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Hi peeps been looking around at the android tablets on the market and wondering if i should take the plunge?.Thought i would ask here as you guys probably have more experiance than most.Can you recomend a couple?, i'm not looking to spend a fortune just want something that covers most bases and doesnt struggle to run the usual suspects.HDMI out would be a plus but any ideas you can offer or just give me ideas on what not to buy.Any helps good, thanx in advance.
I have a smoldering interest in a tablet as well but I will continue to hold off as my Lenovo X61t and Windows Phone compliment each other pretty well and I don't "need" one.
However, I have taken note of the Archos' that were just released. The general feeling is that they feel cheap in build quality but the price and performance is right there. This is engadgets take on the two tablets they have.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/
I have used the Samsung Galaxy S and it is a nice device. Gotta be honest though, nothing seems to be "more complete than the ipad", just in terms of docks, jailbreaking, best apps, etc.
There are so many 'knock offs' in this category, let us know what you find!
I agree in the upset front, it's a great piece of kit but I refuse to spend that kind if money. Have found plenty of cheap ones, and I don't mind the price tag but most are just a bit gutless lol. But yeah likewise bring the info if you find something good.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Back again, on the subject off cheapo knock off tablets have you seen the a-ok pad lol now don't laugh. I could be persuaded to gamble on something as (shall we say rough) if it ticked the right boxes. Anybody heard if them? Any horror stories?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Buying a new tablet
I'm in the market for a tablet, and have taken my sweet time for the last 3 months researching and looking for the best one to buy. I've done my fair share of research and now i'm asking you: Should I buy the ASUS Transformer Prime with the dock, od should i wait for samsung/htc/moto/lenovo/acer... next-gen tablet? My fear is you see, that I'll buy The Prime, and that it won't be supported by some software develeopers, and left out in the cold with some apps, or not on par with the next-gen 2012 tablets. I want the best hardware specs, possible future windows 8 compatibility, preferably tegra device, 3g isn't a must, nor GPS but preferred. I don't mind waiting for a few more months since this would be my first tablet, wich i don't really need. NO IOS/IPad talk please, android tablet only (but like i said, with a possibility of win8 in the future). Any reasonable advice is more than welcome, and thank you all very much in advance!
IIRC Asus Prime will begin getting ICS/4.0 Jan 12th.
With that said, I would definitely play around with one before buying. Numerous reported issues that can't really be fixed through OTA's or software. (GPS, WIFI, light bleed, glass/screen loose from rest of tab).
Typical Asus if you ask me, crapshoot on quality.
Also depends on what you want in a tab. If you don't really want to play around/mod/customize then I think the Ipad 2 or hold out a couple of months for an Ipad 3 would be your best bet.
If you have to have an Android you have one of two options. Wait for more quad core tabs to be released, or start looking at what's available now.
Samsung 7.0 Plus is probably the best out for 7"ers.
For the 10"ers it's a toss up right now. Galaxy Tab 10.1 has good support, decent performance, light, easy to hold, good screen, great speakers (for a tab). It's cons to me are the Tegra 2 isn't up to snuff with Honeycomb OS.
The HP Touchpad is a great buy for the OS and specs, and can also be ported to Android (Still need to play with one)
Asus Transformer TF101 is also a good buy but again a crapshoot on quality but can be had for a good price.
The new Moto Xyboards are getting good reviews but they are overpriced for what they are, are only sold through VZW and were "technically" outdated before they were even released. Also locked bootloaders are never fun if flashing kernels are your thing.
Right now I'm looking at getting another tab so I guess you could say I'm in the same boat as you. I have an OG Galaxy Tab 7 on the way b/c I got it cheaper than cheap and just wanna play with it.
Considering picking up an 8" Xyboard also.
ETA: I probably won't pick up a Xyboard however until they come down in price or a WiFi only version is offered.
The SGT 7.7 also sounds promising. Decisions decisions.
First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like I said I never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The things I'm worried hardware-wise are: the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
Now you may laugh at this seeing your sig, but in my mobile history (25+ phones) the worst were accually motorolas (v3 being the worst of the lot, but than again A925 was more than excellent) I'm not so fond of HP either, last month i sold my DV6 3020em, (that's the i7 touchscreen version for Europe since i'm european), and i can say it was utter rubbish, overheating, shoddy build quality, squeaky, noisy fans, you name it... That's why I sold it, but it had a touchscreen which was more than handy, and that's why i want a tablet, I just might look a bit more into the HP touchpad after all.
Acer is great quality for it's price, really great. But I only had Acer's laptops, and the Iconia tablet is as ugly as a bullfrog from chernobyl, so I wouldn't want one.
Tf101 is ugly too by my standards, too big as well, but the looks aren't so important if it was an excellent performer, which none of the now available androids are compared to The Prime (at least not on honeycomb).
I played with samsung 8.9 a few days ago and I can report is't a great little device, thin, capable, satisfying all in all, but i'd like a bigger screen, and a real keyboard and it's not a tegra device (I play a lot of games so i'd like the tegra zone, as chainfire's plugins don't support all tegra tweaked games)
Now I do like to install a new ROM every few weeks on my SGSII but i srsly don't think that will be the case on a tablet (except Win 8, when it comes out).
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english
cavkic said:
First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like i said i never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The only thing I'm worried hardware-wise is the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english
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Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.
littleemp said:
Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.
