With the approaching release of the 10.1 and seemingly the 8.9 Galaxy Tabs, there are alot of choices going to be available on the market for Android Tablets. Many other big names are joining the fray...so many of you may be wondering...why Samsung vs the other makers?
Having owned nearly every brand of tablet as they've come along (except Xoom) (yes, I'm a gadget whore...I can't help it!) my preference is with a Samsung Device...here's why:
1) For most of the other vendors it's a first attempt at a Tablet device. Kinks will have to be worked out, and it usually ends up being a 3-6 month adventure of updates to get things smooth. Essentially making the device dated and obsolete at that time. (August 2011..Tegra4 anyone?) Mind you, Samsung had to learn some of these same things with a device that's been on the market for months now...so they've got a head start. Aside from the bugs with a new OS (Honeycomb), they should be releasing a damn solid piece of equipment.
2) Entertainment...so far, none of the other brands have services that at least strive to be similar to iTunes. Samsung Media Hub and it's music service have a way to go yet, but they give me options for entertainment right out of the box. I've rented a few movies through it...and quality & convenience is perfect for what I was looking for.
3) Hardware development...Samsung makes damn good hardware, and I wouldn't be surprised to see those Dual Core cpu's (Exynos...or sumthin?) they've been readying in future Tabs instead of Tegra chips. Aside from that, build quality has never been an issue IMO.
4) Brand Device cooperation...like Apple, Samsung has a whole slew of other devices that I'm sure will play nice with our Tabs. There are a few apps in the market that already point to this direction in the future.
5) Popularity - Samsung has an edge here...and for External Development sake, that's good for the end-user, us. Yes HTC has a huge following in the phone forums, and that will automatically spill over into their Tablets...but like I said, it will be their first venture into that category. The Vibrant forums are continually active and exciting, tho the current Tab forum seems overrun with crickets for the most part. There's still a few devoted devs cranking out Galaxy Tab Rom Goodness!
Don't get me wrong, there ARE some negatives...at the forefront of those is an outdated file system and bloated UI, both of which lag the Samsung devices. I'm hoping Honeycomb will eliminate at least the UI issues, as none of us wants to see Touch-Wiz overlaid on top of the hot 3.0 screenage. We can only keep our fingers crossed at Sammys use of RFS filesystems.
In closing...HTC / Asus / and the others are gonna have to be extremely aggressive out of the gates with their first Tablets to give Samsung a run for our money. Hope my opinions have helped you gain some excitement for March 22nd, and Sammy's announcements! I'd love to see other input that adds onto, or against this train of thought.
Some Linkage...
Exynos CPU
http://phandroid.com/2011/03/04/samsung-exynos-4210-galaxy-s-ii-chipset-rocks-in-3d-gaming-showcase/
Galaxy Tab 8.9
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/samsungs-latest-8-9-inch-galaxy-tab-teaser-hints-impressive-sli/
Galaxy Tab 10.1
http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/219525/samsung_galaxy_tab_101_first_look.html
Oh...and stay tuned for reviews of both the 10.1 and 8.9 Tabs, I'll need to at least try em out lmao.
wow! thx for the faqs
Thanks for that. Nice outlook on the galaxy 10.1 there. With regards to your mentioned 22nd march, is that the date of UK release?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
HAJ32 said:
Thanks for that. Nice outlook on the galaxy 10.1 there. With regards to your mentioned 22nd march, is that the date of UK release?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
22nd of March is when Samsung are having an event in Florida. It is widely thought that they will announce the 8.9" Tablet.
It is not known when either tablet will be released. Should be soon though.
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench
Ok thanks. Basically I'm UK based and am desperate to get a tablet. For me its down to the xoom or the Samsung 10.1. I am already able to pre order the xoom for £500 but I am unsure on what to purchase. If the Samsung is much more it may come down to price, but at the moment they are pretty much neck and neck. The only thing I see putting the xoom in front is the SD card slot that should come into use in a near future update.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
There is another advantage not mentioned that is huge for me personnally....
The 10.1 is so much lighter and slimmer than any other available or coming honeycomb tablet.
It's 130g lighter than the Xoom. It has had to sacrifice extra ports to do it, but weight for a portable device is an essential selling point.
I am sure though that connectivity issues will come via an additional port such as HDMI connectivity which is fine for many who actually rarely use Hdmi.
the only minus i can see in the product it the lack of microsd slot, det hdmi and usb part i dont care about, this is 2011 and in 2011 i normally use dlna og manage everything over Wifi and 3g, so what do i need to hdmi for? damn i can't wait to this tablet comes out!
Agreed...I could care less about HDMI port. USB connectivity irks me a little, and seeming lack of SD card slot as well. However, 16gb should be just fine as I'll continue to use my phone as my music player as it's more portable. Video storage might be a concern though.
HMDI output for me is not important, as I have an HTPC setup in my living room. Haven't had cable tv in a few years, using various streaming services for entertainment.
The only reason I wouldn't get the Samsung tablets is because of the cheap plastic Samsung is obsessed with using on all of their devices. Hands-on with the 10.1 have already belittled the device to a "cheap plastic toy tablet". No other well-known major Android manufacturer has taken this approach with any of the announced Honeycomb tablets.
Even the presumed aluminum rim around the GTab 10.1 is said to be plastic. The only reason I will consider their tablets is because of the specs. More specifically the screen.
Eclair~ said:
The only reason I wouldn't get the Samsung tablets is because of the cheap plastic Samsung is obsessed with using on all of their devices. Hands-on with the 10.1 have already belittled the device to a "cheap plastic toy tablet". No other well-known major Android manufacturer has taken this approach with any of the announced Honeycomb tablets.
Even the presumed aluminum rim around the GTab 10.1 is said to be plastic. The only reason I will consider their tablets is because of the specs. More specifically the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple things to consider here...weight for one. Cost would also factor in. If they release the 10.1 around Xoom pricing, that'd be a mistake. Although, have you held the Xoom? It feels almost identical to the Viewsonic GTab, perhaps slightly more solid because of the aluminum....all the tablets I've gone through have had similar builds, except the iPad. I loved the iPad's durability...just not the closed OS & aspect ratio / build format. I prefer the widescreen build.
The plastic is durable however, without a doubt. In all the posts here on XDA, I've rarely seen a comment regarding the body of a device breaking. Most have shattered a screen. I've dropped my devices extremely rarely...maybe two times over the course of a year, and that was my Vibrant phone. Not even a scratch.Am I overly cautious? Not that I've noticed...I just don't take the tablets when I'm hiking / biking / wrestling / playing football. Plus, I like to sell them when I get bored, so I like them to be mint. Not to mention I NEVER use a device without a case, personal preference.
I don't mind with plastic from Samsung as I own Nexus S. The Nexus S uses this kind of plastic compare to better material from HTC (I own HTC Desire as well). It is still good and durable.
For table features, after I saw and read almost read everything about Xoom:
- SD card slot is not that important for me as long as there is 64GB model. This came from Nexus S that has no SD card either. I can live with no SD card slot. The only thing SD card slot is needed if you really (REALLY) stuff everything to the tablets. That's why 64GB model is important.
- HDMI out is also not important for me as I have dedicated media player at home to stream from my 4TB NAS.
