Lock-in tablets

For a more streamlined option, you'll want to look at devices like the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet. Both tablets cut the hardware down to just the essentials and run custom software loosely based on Android.

These are the least intimidating tablets you can buy. They have all the basics, like e-mail and a Web browser. They even have high-quality screens.

So what's the catch and why are they so cheap? Well, both tablets are locked to app and media stores run by their manufacturer. If you want to buy an app for your Kindle Fire, you're buying it from Amazon. Likewise, buying an e-book on the Nook Tablet means purchasing one from Barnes & Noble. Essentially, the manufacturers sell their tablets for a minimal profit and make it up by selling you content.

Neither will offer all the latest and greatest games, but they both still have an impressive selection of entertainment.