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So, looks like I'll be keeping my G-Tablet for a while... :)

I originally purchased my G-Tablet as something to hold me off until the Honeycomb tablets came around. After looking at the alternatives there's really not much to "upgrade" to.
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
Acer Iconia A500 - another good tablet however it's twice the price I paid ($225) for my G-Tablet. It's heavier, physically bigger, and overall battery life is not as good as the G-Tablet. The wifi (according to reports) is also fairly weak which sucks as my router is not in the most convenient location.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - I had high hopes for this one and although a very sexy tablet, I've now crossed it off my list as an upgrade option. It's been confirmed to have a Tegra 2, no USB, no HDMI, and no microSD card slot.
After going through all the alternatives it seems the only thing these really offer over what I currently have is Honeycomb and with the recent developments concerning Honeycomb on the G-Tablet, the G-Tablet itself may very well have Honeycomb too. To tell you the truth though, I wouldn't be to bummed out if we never get it. Which brings another high point in regards to the G-Tablet: the developer support! I'm certain the other tablets will eventually catch up but the developer support is amazing for the G-Tablet and I've had a ton of fun just trying out new ROMs! Anyway, I believe the G-Tablet is the best Android tablet for the money right now and looks like I'll be keeping it for a while!

Pretty much agreed. It'll be a different story a few months from now, but for the time being the gTab is still the best price/performance combo out there!

pitamakan said:
but for the time being the gTab is still the best price/performance combo out there!
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Welcome to the fanboi club

Enectic said:
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
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They're supposed to be releasing an adapter that plugs into the dock port giving you a usb port.....also, you can use the included dock cable and attach a female to female connector and it gives you a functional usb port. Or just pony up for a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. Havent picked up my gtab since I got the transformer.

acomiskey said:
They're supposed to be releasing an adapter that plugs into the dock port giving you a usb port.....also, you can use the included dock cable and attach a female to female connector and it gives you a functional usb port. Or just pony up for a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. Havent picked up my gtab since I got the transformer.
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True but there's no release date or price on the adapter yet. As far as using the dock and a female to female it seems to be very hit or miss. People appear to get very few things working with that method which doesn't bode well for the flash drives and HD's I also connect to my tablet. I could buy a bluetooth but that would just add more cost to the item. With all things being said I think I'll save my money for the Tegra 3 tablets supposedely coming later this year.

aasoror said:
Welcome to the fanboi club
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lol. I hate you guys!

Enectic said:
I originally purchased my G-Tablet as something to hold me off until the Honeycomb tablets came around. After looking at the alternatives there's really not much to "upgrade" to.
Asus Transformer - the most viable option however no USB (blah, use my G-Tab hooked up to my TV at times so I need a USB port for my wireless keyboard/mouse) and I'm not interested in spending an additional $150 just to have a USB port. Sure the screen is nice but I really haven't had any complaints with the G-Tablet screen under normal use.
Acer Iconia A500 - another good tablet however it's twice the price I paid ($225) for my G-Tablet. It's heavier, physically bigger, and overall battery life is not as good as the G-Tablet. The wifi (according to reports) is also fairly weak which sucks as my router is not in the most convenient location.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - I had high hopes for this one and although a very sexy tablet, I've now crossed it off my list as an upgrade option. It's been confirmed to have a Tegra 2, no USB, no HDMI, and no microSD card slot.
After going through all the alternatives it seems the only thing these really offer over what I currently have is Honeycomb and with the recent developments concerning Honeycomb on the G-Tablet, the G-Tablet itself may very well have Honeycomb too. To tell you the truth though, I wouldn't be to bummed out if we never get it. Which brings another high point in regards to the G-Tablet: the developer support! I'm certain the other tablets will eventually catch up but the developer support is amazing for the G-Tablet and I've had a ton of fun just trying out new ROMs! Anyway, I believe the G-Tablet is the best Android tablet for the money right now and looks like I'll be keeping it for a while!
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$225??? you better keep it haha. That's a great price. I think this is the only time that patience will actually payoff for me and for all of us.