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Tnx for the reply, and I have to say I think you misunderstood me. I don't think I said anything bad about acer's or asus's build quality just HP's (and only the perticular model of the DV6 I had), just that they're a bit on the ugly side, but that's totally a subjective stand, and irrelevant to anybody else.
As far as Prime's price goes, it should be available in Croatia, about 2hrs drive from my home in 10days for less than 700$ with the dock for the 32gig version, which is not a bad pricetag considering where I live, and I'm ready to give that kind of money for it. The dock is accually something i like about the Transformer, and it would probbably be a dead heat between TF101 just because of the dock) and the Sammy 10.1 if it weren't for the prime.
GPS, like I said, I don't mind. The SGSII has a great GPS reciever which i hardly ever use, maybe 6 times since i got it in july.
As far as ARM windows goes, I know what to expect from it , nothing special, but it would be nice to have that option when it's available
So you are happy with the TF101 and the Iconia? But would you recommend buying now the Prime if I'm happy with the price? I should mention I probbably won't buy it before ICS, and I'll try to get a hold of a stock ICS one when it's out after Jan. 12. because I want to make sure i missed the first version shipment
I believe you about Motorola. Until my Droid X I have ALWAYS hated Motorola. I never had a phone that worked right after some wear and tear and always had problems. From before smartphones thru the Droid 1, 2, and 3. (Went through multiples of those). I'm also a Samsung and HTC fan.
I've never had a problem with Asus computer components myself, w/ that said, there are quite a few complaints when it comes to the TF201 on quality. With that said, you, as I'm sure you do, have to take into account the dissatisfied ones are always going to moan and groan much more and louder than the happy customer.
I guess I just wish it was like cars when it comes to Tablets and would love for them to let me take the exact tab I'm looking to buy for a test drive. (Not leave the store but just open the box and get a good look at it and test everything to make sure I'm getting what my hard earned money is paying for).
I really want a TF201, but I'm going to wait til a few more Tegra 3 tabs come out. I really think Motorola would have hit a homerun if they would have put a quad core in their Xyboards and kept the price what they're charging now.
The three tabs I'm really torn between right now are the Xyboard 8.2, TF201, and Samsung 7.0 Plus. But man we are so close to seeing quad core as the new standard for tabs so the other part of me just wants to sit it out and wait.
So true what you said about the sitting and waiting for the quad core as the new standard, but on the other hand, HOW BAD DO WE WANT ONE!?!
Personally for me it's no competition between the Prime and other tablets, the Prime is just on another planet.
This morning the store answered my email saying that the Prime will be available mid january (in about 10 days) and said that maybe they could reserve one for me because of the small supply, but said the price may be different depending on the usd/euro stocks, but under 700$ for the 32gig version with dock...
Still I'm not planning on buying one before a test drive like you said (mostly to check for screen bleed). And yes, I took into account the moaners which is true like you said again...
I think I wathched every single review/comparison of the tablet on youtube, and read at least 10 reviews online, and it's all mostly positive.
I'll update as soon as i get my hands on a test one, hopefully in about 10 days.
Just for background, my phone is a Nexus One, and my current tablet is an iPad WiFi 16GB.
I'd like to get a 10" tablet to replace the iPad so that my middle daughter who is handicapped could have the iPad (a number of programs for speech synthesis and Sesame Street). The programs I use on my iPad are (in general order of use):
Gmail
Safari
Alien Blue (Reddit app)
GoodReader
Filer
LogMeIn
Kindle
I presume once I flashed the device to one of the custom builds (TinyTap 3 is that correct) I could then access the Android Market where I could get most of these (is there a GoodReader equivalent for the Android)?
Given the above, would you get a ViewG now, or wait for one of the tablets announced at CES? So far from what I've seen, most of the "newer" tablets will have better screens, but otherwise won't be any more powerful, and will likely be a couple hundred more to purchase.
Your assistance in deciding would be appreciated!
EwanG said:
Just for background, my phone is a Nexus One, and my current tablet is an iPad WiFi 16GB.
I'd like to get a 10" tablet to replace the iPad so that my middle daughter who is handicapped could have the iPad (a number of programs for speech synthesis and Sesame Street). The programs I use on my iPad are (in general order of use):
Gmail
Safari
Alien Blue (Reddit app)
GoodReader
Filer
LogMeIn
Kindle
I presume once I flashed the device to one of the custom builds (TinyTap 3 is that correct) I could then access the Android Market where I could get most of these (is there a GoodReader equivalent for the Android)?
Given the above, would you get a ViewG now, or wait for one of the tablets announced at CES? So far from what I've seen, most of the "newer" tablets will have better screens, but otherwise won't be any more powerful, and will likely be a couple hundred more to purchase.
Your assistance in deciding would be appreciated!
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From what I have read the new tablets at CES are no better, and the screens are no better. I think this tablet is a heck of a deal right now for the price and will continue to be so. The newer ones are probably going to cost much more. The G tablet has the newest hardware, and should be able to updated for quite some time.
The thing that worries me is that even if a new tablet comes out with a better screen, there's a good chance that it's either going to be tied to a carrier and a data plan, or be priced unreasonably (to me). I just want Wifi for my tablet.
So, to me, if you're willing to get a data plan to get a tab w a nicer screen, or willing to pay an unreasonable price for such a tab, then wait.
