I've had a Google Nexus 7, made by ASUS, since it's launch in Autumn 2012 so I've had it a fair while now. It isn't my first tablet, previously I had a Samsung Galaxy Tab, the original 7" tablet, and there's been iPads knocking round the house for a while, both my sons have those. So I've got a pretty rounded view of tablets.
I'm not anti Apple by any means, the build quality and the coherent ecosystem are magnificent but that doesn't make me a fan... I'm definitely on the Android side of the fence, probably because I'm an techy sort, you know, the one that gets the call when someone's PC starts misbehaving. Android is freer than iOS, more open, lass hand-holdy, less dictatorial and I much prefer that. I want to be able to make decisions about how I chose to use my tablet, what I want to install, what peripherals I want to attach and I'd really rather not pay through the nose for the privilege if I'm being frank. Do I want to pay an iPremium for every blasted decision I make? Erm, no ta.
The Nexus 7 is without doubt my favourite device ever. It's handy size, build quality, beautiful screen, speed and smoothness in use are a delight. I've got the 16GB wifi model. It's been with me to Prague in the front pocket of my hand luggage, so easy to stow. I take on train journeys, watch films, listen to music, play games, write up minutes from meetings, draw sketches... the lot. I use it every evening to check emails, social media sites and a wealth of websites. Battery life is great too. You can read the tech-spec on any website you want but until you've used one of these little fellas you just won't know just how great this gadget is. So what, there's no camera on the back... I've never felt the urge to take a photo with a tablet. I have a camera for that and there's a camera on my smartphone if I need to upload something urgently to a social media site! Trust me, you don't need a camera on a tablet (particularly if your smartphone automatically uploads to a cloud service... your image will be immediately accessible on the tablet anyway). I can't think of one instance where I've though "if only this thing had that feature", not once.
In summary, it's a five star produce at an almost unbelievable price. It is whatever you want it to be. It's the best travel companion you'll ever have (it won't steal your chocolate). And, it'll fit in your pocket.
Available at all good quality high street tech stores (John Lewis) but I recommend buying from Google's own Play Store from £159.00 for the 16GB wifi version to £239.00 for the 32GB wifi+mobile data version.