If you're just developing for fun, it doesn't matter. Get a Kindle Fire, root it and put Ice Cream Sandwich on it and you have a cheap and pretty good Android tablet. If you want to develop seriously, youll need several devices with several versions of Android. You probably want a Nexus device since that's the closest thing to a 'standard'. And you'll want an unlocked one so you're not hindered by carriers. Can you tell us more about what you're trying to do? On Wed, 23 May 2012, Jason Hsu wrote: > I'm in the market for a basic Android device. My main reason for buying one is for learning to develop mobile apps. While the Eclipse IDE offers a virtual Android device for testing apps, it's not the same thing as a real Android device and won't put me on the same wavelength as Android device users. (The most obvious example: Visibility is poorer in a bright outdoor environment than indoors.) > > Some questions: > 1. Is a tablet PC the type of device I should get? I get the impression that it's more versatile than other devices. I don't need a smartphone, because my dumbphone works well for me, and I don't even use it that much. And I HATE the idea of being locked into a specific wireless provider. I'm not interested in ebooks, because I still like books on paper better. > 2. In addition to wifi, what else should I look for? > 3. Are there any brands/models I should avoid? I remember hearing that the Packard Bell PCs were the most unreliable. The Yugo was a terrible value. (An old Oldsmobile Cutlass clunker was a better value - at least as reliable but MUCH cheaper to buy.) > > -- > Jason Hsu <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com> > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > -Yaron --