Otherwise, get a Gtab...
Jim
Any reason why you decided to get an android tablet instead of waiting for ipad2? Since you are using ipad and familar with it. Just curious, that´s all. If you can wait,i would wait for the asus transformer. Better screen + similar hardware + same base price.
tyy10002 said:
Any reason why you decided to get an android tablet instead of waiting for ipad2? Since you are using ipad and familar with it. Just curious, that´s all. If you can wait,i would wait for the asus transformer. Better screen + similar hardware + same base price.
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Click to collapse
For myself I'd like to have access to a system that runs Flash - having written a few Flash games and all
I also highly doubt that the iPad2 will be that much of a competitor to the Android tablets. While the iPad/iOS market has the current lead - which is why I feel comfortable giving it to the daughter who will need the specialized software - it seems quite likely that the Android tablets will have somewhat better hardware this generation, and by next year I fully expect Apple to return to the "niche" market that they had been in for so many years.
In fact, I waited several months after the iPad was introduced feeling sure there would be an Android tablet "shortly" that would be at least as good. It finally became obvious that wasn't going to happen in the second half of 2010.
For me the big surprise was just how much I COULD do with the iPad. I've completely stopped using my laptop and netbook (had one of each). Which is why I'm looking for another tablet.
Asus Transformer looks interesting, but I'm worried about the weight. The iPad is on the edge of what I feel comfortable carrying all day, and the Transformer looks like it will add at least another half pound. And the prices I've seen have been a fair bit above $350 (unless you were comparing to the iPad in which case I agree it's competitive).
FWIW...
Well, y'all have convinced me (the little bit more I needed convincing). Have one on-order that I should be receiving on Friday.
So, once I get it, do the OTA update, or just go straight for Vegan or TapLite or... ?
EwanG said:
Well, y'all have convinced me (the little bit more I needed convincing). Have one on-order that I should be receiving on Friday.
So, once I get it, do the OTA update, or just go straight for Vegan or TapLite or... ?
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Click to collapse
I opted for vegan because I don't like the settings app in tntlite it uses the limited viewsonic settings. Oddly though I prefer the notifiaction bar in tnt
Hi,
FYI, you can get a more standard Android Settings.apk, somewhere here on XDA, and it works with TNT (just copy it to /system/apps). I had been trying it out for awhile. Sorry, I don't remember the link ...
Jim
I'll have to look for that. Thanks!
kpowr82 said:
I'll have to look for that. Thanks!
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Click to collapse
Sorry. I felt bad about not being able to provide a link, so here it is:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=857939
Jim
Hi all,
I recently switched from an iPhone to a Dell Streak (android). It's gone well (there a + and - to both) and now I'm thinking of selling my iPad 1 and purchasing a Transformer.
I have tested one in a shop (no keyboard though) and it seems faster and lighter (although not as tough).
I'm still sitting on the fence at the moment and was wondering if any Transformer users can share their opinions and experience to influence my decision.
Thanks
I wanted to buy an iPad so much at its launch
Afterwards, I discovered the transformer (and slider, not yet launched), so much more possibilities with transformer ...
keep the iPad, it's way better
Get the Transformer, it's WAY better. I know several iPad2 owners that have upgraded, and none of them regret it one bit.
Thanks for the responses guys! Keep em coming.
Just to clarify I have the ipad 1 64 gb. It only has 256 mb ram which means 2 or 3 browser tabs and thats it!
The apps on the ipad may be better but to be honest, the only app I use on the ipad is the browser. If I switch over to android I can use firefox
Looking forward to more responses.
Thanks
I've used iPad 1 and 2 and must say I much prefer the Transformer. For what I need (pretty much a netbook), the iPad just is not compatible. There's no way to go around iOS with a keyboard (even if you did find a good dock -- there isn't one). There's plenty of things you take for granted with a laptop like connectivity that you simply cannot get with an iPad. USB OTG, NTFS drives, CIFS, proper bluetooth, actual USB and HDMI ports and so on. And then there's the whole iTunes rubbish. And yes, I used iOS 5.0 beta and you still need a computer to use an iPad.
I haven't even covered multi-tasking with switching between apps yet.
definitely, TF!
xsacha said:
And yes, I used iOS 5.0 beta and you still need a computer to use an iPad.
I haven't even covered multi-tasking with switching between apps yet.
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Which is complete nonsense, I hate apple for all the limitation imposed to the customer simply to make money... the whole company policy is rubbish... The whole Itune thing is really about taking consumers for cash cows. However lots of people find a great comfort in having a very intuitive platform, so it also has its good sides...
>out of the box experience is much more complete with Android tablets.
Plus, say you buy a TF, should you need something that is not directly coming with it, be sure that someone out there is making it and sharing it... and it is all legal without warranty void.
And it is much cheaper.
Either I am wrong and Ipad (apple in general) is super top cool, or I am a bit right and Ipad buyers are users that have limited needs, or in some cases buy stuff cause it is cool and showed off by CNN news anchors while reporting.. rolleyes
It all come down to what you need the thing for.
We have an iPad and the transformer at home. The trasnformer is actually fantastic- the ONLY drawback has been the lack of Netflix and Xfinity playback but I really think both of those will be available in a relatively short time.
