Database Users

[INFO] Transformer review thread - user experiences/reviews

Post your user experiences here, what you liked, disliked etc.
I'll start:
Like:
The device feels really solid and well made and has a nice finish
The device is fast, and browsing the web is more comparable to a laptop than a phone (see screenshot). Games look great on it (like Cordy, Dungeon Defenders etc)
I managed to watch iPlayer videos on it via the site in flash, including the live streams - the HD ones don't play at a good framerate though.
Honeycomb is really slick and easy to use
Sound quality is excellent
The built in office suite is great
Gripes:
Absolute fingerprint magnet
Still a few bugs, a handful of FCs, Spanish text in one ASUS tool, Chinese in another!
The bevel when holding it is a bit too wide to make using keyboards like ThumbKeyboard comfortable. With a bit of tweaking it works fine, but its less than ideal.
The weather widget truncates my town name and it looks ugly (Leamington S) an option to tweak the font size would have been nice.
A couple of the default settings provided a less than optimal out-of-box experience, but nothing that can't be fixed by experimentation.
Hate:
Charging cable is ridiculously short and proprietary so you can't replace it! This is my major gripe. When I plug the device in at night to charge on my nightstand I can't use the device in bed - in fact I had to rearrange the stand just to get it long enough to actually let me put the device on top.

Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to picking this up when it launches in Canada. It looks like a really slick device. The price is great. A shame about the bezel, but it's probably something I'll get used to fairly quickly.

I love that all of your issues are either honeycomb related or just tablet related (except the cable, I suppose) everytime I read these good and bad's I recall my Xoom and how I felt the exact same way but I wouldn't consider any of them bad. I kept that screen spotless, even though it was a fingerprint magnet, the FC's and widget issues are normal because HC is new, and when I buy something I always mess around with all of the settings.
I dont think I've read a bad thing about this tablet. There has not been a single dealbreaker!
Thanks for your review As Prof said, I'm also suuuper excited for the Canadian release.
side note: didn't mean for anything I said to sound snappy, I am just overwhelmingly amped for this tablet.

Yeah, the device is great, I suppose my only major problem with this specific device is with the charger - and that will be fixed when the accessories start rolling out. With time greatness can be achieved!

It does seem like the charge/sync cable might be annoyingly short. Why not just use a USB extension though?

bedoig said:
It does seem like the charge/sync cable might be annoyingly short. Why not just use a USB extension though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cable has an extra pin in it which extension cables do not carry. If you try to use one it just doesn't charge...

icStatic said:
The cable has an extra pin in it which extension cables do not carry. If you try to use one it just doesn't charge...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that is going to be quite annoying then. Thanks for the info.

icStatic said:
Post your user experiences here, what you liked, disliked etc.
I'll start:
Like:
The device feels really solid and well made and has a nice finish
The device is fast, and browsing the web is more comparable to a laptop than a phone (see screenshot). Games look great on it (like Cordy, Dungeon Defenders etc)
I managed to watch iPlayer videos on it via the site in flash, including the live streams - the HD ones don't play at a good framerate though.
Honeycomb is really slick and easy to use
Sound quality is excellent
The built in office suite is great
Gripes:
Absolute fingerprint magnet
Still a few bugs, a handful of FCs, Spanish text in one ASUS tool, Chinese in another!
The bevel when holding it is a bit too wide to make using keyboards like ThumbKeyboard comfortable. With a bit of tweaking it works fine, but its less than ideal.
The weather widget truncates my town name and it looks ugly (Leamington S) an option to tweak the font size would have been nice.
A couple of the default settings provided a less than optimal out-of-box experience, but nothing that can't be fixed by experimentation.
Hate:
Charging cable is ridiculously short and proprietary so you can't replace it! This is my major gripe. When I plug the device in at night to charge on my nightstand I can't use the device in bed - in fact I had to rearrange the stand just to get it long enough to actually let me put the device on top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not joking about the speed, it's faster then my dell inspiron 1300 with 1.6ghz and 1gb ram.
Move to Bath, you'll still have that bathing kudos in the title
The lead is short, it won't let me use a usb extention cable either, but i can cure this by buying another extention lead so it's not really a problem.
Will do this when i get keyboard dock.

love
- just the whole Google experience, my phone, desktop PC and tablet feel totally in harmony now. I add a bookmark on my tablet/PC and it's available on the other device. I star a destination on Google maps on the tablet and it's available on my phone when I get in the car
- certain apps optimsed for Honeycomb are awesome, especially Maps, Gmail, Newsr (Google Reader app), I also love some of the widgets, such as Gmail and Pure News.
- in terms of the device itself, find it light, nice colour (copper), excellent battery life, and great that Asus have enabled the micro SD slot. Also appreciate that they have included a screenshot function on the device.
- really like the system of notification, a touch of Android together with a touch of Windows but unobtrusive at the same time.
- overall, like the control I have with this tablet. With the Ipad I was constantly running up against problems as I tried to get pictures/files either on or off the device. With Honeycomb there are so many ways to get your stuff on and off (bluetooth, USB, dropbox, file transfer). I don't mind the steeper learning curve of the OS if it means I decide what I do with my content.
Dislikes
- while I love aspects of the browser, I also find it quite laggy in places. Certain websites seem to bring it to its knees, ironically the worst culprit for me is the homepage of Xda forums! Trying to scroll down that page is an exercise in frustration.
- some of the widgets are a bit flaky (eg Gmail), often failing to refresh and update.
- the tablet Market app is really poor. We don't seem to have the same version as the US, no special section for tablet optimsed apps, no Google books section; I also find that installing new apps can be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes I press 'install and often the process doesn't complete and I have to go back and do it again.
Overall though, the plusses outweigh the minusses and I've got to hand it to Asus for getting this tablet out quickly and at such a reasonable price. I would find it difficult to go back to the Ipad after a taste of what's possible with Honeycomb. Yes, it still is a bit unfinished, a bit buggy in places but it will only get better with updates and it feels like an OS for grown-ups. I know the Ipad is touted as the tablet that young kids and grandmas can pick up and use, but I belong to neither of those groups and I'm willing to put up with some mildly confusing UI elements if it means I have complete control over my content.

Thanks for the reviews guys!, keep em coming.
I am living the experience through you guys
Is it end of april yet?
Can you try this and let me know if it works?
-Try attaching two headphones/earphones in docked mode (1 in dock and 1 in tablet), do they both work simultaneously?
-Is the Mynet application seeing your DLNA device consistently
-Are you able to stream movies (esp. 720p/1080p) off your DLNA device onto your tablet?
-connect to tv via mini HDMI while in docked mode works right?
-pinch and zooming on dock's trackpad works?
-how much memory (not storage) is available to apps? I am reading on certain websites they list 1GB/512MB RAM, is only 512MB available for apps?
Thanks in advance,
KG

kgdg said:
Thanks for the reviews guys!, keep em coming.
I am living the experience through you guys
Is it end of april yet?
Can you try this and let me know if it works?
-Try attaching two headphones/earphones in docked mode (1 in dock and 1 in tablet), do they both work simultaneously?
-Is the Mynet application seeing your DLNA device consistently
-Are you able to stream movies (esp. 720p/1080p) off your DLNA device onto your tablet?
-connect to tv via mini HDMI while in docked mode works right?
-pinch and zooming on dock's trackpad works?
-how much memory (not storage) is available to apps? I am reading on certain websites they list 1GB/512MB RAM, is only 512MB available for apps?
Thanks in advance,
KG
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately no one has the dock yet, it seems that Asus are having some supply issues and only the tablet is available to buy at the moment. So, can't really answer most of your questions, sorry.
The only one I can answer is about the apps. You can use all of the internal storage for apps, so in theory you have about 14GB free for apps..so plenty of space

dreadnought001 said:
Unfortunately no one has the dock yet, it seems that Asus are having some supply issues and only the tablet is available to buy at the moment. So, can't really answer most of your questions, sorry.
The only one I can answer is about the apps. You can use all of the internal storage for apps, so in theory you have about 14GB free for apps..so plenty of space
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I keep forgetting the dock isn't out yet...
As for apps, I was asking about memory, not storage..
Some more questions, I read on modaco forums about these issues, did you guys run into these as well:
-It cannot handle an episode of Prison Break in 720p for example, without a lot of stutter and out of sync voice. And when I tried a lower resolution video file, it works but again its not smooth (480p). I tried RockPlayer, mVideoPlayer and QQPlayer (which was the best by far, but still not great). Im really waiting for a decent Video player app to come out, something which will take advantage of the processing power inside these new devices! Hopefully VLC will have it up and running soon smile.gif
-An app will not solve this.
Rockplayer, QQplayer uses the CPU to decode, it will _always_ be slow and jerky on HD content
-The Tegra 2 SOC is capable of playing main profile h.264 at 1080p (with caveats), high profile at 720p.
Froyo running on Tegra2 could handle 1080p in baseline profile under the older harmony drivers, It _seems_ like the Nvidia honeycomb binaries are even less capable and content that plays on my tegra2 Vega now stutters on my transformer. Hopefully this (1080p baseline) will be fixed with a firmware update (The harmony platform has been abandoned by Nvidia, the transformer is based on the newer Ventana platform)
Is the above really true? That kills the whole purpose of a tablet in my mind.
Also, another troubling issue:
-little bit worried about the HDMI out. It appears to only do 720p. Whereas the cheaper Vega did 1080p when playing video. The transformer seems to do 720p by "voiding" the bottom 80 pixels. On the screen they still make up the button bar, it just gets a little taller.
If this is true, it will be the final nail in the coffin, i will wait until Tegra3..

kgdg said:
If this is true, it will be the final nail in the coffin, i will wait until Tegra3..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologize if this is thread-jacking but is there any word on when Tegra3 will be released? At this point the best approximation would probably be in terms of quarters, like Q4 2011. Not sure if I can wait that long.

