Kindle Fire 6

[New Judge]

I'm looking for a small tablet on which I want to access e-Mails and occasionally access the internet (mainly for bus and train times whilst I'm out and about). Don't really want anything else. No music, no films, no videos.

I've been looking at the Kindle Fire 6. Anyone got one or any other advice or recommendations?

Ta ever so.

[hc4361]

Good tablet but wifi only. How would you connect to the internet whilst you are out and about?

[-SharonA-]

I have a kindle hdx 7. I love it, but the only drawback is the glare when reading outside. I have to sit in the shade in order to see the screen.

[hc4361]

If I were going to buy a cheap and cheerful tablet at the moment I'd go for a Tesco Hudl, unless I had Amazon Prime.

[Pete65]

My Tesco Hudl has been repaired twice by them because the screen freezes, and it takes ages getting onto certain websites.
It still freezes, and I would never buy another one.

[Buenchico]

As has been said, the Kindle Fire 6 doesn't offer either 3G or 4G connections to the mobile phone network. You need to be near to a wi-fi hotspot to access the internet. While that would, of course, provide you with an excellent excuse for visiting a Wetherspoon's pub (where there's always free wi-fi) it might not really meet your needs ;-)

Indeed, with such basic needs, I can't see why you'd need a tablet anyway. A decent smartphone could do all that you want. My own phone isn't truly 'smart' (although it's got a basic internet facility) and I find carrying a tablet around (for exactly the sort of things that you want internet access for) awkward, as it won't fit into my pocket. So I'm toying with the idea of buying one of these
http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webstore/landing/home.shtml#/product/910002062475
getting my existing (Vodafone) number switched to it and using Asda's £10 per month PAYG package (which would cover all of my calls, texts and limited internet use easily). That phone (and, of course, many others) can do everything that you're looking for.

[New Judge]

Yes thanks all.

I hadn't considered the Wi-Fi problem. Most of the places I visit have Wi-Fi, but not necessarily all of them so it must be a consideration.

The smartphone is a good idea, 'Chico, but as I may have mentioned in the past I rarely use a mobile and £20 credit lasts me a year. £120 would be an outrage !

[hc4361]

BC, I would buy a cheap phone that uses 4G, much faster and less frustrating

[Buenchico]

NJ:
I take your point about the costs of using a smart phone but if you want a tablet that can access the internet when there's no wi-fi available you'd have to pay for that connection anyway. If you were only going to use a smart phone (or a tablet using a similar connection) for a few emails and train times, you could get the cost down to £5 per month using the most basic package from Asda:
https://mobile.asda.com/pages/bundles

Hc4361:
This part of Suffolk hasn't even got 3G! (Indeed, there are a few villages down the road from here that have yet to get 2G).

[New Judge]

Thanks 'Chico. I must say it's not something that had crossed my mind (access in places with no Wi-Fi). I'm not very "mobile" orientated and don't really need anything sophisticated. But ability to occasionally access the 'net would be handy.

Thanks for your advice and research. I'll have a think !!!

[Buenchico]

Just as an aside, the easiest way to get train times is often to simply send a text to 84950. You'll then get a text back almost instantly, with the information you require. You can either use full station names or, if you know them, just the three-letter codes. You can add times if needed.

So, for example, texting either 'Cambridge' or just 'CBG' will get you a list of the next departures from there, together with the platform numbers and status. (e.g. 'OK' for on time' or '+10' for 10 minutes late. Cancelled services are shown as 'CAN').

Similarly, texting 'CBG Swansea' will get you the time(s) of the next departure(s) from Cambridge to Swansea, with details of the connections involved. If you don't want to travel until after 1000 tomorrow, text 'CBG Swansea 1000'.

As a regular rail traveller I use that service several times per week and find it incredibly useful. (It does cost 25p for each incoming text but I'm, happy to pay that if it means I don't miss the last train home!).
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/1954.aspx

[New Judge]

Thanks again 'Chico. Didn't know about that service. I use a similar thing for London buses (take a note of the stop number nearest the pub, text to 82527). I'll give the railway service a go.