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Ask the Community: In the Market for a Modern Tablet

posted by janrinok on Thursday May 10 2018, @02:32PM   
from the wild-dreams? dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

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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Original Submission

• The search duck gives meThe search duck gives me (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:01PM (1 child)

  by Runaway1956 (2926) on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:01PM (#677894) Journal

  http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Convert-an-Android-Device-to-Linux [linux-magazine.com] Unfortunately, he doesn't say WHICH android devices.

  https://www.zdnet.com/article/here-comes-the-first-ubuntu-linux-tablet/ [zdnet.com] Two year old article, may or may not be worth reading. If the device came with Ubuntu/Unity on it, it should be pretty easy to install a different Linux.

  https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-devices-didnt-know-can-install-linux/ [makeuseof.com] Three year old article, may be less useful than the previous article. The author does, however, name some hardware devices that are suitable.

  The Duck offered me a link to Ebay - their list of "linux tablet" includes laptops, phone sized devices, a DT398B for ~$650 bucks which seems excessive, Fujitsu Sylistic Q552. Oh, get THIS: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Industrial-Tablet-PC-10-1-Screen-Windows-7-8-Rugged-Tablet-PC-Linux-mini-PC-H/232693209885?hash=item362d989b1d:m:m2cE3T0UjFVZ78JDApaOnIA [ebay.com] Almost $3000 for a tablet showing a Windows boot screen? I'm closing Ebay . . .

  Duck gave me a link to Amazon, but the link us useless. Everything with a "linux" tag shows up, with no tablets in sight. Ooooh, this looks interesting - https://www.amazon.com/ZenPad-Camera-Android-Tablet-Z300M-A2-GR/dp/B01F57BNG2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525964298&sr=8-3&keywords=linux+tablet [amazon.com]

  Alright, I made a feeble effort. I'm sitting back to see what other people offer now!

  --
  I'm going to buy my defensive radar from Temu, just like Venezuela!

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Karma-Bonus Modifier		+1
  Total Score:		2

• Re:The search duck gives me(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:15PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 10 2018, @03:15PM (#677902)

  Thanks, this looks like a useful tip from the third link:

  The best way to find out if your device will run Linux without too much trouble is by visiting www.xda-developers.com and performing a search such as “linux for [device name]”.

  https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-devices-didnt-know-can-install-linux/ [makeuseof.com]

  Parent