[Q] Cheap ICS Tablet... What's the catch? - General Questions and Answers

Saw these on newegg the other day. Specs are impressive including an A10 arm CPU @1.5 ghz and Mali-400 GPU, with ICS out of the box... but for around $120? What's the catch here..? Yeah it looks quite a bit like a Dell Streak 7 at first glance - 480x800 res and only has 4GB for storage and only 512 ram... There's a lack of reviews on this thing and I'm considering getting one... But can anyone give me a reason to not buy one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U009E3479
More detailed specs on Buy.com:
http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=230139359&sellerid=18700237
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Nothing as far as I know. I remember reading about this tablet being the 1st ICS available. It was a GB tablet that didn't sell well, so they converted it to ICS.
BUT! I might be thinking of another similar tablet.

its kinda like a banana split, without the split

...did that say usb 3?
There's just so many that fit into that category Thanks for such quick input!
Another down side is no sd/micro sd slot built in. But with a usb port perhaps a game controller could be used? And did I see right that this thing has usb 3.0? Even if external sd/micro sd isn't available with usb3 transferring data should go pretty quick.
It has it's faults for sure but the hardware alone makes it worth the $120... All I would have to do is add a few games and snes9x ex and fpse... serious budget gaming tablet potential here.

anactoraaron said:
There's just so many that fit into that category Thanks for such quick input!
Another down side is no sd/micro sd slot built in. But with a usb port perhaps a game controller could be used? And did I see right that this thing has usb 3.0? Even if external sd/micro sd isn't available with usb3 transferring data should go pretty quick.
It has it's faults for sure but the hardware alone makes it worth the $120... All I would have to do is add a few games and snes9x ex and fpse... serious budget gaming tablet potential here.
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im actually thinkin about buyin it

Huh, would ya' look at that.
Being a poor student and not having a laptop sucks, so maybe this one could comfort me all those harsh, horrifying hours of class where I have to write my notes on paper.
That's right, I have use paper! And a pen!
Does anyone have any experience with a tablet as a notetaking tool?
I get the feeling that it'd work out pretty nicely, but you never know.

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Which android Tablet for me...?

I've been bashing my head over this for the last few weeks but I don't seem to be any closer to a solution so I figure maybe the good folks here can give me a few good suggestions..
I've tired of dealing with my ipad2's crap and want to move over to an Android tablet but I'm not sure which one to go for.. Mostly my usage would be reading books/'comics, watching media.. web-browsing and remote-system administration through both RDP/Citrix and command-line interfaces.
I'm not opposed to gaming either..
So.. ideally I'm looking for a decent specced tablet.. 10inch screen, a keyboard (integrated or bluetooth if it can be folded into "One" piece is a must)
Decent quality screen
Removable storage (SD card etc) is a huge boon.
And a nifty/speedy processor that'll last.
Now.. So far the tablets I've been looking at are..
Asus Transformer Prime = This seemed to hit all the buttons but after reviewing the forums here and asking friends who actually own one the build-quality/QA seems to be pretty bad to the point i've been totally put off getting one.
Nexus 10 - Seems nice, no keyboard and SD card are a huge mark against it
Archos 101 XS Turbo - Seems interesting, but don't know enough about it and good word on the ground is thin in order to make a judgement call...
Any others I might not have heard about, or even word about the ones I've listed so far would be a huge help..
Thanks!
Got my son the transformer prime, the whole family loves it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846277
Sir ThisThread Will Assist You. Thanks & Closed.

[Q] ASUS Transformer Infinity or Google Nexus 10?

