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[Q] Why the Xoom?

Hey everyone,
I'm considering a wifi only tablet for my birthday (April 23rd), and naturally the now popularized Motorola Xoom popped into my head as a first choice. The question is, is it already being trumped? I've heard of numerous other Honeycomb tablets coming out that have equally (if not exceedingly) impressive specs and similar pricetags, such as the Acer Iconia and Galaxy Tab 10.1.
All in all, I want to know, what makes the Xoom worth it (if it is worth it)? Why have people been eating up this tablet in lieu of other impressive competitors around the corner?
I've never owned a Motorola product before, so if someone could elaborate on the quality of their products, I suppose that would help in deciding as well!
Thanks for your input in advance.
EDIT: Please, no one suggest the iPad; if I had any questions concerning that toy, I could just walk into the nearest coffee shop.

Buy what you can and when you can. Technology waits for no one. It might be the best now, tomorrow who knows.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Live for today....

I agree, sure there will be better ones that come out and they probably will be cheaper. But the xoom is here now. Even if I knew the samsung was going to be just as good and half the price I would not wait 3 months with no tablet to save the money. I guess it depends on your financial situation but frankly if you are worried about your finances you probably should not get any tablet as it not something really anyone "needs". But even though I don't need it, if I lost mine I would buy a new one the same day to replace it. It depends on what makes you happy, the xoom makes me happy so its a easy decision for me, regardless of how others may think of it.
Every day I have it it just gets more and more useful and enjoyable for me. When netflix hits its going to better, when more tablet apps hit its going to be better, when os updates come out its going to be better, the future is still pretty bright for the xoom even though new tablets are coming.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

Good thing is you have choices! LG Moto Samsung. I personally wouldn't trust LG or Acer. There is no telling when or if you would receive updates and accessories. Motorola and Samsung would be my front runners. The Xoom is here now and you can read through the forums to gage how well people like it. Samsung is a little ways away but cheaper with similiar specs. I can't wait so its Xoom here.
Do your research and weigh the pros and cons of each device. Decide what features you find more important and make your decision based on that information. We could tell you all day long which device we would buy but its all about personal preference. You gotta carry thing around for 6-12 months not us.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

I would go to a best buy and play with the xoom for a while. get a good feel for the hardware and see if you like the size of the device. You mmay find it too big or heavy. From what I hear about the Samsung galaxy 8.9, it may be the one to get in a few months. The LG to me is priced too high and wouldn't dare think about getting a tablet on contract. Acer and some of the others have been unproven and will have to prove something if I'm going to chose them over the competition that has built a good reputation with android over the last few years.
Sent from my Xoom

no point in waiting. By the time Samsung gets here, there will be another even more impressive tablet coming.

It is similar with me and when the Nikon D300s came out. I was puzzle on should I get D300s or wait for D400 or maybe something else.
Look at this way, I got the Nikon D300s...was able to play with it and took all those great pictures with it, that I would not have been able to during that period of me waiting.
So, either buy the Xoom now and enjoy having the use of it...or wait until price drop and think back of all those days you've lost not having the fun of having it. What makes it worst to wait, the minute you buy it...it either get discontinued or replace with something better. Technology waits for no one. Get it while it is hot.

H
gubiguy said:
Hey everyone,
I'm considering a wifi only tablet for my birthday (April 23rd), and naturally the now popularized Motorola Xoom popped into my head as a first choice. The question is, is it already being trumped? I've heard of numerous other Honeycomb tablets coming out that have equally (if not exceedingly) impressive specs and similar pricetags, such as the Acer Iconia and Galaxy Tab 10.1.
All in all, I want to know, what makes the Xoom worth it (if it is worth it)? Why have people been eating up this tablet in lieu of other impressive competitors around the corner?
I've never owned a Motorola product before, so if someone could elaborate on the quality of their products, I suppose that would help in deciding as well!
Thanks for your input in advance.
EDIT: Please, no one suggest the iPad; if I had any questions concerning that toy, I could just walk into the nearest coffee shop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I have read I would say that the xoom still has the better specs. Maybe I am missing something but the pricing is similar, run the same processor and ram, same screen Res and size (although I am sure samsungs screen is more vivid), and both have micro ad slots. The xoom however has 3g (upgradeable to lte 4g which is worth the price of admission right there if you ask me), is unlockeable and most of all isn't running a horrible skin like touchwiz. I can guarentee the developer support will be greater for the xoom than any of the Samsung tabs. The only spec I see that is slightly bwtter than the xoom is the screen and the 8.9 should cost a little less and have a little better pixel debsity. Oh and the Samsung tabs are a little lighter but that is a complete non issue to me. If you want a Tablet that will.never get upgrades and run a horrible laggy, cartoony, iphoney screen then get Samsung. I still think the xoom is by far the better Tablet and won't be trumped until quad core kilel (did I spell that right?) Processors are released.
I have had the xoom since release and I actually pay to have data plan so I can't comment on wifi only (and who can it's not out but from what I have seen it is the exact same just missing support 3g/4g chip. I personally want/need 4g so I purchased put right, but for most wifi will work fine. You can always go.month to month and the extra 200 to me was much worth knowing that one day Verizon lte will be powering this beast making it all the more better than the competition. The android tablet world is just starting and I really think that the xoom is the Nexus one of tablets and that is one of the main reasons I purchased it and after Sammy announced their lineup with touchwiz on board I think this (and LG) will be some of the only stock vanilla honeycomb tablets the market will ever see especially where iit is fully inlockeable. I would suggest the xoom to anyone and the 599 price point is perfect. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck in your future decision. Hope this helps even a little bit
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

