Low end tablets - any recommendations

[csziggy]

I'm thinking of buying my first tablet - never had one, never even looked at any until recently. Since I'm not sure how much it will get used past the new gadget phase, I don't want to spend much money.

Mostly what I am thinking of using it for is as a more portable web device than our aging laptop - email, a little web surfing, maybe watch some YouTube (or at the high end Netflix or Hulu videos, though I've never bothered with those before and I'm not sure I would). I'll be going in for knee replacement soon (I hope) and a tablet would be easier to deal with than the laptop, so now's a good time to think about getting one.

My SIL got a Lepan tablet for herself for Christmas and it looked pretty cool for a $200 device. It is now an outmoded model, but for an entry level, I'm wondering if it would do enough to keep me and my husband happy for a while. Here is that model at NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834322001
There is a newer version for $80 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834322002

For $200, NewEgg also has a Vizio tablet that has a smaller screen but is otherwise equivalent:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16858262003

If I'm willing to spend $100 more, there are a lot more models to consider and that is where I bog down. I don't know what is important.

So what would anyone here recommend for a ***NON Apple brand*** tablet?
Android OS? Which version?
Screen size? (I'd like as big as possible without getting too heavy.)
Memory, storage, etc?
Connection type - WiFi, 3G?

What else do I need to consider?

Thanks!

[karan_1128]

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