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Hey guys, I am looking into picking up the Asus Transformer...when it becomes available in the US... and had a question.
I was really wanting an application for it like Microsoft OneNote, which allows you to manage your schoolwork very easily. Pretty much a notebook with tabs for different sections and other neat things. It lets you type, and also draw, within the same note. Has anyone found a app for the tablet similar to this? As I will be using this for lots of note taking in Grad. school and was hoping I could find something that would work well for me. Thx in advance
dufran3 said:
Hey guys, I am looking into picking up the Asus Transformer...when it becomes available in the US... and had a question.
I was really wanting an application for it like Microsoft OneNote, which allows you to manage your schoolwork very easily. Pretty much a notebook with tabs for different sections and other neat things. It lets you type, and also draw, within the same note. Has anyone found a app for the tablet similar to this? As I will be using this for lots of note taking in Grad. school and was hoping I could find something that would work well for me. Thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MobileNoter has worked great for me on my Nexus, and I believe the developer is working on a tabley/HC version to be released soon. I'm crossing my fingers for inking/drawing support, as I'm needing a good OneNote solution for the transformer when it comes out in the US. Their iPad version looks pretty slick, hopefully we get something similar.
I did take a look at MobileNoter, but it appears to only be able to view notes that were created using OneNote. I'm looking to create the notes on the tablet, hopefully that functionality is out there.
Take a look at evernote, andoird, web app, desktop, emailable, bookmarklets
not many ways left to send data into a note system
I often photograph the flip chart pages after presentations at work.
Evernote is my favorite.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Evernote and Mobilenoter are not substitutes for Onenote
I used Onenote extensively about 6 years ago on my old school tablet, it is truly a great product. The other do not compare. Nothing is better for school work, taking notes, and organization. As soon as Onenote comes out on Android, with pen input, I will be the first to buy. Until then tablets are a nice toy.
kanegaro said:
I used Onenote extensively about 6 years ago on my old school tablet, it is truly a great product. The other do not compare. Nothing is better for school work, taking notes, and organization. As soon as Onenote comes out on Android, with pen input, I will be the first to buy. Until then tablets are a nice toy.
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Click to collapse
Agreed, I'm surprised that a clone isn't being developed as I see OneNote as one of the best applications for a tablet...but that's just me I guess
Its the new world, just use Google Docs
lol, yeh, thanks for the constructive post. I'm well aware of Google Docs and how it isn't exactly what I'm looking for...thx tho
dufran3 said:
lol, yeh, thanks for the constructive post. I'm well aware of Google Docs and how it isn't exactly what I'm looking for...thx tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well But there is an office suite with it when you buy it, perhaps that will satisfy your needs.
I would recommended either note everything or evernote.
Evernote. If you want it to back up to a server and note everything if you want to draw
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
it seems like most of the people replying to this have either never used onenote, or have only used it once or twice just to see what it is
if you had used it, you would know that the suggestions here are not even remotely comparable to onenote
I hope that there will be something similar soon but I haven't seen anything
there are lots of good note taking apps out there but none of them can begin to compare to onenote when it comes to organization of notes
I wouldn't ever want to try to write notes on a capacitive screen though so I'm sticking with a windows tablet with a wacom active digitizer
dufran3 said:
Hey guys, I am looking into picking up the Asus Transformer...when it becomes available in the US... and had a question.
I was really wanting an application for it like Microsoft OneNote, which allows you to manage your schoolwork very easily. Pretty much a notebook with tabs for different sections and other neat things. It lets you type, and also draw, within the same note. Has anyone found a app for the tablet similar to this? As I will be using this for lots of note taking in Grad. school and was hoping I could find something that would work well for me. Thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out springpad. I find it easier to use than evernote.
Pen Input
smaskell said:
it seems like most of the people replying to this have either never used onenote, or have only used it once or twice just to see what it is
if you had used it, you would know that the suggestions here are not even remotely comparable to onenote
I hope that there will be something similar soon but I haven't seen anything
there are lots of good note taking apps out there but none of them can begin to compare to onenote when it comes to organization of notes
I wouldn't ever want to try to write notes on a capacitive screen though so I'm sticking with a windows tablet with a wacom active digitizer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the other programs...Evernote and the like....but I need the ability to "write." Not trying to be a hater, and I'm certainly not a MS-phile, but Onenote is a great product, and combined with pen input, there is no competitor. Why is the capacitive screen so bad for writing? There exists pens for it. I have not had a change to test this out. Is it too cumbersome?
smaskell said:
it seems like most of the people replying to this have either never used onenote, or have only used it once or twice just to see what it is
if you had used it, you would know that the suggestions here are not even remotely comparable to onenote
I hope that there will be something similar soon but I haven't seen anything
there are lots of good note taking apps out there but none of them can begin to compare to onenote when it comes to organization of notes
I wouldn't ever want to try to write notes on a capacitive screen though so I'm sticking with a windows tablet with a wacom active digitizer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I also have an HP Touchsmart TM2 tablet with a wacom digitizer. I bought this for school mainly to use onenote and use e-textbooks. However, It is still heavy and doesn't have the best battery life so I am also picking up a Transformer.
However, I found myself using this less and less as it was so much faster to grab a pen and paper than to start Windows 7.
I don't think we are going to see anything that is par with Onenote but I think there are a few decent substitutes mentioned that are good for quick notes on a device that is more readily available.
kanegaro said:
I like the other programs...Evernote and the like....but I need the ability to "write." Not trying to be a hater, and I'm certainly not a MS-phile, but Onenote is a great product, and combined with pen input, there is no competitor. Why is the capacitive screen so bad for writing? There exists pens for it. I have not had a change to test this out. Is it too cumbersome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
evernote is certainly an excellent program. I still don't think it compares to onenote but it does have a lot to offer.
