Database Users

Transformer vs Galaxy tab 10.1

I literally just put my order in about 3 days ago and will see my TF on Thursday, but I'm having second thoughts. A friend of mine just got his TF in today, and - well I dunno, I'm not all that impressed.
Out of the box came with the speaker issue (one side is louder than the other). The sound wasn't all that loud
Screen brightness was kind of low
The sharp edges were cutting my fingers
So I started to have a read about the differences between the Transformer & the Galaxy tab in the Galaxy Tab section. However, I think everyone posting there is biased toward the tab because they are now tab fanboys posting in their forum.
A few things I do like about the TF. Price of $399 (unbeatable) Expandable ports, dock option, memory slot, hdmi out, 5mpx camera. Do I think I'll use all of that (except price)? Probably not.
A few things I like about the Tab. Same size screen with less bulk, thinner, lighter, rounded edges, very solid build quality. Do I think its worth an extra $100 for these items? I think so. Plus I know the resale value will definitely be there because its a well known brand.
I haven't made up my mind completely on this but im about 80% of the way there in returning my TF and going with the Tab.
Thoughts, comments?

Nobody can decide for you. Do whatever you are happiest with.

Having used a hybrid tablet/netbook like the Transformer, I would never buy a tablet-only device.

^x2
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...

Hi mate,
I have had the TF since release day and to be honest I'm very happy with it. It does what I need it to do very well: reading books, browse internet, playing games, plays movies (although there are some issues).
On the other hand I don't need and I will never get the dock, simply because if I wanted a netbook there are much better options on the market. And I have one of them as well.
Because of that I'm waiting to see the Galaxy Tab in real life, hold it in my hands. And if that offers everything that I need and is better than the TF I might go for it.
So good luck choosing! Let us know what you go for.
rio
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status

rio911 said:
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status
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Click to collapse
Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.

Some people like smaller I would not be able to stand a 7" tablet or laptop without optical media. My motto has always been its the size/shape that makes it portable it doesn't matter if its 20lbs its still light and easy to move around. But then again I compare it with moving around 300-400lbs.

Digiguest said:
Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gtab. 10.1 also with build issues. Many are suffering from Newton rings. Dust under screen. Colors are way oversaturated.....
If u want android in an ipad like body then go Samsung. If Samsung would have made the device 1 or 2 mm thicker and put in micro SD and HDMI they also would have been able to prevent the Newton ring issue and have the one killer tablet.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Digiguest said:
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
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Click to collapse
I don't know how you can say that really.... there hasn't been any major updates for Samsung to pass onto the Tablets. The only time when you'll be able to use that point is when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out. I'd say that 1/2 months is a good enough turn around for manufacturers to update their devices a major version.
I'd also like to note that I have a Galaxy S. While Americans are still using Eclair because of their crappy carriers wanting to hack the firmware to bits, us using unbranded european devices got Gingerbread before any other device (bar the Nexus devices). Samsung know what they are doing.

The way I see it, from my experience with the TF is this:
16GB is not enough. My music alone is near this and more. Since there is no additional storage options on the GT, you are going to have to opt for a 32GB or more which equals greater $$$ to spend. But sacrifices could be made...
So, I would say the dock is the real reason to get this thing. If you are not too excited about the dock, I wouldn't bother. The GT excels in design, but the TF excels in utility and value.

If the "sharp edges" of the Transformer are really "cutting [your] fingers," that's a physical problem with the device (or your fingers, I guess!).

Buy sleeve m8,than will be perfect

Your not the first to have these concerns. I bought the tf and was considering selling it for a tab. But what you've stated (price, microsd, HDMI out, and KB option) kept me from doing so.
I played with the tab for an hour or so and still prefer my tf. I didn't like the button placement on the tab, (they're in a more natural placement on the tf.
I did have the speaker issue on my tf but it was an easy fix. Just root it (there's a very well written guide by yours truly ;-)) and read up on the thread in the development section and it's as easy as editing a txt file.
If the edges bother you, grab a case, I'm currently using the roocase multi-angle which I got from amazon for under $30.
Other than that the only downside of the tf I see is the charger. Proprietary connection, short cable and sometimes the adapter doesn't want to work.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

