For a number of years, I’ve been using an iPad Mini as a basic consumption device to catch up on the news and monitor my e-mail accounts.  Having used a “regular” early iPad, I wanted to be capable of updating the operating system but also having a lighter, smaller device that can easily be hand held.  However, using the Apple IOS operating system was very frustrating since there was no visible access to the IOS file system something I find very powerful with Windows, Linux, Raspian, and Android.  I never found it possible to move files from my home network to the iPad, nor save a (text) file to the network.  Yes it was possible via e-mail to and fro, but no clear cut (to me at least) way to exchange files.

My original iPad experience was at a conference several years ago.  I was using an iPad to take notes at the conference but at the end of the day…an inadvertent key stroke wiped out the entire day’s notes…and no way to recover them. (Lesson learned, in the days following,  I e-mailed about every hour, and I did manage to spend another day recreating the original “lost” notes).

So I evolved the big iPad to an iPad Mini to serve as a nice small consumption device.  But tired I grew of the lack of file exchange possibilities.  While searching Amazon, one of my favorite technology sites, I found a 10” Android-based device at a reasonably low cost – perhaps an opportunity to explore Android operating system.  Unfortunately the 10″ was really larger than I wanted for the functions intended, was an older, non-upgradeable version of Android, and would occasionally/frequently crash.  Fortunately, my financial investment in this 10” device was not significant.

Recognizing that Windows portable devices did not have the robust applications available to Android or IOS, a common complaint by many technology followers, I continued my search for a nice small device for consumption services (note: not a production machine).  And I found one on Amazon in the Lenovo Tab4-8…a device, approximately the size of the iPad Mini, but also with a more up-to-date OS version (which has been updated several times as new security patches were released).  The Tab4 is a 4^th generation Lenovo tablet with an 8” form factor.

And of course the good news is Android has a visible file system, and there are applications that provide for the movement of files to/from external networks. In one experiment, I moved a big Excel spread sheet of my coin collection from my network to the Tab4-8 and was able to use it at a coin show to see my coin inventory; mission accomplished!

Using the nice hand-held 8” tablet and light weight was a turning point for this technology since it enabled me to put away those 11”x17” spread sheets and use a small 8” electronic device.  By putting it into airplane mode, the battery lasts a very long time yet still allows me to make functional use at the coin shows.

I recently took the Tab4-8 on an international trip…to preserve weight it was my only computing device.  It worked out just fine, I was able to track my e-mails, I learned how to move a few pictures from my camera to the Tab4 so I could do a small amount of edits/crops and send them to friends.  While the edits were limited, it served its purpose.  Also I could use the tablet on the airplanes since there are no cellular features (only WiFi and Bluetooth), but I tried to watch a movie I previously put on the tablet but I had limited success due to the size and table-top setting.  Another benefit –  the tablet fit nicely in my carry-on case.

Overall I like the Lenovo Tab4-8; my rating is 4 stars out of 5.

Pros:

• It runs a fairly current version of Android, and is periodically updated with security patches.
• It can run my favorite Firefox! Also Chrome browsers.
• Expandable micro SD storage to make up for the small “disk” space typical in low cost devices.
• There is a single micro USB port. Mostly used for power, it can also connect to devices such as a flash drives.  Leveraging a flash drive needs to change a setting to permit file access via the USB port (a good security practice).  Connector may be subject to breakage (e.g. plugged in for power, moving the tablet while reading content) although it does stand up well even after several accidental “pulls”.
• No detectable speed/performance problems for my use, connectivity to WiFi seems good.
• The Google Play Store has a lot of applications – often same/similar to IOS to cover a wide range of functional usage. Access to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint is available as are other office suite software.
• Very nice sound system, surprisingly nice.
• Nicely fits into a small carry on messenger bag.
• Price, very reasonable.

Cons:

• There is a single micro USB port. While used mostly for power, one cannot power the device and connect to external flash drives…one or the other.  Would be nice to have two ports.
• The camera pictures leave a lot to be desired, especially in low light. Bright outside seems to work OK, but overall a poor camera.  (Not a big problem for me since I use a camera for pictures!).
• Unlike the iPad Mini, the Lenovo Tab4-8 doesn’t have a magnetic closure sleep mode. Several of the cases that can safely house the Tab4 use magnetic closure, and the iPad for one senses the magnet and puts the device in sleep mode.
• It would be nice to have more internal storage, but external microSD storage is a good alternative for “documents” but applications have to be on the internal storage.
• The screen washes out in sunlight.

Note: Opinions expressed herein are those of the author. Any names/trademarks used are NOT an endorsement of those items…but are provided for reference only and are owned by their owner(s).