Which 2 tablets for car headrest movies?

Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 11:29

We're buying a new car soon and wanted to get 2 new tablets for the back of the headrests for the kids. I was originally planning 2 x Google Nexus 10's, I can counter the lack of MicroSD support by rooting and using the OTG/USB solution…

All good, but now I'm wondering if I can achieve the same results on a smaller budget. I figure the Nexus 10's are overkill for this task, so what might get the job done on less coin? I still want 10" form. Battery life a non-issue because we'll have inverted power supply available (we'll be doing frequent 8 hr road trips I should have mentioned) but I don't want anything too old that it couldn't handle 720p (or 1080p a bonus but not essential).

Any thoughts?

Computing

Comments

  • mooney on 01/06/2014 - 12:23
    +1

    A friend at work does a lot of travel and he recently swears by an external wireless hard drive. His one creates a WiFi cloud that can steam HD movies to up to 5 devices at once (plus its flexible with lots of video file types)

    Could be a low maintenance option to your rooting/usb otg plans. Plus it'd mean you can stockpile the movies/TV shows on a 1tb hard drive.

    Not answering your question at all (sorry) but thought I'd raise it as it's my planned option for when my baby gets a tad bigger.

    • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:17

      No that's good (interesting) advice actually, something I'd not even thought of but am now going to do some pricing on. The rooting / OTG / USB business doesn't bother me overly (I like tampering with things) but 1 central and much larger storage hub is overall much more practical. And power means nothing will go flat.

      Good tip, I'm going to look further into this.

  • mooney on 01/06/2014 - 12:33

    Its probably worth highlighting how much you expect to pay for a nexus 10 as well. As they're quite old now the price can vary a bit so a bit more clarity could help get you a better level of advice.

    • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:22

      I'll pay how ever little I can get away with paying. They've been as low as $300 before (Kogan) but now everyone seems to be listing them over $350.

      I'd hoped to have change from $650 originally, if I purchased today I wouldn't even get 2 for that price. It does still feel like a lot of money and therefore I'm wondering if there are cheaper options escaping my attention. 2 tabs for under $500 would be great. Is that possible without getting a yumcha chinese brand from BuyCoins? I don't want to do that.

  • MynyMouqe on 01/06/2014 - 14:27

    I picked up two 7" Pendo pads from the last Coles sale (the quad core ones) for $79 each - loaded XBMC on them, and they work awesome even with 1080P MKV's over the USB OTG or the MicroSD.

    • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:28

      That gives me hope, although I do want 10" tabs.

      EDIT: Or at least 8-10" anyway.

      • MynyMouqe on 01/06/2014 - 14:32

        The 7" are not too bad.. for me it was as much a proof of concept as it was to get it in, and at that price I couldn't refuse! When I checked the DVD players that were built into the headrest on the old car they were 7" screens too.

        I'd suggest you use XBMC, and load a skin called "re-touched" - works really well with the touchscreen.

        • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:35

          You are putting yours in the headrests? How are you doing that, buying ones with holes in them or some custom work?

          I originally thought about that as a professional finish but then decided I'd just get the brackets which can adjust (horizontal and tilt) as a cheaper/easier option. But I'd be interested in hearing what you have done. Obviously doing such rules out 10".

        • MynyMouqe on 01/06/2014 - 14:37

          Nope - we've bought a new car with no screens in the back, old car had built in screens in the back that the kids used to love.

          Planning on just using the brackets - only need the tablets in when we're going on a longer trip, and that way the kids can play Angry Birds too :).

        • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:38

          Ahh i see, yes exactly my plan too. Easily removed when not doing long trips like you say.

        • MynyMouqe on 01/06/2014 - 14:41

          I'd also suggest that you don't use an inverted power supply, it's very wasteful for just a couple of tablets - I've bought a 4 port ciggy lighter powerboard type thing, and just using two cheap USB chargers to run them.

        • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 15:00

          Yeah, you might be right. I was thinking ultimately it might support more than just tablets, such as laptop etc, but I am kinda clutching at straws here and my gut tells me your suggestion might be just as effective. The only pro with the inverted power supply would be cleaner charging (less likely to over-charge the tabs). Higher cost justified? Perhaps not.

  • Click_It on 01/06/2014 - 14:58

    As this thread continues, I've researched mooney's suggestion and now like the idea of the Seagate Wireless Plus 1TB drive, it's around $190 on StaticIce:
    http://staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Seagate+Wireles…

    And a youtube review (not the greatest review but good enough)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7StxxG8Joo

    Now to see if I can fit that, along with 2 tabs within budget :)

    • spersephone on 02/06/2014 - 08:14

      I've got one and it's pretty good (the Seagate Wireless Plus).

  • mooney on 01/06/2014 - 22:09

    I'll check with the guy at work which one he has as he claimed it worked flawlessly for him. As for which tablet, from what I've found the Samsung galaxy tab seems to be the best cheap 10" option. Though not much of a saving from the nexus 10. I think your saving would come from an 8" option unfortunately.

  • altomic on 01/06/2014 - 22:47
    +1

    you are right, Nexus 10s are overkill. why not get a couple of inexpensive dual core 8" or 9" or 10" from Aliexpress or other? they are only there to watch movies/tv shows. so they just need to be relatively low tech (as long as they play movies then great.)

    load each one with a 32gb micro sd card (equivalent of 40 movies or so)

    double cig lighter with power cord.
    headphones.

    you are done.

    here is a couple of options from aliexpress -quad core 10" tablets - option1 AUS$106 delivered and option 2 AU$115 delivered

    the cheaper one has bluetooth which means bluetooth headphones

  • WD TV andSOUND on 02/06/2014 - 11:37
    +1

    There are Nexus 7 on special else where in Ozbargain if the 10" is to big.

  • Michael15286 on 03/06/2014 - 05:19
    +1

    Yeah, $99 refurb Nexus 7's from Officeworks. I came just to suggest this.

  • Click_It on 03/06/2014 - 10:47

    Okay change of plans based on advice here. Now going to get a nexus 7 (2012) can be 16gb doesn't matter, because our older daughter (teen) already has the same tab so this way I only buy 1.and I'll get the wifi hdd mentioned above and I keep well inside original budget, more or less $300 under budget with 1TB cloud storage.

    Just a bummer I didn't figure this out while OW has the $99 refurbs, that's okay the 16gb shouldn't cost too much more.

    Thanks guys!

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