Tablets.. .Which one?

Mike

Mike

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Jun 27, 2006
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On the firing line
I was thinking about getting an iPad2 for no other reason than I have an iPhone and really like it. Figured an iPad2 is just a giant iPhone so it'll be easy to learn.

A friend suggested I look into the other tablets out there and not just go with an iPad2 on a whim.

Sooo.... after looking at a bunch the past few days, watching videos, reading reviews, etc. these are the two I'm considering:

Asus Transformer [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-TF101-A1-10-1-Inch-Tablet-Computer/dp/B004U78J1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314139634&sr=1-1"]Asus Transformer[/ame] $459.44 on Amazon + $3.99 next day (I have Amazon Prime) 32 gig, runs Honeycomb 3.2, has an external microSD slot, 1.2 megapixel front camera and 5.0 meg rear camera. Has optional keyboard dock with USB ports.

or

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-10-1-Inch-32GB-Wi-Fi/dp/B00519RWI8/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314140503&sr=1-2"]Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1[/ame] $599.99 + 3.99 shipping. 32 gig, runs Honeycomb 3.1, NO exteral USB or microSD slots, I don't believe it has a dock either (not sure). Lower res cameras.

Both have 10 inch screen and supposedly play HD video very very well.

LOL, after reading those short descriptions, it pretty obvious which is my favorite. What else is out there that's worth looking at? Motorola Xoom... meh, wasn't that impressed with what I saw, so not a consideration. HP Touchpad ? :1bluewinky: J/K

Seriously though, what other tablets should I look at?
 


No vote either way for the tablets, but Asus makes really high quality computer components so in general I would expect their quality to be high.
 
Get the Motorola Xoom instead. I'm loving it. I too was considering the Galaxy 10.1 until I watched this video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao6nMSc7ktY&hd=1"]Samsung Galaxy Tab vs Motorola Xoom - YouTube[/ame]

The Xoom has an SD slot btw, and everything else the Transformer has.
 
I've owned the iPad, Transformer, HP Touchpad, Nook Color, and the Iconia. I hate Apple, but when it comes to tablets they're the best. Just save yourself the pain of realizing you bought a piece of shit and get the iPad.
 
SEO_Mike said:
Motorola Xoom... meh, wasn't that impressed with what I saw, so not a consideration. HP Touchpad ? :1bluewinky: J/K
Click to expand...

What kind of specs were you into?

I got the Xoom a couple of weeks ago - it's pretty great as far as Droid goes. No Netflix on the crapper, unfortunately [Galaxy Tab does] but great for everything else.
 
I'm really liking the Transformer. I purchased it without the dock. They were selling at a premium and didn't need it right away, but I'm ordering one in the next couple of weeks.
Battery life as it stands is very good, and storage is pretty good. My primary complaint is the short little USB cable they provide as a charger is a joke. Also, it's USB 3.0, so you cannot use a regular USB extension.
Happy with it overall, and will be using it to get a lot more done when the dock gets here.
 
I bought the samsung 10.1 w/16gb a few weeks ago over the ipad and xoom. If I wanted a boatload of solid apps then I would have bought an ipad and I still might, no question it's also a good choice. The xoom will be shortlived with that form factor and while it might have expandable storage I didn't consider that a major feature. I would however get the 32gb samsung and I saw newegg has a deal going on for another week with that model so imo would be worth it. Apps don't take up much space, so unless you loading it up with movies or whatever I don't know how your going to use all that space. Also, samsung sells a usb adapter for $20 if you really needed it.

I didn't really look at the asus but along with samsung they seem to be the only ones trying to compete with apple. There new U46 and U56 laptops look better than anything out there in that price range. I'm sure the asus would be a good choice but I think samsung will be more proactive in updating android in the future. Anybody who has an android phone knows how this process goes.
 
subigo said:
I've owned the iPad, Transformer, HP Touchpad, Nook Color, and the Iconia. I hate Apple, but when it comes to tablets they're the best. Just save yourself the pain of realizing you bought a piece of shit and get the iPad.
Click to expand...

Other than the App Store, what does the iPad truly have to offer over the others? No flash support, cameras are weak, is 1024x768 vs. higher res, locked operating system, multi tasking is difficult, no USB or microSD.

You say you've owned them all. Let's hear why the iPad is better. Lots of users of multiple tablets out there disagree with you regarding the iPad2 being the best.

So, tell me why you believe it's the best.
 
DanWesson said:
Battery life as it stands is very good, and storage is pretty good. My primary complaint is the short little USB cable they provide as a charger is a joke. Also, it's USB 3.0, so you cannot use a regular USB extension.
Click to expand...

The USB 3.0 standard is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 so there really shouldn't be any issue using a standard USB cable. You won't get the max transfer speed but it should still work.
 
