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[Q] Is it time for me to buy a tablet?

TLDR:
Buy now or wait since new stuff is coming out? I want the HTC Flyer stylus functionality, and the dockable keyboard functionality as well!
Hello All,
I'm a general tech junkie who loves to expensive toys and things to tinker with (so using anything Apple is pretty much out of the question). With that said, I'm generally not an early adopter. I hate the feeling of spending $500 on something then seeing something that makes me feel stupid for not waiting 3 - 6 months later.
With that said, I had been holding off on a tablet for a while. Initially I was not planning on purchasing a tablet (in it's current form) at all. When the iPad came out, I honestly thought it was a joke of 9 iPhones Gorilla Glued together and didn't see the point.
Honestly, I still don't see the point for anything else other than using on the couch for general use or using while traveling. Both my wife and I travel (normally not at the same time) with work and carrying 2 laptops can be a real hassle. A tablet (being much lighter) would be great. We could use something to video chat with, and not have restricted internet access (more of an issue with her since I can do anything except look at porn and other obvious "no-nos" at work). Additionally, I don't see the use for a 3G model since most of my use would be while in a hotel or at home, and anytime I need a wireless connection, I can just WiFi Hotspot my phone.
So now I see this model. It looks great. Does everything I'd want, and acts as a laptop when needed! The reviews are great, and this looks like THE tablet to buy... for now.
Today I saw a promo video for the HTC Flyer, and while I would not want to purchase a 7" tablet the integration into the calendar and Ever Note looks flawless (Yes, I am aware this is a promo video and that's what they're supposed to do!).
This promo got me thinking. This tablet with a keyboard accessory is what I was looking for, something with a keyboard that I could use when I wanted a keyboard, and when I just want to play Angry Birds birds on the couch on a bigger screen, or watch a movie on a plane, I can have just the tablet. No tethering required to a keyboard to type a long XDA-Forum post.
Unfortunately, not only do I want my cake, I want to eat it too. Being able to write notes, and potentially have them transcribed to text would be amazing for my line of work. Being able to write notes on documents would be amazing as well. I'm imagining that this isn't functionality that could come to the Transformer since styluses (styli?) don't work on any Android device I've used, so this either has to be hardware, or very custom software that I doubt they'd release.
So I'm a bit torn on what to do. Buy now, or wait for something with all the features I want. HTC does make a large variety of devices, so I have to wonder if they might eventually come out with their own Transformer.
What does everyone think? Buy now, or wait for the plethora of tablets to grow and the technology to normalize a bit before making the investment?

You should check out the new lenovo tablet coming out in june. It has both a stylus for writing and a detachable keyboard.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

One big caveat is that the Scribe doesn't transcribe anything. It's basically just screenshots that are taken of whatever screen the user wants to annotate, and then notes can be taken on that.
This is a far cry from what Microsoft's been providing with Windows-based Tablet PC's for years, which treats "ink" as an actual data type that can be manipulated, copy, pasted, transcribed, etc. OneNote remains the best app for taking handwritten notes, with full searching.
I'd be more interested in the Lenovo if it provides that level of functionality, but it would be much more complex than just using a capacitive stylus to draw on the screen. And speaking for myself here, I'm not at all willing to wait until the late summer for it.

So is this something that is hardware or software controlled? The lenovo one sounds very appealing. I'm willing to wait, I just don't want to buy now and feel I should have waited 2 months. If I bought a Xoom, I'd be fuming right now.
Where can I get some info on the Lenovo one?
As for the Scribe, I wouldn't actually buy one on the account of a 7" screen and Froyo. I would really want the stylus features it offers, but it would need to be data, not drawing pictures. Linking this stuff directly to the calendar and Ever Note as well is great as well.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

A couple of articles here about the Lenovo tablets here - http://thisismynext.com/ I'm a fan of the Thinkpad laptops so I'm looking forward to this although if I get the asus transformer I can't help but think I may then change it for the samsung tablet or this Lenovo one down the road.

(1) The thing about the samsung tablets (of any size) and the HTC is that (like the xoom) they're all laughingly overpriced.
The xoom is so overpriced that Motorola have sold so few that they have downgraded their economic forecast for the second quarter.
(2) Honeycomb transformer! someone offered me £430 for my used asus, i snatched out of their had so fast i might have broken their fingers
So i knowlonger have one! do i care? no!
If you like widgets wait two months for compatability to kick in.
I'm a huge user of rss news feeds and couldn't find one decent one that worked with honeycomb.
Also Dolphin HD web browser doesn't work, the standard browser is a crap one with tabs and a very very basic bookmarks feature.
I get another transformer when the keyboard is released and when i read of reviews of rss feeds and adw or vtl working properly.

checkbox111 said:
(1) The thing about the samsung tablets (of any size) and the HTC is that (like the xoom) they're all laughingly overpriced.
The xoom is so overpriced that Motorola have sold so few that they have downgraded their economic forecast for the second quarter.
(2) Honeycomb transformer! someone offered me £430 for my used asus, i snatched out of their had so fast i might have broken their fingers
So i knowlonger have one! do i care? no!
If you like widgets wait two months for compatability to kick in.
I'm a huge user of rss news feeds and couldn't find one decent one that worked with honeycomb.
Also Dolphin HD web browser doesn't work, the standard browser is a crap one with tabs and a very very basic bookmarks feature.
I get another transformer when the keyboard is released and when i read of reviews of rss feeds and adw or vtl working properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the Xoom is very overpriced. The guys in Best Buy were even saying that it's obsolete now because of the newer stuff coming out.
Motorola shot itself in the foot with that device. It's a great piece of hardware, but at $800, I'd rather buy 2 Transformers. Hopefully, the Transformer starts the beginning of a pricing war.
One thing that is important to me is Community Support.
I had a WinMo 6.1 Samsung phone a few years ago. It was an amazing piece of hardware. It had a dial pad on the front of the device, and a slide out keyboard. No other WinMo device had the dial pad on the front. The problem was that unlike the majority of HTC phones that were on multiple carriers, this one was a VZW exclusive, meaning this phone had 0 community support. I bought my Touch Pro 2 about a year or so later, and within a week had a MightyROM on it.
I don't want to buy this and be stuck running stock. I want to see if some of the "indy" devs will hop on and make some amazing ROMs that keep all functionality.
Lack of widgets right now doesn't bother me too much. I expect the amount of apps and widgets available to be smaller right now. The amount of growth Android as a platform has experienced since the OG Droid was launched has been nuts, so I have no doubt that widgets and apps will begin flooding in within 3 - 6 months.
EDIT:
Just checked that link on the Lenovo. I don't want to waste my time waiting for a 10" tablet either with stylus support. If it's not 10", I'm not interested (inb4 "That's what she said!" ).

