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question about buying a tablet

Hi peeps been looking around at the android tablets on the market and wondering if i should take the plunge?.Thought i would ask here as you guys probably have more experiance than most.Can you recomend a couple?, i'm not looking to spend a fortune just want something that covers most bases and doesnt struggle to run the usual suspects.HDMI out would be a plus but any ideas you can offer or just give me ideas on what not to buy.Any helps good, thanx in advance.

I have a smoldering interest in a tablet as well but I will continue to hold off as my Lenovo X61t and Windows Phone compliment each other pretty well and I don't "need" one.
However, I have taken note of the Archos' that were just released. The general feeling is that they feel cheap in build quality but the price and performance is right there. This is engadgets take on the two tablets they have.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/
I have used the Samsung Galaxy S and it is a nice device. Gotta be honest though, nothing seems to be "more complete than the ipad", just in terms of docks, jailbreaking, best apps, etc.
There are so many 'knock offs' in this category, let us know what you find!

I agree in the upset front, it's a great piece of kit but I refuse to spend that kind if money. Have found plenty of cheap ones, and I don't mind the price tag but most are just a bit gutless lol. But yeah likewise bring the info if you find something good.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Back again, on the subject off cheapo knock off tablets have you seen the a-ok pad lol now don't laugh. I could be persuaded to gamble on something as (shall we say rough) if it ticked the right boxes. Anybody heard if them? Any horror stories?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Buying a new tablet
I'm in the market for a tablet, and have taken my sweet time for the last 3 months researching and looking for the best one to buy. I've done my fair share of research and now i'm asking you: Should I buy the ASUS Transformer Prime with the dock, od should i wait for samsung/htc/moto/lenovo/acer... next-gen tablet? My fear is you see, that I'll buy The Prime, and that it won't be supported by some software develeopers, and left out in the cold with some apps, or not on par with the next-gen 2012 tablets. I want the best hardware specs, possible future windows 8 compatibility, preferably tegra device, 3g isn't a must, nor GPS but preferred. I don't mind waiting for a few more months since this would be my first tablet, wich i don't really need. NO IOS/IPad talk please, android tablet only (but like i said, with a possibility of win8 in the future). Any reasonable advice is more than welcome, and thank you all very much in advance!

IIRC Asus Prime will begin getting ICS/4.0 Jan 12th.
With that said, I would definitely play around with one before buying. Numerous reported issues that can't really be fixed through OTA's or software. (GPS, WIFI, light bleed, glass/screen loose from rest of tab).
Typical Asus if you ask me, crapshoot on quality.
Also depends on what you want in a tab. If you don't really want to play around/mod/customize then I think the Ipad 2 or hold out a couple of months for an Ipad 3 would be your best bet.
If you have to have an Android you have one of two options. Wait for more quad core tabs to be released, or start looking at what's available now.
Samsung 7.0 Plus is probably the best out for 7"ers.
For the 10"ers it's a toss up right now. Galaxy Tab 10.1 has good support, decent performance, light, easy to hold, good screen, great speakers (for a tab). It's cons to me are the Tegra 2 isn't up to snuff with Honeycomb OS.
The HP Touchpad is a great buy for the OS and specs, and can also be ported to Android (Still need to play with one)
Asus Transformer TF101 is also a good buy but again a crapshoot on quality but can be had for a good price.
The new Moto Xyboards are getting good reviews but they are overpriced for what they are, are only sold through VZW and were "technically" outdated before they were even released. Also locked bootloaders are never fun if flashing kernels are your thing.
Right now I'm looking at getting another tab so I guess you could say I'm in the same boat as you. I have an OG Galaxy Tab 7 on the way b/c I got it cheaper than cheap and just wanna play with it.
Considering picking up an 8" Xyboard also.
ETA: I probably won't pick up a Xyboard however until they come down in price or a WiFi only version is offered.
The SGT 7.7 also sounds promising. Decisions decisions.

First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like I said I never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The things I'm worried hardware-wise are: the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
Now you may laugh at this seeing your sig, but in my mobile history (25+ phones) the worst were accually motorolas (v3 being the worst of the lot, but than again A925 was more than excellent) I'm not so fond of HP either, last month i sold my DV6 3020em, (that's the i7 touchscreen version for Europe since i'm european), and i can say it was utter rubbish, overheating, shoddy build quality, squeaky, noisy fans, you name it... That's why I sold it, but it had a touchscreen which was more than handy, and that's why i want a tablet, I just might look a bit more into the HP touchpad after all.
Acer is great quality for it's price, really great. But I only had Acer's laptops, and the Iconia tablet is as ugly as a bullfrog from chernobyl, so I wouldn't want one.
Tf101 is ugly too by my standards, too big as well, but the looks aren't so important if it was an excellent performer, which none of the now available androids are compared to The Prime (at least not on honeycomb).
I played with samsung 8.9 a few days ago and I can report is't a great little device, thin, capable, satisfying all in all, but i'd like a bigger screen, and a real keyboard and it's not a tegra device (I play a lot of games so i'd like the tegra zone, as chainfire's plugins don't support all tegra tweaked games)
Now I do like to install a new ROM every few weeks on my SGSII but i srsly don't think that will be the case on a tablet (except Win 8, when it comes out).
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english

