Making the switch to xoom worth it? - Galaxy Tab General

So I've had the Tab (VZW) since Christmas, and for the most part I have been very happy with it, but when I got to play with the Xoom the other day I was really impressed. Anyways that got me thinking...
I bought the tab as well as the HDMI dock and cable and a folio case. Just wondering how much I could realistically get for the whole package. And if the improvements that the Xoom offers are worth it.
Anyone care to cast their opinions?
Thanks.

TBH...I'd hold out a bit yet. There are many more Honeycomb Tablets coming, and at what seems to be considerably less cost.
Many reports show Xoom owners less than satisfied. Seems there are alot of shortcomings not only with the Xoom (losing your Xoom for a week to upgrade to 4G, SD card slot inactive, overall bugginess, etc...google it) but also with the early bugginess of Honeycomb.
Would make sense to hold out for another month...and since you have already owned one of their devices, you should consider the Galaxy 10.1 or the 8.9 when they release...here's a post with some pros & cons.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=988950

Personally I can't compare a 7" device to a 10" device. Totally different use cases. If you just want an Android tablet to have around the house then the Xoom is probably the best one to get right now, but I'd hold off a little bit and see what the Samsung and LG and others are like. If I was in the market for a large format tablet then I'm liking the look of the 10.1 myself. Hopefully Samsung will enable GPU acceleration like they've done with the original Tab. Makes a difference when watching movies. Lack of sd card is a bit of a pisser though...

Agreed on the SD card...mebbe they'll show us something different on the 22nd announcement they have planned. Although, truly, only way 16gb wouldn't be enough is if I dump music or a bunch of movies onto it. The only device I have that has used more than 16gb of space is my Vibrant, I have most of my music on that. Takes up about 24gb (with external SD card).

Honestly I would hold off on any Motorola products right now. They are under MASSIVE attack from customers for various things that they found wrong with the Xoom and other newer devices and Motorola "appears" to be ignoring them.
http://www.androidincanada.ca/news/everyone-mad-at-moto/
http://www.androidcentral.com/moto-employee-confirms-locked-bootloaders-and-bad-attitude

The HTC Flyer looks very impressive. it makes me regret my laggy tab. It's UI is awesome, 1.5Ghz... but as per usual with ALL HTC's there have AWFUL battery life.. (4hrs opposed to out tabs with 7hrs)

Related

Coming to 3.0 from Gtablet

I'm looking at the 3.0 tabs and given the Asus' supply shortage it's down to the Xoom and Acer Iconia. Anyone want to weigh in on their Xoom experiences?
After selling my GTablet a month ago I purchased a wifi XOOM and despite my biggest grip of no sdcard w/out rooting I love the XOOM. I am staying with stock for as long as I can until ROM's come out frequently like they did/do with GTab. For a stock rom this is a great device and the cosmetic look and feel for me is much better than the Gtablet.
Go with the Xoom!!!
i sold my gtab and got a xoom, its awesome!
Yep me too returned my GTAb and got the Xoom. Since it came with 3.0 it was worth the extra money to me.
i had a gtab for a while until the hardware failed. luckily it was right under the 30 day return time frame so i could re-allocate my funds to a much better device. the screen on the g tab really annoyed me. not that i use my tab in the vertical position a lot, but when i do want to use it in the vertical position i don't want it to give me a headache. Also the lack of accessories was somewhat annoying. all i wanted was a descent folio case that i didn't have to modify, but at the time i had a gtab that wasn't an option.
I just yesterday bought a xoom after being in the same spot you are in. Let me start by saying between the xoom and the acer the two major things I was noticing was the screen difference and the battery life. Yes I have held both in my hands and the screen on the zoom just looks a lot better, even at the same resolution. Maybe its because the acer is using an lcd?
And the xoom has about an 1 1/2 hours better battery life.
And then there's the big difference of having more memory out of the box. (Well... depending, where I bought the acer only had a 16gb option avail)
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Do not get the Acer one, I have used it and it feels cheap as all hell. The Xoom feels much better in the hand and the lock button placement was extremely smart. Typing on both devices was pretty easy (although I recommend ThumbKeyboard 4.0 beta 3 best keyboard for Honeycomb thus far) and their UI s don't differ at all. In all honesty, if you want the best Honeycomb tablet I would recommend the G Slate, but since you are stuck with tthese two, go with the Xoom, the developer support will be stronger (stock as the Nexus series) the updates will come quicker and finally, the device just feels better. If you are into Modding, then you can mod the SD card into the Xoom, you can apply kernels that can overclock the Xoom up to 1.5ghz, and then there is the UA string fix that I am not sure of they have fixed it on the other tablets or not, but they have fixed it on the Xoom. Get the Xoom for sure, it is probably the second best Honeycomb tablet, or the third... First being the G Slate, and second being the Asus Transform.
Sent from my Xoom
Smokexz said:
In all honesty, if you want the best Honeycomb tablet I would recommend the G Slate, but since you are stuck with these two, go with the Xoom, the developer support will be stronger (stock as the Nexus series) the updates will come quicker and finally, the device just feels better.
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Click to collapse
I decided against getting the TMO G-Slate (I also have a SGS Vibrant with T-Mobile) because of the smaller screen and lack of hardware SD card slot. While the XOOM lacks an SD card slot as well, all that is needed is a software update to enable it (already available unofficially).
I, too agree that the XOOM will receive better support, etc. To this day, I have yet to the G-Slate given a proper forum here at XDA. I've either tried or owned many of the other tablet choices that have become available. The XOOM has the best quality build IMO. Every day more places are selling them. Sam's club just started and Sprint will sell the WiFi version within a week. Availability will be key to which one will succeed.
The XOOM's price is also good as is since it's the same price as the 32GB iPad yet does way more. I've seen people claim the ASUS Tablet is cheaper but some are comparing the 16GB version which is silly!
I like to rip on Motorola for releasing a half-baked device, but the fact is that I really have only a single gripe with the Xoom (buggy bluetooth). Other than that, I love it to death.
Build quality is really top-notch. The thing feels solid and is comfortable to hold (especially in landscape mode). If I were still out there trying to select a tablet, I would pick the Xoom again even with the knowledge that some features would be delayed... and delayed again. Like I say, I have had problems with the bluetooth. I'd like to use this as a netbook from time to time, but the Xoom doesn't play well with bluetooth keyboards. They work... just not very well. I expect that the next update will solve this problem though.
In other words, once Motorola and have patched Honeycomb, I honestly think that the Xoom will be the best tablet for this generation of tablets. Developer support is there. Unlocked bootloader, etc.... Just expect a few moments of frustration in the meanwhile.
Xevilious said:
I like to rip on Motorola for releasing a half-baked device, but the fact is that I really have only a single gripe with the Xoom (buggy bluetooth). Other than that, I love it to death.
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It's funny you say that because it was chosen for a particular project because of it's bluetooth support. Having 3 android devices at the ready, I tested them all to determine their fitness for a particular work purpose. Out of an SGS Vibrant (mine), iPad 1st Gen (not mine) and XOOM (mine). I found that only the XOOM could properly handle serial communication over bluetooth (SPP profile). I get better than expected range, it seems well shielded from interference and it hasn't dropped a byte. So it's hopefully just one or more software glitch(es) with the HID profile.
I stand behind my purchase a 110%. When you pull it out next to an iOS device people just gather around. I'm not comparing - just stating my experience. They want to know what, it, is. Then I tell them the story of the Matrix and I say its a Xoom. They want to look at it but its almost like they are afraid. Its like its too much device for them. Just saying.
I bought my Xoom about a week ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. I had been researching Android tablets for a while, and it came down to either the Xoom or the Asus Transformer. Given that the transformer is next to impossible to find and that Motorola is a reputable company with a good track record, I decided to go with the Xoom. I haven't rooted mine yet since I haven't had a resason to do it yet, but it's awesome that Motorola gave us an unlocked boot loader.
Go with the Xoom for sure over the Acer.