I was really on the fence about keeping the transformer vs. the ipad and then we plugged a passport drive in to the transformer and I had a TB worth of movies ready to view! That makes it so much more to me than the iPad, I can remote to my desktop and with the keyboard dock it's amazing.
Not to knock the iPad, it's very very cool - but I really love the transformer.
I kept both.
The iPad is a much better casual machine, the Transformer is a better productivity machine.
Between iPad 1 and Transformer... Transformer wins hands down!!
Between iPad 2 and Transformer... I like both! They each have their pros and cons.
If you can have both, it would be the best option.
I have an iPad 1, a Transformer and a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Of all 3 devices the Tab is the best (overall), but the Transformer stands out for it's docking capability. The iPad is in last place with it's restrictive OS and limited customization ability. I also hate iTunes.
I had the iPad 2 for few weeks and didn't even use it for more than 5 times. It's just a bigger iPod Touch.
garethsimpsonuk said:
Hi all,
I recently switched from an iPhone to a Dell Streak (android). It's gone well (there a + and - to both) and now I'm thinking of selling my iPad 1 and purchasing a Transformer.
I have tested one in a shop (no keyboard though) and it seems faster and lighter (although not as tough).
I'm still sitting on the fence at the moment and was wondering if any Transformer users can share their opinions and experience to influence my decision.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the Transformer one main reason is because our company bought us all the TF101 32gb one. So free is always good.
I sold my iPad and bought the transformer.
Get the tf if u have a laptop and ud like to combine the two. Personally that's what I'm doing. I had a laptop and a dell streak 7. Sold both and both the one. Much better battery life too.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Really depends on what you're going to use it for. I always felt that Apple products were more business oriented, because of the limitations Apple puts on the products. Some see them as Apple being dumb, I see them as Apple making pure productivity devices.
Don't get me wrong though, the Transformer is really good at productivity though to. There's more customization too, and more of an ability to change what you want.
If you feel like jailbreaking the iPad, you can, but then again almost every release is the same thing, not to mention you have to wait for the few devs that do work on the iPad to release the jailbreak. The Transformer on the other hand, already has 4 or 5 different roms, people are working on Native booting Ubuntu, side booting Ubuntu, and hopefully MeeGo (don't hold me to that). I wanted a iPad when it first came out, and still want one now, but the want is slowly fading, as Android is growing more and more into a better OS, and there are more app developers. I am extremely happy with my Transformer, and wouldn't sell it for anything.
I am an Android fanboy. I have 3 Android devices. My X2 is my phone, my Transformer is my tablet, and my old Droid 1 is my mp3 player
You know that the ONLY person that can accurately decide this IS YOU. Will YOU be happy with it?
It does not matter what we say.
I was in the exact same boat you are in only 2 weeks ago. I decided to go with the Transformer primarily because of the Micro SD and the OS. It's so much easier to just swap out a micro SD card than it is to sync through iTunes. For instance, I like to have the capability to load up movies and apps for my 3 yr old daughter and then take them out and load up my movies. Go with the Transformer and you won't be disappointed... my 2 cents worth.
I would prefer the Transformer due to it's versatility and that android has less of a "big brother" approach. The iPad does have more tablet optimized apps than any of the Android Honeycomb based tablets, but that all will eventually change as Android develops.
Its phone upgrade time for me here in the UK.
I thought I'd share my recent thoughts on the current mobile environment from my perspective. I have got myself thoroughly confused looking for info on this so I hope I can gain some insight from the tech aware users of XDA.
I have a good handle on HTC and Asus but that has taken about a week of digging and I'm tired so I thought I'd post here.
Currently I do not own a laptop (just a gaming PC) and i have a Desire original.
I use the web enough on my phone when at home instead of my PC to now be annoyed by the screen size so I think its time for a tablet.
So I need a new mobile contract, a phone and a tablet and as usual I want the best spec for the least money.
I'll start with phones.
My desire is wicked but its been over two years of married bliss and I've dropped it so many times its bound to go wrong the minute I rely on it.
For a replacement I think 4.7 inches is too large for a phone, especially when most domestic browsing can be done on a tablet/laptop/PC.
Now the next level of power is available with the Tegra3 and S4 CPUs. I don't think content developer have fully utilised the dual core chips so I'm almost sure the next 2 years of content will not really push the capabilities of the Dual core chips into obsolescence.
The Sg2 has been the best handset out there but is now a bit common and 4 of my friends have one. (I shun the herd)
Latest CPUs seem to come with 4.3 or 4.7 screens.
So I guess I'm looking at the 4.3 range.
OPtions
HTC One S
Padfone
other - will the Sg3 be 4.7 as rumored?
Have I missed a diamond of a dual core phone released in the past 12 months that will provide joy for the next 2 years?
Now tablets.
I'm not planning on watching hour after hour of film on it as I have a TV.
But I will watch a bit and I'm sure the odd long journey might use it a bit.
Current champion is the Transformer prime - best so far. (or the TF101 for the real bargain hunter)
BUT
Asus are bringing out the transformer infinity to fight the ipad 3 in the high resolution stakes
the pad300 for the lower end.
and the padfone.
What are the rumours form other companies.
I think I can cope with 720p video and I'm not much of a mobile gamer (thats why i have a PC)
How much to pay?
