[Q] Transformer or galaxy or xoom - Eee Pad Transformer Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'd like to hear some real answers especially from people have had the chance to play with or own all 3 of these tablets. I did god knows how much research but really the only thing that I need right now is someone who has first hand experience to tell me cause what's what. The tech review sites usually review things that don't turn out to be true. Also ownership and time allows for different conclusions.
So far, I did a LOT of research on each tablet, god knows how many youtube videos i watched. What I took from the 3 are:
Xoom has great development and community on the edge of their seat, ready to jump up at any moment when HC source or ICS is released so it can start developing. I see it as the Android G1 phone. Great support, no doubt that all the ports and stuff will work (micro SD, hdmi and usb host) when rooted. BUT, it has a pretty bad screen from what I hear? I dont know if its an exaggeration but its no transformer or galaxy 10.1 in terms of display. Seem to be the "Fastest" or most capable in terms of hardware.
Transformer is the bridge between galaxy and xoom, both in the size and functionality since it also has micro sd, hdmi that galaxy lacks out of the box. The transformer needs an adapter for USB and currently the USB host and adapter is not out. But just like any android tablet, once source is released, the potentials are pretty much there to use usb host and anything else.
CONS: Problems. I'm very concerned about audio quality so can someone fill me in on that?? How are the speakers?? How do they compare to the galaxy or xoom or toshiba thrive? How is audio output in general to external speakers? (the toshiba thrive's output to external was TERRIBLE. headphone volume was bad). I'm also worried that if i get a bad transformer I'm going to have to wait weeks for asus to keep repairing stuff. Also, how is the battery life? I know the galaxy and xoom are the top 2 android battery life contenders, second to the ipad 2.
Galaxy tab 101. - Stripped and slender form of the transformer. No expandability. Adapter allows for usb or microSD but you can't expand past the 16gb/32gb with a microSD. Not a deal breaker but the other two allow it. Great display and sound.

I was hesitating between the galaxy and transformer.
For me the problem was 3G or USB.
I decided for the transformer and tlil now no regrets. I've even got 3G working on it (with a 3G USB stick)

The Transformer has USB, mine has 2x USB ports.
Also if you are outside the US, forget out the Xoom, the support is abysmal, I think they only just got Honeycomb 3.1, when the US has had it for months, and the Transformer is already on Honeycomb 3.2
As for the Galaxy Tab, overpriced IMHO, you can get so much more with the Transformer.
I looked at all 3, and the Transformer (with dock) was easily the winner.

Don't get the Xoom, it's a waste. If you need a tablet with 4G, then just get the Galaxy tab.
But the choice really depends on what you'll need it for. Do you think you'll need a keyboard dock? Then get the Transformer. The Galaxy Tab has a keyboard dock, but it's wireless and wouldn't be something you can use on the go. (subway, bus, etc.) The Transformer, overall, is a nice device. It has its problems, like the speakers aren't that loud, but you can kind of fix that with some tweaks. You can't beat the price either. $399 for one of the best Android tablets on the market.
If they think you'll be using it for media, the SG Tab maybe what your looking for. Also if you want something a little more portable, you may want to look at the Galaxy Tab 7.7. It's coming out soon and has higher specs than both the TF and 10.1. I'd suggest looking out for the Transformer 2 but there hasn't been much info on it.

Related

So, looks like I'll be keeping my G-Tablet for a while... :)

