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So my situation, I was fortunate to earn a free ipad wifi/3g 16gb from a sales contest at work, well Ive played with the thing for a few weeks and I have to say apple blows. Anyways gunna sell it on ebay, looking like I can get about $450 for it.
I then want to take the money and buy an android tablet, i really want a honeycomb one, but I know they are very expensive as they are just coming out.
So I thought to myself why couldn't I just buy a tablet that comes with Froyo, and then root it, and flash a custom honeycomb rom once a developer ports it over to my device..? It would save me alot of cash/waiting.
So I'm assuming all the G tab owners did some shopping around before buying this tablet. What are the top 3 android tablets under $450 in your opinion?
Obviously another concern is which tablet under $450 will be likely to have the most developer support, being the flashaholic that I am, I really want something that has many roms and kernels etc.. availiable. I did see quite a few roms in the G tab development section, but I am finding it very difficult to find out information about other tablets as far as rom development. What do you guys thing from a developer support stand point?
Thanks!!!!
Under $450 and that are out now tablets....
If you're just looking for a tablet to browse the internet, casual gaming, youtube..you know basic stuff...you can save about $100 by buying a nook. Lots of dev support...I mean lots.
If you want something more powerful with a bigger screen but weaker viewing angles than the gtab is tops in my opinion. If you don't mind a used gtab...than I would grab one if you can find it.
As for a third choice, I guess I would get the archos 70 or 101.
Awesome thanks.
I personally wouldn't get a nook. I had one and ended up trading it for an archos 101. From what it looks like there is more development for the GTab. The nook is a nice device but I really didn't think the device was speedy enough for me. If I'm getting a tablet then it should have better specs then my phone (Nexus S). Screen on the Nook was nice but I've always wanted a bigger tab. I like my archos 101 but then again the processor was good but I felt it could be better. I just sold my archos a few days ago on here and ordered a GTab and it'll be here tomorrow. Nook is $250 new and GTab cost me $368, with the GTab you may be getting a worse screen but you get more internal storage, better processor, bluetooth, IMO better dev support, and a USB port which I personally want. I've also had a Galaxy Tab but when I had it development was slow so I got rid of it also again it has the same specs as my phone. IMO theres no point in a tablet that has equal or worse specs then your phone (unless you have a dual core phone) and after experience 7inch screens are good for reading and comics but 10.1inch screens are better for web browsing and even better for reading and comics
Had my gtab for about 2 weeks now that I bout from another user here on xda for $320. Prior to the purchase I had been following the forums and watching youtub videos of the device and drooling. Now that I have it, I feel I may have hyped it a bit too much. It is a good device but there are a few things about it that bother me but to be fair I was expecting some of them. the screen is as bad as they say. This device is pretty hefty. Holding it in can be tiresome at times. The bezel is thin on three sides, one of which also has capacitive buttons which makes it hard to find a comfortable way to hold it at times unless you are using both hands. No gps. As for the roms, as good as they are they are far from perfect. They each have their own issues which were easy to ignore at first but after a while i find to be annoying when you want something that just works. I appreciate the devs though and I'm sure in time they will figure everything out. After trying a xoom at frys the other day I can honestly say they know what a tablet should be like. I just wish it wasn't an extra 500 bucks.
BuI shopped arround for a good while. I have been using resistive screen tablet PC's in my work for years, and hated them. Ugly screens tedious repeated touches to get anywhere. Call me crazy but I really believe that anyone who complains about the screen on the gtab needs to take a reality check. This thing has better viewing angles than my android phone. What do you want to do with it? Rest it on your coffee table and sit 10 feet away at a 45° angle and expect perfect color? Yes there are nicer screens out there but IMHO this is way better than the crap I have seen for years. I'm sure it would have had a super top of the line screen too if Malta could have gotten screens from LG at nearly cost like apple does.
The price is perfect and the screen is perfect for the price. Enjoy the fact that no one will see what's on your screen unless you want them to. Its a security feature in my book.
Sent from my Chromatic Magic using XDA Premium App
Mantara said:
BuI shopped arround for a good while. I have been using resistive screen tablet PC's in my work for years, and hated them. Ugly screens tedious repeated touches to get anywhere. Call me crazy but I really believe that anyone who complains about the screen on the gtab needs to take a reality check. This thing has better viewing angles than my android phone. What do you want to do with it? Rest it on your coffee table and sit 10 feet away at a 45° angle and expect perfect color? Yes there are nicer screens out there but IMHO this is way better than the crap I have seen for years. I'm sure it would have had a super top of the line screen too if Malta could have gotten screens from LG at nearly cost like apple does.
The price is perfect and the screen is perfect for the price. Enjoy the fact that no one will see what's on your screen unless you want them to. Its a security feature in my book.
Sent from my Chromatic Magic using XDA Premium App
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^^^^Yeah This. I waited a week for mine to come from the good ol' US of A (Im in oztralia )
After reading all the reports.. bad screens, slow stock UI etc I thought ok, well the screen is probably as bad as they say and the UI cant be that bad...
well it was exactly opposite - the screen is actually not that bad compared to some screens i deal with daily. UI was even worse than I could have imagined.