Transformer or Iconia A500?

I am debating on which to buy. I've been wanting a tablet for awhile now and have slimmed it down to these two options, but would like some feed back if possible.
I'm looking for s-off and root (quickly glancing at the forums, it looks like both are able to achieve this. I like to toy and tinker with things and having a root, with s-off, is a must for this.
Are there any huge differences between the two? I am liking the additional dock available for the Transformer.
Going to post this in the Iconia forum as well. Transformer people, win me over!

I've owned both and I can tell you that they're both great devices. It really depends on what you find more important.
The Iconia has a massive dev community, great sound, and a full sized USB port.
The Transformer has a brilliant display, is much lighter, has a full dock, VERY fast official updates, and a solid dev community.
My issue with the Iconia was really just the display (and weight to a certain extent). It has the second worst display of the current widely available android honeycomb tablets (Second only to the Xoom). 256K colors w/dithering vs 16M, and fairly poor display angles. That really sealed it for me. I loved the option of having the Virtuous roms available to me. Being able to run the UI of all of the other tables is a cool option, however I couldn't get past the washed out colors and blurry text. This tab also seems to suffer from the sleep of death a bit more than some of the other tabs out there (the Thrive is the worst suffering from this problem). This is where the tab goes into deep sleep and won't wake up. You have to hold the power button to reboot the device.
The Transformer isn't without it's own warts. The speaker quality is pretty poor overall. The biggest issue is that you're rolling the dice on a couple other problems that seem to happen at random regardless of the model revision (does seem to be a reduced chance of a lemon with the B6 and B7 revisions).
- Light bleed (standard led backlight flash lighting from the edges of the screen)
- Poor bezel attachment (the screen lifts in the corners on some tabs)
- Creaky back plate (the back panel of the tab creaks when manipulated)
Again, these are random and most that do have them don't see it as a deal breaker. I have 1 4mm spot of light bleed on the right side of my monitor that I can only see upon boot up in a completely dark room.
Modding on either of these tabs is incredibly easy to do. The NVFlash method of rooting/CWM'ing the Transformer is the easiest I've done. It's a wonderful thing. 3.2 was just released last week, so now we're all basking in the dev community molding that revision into new juicy roms and kernels.

go to bestbuy and try it out yourself. The A500 immediately turned me off the second I held it in my hands.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

myamex said:
go to bestbuy and try it out yourself. The A500 immediately turned me off the second I held it in my hands.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto, the form factor of the Iconia is plain ugly to me. As with the screen, it doesnt compare to the TF either.
+1 on Transformer.

+1 for TF - better display, slimmer, lighter, wonderful keyboard dock.
The Iconia does have better audio then the TF. If the Dolby enhancements are turned off , the Iconia sounds as bad as a TF.
I had a iconia for a few days, but eventually settled on a TF.

I have a TF for personal use and an Iconia I got for my store to take credit card payments (with Square). Besides the fact that I can't even use it for it's intended purpose (the Square credit card reader doesn't work with the Iconia for some reason) it is a pretty solid device.
However, in aesthetics.
The screen is not as good, it FEELS fatter and bulkier and the TF looks a lot more quality to me. The Iconia looks a bit dated and cheap (many others have commented on that as well).
I did put the two side by side and the Iconia is actually smaller than the TF.

You are going to get a lot of "pro Transformer" replies being that this is the Transformer forum, so I will give you the other side of the coin.
The Transformer has a proprietary power plug and they give you a very short cord. Accessories from Asus are freaking expensive and 3rd party accessories are almost non-existent.
I don't know how things are for Iconia 3rd party development (roms, etc) but for the Transformer it is relatively slow... not really much going on compared to other devices... very small number of interested developers.
Asus seems to be actively supporting the device, as a couple updates have been released for it, but they have failed to address some issues that have been complaints from the beginning for some people.
Overall, I am happy with the device. All devices have their drawbacks, so you just have to use the information you can find and make an informed decision. If I could do it over again I would spend the extra bucks and get a Galaxy Tab... but that's just me.

Im actually in the same boat as the op. I purchased both last week (using the $100 off Staples coupon) so i can get a hands on review of both. As of now, Im really leaning towards the TF but something keeps drawing to the Acer.
I like the screen on the TF and the feel of it, but the sound is terrible (even with the custom roms I have tried even tho i havent tried them all). I did like the usb on the Acer as I dont see myself buying the dock for the TF. I am a little concern with build quality as I am seeing more post of people having issues with screen/bleeding/spots appearing few months after having the TF.
In all I think you really cant go wrong with either but for me Im currently leaning towards the TF since it has the better screen and my main purpose for this is entertainment..just praying that the screen and build hold up long term

LOL you asked about whether getting TF or Icona in the TF forum and of course all these guys or gals here are owning TF so they +1 all for TF...
I would suggest to go with your guts,,,whatever you see the tablet applicable to your own use, go with it since you already narrowed down two... good luck
I chose TF because it weight, official update support, and I felt good when I held the TF in hand (have you held Viewsonic Gtab in hand? heavy like brick and uncomfortable? --it's just like that!)
One more thing,,, about the sound,,,it is tablet - do not expect it being great like laptop or PC - it won't be different if you use the headset

Drybonz said:
You are going to get a lot of "pro Transformer" replies being that this is the Transformer forum, so I will give you the other side of the coin.
The Transformer has a proprietary power plug and they give you a very short cord. Accessories from Asus are freaking expensive and 3rd party accessories are almost non-existent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a fyi - I bought a 6 Foot USB 3.0 extension cord on amazon for $4.75 shipped. Now I have about a 9 foot power cord combined for cheap.
Otherwise, I agree. The power cord is so short, and makes no sense at all to me.