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but.......
If the charging cable is that short, and you want to use it while charging in bed.......
What is the problem with using a short extension cord, say a 6 ft..??
I know this isn't optimal, or preferred, for that matter, but that doesn't seem to be THAT big of a deal......a little inconvenient maybe, but not horrible......
Now, I can see where this isn't the best length for being connected to a computer to transfer files, but workable......and from what I am reading, charging from the laptop isn't great to begin with......
Am I under the wrong impression..??

JoeJags said:
What is the problem with using a short extension cord, say a 6 ft..??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering the same thing myself. As technology progresses, I fear that some folks forget about the simple things--like extending the reach of the AC adapter if one can't extend the reach of the charging cable itself.
Reminds me of a time when I was watching a friend eating cookies and milk. He was eating around the edges of the cookies very meticulously, and I asked him, "Why are you doing that?"
He said, "So that they fit in the glass and I can dip them in the milk."
I thought for a moment and then asked, "Why don't you just break them in half?"

Has anyone noticed that the speaker placement is a bit low on the frame and can be easily covered up with your hands? That is to say if you are gripping the tablet with both hands (tablet in landscape mode) on the bottom do your hands cover the speaker ports/grill? If this is the case, do you find it annoying or a down side?

JoeJags said:
Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but.......
If the charging cable is that short, and you want to use it while charging in bed.......
What is the problem with using a short extension cord, say a 6 ft..??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main problem is that the charging cable is barely long enough for me to put the device on top of the nightstand and have the extension cord just below out of sight. I could use the extension cord, but I would have to keep moving the extension cord so I don't trip over it etc.
At work I can't even reach the socket from my desk - all the plugs are either behind the monitors or under the desk and the charging cable will reach neither. All it needs is another 60cm or so really and both problems would be solved! What's really irritating is that it's such a simple thing...
While sorting out my keyboard dock I mentioned it to one of the ASUS reps, and my feedback on it has been fed back to the product manager.
Look at it this way, if the only thing I have to gripe about is the charging cable, consider it a good sign.

yoda715 said:
Has anyone noticed that the speaker placement is a bit low on the frame and can be easily covered up with your hands? That is to say if you are gripping the tablet with both hands (tablet in landscape mode) on the bottom do your hands cover the speaker ports/grill? If this is the case, do you find it annoying or a down side?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are right, the grilles are exactly where your hands will go, but I don't really think it's a problem. If you grip really tightly around it you lose the high frequency treble a bit, but you'll only get this when you are typing. When you are just holding it I doubt you can tell the difference. And if you do, just flip the device 180 degrees and hold it upside down! (The screen auto rotates)

icStatic said:
Yes you are right, the grilles are exactly where your hands will go, but I don't really think it's a problem. If you grip really tightly around it you lose the high frequency treble a bit, but you'll only get this when you are typing. When you are just holding it I doubt you can tell the difference. And if you do, just flip the device 180 degrees and hold it upside down! (The screen auto rotates)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, I realized that the speaker placement may be a problem when I was playing SpeedX on my Xoom, since I play in landscape mode and hold the Xoom at the bottom with both hands.

How long does it take to get it fully charged?

Is it worth it? [Update] Definitely!

Hi all,
I'm looking into tablets and for now it seems that Acer Iconia A500 is "the one". Owning a HTC Desire HD with it's beautiful 4.3" screen, I really don't see the point in buying 7" tablet, so I'm left with iPad (like I'll ever buy Apple's icr.p ), Motorola XOOM (a bit too expensive), Asus EEE Tab (which isn't released in Europe yet) and Acer A500. So what's your experience with it? I've seen a thread about screen quality (seems that the only drawback is the fingerprints, which could be cured with a good screen protector and it doesn't bother me that much anyway, because people are saying the same about the DHD and I have no problems with it), but what about the other aspects of the tablet? I've read that it can be rooted, but does it come with preinstalled market? Seems that there are many tablets that have their own versions of the market and this is something I deffinately don't want. Also what about the build quality. Alluminum body sounds nice and having a device with one, I'm definitely into that! How's the sound, are the ports and buttons easily accessable (mostly the headphones jack, the charging port and the volume buttons)? How's your overall experience with the tablet? From all I've read the only drawback is the lack of a GSM module, but while on the go, I can use my phone's wifi router, so that's not such a big deal. Thanks for all your input!

