Ask Slashdot: Best Android Tablet For Travel? 356
PerlJedi writes "I am planing a long trip (to Ireland), and want to buy an Android tablet to take along for the trip. I am a software engineer (I actually work for Slashdot), a Linux geek, and an Android fan. I would like to get a tablet primarily to use for entertainment (when I'm not working or building robots in my workshop, I'm usually playing with my phone), but something I could get some work done from in a pinch would be a major plus (all I need to be able to work is a Web browser, and an ssh terminal, preferably with a keyboard). My current cell phone is the Samsung Charge, rooted and running GummyCharge 2.1, and it is a good bet I'll want to root whatever tablet I get, if not right away, soon after getting it. From an entertainment standpoint I want something that is large enough to watch high definition videos on, with a battery life that will make it practical for use on a long flight. Having a decent camera would be a nice plus, but is not an absolute necessity. Having a forward facing camera for video chat would also be good, but is also not a necessity." PerlJedi's got a few options in mind; read on for the details of his reasoning and help him fulfill his quest.
"My brief initial search has yielded the following initial contenders:
- Asus Transformer Prime: This is currently my favorite, for a few reasons: Tegra 3 quad core processor (that's just plain cool); it's designed with a docking station in mind, making it perfect for using for work; sleek, thin design; light weight; available with up to 64 GB. It is on the pricey side, though.
- Toshiba Thrive: I must admit, I know very little about this one. Unlike the others, I have not heard much hype around it. From what I've read thus far, pros include: full-size SD slot; full USB support; full HDMI support. Cons: Bulkier and heavier than its opponents.
- Motorola XOOM: This one has been available for some time, which can be both good and bad. Its problems should be known and understood by now, but it's lost some of the sex appeal of the new product.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab: The Galaxy tab line has also been on the market for a while. It does have some added appeal to me because my phone is also from Samsung, so the rooting processes, and available ROMs, will be more familiar to me.
- Sony Tablet S: Like the Toshiba, I have heard little hype about this tablet. Its feature set also seems similar to the Toshiba. I must admit here, I may be a bit biased against Sony over some of their recent treatment of the hacker/maker community."
Transformer (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Transformer (Score:4, Informative)
I have a Transformer with the keyboard, and I can recommend it.
Not as smooth a user interface as an iPad (it jerks while scrolling), but like the OP, I wanted an Android tablet.
Re: (Score:2)
Interesting, I have never had any noticeable issue when scrolling on my Transformer and I got a very early 32gb model. When do you notice the lag? Do you have any apps that might be misbehaving in the background and do you have it rooted and/or running alternate roms? Mine is pure stock.
Re: (Score:3)
I find that the iPad has the all around best UI response. I still wouldn't buy one for myself, it isn't that much of a difference. Android is open, at least all my Androids are, and the price is much more reasonable.
The Novo 7, which is a 7" Chinese tablet running android, uses a 1.5ghz dual arm, It's very snappy. $120.00 in Hong Kong.
Re:Transformer (Score:4, Informative)
He said scrolling on his Transformer isn't as smooth as the iPad. The Transform and Transformer Prime are 2 different products. The Prime is a quad code, but not the older Transformer model.
Re:Transformer (Score:4, Informative)
Root it, put cyanogenmod7 on it...and voila!! You have a quite functional Android tablet for pennies on the dollar of a store bought 'tablet'.
Drawbacks? Yes, no camera, no GPS and no 3G.
I find that pretty much anywhere I want to use a tablet, there are free wifi there....I just traveled with mine over the holidays, and it was great for flying, watching videos (I watched the Led Zeppelin DVD set, and some rifftrax of movies). I have a decent set of in-ear phones (Shure SE530's, great sound, and isolation even on a plane)...paired with my rooted nook color, it was great.
I have pretty much full access to the Android mkt with it, so I can get most any games or apps I want...there are ssh ones, GPG ones as well as email client ones that work with GPG...
I've been very happy with the rooted nook color...good size, quality screen, sounds is good, battery life is good.
And hey, if you *DO* want to use it as an ereader...pretty good at that too, I just put both the kindle and nook ereader on it from the android mkt.
Tablet as in pill (Score:4, Funny)
I have a Transformer, a Novo 7 (China) and an iPad. I paid for the Transformer, the others are company owned test units.
I like them all. I haven't tried the Transformer with a keyboard, should have bought it. But that might be the one you want.
I haven't read the article, nor the summary, but I'm going to post anyway in fine slashdot tradition.