I originally purchased my G-Tablet as something to hold me off until the Honeycomb tablets came around. After looking at the alternatives there's really not much to "upgrade" to.
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
Acer Iconia A500 - another good tablet however it's twice the price I paid ($225) for my G-Tablet. It's heavier, physically bigger, and overall battery life is not as good as the G-Tablet. The wifi (according to reports) is also fairly weak which sucks as my router is not in the most convenient location.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - I had high hopes for this one and although a very sexy tablet, I've now crossed it off my list as an upgrade option. It's been confirmed to have a Tegra 2, no USB, no HDMI, and no microSD card slot.
After going through all the alternatives it seems the only thing these really offer over what I currently have is Honeycomb and with the recent developments concerning Honeycomb on the G-Tablet, the G-Tablet itself may very well have Honeycomb too. To tell you the truth though, I wouldn't be to bummed out if we never get it. Which brings another high point in regards to the G-Tablet: the developer support! I'm certain the other tablets will eventually catch up but the developer support is amazing for the G-Tablet and I've had a ton of fun just trying out new ROMs! Anyway, I believe the G-Tablet is the best Android tablet for the money right now and looks like I'll be keeping it for a while!
Pretty much agreed. It'll be a different story a few months from now, but for the time being the gTab is still the best price/performance combo out there!
pitamakan said:
but for the time being the gTab is still the best price/performance combo out there!
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Welcome to the fanboi club
Enectic said:
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
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They're supposed to be releasing an adapter that plugs into the dock port giving you a usb port.....also, you can use the included dock cable and attach a female to female connector and it gives you a functional usb port. Or just pony up for a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. Havent picked up my gtab since I got the transformer.
acomiskey said:
They're supposed to be releasing an adapter that plugs into the dock port giving you a usb port.....also, you can use the included dock cable and attach a female to female connector and it gives you a functional usb port. Or just pony up for a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. Havent picked up my gtab since I got the transformer.
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True but there's no release date or price on the adapter yet. As far as using the dock and a female to female it seems to be very hit or miss. People appear to get very few things working with that method which doesn't bode well for the flash drives and HD's I also connect to my tablet. I could buy a bluetooth but that would just add more cost to the item. With all things being said I think I'll save my money for the Tegra 3 tablets supposedely coming later this year.
aasoror said:
Welcome to the fanboi club
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lol. I hate you guys!
Enectic said:
I originally purchased my G-Tablet as something to hold me off until the Honeycomb tablets came around. After looking at the alternatives there's really not much to "upgrade" to.
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
Acer Iconia A500 - another good tablet however it's twice the price I paid ($225) for my G-Tablet. It's heavier, physically bigger, and overall battery life is not as good as the G-Tablet. The wifi (according to reports) is also fairly weak which sucks as my router is not in the most convenient location.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - I had high hopes for this one and although a very sexy tablet, I've now crossed it off my list as an upgrade option. It's been confirmed to have a Tegra 2, no USB, no HDMI, and no microSD card slot.
After going through all the alternatives it seems the only thing these really offer over what I currently have is Honeycomb and with the recent developments concerning Honeycomb on the G-Tablet, the G-Tablet itself may very well have Honeycomb too. To tell you the truth though, I wouldn't be to bummed out if we never get it. Which brings another high point in regards to the G-Tablet: the developer support! I'm certain the other tablets will eventually catch up but the developer support is amazing for the G-Tablet and I've had a ton of fun just trying out new ROMs! Anyway, I believe the G-Tablet is the best Android tablet for the money right now and looks like I'll be keeping it for a while!
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$225??? you better keep it haha. That's a great price. I think this is the only time that patience will actually payoff for me and for all of us.
Ditto. I bought my gTab very early on (mid November), thinking it would tide me over until Spring and Honeycomb. Now I plan to keep it through its one-year anniversary, and wait for an ICS tablet. If it lets me.
I'm also now going to hold onto my Nexus One (14 months old) until the Nexus 3 comes out with ICS. Just see no reason to get rid of The Greatest Phone Evah before that new toy arrives.
So, thanks, Google, you're saving me a nice chunk of change over the next few months!
First post on the fora here, excited to get hacking (err cracking?) on making my G-Tablet everything I want it to be!
You got an incredible deal on your tablet, $225... of course you need not me to tell you that. I got mine for $270, and that was a pretty great deal.
I was already fairly sure about purchasing my G-Tab before, and the more and more I'm looking at the alternatives the more sure I am of the purchase.
Another aspect I like is the inexpensiveness of the accessories. For $38 you can get the Malata Zpad Dock that attaches to the proprietary port and acts like an upright stand holding the tablet in portrait mode. It has a USB port, an HDMI out port, and, quite unique for a tablet, an ethernet port. This is the feature that clinched it for me, as there will be times when I will wish to access a wired network with no wifi connection available. In addition, I'll use the HDMI port to output Power Point presentations to a projector.
And then there's also the $28 kick stand and keyboard combo that makes the tablet feel like a netbook. Granted, the case which holds it all together can't really be used as a protective case because the clips hold the device in too poorly, and it's not nearly as nifty as the Asus Transformer's plug-in keyboard and touchpad combo. Also it doesn't offer an extra battery, of course. However, it's a heck of a lot cheaper, and at least you don't need it for USB ports (how odd is it that the Transformer has an on-board mini HDMI port but not an on-board USB port?).
I'm really excited to hear that an internal GPS chip is supported by both the firmware and the hardware, though I'm a bit miffed that I have to buy and install it myself rather than just using the capability right out of the box. Still, that's another purpose the G-Tablet will fill for which I do need a device.
aasoror said:
Welcome to the fanboi club
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Proud to be a member.

[Q] Considering a Xoom, among other tablets.

Hey guys. I'm thinking about picking up a Xoom (or other tablet) in the near future as I'm seeing the prices drop a bit, but I've got a few questions, and would like some extra input.
Among my options for the price range are the Xoom (of course), iPad 2, Sony Tablet S, Asus Transformer(not so sure I want to go Asus here though...), or the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 (I'm not considering this too hard, since I've never had a good Samsung experience outside of tv's).
I currently own a Macbook Pro with the Magic Mouse and BT keyboard, but have an HTC Evo 4G for a phone. So really, I think the competition is between the Xoom, Sony Tablet S, or iPad 2. I feel like having a Macbook and the BT mouse/keyboard kind of leans me toward the iPad, while already being experienced with Android on my Evo, and the added connectivity of having my most mobile devices be android are leaning me toward the Xoom/Tablet S.
I plan on using the tablet during those down times when I would otherwise be on my phone or laptop killing time. So between classes, on long trips when I'm not driving, and maybe for some note taking in class.
So here are my questions...
1) Are there any functionality issues with having my computer be a Mac? I've never had any issues with my Evo, but you never know with a tablet.
2) Are the hiccups in the Android OS going to drive me crazy? Or does the Xoom hardward make up for the young-ish nature of Android?
3) As far as android tablets go, is Xoom REALLY the way to go? (E.g., would you do it again?)
4) What else should I know before dropping a few hundred bucks on a tablet?
Thanks in advance.
Just wait until the holiday season for the xoom 2 unless you can get the xoom for under $400. I personally wouldn't buy a honeycomb tablet this late...
Xoom and MacBookPro person here (and for what it's worth, I just sold my iPad 1 when I got the Xoom. Go Android, you won't regret it).
The only issue that I've had is with getting files onto the Xoom. Google (frustratingly) disabled USB Mass Storage for Honeycomb tablets, forcing us onto MTP for transfers, which Apple doesn't support. Google provides a tool, but it's incredibly unreliable, usually failing part way through any sizable transfer. I've had to use USB Debugging Mode and ddms (via command line) to transfer files. This also broke DoubleTwist USB sync.
So, love the tablet, but that's the main frustration with it. Also, there are no good apps for transferring your iTunes music or Movies. The iPad wins there, obviously, but the real browser and rootability (no ads!) won out for me.
I got a acer iconia a500 and love it. I could plug in my external hard drives right into the usb port to play movies off the hard drive or transfer files
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
i have a xoom and tbh am extremely happy with it, apart from one thing, the screen...
up against my galaxy s2 (amazzzing phone) it looks dull and colourless, if the screen on the sammy tab is anything like the phone then id put samsung back in the equation...
baron von bubba said:
i have a xoom and tbh am extremely happy with it, apart from one thing, the screen...
up against my galaxy s2 (amazzzing phone) it looks dull and colourless, if the screen on the sammy tab is anything like the phone then id put samsung back in the equation...
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The Samsung tablets do not have SAMOLED like their phones do. I have owned an iPad, Nook Color, Acer Iconia A500, HP Touchpad, and now a Xoom. I have to say that they all have mostly the same screens. The Nook was definitely the best as far as pixel density. The rest are essentially the same to my eyes.
I sold the Iconia while I was on vacation in Brazil last month. I had every intention of replacing it with another one when I got back to the US. Well, I played around with the Touchpad for a few weeks instead. I enjoyed the Touchpad but it is just missing too many things to be my only tablet. I sold it for a slight profit and went to CompUSA to buy a new Iconia. That didn't happen.
While looking around at CompUSA, I noticed they had the WiFi Xoom for $399. I then realized it was for a refurbished device. I have owned many refurbished items in my life and this was not a deterrent for me. Especially considering it was refurbished by Motorola and not a third party. So, I bought it. The same day, last Friday, I stopped by Best Buy and picked up a standard dock for $25, OTG cable for $18, and the Portfolio case for $20. I felt good about myself on Friday. LOL
I think this device has all the right details. I like the placement of the LED notification light and the charging light. I am still getting used to the power button location though. I like that the bezel is minimal compared to its competitors. I really think Motorola did a great job in engineering this device.
Granted, it hasn't even been a week yet, but I really think this is the best tablet I have owned so far.
Does the xoom have a full sized usb port?
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gmfeny said:
Does the xoom have a full sized usb port?
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You have to use an OTG cable. Motorola sells one as the camera connection kit. You can find generic ones as well. I bought the Motorola cable for $18. I am sure generic is cheaper.
Its funny you mention that, it was one of the reasons I chose the Acer before. I wouldn't have a Xoom without this cable.
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Kippui said:
Just wait until the holiday season for the xoom 2 unless you can get the xoom for under $400. I personally wouldn't buy a honeycomb tablet this late...
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You're welcome I got mine on the last go around and it has been perfect.
http://www.woot.com/

