Help picking a tablet for Dyslexic daughter

My daughter has dyslexia and the school told us that Learning Ally is a great source for audio books. The problem I’m running into is that Learning Ally will not work with any of our devices. I don’t want to spend a lot so an iPad is not an option. Learning Ally will not work with Fire tablets , Nook e-readers or my Windows RT tablets either. She’ll wear headphones so sound quality is not real important but she’ll need to follow along on the device while it reads to her so the screen quality would matter some.

Learning Ally will work with Full windows, Android 4.1 or higher. It will work on Chromebooks also but think those would be to expensive. Does anyone have any experience with the NuVision tablets that go on sale on Microsoft? I really wish it would work with the Fire tablets since something similar to it would probably work the best. Thanks

Conversation 11 comments

  • xperiencewindows

    21 May, 2017 - 2:23 pm

    <p>If you're on a budget and OK with a Chromebook, check out the Dell Chromebook 11 ($215) or HP Chromebook 14 ($170). Yes, Chromebooks are limited in what they can do, but you may want to consider these options.</p>

    • Sprtfan

      21 May, 2017 - 8:26 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#118482"><em>In reply to xperiencewindows:</em></a></blockquote><p>I have an old/cheap laptop I might try to let her use. The screen is a low end TN panel and I know that I don't like reading off of it but might be worth using to start off with. </p><p>If it works out well maybe I'll look into an iPad. I'd prefer to stay with Windows though and may check out some of the lower end 2 n 1 laptops. I have not looked in a while and expected there to be more Windows based tablets like the HP Stream 7 or the Dell Venue 8 Pro that I remember looking at a few years ago. They most not have sold well since I don't believe either seems to be making them any more. Thanks</p>

  • AnOldAmigaUser

    Premium Member
    21 May, 2017 - 3:44 pm

    <p>If you want to stick with Windows, look at the HP Stream or Asus Transformer models. Prices between 200 and 250 new. You can get a refurb for less. Otherwise a Chromebook is probably the best option, and I am not a Google fan.</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    21 May, 2017 - 3:45 pm

    <p>The NuVision tablets are junk. This is tech, and you get what you pay for. The current iPad is $329 for a 32GB model. That will give her good, solid hardware that's going to work well for years unlike a bargain basement Android or Windows tablet that's going to be so annoying that she hates to use it. </p><p>My honest suggestion is if you're able to, go for an iPad. Even a refurbished one will do you well. If not, try to find a used Nexus tablet. I'd imagine you can find Nexus 7s at decent prices! Those are great little machines.</p>

  • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

    21 May, 2017 - 11:25 pm

    <p>I agree entirely with the previous commenter, <em>jimchamplin</em>, that "NuVision tablets are junk". However I beg to differ with the remainder of his statement, suggesting an iPad/Nexus would be ideal, for they are far from being "great little machines".</p><p>The suggestion from <em>AnOldAmigaUser</em> to look into purchasing a 7" to 8" Windows tablet, is most certainly words of wisdom. You already alluded to the Windows tablets, HP Stream 7 and the Dell Venue 8 Pro.</p><p>I personally purchased a Lenovo ThinkPad 8 Windows 8.3" tablet in late 2014. The main specifications are a WUXGA 1920×1200 (16:10) resolution IPS screen (slightly larger than full HD), 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage space, a microSD card slot for additional storage, and Intel's Ivy Bridge Atom (Bay-Trail) CPU. It currently runs Windows 10 x64 Pro.</p><p>Rather than carry a cumbersome laptop, I use this device during the day and it does everything I need it to do when out of the office, executes Adobe Photoshop CC (2017) x64 without issue, and it also come equipped with the optional 4G LTE connectivity too for when there's no Wi-Fi.</p><p>(Not that it's relevant to your query, but for the sake of completeness, the ThinkPad 8 also has a GPS sensor that works great with maps.google.com and the UWP Windows Map app.)</p><p>I do recall checking eBay in the fall of 2016 for a brand-new Lenovo ThinkPad 8 for my sister. I purchased a brand-new (unopened box) one for her for about £225 (US$292). Considering I purchased mine for about £425 (US$552) when these were being sold direct from Lenovo in late 2014, I believe a price tag of £225 (US$292) represents value for money.</p><p>It's about two years since Lenovo, HP, and Dell have discontinued their 7" to 8" Windows tablets, as they were poor sellers, so you might pick one cheap on eBay too.</p><p>In a nutshell, my Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is for all intents and purposes my "Surface Mini", and I'm fairly confident if the price were right for you, your daughter would greatly take advantage of any 7" to 8" Windows tablet that has 4 GB RAM.</p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      22 May, 2017 - 2:29 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#118547"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p>I miss my Stream 7. Loved that little thing, but the screen shattered on it and the only thing "comparable" that was in stock was the NuVision. </p><p>The screen has a pitiful backlight that causes weird shadows and dark spots, and half the time it won't wake from sleep. It has NO POWER MANAGEMENT at all. The makers didn't think that optimized firmware was really needed for a portable machine. It can't even hibernate!</p>

  • Orin

    22 May, 2017 - 4:15 pm

    <p>For an Android option, I can't recommend enough the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 8" or 10". They come with Android 5.1, but there's an OTA update to Android 6. The battery life is incredible. It has a built in kickstand which is extremely handy. The screen is great. I know this isn't important but the audio from the speakers is great. The biggest downside is case selection. There are very few cases on the market for this. I found the 10 inch at Walmart for $200. I bought my wife a used 8 inch on eBay for $80. They have them on Amazon as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019THTH3A/ref=twister_B01MG85YR3?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1</p&gt;

  • SomeoneElse

    22 May, 2017 - 7:45 pm

    <p>The app would probably work with the new Nook Tablet 7", which comes with Android 6.0 and has full access to the Google Play store. For $50 it's not a bad little device if you keep your expectations low.</p><p><br></p>

    • Sprtfan

      23 May, 2017 - 2:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#118757"><em>In reply to SomeoneElse:</em></a></blockquote><p>The support site said it would not work with Nook tablets but I wonder if that was based on the older ones that did not have the Play store? I'll look into it. Thanks</p>

  • Sprtfan

    23 May, 2017 - 2:43 pm

    <blockquote><a href="#118899"><em>In reply to stephenrgarrett:</em></a></blockquote><p>I'm a little concerned about the screen size on a ipod or a iphone 5S being to small. She needs to be able to follow along with it. I'll check out my library. I know they have ebooks but have not looked into audio books from them. </p>

  • Jeffsters

    24 May, 2017 - 4:43 pm

    <p>iPad starts new at $329, refirbs at $209. A used iPad Air or Air 2 can be easily had for less than new and unlike the others here is of obvious quality and will last and be supported for many more years. </p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC