I bought an old Android tablet and used it to read PDFs.

dcexpert

I bought an old Android tablet and used it to read PDFs. [Copy link]

 

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I often read PDFs recently. I feel that the screen is too small to read on my phone, and I am often interrupted by messages from other apps. It is not convenient to use a computer, so I bought an old Android tablet. This is a tablet released around 2014. I bought it for 120 yuan. Although it is old, it is in good condition. Except for a little damage in an inconspicuous place (basically invisible), other parts are fine, and the battery can still last for several hours.

Main parameters

• Screen: 7 inches, 1920x1200

• CPU: Intel Atom Z3560

• Memory: RAM 2G

• Flash memory: 16G, support memory card expansion

• Battery: 3950mAH

• System: Android 5.0.1

• Wireless: wifi/bluetooth

• Weight: 300g

The model I bought is ASUS K00R. There are some similar models, the differences are in the screen resolution, CPU and RAM size. I chose this one mainly because the screen resolution is higher and the processor performance is stronger (but the compatibility is worse). There are not many other differences.

The CPU is Intel ATOM Z3560, which is equivalent to Snapdragon 450. The performance is not great, but it is enough for simple use. Watching 1080p video with MXplay is also smooth. In order to seize the mobile market, Intel launched many ATOM CPUs. Many tablets and copycat boards of large domestic manufacturers have adopted ATOM series CPUs. Until now, some manufacturers seem to have not cleared their stocks and are still selling tablets based on ATOM.

This tablet runs Android 5.0.1, which is a relatively low version, but you can find suitable apps for the main functions you need. If the device has a version lower than Android 5, it is best not to choose it, as it is difficult to find suitable programs and you can only play MP3/MP4. Overall, the performance of this tablet is relatively low. You cannot install apps such as WeChat, QQ, and Taobao, and you cannot watch live broadcasts, but it is still very smooth to watch documents, videos, listen to music, and take notes. This is both a disadvantage and an advantage: the disadvantage is that you cannot install too many large apps, it does not support new functions, and it is not suitable for playing games; the advantage is that you can focus on doing things without being distracted.

The biggest problem with this tablet is that the screen has no oleophobic layer, which not only makes it easy to collect fingerprints, but also makes the touch screen very insensitive, and often does not respond to touch. Later I thought it was because the touch screen was too sensitive and easily triggered by mistake. After applying the film, I found that the effect was much better, and the problem of no response to touch basically did not occur (of course, the response was still a little slow).

Install the software

Because the CPU is the Z3560 with x86 architecture, the installed App also needs to support the x86 architecture (be careful not to select X64 by mistake). If it is a MediaTek or Qualcomm software, the compatibility will be much better (now many software are no longer available in x86 format). Another problem is that the Android system version is a bit low (5.0.1), and many Apps no longer support such a low version, so when choosing Apps, you also need to find ones that can be supported (some Apps even require old versions to install). Based on the principle of being good enough, I installed and tested some necessary Apps, giving priority to free and open source ones, which can basically meet the needs. The following are the main installed Apps for your reference:

Software Store

• F-Droid Classic , F-Droid is the largest FOSS (free and open source software) store, which contains a lot of good software. For apps that do not fully meet the requirements, they will be specially marked. The standard version of F-Droid requires a higher version of Android and cannot be installed, so you can only install the classic version, and some later apps can be installed and managed through it.

File Management

• It comes with the system and can perform basic file management, which is generally sufficient.

• CX File Manager, a free file manager, has more functions than the system's own file manager and supports network storage.

• MIXexplorer is a famous free full-featured file manager, which is highly recommended. It comes with http/ftp/smb server, which can easily upload and share files through the browser, and can also mount webdav to read network disk files.

• Syncthing, file synchronization. Installed via F-Droid.

PDF

• Pdf viewer plus, installed through F-Droid.

• MuPDF viewer, installed via F-Droid.

notes

• Joplin, an open source note-taking software, can synchronize data via webdav (be careful not to use wendav of Nut Cloud to avoid data loss).

• EssentialPIM, task and schedule management, can synchronize data with PC. You need to install the old version 5.8.7, as the new version does not support Android 5.

Web browser

• via, a small domestic web browser.

• Kiwi, a browser that can install Google plugins. Note that you should install the old version, not the new src.next version.