2 days left to return XOOM to BB -> Samsung 10.1

Got the XOOM wifi for my Bday. Totally enjoying the android tablet experience (also a Fascinate phone user). There are a few minor nit-picks for me with the XOOM. Seeing the Samsung 10.1 at Google IO is making me reconside my selection:
XOOM Nit Picks:
A bit Heavy (but certainly sturdy). I don't have any real need to lug this thing too far from my home office, so not really a deal breaker.
Power button on the back. I lie the XOOM flat on my desk. I need to pick it up to wake it up - many time per day. I find this oddly annoying!
Display just feels washed out to me. I have gotten away from the conservative auto-brightness to manually adjusted to better suite my taste. This is surely an UNFAIR LED vs Super Amoled comparison (like on my phone), but nonetheless, it is an issue for me.
Non-USB charging - yep, one more cable to manage. Again, this is an Android Tablet general concern, not specific to the XOOM.
So, the Samsung hits a couple topics for me: Lightweight, thinner, button on edge. But has its own set of issues for me:
Not 3.1 yet, Samsung seem terribly slow to push out upgrades (maybe really a Verizon issue on my phone?).
No HDMI/USB support. I am guessing they will provide some sort of dongle to provide these features, but ONE MORE piece to manage.
No SD Card support. I don have a big concern here, but who knows in the future?
Construction. The Google IO devices really looked/felt like cheap-plastic with that funky white back - but this may be how they get the weight spec to fall just below the iPad2. This is one of my gripes with the Fascinate phone - cheap back. I've not heard any reports of the retail config in June. Will it be like the IO devices, or return to something more like the original 10.18.9 black back.
I am totally on the fence here. Any suggestions??
Thanks,
Mark
Have you held a tab 10.1? it does not feel cheap and plasticy.
Xoom:
Available now w/3.1
802.11 a/b/g/n (as far as I know it's the only device with 5ghz wifi)
OTA updates (kies LOL)
Weight:
I typically carry mine around in some sort of folio case, or padded bag. To me, a few grams of weight is 100% negligible because of that fact... if I had any other tablet I'd stick it in a folio or case of some sort as well which surely adds to the weight. I don't know very many people that use their tablets without any form of cover/folio/case/screen film/etc. Even when I'm "around the house" I put it in a gel sleeve which adds to the weight. So... truly... is weight an issue on any of these tablets?
Screen:
I've held an ipad, an ipad2, a xoom, and an acer all together (not at once) - generally the screen on the ipads just seem better. dont know what the trickery is because its not just the fact that its an IPS screen vs a TN panel... I played with an Acer which is supposedly IPS as well and I thought it looked practically the same as my Xoom. I did get to hold it side by side with my Xoom at a tradeshow, it was a fun little tablet but it felt a little awkward to me. The button and output placement on it was better.
Peripheral placement:
Where the Xoom "sucks" the most if i may say it... is where everything plugs in. Short of the contacts for the power dock being on the bottom everything else is just wrong. You can't dock it and plug it into USB at the same time, gee thanks motorola.
My opinion:
Someone gave you a Xoom and you're out nothing. If you want a samsung tablet just wait until it comes out and sell your Xoom for $399 to someone as a deal and use that money to subsidize your samsung purchase.
I've got until tomorrow to return mine if I want. I've owned the original iPad, the Playbook and rooted a Nook Color. Currently, I have a Transformer on order and who knows if it will ever ship. Anyway, I agree with the previous poster that a little weight really is of little importance, especially when you put on a case. Also, for me, the connectivity is a concern because I use HDMI out a lot.
The Galaxy Tab looks appealing and I'm sure the screen will impress. However, I wonder if it will suffer from the light bleeding issues other such screens seem to have. I am also hesitant to jump in because of the stated concerns about Samsung not updating their products. That wouldn't be as great a concern if 3.1 wasn't such a dang improvement in performance and stability. Personally, I think the wiser course of action is to wait until the Galaxy 8.9. By then, surely 3.1 will be implemented and you will get a better form factor for carry.
Hi MarkP,
I think it`s really a hard decision, every review is saying great things about the Tab 10.1, for me the mains CONS are exactly those you mentioned, lack of ports and SD Reader (to be confirmed, actually, there are rumors that the retail version will have an SD reader).
Just to correct one point, the Tab 10.1 is not AMOLED, Samsung did not mention the display technology and people is speculating that it could be a Super LCD (the qualitty is very good), but is no AMOLED for sure.
I would be very worried about the pace of updates from Samsung, specially in the case of the retail tab which is supposed to come with some sort of TouchWiz (TouchWiz in itself is a big MINUS in my opinion, I like the Google Experience).
I think in any case you will be with a nice tablet, dependes of what is more important to your specific use case.
Regards ans good luck.
Sandro
dulaney22 said:
I've got until tomorrow to return mine if I want. I've owned the original iPad, the Playbook and rooted a Nook Color. Currently, I have a Transformer on order and who knows if it will ever ship. Anyway, I agree with the previous poster that a little weight really is of little importance, especially when you put on a case. Also, for me, the connectivity is a concern because I use HDMI out a lot.
The Galaxy Tab looks appealing and I'm sure the screen will impress. However, I wonder if it will suffer from the light bleeding issues other such screens seem to have. I am also hesitant to jump in because of the stated concerns about Samsung not updating their products. That wouldn't be as great a concern if 3.1 wasn't such a dang improvement in performance and stability. Personally, I think the wiser course of action is to wait until the Galaxy 8.9. By then, surely 3.1 will be implemented and you will get a better form factor for carry.
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I agree, weight is a non issue for the most part, and I also agree about waiting to see if samsung updates...I mean, I have a Samsung Vibrant and have had a Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the updates are slow to come(if they come at all.)...Don't get me wrong maybe Samsung will shape up in the future, but for now til I see it I am going to try to stay clear of Samsung Android devices.