- USB port to connect and sync files with PC. This is required and handy for works. But, probably I can live with accessories if I have to Meaning, a proprietary connector via main connector?
- SCREEN, I really expect much better than Xoom washed out LCD. From 11 minutes video that I saw of GTab 10.1, this might be OK. The screen looks better than Xoom
- Lightness. The lighter, the better, period.
Well, all this Android Honeycomb tablets are just "first generation". There will be some lack of features, half baked features, annoyances and issues. But that's fine for first generation. So, my purchase will be based on that mind set. I will NOT expect much
Most probably I will just simply buy another upcoming hardware in 2012! Which I expect, the Android Honeycomb will be mature enough. And give this 2011 tablet to my wife or as "a toy" for my little daughter
Eclair~ said:
The only reason I wouldn't get the Samsung tablets is because of the cheap plastic Samsung is obsessed with using on all of their devices. Hands-on with the 10.1 have already belittled the device to a "cheap plastic toy tablet". No other well-known major Android manufacturer has taken this approach with any of the announced Honeycomb tablets.
Even the presumed aluminum rim around the GTab 10.1 is said to be plastic. The only reason I will consider their tablets is because of the specs. More specifically the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing to note is that even though the Samsung's products are made of plastic, my Vibrant couldn't be more durable. I like having a metal body which HTC usually has but, even if the Vibrant feels cheap and plasticky, I have used it without a case or screen protector for the entire time I've had it. Dropped it a few times and it hasn't suffered a scratch. Other than that I believe the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be a solid device and Samsung uses good hardware so no worries there. Only problems I see are the ports on this device and also how updates are going to go. If it's like any of the Galaxy S phones then there might be a few problems. But this is looking to be a top of the line device.
Bandage said:
With the approaching release of the 10.1 and seemingly the 8.9 Galaxy Tabs, there are alot of choices going to be available on the market for Android Tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There were 86 new Android tablet models on display at CES
Related
I bought the Xoom Sunday without contract, and I am debating on returning it and wait for the Samsung's 10.1 tab. I really like my xoom, I haven't had any big issues with my xoom but I don't like how there is like nothing for honeycomb yet. I read about people having problems with hd videos because of the processor. The Samsung is suppose to have a better screen and a better rear camera.
I would like other peoples opinions on "should I return my xoom?"
Outside of the screen and camera those are really the only two differences. Aesthetics also i guess.
Samsung has shown they turn their back on recent devices, for me I love the xoom
After hearing from multiple sources that the GTab 10.1 feels like a cheap plastic iPad I don't even care about it anymore. I also heard the "aluminum" rim around it was painted plastic. Of course, this is all personal preference... but I don't like the negativity surrounding this thing's build quality.
If the screen is that much better, then maybe I will reconsider.
some major problem with the samsung is NO USB, NO HDMI, NO MicroSD card
These are huge issues.
The xoom hardware is capable of supporting usb host with the right adapter and software.
Samsung is going all proprietary
Finally, the xoom's screen isnt BAD its just not as bright/has as much contrast as the ipad - but you get a higher resolution as a trade-off. (and again the screen isnt THAT much different)
Flaunt77 said:
some major problem with the samsung is NO USB, NO HDMI, NO MicroSD card
These are huge issues.
The xoom hardware is capable of supporting usb host with the right adapter and software.
Samsung is going all proprietary
Finally, the xoom's screen isnt BAD its just not as bright/has as much contrast as the ipad - but you get a higher resolution as a trade-off. (and again the screen isnt THAT much different)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that just changed my mind. I had no idea that it was missing all that stuff.
Thanks.
Thought the Xoom had better viewing angles than the Galaxy 10.1? Xoom also isnt plastic, another plus for it. Does the Galaxy 10.1 come with an unlockable bootloader?
Ugh... What Honeycomb tablet will be crowned king? =/
I think for the next few months the Xoom just wins~
for me it's definitely xoom, though admittedly I would want a lighter tablet.
What about the LG tablet?
That one is a real contender too.
It is smaller and lighter.
Earthbrain said:
What about the LG tablet?
That one is a real contender too.
It is smaller and lighter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afraid they're going to charge a premium for the 3D ability of it (3D screen and extra camera means more $$). I think the 8.9" formfactor might be nice but I don't see it being any more stelar than GT10.1 or Xoom, and it might cost just as much or more.
Samsung stated that after the iPad 2 came out with its specs and price, they needed to "re-evaluate" their pricing and components on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. This means we might see a cheap version of it, which makes it more appealing to me. Some of the shortcomings I can live with (no HDMI is fine with me), but some things like no MicroSD is just a deal breaker unless i can buy a 64GB GT10.1 for the same price as a 32GB Xoom. I don't care about the plastic back, if it makes it lighter and is relatively sturdy, I'm okay with that.
Just in:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1003417
Apparently, Samsung redesigned the 10.1" to be thinner, lighter than iPad2 and added a microSD card too!
Awesome!
Unfortunately, the YouTube video has been pulled out.
Can't wait, 16:00 time (GMT)!
Bye xoom, hello galaxy tab 10. 1.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
calin75 said:
Bye xoom, hello galaxy tab 10. 1.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I think I'm going with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. Only disappointment with it is, the 3 MP rear camera, a price to pay for the thinness. But, on the positive side, it has Divx/Xvid support too, so hopefully should not have video playback issues, as on Xoom.
gogol said:
Just in:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1003417
Apparently, Samsung redesigned the 10.1" to be thinner, lighter than iPad2 and added a microSD card too!
Awesome!
Unfortunately, the YouTube video has been pulled out.
Can't wait, 16:00 time (GMT)!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too bad it has one bad thing. TOUCHWIZ
I guess if you're willing to wait till June to get the exact same specs (besides the screen.. and the missing hdmi and microusb ports.) then go for it.
kgeissler said:
Too bad it has one bad thing. TOUCHWIZ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea but we have XDA. I guess it won't be long, before someone figures out a way or a ROM to pull it out
I know this falls in the endless wait for the next version circle but if nVidia can indeed deliver tablets with Quad Core Kal-El by August, I would feel bad waiting up to June (potentially July/August for Canadians).
I believe I will be picking a Wifi XOOM at launch in Canada (April 8).
XOOM Pros:
- The highest quality finish so far.
- HDMI out port
- Micro USB port
- Unskinned
- Relockable bootloader
- Currently the closest to a Dev device and most likely to receive the most AOSP love
- Available now (next week Wifi)
XOOM Cons:
- Heavy
- Screen is slightly sub par according to most
- Power button placement (not a big deal but still...)
- No 16 or 64 gig models (altough the 64Gb is kinda irrelevant when SD card is available)
- No USB charging (minor again as it would take long to charge, potentially fixed with custom ROM)
To me the Pros offset the Cons. I see two choice with Android tablets: Be an early adopter and get the XOOM, wait around Christmas for quad core/better speced/better priced/polished and stable 3.X.
Competition is just starting to heat up, once HTC, Sony, RIM, HP, MS release their product, most of which should be somewhere this summer except for maybe MS, we will start to see what the tablet market actually looks like.