I was in the same boat. I traded my iPad2 for an Android tablet and had lots of offers. I was looking at the Galaxy Tab and thought it was for me until I found that it didn't have any expansion ports like the iPad2. It is one of the reasons why I HATED the iPad2 because you had to carry around the special USB cable to sync it... then you needed special software for it to work...
Screw all that. I need to be able to quickly get files on and off the my tablet. I don't want to have to rely on another computer or a computer with special software to read my stuff.
90% of the time you'll have access to a Home or Work PC which you will probably have setup properly... but trust me... you WILL find yourself somewhere needing to pull a picture off or text or an attachment or something and you'll be stuck. It will happen more often the more you use it.
Plus the price point. I was trading my iPad2 for whichever I wanted. Did I need the keyboard dock? No. Will I use the keyboard dock often? No. Is it badass? Yes.
The keyboard dock has an additional battery that will charge the tablet battery when docked. It also increases the functionality of the tab.
Both tablets are identical in hardware except the Transformer has lots of additional ports. microSD is a must and HDMI out is actually very handy for throwing pictures, movies, games, etc on a larger screen.
I just can't see buying the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the same price as you could buy the Transformer + Dock.

sontin said:
It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.

My experience is that I just bought the Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB about 5 days ago. I played with it over night and returned it the next day.
The following day, I purchased the Transformer 16GB and a dock for $50.00 more.
Now that I've owned the TF for 3-4 days, I'm very satisfied with it for many reasons:
- Multiple media input/out options: mini HDMI out, x2 USB ports, and SD/MMC card reader. - Will work perfectly with my Nikon P100's SD card and I can use a external HDD and plug it right into the USB port if I want to watch my movies.
- Dock acts as extended battery: I also tether my HTC Thunderbolt and plug it into the dock to keep a charge on my Thunderbolt while tethering my 4G to the Transformer.(SO MUCH WIN!!!)
- Having a keyboard when I want to compose an email is x100 better than thumbing my words through the tab. - I still use the touchscreen kb for somethings.
- Dock/keyboard has shortcut buttons which I take advantage of all the time.
- Textured casing makes handling the tablet/net book very secure and eliminates any smudges.
*I do not see where in the world you could cut your hand/finger on the tablet or the docking station. - You should tell your friend to get an RMA because there's something wrong with the one he has. Either that or he may need to see a dermatologist about amyloidosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Re: Samsung Galaxy 10.1
I chose that tablet first because of the sleek design. I was extremely impressed with the way that Samsung engineered the design.
HOWEVER, no more than 1-2 hours after playing with it, I came back to my senses and see how limited I was with any options. Not only does it look like an iPad but it also has all the shortcomings in hardware that the iPad does.
I have had a few Android devices and so it's practically a religion to have a microSD card for my stuff. Samsung decided to cut back on adding any option to extend storage and that was a the biggest decider for me. - All the selling points that a Android tablet has in terms of hardware-media expansion was nerfed on latest Galaxy Tab. Did Samsung want to imitate Apple so much that they even decided to try and sell a tab that requires additional parts to make it comparable to all other tablets?
In the end, this is only my real life opinion having owned both devices and what I still have now is the Asus Transformer.
Once I used the keyboard/dock with my tablet, I can not imagine another tablet without this option. Asus did a decent job in engineering the look/feel of the tab with the dock/keyboard.
*I did have to return both tab and dock/keyboard to Best Buy until I found the right Best Buy which had B60 as my previous ones were B50.
Good lucking in making your decision. If you buy it at Best Buy, you can at least return it in 14 days without restocking fee and get the other one. If you felt that first one was better than you can simply return it again and go back to the other model. I am in NO WAY suggesting to abuse a return policy but it's there and it works as mentioned.

coachclass said:
I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course the closer together glass in the gtab has led to the oil blob effect for Many
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I've had my TF since right after it launched in the US and I do love it. With that being said, I do plan on picking up a galaxy tab tomorrow, the last day that you can use the $50 off coupon for any tablet at staples.
The TF definately has the advantage when it comes to storage, because of the SD card and dock if you want to buy it, which I have no interest in. The galaxy tab however has a great form factor and from my limited use with one seems to have snappier performance than my TF, even though they have almost idendical specs, and my TF is overclocked. I also prefer the screen on the tab compared to the TF.
Honestly I think that the OP will be happy with either one. My only real gripe against the TF is that the majority of them seem to suufer from light bleed or some manufacturing defect, thankfully I only have minimal bleed, and that Asus has been slow with delivering on most of the official accessories that they promised months ago. I really want the desktop dock, which is readily available for the GT at a reasonable price.
I will say that if the galaxy tab disappoints me in any way during my return window, I will gladly buy a second TF after returning it.