Just a quick reply before I go to work. I live in Japan. I don't have a Best Buy here. They have a Iconia A500 at the BX and I've played with it some, but can't compare to the Transformer.
I'll reply back later today when I have more time. Thanks for all the good input!

Drybonz said:
You are going to get a lot of "pro Transformer" replies being that this is the Transformer forum, so I will give you the other side of the coin.
The Transformer has a proprietary power plug and they give you a very short cord. Accessories from Asus are freaking expensive and 3rd party accessories are almost non-existent.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said...I have both.
Acer power cord is just as short and it is also proprietary btw

Get what YOU want...NOT what we say.
Learn to think for yourself.

I agree. You should go with what works best for you.
I've tried each one to review and each has it's pro's and con's tbh.
The Iconia is just plain ugly for me to hold in my hands and feel comfortable with but that's just me. It is nice to have a USB on the tablet but Im not missing much if I just have my dock w/ tablet here. - The idea of a micro HDMI on a tablet, to me, is a not that practical as you have to hunt for those lil' things apposed to a mini HDMI cable which I just can't hype up anymore with everyone who see's this.
I also tried the Galaxy Tab bu I immediately returned it due to the fact that Sammy just completely cloned an iPad, leaving out any extra input options like micro SD!!!! - I'm not knocking on GTab owners at all but rly???
You should just youtube some videos and then see what you like.. THERE IS A RETURN POLICY FOR MOST STORES YOU KNOW
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium Appith w

Hi, I plan to buy a tablet in a few weeks and my favorites are also the iconia and the tf.
Right now I prefer the tf, but i've read in some reviews that thr video playback is sometimes laggy compared to other android tegra 2 tabs and this would be a deal breaker for me. Is fhis true? if so, do custom roms fix this problem?
Sent out of my Free Candy Van.

newtybar said:
Acer power cord is just as short and it is also proprietary btw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good info... how is the availability/pricing on accessories for the Iconia?

Digiguest said:
Get what YOU want...NOT what we say.
Learn to think for yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. Thanks for all your replies everyone. I am and will decide for myself but since I cannot try out both I was reaching out to the community to give me their pro's and con's so I can weigh them for my own decision.
I'll have to go back to the BX later and play around with the Iconia some more. I didn't really play with the form factor, but what I really like from the Transformer is the keyboard/battery/etc dock. From my understanding it'll be future-compatible too.
dills2214 said:
Just a fyi - I bought a 6 Foot USB 3.0 extension cord on amazon for $4.75 shipped. Now I have about a 9 foot power cord combined for cheap.
Otherwise, I agree. The power cord is so short, and makes no sense at all to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Things like this is what I'm looking for. Thanks for all the positive feed back. I'm still a couple months away from getting either or, but like to research before I make the switch.

If you like the idea of the dock/keyboard/battery++, the choice is pretty much made.
Personally I think the dock makes the Transformer a completely different animal than all the other tablets out there. Funny thing is, I see the fact that you can use it as "strictly a tablet", as an added bonus of sorts. Not the other way around.
In my mind it's a little computer running Android, with a detachable screen. I can't picture myself ever owning "just a tablet" after getting used to my beloved Transformer.
Beware of bias. I'm in love.

Is the Transformer capable of stylus use? or does it allow for decent digital painting?

my 2 cents:
Asus Transformer
-way better screen (most important feature in a tablet, imho)
-a lot lighter then the Iconia (Iconia is the heaviest Android tablet)
-faster updates
-less freezes & runs smoother
-dock option
Acer Iconia
-USB port (the Transformer only has this on the dock)
-better built? allegedly. (my Asus is also very solid but the Iconia metal back feels stronger)
-better sound
-better camera (with flash)
For me it boils down to needing a USB port or not & to wanting the dock option or not.
If you don't need the USB port, then the Transformed is the obvious choice.
If you do (and don't want to spend the extra $150 for the dock) then go for the Acer.
Also if you really want a better screen and the dock option, again the obvious choice is the TF.
good luck & enjoy your new toy either or!

[Q] Is Asus Transformer TF700T right for me

Hi guys,
I have been looking around for a decent tablet that i can use for school and home. I know netbooks, ultrabooks and laptops are good for school but im looking for something smaller and more portable since im always on the go and i hate carrying a heavy laptop.
I mainly need something that can:
1. take notes (.doc, pdf files, presentations) (will definitely get the dock with the transformer if i get some decent feedback about the asus)
2. fast browser (need for school sites such as blackboard) (adobe flash support)
3. fast speed, since i'm always on the go i need something i can turn on, do my work and move on to next class.
4. Decent battery (~7-8 hours)
Do you think asus transformer infinity tf700t is right for me? or are there any other tablets (small portable devices) that may help me more.
edit:
also are there any problems that you are experiencing that might be a deal breaker.

Order one...
...from Amazon keep all the original packing.
Test drive for perhaps a week.
Keep if you like.
Return if you dislike.
* Also get some kind of cheap protection for the Infinity like a slip cover.
I like my tablet even though I really have no valid use for it.
Tried the Acer A700 before the Infinity liked it a lot...yet it had some real problems.