I know have vegan on it and it rocks. For the price I am absolutely blown away.
You can not go wrong with the g-Tab. Especially since you stated that you are a "Flashaholic." I have had mine for almost 2 months now and absolutely love it. I have tried both the vegan and TNT-Lite roms, and ended up staying with the TNT-Lite. While there are many things that could have been implemented better, in my mind it is a better value right now than the competition. I love the fact that it has removable storage. I have a little case that I keep my micro-SD cards in and swap them out whenever I want to watch something else or need more storage. Since purchasing this product, I have taken it with me on several business trips, and have found it indispensable. I can even back my photos up onto it using an SD card reader.
Bottom Line: If you do not mind playing around and fiddling with settings and enjoy trying new things, then I suggest getting the g-Tab. Over wise I suggest waiting a little longer until the "Tablet Form Factor" becomes more settled.
Just a note on the Notion Ink Adam which falls into the sub $450 category (wifi LCD version, anyways). I received hoping to get better viewing angles but they seemed to be the same as the Gtab, plus I really like the Gtab's form factor a lot more. The Adam was heavier, thicker and more squared off making it not as comfortable to hold as the Gtab. I ebayed the Adam and actually turned a little profit from it
Great info guys! Thanks to everyone who replied, all very helpful!
I got several buyers for my ipad so it should be gone today
I think the g tab sounds like it will do what I want, it really will just be for playing games, web browsing, and taking on airplanes etc, so it sounds like the way to go. And hopefully honeycomb roms will be available before too long!
Follow up question, where can you get a good case for the g tab? I liked the one that I bought my ipad, it was kind of like a little padfolio and it could fold into a "stand" which was great for watching movies on the plane.
Other than that just gotta research rooting this thing, I plan to pick one up before the end of the weekend. And you guys have already given me some ideas which roms to try. Thanks!
luigic81 said:
Follow up question, where can you get a good case for the g tab? I liked the one that I bought my ipad, it was kind of like a little padfolio and it could fold into a "stand" which was great for watching movies on the plane.
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Check the G Tablet Accessories forum, there are a couple of options depending whether you want a keyboard or not and at least one more on the way
Alright just a couple more for the helpful people here
1. is this the best way to root the g tab? http://droidpirate.com/2010/11/27/how-to-root-your-viewsonic-g-tablet/
2. After I root I will be following the instructions in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245
So I was wondering if I had to update anything in order to flash custom roms, or can I just root my tab, and then follow the instructions on that thread and be good to go on custom roms?
Also what ROM would you guys recomend? I am typically an AOSP guy assuming that everything is functional, but my wife will be using this tablet too and she is not very tech savvy, so I would like a rom that is pretty stable, any suggestions would be apprecited thanks!
Also I see clockwork v08 seems to be the hot ticket, so I assume that I will use that? I have always used Amon RA on my EVO, but it doesnt appear that Amon RA is availiable for the G tab, is that a correct assumption?
Thanks again for all the help, I know those last few questions arent necessarily pertinent to my original post, but I appreciate the help.
All the instructions you need to root the device are in the second thread you linked -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245
Just pick out a ROM - TNTLite and VEGAn are the two most popular around here - and follow the instructions carefully.
perfect thanks, guess I should've read this line from that thread
"You do NOT need to root your tablet to install a ROM on this device using this guide. All the after-market ROMs are pre-rooted."
LMAO!! haha cool.
Just a little update, I got my GTab today and love it sooooooooo much. Viewing angles aren't to bad. Monster Madness, Samurai II, and Backbreaker are awesome. Very fast device
Awesome I can't wait, should have mine before Monday
Wi-Fi only Motorola Xoom at Sam's Club
I think the gTab is the best bang for your buck at between $350 and $400 especially with the ROMs our gTabDevs are churning out for us. However, if you really want an official Honeycomb tablet I've read that Sam's Club will be selling these at their stores for around $500 each in the next few weeks.
Just thought some folks might want to know.
I am sticking with my Nook Color
After having received the Archos 101. I was disappointed in the screen quality and the touch screen and lack of dev support. I sold it and got the g tablet and was in love with it until I bought my mom a kindle and started to like the form factor and size. I then started becoming bored with my g tablet. I then began looking at the nook color forums and decided to buy one, since I have bought it, I haven't touched my g tablet. I really like the size and the feel of it, I read more now and still play the games I like. I am happy running CM7 gingerbread and looking forward to honeycomb when it comes out as AOSP.
The dirty little secret is that there is no day to day life changing use for a tablet. So this can put you in two categories.
#1. You want to try and use the tablet during travel and such. In this case form factor is going to be important. The Nook Color is probably a better option as you sacrifice overall performance for the usability of the design.
#2. You want a device to develop on and try to utilize the latest and greatest. The Tegra 2 is the "it" platform right now for the android tablets. The GTab and its brothers give you the best entry into this field.
I am solidly in #2. Sure I have played some games on my tablet, I have browsed the web and I have used it on the go. But there has never been a situation where my VZ Droid would not have let me do the exact same thing.