I own the TF since late May...only problem I have with it is that the right speaker is louder than the left.
This past Sunday I bought the Galaxy Tab for someone and yeah it looks very nice it's thinner and lighter, but it seemed to have less options than the TF (specially within the browser settings.) The browser actually froze up on me and didn't want to display any pages. Didn't like that fact that it doesn't have an external microSD slot! I ended up returning it 2 hours later because the person preferred a laptop! My short experience with it wasn't good

Asus Transformer vs Notion Ink Adam

I have been looking at getting a tablet for a while now. I have been very interested in the Adam especially for the pixel qi screen. I do a lot of reading and thought that it would be great. My question for everyone out there is what do you think the best way to go is:
Buy the Adam 1 now
Wait until the Adam 2 is released
or buy the Asus Transformer
Besides the Adam the asus kind of caught my eye, although it wouldnt be as good for reading, I love the dock and for indoor stuff like movies or what not the screen looks good.
I have tons of experience with rooting so am not afraid to get my hands dirty with the adam. Curious though, if even after rooting and flashing and what not if the adam is worth getting. And how the TF runs after root and what not

Where the crap did this thing come from and who has even heard of NotionInk? Does it run Honeycomb or what?

darkonex said:
Where the crap did this thing come from and who has even heard of NotionInk? Does it run Honeycomb or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_tablet
not even going to bother. ASUS Transformer all the way.

I was pretty excited about the Adam and the Pixel QI screen as well when it was announced. Subsequently, I've become much less excited. The device itself seems kind of clunky, the software has never worked very well as far as I can tell (they were trying to do some cool things, but I think they might have overreached a bit), and the Pixel QI screen isn't nearly so wonderful as it sounded. In backlit mode it's a relatively low-quality color screen, while it's not nearly as good as e-ink in reflective mode.
In short, I think NotionInk tried to do too much. That's why I have my TF for some uses, and my Nook 3G (e-ink reader) for others. So far, the tech's just not there for a real all-in-one device like the Adam tried to be.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

wynand32 said:
I was pretty excited about the Adam and the Pixel QI screen as well when it was announced. Subsequently, I've become much less excited. The device itself seems kind of clunky, the software has never worked very well as far as I can tell (they were trying to do some cool things, but I think they might have overreached a bit), and the Pixel QI screen isn't nearly so wonderful as it sounded. In backlit mode it's a relatively low-quality color screen, while it's not nearly as good as e-ink in reflective mode.
In short, I think NotionInk tried to do too much. That's why I have my TF for some uses, and my Nook 3G (e-ink reader) for others. So far, the tech's just not there for a real all-in-one device like the Adam tried to be.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second that. I believe I am in the position to provide a valid comment on this having been an owner of the adam first and being a proud owner of the transformer now. Indeed I remained charmed by the adam when I read what that tiny startup in India was trying to achieve: a tablet with the an innovative hardware (the first pixelqi screen, tegra2 etc. ) and an inspiring vision.
Unfortunately, the implementation did not deliver on the promises. The the tablet was indeed buggy (software) and did not receive the honeycomb code. I therefore decided to sell it and buy the transformer: I am very happy I took that decision on time.

i remember the good old notion ink adam days, thank god it took about 4 1/2 months for a pre order invite that I gladly canceled. thing is a junk now R.I.P

What everyone else has said. Transformer all the way! Still have my Adam but haven't turned it on since getting my TF about 2 months ago. I do miss the USB and I thought the speakers were fairly good. It also felt great in one hand - harder to hold the Transformer in one hand unless you grip it hard but it still feels slippery. PixelQi seemed almost worthless indoors as it is difficult to read. Screen is terrible on the Adam. If you want picture comparisons let me know.

I wouldn't buy a notion ink, I saw some inside pictures! PURE HORROR! Build quality is questionable at least....
I am using thre transformer for 2 month now and I am very happy.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

But more on a serious note, I wouldn't even know why anybody would want the Notion Ink. It's running on the previous generation of Android that's not optimized for tablet use (or dual core in that matter).
It's a step backwards. ASUS Transformer all the way.

This can't be a serious comparison
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

What a rediculous thread, LOL. What's next? Palm Treo (circa 2005) vs Samsung Galaxy S 2?

XL2001 said:
What everyone else has said. Transformer all the way! Still have my Adam but haven't turned it on since getting my TF about 2 months ago. I do miss the USB and I thought the speakers were fairly good. It also felt great in one hand - harder to hold the Transformer in one hand unless you grip it hard but it still feels slippery. PixelQi seemed almost worthless indoors as it is difficult to read. Screen is terrible on the Adam. If you want picture comparisons let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would like to see pictures, yes. I quite like the idea of Pixel-Qi but have never seen one in action in person.

hmmm
I guess thats what I would love to know, is if any one has tried to two side by side. For sure the transformer is backed by a better company and has more support. Just curious if the Pixel QI screen is worth running an old android version or anything like that.