The Infinity isn't exactly a tablet that excels in note taking; it's arguably the best Android tab for content consumption around, but not content creation and productivity.. Since note taking appears to be a significant requirement for you, why not consider the new Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet? The Note 10.1 has an active digitizer built into it for writing and drawing on levels far superior to the Infinity and all other tablets without the built in digitizer.
In my opinion, the very best option will probably be (later, when released) a Windows Surface tablet with the active digitizer, full office suite, One Note, Journal, etc. For now, the Note 10.1 is the only game in town for the best note taking experience at its class and price point that still leaves room for a lot of the leisure activities we've come to love on our Android and iOS portables like surfing, video watching, games, etc.
I have both tablets (to eval) and the Infinity has a better display, but can't touch the Note 10.1 for note taking. Capacitive stylus writing seriously sucks compared to the active digitizer offerings. Writing with a capacitive stylus is akin to writing with a thick marker, brush, or crayon. I take lots of notes in meetings and HATE trying to write with a capacitive stylus or trying to type and quickly edit notes on the fly.
The Note 10.1 is plenty fast as well and has some stuff in it to sweeten the deal too like the IR remote with Peel bundle to be an interactive universal remote. The multitasking functions weren't all that useful to me on it as things stand currently since it limits you to apps that Samsung has chosen.
All this said and I still decided that I was keeping my Infinity because my primary requirement for my tablet was leisure stuff. I'm getting a Windows Surface Pro or competing Windows 8 slate for my productivity requirements in maybe 6 months. My Note 10.1 has to go back because I can't justify keeping two tablets even though it is really tempting.
In any case, buy it and use the return policy if you don't like it. For what you want to do, it sounds like a perfect fit.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

technewbie said:
Hi guys,
I have been looking around for a decent tablet that i can use for school and home. I know netbooks, ultrabooks and laptops are good for school but im looking for something smaller and more portable since im always on the go and i hate carrying a heavy laptop.
I mainly need something that can:
1. take notes (.doc, pdf files, presentations) (will definitely get the dock with the transformer if i get some decent feedback about the asus)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works for me -- although it has been a fair while since I was a student -- although I must be honest and mention too that it heavily depends on the application you use for opening these kinds of files. I work in a hospital, have a lot of PDFs to read (articles, clinical reviews, blablabla) and that works really well. Word-format documents are good, but Excel-format documents I can only open and inspect -- the mostly complex formulas we use are not supported by any Android application I know of (SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!), so when I change a value, it only changes the value in that cell and not the end result of a formula referencing it somewhere else. Which is crap.
2. fast browser (need for school sites such as blackboard) (adobe flash support)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As in the above, the browser provides Flash support, not the device, therefore this shouldn't be a factor in deciding which Android device to get (although the iDevices do not provide Flash support at all, so you do not have any real alternative, now, do you? )
3. fast speed, since i'm always on the go i need something i can turn on, do my work and move on to next class.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The TF700 is instant on, instant off, provided, of course, you do not shut it off yourself.
4. Decent battery (~7-8 hours)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get 5 to 6 hours of screen-on hardy work time. When I do not touch the device at all, it goes on for about two days. So somewhere in between, depending on usage scenario. You should make it through a day of college or laboratory work. I travel to work in 2-2.5 hours, run a shift, then get back with the same commute time. I've never run dry on the go, but again this depends on your usage.
Do you think asus transformer infinity tf700t is right for me? or are there any other tablets (small portable devices) that may help me more.
edit:
also are there any problems that you are experiencing that might be a deal breaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only you can decide if this will work for you. The Note 10.1 would be a contestant on paper specifications, but the S Pen has mixed user reviews -- some rave, some hardly ever use it. As I said, Apple products do not make your list due to lack of Flash support. The Iconia A700 is beat as well, but as already said, it has some REAL issues (i.e., probably-hardware-related issues).
I loved the TF700 when I got it (two weeks before retail), even with all its quirks and shortcomings. It has been patched up nicely with .26 and I suspect we will get some more love very soon in the sense of a JB update. That should eliminate some minor issues we sometimes still encounter. I have no hesitation to recommend the TF700 to anyone really in need of that HD screen, the charging keyboard dock and the removable storage options (those are the three main selling points in my personal view).
Wish you the best of luck, and do drop by when you decided to get the TF700, or if you didn't, and in both cases please let us know why -- you help out others in the same position as you are now. Thank you!