I was talking to my wife about tablets when the iPad2 was just announced. I told her about the weight and size and her reply was "Why does everything always have to be thinner and lighter!??!" There you go. I'm happy with the Xoom and once I have this awesome PivotPad I won't have any problems with holding it anymore! Maybe in the future there will also be a solution to the video decoding issues...
The main reason I wanted to go for Samsung was the fact it was going to be a Google experience device and now they pull this Touchwiz crap.
I've been so set on getting the Tab 10.1 for a while. Tegra 3 sounds very appealing, though..
If you want a tablet now, get it. The vicious cycle of waiting for the best spec'd will never end. Why not purchase it now and enjoy it? Then when something newer comes out you could sell your Tab and pay the difference for the new one. Just think of the difference as a fee to have an interim tablet
I think you should wait for Tegra 4.
Sent from my beloved HTC EVO 4G.
You have to jump on the merry-go-round at some point. You probably won’t see a Tegra 3/4 until the end of the year or next. Jump and be happy as there will always be something better on the horizon.
akarol said:
I think you should wait for Tegra 4.
Sent from my beloved HTC EVO 4G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How dare you suggest it... Tegra 5 is just around the corner after Tegra 4...
Dude if you want it, get it. Sell it later to finance the price of the next one and think of the depreciated value of the Tab 10.1 as a rental fee. Easy-peasy.
Some Tegra 3 tablets probably will be available by the end of the year, though that could still mean up to 5 or 6 months away. However I still don't know if these tablets would be something I'd want to own.
Big reason I'm buying a Galaxy Tab 10.1 is because of it's design, light weight, comfortable ergonomics, PLS display, and good speakers. Such a tablet with a Tegra 3 may not even show up until 2012.
It's too unknown when a good Tegra 3 tablet would arrive. So I decided it is better to just buy a tablet now since I do want one now.
Ravynmagi said:
Some Tegra 3 tablets probably will be available by the end of the year, though that could still mean up to 5 or 6 months away. However I still don't know if these tablets would be something I'd want to own.
Big reason I'm buying a Galaxy Tab 10.1 is because of it's design, light weight, comfortable ergonomics, PLS display, and good speakers. Such a tablet with a Tegra 3 may not even show up until 2012.
It's too unknown when a good Tegra 3 tablet would arrive. So I decided it is better to just buy a tablet now since I do want one now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, because I am sure that the Tegra 3 processor won't fit on the current design of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Technology gets smaller with time, not the other way around. I guarantee you that by the time Tegra 3 is out, the dimensions of the GT will be the norm.
With that said, anyone that holds out for a device that doesn't have a release date is a moron. In this case, not only the device, but the technology itself doesn't have a release date. FAIL!
akarol said:
Yeah, because I am sure that the Tegra 3 processor won't fit on the current design of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Technology gets smaller with time, not the other way around. I guarantee you that by the time Tegra 3 is out, the dimensions of the GT will be the norm.
With that said, anyone that holds out for a device that doesn't have a release date is a moron. In this case, not only the device, but the technology itself doesn't have a release date. FAIL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe Samsung will put a Tegra 3 in a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Instead I think Samsung will design a new tablet for the Tegra 3.
Look at the first Tegra 2 tablet, Viewsonic G-Tablet, great processor put into a low end tablet, took months for it to show up in other tablets after that.
I would love to think that 5 or 6 months now everyone will be making super thin and light tablets. But many could be doing that already and they aren't. And I think that's the problem, we don't have a crystal ball to know for sure that someone will release a tablet in 2011 with a Tegra 3 and not be something low end with a crappy display like a Viewsonic G-Tablet.
Thread reminds me of this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZAAZ7iXN-o
guih said:
I've been so set on getting the Tab 10.1 for a while. Tegra 3 sounds very appealing, though..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided to get an iPad 2 while I wait for the next set of android tablets. Tegra 2s SOC is difficult to get around. If what your getting it for doesn't include HD video in the 720p range, your fine... I wanted:
ebook reader
web surfing
video player (720p mkv)
Everything else was just butter. I really like honeycombs interface... but the iPad does these basic things pretty well. I'll jump on the next gen tho.
I toyed around with the idea of getting an iPad 2 and just waiting on a Tegra 3/Ice Cream Sandwich tablet later.
I would love to watch 720p MKV files and my Netflix (god only knows when that's coming to the Galaxy Tab 10.1).
But as nice as the A5 is at handling video (though I did still read some complaints), it seems like that bonus is instantly negated by the 9.7 inch 4:3 ratio screen.
I'm not aware of any Tegra 3 devices that have any been officially announced, let alone coming out any time soon. I don't think Kal-El/Tegra 3 is even supposed to ship to manufacturers until August, and then there's no telling when a decent device packing Kal-El will show up. I'm not holding my breathe for a third gen Galaxy Tab (or suitable competitor) until the February, March, April time frame.
The ASUS eeePad Transformer 2 is rumored to have a projected launch of April 2012, so that's one to keep an eye out for. But that's just rumor and speculation.
If you want a need or desire for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, get it. We're probably 6-9 months (at least) away from a suitable replacement, and even that Tegra 3 tablet will be outclassed by devices on the horizon before it launches. Doesn't make the current crop of tablets any less functional.
Yea, thanks guys. I'm going to pick one up tomorrow then ^.^
mesasone said:
If you want a need or desire for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, get it. We're probably 6-9 months (at least) away from a suitable replacement, and even that Tegra 3 tablet will be outclassed by devices on the horizon before it launches. Doesn't make the current crop of tablets any less functional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly my rationale for going ahead. I figure that since I don't have a carrier contract to confuse things, when something enough better that I can't stand it comes along, I can always sell the 10.1 for probably half what I paid for it, and get the next thing. And hey, between now and then, I'll have this nifty tablet to play with!
Exactly my problem... one more thing confuses me though. Is 3G... as with or without is another decision to make. (I will read this thread in a moment: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1127302)
Tablets are not cheap. - fact
Hopefully, when there will be more of them out there price of new will go down, but so of used ones. My only concern is - will I be able to cover up the difference in price?
So... my current (real life - because this is what is in my shops) choice is:
GT 10.1 with 3G
Transformer/Iconia - wifi only
iPad2
Some of you know I wish to watch movies on tablet (among other things).
This means all of the above are far of good (not to mention ideal).
GT10.1 looks great, feels awesome and (what may be a surprise for you) I really do like TouchWiz. I think it is better that original Honeycomb UI. Has 3G (i still have not decided if I need it... So far I have lived without it but only because I did not have it, no because I didnt wanted it .
But is more expensive, is missing some ports, no netflix - but HULU free works
Transformer/Iconia - cheaper than above, no 3G (not everyday but it may come useful once in a while - is it enough to pay so much extra? - still do not know). Dont looks and feel so great (I am actually going to see them in a shop toady). Have more I/O ports. Hulu for free will work and some movies from NAS drive - but no netflix :-(
iPad 2 - netflix works, hulu (free) no way :-(, movies do work with one of the players but I HATE iTUNES :-( - and it is as expensive as GT10.1
I hate Apple (and others) for reinventing a tablet. Back in Jan 2010 I was not thinking about tablet, not even considering "PC" with touch screen and I could spend my $1000 on something way more sensible than a tablet. Now.... I know I want one and because I have to make a choice that (whichever one I will make) will leave me a bit unhappy, I am even more unhappy. The same applies to a choice of not buying and waiting.