I would say vallium, as it has a better reputation than prozac. Once you're stoned out of your tree all the computing devices will look the same anyway.
Check out Lenovo (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Check out Lenovo (Score:5, Informative)
For those too lazy to Google: here you go [lenovo.com]
HP Touchpad (Score:5, Insightful)
Asus Prime or Xoom (Score:2, Insightful)
I'd use the prime (given the options available to it) or the Xoom mainly because it's built like a brick sh1thouse and unlikely to break accidentally. I have a xoom myself, and was quite suprised by the standby time of the tablet (ie: a week with keeping over 90% charge). The samsung is sexy and light in comparison, I can't compare the others as I havent tried them.
At the end of the day it's down to what you actually *need* not what's *nice*, sure 64GB is nice, but do you actually need it to write emails
Has to be the Transformer (Score:5, Informative)
Even without the keyboard, I've barely put mine down in the months since I bought it. You might be better off trying to pick up the original on the cheap now that its successor is on the way - it's a good, solid piece of hardware and it can be rooted easily too.
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When docked with the keyboard is when I feel it really shines. It gets ridiculous battery life when docked (16+ hours), and will charge the tablet from the dock so when you undock the tablet the tablet will alway
Thrive (Score:2)
Re:Thrive (Score:4, Informative)
Additionally, the Thrive has two power quirks that I appreciate: Its battery is easily replaceable, and it sacrifices the ability to charge via USB for a 30W power supply that can charge its battery from zero to full in 90 minutes. For typical business use, I only need to charge it about 30 minutes daily.
I was going to say... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I was going to say... (Score:4, Interesting)
I was going to say B&N Nook Color. Install Cyanogen 7.1 (very easy to do), connectBot, hacker's keyboard, and Opera. The battery life is great, nice screen, dirt cheap. Tether it to your phone for non-wifi connectivity. ..but then I clicked your link for the Transformer Prime. Very nice. Yeah, get that one.
Yeah, I would get a Nook Color if I were going to get a nook. The Nook Tablet is kind of a piece of crap... it's getting "useable", but it's still horrendously put together software-wise. But it is speedy and fast.
I'm actually kind of happy with my Nook Tablet now that I've been beating it with large objects for 3~4 days... but it's still not where I wish it were. Honestly, one should not have to break a product massively in order to make it useful.
The average person might enjoy it, but a geek will struggle in the truly claustrophobic walled garden that they have erected. I actually was crying 30 minutes after opening the package, because it was essentially worthless to me. (Thank god for people having their hands on it a month ahead of me, and doing all the work in rooting it.)
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I was going to say B&N Nook Color. Install Cyanogen 7.1 (very easy to do), connectBot, hacker's keyboard, and Opera. The battery life is great, nice screen, dirt cheap. Tether it to your phone for non-wifi connectivity. ..but then I clicked your link for the Transformer Prime. Very nice. Yeah, get that one.
Yeah, I would get a Nook Color if I were going to get a nook.
The OP mentioned "video chat" in his wish list, so presumably he wants to use something like Skype for voice over IP.
The Nook Color has no microphone capability (but the new Nook Tablet has a built-in Mic).
The Nook Tablet is kind of a piece of crap... it's getting "useable", but it's still horrendously put together software-wise. But it is speedy and fast.
I actually was crying 30 minutes after opening the package, because it was essentially worthless to me. (Thank god for people having their hands on it a month ahead of me, and doing all the work in rooting it.)
You really should get another hobby if your inability to hack a device that makes no claim about openness and hackability makes you cry.
Re: (Score:2)
I just got a Kindle Fire and I love it. Granted it only uses the Amazon App Store and the newest update, allegedlly, prevents rooting, but I can turn on the Mobile Hotspot from by Droid X2 and get email, stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, Free Texting, read books, play music and games.
Personally I love it and it was a cheaper alternative to the Prime, which I wanted and still do, but I can get two Fires for less than the Transformer Prime.
Best Android for Time Travel? (Score:5, Funny)
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He wants an android for travel, not to park cars.
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Data's head is three hundred years older than his body.
Dude (there's no way you're a chick), that's one excellent obscure reference to an under-rated episode. However, isn't Data's head more like 450 years old?
From the cheapie model that I got my son (Score:4, Insightful)
Based upon my Christmas mistake (he's 8, he doesn't care)- here's what I would look for:
1. Capacative screen. Resistive touch screens suck, and I forgot how much until I realized this el-cheap sub $90 tablet came with a resistive screen but no stylus.
2. On-board USB ports, not on a dongle. His contains a proprietary connector with USB / wired ethernet ports on it, and I'm afraid he'll lose it. He might have already and I don't know.