ashuras said:
The Infinity isn't exactly a tablet that excels in note taking; it's arguably the best Android tab for content consumption around, but not content creation and productivity.. Since note taking appears to be a significant requirement for you, why not consider the new Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet? The Note 10.1 has an active digitizer built into it for writing and drawing on levels far superior to the Infinity and all other tablets without the built in digitizer.
In my opinion, the very best option will probably be (later, when released) a Windows Surface tablet with the active digitizer, full office suite, One Note, Journal, etc. For now, the Note 10.1 is the only game in town for the best note taking experience at its class and price point that still leaves room for a lot of the leisure activities we've come to love on our Android and iOS portables like surfing, video watching, games, etc.
I have both tablets (to eval) and the Infinity has a better display, but can't touch the Note 10.1 for note taking. Capacitive stylus writing seriously sucks compared to the active digitizer offerings. Writing with a capacitive stylus is akin to writing with a thick marker, brush, or crayon. I take lots of notes in meetings and HATE trying to write with a capacitive stylus or trying to type and quickly edit notes on the fly.
The Note 10.1 is plenty fast as well and has some stuff in it to sweeten the deal too like the IR remote with Peel bundle to be an interactive universal remote. The multitasking functions weren't all that useful to me on it as things stand currently since it limits you to apps that Samsung has chosen.
All this said and I still decided that I was keeping my Infinity because my primary requirement for my tablet was leisure stuff. I'm getting a Windows Surface Pro or competing Windows 8 slate for my productivity requirements in maybe 6 months. My Note 10.1 has to go back because I can't justify keeping two tablets even though it is really tempting.
In any case, buy it and use the return policy if you don't like it. For what you want to do, it sounds like a perfect fit.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the great tip..
i have looked at the windows surface pro (which comes out later in oct 26) and the samsung galaxy note 10.1 (the one that just came out)
I do very much like the samsung galaxy note 10.1 with the multi-tasking feature, stylus and note-taking but the lack of a proper dock concerns me a bit (i know i can get a bluetooth keyboard but its not the same as the transformer tf700)
as for the windows surface, i can wait for it to come out but i want to try something new such as android and see how i like that.
But following your tips i think what i will do is buy the asus transformer and try it for few days and see if it suits my line of work, if not i will try to the samsung galaxy note 10.1, and if i dislike both ill but the windows surface later on.
thank you
________
MartyHulskemper said:
Works for me -- although it has been a fair while since I was a student -- although I must be honest and mention too that it heavily depends on the application you use for opening these kinds of files. I work in a hospital, have a lot of PDFs to read (articles, clinical reviews, blablabla) and that works really well. Word-format documents are good, but Excel-format documents I can only open and inspect -- the mostly complex formulas we use are not supported by any Android application I know of (SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!), so when I change a value, it only changes the value in that cell and not the end result of a formula referencing it somewhere else. Which is crap.
As in the above, the browser provides Flash support, not the device, therefore this shouldn't be a factor in deciding which Android device to get (although the iDevices do not provide Flash support at all, so you do not have any real alternative, now, do you? )
The TF700 is instant on, instant off, provided, of course, you do not shut it off yourself.
I get 5 to 6 hours of screen-on hardy work time. When I do not touch the device at all, it goes on for about two days. So somewhere in between, depending on usage scenario. You should make it through a day of college or laboratory work. I travel to work in 2-2.5 hours, run a shift, then get back with the same commute time. I've never run dry on the go, but again this depends on your usage.
Only you can decide if this will work for you. The Note 10.1 would be a contestant on paper specifications, but the S Pen has mixed user reviews -- some rave, some hardly ever use it. As I said, Apple products do not make your list due to lack of Flash support. The Iconia A700 is beat as well, but as already said, it has some REAL issues (i.e., probably-hardware-related issues).
I loved the TF700 when I got it (two weeks before retail), even with all its quirks and shortcomings. It has been patched up nicely with .26 and I suspect we will get some more love very soon in the sense of a JB update. That should eliminate some minor issues we sometimes still encounter. I have no hesitation to recommend the TF700 to anyone really in need of that HD screen, the charging keyboard dock and the removable storage options (those are the three main selling points in my personal view).
Wish you the best of luck, and do drop by when you decided to get the TF700, or if you didn't, and in both cases please let us know why -- you help out others in the same position as you are now. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your great tips too [im new to xda but i love the community already, everyone's very helpful and willing to answer questions)
I will try out both samsung galaxy note 10.1 and asus transformer tf700t and see which one best suits me and probably post a quick post for my pros and cons as a student of both devices, which may help others in my position like you said

MartyHulskemper said:
...but Excel-format documents I can only open and inspect -- the mostly complex formulas we use are not supported by any Android application I know of (SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!), so when I change a value, it only changes the value in that cell and not the end result of a formula referencing it somewhere else. Which is crap.
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Suggestion for your spreadsheets, try Softmaker. Their android office suite is in final beta now and will likely be a paid app when released. I have been a fan (and regular user) of their office suite since my Jornada 720. I use it on my Windows, Linux, usb stick and my tf700.
btw, I love the tf700. If you're used to taking notes on a laptop, the 700 will fit right in for you.

Tablets worth the price?

So, feel free to flame, but I was writing something in another thread about tablets and the following came to mind:
Are tablets worth what we pay for them? Or are they just a marketing 're-deploy'? Allow me to expound:
Literally just before tablets careened onto the current computer scene(I know windows failed to promote tablets years back), there existed Netbooks. What it seems to me is that Netbooks are what the Industry thought we would want, A very portable yet still completely functional computer. As if even the small laptops weren't small enough...anyway. What I think happened is these things weren't cool enough. Maybe not powerful enough either, but that point should be moot because modern hardware can support this, as proven by current tablets.
I bought a Netbook and loved it, BUT I don't do a lot of gaming, just some simple web browsing, skyping, some skript kiddie type hacking. Plus for me the ultra small design was essential due to the nature of my work/constant traveling blah blah. This thing played movies, had the latest support of my favorite *nixes and performed pretty well except for battery life(typically a measly 3-4 hours) and of course gaming. Then came tablets; they look cooler, offer touch screen capabilities which sometimes feel as cumbersome as alt-tabbing, and have much much better battery and gaming performance, with the added benefit of blending nicely with the current "app store eco-structure".
Ahh, finally my point!!!:
A trend I see rising with tablets is the ability to add a keyboard and mouse....really? So what, then you have a laptop again? Or just the ability to go from cool-tech-but-not-too-nerdy tablet guy, to an fully functional device, and back again? I don't get it, other than the obvious shift to more clever marketing and selling us yet another device. On top of that I can use a USB 2.0 anything on my netbook, or be stuck with a proprietary connecter as with the Transform or iPad. Why would we choose this other than to look cool or because it's being shoved down our throats? What I see is a device (tablet) that is less fuctional, less productive, and more money compared to the more practical, just as portable netbook. I just miss the support of my Netbook, which I only paid $200 for....
Any thoughts...like maybe I'm a crazy hippy that needs to go live in a commune?

my points why my a500 is better use then a netbook,.
portability - no one can say its not easier to carry a slim tablet with a integrated keyboard
functionality - being able to do such things as stand in the street looking through the tab with the camera and seeing augmented reality deal, offer, new location without having to open startup, login and hold a massive block of hardware to do the same, and also a whole plethora of other uses such as barcode scanning, video making ,etc etc imaging scanning barcodes to find cheaper prices with a netbook,,,.,..one handed possible? probably not
battery life, my tablet can go 2days on a single charge with medium usage, a netbook would last a few hours,
i can do pretty much anything on my a500 i can do on my laptop.
i can access and use my laptop with screen and sound from anywhere else in the world.....from my a500 tablet (phonemypc)
also most usb devices connect to my a500 i think the only thing my lappy has that my tablet doesnt is a dvd drive, but the one in my lappy is dusty as hell as i download all my movies and move them between devices to play in diff' areas anyway. and then again my laptop has no gps. and only a front camera
if my laptop im writting this message with was a tablet it would probably be a crap one lol
no gps,no touchscreen, no back camera, front camera is weak no accelerometer no hdmi port lol etc etc

