Database Users

Time to move on. Selling my TF-101.

I've had my 32gb tf 101 for roughly a month after being one of the lucky ones to find the tablet in stores. Mine has no defects except the inevitable minor light bleed.
After trying to incorporate the tablet in my life it has become clear that tablets aren't for me. I always end up reaching for my phone. I've taken the tablet with me on my travels, on the plane with movies and music and all that great stuff. But I end up using my phone 90% of the time, my laptop for another 9% and the tablet for the final 1%. At home my tablet is very rarely used as well. It truly is a unique experience and 3.1 makes it far better. For the time that I've used it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The display is beautiful.
I'm sure for some people it makes a lot of sense. But sadly it isn't for me. If anyone in the GTA, ON Canada wants it, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Sent from my Samsung Captivate.

Many people are making an assumption that a tablet will replace a laptop or a desktop and will become a productivity device. When people mocked original iPad and called it an oversized Touch they actually weren't that far off; a tablet is purely a consumption and entertainment device. It's understandable that $500 is hard to justify for something like this considering your phone can perform at least 90% of the tasks your tablet can, albeit on a smaller scale. Hopefully OEM's will flood the market with decent Android tablets and drive the prices down to a more bearable ~$200 range.

Personally I find myself reaching for the tablet first and settling for my phone if I absolutly must. Most of the time my phone is set to bluetooth tether. To be honest I'd probably be better off with a 3g call-capable tablet and a pen-sized bluetooth headset. I almost never carry my laptop any more. But I rarely need to work on the go (other than answering emails)

THe only reason I reach for my laptop is Netflix. Otherwise, I spend most of my time on the tablet at home

I want it. Have the 16gb version and loving it. 32gb would be great. Please shoot me a pm with price. Thanks

vernicex said:
I want it. Have the 16gb version and loving it. 32gb would be great. Please shoot me a pm with price. Thanks
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Newegg had them in stock this morning.

I have a 360, a Boxee Box, and a Blu-ray player attached to my TV. All 3 have some overlapping features, but each one does something the other two can't do, and I enjoy having the different options. If one of them died, I could limp along with the other two, but I'd rather not. Point is, tablet and phone features will always overlap, you just have to figure out which task each one is better at and use it accordingly, then you'll find the tablet has a valuable place in your tech collection. I could live without the TF, but I'd rather not

I use it to read pdfs. most my books and journal articles are available in pdf format. The TF is by far the best pdf reader. I agree, you don't ready need it if you have good laptop. It's a luxury toy not pc replacement.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

dfin13 said:
I have a 360, a Boxee Box, and a Blu-ray player attached to my TV. All 3 have some overlapping features, but each one does something the other two can't do, and I enjoy having the different options. If one of them died, I could limp along with the other two, but I'd rather not. Point is, tablet and phone features will always overlap, you just have to figure out which task each one is better at and use it accordingly, then you'll find the tablet has a valuable place in your tech collection. I could live without the TF, but I'd rather not
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What (s)he said! I have 2 PS3s at home just because I didn't want to spend money on a bluray player only. A tablet is luxury for most of us... there are very few instances where a tablet would be beneficial (e.g. inventorying, showing clients photos or videos etc.). I personally love my tablet and have not used my PC as much. And with a baby around it's great to have a neat little gadget that's portable and has nice multimedia features.

He I don't really fault people for buying a tablet and then realizing it has no place in their life. I bought a used 7" Galaxy Tab for the gf a couple of weeks ago to replace her eReader. She thinks its neat, but she hasn't used it for anything but reading and to her, it seems like a waste. So I'll probably sell it and get her the new Nook reader. Tablets just aren't for everyone.

have you ever tried one of the thumb keyboards available on the market place? They make using a tablet sloop much easier and more practical

I'm pretty new to the whole tablet world, started with the NookColor and moved onto the Transformer. I've got to say it's mostly a consumption device but it's a fantastic consumption device at that. I love the internet on the 10" screen, love the entirely useable e-mail client included, love the quality of the games available and look forward to the continued evolution of the platform in general.
I loaded up the Autodesk sketch program and found myself cheerfully painting like a kid for the first time in decades - It's not that I can't do anything in particular on a tablet vs. another device, just that the tablet seems like a good fit for many more things. A magazine looks like a magazine, the internet looks like it does on my real computer and the remote access means I've got my fully useable desktop with me anywhere there's a wifi connection.
I think the only real downside it the portability. I grew up in an era where professionals carried around day planners so this is no big stretch for me but it is unusual given today's norms. Too big to fit in a pocket and too small to justify a computer bag.
All in all though if a phone and laptop do what you need that should be all you need. I'm not happy reading stuff on my laptop and personally prefer the touch interface when on the go so tablets fit my bill - for now.

use it as an in dash display in your car. That way it is always with you in a practical manner.
Then when you need to take it out of your car you can carry it into the library/coffee shop or whatever.

newtybar said:
use it as an in dash display in your car. That way it is always with you in a practical manner.
Then when you need to take it out of your car you can carry it into the library/coffee shop or whatever.
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This was my plan all along (still the primary reason), but then when I got my TF, I found so many other uses. Yes I have a MT4G and a laptop, but the TF makes viewing things so much easier. I have just loaded up Supernatural seasons 5 and 6, so I can get caught up anywhere I want to. I love it!

I can't agree that the TF is not a productivity tool, it is my tool of choice for email and browsing at home and Google docs app is the business. I do have the dock though which turns it into a netbook but with better battery life and screen.

