Windows 10: Best Value Opinions - Windows 10 Tablet/Laptop Sub $250

Hello,
It is time to dump my old Android tablet and replace. I would like the device to be small (say 10 - 11" Screen), fast-ish, running Windows 10. I've seen some small laptops which seemed okay going for $179. It is mainly to replace the in home use of my Windows 10 phone as a handy, around the living room device, for under $250.
Another big one and not meant to be a point of contention or discussion but I do not wish to purchase products produced in China or Chinese owned companies elsewhere. I know this is kind of difficult to identify easily but that is a major consideration.
Thanks for any assistance


Don't even know if it is possible!!

:)

 

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I tried many times to get in touch with Microsoft but it seems like they are avoiding the issues and opening up Windows10 to more people which will create more problems. Microsoft seem to have lost a lot of value since 1999 but I guess its due to the uprising
of consoles (PlayStation,Xbox) and smart phones then tablets... I think Microsoft also lost their way as PC gaming died and younger people flocked to Smart phones so computers needed to refresh themselves. PC gaming has surged in recent years and its mostly
digital downloads surprisingly while consoles still mostly use disks. Windows 10 seems to have combined Xbox, apps and digital downloads from the Microsoft store into computing, Which really combines the best from consoles, tablets and smart phones together.
Well that's my opinion about Windows 10 but I hope its positively received as it is really good and definitely the best Windows yet!

Kaine,

 

Why it is windows 10 so buggy?

Verbose; far from concise... mostly opinion and of little value. This isn't the 90's... although your edgeumucation seemed to stop there.

The OS is faster for Windows, which is to say it's... well, faster for Windows, but far from speedy. More importantly, it's glitchy as ****, especially when transitioning to Tablet mode.

One step forward; three steps back.

There is a reason it was free.

 

Walmart has the Nextbook Flexx 10.1 windows 10 2-in-1 for $129.00. It has quite good reviews. Nextbook is a California based company.

 

Hello Cooler44,
Thank you for your suggestion! I will certainly look into it and it's specs.
Best,

 

I have an older, Windows 8 version of the Flexx 10. It has since been upgraded to Windows 10. I really like it except I do have three problems with it.

The cameras are extremely difficult to get both to work (software, it may be a Win 8.1 to Win 10 problem). I never use the cameras so I don't care.

The connection to the keyboard when it is connected is very iffy. It likes to disconnect/reconnect a lot. So you get a lot of the USB disconnect/reconnect sounds and it makes it virtually impossible to use the USB ports on the keyboard. If I want to use a flash drive, I use a micro-USB flash drive connected to the tablet itself.

The power connection between the charger and the table became loose. A new $10 power supply from ebay fixed it.

Given all that, I would buy another Nextbook Windows 10 tablet from Walmart, it's been great except for the above problems.

 

Hello NavyLCDR,
Thanks for the experienced reply. It will probably be sitting in my lap so the disconnection problem might really be an issue. I have been also directed to a Lenovo N22 Winbook for the same price. No touchscreen though. So much to think about............
Regards

 

You will not find that, at all. Even more so at your budget. Everything you are going to find is going to made in China. Even the expensive Apple products are made in China. Not going to debate your reasons, just informing you that you will likely not reach that lofty goal.

For product recommendations....I have none, all my stuff is expensive tech.

 

Hello logicearth,
Informed consumerism is a meaningful tool for change, lofty or not. So far I have yet to find anything that matches my exact criteria. Wish I could afford all expensive tech.

 

Any further thoughts on the Lenovo N22?
Thanks again

 

On paper - seems to have better specs than most units in this price range. Specifically, 4 GB of RAM rather than 2, and 64 GB of storage rather than 32 (essential for doing Windows updates without having to plug in a flash drive to make extra space). Note that the storage is eMMC (like a fast flash drive) and not a solid state drive. It will have less latency than a spinning HDD but be much slower, especially on writes, than a "real" SSD.

Keyboard quality on Lenovo units of this class is not a strong point. Many have inadequate chassis support and so the middle of the keyboard panel may bow inward if you are push down while typing.

Also if you're looking to boot from an external flash drive (Linux, etc) I've read that on some cheap Lenovo models the BIOS is deliberately crippled, to eliminate "compatability mode" and non-secure boot which may be critical to that task.

Frankly, though, for the price ... couldn't complain. If they made something like that in the ~13 inch range for, say, $100 more, I'd jump at it too.

 

Howdy mike s,
Thank you for the great evaluation. For my puttering around it, it seems like it would be a great upgrade for a 5 year old android tablet at a good price. Much appreciated
Best,

 

I got a 'cheapy' a few months ago, a Trio 10, 10" 2-in-1 that is both a Tablet and a Notebook/Netbook [Netbook has no Optical Disc Drive], $145 at local ShopKo. With a Bluetooth mouse it's pretty universal but I feel an 11" or 12" may have a larger keyboard. It accepts a MicroSDXC 64GB memory chip for additional storage. Only downside I've found so far is one has to use the 2.5Amp power supply/charger that comes with it, 2.0Amp isn't sufficient.

 

Lenovo is a Chinese company though.

 

Hello Berton,
Thanks for your reply and your review. The power supply issue seems like it could have been prevented. I'll give it a look at.
Best,