As for the capacitive pen vs. active digitizer, it's really hard to explain if you haven't used one. Taking notes with a capacitive pen is certainly do-able but it's just not ideal. A capacitive pen is, of course, not as accurate. that much is given, but there are other things that make an active digitizer just that much better. One of the most important things, as far as I'm concerned, is pressure sensitivity. If you want to do any sort of art, it's basically necessary, but even just for note taking it makes a big difference. It makes your writing just look and feel so much more natural. This is impossible with a capacitive pen. Another key point for me is that, with an active digitizer, you can have buttons on the pen for things. I have right click and alt+tab buttons on the side of my pen(customizable of course) and, most importantly, an eraser button on the back. Searching through menus to find a eraser is such a pain. Just flipping over the pen and erasing the same way you would with an actual pencil is great. This, again, is impossible with a capacitive pen. Yet another great feature is that the active digitizer is the fact that it knows where the pen is, even when it's not touching the screen(within a certain distance of course). This means that you can do mouse-overs and things like that. This isn't nearly as important with android as it is window, but still it's pretty cool. Once again, impossible with a capacitive pen.
I'm sure that there are other features that make active digitizers better but I've rambled on enough already.
Ahhh. I understand. Everything you mentioned above is my experience with pen input i.e. the pressure sensitivity, eraser, multiple buttons. I am going to assume then that capacitive screens are not able to do that, too bad. These were important features that pulled me into the "writing" experience.
How about a tablet wish list.....
1) instant on ability
2) Onenote
3) active digitizer
4) wifi
5) long battery life 7-10 hours
6) thin, convenient to carry.
Just an FYI, Evernote has just received a major update. Now includes a lot of features that are not available on iOS.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20055279-251.html
Colleague of mine asked me about E-readers as Nook or Kindle.
He wants to get one for his wife, but does not like the screen size.
If I remember correctly I read somewhere that G-tab can be used as an E-reader.
Tried to search the forum but didn't come with any answers.
If anyone using G-tab as a reader, could you please let me know if there is some specific app that can be installed on G-tab to use Amazone or Barns$Nobel.
Greatly appreciated.
I have used Barnes & Noble Nook eReader application, Amazon's Kindle eReader, and the Google eReader and all worked great for me. I'm settling into my favorite being the Google reader because it syncs what I'm reading across multiple devices. That works well for me because I tend to read on my Motorola Droid X phone sometimes and on the GTab other times. The Google eReader keeps my place no matter how many times I switch devices.
These eReader programs are all free so you might want to check first for the price of the ebooks. I found B&N to be most expensive but not by too much. Google and Amazon are about the same and pretty cheap, cheaper than buying paperbacks.
Good luck.
Kindle. Kobo. Barnes and Noble. Google Books. All of them work; all of them are on the market - and on the Viewsonic Favorites page if you're still on stock.
I'll add that I've used Kindle app with about 20 books on this tablet and had no issues whatsoever.
btw, I think the screen for the gtablet would kinda suck for an e-reader. Bad angle and because the home buttons aren't lit, you need a light on.
if you have one already, lots of options. But if you are looking for a new tablet. I would go color nook, or spend a bit more and go with a xoom or wait for a few weeks for the a few others coming out.
Moon reader is my favorite.
Not sure if it's relevant, but the reading app Aldiko has direct access to numerous free (public domain) book catalogs. It's super-easy to download and then read them in the app.
Lilwolf2000 said:
btw, I think the screen for the gtablet would kinda suck for an e-reader. Bad angle and because the home buttons aren't lit, you need a light on.
if you have one already, lots of options. But if you are looking for a new tablet. I would go color nook, or spend a bit more and go with a xoom or wait for a few weeks for the a few others coming out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As he said, it is quite hard to read. I have serious back injuries and at times have to lie on my sides with pillows between my legs and such. With my new tablet, I can lay it flat on the bed near my head and read it no problem. I'd guess maybe at a 50 degree angle to my eyes. With the gtab I'd have to wedge a piece of cloth under the far side of it to bring it up to a smaller angle. It's not impossible to use, you're just going to be more limited where you can place or hold it and still see it.
Yeah, gTab is a pain to use as an eReader in bed. I eventually just had it propped up on my bed in my M1 case, and read laying on my side. Reading on my back, with gTab propped on my chest didn't work so well, as any slight tilt made things tough on the eyeballs.
I use the Nook app, which should also sync across devices. They just released an update yesterday which makes it more tablet friendly. it is pretty nice.
No worry about the buttons, really, as you can swipe to turn pages. I don't do a lot of reading in bed, so the angles don't both me.
Pretty sure they all do that (Google Books, Nook and Kindle), sync across multiple devices.
I have all installed but primarily use the Kindle app and I know it keeps my place when I read something on my PC, then later go to read it on my Droid or Gtablet.....and then back to the PC. It's always putting me where I last was no matter which device I am now using.
MSU_Sparty said:
I have used Barnes & Noble Nook eReader application, Amazon's Kindle eReader, and the Google eReader and all worked great for me. I'm settling into my favorite being the Google reader because it syncs what I'm reading across multiple devices. That works well for me because I tend to read on my Motorola Droid X phone sometimes and on the GTab other times. The Google eReader keeps my place no matter how many times I switch devices.
These eReader programs are all free so you might want to check first for the price of the ebooks. I found B&N to be most expensive but not by too much. Google and Amazon are about the same and pretty cheap, cheaper than buying paperbacks.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I highly recommend http://www.smashwords.com/ to buy your ebooks. You don't have to deal with all the drm crap. When you buy your ebook, it's really your ebook. You don't have to jump through hoops to read your own goddamn book.
TheKaz said:
I use the Nook app, which should also sync across devices. They just released an update yesterday which makes it more tablet friendly. it is pretty nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The new Nook app is great. I really like the magazine option. It's kind of awkward to read some of them due to having to magnify a bit, but still cool.