Ths has to be a joke. In no way are the two remotely comparable. Last I checked the price for that thing was near the price of the TF, possibly higher.
It's dated, the hardware is crap, the design is clunky and it has QC issues of its own so you're not going anywhere with that in terms of QC. There's literally no comparison here. It's crap.
Couple it with unimaginably poor customer service that makes Asus look like the greatest company on Earth. When I say their customer service is worse than Asus you know I mean it and it must be god awful.
They ignore your e-mails and really you have no other entity to send it back to for RMA repair than them and I think I remember they either request you send it back to their LA third party contractor or in some cases China. There was a huge forum filled with pissed off owners. I think NotionInkFans.com. If you thought this place was swamped with people making "I'm leaving" or "Good Bye" posts, that message board ****s all over this one. There must have been fifteen a day on that one.

notioninkscam.com
Whatever you do, don't buy anything from this flimsy joke of a company.

Despite what most people here are saying I too considered the Adam. The screen seemed very exciting as well as USB on main unit. With that screen you will never get the same quality as Asus/IPad IPS screen indoors. If reading is your main concern you could look into a Nook, but if you want an all-rounder the Transformer is tops and you have the comfort of Asus behind the warranty and not a small business enterprise.
If you considered waiting for the Adam 2, why not wait for Transformer 2? About same release date.

Kurian..Of Borg said:
notioninkscam.com
Whatever you do, don't buy anything from this flimsy joke of a company.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, they aren't a scam. I had an Adam. Sold it. Yes, they take AGES to ship, but it will arrive.
I much prefer the TF. The PixelQi screen sounded good, but in practice it wasn't anywhere near the level of, say, a Kindle screen.
I really wanted the Adam to succeed prior to getting it, but have to say I have no regrets in getting the TF.

Looking at the Transformer

I bought the Acer Iconia yesterday morning, and I was really not very pleased with it. The weight is a big issue for me, but the biggest problem I had was the screen. It was responsive enough and fairly bright, but the color reproduction and black levels are awful... After spending several hours messing with it, I decided to take it back today and pick up a transformer.
However, this forum has to be the biggest wet blanket in the world. I now have no idea what I want to do. Yes the screen quality of Iconia is bad, and it does experience the SoD like every other Honeycomb tab, but the list of issues that are mounting here are pretty considerable. The IPS display, and the supportive dev community had me pumped and ready to go, but now I'm thinking that it might be a sideways move. Dead pixels, black stripes on the screen, SoD, creaking bezel, reboots, lock ups... Jeez...
I guess the Thrive is the next on the list, but damn... That thing is the size of a standard hardback novel. And it's expensive to boot.

Divinedark said:
I bought the Acer Iconia yesterday morning, and I was really not very pleased with it. The weight is a big issue for me, but the biggest problem I had was the screen. It was responsive enough and fairly bright, but the color reproduction and black levels are awful... After spending several hours messing with it, I decided to take it back today and pick up a transformer.
However, this forum has to be the biggest wet blanket in the world. I now have no idea what I want to do. Yes the screen quality of Iconia is bad, and it does experience the SoD like every other Honeycomb tab, but the list of issues that are mounting here are pretty considerable. The IPS display, and the supportive dev community had me pumped and ready to go, but now I'm thinking that it might be a sideways move. Dead pixels, black stripes on the screen, SoD, creaking bezel, reboots, lock ups... Jeez...
I guess the Thrive is the next on the list, but damn... That thing is the size of a standard hardback novel. And it's expensive to boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the newer batch (serial number B60xxxx) has a better build ... SoD and slightly creaking bezel (it may be ignorable when you put it in a case) may still be there, but the other issues should be pretty much gone. Except if you got a lemon ...

Hmmm... I wonder if Best Buy will let me thumb through their stock to look for a B60??? They also don't sell a case, so I have to go out looking for one... Ugh...

Okay, you guys must have the worst luck in the world. My Transformer doesn't have any of these issues and I have a B50. Does it have problems right away or is mine going to develop these issues over time?

ShensMobile said:
Okay, you guys must have the worst luck in the world. My Transformer doesn't have any of these issues and I have a B50. Does it have problems right away or is mine going to develop these issues over time?
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Same. I have a B50 and my first one was completely fine.
And I don't think the issues are going to build over time.

Actually, it looks like the Thrive is having some pretty well-documented SOD issues itself. I've had decent luck with my TF. Minimal light bleed, and a slight looseness to the bezel on the right (right above SD card). Imperfections aside, I love it. I'll definitely hold me until Android tablets round 2 (ICS).