3. SDHC or microSDHC slot and plenty of on-board memory
4. Good built-in Wifi- his seems to disconnect at the drop of a hat.
Go with the same brand as your phone otherwise, that way you can be sure your favorite aps will work.
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Which one did you get him? My ex was hellbent on buying a couple of the cheapo PanDigitals for the grandkids. Tried to talk her out of it, but no dice.
Re:From the cheapie model that I got my son (Score:4, Funny)
The mistake referred to the Android Tablet. My son was born in May.
Transformer (Score:5, Informative)
I have a friend who sounds almost identical in his needs ... he was traveling (3 months in Japan) and wanted something he could throw in his backpack and work from (web, ssh) if needed, without having to lug around a laptop. He got the ASUS Transformer with keyboard, and loves it -- he still uses it every day, and this is almost a year after buying it. Plus the doubled battery life the keyboard provides is really nice.
Transformer with keyboard (Score:5, Informative)
I own a Xoom and a Transformer. I love both.
The Xoom feels less plastic and more sturdy than the Transformer, and since the 3.2 update, the Xoom is just as great as the Transformer as used as a tablet-only. I actually prefer it to the Transformer. Now, the Transformer with the keyboard is just another piece of awesome for daily stuff.
So for your usage pattern I will definitely recommend the Transformer with the keyboard.
Re: (Score:2)
donno about the hardware but... (Score:3)
I like, "Hackers Keyboard," for a decent SW keyboard. Works decent even on my Galaxy S II 4.5" screen...
Wait wait wait (Score:5, Insightful)
With all the, uh, street-cred up there, you mean to tell us you don't ALREADY have a Kindle Fire rooted and running the pre-alpha Ice Cream Sandwich????
I'd suggest that purely for size, a 7" tablet might be better for travelling. The Transformer is apparently a hell of a tablet though.
Now I'll share my personal experience from a 2-week trip to Ireland a few years ago. Sure tablets didn't exist way back in 2006 but here's my advice anyway.
SCREW THE TABLET. Get a REALLY NICE camera.
I did take my laptop (at the time a 12" Powerbook G4). It was used at night to download the hundreds of photos off the camera so I have space for photos the next day, and to do minor trip blogging. I did not find the time, opportunity, need or DESIRE to touch a computer during the day.
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Yep...I'm saving now for a Cannon 5D.
It will be a couple months before I pay off the xmas gifts (and loaded macbook pro I treated myself to this year)....I'm hoping by then, Cannon might make an announcement if there is going to be a 5D Mark III.
What about non-Android tablets? (Score:4, Interesting)
What tablets are to recommend for running some more ordinary operating system, like Debian or Ubuntu?
Re:What about non-Android tablets? (Score:5, Funny)
That's like asking what brand of hammer is best for hitting yourself in the nuts.
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Xoom (Score:4, Informative)
I have a Xoom that I travel with constantly and I can put multiple movies on the removable SD card quite easily. I've also purchased Asus Transformers for the kids and we've taken all of them on long trips internationally without any problems.
The only negative I have on all of the tablets is the lack of a standard charge interface, like a micro USB for example. The ASUS has one standard, the Motorola has a 12V plug that's different etc. It's just like cell phones. SO if you're expecting to travel light just plan on bringing another charger along as well.
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Thinkpad Tablet (Score:2)
I've had the good fortune to review a number of tablets in the last few weeks. Personally, I like the 7" form factor and prefer Samsung's Galaxy line over others I've tried, but given the requirements I think I'd probably take a long, hard look at a Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet. They're the only tablets I've seen with a USB root hub and their screens, while not quite as good as Samsung's, is better than the the Motorola, Acer, Toshiba and Asus 10" tablets I've tried. The Tegra CPU isn't top of the line but in my
We did this (Score:2)
Transformer (Score:2)
I have the first gen Transformer and I like it ALOT. The screen is fantastic and the ability to slap a real keyboard (and multi-hour extra battery) on it is just icing on the cake. I upgraded from a 7" Galaxy Tab and while I miss the built-in cellular access at times, that's nothing that can't be overcome by the hotspot in my Galaxy S II ;)
Ask /. and buy as I did (Score:3)
Why asking here? All info you need is on the web, why get confused by advice of users that probably at most have really used 2 tablets.
Bought a Sony myself, based on the info on the web and after holding it in my hands. I am happy with the form factor. Dont care about the otner specs as I bought the device for what it can, not for what it might do in the future (Hope for an ICS upgrade, but wont complain ifit doesnt happen. Didnt pay for it)
Enjoy your trip, try to enjoy it without any digital toys. They are overrated.