I am comfortable with the fact that I bought a development platform. Having it in hand shows me the potential of the concept.
slysecretspy said:
The dirty little secret is that there is no day to day life changing use for a tablet. So this can put you in two categories.
#1. You want to try and use the tablet during travel and such. In this case form factor is going to be important. The Nook Color is probably a better option as you sacrifice overall performance for the usability of the design.
#2. You want a device to develop on and try to utilize the latest and greatest. The Tegra 2 is the "it" platform right now for the android tablets. The GTab and its brothers give you the best entry into this field.
I am solidly in #2. Sure I have played some games on my tablet, I have browsed the web and I have used it on the go. But there has never been a situation where my VZ Droid would not have let me do the exact same thing.
I am comfortable with the fact that I bought a development platform. Having it in hand shows me the potential of the concept.
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Excellent post, and i'm in catoegory #2 as well, I'm playing with house money becuase I got the ipad for free. But my wife really wants something to play games with and I like to watch movies etc on the airplane as well as browse the etc at home.
So I'm in a bit of a pickle, I can't decide if I should keep my Acer or my Asus. I have both right now but will be returning one of them, so I'm looking for any differentiators I can use to decide, here's what I've got:
Acer:
- USB support right out of the box (not planning on currently picking up the ASUS keyboard)
- Feels sturdier
- Power connector isn't proprietary
- Rotation lock is a physical button, I find I use that a lot.
- Not quite as wide as the Asus.
- Plays youtube HD smoothly in the Youtube app. This seems very strange, given they are identical hardware wise, but the Asus stutters when watching HD in the YouTube app. The Acer doesn't, for whatever reason. I can get around it by watching in the browser... but I like the app.
Asus:
- Feels snappier (might be my imagination, also I got this one 'later' so maybe the Acer is just a little extra bogged down by apps... though I have gotten them both to an identical state and the Asus seems to still have a very slight edge).
- Slightly better screen. It is noticeable when watching the same video content side by side.
- Gorilla Glass? (I can't confirm whether the Acer has this or not, have seen many posts both ways, and seen Acer confirm it both ways)
- Slightly lighter and very slightly thinner.
- Better sound (just seems better flat out, headphones are identical)
- Keyboard dock add on (though I am not planning to pick that up yet).
- $50 cheaper, though I had to pay $20 shipping so the net is $30 back to me. Not a big deal.
Any additional information, or things I should consider? I really don't know which to choose!
I'd choose the ASUS Transformer
The ASUS comes preloaded with a lot of nice apps and widgets. I LOVE the feature that I can use splashtop without any prior experience and connect to my shared media on my PC, also without changing any settings.
The wider bezel is great in my opinion. I had the XOOM and when I was holding it in one hand I would always touch the screen by accident; and I do not have big hands!
Even though you don't plan on picking up the dock you should It is an amazing piece of hardware.
I cannot comment on the comparison since I never touched the Acer but I can tell you that I am very pleased with the ASUS and it gets nice support from the devs here and ASUS directly.
Thanks funnycreature, I should elaborate a bit more on my original post.
To add to the list above, the Asus has some light bleeding on the screen, in 3 spaces. This doesn't really bother me, but it is definitely there, and not on the Acer. I have not really used the prepackaged apps on either device much, so I can't comment on that. I had a Xoom as well before I had these 2, and I think it was actually my favorite, but I didn't keep it because I thought the cost was far too high for the very small bit I favored it. I like the size of it, I didn't have the width issues you did, and I think the Asus is a bit too wide. The Acer is the middleground there. Having gotten the Thumb Keyboard now though... it is not nearly as big of an issue.
If all things were equal, I would keep the Asus. I bought it because that was my intention, but once getting it I found it was a much tougher call than I initially suspected. If that Youtube app problem wasn't there.... the Acer would be back at the store. But that scares me a little bit, and I don't know if it will *ever* truly get fixed (and I watch a lot of Youtube videos on my tablet while the wife is asleep!). It is a very, very close comparison.
The other bonus for the Asus that I didn't mention, though, is that it has about 3x the community here on XDA, which I'll go ahead and assume means 3x the development effort. That is nice to know.
sirix1 said:
Thanks funnycreature, I should elaborate a bit more on my original post.
To add to the list above, the Asus has some light bleeding on the screen, in 3 spaces. This doesn't really bother me, but it is definitely there, and not on the Acer. I have not really used the prepackaged apps on either device much, so I can't comment on that. I had a Xoom as well before I had these 2, and I think it was actually my favorite, but I didn't keep it because I thought the cost was far too high for the very small bit I favored it. I like the size of it, I didn't have the width issues you did, and I think the Asus is a bit too wide. The Acer is the middleground there. Having gotten the Thumb Keyboard now though... it is not nearly as big of an issue.
If all things were equal, I would keep the Asus. I bought it because that was my intention, but once getting it I found it was a much tougher call than I initially suspected. If that Youtube app problem wasn't there.... the Acer would be back at the store. But that scares me a little bit, and I don't know if it will *ever* truly get fixed (and I watch a lot of Youtube videos on my tablet while the wife is asleep!). It is a very, very close comparison.