Perhaps not the best e-reader
I bought a gTablet for my mom. It's working out well for her, but I don't think I'd recommend it as an e-reader. Besides the poor viewing angles, it's a bit "heavy" at 1.8 pounds. Not something many would feel comfortable holding with one hand, etc.
I don't have a problem using the G Tab as an ebook reader. The app I like is Moon+Reader Pro, it will do Text to Speech and it will link up to Calibre network.
You can use more than one reading app
Maybe it makes sense to have most of your content for one app because it makes it easier to find content, but keep in mind you can have more than one reading app on a device.
FIY Kindle APP also lets you use content on more than one device i.e. I have the same content on my PC and my Kindle. I would definitely say the Kindle's screen is not too small to read on, but to each their own. Also, you can kind eBooks on other sites, paid or free.
If you want a tablet and your wife wants an e-Reader, by all means get a tablet. If you're not thinking of buying both then you're probably (like me) on a budget, so maybe the Nook Color would fit the bill. It's marketed as an e-reader so it would be an easy sell to the wife, you can dual-boot so you can add roms without messing up your wife's reading experience, it's cheap at $250; and since it's android, you can add other e-reader apps.
I managed to grab an almost-new Galaxy Tab off Craigslist for $250 today to replace my gf's busted Sony Pocket Reader. Figured I could just get her another reader, or something that does a hell of a lot more. The GT is really nice, perfect size and weight for reading, very solidly built too with a great screen, might be a better fit for an eReader.
One of the reasons I bought this was to use as an e-reader and it fails miserably. The screen is just terrible for it, especially in portrait mode.
I decided to buy a kindle and it is much better and doesn't give you "black dots" in your eyes when you read it before bed.
I know it is possible, but imo it is very unpleasant to use this device as an e-reader.
Tester30 said:
Colleague of mine asked me about E-readers as Nook or Kindle.
He wants to get one for his wife, but does not like the screen size.
If I remember correctly I read somewhere that G-tab can be used as an E-reader.
Tried to search the forum but didn't come with any answers.
If anyone using G-tab as a reader, could you please let me know if there is some specific app that can be installed on G-tab to use Amazone or Barns$Nobel.
Greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just about any mainstream device can be an ereader, since it's just software. Google Books, Nook, and Kindle apps on Android (or iOS) will give you full access to those bookstores.
I read mostly in the Kindle app, and frankly reading on an iPhone4 is more pleasant than reading on the g-tab. The screen sucks (which, hopefully you really understand by now, because when we say it sucks we mean it really really sucks) and it's uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of time, and it weighs a ton compared to a dedicated reader, or even to a 7" tablet.
Battery life is acceptable (but nothing like a kindle) and it's not horrible for reading in the dark, while seated with a desklike surface in front of you. Basically, you can use it as a reader if you're going to have it with you anyway, but buying it as a reader first and foremost wouldn't be my first choice. Or my second.
any1 try hand writing with a stylus? i know it sucks on the iPad, and also the Archos 101, but how is it on the Transformer? i need a tablet i can hand write on, so if you have tried it, let me know!
Capacitive touch screens and stylus support has always been relatively poor--there's just not enough precision. HTC might have licked it by adding an n-Trig digitizer to their newest 7-inch tablet (can't remember the name of the thing at the moment), but I haven't tried it myself.
Edit: Actually, here's some info: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/a-closer-look-at-the-htc-flyers-screen-and-stylus-aka-htc-scri/
If handwriting is that important to you, then you might want to consider the HTC.
yeah i would like to get the flyer, but im looking for something around 10"
today's amazon free-app is a keyboard app that supports hand-writing as input. it's call flext9
also supports voice, swype, and also a regular keyboard
try it out, it's free if you get it from amazon's app store.
or you could just try an app like genial writing with a boxwave stylus. I am using it for taking math notes at the university and my prof lectures like a machine gun.
My friend uses the ZeroStylus Pro and he says it's very good.
http://www.zerostylus.com/products-page/
I also use genial app with a boxwave stylus and it isn't bad.
Did try other cheaper stylus but boxwave is alot better,not tried zerostylus.
Itaintrite, have u compared boxwave with zerostylus?
You could try Grafitti from the market. It was brought back from the old Palm days.
I have a dagi stylus and it works relatively well. As far as apps the two I have been playing with and have found to be the best are
Handwrite
http://www.appbrain.com/app/handrite-full-handwriting-note/my.handrite.prem
and
TabNotes
http://www.appbrain.com/app/tabnotes-(trial)/com.softwareincheese.tabnotes.trial
Both still need work to be perfect for my needs but are a good start. Have also tried Maple Paint but not what im looking for.
I've been using an app called handrite with the stylus. pretty solid. its fairly new, but the dev has pushed a couple updates in the couple weeks I have had it. Should get better over the next couple months.
https://market.android.com/details?id=app-my.handrite
mias1 said:
I also use genial app with a boxwave stylus and it isn't bad.
Did try other cheaper stylus but boxwave is alot better,not tried zerostylus.
Itaintrite, have u compared boxwave with zerostylus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ordered a boxwave stylus...that Genie app is da bomb!
Very intuitive, and very fast...just what I've been looking for.
I'm currently writting a note taking app. I'd love to hear some input (features etc). The current offerings felt really slow and lacking features to me.
I am looking at all the styli mentioned in this thread.. boxwave, targus etc etc.
The tips on all these look rather large/broad and dont seem that good for notetaking. It would seem that some precision would be lost.. kinda like writing a note with a broad-tip magic marker.
Is there a stylus out there with a "finer" tip?... or am I getting the wrong impression?
dmeehl said:
I'm currently writting a note taking app. I'd love to hear some input (features etc). The current offerings felt really slow and lacking features to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok...here are my suggestions after trying about 15 of them today....
1.) Speed...no lag...it's gotta feel really snappy.
2.) The UI has to allow for QUICK writing and clicking...no stuff scattered all over 20 different menus...