So far loving it.
First to android and tablets and ive turned on my computer twice in 3 weeks...
and both times was so that i could remote into and control my music downloads as i watched tv, surfed the net, and responded to work emails.
even last night, i downloaded a "read to me" story of the 3 little pigs and watched it with my daughter before she went to bed...
then i get to surf the net in bed again.. catch up with xda, news, sports, etc..
its a convenience..
this past weekend i took it on a road trip.. my daughter played games, i used it to book a room while using the hotel's wifi, snapped a few pics in the car, and even got it to tether off an older palm treo phone...(so i had internet in the car!)

i should be receiving mines any minute now...
already owning the g2x and a laptop the sole reason for me getting the transformer is to read pdf files. Being a college student textbooks become really expensive. Now days you can get a copy of the text in pdf for a fraction of the cost or if you just search the net you can find it for free. For me reading pdf files off a laptop is really inconvenient and the battery life is nothing compared to a tablet. Therefore it made sense for me to invest in a tablet and load all my pdf text onto the tablet. I save money in the end and I don't have to lug around a bunch of heavy ass textbooks everyday. So it's a win-win situation for me.

AnyMal said:
Many people are making an assumption that a tablet will replace a laptop or a desktop and will become a productivity device. When people mocked original iPad and called it an oversized Touch they actually weren't that far off; a tablet is purely a consumption and entertainment device. It's understandable that $500 is hard to justify for something like this considering your phone can perform at least 90% of the tasks your tablet can, albeit on a smaller scale. Hopefully OEM's will flood the market with decent Android tablets and drive the prices down to a more bearable ~$200 range.
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Won't happen unless subsidized, most phones are $450.
For me I've noticed that since getting this the battery on my evo lasts 3x as long. Surfing on this is much more pleasant.

As a university student, the tablet is an awesome device once you put the proper apps in it.
-a proper file manager (I've still yet to find one with drag&drop and proper shortcuts like windows explorer)
-a proper 'windows-office' like program and one that opens pdfs
-a proper video player (moboplayer)
-a proper calendar and agenda device
-a proper ebook reader (ie moonreader)
etc
The advantage of android apps is that they open much faster than if you were to run windows versions of the programs. With files are easily transferred over ftp, it is very time-efficient.
I'd say this device can easily take the place of my current netbook (and it has). The long lasting battery life and the tiny form factor (along with its lightweightness) really sold it for me

lawonga said:
As a university student, the tablet is an awesome device once you put the proper apps in it.
-a proper file manager (I've still yet to find one with drag&drop and proper shortcuts like windows explorer)
-a proper 'windows-office' like program and one that opens pdfs
-a proper video player (moboplayer)
-a proper calendar and agenda device
-a proper ebook reader (ie moonreader)
etc
The advantage of android apps is that they open much faster than if you were to run windows versions of the programs. With files are easily transferred over ftp, it is very time-efficient.
I'd say this device can easily take the place of my current netbook (and it has). The long lasting battery life and the tiny form factor (along with its lightweightness) really sold it for me
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Try repligo readerd for a good pdf reader, you can even add notes, drraw lines and rectangles, write free hand on the pdf ...

Honest Opinions on the Transformer

I’ll be starting grad school in the fall and am in the market for a laptop/tablet and currently the Transformer is at the top of my list right now. I was hoping I could get some honest opinions on how the well the transformer works as both a media and productivity device (primarily concerned with the latter). I plan on using it for grad school, but since I’ll also be working a full-time job during the day, hope to use it as a work device as well. I also moonlight as a photographer, and am looking for ways I can incorporate the transformer into that as well.
My main concern is the stability of Android. I’ve owned both an EVO and an HTC HD2 running Android/Windows Phone 7 (thanks xda!), and although I loved the openness and overall capability of Android, the instability and battery life made things too cumbersome at times. My phone doubles as a work and personal device, so I fire off a lot of e-mails all day, view docs, send calls, etc etc. Nothing was more frustrating than having the phone lock up in the middle of something important, or die in the middle of the day if I used it a lot (on days when I need to use it a lot). Currently using an iPhone 4, which I know doesn’t get a whole lot of love around here, but simply works when needed. Not an Apple fanboy by any means…actually an old Windows Mobile guy, but sometimes stability and accessibility are important…particularly for heavy users like me.
Secondly, I’d like to know how productive one can really be on the transformer. What’s piqued my interest about Android on a tablet is the ‘desktop-esque’ experience it provides. As good as iOS to me is on a phone, its utterly neutered and has very little utility on a tablet IMO. For instance, true multi-tasking isn’t too important to me on a phone, but it would be on a tablet. Interested in knowing how well the tablet handles word docs, excel sheets, and PDF files…particularly from those who have experience with the keyboard dock.
Looking for honest answers here, and hope people can look beyond ownership bias. Hoping to hear the good and the bad. I’ve used enough mobile and desktop OS’s and devices to know that nothing is ever perfect.

I can't really comment on the productivity end as I mainly use my Transformer to read, watch videos, play games, and web browse. For what I need it to do it is great. HD videos on YouTube play great. It does have issues playing HD videos that are in mkv format but one they are re-encoded they play great.
The screen is where this thing really shines though. I have yet to see a better screen on a tablet anywhere. None of the HC tablets even come close, imho. I do have some light bleed but it isn't enough to bother me and I don't even see it unless I am in a dark room with the brightness cranked up.
One thing you won't have to worry about is battery life. The battery in this thing is way better than I expected. I can get 2 days with my average use, easy. It also hardly loses any battery when in standby also.
Honeycomb does still need some tweaking but it is not a big problem. There aren't a lot of apps optimized for HC yet but the list will increase with time.

Personally I think you would be better off with a laptop for your needs.
I think you will suffer the same frustration you did with your andriod phones if you are using the tablet for lots of documents, spreadsheets and other office type apllications.
I think these things are really designed for web browsing, casual email, game playing, music & video playing, etc.
You can edit docs etc and the optional keyboard helps a lot, but I think of these as a secondary machine. I have a desk top and a laptop too. At home it has pretty much replaced the laptop but not for work related tasks.

Im new to tablets and android all together. As a computer tech by trade, I figured it would be good to learn somethign new, did some research and went with the transformer. And I must say, coming from a windows & iOS background, Android has been a HUGE let down.
the hardware on the tablet is great. Build quality, the screen, the dock works wonderfully. USB ports that charge my phone. etc. All top notch.
Android is the downfall of the eee pad. To get the tablet to perform anywhere near the capabilty of my iPhone or PC, its about 5x the amount of work.
Video playback is a joke. when I try to copy any file over 3 or 4 gigs onto it, it crashes. And of all the videos ive copied over, only 2 worked properly. Even supported file formats are iffy at times.
App support is also very weak. The list of apps on this site that are supported by the eee pad is pretty much all you get. Which is sad compared to the App support that the iPad / win7 tablets have.
From a work standpoint, the failure of the proxy support is huge. I have to use a proxy server at work for my devices to function properly. Laptop: works fine. iPhone: works fine. Android: doesnt work at all. Native proxy support in 3.1 just doesnt work. Using apps to get proxy support KIND of works, but is flakey at best. If your work/school relies on proxy servers , then dont expect to use the eeePad there.
Hotspots.. again, a big problem. Bluetooth tethering KIND of worked for me, but since the proxy support is so shoddy, that started interfering with tethering when proxy wasnt needed and... you guessed it, didnt work. Not only that but for proper adhoc tethering , youll have to root the device and install a custom kernal or something.
So, all those issues are Honeycomb related. Gonna hit the same problems on the Xoom or anythign else that uses 3.x The only reason im keeping my eee pad is because software issues get worked out in time. They better... because right now this thing is just a giant paper weight for me. still on the edge of returning it and buying it again later once all the problems are fixed. So ya, it may be able to handle word, excel and such documents (so can the iPad by the way), but with such severe connectivity and networking issues, it really doesnt matter. *shrugs. honesty! EP121 anyone?

The TF would be good to SUPPLEMENT a full desktop or more powerful laptop but it could never be my primary machine. I need the application/device support of windows.
Being said if I had a computer at home I could have made it through college with the transformer as my mobile device.
As for the guy above me i havent experienced any of his issues. It only supports a few video files but that goes for all android stock media players. Recoding them to mp4/m4v in handbrake results in flawless video playback, never had a failure.
Apps are weak, its a new ecosystem. Like the ipad when it came out the vast majority of the "compatible" apps are just the phone apps scaled up. That will change.
Not sure about the proxy, havent encountered that. Ive never had a hotspot issue. In a restaurant, at work, using my Evo to wireless tether or on the plane. Its connected to every "infrastructure AP" network Ive ever tried and that is all I encounter. I have never had a need to connect AdHoc.

Before I got my tablet, I had imagined all these things I would use it for.
I was going to be able to do all of the following on one device!
For productivity:
- Check emails
- Read textbooks in pdf format, be able to highlight, save bookmarks and annotations...all in digital format.
- Use office programs like Word & Excel for typing up papers and creating charts.
- Watch video lectures & tutorials
- Use Anki flashcards
For entertainment:
- Watch videos from streaming sites
- Have a library of HD movies/miniseries on the device
- Be able to HDMI out my video library wherever I was
- Have emulators with a whole bunch of games I could play whenever I had down time
- play Android market games
This is what happened after I got the Transformer:
I realized I could do all the above, but ended up going to other devices because it just felt cumbersome on a tablet.
About all I used the tablet for was to watch videos and...watch videos..oh yeah and casual web browsing.
- Checking emails...I ended up just pulling out my phone.
- Reading textbooks...not many available in PDF...and it's not that great on a digital screen. Writing notes...don't even try it...even with one of those capacitative pens.
- Word and Excel are ok...but you can't do multi worksheet formulas...etc. I ended up just using my laptop or desktop.
- Video lectures...a lot of them required plugins and the browser/OS did not support that...back to laptop.
- Videos from streaming sites...choppy...unwatchable.
- HD movies...commonly downloaded ones dont work...had to re-encode or transcode at least 80% of them.
- HDMI haven't tested....I had to return my transformer...since the touch screen locked up.
Emulators...never did it.
- Android games...as a gamer...I find the current crop of games to be too simplistic and boring (minus Spectral Souls)
I have another one on order that's arriving today, so I'm still giving it a chance. Maybe I'm not using it properly...in any case it is still a pretty cool device to have around. I would consider it a borderline second device...but more like a third (i.e. Desktop for true power productivity/gaming, Laptop for moderate mobile productivity, then a Tablet when you go on quick vacations and you don't want to carry the others).