Major edit:
I see your point and don't want to convolute my thoughts too much. I just think a lot of the things you mentioned could be implemented, if the money was there.
You have pointed out that I have kind of answered my own questions...
Why tablets, because the phone market was so successfull and it allows for a lot of control on the developers end of the OS, so it's easier to implement the apps, market place as apposed to a traditional PC software sales setup.

r0zj0k3r said:
I think that depends on what you want to do. with my netbook, I literally could do everything I could on my computer because they were the same OS!!! That means, compiling software, video/audio editing, skype with group video , a similar app store could be integrated into a netbook style os (see ubuntu store). The industry just doesn't want to push it, and because it was easier to shift from phones to what amount to "really big phones"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think that the new windows OS will allow you to switch between a Tablet and your Netbook without loose of functionality?

warus1 said:
Do you think that the new windows OS will allow you to switch between a Tablet and your Netbook without loose of functionality?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it would be a great way for windows to break away from the pack, but I don't think they want to do that now. They seem to be in the same mode as everyone else, lets follow the market instead of trying really new things.

Infinity or Samsung Note10.1? Help!

Amazon has accpeted to refund my Transformer Prime. Now I am wondering if I should replace it with the Infinity (in that case, I won't send my keyboard dock) or the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. I have read about some issues that people were having with the infinity such as problems with the screen, hardware problems or lagginess even with Jelly Bean. I was wondering if these problems are generalized like the problem with the Prime or if they are isolated cases. Would you get an Infinity again if you could go back and choose?

Wendemixda said:
Amazon has accpeted to refund my Transformer Prime. Now I am wondering if I should replace it with the Infinity (in that case, I won't send my keyboard dock) or the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. I have read about some issues that people were having with the infinity such as problems with the screen, hardware problems or lagginess even with Jelly Bean. I was wondering if these problems are generalized like the problem with the Prime or if they are isolated cases. Would you get an Infinity again if you could go back and choose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
39 pages on this forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1662
44 pages on the Note forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1736

I would get a note 10.1 personally. The TF700 suffers from lag because it uses a slow nand chip. The note 10.1 uses a fast nand chip and there are no major flaws with it.
Would you rather have a higher resolution screen that lags & has quality control issues or a lower resolution screen that's fast?

Just got my tf700 after returning the prime a while back. Make your decision based on what you use the tablet for. I use the keyboard quite a bit and therefore would go with Asus. If you tinker/flash like me, Sammy is a good choice plus their stylus tech is pretty solid. (I own a Galaxy Nexus and an Infuse before that)
Barry is right, these threads often biased depending on the sub-forum. Google some reviews for both tabs and compare their features.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using XDA Premium HD app

The best way to decide (if possible) is to go to a store and play around with both of them.
The "slow Nand" issue is *way* overblown, in my opinion - most users would never even notice the problem. Honestly, the *only* time that I see any sort of lag or slowdown is when updating/installing apps, which can be done when the user decides (like when you don't need to do other things) - besides, how often are you actually install/updating apps while trying to do other things? Honestly, the issue is not nearly as bad as some would make you believe.
As another user already started, if you are going to do a lot of typing and want a FHD screen, the choice is rather obvious. If you actually have a real-world use for the S-Pen, then the Note 10.1 would be the obvious choice.
But again, do yourself a favor and go and try both devices for yourself - most of the stuff you read on these forums is very biased and most of these folks haven't even used both devices, so to get a true representation of the differences between both devices, you'll need to try then for yourself.
I will say this - since the JB upgrade, my TF700 absolutely flies - it is not "laggy" or slow at all - it runs *very* well. After a few small tweaks, even the stock browser is amazingly fast.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

You can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with any of these devices. If you need a stand alone USB port on the TF700, ASUS makes one. I don't think the ASUS keyboard is reason to select the Infinity over something else.
I think the prime is very good hardware wise. I love the screen. This screen should be on every phone and laptop.
I think JB will be faster once someone gets all the bugs out and replaces some of the molasses with the butter they promised.
Here is a good review of the Infinity. AFAICT, the only thing it lags hardware wise is the iPad 3.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6036/asus-transformer-pad-infinity-tf700t-review
I love my Infinity. I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Linuxguy1 said:
You can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with any of these devices. If you need a stand alone USB port on the TF700, ASUS makes one. I don't think the ASUS keyboard is reason to select the Infinity over something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but a bluetooth keyboard and/or the 30-pin->USB converter are nowhere *near* as convenient as the docking station. Plus, there is no extra battery that way, which is a huge benefit of the dock.
The keyboard dock is one of the features that really sets the Transformer series apart from other Android tablets - I think that it most certainly *is* a reason to chose the TF700 over something else.
I'm guessing that you don't have the dock?
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

jtrosky said:
True, but a bluetooth keyboard and/or the 30-pin->USB converter are nowhere *near* as convenient as the docking station. Plus, there is no extra battery that way, which is a huge benefit of the dock.
The keyboard dock is one of the features that really sets the Transformer series apart from other Android tablets - I think that it most certainly *is* a reason to chose the TF700 over something else.
I'm guessing that you don't have the dock?
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this ^^^^^
Linuxguy1 said:
You can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with any of these devices. If you need a stand alone USB port on the TF700, ASUS makes one. I don't think the ASUS keyboard is reason to select the Infinity over something else.
I love my Infinity. I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keyboard dock with it's extra ports and added battery is a major thing. You can easily get a BT keyboard for your Note but it won't have the the Key features that sets the Asus Keyboard dock apart that the Transformer series is known for. It protects your screen as well

jtrosky said:
The keyboard dock is one of the features that really sets the Transformer series apart from other Android tablets - I think that it most certainly *is* a reason to chose the TF700 over something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quoted for truth.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I read the mobiletech comparison of the infinity and note 10.1, which was in my opinion an unbiased review of the two tablets. But even as she did the review, a problem appeared on the Infinity (line on the screen). My heart leans toward the infinity because I used the prime and I like all the benefits of the keyboard dock. I am just worried that some people are returning the infinity just like it was done with the prime. I know software issues can resolved with updates so my worries lie mostly with hardware issues.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