3.) I WISH that there were a way to allow laying the wrist on the screen while writing....(I know ....this aint gonna happen)
4.) One thing that I had a hard time with was the ratio of writing area to what is produced....I'd like to be able to write smaller and produce fairly large characters...I kept running out of room on a few of the apps and it's hard to scroll while writing.
5.) My opinion is that Genial and handwrite were what came closest to what I wanted.
IF you want a beta tester....I'll happily apply....
Is there any way to make notes on existing documents? .pdfs for example?
CoolWaters said:
Is there any way to make notes on existing documents? .pdfs for example?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Repligo Reader. It's simply the best PDF reader out there for speed and rendering, and has all sorts of annotation features.
kilofox said:
Is there a stylus out there with a "finer" tip?... or am I getting the wrong impression?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Dagi is the closest. The problem is that the capacitive touch screens need a large area in order to register a touch. The Dagi at least allows you to see the "point" because of its transparent end. IMHO the tip still needs to be much more flexible because you still have to hold it relatively close to the correct angle for it to work well.
rpavich said:
Ok...here are my suggestions after trying about 15 of them today....
1.) Speed...no lag...it's gotta feel really snappy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try to finish up some features and let you try it. So far it's the fastest i've seen.
2.) The UI has to allow for QUICK writing and clicking...no stuff scattered all over 20 different menus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What knd of functions need to be quick? pen/eraser, color...
3.) I WISH that there were a way to allow laying the wrist on the screen while writing....(I know ....this aint gonna happen)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is very difficult. Especially while keeping the tracking very fast. You're talking about analyzing the type (possibly area) of touch point basically. Android's event system makes this difficult. I hope they improve this soon.
4.) One thing that I had a hard time with was the ratio of writing area to what is produced....I'd like to be able to write smaller and produce fairly large characters...I kept running out of room on a few of the apps and it's hard to scroll while writing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if i understand this one.
IF you want a beta tester....I'll happily apply....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'll keep you on the list for when something is ready.
Do any of these have an OCR (or CR I guess) type of thing? I use a pen and paper for taking notes currently, and it would be awesome if I could pick up a stylus have my tablet easily transcribe the notes for me.
http://www.wacom.com/en/Products/BambooStylus.aspx
It's Wacom. Of course it's good.
How does this work as a laptop replacement in a school environment? Taking notes, web experience, etc. I'm looking to replace my laptop for at school.
How does it do rendering blackboard ?
Any help would be appreciated I might pick one up tomorrow with the keyboard. Is it responsive to type documents on?
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
As a direct laptop/desktop replacement, I do not believe it will do that. However, if you are looking for something that is light, takes notes with a stylus, web surfing, movies, music, etc... Then it would be perfect. I am a college student, and have used an iPad and now this for school, and it fits perfectly into my daily life.
With the keyboard dock, this thing would seriously be a netbook type device, so typing on one I would not know. I use the Transformer by itself.
Hmmmm, I have found the best solution for my studies (masters in education) was a touchscreen laptop like the fujitsu lifebook using OneNote. I have the keyboard dock for the transformer and I simply love it. I am currently forcing myself to use this instead of my lifebook simply to see the abilities of this in the classroom. This machine falls a bit short of being the perfect companion, thats pretty good. No OneNOTE, but with printershare that makes up for it a bit.
The lightness of it is huge ofcourse, its sturdy as well. Internet is less cumberson than on a windows based machine. There are several apps that can be used for office, or you could use google Docs. Also, once rooted, you can download any file type and with the USB ports on the dock you will be able to move files at your whim.
ON THE OTHER HAND... (And this point just came to me as I was typing this) I have not used my laptop since I purchased this machine a few weeks ago and currently about to finish my last class. So maybe it is a good solution.
Give me sme real world applications (how you want to use it) and maybe I can give you some suggestions.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
boglwe said:
Hmmmm, I have found the best solution for my studies (masters in education) was a touchscreen laptop like the fujitsu lifebook using OneNote. I have the keyboard dock for the transformer and I simply love it. I am currently forcing myself to use this instead of my lifebook simply to see the abilities of this in the classroom. This machine falls a bit short of being the perfect companion, thats pretty good. No OneNOTE, but with printershare that makes up for it a bit.
The lightness of it is huge ofcourse, its sturdy as well. Internet is less cumberson than on a windows based machine. There are several apps that can be used for office, or you could use google Docs. Also, once rooted, you can download any file type and with the USB ports on the dock you will be able to move files at your whim.
ON THE OTHER HAND... (And this point just came to me as I was typing this) I have not used my laptop since I purchased this machine a few weeks ago and currently about to finish my last class. So maybe it is a good solution.
Give me sme real world applications (how you want to use it) and maybe I can give you some suggestions.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks in advance you are really helping me out. Well some apps i'd like to use would be:
-an office-like application to edit/compose word docs or essays.
-view pdf files
-i have used evernote in the past, but i also like using powerpoint to take notes in the notes pane under slides....(i think with google docs i can toggle speaker notes which may solve this issue)
-another thing on taking notes, can u insert bulleted lists/ numbered lists/ indents to keep notes organized on any notetaking software for the transformer?
-as far as music goes, how does it handle multitasking with music. FOr example, playing audio in the background while i study.
-ease of copying/pasting.
I am thinking it may just suffice and have that 'wow' factor too. I do have a desktop at home, so for anything real intensive i am sure i could use that (which i have been neglecting lately).
Im familiar with rooting/flashing devices as i've come from a captivate and now use a atrix. I feel like im rambling, but the more i type the more it sounds like a viable solution for taking notes in class.
one last thing, i have seen a few threads about some keyboard lag...is this a serious issue? is there a fix? I saw that there are several iterations of the keyboard, is there one i should try and get when i go shopping over others?
i just dont want to have to wait for the keyboard to catch up if i'm taking notes in evernote.
