cheap small device (but with keyboard) specifically for surfing Web - recommendations?

[Morgana]

Lots of helpful ideas here; many thanks. To answer questions: I don't have a really exact budget. I'm balancing what I would save if I didn't have to get my own Internet service, what I'd pay to do the high-priority stuff through my phone data plan, what kind of bargain I can find, and trying to decide how big a screen I need to avoid the eye strain issue. Too many unknowns there for you guys to make a really specific recommendation, that's why I prefer (and appreciate) these more brainstormy suggestions.

I definitely would want this thing just for consuming (books, movies, websites), not for productivity/creativity. After what I've read here, I'm leaning more towards a tablet + keyboard although I still kinda like the idea of a Chromebook. Also I hadn't been thinking about refurbished, and maybe that's another good option. Thanks again!

 

[Happy Camper]

I think tablet/keyboard/mouse would work well for you. You can also consider a 2 in 1 laptop that converts into a tablet. Then you have the best of both worlds.

Another suggestion, since you already have a laptop, is to make a USB boot drive for it that runs directly off of your USB drive. Any stored files end up on the USB drive as well.

Fully self contained, completely separate from your normal boot drive. You can make a copy of it so you always have a clean copy just in case. Fairly cheap to do as well. You just need time and a decent size USB drive.

This can be done with windows or Linux.

 

[eDJ_]

Just looking thru your parameters, I checked out Amazon and found this Acer/Android 11 but I don't believe it has an HDMI port if that is important.

Acer Android 11 Tablet with Bluetooth and 4 star rating

Keyboard & Case set

Rechargeable Bluetooth Mouse/Android

Padded clutch carry case

On these Keyboard Cases, you may have to make a hole for the outward facing camera lens to see thru. If you do this be careful to
get it right the first time.

 

[Frood]

That really depends on who you trust. The employees at the VPN provider (e.g. NordVPN, PIA, etc...) or "Bobby Random Hacker" sniffing the wifi traffic at the local coffee shop...

If you're very privacy-focused, you can setup your own VPN service using a cloud provider like AWS, Linode, etc.. and OpenVPN. But this requires technical expertise regular folks don't normally have.

Err, you can set up your own VPN on your own VPS. You can pay anywhere from $50 up to $1000's for a VPS. The VPN software is available open source and you can use a docker container to install it so you don't even need to be a coder. I use SSD Nodes for my VPS and don't have any complaints but there are countless providers out there.

Generally most of us are protected on the internet because, to be honest, we blend into the countless masses. Some of you may be higher risk as you are higher profile (youtubers, etc) but generally most of us will just blend into the noise. That isn't any protection from automated attacks, data mining, or aggregation of our data though.

 

[mpruet]

I got an iPad-Air which I throughly enjoy. The visuals are quite crisp and sharp rendering an easy to view screen. I added a blue-tooth keyboard so that I could more quickly do any typing. Also the Apple Store has a lot of TV/Video apps and most or free.

You can get a fairly inexpensive used/refurbished iPad. Check out -

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/ipad

 

[dhuff]

You can get a fairly inexpensive used/refurbished iPad. Check out -

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/ipad

Refurbished products directly from Apple itself are a very good deal. They're basically "as good as new." OTOH, I'd be very skeptical of refurbed Apple products from other sources. You could get a gem, or a stinker...

 

[dhuff]

Err, you can set up your own VPN on your own VPS. You can pay anywhere from $50 up to $1000's for a VPS. The VPN software is available open source and you can use a docker container to install it so you don't even need to be a coder. I use SSD Nodes for my VPS and don't have any complaints but there are countless providers out there.

Generally most of us are protected on the internet because, to be honest, we blend into the countless masses. Some of you may be higher risk as you are higher profile (youtubers, etc) but generally most of us will just blend into the noise. That isn't any protection from automated attacks, data mining, or aggregation of our data though.

"Canned" docker containers would definitely make this easier for sure - good point. As for the last paragraph, we might have to agree to disagree. I've been a cybersecurity engineer for almost 15 years and while I technically see your point, I don't trust "security by obscurity."

But hey, good discussion! Merry Christmas!