cavkic said:
First of all, thank you for the fast and torough reply... And yes, sweet sweet decisions
I forgot to say that I'm in the market for a 10" minimum tablet, don't want smthng smaller 'cause i allready have an SGSII so I'm covered for mobility.
As for ASUS's build quality, like i said i never owned a tablet so I definately will try out/play with one for a couple of hours before purchasing, and watch out for the screen bleed on an ips display. But currently most of my pc's componens (2xmobo, 2xgraphic cards, and a lappy) are ASUS made and i must say i'm more than satisfied with them, and as I recall, when I was buying my SGSII there was talk about screen burn-in, overheating and wifi problems too, but I haven't had a single one with my device. Besides that, I don't really need GPS or 3g in a tablet so it's not a dealbreaker with me on The Prime.
The problem is: I wouldn't buy any other tablet now existing in the market, mostly because of the Tegra3 chipset The Prime has, so if I'm paying a hi-end device (around 700$) i want the latest and fastest performer in the ring. And yes, in my book that is android only, as i find apple's devices a bit limiting sometimes (without any fanboyism, I come from a long line of iphones before my android). The only thing I'm worried hardware-wise is the amount and speed of Prime's RAM (1gb od ddr2), possible wifi signal problems, screen bleed, and that it's topheavy when docked (a minor thing really). I love that it has a full USB 2.0 port, so you don't need a jack/ adapter of some kind (e.g. like on a SGSII microUSB to full USB). Not really worried about the one speaker layout eather, altough i was a bit dissapointed since the TF101 had a stereo layout, but still, not a dealbreaker (hey, it's still a tablet)...
So i guess the question remains: should i wait for Samsung's next gen 10.1 answer or just go with the prime now
P.S. sorry for my poor english
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Click to collapse
Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.

littleemp said:
Don't jump the gun on the Prime until stock has settled in, right now retailers are price gouging due to low availability. The Prime should be $500 for the 32GB, $600 for the 64GB, not $650-700 for the 32GB.
I have a Transformer and an Iconia Tab A100, and I can tell you from first hand experience that the build quality isn't nearly as bad as the above poster is making it out to be. I actually like the finish on both the original Transformer and the Iconia series a lot, and the Prime seems to be a winner also. Another thing to consider for both ASUS and Acer is that they keep their Android releases relatively 'vanilla' except for a few bloatware-type apps of their own, unlike Samsung and HTC, who just can't help themselves but smear TouchWiz and Sense over everything they produce.
The only real reported issue with the Prime appears to be the GPS accuracy, but at least to me, it's a non-issue, since I disable GPS and bluetooth on everything.
The Windows 8 bit is yet to be seen, porting a device to another OS is something you can hope, but never hold your breath for. We've yet to see how Windows 8 distribution is going to work and remember that even if you do install Windows 8 down the road, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to run all windows-based programs, since mobile devices use ARM CPUs, and everything written for windows right now is made for x86 CPUs, so it will be up to each third party to rewrite their programs for compatibility.
Although I would never write out a company with pockets as deep as microsoft, they have proven time and time again that they are unable to compete in the mobile segment, so I don't see Windows 8 with as much hope and awe as many others do. (Especially since Ice Cream Sandwich is the first Android iteration we can really call "excellent")
TL;DR - If you can find a Prime for a decent price, then it's an amazing device to be had for a very reasonable price. If you plan on waiting, then checking out the upcoming Iconia A700 isn't a bad idea either if the dock isn't that important to you.
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Click to collapse
Tnx for the reply, and I have to say I think you misunderstood me. I don't think I said anything bad about acer's or asus's build quality just HP's (and only the perticular model of the DV6 I had), just that they're a bit on the ugly side, but that's totally a subjective stand, and irrelevant to anybody else.
As far as Prime's price goes, it should be available in Croatia, about 2hrs drive from my home in 10days for less than 700$ with the dock for the 32gig version, which is not a bad pricetag considering where I live, and I'm ready to give that kind of money for it. The dock is accually something i like about the Transformer, and it would probbably be a dead heat between TF101 just because of the dock) and the Sammy 10.1 if it weren't for the prime.
GPS, like I said, I don't mind. The SGSII has a great GPS reciever which i hardly ever use, maybe 6 times since i got it in july.
As far as ARM windows goes, I know what to expect from it , nothing special, but it would be nice to have that option when it's available
So you are happy with the TF101 and the Iconia? But would you recommend buying now the Prime if I'm happy with the price? I should mention I probbably won't buy it before ICS, and I'll try to get a hold of a stock ICS one when it's out after Jan. 12. because I want to make sure i missed the first version shipment