I can get a sim only contract that services my needs for £10.50/mnth
So thats £252 over 24mnths
HTC One S with probbly be £430-450 sim free
SG3 will be similar
The Transformer infinty costs £600 - too much
Pad 300 a mere £250
So sim (252), phone(450) and tablet(250) can be done for approx £950 over 24mnths
or
Carrier will give me phone and contract for £642 + £250 so £892 over 24mnths
or
Sim only (252) and a padfone (£530) £782 over 24mnths
So the padfone is the cheapest way to get a reasonably sized modestly powerful phone that is not the 'norm' and a tablet experience.
But what can the Pad 300 or a Transformer Tf101 offer that a padfone can't?
THe HTC one S and padfone are equally matched (apart form the sense UI that i am very at home with vs lack of SD slot and integrated battery issue)
What are the other options?
Have I missed any gems?
What would you do?
i wanna
i wanna upgrade my android guys
how to install ics???
pushkardua said:
i wanna upgrade my android guys
how to install ics???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hush! If those android guys hear you they will revolt and melt you down with their laser eyes!
@olly230: I am in a somewhat similar situation with my Galaxy S. I need a new phone and I want a tablet. A Padfone gives you something very near to a full combination, just blocking you from simultaneous use of course, which might not matter at all if you are single. Besides, I like the design and features.
So I came to much the same conclusion - the only problem might be: it is getting delayed in Taiwan (3 weeks into May) and probable in Europe accordingly. Hopefully it is in stores by June, which is where my contract ends.
My contract is june as well!
(I'm not single though)
I'm the target market for the padfone but what if its sh1t?
I've been on sense UI for so long will asus android be horrible?
I could spend an extra 150 but I am a bargain hunter.
I could just get a desire S and a TF101 but I think the savings are not worth the loss of product longevity.
olly230 said:
(I'm not single though)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me neither, guess I might have to share my Padfone with the kids now and then.
I'm the target market for the padfone but what if its sh1t?
I've been on sense UI for so long will asus android be horrible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It very probably won't be outright "sh1t", but especially for you it might take some getting used to. Stock UI has improved a lot with ICS, and you can always install another launcher and a bunch of widgets to recreate many of the things you might expect but arent' there or different.
I was happy to get rid of Touchwiz completely, running a somewhat stock ICS now on my SGS. But I don't like the stock launcher too much, been using Go Launcher EX (free in Play Store) for quite a while and very happy with it. I don't use many widgets, because RAM is already tight and I don't really need them.
I could just get a desire S and a TF101 but I think the savings are not worth the loss of product longevity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go that way, you should probably wait for the TF300, it will be a worthy successor and also quite cheap.
these 1st world problems eh?
Got clean water, food and safe roof over my head and I can still find ridiculous things to make me unhappy.
Couple things:
1) Unless you spend a lot of time HD gaming on your phone/tablet, the Padfone's S4 chip is actually stronger than the quad-core chips.
2) Asus is very very good with updates, they stick with stock OS, and their "bloat" consists of a few very useful apps like "OneNote" and "Library".
3) All batteries in all devices in the Padfone system charge the phone at the core.
4) It comes with the coolest stylus in existence. ^_^
Closed, please post in proper section
this thread is now not closed (thank you mr ORb)
I'm still interested in others opinions on this situation.
After a few days thought and calculation I think i'm going with the new kid on the block , the padfone
Although i will still probably change my mind a million times between now and mid june
Guys now is my time! i have to buy my first tablet ever! i have saved money and i cant upgrade sooner cause i am a student so pls help me sincerely...
i have about $650 (US dollars). i want the best tablet.
i love the flash in android devices for internet, but for the resolution i had in my mind to buy the new ipad but then Jelly bean came and it also does not have flash so i changed the idea of getting the new ipad. because both ios and android now dont have flash, i love android. but i thought to just check ipad cause i have never bought and apple product cause i simple hate apple.
my uses r:
1- using internet. i use a lot of internet on my mobile so i need tablet now.
2- watching movies and videos
3- using camera on mobile but a decent tablet camera would be nice
4-listening music
5- transferring big files
well here are my choices. guys dont be one sided for ur 700 cause no device is perfect! just give me the idea of which to choose between these depending on ur experiences cause many of u guys here would have definitely used more than one tablet.
1- Samsung galaxy note 10.1
2- ipad 3
3- asus transformer pad infinity tf-700
4- asus transformer pad tf-300
5- acer iconia tab A700
guys i expect a good answer from u guys.
thanks
1- Samsung galaxy note 10.1
Fastest tablet on market, completely plastic case (I hate that), lower res screen than Infinity, S-Pen if you like to draw/take hand written notes.
2- ipad 3
iOS, Apple, iTunes.. meh
3- asus transformer pad infinity tf-700
HD screen is amazing, fast tablet but not as fast as Note 10.1. Has a Keyboard dock with extra battery, I type faster than I write so I prefer keyboard over S-Pen. Asus does have some QC issues so test out everything and make sure you're happy within the store return policy window.
4- asus transformer pad tf-300
If HD screen isn't important to you this is a good budget option.
5- acer iconia tab A700
Over-heats, sluggish, HD screen but I wouldn't go for it.
I suggest you go in to a store and play with each one and decide for yourself which you prefer. iPad, T700, Note 10.1 are all good tabs and suit different people's needs. Sony just released their Xperia S tablet with a 9.7" (I think) screen which might also be worth a look at. Or if you believe all the rumours you could wait and see if Samsung release their P10 with HD screen and perhaps Google will release a 10" tab too before Christmas. Oh and then the Windows tabs will be out so you'll have more choice
Tablet shopping is such fun!