 

[Frood]

"Canned" docker containers would definitely make this easier for sure - good point. As for the last paragraph, we might have to agree to disagree. I've been a cybersecurity engineer for almost 15 years and while I technically see your point, I don't trust "security by obscurity."

But hey, good discussion! Merry Christmas!

In retrospect I kind of regret saying that because it may provide a false sense of security or make people think they don't really need to be aware of network security. You are 100% correct. I would hate for someone to not be aware of their security or not be concerned about their internet security because of something I said! Being just 1 sardine out of 100 Million sardines you, individually, are less likely to be targeted by a hungry tuna... But you will get swept up along with all the others by the nets of a passing trawler.

I rally like some of the "Canned" docker containers that are available. Just wish that there was a better way of knowing what was available. I use canned docker webservers, SSL cert provider (with the webserver) using Lets Encrypt, and WordPress site. Mostly I learned to do it just so that I could learn how to use it (and haven't kept the site up to date like I should since I only use it for learning...) but I've seen VPN containers, messaging/social network clone containers, and TONS of other useful web-apps. Even have cloud-storage containers that you can set up for your own personal dropbox/cloud-drive/etc... only limited by your server's available storage.

 

[Treknik]

I recently purchased a Mini PC and am very happy with it. This is the one I purchased. There are many options.
Beelink Mini PC U59 Pro
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WQPVQ6H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[FredW]

In retrospect I kind of regret saying that because it may provide a false sense of security or make people think they don't really need to be aware of network security. You are 100% correct. I would hate for someone to not be aware of their security or not be concerned about their internet security because of something I said! Being just 1 sardine out of 100 Million sardines you, individually, are less likely to be targeted by a hungry tuna... But you will get swept up along with all the others by the nets of a passing trawler.

I rally like some of the "Canned" docker containers that are available. Just wish that there was a better way of knowing what was available. I use canned docker webservers, SSL cert provider (with the webserver) using Lets Encrypt, and WordPress site. Mostly I learned to do it just so that I could learn how to use it (and haven't kept the site up to date like I should since I only use it for learning...) but I've seen VPN containers, messaging/social network clone containers, and TONS of other useful web-apps. Even have cloud-storage containers that you can set up for your own personal dropbox/cloud-drive/etc... only limited by your server's available storage.

I use protonvpn on my android phone and on my linux desktop. Just get a free protonmail.com account, and then, for the smartphone, download and login to the protonvpn app. Same for Windows, I believe. For linux, it's a bit more work.
Gives you unlimited vpn, except you can't download torrents. I think it may be somewhat bandwidth limited, but it's more bandwidth than I get over my home wifi, so I don't notice it.

 

[Tom_M]

For a Windows notebook check out the Evolve III Maestro available on Amazon here:
EVOLVE III Maestro E Book 11.6'' 4GB 64GB eMMC Celeron N3450 1.1GHz Win10P

I was lucky enough to purchase one from Microcenter for about $55 last fall. It's a very capable machine. It comes with Windows 10 Professional Education. Supposedly some features are stripped out but so far I've had no issues with it. Microcenter no longer sells it.

 

[dhuff]

In retrospect I kind of regret saying that because it may provide a false sense of security or make people think they don't really need to be aware of network security...

No worries at all! I really enjoy your posts and learn great stuff from them. Always good to have a well-rounded discussion about certain issues anyway. Merry Christmas!

 

[Morgana]

I've removed the Amazon operating system and installed straight Android

So how do you do that?

 

[hugemoth]

So how do you do that?

https://liliputing.com/amazon-fire-hd-8-2020-how-to-disable-specific-amazon-apps-and-features/
This page shows how it's done. Works great.

 

[Malamute]

https://liliputing.com/amazon-fire-hd-8-2020-how-to-disable-specific-amazon-apps-and-features/
This page shows how it's done. Works great.

In the info you linked it mentioned removing or disabling the silk browser, whats the option for a browser if thats disabled? I thought that was all the fire tablets were set up for, as a variant of Chrome, but my understanding is very limited.

Id like to learn more about how to simplify the Fire tablets, this has been good info, thanks! I shut off everything i could find that I didnt use, which is quite a lot of things they want you to use and set to run by default. I had no idea you could do more to them.