I've had an Android phone for 3 years now and am finally buying my first tablet. I've been going back and forth for weeks on whether to get an ASUS Transformer Infinity TF700 or a Google Nexus 10. I've put together the a big list of pros and cons of each and just can't decide. I'd love to get objective, substantive thoughts.
ASUS Transformer Infinity TF700
Pros
Quad Core
MicroSD Slot
8MP Camera on the Back
Keyboard Dock with USB Port and Extra Battery
$50 Cheaper for 32GB
Cons
1GB RAM
1.6GHz Processors (but with 1.7GHz boost for single processor)
Currently Android 4.1 (but supposedly 4.2 is on its way)
Google Nexus 10
Pros
1.7 GHz Processors
2GB RAM
Android 4.2 and immediate updates for future Android releases
Android Beam
Wireless TV (Although not sure if my current Samsung SmartTV will support it anyway)
Amazing Screen (Although, lets be honest - some of that resolution is getting downsampled by my eyeballs anyway - cool stunt, not sure if it will really look any better than the TF700)
Cons
Dual Core
5MP Camera
No SD Card
$50 More for 32GB
I just wish there was a nexus unit out there that was quad core, 8 MP camera and had an SD slot and that amazingly cool ASUS dock with a full USB port. Help me decide which pros are more important.
Thanks,
David
There are a few important bullets you have..
Do you want the keyboard dock? If so, then get the Transformer. If you don't have a very portable laptop then I highly recommend it.
How do you use memory? Will you NEED the microSD slot? Do you use a lot? Do you want to transfer stuff easily? Then that is important.
Quad vs Dual core. This is less of a question more of a future-proofing issue. A quad-core tablet will go much farther when apps and other things become more capable and more demanding. (unless you are planning on getting the latest tablets frequently, then this is a moot point).
TKD Fusion,
Thanks for the feedback!
Eventually I think I would want the keyboard dock, but honestly, not having a tablet its a little hard to predict exactly how I'll use it. I do have an ASUS K55A laptop, which I consider to be decently portable, but I'm getting a tablet because it will obviously be a lot easier to tote around.
The only indicator of how I will use memory I have is my phone, which is a Samsung Galaxy II Epic Touch 16GB with an additional 8GB SDCard installed. I currently have all my music on it, but not much else. I have 8.6GB left in the main memory and 1.6GB left on the SDCard. I also have a SugarSync account that has 5GB on it, which I access as needed using the SugarSync App. I expect to start having it sync to my tablet so I have at least the main things I need available on the tablet offline. All that said, I'm probably not yet at the point where I NEED more than 32GB, but considering room for growth I may not be too far from it.
I am usually pretty good about making my toys last quite a while. I'm typing this on a desktop computer I bought over 8 years ago. When I buy stuff I like to invest in making sure it has the best chance of lasting as long as possible. In your opinion that might tip you toward the quad core, but slightly slower processor in the TF700?
Hi Op,
I've been having this same dilemma.
I had a thread over in the Google Nexus 10 forum, so it's probably a little bias, but there are some good arguments if you haven't seen it already.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1997600
I still haven't made my decision to be honest. I'm still leaning towards the Infinity because of the dock and external storage capabilities whilst travelling, but the issues that have been brought to the table regarding the I/O and memory etc are making the choice difficult. It seems a lot of people complain about the device, yet nothing has been mentioned on any review websites which all praise the device. Strange.
I'm thinking of holding out until January in the hope something else new is announced at CES? Probably clutching at straws though. Also, I'm in the UK and the Infinity seems to have been discontinued here and I'm still not sure why! I can't find anything about it on Google or forums and Asus haven't got back to an email I sent a week ago. So I'm a little confused. I was hoping they might be releasing a replacement or something though, but I doubt it.
If I get it, it will have to be from Ebay and from the USA, so this again represents another risk in case the device has problems (hardware or software, of which both have been reported).
Hope I'm not repeating anything too much!
Cheers,
Mike
I wouldn't consider the 1GB RAM on the TF700 a huge con, as well as the back camera a pro. Same goes with the back camera on the N10, not a major con. The SD card however, is important, at least to me. I like to have all my music stored locally on my device as well as all my photos for back up.
Otherwise, if you're going to use the keyboard dock on the ASUS, get a new Chromebook or something.
Cheers, hope you get what you want
ratatattata said:
I wouldn't consider the 1GB RAM on the TF700 a huge con, as well as the back camera a pro. Same goes with the back camera on the N10, not a major con. The SD card however, is important, at least to me. I like to have all my music stored locally on my device as well as all my photos for back up.
Otherwise, if you're going to use the keyboard dock on the ASUS, get a new Chromebook or something.
Cheers, hope you get what you want
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The Padfone 2 is also quite cool, shame they didn't match the infinity for the screen though.
I'm debating between these two tablets as well.
I originally picked up the nexus 7, but unfortunately it wasn't nearly large enough for my needs.
My primary uses for the tablet will be to draw out design concepts. I think making my decision will be much easier once the nexus 10 is sold in stores. I'm currently leaning more towards the asus transformer infinity due to it's sleek design.
It really comes down to what you really need. I would go for a infinity for myself if I were to buy a tablet because of the micro sd card expansion and since it being a tablet, i would be storing some favorite movies, my entire song library (8GB) and thats about it. I think taking pictures with a tablet seems dumb but if I had a tablet, I would probably end up taking pictures and the infinity has a pretty good sensor, and it has a sleecker design. What would kill is the mono speaker. and i would not use it with the dock....actually, bot would be fit for me. lol dang. good thing i wont be buying a tablet until next year God willing.