tkolev said:
1. does it come with preinstalled market?
2. Also what about the build quality.
3. How's the sound
4. are the ports and buttons easily accessable (mostly the headphones jack, the charging port and the volume buttons)?
5. How's your overall experience with the tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yep, all Honeycomb tablets come with the new Google Market.
2. In my opinion, it's pretty great. It has a very solid feel to it and the brushed aluminum makes it feel classy and won't get scrapes very easily. The seams are well done and I don't foresee any parts lifting or moving from where they should be, I also don't see how dust or dirt can get into or under the screen.
3. Excellent for a mobile device. In fact, I haven't heard a portable device save for some blackberries with such deep, thorough sound. They are better than standard with the equalizer off but with it enabled it sounds really nice. There's still very little bass, of course but it's still very full sound. I have a bluetooth speaker system and sometimes I don't bother using it because the a500 sounds so good.
4. Yes. The power button is on the left which means it's at the top in portrait mode, same for the headphone jack. I don't think there's any way to accidentally press it. It's also lit which can become useful with a future update. Right now it blinks every now and again, seemingly randomly.
The volume rocker and lock switch are on the top in landscape or right side in portrait mode. The volume rocker switches automatically when you change orientation if you haven't enabled the hardware lock - so initially in landscape mode, a right press is volume up and left is down but when it goes to portrait mode right (which is now at the bottom) becomes down and left (which is now at the top) becomes up which is a very nice touch I think. But I'm assuming all tablets do this so I'm not sure if I should bother to highlight it.
The charging port is on the right top, the micro usb and usb are side by side on the bottom right. I find their placement optimum because I don't get any cables tangled from being too close.
I don't like the flap that I have to flip to get to the microSD but it's understandable since beside it is where the GSM equipped Iconia Tabs have their sim card slot. In the end I think that's a good place for them. It's protected by the flap so no liquid can sneak in. The docker is of course on the bottom in the middle, the obvious place.
5. Let me put it this way. I wanted a Transformer. Now I don't, lol. I'm still interested in testing/feeling out the Transformer but the Iconia Tablet has won me over, pretty much 98% completely. Right now I'm anchored to simply the idea of the Transformer for ONE reason only, the dock. Each day Asus decides not to release it in the U.S and I read more and more user experiences of the dock causing it to lock up, reboot etc. is a day I care less about the dock and more about just enjoying the A500.
Hope this helps in some way. Sorry if I missed any questions.

All HC Tablets have preinstalled Market.
For your other Questions:
My A500:
Build Quality: Good
Sound: Is really good for a Tablet in my Opinion, I had the Ipad1 and 2 and Archos 7.. and the Sound from the Acer is definetly better (Dolby Mobil support)
Buttons are good in Position, but the Lock Rotation Button is a Pain for the Fingers...
One thing i have to concern right now... There seems more community around the transformer and already som roms! Acer seems to have a locked bootloader from what i read.. so maybe custom roms will last some while and maybe never with newer and self comiled kernels (like the motorola milestone)
Custom Roms is a important factor to me, the tab ist fast... but not always... the community is always faster (and often better) in "fixing" such things
Because i have one Build Failure (A little Hole in the LCD Glass) i will bring it back to the shop and im thinking of getting the transformer instead, just for the open bootloader (i don't need a full size usb every time)

Thanks for the replies, guys! Well, I can't care less for the dock of the transformer, since I'm used with the on-screen keyboard for my mobile devices and I have a laptop, which I use for work anyway, so the tablet will be mostly for browsing and media and that's good enough without a keyboard. Also, I heard that you can plug an USB keyboard and use it with the A500. Docking a mobile device makes little sense IMO. One of the main usage of the tablet will be in the car, because I have two kids and driving anywhere without some sort of entertainment for them is a nerve breaking experience. I'm thinking about replacing the "baby on board!" warning sign with "I have two whining kids in the car and I'm not afraid to die!"
The news about the bootloader isn't good . I care much more about custom kernels than custom ROMs mainly because of the overclocking, but then again I seriously doubt that in the coming year or two we'll need to overclock it, so it's not that big deal anyway. I've put a custom ROM on my DHD months after they were released (and I have the DHD since October), just to see what the fuss is all about. Coming from a WM device, I think the difference is not that great between custom and stock ROMs (at least not what it is with WM). I'm running a GB custom ROM now and still have to see what it has over the Froyo. I'm sure there is something, just can't figure out why Google hid it that good.