The other bonus for the Asus that I didn't mention, though, is that it has about 3x the community here on XDA, which I'll go ahead and assume means 3x the development effort. That is nice to know.
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The bleed seems to be an illness of the mobile IPS displays and since the Acer most likely doesn't have an IPS it won't show the bleed. I hardly notice it and it doesn't really bother me. I also hardly ever watch YouTube videos
You should try experiencing more what each device can do beside watching videos. Maybe that will make the decision easier!
I find it strange that you order 3 tables and only keep one! What do you do with the tables you don't keep?
Honestly, I find the whole "this vs. that" discussion boring. I say: evaluate them, give them some side-by-side use if you can, and then make your decision. This is all very subjective, particularly since the major specs--processor, RAM, storage--are essentially the same.
The TF has pros and cons, the Acer has pros and cons, the Xoom has pros and cons, etc., etc. What's better for one person may not be better for another. So, just do your research and make your choice--looking for "unbiased" input on a forum dedicated to one device is unlikely to bear fruit.
wynand32 said:
Honestly, I find the whole "this vs. that" discussion boring. I say: evaluate them, give them some side-by-side use if you can, and then make your decision. This is all very subjective, particularly since the major specs--processor, RAM, storage--are essentially the same.
The TF has pros and cons, the Acer has pros and cons, the Xoom has pros and cons, etc., etc. What's better for one person may not be better for another. So, just do your research and make your choice--looking for "unbiased" input on a forum dedicated to one device is unlikely to bear fruit.
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That's why I say "Tablets are like shoes, they need to fit you and the purpose"
sirix1 said:
I had a Xoom as well before I had these 2, and I think it was actually my favorite, but I didn't keep it because I thought the cost was far too high for the very small bit I favored it.
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That's quite interesting for me, how did you find the Xoom's screen, was it acceptable? I returned my TF and am now thinking of getting either a Xoom or wait and see ho much the GT 10.1 will be here in the UK. I'm getting cheesed off waiting for the GT specs and price though. :-(
UKseagull said:
That's quite interesting for me, how did you find the Xoom's screen, was it acceptable? I returned my TF and am now thinking of getting either a Xoom or wait and see ho much the GT 10.1 will be here in the UK. I'm getting cheesed off waiting for the GT specs and price though. :-(
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Well, it was definitely on par with the Acer. I didn't have the Asus/Xoom at the same time so I couldn't compare them side by side. I didn't even know there was a difference until I got the Acer/Asus side by side, but the Asus is the winner. It is not huge though, not at all, in fact someone else brought it up before I even noticed it. When you run media, like a video, side by side you can see the colors are slightly richer on the Asus. I am sure that is a 16m colors vs. 256k colors issue. The Xoom was at least Acer quality, could have been Asus, not sure, I would find out what panel it has and that should tell you. It was a good device, basically identical I just liked the form factor a little more (less wasted space). I would have paid a ~$30 premium for it, but definitely not $200. Why did you return your TF?
Honestly, I find the whole "this vs. that" discussion boring. I say: evaluate them, give them some side-by-side use if you can, and then make your decision. This is all very subjective, particularly since the major specs--processor, RAM, storage--are essentially the same.
The TF has pros and cons, the Acer has pros and cons, the Xoom has pros and cons, etc., etc. What's better for one person may not be better for another. So, just do your research and make your choice--looking for "unbiased" input on a forum dedicated to one device is unlikely to bear fruit
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Sort of, but we aren't talking about your favorite flavor of pizza here. There are completely objective differences here, and things that are in fact just "better." I asked this forum because it is more lively than the Acer forum, and I think I lean *ever so slightly* towards the Asus anyway (maybe just because I have an asus laptop). People here are truly in the know, I figured if there was a difference I didn't know about, maybe I could learn. And if someone was interested in the differences in the 3 android honeycomb tablets, maybe they could learn something from my post, since I've owned all 3 now.
I find it strange that you order 3 tables and only keep one! What do you do with the tables you don't keep?
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I return them. I don't usually do anything like that, it just happened to work out this time. I bought the Xoom, liked it, but decided that for $600 it just wasn't enough. I went back and they had the Acer in stock, so I picked that up. I saw they had the Asus in stock online like a week later, and decided what the hell, I've tried the other 2 now let's give it a go. I expect the Asus to win in a landslide... I didn't think my decision would be difficult.
Thanks for all the replies!
I had an Acer and currently have an Asus and the Acer felt much heavier especially when holding it in one hand. The metal construction gave it a nice quality feel, but it also made the back of the device slippery and a little harder to hold than the Asus. The Asus feels a little snappier, I noticed lag on the unlock screen of the Acer. However, the Acer seemed to have a more responsive touch screen. When I first received the Asus I noticed I had to tap the screen a little harder than the Acer, now I'm used to it and is no longer an issue. Also the Asus seems to be more hackable than the Acer, I believe the Acer still has a locked bootloader and the devs are having trouble putting clockworkmod recovery on the device. My Acer did play YouTube videos in the app better than the Asus.