Well everyone, thanks for your input. I'm writing this on my new nexus. So far I love it, but obviously I'll never know how I would have liked the Asus.
Just received my Nexus 10. I have it and the TF700 in front of me right now and the N10 is beautiful and smooth. The N10 looks much better than I expected and the back is really nice and grippy. Wasn't too sure about keeping it but it looks like the winner so far. I'll miss having my microSD card, however I wasn't using it much because of the horrendous I/O speed. Still going to do more comparisons. If anyone wants some real world info or something to compare between the two let me know.
Just saying, quad core isnt always better than dual core. Infinity is Cortex A9 while the Nexus 10 is Cortex A15 based. This means that the Nexus 10 should be faster than the Infinity, even though Infinity is a quad core. Also, 5 mp cam to 8 mp really makes no difference, mainly because 1. Who takes photos with their tablet?... -.- Its huge. LOL and 2. Nexus 10's photos are AMAZING. (I have one)
hi guys
okay so perfomancewise the nexus 10 is better. but i aint got a notebook atm and i will have to write a lot when i am not at home. what would you recommend? price doesnt matter to me. it has to be android and i saved 700 euros so it shall be enough. or do you know other devices which will fit my needs? btw what are the diffrences between infinity tf700t and tf300t? What about the galaxa note 10.1?
trublu said:
Just received my Nexus 10. I have it and the TF700 in front of me right now and the N10 is beautiful and smooth. The N10 looks much better than I expected and the back is really nice and grippy. Wasn't too sure about keeping it but it looks like the winner so far. I'll miss having my microSD card, however I wasn't using it much because of the horrendous I/O speed. Still going to do more comparisons. If anyone wants some real world info or something to compare between the two let me know.
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How did the two work out for you? Did the N10 rule overall? I'm considering the same pair and would appreciate any further info from a user who's had access to both.
I was in the same boat and eventually went for the infinity because:
1. 1920x1200 is good enough for me
2. I need the extra space (OTG is not that convenient for a lazy person like me)
3. premium feel
4. cost less (bhphotovideo had a discount 2 weeks ago)
5. available immediately! (N10 has been unavailable in my country a few days after launch)
mrjayviper said:
I was in the same boat and eventually went for the infinity because:
1. 1920x1200 is good enough for me
2. I need the extra space (OTG is not that convenient for a lazy person like me)
3. premium feel
4. cost less (bhphotovideo had a discount 2 weeks ago)
5. available immediately! (N10 has been unavailable in my country a few days after launch)
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Click to collapse
How long have you had it now and how would you rate it after using it?
An incidental note: After looking at your list of devices, I'm astonished you went with a non-i device. Of course you do have that one HTC (or HTC One, was it? <g>). So I reckon you had already strayed from the *i* fold.
vicksterss said:
How did the two work out for you? Did the N10 rule overall? I'm considering the same pair and would appreciate any further info from a user who's had access to both.
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Click to collapse
overall the N10 beats the infinity. even though the back isn't metallic it feels way better than the infinity. it runs better than the infinity on cleanrom.
vicksterss said:
How long have you had it now and how would you rate it after using it?
An incidental note: After looking at your list of devices, I'm astonished you went with a non-i device. Of course you do have that one HTC (or HTC One, was it? <g>). So I reckon you had already strayed from the *i* fold.
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Infinity on stock ROM is POS!!!
To be honest, I feel an iPad offers much better performance hardware-wise and overall usage (no your device is not compatible and more apps with tablet ui).
But decided to go with android to get something different even if I feel I'm getting an inferior product and inferior tablet ecosystem. Can't play most games I had on the iPad since its unavailable or incompatible but that's fine.
I've had the infinity since last summer, my friend recently bought a Nexus 10 and I've had time to compare the two. The Nexus 10 beats the Infinity hands down, out of the box. The biggest reason for this is the infinity's i/o issues that will cause frequent force closes when browsing the web and completely slam the system when updating apps. The nexus 10 runs smoothly and is very fast, didn't have occasional pauses like the infinity.
That said, I have my infinity unlocked, running cleanrom, and am running data to SD which eliminates the i/o issue. With these modifications, my tablet is every bit as fast (faster in some areas) and reliable as the N10. The Data to SD is key though, makes the infinity feel like a totally different tablet. I'm sure the N10 will have a great dev community and perhaps will end up faster in the end, but with Data to SD these 2 tablets are neck and neck. So if you plan on rooting and romming your tablet, I believe it is a toss up based on preference of features. If you plan to remain stock, definitely go for the N10
Happy with the choice?
trublu said:
Just received my Nexus 10. I have it and the TF700 in front of me right now and the N10 is beautiful and smooth. The N10 looks much better than I expected and the back is really nice and grippy. Wasn't too sure about keeping it but it looks like the winner so far. I'll miss having my microSD card, however I wasn't using it much because of the horrendous I/O speed. Still going to do more comparisons. If anyone wants some real world info or something to compare between the two let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to know if you are still happy with the nexus over the Asus tf700? Thanks this really helped me make a decision...
I'm also trying to decide between N10 and Asus. Good thread, think I'll probably go with the N10.