Feeling of frustration is terrible .
I went ahead and purchased the 10.1 I'm sure something better will be out, but for my needs at the moment, the 10.1 suits me just fine.
I basically want a tablet to browse the web and run a few apps while I'm not using my laptop. I still love my laptop, but it's somewhat on the heavy side for sitting on the sofa, watching tv, & surfing the net. It also runs hot & has fan noise I can't stand sometimes. With a tablet I can move around the house freely, surf the net, and not have to worry about fan noise. The 10.1 is said to be very light weight, which is a huge plus.
I'm going to be attending one of the biggest blogging conventions next week BlogHer 11 in San Diego. Samsung reached out to me with an offer to test drive the Galaxy Tab.Fedex delivered the Tab a couple hours ago. The Tab will be returned after testing,I purchased my TF on my own so my impressions and review will be objective.Looking forward to comparing the 2 in real life working situations and sharing my findings with you all.
Initial impressions? Galaxy Tab is light,very slim,build quality is excellent,charger goes together easily,cable is long. Screen quality is good but colors are somewhat oversaturated to my eye.
You can get a USB adapter from Samsung website, $20 USD. Interesting to see what can be connected to Samsung 10.1 using this accessory.
Unfortunately, the 7 inch Samsung will never be compatible with the USB adapter accessory. My Verizon Samsung 7 inch tablet is still Android 2.2 and I am very disappointed. Verizon is not doing anything to *encourage* Samsung tablet purchases with a data plan.
ASUS TF101 has the USB feature in the dock, e.g. two USB ports plus SD card slot. ASUS has not started shipping their USB adapter accessory for the tablet only.
Bob Smith42 said:
You can get a USB adapter from Samsung website, $20 USD. Interesting to see what can be connected to Samsung 10.1 using this accessory.
Unfortunately, the 7 inch Samsung will never be compatible with the USB adapter accessory. My Verizon Samsung 7 inch tablet is still Android 2.2 and I am very disappointed. Verizon is not doing anything to *encourage* Samsung tablet purchases with a data plan.
ASUS TF101 has the USB feature in the dock, e.g. two USB ports plus SD card slot. ASUS has not started shipping their USB adapter accessory for the tablet only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evaluating both devices fairly,without fanboyish bias, doing the kinds of real work I normally do will be interesting. I love my TF but must admit my out of the box impression of the new G Tab is pretty favorable in terms of it's looks,weight and build quality.
The difficulty I would have is comparing them as tablets isn't quite right.
The Galaxy looks to have the advantage on the physical side with it's build quality and profile but the TF was always a "hybrid" concept and sacrifices have been made to make it a cheap dockable netbook replacement. So the TF is an incomplete package with out it's dock.
The Galaxy is not intended for the same use cases as the TF and it's seems unfair to compare it with a device that has a whole extra appendage.
So it's not quite comparing apples with apples. As a pure tablet the Galaxy looks to be the better of the two but does that make for a better overall experience or value for money proposition? I can't say.
At least we have choice in the market place
P.S - Cool job! Have fun with your review!
Yes, I am not bothered with looks.... It is how the two operate and run which what I am interested in.
I was going to purchase the 32GB Galaxy 10.1 here in the UK when released (early Aug) but no MicroSD made the decision to try the TF with Keyboard Dock.
Initially I am impressed with the fact the TF has more scope for hardware use and this is where the Galaxy 10.1 will have to come back in the running.
If you can show the Sammy as being the better of the two I will hand the TF over to my Wife and either take the 32GB or 64GB Sammy.
I have both a TF with keyboard dock and a 16gb Tab 10.1. I agree they are different animals, nothing beats the Tab for true portability in a tablet form factor. But if I'm going to be doing a lot of work (i.e. emails/docs/spreadsheets/etc.) the TF with the keyboard is my preference since I can type way faster and be more comfortable with the physical keyboard. The Tab 10.1 is the best pure tablet I've ever used, even like it better than my iPad.
eli.kennedy said:
The difficulty I would have is comparing them as tablets isn't quite right.
The Galaxy looks to have the advantage on the physical side with it's build quality and profile but the TF was always a "hybrid" concept and sacrifices have been made to make it a cheap dockable netbook replacement. So the TF is an incomplete package with out it's dock.
The Galaxy is not intended for the same use cases as the TF and it's seems unfair to compare it with a device that has a whole extra appendage.
So it's not quite comparing apples with apples. As a pure tablet the Galaxy looks to be the better of the two but does that make for a better overall experience or value for money proposition? I can't say.
At least we have choice in the market place
P.S - Cool job! Have fun with your review!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I
I agree whole heartedly with your thoughts,I would love to get my hands on the dock/keyboard for the Galaxy to make the comparision more of an orange against orange review. I think it will come down to what each user needs the tabletfor.I also think Kal-El being on the horizon should influence a lot of purchasing decisions.
Am enjoying the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as an e-reader, it's really light so holding the tab in one hand is not straining or uncomfortable. Also noticing that the sound quality is surprisingly good
Saw this yesterday. Looks like the 7.7 appears to be on the way.
For those of you like me who have recently picked up the 7.0 plus... What are your thoughts on this? I am happy with my 7+ but the 7.7 is what I was originally waiting for.
www.engadget.com/2011/12/16/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-rolls-through-the-fcc-packing-verizon-fri/
GaresTaylan said:
Saw this yesterday. Looks like the 7.7 appears to be on the way.
For those of you like me who have recently picked up the 7.0 plus... What are your thoughts on this? I am happy with my 7+ but the 7.7 is what I was originally waiting for.
www.engadget.com/2011/12/16/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-rolls-through-the-fcc-packing-verizon-fri/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't the 7.7 run on the tegra 2?
Action B said:
Doesn't the 7.7 run on the tegra 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure it's a dual-core 1.4ghz xynos.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk
7.0+ best device in the right now inthe world. 7.7 will top it. Would love to trade my 7.0 plus for it. Maybe soon...
chrisrotolo said:
7.0+ best device in the right now inthe world. 7.7 will top it. Would love to trade my 7.0 plus for it. Maybe soon...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like you I was strongly attracted to the 7.7 when I was in the market to buy. At that time, no word when/if we'd get it here. And imports were $600 and up. Bought the Gt 7+ and have not looked back since.
Gotta say yes, the larger screen (not by much ), AMOLED quality (very nice) and slightly faster processor makes a very attractive package.
But....
Our community here is growing (not light speed but still), we have root and CWM (thanks gary9d), more than a few recognized devs are following here and there are a selection of cases/sleeves with more on the way.
Who is to say the aftermarket accessories manufacturers will embrace SO MANY different "flavors" of GTab (7.0, 7.0+, 7.7, 8.9, 10.1 and perhaps an 11.0?) I'm doubtful myself.
Keep thinking...."a bird in hand is worth two in the bush"
Most likely I am staying with my GTab 7+. But YMMV
skeeterpro said:
Like you I was strongly attracted to the 7.7 when I was in the market to buy. At that time, no word when/if we'd get it here. And imports were $600 and up. Bought the Gt 7+ and have not looked back since.