I personally don't understand the argument of Xoom's weight. Did people become that fragile that they can't carry around a device that is less than 2 lbs?
Also, Xoom will have a superior build quality compared to Tab 10.1, this is why it is heavier. You cannot have a slim, lightweight device that will have fantastic build quality. When you make a device that lightweight, you are giving up quality.
To me, it seems Xoom will always get it's updates quicker than any other Honeycomb tablet. Don't forget, Iconia and Transformer will get it in June, even though they are already available. With Samsung having touchwiz, my guess it will get updates a few weeks if not more after Xoom. And remember I/O? Xoom was the device Google used through out their experiments. If this is any indication, Xoom will probably get more dev support in terms of hardware capabilities.
I guess I can't really add anything that numerous people here have already pointed out. My biggest disappointment with the xoom is the display. It's just not vibrant in any way. Pretty dull really, in my opinion. However, the fact that the xoom has pure honeycomb and will get updates much faster than other tablets that contain OEM bloat is the key factor in my wanting the xoom over others. And, the bootloader is open. My first and current android device is the Moto Atrix, and I really wish I waited or researched the android world more before I bought it, and go a device that didn't have a locked bootloader, or could be unlocked.
If you're really on the fence about it, just return the xoom before it's too late, wait for the Samsung to come out and go compare them side by side. Unless of course you must have a tablet to use between now and release.
holtenc said:
I guess I can't really add anything that numerous people here have already pointed out. My biggest disappointment with the xoom is the display. It's just not vibrant in any way. Pretty dull really, in my opinion. However, the fact that the xoom has pure honeycomb and will get updates much faster than other tablets that contain OEM bloat is the key factor in my wanting the xoom over others. And, the bootloader is open. My first and current android device is the Moto Atrix, and I really wish I waited or researched the android world more before I bought it, and go a device that didn't have a locked bootloader, or could be unlocked.
If you're really on the fence about it, just return the xoom before it's too late, wait for the Samsung to come out and go compare them side by side. Unless of course you must have a tablet to use between now and release.
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Click to collapse
I don't think the display is bad from vibrant standpoint, but I wish there was some way to change the color temperature to make it a little warmer. Frankly, I don't care much for the overly saturated colors of the Samsung or iPad.
samsung has always been slow and lazy on updates.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
i think I need to see the galaxy 10.1 display in person because the colors I have seen in all the pictures look a little too saturated to me...I think that would get annoying after a while. From a color saturation standpoint, I would prefer the xoom over the GT 10.1
Thanks everyone!
A few notes to add:
The Bday gift was to myself
Yep. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 display is also LED, not amoled like my Fascinate (I wish!). Probably will look very much the same as the XOOM, unless Samsung is able to config color/contrast/saturation default levels before shipping - or provide an interface for these options.
I think I may just return the XOOM, and go tablet-less until ~June 4 timeframe, then try to find a Samsung 10.1 display to do the touchy-feely stuff.
Worse case (or best case) - I buy the XOOM again, probably for a discount over the $599 I paid ($569 prices around today).
Will be only a small issue to go tabet-less for the next 20-30 days!
Looks like the GTab 10.1 i/o devices are suffering from a bit of backlight bleed themselves.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13959199#post13959199
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qVS8KhM_rtXC555bw011jg
Good luck being able to rip open 10 of them on launch day to find a good one. Sometimes the quality control (or lack thereof) just baffles me.
^something like that I completely allowed on my $200 nook color. But when you double-plus the price, my tolerance grows quite thin and I expect the hardware to be as close to perfect as possible. Meaning: no back-light bleed.
Why not return, then repurchase at a different merchant to re extend your return time so you can wait for the Samsung to come out and be able to make a more informed decision? Once you sign into Google with the newly purchased xoom, virtually everything but your movies music and photos will be loaded back onto it.
You probably shouldn't do this, I only did something like this one time when i had a wedding shoot and really needed the money but had just sold my Sony nex. I went to Walmart and bought a dslr camera and returned it after the shoot. I'm sure if lots of people do this, it could **** with the merchants and Motorola. But, you know, its all well within your rights, just frowned upon. Your call.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Xoom is not the best, but enough to make me satisfied. The problem is Honeycomb itself (lag, missing apps..) not the xoom hardware.
tritran18518 said:
Xoom is not the best, but enough to make me satisfied. The problem is Honeycomb itself (lag, missing apps..) not the xoom hardware.
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Are you still having lag issues even after 3.1? Are you able to surf the net and listen to mp3 without any issues? I have a TF and I dont know if its worth waiting for 3.1 in June. My return date for my TF is at the end of May. I heard good things about 3.1. Listening to my music and surfing is one of the thing I do the most, and on 3.0 using either playerpro or PowerAMP cause so much lag that it will lock up the browser or the player. With PlayerPro it will actually stutter during playback
I was planning on waiting for the 10.1 but started having doubts when I heard about the lack of SD card, then in a moment of doubt I found a xoom on ebay for $405, I definitively think its worth it fr $405.
tritran18518 said:
Xoom is not the best, but enough to make me satisfied. The problem is Honeycomb itself (lag, missing apps..) not the xoom hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you not on 3.1?
erzhik said:
I personally don't understand the argument of Xoom's weight. Did people become that fragile that they can't carry around a device that is less than 2 lbs?
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no ****. you gotta laugh when someone complains how tablet x is soooo much heavier than tablet y... and the difference is only 100 grams!