Computer help!!

Hey guys so I'm shopping around for a new and very good computer but I don't know where and with what to start I will give u the basics of what I am loooking for,, I do a lot of music and movies and I need a fast and very cooled down computer so that everything runs well I'm looking for about 8gb of memory and about a terrabyte of memory its for my own use and I am looking for a desktop I already have a nice monitor from Samsung alls I need is a fast good desktop PC that will not run me over 800$,,, please do not mention apple,,, I hate apple and everything that has to do with that lame fruit lol all suggestions accepted guys
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I built a mid-level gaming PC for ~$550, including monitor.
i5-3450 (processor)
HD 6870 (graphics card)
ASRock B75 Micro ATX motherboard
1Tb 7500 RPM HDD
8Gb DDR3 1600 RAM.
Antec Neo Eco 520W PSU (PSU = power supply)
HAF 912 case, I don't really push the hardware very much haven't needed additional cooling
Some random DVD-RW drive
WIFI usb adapter with antenna
Ubuntu/Win7
(and I got a 20" Gateway 5ms LCD monitor from an Acer outlet and later got a shiny backlit keyboard from Zippy)
This was a budget build, but I'm really happy with the performance. It can certainly play movies and music just fine and I can play games like Guild Wars 2 on highest settings while maintaining 50-60fps.
With a bigger budget I would have probably added an SSD and I would love to do that and get a backup mechanical HDD and set up a RAID.
You'll probably have to go over budget or compromise if you don't build it yourself. It's hard to find pre-built systems with really good specs because they often skimp on things like GPU or stick you with integrated graphics. And you have to be careful when buying from "make for you" places, because they'll often have no problem putting in crappy parts - "ibuypower" and their sister site absolutely loves to stick a crappy PSU in your machine and there are plenty of stories of people's systems getting fried. It also would have cost me $900 to buy my system, less the monitor, from them. So you're paying a LOT more than if you do it yourself - and it's really not that hard - it's like those lame LEGO sets where they just tell you what to do step-by-step.
Are you going to be video editing or just watching ? Do you care about gaming ? Windows or Linux ? Et cetera.
I know it can be confusing at first if you've never built a computer before, but you will be able to get a much better machine and you will have full control over it and be able to make compromises that benefit YOU - not some company's bottom line when it comes to mass-producing and skimping on the quality and hardware.
louy89 said:
Hey guys so I'm shopping around for a new and very good computer but I don't know where and with what to start I will give u the basics of what I am loooking for,, I do a lot of music and movies and I need a fast and very cooled down computer so that everything runs well I'm looking for about 8gb of memory and about a terrabyte of memory its for my own use and I am looking for a desktop I already have a nice monitor from Samsung alls I need is a fast good desktop PC that will not run me over 800$,,, please do not mention apple,,, I hate apple and everything that has to do with that lame fruit lol all suggestions accepted guys
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend you go to the reddit page /r/buildapc
You will most likely get more replies quicker and it is what that sub-reddit specialises in (build recommendations)
PM me for a link as I am prohibited from posting links as I am a new member
for what you are seeking and your max budget.. your best bet would probably be learning how to piece a system together yourself, as "very cooled down" usually will require a gaming or server tower, which off the shelf only alienware comes to mind and they're way over your budget
Go on newegg and look at their barebone DIY combos. You can buy those or get some ideas of parts from them. That's what I did. Also, when making your own computer, always start at the motherboard and make sure the socket types are a correct fit for the rest of your parts(mainly the cpu and ram).
Even just a really basic case for a custom build might be an improvement over am old crappy pre-built PC where they just jammed everything in willy-nilly with cords everywhere.
I just wonder what the OP means by "very cooled down". To me, that would mean some kind of liquid cooling system (definitely DIY for this budget) - but if the OP is not planning to edit or anything that's probably overkill. I mean, if someone's only had pre-built boxes, I doubt their mind is jumping to OC-ing and stuff. Just trying to give the OP ideas of how to tell people better what they are looking for.
Pennycake said:
Even just a really basic case for a custom build might be an improvement over am old crappy pre-built PC where they just jammed everything in willy-nilly with cords everywhere.
I just wonder what the OP means by "very cooled down". To me, that would mean some kind of liquid cooling system (definitely DIY for this budget) - but if the OP is not planning to edit or anything that's probably overkill. I mean, if someone's only had pre-built boxes, I doubt their mind is jumping to OC-ing and stuff. Just trying to give the OP ideas of how to tell people better what they are looking for.
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I highly doubt OP will need liquid cooling, especially if he's/she's just starting to learn to put PCs together.
Pennycake said:
Even just a really basic case for a custom build might be an improvement over am old crappy pre-built PC where they just jammed everything in willy-nilly with cords everywhere.
I just wonder what the OP means by "very cooled down". To me, that would mean some kind of liquid cooling system (definitely DIY for this budget) - but if the OP is not planning to edit or anything that's probably overkill. I mean, if someone's only had pre-built boxes, I doubt their mind is jumping to OC-ing and stuff. Just trying to give the OP ideas of how to tell people better what they are looking for.
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Click to collapse
That was my train of thought, as if the OP is looking for a computer which would basically retail over $1,500 so DIY would be the only way to go
OK those are very good options And yes I will b using a lot of movie viewing and downloading torrents as well as music mixing because I Anna DJ solo sum thing that is fast processing I like to go to tiger direct.com anyone familiar with that?? If possible a simple list of things to start with would help along guys thanks alot
