[Madelaine Amee]

The reason for this thread is to help all the other people looking to bring computereeze back to a language we can actually understand.

So often on this board, people will ask a question regarding computers and just recently I was in need of help. I wanted to purchase a new tablet and wanted to know the difference between the very high end and expensive and the very low end and inexpensive. I found one I liked the look of and started to read the description .............. Y88X 7'' Quad Core Google Android 4.4 KitKat Tablet PC, Dual Camera, HD 1024x600 Multi-touch Screen, 8GB Nand Flash, Google Play & Zoodles Pre-load, 3D Game Supported (Advanced version of Y88)! The real techies on this board will understand what this gargon means, me - I had no idea. I searched the internet for a site that would bring this talk down to my level, but could find nothing. I finally found The Villages Computer Club and whoever wrote their website is a genius ............. I could actually understand it and I found the information I was looking for.

I hope others looking for help will check out their website, it really is a great source of information .............. and with pictures to back up the dialog.

[tomwed]

I agree the Computer Club does a wonderful job and I have been to a few of their lectures. The teachers are very clear and easy to understand. You never feel too intimidated to ask what may seem to you a dumb question. They do have a great website.

Here's another online source of information that is similar in scope and depth.

The Tech Guy hosted by Leo Laporte. It is a US-wide syndicated radio show and podcast. click here

The show is a mixture of interviews and call-ins, as well as Leo's own thoughts and opinions on current events in technology.

I'll give it a shot----just in case someone else has the same questions:

Y88X 7'' The screen measures 7" diagonally.

Quad Core That's the size of the "motor" or brains. The bigger the better. It's jargon.

Google Android 4.4 KitKat Tablet PC
Computer companies are terrible at naming things. Movie studios do it better. Godfather 3 followed Godfather 2 that followed Godfather 1.
Here goes:
KitKat is the version of the operating system. Most tablets use the Android operating system and most computers use the Windows operating system. Some of the versions of the Windows operating systems are XP, Windows 95, Windows 8.1. The names they choose for each version is silly and if you ask me purposely confusing.

Dual Camera, The tablet has 2 cameras

HD 1024x600 A High Definition screen is easier to see. It's the same with your tv.

Multi-touch Screen You don't use a keyboard and a mouse like you do with a computer you use your finger to touch the screen like on a smart phone

8GB Nand Flash More jargon about memory. The more the better.

Google Play & Zoodles Pre-load, 3D Game Supported (Advanced version of Y88)! More jargon about preloaded internet software made by Google. Preloaded means that it is installed at the factory.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I agree the Computer Club does a wonderful job and I have been to a few of their lectures. The teachers are very clear and easy to understand. You never feel too intimidated to ask what may seem to you a dumb question. They do have a great website.

Here's another online source of information that is similar in scope and depth.

The Tech Guy hosted by Leo Laporte. It is a US-wide syndicated radio show and podcast. click here

The show is a mixture of interviews and call-ins, as well as Leo's own thoughts and opinions on current events in technology.

I'll give it a shot----just in case someone else has the same questions:

Y88X 7'' The screen measures 7" diagonally.

Quad Core That's the size of the "motor" or brains. The bigger the better. It's jargon.

Google Android 4.4 KitKat Tablet PC
Computer companies are terrible at naming things. Movie studios do it better. Godfather 3 followed Godfather 2 that followed Godfather 1.
Here goes:
KitKat is the version of the operating system. Most tablets use the Android operating system and most computers use the Windows operating system. Some of the versions of the Windows operating systems are XP, Windows 95, Windows 8.1. The names they choose for each version is silly and if you ask me purposely confusing.

Dual Camera, The tablet has 2 cameras

HD 1024x600 A High Definition screen is easier to see. It's the same with your tv.

Multi-touch Screen You don't use a keyboard and a mouse like you do with a computer you use your finger to touch the screen like on a smart phone

8GB Nand Flash More jargon about memory. The more the better.

Google Play & Zoodles Pre-load, 3D Game Supported (Advanced version of Y88)! More jargon about preloaded internet software made by Google. Preloaded means that it is installed at the factory.

Tom - thanks for your great email and explanation of the tablet terms. I have been gone most of the day and have only just found your reply to my original post about the computer club ---- appreciate your input. Now, do I bite the bullet and buy the IPad or do I chance my arm and buy one of the much less expensive androids? I am really intrigued by the Dragon. I really only (at this time) want the tablet for travel outside the country. Of course when I get one I will probably fall in love with it and take it everywhere with me!

[Madelaine Amee]

I should also thank you .... Tom ........... for the Tech Guy link - great stuff.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

Tom - thanks for your great email and explanation of the tablet terms. I have been gone most of the day and have only just found your reply to my original post about the computer club ---- appreciate your input. Now, do I bite the bullet and buy the IPad or do I chance my arm and buy one of the much less expensive androids? I am really intrigued by the Dragon. I really only (at this time) want the tablet for travel outside the country. Of course when I get one I will probably fall in love with it and take it everywhere with me!

How would you use it for travel outside this country?

I'll tell you how I used my smart phone in Spain and Italy 2 years ago.
First of all a smart phone is a computer that is also a phone. I turned off the phone feature because it is expensive to use and my wife and I were always together.
I had an app for Rome that used my GPS and when ever I got lost the app told me where I was and how to get to where I was going. If we wanted to eat or see what is special in the area I could click a button and it would tell me the restaurants or art museums in the area and if I still didn't know which way to walk I clicked a button and like a compass a blue arrow pointed in the right direction.
I also downloaded Rick Steves audio tour guides before I left home for Rome, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, and Malaga. It was like wearing a head set in a museum.
I also had a collection of audio books that I listened to while flying or riding a train.
I'm sure there more more things I could have used.

The most popular phones right now are called phablets. That is because they are closer in size to a tablet but are also a phone. It's a huge smart phone. Some people can only afford one device so this is their phone, computer and tablet.