B Dizzle said:
Samsung is a little ways away but cheaper with similiar specs. I can't wait so its Xoom here.
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Click to collapse
Agree with everything you said, except: the Galaxy Tab 10.1 32GB wifi-only will be $599, just like the Xoom. So pricing is actually identical. The existence of a $499 16GB Galaxy Tab 10.1 might be attractive to some folks, but it won't of course be the same thing.
And I know Samsung did a really good job of going back and redesigning the Galaxy Tab given the iPad 2's strengths. But what did they cut to make the thing so much thinner, lighter and, as they implied in their statements, cheaper?

I think from what I see, the two factors that get me interested in Galaxy are
1) The much brighter and vibrant screen
2) lighter than xoom
But knowing Samsung and their support level or lack there of...Xoom might be a better choice....

I personally don't care for touchwiz, and the molasses pace that Samsung produces updates is criminal. Buying a device with an OS as new as Honeycomb from a manufacturer with a proven record of bad post-production software support seems like a bad idea to me.
Also, last I checked the 10.1V (teh stock android 3.0 version) does not have microSD

I will reiterate what another use stated, head down to Best Buy and get your hands on the XOOM to get a feel for the size and weight. I've done this a few times and the more I do the more I like it. Initially it feels a little heavy but you get used to it.
The XOOM is here now, the price will be similar to other 10" Honeycomb devices coming out and many of the coming devices will have custom overlays. (TouchWiz) I'd rather have the XOOM as it's a Google Experience device and will likely be the first device to get updates.

I think touch wiz should be least of concern. I think they confirmed that 10.1 will go live w/o touch wiz and it is an optional add on patch if you chose to.
Beside, touch wiz or not, root and replace with other launcher if dont like it.

smilepak said:
I think touch wiz should be least of concern. I think they confirmed that 10.1 will go live w/o touch wiz and it is an optional add on patch if you chose to.
Beside, touch wiz or not, root and replace with other launcher if dont like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely disagree, especially on such a new OS that will be receiving frequent, important updates.
The 10.1V will be stock android (this is the fatter version with the better camera and no SD card)
The super slim 8.9 and 10.1 will be touchwiz 4.0

hi_its_ryan said:
I completely disagree, especially on such a new OS that will be receiving frequent, important updates.
The 10.1V will be stock android (this is the fatter version with the better camera and no SD card)
The super slim 8.9 and 10.1 will be touchwiz 4.0
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Didn't know there were 3 versions. In the slashgear you tube i saw, they only show two versions.

smilepak said:
Didn't know there were 3 versions. In the slashgear you tube i saw, they only show two versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the 10.1v was the one that came out at MWC before Samsung did a big re-design to make it thinner and smoother.
Then they released the new 10.1 and 8.9 as the "US Versions" at CTIA a few days ago.
It should be said that we really don't know which models or if any will be coming with TouchWiz4.0 on them. We have a whole 2 months before the new 10.1 even comes out. A lot can change in that time, and as far as Google is concerned you're not allowed to change Honeycomb's UI, so we'll have to see as that pans out.

Guys, I just wanted to mention that LG is apparently creating a nexus/purely Google tablet - slated to be the *real* "Nexus One" of tablets and receive the according amount of updates... the question is , how reputable is LGs hardware? Truthfully, because the Xoom and the Nexus tab will both run AOSP honeycomb, I doubt updates will come slower to the Xoom from the dev community or the manufacturer.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App

gubiguy said:
Hey everyone,
I'm considering a wifi only tablet for my birthday (April 23rd), and naturally the now popularized Motorola Xoom popped into my head as a first choice. The question is, is it already being trumped? I've heard of numerous other Honeycomb tablets coming out that have equally (if not exceedingly) impressive specs and similar pricetags, such as the Acer Iconia and Galaxy Tab 10.1.
All in all, I want to know, what makes the Xoom worth it (if it is worth it)? Why have people been eating up this tablet in lieu of other impressive competitors around the corner?
I've never owned a Motorola product before, so if someone could elaborate on the quality of their products, I suppose that would help in deciding as well!
Thanks for your input in advance.
EDIT: Please, no one suggest the iPad; if I had any questions concerning that toy, I could just walk into the nearest coffee shop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have nothing to add, but we have the same birthday.

wolverine423 said:
I have nothing to add, but we have the same birthday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a tablet on the 23rd as well
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App

If you play the waiting game, you'll be waiting forever.
Sent from my Xoom.