One hard lesson I learned, I tried to set up one of my older fire tablets for a blink camera, it wouldnt load or run the required software, I figured out mine was too old, but in the process started to register it before finding out (have to register it to get cloud storage of the camera footage). When I then de-registered it, it deleted ALL my saved images and files on that tablet, bookmarks and such. Total wipe. I was very unhappy, it represented years of stuff. If i wanted to register it and sync with another one (id have to register it also) then i could regain it all from the other tablet. Live and learn. I havent figured out how to save all the downloads and bookmarks from the other one I use the most into my computer and install them in the one that was wiped.

 

[Conundrum]

I'm thinking of getting a separate device just for general web-surfing (not private transactions).
(Reasons why TL;DR, not putting that part up for debate.)

I do want it to have a usable keyboard and a screen big enough to watch videos reasonably comfortably.
I do not need it to interact with my main laptop or phone.

Thinking maybe a Chromebook?
Anyone have experience, recommendations, etc?

Thanks!

Get a mid size tablet and a separate comfortable keyboard. Like one that rolls up.

 

[hugemoth]

In the info you linked it mentioned removing or disabling the silk browser, whats the option for a browser if thats disabled? I thought that was all the fire tablets were set up for, as a variant of Chrome, but my understanding is very limited.

Id like to learn more about how to simplify the Fire tablets, this has been good info, thanks! I shut off everything i could find that I didnt use, which is quite a lot of things they want you to use and set to run by default. I had no idea you could do more to them.

One hard lesson I learned, I tried to set up one of my older fire tablets for a blink camera, it wouldnt load or run the required software, I figured out mine was too old, but in the process started to register it before finding out (have to register it to get cloud storage of the camera footage). When I then de-registered it, it deleted ALL my saved images and files on that tablet, bookmarks and such. Total wipe. I was very unhappy, it represented years of stuff. If i wanted to register it and sync with another one (id have to register it also) then i could regain it all from the other tablet. Live and learn. I havent figured out how to save all the downloads and bookmarks from the other one I use the most into my computer and install them in the one that was wiped.

Once your Fire tablet is liberated into a regular Android tablet you can use any browser that will work on an Android phone. I use Firefox but you can use whatever you want.

In order to perform the transformation you need access to a Windows computer and a USB cable. The process takes a few minutes but it only needs to be done once. After that you have a standard Android tablet and can use all the usual apps on Google Play Store.

I made the change to my Fire 10 over a year ago and for me it's a huge improvement. No need to use Amazon's app store and no Amazon ads or restrictions on what will run on the Fire tablets.

 

[Frood]

No worries at all! I really enjoy your posts and learn great stuff from them. Always good to have a well-rounded discussion about certain issues anyway. Merry Christmas!

Heh. I'm just always happy to run into someone that realizes disagreeing with a point means that you should compare data and discuss rather than treat it as an oppositional point of doctrine...

 

[Morgana]

I am leaning toward this guy:
Sansung Galaxy Tab A7
and maybe get a keyboard/mouse later, see how it goes with just the tablet for awhile.
The price ($109) seems surprisingly good.
I expect to use it just for reading/watching/listening, over shared or public wifi, to stuff I don't need a password to access. In other words, for consumption, not production.
That way I can use my laptop, + phone as a hotspot, for "serious" stuff like banking, medical, emailing with clients, and hopefully keep my data usage on that side pretty modest. I have a good phone plan (Consumer Cellular) that doesn't penalize you for experimenting with your data usage (just bumps you to the next level and lets you bump back down when you're ready).
Does this sound feasible? Am I overlooking any fatal flaws?

 

[mpruet]

I am leaning toward this guy:
Sansung Galaxy Tab A7
and maybe get a keyboard/mouse later, see how it goes with just the tablet for awhile.
The price ($109) seems surprisingly good.
Does this sound feasible? Am I overlooking any fatal flaws?

The FAQ section indicates that it is running Android 11 and can not be upgraded to android 13. I wouldn’t get anything that can only run on an old OS. Often that will limit the apps you can download.