I am happy with the Asus, I just need to find the keyboard dock. It seems to run smoother, the devs seem to be having success with Modding the transformer, and Asus seems to be ontop of things.
P.S typed this all on my transformer gotta love the tumb keyboard.
sirix1 said:
Why did you return your TF?
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It was due to what I consider to have been poor build quality, light bleed, creaky housing. I hope that this was just an initial manufacturing issue and that Asus will get to grips with it very soon and will produce a better Transformer. Of course there are people here who have had better units without these problems, I wasn't so lucky.
I like the solid construction of the Xoom, not so much the screen but I could get used to that I suppose. The Xoom is more expensive than the TF and that's a major consideration, also I'm not so sure that the Xoom will be as well supported as the TF, by both Motorola and not forgetting the guys here at XDA. There's a lot off stuff going off in this section.
I really am in limbo here trying to make the right decision.
also I returned my Acer because the GPS SUCKED. the Acer took forever to get a GPS lock and would lose the GPS signal randomly under a clear sky. I haven't gotten a chance to test the GPS on the transformer but I heard that it is good.
I looked at the Acer. Found it a nice tab - far better than the over priced, heavy Xoom (that I once owned 2 - until the TF came along and put them to shame).
But the Acer isn't as nice (on the pocketbook) as the TF, nor as versatile. Having the dock is nice - I don't use it often, but comes in very handy when wanting more bat life, more ports, faster typing - the kb dock is well executed. A benny of buying the kb dock is the clamshell design makes having a case unnecessary imo - stuffed it into my carry on luggage on my trip to Hawaii and no problems.
But if you don't want the dock, I'd go for the Acer due to full size USB on the tablet itself (that's the only thing I wanted extra on the TF). Marginally worse screen isn't a big deal. Didn't check the speakers, but if you say the TF is better, then the Acer's speakers must blow...
But you might also want to check the new Gal Tab 10 when it releases in the near future.
the transformer is great bang for the buck, and I like tablets with bigger bezels like the Asus and the Acer. I guess I have fat fingers because it was hard to hold the xoom with one hand without touching the screen by accident. but the xoom should always get honeycomb updates first, and should be the most hackable.
theydonkno said:
also I returned my Acer because the GPS SUCKED. the Acer took forever to get a GPS lock and would lose the GPS signal randomly under a clear sky. I haven't gotten a chance to test the GPS on the transformer but I heard that it is good.
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The one that I had worked very well, even got a lock in my front room where my HTC Desire couldn't.
theydonkno said:
the transformer is great bang for the buck, and I like tablets with bigger bezels like the Asus and the Acer. I guess I have fat fingers because it was hard to hold the xoom with one hand without touching the screen by accident. but the xoom should always get honeycomb updates first, and should be the most hackable.
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Hmmm, unless you're in the UK.
Transformer
I'd say TF, I found the Acer very heavy and the screen is not as sharp. The TF has lots of great widgets and the ability to remote desktop into your pc or mac.
I use that feature a lot, it comes in handy.
Polaris office is also another good feature. The Acer does have that usb port on the tablet, but the keyboard that attaches to it seems flimsy and the tablet doesn't attach 100% to it. And the dock doesn't have an extra battery.
I find that the TF gives me lots of options for expandability and ease of use.
Both are good choices, but the TF comes out on top imo.
UKseagull said:
It was due to what I consider to have been poor build quality, light bleed, creaky housing. I hope that this was just an initial manufacturing issue and that Asus will get to grips with it very soon and will produce a better Transformer. Of course there are people here who have had better units without these problems, I wasn't so lucky.
I like the solid construction of the Xoom, not so much the screen but I could get used to that I suppose. The Xoom is more expensive than the TF and that's a major consideration, also I'm not so sure that the Xoom will be as well supported as the TF, by both Motorola and not forgetting the guys here at XDA. There's a lot off stuff going off in this section.
I really am in limbo here trying to make the right decision.
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I use to own the Xoom and its a great device but way overpriced & the screen isn't that good. The price you save by going TF again can go towards a dock. I have shown my ex-Xoom & TF dock to many family members, friends & co-workers. All of them love the TF over the Xoom & many of them plan to get the TF & dock once they are able to find them.
Like someone said earlier, its all personal preference but for me, it's TF all the way.
sirix1 said:
Well, it was definitely on par with the Acer. I didn't have the Asus/Xoom at the same time so I couldn't compare them side by side.
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I know I just wrote that it's all subjective, but really I meant that in total. I'll say this as well: I have a Xoom and a TF sitting side by side right now (still haven't returned the Xoom to Costco, been busy), and the TF screen is heads and shoulders better than the Xoom's.
First, the angles are better. Much better. Like, night and day difference better. Second, colors on the TF are much more natural--the Xoom tends to be VERY cold (i.e., has a very strong blue tint). There are apparently two different Xoom screens floating around, each with their advantages/disadvantages, and the one I have is not even close to the TF.