I think i may just pick it up tomorrow and try it out for a few weeks since school isnt until august 29th...but i could use any insight on it i could get!
August 29th... semester system?
I've not used it to take notes yet (summer research), but for school life, entertainment-wise, since I've had it, I haven't used my laptop much for anything other than the occasional Netflix (and I've stopped since I finished BSG ).
I'm using my laptop right now to play some game, but really, the TF has almost replaced everything I need it. The typing lag does kind of suck so if you're some kind of student with a major that will require lots of typing..
asdfuogh said:
August 29th... semester system?
I've not used it to take notes yet (summer research), but for school life, entertainment-wise, since I've had it, I haven't used my laptop much for anything other than the occasional Netflix (and I've stopped since I finished BSG ).
I'm using my laptop right now to play some game, but really, the TF has almost replaced everything I need it. The typing lag does kind of suck so if you're some kind of student with a major that will require lots of typing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how bad is the typing lag? i dont do a TON of typing, but i am taking an online class so i may need to type into a forum style system box to submit.
edit:
i see that it is only an issue with SOME apps? have you used thinkfree office?
domin8 said:
how bad is the typing lag? i dont do a TON of typing, but i am taking an online class so i may need to type into a forum style system box to submit.
edit:
i see that it is only an issue with SOME apps? have you used thinkfree office?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not too bad but not like iPad fast either,it lags but catches up easily on everything you type.
It catches up for short typing sessions. When I typed up a document for my parents, it was really noticeable in a bad way though.
The keyboard lag is NOT all the time; I mostly see it in the browsers and its actually rare but when it happens, you know it. A few things to note regarding using this machine for serious work...First there are several apps that can be used for Office (documents to go, and polaris, that latter comes with the machine, but I have yet to find one that has auto-save, and that can be scary when writing those long papers. If the machine is rooted you can copy paste ANYTHING, without root, its kind of a hit and miss.
You can play music in the background, so no worries there. most music apps attach to your task bar in any ways.
The way I find myself using this device many times in in conjuction with my own desktop now or at the school library computers and have this next to me at all times. It is an amazing resource to share information point blank with peeps and youself. There is also a thread somewhere here talkin about a Onenote alternative for android using a stylus, I have yet to try one of these apps.
PDF files are easy enough, here are tons off apps to do this.
Something else to remember is that these pads are getting TONS of attention right now from all kind of devs and apps are being made DAILY, its really just a matter of time for an app to show up to do EXACTLY what you need. IMHO
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Yeah, he's totally right about the apps showing up. Now... all I need is... STRATEGY RPG LIKE FINAL FANTASY TACTICS! (Who's up for making/porting one?)
Anyway, I like my TF for what I've used it for so far. Just grab one and try it, and return it if it doesn't work for you ?
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you bud. I bought the TF foreseeing that I would hopefully be able to us it for school and I was very pleased with my decision in the end.
To answer your questions...
It is a very viable (and in most case preferred) option to do basic school work on, especially simple stuff like note taking and editing documents. The included office app (Polaris) is actually a very nice feature and includes just about everything you would need to type an essay such as indentations, points/dots/whatever they are (as you were looking for), also includes numbering, double spacing, different font sizes and colors. Now it's not a full Microsoft Office replacement, but it definitely has all the basic features you'd be looking for.
You can also find a handful of microsoft office editors in the Android market. I haven't personally tested any of them yet (but will use them when school comes around) however from my knowledge they seem capable of editing word, powerpoint and couple other office applications--which is good enough for me.
To address the keyboard lag. I can speak from experience, when typing in most apps (especially apps like colournote, AKnotepad, Polaris or anything else that allows you to take notes or write extended paragraphs/papers) there is absolutely no lag with the keyboard. Once you get the hang of it, you will be typing at a decent wpm rate and you won't tell the difference between the tf dock keyboard and any other. There is however a noticeable lag when using the stock browser but from my knowledge this is due to having flash enabled and has nothing to do with the dock/keyboard itself. Also, the knew dolphintab browser seems much better at cleaning up any lag in the browser and I feel with the net couple updates it will be a near perfect option for tab browsing. That aside, I would like to reiterate the fact that the keyboard does not lag when using things related to note taking or Polaris office. It is for the most part a browser specific issue.
As far as highlighting words and copying and pasting, that is the one thing the tf doesn't really excel at. You can still copy/cut and paste pretty much anything you want but it is just not as fluid as using a pc.
So there you have it. The transformer is pretty much a nice fit for doing basic school work BUT it is not in any means a complete replacement for having a desktop/full size laptop. There will definitely be times when you will come across things that you just have to have a pc to do, but for the most part, especially when it comes to basic stuff like note taking and writing papers, the TF is perfect.
I would also like to note that there are some apps out there that let you control a pc from your android tablet/phone such as phoneymypc or logmein. I highly suggest taking a look into those as they are great tools that you can have at your disposal with the TF and will make being away from you pc all the much easier.
Like I said, i'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I'm an MIS major and I often get annoyed at having to lug around my laptop just to take notes and do basic remedial things that something much lighter and more compact such as the TF can do wonderfully....
One more thing (wow this is a long post). You can easily find top notch netbooks (which offer the productivity of a pc with the portability of a tablet) for the same or even lesser than the TF. This was one of the things I took into consideration before I got my TF. I had to ask myself am I getting this thing solely for school, or do I want it for the other things android has to offer (entertainment wise). Overall I decided that i'd go with the TF because to me it had the best of both worlds as I am a huge android fan and have been an early adopter since the days of the G1, so the TF was a perfect fit for me...Just something to keep in mind.
boglwe said:
The keyboard lag is NOT all the time; I mostly see it in the browsers and its actually rare but when it happens, you know it. A few things to note regarding using this machine for serious work...First there are several apps that can be used for Office (documents to go, and polaris, that latter comes with the machine, but I have yet to find one that has auto-save, and that can be scary when writing those long papers. If the machine is rooted you can copy paste ANYTHING, without root, its kind of a hit and miss.