Ditto. I bought my gTab very early on (mid November), thinking it would tide me over until Spring and Honeycomb. Now I plan to keep it through its one-year anniversary, and wait for an ICS tablet. If it lets me.
I'm also now going to hold onto my Nexus One (14 months old) until the Nexus 3 comes out with ICS. Just see no reason to get rid of The Greatest Phone Evah before that new toy arrives.
So, thanks, Google, you're saving me a nice chunk of change over the next few months!

First post on the fora here, excited to get hacking (err cracking?) on making my G-Tablet everything I want it to be!
You got an incredible deal on your tablet, $225... of course you need not me to tell you that. I got mine for $270, and that was a pretty great deal.
I was already fairly sure about purchasing my G-Tab before, and the more and more I'm looking at the alternatives the more sure I am of the purchase.
Another aspect I like is the inexpensiveness of the accessories. For $38 you can get the Malata Zpad Dock that attaches to the proprietary port and acts like an upright stand holding the tablet in portrait mode. It has a USB port, an HDMI out port, and, quite unique for a tablet, an ethernet port. This is the feature that clinched it for me, as there will be times when I will wish to access a wired network with no wifi connection available. In addition, I'll use the HDMI port to output Power Point presentations to a projector.
And then there's also the $28 kick stand and keyboard combo that makes the tablet feel like a netbook. Granted, the case which holds it all together can't really be used as a protective case because the clips hold the device in too poorly, and it's not nearly as nifty as the Asus Transformer's plug-in keyboard and touchpad combo. Also it doesn't offer an extra battery, of course. However, it's a heck of a lot cheaper, and at least you don't need it for USB ports (how odd is it that the Transformer has an on-board mini HDMI port but not an on-board USB port?).
I'm really excited to hear that an internal GPS chip is supported by both the firmware and the hardware, though I'm a bit miffed that I have to buy and install it myself rather than just using the capability right out of the box. Still, that's another purpose the G-Tablet will fill for which I do need a device.

aasoror said:
Welcome to the fanboi club
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Proud to be a member.

Suggestions on a portable display for Android phone

As my next smartphone will in all likelihood be the Meizu MX 4-core and will have MHL, it got me thinking that I might be able to set up a sort of portable desktop with similar form factor to a thin notebook. MHL out to a powered USB hub, an Apple MB110LL/B, bluetooth or USB mouse, and HDMI or USB out to a small monitor. Gives me better input than a tablet without having to deal with Windows 8 on the MS Surface. It also spares me from having to buy a new laptop or carry around my rather large, 7-year old Dell.
The trouble is I don't know which monitor would be useful. I figure a 11-14" screen would be best, but there aren't many options. Toshiba's mobile monitor can be powered by USB, but becomes much dimmer. Both are well over $170, which starts to get into my "is it worth it" price range. I'd really like something under $100, but if nothing exists in that price range then so be it.

[Q]-Best tablet for this scenario?

Hi folks. Got a particular scenario in mind that I'd like some people's opinions on. For the current setup, I have a rooted, Tegra 2 Iconia 500 hooked up to an HDMI port on my TV. I have XBMC running through it along with a little full size USB receiver that allows me to use a small remote pad.with touchpad.
The setup I'd like to move to is a tablet that is a tegra 3, has HDMI out and has a micro or full USB port on it. I'm looking for one that has the port separate from the charging/data port. I know ASUS ones like the 201 and 300 have this kind of setup. Are there any others you would recommend? Also, is there such a cable that would allow both charging and the use of the micro USB port as a legit port at the same time (eliminating the need for power/data to be a separate port from a micro USB)? Also, a relatively easy root would be nice but not ultra important.

Bump for ideas. Aiming at a TF300 but still wondering if there's suggestions for a tab with HDMI out and a dedicated micro USB that isn't in use for charging/data.
The Toshiba excite has this setup but doesn't have root yet.

Honestly I don't think your going to find better then one of the Asus transformers. The tf700 is spectacular.
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I am a dishonest man, and you can always honestly trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.

xMrArnoldx said:
Honestly I don't think your going to find better then one of the Asus transformers. The tf700 is spectacular.
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I am a dishonest man, and you can always honestly trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.
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True. Price is involved with the Infinity though. I also found out the TF300 doesn't have the micro USB unless you get the dock. Does the Nexus 10's port get shared with power?
Alternatively, there's always the MK808 type items. I even heard Gamestick supposedly supports XBMC. My biggest goal is to combine Tegra 3, HDMI out and a micro USB I can use with a little touchpad/KB remote. I did find a cord hhttp://dx.com/p/cy-u2-165-ri-usb-2...-degree-otg-data-cable-black-15cm-33cm-205520 that might let me charge and use USB on a single micro USB port.