[Q] Samsung Galaxy 7.0 or TFT300T-B1-BL

I recently recieved a Samsung Galaxy 7.0 (GT-p6210) as a gift. However, I was comparing prices on bestbuy and saw that I could get the TF300T-B1-BL-CB for about 50$ more. I compared the specifications and it seems that the Acer, in addition to having a larger screen, has a newer processor as well as ICS. I'm just wondering if I am overlooking anything significant. I know size is something to be considered issue but is there anything else I should take into consideration? Can anybody shed some light on what I should do?
Thanks
EDIT: As Mikehud1984 pointed out, the tf300t is made by ASUS not Acer. Typed the post too quickly evidently
First the tf300t is an ASUS not an Acer. Secondly I too was in the same boat trying to decide between the two. I ended up going with the ASUS with the keyboard dock. I made my decision after playing with both for some time as I am lucky to work for Staples where both are sold :}. Anyway I chose the ASUS because I wanted the most bang for the buck and my usage is primarily games and browsing and movies and occasional office work so it has it all with the horsepower of the Tegra 3. It will really depend on how you see yourself using the tablet of choice. If you want to play games the ASUS is an easy choice with the Tegra 3 processor it plays them very well you can also connect controllers using the docks USB port and even put it on your HDTV using built in HDMI. Otherwise the Samsung Tab 7.0 is a nice portable size and great for web and music and doubles as a smart remote with its built in IR blaster. It lacks USB and HDMI but for $250us it's a competitor for sure. Best of luck and enjoy which ever you choose.
Hardware wise you get a lot more from the TF300. It might be hardware you don't need though. If you just want to play Angry Birds, read books, and do some light internet browsing, 7" tablets are great.
I have the luxury to own both, well I have the P1000, but thats a 7" also.
The 7" tab is perfect for on the go.
The Asus is perfect for the coffee table.
If i had to choose however, i would go for portability. So I would keep the Tab and trash the TF300.
The 6210 is the tab plus, which is probably the best 7" tab out there (better than the tab 2). I had the same model and sold it to get the TF300. It offers a bigger screen, more power, and ICS. There are also a lot of rumors about Google launching a Tegra 3 quadcore 7" tab for $199 or less in about 2 months, which is a much better value than the 6210 (unless the other hardware is truly atrocious).
rwa66 said:
I have the luxury to own both, well I have the P1000, but thats a 7" also.
The 7" tab is perfect for on the go.
The Asus is perfect for the coffee table.
If i had to choose however, i would go for portability. So I would keep the Tab and trash the TF300.
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I'm in a similar situation. I've got an HTC Flyer and an ASUS TF300. The Flyer goes with me EVERYWHERE. The TF300 I use when extremem portability is not a requirement.
I love having both, but if i could only have one it would be a 7" tablet.
Thankfully, I don't have to choose
Thanks for the replies everyone. Never had a tablet before and the more I think of it, the more likely it is that I will be taking with me on the go. Therefore, I'll probably stick with the Galaxy Tab Plus.
Thanks again for your input.
dsf3g said:
I'm in a similar situation. I've got an HTC Flyer and an ASUS TF300. The Flyer goes with me EVERYWHERE. The TF300 I use when extremem portability is not a requirement.
I love having both, but if i could only have one it would be a 7" tablet.
Thankfully, I don't have to choose
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Same here but with the Sprint HTC Evo View 4G (essentially the flyer with 32GB memory and additional 3G/4G radios). Love the dock with the TF and usability but I take the 7” tablet everywhere and my TF stays at home.
Sent from my Sprint Evo View 4G (PG41200) using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2
Asus will give you better specs and hardware, I'd go with it in pretty much every situation unless you need something portable. The TF300 will probably last longer in the sense that its better specs will let it run current software for a longer amount of time after now.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T

[Q] what should l do?? What should l choose?

