Cheap tablets - reliability?

[thewheelerZ]

Does anyone have any experience with cheap tablets (or phones, or whatever in reality) for use as a lap timer?

 

This is on sale at the moment for only CDN$49. DataWind Senior Simple 7 inch Android 2G calling tablet

 

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/datawind-datawind-senior-simple-7-inch-android-2g-calling-tablet-computer-datawind-senior-simp/10592448.aspx

 

Pretty cheap, but do you think it would hold up?

 

We are currently using a cheapo phone android phone.  It is really light, and has proven flawless so far, so Im a bit hesitant to even bother replacing it.  But it has a pretty small screen and something bigger would be kind of nice.

[miatainium]

We used a Chuwi one for awhile until a quick charge attempt released the magic smoke.  Before that It worked fine. 

 

Whatever you use I find that over time the vibration kills the charge ports. Gorilla tape it in place. 

[JBgotM]

Agreed that ports are a big issue. Anything you can do to keep any working of those connections will help. Also mount it in a rubber (or at least padded) sleeve of some sort to help with vibration damping.

[mhr650]

I use one that cost $39, it works great and the big numbers are way easier to see than on a phone. Like the others have said charging cable is the biggest problem, every problem I have had is from the cable coming loose and the battery dying. In the end I got a really short cable and JB welded it to the tablet, that has worked.