I would look for something like a laptop that cam run windows and android at the same time. Like the viewsonic pro.. acer w 500..better yet the evolve three convertible.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

I have my Transformer for about 2 weeks now. Actually today is the day I would have to decide either to keep it or to return it back to BB. Just finally got the keyboard dock just 2 days ago. My perseption before and after having it is completely different.
Before having it, I was really excited, kind of hoping finally the perfect device has arrived. A perfect device that can do everything I need.
I kind of know from reading everywhere, mostly from this forum what to expect and what is not there yet. Yet I finally decided to buy it with big hopes that with time, everything will be there. Buying the transformer also means I decided to invest in the Honeycomb platform rather than others (like iPad). I have no luxury of keep buying new devices, so I had to be careful to choose and decide.
My previous experience with Android was very good indeed (have a HTC Evo, my first Android phone). Before that, I always used Windows Mobile phone, which did everything I needed.
Well, my HTC Evo did everything and more, and that's why I had a big hope with the transformer/honeycomb. I chose the transformer among other honeycomb tablets for some obvious reasons: the keyboard dock that has the USB ports and the SD Card reader, and extra battery.
I also like photography and I needed to make sure I can use it to transfer pictures from my camera SD Card to an external HDD. I checked and found out the transformer does that perfectly, with the NTFS support right out of the box. That's incredible in my opinion.
I also imagined I would be able to connect to my work network and do anything I needed to via Citrix. And for personal communication, there is a Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and Skype.
After getting it, my expectation dropped and everyday is a learning day for me, as well as improvement day.
My first day with the transformer, I got all my emails setup (dual Exchange support! My Evo does not do that (I heard some custom ROM can do that), then I could not find Yahoo Messenger (dissapointed, well, there is a Yahoo messenger for my android phone, and its perfect!), Skype is a phone version and looks weird and many features missing (video call is the most important missing feature).
Day after day, until now, I still do the improvement jobs, and got many items not available previously. Got Yahoo Messenger from a good guy here in the forum, got a battery indicator wigdet from this forum also, and many bug fixes here and there.
For work purposes, I also drop my expectation. The connection from Citrix client in honeycomb takes very long (3-5 minutes) while from my Evo it takes much quicker. Not sure why, I contacted Citrix support about this. They said they both should perform the same as the core are the same, but they behaves differently.
Checking email only is not enough for me, if somebody sent an email, it comes with an issue to fix.
Yes, its hard to decide to let it go, or continue to keep it. I decide to continue to keep it, again, with hope, over time, things get better and better.
What do I gain from the transformer compared to my netbook?
Well, battery life, like many said here, is very exceptional. I got 2 full days. 1 day plus without the keyboard dock before. Really full day till night, with everything I do, from emails, browsing, youtube, reading, etc.
Instant on and ready. Wifi always on.
No spinning harddrive. No heat.
I was surprised! The device was not hot at all. Very different even compared to my Windows phone, connect to the wifi to a while and you can feel the heat. I'm not even talking about my netbook.
And I agree that many said here that its not a primary/replacement device. I still need my Windows machine to do most of the work.

It pains me to agree, but the above coments are true, as follower of android from day one. to anyone who has used an rooted/jailbroken ipad, honeycomb is way behind, to be honest google should be ashamed. as i type this on my transformer the lag is horendous. with the ipad you can nearly replace a netbook, full printing, ipgages and numbers are real tablet work tools. The TF is just about ok for web browsing, but just. As a media device it sucks. I tried to watch a streaming movie on movie stream, ok it plays but stutters and is awful. switched on my now ancient ipad with 256mb ram clicked on istream net and bang same movie looking almost 720p smooth as a nut. All the points brought against the ipad now seem to be a joke to me, even the no flash issue. Ok you have limited access by usb and SD card but there is some plus work arounds. I mentioned on a Archos site that i could stream any movie via air video from a crappy netbook hooked up to a 1TB HDD and if not in playable format they could be converted on the fly, this is over a local wireless network or over 3g anywhereon the ipadand they all took the piss, but its true. As an owner of a TF and Ipad, I have togive credit to ASUS, i love the concept. But as stated in an earlier post, I will be reaching for my HTC desire or IPAD more than the transformer. Lets hope Google step up, and support ASUS and the other manuacturers.
If honeycomb worked like the ipadit would blow apple out of the water. Anyway going to watch Tron on my year old Ipad.

i have to echo most of the above sentiment.
this is such a good idea, but it's just not ready...at least for me. i bought it for the reasons the op cited, and i'm let down. the lag kills the experience, even typing this on the keyboard is painful. honeycomb is great for usability imo, and the open ability to customize, but it is flat out slow. the browser is capable, but slowdolphin is buggy, adbloc is hard to come by (that works properly)
editing docs in polari is slow, screen rotation is slow, it's just everything i so slow. my dell mini 9 runs faster for the few times i need to doc edit, and the ipad run circles around it in terms of tablet function (but has several huge letdowns in its own right)
the one difference from some of the above posters is that i won't hang onto it and hope software gets smoothed out, by the time that happens we will have at leat one generation newer devices, maybe 2...so suffer with inferior experience to be outdated..not for me.
As I sai in another thread, i see this concept as the future...without doubt. my days of wanting to pay to beta test are over though.
Edit from my iPad. - see all those missing letters at the ends of words, that was typed with the dock..that's how bad lag is. I see no choice but to return it, I can't see google/ ASus releasing a realistic fix in the next couple weeks...but I hope I'm wrong.

Stability: maybe I'm lucky but I find Transformer to be VERY stable. Only FCs I have were when closing some game and maybe once in the browser.
Honest opinion: it's still only a toy. Don't expect it to be able to do anything better (or even on par with) than laptop or PC - but it is quite a good toy for many thins.
Right now I do most of my browsing on Transformer, for browsing it's in some things better than computers/laptops but in others it lacks greately (adblock, lack of extenstions in browser). It's also great for comics and PDF. And it's quite good for small games (Aporkalypse is great!).
I bought it mostly to write applications for it. In my personal opinion the OS is just great. The apps are mostly a mess with some pearls in it - like Newsr which just great or Dolphine Browser HD (or many others that you can find mentioned here and there on this forum). The problem is there is quite a huge lack of pearls in some departments. But it will change, I don't see what could stop it.