Potential Infuse Buyer...few queries before i buy

I am planning to buy the Samsung Infuse 4G off ebay but have few queries beforehand..
1. In order to get the maximum out of the phone, is it better to remain on stock or upgrade to any custom ROM ?
2. Through some other forum, i read that i will lose the feature rich stock camera (???) and h/w acceleration (in videos and games) if i choose to go with a custom ROM. How true is it ??
3. I see that on ebay, used Infuse go for 240-260$ while new / mint ones for 260-300$, are these prices right ?
4. If the Custom ROM here is built over a leaked official ROM then will the h/w acceleration and the stock camera still be available ?

1. From what I've been reading it's better to use a custom rom due to performance tweaks and potential battery conservation. Currently I'm using the MIUI rom and am loving it. More fluid than stock and also great themes that take advantage of the beautiful display. I've also tried Zeus, MitRa, and CM7.
2. Not entirely sure on that one, but you could check out the Android Development Forums and look at the roms. Many are based off stock and I would presume use the stock camera app, MIUI does not however.
3. I just recently purchased an infuse off ebay used for 250. It had no scratches or scuffs and came with an otterbox case and charger. So far, I have not had any problems with the phone itself. Before deciding to buy, however, I would definitely look on craigslist as well as ebay. I regret buying from ebay since I saw a one go for 240 on craigslist nearby. But, depending on the condition I've seen used go for anywhere between 200-270, while new is around 300.
4. Same as question 2, I'm not too sure. But it does seem to make sense since it's based off stock.

Just wait and get a Galaxy Note I'm sure u will get more bang for your buck
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

I have to agree and say you wait and hold out for a Galaxy Note. It will be one of the 3 highest spec phones in the U.S. when its released in spring. And if your able to get it on upgrade or on a new contract, it will probably cost less than a used Infuse off eBay or c-list. That said, the time you will spend waiting will allow you to save up cash. Its also going to be lte. So you will have better speeds than our hspa + speeds. Also there's the thing about ICS upgrades. It will have it. So that's my two cents. If you are absolutely itching to get something now, do what I do and go into the ATT store every weekend for a month to fool around with phones till they don't feel new to you anymore. that should keep you for a few more months.
P.s. iPhone 5 is probably due in summer also. Its just a waiting game but at least this time you have some serious choices that are actually worth waiting for because these specs (galaxy note) are really going to be solid for at least the next 1+ years whereas our infuse really wasn't going to out spec much for longer than 6 months when it was released.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

Yes Galaxy Note is something i am too eyeing. But i do not wish to buy anything on contract as i am going to be in US only for few more months and will be then going back to my home country India where the Note is available now (in fact available for past 1-2 months) for around 30,000 Rupees (around 600 USD).
I am sure there wont be unlocked phone available in US and mostly i will have to go with the ATT branded ones. Just that i hope to get one at good price.
Btw when is the Note expected to launch in USA.

no problems with hardware acceleration on custom roms as they are modded stock rom, also market apps can do it better for video playback (dice player) if you must run an open source rom like cm7 or miui. and from what I gather the open source camera apps got as good or better than the Samsung one. the open source app might not take 8mp pics and I'm not sure about video recording but it should have much of the features that the infuse has.
I think the open global performance (3d gaming) on the Samsung based roms is better but that's about it.
then the decision making comes down to what you want/need. the infuse comes boxed with an mhl adapter for HDMI but custom gingerbread kernels don't have this feature working. this means if you want gingerbread and HDMI you are stuck with an att leak based rom and the non modded kernel for that leak. also the open source roms don't have working audio over Bluetooth but have a Bluetooth stack that supports more protocols so they support standard gaming controllers.
the things you mentioned were true on the galaxy s when open source roms came out on it, the nexus s was not nearly as feature rich as the galaxy s but with market apps and 3rd party development the differences are much less significant now.

rak007 said:
Yes Galaxy Note is something i am too eyeing. But i do not wish to buy anything on contract as i am going to be in US only for few more months and will be then going back to my home country India where the Note is available now (in fact available for past 1-2 months) for around 30,000 Rupees (around 600 USD).
I am sure there wont be unlocked phone available in US and mostly i will have to go with the ATT branded ones. Just that i hope to get one at good price.
Btw when is the Note expected to launch in USA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
note is out in spring time. probably would be cutting it very close, however i will tell you right now that 600$ u.s. is pretty good for an unlocked version. and if they already have it in india then just get there, with it unlocked already--it would save time messing with root and that stuff. thats what i would do. it may come preloaded with hindi/sanscrit fonts too!