Good tablet for annotating pdf? (Score:2)
Related question: I would like to use a tablet for grading and correcting assignments and reading and annotating papers (all pdf). I would need it to sync to a storage for pdf files, preferably with a means of adding metadata (tags, bibliography, etc) with a good frontend on the PC as well.
Are there any good apps/applications for that now? Because then I might consider getting a tablet. Is it worth trying to get an e-ink device? Are there any e-ink devices running a sensible OS?
Why a tablet? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
If you want a keyboard and you want to root it then is a tablet really the best device to serve your needs? Why not just get a netbook? I suppose you can still install Android x86 if you really want to.
I was wondering the same thing - once you add a keyboard, the size/weight advantage of a tablet is reduced while you lose the flexibility of a full operating system on a Netbook.
It's the same question I ask people at work when they tell me how great and productive they are with their iPad (along with case + keyboard that essentially turns it into a netbook). Then they complain when I send them Excel spreadsheets that they can't open on their iPad because the formulas don't work. Why not just use a netbook i
Re: (Score:2)
Perhaps because a netbook doesn't have a removable touchscreen for the many times you'd like to use it without the bulk/awkwardness of a keyboard?
Low cost Option LePan TC970 (Score:2)
We got sick of the kids fighting over the iPad so we looked for a cheap alternative we could let the kids abuse.
We picked up the TC970 for $199 from New Egg.. So far it's been a good little tablet..
It runs Andoid 2.2, 32 gig micro SD card slot, Wifi works well but does not support 5ghz N. (the ipad doesn't either ) 8 hour battery life, decent 9.7" touch screen but the iPad is better.. Downside, it's not upgradable to 2.3 or 2.4. Had some initial lockup issues but it was corrected with a firmware upgrade.
For
Re: (Score:2)
Good to know then.. I assumed so because I can't see my 5ghz network with the iPad.. Might be a signal strength issue I need to look into.
Transoformer (Score:2)
A have several tablets (I develop for them) so -- (Score:3)
I develop software for tablets (iPad, Playbook, Android) so I have quite a few. I tested them myself and I can compare them first hand.
The best Android tablets right now are Asus Transformer and Samsung Galaxy Tab. I would say that the Tabs have better build quality than Transformers, personally I like TouchWiz and I the Tab 8.9 tablet is just right - small and light enough to be easy to carry yet more comfortable than a 7".
Random troll (Score:4, Insightful)
This will get modded Troll, but seriously? If you're planning extended travel, why on Earth would you think about buying a gadget to play with before you go? Get a grip!
I'm being serious, and I speak from experience. Now me, I like books. I always figure that when I have a lot of travel time ahead of me, I should sock a bunch of reading matter into my bag for those long stretches, so I don't run out. And you know what? Almost always, that stuff ends up sitting in my bag unread.
Do you know why you travel? To travel. To experience new things, new people, new places. Not to fuck around with a gadget, or spend your time sitting in a chair by yourself, reading a book.
Count your trip as a blessing, expect it to be one of the experiences of your life that you will always look back on fondly, and please, for the love of God, put the fucking phone DOWN.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Hey hippy, get your tent off of my lawn!
I happen to own a Samsung Galaxy Note tablet-phone, and I think it's perfect kit for travel. But I do agree with PCM2. Even if you happen to enjoy coding very much, coding isn't as much fun as living. And life is short.
Re:Random troll (Score:4, Funny)
* the rest is...
*/
Mod Parent Insightful (Score:3)
This will get modded Troll, but seriously? If you're planning extended travel, why on Earth would you think about buying a gadget to play with before you go? Get a grip!
Do you know why you travel? To travel. To experience new things, new people, new places. Not to fuck around with a gadget, or spend your time sitting in a chair by yourself, reading a book.
Count your trip as a blessing, expect it to be one of the experiences of your life that you will always look back on fondly, and please, for the love of God, put the fucking phone DOWN.
I would mod you as insightful if I had not already posted in this story. If you don't already have a tablet and you are planning on travelling then don't worry about it but make sure that you have a decent camera to capture memories and be sure to enjoy yourself with the people you meet.
A tablet can be a good thing to have along with you to use in your hotel room for watching videos, checking out Facebook and other social media and checking your email but that is something that you should only do when you a
Why Android? (Score:2)
While I love my android telephone, I just don't get the pad hype. If you want to actually do something, bring a decent small laptop or netbook and an extra battery. Those should last more than 10 hours.
