I’m looking for a tablet to last me at least 4-5 years doing -

  • Reading via Linkding, Audiobookshelf and Kavita
  • Note taking via Notesnook
  • Light media streaming via Jellyfin

I’ve been looking forward to the Google Pixel Tablet 2 to put “The OS that must not be named” on it and have a highly privacy respecting device. The current Pixel tablet just has a lot of drawbacks - support timeline is limited, speakers aren’t good, display is mehh etc. But of course Google didn’t announce the new tablet, most likely putting it off until next year.

I’ve considered a few options -

  • iPad Air - don’t have an Apple account, and frankly don’t want to get into their ecosystem in general.
  • Surface Go - Unavailable in the UK and the kernel required has some missing features as well.
  • Generic Android tablets from Samsung, Lenovo etc - Don’t want a device where I can’t fully control what the OS is doing, and I’ve used LineageOS, and didn’t really like it.
  • Generic Windows tablets from Dell, Lenovo etc - Is Linux really ready for a tablet use case? I’m not really sure about this. Will I have proper driver and hardware support here?
  • Linux tablets such as Pinetab, Starlite etc - These seem to be woefully underpowered and underspec.

So is my only real option to wait until May of 2025 for a Google Pixel Tablet 2? I’d love some input for this dilemma. Thanks!

  • NegativeNull
    9•6 months ago

    I have as Pixel Tablet currently. I use it to read, and watch Jellyfin. I don’t find the speakers or screen bad at all. GrapheneOS should work (I have not tried that yet). Support goes for about 4 more years (less than the 5 you are going for, but close). It’s not a bad choice I don’t think.

      • NegativeNull
        5•6 months ago

        I do (came with the tablet, I didn’t select it). I use it to charge, otherwise not much. If you have a good place for it, the speakers in it are nice (for their size anyways). It’s a bit of a gimmick I think

        • @[email protected]OP
          5•6 months ago

          Cool. I guess I’ll have to reconsider the current Pixel tablet again then - without the dock though, don’t think that’s worth it. Thanks!

          • NegativeNull
            6•6 months ago

            If the dock had an adjustable angle, I’d use it more. Its fixed angle kills some utility. I’d skip if possible