You can play music in the background, so no worries there. most music apps attach to your task bar in any ways.
The way I find myself using this device many times in in conjuction with my own desktop now or at the school library computers and have this next to me at all times. It is an amazing resource to share information point blank with peeps and youself. There is also a thread somewhere here talkin about a Onenote alternative for android using a stylus, I have yet to try one of these apps.
PDF files are easy enough, here are tons off apps to do this.
Something else to remember is that these pads are getting TONS of attention right now from all kind of devs and apps are being made DAILY, its really just a matter of time for an app to show up to do EXACTLY what you need. IMHO
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wish i'd of read this post before I spent 10 min typing mine up... I suck at making things compact, lol.
To the dude asking about rpg games. You absolutely HAVE to buy battleheart RIGHT NOW. It's not ff but it is an amazing rpg game and hands down the best you will ever find for android. (I haven't played them all so I really can't say that, but it is freaking awesome.)
Best of luck to you OP.
I'm used to use a 15" HP ProBook at school, but I do feel that my transformer can replace it...
But I guess I have an advantage as IT Professional, I run some servers at home (one of them has serveral types ov VPN on it, in case one is blocked by any firewalls), so I can access my desktops, and just use Office 2010 or Sony Vegas on a Core I7 (video editing), there is pretty much no limit for me...
But even if I was not able to make it this easy for me... I really love the Android OS, and it grows so fast in a short period of time... I wonder where it is in another 5 years... If Android goes on liek this, I think it will replace Windows (for regular users, not for companies)...
When I go back to college in 4 weeks )), I'll leave my laptop at home for the first week to see if I miss it for my everyday tasks...
I've used it for school and managing my work.
As a photographer it is needed that I have seemless integration of the sd card slot and a good device to support it, the transformer can handle it with ease!
The polaris office (or whatever its called) lets you make documents, excel sheets and powerpoint.
With a good stylus you would be able to take notes in like drawfree for example.
It handles music quite fine as it lets you multitask between apps and music.
And while Im doing all of this I can still get in touch with my friends because of the social part of the transformer that updates my status once in awhile ! ^-^
Its not a full fledged netbook but a nice replacement so far!
asdfuogh said:
Yeah, he's totally right about the apps showing up. Now... all I need is... STRATEGY RPG LIKE FINAL FANTASY TACTICS! (Who's up for making/porting one?)
Anyway, I like my TF for what I've used it for so far. Just grab one and try it, and return it if it doesn't work for you ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already exists, playstation one emulator or gba emulator. They redid fft on gba.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
domin8 said:
How does this work as a laptop replacement in a school environment? Taking notes, web experience, etc. I'm looking to replace my laptop for at school.
How does it do rendering blackboard ?
Any help would be appreciated I might pick one up tomorrow with the keyboard. Is it responsive to type documents on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use it for uni, and it seems to function quite well.
As a notetaking tool in lectures, it works fantastically, and it's so much better than lugging my Dell laptop around with me all day, which would just be a pain. If you've not got the dock or a bluetooth keyboard, it might be a bit of a hassle- I found that on the touch screen keyboard, hurriedly jotting down notes meant that I had to constantly backspace to correct formatting, punctuation, or spelling mistakes.
Polaris Office also tends to be a bit weird with me, though- sometimes files that I make on the transformer refuse to open using Microsoft Word on my computer, and vice versa. If you're doing a project with heavy formatting, you should probably stick to your desktop as Polaris tends to screw all that up for me.
It renders BlackBoard very quickly, and is great if you want to sneak a peek at a document that a teacher has uploaded there.
I'd say that you shouldn't use it as an all out replacement for your laptop where all school work is concerned- but as a device to take notes on, get quick snippets of information on, and access the web, it's perfect. Plus it helps that I can play Angry Birds if a lecture gets especially boring...
My semester just started again last week and I've been trying the TF (with dock) out as a netbook replacement for a week now.
I've been using freenotes to take notes in lectures and it's worked wonderfully. The built in email/gmail apps have worked wonderfully for email use and I use Dolphin for web-browsing and it's all been a real delight to use. Reads pdfs fine and I've got all my textbooks on internal storage (best thing ever).
The only annoying thing is coding on it. Doing a few Java projects this semester and as I'm still getting to terms with this language, I like to be using a full IDE for auto-correction etc. Anyway, I've been using vi via the terminal and this has been fine so far for code editing.
So yeah, after a week it's proved to be a pretty nice netbook alternative. Plus everything's nice and speedy unlike my clunky atom based netbook, plus it doesn't run hot on my lap and I've got no fans blaring constantly. Best thing about ARM from an end-user point-of-view
EDIT: I've also purchased a stylus for my TF last week, so I'm going to see how that goes for taking quick notes during lectures on my TF. Will report back if it's any good or if the keyboard is easier.
If you're looking for a more "desktop"-like experience, install Ubuntu on the internal storage. It's working wonderfully now (apart from a few small things) and you've pretty much got a full x86 laptop replacement in a nice lightweight ARM tablet.
this is why i love XDA, you guys have really answered all of my questions thoroughly! I am going to try and use that staples coupon that's floating around since it expires today and pick one up thanks so so so much guys, I plan on sticking around the transformer forums just as much as i do the atrix forums now
so it works! im glad i found this. this was my original plan to buy a tablet of some sort tablet with a dock (atrix with lapdock was my failed attempt) cuz i dont plan to carry my 17 inch laptop around. lol.
So I've had the Transformer for about 4-5 months now and too be quiet honest due to the lack of apps I cant really say it was a justified purchase. Sure its cool and all that and its useful when you just want to kick back and browse the web.
I love android been a huge fan of android since the longest time I used to own an iphone but I quickly got rid of it cause i wanted functionality/customization more than i wanted a whole array of apps.
