[Tron40]

I'm thinking of upgrading to a smartphone in order to have a "pocket computer" that I can have on the go--sometimes. My current phone is a Samsung a107, which is a very basic prepaid flip phone. It's small and light and fits my pocket well, and I'm happy with it as a phone.

Now, I've seen the Nokia Lumia 520 which is a prepaid smartphone type that costs $100. I immediately thought this would be just the thing for my "pocket computer" idea. It comes with the Windows 8 OS.

But now I'm wondering if I'd be better off just getting a tablet computer, most of which use the Android OS, which I'm not familiar with. I've noticed many of these tablets cost well under $100, which is what I'd have to pay for that Nokia phone.

So now my questions: Since I'm happy with my current phone, wouldn't it just make sense to get a tablet, or would I be losing out on anything big by not having a smartphone? Is the phone portion of the Nokia what makes the price increase? Is a smartphone simply a tablet computer with a phone component? Is the Android OS all that much different or harder to use than Windows?

[webdev77]

I suggest you do a lot of research before purchasing or you will be very disappointed. Windows Phone 8 is extremely different from Windows 8 for desktop.

As for these so-called $100 tablets, don't get one. You will be disappointed that you just wasted $100 on something so slow that it barely can browse the web. Any respectable Android tablet will run you $300+ if you want it to be a mobile computer.

A smartphone is different from a tablet in the fact that they run different operating systems (slightly), different applications, and often have more GPS enabled features. You cannot run an app on an android tablet just because it runs on an android phone. The app must be designed to handle a different resolution and different screen size.

Android is very different from Windows Phone OS but I find it easy to use.

[Tron40]

I suggest you do a lot of research before purchasing or you will be very disappointed. Windows Phone 8 is extremely different from Windows 8 for desktop.

As for these so-called $100 tablets, don't get one. You will be disappointed that you just wasted $100 on something so slow that it barely can browse the web. Any respectable Android tablet will run you $300+ if you want it to be a mobile computer.

A smartphone is different from a tablet in the fact that they run different operating systems (slightly), different applications, and often have more GPS enabled features. You cannot run an app on an android tablet just because it runs on an android phone. The app must be designed to handle a different resolution and different screen size.

Android is very different from Windows Phone OS but I find it easy to use.

Thank you for your response! I use a laptop that uses Win7, so I wouldn't have a PC to mobile Win8 transition problem.

BTW, my laptop is a Toshiba that I bought 3 years ago for $300 and has a Celeron 2.2GHZ processor and 2 GB of RAM. Being used to this, do you still think I'd be disappointed in what a $100 tablet would do today?

[Onіx]

A smartphone is different from a tablet in the fact that they run different operating systems (slightly), different applications, and often have more GPS enabled features. You cannot run an app on an android tablet just because it runs on an android phone. The app must be designed to handle a different resolution and different screen size.

Android has built in Scaling Optimisation for different screen aspect ratio's and resolutions and so all apps work on all devices. No blurriness, just scaled to fit the screen.

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Thank you for your response! I use a laptop that uses Win7, so I wouldn't have a PC to mobile Win8 transition problem.

BTW, my laptop is a Toshiba that I bought 3 years ago for $300 and has a Celeron 2.2GHZ processor and 2 GB of RAM. Being used to this, do you still think I'd be disappointed in what a $100 tablet would do today?

Win8 mobile is COMPLETELY different in almost every aspect to desktop...

Yes, a $100 tablet is shockingly bad, most of these are made by unknown companies that use cheap parts and will break easily. The only cheap tablet I would buy would be the Nexus 7 2013, that's $200 though. Anything cheaper than that is usually useless.

[Tron40]

Android has built in Scaling Optimisation for different screen aspect ratio's and resolutions and so all apps work on all devices. No blurriness, just scaled to fit the screen.

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Win8 mobile is COMPLETELY different in almost every aspect to desktop...

Yes, a $100 tablet is shockingly bad, most of these are made by unknown companies that use cheap parts and will break easily. The only cheap tablet I would buy would be the Nexus 7 2013, that's $200 though. Anything cheaper than that is usually useless.

So do you think I should stay away from both the sub-$100 tablet and the Nokia Lumia 520 (which also costs $100)?

[Ðε⊥εḉ☂ї♥ε ☾øηαη]

i'd prefere the tablet .. as it's wider, better, can act like a smartphone in calling.

yet it lags more, of course excluding the Ipads 🤝

[.Cisko]

I would go with a tablet, unless you're looking for 24/7 portability. There is no reason to get a phone over a tablet if you don't plan on bringing it with you everywhere. You can always buy a backpack with a tablet pouch or whatever and just put it in there as well.