Forget the Transformer Prime. (Score:3)
The most obvious issue is the lack of availability, but even if you have time to wait there is a serious problem that is likely to sour your interest in the Transformer Prime: Locked boot-loader. Until someone breaks it or the key gets leaked, it's uncertain whether you would be able to install your own OS on it. It looks like a great tablet/netbook, and I was real hot to buy one, with the idea of possibly being able to install a full Linux on it and use it as more of a lightweight netbook with 18 hours of battery.
XOOM is rather nice (Score:2)
The XOOM was one of the first of its generation of Android devices. In the meantime they got slimmer and the next generation is just around the bend. I don't know about a 4.0 update and I haven't read up on 4.0 so I can't even say if it could handle it. But what it does it does quite well. Build quality is superb, it's responsive and it handles web browsing and most video viewing quite well.
My only criticism is the type and placement of connect
Re: (Score:2)
Also assume you will use it for 2 years. If tablets are here to stay that would be about the upgrade cycle.
another consideration: can you lose it? (Score:2)
How much are you willing to lose? Traveling frequently, things get lost, stolen, or broken. Sometimes all 3.
Example: I had a Kindle 3 (with keyboard and ad supported). It kept me entertained, could browse the web, send and receive emails. I loved not having to recharge except every week or so (with heavy use). I traveled all over of China with it, leaving my work laptop at the home office.
Was it as good as anything you listed? Hell no! But when I lost it (got left on a plane, my own stupid fault), I
Re: (Score:2)
Do you tend to lose things frequently? I lost one HD video camera several years ago in Spain when the cab driver drove away with it in his trunk after dropping me off at the airport but I've never lost my electronics in an airport because I alway have them with me as a carry on.
Do you stay at sketchy hotels or something? I have never had anything stolen from a hotel room but again, I don't stay at sketchy hotels and resorts and I am not a cheapskate when it comes to tips.
Samsung Galaxy Note (Score:2)
I own a Samsung Galaxy Note (purchased unlocked from handtec), and I am very happy with it. It is your phone, too, and unlike most tablets, you can have it with you at all times without needing a backpack or briefcase. My brief review:
Size: The 5.3" screen is big enough for me to comfortably read non-mobile websites in landscape without any trouble, and it's great for reading ebooks and gaming. I have also used it in a pinch for Remote Desktop or Telnet. It fits in my (not skinny) jeans easily, and is actua
Just got a transformer for my travels (Score:2)
A500 -Why not the Acer ? (Score:2, Interesting)
Why is nobody mentioning the Acer Iconia A500 ?
This 10" tablet has been giving me a real world 12-15 hour battery life, out of the box un-modded, under heavy use.
With its 299$ price wag the 16GB models are fairly powerful, and have all the best features including a full size USB port for your flash drives.
Recently, I've even managed to get external soundcards and a barcode scanner to work on it with very little effort.
I have heard that With CM mods, people have extended the battery life to nearly 20 operati
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I would mod this up, instead I'll post a comment highly recommending it. I own one and use it as a target for game development. It's also got GPS. I hook up a small USB keyboard for those times when I need to do a lot of typing. It will accept a Bluetooth keyboard, but you can't use those on an airplane.
Re: (Score:3)
To me these are the two best Android tablets out there (the prime will probably change that but at a cost of course). They are not bloated. They have the hardware specs you'd want. All the I/O you would want. And both can be found for under 350 right now. We both spent a lot of time making the choices and trying everything under the sun including the iPad 2. If the iPad 2 was the same price I'd still pick either the Acer or Asus over it.
I also think
What about geek software? (Score:2)
I just a job where I'll be traveling around 150 days per year, and have been thinking about this for a while. As of now the Transformer Prime looks hard to beat. Tegra 3, keyboard for real work, 18 hours of usage time! My only complain is lack of development tools made to run on Android, although not entirely nonexistent. Apparently you can get a simple C/C++ IDE [android.com], GCC [android.com], and BusyBox [android.com] already.
If only I could get a straight port of QtCreator and CodeSourcery G++ Lite for it as well (no touch input changes necess
Tolerable screens? (Score:3)
I've been holding off on buying a tablet. Two issues for me are screen related. The last couple of netbooks I bought were HP/Compaq for one reason only - non-glare matte screens. I really cannot stand the shiny screens that you almost have to be in the dark to use (or maybe dress all in black). Are any of the tablets providing that?