However, somewhat opposite is what it seems I want with the tablet. So though i really like honeycomb and its looks (none too different than ICS) and i love ICS capabilities to fully take advantage of the tablet. Are there any apps that do the same? i mean i came across a couple like Google Catalogues, Books, pretty much mainly google made apps.
Now my question is that do people have any apps that takes advantage of the tablet. not a big fan of gaming on the tablet. But i guess if you guys can post me some names of Apps to check out i'd appreciate it. Also by posting here you guys can share with those who also have a similar problem.
edit: When i say take full advantage of the tablet, not only do i mean that its useful and fully performs the function you desire but also that the presentation of the app is elegant has some depth and quite nice/enjoyable to use.
edit: Thanks everyone for your input some of you guys are correct there is a whole thread for tablet optimized apps here is the link given by woodrube http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032381
also there are two apps you guys can download in the marketplace that i hope will in the near future bring to our attention even more better fully capable elegant apps. They are free downloads called "Tablified Market" and "Tablet Market". I see that many of you guys aren't pointing out Apps but rather are telling me how i can use my tablet lol, thank you for that but i was just having a hard time finding Apps i liked for the tablet and thought you guys may have known a hidden gem or two. But im just going to keep looking through the two apps i mentioned and possibly the thread.
the thread served its purpose for me and i hope for those that had similar thoughts there's some good insight in here for those that aren't to sure how to use the tablet once the "honeymoon" period passes.
How about these.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032381
What do you want it to do? I use mine for just about anything. School work, text books, notes, word documents, taking photos, Netflix, music, for video game hints when I have time to play. I think you have to have a use for it, it won't create functionality out of thin air. I don't have a use for a smart phone, to me they are too small. I can't imagine using a smart phone after having a tablet first. Watching Netflix must be torture on a small screen, office apps and such seem meant for tablets.
Kingsoft office
Ez Pdf reader
PowerAmp
Polaris office
Writepad Stylus
Splashtop HD
Balance my checkbook
Sygic Naviga
I came from a rooted nook color before this, and have never regretted it. It also was not an impulse purchase. I knew with the dock I would get close to 20 hours of battery life, with my laptop I get 4.5 brightness all the way down. I have never been keen on Apple products and for 500 bucks I have a NetBook/32 gb tablet with expandable storage.
I will admit it seems that Apple does have the edge a far as gaming goes, but that edge will diminish with time. I would like to see more graphic intensive games from these devices, like Dead Space, GTA, NOVA, and such. Again, in time we will see this evolution.
Sent from a KRAKD out Tranny
MCRHAZ said:
So I've had the Transformer for about 4-5 months now and too be quiet honest due to the lack of apps I cant really say it was a justified purchase. Sure its cool and all that and its useful when you just want to kick back and browse the web.
I love android been a huge fan of android since the longest time I used to own an iphone but I quickly got rid of it cause i wanted functionality/customization more than i wanted a whole array of apps.
However, somewhat opposite is what it seems I want with the tablet. So though i really like honeycomb and its looks (none too different than ICS) and i love ICS capabilities to fully take advantage of the tablet. Are there any apps that do the same? i mean i came across a couple like Google Catalogues, Books, pretty much mainly google made apps.
Now my question is that do people have any apps that takes advantage of the tablet. not a big fan of gaming on the tablet. But i guess if you guys can post me some names of Apps to check out i'd appreciate it. Also by posting here you guys can share with those who also have a similar problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the transformer for about 6 months now and I must admit at first I was the same. I was instantly impressed with how much more system level stuff I could do (e.g. download a file and SAVE it somewhere - outrageous) but I couldn't help but resist the thought of "this is like my pc, but a bit crappier"
Something I found quite interesting was that as I bought it with the dock I had the tablet tied to the dock 95% of the time- In my head I was like "more battery, extra ports and a keyboard, heck yes" and as I'd paid extra for the dock it seemed silly to just leave it sitting around. I'm not sure what happened, but one day I evolved to taking it out of the dock. Once I did it became a mobile entertainment system that could follow me around the house, it was fast, powerful sleek and could hang out in the lounge room, go to the ****ter and take to bed.
Once that realisation took hold, I felt alot more able to just use it for whatever I was doing. This was MASSIVELY helped by the android 10 billion download sales where I picked up airtwist (an itunes music syncer), ezpdf reader (great for books) and some cool games. Suddenly I could easily play music that my iphone used to do, read books, write shopping lists, control the dvd player etc. etc. etc.
In a large part my iPhone 4 had cornered this aspect of my life but I soon learned that the tablet did everything better. Now the iphone just feels too restrictive so I'm hanging out for a Galaxy S3 or something similar.
Basically, get the apps that suit your lifestyle, take it out of the dock (if you have one) and just go nuts!
wafflestheclown said:
I've had the transformer for about 6 months now and I must admit at first I was the same. I was instantly impressed with how much more system level stuff I could do (e.g. download a file and SAVE it somewhere - outrageous) but I couldn't help but resist the thought of "this is like my pc, but a bit crappier"
Something I found quite interesting was that as I bought it with the dock I had the tablet tied to the dock 95% of the time- In my head I was like "more battery, extra ports and a keyboard, heck yes" and as I'd paid extra for the dock it seemed silly to just leave it sitting around. I'm not sure what happened, but one day I evolved to taking it out of the dock. Once I did it became a mobile entertainment system that could follow me around the house, it was fast, powerful sleek and could hang out in the lounge room, go to the ****ter and take to bed.
Once that realisation took hold, I felt alot more able to just use it for whatever I was doing. This was MASSIVELY helped by the android 10 billion download sales where I picked up airtwist (an itunes music syncer), ezpdf reader (great for books) and some cool games. Suddenly I could easily play music that my iphone used to do, read books, write shopping lists, control the dvd player etc. etc. etc.