Looks like you are on tmobile if so you would not be able to get 3g/4g on an att phone just thought I would throw that out there

brorex said:
Looks like you are on tmobile if so you would not be able to get 3g/4g on an att phone just thought I would throw that out there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i am on Tmobile and not getting 3G/4G is fine.
As it is i plan to use the Infuse in India when i go back.

Are you guys generally happy with the device?

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering if you guys are still generally happy with the device?
I was thinking about getting this phone because it has a keyboard, and it's relatively cheep from Amazon.co.uk.
I currently have a Samsung Galaxy Note, which I know to be a beast of a device, it has twice the ram, 3x more power, but really, I'm SO tired of typing on touch screens! it often makes me slower and I can't walk and type at the same time like how I used to when I was a blackberry user.
So my solution was buy a tablet, and then get a keyboarded phone.
Does this phone still work decently well in todays world? I don't do much except text, read forums and maybe browse the web a little (not too frequently). I often listen to music, but even those old 300mhz phones can do that!
So my question is: Are you guys still happy with this device?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

I'm happy with mine. There are a few quirks, but it's a good device.
But I got it back a year ago, and I wouldn't recommend you to buy it unless you're chasing the low price. The reason being:
Motorola XT896, XT897, XT898 are all rumoured to be released either in summer or autumn. The first two are presumably European and South American versions and the XT898 is the AT&T version (with LTE @ 2100MHz) of the XT894 aka DROID4. The dual core device with 1GB RAM.
Oh, and this summer the DROID4 is getting an update that will give it global GSM capabilities.

Gasai Yuno said:
I'm happy with mine. There are a few quirks, but it's a good device.
But I got it back a year ago, and I wouldn't recommend you to buy it unless you're chasing the low price. The reason being:
Motorola XT896, XT897, XT898 are all rumoured to be released either in summer or autumn. The first two are presumably European and South American versions and the XT898 is the AT&T version (with LTE @ 2100MHz) of the XT894 aka DROID4. The dual core device with 1GB RAM.
Oh, and this summer the DROID4 is getting an update that will give it global GSM capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I couldn't stand my note anymore. Typing on a touch screen is just a nightmare... I ended up purchasing the milestone 2. I hope it is enough. I only want it for a few months until something better comes along. I want to sell my note and buy another device some day. I just really need some kind of solid typing... afterall, I am no longer a heavy user. I mainly use my device as a messaging device and email...
Thanks for your reply.
Sent from my U30GT-W using Tapatalk 2

If XT896 actually comes out, do check it out. The 5-row keyboard is awesome.

zkyevolved said:
Hello everyone! I'm just wondering if you guys are still generally happy with the device?
I was thinking about getting this phone because it has a keyboard, and it's relatively cheep from Amazon.co.uk.
I currently have a Samsung Galaxy Note, which I know to be a beast of a device, it has twice the ram, 3x more power, but really, I'm SO tired of typing on touch screens! it often makes me slower and I can't walk and type at the same time like how I used to when I was a blackberry user.
So my solution was buy a tablet, and then get a keyboarded phone.
Does this phone still work decently well in todays world? I don't do much except text, read forums and maybe browse the web a little (not too frequently). I often listen to music, but even those old 300mhz phones can do that!
So my question is: Are you guys still happy with this device?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you plan on rooting, dont get. Theres not a very safe way to root yet. But otherwise, its good for all the other things you want Mines still good from 2 years

zkyevolved said:
Yeah. I couldn't stand my note anymore. Typing on a touch screen is just a nightmare...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny, I almost never use the hardware keyboard on my D2G anymore. Once I got used to Swype, the hardware keyboard seemed awkward and slow by comparison. (And before I started using Swype, I thought the keyboard sucked compared to just about any Blackberry, the Droid Pro I had previously, or even my old Nokia E-71.)
But to answer your original question: I've had this phone since January of last year, and when I'm not pissed off at Motorola's uncooperative attitude toward independent developers, I'm pretty happy with it.