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
louy89 said:
OK those are very good options And yes I will b using a lot of movie viewing and downloading torrents as well as music mixing because I Anna DJ solo sum thing that is fast processing I like to go to tiger direct.com anyone familiar with that?? If possible a simple list of things to start with would help along guys thanks alot
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at motherboards, cpu, graphics cards, and ram.
eyau1992 said:
I highly doubt OP will need liquid cooling, especially if he's/she's just starting to learn to put PCs together.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would agree that they probably don't need it, but I was calling for clarification from the OP since things like "super cooled" are pretty relative.
louy89 said:
OK those are very good options And yes I will b using a lot of movie viewing and downloading torrents as well as music mixing because I Anna DJ solo sum thing that is fast processing I like to go to tiger direct.com anyone familiar with that?? If possible a simple list of things to start with would help along guys thanks alot
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really know what you'd want for music mixing, but I know my mom edits music on a pretty low-spec laptop with no issue (it's part of her job).
What do you have now ? Whether you post here or elsewhere, it will help people to know what you're working with - your current specs and what programs you use.
I'd look at the requirements of the programs you use and what they recommend. I would recommend you look at benchmarks against different processors, et cetera - to see what's best for YOUR needs. I'm not an Intel fanboy, but I went with the i5 because it did the best for games in my budget. Find what's best for what YOU want to do.
For just watching videos, you don't really need anything fancy - and the GPU is a big part of the budget. I've watched and streamed HD video on my old laptop with integrated AMD, on a tablet, on my phone, et cetera. Granted, it's a nice phone - but still. You don't need anything super-fancy.
Torrenting is going to depend more on your internet connection than anything.
I don't know about Tiger Direct - they never had the best deals that I could find for what I wanted to buy, so I never bought from them. I would recommend NOT buying from one place if you plan on building it yourself. Find what you need and then see who offers the best deal.
Also, I'll just say that I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good PSU - and one that is able to support what you're plugging into it. Please read up on this if you do build your own and do not get a cheap one unless you want to take a chance of failure - which can result in the whole system frying to sending electricity through anything the PC touches, to causing a fire.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
First, it takes a lot of effort on your part to put together a box component by component. Someone already mentioned connector compatibility, and it just snowballs from there.
Second, you cannot build your own "performance" machine cheaper than buying a comparable pre-built. Individual shipping & handling, etc. all adds up. I always build my own workstation piece by piece, and I always spend more (sometimes way more) than the boxes that I buy pre-built for other uses.
Others have mentioned TigerDirect and NewEgg. I have used both sources for many years, and I highly recommend searching both for their current deals. Don't limit yourself to their "bare bones" packages. Who cares if it comes with a crappy keyboard and mouse (just throw them onto a shelf for emergencies). Both sites offer tools to narrow your search by price range and specs.
By the way, I just bought a Dell from NewEgg with an I5 processor (running 3.something GHz), 8GB memory, 1TB hard drive storage, and 64-bit Win7 Pro for $650. It's for an office environment, and for that it is smokin' fast! It would be more than satisfactory for watching movies and listening to music.
This was my first computer I've built from pieces, but it genuinely surprised me how easy it was. The motherboard's manual explained most everything, and installing Win7 from a flash drive was incredibly fast.
The only part I found to be a little tricky was the motherboard header - and I just took my time on that and read everything twice.
The research for buying parts took a bit of time, but it all starts to come together once you understand the hardware nomenclature and stop being overwhelmed by "all those numbers".
For $550 (which was including shipping on the individual pieces) , I couldn't find what I wanted pre-built, but there were some "scratch and dent" type sales for similar prices (but that was less shipping) - which might be a good place to look for whole systems.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Pennycake said:
This was my first computer I've built from pieces
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Congratulations -- be warned though, having a system with every little piece exactly the way you want it can spoil you on ever buying a pre-built box for yourself again.
Pennycake said:
The research for buying parts took a bit of time
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Click to collapse
Exactly! That's what I was trying to say when I said that it takes a lot of effort. If you had to pay yourself for your time then this would be the most expensive machine you ever bought; but, if you really enjoyed the hunt then it is worth the satisfaction.
I have always built my own pcs, but for family, sometimes they need a computer asap. Doing research on store bought computers is difficult sometimes. They don't always list the exact specs on the box or details online. They all usually have decent ram and cpu as well has a hdd. The main problem has always been the graphics. Normally they are the integrated kind, but some have a discrete card. It's hare to pass up some of the holiday deals locally though.
I've always built my own computers as well. If you're particular about the components that go into your machine, or if you don't want to be forced into upgrades you don't want I think it's the only way to go. Like if you want more ram and they want to package that with a larger hard drive that you may not want for example. One of the biggest benefits for me is having the ability to upgrade or replace individual components down the road.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