I believe you about Motorola. Until my Droid X I have ALWAYS hated Motorola. I never had a phone that worked right after some wear and tear and always had problems. From before smartphones thru the Droid 1, 2, and 3. (Went through multiples of those). I'm also a Samsung and HTC fan.
I've never had a problem with Asus computer components myself, w/ that said, there are quite a few complaints when it comes to the TF201 on quality. With that said, you, as I'm sure you do, have to take into account the dissatisfied ones are always going to moan and groan much more and louder than the happy customer.
I guess I just wish it was like cars when it comes to Tablets and would love for them to let me take the exact tab I'm looking to buy for a test drive. (Not leave the store but just open the box and get a good look at it and test everything to make sure I'm getting what my hard earned money is paying for).
I really want a TF201, but I'm going to wait til a few more Tegra 3 tabs come out. I really think Motorola would have hit a homerun if they would have put a quad core in their Xyboards and kept the price what they're charging now.
The three tabs I'm really torn between right now are the Xyboard 8.2, TF201, and Samsung 7.0 Plus. But man we are so close to seeing quad core as the new standard for tabs so the other part of me just wants to sit it out and wait.

So true what you said about the sitting and waiting for the quad core as the new standard, but on the other hand, HOW BAD DO WE WANT ONE!?!
Personally for me it's no competition between the Prime and other tablets, the Prime is just on another planet.
This morning the store answered my email saying that the Prime will be available mid january (in about 10 days) and said that maybe they could reserve one for me because of the small supply, but said the price may be different depending on the usd/euro stocks, but under 700$ for the 32gig version with dock...
Still I'm not planning on buying one before a test drive like you said (mostly to check for screen bleed). And yes, I took into account the moaners which is true like you said again...
I think I wathched every single review/comparison of the tablet on youtube, and read at least 10 reviews online, and it's all mostly positive.
I'll update as soon as i get my hands on a test one, hopefully in about 10 days.

[Q] G Tab or just wait?

I looking to buy a tablet and from everything I have read and tested at Office Depot (viewing angles) the G tab seems fine to me. I am sure it will be faster after I root and load new ROM.
But with all of the new tabs coming (xoom and so on) at this point should I just wait. I know the xoom seems very high to me (800.00) not sure I want to pay that much. I know I don't want to buy another tab for 2 years or so. So maybe the xoom would solve that issue.
Thoughts?
David

If you are willing to root the 'g' tablet and install one of the community developed ROMs, I say go for it. The 'g' tablet was bleeding edge when it came out, is still at the head of the pack and will remain a strong platform for another year and a half to two years.
The price is right and unless you always have to be right at the bleeding edge, you will not be disappointed with a 'g' over the time frame you are looking at (and perhaps a little beyond).

Wait for Xoom to Come Out and Then Buy GTablet
Given how active the developers are, I'm betting that within a couple of weeks of the release of Xoom there will be a XoomLite Rom here for the Gtablet. So I'd wait a couple of weeks until the Xoom comes out. Take a look at it in a store and if it is really $800, unless there is something in the Xoom hardware that you can't live without, buy the Gtablet. Then put the ROM of your choice on your Gtablet (I use TNTLite) and keep checking back for what I expect will be a version of Xoom for our Gtablets.

If you are a tinkerer- get the Gtablet now. Seems all of the devices have quirks coming out, but one common thing is some form of dual core chipset. Quirks are there in one combo or other:
1. Overpriced
2. Proprietary connectors
3. No USB Host
4. No USB
5. Did I say overpriced yet?
Example is the Xoom. Costs $800. My Gtablet and 64gb iPod 4 cost $86 less than that.
My next tab will be the iPad "2". I love the app ecosystem and the game & app quality is AMAZING. I have my Gtablet and Incredible for Android fun and for Flash & internet function. Game emulators too.
BTW, my next phone will be either the Thunderbolt, Bionic or something similar on Verizon. No iPhone and the Xperia Play will likely have proprietary connectors, no microsd (Sony proprietary) and be locked down, so no dice for me.
iTunes may suck butt since a forced interface, but a lot of apps rock hard! Real hard.
Please forgive the slight tangent of my post.

If you're still unsure, then your best bet is to wait. You may even want to wait for the new 10.1 inch samsung tablet. I believe it will cost more than the Xoom but its another option. Here are some specs for that device:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953341

I just bought one yesterday from office depot after looking at the tabs in general for awhile and
Buying a archos 7 first. I got rid of that because it wasn't what I thought. I think the g tab is the coolest
toy I have ever had. If you want just a giant cell phone without the phone then wait for the Xoom.