**What phone should I buy next?** -- Not sure what device to buy? Ask here!

Hi everyone,
This thread is a continuation of this thread.
This is here so you can discuss what your next phone/tablet should be, if you're not sure what to pick.
Also, if you need advice as to which device is better than another, then feel free to ask those questions in here aswell.
This is an attempt to clear out all the similar threads being created around these forums.
*NOTE* I will be requesting thread maintenance as and when it is needed, to remove any SPAM comments

Excellent, I hope this will attract some discussion on new devices so new threads won't be opened.
I am not looking for a new phone right now, well maybe not depending on the outcome of HTC repairing my Sensation I guess. I sure hope to find out tomorrow. I think if I was going to get a replacement now I would probably get the SGS3 over the OneX. I really don't like the non-removable battery and maybe worse, no SD slot. I know why they did it for economic reasons but I am just not going to go that direction. Batteries do not last forever and their maximum charge level goes down over time. I want to be able to plug the SD into my computer and do a local backup. I also want to be able to get a bigger or faster SD if one comes out.
I am used to Sense but I am sure I could get used to Touchwiz as well, and I just read in the portal that ROM Cleaner works with the SGS3 now, as long as I can rid of the bloat I am content. I am sure that when my contract is done in a year there will be something newer and better out anyways.

I hope it does aswell. These forums definitely have too many of those threads being created
I think I'd choose the S3 aswell to be honest. Even though the One X is a powerful phone, the S3 can quite easily out perform it, as it can with most phones.
The only time I'd be looking to upgrade is when mine become redundant, which with having an S2 (which can still keep up with the newest flagship devices) and Xperia S, I won't need to upgrade for a while I don't think.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair

Never owned a tablet before.. flirting with the idea of a galaxy tab 2 10.1. As of current, I'm all good with my s3 but I'm kinda interested in what this next galaxy note 2 will bring. Guess I'm some sort of galaxy fan.. ever since my vibrant
---> Brought to you in part by my T999 / T-Mobile Galaxy SIII

OTAw said:
Never owned a tablet before.. flirting with the idea of a galaxy tab 2 10.1. As of current, I'm all good with my s3 but I'm kinda interested in what this next galaxy note 2 will bring. Guess I'm some sort of galaxy fan.. ever since my vibrant
---> Brought to you in part by my T999 / T-Mobile Galaxy SIII
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The galaxy tab 2 10.1 is a pretty good tablet but it just seems a bit bland to me. Mainly because there wasn't much difference from the original galaxy tab 10.1.
The Nexus 7 is a little beast of a tablet though, so that could always be an option for you.
But if you wanna stay with Galaxy, then it's probably best to wait for the Note 2 like you said.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair

I have doubts that this will cut down on the many "which device should I buy" threads in this forum, but here's hoping! Ideally, this thread will be used for all such questions. If so, I may sticky it so anyone coming to Q&A looking for advice on which new device to buy will see it.

TeeJay3800 said:
I have doubts that this will cut down on the many "which device should I buy" threads in this forum, but here's hoping! Ideally, this thread will be used for all such questions. If so, I may sticky it so anyone coming to Q&A looking for advice on which new device to buy will see it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well obviously I'm hoping for that to be the case.
But we'll just have to wait and see at the moment. Other new threads could always be merged into here, I suppose.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair

KidCarter93 said:
The galaxy tab 2 10.1 is a pretty good tablet but it just seems a bit bland to me. Mainly because there wasn't much difference from the original galaxy tab 10.1.
The Nexus 7 is a little beast of a tablet though, so that could always be an option for you.
But if you wanna stay with Galaxy, then it's probably best to wait for the Note 2 like you said.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My mistake, didn't realize until now I meant the galaxy NOTE 10.1, lol. That seems like a sexy little beast! But the tab 2 doesn't seem too bad for a first time tablet device either.. for the price at least
---> Brought to you in part by my T999 / T-Mobile Galaxy SIII

To buy Nexus 7 or wait for Microsoft Surface?
The question is really if the Surface will be cheaper than I bet it'll be (under 500)
Nexus 7 seems like awesome tablet, but I think it might be too small for me , but im not really sure, since I never owned a tablet, and where I live I cant go and see any 7 inch tablets in store.
So what you thnik, should I go for Nexus 7 or wait? Or better yet, is there more choices for cheap and quality android tablets?