SCARED
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
Same as I do now with my HTC Desire and Asus T101MT netbook...so no really heavy stuff...
But as I read all these unsatisfied experiences I feel a bit uncertain about it. I mean I´m not an Applefanboy (ok, I do own an iPod) and I always feel a bit pity for all those people who buy an iPad just because it's an iPad...but now I'm in doubt...
Is this toy really that bad???

jpvdw said:
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
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For things like that it's great. Only problem is that on some forums (this one is an example) most browsers are slow (but usable and with keyboard dock it should be much more easy to write on forums thank using screen keyboard).
Is this toy really that bad???
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It's not.
If you are not sure - go to some shop and play with it for a while. By "it" I mean - any tablet with HoneyComb.

Well after using the TF for about 3 weeks, I have to admit it is only a good toy. If you want productivity at school and home, stay away from the tablet form factor as a whole. HC is good, but the app support is bad, and its still a platform which is evolving. Other than watching YouTube videos, I don't use it much. The stock browser even on 3.1 is bad and slow. The browsing experience is way better on the laptop than this one.
Will try the Tab 10.1 too and see if it has a better experience. Otherwise, I don't feel the need for a tablet now, especially keeping in mind the current state of HC. Won't go for an iPad because I feel 4:3 aspect ratio is ridiculous.

Great toy for work and home. Wife loves it and my 7 year old enjoys it. Is hc beta? yes. Will it get better? yes

What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.

Be realistic as to what to expect
im new to the tablet and android world. When i bought the tablet, i wasnt expecting it to replace my laptop for heavy duty usage. Simply not there yet..
Allow me to give you and example of every day usage for me:
My tablet is always on.(sleep mode) i wake up, check my emails, the news, weather, all while im still in bed. I even check XDA forum to see the latest "oh no..im returning the transformer (sad Face)" thread...
when i get home, i do the same, but this time i sit in front of my tv, watch some nba finals, lookup some articles or "do it yourself" tutorials.. i get bored, open some tabs, tune my guitar (with the TF), and just jam out.. (reading tabs on portrait mode is beautiful)
Then my little girl gets to play on my "little computer" (barn stack, angry birds, read a long stories, etc.... which came in super handy on our recent road trip)
Before bed, i lookup some reviews on Netflix, add them to my instant queue, fire up the TV, check my Chase account (also app), more emails,
its convenient..
just last night i wanted to be nos and see how much the house on our street is selling for.. (zillow App) quick, with a gorgeous map. My xboxlive app notifies me of whose online.. just a lot of cool features
And im sure im not using the tablet to its full potential.. Ive tried the cloud jsut once (and monitored my laptop as it downloaded some "Stuff"//haha)

grainysand said:
What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.
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Lag. Also, the touchpad in the dock is a mess....unless I missed a way to disable tap clicking natively. It really has to be turned off. Polaris as a program is fine, and I liked the easy integration with dropbox...but even editing a light 2 page resume was laggy. It's probably not polaris' fault..the platform is laggy.
@jpvdw I actually think the iPad would be better suited for what you want to do. I see a ton of shortcomings with the iOS devices, but most of them involve getting work done for me. Like uploading files through a web browser and wanting to use a real keyboard (though there are bt options).
I want to move to android...there's just nothing for me to move to that can equal what I get. If maybe the device was 15% faster I'd bear with it.

two things..
first, there has to be a memory leak in one of the stock apps, or os, or something. i can reboot and be working fine for about 10 mins... then it gets all wonky again.
i reset the browser to factory defauults, and it actually seems like it's a bit faster now. even with plugins enabled

People - please DON'T EXPECT tablet performing well as your laptop or desktop replacement....how could a Tegra 2 with integrated GPU comparing to your laptop/desktop power horse!!
Now please go and enjoy your own Transformer device while sitting on the couch, lying on the bed or even in your bathroom (make sure you have accidental damage insurance in case you drop into the water ...)
For me, this tablet makes me more connecting to digital world...well sort of because sometimes I just use my blackberry without tablet or desktop at all...
good luck/enjoy!
rcjpth

[Q] Transformer vs ipad

Hi,
I am a writer and I need a tablet for writing. I am looking for a moderately light weighted device on which I can use word/word like app to read, write, edit, open ms office docs ( with the slightest of changes possible)
I am not sure whether I should go for ipad or Transformer- In pages ( ipad) they provide a lot of features similar to word and you need to compromise on footnotes etc. Also I guess some slight inconveniences in import/export
Transformer - Polaris can open ms word files and edit
so am a bit confused which one to buy ...looking forward to suggestions

The answer you're pretty much going to get here will be the TF. But that's not without good reason. Both are useful, but with the developer support here and the open environment of Android, you really can't go wrong with the TF.

plus the keyboard doc makes it so much more useful for writing with.

For what you describe I would recommend the TF, but this is the TF forum isn't it !
iPad is great for media consumption & there is a lot of developer focus on it right now, so the apps are abundant and very good.
Android on the TF feels like a good start - it is stable, provides a neat way to use the device & app support will grow rapidly.
Using the TF from a h/w perspective you can't go wrong - without the dock it is a good tablet and handles well - with the dock it becomes a good device for production of data, whether in word processing or spreadsheet.
I bought one last week & my wife (a total Luddite) is incredibly happy with it for writing her school reports, doing her home & work email & accessing all sorts of websites (even those with Flash).

iPad users can only do what their gawd Steve allows them to do.