Wendemixda said:
Thanks to everyone for your input. I read the mobiletech comparison of the infinity and note 10.1, which was in my opinion an unbiased review of the two tablets. But even as she did the review, a problem appeared on the Infinity (line on the screen). My heart leans toward the infinity because I used the prime and I like all the benefits of the keyboard dock. I am just worried that some people are returning the infinity just like it was done with the prime. I know software issues can resolved with updates so my worries lie mostly with hardware issues.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly you will more then likely get swayed to not get the Infinity due to a few having a bad experience/issues with the Infinity or those that simply just enjoy the attention/drama. It's easy to get caught up in there issues and make you second guess yourself. I for one after seeing these negetive posts lately had made me second guessing myself, even though I have yet to find issues with my Infinity.
Go out and try it! Decide for yourself. Sometimes we are forced to come out of hiding to defend this great device from too much repetitive negetive postings. Also the Infinity is now running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 from the ICS that Lisa from Mobiltech review comparison video. A lot has changed since then... and it's definately even better.

jjdevega said:
I agree with this ^^^^^
Keyboard dock with it's extra ports and added battery is a major thing. You can easily get a BT keyboard for your Note but it won't have the the Key features that sets the Asus Keyboard dock apart that the Transformer series is known for. It protects your screen as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These things have excellent battery life. I haven't seen any need for a larger battery and if I did, it charges through the USB port, which is very easy to set up and carry with me.
The reason I don't think the keyboard is necessary is because I don't use mine as a netbook. I have a netbook. My tablet is a tablet. I use it where a keyboard would be impractical, ie where I want a tablet.
I think these tablets are terrible netbooks. They don't multi task, their app selection is limited, JB is clunky, etc. Whenever I have work to do, I reach for my netbook.

Linuxguy1 said:
These things have excellent battery life. I haven't seen any need for a larger battery and if I did, it charges through the USB port, which is very easy to set up and carry with me.
The reason I don't think the keyboard is necessary is because I don't use mine as a netbook. I have a netbook. My tablet is a tablet. I use it where a keyboard would be impractical, ie where I want a tablet.
I think these tablets are terrible netbooks. They don't multi task, their app selection is limited, JB is clunky, etc. Whenever I have work to do, I reach for my netbook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you dont use it as a netbook, you wouldnt want the extra battery life? That alone should warrant getting the dock. Just seems pointless to carry around a netbook and a tablet when you can just reduce it to one device....just saying
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T

I have both the infinity and note 10.1 along with a kindle fire with CM10. You will be happy with either the Asus or Samsung product. For everyday common web reading and ebook I gravitate to the 7" kindle over the larger 10.1" tablet. I do have the Asus keyboard dock and use it for testing apps.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk HD

I say...
...if you can wait for it.
Dump all the Android tablet stuff and go for the Windows Surface.
I'm no expert in the tablet or Android world, yet something says go WinRT8.
I've stuck by my Infinity thru bad and good and I'm happy, but sadly not elated.
The Android Infinity is slowly coming ashore, yet it's really not anything ground breaking.
Good!...just not fantastic yet.
I was going to screw myself with a second high performance (in relative terms) Android tab.
However for me I'm going to jump on the Surface bandwagon.
I know a Windows touch tablet will make me mad, yet I've been pissed at Windows
since 1995 so we might as well continue with the hate\love Microslop thing.
Hope the rumored price of the Surface is true.
$499.00 for a 32 gig is fair I believe.
Anyhoo...whatever your decision be a happy Android!

Thats OK said:
Hope the rumored price of the Surface is true.
$499.00 for a 32 gig is fair I believe.
Anyhoo...whatever your decision be a happy Android!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The $499 for tablet alone is accurate. http://surface.microsoftstore.com/s...age.Surface?ESICaching=off&WT.mc_id=FY13WinHH
I would say the same thing as Thats OK. Windows 8 RT tablet is coming so soon, you should wait and at least get the sense of what people think about the tablet.
I jumped on Infinity because I really needed FHD and did not like Apple. Among the announced Win 8 tablet, there is only one that has Full HD level of screen resolution, which is Samsung Ativ Smart Pro, which is not RT but full Windows 8 tablet so the price is like $1100 and battery life is merely 5 hours. After reading these specs, I basically found myself in a spot (sort of by process of elimination).
Eventually, if the rumored Nexus 10 or perhaps Windows 8 as it evolves and comes up with better model, I may simply jump to it. With the pace of tablet evolving, I am assuming within next six months, there will be a device that is superior to anything out there in every aspect.
For now, each company and device put their own emphasis thus no device is truly superior to others (in my opinion)
Galaxy Note 10.1 - 2GB memory provides great multitasking on android, and its stability and speed is the best. S-pen and S-note experience is the closest to the real paper and pen experience. However, no Full HD and HD screen is just HD. Never as good as FHD.
Infinity - The best full HD screen android tablet. Speed is compatible to Galaxy Note in most cases. Keyboard dock is really great as it can be essentially used as portable battery charger if nothing else. Stability is not quite as high especially after the JB update, (at least for me) I get random white screen freeze, which I am hoping to have it get fixed but until then definite minus point. But its multitasking capability is not as the level of Galaxy Note 10.1.
Windows 8 RT - Don't know how much restriction there. But multitasking should be superior to that of any android as its Windows based. However, it probably will take time for its application market to develop as RT is not compatible with regular windows apps. Also, there is no FHD option, and all announced devices I believe are heavier than android counter parts.
Windows 8 Tablet - Full blown windows 8 tablet has a great potential but so far just as my old $2000 windows tablet suffered, battery, weight will be not as portable. Even xoom on my hand were felt heavy for prolonged use. Price will also be much higher like x2. However, it is real windows so you can essentially do everything that PC does (obviously not running high graphic games).
New Ipad - Full HD, great stability. But just so restrictive and basically no multitasking.