Anyone considering the Toshiba Thrive?

There's some info on Endgadget and the specs don't look too shabby, is anyone considering this machine?
Toshiba didn't exactly jump into the tablet market head first, but now that it's come clean with the Thrive, its first pad for the US market, it's wasting no time -- we just got some hands-on with the 10.1-inch, Android 3.1-powered slate -- which, by the by, is the first that we know of to sport a removable battery. It's also got a few more rarities: full-sized USB and HDMI ports and a full-sized SDHC / SDXC slot. Oh, and its $429 starting price ain't bad either. So was Toshiba's entry into the world of Android tablets worth the wait? Join us for a tour past the break, and decide for yourself.
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http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/toshiba-thrive-hands-on/
This does seem like a fully loaded device but I think compared to the portability of the Tab 10.1, it will soon become annoying. I think I'm going to stick with the Tab 10.1 and purchase the adapters for USB/HDMI. I'd only need to carry them on 5% of my journeys anyway.
Yes, I'm interested. 1.6 lbs is like the Ipad 1 tablet and the reviewer states that its really not that bad. Ports are important, and the user removable battery is a real plus. Thickness is a bummer, but over all, the tablet looks like a real contender
this WAS the 1 i really wanted but when i saw it had more bulk than my xoom i've decide to go with the 10.1, but i would take this over the xoom.
The location of the cameras is ODD. Seems like it would be difficult to hold and not obscure the cameras.
I like that you can change the battery but me personally I don't need all those ports. If I have to have all that I may as well get a laptop or netbook. Also I'm not keen on that chrome around the camera. It's petty but I also like looks when it comes to my devices
It just moved up to number one on my list just waiting to see what HTC comes out with with in a 10.1 tablet
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
No.
1. I hate that silver / chrome plate around the camera. It is too distracting, look cheap and ugly. I cannot stand it, period.
2. It is too bulky and heavy. I don't need all those ports, especially because I will use it rarely.
3. I don't need replaceable battery. From my experience, even after a year or two, the lithium battery is still good. And by that time, I have upgraded to a new device anyway. I know, it is a plus to have replaceable battery, but if it adds to the weight and bulkiness (because of the mechanic or whatnot), then I don't want it!
GTab 10.1 is still my number one choice ... IF I can buy one
I like what I've seen. I was following this for a few months, but scratched it off due to the Tab 10.1. Now I've written off the tab 10.1 I think, because it just leaks cheap. I'll reserve my final judgement until I see some reviews.
I'm sorta curious what the odds of being able to install Windows 8 on it might be. It appears to be the same exact design as one of Toshiba's upcoming Windows 8 tablets they showed at Computex, just with a different processor. I'm not excited about Tegra 2... but..... if it's really that bad, that is why they have return policies. A Dual boot Android / Windows 8 tablet might be a serious case of Winning!
Oh, I also am looking forward to see what HTC is bringing to the table as well. I don't want to count them out.
I am the one considering the Toshiba Thrive as well.
Yeah the Thrive is thick and heavy with the chrome camera and rubber back that sound odd, but the fact that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has no SD card and USB slot turns me off, it seems like Samsung is going to rip us off with accessories that I have seen in the youtube video shown in another thread, so Samsung learned styling and ways of money making from Apple huh?
Full size USB, HDMI and SD card port, plus attractive pricing and the Toshiba brand outweight the clumsy look. Hope XDA will have the Thrive forums soon.
bbeelzebub said:
Now I've written off the tab 10.1 I think, because it just leaks cheap. I'll reserve my final judgement until I see some reviews.
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Definitely worth reserving your final judgement because the reviews that I have read all pretty much say how premium the quality of the 10.1 is compared to what they expected before they saw it in person. I didn't bookmark all the reviews I read so can't seem to find them all but Engadget wrote:
"It's a tremendous thing to hold, and it truly oozes quality from corner to corner".
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-review/
Personally, I don't think it looks that cheap but like you, I am also reserving my final judgement until I see it in the flesh.
No XDA forum - No buy!
It's very simple, I like the device and want to get one. But with no XDA forum (yet), I'll have to wait. I do like to try out custom rom's, etc., as well as the practical uses. Right now I have an LG G-Slate, and with no XDA forum I can't do anything (other than rooting). So, if one is interested in simply "using" a device, then the Thrive looks excellent except for its bulk. For those of us who want to do more - we'll need an XDA forum.
Looks like a cool tablet. Had it come out a month earlier, I might have bought it.
These guys releasing Honeycomb tablets in July, August, and September just feel like they are a bit late to the game.
Ravynmagi said:
Looks like a cool tablet. Had it come out a month earlier, I might have bought it.