Well two days ago I finally got the A500. So far I'm loving it. They had both the Acer and Asus at the store and I'm sure the A500 is the better choice. To anyone wondering which one to choose, here is my experience. The first thing you'll notice is that the transformer's display looks a little bit better than the iconia's. Part of this is the auto brightness setting on the iconia being too power conservative. That's a good thing for your usage of the tablet, but not great for showing off. Still hats off to Acer for valuing user experience higher than sales experience. Compared to my Desire HD (both pumped up to max brightness) the screen is great. Brighter and the white is whiter (though with a little bluish tint). Anyway if it was just the screen, I would have gone for the transformer. But it's not. The next thing you'll notice is the weight. It's noticeably heavier, but it's because of the alluminum casing and that's worth the extra weight. As I said I own a DHD and to me the plastic feels... well cheap. Next comes the rotation lock. Very important with Android which restarts the current activity every time you rotate the device (and trust me you WILL accidentally rotate it). True - difficult to switch on and off but it also makes it difficult to switch it by accident. Volume button changes behaviour as you rotate the tab and once you get used to that, you'll come to like it. If you intend to use the tablet mainly as a netbook for heavy email writing, then the transformer will be better suited for you with it's battery packed keyboard (which costs extra), if you'll use it mainly for browsing, media, e-books, gaming - the a500 is the one for you. And finally the selling point of the A500 - you get full USB port without the extra cost (and bulk) of the docking station. This means keyboard, external drives, card readers, etc.
What I don't like with it is... well just a few minor things really. The icon for the headset being strange, also the occasional turning on of the screen is annoying, wifi signal is somehow weak but that's a part of life when having devices with alluminum back (the DHD has the same issues and I already had my home wifi APs repositioned when I got it) and the market being landscape only (probably honeycomb feature).
Overall being an HTC fan, I'm surprised that I like an Acer device that much. But considering the current HTC tablet (7", gingerbread and ridiculously high price) it all makes sense. Even without Sense ;-).
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

i did a little bit of my own research about Iconia and other tablets. I pretty much came down to 3: 1) iconia - excellent build quality for its price and a nice screen, 2) xoom - the best build quality, okay screen, 3) toshiba - unknown build quality but very thick, their very first tablet but the best IPS screen.
overall I am satisfied with Acer, it doesn't have as good build quality as iPad1, definitly better build quality than iPad2. i am a perfections thou. and the i am getting more and more used to the android operating system. what i like the most is that there is a lot of high quality apps that are for free. on iOS you have to pay 99c even for fart apps.

[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.
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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 .......

I love my Transfomer but I wish I had ??? and why.

Hello, TF'ers. I'am asking a simple question for those who love their Transformers but for some reason is lusting after one of the other tablet's. Please list the tablet you wish you could have and why.
Thanks.

I have my TF101 and I'm happily satisfied with my purchase.

I love this thing. Nothing else comes close.
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.

Love mt TF but I always wonder if I would love the Acer Iconia A500 better.

I have had every tablet out, and the iconia was ok, the screen is not as good as the TF, but at least the browser does not crash as much, no lag while trying to type, and the usb...
I am looking at the thrive... if I know what kinda of glass it will have I would order one.

More than happy with my TF'er. Tried the Zoom, tried the Ipad2 but neither come close. I'm mildly interested in the GT 10.2 to see what the fuss is about but the lack of SD card immediately puts a dampener on it.

Thremix said:
I have had every tablet out, and the iconia was ok, the screen is not as good as the TF, but at least the browser does not crash as much, no lag while trying to type, and the usb...
I am looking at the thrive... if I know what kinda of glass it will have I would order one.
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I have 0 lag and havent had the browser crash once. I have 2 usb's slots and both SD and MiniSD card slots. I use a wireless mouse and BT headset nd get over 24 hours of battery life on hard use. Hwat else could you ask for?
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.

As a launch-day Pre purchaser who converted to Android in January of this year, I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the TouchPad. webOS really is SOOOO much better in terms of multitasking that I'd love to have it on a tablet.
However, there are three things that temper this notion. First, webOS does not and likely will not have the apps that I need for quite some time. The TouchPad won't even have Office document editing out the door, which is simply ridiculous. I can't believe that Samsung can completely redesign their tablet and release it in a few months, while HP can't get a single freaking app written that's absolutely vital to their product's success. Really, webOS made me promise myself never to buy something for a feature that's "coming soon."
Second, until a tablet has a keyboard dock as functional as the Transformer's, I'd have a hard time switching over. There's simply no better device for straight writing (i.e., just laying words down on the page) on the go. If HP releases a similar hybrid device someday, I'll think about it (assuming the apps are there), but Transformer is just a great all-around mobile device.
Third, while webOS is a nice OS in many ways, I'm disappointed that HP didn't design it to make better use of a tablet's screen size. Ultimately, webOS 3.X is just a blown-up version of the smartphone OS, with the same number of cards showing, only bigger. They could have done so much more with it. I really like how Honeycomb's screens can provide so much useful information at a glance. I often just turn my TF on, check to see if I have any emails, upcoming appointments, what the weather's like, etc., etc., and then just turn it back off. It's like a dashboard for my life, and so far no other tablet OS comes close in this respect.

wynand32 said:
...........It's like a dashboard for my life.........
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Thats how I would describe it to the "T". You should sent that to Asus for branding...lmao
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.