Ok, to make a long story short. I handed in my prime for RMA and got offered to alternatives , a TF700 or a samsung note 10.1.
Now , I had really ****ty experience with the prime. Primarily wi fi issues, but the performance in general was rubbish. With that said there were many aspects of the prime that l liked, Such as the keyboard and battery time.
My question is what are the known issues that with the note 10.1 and it's main drawbacks?
Keyboard isn't a must, nor is the pen, though l would love both! I could in short go for either.
It's kinda time urgent , I only have a few days to decide.
Help?
Thanks in advance!
The note is superior to tf700 in every way except screen resolution. I exchanged 3 tf700 then tried the note, the results is obvious. I only regret not taking the 3g version.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD
Could you be a bit more detailed?
There are no drawbacks as the software is more refined in every way and the hardware is solid and future proof atleast for year or two
But there only difference is the body and the screen resolution
Apart from that it is better then prime or any other tablet in the market even N10 once it gets JB the reason being the world class developement done by Samsung on the OS
The screen on tf700 was deformed, not well fixed on edges. Less ram, only 1 gb, no dualband n Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth 4, low end internal storage, not as fluent as the note. Much better battery on the note. A lot of random reboots on stock tf700, none on the note.
I have changed the 3 Asus after using each one for a few days. I admit that the resolution was great, but the note is a better tablet overall.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD
And the price to in India the prime is almost 200 dollars more expensive
the prime? Don't think it factors in as such into my question... Kinda keen on Tf 700 vs Note 10.1
I've read tons of reviews and they go both ways , but it seems the TF700 comes ahead a lot of the time. That's the confusing part. I've tested both in the store, with no clear winner. Screen on Tf is great and they both felt snappy. The pen on the Samsung was fun to use and accurate, but testet a few pens on the transformer and they were pretty good as well. Big issue is 1 gb DDR3 vs 2GB ddr2 , and Tegra vs Exynos. Kinda a bummer considering games and certain apps are tegra focused .
But the old Prime is still in the back of my mind, I\O performance etc...
BUT A BIG DRAW BACK WITH SAMSUNG, I can't plug in a HDMI and USB cable at the same time... kinda need it from time to time ( external drive and HDMI, or game controller and HDMI or...)
I think almost everyone that owns a Note 10.1 went through the same decision. And newer owners are also factoring in the Nexus 10. Obviously the people in this forum chose the Note. You'd get other opinions from forums dedicated to those devices and I suggest you ask and look in those too.
For me, the decision was easy. I dd look at the Asus forums as well as here. In the Asus forums there are tons of post of people having problems. Granted, people with problems tend to find forums. But why do you not see people here posting about problems? The few you do see are mostly folks that tried to either root or flash their units and didn't read the instructions fully. Sure you'll find an occasional legit problem post, but they are so few and far between that it's an effort to find them. That's not the case in the Asus forums.
I spent a lot of money for the Note 10.1. I bought it before any of the recent price drops. I have no buyers remorse at all.
Well good to know. I've posted a similar thread in the ASUS forum just in case, but response has been limited. The big issue l have with the Samsung is lack of ports and weaker battery compared to the ASUS. wouldn't mind a keyboard, but seen that there are dozens of keyboard folios and so on....but again one comes to the issue of battery being drained ( in this case by the bluetooth)
I'm on the fence , 50-50 so that's why I was looking for personal experience with the unit(s). I kinda missed the mark with the Prime , so don't want to mess up again.
BTW I see it mentioned a dozen places, how is the support from Samsung, ie updates etc....?
I owed a prime and had all the bad experiences. I read and read before getting another tablet and everything pointed at the infinity, so I got one. Had it a little over a week and noticed lag from time to time, but nothing major, until I bought the new need for speed... geez, it's unplayable on the infinity. I pulled it up on my note 2 and its flying. So I returned it and got the note 10.1. It flies! The screen is the only advantage the infinity have
I've owned the Transformer Prime for almost a year and I had the Transformer Infinity for about a month before I traded it for a Galaxy Note 10.1.
The memory issues with the transformers is really bad, when you use the browser it constantly hangs and gives ANRs (App not responding). It is basically unusable in the browser. I had the same problem with the Prime and the Infinity, it happens more often when you have multiple apps running.
I debated it for a long time because I really wanted the high resolution, but once I got the Note 10.1 I knew within a day that I made the right choice. Everything works as it should, everything is faster and smoother, graphics intensive games like N.O.V.A. and Dead Trigger actually run better (N.O.V.A was unplayable on the Infinity because it lagged so much). The screen isn't as good, but it isn't worth the issues you have to deal with on the Transformer line.
I used the keyboard dock on the Infinity and loved taking notes in school with it, but since I got the Note 10.1 I started taking notes with the S-Pen and I carry a bluetooth keyboard just in case I need it. I've liked taking notes with the S-Pen so much that I never even use the keyboard anymore.
As a previous prime owner of 8 months, id have to say i have no regrets
What i miss
-usb slot
-full sd slot
-hdmi
-extra battery
What i dont miss
-anr
-wifi/bluetooth issues
-slow playstore install/uninstall
-the cheap buttons on keyboard(one snapped off, too easilly)
The things i wish the note has but doesnt
-a decent port connected keyboard with, hdmi, usb, sd card
The comprimises
-usb/sd card adapter
-allcast(when sammy finally gets its finger out its bum).......stream game over wifi, while using bluetooth gamepad/keyboard/mouse
As a prevoius prime owner yourself, i think your in a position to appreciate this phrase "it just works"......and thats the main thing that makes the things ive lost bearable, trust me its a relief......another thing i like is that it feels more sturdy,