These guys releasing Honeycomb tablets in July, August, and September just feel like they are a bit late to the game.
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That makes total sense. So I take it you only buy your devices briefly after a new OS is introduced? How old is your Windows/Apple desktop/laptop?
akarol said:
That makes total sense. So I take it you only buy your devices briefly after a new OS is introduced? How old is your Windows/Apple desktop/laptop?
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With laptops/desktops, I can update the OS whenever I wish. I'm not dependent on the hardware manufacture to make a custom OS for my computer. So tablets are very different from a laptop or desktop. Though I do know people that do hold off laptop/desktop purchases if a new OS release is near, to avoid having to buy an upgraded OS later.
I love Android, but 3.0 and 3.1 have not been that good. It was a rush job and the source code was never even released. And hardware manufactures already proven they are very slow with major OS release updates. With the hope that Android 4.0 will unify the phone/tablet OS and includes major improvements to stability, compatibility, and fragmentation...
Personally I think there probably is a line in the sand somewhere where a person should ask themselves, do I really want to get into an Android 3.x tablet now with 4.0 coming soon?
I'm not sure I made a good decision getting my GT 10.1 back on June 17th (really nice hardware though). It is really going to suck if I'm still rocking Android 3.crap in 2012. Really hope that doesn't happen, but I have no idea.
Techno79 said:
This does seem like a fully loaded device but I think compared to the portability of the Tab 10.1, it will soon become annoying. I think I'm going to stick with the Tab 10.1 and purchase the adapters for USB/HDMI. I'd only need to carry them on 5% of my journeys anyway.
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I totally agree.
By looking at the photos, it seems as though the rear camera does not include a flash.
I went with the GT 10.1. LOL I got tired of waiting and I didn't like that the Toshiba doesn't have Gorilla Glass, is a lil' heavy and apparently just uses a regular LCD screen with some sort of software to make it crisper and brighter.... The GT has such a nice screen, I couldn't resist. It also feels so light in hand.
Still, different strokes for different folks. I'm sure the Toshiba has nice things about it too... like the ports. Still... I like weight of the GT sooooooo much.
I was seriously considering waiting for the thrive since its almost 100 bucks apart, you could get a 8g, plug in a 16g SD and in the end beat the 10.1 in memory.
But then I thought real hard about what I needed a tablet for. I have a NB at home and at workplace, and if I needed to do stuff that needed serious computing, I would choose the NB over any tablet even if it was quad-core.
The reason I need (or, want) a tablet is for portability, acccessibility to games, video, web surfing and data/email checking. I dont see how often I will cry over that lack of ports, if ever at all. and ports and price are probably the only things that toshiba has an edge over the 10.1. Once I decided that I really dont need the ports (especially you can get the usb dongle for $20 for the rare occasions that you need the port), it was a no brainer decision.
I would think that the Thrive buyers would have to use usb host a lot in order to feel better about the decision over 10.1. Otherwise, everytime you browse the web, watch videos, read papers, or play games on 10.1, it's just hard to think that there's a alternative attractive choice.
arnold88 said:
It's very simple, I like the device and want to get one. But with no XDA forum (yet), I'll have to wait. I do like to try out custom rom's, etc., as well as the practical uses. Right now I have an LG G-Slate, and with no XDA forum I can't do anything (other than rooting). So, if one is interested in simply "using" a device, then the Thrive looks excellent except for its bulk. For those of us who want to do more - we'll need an XDA forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a Thrive forum for you. Its not XDA but a good one never the less
http://www.thriveforums.org/forum/forum.php
If I just wanted to have a usb port or SD slot just once in a great while, than the Thrive is a winner. The comments that the thrive is clunky and heavy is way off base. Its been reported by reviewers that the weight is not heavy and feels good holding it. By the way, the Transformer 2 has been reported today to be coming out this October with Tegra 3, the new OS and goodness who knows what other upgrades. Some thing to consider as well
SR45 said:
Here is a Thrive forum for you. Its not XDA but a good one never the less
http://www.thriveforums.org/forum/forum.php
If I just wanted to have a usb port or SD slot just once in a great while, than the Thrive is a winner. The comments that the thrive is clunky and heavy is way off base. Its been reported by reviewers that the weight is not heavy and feels good holding it. By the way, the Transformer 2 has been reported today to be coming out this October with Tegra 3, the new OS and goodness who knows what other upgrades. Some thing to consider as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Thrive is 1.6 pounds. My Acer was 1.7 pounds, and it felt a lot heavier than my Tab 10.1
I can now surf the web with one hand, unlike the Acer. The Thrive will definitely feel heavier than the Tab 10.1
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

[Q] Galaxy 10.1/Tranformer/Xoom?! Which one?