The other issue was resolution and size - I don't want a 10" tablet - it's too big, if I wanted something that big I'd take a netbook - although in part the Transformer addresses that nicely. 7" is grab-able without needing cases or worrying too much about bashing it - but I also want 700+ by 1024+ resolution (and on netbooks too fer gawd's sake!!!). On the latter issue alone I'm thinking of skipping a tablet altogether and just going for a Galaxy Nexus once the bugs have been shaken out.
So along with all the other normally desirable features of a tablet (camera, sensors, interfaces, storage etc.) a 7", non-glare matte screen with 700+ x 1024+ resolution... anything like that out there yet?
Best answer for you (Score:5, Informative)
Here is the Acer Iconia A500 tab (just tab, power supply, and microUSB cable) for 199.
http://www.pcpartsohio.com/BookDetail.aspx?item_id=1333
It has a USB OTG host so you can plug in your USB stick to add storage / transfer data.
HoneyComb 3.1 already rooted, I suggest you root using this post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1205204
Then install the ROM from tegraowners.com
Thor there has a great HC 3.2 ROM and also a very good and promising ICS ROM.
Also Ubuntu is being ported to it as well
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1158260
-Joseph
some really hilarious comments here (Score:3)
My favorite comment by far is the one accusing the article originator of being a "platform snob" for trying to decide between multiple Android tablets rather than just, you know, buying an iPad. Because, of course, if all your devices are from Apple, you are not a platform snob.
This is second only to the poster in a previous topic, who seriously believed that buying an Android tablet contributes to e-waste, but could not for the life of him understand that buying a new iPhone *once a year* (in his own words), was contributing to e-waste to a degree a purchase of a single device couldn't possibly approach.
You just can't make this stuff up.
But back to the original topic. Daughter's first laptop was the original Eee PC, which she used for years and finally gave away to a friend when she upgraded. She now carries the previous Asus touch netbook, the Asus T101MT, and really likes the hardware. (She uses it for artwork.) The only issue is that it runs Windows 7, which doesn't do touch at all well, so it works very well as a netbook, but not so well as a tablet. However, based on the hardware alone, and on our general experience with Asus products, the Transformer Prime is on my list, (waiting for an app to be released before purchasing) seeming to be the best of all worlds.
Re:An iPad 2 would be the best choice. (Score:5, Insightful)
you have linux then I assume that you also have a windows partition since linux also has few "commercial" apps available for it.
You are incorrect in that assumption. I do not have any hardware in my possession running windows. The only thing that I cannot do with linux that I might want to is playing video games, and I have a cell phone, and a wii (and soon an android tablet) for playing games on.
Frankly I am disappointed that so many people recomend I get and iPad when the OP specified that I want an ANDROID tablet. Just because the iPad is popular, doesn't mean that it is right for everyone. I also have an iPhone that my company bought me, but I don't use it because I like my android phone much much better. I also have a Macbook pro that my company provided, but I am typing this from my personal laptop running Fedora 15 because I like it more than the Mac.
Bottom Line: Apple makes some good products, and I recomend them to everyone that is content using the product in exactly the way the manufacturer intended, and do not need to customize things. But for me, a hacker/maker/tinkerer, I will much rather use android because it gives me the freedom to do all of the things I want to do with my hardware.
Re: (Score:3)
You Android zealots are just as douchy douchy douchebags as iOS zealots only CHEAPER.
Cheaper? He's considering a Transformer Prime. Starting price for that is the same as an iPad 2. Not sure how that qualifies as cheaper.
Re:An iPad 2 would be the best choice. (Score:4, Insightful)
Why not just put it this way:
That's about equally as solid as your logic.
Re: (Score:3)
He placed the condition of an Android tablet. Apple iZealots refuse to acknowledge that people might have already looked at and rejected iProducts for a number of reasons, but your inability to acknowledge that some people might see the crippled nature of the devices as a flaw is pathetic.
Apparently he wants Android, and has already made decisions along that path.
Re: (Score:3)
Stick with Android if you want a good browser. Install Flash. Go into the browser settings and set Flash to only run when asked for. Now wherever a page has embedded Flash you just get a little Flash icon. If the Flash is an important part of the content just click i
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Resale value of what? CY next year..
The iPad 2 has a high resale value. When the iPad 2 came out, I sold my iPad 1 for several hundred dollars. Try reselling any android tablet a year later. Seriously good luck with that.
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Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:5, Funny)
Cue holy war in 3..2.. (Score:5, Informative)
I like the original Transformer (TF101-A1) [google.com] very much and would suggest you take a look at it if the Prime [engadget.com] is too pricey for what you want. The Prime is currently the only shipping Tegra 3 [wikipedia.org] system I know of so to lump it in with the rest of your list isn't quit fair. While it's still yet to be field proven all indicators point to the Tegra 3 being quite a capable chip which will run for a very long time on a single charge.