Love my Transformer... But wish I have an iPad only due to the vast number of case options available. However I'm looking forward to receiving my multi-angle rooCase.

I don't undestand why you would want any other tablet (at least any other android tablet)
The TF offers everything all the other android tablets offer PLUS MORE... Anything else would just be a downgrade.

the only thing I'm lusting for currently is a fully functional Netflix app. I really love to watch movies quietly at night and currently have to switch over to my Nook Color to do this. TF is awesome, working Netflix would make it total perfection for my needs.

Digiguest said:
Love mt TF but I always wonder if I would love the Acer Iconia A500 better.
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The Transformer is better than the iconia. I had one, the screen on it sucks and it weighs a lot more. The only things it has over the transformer are the aluminum body (I actually prefer the transformer's body but most like aluminum that I've talked to) and the speakers have more bass. IMO the transformer wins hands down.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using XDA App

ClevelandWheeler said:
I have 0 lag and havent had the browser crash once.
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Bollocks
10char

ClevelandWheeler said:
get over 24 hours of battery life on hard use. Hwat else could you ask for?
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Did you do something special to your batteries?

I wish it had normal browser like Chrome with extensions and such. I wish it had mouse hover capabilities.

I have a XFormer, but would love a Xoom, but only to see the benefit of Internal 3G.
Badwolve1

Yep the grass always seems greener on the other side. I'm lucky enough to be able to try them all out. I've got the Asus Iconia, the Transformer, and iPad 2 already, and the Galaxy 10.2 is in the mail. Starting to get a better profile of how I use them. Want to copy your camera photos to the tablet? Something with an SD slot will make you happier. Have movies on an external USB hard drive? Having a standard USB port will make you giddy if you want a movie off that drive to watch on your tablet. These emotional highs are momentary moments though, and 99% of the time I'm just playing games, reading email, checking the web, facebook, youtube. Every tablet does these fine, and during that time I appreciate the lighter ones. They all have a way to add a keyboard to them. Bluetooth is easy, especially once you've paired a keyboard. Apple and Samsung have $69 keyboard docks for their thin tablet dock ports. You pay more to get the Transformer's keyboard dock, but you get a far better integrated and multi-functional add-on for your money. Hooking up to these is an inconvenience of varying degrees. You are not likely to have the iPad or Galaxy keyboard docks with you when you leave the house, so they suck. Good bluetooth keyboards are always wider than these tablets are, and as such less likely to fit in the same case with your tablet. If you've got a case for your Transformer, it is likely for netbooks and will hold both the tablet and keyboard together. So if you prefer a physical keyboard to an onscreen one, the Transformer is clearly the standout choice. You have to weigh that importance though, as that keyboard dock doubles the total weight you'll be carrying.
I've been working on a showdown between these tablets for my blog. Easy enough to ding this one and promote another for a slot or port or not. Not sure the small time these features come into play will aggravate a user enough to choose ports over weight/looks though. Money obviously play a role, as the difference between the Asus and a full set of features with its dock and an iPad with all the same features via add-ons is huge. It help that the Asus starts out $100 under the iPad. Samsung is certainly brave going head-on with Apple, I'll give them that. They must be thinking that iPad buyers didn't mind no MicroSD or USB ports, and millions were sold, so microSD and USB ports don't really matter. They might be right. Time will tell if they sell more Android Honeycomb tablets than Asus. I can't see them ever catching up to iPad sales though, with nothing to add value to iPad prices. Pay that much and you might as well get an iPad. JMHO.

I am a very happy Transformer owner, everything else (at the moment) on the market, even the ipad 2, would be downgrading.

I love my ASUS transformer too.
However, if I had to pick another table between xoom or samsung galaxy v2 10.1 or iPad.
I would get the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, I checked it out at Best Buy yesterday and it was pretty nice. No lag at all either and it was very responsive.
Sometimes my transformer feels unresponsive, and it lags but it could be due to my tons of widgets on the home screen.
However if Samsung did have a keyboard dock like transformer, I would hop on it however I heard their updates were lacking and slow to be released.
Though I like how its lighter, thinner the transformer, and looks a bit nicer. Also I enjoyed the PLS screen as it also had more VIBRANT colors then the transformer.

[Q] Does anyone use the Eee Pad as strictly a tablet, without the keyboard dock?

Hey all. New member here hoping to spend a lot of time with this group. I finally decided on getting a tablet and have been going back and forth between a few choices. My number one choice at this point is the Eee Pad Transformer. The price and specs are right where I want to be. Is anyone using this device as strictly a tablet? Most reviews I read seem to rave about the keyboard dock. I'm not interested in using it as a laptop, just a tablet. I notice too that this device's hardware is setup to use it primarily horizontal, where as other tablets are set up vertical. Any insight into the tablet aspect of this device would be great.