If you can get in on the TouchPad fire sale, you shud try that out.

Agreed, it has a crappy looking exterior, but the UI is supposed to be really intuitive and awesome. And at $99? Heck! Cost you less than an iPhone.
 
Not much to add but I can vouch for Samsung being good, no complaints at all with my 7inch one. I will look into the Panasonic Toughbook Tab when it come out later in the year- looks solid and can be used in the sun.
 
SEO_Mike said:
Other than the App Store, what does the iPad truly have to offer over the others? No flash support, cameras are weak, is 1024x768 vs. higher res, locked operating system, multi tasking is difficult, no USB or microSD.

You say you've owned them all. Let's hear why the iPad is better. Lots of users of multiple tablets out there disagree with you regarding the iPad2 being the best.

So, tell me why you believe it's the best.
Click to expand...

Here's what I use a tablet for: Web browsing, email, videos, remote desktop. That's it. The iPad's hardware is just nicer than the others, there's no denying that... if you use all of them for a few days you'll really see the difference.

I've never really cared about flash, because Youtube works, Netflix works, there are a million games to choose from, etc... I also don't give a shit about the camera. I've never used a camera on any tablet for anything other than Skype, so it's not really a concern. As for the other concerns, multitasking is simple on the iPad now and you can get USB adapters on monoprice.com for like $5.

It just comes down to this... I just want shit to work and be fast. I don't want to root my device or use it as a laptop replacement. For doing the things I use a tablet for, the iPad is perfect. All the other tablet's I've owned either have hardware issues or software issues. A lot of people like Android (and I've been using it on my phone since day one), but I fucking hate it on tablets. Force closes, slow, and a lack of good apps.
 
subigo said:
... because Youtube works, Netflix works...
Click to expand...

You make a good point about Netflix. I watch it all the time on the iPhone.

I'm looking for something that can remote into my Beast from the road without carrying around a 9 pound gaming laptop. That gets real old, real fast.

Plus, it would be nice to watch Netflix when I'm bored on something larger than 3.5 inches.

Here's my list of wants / needs:

  • Remote into my Win 7 machine
  • Use spreadsheets, preferably OpenOffice, but if I can remote into the Beast, then don't need to have it on the tablet
  • Netflix - I know some tablets don't support it
  • Works with Roboform
  • Don't care about cellular, since the iPhone has a hotspot
  • Fast
  • Work with Dropbox
Without playing with all the different tablets, the iPad just doesn't seem to stack up on paper.

Anybody else prefer the iPad over XXXXX brand? If so, why?

I just want to get the best tablet available right now. Don't really care what name is stamped on it even though it could perform the tasks I need.
 
Not attempting to answer your requirements here but...

I know for me when shopping I alsways start with what OS I want. For PC's its Linux, for tablets its android. I then work my way back from there.

I've been a Newegg shopper for probably 10 years and I really like their "process of elimination shopping: pick an os, then ram, then screensize, manufacturer, etc then it will tell you which one to buy.

Alot of your requirements are os dependent, so it doesn't matter if the *tablet* has it, its weather the os supports it.

I would lean towards an Asus/HP running android. Good luck!
 
I would buy a TouchPad on the cheap and then either an iPad 2 or 10.1 Tab. I don't really like the iPad 2's formfactor that much though. Blackberry playbook is my personal underrated favorite though. By far the best 7in tablet on the market and a great portable workhorse. I don't think it can perform all of those functions you were looking at though. Much more of a portable toy, unless you had a specific use.

Full disclaimer, don't own any of the tablets.
 
Looks like I need to venture out of the house and go play with the Asus and the iPad. I've got an Asus laptop that rocks, and run the Asus Crosshair IV mobo in my desktop, so I'm very happy with Asus products. On the other hand, I love my iPhone. It's very intuitive, does what I need, when I need it.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3N9MmKy87s]iPad 2 Vs. Asus Transformer! - YouTube[/ame]
 
I have had the transformer for a few months now and I really like it. I cant speak to the iPad but this tablet does all the tasks you describe well.

I currently use the logmein ignition app to access 4 machines remotely. At any given time I will have 4 logmein tabs open as well as a couple browsing tabs as well.

The gmail app for it works very well and it also has many other good apps as well.

XDA also has a great section going on for development on this tablet....

Asus Eee Pad Transformer - xda-developers

They have overclocked the dual core processor to 1.8ghz for example and all kinds of other power user tweaks.

In my case I have not done much modification to it as it is not my main work machine and no tablet will ever replace a good laptop much less a desktop for work efficiency.

If you do go that route I have found this to be the best case for it...

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/rooCASE-Multi-Angle-Leather-Transformer-10-1-Inch/dp/B00547IQCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314159815&sr=8-1"]Amazon[/ame] (non aff)
 
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