I dropped the ipad plus keyboard in favor of eee pad plus dock.
Typing with ipad is simply not practical because of dull keyboard support, and I'm beeing polite.
Eeepad is close to netbook and probably 90% of laptop usage potential. Keyboard is not perfect but with the mouse on top, it does allow for productive work.
Still, iOS is very very good at reading. Very really.
The other plus plus is usb and file system access.
I'm sure it will come to iOS soon but you never know the odd limitations you'll get.
Eeepad filesystem support is 100% out of the box and more if you root it.
I realized that producing documents requires that soon enough. I thought I could use Ipad + apps but the bottom line is that it didn't really allow the same producivity as Eeepad.
And the cost.....

doe eyes said:
Hi,
I am a writer and I need a tablet for writing. I am looking for a moderately light weighted device on which I can use word/word like app to read, write, edit, open ms office docs ( with the slightest of changes possible)
I am not sure whether I should go for ipad or Transformer- In pages ( ipad) they provide a lot of features similar to word and you need to compromise on footnotes etc. Also I guess some slight inconveniences in import/export
Transformer - Polaris can open ms word files and edit
so am a bit confused which one to buy ...looking forward to suggestions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My vote goes to the TF!!! With the docking station, you can't go, especially in your field of work!!!

This is exactly why I got the Transformer: I do a good deal of long-form writing, and wanted a platform that would give me a device I can take anywhere without worrying about power, is easy to use in a variety of circumstances, and has a good physical keyboard.
The Transformer works on all accounts. I use Quickoffice Pro HD for writing/editing Word docs, and sync via SugarSync. The only problem with this scenario is that there's a Honeycomb bug that doesn't allow for offline syncing via SugarSync. So, if I know I'll be away from an Internet connection I need to plan ahead re: which documents I take with me. That doesn't happen often, however, and there's always tethering via my phone in a pinch.
The keyboard on the dock is outstanding for pure writing, probably the best I've used on such a small machine. It's a bit smaller than standard, but has a very nice feel and performs well with the tablet (no lag whatsoever anywhere outside of the stock browser, where it doesn't really matter for me). And, the dock/tablet combo is preferable to a standard netbook/notebook in that it lasts for a solid 15-16 hours on a single charge between the dock and tablet batteries, and runs cool. That means I can use it at night in bed without worrying about covering any heat vents or having a flat surface to balance a tablet and separate Bluetooth keyboard.
And, the tablet itself works great for all the standard modern tablet stuff of media consumption, browsing, email, Twitter, etc. Simply put, as a writer, I can't think of a more functional, productive, and fun tool--and certainly, none for $550 total.
Highly recommended.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

If you were to ask this question on an Apple forum, the response would be the exact opposite. Good luck.
Sent from my Rooted, OCed, Hinged out T-Mobile G2.

TF wins - but is not the only answer
Hi mate,
I own both an ipad and a TF. From a comfort of use point of view for content creation I vote the TF
This is the unfashionable thing to say on this forum but have you considered not using a tablet but getting a netbook instead?
Don't get me wrong - I love tablets and android but if this is a work tool you should ask yourself what feels good to use. You may find that a nimble little netbook with windows offers you more of what you need. lots of people prefer the familiarity of windows for work purposes.
It all just comes down to what your are most comfortable with.

eli.kennedy said:
This is the unfashionable thing to say on this forum but have you considered not using a tablet but getting a netbook instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is why the Transformer STILL wins over the iPad. Get the dock and it becomes a Netbook.
Win/Win.
I have a Transformer and a 1 gen iPad. Ever since I got the Transformer.....the iPad collected dust.

I just got an iPad 2, and it is significantly lighter and easier to hold.
the screen quality is also around as good as the transformer's screen, except the low resolution on the ipad is very disappointing.
I've used both versions of the iPad before, and although the ipad 2 is much easier to hold, things tend to stick to the aluminum body of the iPads.
right now, I'm still stuck to the transformer

I'm a writer also and I opted for the TF over the iPad2. I assume that he wants the tablet for reading, and not actually writing on it. The TF is heavier which can make your arms tired if you dont rest it against something which is a pretty big negative. Otherwise the TF wins in every other category imo.

cottinghamm said:
iPad is great for media consumption & there is a lot of developer focus on it right now, so the apps are abundant and very good.
Android on the TF feels like a good start - it is stable, provides a neat way to use the device & app support will grow rapidly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sums it up for me too.
I came from the iPhone as my first smartphone and real mobile device.
After switching to android, with Epic 4G, I was a little disappointed at the lack of apps in comparison. However, this is fixed with time and I like the android approach better.
I can deal with a few bugs here and there and a few force closes because I am comfortable with computers and troubleshooting etc. I am not sure if this is true of the average iPad buyer.
The dock on the TF sealed the deal for me. It is a fantastic mobile device. Long battery life, always on - no boot time, keyboard access, usable touchscreen interface (vs a touch tablet windows os or something), no fans, no heat, no noise. It is a bit different from a netbook.
Although, I also have a full 17" laptop... for real work purposes. For productivity and efficiency, I can't function that well with a small screen, low resolution, small keyboard etc. No idea how people can do it hehe.
For all the little things, that a tiny portable awesome device needs to do, the TF seems to work for me.

Whilst I agree you will get a more 'pro tf 'view on here you will also get a better overview in here than on an apple forum as many tf users have tried both. On an apple forum you may struggle to find anyone who has even heard of a Tf.
I have a tf and my laptop now gathers dust .......