Gotta say yes, the larger screen (not by much ), AMOLED quality (very nice) and slightly faster processor makes a very attractive package.
But....
Our community here is growing (not light speed but still), we have root and CWM (thanks gary9d), more than a few recognized devs are following here and there are a selection of cases/sleeves with more on the way.
Who is to say the aftermarket accessories manufacturers will embrace SO MANY different "flavors" of GTab (7.0, 7.0+, 7.7, 8.9, 10.1 and perhaps an 11.0?) I'm doubtful myself.
Keep thinking...."a bird in hand is worth two in the bush"
Most likely I am staying with my GTab 7+. But YMMV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but there are quite a few more upgrades on the 7.7 over the 7.0 Plus. Bigger battery (5100mAh vs 4000mAh), thinner, lighter, 64GB option, and as you mentioned better display all around - Super AMOLED Plus, higher resolution at 1280 x 800, and larger at 7.7 inches. The only sacrifice really is that it's ever so slightly taller and wider in dimensions, and probably will cost a bit more. I wouldn't underestimate the number of people holding out for the 7.7, I think the dev community will be strong, and I suspect it will have support for CyanogenMod 9.
Although as with all electronics something better will always be just around the corner, as rumors are swirling of a Galaxy Tab 8.3 in the works (Super AMOLED Plus, quad core 1.5GHz, Ice Cream Sandwich), so if you decide to stick with the 7.0 Plus no one is stopping you from enjoying it to the fullest!
Kitten Mittens said:
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but there are quite a few more upgrades on the 7.7 over the 7.0 Plus. Bigger battery (5100mAh vs 4000mAh), thinner, lighter, 64GB option, and as you mentioned better display all around - Super AMOLED Plus, higher resolution at 1280 x 800, and larger at 7.7 inches. The only sacrifice really is that it's ever so slightly taller and wider in dimensions, and probably will cost a bit more. I wouldn't underestimate the number of people holding out for the 7.7, I think the dev community will be strong, and I suspect it will have support for CyanogenMod 9.
Although as with all electronics something better will always be just around the corner, as rumors are swirling of a Galaxy Tab 8.3 in the works (Super AMOLED Plus, quad core 1.5GHz, Ice Cream Sandwich), so if you decide to stick with the 7.0 Plus no one is stopping you from enjoying it to the fullest!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, thanks! I forgot about the battery.
Quite right that there's always "something better" just around the corner. If one were to wait for the next best thing, one would never get anything I suspect. As long as whatever you gets does what you want, it's all good.
It's can be a crap-shoot on community support. Samsung devices have the reputation for quality hence usually a good following. That said, I believe that people who gravitate to forums like this tend to be more tech-centric than the majority of tab users. I do wonder though as I read several articles (trades and users) praising the 7+ but somewhat negative mentions about the price. I am curious just how high Android tabs will be able to fetch. Granted, it's my belief that even the $499 iPad is over priced by at least $100 but I wonder if the $400 price point might be the "sweet spot" for full-featured tabs regardless of size? I'm not a "gamer" so my power needs are modest.
This is my first Samsung tab and I am impressed. But so many screen size choices? Price and not so much screen size/features, I suspect, will drive many sales. Witness B&N and Amazon. I confess I am sure I'll be comparing at BB the 7.7 and other screens when it hits!
Isnt the 7.7 going to be starting at $600? The upgrades look good but im not sure if its an extra $200 good.
The 7.0+ is already a damn good tablet.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using xda premium
charmartist said:
Isnt the 7.7 going to be starting at $600? The upgrades look good but im not sure if its an extra $200 good.
The 7.0+ is already a damn good tablet.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well we still don't know what the official prices are going to be, the sites that are offering pre-orders are pretty much just making up their own prices. I have heard however the official price in Australia will be $579 for the 16GB and $649 for the 32GB, and that's in AUD. Looking at the iPad 2 prices in AUD they are almost identical, and we don't know if these prices are for the WiFi or 3G/4G model, but I would suspect the 7.7 will be between $450-500 for the 16GB WiFi model in the US.
Can't wait to see it and compare it with my 7+. Size is my main concern, 7.7 is quite long and wider. If a device is too big, I cant really bring it out whenever I like. Not So useful and convenient like 7 inch tablet too. I once had a larger tablet and I almost left it everyday at my home, sold it at last. Anyway, 7.7 is worth waiting.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus using XDA App
Hi. Im new to this part of xda. And this is somewhat bothersome news as I just bought my plus today. First tablet in some time that made me think wow. I have an ipad now. Owned the Transformer and Dell Streak 5 and 7. I was going to wait until spring.g to see the new XOOM, ipad3, and TF Prime but decided after seeing this I thought this could last awhile before going down in price.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
I'm keeping my plus...
I don't think the upgrades from the 7.7 are worth it.
It will be really disappointing if we never get any good roms... But I'm mostly happy with root as it is.
Anyone who wants to sell The Galaxy Tab 7.7 can write me an PM! But I want it this year in Germany I would Pay 1000 Euros Cash!!!
I am very attracted to the 7.7 personally. Have an 8.9 that I'm planning on selling very soon. (Tegra 2 just plain sucks compared to Exynos frankly), and though it's a nice form factor, it's not for me. No phone calling ability is a big downer too; I like being able to swap my SIM card between my original Tab and phone depending on the situation.
Have the Note too, but not sure if I will keep it or not. Waiting to see what ICS will be like on it. Could be amazing, or could just be "meh." If it's not that much better, may sell my Note too and just stick to an SGS2/7.7 combo.
Then again, CES is right around the corner, so maybe it may be worth waiting longer still depending on what else may be coming out for 2012!
But oh that 7.7 sure looks nice... Damn, I'm such a consumer whore
My main reason for buying the 7+ is because it's quite versatile. I don't want to be lugging around a phone, tablet and laptop with me along with their respective accessories and chargers all day so I opted to buy the 7+. This means I can use my ultraportable for serious computing (negating the need to carry the charger), and the tablet for all my communication needs plus some light gaming, reading or browsing.
So it doesn't have the largest battery, or the best resolution, or the latest and greatest processor; but, it's got a large enough screen to comfortably read eBooks, browse the interwebs, and pretty much everything else. It's got decent enough performance (better than decent, actually) to handle all the apps I want + sd card expansion. And most importantly (for me), it doubles as a phone.
I know I look silly when I take calls on it, but I'm okay with that. Like the famous philosopher Jagger once said 'you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need'.
I love the 8.9 and initially wanted to get that, but in the end telephone capabilities and sd card expansion won out over a larger,more gorgeous screen.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using XDA App
jollygoon said:
My main reason for buying the 7+ is because it's quite versatile. I don't want to be lugging around a phone, tablet and laptop with me along with their respective accessories and chargers all day so I opted to buy the 7+. This means I can use my ultraportable for serious computing (negating the need to carry the charger), and the tablet for all my communication needs plus some light gaming, reading or browsing.
So it doesn't have the largest battery, or the best resolution, or the latest and greatest processor; but, it's got a large enough screen to comfortably read eBooks, browse the interwebs, and pretty much everything else. It's got decent enough performance (better than decent, actually) to handle all the apps I want + sd card expansion. And most importantly (for me), it doubles as a phone.
