HELP buying big size tablet

tranquility · 11-13-2023, 05:06 PM

I'm planning to do some music open mics and need to look at sheet music. Right now, I have a 8' tablet which just isn't gonna cut it as the screen is way too small, never mind when I'm trying to play in dim lighting. My guess I need something at least 15".

As such, I really just need a big screen and the tablet capability isn't important. Can you guys suggest something that is good for my purpose (heck, if there are discount laptops or anything else I haven't thought of) and maybe won't exceed CAD50? TIA.

Redd · 11-14-2023, 07:55 AM

If it doesn't need to be touch screen, just get any cheap monitor (any size you like) and get a stick PC. They're small, cheap, plug right into the hdmi and can run Windows or Android.

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redd

If it doesn't need to be touch screen, just get any cheap monitor (any size you like) and get a stick PC. They're small, cheap, plug right into the hdmi and can run Windows or Android.

Do you have any examples? I think that I may have been unrealistic w the CAD50 limit haha.

jjFender · 11-14-2023, 01:36 PM

50 bucks? Tough to find a big tablet for that price. Maybe something second hand, and with a cracked screen (or otherwise compromised).

At $100, some more options open up on Amazon, like this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Storage-Tablet...df_B0B2RLTDH8/

But still, the biggest you'll find for this price is a 10in screen and I would expect those cheap tablets to be low quality, slow, and have poor battery life.

vreihen16 · 11-14-2023, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Do you have any examples? I think that I may have been unrealistic w the CAD50 limit haha.

What's that translate to in US Dollars, $7.43?????

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vreihen16

What's that translate to in US Dollars, $7.43?????

You laugh, but we were once higher and we'll get there again someday!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arrrgggh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjFender

50 bucks? Tough to find a big tablet for that price. Maybe something second hand, and with a cracked screen (or otherwise compromised).

At $100, some more options open up on Amazon, like this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Storage-Tablet...df_B0B2RLTDH8/

But still, the biggest you'll find for this price is a 10in screen and I would expect those cheap tablets to be low quality, slow, and have poor battery life.

Tx for this example. Ya, for sure I gotta be way more realistic in my budgeting LOL.

I'm ok w it being a lousy performer because I'm just using it as a screen, so as long as I can load my music onto it and the battery's reasonable (say 3 hours), that's enough for me.

MassWholeBimmer · 11-14-2023, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Do you have any examples? I think that I may have been unrealistic w the CAD50 limit haha.

I was looking at some convertible 360 touch screen laptops on best buy that look nice and have more use cases.. but with your low budget threshold .. I'll pass. May have to bump that up a tad..

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassWholeBimmer

I was looking at some convertible 360 touch screen laptops on best buy that look nice and have more use cases.. but with your low budget threshold .. I'll pass. May have to bump that up a tad..

Ya, I don't wanna buy used/refurnished, but, for sure, my CAD50 budget isn't gonna cut it lol. Maybe I was hoping for a miracle like some freak black friday prices, or thinking of just a bare screen (no computer inside) that I can just plug a usb stick into.

vreihen16 · 11-14-2023, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Maybe I was hoping for a miracle like some freak black friday prices, or thinking of just a bare screen (no computer inside) that I can just plug a usb stick into.

Do you have Black Friday north of the border?

What software is used for displaying sheet music?

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Do you have Black Friday north of the border?

What software is used for displaying sheet music?

We do but actually I'm very unaware and don't keep track of when it occurs.

Just basic JPG/PNG files any viewer should be able to display.

Redd · 11-14-2023, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Do you have any examples? I think that I may have been unrealistic w the CAD50 limit haha.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mM16a5q

It's a full-on Android 12 device with Play Store. Think of it as a phone/tablet but without a screen. Plug it into any hdmi port and you're golden.

This is just an example, there are cheaper ones too. Generally I recommend MTK/Mediatek processors for cheap stick PCs, 4GB RAM recommended. And buy it from Aliexpress, Amazon sells the same stuff but at 3-4x the price.

tranquility · 11-14-2023, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redd

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mM16a5q

It's a full-on Android 12 device with Play Store. Think of it as a phone/tablet but without a screen. Plug it into any hdmi port and you're golden.

This is just an example, there are cheaper ones too. Generally I recommend MTK/Mediatek processors for cheap stick PCs, 4GB RAM recommended. And buy it from Aliexpress, Amazon sells the same stuff but at 3-4x the price.

Tx, it looks great. My prb is that I just want a screen, if I buy that, I still need to look around for a display at the venue that they may not have, so unfortunately that won't work for me.

vreihen16 · 11-15-2023, 08:26 AM

How about a pocket video projector?????

tranquility · 11-15-2023, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vreihen16

How about a pocket video projector?????

$$$ and practicality aside, not sure how it would be w my back to the audience while I'm playing

vreihen16 · 11-15-2023, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

$$$ and practicality aside, not sure how it would be w my back to the audience while I'm playing

There are options under $50 USD, and you could figure out a way to use a white poster board closer to the floor between you and the audience as a projector screen.

I wonder if Google has any links for DIY teleprompter screens?????

tranquility · 11-16-2023, 05:34 PM

Tbh, eventually I'd want to memorize my stuff, but starting out it's good to have a crutch just in case I forget.

11-13-2023, 05:06 PM	#1
tranquility sportscars only 3463 Rep 3,268 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	HELP buying big size tablet I'm planning to do some music open mics and need to look at sheet music. Right now, I have a 8' tablet which just isn't gonna cut it as the screen is way too small, never mind when I'm trying to play in dim lighting. My guess I need something at least 15". As such, I really just need a big screen and the tablet capability isn't important. Can you guys suggest something that is good for my purpose (heck, if there are discount laptops or anything else I haven't thought of) and maybe won't exceed CAD50? TIA. __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
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11-14-2023, 07:55 AM	#2
Redd Brigadier General 4229 Rep 4,415 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	If it doesn't need to be touch screen, just get any cheap monitor (any size you like) and get a stick PC. They're small, cheap, plug right into the hdmi and can run Windows or Android.
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11-14-2023, 01:36 PM	#4
jjFender New Member 23 Rep 23 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	50 bucks? Tough to find a big tablet for that price. Maybe something second hand, and with a cracked screen (or otherwise compromised). At $100, some more options open up on Amazon, like this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Storage-Tablet...df_B0B2RLTDH8/ But still, the biggest you'll find for this price is a 10in screen and I would expect those cheap tablets to be low quality, slow, and have poor battery life.
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11-15-2023, 08:26 AM	#14
vreihen16 Recovering Perfectionist 20526 Rep 1,005 Posts Drives: BMW-less :( Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Orange County, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Mighty Freight ... [0.00] 2000 Audi TT Quattro [0.00] 1967 Formula Vee [0.00]	How about a pocket video projector????? __________________ Currently BMW-less.
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11-16-2023, 05:34 PM	#17
tranquility sportscars only 3463 Rep 3,268 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Tbh, eventually I'd want to memorize my stuff, but starting out it's good to have a crutch just in case I forget. __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
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