Well, the dude at Best Buy did actually let me thumb through the stock. I got one of the 3 B60 revisions that they had. I also picked up the stand/sleeve from Toys R Us on the way home. Here's to hoping this isn't a lemon.
I love the screen so much more than the Iconia... I played with the display model (also B60) while I was waiting on "customer service". Colors look sooooo much better.

I got a B6 at best buy they had them in the display locked up and i told him i needed one with a B6 serial number he got me one. the only thing i see wrong with this hardware wise. light bleed. im a happy camper. but i did buy the extended warranty.

Divinedark said:
Well, the dude at Best Buy did actually let me thumb through the stock. I got one of the 3 B60 revisions that they had. I also picked up the stand/sleeve from Toys R Us on the way home. Here's to hoping this isn't a lemon.
I love the screen so much more than the Iconia... I played with the display model (also B60) while I was waiting on "customer service". Colors look sooooo much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome back.

Well, I got her home, charged, rooted, and running on Revolver 0.2.1. OC'd to 1.2Ghz.The tablet is everything that I wanted, so far. I am still pretty excited to see where the dev community goes. I really hope to see some new kernels and creative roms show their faces. I'd also like to see Virtuous's Galaxy/Xoom/Thrive roms on our little tab.
As far as issues. I have 3 places on the screen with minor spotlighting, but to be quite honest, I have worse on my iPad 1.
The battery life is stellar so far. Much better than I had with the Iconia. To top that off, the case Asus offers is EXACTLY what I was wanting. It's almost identical to the Apple iPad stand case.
The strangest thing I've noticed between the two tabs is the flash performance. The Transformer just blows the Iconia out of the water. Justin.TV is a completely pleasant experience all the up to the 720p+ mark and beyond. The Iconia had noticeable lag when playing anything on the channel.
The Iconia's speakers were definitely of a higher quality, but after correcting the speaker balance issue, and using Supercurio's mod, the sound is every bit as good, if not better than my iPad 1.
In the end, I'm pretty damn happy with it. My wife is a complete Apple fan, and she walked by while I was working on the Transformer, and she stopped and said "What is that?!?" I told her it was Android Honeycomb, and she snatched it out of my hands. That's fine... She can play, but in the end, she's getting the iPad...

The Comparison to End All Comparisons: A500 vs. Eee Pad, It's a Landslide!

