New To Android Tablets - Help Please!!

[moggie 939]

I am quite good on my Windows 7 laptop but am about to buy an Acer 7" Android Tablet for holidays and trips, but looking at it is like another world! Can anyone advise with a couple of points?

1. I am told it will take my GMail account ok but will this be webmail and what about my Thunderbird which I use to access my emails?

2. On my PC I have downloaded Google Translate which I use all the time for my Greek Language tuition. I have been told that this is in an App (what is that precisely) and will be exactly the same as on my PC. I am not interested in playing Games or social networking.

3. My worry is - will I be able to add an extra language (Greek) to my tablet as currently on my PC I have this installed and at the bottom of the screen are 'EN' and 'EL' and by toggling between them I can use my keyboard to write using the Greek alphabet. Currys 'experts' say thatthis should be the same on Android operating system (this is the latest I understand which is 4.3 JellyBean)?

4. I don't want everything from my PC as I will only be using this for emails and translating.

5. How will I get online to browse the internet? I use Bing on my PC. Is Android the same?

6. It has a micro usb connection. Will this connect to my PC and if so what for?

I was offered a Windows 8 Tablet which is what I am used to, but the cost was a lot more and it was too bulky.

Thanks everyone

[tamborine]

Youtube gives reviews....heres a short sample but you can check out more detailed.

Acer Iconia A1-810: Hands-On Review: http://youtu.be/GlyKvOP4WWo

[moggie 939]

Thanks tambourine - but it doesn't answer most of my questions.

[Buenchico]

I'm very new to using an Android-based tablet as well, so I'm far from being an expert but I might still be able to help you as I've recently had to work out some similar things for myself:

2(b): An app is simply a program on your tablet. It will come with some standard Android ones supplied (probably plus one or two added by Acer). You can download and install others (either free or for a small charge) from the Google Play store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps?utm_source=en-us-ha&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google+android+apps+market
(You'll see from that link that apps are often more closely linked to a very specific task than Windows programs are, For example, there are apps that let you book rail travel or view newspaper pages, without needing to use a web browser).

1(a) Your tablet will come with an Email app which lets you access most email services. However Gmail is an exception and you need to use a special Gmail app for it. If you use those apps you won't be using webmail (because they function in a roughly similar way to Thunderbird on your PC) but you could still access webmail via your tablet's browser if you so choose.

1(b) You need to check how Thunderbird is configured on your PC. If it's set up to use POP3 email then it's likely that when you download messages they'll be deleted from the server so that they won't then be accessible from your tablet. The solution to that is to go into Thunderbird's settings and look for the option to 'leave mail on server'. If you're using IMAP instead of POP3 there shouldn't be such a problem.

2(a). Google Translate is definitely available as a free app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate

3. You can definitely change the language settings on your tablet but, because I've never tried it, I can't tell you how easy or difficult it is to toggle between the two. (Incidentally, irrespective of whether you're using a PC or a tablet, you might find this site useful: http://greek.typeit.org/ ).

4 . . . doesn't seem to be a question!

5(a). Once wifi is activated on your tablet it will automatically scan for all available networks and you can quickly access any that you know the password for (such as your home network) or that don't require a password (such as those in Wetherspoon's pubs). Note that there's a registration and log-in process for places like Wethersppon's but it's very simple. You just try to access any web page and you'll initially be diverted to the log-in page.

5(b) Your tablet will come with the default Android browser, enabling you to access the internet. (BTW. You don't use Bing to access the internet on your PC. You use a browser [Internet Explorer? Firefox? Chrome?] which happens to have a search engine called Bing available as your home page. You could equally well use any other search engine, as you can also do on your tablet). Alternative browsers are also available as free apps.

6. Tablets use a micro USB connection because there simply isn't space for a full-sized one. Your tablet will be supplied with an adapter lea so that, for example, you can plug one end into the tablet and connect the other end to a USB memory stick.

[moggie 939]

Thanks so much buenchico this is so helpful! I am going to collect my tablet today and will take note of all your points especially the language ones.

I understand now what you mean by apps (like programs on my PC)

Will let you know how I get on setting up. May need to come back!

Thanks again

[moggie 939]

Buenchico

Hello again! Well, I bought my Tablet and Asus 7" and Currys set up some of the things I want at the store which included a Greek keyboard, GoogleTranslator and my email account and Mc Afee security.

Having spent a few hours today setting it up to suit me there are just a couple of points that need clarification:

1. It came with quite a lot of apps preloaded and many I will not use like social media and games. I can't for the life of me find how to delete them! Can they be deleted of must I leave them on? Also I have found how to add new apps such as i player etc, but have added a couple I do not really want - so can I delete these and how?

2. I was I could use the mini usb to connect to my PC to transfer my photo library. They showed as copying across - but how do I locate them on my Tablet?!!

3. Finally. Currys loaded on McAfee which I purchased - but where do I find anything about it on the Tablet?

Thanks again