Hi all, trying to decide which tablet to get. Hoping to get some honest unbiased opinions. I am coming from an IPad 1 which i loved. Also, I have the $100.00 off staples coupon, however I can NOT get the Asus at 100 off. Everywhere I checked in my area would not honor the coupon because Staples does not have it in stock, I can only get the xoom or Samsung 100.00 off. SO I know most of the pros and cons of each but most reviews that favor the Asus like it because of the price cut. I am going into this with all 3 the same price (only difference being I can get a 32gb xoom at the price of the 16gb asus and samsung)
ASUS 16gb - 399.99
What I like about the ASUS:
Screen I read is the best.
Mini HDMI
SD Card
Lots of mod potential
CONS:
heavier
proprietary cable that i can not find for sale anywhere
large frame.
less than quality build
I dont care about the dock, probably wont buy it.
XOOM - 32gb - 399.99
What I like about the XOOM
largest capacity
Updates first
quality build
SD card slot
HDMI out
no proprietary cable
lots of accessories
CONS:
not the best screen
heaviest
seems to be a little slower than the others (not as responsive)
not a lot of mods available
Galaxy Tab - 399.99 16gb
Pros:
light
quality build
smaller frame
optional keyboard if I want
nice screen
fast/responsive
good mod community
CONS:
proprietary cable
no SD Card slot (huge)
no HDMI out
So with all that said, any opinions/suggestions would really help. Like I said I have the 100.00 coupon and I hate to not use it. So with it I can get all 3 for 399.99 BUT if I choose the Samsung, I would probably pay the 499.99 for the 32 gig (using the 100.00 off) since it has no SD card slot which REALLY SUX. Id be using the tab for movie watching a lot, lots of web browsing, and some EBOOK/PDF mag reading mainly with light gaming and light music listening.
I REALLY need some help.
Build Quality is a BIG factor
Personally I think you will be less than impressed with the build quality of the Asus. True, the screen is the best, but I have held one for extended periods of time and compared to the Xoom, it is really poorly made. The feel of the plastic and poor quality made me frustrated while using the device for 15 minutes. It would really bug me if I paid good money for one and had to hold the cheap feeling device every time.
The Galaxy is a nice device with a decent UI built on top of HC 3.1. The screen was a bit too washed out and saturated for me. I think the Xoom has a softer, more true color balance. The proprietary cables and lack of expansion slot is why I would not migrate to Samsung. Needing an additional dongle cable for I/O kind of stinks.
Here is a review I wrote for the Xoom and compared it in some areas to Asus, Acer, Toshiba and Samsung.
As with any purchase it boils down to preference, price and personal taste. I went from an Acer to the Xoom because of the build quality, Out of the Box support, accessory support, and OS support. The hardware and software integration had less problems on the Xoom than the Acer. Toshiba is experiencing big issues in this area as well. Screens not waking up and other issues with the OS and hardware are problems.
Also keep in mind the Xoom integrates with your PC for file transfers. Other HC devices do not integrate as easily. The Toshiba and Acer can not see their internal storage when attached to a PC. There is no way to easily transfer fies from a PC, Mac or Linux. With the Xoom it is seen as a removable drive.
Also, waiting for Samsung or Asus to release their approved updates could be frustrating if you want the latest and greatest from google. Acer is just now getting the 3.1 update to their devices because of the manufacturer UI integration. The Xoom is the cleanest HC OS with no UI laid over the stock ROM from Google.
Happy hunting.
Xoom charges the fastest. That matters to me.
I had the Xoom, returned it for the Transformer, then returned the Transformer for the Galaxy tab 10.1. I will be keeping the 10.1 and love it.
The Xoom screen is TERRIBLE and it's way too heavy. And up until recently the Xoom was the most expensive tablet on the market, despite having the worst features.
The Transformer was just a big POS. Software was extremely slow on laggy, build quality was abysmal.
I have no need for microSD or HDMI so that was no big deal for me. what I wanted was a light tablet with a wonderful screen and high build quality. The Galaxy tab 10.1 is the only one that gives me that.
What the Xoom has going for it is that it is the first to get Honeycomb updates, and it's built like a tank (in a good way, meaning it's sturdy).
I would use the $100 Staples coupon and get the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Thankfully it is still shipping without Touchwiz, since I don't like how Touchwiz tries to make Honeycomb look like iOS (seriously Samsung, get off of Apple's nuts already, it's embarrassing).
I'm in the same boat as you kinda. Looking at which tablet I will be buying.
Unfortunately, as of yet there is not one that I say I want and has everything I want. Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1 come closest, but then again - screen quality on Xoom seems to be poor whilst on the Galaxy there is no micro SD expansion possibility (which is a must in my eyes).
Will probably go for a Xoom - just need to convince myself a bit more and hope I'm not disappointed with the screen.
screwhead89 said:
I'm in the same boat as you kinda. Looking at which tablet I will be buying.
Unfortunately, as of yet there is not one that I say I want and has everything I want. Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1 come closest, but then again - screen quality on Xoom seems to be poor whilst on the Galaxy there is no micro SD expansion possibility (which is a must in my eyes).
Will probably go for a Xoom - just need to convince myself a bit more and hope I'm not disappointed with the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is driving me crazy...I'm a painter and use the Xoom as my mobile portfolio. I have compared the photos on the Xoom screen to the photos on my pc and the actual artwork, and the colors are extremely close to true life. I know that humans are attracted to over-saturated colors, but that would be a big problem for me.