So, recently I've seen a lot more threads comparing the Eee Transformer to the A500. Before I bought either of these tablets I did a ton of product comparison in store with various display models, at least 3 A500's and 3 Transformers.
Note: for full disclosure the Eee Pad what I thought I wanted when I first started looking at tabs.
I am writing this review as I believe all of these comparisons to date have been based on box stats and not real world trials. Below I will layout the features that really matter (e.g. I'm not going to review bluetooth, let's make some assumptions here) and how they stack up in a direct comparison.
Weight / Build Quality
Held each tab, A500 in my left, Transformer in my right, you CAN notice the difference, is it significant? Strangely when holding one tab the Transformer feels way lighter, however, when you pick the Acer up again, it feels almost the same. It's hard to explain, go try it yourself.
When holding the Asus you immediately realize the reason for the Acer's extra weight is better build quality. You can literally FEEL the build quality difference. I pushed on the screen of the Asus around the power button and it receeded about 1/8th of an inch! The Acer's screen also flexes, but not nearly as much. Asus build quality is terrible, I would gladly pay the extra weight penalty for the stronger build of the Acer.
If you are a thumb typer, and if you find wide bezels to be an issue, you will notice that the Acer actually has a narrower bezel than the Asus, I couldn't believe the Asus' bezel was wider, but it is!
Battery Life
Looking at the tech. specs each of these tablets should have pretty much the same battery life. The battery capacity of the Asus is 6600 mAH and the Acer is about 80 mAH less, a negligible difference. They run similar processors, however, some have said the IPS panel of the Transformer equates to better battery life. Something however is amiss in the numbers department though... Asus has said 9.5 hours of battery life, however, every review online (and I looked at 6) pegged the Asus' battery life at ~7.5 hours and the Acer's battery life at ~7.5 hours, there is no real world difference here.
Considering the Acer has low power DDR2 RAM while the Asus does not, this may also explain some of the balance as IPS panels have been shown to run less power.
Camera Quality (back camera, who cares about front anyway)
With the update to 3.2 and 1080P recording, the Acer has an AWESOME video camera now which takes great stills too, I was blown away (have you tried it yet? If not, try it now!). This paragraph will be short and sweet, the Asus' camera blows. It takes crappy video, it looks way less clear and crisp and the same is true for stills. Not even in the same league as the Acer's camera now and there is no flash, the Acer dominates in cameras bigtime!
Connectivity
The Asus tries hard, however, it just can't match the Acer. The USB port of the Acer will come in handy at least once in its lifetime, not to mention the ease of adding a keyboard, game controller, etc. Moreover, the HDMI connection on the Acer is micro, while the HDMI on the Asus is mini. Mini HDMI is much harder to find than micro, I had no problem finding a micro HDMI cable, however, mini HDMI cables had to be ordered off the web.
Price
$399 for 16GB, both models, no difference anymore!
UI Performance
The Acer I ran tested on the floor of course utilized Honeycomb 3.1 while the Asus was running Honeycomb 3.2. Even though the Asus has the latest version of Honeycomb, the Acer performs much smoother while scrolling the UI and loading applications. The difference was evident, so much so, this was ultimately the deciding factor for me. The Acer appears to dominate here even with the older software and similar hardware. Some have rumored that the speed increase of the Acer is due to its using LPDDR2 RAM when the Asus uses older DDR2 RAM. I can not confirm this, but benchmarks also showed a slight edge to the Acer.
Screen Quality
There has been a lot of discussion of Asus' screen quality vs. Acer's. I went in with the expectation that the Asus would be noticably different (I have perfect eyesight btw). I could not, repeat, could not tell a single damn difference between the two when both on high brightness with XDA Developers loaded in the browser. Perhaps the Asus was slightly "crisper", however, that could be my IPS bias. There is no difference folks, and if you can tell, my hats off to you.
The Acer losses out on glass though. The Asus uses corning name brand Gorilla Glass, while the Acer states it only uses "tempered glass". If you expect to not get a case, or if you are prone to dropping your tablet on its face (most likely you will destroy more than the glass) then you must consider this angle. Gorilla glass is going to help a bit with scratches and perhaps cracks, however, I also noticed it shows more finger prints than the Acer does. *see post #2 apparently the A500 does have gorilla glass!
Screen angles on both are a joke. You can look at the Acer up to 160 degrees, why would you want to? You can look at the Asus up to 179 degrees, but why would you want to? Screen angles are pretty much identical, both are very viewable from the side.
Accessories
Acer has basic cases and other crap, the Asus of course has the whole battery extending USB-porting keyboard dock. Obviously, Asus destroys Acer here. If you don't already own a laptop or netbook, this may matter to you. However, remember that most of your productivity applications are probably not in Android and if you want to be productive, a tablet no matter what dock it has is not nearly as effective as a laptop.
Sound Quality
Another landslide for the Acer, the Dolby sound is the best sound I've ever heard on a mobile device, no joke. I had heads snapping in my living room trying to figure out how such big clear sound was coming out of a tiny little tablet. People will notice. The Asus? Sounds exactly like you'd expect a tablet to sound, like a tin can.
Conclusion
In summary, I ended up buying the Acer A500. With the Asus I could get a bit lighter weight and a keyboard dock that's totally awesome. These were the main benefits the Asus offers over the Acer. As I discovered the lower weight was due to poor construction and materials, the slighter weight of the Asus was no longer a factor. As I didn't need a keyboard, the obvious choice became the Acer due to its superior usability overall.
I hope this helps prospective buyers!

Very nice review! Makes me glad I chose the Acer over the Asus too, although my main reason was that the Acer was available locally with no wait.
Just a quick correction though, even though Acer doesn't say so, according to www.corningorillaglass.com the A500 does sport the Gorilla Glass. I'm not sure why Acer wouldn't mention it, since it is a decent buying point, but there you go.

funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...

Very thourough review. I have been enjoying my A500 for a couple weeks now. Got a good deal on Amazon. I am new to Android devices, so I have spent a lot of time on xda forums learning how to root and flash new ROM on my device.

Would have been interested to hear how the mics compared for video calling etc.

pankaj2000 said:
funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...
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Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.

Is it just my unit, or have others noticed a MAJOR difference in recorded video quality when running a custom 3.2 ROM as opposed to 3.1? I recorded some video in the kitchen of my house, played it back, and it looked extremely realistic. My wife who doesn't even like tech. was pretty happy about it, that's saying something. It was super crisp and clear, definitely the best video device I have now! But I also don't have any dedicated video camera...

goofytim said:
Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to $300 see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.
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got ipad for me on my birthday $400 and wife took it..$100 off staples coupon got me iconia
$300 and kids took it..now i m stuck with zt-180v2....but iconia is the best...