I know I look silly when I take calls on it, but I'm okay with that. Like the famous philosopher Jagger once said 'you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need'.
I love the 8.9 and initially wanted to get that, but in the end telephone capabilities and sd card expansion won out over a larger,more gorgeous screen.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a non wifi version? I got my 7+ yesterday and cant find a dialer on it
I am pickinmg my 7.7 wifi up tomorrow from **** Smith in Australia - can't wait, been wanting a tablet for ages. I had originally ordered a Transformer Prime until Amazon canceled the order. But this is the tablet I really wanted.
I don't know. I mean, I was planing to get the 7+ near the end of this month. I know that the screen and whatnot is better or the 7.7, but I seriously don't know if I would like the better screen or use the maybe bit more charge from it having a bigger battery to spend $200 more then what I was planing on spending.
I'm afraid that 7.7 might still have the Black stains/blotches on the screen, just like in S II. When viewing on dark room.
So no specific release date or price? If its not much more in price than the 7 plus and coming out fairly soon id like to return mine and wait for the 7.7
I am a Note II owner and love the phone. Then I really felt like buying an Android tablet. I went and got me Asus Transformer Infinity yesterday & boy Do I regret!! I just put an ad to sell it 100$ off price just to get rid of it & get a Note 10.1 !
Here's what pissed me off. Its a ***** to get the bootloader unlocked. You gotta use Asus unlocker tool & their servers dont respond. its been 48 hrs almost and still no luck.
Theres like only 1 or 2 costume roms available for it and for that this needs to be unlocked.
What pissed me off most that it had only 1gig ram. I thought since it was pricier then a Note 10.1 then its probably at least the same specs.
And damn is it laggy! I guess it could be the ICS' fault and that the JB for it will be smoother but right now it cant be compared to smoothnes of my Note phone at all!
The charger connector is also not standard mini usb which sux and the keyboard for it is too pricey!
One thing I was really looking for was to play Tegra 3 games on it & of the 5 games I tried only 1 was not buggy!
anyways... from what Ive seen from the Note 10.1 dev forum it looks just as promising as my NoteII.
so if anyone here thinks I am making a mistake or something I missed plz let me know.
donno why I even bothered buying this. I was so happy with my Note2. It would have been logical to get another galaxy product!
It was an expensive lesson I even ordered a screen protector for it which costs 30bux inc shipping!
I think you're making the right decision, but....
You should know that the Note 10.1 also doesn't use a mini-usb plug. It's also proprietary.
Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
I would wait.
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is. Based on your post,
you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand. Keep in mind:
The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates
blud7 said:
Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
I would wait.
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is. Based on your post,
you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand. Keep in mind:
The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a bit of an overstatement?
No one is saying the Note 10.1 is perfect.
Well, about the lag, the Note 10.1 doesn't lag at all - yes, I'm not saying this just because I own one, it's because it doesn't lag at all.
It's fast and fluid, and with the correct use, it will blaze at an amazing speed.
It has already many custom ROM's available and it's hack-friendly. Samsung releases the open-source very often for their devices.
Oh, and about the updates, Samsung was actually quick to bring in Jelly Bean. It makes your Note 10.1 be twice as fast (in some cases).
You can also have a plethora of keyboards (non-OEM) that are cheap, and some even turn to be covers as well.
All in all, it's a pretty nice buy, but if the non-standard charger/connector is a no-GO, then it's a don't buy this. This tab uses the proprietary connector.
ricardosteve said:
That's a bit of an overstatement?
No one is saying the Note 10.1 is perfect.
Well, about the lag, the Note 10.1 doesn't lag at all - yes, I'm not saying this just because I own one, it's because it doesn't lag at all.
It's fast and fluid, and with the correct use, it will blaze at an amazing speed.
It has already many custom ROM's available and it's hack-friendly. Samsung releases the open-source very often for their devices.
Oh, and about the updates, Samsung was actually quick to bring in Jelly Bean. It makes your Note 10.1 be twice as fast (in some cases).
You can also have a plethora of keyboards (non-OEM) that are cheap, and some even turn to be covers as well.
All in all, it's a pretty nice buy, but if the non-standard charger/connector is a no-GO, then it's a don't buy this. This tab uses the proprietary connector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on that add also the multiwindow option /svoice /airview /front stereo speakers and n8000 model can do gsm calls and allot more, i used note II for like a week before buying note 10.1 and personally i think spen on 10.1 is some what more senstive and more ergonomic, something to note also the spen can work as a mouse in web browser to review links, etc and scroll
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app
did you vote yes or no ?
hoss_n2 said:
+1 on that add also the multiwindow option /svoice /airview /front stereo speakers and n8000 model can do gsm calls and allot more, i used note II for like a week before buying note 10.1 and personally i think spen on 10.1 is some what more senstive and more ergonomic, something to note also the spen can work as a mouse in web browser to review links, etc and scroll
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you vote yes or no ?
I got my Note last Friday and can say that I love it. The quad core and 2GB of RAM keeps it fast and responsive, something I can't say about my first gen Android tablet that this replaces. I'''ll upgrade my Android phone next year once I see which LTE may come to my area; however, I know it will have similar specs to the Note.
toofank said:
I am a Note II owner and love the phone. Then I really felt like buying an Android tablet. I went and got me Asus Transformer Infinity yesterday & boy Do I regret!! I just put an ad to sell it 100$ off price just to get rid of it & get a Note 10.1 !
Here's what pissed me off. Its a ***** to get the bootloader unlocked. You gotta use Asus unlocker tool & their servers dont respond. its been 48 hrs almost and still no luck.
Theres like only 1 or 2 costume roms available for it and for that this needs to be unlocked.
What pissed me off most that it had only 1gig ram. I thought since it was pricier then a Note 10.1 then its probably at least the same specs.
And damn is it laggy! I guess it could be the ICS' fault and that the JB for it will be smoother but right now it cant be compared to smoothnes of my Note phone at all!
The charger connector is also not standard mini usb which sux and the keyboard for it is too pricey!
One thing I was really looking for was to play Tegra 3 games on it & of the 5 games I tried only 1 was not buggy!
anyways... from what Ive seen from the Note 10.1 dev forum it looks just as promising as my NoteII.
so if anyone here thinks I am making a mistake or something I missed plz let me know.
donno why I even bothered buying this. I was so happy with my Note2. It would have been logical to get another galaxy product!
It was an expensive lesson I even ordered a screen protector for it which costs 30bux inc shipping!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm done with ASUS, too...
TF700 has a superb display, and thats about it...mine was laggy,too. OTA wouldn't work, so i did an unlock using ASUS's unlock-tool, tried to update with TWRP and downloaded update.zip - would't work either but kept the tablet in a bootloop. ASUS of course refuses warranty because unlock, tries to charge me repaircosts 90% of a brandnew device - come on guys, kidding??? Sold the keyboard, bought the note 8010, fast and smooth with root and Team Union Jelly Bean...an expensive lesson for me, too...
I'm not bashing the Note. I have the phone and the tab as well and love both.
I'm commenting on the op's qualms about the choice he made, which he regrets.
All I'm saying is the op obviously didn't do any research before buying. Some of the
stuff he hates about the Asus TF are also present with the Note. Which means he
is still making the same mistake of not researching.