The new Elocity A10 is coming out, but the 4gb is more money than the 16gb Gtablet. For the extra money you get a (supposedly) better screen and backlit buttons. But, since it hasn't been shipped out yet you have no idea about the quirks involved.
The Notion Adam looks cool, people that have it seem to like it but who knows how long it will take to get your hands on one. I would wait and watch since it is a new company.
The Archos 101 has it's pluses like a ton of codecs, but it has bugs and also supposedly has a bad screen. The price is nice though.
The Xoom is $800 and requires a month of Verizon service. It is a great looking tablet, but if I were going to spend that much I could get a good computer with money left over.
You can wait forever for more tablets tablets to come out. When the iPad was announced I kept hearing over and over that a better, cheaper Android tablet was on the way. Here we are, nearly a year out and there is nothing that competes.
Were I think the G tab excels is price point. Especially if you can get the $279 price. It has a great following on this site, a good set of hardware and once it is rooted it flies.

Buy the gtablet...better yet buy two for the cost of one xoom! We'll get honeycomb too.

If you're willing to wait, also consider toshiba's tablet. http://www.thetoshibatablet.com/
I like that it uses a full SD Card slot for cheaper/larger storage options (>32gb) and has a user replaceable battery.

vpad10s ?
I've seen a lot of comparisons between the Gtablet and other tabs, but what does everyone about the vpad10s?
From the specs and all, it looks like a dual boot Gtab, which has its own appeals.

yelrx8 said:
I've seen a lot of comparisons between the Gtablet and other tabs, but what does everyone about the vpad10s?
From the specs and all, it looks like a dual boot Gtab, which has its own appeals.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dual boot would be great if the device would at least come with Android 2.2 but instead only having 1.6 makes it deal breaker for me.

And then there's the Touchpad, the HP/Palm WebOS tablet that's due out this summer:
palm.com/us/products/pads/touchpad/index.html

Was in the same boat...
I was torn between waiting and getting the G...ended up with the G-tablet and no regrets once I figured out how to encode high def video so it would play.
Wth TNTLite installed, this thing really hums, and frankly, I was expecting a seriously bad screen, and while it's not a 90 degree viewing angle, it looks fantastic when you're looking right at it (and frankly, if I'm using it, I'm looking at it).
Not to mention that at the price they're going for (and I had shipping and taxes to get to Canada), it is still soooo much cheaper than any of the alternatives with same specs (The Elocity A10 for around the same price only has 4GB onboard).
Hope that helps...

You can always wait for something better, but for us it was a matter that it seemed like a great deal for the price. I had the FCs with the stock TnT apps but after installing the vegan rom everything is great.
Would of loved to have gotten a Xoom, but considering we got 2 Tegra2 based 10' tabs for the same price, and they do everything that we need I am satisfied.

Thanks everyone for your posts.
I have ordered a GTab from Amazon (should be here tomorrow.. you have to love prime). I have not ordered a keyboard yet nor a sd card. But have a 6gb card that should work for now.
If all goes well then I will keep it. I will try the xoom when it comes out, but for the money and features of the Gtab and for the use I need (really just notes in meetings and browsing the web) I think I am good.
Another question: I want to use either a USB keyboard or a RF keyboard/Track ball) what ROM do you suggest?
And if I wanted to make a backup of the current ROM before I upgrade what do you suggest? Or should I just use one of the manufacturer ROMs listed in the dev forum?
Again thank you for your help.

Up until last week, I too, was torn between waiting for the Xoom, or 'settling' with a lesser tab like the Galaxy Tab.
I picked up a Viewsonic G Tablet at Sears for $399, rooting it 30 minutes after unwrapping it, I've no regrets. My reasoning was as follows:
1 - Wanted it to be Android-based, so no Ipad.
2 - Galaxy Tab at 7", a little too small.
3 - Tegra2 based, should be Honeycomb-ready, no need for a rear camera.
4 - Xoom, even if Wifi-only version is released, I doubt it would beat the GTab at price.
This should last me until maybe the next gen of Android tablets arrive next year.
Currently running Vegan 5.1.1 ROM, with full market, all the apps I could want. This is so much fun!

Really was an easy choice for me. Price plus fun of rooting and flashing roms while I wait for honeycomb. The gtab rules and my friends that get to play with mine can't put it down. I can't put it down ;-)

Best Android Tablet under $200?

Hi everyone,
Looking for best tablet under $200. I guess that price falls under the chinese versions? I don't mind as long as it's proven to work. ***Really not sure why tablets are $600 or so while tablets and laptops are much cheaper (speak of price gouging).
So, please give me your experience with cheaper tablets. I have seen many of them on places like dhgate.com but really it's way too many of them so I can't decide which has a good reputation or not.
Thanks

Amazon kindle fire
Sent from my Inspire using xda premium

For now, I have to give a nod to the 10" screen Lepan which has been running for $199. at Walmart The issue with this unit is only 512 of ram and Android 2.2. I use it as my portable web access in the house that also has its own built in GPS, so I use it out in the field as my Nav unit. Not a bad unit and it will run like 6 hours of video, if I remember correctly is has a 6000 mah battery. Like I said I use it for the web and for games for my 5 year old. But it all depends on what you want to use the tablet for.