7 inch tablets seem like an odd size to me. Not really big enough for the things I would use it for to replace a laptop, but too big to replace my phone.

mf2112 said:
7 inch tablets seem like an odd size to me. Not really big enough for the things I would use it for to replace a laptop, but too big to replace my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are totally right, but now to think other way: its easier to carry 7inch than 10inch tablet.
Also forgot to mention I have some problems with eyesight so bigger tablet might also be better choice, But the nexus 7 price really seems like a good selling point. But if the Surface RT will be 200, then I probably going to miss my money too much.

ka-la said:
You are totally right, but now to think other way: its easier to carry 7inch than 10inch tablet.
Also forgot to mention I have some problems with eyesight so bigger tablet might also be better choice, But the nexus 7 price really seems like a good selling point. But if the Surface RT will be 200, then I probably going to miss my money too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on when you're going to be using it mainly. If you're out quite a lot of the time, then the Nexus 7 is probably going to be the easiest choice, because of carrying it around.
But if you're more often at home, then the Surface might be better for you because it's a 10.6 inch screen so it makes it easier for your eyes.
Another thing to consider is the operating systems. The Surface will be running Windows 8, but I'm not too sure what that's like to use.
And the Nexus is on Jellybean, it's definitely going to get the upgrade to Key Lime Pie and possibly the update after that aswell.
So, even though the Surface does seem like it'll be right up there with the best of them, I'd suggest the Nexus to be honest. It just seems like the best choice overall.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair

KidCarter93 said:
It depends on when you're going to be using it mainly. If you're out quite a lot of the time, then the Nexus 7 is probably going to be the easiest choice, because of carrying it around.
But if you're more often at home, then the Surface might be better for you because it's a 10.6 inch screen so it makes it easier for your eyes.
Another thing to consider is the operating systems. The Surface will be running Windows 8, but I'm not too sure what that's like to use.
And the Nexus is on Jellybean, it's definitely going to get the upgrade to Key Lime Pie and possibly the update after that aswell.
So, even though the Surface does seem like it'll be right up there with the best of them, I'd suggest the Nexus to be honest. It just seems like the best choice overall.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might get the nexus 7, if I dont like it I could probably sell it here in Estonia for the money I would get it (from US.).
Also should be mentioned that I dont own a laptop or anything else to carry around, at home I use my desktop, and I dont go out too often, but I think nexus would be nice in school and so on.
Also all these old awesome titles (gta 3, max payne) are made for android these days which I really loved back then, are better to play on 7 inch than 10.6 (better to hold, easier) .
So I think i go for nexus 7, but I hope that I dont get the broken one (from first or second branch), because I couldnt take it back.

I will buy a tablet but I am not sure which. Note 10.1 or Nexus 7? I think nexus 7 is too small as a 4.7 inch phone user but not sure about it. But I want to have pure google experience. Is nexus 7 really that small or not? I'm stuck

I thought about bying the Xiaomi M2 or the Galaxy nexus and i cant pick it since the M2 has better hardware and it is smaller but only MIUI can be installed on him unlike the galaxy nexus which has a huge variety of roms.

In my opinion, a 7 inch tablet is the best for portability and viewing. It feels comfortable to hold with one hand, but it comes down to your personal preference really.
Sent from my MB860 using xda app-developers app

One of my friends asked me for suggestion...
His budget isn't all that big, with a max cap of 15000 inr (~275 usd, though the indian customs are notorious for high taxes; the s3 costs around 38000 inr = 690 usd; so hope you get the picture)
Mainly looking for a low budget android, maybe even a mid end device...
All he needs is "the latest android" on which he can play games...but I know about the quirks that come with a low end phone: inadequate internal mem, low cpu & gpu, lack of official upgrade support...the list kinda goes on...
I have zeroed on sony's live with walkman, mainly for the fact that it gives the most value for money...
The more the money saved + better features; the more likely choice it would be...
If anybody has better suggestions, please share them...
Brands present in india: Samsung, Htc, Sony, Micromax and smaller presence of Motorola and Huawei...
There is no contract system available here, neither are "subsidies" or such...
- Via xda premium

a.cid said:
One of my friends asked me for suggestion...
His budget isn't all that big, with a max cap of 15000 inr (~275 usd, though the indian customs are notorious for high taxes; the s3 costs around 38000 inr = 690 usd; so hope you get the picture)
Mainly looking for a low budget android, maybe even a mid end device...
All he needs is "the latest android" on which he can play games...but I know about the quirks that come with a low end phone: inadequate internal mem, low cpu & gpu, lack of official upgrade support...the list kinda goes on...
I have zeroed on sony's live with walkman, mainly for the fact that it gives the most value for money...
The more the money saved + better features; the more likely choice it would be...
If anybody has better suggestions, please share them...
Brands present in india: Samsung, Htc, Sony, Micromax and smaller presence of Motorola and Huawei...
There is no contract system available here, neither are "subsidies" or such...
- Via xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xperia U perhaps? Should get the 4.0 soon (if already has'nt)

I think it depends on your budget.

S3
My next phone is going to be the S3!! I wish Samsung would stop making the phone bigger though...when I first got the S2 I got made fun of because how big it is although it's very thin...I don't see what's the point of going bigger...