In fact, even if the Xoom cost less than the TF, and even if the TF didn't have the dock, I'd still keep the TF over the Xoom on the strength of the screen alone.
wynand32 said:
In fact, even if the Xoom cost less than the TF, and even if the TF didn't have the dock, I'd still keep the TF over the Xoom on the strength of the screen alone.
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That's the big draw, the screen (when it's OK) is head and shoulders above most of the other tablets without the IPS screens and obviously the price is right too.
I'm getting p*ssed off going back and forth to this and that tablet, each have their plus and minuses. I can see me getting another Transformer at this rate ... IT BETTER BE BETTER THAN MY OTHERS!
I had Iconia and was good, except for the wifi problems and the constant turning on when in sleep. The new software fixes them. I returned it because the screen was inferior to the transformer, the metal housing was to damn slippery...dropped it on carpet a few times...the weight of it..the thickness of it and the main was the better development community here for the transformer. It is really a good tablet(Iconia) but did not suit me.
Also kinda worried it will be a dust catcher..
I really enjoyed playing with the flyer which is out of stock now..
I've been thinking about the Kindle fire, Nook Tab and acer a100.. The fire and tab will probably both have insanely good dev support.. the A100 is suppose to get ICS next month..
When tablets came out (particularly at 500$+) I saw them as nothing more than a waste of money.
How that they are in the sub 300 range I must admit I'm intrigued by them and they finally seem sort of worth it particularly to read a book in digital format, check a few emails and for general "time wasting" purposes like facebook.
I am just kind of worried if I end up getting one it will end up collecting dust more than anything.. I like to think I would end up reading lots of manga and comics along with other books.. Somewhere besides at a computer desk...
However, I'm also hesitant to pop out that much on a potentially dust collecting item.
So I gotta ask.. how long have y'all had your tablets? do you still use them regularly? Do yo frequently find yourself wasting time on the tablet trying to do things a real keyboard is better suited for?
I have a mini tablet(Galaxy Player 5) and I barely use it. I usually prefer using my phone, but I use the galaxy player to watch videos or slight browsing. It really depends on what you will use the tablet for. For your purpose like reading a tablet like the kindle fire will be nice. If you think you will use the tablet a lot then get it. If not then find alternatives.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I'm also enjoying my rooted HTC Flyer, but I do worry of the coming dev support for it considering it's looking like there's gonna be no new ones in the future.
Imho android tablets aren't very mature right now...the transformer prime seems to be a different story tho, but it's definitely not within 300$
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Thread moved to Q&A due to it being a question. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.
IDK ,
For work I have an iPad 2 3g .. which ya is a dust collector for me .. and stays at work and hoping to hand it in after an MDM project I am working on for some sort of Andriod tablet .
Have also had a BB Playbook for testing at work and I think the 7 inch profile is nice .. but the PB is not ... what a useless POS still not worth the $199 they where clearing them out for .
Personally , I have a Dell streak 5" and it's ntb .. but kinda wonky hardware wise ..
Zar
I am looking at getting the Pandigital Novel 7. It has android on it and is also an ereader. Worst case scenario, if you get one and it does end up collecting dust, you are only out 150 versus 300 for the fire. That is merely my own opinion though.
I will say that with the Fire you would be able to do more out of the box with it, as the reviews I have read on pandigital there seems to be no marketplace
vnvman said:
Imho android tablets aren't very mature right now...the transformer prime seems to be a different story tho, but it's definitely not within 300$
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Honestly when you consider what "tablets" are.. they objectively leave a lot to be desired even if they had i7 processors lol.
I have had my Xoom WiFi since it came out and an HP TouchPad for months or 2. They are great. Use them all the time. Worth the money. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. I was worried that I would not like mine, but let me tell you, I have gotten my money worth.
Hello everyone,
I've been looking to pick up an Android tablet for quite a while now but I have yet to find the right one for me - as such, I thought some of you fine gentlemen and/or gentlewomen would have some interesting suggestions.
The main problem is that I would prefer something relatively inexpensive (I wouldn't be using it for anything particularly intensive) but I absolutely must have Bluetooth and almost all the inexpensive branded tablets either lack it outright or have inactive chips (the Nooks, for instance, or the Kindle Fire).
My ceiling for this is the Eee Transformer which I could probably get for around £300 - if I get near that price, I might as well buy one of those.
So, any ideas? I'm thinking good screen (IPS not strictly necessary, but must be good), Bluetooth, decent performance and the rest is fairly negotiable.
One final note - should I receive confirmation that someone had got Bluetooth working on the Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire, I'd go right ahead and buy whichever one is in question. The only reason the Nook Color isn't at the top of my list is that it has fairly limited performance. I've looked at a lot of tablets, so it's entirely possible that the perfect tablet with the perfect price-to-performance ratio just doesn't exist, in which case I implore you to say so!
Any ideas springing to mind?
I would defiantly go with the transformer, it is a great device. Hope this helps!
Please hit the thank you button if i helped!