In a large part my iPhone 4 had cornered this aspect of my life but I soon learned that the tablet did everything better. Now the iphone just feels too restrictive so I'm hanging out for a Galaxy S3 or something similar.
Basically, get the apps that suit your lifestyle, take it out of the dock (if you have one) and just go nuts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your guys's comments. I'm sorry i should have been more precise in my rant though lol. What I meant to say was that sure the functionality is there and i love that that's great. But I end up not using it because the apps look so ugly lol and rather then just do it on a laptop. So what I do want are those apps that have the functionality there but also the elegance in the app. An example of this would be cooklet or Catalogues these two apps really impressed me in their depth and elegance, not much an actual catalogues type person or a cook (apart from eggs and toast) but i just go into the apps cause they look so good lol. other than that i tried using it as a essay writer as i do have the dock but the keyboard is too small to be comfortable for hours on end of writing. Also, i tried getting into it being a main music/media hub bought hdmi cable and everything but the music player on it is really crap lol for movies its good but again i dont really use it as much as i can just use my ps3. I do see myself using it more and more if there are better and better apps built for it. for starters a better gallary/music/video player youtube is good but would love to have the capability for it to play more than one video at a time. Maybe a nice agenda app? So if you guys know any great apps that may replace the ones currently or in general that have functionality and elegance and beauty let me know. Or show me videos that show how to make apps lool i'd be total game for that once my semester is done.
Woodrube said:
How about these.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032381
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Click to collapse
Thanks dude will be checking these out...there's a lot of em didnt realise it as much. i've had two apps on my tablet that show me tablet apps "tablified market" and "tablet market" but this list seems to surpass those.
There are more than enough practical and useful apps, you just need to figure out what they are for you. For example..i travel and go to college. For traveling, iuse media apps for watching movies and listening to music on the go. Also games for killing time. For school purposes,i use the kindle app and buy ebooks for required reading . Like mentioned above, i use splashtop desktop which is a remote desktop app that i use to connect to my pc at home to access my files and for other tasks. I am also a news junkie so i use the app pulse which allows u to subscribe to many different news sources. You have to find out what works for you. If you absolutely cannot think of anything,then my advice is to spend some time browsing the market for something you can use.
cavsoldier19d said:
There are more than enough practical and useful apps, you just need to figure out what they are for you. For example..i travel and go to college. For traveling, iuse media apps for watching movies and listening to music on the go. Also games for killing time. For school purposes,i use the kindle app and buy ebooks for required reading . Like mentioned above, i use splashtop desktop which is a remote desktop app that i use to connect to my pc at home to access my files and for other tasks. I am also a news junkie so i use the app pulse which allows u to subscribe to many different news sources. You have to find out what works for you. If you absolutely cannot think of anything,then my advice is to spend some time browsing the market for something you can use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...?i know, i stated that i do have the useful apps but there presented in such a way that i don't feel like using them because even though I'm studying to become an accountant I'm an artistic sort of person who likes to see elegance in things because that also shows passion and not just something you whipped up because its useful and will get you many downloads/sales. Maybe you guys don't like that and don't have any aesthetic standards, if i can say without being rude, but me I pay'd a hefty sum, for being a university student, and I would at least want apps that i can enjoy looking at while doing the function I need to. Maybe its too much to ask right now, maybe I have to wait more to find such apps and thank you guys for trying to help i appreciate each comment.
There might be different reasons you got that impression.
First thing is, as you stated, you simply overlooked the good ones. That's pretty easy to happen in the crowded android market, and so that's what this thread is for.
Second possible reason: The apps you are looking for are not that popular, that the developers care to make a special tablet layout. When I think about accounting I think of functionality over design, or simple "boring offices". Maybe that influences the apps tailored to those topics. (Don't get me wrong, don't want to sound rude, I'm a economics student myself, but I never really enjoyed things like accounting )
Third possible reason: The apps are properly designed but the look doesn't appeal to you that much. The overall iOS design is based on buttons that seem to scream "push me, push me" like those buttons on the packaging of electronic child toys. Everything is a bit shiny, a bit glossy and a bit 3D. You can simply enjoy it without thinking about what you're doing. The (current) android design however is a bit more on the techy side. It has a clear and functional layout, with few but important design rules. If you're not sure, which parts of the UI are intended and which are simply bad style please refer to Android Style ( developer.android.com / design / index.html No links due to low post count). Maybe the overall android look is not that appealing to you.
Coming back to the original question: The two apps for finding tablet specific apps are a solid source of tablet apps - I'm using them as well, keep them going!
Another good source for tablet apps is keeping an eye on Androidpolice. There is a loose series of posts called "The n Best Android 3.0+ Apps For Honeycomb Tablets From The Last n Weeks". It doesn't come out on a regular basis, but every now and then, and always provides me with some good hints for good apps.
I haven't got my tablet at hand right now, as I'm in the office, so I can't check whats installed on it to give you tips (might come back later), but I remember the IMDB App having a nice tablet interface. And I love reading my Google Reader feed via the app "feedly" which is a magazine style app, that allows browsing your feeds like some glossy magazine, with a nice gesture based interface.
This was the tips part of my post.
Now to continue the rant I can understand your point, with spending 400$+ for a device and then having few apps available that make use of that extra screen estate. I see myself using apps, that are good, but designed for phone, every day. Compared to the iPad where there are ****loads of tabletoptimized apps available this is kinda sad... BUT I also see myself doing things with my tablet everyday, that an iPad owner can never imagine, like connecting USB drives, sharing URLs and text between apps, manipulating wifi networks, using sd cards or simple things as downloading a file. So for me the price, which is about the same as the iPad's price, is absolutely ok! I'm still happy for every new tablet optimized app that launches, though.
OK, that has been a tl:dr post, but nevermind, happy weekend for everyone!
There is a Tablet Market app here somewhere...either in the development section or the apps/themes section. All the apps in it are supposed to be tablet optimized.
Swyped using my Pinky
Get an ipad.