• Chrome, select a suitable lower version, such as v88.

office

• Yongzhong Office

Audio and Video

• MX Player x86 Edition

• KMPlayer

• Pulsar, MP3 player

• QQ Music Simple Version

programming

• Termux , a terminal emulator with software packages, can install and run many Linux software, such as php, apache, python, etc. Because the current version of Termux (0.118) does not support android5/6 (it is said that the next version will support it again), you need to go to github to download the official apk file.

• X11-Basic, basic language programming. Installed via F-Droid.

Input Method

• Speech synthesis, iFLYTEK Voice Recorder, you can download offline speech library. If you don't need TTS function, you can not install it to save space.

• Google Pinyin

Puzzle Games

• Puzzles, a collection of puzzle games. Install via F-Droid.

Other Tools

• DevCheck, system detection, can view system information and sensor status.

• Phyphox, a mobile physics workshop, uses the phone's sensors to perform various physics experiments, and can easily check the sensor status. Install via F-Droid.

• Tape Measure, tape measure and protractor. Install via F-Droid.

• A spirit level that uses an accelerometer to measure the level. Installed via F-Droid.

If you have any APP recommendations or good uses, please feel free to discuss.

dcexpert

Home Screen

F-Droid App Store

Termux

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View PDF

dcexpert

Install a QPython to run Python on Android

476700838

The cost performance of second-hand domestic Android tablets is beyond your imagination

吾妻思萌

This kind of tablet hurts my eyes~ Isn’t iPad better?

dcexpert

Azuma Simeng posted on 2022-11-21 19:09 This tablet hurts my eyes~ Isn’t iPad better?

The photos taken with a cell phone are not clear, but the effect is actually very good and it is cheap. The iPad is just a game console in the end and has no use.

damiaa

dcexpert posted on 2022-11-22 08:50The photos taken by mobile phones are not clear, but the effect is actually very good and cheap. In the end, iPads are just game consoles and are useless.

Your idea cannot boost the economy.

吾妻思萌

Azuma Simeng posted on 2022-11-21 19:09 This tablet hurts my eyes~ Isn't the iPad good?

The photos taken with the mobile phone are not clear, but the effect is actually very good, and it is cheap. The iPad is finally a game console, which is useless.

Productivity before purchase, iQiyi after purchase, hahaha, there is no escape

吾妻思萌

dcexpert posted on 2022-11-22 08:50 The photos taken with the mobile phone are not clear, but the effect is very good and cheap. iPads are just game consoles in the end and are useless. Your idea cannot boost the economy.

The indirect pull has driven some low-quality and high-priced customized school learning boards. You know how to pull them.

Honghuzaitian

dcexpert posted on 2022-11-21 14:18 Install a QPython to run python on Android

This second-hand one is already very good. With the screen and configuration alone, you can do a lot of DIY.

dcexpert

damiaa posted on 2022-11-22 12:06 dcexpert posted on 2022-11-22 08:50 The photos taken with the mobile phone are not clear, but the effect is very good. It is cheap. iPads are all game consoles in the end, no...

Can iPad boost other countries' economy?

wangerxian

It's pretty good. I'm still used to using a computer to read PDFs because it's convenient for searching and turning pages. I can use one screen to read information and the other to write code.

dcexpert

wangerxian posted on 2022-11-23 09:59 It's pretty good. I'm still used to using a computer to read PDFs because it's convenient for searching and turning pages. I can use one screen to read materials and one screen to write code.

Multiple screens are certainly convenient. But sometimes you need to view documents in different places, and a portable device is more convenient than a computer.

wangerxian

dcexpert posted on 2022-11-23 14:32 Multiple screens are definitely convenient. However, sometimes you need to view documents in different places, and a portable device is more convenient than a computer.

That's true. For example, if you are not in front of the computer and want to debug a circuit, a tablet is very good.

se7ens

Is it better to read PDF or e-book?

dcexpert

se7ens posted on 2022-12-2 13:29 It is better to read PDF or e-book

E-books are too slow

led2015

It's really worth it for only 120. You can play with many things. I just don't know if JD.com sells it.

dcexpert

led2015 Published on 2022-12-3 21:08 It’s really worth it at only 120, you can play with a lot of things, but I don’t know if JD.com sells it

Of course not, but there are some on Taobao. The second-hand market is too high, so you need to find a reputable seller.

dcexpert

dcexpert posted on 2022-12-3 21:29 That's definitely not available, Taobao has it. The second-hand water is too deep, you have to find a seller with good reputation.

It is recommended not to choose ATOM CPU as much as possible. Actual tests show that although the main frequency is high, the performance is not as good as that of MediaTek.