[Q] TF vs HP 2740p or Lenovo X201t for work

I've been doing lots of research lately to find a tablet for my wife - primarily for work, but also for play. She currently has an old Dell laptop and iPhone 4 for reference. She would be using this new machine to input information as she travels from patient to patient (whether in the car or the office), so portability, battery life, and quick input (aka touch input) are key features.
I've narrowed it down to 3 machines:
HP 2740p (12.1" capacitive screen, windows 7, convertible tablet)
Lenovo X201t (12.1" capacitive screen, windows 7, convertible tablet)
Asus eee pad Transformer 32GB + laptop dock
I know these are quite different machines, basically either a small, but powerful and much more expensive, Windows 7 laptop or a smaller, efficient, relatively powerful (for Android) tablet. I have no problem maintaining / tweaking / hacking both android tablets and Windows 7 tablets and getting them into a more user friendly state for my wife to use, so that's not really an issue.
My question is does anyone have side by side experience with the TF and either the HP or Lenovo? The screens on the windows tablets are matte and do ok outdoors, but how would the TF with a matte screen protector perform outdoors? Is the TF 10.1" screen too small for work? My wife primarily uses the laptop for low complexity word processing and spreadsheets (so a keyboard is crucial), email communications, and internet research, but I am sure how she uses it will change as we explore touch input - so is Android Honeycomb (currently) too limiting? I know my program possibilties are much more capable with a windows machine, but do we really need those. I've read that many have basically replaced their netbook / laptop with the TF, but I think this is based on how one needs to use the machine.
We will also be using this for some personal use (i.e., playing netflix, entertaining the kids, ebook reading, etc.) so that plays into some.
Thanks for any insight one can offer. I'm trying to keep costs out of the decision and get what she needs, but for what it's worth I can get the TF 32GB + keyboard dock for $650 shipped vs a refurbished HP 2740p with an i5 560M for $1,050 + extended slim battery (~10 hrs) for $100 + 1.8" 60GB SSD for $140 = total just under $1,300 and just over 4.5 pounds for somewhat similar battery life and bootup / resume speed as the TF.

Gabes Dad said:
My wife primarily uses the laptop for low complexity word processing and spreadsheets (so a keyboard is crucial), email communications, and internet research, but I am sure how she uses it will change as we explore touch input - so is Android Honeycomb (currently) too limiting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES, Honeycomb is too limiting; the office suits available for it are only good for viewing and small quick edits. Despite having a touch screen, even the smallest word processing task takes too much time. Therefore I wouldn't recommend an Android Tablet for office related tasks.
EDIT : If cost is a factor, then get a 10" netbook, that would be far more efficient than a Transformer with a keyboard.

It should do fine with normal word processing (nothing fancy like graph inserts, etc). I think Quickoffice HD's spreadsheet supports equations and such, haven't tried anything on Excel yet.

Phoenix and frosty, thanks for your input.
Since none of the machines are available locally, I might have her look at the Acer Iconic tab A500, which is in stock locally at Best Big to at least get a feel for Android Honeycomb and the screen size / resolution.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App

If I needed it for work I would want to make sure that I was using the same apps that my colleagues used. For me that would be MS Office with full macro and add-in support so would restrict me to a Windows device. Your wife may have similar requirements.

android tablet not useful

I've had the transformer for 3 months.
It does some things great but it is neither a tool or a laptop replacement. The tablet effect may be real at the moment but it will pass.
I love this tablet for movies and email and calendar on the road. And for battery life.
That's where my love ends
It is slow. The browser is deadly slow and buggy as ****. How does a Google product have such a **** browser?
It is not useful as a tool.
Letters, documents spreadsheets... can be done but not effectively.
It is a fun toy and nice to have on the road. But I still need me macbook for anything work related. So now I just have one more thing in my travel bag. Not the direction I want to go.
And worthy of note, of all my computers and devices, I like my full desktop with dual monitors and 6core Intel CPU best. The desktop isn't dead yet either.
Ty.

I use it as a terminal into my computer. So when I go to a meeting or travel I can access my computer with remote desktop.

Do you have the docking? And did you try other browsers?
Because with docking and with opera mobile i do not reckognize any of your points.

I never buy my TF in order to replace my Ubuntu laptop or my desktop computer.
I have it for the battery life, the GPS, the portability, to do emails, downloads, games and surfing lazy in my salon listening TV at same time, copying my camera movies or pictures in holidays, etc ...
I'm doing that before with a net book, but now I have also a Tablet and this is so Geek
The TF is somewhere between my HTC Desire and my Laptop !
I like also to see Honeycomb and the market growing with butty full applications.
This is my new precious and I enjoy it so much
Regards.
PS: Try Dolphin Browser HD, is not to bad and faster.

I wouldn't say it's not useful...just not exactly a laptop replacement.
I do use it for documents, emails, games, and such...the same thing I use my laptop for...the only difference is that the TF allows me to do all that at the coffee shop with my feet up on the hearth, eating a scone...
It is what it is...

I would say that you picked the Transformer up for all the wrong reasons. You have a Macbook yet you're looking for something portable for work. That doesnt' really make sense to me. You're probably not the best use case for this device.
This thing is for people who like the price point and portability of a netbook, but enjoy the tablet form factor for general or on-the-go use. This doesn't seem to be you and I wouldn't call Android tablets "not useful" when you're basically looking for a full laptop replacement - which this is not.
Edit: Re-read, you have a Macbook, didn't specifically say an Air, but maybe one would be better suited for your needs? It's light, has a full OS and is about as portable as laptops can be.