I have no noticable issues with ghosting. I'm extremely satisfied with the Xoom screen. It works for me but YMMV.
.
yeah. xoom is the best overall. maybe not hands down or overwhelmingly. but the best nonetheless.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Unless you're directly comparing the xoom screen right next to another device, you won't notice a thing.
EvoXOhio said:
I had the Xoom, returned it for the Transformer, then returned the Transformer for the Galaxy tab 10.1. I will be keeping the 10.1 and love it.
The Xoom screen is TERRIBLE and it's way too heavy. And up until recently the Xoom was the most expensive tablet on the market, despite having the worst features.
The Transformer was just a big POS. Software was extremely slow on laggy, build quality was abysmal.
I have no need for microSD or HDMI so that was no big deal for me. what I wanted was a light tablet with a wonderful screen and high build quality. The Galaxy tab 10.1 is the only one that gives me that.
What the Xoom has going for it is that it is the first to get Honeycomb updates, and it's built like a tank (in a good way, meaning it's sturdy).
I would use the $100 Staples coupon and get the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Thankfully it is still shipping without Touchwiz, since I don't like how Touchwiz tries to make Honeycomb look like iOS (seriously Samsung, get off of Apple's nuts already, it's embarrassing).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xoom has the worst features? Just because you don't use HDMI or microSD (that will probably change) doesn't mean you can ignore those features. The only downside I can see is that it doesn't have an IPS display - but even that isn't a big deal. When you aren't in a showroom, those IPS displays (like on my brother's iPad 2) are blinding. It may have taken a while to reach its potential, but the Xoom is still the best Android tablet you can buy.
Thx for the responses, although I'm still just as confused as before lol!
The ones you have listed basically have the same specs all around the board, it really comes down to built quality and the extra features. While the Transformer has some cool add-ons, they're expensive as Hell. When it comes to build quality I give the edge to the Xoom. Some people complain that it weighs...all of 1.6 pounds, I actually prefer for something I might be holding to have a little bit of weight, otherwise I may forget I'm holding it and drop it. The Xoom also has the best cameras, if that makes any difference, and has the most accessories. I really wanted to get the Tab 10.1, but when I found out it has (or will have) a stupid dongle like the iPad, then I decided against it. It's just something else to lose or break, and is completely unnecessary, but that's just the way that Samsung tends to do things.
brandogg said:
The ones you have listed basically have the same specs all around the board, it really comes down to built quality and the extra features. While the Transformer has some cool add-ons, they're expensive as Hell. When it comes to build quality I give the edge to the Xoom. Some people complain that it weighs...all of 1.6 pounds, I actually prefer for something I might be holding to have a little bit of weight, otherwise I may forget I'm holding it and drop it. The Xoom also has the best cameras, if that makes any difference, and has the most accessories. I really wanted to get the Tab 10.1, but when I found out it has (or will have) a stupid dongle like the iPad, then I decided against it. It's just something else to lose or break, and is completely unnecessary, but that's just the way that Samsung tends to do things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more thing that just struck me on my way to work...the Xoom is a serious device for getting things done. I never use my laptop in the field anymore; the Xoom does it all. I don't know how the other tabs stack up when it comes to serious work but it's a consideration for me.
I have gone thru 3 ipads -- 2 ipad 1 (wifi then 3g) and an ipa2 3g, Galaxy Tab (7"), and the Evo View 4G (7"), as well my Xoom. I decided against keeping the ipads mostly because they're really just oversized iphones (which I already use) and I was looking for more. I love the smaller form factor of the 7" devices but ended up more convinced of the Honeycomb than the earlier Android OS. I've compared the Xoom display to virtually all the others now being offered including HP's new Touchpad. It's pretty subjective IMHO -- yes, the GTab 10.1 more highly saturated colors give a first impression of "better" colors, but having used the Xoom daily since it first arrived in Feb, I can honestly say none of the other displays was good enough to convince me to give up the Xoom. It's a workhorse and seems to remain ahead of the others because XDA-Developers continually offers advancements that Moto and Verizon haven't even thought about yet.
I had the Galaxy Tab 7" and got the Xoom when it came out. The Tab is more refined than the Xoom but I am pretty sure that's because the Tab is running 2.2 and not Gingerbread. Once the update for the Xoom hits mine I'm sure I'll like it much more than I currently do with the missing SD card and 4g.
goinovr said:
I had the Galaxy Tab 7" and got the Xoom when it came out. The Tab is more refined than the Xoom but I am pretty sure that's because the Tab is running 2.2 and not Gingerbread. Once the update for the Xoom hits mine I'm sure I'll like it much more than I currently do with the missing SD card and 4g.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted (and I sure recommend it) why not try the Tiamat 2.0 Manta Ray in the Xoom development section. It is really super - updates to HC 3.2 with additional features the stock OS won't have. I've had SD card access since early in my Xoom's life thanks to these XDA developers and virtually all my gripes have been addressed. This is a great tablet once the OS is where it needs to be.