Depends on the size you're looking for. For the 7" platform, I'd personally wait for the Google branded pad to come out. Rumor has it, it'll be an nvidia tegra3 running the latest AndroidOS with common tablet specs, for $199.
Reason I'd hesitate to get a kindle fire is the lack of external sd slot.

Thanks for the input guys.
Sorry, I forgot some main points:
1- It must run Android (One of the latest ones - upgradeable to ICS and Rooting capability is a bonus)
2- It would be really really great if it has at least a front facing camera (front and back would be just perfect).
***Can't wait for Google Pad as I have to buy now.
Thanks

I say you should try the viewsonic g tablet. Not the best screen but when rooted its worth it. you can find then on ebay or craigslist for $150-$200.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

Both Viewsonic G Tablet and Le Pan II seems to be great options. But let's focus on cons:
Le Pan II: Apparently has wifi issues (That is no cool). Not rootable yet?!
gTablet: Missing GPS and G-Sensor. Has only 512 MB RAM and runs Android 2.2. Missing Microphone.
But, I am already leaning towards gTablet despite all missing parts. I am hoping I can add a USB microphone to it? (that is also my requirement.)
P.S. I can't seem to find any Le Pan II on the market. Everyone is out. Is it a hot item or was taken off-shelf due to Wifi issues?
Thanks again

Best Android tablet under $200
If you want a 7 inch that will be upgraded to ICS, and has GPS and camera, check out the Lenovo A1. It can be had well under $200

[Q] Get a shield or wait?

I'm really interested in getting an 8" Tablet. I'd be using it for movies, reading, surfing, gaming, etc. while at work and traveling. I was looking at this Shield and the Asus Memo Pad 8. I see that the Memo pad 8 is on clearance, so I assume they are releasing an updated version soon.
Both the Memo 8 and the Shield released at the same time. So does anyone know if Nvidia is working on an updated model of the Shield around the corner at all? Would hate to get one for a new one to be released a couple of months later.

hi
i this oder the tablet i was say get the Shield i think they this came out with this 8" Shield so i dont think they be makeing a new one any time soon all so the Shield tablet is the best when it comes too android upgrades so if you are going too get a tablet get the Shield you be vary happy with it

DFA1 said:
I'm really interested in getting an 8" Tablet. I'd be using it for movies, reading, surfing, gaming, etc. while at work and traveling. I was looking at this Shield and the Asus Memo Pad 8. I see that the Memo pad 8 is on clearance, so I assume they are releasing an updated version soon.
Both the Memo 8 and the Shield released at the same time. So does anyone know if Nvidia is working on an updated model of the Shield around the corner at all? Would hate to get one for a new one to be released a couple of months later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wait and get the shield, trust me i had a galaxy tab S and i returned it for my shield, which was $120 less than the galaxy tab S, and its much more powerful runs everything super smooth, i also have a shield portable tho, thats what made me want to go with the shield tablet also, the asus memo pad sucks IMO

I am not sure because mine is super laggy a lot of time even though I have the latest update. My old Nexus 7 2013 runs smoother than the Shield. I hope mine is a lemon (getting a replacement due to dead pixels) . I will see if the new one is any better.

My shield smokes my 2013 Nexus 7.
I just geek benched, it rivals an older lenovo laptop i5 520m I use in garage on cars.
My Nexus, not so much.
If you didn't hard reset after updating, well you need to. If you did, then you've a roque app maybe.
WR

I say yes, because I just got myself one.
The options for me:
1. Google Nexus 9 32GB WiFi Only - $399
2, NVIDIA Shield Tablet + Controller 32GB/LTE/WiFi - $399
I picked the freakin' shield tablet over google's newest nexus. It's that awesome of a device.
I don't see a huge upgrade in specs in 2015 (Nexus N1 has good specs for the price but....the same) -- really, the K1 and Keplar are freakin' amazing.
If you do go and get one, stick around for my kernel soon to be released...

Yea I don't think that Nvidia is looking to create a new SHIELD Tablet anytime soon. They're still polishing this model and considering it's their first tablet, it seems they're going to play with it for awhile.

I believe my problem is Google Now Launcher. I just uninstalled it and things look to be a lot better. I will monitor for the next couple of days.

myrcgarage said:
I believe my problem is Google Now Launcher. I just uninstalled it and things look to be a lot better. I will monitor for the next couple of days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just freaking remembered if you use GEL, to turn off " Ok Google" in the options.
If you limit to only recognizing voice on search screen bug goes away.
I'm sorry I forgot an just dawned that might be it.
WR

WarRaven said:
My shield smokes my 2013 Nexus 7.
I just geek benched, it rivals an older lenovo laptop i5 520m I use in garage on cars.
My Nexus, not so much.
If you didn't hard reset after updating, well you need to. If you did, then you've a roque app maybe.
WR
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A benchmark app says nothing about how fast the device is for normal everyday use. Sure, it runs every game I have tried extremely well, but it still have irritating slowdowns now and then in UI and apps like browsing, which makes it feel slower then my other much less powerful tablets for normal use.