[Q] [A700] Pre-Purchase Questions

I'm considering purchasing a A700.
I've used CyanogenMod on other devices before, and having it available is a big plus for this tablet, even though My understanding is that there is a factory 4.1 that is also pretty good.
I have read the sticky's and done some searches, but I still have somethings I would like specific answers on:
Is USB storage mode supported? I am asking about when the tablet is connected to a PC, Not USB OTG. If so, is the internal 32G and the SD card available? Please answer for Factory ROMs and for CM 10.1.
Does the CM 10.1 DSP Equalizer work? I have read that messing with the EQ settings does not change the sound.
Is there anything in CM 10.1 that does not work that I should know about? GPS? (Including decent time-to-fix), both cameras? are both mics (noise cancellation) supported? Bluetooth (for everything - Keyboards, Stereo sound, File transfers)?
There are some pretty good prices on the A700, but it is very late in the A700's life cycle, and there are much newer devices available cheaper. EX: The Nexus 7 (2013) has the same resolution, twice the RAM, more clock speed, and weighs 1/3 as much. (I know it has no SD slot, no HDMI, and it's 7 inches instead of 10).
Is it still worth buying an A700?
Thanks for any comments/suggestions.
Linuxslate said:
I'm considering purchasing a A700.
I've used CyanogenMod on other devices before, and having it available is a big plus for this tablet, even though My understanding is that there is a factory 4.1 that is also pretty good.
I have read the sticky's and done some searches, but I still have somethings I would like specific answers on:
Is USB storage mode supported? I am asking about when the tablet is connected to a PC, Not USB OTG. If so, is the internal 32G and the SD card available? Please answer for Factory ROMs and for CM 10.1.
Does the CM 10.1 DSP Equalizer work? I have read that messing with the EQ settings does not change the sound.
Is there anything in CM 10.1 that does not work that I should know about? GPS? (Including decent time-to-fix), both cameras? are both mics (noise cancellation) supported? Bluetooth (for everything - Keyboards, Stereo sound, File transfers)?
There are some pretty good prices on the A700, but it is very late in the A700's life cycle, and there are much newer devices available cheaper. EX: The Nexus 7 (2013) has the same resolution, twice the RAM, more clock speed, and weighs 1/3 as much. (I know it has no SD slot, no HDMI, and it's 7 inches instead of 10).
Is it still worth buying an A700?
Thanks for any comments/suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Darn Mate. You ask a lot of questions for one whom doesn't own the tab
For CM10.1 questions, you should review pawitp's CM thread. Personally I prefer stock. Less issues when modifying things, and better compatibility across the board.
USB storage supported (nobody would get one if it didn't work).
I have 0 issues when connecting to PC. I get both storage. (although you will not get access to /system, unless using ADB). This is a root/rw issue.
As with audio, can't tell you about DSP, as I don't use it. I use Android4Viper. Might as well go for the best. It replaces the stock/CM.
If you buy a new tab, regardless of brand, and just want immediately to goto CM, well, you take your chances. CM is CM. You can have 10 roms built from CM, but the source is pretty much all the same. CM.
I like the 701. Has most of the same specs as others. To say it's at the end of it's life cycle is pretty off. I don't see any quad 8 processors. Maybe a little more RAM, but hey, we ain't recalculating 1gb spreadsheets here.
(comparing 7" to 10", well, do the math)
The 70x is just now getting good dev. I hear rumor another dev from the 50x forums will be joining.
It's no suprise that a 7" wheighs less then 10"
Personally no sd slot is no go for me.
I really really like the screen of the A700. It's so much better then the Tab2 from my son.
herogjan said:
It's no suprise that a 7" wheighs less then 10"
Personally no sd slot is no go for me.
I really really like the screen of the A700. It's so much better then the Tab2 from my son.
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Click to collapse
Agree. A device without an SD slot, chills my bones. A big turn off. Also, android can sometimes have issues transferring huge chunks of data, like 20 videos at once, so it's an advantage to copy it using the PCs sd card reader.
Acer made a couple improvements over the 50x. The 70x can use USB charging (although really slow, and you don't want to be using tablet). They removed the USB Port, but supply a USB dongle. Speakers are a touch better. And, they gave us unlocked bootloader :good:. So it makes rooting a breeze.
People complained about a processor overheat, but all the high performance tabs do that. Price we pay for the great display. I've never had issues though.
Well Guys, Thanks, but I went with the New Nexus 7.
A 20% off coupon for the Nexus 7 was the tie breaker for me. -- $90 dollars less than the best deal I could find on an A700.
The 1G RAM on the A700 also worked in favor of the Nexus 7. I think, unfortunately, than Android is getting more RAM hungry, The race to add features vs. optimization/cleanup. Otherwise the Tegra 3 wins easily.
Another big factor was standard USB charging. What I read here indicated that the A700 did slow charge over USB, but from what I know about other devices, slow charging does not even keep up with use.
I also decided that I would carry a 7" tablet places I would not carry a 10" tablet. If I am going to carry around a 10" tablet, I may as well carry around my Ultra Book.
I can also put the N7 in the back pocket of "normal" pants. Obviously, I cannot really carry it that way, because If I sit down, I *will* be buying an A700, but If I need my hands free, I can put it there temporarily. I am not of the proportions necessary to wear pants that have pockets big enough for an A700
Yes, no SD and no USB Storage mode is very frustrating. It's crippleware -- Defective by design. I wish Google would wise up to this.
Thanks for the answers, and sorry that in the end I wasted your time. I think if I ever see someone using an A700, I'll be at least a bit jealous.
Linuxslate said:
Well Guys, Thanks, but I went with the New Nexus 7.
A 20% off coupon for the Nexus 7 was the tie breaker for me. -- $90 dollars less than the best deal I could find on an A700.
The 1G RAM on the A700 also worked in favor of the Nexus 7. I think, unfortunately, than Android is getting more RAM hungry, The race to add features vs. optimization/cleanup. Otherwise the Tegra 3 wins easily.
Another big factor was standard USB charging. What I read here indicated that the A700 did slow charge over USB, but from what I know about other devices, slow charging does not even keep up with use.
I also decided that I would carry a 7" tablet places I would not carry a 10" tablet. If I am going to carry around a 10" tablet, I may as well carry around my Ultra Book.
I can also put the N7 in the back pocket of "normal" pants. Obviously, I cannot really carry it that way, because If I sit down, I *will* be buying an A700, but If I need my hands free, I can put it there temporarily. I am not of the proportions necessary to wear pants that have pockets big enough for an A700
Yes, no SD and no USB Storage mode is very frustrating. It's crippleware -- Defective by design. I wish Google would wise up to this.
Thanks for the answers, and sorry that in the end I wasted your time. I think if I ever see someone using an A700, I'll be at least a bit jealous.
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Click to collapse
No problem mate. No waste of time Doesn't hurt to get some opinions before buying.
However, I hear from my mates, that the new N7 is prone to random re-boots and sleep of death. Not all of them, but a good chunk of them. Seems some software issues. Might wanna check the N7 (2013) forums for the post.
Good luck with your tab!
MD