Need some Advice - Which tablet to buy..?

Need advice on which tablet to get.
I can't seem to make the decision! (It's like picking paint, once you've seen so many, you cant decide...)
I've figured it's between the:
Galaxy Tab 10.1 (P7500)
HTC Jetstream (although not available in Australia - Not sure how i'll tackle this)
Asus Transformer 3G
Can anyone who has used all three (or the transformer/galaxy tab) let me know how it feels, response wise?
I will be using it for business also (meetings, typing notes, etc).
I need 3G and at least 32GB storage (will go 64GB with Samsung 10.1)
Do not expect people who chose SGT 10.1 to recommend other tablets if they decided SGT was best for them.
I had similar choices and chose Samsung, a lot of threads to read for reasons.
Yeah, on this Forum, SGT10.1 will be the choice.
There really is little difference in terms of performance, since all the internals are more or less the same (Tegra2, 1GB RAM, Honeycomb 3.1). As for notetaking you have to go for HTC Flyer (7 inch) or wait for the Galaxy Note (5 inch).
For me, it was the form factor - slimmer, lighter, and ergonomically better (especially compared to the Transformer) that sold me to a SGT10.1. Then the brighter screen was a plus. If you cherish mobility, thumbs down SGT10.1.e
I can talk about the Jetstream and the G-Tab. I'll start with the Jetstream. It's extremely well made and Sense on it is pretty cool. It has a ton of well-done widgets and lots of options for personalization. Now for the bad. It weighs a ton, is oddly shaped which makes it tedious to hold, and HTC did a crap job with the video implementation and codecs. It's been out for months and there's still no accessories for it. It's fast at UI navigation, on par with the G-Tab at browsing, and worse at video because of the crap job HTC did. It's also insanely expensive. I had one for nine days and returned it.
When asking people about the G-Tab, you also need to ask how they use it. I use it to consume content, mostly while traveling. I use Plex and PlayOn for video streaming, Rhapsody for remote and local music, web browsing, e-mail, newspapers and magazines, productivity apps, and some light gaming. For that, it's teriffic. Samsung does the best of all the manufacturers with audio and video drivers including DRM support. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give overall performance an 8. It stutters and bogs occasionally but it's random and occurs less than 5% of the time. It's thin, light, has a gorgeous (if somewhat oversaturated) display, and has a lot of pretty cool optional accessories.
A lot of people will tell you to wait because there's better around the corner. The only possibilities in 2011 are the Toshiba AT200 and Transformer2. The Xoom 2 might also appear before the end of the year. They'll have better processors and maybe ICS but are expected to have the same resolution. Samsung's launching the 7+ and 7.7 in November/December with 3.2 vs. ICS so who knows what the other new tablets will have.
Others can discuss the Transformer but I'd definately pick the G-Tab vs. the Jetstream. If you can wait until December or Q1 2012 you might have better options but for now (IMHO) the G-Tab's the best of what's out there in the 10.1 category.
BarryH_GEG said:
I can talk about the Jetstream and the G-Tab. I'll start with the Jetstream. It's extremely well made and Sense on it is pretty cool. It has a ton of well-done widgets and lots of options for personalization. Now for the bad. It weighs a ton, is oddly shaped which makes it tedious to hold, and HTC did a crap job with the video implementation and codecs. It's been out for months and there's still no accessories for it. It's fast at UI navigation, on par with the G-Tab at browsing, and worse at video because of the crap job HTC did. It's also insanely expensive. I had one for nine days and returned it.
When asking people about the G-Tab, you also need to ask how they use it. I use it to consume content, mostly while traveling. I use Plex and PlayOn for video streaming, Rhapsody for remote and local music, web browsing, e-mail, newspapers and magazines, productivity apps, and some light gaming. For that, it's teriffic. Samsung does the best of all the manufacturers with audio and video drivers including DRM support. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give overall performance an 8. It stutters and bogs occasionally but it's random and occurs less than 5% of the time. It's thin, light, has a gorgeous (if somewhat oversaturated) display, and has a lot of pretty cool optional accessories.
A lot of people will tell you to wait because there's better around the corner. The only possibilities in 2011 are the Toshiba AT200 and Transformer2. The Xoom 2 might also appear before the end of the year. They'll have better processors and maybe ICS but are expected to have the same resolution. Samsung's launching the 7+ and 7.7 in November/December with 3.2 vs. ICS so who knows what the other new tablets will have.
Others can discuss the Transformer but I'd definately pick the G-Tab vs. the Jetstream. If you can wait until December or Q1 2012 you might have better options but for now (IMHO) the G-Tab's the best of what's out there in the 10.1 category.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great comparison! - Quick question (I could probably find this out if i searched)... Will the Galaxy 10.1 get ICS in the future? I know some say might say yes and some might say no, but has anything been announced saying GT10.1 will get ICS?
Me personally...I make a list of devices to choose from (like you did), then I look around XDA for the device with the best support, the most activity, the nicest ROMs, and stuff like that. I was between the Transformer and the 7510, and I chose the Galaxy. Loving it. Not sure how the 7500 holds up, but from what I know, I'd go with the Galaxy.
(Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of good out there for the transformer too)
It's probably 6 of one, half dozen of the other.
Yianni said:
Great comparison! - Quick question (I could probably find this out if i searched)... Will the Galaxy 10.1 get ICS in the future? I know some say might say yes and some might say no, but has anything been announced saying GT10.1 will get ICS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess Samsung could go one of two ways:
1) Introduce a G-Tab 10.1+ with a better processor, higher res display, and ICS leaving everything else pretty much the same. In the process they'd leave the original Tabs on 3.X. This would obviously piss all us early adpoters off enormously.
2) Since they're still rolling out the 8.9 and 10.1 in a lot of the world and its always been the tablet priced closest to the iPad, they introduce ICS as soon as possible to improve the user experience (existing and new) to continue to try to steal Apple's marketshare. This would make existing customers happy and allow them to get more mileage out of their investment in the 8.9 and 10.1.
Obviously, I'm rooting for number two and Samsung's always been fairly customer-centric so number one wouldn't fit their historical behavior. But, to answer your question, there's been no commitment by Samsung to upgrade either the 8.9 or 10.1 to ICS. The 7+ and 7.7 are supposed to launch on 3.2 and there's been no mention of ICS for them either. The Toshiba AT200 is launching with 3.2 and I don't think anything's been confirmed for the Transformer2 yet. From what I've read, both Honeycomb and GB apps have to updated to work on ICS. Even if ICS was released tomorrow, there's tons of work app developers and the OEM's have to do. So I'm guessing its first appearance on a tablet will be later rather than sooner. If I were a manufacturer I'd see how the Nexus Prime faired in the wild before I started migrating devices to ICS. Historically, Google devices (Nexus, et. al.) have always come out with a new OS months before its generally released/available. It's due out this month or next which could mean Q1 before other devices start to appear or get upgraded. Bottom line is your guess is as good as mine.
How about the OIL SLICK issue on the sgs tab
I just made this decision and got the tab 10.1
Reviews pretty consistently call it the current best. It is slimmer and lighter by far then the other two you mentioned. etc etc.
I knew about the oil slick, but from what I have read in hear I think Samsung has a fix for it. So I don't think new models will have the issue. I think B6 and B7 have the issue, and the one I just got two days ago was a B9. I think the number indicates the month, i.e. june, july, sept.
So my vote was Tab 10.1. To compensate for the lack of sd, I got the 32gb version. Yep, their plan worked..
raufhon said:
How about the OIL SLICK issue on the sgs tab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had it nor known anyone to have it.
raufhon said:
How about the OIL SLICK issue on the sgs tab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Few early devices had them, I had it on mine but Samsung replaced the screen under warranty and no issues after that. So if you are buying now you should be fine since Samsung would have fixed the issue in the new batches.

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