Android tablets?

[ffutures]

Welcome to the latest installment of "Marcus wants a supercomputer in his pocket for 50p..."

Currently I own two Windows CE PDAs which for one reason or another I'm not making much use of:

An HP Jornada 728 - nice pocket PC with a good keyboard but not a lot of software, and the weird screen resolution (640 x 240) means that that you can't see a lot of text while typing / reading. It's OK for notes but I'm not really using it seriously. WiFi but seriously unreliable, especially when connecting to new networks.

A no-name 5" tablet - works, but I seem to be using it more to play games than anything else. Wifi works much better but a low-res screen makes for eye strain. It's seriously difficult to install software because of weird design decisions, and bottom line, I simply don't like it much.

So I'm thinking in terms of selling both of them and going for something like a 7" Android tablet - yes, I know certain people think a 7" iPad is on the way, but I probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

So - bearing in mind that I probably don't want to use this as a phone, much more as a WiFi web browser / notepad / ebook reader, is this a good idea or is android more trouble than its worth.

What I definitely need

• WiFi
• good web browser, preferably with ability to show YouTube etc.
• ebook reader with multiple formats including mobi, pdf, etc.
• word processor with some ability to save files locally (I don't trust clouds)
• A GOOD onscreen keyboard, plus the ability to use a real keyboard.
• Ability to use USB memory sticks
• Reasonable battery life
• A few good games e.g. sudoku, bejewelled, spider solitaire

Is this asking for the moon, or are there tablets around that might meet my needs? Preferably low priced, e.g. I notice Morgans have something for £72 but the battery life is a little short. I probably need to sort this fast because the price of 2nd-hand Windows CE kit is falling fast and I'd hope to recoup some of the cost by selling the old stuff.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[raygungothic.livejournal.com]

Thanks to a wonderful combined late birthday/early Christmas present from my wife I have a Galaxy Tab, which is superb, but expensive. (I do not understand the mixed reviews of this device, which is bloody marvelous)

I did look at all sorts of Android tablets beforehand. Most are awkward compromises. Android interface is a poor match for resistive touch screens, which makes all the cheaper options not be much fun to use. Unfortunately that means Tab is the only good 7"er - there is little middle ground between Happy Fun Co of Shenzhen tat and the expensive option. In 10" tablets there is more choice, and it's more continuous, but you would need bloody enormous coat pockets for one to count as "portable". I know several people with ipads who never take them out of the house.

For pda replacement, an older Android phone with a real keyboard might be a better option than a tablet? I seem to recall from your earlier posts that your portability requirements are quite strict.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I've decided that I can live with anything up to about 7" - that'll just about fit into a big pocket, and I've put a top boxe on the bike which would make it easier to carry routinely. A full-sized iPad or similar is more problematic.