Personally, I'd try to hold off on making your decision until Jelly Bean is available for the TF700. If Jelly Bean runs as well as we are all expecting on the TF700, it would be much easier to recommend it over the others.
Right now, with all of the QC issues that Asus has, I have a hard time recommending the TF700 to anyone. I really do like the device (or I would have sold it and bought something else), but some folks have had to return the damn thing 7 or 8 times before getting one without physical defects. I just don't feel comfortable recommending a device with so many defects out-of-the-box. Combine that with the Asus ICS implementation and it's just plain hard to recommend to someone that just wants a working device. I don't mind dealing with the software issues (I actually enjoy "tinkering"), but some users just don't want to be bothered with that stuff and want the thing to work without "tinkering".
Now, if Jelly Bean is implemented properly on the TF700, that I might change my mind on recommending it. While the physical defect rate would still be the same, I just think that it would be more "worth it" to deal with the QC issues if Jelly Bean runs well...
Just my opinion. I really can't comment on the other devices in your list since I don't own them...
My best recommendation would be to go to a retail store (if possible) and just try them out for yourself...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
The two replies given cover the base, so I am not inclined to add my measly $0.02 to them.
However, I would like to make a point of requesting a more to-the-point topic title next time, for your own good. Not many people are inclined to go read up on a question with such a generic title -- meaning you will get less replies and hurt your own chances of achieving whatever it is you want to achieve. And XDA is not exactly unique in requesting explicit topic titles, either...
Process of elimination is probably what you have to use as "no tablet is completely superior to other i.e. NO best tablet" in my opinion.
The last two can be eliminated. Acer's tablet has full HD screen but have not received great review and pretty much most reviews puts TF700 over the Acer. TF300 is great budget tablet but if you can afford TF700 is better as it is higher end model.
The other three are tough and really depends on the preference.
1. New IPad ( I have iPad 2 so I am sort of basing on this)
Basically all round player with high resolution display, stability, speed. But it is completely different ecosystem than android. So you have to first decide iOS vs. Android.
2. Galaxy Note 10.1 (I owned it for 3 weeks)
Fastest, most stable android tablet out there. S-pen is closest to the paper the tablet can get. But lacks full HD, which I found out really important for me.
3. TF700
Full HD. When its functioning as fast as Galaxy Note. But slightly more frequent random browser crash. (which by the way I get it with Note and Ipad 2 as well, just a less frequent). But overall I chose TF700 as difference in stability and speed were not as significant as full HD (personally).
As someone else suggested, if you can wait until jellybean on TF700, it is probably the safest to wait until then as if it makes TF700 faster and more stable (particularly browsing), I can say it is hands down the best tablet at that point.
Ok I'll answer because you have so adamantly begged for a reply.
I had an Acer A700 don't go there you can cook dinner on that thing.
We have an iPad 3 it's wonderful device, it's not for those who love to tinker and adjust.
The Asus TF700T is my personal favorite because I'm big fan of the Android OS.
*just a note,
XDA is an Android board so you may not get too many recommendations for an iDevice here.
So there you go...
Sent from 60 miles west of nowhere
Well if you can handle iOs and itunes then I would say go to ipad. It is very good and quick.
Just not for me. I also have ipad but bought infinity. I just hate the software too much to use it. But hardware wise it is a well made nice device.
Quality Control issues are a constant for EVERY MANUFACTURER. With some having more and other manufacturers having less. I've owned Sony and Panasonic products that had horrible QC issues. Yet their products were still highly touted and rated the best in their respective markets, for that particular product. People come to product forums, more times than not, to vent their frustration about a product. Rarely do you see people come to tell you how amazing their device is...
For every negative review, on average, theirs 11 people ecstatic with their Infinity. If you go to Amazon 's review Site for the Infinity - over 250 people reviewed their device 4 stars or higher. With 50 people reviewing it 3 stars or less.
I
The Asus Infinity tablet is the flagship device all other manufacturers will try to emulate. I'm very happy with mine. Best electronic purchase in 4 years. And we're still waiting for Jelly Bean!
I would say that even putting the iDevice on the list means a person actually wants one.
Dub Tech said:
1- Samsung galaxy note 10.1
Fastest tablet on market, completely plastic case (I hate that), lower res screen than Infinity, S-Pen if you like to draw/take hand written notes.
2- ipad 3
iOS, Apple, iTunes.. meh
3- asus transformer pad infinity tf-700
HD screen is amazing, fast tablet but not as fast as Note 10.1. Has a Keyboard dock with extra battery, I type faster than I write so I prefer keyboard over S-Pen. Asus does have some QC issues so test out everything and make sure you're happy within the store return policy window.
4- asus transformer pad tf-300
If HD screen isn't important to you this is a good budget option.
5- acer iconia tab A700
Over-heats, sluggish, HD screen but I wouldn't go for it.