If you can find a tf700 without daily issues, then i'd say go for that, but me i wont trust their quality control on the tablet front for a while
On a side note, battery on the note, even without the extra battery is commendable..........at least 10h constant use on avarage......thats brightness dim, powersave on......by the way powersave is pretty impressive to (limit to1000mhz), no hiccups.
Just to reiterate what banderos101 said,
I'm a former TF101 owner (the original transformer from asus), and I miss the same things he misses. In addition, my transformer often had weird stutterings that may or may not have been associated with the roms I used on it (but it had them on stock too before I rooted and flashed custom roms).
That said, I don't know much about the TF700, but you probably should pick it based on what your primary usage will be. I got the Note instead of another transformer tablet because I take notes using a pen (physics is hard to type notes for) and because it has 2gb RAM. Also, the screen resolution doesn't matter to me much because it didn't put me in shock and awe when I used my friends' iPad retinas and TF700's, but maybe that's because I'm nearsighted.
DeBoX said:
Well good to know. I've posted a similar thread in the ASUS forum just in case, but response has been limited. The big issue l have with the Samsung is lack of ports and weaker battery compared to the ASUS. wouldn't mind a keyboard, but seen that there are dozens of keyboard folios and so on....but again one comes to the issue of battery being drained ( in this case by the bluetooth)
I'm on the fence , 50-50 so that's why I was looking for personal experience with the unit(s). I kinda missed the mark with the Prime , so don't want to mess up again.
BTW I see it mentioned a dozen places, how is the support from Samsung, ie updates etc....?
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I'll come at this from a completely different perspective from everyone on this thread. I have an Acer A500. Had it for a few years. Sunday night, my wonderful children decided I needed a new tablet so they dropped my acer out of the car. Off to the store! LOL! I'm not dedicated to any brand at all. I want cheap and as much bang for the buck as I can get. My 2 contenders were the same as yours. Asus Infinity vs Samsung Note. The real question you have to ask is what do you really want the tablet for? What do you expect to get out of the experience? No matter what you read here, the Asus is a better tablet than the Samsung. It has a visibly better screen. It has more storage for the dollar. IE, the 32gb Asus is the same price as the 16GB Samsung. The processor is slightly faster, but the Asus has a 5th independent low power processor that allows it to run much less power therefore slightly longer battery in real world. Average test is about 8 hours for the Samsung, 10 for the Asus.
The Asus also allows you to add the keyboard with an additional battery in the keyboard as well as full sized USB ports etc. So if you are looking for a laptop replacement, it's hard to beat. Now, you're probably asking, why am I putting all this in the Samsung thread?
I bought the Samsung. Why? Because the #1 thing I need from my tablet is the ability to take handwritten notes in meetings and it has to be easy and fast. Bottom line is, the digitizer system on the Note is unbeatable. Period. The Asus can't touch it. The Note is a great screen versus an amazing screen. It's nearly as fast processor wise, 1.4GHz vs 1.6GHz. So while the Asus in my mind is a better tablet, the Samsung Note is better for what I need. And by better I mean, lightyears better. There isn't a tablet on the market that can touch the Note for writing. It is truly paper and pencil good. But if you don't care about that, the Asus is a little better in a lot of ways.
I get 14 hours on the note on regular use, the record being 16 (talking about screen+ WiFi active, not about stand-by). With tf700 i had 11 hours with the first one, the other 2 devices never more than 8 hours (all without the dock, i did not buy one).
mobiushky said:
I'll come at this from a completely different perspective from everyone on this thread. I have an Acer A500. Had it for a few years. Sunday night, my wonderful children decided I needed a new tablet so they dropped my acer out of the car. Off to the store! LOL! I'm not dedicated to any brand at all. I want cheap and as much bang for the buck as I can get. My 2 contenders were the same as yours. Asus Infinity vs Samsung Note. The real question you have to ask is what do you really want the tablet for? What do you expect to get out of the experience? No matter what you read here, the Asus is a better tablet than the Samsung. It has a visibly better screen. It has more storage for the dollar. IE, the 32gb Asus is the same price as the 16GB Samsung. The processor is slightly faster, but the Asus has a 5th independent low power processor that allows it to run much less power therefore slightly longer battery in real world. Average test is about 8 hours for the Samsung, 10 for the Asus.
The Asus also allows you to add the keyboard with an additional battery in the keyboard as well as full sized USB ports etc. So if you are looking for a laptop replacement, it's hard to beat. Now, you're probably asking, why am I putting all this in the Samsung thread?
I bought the Samsung. Why? Because the #1 thing I need from my tablet is the ability to take handwritten notes in meetings and it has to be easy and fast. Bottom line is, the digitizer system on the Note is unbeatable. Period. The Asus can't touch it. The Note is a great screen versus an amazing screen. It's nearly as fast processor wise, 1.4GHz vs 1.6GHz. So while the Asus in my mind is a better tablet, the Samsung Note is better for what I need. And by better I mean, lightyears better. There isn't a tablet on the market that can touch the Note for writing. It is truly paper and pencil good. But if you don't care about that, the Asus is a little better in a lot of ways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your post, it's nice to "hear" a slightly different approach. The problem in my case is that I'm kinda looking for the Jack of all trades , pref master of all
The pen idea is really tempting and l hear people praising it to high heaven. I have an old Lenovo x 201 Tablet and loved it for years, but it's kinda big and cumbersome to lob around for short trips and meetings / classes .
I'm looking for something that can at the very least cover these areas:
Media machine ( connected to a screen)
Gaming
Productivity (notes in class+ I work as an IT consultant so quick notes at work etc. In this case both have almost equal merit. pen vs keyboard )