I didn't mean should I get the memo 8 over the shield, I meant should I wait to see if a new 2015 shield is around the corner and wait for that newer model.
Finally found a store in Atlanta that had both the memo 8 and the shield on display. (after I asked the employee if they had them and he said no for both... Dumb ass).
Both felt great, I actually preferred the memo 8's feel over the shield. But know the shield had more power. So basically I will be getting the shield and my gf can get the memo 8 (their on clearance so I assume a newer memo 8 is around the corner).
Do any of you use the shield's flap case thing? Is it worth it?

DFA1 said:
I didn't mean should I get the memo 8 over the shield, I meant should I wait to see if a new 2015 shield is around the corner and wait for that newer model.
Finally found a store in Atlanta that had both the memo 8 and the shield on display. (after I asked the employee if they had them and he said no for both... Dumb ass).
Both felt great, I actually preferred the memo 8's feel over the shield. But know the shield had more power. So basically I will be getting the shield and my gf can get the memo 8 (their on clearance so I assume a newer memo 8 is around the corner).
Do any of you use the shield's flap case thing? Is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a better-than-decent piece and does what it's supposed to do with any issues. Saying it's worth the $40 price tag is a bit of the stretch, though. Many people like having the flap because it makes it much easier to wake the device, since the wake/power key could have been designed much better.
While I was using it, I ended up unconsciously babying it, so I bought another case for like $12 off Amazon and now I don't care what happens to that case, lol

Thanks for all the responses. I'm about to pull the trigger, but have one last question. 16gb $300 model or 32gb $400 model? I'm with Verizon so the AT&T LTE wont benefit me, are there any other features other than LTE and 32gb storage on $400 model?
I'm going to get a 64gb sdcard anyway so would I be able to store all my apps and games on that, and run them well? I'm guessing I'd have to get one of the high end (high speed) microsd cards to run games/apps properly.

I think the only difference from the 16 to the 32 is the bigger storage option and the LTE. Since I am on sprint and only plan on tethering with my note 4. I went with the 16gb model and bought a 64gb card as well.
Other than when they talk about the bands. The only difference I see is;
Storage 32 GB (WiFi+4G LTE) / 16 GB (WiFi-only)
http://shield.nvidia.com/gaming-tablet/
Scroll down for the specs. Hope this helps!

But is 16gb enough? Will apps/games run off the 64gb microsd?

My 2 cents coming from an iPad -
The Shield is lightning fast compared to my iPAD 2. When I compare it to my wifes Ipad Mini Retinia its about the same.
The screen is very very good on the Shield - I have no clue what others are saying its average. I have compared it to the Retina and its very very close and some instances better.
The form factor is great though the iPad Mini form factor is better for reading and browsing.. the shield is better for moving watching, gaming etc.
The speakers are amazing.
Did I say its lighting fast?
The ONLY slow down I have on 5.01 is when it first wakes up out of a deep sleep. Other than that I have 0 slow downs. I HAD slow downs when 1 I didnt do a full reset after an upgrade AND 2 Facebook and Facebook Messenger absolutely destroy the tablets performance. I dont know what facebook does with Messenger but that is a POS like I have not ever seen. It literally occupies a 1/2 of a core all the the time doing nothing. So... I have 0 slow downs except for right out of deep sleep. Prior to 501 I saw MANY slow downs.... I was not impressed. Now... I am impressed!
Browsing is amazing (recently with 501 and the new version of chrome)...
Battery life is HORRRRIBLE! Now.... I will preface that with I am comparing it to my iPad 2 and the iPad Mini which I could literally go days without seeing a charger with normal use. The shield however has a very powerful GPU in a very small form factor. So, its probably sufficient for the size, etc. I can only get even after removing bloat 5 hours of on screen time - thats it. I would get 50 % more than that on the apple products. This is my only complaint... but its one I live with and I can not fault the device due to its size and power.
SD Cards - I havent found a single person who has been 100% happy how it works. Everyone seems to have issues with either games not installing on them (inconsistent), accessing them in general (many successful after rooting), even issues with recovery images not being able to format large SD Cards. I would suggest if you can afford the extra $$ get the 32 GB if you think your going to need the storage. Reserve the SD card for movings, music and pictures (for now until they fix it).
WifI - horrible performance compared to every other device I have compared it to. If you have strong WiFi signal in your house you will be fine. If your already on the fringe (2 bars out of 4) forget it... this tablet may not even connect to the AP at any distance. Its also very sensitive to APs that are on the same channel. If your AP is on channel 11 and your neighbors channel is on channel 11 and your within 10 dB of each other, the tablet drops connections like crazy. The simple fix is to either get a booster, better antenna, better AP and change the channel... The device however is flawed and no software can fix these issues.
Developer Friendly - yes the platform is very developer friendly so if your into making custom roms, kernels, etc. This is a great tablet.
Quality - My tablet, excellent. but others have complained. So its a roll of the dice. Generally when everything works as it should its perfect. Unfortunately there have been lemons.
Nvidia Support - AMAZING! even with the lemons Nvidia is fast to respond. I have had many conversations with techs in their forums and they are almost as fast as Google when it comes to updates. I love that!
Software Quality - ****E!!! In my career I have never seen so many bugs (I run a division of software engineers - in software engineering for 20 years). I am shocked with how poor the quality assurance is. There are core user functions that broke in 501 - In my world these would have been show stoppers! But Nvidia let it go out the door. I am shocked honestly. 501 has to be the worst Quality OS revision I have seen from any product. They introduced regressions like screen corruption (its apparent in many many many games, apps, etc.), battery stats are all messed up, battery life inconsistent, some games no longer work at all. Nvidia and Google need to step it up on the quality side. The tablet is usable but for some it may not be - especially if one of the apps you use on a daily basis is now broken.
Wait or not? I dont think it matters. The hardware is not going to change and I dont think Nvidia or Google's code quality is going to change. They will fix these issues in the next release and break other things.
Its a question of whether or not do you go with Android or not. If you like to fiddle with your tablet its a yes... if not go with apple.
If you want a small form factor android then you go with the shield.
I recommend the tablet for its price, performance and support. I own it and for now will be keeping it. I personally dont like Apple - I dont seem them an innovative anymore.
But, If you want rock solid performance, quality and battery life - go with Apple.