I am on the fence between the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the TF700T infinity. Any thoughts you all may have please share. The pen isn't a deal breaker for me, but the KB dock for the TF700 could be a real deal maker. I like the concept of a tablet book. Not to mention the hi-rez screen and some pretty impressive CPU/GPU specs.
I also have thoughts of waiting for the next product release cycle from both Asus and Samsung to see what the future may hold.
Fell free to coment... positive, negative please feel free to fend the good the bad and the ugly/beautiful...I'll put my big boy panties on; so let it rip.
Warmest Regards from Kentucky,
TIA,
Brad
bradslinux said:
I am on the fence between the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the TF700T infinity. Any thoughts you all may have please share.
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Click to collapse
Asked and answered. About 100 times.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1830459
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1833842
Although the Q&A forum is the next one down, I'll chime in.
I was on the same fence. I decided on this over the Note b/c
I like that the dock has a battery to help charge the tablet
I like the extra storage accommodations in the dock
I love the HD screen
I like the feel of brushed metal as opposed to plastic
HTH
I could not be happier with my Infinity. Wait for what Asus makes to trump it and you'll be waiting till 2013. The device just came to the USA a few months ago, so it's still relatively new.
Far as 64GB, the markup is insane. Here's a related thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1790957
This thing is so nice, I don't even use the XDA "app" with it, I pull up the full site, just like when on a laptop .
Here's a video to help you decide
bradslinux said:
I am on the fence between the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the TF700T infinity. Any thoughts you all may have please share. The pen isn't a deal breaker for me, but the KB dock for the TF700 could be a real deal maker. I like the concept of a tablet book. Not to mention the hi-rez screen and some pretty impressive CPU/GPU specs.
I also have thoughts of waiting for the next product release cycle from both Asus and Samsung to see what the future may hold.
Fell free to coment... positive, negative please feel free to fend the good the bad and the ugly/beautiful...I'll put my big boy panties on; so let it rip.
Warmest Regards from Kentucky,
TIA,
Brad
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Click to collapse
Make sure you physically use the Infinity before you dump that much money out, specially for the 64mb model. For that price and the dock you can buy a pretty powerful i7 laptop with a great screen. Regarding the Infinity the specs and numbers look great on paper but when you use it, it doesn't seem like the same thing as on paper. The JellyBean update did make it more smooth, but regular conventional browsing it jerks around when doing a simple scroll through a website. I've learned specially with technology that "specs" on paper do not necessarily coincide with the real world. If I could install Android on my wife's iPad I would LOVE to do that as I think th Apple hardware and quality is fantastic and proven.
Good luck.
bradslinux - As usual, the only person who can really decide is you. Because you'll always get answers that are all over the map here.
I was reading here before buying and thinking I might encounter issues such as those mentioned above and others people claimed to experience. But, it turns out my experience with the Infinity has been great and I'm not having such issues. (I've always prefered using XScope for my web browsing, 2nd place Dolphin, 3rd place Firefox, stock always is last place with me even with Chome. And it was like that with me even before I had the Infinity.) No physical laptop is as light as the Infinity with its dock and everything from web browsing to everything else has been a pleasure and a breeze to perform. Plus, you can't detach the screen from a laptop and the Infinity with just the screen is so light it's scary :laugh: .
You can even read in the threads about the JB update, there are people who are happy like me and others who are upset. Of course it's best to factory reset after the update, but even with that there are some happy afterwards and some who are sad. (If you like root, be sure to read about how to handle that before doing the JB update.)
Nobody can answer the question but you.
Every single Android device I buy, I see tons of complaints about, and every single time I get it I'm so much happier than the complaints. But that's how it has been for me. I know what I like and I like the Infinity .
AnandTech - ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) Review
Without really talking about money (which is quite lame - because the infinity is priced pretty high) - and without saying anything regarding 64 gb or 32 gb. I - Would - Totally - Go - For - Infinity.
Read that out loud so you'd feel my enthusiasm
Other than Asus kinda disappointing me when it comes to their bootloader, unlock procedures and built in applications - that device is amazing.
I've got it a week ago with the docking station - Can't get enough of it. Even doing stupid things I wouldn't normally do, such as literally sitting away from my computer and using splashtop to remotely work with my pc ...
If you're into tablets, and you like gadgets, and you want a convenient, tough, good looking and very cool device - definitely take the infinity.
advocator said:
Without really talking about money (which is quite lame - because the infinity is priced pretty high) - and without saying anything regarding 64 gb or 32 gb. I - Would - Totally - Go - For - Infinity.
Read that out loud so you'd feel my enthusiasm
Other than Asus kinda disappointing me when it comes to their bootloader, unlock procedures and built in applications - that device is amazing.
I've got it a week ago with the docking station - Can't get enough of it. Even doing stupid things I wouldn't normally do, such as literally sitting away from my computer and using splashtop to remotely work with my pc ...
If you're into tablets, and you like gadgets, and you want a convenient, tough, good looking and very cool device - definitely take the infinity.
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There's some great input in this thread.
I couldn't agree more as far as the positives.
Had my 32 gig gray Infin for over 2 months and have few complaints.