The problem with W8 tablets is kind of a Goldilocks thing.
1) Will RT be enough with the ability to only run "Modern" apps?
2) Are Atom-powered devices too little to run full Windows; especially HD video and games with high frame rates with no discrete GPU?
3) Are Pro devices which are as expensive as ultra and notebooks too much?
Here's what RT devices can and can't do:
Windows RT contains many of the same features as Windows 8:
Fluid, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface design that you can easily customize.
Built in apps like Mail, Calendar, Messaging, Photos, and SkyDrive with many more apps available in the Windows Store.
Internet Explorer 10, for fast, intuitive browsing.
Touch-enabled so you can interact with Windows in a whole new way.
Mouse and keyboard–enabled so you can be as productive as you need to be.
Windows RT also includes some different features:
Windows Update and Windows Defender are always on and up to date making your PC more secure.
Device encryption provides advanced data protection to help keep your information secure.
The PC can turn on instantly with connected standby.
Office Home & Student 2013 RT Preview is preinstalled.
Some features aren't included in Windows RT:
Windows Media Player
Windows Media Center
HomeGroup creation (you can join an existing HomeGroup but you can't create a new one)
Remote Desktop
Domain join
Although you can install apps directly from the Windows Store, you can't install apps on the desktop on Windows RT. Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview Edition comes preinstalled, which provides you with touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
You can only install printers, mice, keyboards, and other devices that are certified for Windows RT.​
The problem with full-W8 tablets is that when using native apps that aren't touch optimized you need steady hands and a magnifying glass to interact with them because of the display resolution.
W8 tablets could be the next big thing or they could be a fail. Until (non-media) people have them in their hands and start using them to do the things they'd do on an Android tablet or iPad it's too early to call. The HP TouchPad was easy to use and intuitive but died because of its limitations and poor app availibility. If MS Office was so important to non-business users Android tablets and iPads wouldn't be selling as well as they are. So for consumers, Office as the W8 tablet's stand-out feature might not be that big of a draw. To me, $499 for the base Surface RT is way too much for a product in a 1.0 state competing with more mature products (and eco-systems) like iOS and Android. I guess time will tell.

There is a lot to consider in this decision and depends on what you want to do with the tab. I have the prime, infinity and note. (Yes, I am a tablet horder. I'll admit that now, lol) I personally like the Note and find myself using it over the Asus brands. Everything just works on the Note. And works the way it suppose to. Heck, I can't even stream Youtube or .mkv audio over my Asus tabs without the audio getting out of sync. (via Bluetooth Headphones). That is because Asus used some cheaper components in their tabs. Cheaper AzureWave Wifi radios and Cheap io Nand. Yes, the TF700 can stream a little better than the prime, but after awhile they get out of sync and pisses me off. The major thing the TF700 has over the Note is the HD display. The HD display is nice. But, honestly half the time I can't even tell the difference between the Note and TF700. I actually prefer the colors of the Note's PLS display. Plus, its a hit or miss that you will get a HD display that wont suffer from some sort of light bleed. Performance. Well, performance goes back and forth. The Note outshined the TF700 for awhile. But since the TF700 got JB its now seems a little faster than my note. (That is without some major tweaking and rom modifications.) But the Note has the TF700 beat on multitasking. I can't wait to see what the JB update to the Note will do.
Go to the store check them out m8. If the HD is something that is the winning factor and you could care less about BT crap then go for TF700. Buy one. Take it home. Play with it for awhile. Go back trade it in and get other. Make a decision that way. Because its really hard to come on here and ask us. Each of us do different things with the our tabs. Some enjoy some features more than others. That is why the best bet is just go to a store that has a really good return policy. That way you can play around and see what you like more.

I keep hearing ppl saying to wait for winRt instead of getting an android or iPad, and am curious as to what winRT can do that can't be done on an Android or Apple tablet? It was my understanding that winRT would be limited to windows phone esque apps and you would have to get a windows 8/pro for the full experience. I was excited about the Surface when it was announced because i thought i could use all the programs that I'm used too from previous versions of Windows, but that version of the Surface isnt coming out untill later this year right?
I just don't see Windows RT succeeding at the current price point without the legacy support. $250-$300 would be more reasonable IMO.
OP I've seen videos of the Note 10.1 in action and its great, but so is the infinty when it works. If u can hold off until next year, I think Samsung will be releasing a very high res tablet with potentially exynos 5 series cores. I'd get a nexus 7/nook tablet/fire HD while u wait.

I'm running Fedora 17 on a Dell Duo for notebook purposes and it absolutely rocks. Its totally stable, no bugs, surfs great, fast, multi tasking, etc. Its an amazing combination for a netbook. The only thing it doesn't have a lot of is video power. Its definitely not a gamer in that regard.
The Duo came with Vista. SSSLLLLOOOOWWW. Touch a link and wait and wait and wait. It didn't even surf well. Its outright fast with Fedora and Fedora is improving with every release. Its way faster surfing with the Duo than the Infinity. Firefox works way better on the Duo than it does on the Infinity.
KDE 4.9 is a really nice desktop and tools like Libre Office or whatever its called are pretty nice these days. I chuckle to myself every time I realize I have the power of Linux in such a small device.
I got my Infinity to see what I was missing in Android land and to get a tablet that I can read in a car or outside. The Duo screen is almost invisible in anything near daylight.
I'm impressed by the Infinity hardware. The screen rocks, the GPS is good, etc. I am not impressed with Android itself. Its a poor, poor cousin to Linux, for example.
I wouldn't own another tablet without the IPS+ screen. ASUS should be releasing the 600 and 810 models later this month and the 600 might have an 11.6" IPS+ screen on it. It will be running WIndows 8. I'd get a 600 in a heartbeat and put Linux on it. I might do that anyway and retire my Duo. I'll keep my Infinity for around the house and in the car purposes. Its so convenient for browsing, which is about all I ever use it for, right now at least.
My wife has a Sony laptop with Win 7 on it. Her laptop before that had Vista. As far as Windows goes, are you kidding me ? I totally fail to see the attraction. And I pay about $100 for that crap every time I buy a device and install Linux on it.