Don't wait unless you are anal and are going to obsess over ever minor issue. If you are looking for gaming nothing out there can compare. The grid being free is amazing especially if you are like me and have not played any of the games on it. There is occasional stutter using 2.4ghz but I have loved multiple hours and game play is awesome. Battery is not great but I get between 4-5 hours and it typically take around 2 1/2 hours to charge to full.
I read all the negatives prior but quickly came to realize that most complaints appear to come from the same people. Be aware of the potential issues and decide if the risk is worth the reward.
Sd card if rooted works great, I have a 64gb samsung class 10 using folder mount almost all game data on external and everything runs fine. I could not recommend an ipad over this Tablet unless you are tech illiterate and want to over spend on limited storage so that you can pay tons for apps and check Facebook

I own an Apple iPad Air2 64gb and a nVidia Shield Tablet 32gb. I used to own the Nexus9 32gb tablet but returned it for the nVidia Shield Tablet. I wanted both an Apple and an Android tablet for gaming. I also have the nVidia controller and the Steelseries XL ipad controller. I prefer gaming on the Nvidia Shield tablet and spend more time gaming on this tablet. I went with the 32gb model Shield due to more internal memory. There are some games that I cant move to the SD card. That is why I went with the 32gb model with a 64gb microsd.
Do not wait, and pick up the nVidia 32gb tablet. I have 22gb left on the internal memory on my nVidia 32gb after moving everything I could to the sdcard. So if I had the 16gb model I figured it would only be about 6gb left of internal memory.

kuztov67 said:
I own an Apple iPad Air2 64gb and a nVidia Shield Tablet 32gb. I used to own the Nexus9 32gb tablet but returned it for the nVidia Shield Tablet. I wanted both an Apple and an Android tablet for gaming. I also have the nVidia controller and the Steelseries XL ipad controller. I prefer gaming on the Nvidia Shield tablet and spend more time gaming on this tablet. I went with the 32gb model Shield due to more internal memory. There are some games that I cant move to the SD card. That is why I went with the 32gb model with a 64gb microsd.
Do not wait, and pick up the nVidia 32gb tablet. I have 22gb left on the internal memory on my nVidia 32gb after moving everything I could to the sdcard. So if I had the 16gb model I figured it would only be about 6gb left of internal memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If rooted use folder mount and you can move all

Trigger pulled, I'm now a Shield owner. Got the Nvidia cover, Fintie Cover, and 64gb Samsung Microsd. Been using my girlfriend's Memo 8 for the past week and think I'm now a tablet user (at least at work). Not sure if I'll use it for a lot of controller gaming (unsure if I will find a controller I like). I'm more of an Xbox controller lover than a PS4... but if it works I might give it a try. Haven't even turned it on yet.
Will attempt to root it here shortly while at work. Fingers crossed....