Stable ( regular updates)
Connectivity ( ports and connections)
Good performance
HAS TO HAVE GOOD BATTERY ( average use wifi + bluetooth + browsing and note taking + maybe a short vid. here and there)
What l don't really care about
Screen rez.
Build materials ( ok, don't want it China cheap, but don't need super hyper space age Unobtanium)
Still trying to narrow down everything l need it for.
I know I want my cake and eat it too, but let's be honest, why have the cake if you can't eat it??
To be honest that was the note 10.1 out of the box... It really doesn't need constant updates because it just works how its supposed too... I've never owned an Asus tablet but wouldn't constant updates mean it has constant problems that are trying to be fixed?
Gaming is fine, you can run the chainfire 3d app for tegra games, I run with sonic and that works fine and a few other games (NFS most wanted, GTA3, Dungeon Hunters 3 and Assassins creed 3) and have no problem...
Notes are easy to take using the pen, think back to high school with a folder, about the same size and not that heavy.
You can get an adaptor for usb connectivity - Just cant use an HDD as it requires too much power but a thumb drive works fine (mines 32gb), I have a 64gb sd card installed and I got the 32gb 3g version, forgot phone, no problem...
Performance is fine, there's no problem and 2gb of RAM makes it snappy - even when you fill it with stuff, I have around 4gb left internally and about 2gb on the 64gb sd card - no lag or stutter...
There is a HDMI adaptor you can get but haven't tried it. If you have a smart tv from 2012 then you can share your screen wirelessly and you can get the wireless adaptor that plugs into the tv set. For older versions of TV sets freeing up your usb port you can use the wireless adaptor that plugs into the tv instead of the MHL Adaptor.
Screen resolution is fine for what I need, it plays 720P movies very well and I don't care that I can't magnify the screen into infinity when viewing pics or text...
I have had no problem with build quality, mind you most people I know seem to put it into a folder for protection - don't use anything with magnets as it might affect the wacom digitiser.
The S-pen makes it easy to enter notes or data, its a shame that Samsung used a little known format for s-notes but there's ways around that too...
Battery life is awesome, I use it 8 hours a day watching movies, surfing the web, listening to music, writing, taking notes and making calls and still have around 20-25% at the end of the day...
Overall I find it fine for what I use it for, the new JB update makes it so much better....
At the end of the day you will make your decision, if you live in America you might be able to change that decision, but I like my note 10.1. It is the only tab out there that allowed me to make phone calls and that's what pushed it over the edge for me.. That and the bluetooth stylus that doubles as a handset.... :laugh:
ultramag69 said:
To be honest that was the note 10.1 out of the box... It really doesn't need constant updates because it just works how its supposed too... I've never owned an Asus tablet but wouldn't constant updates mean it has constant problems that are trying to be fixed?
Gaming is fine, you can run the chainfire 3d app for tegra games, I run with sonic and that works fine and a few other games (NFS most wanted, GTA3, Dungeon Hunters 3 and Assassins creed 3) and have no problem...
Notes are easy to take using the pen, think back to high school with a folder, about the same size and not that heavy.
You can get an adaptor for usb connectivity - Just cant use an HDD as it requires too much power but a thumb drive works fine (mines 32gb), I have a 64gb sd card installed and I got the 32gb 3g version, forgot phone, no problem...
Performance is fine, there's no problem and 2gb of RAM makes it snappy - even when you fill it with stuff, I have around 4gb left internally and about 2gb on the 64gb sd card - no lag or stutter...
There is a HDMI adaptor you can get but haven't tried it. If you have a smart tv from 2012 then you can share your screen wirelessly and you can get the wireless adaptor that plugs into the tv set. For older versions of TV sets freeing up your usb port you can use the wireless adaptor that plugs into the tv instead of the MHL Adaptor.
Screen resolution is fine for what I need, it plays 720P movies very well and I don't care that I can't magnify the screen into infinity when viewing pics or text...
I have had no problem with build quality, mind you most people I know seem to put it into a folder for protection - don't use anything with magnets as it might affect the wacom digitiser.
The S-pen makes it easy to enter notes or data, its a shame that Samsung used a little known format for s-notes but there's ways around that too...
Battery life is awesome, I use it 8 hours a day watching movies, surfing the web, listening to music, writing, taking notes and making calls and still have around 20-25% at the end of the day...
Overall I find it fine for what I use it for, the new JB update makes it so much better....
At the end of the day you will make your decision, if you live in America you might be able to change that decision, but I like my note 10.1. It is the only tab out there that allowed me to make phone calls and that's what pushed it over the edge for me.. That and the bluetooth stylus that doubles as a handset.... :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me more about the wireless HDMI solution. One of the BIG issues I have with the note is the fact that it's lacking ports and there aren't any docking stations etc with both hdmi and usb . I have several really good LED TV's at home , but non have wireless DLNA or similar setups ( have to buy extra plugs etc) so a HDMI port would have been great...
Another issue is the fact that there seems to be an increase in TEGRA optimized games... somthing that's a major bummer since l actually like using the tab as a mini game console .
KoRoZIV said:
I get 14 hours on the note on regular use, the record being 16 (talking about screen+ WiFi active, not about stand-by). With tf700 i had 11 hours with the first one, the other 2 devices never more than 8 hours (all without the dock, i did not buy one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that 14h out of the box, or have you done some tinkering with it?
For the games run chainfire 3d... You can then run the tegra games with no problem...
Allshare cast dongle or Allshare cast hub - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2003478 & http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089VO7MY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