I don't have the dock, and frankly I think it's a waste of money. You can get a BT keyboard if you really need one, and I don't see the need for more battery life. Asus should have the smaller USB adapters out soon, which is more practical I think, but even there I don't know that it's necessary for many users.
Just my opinion.

SilverZero said:
I don't have the dock, and frankly I think it's a waste of money. You can get a BT keyboard if you really need one, and I don't see the need for more battery life. Asus should have the smaller USB adapters out soon, which is more practical I think, but even there I don't know that it's necessary for many users.
Just my opinion.
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I hope it happens soon i realy needing a usb port now eheh

I think it's nice they offer it, but I didn't want a netbook.
Strictly a tablet for me.

I had to send my keyboard dock in for a RMA, otherwise I'd probably be using it with the dock right now. That said, it works great as just a tablet, although at this time it's difficult to obtain the official Asus desktop dock, so you'll have to rely on a third party case if you want to stand it upright while using it.
Whether or not you choose to use it mostly as a tablet or as a netbook is up to you. Personally I try to keep it on the dock for the majority of my applications, only switching to tablet mode if I need to read or browse the internet while sitting on a couch. The only real downside to using the Transformer in tablet mode is that you'll need an adapter for connecting USB devices, but the same can be said for many of the other popular Android tablets of today. The keyboard dock is by no means necessary for full functionality of the device, rather it is more of a supplemental peripheral for those of us who still need a hardware keyboard and USB ports in order to get our work done.
As far as the primary orientation of the device, landscape orientation is preferred for many Android tablets because they have a wider screen aspect ratio than the iPad, but that doesn't mean that the devices don't function well in portrait mode. In fact, the cameras and UI work just fine on any orientation, with only a few apps lacking portrait mode support. Other than that, the headphone port might be a little awkward to access while in portrait mode, so you can either rotate it the other way with the power button on the bottom, or do what I did and use a right angle headphone plug to make things easier.

I use it as a tablet. I may get the keyboard eventually but I don't need it now.

earlyberd said:
I had to send my keyboard dock in for a RMA, otherwise I'd probably be using it with the dock right now. That said, it works great as just a tablet, although at this time it's difficult to obtain the official Asus desktop dock, so you'll have to rely on a third party case if you want to stand it upright while using it.
Whether or not you choose to use it mostly as a tablet or as a netbook is up to you. Personally I try to keep it on the dock for the majority of my applications, only switching to tablet mode if I need to read or browse the internet while sitting on a couch. The only real downside to using the Transformer in tablet mode is that you'll need an adapter for connecting USB devices, but the same can be said for many of the other popular Android tablets of today. The keyboard dock is by no means necessary for full functionality of the device, rather it is more of a supplemental peripheral for those of us who still need a hardware keyboard and USB ports in order to get our work done.
As far as the primary orientation of the device, landscape orientation is preferred for many Android tablets because they have a wider screen aspect ratio than the iPad, but that doesn't mean that the devices don't function well in portrait mode. In fact, the cameras and UI work just fine on any orientation, with only a few apps lacking portrait mode support. Other than that, the headphone port might be a little awkward to access while in portrait mode, so you can either rotate it the other way with the power button on the bottom, or do what I did and use a right angle headphone plug to make things easier.
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I called today to get an RMA number for my defective dock because of the Battery Drain of Death. From 100% to 0% in 3 days with the tablet turned off is ridiculous. Paying for shipping out of my pocket to send to their Texas plant is also ridiculous.
People who need to buy a keyboard doc go buy it locally so you can return it if you get the Battery Drain of Death. I bought it from Newegg and waited a few months thinking a firmware update would fix the issue. Sure you see that silly useless "MobileDock Battery saving mode" box checked but still doesn't work. Its not a firmware issue its a hardware "chip" needing replacement issue. Wont work right until you RMA it wasting your time and money in the process.

I haven't even bought the dock.
I got my TF 3 months ago,now i use it for mainly two things:web browsing,and watching videos.Indoors,BTW.
I don't see the need for a dock...

grenademasta said:
I called today to get an RMA number for my defective dock because of the Battery Drain of Death. From 100% to 0% in 3 days with the tablet turned off is ridiculous. Paying for shipping out of my pocket to send to their Texas plant is also ridiculous.
People who need to buy a keyboard doc go buy it locally so you can return it if you get the Battery Drain of Death. I bought it from Newegg and waited a few months thinking a firmware update would fix the issue. Sure you see that silly useless "MobileDock Battery saving mode" box checked but still doesn't work. Its not a firmware issue its a hardware "chip" needing replacement issue. Wont work right until you RMA it wasting your time and money in the process.
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Yeah, it's annoying if you bought a dock that has that issue, but Asus isn't under pressure to issue a recall unless it's a matter of safety, which it isn't. Additionally, new docks no longer have that issue, so it makes no difference whether you buy locally or online because you won't likely have to deal with a RMA. I remember when I first bought mine there wasn't even the option to buy from a local retailer, as Best Buy and others simply didn't have any stock, and the employees had no idea that the Transformer even existed.
I paid about $20 to ship the device back to Asus, so it's a minor annoyance for me. I can't speak directly for Asus, but I'll bet the low price point of the tablet is the reason why you have to pay for return shipping in case you need to RMA. On the other hand, if you look at another popular device maker like Apple, the price point is significantly higher, but they have a storefront that you can return the device to, and you typically get it back within a day or two for minor issues.
Basically you get what you paid for.