I'm not one of the "lucky" I am just a gadget consumer who bought a product that more than fulfilled it's ability.
If all the apps in the play store were written for tablets like this one I believe there would minimal *****ing about this thing.
I'm one of the buyers that thinks this tab may just be future enabled...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
I'm spoiled with the ease with which I could root and unlock my Galaxy Nexus, and have been trying different radios, kernels and ROMs for months, with virtually no worries, no complexity. I'm new to the Infinity, so the complexities and uncertainty about NVflash (too late for me), unlocking and rooting once JB is installed, etc, is still a bit bewildering in comparison to the GNEx (I have lots of reading to do) -- and I'm finding it irritating so far. That said, even with stock JB installed, and Apex Pro and Beautiful Widgets (and HD widgets - still deciding which I like better on this device), I'm finding the TF700T to be a pretty amazing device.
I took it out "for a spin" today -- into NYC by train, on a couple of subways, and to a couple of meetings. I purposely did NOT carry a backpack or briefcase, took no laptop, no laptop brick, etc. The Infinity and dock, in a simple slipcase, was the only "business tool" I brought with me in addition to a phone today.
On the train into NY and even in the NYC subways (Verizon has picocells in the train tunnels), my Galaxy Nexus had a strong signal, so I flipped on it's Wi-Fi hotspot and my TF700T was connected the entire time I was traveling. Sweet!
At the business meetings, I opened up a few PowerPoint presentations I had copied on the device before my trip. The display was so bright and clear that the presentations looked great on the 10.1" screen -- and I was able to pass the tablet itself around for people to look at, navigate through slides, etc. Incredibly effective.
On the way home, I assembled notes from the day, marked up the presentations. I used it as a primary email client for the day. Amazingly (for me, coming from a Galaxy Nexus as a reference point), I used the device for several hours today, the display was amazing even in the brightest light- and I essentially did everything needed with a fraction of what I would normally carry for a business day in the New York. After many hours of use, I had barely dented the battery charge -- this is really pretty amazing. As bright as clear as the display is,it is apparently pretty energy efficient.
Anyway - between functionality, usability, elegance, battery life and sheer portability, this is clearly going to have a big impact on my days as a "road warrior".
Honestly - the only thing seriously giving me second thoughts is increasingly real sounding speculation about a Google / Samsung Galaxy Nexus 10.1 in the works, with 2560 x 1600 resolution (among other things). I have a strong feeling that I'll be wanting that new device when it comes out. But for now, the TF700T strikes me as the best device available in its class-- at least for my purposes.
jonstrong said:
Honestly - the only thing seriously giving me second thoughts is increasingly real sounding speculation about a Google / Samsung Galaxy Nexus 10.1 in the works, with 2560 x 1600 resolution (among other things). I have a strong feeling that I'll be wanting that new device when it comes out. But for now, the TF700T strikes me as the best device available in its class-- at least for my purposes.
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Wow...as a commensurate gadgeteer myself I would just love something like this alleged Google / Samsung Galaxy Nexus 10.1 with 2560 x 1600 resolution.
If they build it...I will (well you know)
I can't compare the two. There's plenty of information here and the net comparing the two for you to make judgement on what will suit your needs and desires.
If you do choose the Infinity, I would suggest going with the smaller 32GB version because the cost of the larger is not money well spent. Since the Infinity has the SDHC/XC slot, you can get a lot more storage for the money in that route. Heck, wait for a sale, and you can get a lot more. Personally, I went with the smaller unit. Picked up the Scandisc 64GB microSDXC card for $50. I hardly use any storage on the internal, so even the SC card is a bit of waste. Really, unless you're going to have hundreds of apps, thousands of songs, or a lot of video stored, you really don't need that much memory.
Also, if you want to save a few dollars, you can pick up the dock for the Prime, TF201. It's the same thing, just a different color. It's nice you want want the extra battery, SD card slot, or USB ports. If you just want the keyboard, I would suggest just getting a blue tooth keyboard since you can use it on more than one device. It's essentially what I did, but I already had a portable keyboard I used with my smartphone.
If you're really indecisive, see if someone lives near you and see if you can meet up and check out their device. Handling is always better than reading.
More about the potential 10" Nexus is here.
I doubt it will have a dock, so I'll keep my Infinity .
Darnell_Chat_TN said:
More about the potential 10" Nexus is here.
I doubt it will have a dock, so I'll keep my Infinity .
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I was just thinking about that myself. Mixed feelings though. I love having the extra battery in the dock. Keyboard is nice, but I tend to prefer Swype, even on a tablet. (using it now).
Thanks everybody for the remarks and opinions. No longer on the fence, I just popped for the 64gb version w/dock kb and a nice leather case. It should be in my hands tomorrow with the case following behind early next week. The biggest deciding factor for me was the "Keyboard vs "S" Pen" arguement, the KB won it.
All the responses I received only go to further my appreciation of what the XDA community has to offer.
My greatest difficulty will be in NOT installing a custom ROM right out of the box. LOL
With great anticipation of the arrival of my new tablet, and warmest regards to all,
Brad
Enjoy!