Toshiba's Thrive is an interesting tablet. I have only tested it in store but I like it for the most part. The full size ports are a definite plus and the rubbery backing make for a slip free experience.
I don't have any experience with the Xoom or the Galaxy but you mentioned rooting and I was curious if you had posed this question over at XDA? [xda-developers.com] I choose my android devices on price and rootability so the Nook Color [xda-developers.com] has been my recommendation to all my non-technical friends looking for a cheap tablet.
Sony likes to cut off its nose to spite its face. Given their treatment [wikipedia.org] of Geohot [wikipedia.org] I would steer clear if you are looking for rooting. I'm sure you can root them just not sure what Sony's response will be to it.
Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:5, Insightful)
I would argue against the iPad 2 because he's already bought in to the Android ecosystem. When people ask me about tablets, I recommend sticking to one technology. If you have an iPhone, get an iPad -- you've already invested in iTunes (apps, movies, music, books) and everything will transfer back and forth easily. If you have an Android phone, get an Android tablet......again, you've spent money/time/effort in getting your phone to work the way you want.....do you really want to do that again with your tablet?
They are all good, but keep it simple by staying in one playground.
Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:4, Interesting)
I would not suggest iPad 2. It suffers from horrible lags when web browsing that are frustrating to the point of unusability. Obviously, it doesn't handle flash sites. It has much less available in the way of quality free apps. The user interface is dumbed down or broken in many little ways that make the experience one long chain of annoyances.
Android tablets are much closer to being true laptop replacements on the road. On my last road trip I brought a netbook and a Xoom. I never used the netbook. I did all the browsing I needed with the Xoom and I edited text files using a bluetooth keyboard. I have QuickOffice on it, but I didn't use it this time. I look forward to the Android version of LibreOffice [androidcommunity.com],I found I didn't really need a mouse, but I will get the Apple trackpad to use with the Xoom, apparently it works fine. Otherwise, I regard Apple's product as mainly for games and spending money. Not the best choice for a serious computer user.
Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:4, Insightful)
I would not suggest iPad 2. It suffers from horrible lags when web browsing that are frustrating to the point of unusability. Obviously, it doesn't handle flash sites. It has much less available in the way of quality free apps. The user interface is dumbed down or broken in many little ways that make the experience one long chain of annoyances.
Why do people make this stuff up? It's OK to hate something and not use it without the FUD. You can find legitimate weak spots on any platform but at least have the guts to specifically call them out so we can discuss or debunk.
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My mother got an iPad 2. I use it from time to time when I visit her. I am not making anything up. The iPad gets used for almost exclusively one thing: playing Bookworm, the free game that came installed. Browsing on the iPad is way too frustrating, she does that on her Windows desktop. She plays Solitaire, reads her email and browses on the Desktop, even though she has to get up and go to another room to do it. In practice, the iPad is a sad waste of several hundred dollars.
Meanwhile the Xoom tablet gets c
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Yet I own several ipads and android tablets and have NEVER experienced what you have.
Lucky you. However the net is full of complaints about slow iPad browsing [google.com] and I did not imagine it when I experienced it myself, or saw multiple other people experience it. So you are special.
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I'm guessing your mom's wifi sucks.
You guess wrong. No such lag occurs with the Xoom or my G2, or several laptops and notebooks, only the iPad.
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I would not suggest iPad 2. It suffers from horrible lags when web browsing that are frustrating to the point of unusability. Obviously, it doesn't handle flash sites. It has much less available in the way of quality free apps. The user interface is dumbed down or broken in many little ways that make the experience one long chain of annoyances.
Android tablets are much closer to being true laptop replacements on the road. On my last road trip I brought a netbook and a Xoom. I never used the netbook. I did all the browsing I needed with the Xoom and I edited text files using a bluetooth keyboard. I have QuickOffice on it, but I didn't use it this time. I look forward to the Android version of LibreOffice [androidcommunity.com],I found I didn't really need a mouse, but I will get the Apple trackpad to use with the Xoom, apparently it works fine. Otherwise, I regard Apple's product as mainly for games and spending money. Not the best choice for a serious computer user.
Hmm, Apple cultists seem to have mod points tonight. Scary.
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I have a "great job".
I still don't treat money like something I can burn.
That's not an uncommon attitude among those that are self made and/or actually work for a living.