I didn't really feel the need for a KB dock (because like most, I have a few laptops laying around and I want to use the transformer strictly as a tablet) but i happened to stroll through Fry's Electronics and picked one up on a whim. Needless to say, I'm using the dock 90% of the time.

no keyboard here, wanted just the tablet, love my tf101, tried others and found this best all rounder

I don't own the keyboard. I would probably use it sometimes if I had one, but I'm pretty happy with just the tablet.

II think I use both pretty evenly. I watch a crapload of stuff with it as a tablet, but when I have to type actual documents, or do some work, or chat online (not video) then I attach the dock. I also watch stuff with the dock attached so I don't have to charge it next to an outlt. However, the keyboard lag in the browsers is more noticeable with the keyboard since I type a lot faster. Hmm, I would wait on the keyboard if you have other things to use.

I use my transformer for web browsing, watching movies and email mostly. Next year when I replace the Transformer I may buy a dock if Asus offer it for the next model of tablet.

I dont have the dock either, I'm going to get it eventually because I can see its uses.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

I use it as both, depending on where I am, how I'm situated, what I'm doing, etc... which is exactly why I got it, it can do either one quite well, imo.

I wanted a device to replace my 13" macbook pro which i just use at home on the couch for surfing the web, ssh, playing music, simple image editing and viewing...originally got the mac for traveling abroad, so I can use it to upload pics/videos whenever I found a wifi hotspot.
Whole family (including my parents who are around their 70s and their learning curve to user interfaces isn't so "hot") made the move to just using Toshiba Thrives at home. Made me a tiny bit curious on how they'd catch on, what the user experience would be and it seems to be a hit...parents are video chatting more, surfing more news websites and reading ebooks.
So, I decided to get the TF101 since it's the only tablet out there which suits my needs (has the dock/mini hdmi/micro sd/sd/more usb slots), EXCEPT for the fact that it doesn't have 3G. Thought, what the heck, I'll buy it, check out honeycomb and see if i like it, then sell it off or give it to another family member when the 3g version comes out eventually (travel a lot, buy prepaid sim cards...cheaper to use prepaid internet since tethering might be chargeable later with providers).
Well, minus the fact that ad hoc didn't work to begin with and i had to root it and now having problems, it's a somewhat nice device and I'm 75% happy with it. I use only the tablet when I'm in a comfortable websurfing frame of mind and generally use the dock when I'm IRCing or writing documents.
To be honest, I hate the onscreen keyboard on this device, partly cause there's no "haptic" feedback (i.e. vibration, sounds). Tend to see more errors in my typing, so I don't bother.

I have both tab and dock
And how I use them depends on what I am trying to do. The other day I used the two together to type a long email reply. A few weeks ago I went on holiday for a week and I just took the tablet, leaving the dock at home. If I'm getting the train to work I tend to take the tablet only. If I'm driving, I take both. At the moment I'm reading a book on Kindle and I'm just using it as a tablet.

Just tablet for me.
Will probably never buy the dock as I find it pointless since I already have a netbook.

I started with a netbook and ended up with a tablet.
I love the dock and still occasionally use it. If you need to type up docs in polaris or emails its much faster. The big thing though is the battery. 16 hours is silly, its virtually impossible to kill the thing in a day with the dock. Play games, movies and work a full day and its still got plenty of charge.
Being said, I havent docked mine in a month. Not because I dont like it but because I got my girlfriend a TF during the period where Office Depot was honoring the Staples coupon and she stole my dock. She uses it about 50-50. Its perfect for her as a PHD student, she needs something mobile to hold documents has she moves between labs (they all have computers but they are supporting research equipment). She loves it as a netbook. The only thing she misses is a VGA port (most projectors are VGA). If projectors moved to HDMI or there was a good, small adapter she would never need to carry my old business book.
She actually laughs now because she keeps poking the monitors on people's computers, since she basically has a touch screen laptop she subconsciously thinks all computers should be like that.
For casual travel I opt to steal the dock from her and take it myself, leave my massive laptop at home. Its a nice laptop (SSD, 3ghz quad, dedicated video card, LED) but its big and heavy. With the tablet I can do 80% of the things (99% of the things I need to do when on vacation instead of business travel) and using Splashtop HD I can control the laptop from anywhere so I can do work from aruba if needed without carrying a heavy laptop.