Little Basic Help

I apologize, but I live 300 miles from any town with electronic stores to seek these answers, I also would be reluctant to trust a sales person anyway. I am a smart phone aholic and get tremendous amounts of good Intel on this site, so I came here.
I really need to update my laptop and am thinking of getting the new Surface. The way I understand it is you can buy a case with a hard keyboard, so you can use it like a laptop, and also take that off and make it a tablet. How do you install new software? Does it have a DVD, or do you connect to external? Is there any drawback to this device? Thanks
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

If it's a Surface RT the only way to install software is through the Windows 8 app store. If it's a Surface Pro you can install any software you would on a PC including apps from theb Windows 8 app store. I'm pretty sure you could hook up an external DVD drive to it...

big70tom said:
I live 300 miles from any town with electronic stores
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I'm convinced you could only be living under a rock or a cave in the middle of nowhere. :laugh:
big70tom said:
Is there any drawback to this device?
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A Microsoft Surface is not a replacement for an actual laptop despite what anyone says. The answers to all of your questions is "Yes", however, you are still making a compromise. I love my Windows 8.1 Pro tablet, I use it daily, however you aren't going to be as "productive" as you would be getting an actual laptop?
The Surface (Pro) is a really good buy for the fun factor.

The thing you're thinking of buying is the Type Cover (the second generation one has backlit keys and is a bit thinner, but the first-gen one is cheaper and works fine). It's a full-size keyboard (that is, the keys are full-sized and at the usual spacing; it obviously doesn't have room for the full 104-ish keys of a desktop keyboard) plus a trackpad. It is not a case in any traditional sense, although it does work as a screen protector when "closed". It connects magnetically; removing it and reconnecting it is literally a snap (or perhaps "clack!") The magnets are strong enough you can fold the cover behind the tablet (although with the type cover this feels weird because the keys can move beneath your fingers, but at least they turn off automatically) or even dangle the tablet from the cover (not recommended but a cool trick anyhow).
Installing software is done the same way you would on any recent PC; you download it. The tablet has WiFi built in. There's a built-in store that can install and update "modern" apps, but you can also just download programs off the web/FTP servers/whatever. If you need to install off of an actual optical disk (CD or DVD) rather than a disk image (which Win8 can mount as a virtual drive), you will need an external optical drive that connects to the tablet using USB (there's a full-size USB3 port on the side of the Surface Pro). If you really need a wired network connection for some reason, you can get a USB Ethernet adaptor (they're only a few dollars) but that will take up the tablet's USB port. You can also use (USB) external hard disks or flashdrives with the tablet, as a way to transfer files including installers. I recommend getting a USB hub (ideally, one that can handle USB3) if you're going to use a lot of USB devices.
As for drawbacks, the biggest one is arguably that it's small. It's thick for a (modern) tablet, but at only 10.8" (about 28cm) diagonally, the screen is on the small size for a laptop. The case also doesn't have room for a lot of ports. You've got the aforementioned USB3 port, a miniDisplayPort, a headset (headphones+mic, like for a smartphone) port, a microSD card slot, the magnetic power connector (which is also where the stylus rests), and the magnetic cover port (which is how the covers send keyboard and mouse input to the tablet). No VGA (you can get a converter for the miniDP port, though), no surround sound output (the built-in speakers are ok for a tablet but nothing special), no serial or parallel ports (you can use a USB adaptor), no PS/2 port (USB adaptor), no wired Ethernet ports (USB adaptor), no card-reader for anything bigger than microSD (USB adaptor), nowhere to install additional storage or an optical drive (USB...), and only one USB port (hence the recommended USB hub). The Type (or Touch) covers offer very usably-sized keyboards, but a lot of keys are missing or require you to hold the Fn key at the same time. The next-biggest drawback is probably the price-to-specs ratio; while very attractive compared to other "ultrabooks" and high-end x86_64 tablets, you can get a more powerful actual laptop for half the price. The first-gen Pro also has a pretty mediocre battery life (5-ish hours) and a kickstand which only opens to one angle (which some people find to be not the correct angle for them). None of the internal components (battery, CPU, RAM, Flash storage, etc.) are removable/replaceable/upgradable, and the max specs of the original Pro (5GB of RAM, 128GB of internal Flash storage) aren't very impressive. There's also no dedicated graphics processor; the integrated Intel graphics are OK for light-to-moderate gaming, but not for serious gamers or any task requiring much GPU acceleration.
With all that said, it's a very nice, compact, lightweight 64-bit Windows computer with an excellent display (for the size), excellent stylus and touchscreen, very durable body (even without cover, though you really should get one anyhow), and good manufacturer support. It's usable as either a tablet or a laptop, and while it can't be said to be ideal for either, it's pretty good.
To give you any more advice on whether it's suitable would require knowing a lot more about why you're thinking of buying one and what you'd be doing with it.

