-anytime-soon [goodereader.com]
(Score: 2) by ledow on Thursday May 10 2018, @04:18PM (1 child)
ChromeOS tablets exist. They may not be called Chromebooks, but they are sold all over the education market.
And given that they run all the Android apps now too, that means they're actually "Android tablets" + "ChromeOS" in the same tablet-form device.
Case in point: Acer Chromebook Tab 10
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday May 10 2018, @04:36PM
The reason Chromebooks are popular in education:
* They are centrally controllable (just join each device to your fleet when you first receive it)
* School district has a choice of manufacturers to negotiate volume wholesale price discounts with (the advantage of not buying Apple or Microsoft)
* Thus, they are cheap. (I hear rumor of $66 / unit)
* Easily replaced if lost, stolen or eaten
* If stolen, they can be remote-wiped (maybe even bricked)
* Once replaced, all lessons and materials in the cloud are instantly available once again. (But if you locally store Android data, it undermines this advantage)
* At end of school year, mass-remote-wipe the devices
If we sing a slaying song tonight, what tools will be used for the slaying?