Having the TF now means that I can leave my laptop in the office for the week & only carry my TF to & from home each evening for email, browsing & other work related things.
On the train I watch a TV show or listen to music on the TF & when home I use kindle to read books in bed.
It isn't a laptop or even a netbook, as someone else said, it is what it is, you just have to find out how to fit it into your life.

Honestly, I love when people come in to a device specific forum and complain about how they don't use/need it. Personally, I found that using wireless tether and tablet keeps it with me and in use everywhere i go.

Huh, for me I've essentially replaced my Work windows laptop with my Transformer.
I use a Combo of the stock browser and Dolphin for Pad for web browsing (stock set to tablet, Dolphin set to desktop). I randomly will have a site act funky, but never been a show stopper.
I picked up a bluetooth keyboard that works great for longer emails and document creation via Polaris Office. None of the Android Office suites are MS Office replacements yet, but Polaris suites my needs.
I have VPN Connections working to connect to my corp network when needed.
2X Client is an amazing RDP client for connecting to boxes on my home network or on the corp network when VPN'd in.
The only thing I have an issue with is printing support for Emails/websites/documents when needed. I can print pictures to my HP via their iPrint app. I haven't researched printing solutions that much yet (open to any good suggestions).
Since I got my Transformer in June, the only time I've gotten my laptop out at home was to run a specific app that is Windows only for my golf league and to print those reports. I inquired with the developers about an Android port, but they said it wasn't on their timeline.

I disagree,
Its not useful to you maybe, but to me its exactly what I bought it to be.
I have read more books on my TF in the past 3 months than I have read in the 2 years before that.
I can browse my PC network from any room in the house, view any pictures, listen to any music and watch every video format I have, wherever, whenever.
I can browse the web conveniently, quickly and almost perfectly on my WiFi connection or using 3G from my Desire.
I can waste a few minutes playing a game, or reading a comic.
I can show off my artwork to customers or friends via the gallery.
I can sketch an idea or write a note, even draw some artwork.
I can see whats on TV next or even watch that thing I missed the night before on catchup.
It's not a PC or laptop replacement, its not meant to be, its the thing you use when you don't have time to boot up your PC, or when you don't want to carry that laptop, or know that you will need more than 3 hours of battery life.
its Amazing....

My TF with the dock now fits neatly between my Evo and my Mac Mini in terms of functionality. My portable computing needs are not that taxing, so the Macbook Pro I had was overkill. Sold it last month and now my TF is my portable. I miss some things about the MBP, namely OS X, but I'm getting used to it.

My TF fits perfect for what i need. Reading news feeds, books, PDF's/documents, emails, taking notes with my stylus, and a quick check of the internet with the browser.
Any heavy usage i rely on my chromebook or work laptop and any heavy reading done with my nook color since it's lighter.

Hungry troll is hungry....
I sure wouldnt lug my desktop out to the back yard for some hammock surfing, nor would I use a laptop for extended reading. I see tablets an extension of my current setup, not as a replacement for anything.
If you don't see a use for tablets, why get one? Personally, aside from nitpicking, I couldn't be more happy about my Transformer. I simply love the little thing.

It's definitely not as effective for some pretty important work related things (ie. I had a lot of trouble making fine details on my presentation slides, but I just decided to do the tiny things on my laptop instead). Of course, I don't expect it to be a desktop/laptop replacement. It's a netbook (and tablet of course), and it's meant to be ultra portable. I love it.

For all of my the things I used to used my netbook for (email, web surfing, basic photo editing, games, movies, books, etc.) the Transformer is more than enough. Anything beyond that I use my desktop. The only thing that I wish would happen is a decent screenwriting application (Celtx hopefully). Opera mobile has no lag for me though the stock browser is pretty slow as you say. I don't think the TF was ever pitched as a netbook replacement. The dock inclusion is mainly aimed for those who want a tablet form factor (touchscreen, thin, high resolution screen) with the occasional benefit of faster input through a keyboard (it also serves as an extended battery and stand).
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium

the TF is my new laptop. I have my desktop forgaming etc..
The TF does everything else.. this was one of the best buys i have ever made.

what an utterly pointless thread ..... wheres this Iron Fist ????

IMHO, the thing that will make or break the 'usefulness' of a tablet is the software. And of course, everyone's needs will be different.
If you've got to do serious work on it, yeah, you're gonna be better with a full-on laptop. Period.
Myself, I don't need the horsepower of a full laptop, but I do find that the browser on the tablet is pretty slow. Some apps could use a lot of improvement (for instance, I use Polaris Office to interface with Google Docs, but I hate the little return carriage icon it puts after every line in the editor...)
I'm going to hang on to mine because it is useful to me, and as software improves, it will get even more useful.

Its good for books and magazines.
Listening to audio any format
watching movies in SD format only, any higher and experience lag and desync audio
games are enjoyable
internet browsing is ok would be alot better if websites considered ppl touching a screen rather then using a mouse.
some apps beat the website but not many

OP, cry me a river. You don't have anyone to blame other than yourself about the fact that you purchased a device you didn't have the need for.
I've got a gaming desktop with dual 24 inch IPS screens setup; a 15 inch windows/ubuntu Asus laptop; an old iBook acting as a home server; a Galaxy S 4 inch Android smartphone; and an iPod Touch 4th generation (solely for work related testing purposes).
In addition, I was pretty skeptical about the tablets as a device class as a whole before.
Know what? The TF did actually fit me so damn well that I can't imagine not having it now. I had never imagined I'd have those situations and use cases before I actually started using it.