Which I had read and understood a review like yours before I made a compulsive purchase on Christmas night! I purchased an RT 64GB version, not realising that it is not very well supported on the available app front.....no Google chrome and very few other apps that I have become to consider standard with my Samsung Android tablet. I think note in hind sight I should have purchased the pro version but the price difference from Tesco was GBP 400 vs GBP 950 for the pro. I agree that you should definitely get the cover keyboard and the old version (mk I) is on special offer at GBP 45 vs GBP 99 for the mkII with back light keys.
Oh and there is no onboard GPS receiver so forget navigation!
Sent with desire from My One

Best Recent Android Phone/Device for 400 Bucks?

Hello, I've been on the market for something to replace my Nexus 4, which I use much like an Ipod touch, in the respect that I only use it on wifi and wont attach it to a cell service provider. I'd appreciate your input on what phone to get.
I'd like as many hardware features as possible, for a price range of 400 bucks maximum. The Essential phone, and Motorola Z2 play and Force are a few I had in mind. The Essential phone is missing a good camera, and I'm skeptical about Motorola after watching my dad try to navigate their horrible customer service. They killed his phone with an update and sold him a dud as a replacement, although some of the mods add functionality Id be interested in if you guys can recommend one they won't patch-kill.
I tend to use my device for a number of things, but virtually never as a phone. It just happens that nowadays most android devices that are small enough to carry in my pocket are garbage if they weren't designed with the functionality of a phone in mind. Past devices I've bought and liked are the Toshiba Thrive 10.1 and Nvidia shield portable, offering on board ports for HDMI and etc without adapters. I can live with using Type C adapters for a more pocketable device however. I like compatibility with other devices for data transfer or flying a drone, controlling LEGO Mindstorms, etc. I have not rooted devices for fear of ruining them, but if there is such a thing as "as close to being rooted without being rooted", I'd be interested.
Please note that I need these features:
*Android OS, preferably Oreo and better, pure android or better preferred
*USB OTG, type C plug, 3.1 for using an adapter to turn it into a workstation via HDMI, USB and ethernet ports added on.
*NFC for editing nfc tags
*Good camera for everyday pictures but also close up pictures of LEGO models in particular
*64 GB storage minimum, 128 and/or expansion preferred.
*1080P screen or better. I can live with or without whatever weird notch or bezel thing.
I can live without these but if they happen to be there then all the better:
*Headphone jack
*Fingerprint reader
*Water resistant/nanocoating
*Wireless charging
I've checked out XDA's recommended phones, but it seems their recommended phones cap off at the 250 dollar price range and without my preferred 128 on board storage or are missing NFC or something, unless I'm missing a separate "up to 400 bucks" article. They are all surely a vast improvement to my Nexus 4, but significantly under my budget while missing some things I'd prefer. I'm hoping I can just spend a bit more to hit more of my marks.
Thank you for your time and input!

Update/Bumping
Added more info on my preferences to original topic, I found out USB Type C 3.1 is what I need if I want to use an adapter to use a dock to give it Ethernet, HDMI out, keyboard and mouse support, etc.
Someone suggested the Nokia 7 Plus, a very good candidate though it has USB Type C 2.0, which supports data transfer OTG but not a work station dock. Still have to keep the 7+ in mind, has some good features despite this.