help deciding what tablet

Need help deciding what tablet to get I currently have an iPad 4 retina 64gb, and I like it but have come to the conclusion that I only like it because the apps are optimized for the tablet screen, have the note 2 and love it and want the same experience on a tablet instead of waiting around for a jailbreak to get somethings that I can do on an android tablet. I like to play video games and the moga or plug in an Xbox 360 controller is a plus for me widgets and all that fun stuff I like. The choice of tablets that I'm considering is the Asus transformer infinity with keyboard dock or the nexus 10 leaning more to the infinity because with the keyboard dock it can replace my laptop with splash top connecting to my Mac mini it is a laptop at all times. Things that concern me is screen resolution, and tablet optimized apps any help is much appreciated.
Lots of these threads going previously.
IMO it's pretty much up to you.
jammicphi said:
Need help deciding what tablet to get I currently have an iPad 4 retina 64gb, and I like it but have come to the conclusion that I only like it because the apps are optimized for the tablet screen, have the note 2 and love it and want the same experience on a tablet instead of waiting around for a jailbreak to get somethings that I can do on an android tablet. I like to play video games and the moga or plug in an Xbox 360 controller is a plus for me widgets and all that fun stuff I like. The choice of tablets that I'm considering is the Asus transformer infinity with keyboard dock or the nexus 10 leaning more to the infinity because with the keyboard dock it can replace my laptop with splash top connecting to my Mac mini it is a laptop at all times. Things that concern me is screen resolution, and tablet optimized apps any help is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the Nexus 10 would be best for you.
Sent from my MB886 using xda premium
jammicphi said:
Need help deciding what tablet to get I currently have an iPad 4 retina 64gb, and I like it but have come to the conclusion that I only like it because the apps are optimized for the tablet screen, have the note 2 and love it and want the same experience on a tablet instead of waiting around for a jailbreak to get somethings that I can do on an android tablet. I like to play video games and the moga or plug in an Xbox 360 controller is a plus for me widgets and all that fun stuff I like. The choice of tablets that I'm considering is the Asus transformer infinity with keyboard dock or the nexus 10 leaning more to the infinity because with the keyboard dock it can replace my laptop with splash top connecting to my Mac mini it is a laptop at all times. Things that concern me is screen resolution, and tablet optimized apps any help is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JOSE89178 said:
Sounds like the Nexus 10 would be best for you.
Sent from my MB886 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except for the fact that the Nexus 10 has a) availability issues and, more importantly, b) quality control issues that seem even worse than with the 700. You furthermore do not get the added battery life because of the powered dock, and less storage options. Why do you put forward the N10?
More on-topic, though: it really depends on preference, as Thats OK already said. I really do like the battery-powered dock and the extra oomph that gives -- I have a relatively long commute and irregular shifts, so it pleases me a lot not having to recharge every 12 hours, or whenever a wall socket is available somewhere. The screen resolution is fine -- I happily read technical (medical) books and articles, for which the radiographs, charts and stuff all come out really nicely, and even the private reading is a pleasure (text is crisp, contrast is good). The movies and documentaries or TED talks I regularly watch are great, too.
Nah. I'd pick the TF700 if it came out now if I had no other options. However... and we also discussed this last week -- you really should use the serch function, you know -- someone I forgot the name of mentioned that soon a bunch of new models of several brands will be announced soon, and it might be prudent to wait it out a bit. You might shoot yourself in the foot when buying into an aging system, no matter how well it performs. Then again, in tech, there's always something better just around the corner, and if you wait, you can wait forever.
Good luck deciding!
You should wait and see the new Samsung tablet line-up (new models should be announced soon) before buying anything, well at least this is what i would do.
Search with Google for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (this link is in italian, but you will get it - > http://www.everyeye.it/tech/notizia/ecco-la-line-up-dei-tablet-samsung-per-il-2013_148080) .
MWC is coming tomorrow and I am sure the right thing to do now is WAIT!!! Many new awesome products may be introduced during MWC, which may include tablets. I was hoping for a new Transformer tablet, but it seems that ASUS will introduce a new Padfone, which technically can still be considered a tablet.
While you may end up with a better tablet if you wait, that same logic would mean that you would never buy a tablet since there are *always* newer and better devices around the corner. Even if the "perfect" tablet gets announced tomorrow, you then need to wait another few months before actually getting your hands on it (if you are lucky) - and even then, how knows what will happen (could end up being a dud). You just can't tell the future!
My advice - go to Best Buy today, mess with a few different models for an hour or so and buy one NOW! We are not talking about purchasing a new house here - it's a tablet that costs ~$500 that will be worn-out and/or outdated in a year or two anyway. Satisfy the urge and go get what seems best - you won't regret it - any modern tablet is an extremely fun device to use!
It's easy for us to tell you to wait - we already have a tablet that we are thoroughly enjoying!
Just my opinion....
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Another question from a lurker
Would you get the 32gb and dock or get the 64gb and grab a dock later?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
wurgy said:
Another question from a lurker
Would you get the 32gb and dock or get the 64gb and grab a dock later?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO 32 gb for the internal memory is plenty to hold your apps and some media. I put all the space-intensive stuff, music, pics, videos on external SD/micro cards anyway.
The dock, providing a good keyboard, extra battery, USB and extra SD card slot is one of the main selling points for this tablet.
If you want a dock, the TF700 is your best choice - no doubt about it.
If you don't need/want the dock you have quite a few other choices for a great tablet out there.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
I thought about waiting myself. However, I wanted Tegra platform, and it looks like the earliest a Tegra 4 TF would release is in July. Side by side, I don't see a difference in the quality of the screen between an ipad 4 and a TF700. OTOH, the TF700 screen gets very very bright for outdoor usage.
As to storage, I've got a 32GB TF700, a 32GB microsd card installed, and the keyboard dock with a 16GB SD card in it; that's roughly 80GB of raw storage here and I can easily expand it. With the dock, battery life is phenominal. The tiny keyboard is taking some getting used to, but it's very handy. In fact, I haven't even turned my old dell laptop on since I got this. Just haven't needed it. I use a PS3 dualshock controller and a micro-hdmi cable for emulator gaming on the big screen. It's pretty cool. Haven't played any of these SNES games since I was a teenager.