HP Slatebook x2 thoughts?

I took the risk and bought an HP Slatebook x2 today. I heard mixed optimism regarding its superiority over the other HP "offerings" as we might call them ... but it was hard for me to resist the Tegra 4 and bundled keyboard dock. As a grad student, I need a versatile input system, and I wasn't sure I wanted to wait for the next ASUS Transformer tablet to come out. Plus, I keep hearing bad things here about ASUS customer service and so on.
The Slatebook apparently ships with 4.2.2, which isn't too shabby, and it does have multiple SD expansion slots and a USB 2.0 port. So, not exactly up to snuff with the new Transformer rumors, but I couldn't really wait to go mobile because I do web design and I'm stuck on a desktop computer (hard to show off my work from my bedroom, y'know).
What I'm wondering now is, who's going to achieve root for me?
Also, what's the general consensus here on this particular device? All I've seen on these forums about it is a bunch of spam threads from a troll.
Thoughts?
--Fantastic Rat
I, or rather my wife, got this tablet a week ago and I am quite impressed. It is fast and nice, and I agree with the advertisement "100% notebook, 100% tablet". When docked, it feels like a true notebook with a very well designed keyboard and nice shortcut keys. And when used as a tablet, it works well too.
The multi user profiles on Android 4.2 works extremely well too.
For the root access: yes please! I want root too
marlar said:
I, or rather my wife, got this tablet a week ago and I am quite impressed. It is fast and nice, and I agree with the advertisement "100% notebook, 100% tablet". When docked, it feels like a true notebook with a very well designed keyboard and nice shortcut keys. And when used as a tablet, it works well too.
The multi user profiles on Android 4.2 works extremely well too.
For the root access: yes please! I want root too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My roommate bought one of these last week. I was a little dubious at first, but I agree with your assessment. "100% notebook/100% tablet" is pretty accurate.
I have a HP touchpad from the $99 sale from year(s?) ago. I could never get used to just the tablet feel, so I *really* like the docked feel of the slatebook.
Just my 2c. I think it's a feel thing. My girlfriend prefers tablets and just tablets.
I don't think my roommate cares about root... but I could probably convince him. Can never have too many testers
HP needs to bring the 32/64GB internal storage ones to the U.S.
Also with no physical store presence this tablet combo will go nowhere.
Does anyone want to give a little review on their thoughts on the unit?
Its been out in a few countries for a few weeks now and still not in depth review anywhere!
Cheers
jonlad1 said:
Does anyone want to give a little review on their thoughts on the unit?
Its been out in a few countries for a few weeks now and still not in depth review anywhere!
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a TF201 and needed to replace it. I too could not wait for the new ASUS to come out, so I took the risk and bought a Slatebook x2. The complete lack of any discussion on this device, including reviews, is unbelievable. Do a Google search...if you exclude the repeat of the HP spec page...there is nothing.
I'm not a reviewer, but I like this device so far. Its very snappy, no lag, and its running a very close to stock Android 4.2.2 ROM. The only complaints I have are minor; no ability to direct connect to computer (runs off an AC adapter and a proprietary cable), and there is a little 'wobble' back and forth when docked (not tight like the Transformer). But everything else is nice, the screen, responsiveness, dock keys and looks. Its plastic, but who cares; so are about 100 million Samsung phones (I have a Note 2). I ran an AnTuTu benchmark, it was 29054 for what its worth; benchmarks don't mean too much to me.
I really hope Devs pick this up, find a root method and work on a CM load. I am concerned that the HP support to updates (4.3, KeyLimePie, etc) may be slow or non-existent. This wouldn't be a disaster, as the current load is fine, but I hate getting left behind.
---------- Post added at 08:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------
atg284 said:
HP needs to bring the 32/64GB internal storage ones to the U.S.
Also with no physical store presence this tablet combo will go nowhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in Australia; they only had the 16GB model in the store I went to. This works about to be just under 12GB usable. However, I did put a 32GB micro SD card into the tablet and a 32GB SD card into the dock, so now I have on 70GB, which is more than enough for me.
I Just ordered last week still waiting for device. The one strange thing is there is no review or any discussion about the device. Hopefully we get our own forum
Google Edition S4 CM Mod
I bought one yesterday online for what is certainly going to be less than what the new Asus pad infinity will go for and it should arrive in 2 days. While I'm skeptical of HP products this one has such nice specs I couldn't resist. I'm very surprised there isn't an xda forum created for this convertible yet.
bought this a week ago its a pretty kick ass notebook tablet combo just cant wait to root this beast was wondering if a male male usb cable would let me access it on the pc
Just found a full review from google
http://technologynews11.com/laptops/test-hp-slatebook-x2
Rydo111 said:
I'm in Australia; they only had the 16GB model in the store I went to. This works about to be just under 12GB usable. However, I did put a 32GB micro SD card into the tablet and a 32GB SD card into the dock, so now I have on 70GB, which is more than enough for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get the extra storage on the SD cards but the 11-12 GB left over for apps is not enough. The fact that they are actually making 32/64GB versions yet not offering them in the US makes absolutely no sense. Apps and games are only going to get bigger and bigger...I have a hp touchpad 16GB with ICS and have to really pick and choose what I install because of the small space..I'm looking for am upgrade in the internal storage department as well.
scanline said:
bought this a week ago its a pretty kick ass notebook tablet combo just cant wait to root this beast was wondering if a male male usb cable would let me access it on the pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this yesterday with no success. You can flash files from the SD card via the boot menu, so maybe that's an option for a dev who knows what he's doing.
Could anyone confirm this tablet work with only 32G micro SD. Planning to order a 64G sd
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
atg284 said:
I get the extra storage on the SD cards but the 11-12 GB left over for apps is not enough. The fact that they are actually making 32/64GB versions yet not offering them in the US makes absolutely no sense. Apps and games are only going to get bigger and bigger...I have a hp touchpad 16GB with ICS and have to really pick and choose what I install because of the small space..I'm looking for am upgrade in the internal storage department as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I've usually managed well enough with low internal storage (my Razr Maxx only had 8GB dedicated to apps, and I never overloaded it). I like the fact that this tablet takes multiple SD cards for expansion--means odds are I'll never run out of space even with my 20+ GB music collection.
I'm glad to hear there are others who like what they've seen and are hoping for devs to pick it up. It means I made a good purchase. Looking forward to getting mine in the mail Friday!
--Fantastic Rat
toanau said:
Could anyone confirm this tablet work with only 32G micro SD. Planning to order a 64G sd
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I read that 32GB was max, so I just went with 32GB. Haven't tried 64GB.
---------- Post added at 08:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 AM ----------
fantasticrat said:
Interesting. I've usually managed well enough with low internal storage (my Razr Maxx only had 8GB dedicated to apps, and I never overloaded it). I like the fact that this tablet takes multiple SD cards for expansion--means odds are I'll never run out of space even with my 20+ GB music collection.
I'm glad to hear there are others who like what they've seen and are hoping for devs to pick it up. It means I made a good purchase. Looking forward to getting mine in the mail Friday!
--Fantastic Rat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My TF201 only had 16GB and it was fine for apps; I never ran out of room to install stuff. My issue was storage of my video library, which is fine on the 2 extension cards. I haven't read anywhere where >16GB units are available; maybe they are still coming.
Just tried a display set at the HP fair. It looks and feels sturdy except for the part that connects the tablet to the keyboard. Feel like its not connected properly and wobbles alot. I like the keyboard combo. For the price, its definitely cheap.
I am going to wait for more reviews before buying. Ppl kept saying tegra 4 sucks but isnt this the first tegra 4 tablet??
Android is fine as a phone OS but not as a laptop replacement.
Actually when you consider what most people use a laptop for android makes a very good laptop. With a level of power consumption that is wonderful. Of course haswell may end that particular argument. Or at least give it a black eye. At any rate for consumption and light computation devices I like android. Given its current power growth rate and popularity it could actually overtake and dominate the laptop industry unless Microsoft and Intel step up their game quickly. I tend to think Intel and Microsoft will drop the hammer next year though. Laptop sales are Declining at an alarming rate and windows RT hurt Microsoft's pocketbook a bit so they will innovate or die. I figure with their money and Affluence they will throw a mean right hook at the market sooner or later
Rydo111 said:
Sorry, I read that 32GB was max, so I just went with 32GB. Haven't tried 64GB.
---------- Post added at 08:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 AM ----------
My TF201 only had 16GB and it was fine for apps; I never ran out of room to install stuff. My issue was storage of my video library, which is fine on the 2 extension cards. I haven't read anywhere where >16GB units are available; maybe they are still coming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Someone on another thread can use his 64B SD on a HP SlateBook X2 : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44619797&postcount=15
Hi all, what about gaming on this tab?
Hello, i am thinking to buy this tablet and i just wanna know that how is the gaming on this tab. I mean high end graphical games like NOVA or gangstar vegas. Actually i am having a nexus 7 1st gen and I intrested to buy an TEGRA 4 tablet. so pls tell

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