Opinion needed - Purchasing the K1 May 2016

Hi.
I hope this post does not make people mad. I just need a current perspective. Most searches on this are older.
I am thinking about buying this tablet but I am unsure. I hope this does not draw haters. I am just trying to reason it out and be a better informed buyer.
My reasons
1. Tablet seems to be out of stock. A lot.
-Does this mean truly it is being discontinued? Is there a new version on the horizon?​-Is it just so good they can't keep them on the shelves?​2. Should I go with the Zen 8 with 4GB of ram or other comparible? I mean for few dollars more...
3. Is the Shield K1 only good because of the Game pad mapper support for touch only games?
4. Would the Ipega controller(or similar) with touch game pad mapping be just as good?
I want a good gaming tablet and a good media tablet.
Thanks.

There's no definitive answer on the Shield X1 yet. I wouldn't bother playing that waiting game if you need a tablet now. I don't know how Nvidia handles their Shield line of products as this is my first Nvidia portable, but if it's anything like they do with their GeForce video cards, then you'd be seeing an announcement about a successor a month in advance of its release.
Supply isn't keeping up with demand right now. I was on vacation when I decided to pull the trigger on the Shield K1 because my Nook HD+ felt sluggish. I bought the Shield K1 a week before they started going out of stock everywhere last month, and even though I didn't need it immediately since I wasn't on vacation anymore, my phone died this week so I've been using the new tablet while I wait for a warranty replacement phone to be delivered. Fortuitous timing.
The biggest problem I see with the ZenPad S 8.0 Z580CA is that there doesn't seem to be a way to unlock the bootloader currently, so even though you can root it, there isn't any active development for it, and it's still stuck on Lollipop. Also, everyone seems to say it has pretty bad battery life.
As for performance, the Shield K1 will smoke the ZenPad in pretty much everything graphics-related because of the Kepler GPU. The Shield is still the best Android gaming tablet, and while its raw CPU and memory performance isn't at the top due to the SoC's age, it's still more than good enough to not be an overall system bottleneck.
I've only had two issues with the K1 so far. One is that I can't get the camera to save to external SD. This is the writing-to-exFAT issue that's apparently related to Marshmallow permissions, but I've had my LG G4 on Marshmallow since February and never had any such external SD write issues, so I don't know if it's an Nvidia-specific thing. The other issue is the hypersensitive touchscreen, which can be recalibrated in the software. I also still need to install a tempered glass screen protector, which might change the touch sensitivity as well.
I can't answer your game controller questions as I haven't started playing any games on mine yet.

For me, the SHIELD tablet is currently the best one in the market. Only problem I have had is that since the Marshmallow update, the sound over HDMI is broken (doesn't work) though the image is working perfectly fine.

1. Tablet seems to be out of stock. A lot.
-Does this mean truly it is being discontinued? Is there a new version on the horizon?
Probably no , nvidia reps are saying it is just a production rate not meeting higher demand.
-Is it just so good they can't keep them on the shelves?
Yes the price reduction gave this shield an epic boost compared to other tablets at the moment.
2. Should I go with the Zen 8 with 4GB of ram or other comparible? I mean for few dollars more...
Thats a good tab but i've seen a few hick ups in performance during a review video on youtube. besides tegra k1 is far more superior that intel soc. (you also have to consider the fact that intel soc are x86/64 architecture so there are few comparability issues in apps and games)
3. Is the Shield K1 only good because of the Game pad mapper support for touch only games?
No it is good because you are getting high end performance tablet for 200$ , it plays every game you throw at it with ease, you have all the things you need as gamer in built (console mode , twitch , 1080 screen , direct wifi controller)
4. Would the Ipega controller(or similar) with touch game pad mapping be just as good?
i dont have it so i cannot answer that.
Upcoming shield k1 successor will likely not be in same price range as the k1. It is expected to be somewhere between 300 to 400$. Shield k1 was relaunched around nov 2015 , so i highly doubt that it is at its end of cycle. In one of geforce forums a nvidia representative said they are viewing shiled k1 as a relaunch tablet and its EOL support in no way near . so you are covered to get android N for this device.
Its the best bang for buck at the moment and still keeps up with soc from this year.

Thank you all. I went ahead and ordered a K1. With 2 day shipping put it out to the middle of next week. So i did 1 day. Lol. Should be Tuesday now. Stock is still low but at least they have them. I hope it comes sooner.
Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

You made a right choice. For gaming there truly isn't anything else comparable out there. Media wise I'm not so sure, just on the basis of the subpar screen.

New one
http://www.androidcentral.com/nvidia-shield-tablet-refresh-may-have-been-outed-fcc
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

Just my luck. Never fails. Just like my shield TV. Now you can get it with 2 game pads.
Anyone need something new to come out sooner. Let me know. I can just buy the old one and after i click order the announcement of the new device will soon follow. oh well. I am still looking forward to the k1.
Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

Haha lol , im sorry but i think you can return the shield if its unopened besides i think the new tablet will probably be 100$ more. Performance might increase only 10-20% , battery size might be little less as it is said to be lil thinner.
so i think you are not losing much comparing price to performance ratio.

Nah.
I am sure it will be a keeper for a while. Thx
Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

Just bought one . Hard to get it, always out of stock, 192.44€