Samsung Galaxy S3 or LG Nexus 4 - Need some advice

Hello XDA,
My name is Robert Oortwijn and I currently have a Samsung Star. So I want to get a new phone and am deciding between the S3 or Nexus 4, nothing else. I have enough money to buy one of the two
So for the last month I have been looking, searching, watching stuff regarding the S3 and Nexus 4. From comparisons to single reviews.
What I want really is to have a good phone. It will be my first Android phone and smartphone.
My closest friend got the Galaxy S3 Pebble Blue and I really like the big screen and color. What I also like is the ability to have the battery removed and extend storage. Then again I also really like the Nexus 4 for getting the latest updates and being stock Android.
Sadly my concern is this. The glass back which from my impressions breaks really fast. A 1m drop or just ticking your phone against a table will crack it. Secondly is the bit smaller size of the screen. The Nexus 4 has a 4,7 inch compared to the S3 4,8 inch. It becomes even less because of the on-screen based buttons. This trough isn't a issue. I like on-screen and S3 style buttons.
What I just can't is making a decisions. Both are amazing phones where the one has something I like and the other doesn't and vice versa.
I would like to ask XDA to give some opinions and reasons why I should pick one of these two phones.
While 16GB is in my opinion enough for apps, maybe 3 games and music? I have like 4GB of music on my PC, I do like the extra storage but then again the N4 offers stock android and such.
I hope XDA will be the one able to help me. I tried many forums but only got one responds and those weren't really helpful.
Greetings :laugh:,
Robert Oortwijn

Nexus 4

Sounds like you've already given a lot of thought about which phone you want to choose or select and you've already researched the options that each phone has. But it comes down to what's important to you. If expandable storage and removable battery is important to you or if you think you can live without it. I personally don't own either device but I know you'll get die hard fans on both sides saying that their phone is the best and why. But in the end it's really your opinion that matters because you'll be the one who has to live with the phone. I am trying to make the decision myself as to which one I would choose and I go back and forth.
Personally if you're thinking of the S4, I would opt for the NOTE II instead. I haven't heard any legitimate complaints about it. And even some people who own the N4 or S3 are trying to sell their phone and get one. Plus it has a 5.5" display!
But it really does come down to what you think is important. I too have music that I think is so important to transfer onto my storage on my phone but Google music player can sync your music on your PC to your phone. And I use spotify more than than the copied music on my phone. With spotify, @ $10 a month, you have unlimited access to virtually any artist or album out there. Albums are available on spotify the same day the CDs are released. Plus you can download playlists to your phone over wifi that you can listen to without using data.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

Nexus 4
Personally I would go for the Nexus 4. Stock Android is important for someone like me who makes little apps.

I love samaung for all dives and i using s5302
Sent from my GT-S5302 using xda app-developers app

I have a Galaxy S3 and a good friend with the Nexus 4. My questions for you are these:
- Do you plan to use the stock OS or are you going to be using custom roms?
Despite being a little behind (and not as far behind as some phones/manufacturers) the latest Google release, Samsung's version of Jelly Bean is very nice and not wildly different. Though, for more options and control, I recently got into using custom roms. If you're going to go that route, the sd card slot is a fantastic way to save music, videos, documents, backups, and more. Also, the ability to put custom rom install zips on your external sd card means you can run a superwipe during rom installs that support it.
- Are you going to be using a phone upgrade option on your plan or signing an all new contract with your carrier?
You usually only get the contract renewal/upgrade discount every couple of years, so if you're going that route and want the Galaxy S3, I advise you wait until the GS4 comes out (if you're in the US, that's in a few weeks to a month or so depending on carrier - Verizon still hasn't said when theirs will be available, but the others are saying this month they will be taking orders). No point using your discount options on a year old phone when the new one is almost here.
- Do you want to make use of the usb host functionality (usb "on-the-go" as it's sometimes called in the marketing materials) available on many newer phones and tablets?
This allows your phone to host usb devices like thumb drives, keyboards, mouses... almost anything. All you need is a cheap adapter to go from your micro usb port to a standard female usb port (I got mine for about $5). If you want this functionality, it doesn't work on the Nexus 4 despite Google's plan to include it. LG messed it up and it doesn't work properly (a hardware problem from what I've heard). On the GS3, it works like a charm, so I always have a 32GB thumb drive in my pocket with extra videos, music, and backup data. Presumably, this will also be a feature of the Nexus 4.
If having the latest Google release of really matter to you, then go for the Nexus 4, but I think that's really it's only selling point. I know I sound like a Samsung fanboy, but it definitely is a more flexible piece of hardware. So the trade off, in my opinion, is latest Google version of Android vs. significantly more flexible hardware. Though I say wait for the Galaxy S4 anyway.