I liked the more solid feel, and the full size USB port on the tab itself. I couldn't tell much difference between the screens either.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium

As a transformer owner I can vouch on three things:
1. IMO the screen quality is miles ahead of the A500;
2. The weight difference is neglible but the A500 feels bulkier and slightly more awkward to hold;
3. The A500's sound quality is killer. The TF101's speakers make a train station passenger information system sound like a bose home theatre.. Yes, it's ****e !!!
Don't berate me, these are just my opinions...

The two are so close. The TF is noticeably lighter. Screen is a bit better on the TF. The keyboard dock is rad, but kind of pricey. Not a bad decision either way. It was a REALLY tough choice to pick between the two.
Sent from my A100 using XDA Premium App

Yes, it is a VERY difficult choice, for me, I love the sound and cameras and don't mind the weight nor need the keyboard dock. If you think like me, go Acer, if you really need the dock and the weight, perhaps a bit better screen (if you can notice), go the Asus!

I use my A500 mostly in portrait mode since I do a lot of reading so that makes the keyboard useless. The extended battery is a welcome addition but if I need the tablet docked while I'm reading, that seems kinda awkward. Also the color sucks. No offense to Asus owners but seriously the color sucks. The finish on the A500 is really nice and feels sturdy.

Dolby Mobile is awesome
I just felt like chiming in regarding the A500. I think the audio is better than any other tablet. The iPad does not have stereo. Even the TouchPad, with it's "beats" music system does not sound as good as the Dolby Mobile on the A500. Rock on!

I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.

ctiger said:
I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.
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You couldn't hear the audio? Do you know if the other side had their mic's turned up? The audio is very loud on my A500, too loud, I get complaints when I crank it up from the wife..

Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..

Nice comparative write up!
While I agree with just about everything you've written, I have to say that the difference in display is very noticeable....as noticeable as viewing an image on the A500 and TV via HDMI out at the same time. Colors are much more vibrant on a Transformer's display, but panel brightness is visually the same in my opinion.
When I was first in the market, I purchased both the Transformer and Iconia A500 to try with in the limitations of the return policy. I basically came to the same conclusion as yourself.
The first Acer I purchased had a questionable build. The upper left corner of the tab would creak under slight pressure. Very annoying, but after researching a bit...some people was stating the same experience and some were not. The Transformer seemed to be more solid in comparison.....well as solid as plastic could be, but at the time, the most important part was that it didn't creak nor had hairline cracks at the seams like the A500 I first tried.
Also the right speaker sounded like it was in a tin can while a pebble rattled around. I opened it up to see if the speaker was torn or what have you, only to discover a set screw was backed out enough to allow the speaker to vibrate against the mounts/casing.
But after going back to the store and checking to see if the display model shared the same annoyance, I realized I had received one that got past quality control. So I'm happy to say the current A500 is solid.
Anyway, in my opinion...if it weren't for the built in USB port, I probably would still be trying to decide between the two.

autom8r said:
Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..
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I'm using Taboonay 2.0 and I have to say yes the video recording id epic.

I couldn't find micro HDMI cables in Australia in any shop. Unless you count a micro to full HDMI adapter some idiot store wanted $99 for! I bought a 4m cable from eBay for about $20. Just starting to see cables in stores now, but still very expensive rip-offs.
As for keyboard ports, don't. Need them on the Acer as I use the Acer Bluetooth keyboard. Keyboard connectors are so old tech!
And when I bricked my machine playing with ROMs from in here, Acer was very understandering and fixed my machine for me. So i'll stick to the stock ROM. but I did appreciate acer rescuing my machine.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium

Build Quality: NAH!

This is my 5th Android tablet. The first Transformer had gone directly back to Best Buy due to terrible light bleed. Transformer Prime sold in a month. It had its obvious problems plus a screen problem: when you press a little harder on the right side of the screen it would flicker into white. Probably a faulty one. This is my 3d transformer and it is not that impressive. Surprisingly there is no light bleed at all, but the Prime was much better in every way. I sense and hear a squeaky sound when I press the right side of the back camera just under the power button as though it was not fitted well. I pressed all the sides and corners of the tablet, only this spot gives that sound. There is an emptiness there. It really is annoying. I still think I will keep it but wait for the new Samsung. MY GTAB 7 and 10.1 were also made with plastic but they were sturdier and far better in build quality. Asus keeps disappointing me.

Cool story bro.

Perhaps your expectations doesn't match the design specs and price tag of this machine? To me it seems they opted for better guts then exterior and screen.