The reason I said he should keep it is cuz he seems to be guilt-tripping over a perfectly
good purchase. That and he's going to sell his perfectly good tab and be out $100 bucks
because of it.
And you're making a point of there being cheaper docks for the Note 10.1.
Cheaper dock options are also available for the TF700.
And no, the note does NOT have LOTS of ROMs but dev is heading there. On that subject
I was saying that if he waits, dev will get better for the TF.There are ~20 custom ROMs
on xda for the TF700 and less than ten for the Note 10.1. Two or three for the WiFi only devices.
I still also maintain that Samsung drags its feet when it comes to updates.
The TF had JB since October. As of writing this there still is no JB for the N8013, no
leak, no official. Asus is in fact known for their frequent updates.
The tab has quality control issues as I well. I had to return the first one I bought since
the screen was defective. If you read up, this very forum will confirm that I was not alone
in this. Some report lag with the software. Asus is well known for having poor quality
control though.
With all that said, I considered both tabs when buying, did my research and bought the
Note. I love the one I have now and don't regret it at all. It is amazingly good despite any reviews
saying this or that is better.
I've had both and the Note is a better choice (for me at least). A lot less lag and more options. I have the OG note for my phone and have it running stock android. I much prefer touchwiz on the 10.1. Multi window is awesome and I actually use the IR blaster a lot more than I thought I would. Lots of cool features that vanilla android doesn't offer. I vote Note
Sent from my big 10 inch..
Since the Note and N10 have come out the TF700 forum has become a ghost town. Picture tumbleweed. Scott Crossler, the magician who made the TF700 usable, is no longer supporting it. Others are trying to keep up his work but picture "Otto Pilot" from the movie Airplane. Asus has done little or no marketing for the TF700 and it's just sort of floating out there. Asus’ Q3 sales of 10.1" tablets was actually down year-over-year.
Here's my elevator conversation summary of the three most talked about Android tablets:
Note 10.1 - It's the most complete tablet available (any OS) and has unique features like multiview, inking via a Wacom digitizer with palm rejection, S-Note, and a slew of Samsung developed features not available elsewhere that make it a joy to use. It's powerful, has JB (kind of), has great sounding front mounted speakers, gets above average battery life, and has a great display with decent (for Samsung) color accuracy, good contrast, and is nicely bright. There are two downsides and they apply mostly to consumption-only buyers. The 720P display isn't as good on text and computer generated graphics as higher PPI tablets and all the things that make the Note great at creation and productivity add a lot of complexity for people that aren't going to use those features. It's also available with 3G and when so equipped it doubles as a giant phone. The only tablet I'd consider replacing my Note with is another Note with a higher PPI display.
N10 - I, like many people, saw the specs for the N10 before it was released and thought it was "game over" for all other 10.1" Android tablet makers. As it turns out the N10 is a "value" tablet not a "high-end" tablet. It has the highest PPI of any tablet on the planet but it's fairly dim, is pretty warm, and has just average contrast. The number of N10's reported with light bleed on their displays is pretty shocking (at any price) for a Samsung-built tablet. The N10's A15 SoC is state-of-the-art and kick-ass powerful. But, because of the mammoth PPI it's powering, it's no more powerful than the Note. It also has a bizarre quasi-phone UI which wastes a tremendous amount of display real estate and looks awkward on a 10" tablet. It's "Pure Google" which is fantastic for updates but, feature wise, it's a barren wasteland compared to the features bundled with TW. Battery life is below average and recharging time is six hours. The N10 is a great consumption device for the price. And that's about it.
TF700 - The Infinity is nothing more than a gussied up Prime which means its design is over a year old. It's also using a Teg3 SoC whose design is eighteen months old and at the end of its useful life and now used primarily in budget devices. It has no 5GHz Wi-Fi, uses single channel memory (the Note and N10 are dual channel), has 1GB of RAM, has IO issues that Asus has made famous, and is built using outdated components that, in a lot of cases, are from second-tier manufacturers (EG: AzureWave Wi-Fi radios). Asus' QC is dreadful, their repair center in TX horrible, and to unlock the bootloader you agree to completely void your warranty. There are a couple of things that are unique and, IMHO, the only reason people should be looking at a TF700. They are: the keyboard which also extends battery life, expandable storage, and the Super IPS display that makes it great for outdoor use. Someone only looking for PPI is better off with a N10.
So, as someone above said, no tablet's perfect. Of the three, I think living with the Note's perfectly acceptable but lower PPI display involves the least amount of compromise. For someone wanting/needing a higher PPI the N10's a decent choice and a good value. For someone who has to have a keyboard and/or higher PPI and expandable storage there's the TF700. But based on it and Asus' history, declining sales, and price, you're probably better off leaving Android and buying a W8 tablet.
BarryH_GEG said:
Since the Note and N10 have come out the TF700 forum has become a ghost town. Picture tumbleweed. Scott Crossler, the magician who made the TF700 usable, is no longer supporting it. Others are trying to keep up his work but picture "Otto Pilot" from the movie Airplane. Asus has done little or no marketing for the TF700 and it's just sort of floating out there. Asus’ Q3 sales of 10.1" tablets was actually down year-over-year.
Here's my elevator conversation summary of the three most talked about Android tablets:
Note 10.1 - It's the most complete tablet available (any OS) and has unique features like multiview, inking via a Wacom digitizer with palm rejection, S-Note, and a slew of Samsung developed features not available elsewhere that make it a joy to use. It's powerful, has JB (kind of), has great sounding front mounted speakers, gets above average battery life, and has a great display with decent (for Samsung) color accuracy, good contrast, and is nicely bright. There are two downsides and they apply mostly to consumption-only buyers. The 720P display isn't as good on text and computer generated graphics as higher PPI tablets and all the things that make the Note great at creation and productivity add a lot of complexity for people that aren't going to use those features. It's also available with 3G and when so equipped it doubles as a giant phone. The only tablet I'd consider replacing my Note with is another Note with a higher PPI display.
N10 - I, like many people, saw the specs for the N10 before it was released and thought it was "game over" for all other 10.1" Android tablet makers. As it turns out the N10 is a "value" tablet not a "high-end" tablet. It has the highest PPI of any tablet on the planet but it's fairly dim, is pretty warm, and has just average contrast. The number of N10's reported with light bleed on their displays is pretty shocking (at any price) for a Samsung-built tablet. The N10's A15 SoC is state-of-the-art and kick-ass powerful. But, because of the mammoth PPI it's powering, it's no more powerful than the Note. It also has a bizarre quasi-phone UI which wastes a tremendous amount of display real estate and looks awkward on a 10" tablet. It's "Pure Google" which is fantastic for updates but, feature wise, it's a barren wasteland compared to the features bundled with TW. Battery life is below average and recharging time is six hours. The N10 is a great consumption device for the price. And that's about it.