I suggest you go in to a store and play with each one and decide for yourself which you prefer. iPad, T700, Note 10.1 are all good tabs and suit different people's needs. Sony just released their Xperia S tablet with a 9.7" (I think) screen which might also be worth a look at. Or if you believe all the rumours you could wait and see if Samsung release their P10 with HD screen and perhaps Google will release a 10" tab too before Christmas. Oh and then the Windows tabs will be out so you'll have more choice
Tablet shopping is such fun!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude thank u so much for such detailed reply! but my issue is i dont have such big stores where u can give a go to the device before u make purchase... thats why i asked u people who have actually used the device...
aami.aami said:
dude thank u so much for such detailed reply! but my issue is i dont have such big stores where u can give a go to the device before u make purchase... thats why i asked u people who have actually used the device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you just have to do what we all have done:
1) do your research. Read published reviews, product reviews on retailers' sites and learn everything you can about the potential products and then;
2) choose one. Try to choose one that you could return or sell more easily if you don't like it, so you won't lose too much money.
No one can know what is best for you, what works best in your environment...You can see that even with the same product, there is a diversity of opinion about how good it is.
You just have to take the plunge and make a choice.
Jelly Bean
The TF700 is supposed to have jelly bean in early October. I got this from Asus support and posted this earlier.
tf700t would definitely be my best bet. it is just better than everything out there. Alot of people on this forum complain about this tablet on very specific issues that are caused by rooting or unlocking. if you have only school uses for it you dont have to do either of them. tf700t takes surprisingly awesome pictures. video playback is beautiful. writing essays is ridiculously amazing with the keyboard. battery life lasts me all day. its a beautiful machine. GET IT!.
Strictly opinion/a suggestion (Not to be taken as the ultimate elitist truth)
Personally, a person that's owned a HP TouchPad, a Transformer Prime, and a current owner of both the Transformer Infinity and iPad (New iPad, 3rd gen.. whatever you want to call it... stupid Apple naming scheme), I would recommend the new iPad. And I mean that wholeheartedly if you're intention is to actually buy a tablet, and not an oversized phone without the phone or portable web browser/e-reader.
Ultimately, I think what's important is support and just look at all the mindless iSheep out there. It's just incredible. Android ICS was touted as the first iteration of Android optimized for tablets... yet the apps are still mainly for phones. The developers are brainwashed by the Apple brand and it is what it is.
You can go for an Android tablet but the "better specs" can only go so far... or if you ask me aren't even frickin enough! I bought the Transformer Prime thinking I was buying the best Android tablet in the market and was so underwhelmed and disappointed. Browsing was sluggish. Touch isn't as responsive as you'd hope most times (which is why Jelly Bean is still promising that the 'buttery smooth' experience...how many more versions until they get it down right instead of just settling?)... and most of the apps available are still optimized for phones not tablets. As an Android owner, I lust for updates hoping the experience feels better/snappier/ less FRIGGIN forced closes! As an iPad/iPod touch owner, I get excited about updates for new features. They've already got the experience down to a T.
With the new iPad you've got a screen that's better than the Transformer Infinity without the damn quality control issues. If you ever have a problem with it, if there's an Apple Store within your vicinity and your product is still under warranty, expect a pleasant turnaround time for troubleshooting and repair. With ASUS, you'll be paying out of pocket to get it shipped to them, and expect at least a 2 week wait.
Dev support makes it pretty much the Windows of the tablet universe. Ironically, it's actually iOS that makes Android look like OSX in that regard but most often with the quality of Linux software. You'll find some of the same apps on Android that's on iOS but they're either just as good or mostly worse or a still phone app that gets blown up on your tablet. So much for that big screen with the full HD res, huh?
Even with jailbreaking and rooting... the iOS jailbreaking community is more active. Cydia's updated everyday. With Android it's an easter egg hunt. God forbid you ask someone in a forum for stuff. You're often subjected to trolling... how about the classic "do a Google search!" It's the same with iOS too but since the community there is larger you're bound to get answers easier.
Does the mlb at-bat stream HD live games on Android? Last time I cared they didn't. I watch HD games live with no blackouts on my iPad thanks to mlb at-bat's better support on iOS and the jailbreak app FakeLocation.
There's also way better resale value with the iPad than any other tablet... check eBay for proof. Those people selling Transformers for $400 $500? Don't be fooled... they're either getting 0 bids or they're selling a whole bundle with the keyboard and crap and losing a lot of money. Apple sheep's got the mob mentality so it's way easier to sell... people even buy broken Apple products for more than you think! (again check ebay for proof... I sold even sold my water damaged Macbook for $400) With another tablet it either sells for way less, or ends up in the trash if it's out of warranty.
I'm just saying all this out of experience. You don't have to go buy an iPad... go for what suits your needs all the way. It's your money and these things are expensive. Good luck with your decision!
aami.aami said:
Guys now is my time! i have to buy my first tablet ever! i have saved money and i cant upgrade sooner cause i am a student so pls help me sincerely...
i have about $650 (US dollars). i want the best tablet.
i love the flash in android devices for internet, but for the resolution i had in my mind to buy the new ipad but then Jelly bean came and it also does not have flash so i changed the idea of getting the new ipad. because both ios and android now dont have flash, i love android. but i thought to just check ipad cause i have never bought and apple product cause i simple hate apple.
my uses r:
1- using internet. i use a lot of internet on my mobile so i need tablet now.
2- watching movies and videos
3- using camera on mobile but a decent tablet camera would be nice
4-listening music
5- transferring big files
well here are my choices. guys dont be one sided for ur 700 cause no device is perfect! just give me the idea of which to choose between these depending on ur experiences cause many of u guys here would have definitely used more than one tablet.
