Bargain Kobo Arc 7 16GB Android tablet - £69.99

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Anyone on the lookout for a bargain tablet should have a look at the Kobo Arc 7, currently available from Currys/PC World for £69.99. (£79.99 in store and £10 cash back in 3 weeks).

This is a similar spec to the 2012 Nexus 7, and is running Android Jelly Bean 4.1.

Specifications are:
7" 1280x800 IPS screen
Dual core 1.5 GHz processor
16GB memory
1GB RAM
Stereo front mounted speakers

I picked one up this morning (it's almost cheap enough to buy just to leave in the car), and it's amazingly good value, it feels high quality, better built than either of the Nexus 7's. Screen is very good, and it doesn't have any of the ghost taps and mis-taps that you get with the Nexus 7 either. It's frankly astonishing that it is only about 35% of the cost of a Nexus 7.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/comput...ets/kobo-arc-7-tablet-16-gb-21780471-pdt.html
 
Hi Dave. We are looking to get our daughter one for christmas and was looking at the hudl in Tesco for £110 but this looks like it could be a new contender!

Thanks alot pal.

David.
 
minnnt said:
Hi Dave. We are looking to get our daughter one for christmas and was looking at the hudl in Tesco for £110 but this looks like it could be a new contender!

Thanks alot pal.

David.
Click to expand...

No problem, I actually had a look at the HUDL this morning as well, the Kobo looks and feels of higher quality.

It's actually slightly smaller than a Nexus 7, so doesn't have a huge bezel around the screen like the HUDL and most other cheap tablets.
 
Also nice to discover that unlike Kindle etc, the proprietary apps are not locked, nor is the home screen.

Straight to the Play Store and downloaded Nova launcher for a completely generic Android look.

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It really does look smart mate. We have a nexus 7 (original) and we don't get a look in with it so this looks like it's going to fit the bill perfectly and save me 40 notes to boot!

The screen looks better than the nexus also which imo is a little washed out with the colours!
 
How is it speed-wise? Does it get laggy or has it been crisp all along? I notice there's no GPS, so unlike the nexus or hudl you can't use this as a satnav. Not a problem if your daughter is too young to drive and looks like good value.
 
minnnt said:
It really does look smart mate. We have a nexus 7 (original) and we don't get a look in with it so this looks like it's going to fit the bill perfectly and save me 40 notes to boot!

The screen looks better than the nexus also which imo is a little washed out with the colours!
Click to expand...

You"ll actually save £50 I think. I'm sure the HUDL was priced £119 in a Tesco today.
 
ancient_mariner said:
How is it speed-wise? Does it get laggy or has it been crisp all along? I notice there's no GPS, so unlike the nexus or hudl you can't use this as a satnav. Not a problem if your daughter is too young to drive and looks like good value.
Click to expand...

It's as quick in use as the nexus 7 I've just sold.

Does anyone really use a 7" tablet as a Satnav?
 
Ordered one, thanks for posting, Dave. Looks spot on for what I want.
 
minnnt said:
How's this been going Dave?

Any pros and cons yet?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I'm still impressed, it was bought to be used almost as an expendable item for occasions I didn't want to risk my iPad. And it's better than either Nexus 7 (2012 and a 2013) I had for text import, the touchscreen is much more sensitive and accurate.

It's quick and smooth in operation and is very comfortable as an ebook reader, the twin front facing cameras speakers make it a good internet radio.

Though this brings up the stupidity of Android, some apps like TuneIn Radio won't install from the Play Store, because they supposedly need GPS (why I have no idea). It's easy enough to install an alternative AppStore like Apptoide to get them from, but it has to asked, why is Android so stupid in this sort of implementation?
 
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Looks good. I was considering a Nexus for may daughter, but this looks like a contender. Cheers.
 
Not sure how they compare but you can get a Nook HD 7 inch tablet for just under £47 delivered if anyone is looking for a bargain.

To do so you need to :

Go via Topcashback for 10% cashback at isme (new isme customers only):

http://www.topcashback.co.uk/share/you/isme/SCB

Use topcashback link to go to isme (log in or join for free if not a member).

On isme search for Nook HD 7 (£79.99); add to basket and set up a credit account. (Select create credit account).

Use voucher code 3upvq to get £30 off (for new isme credit account customers only).

Checkout (with option to pay in full: Total Including Delivery = £52.95. Less topcashback of around £6.60 = £46.35 for the tablet including delivery - bargain! :)

There is also the option of the 16gb version for an extra £20 - so a total of £66 delivered - so similar to the Arc price above. As I said, not sure how they compare in use.


Nook HD specs:
Screen: 243 ppi pixel density, Resolution 1440 x 900 pixels, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, Dual core 1.3GHz Processor, 1GB RAM, USB 2.0 Connector and microUSB SD card slot (expandable up to 64gb), Wi-Fi, Battery Life: Up to 8 hours. No camera, no GPS. Weight: 315 grams.

So depends what you want really, but I got one a few weeks ago and I think it a bargain for 46 squid. :)
 
Dave1 said:
Though this brings up the stupidity of Android, some apps like TuneIn Radio won't install from the Play Store, because they supposedly need GPS (why I have no idea). It's easy enough to install an alternative AppStore like Apptoide to get them from, but it has to asked, why is Android so stupid in this sort of implementation?
Click to expand...

It's google, rather than Android, and possibly the app writer too, wanting GPS. It's likely that feature is required so they can target radio stations & ads to you.

*Personally* I'm a bit disinclined toward Kobo stuff. The book readers run slow when you first get them, but then become enormously slower to the point where after a year we replaced my wife's with a Nook (£30 - works really well). The Kobo app on the phone is a sluggish disorganised mess and the Kobo app on the Mac is likewise sluggish, though better organised. So I'd be a little cautious about spending money again when they seem to sod up the software side.
 
ancient_mariner said:
It's google, rather than Android, and possibly the app writer too, wanting GPS. It's likely that feature is required so they can target radio stations & ads to you.

*Personally* I'm a bit disinclined toward Kobo stuff. The book readers run slow when you first get them, but then become enormously slower to the point where after a year we replaced my wife's with a Nook (£30 - works really well). The Kobo app on the phone is a sluggish disorganised mess and the Kobo app on the Mac is likewise sluggish, though better organised. So I'd be a little cautious about spending money again when they seem to sod up the software side.
Click to expand...

Except the app works perfectly when installed from Apptoide, so it isn't a requirement for the app at all. The app is just restricted by the Play Store.

There is nothing sluggish about the Kobo as unlike the Kindle Fire and the Nook it runs generic Android with a few Kobo apps installed. I don't use the Kobo apps, I actually use pathetic Kindle app for ebook reading and it works perfectly.

It's generic Android, powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core processor and 1GB of RAM, think about it, why would it be anymore sluggish than a Nexus 7?

In fact, in the Laptop mag test the Kobo Arc beats the 2012 Nexus 7 in about 10/15 benchmarks.
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/tablets/kobo-arc.aspx
 
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Sure Dave, no worries. It's more from the POV that they'll come along and do something stupid to it later.
 
ancient_mariner said:
Sure Dave, no worries. It's more from the POV that they'll come along and do something stupid to it later.
Click to expand...

Oh no, they won't get a chance ;).

While I haven't uninstalled their apps yet, they have been relegated from the home screens, Nova Launcher even takes away their tapestry app that wants to run along the bottom. I have no intention of using any of the kobo apps.
 
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