TF700 - The Infinity is nothing more than a gussied up Prime which means its design is over a year old. It's also using a Teg3 SoC whose design is eighteen months old and at the end of its useful life and now used primarily in budget devices. It has no 5GHz Wi-Fi, uses single channel memory (the Note and N10 are dual channel), has 1GB of RAM, has IO issues that Asus has made famous, and is built using outdated components that, in a lot of cases, are from second-tier manufacturers (EG: AzureWave Wi-Fi radios). Asus' QC is dreadful, their repair center in TX horrible, and to unlock the bootloader you agree to completely void your warranty. There are a couple of things that are unique and, IMHO, the only reason people should be looking at a TF700. They are: the keyboard which also extends battery life, expandable storage, and the Super IPS display that makes it great for outdoor use. Someone only looking for PPI is better off with a N10.
So, as someone above said, no tablet's perfect. Of the three, I think living with the Note's perfectly acceptable but lower PPI display involves the least amount of compromise. For someone wanting/needing a higher PPI the N10's a decent choice and a good value. For someone who has to have a keyboard and/or higher PPI and expandable storage there's the TF700. But based on it and Asus' history, declining sales, and price, you're probably better off leaving Android and buying a W8 tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would really like your opinion on why you think the n8013 in the US has not seen the JB update and why there seems to be not even a peep about it. All promotion of the note 10.1 happens only on the Samsung Mobile International Facebook Page, including the big Christmas vid, but not word about the 10.1 on the Samsung Mobile USA page. It is like the product vanished.
Thoughts?
rap6388 said:
I would really like your opinion on why you think the n8013 in the US has not seen the JB update and why there seems to be not even a peep about it. All promotion of the note 10.1 happens only on the Samsung Mobile International Facebook Page, including the big Christmas vid, but not word about the 10.1 on the Samsung Mobile USA page. It is like the product vanished.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because HTC, Motorola, and Samsung all suck at managing device updates. Before I got my N2 two weeks ago I was using a Teg3 One X. In an official press release with quotes from their CEO HTC said the Teg3 One X JB roll-out was going to be in October. Taiwan (HTC's home country) got a JB update in October that was so bad the roll out was stopped for the rest of the world. It started again two weeks ago and only five regions out of over a dozen have received it. In between, regional HTC offices have been providing inaccurate and conflicting updates on what the JB schedule really is.
Back to Samsung. Having nothing to do with updates Samsung's s/w management process is a cluster f-k. A single device can have over twenty four "current" versions of s/w running on it because Samsung creates unique s/w for each region a device is sold in. A good example is that while rolling out JB to the N8000 they were still releasing 4.0.4 ROMs in certain regions of the world. So there are newer ICS ROMs than there are JB. HTC rolls out a single version of "current" s/w that all of their devices globally (except specific Asian markets) get updated to within the span of a few weeks. So HTC's managing two versions (global and Asia) of s/w per device while Samsung's managing dozens. And the complexity this creates makes Samsung's update process overly complex and difficult for us on the outside to track and make sense of.
So, the short answer to your question of "where's the N8013's JB update?," is that it's stuck somewhere in Samsung's plumbing waiting to be deployed. It's fun to talk about reasons for delays like patent issues and the like but I really think it’s just Samsung being Samsung. The OG 8.9 on AT&T just got ICS last week after the rest of the world received it in August. Go figure.
The upside is that Samsung's s/w is versatile for end-users to manage with Odin so that when a newer ROM comes out for a different region you can just use that with no repercussions. My Brazilian N2 is running a Panamanian ROM and my also Brazilian Note 10.1 is running a British ROM. At some point soon either someone on XDA or Samfirmware is going to post a complete MD5 file for the N8010. Once that happens every 8010/3 user can update to it using Odin without the current complexity of loading a new ROM followed by using recovery to update it to JB from SD. Look at it this way; at least we have some options. The poor folks waiting on HTC and Motorola just have to wait.
This is kind of old but makes the point of how complex Samsung's s/w managment process is. This is a list of ROMs deployed just for the N8000. Kind of scary.
I don't understand what the problem is with the proprietary connector? Seems to work fine for me.
SkizzMcNizz said:
I don't understand what the problem is with the proprietary connector? Seems to work fine for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is twofold:
Compatibility
Portability
Which are two sides of the same coin. You must use Samsung's connector
which limits your options for peripherals, unless you get an adapter. Even
then the lack of a separate HDMI port and the fact that you can't charge via
your PC's USB port (not enough current) are annoying. And you can't use your
devices chargers which means one more charger to carry around.
blud7 said:
The problem is twofold:
Compatibility
Portability
Which are two sides of the same coin. You must use Samsung's connector
which limits your options for peripherals, unless you get an adapter. Even
then the lack of a separate HDMI port and the fact that you can't charge via
your PC's USB port (not enough current) are annoying. And you can't use your
devices chargers which means one more charger to carry around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
small price to pay for the dogs bollocks of android tabs, I have been putting off buying waiting for decent specs with micro sd, bought a nexus 7 & took it back next day, felt like cheap plastic crap! I would love to see a review for the note 10.1 based on a price of £268 which is what I paid after cashback, im sure it would get editor's choice awards across the board!
goodie said:
small price to pay for the dogs bollocks of android tabs, I have been putting off buying waiting for decent specs with micro sd, bought a nexus 7 & took it back next day, felt like cheap plastic crap! I would love to see a review for the note 10.1 based on a price of £268 which is what I paid after cashback, im sure it would get editor's choice awards across the board!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just answering his question :crying:
And that's a good price. I paid $499 plus shipping.
You can charge on a PC's USB... Just reeeeeeeeeally slowly.... Best to leave overnight to charge in this instance, but I have been using it before and charging at the same time...
Thanks for all the info. Im still waiting for someone to buy the asus
The thing that was most dissapointing was the lag. Jerky surfing and delayed responses.
Dont care much about that tiny higher screen resolution
blud7 said:
Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The JB update came out the day I bought mine so YMMV.
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is relevant only if the N8013 is the version he is going to buy (and seeing that he is from Norway it most probably is not).
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure but IMNSHO it's the best one out there.
Based on your post, you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, how could he assume for example that the Transformer had to have 2GB of Ram just because it was more expensive... :silly:
[*]The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, which means neither of them has an advantage over the other in this respect.
[*]The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
False, I got a Samsung original desktop dock (stand, charge and audio out) for € 20 (in Italy) and it works with practically all of the Samsung 7" and 10" tablet lines.
[*]The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is its ONLY advantage.
[*]The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is actually a PLUS (unless you are a gamer maybe, which I am not).
[*]Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
False, Asus has been one of the best ones for their tablet line but Samsung is not bad at all when you compare it with all of the others and has actually been pretty good with their smartphones.
I run the official JB on my Note 10.1 3G and should get the official JB update on my OG Note very soon.
What he should keep in mind is:
- the Note 10.1 has 2GB RAM (a killer spec for how I use it)
- MultiWindow
- the 3G version is one of the handful of 10" tablets in the world (all of them Samsung AFAIK) that have full GSM call and message capabilities (another killer spec for me)
- it has the S-Pen (I don't use it all that often but when I need it it's VERY useful)
- very good and loud stereo audio
- Touchwiz and Samsung added SW, services and personalizations
- I don't know how it would do with games (I don't have a single one installed on my mobile devices) but on everything else the quad-core Exynos is the fastest and smoothest Android tablet I have ever seen.
- very good battery life
- one of the very best non-HD displays
- light and with a PLASTIC back (I HATE metal bodies!!!!)
- it has an IR blaster and you can use it as a smart remote