Thats very true. ASUS wanted to give a nice device to those who couldn't meet the price tag. Everything comes at a cost, this tablet is plastic :T
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk 2

Firstly, I am not quite sure why anyone would want to press the back right side of the tablet next to the back camera? If it squeaks, don't press it, no function on this tablet requires that part pressed, nor is it near anywhere near where one would hold it.
This is my 3rd tablet as well.
First, I had a Prime. I disagree the Prime was better in every way. No GPS, poor wifi signal, micro sd card slot poorly placed so the card kept popping out, micro hdmi port was loose - cable kept coming unplugged. Is the prime sexier, sure, but the aforementioned problems made it quite non-functional.
Second I had an Acer A510. Great tablet, just a bit bulky and had a terrible heat problem where the back of the tablet would reach over 100 degrees when 3D gaming...could not hold it anymore it was so hot. Also, due to low sales volumes, the tablet does not have much developer support, still don't have their own forum with similar launch date to this tablet.
I have had none of these problems on my TF300, it works amazingly well. I actually don't mind the plastic, it is comfortable to hold, and looks much better than I thought it would. The sound is great for a tablet, I had the a510 and believe this is comparable, even without the speaker separation. Is this tablet perfect, no: Battery life could be better and they could have used Gorilla glass, but those are minor nuisances compared to what I have dealt with on my other 2 two tablets and I don't think any tablet is perfect. I am not a budget buyer and purchased this tablet originally to check it out, but it is so good compared to anything else I have used, I plan to keep it and enjoy it.

I did press to get it out from its keyboard dock. Thats how I realized it was not fitted well. Do we really have to accept something with its flaws because it is cheaper? ASUS is a brand name I respect. I had more than 6 laptops, netbooks and now an ultrabook which I LOVE!!!! But we have to accept that Asus is less attentive when it comes to Android. We will see how they will try hard this fall or next year with their Windows 8 tablets and stuff.

I honestly think the build quality is great with the 399 price tag. I have no issues with light bleeding, creaking or loose parts. So far my experience is great and have no complaints.

Love my tab after unlocking and installing cm9. How much more could you ask for with a guad core processor and 399.99 price tag for a 32 gb! all the tablets I see are dual core for 399.99 for 16gb.
Asus, in my opinion gave us a budget tablet and then some. The realm of this tablet was to cut cost so everyone could afford Tegra 3 without buying a 700$ unit. I love my tablet
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium

Great, cheap, tablet.

Always fun to see how people can differ.
Some like the building quality and others think everything is cr*p. I think this is purely what you expect of it and what you want to spend. If you buy an IPad it is not comparable to a Asus because as the manufacturer is different the buildingprocess is different.
I think you (the topicstarter) just want to get a almost undestructible tablet. But tablets are just fragile and if you have a technical problem with one you just bring it back to the shop because you have warrenty.

At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)

I just didnt feel the thrill I felt when I held my Samsung 10.1 for the first time or even the TR Prime. TR Prime just for a couple of days.... But I agree with most views here. It is a very good tablet for its price. I like the battery usage. I havent charged it for more than 2 days now. Unnoticeable light bleed, etc... Just that squeaky sound
BTW. No Riptide onboard was a bum!

I think mine is fine, besides some uncomfortable cracking I tend to hear with the keyboard dock. Then again, I was not very impressed by my Asus laptop in terms of build quality either. I feel weird buying another Asus product after that laptop but there is nothing else that compares as far as I am concerned when it comes to tablets. I deal with it.

Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........

bigwalt12 said:
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
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I have none of those problems. You must have a defective unit, try exchanging for another one before final judgment.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA

I honestly love this pad but I see im not the only one experiencing this only bought this because the wifi issue with prime if the 700 solves this without a dongle with a better and brighter screen then I will get that one instead. I have a good relationship with amazon hate returning things multiple times I dont want to take another risk but you guys got a great pad for the price that is if you got a good one. Im gonna miss this pad but im hoping the 700 is worth the wait?????

Psyloid said:
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
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You nailed it! The only other tablets to compare to this one is the prime (poor GPS and wifi at $500) and the Acer a510 (no keyboard dock, overheat issues stalled sales at $450) and the Toshiba excite( screen issues, OS issues for I think $500- $550).
NO BRAINER to me.

Even if I dont thing 400 is cheap, it is a very good Pad. I dont have any dead pixels and not one other Problem. Wifi is is even better than my last tablet (Hannspad ). Would recommend it at any time.

The 300 is pretty much built the same way as the 101 plastic back..