1- Samsung galaxy note 10.1
2- ipad 3
3- asus transformer pad infinity tf-700
4- asus transformer pad tf-300
5- acer iconia tab A700
guys i expect a good answer from u guys.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have access to the Samsung note 10.1, the ipad 3 and the Asus infinity 700.
For some reason the Asus is the slowest in the bunch by far. I'm constantly making sure i'm in performance mode and even after that it just runs slow, slow and slow. It is like an old Windows ME machine. You have to let it boot up and then let it sit for a while and let it finish do whatever it needs to do. It gets frustrating when you hit/tap a button multiple times and nothing happens because the delay is so bad. People will just bark out screen resolution but in reality the screen isn't that good at all. The colors are very weak and nothing pops.
The Samsung even though is all plastic is a fantastic tablet. It runs smooth and quick. It is just a great all around tablet.
The ipad has a gorgeous screen. Best screen i've seen on a tablet anywhere. I put all these 3 tablets on a table and ran some videos and different things and by far the ipad has an awesome screen.
I really would LOVE if the Asus tablet was faster. Maybe I'll try to wipe it again and see what happens?
opentoe said:
I have access to the Samsung note 10.1, the ipad 3 and the Asus infinity 700.
For some reason the Asus is the slowest in the bunch by far. I'm constantly making sure i'm in performance mode and even after that it just runs slow, slow and slow. It is like an old Windows ME machine. You have to let it boot up and then let it sit for a while and let it finish do whatever it needs to do. It gets frustrating when you hit/tap a button multiple times and nothing happens because the delay is so bad. People will just bark out screen resolution but in reality the screen isn't that good at all. The colors are very weak and nothing pops.
The Samsung even though is all plastic is a fantastic tablet. It runs smooth and quick. It is just a great all around tablet.
The ipad has a gorgeous screen. Best screen i've seen on a tablet anywhere. I put all these 3 tablets on a table and ran some videos and different things and by far the ipad has an awesome screen.
I really would LOVE if the Asus tablet was faster. Maybe I'll try to wipe it again and see what happens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... Strange. I have iPad 2 and had Galaxy Note 10.1 for 3 weeks. I agree that infinity is slowest (in particular browsing) but otherwise I didn't notice much difference in speed e.g. loading other applications. And even when things are slower I wouldn't say way slower. When I compared browser page loading time side by side, most pages loaded similar speed if simple; whereas, flash heavy site or some other whatever heady site took almost twice as long but that is 10 seconds vs. 20 seconds.
If you have all three, perhaps it would be nice to have comparison video posted by having three unit or two side by side and perform the exact same task.
*Note: I have turned bloatware off, and browser2ram installed.
HoushaSen said:
I agree that infinity is slowest (in particular browsing) but otherwise I didn't notice much difference in speed e.g. loading other applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People will have different experiences based on the apps and syncs they have set up; especially those that perform a lot of concurrent background processes. The sequential IO scores on Asus tablets are nothing to write home about but if you don't have a lot going on in the background performance should be adequate. The moment a bunch of stuff is going at the same time reads/writes become random (vs. sequential) and things go south pretty quick. So if you loaded Opentoe’s apps and set up his syncs on your TF700 you’d get his results. So you’re both right.
Personally, I would go for the first Windows RT tablet that is full HD, if Microsoft lets them make one that is.
Otherwise the ipad 3. I sold my replacement one because I grew to despise them for their lawsuits and over pricing. But if you can live with getting raped by the $300 profits then the new ipad is the best for now.
Windows tablets look crazy fast and smooth and functional though. Kind of like Playbook, webOS, and Android swipe gestures with IOS fluidity.
opentoe said:
I have access to the Samsung note 10.1, the ipad 3 and the Asus infinity 700.
For some reason the Asus is the slowest in the bunch by far. I'm constantly making sure i'm in performance mode and even after that it just runs slow, slow and slow. It is like an old Windows ME machine. You have to let it boot up and then let it sit for a while and let it finish do whatever it needs to do. It gets frustrating when you hit/tap a button multiple times and nothing happens because the delay is so bad. People will just bark out screen resolution but in reality the screen isn't that good at all. The colors are very weak and nothing pops.
The Samsung even though is all plastic is a fantastic tablet. It runs smooth and quick. It is just a great all around tablet.
The ipad has a gorgeous screen. Best screen i've seen on a tablet anywhere. I put all these 3 tablets on a table and ran some videos and different things and by far the ipad has an awesome screen.
I really would LOVE if the Asus tablet was faster. Maybe I'll try to wipe it again and see what happens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks to u and thanks to all for ur real nice suggestions and true to life sincere advises. i really love u all and xda!
but guys u know what, i have Galaxy S3 and its JUST PERFECT! i only have 2 issues,
1- the built material is way flimsy for such a beast
2- i just wish they would have put some better audio recording chip for the video to make the audio recording better in the camera video mode
thats it! no more complaints!
i just love samsung and its products because from screws to high tech processors, every thing in samsung's products is made by themselves which is the reason they have the best products and again, SAMSUNG WINS MY HEART! i am gonna buy Note 10.1
my bad luck i called the store and they said the white version is out of stock...
that will be available next week so i will have to wait till next week... sucks
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