The touchwiz launcher on your note 2 isn't available on a transformer. Asus has it's own launcher, but it's very nice. I suggest you try one out in Best Buy. They have a sale this week, the TF700 is $429, and the KB dock $99. That's like $120 off full price. Though, I think they change their sales on wed, so I'd decide quickly.
I don't regret buying the TF700 one bit. It's a good tablet/laptop replacement, and less than half the price of Asus's own ultrabook with a touchscreen. The only thing I'm really sacrificing is a full windows platform. In all the time I've had my old laptop though, I never really did anything on it that I couldn't do on this tablet, and this tablet does it for over 8 hours longer, lol.
jammicphi said:
Need help deciding what tablet to get I currently have an iPad 4 retina 64gb, and I like it but have come to the conclusion that I only like it because the apps are optimized for the tablet screen, have the note 2 and love it and want the same experience on a tablet instead of waiting around for a jailbreak to get somethings that I can do on an android tablet. I like to play video games and the moga or plug in an Xbox 360 controller is a plus for me widgets and all that fun stuff I like. The choice of tablets that I'm considering is the Asus transformer infinity with keyboard dock or the nexus 10 leaning more to the infinity because with the keyboard dock it can replace my laptop with splash top connecting to my Mac mini it is a laptop at all times. Things that concern me is screen resolution, and tablet optimized apps any help is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, fck samsung and there crappy-soft-plastic build quality. Anyone who would consider a samsung product does not know anything about build quality. The ridiculously high resolution? Not worth it. Why push a higher pixel count than the retina display if you cant see pixels beyond retina display. All of the android tablets anounced for this yr do not improve on the infinity except for vizios tablet that uses a tegra 4, and who knows when that will actualy be released. The tegra 4 is expected to ship on devices late this year. Of tablets on the market a non-stock infinity handles them all with no issue. I can confirm this bc i work at a tech store and have tested them all against my infinity. No android tablet can replace a laptop like an infinity. Since buying mine 8 mos ago I havent once used my old laptop.
lucius.zen said:
Seriously, fck samsung and there crappy-soft-plastic build quality. Anyone who would consider a samsung product does not know anything about build quality. The ridiculously high resolution? Not worth it. Why push a higher pixel count than the retina display if you cant see pixels beyond retina display. All of the android tablets anounced for this yr do not improve on the infinity except for vizios tablet that uses a tegra 4, and who knows when that will actualy be released. The tegra 4 is expected to ship on devices late this year. Of tablets on the market a non-stock infinity handles them all with no issue. I can confirm this bc i work at a tech store and have tested them all against my infinity. No android tablet can replace a laptop like an infinity. Since buying mine 8 mos ago I havent once used my old laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just want to make a slight correction, minus the keyboard dock, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z has much better hardware specs than the tf700 (Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2 GB RAM, even 4G LTE). Since it is going to be released in May in the US, it will be a mistake not to consider it.
Dang must be a local best buy sale, mines still at $499. Though about the xperia but really like the idea if the dock. With the Ubuntu coming out it could make the tf700 VERY interesting.
If I get it I will be getting a dock. Was just wondering if it's better to get the 64 or just have a microSD and SD in the dock and call it good.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
huy_lonewolf said:
Just want to make a slight correction, minus the keyboard dock, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z has much better hardware specs than the tf700 (Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2 GB RAM, even 4G LTE). Since it is going to be released in May in the US, it will be a mistake not to consider it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that you can't get a keyboard dock with the Sony, which is one of the TF700's main selling points!
I cannot understand why other manufacturers aren't offering an optional keyboard dock - I simply wont even consider a tablet without a keyboard dock -ever. It just makes the device that much more useful...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Don't they make bluetooth keyboards that would work?
Soul TKR said:
Don't they make bluetooth keyboards that would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely not - a bluetooth keyboard is not even close to a true keyboard dock. A true keyboard dock is integrated with the device - it becomes part of the device. It includes an a battery to charge the device, a USB port, a SD memory card slot, customized buttons on the keyboard, a trackpad with two mouse buttons and even doubles as a stand for the tablet (which even charges the tablet!).
On the other hand, a bluetooth keyboard is just another separate accessory that you have to lug around, actually requires batteries instead of providing a battery, has no expansion slots and is, in general, a pain in the a$$ to work with (I know, I've tried).
So, as you can see - while they do make bluetooth keyboards that would work, they do not provide anywhere near the level of integration or functionality of a true keyboard dock. It's not even close.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Good points
Soul TKR said:
Don't they make blue tooth keyboards that would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really...
I've tried a couple I have the RockSoul BT keyboard it's a hassle and disconnects periodically.
For me a keyboard isn't a necessity.
Now a blue tooth mouse... :good:
lucius.zen said:
Seriously, fck samsung and there crappy-soft-plastic build quality. Anyone who would consider a samsung product does not know anything about build quality. The ridiculously high resolution? Not worth it. Why push a higher pixel count than the retina display if you cant see pixels beyond retina display. All of the android tablets anounced for this yr do not improve on the infinity except for vizios tablet that uses a tegra 4, and who knows when that will actualy be released. The tegra 4 is expected to ship on devices late this year. Of tablets on the market a non-stock infinity handles them all with no issue. I can confirm this bc i work at a tech store and have tested them all against my infinity. No android tablet can replace a laptop like an infinity. Since buying mine 8 mos ago I havent once used my old laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! You make me feel REALLY good about buying this tablet :bigsmile:
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------
wurgy said:
Dang must be a local best buy sale, mines still at $499. Though about the xperia but really like the idea if the dock. With the Ubuntu coming out it could make the tf700 VERY interesting.
If I get it I will be getting a dock. Was just wondering if it's better to get the 64 or just have a microSD and SD in the dock and call it good.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I load all my large files like media and videos on SD/micro cards, basically use the internal for apps and such only. 32gb is plenty for me in that regard...
64gb micro in the tablet, 64gb SD in the dock + optional USB stick.... I don't think I'll ever run out of storage on this baby!
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
If the idea of having a keyboard is appealing to you, get the infinity...
If you find it slow, unlock bootloader and install cromi

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