How the phone looks and your preference of buttons, screen size etc. is up to you i guess.
For the GS3 the international model is hampered by Samsungs own Exynos processor and that being much harder to develop for than the Qualcomm in the US version. For instance Cyanogenmod 10.1 on the i9300 has no stable builds because of development problems.
In fact the current i9300 developers have said they will not be supporting the international GS4 as it will be such a pain.
If you are in the US then you are fine for Cyanogenmod at least, and probably most other custom ROMs.

nexus 4 is better in us.

Mrreg said:
I have a Galaxy S3 and a good friend with the Nexus 4. My questions for you are these:
- Do you plan to use the stock OS or are you going to be using custom roms?
Despite being a little behind (and not as far behind as some phones/manufacturers) the latest Google release, Samsung's version of Jelly Bean is very nice and not wildly different. Though, for more options and control, I recently got into using custom roms. If you're going to go that route, the sd card slot is a fantastic way to save music, videos, documents, backups, and more. Also, the ability to put custom rom install zips on your external sd card means you can run a superwipe during rom installs that support it.
- Are you going to be using a phone upgrade option on your plan or signing an all new contract with your carrier?
You usually only get the contract renewal/upgrade discount every couple of years, so if you're going that route and want the Galaxy S3, I advise you wait until the GS4 comes out (if you're in the US, that's in a few weeks to a month or so depending on carrier - Verizon still hasn't said when theirs will be available, but the others are saying this month they will be taking orders). No point using your discount options on a year old phone when the new one is almost here.
- Do you want to make use of the usb host functionality (usb "on-the-go" as it's sometimes called in the marketing materials) available on many newer phones and tablets?
This allows your phone to host usb devices like thumb drives, keyboards, mouses... almost anything. All you need is a cheap adapter to go from your micro usb port to a standard female usb port (I got mine for about $5). If you want this functionality, it doesn't work on the Nexus 4 despite Google's plan to include it. LG messed it up and it doesn't work properly (a hardware problem from what I've heard). On the GS3, it works like a charm, so I always have a 32GB thumb drive in my pocket with extra videos, music, and backup data. Presumably, this will also be a feature of the Nexus 4.
If having the latest Google release of really matter to you, then go for the Nexus 4, but I think that's really it's only selling point. I know I sound like a Samsung fanboy, but it definitely is a more flexible piece of hardware. So the trade off, in my opinion, is latest Google version of Android vs. significantly more flexible hardware. Though I say wait for the Galaxy S4 anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What this user just posted. Plus a little extra:
-Are you going to be using LTE or 3G?
The Nexus 4 does NOT support LTE, and could therefore be a deal breaker for you if you plan on using the latest speeds.
-Are you buying your device or getting a contract?
May sound like a stupid question, but the Nexus 4 comes pre-unlocked if purchased from the Play Store and could be considered "cheaper" too. But then again, you did mention price wasn't an issue. Although if you plan on switching carriers at any time and free yourself from having a contract, then the Nexus 4 does offer an unlocked device. (Unlocking the S3 would require someone with the know-how and will probably cost you a couple bucks + it is now illegal in the US).
-How willing are you to wait for the next device?
With the S4 right around the corner and the Nexus 5 leaked images and report of a release date around October 2013, do you think you can live with your current device until the next upgrade? If the answer is yes, do so!
Good luck in your next purchase, and I believe both phones will make you happy!

Slevin73 said:
What this user just posted. Plus a little extra:
-Are you going to be using LTE or 3G?
The Nexus 4 does NOT support LTE, and could therefore be a deal breaker for you if you plan on using the latest speeds.
-Are you buying your device or getting a contract?
May sound like a stupid question, but the Nexus 4 comes pre-unlocked if purchased from the Play Store and could be considered "cheaper" too. But then again, you did mention price wasn't an issue. Although if you plan on switching carriers at any time and free yourself from having a contract, then the Nexus 4 does offer an unlocked device. (Unlocking the S3 would require someone with the know-how and will probably cost you a couple bucks + it is now illegal in the US).
-How willing are you to wait for the next device?
With the S4 right around the corner and the Nexus 5 leaked images and report of a release date around October 2013, do you think you can live with your current device until the next upgrade? If the answer is yes, do so!
Good luck in your next purchase, and I believe both phones will make you happy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in the Netherlands. We don't have LTE (yet) but I do know that HSPA+ is fast enough for me so LTE isn't a big problem compared to US citizens.
I'm going to get the device with a contract. 100 calls or sms with 500 mb for 20 euros for the coming 24 months.
Regarding Stock Android or ROMS I don't know. Seeing it has Stock Android I might just stick with that.
I'm not a developer either. Just a teen who want to get his first Android/Smart-phone hehe