If you're trying to look like you can burn money, then you're just pretending in some sad attempt to impress the rest of us.
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Transformer Prime's hardware outperforms iPad 2 significantly, with better battery life, and as I recall is smaller and lighter.
Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:4, Informative)
They were conservative on the transformer. Ive gotten more than 18 hours of use out of mine with dock or 11 with just the tablet and the prime should be longer still.
Re:Hmmmmm.... (Score:4, Informative)
You say that like none of us have never seen, used, or owned an iPad. Of course that's not true and your bullshit doesn't impress anyone.
If he's considering Android, he's probably doing so because he does value his time or wants to do something that Apple Corp doesn't approve of (like Flash).
Sometimes, there's no substitute for a device that's in the control of the user.
Re:nook color cm (Score:4, Informative)
Nook color, cyanogen. Refurb can be found for 120$. You can do all you state from it, and can buy 4 of them for the price of other shiny devices.
The OP mentioned "video chat" in his wish list, so presumably he wants to use something like Skype for voice over IP.
The Nook Color has no microphone capability (but the new Nook Tablet has a built-in Mic).
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Why a MacBook? It's bigger, more expensive and feeds Apple. There are plenty of netbooks available with touch screens. I've even seen ones where the touch screen flips around over the keyboard to make it tablet like. Or... you can roll your own, there are touchscreens available as addons for plain netbooks.
Macbook "Air" models are in the ultra book niche and are thinner and less expensive than the competitors even with Intel's offer of subsidization. Netbooks are not even in the same league. They are too anemic to run desktop software properly and are only really useful for face booking and web email.
The netbook niche is dead because they have not changed much over the last few years. That segment has been stagnant.
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The macbook air is not much bigger than 10" tablets, it's more expensive because it is a more complete product and it feeds Apple because they built it first. I'm sure there are other small laptops out there with long life batteries and SSDs, which I'd pick over any tablet out there if I were shopping with Perljedi.
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I agree with bazorg, that's like saying you want a car but start adding all kinds of things to it so that you can use it as a truck. Just buy a truck instead.
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I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and enjoy it for couch-side web browsing a lot.
Re:Don't waste your time, get an iPad (Score:5, Insightful)
What if he doesn't want an iPad (which seems rather obvious from the question)?
I just bought a 16GB Transformer from B&H (cheap!), and I didn't even consider Apple since their philosophy doesn't really do it for me. The iPad might be the most awesome tablet in existence for some people, but this doesn't make it a universal. I WANTED an Android Tablet, and I find them superior to iOS devices. This isn't an attack on Apple or their customers, it is merely a matter of taste.
When someone states they want an Android tablet, why even bother stating "Get an iPad"? There are people in this world who don't like Apple for various reasons (just like there are people who can't stand Google or Microsoft), and this is fine. Their opinion is just as valid as yours. Some people don't want an iPad. Live with it. Telling people to buy something they already expressed no interest in considering isn't helpful, it is just obnoxious.
"I'm looking for a decent compact car, any suggestions?"
"Buy an SUV!"
I don't want an iPad because I can't stand Apple's direction and marketing strategy. The fact they like to force $500 upgrades yearly in order to have support. They fact that they decided that they can patent basic shapes. The fact that their founder had a God complex, and is on the record stating he wants to Balmerize the competition. I don't like the closed App store idea, nor the fact that I'm not supposed to own my own hardware. I don't like having a designers tastes shoved down my throat since they "know better". I don't particularly like iOS, or its interface (Yes, it does some things better than Android, but it does some things worse). I don't really like the hardware lock in. I've also had some fairly nasty experiences with their PCs before switching back to Windows and Linux. I like open source software (Android frustrates me too, but it is the closest of all the mobile OSs that are common, or don't suck). I don't want to be locked into iTunes. i don't want to be associated with the "bad type" of Apple fans, who feel the need to constantly show people their devices and try to get them to buy Apple products instead (being loyal to an impersonal mega corporation is annoying in itself) and rant about how Apple is the greatest thing in the world without ever once trying or experiencing non-Apple alternatives. (for my choice: I want to be able to make my tablet a Netbook at whim. I like the the size better, as well.) All of these are valid reasons for not liking the iPad. Or at least these are the ones I'll drag out when my Apple fanboi friends start ranting about their iPads and how much better than must be (a priori) than anything else in existence (even when one of them returned his because he couldn't actually find any use for it to justify its insane price tag, with data).
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So you're saying, instead of taking a chance of maybe having a brick fall on your head, why not poke yourself in the eye repeatedly?