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[INFO] What the Transformer plus dock can do for you

The more I use my TF the more I like it. Although I understand that people with problems need to vent I want to add another positive post to the forum.
First off, I do NOT believe that there is such a thing as the "perfect tablet" (but that doesn't mean that there is not a lot of crap out there!). For some the iPad might be the best, for others the XOOM, for some the Transformer or even the Nook Color.
Now here are some of the Transformer's benefits that make it the currently best tablet for me:
The dock. This was probably the main reason for switching from the XOOM. I was looking for a case with Bluetooth keyboard for so long that the dock just came like an answer to my quest. I do a lot of typing so a physical keyboard was a must for me. The additional battery life and connectors are a HUGE plus (see more below). The keyboard is very sturdy and it is fun to type on. And of course the touch pad. Especially when browsing the web the pointer makes it indefinitely easier to click those tiny links!
ASUS's software. The widgets are minimalistic and beautiful. They add to the Honeycomb experience without forcing a manufacturer's UI upon the user. The applications that are included are well designed and work great.
Polaris Office. So far the best office suite that I have tested. This restores my faith in developers caring about productivity on tablet as compared to only entertainment and "consumption".
Connectivity. I was amazed. I have setup media sharing on my PC so I could stream videos and music to my PS3s. The first time I fired up MyNet it automatically detected my PC and the content was instantly available. No settings to alter, no messing around. Then just yesterday I connected my external HDD (NTFS) where I ripped all my movies in HD (as compared to the 640x480 res for my iPod). It also was detected and mounted automatically and the content plays flawlessly (with Mobo Player). SD card, microSD card, everything works out of the box; I remember how much trouble that was with the XOOM...
The display. Well, admittedly, an IPS screen is just great even though it might not have the most natural color reproduction or brightness. However, the viewing angles and contrast are amazing! I also like the wider bezel (compared to the XOOM) which allows for holding it in one hand without touching the actual touch screen (and I have not the biggest hands!). Sure, I have a bit of light bleed but the one on my Nook Color is worse. If I want to see it I will...
Updates. For not being a "Pure Android Experience Device" the ASUS got updates rather frequently. There seems to be a real person from ASUS support active in this forum and on other social media like facebook (in Europe at least).
Weight and Build. The TF feels nice and light when held. That it is made of plastic is unfortunate because it does feel kind of cheap but it is not too flimsy. I was apprehensive about the goldenish color but I have gotten used to it. I covered the back with carbon fiber skin though
So everyone considering to buy one of these I can only recommend it. There might be some lemons out there but you will have that with every device. If you want to wait for the newest gadgets, good luck, because as soon as you buy a high-tech device you can be sure that it's obsolete a week later...
Hope that helps some folks that were still indecisive.

I have to agree with you my experience with the transformer and dock has been wonderful. My roomate asks why I didn't just buy a net book/laptop and whenever I detach the tablet and go to work or a coffee shop it makes it worth it all. Being able to have the tablet for casual use and the dock for longer/power use is the flexibility a lot of people want. For the most part at home it's in the dock just for ease of use, battery, and I don't have to prop it up on something.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Great post!
I would like my Transformer build quality to be a little better, but otherwise I can't complain too much after getting my dock firmware update.
It is so cool to snap the Transformer into the dock and have a netbook with an additional SD card of storage. The keyboard is pretty good, but the trackpad is amazing. I really like the feel of it. Using the trackpad doesn't feel tacked on either, Honeycomb feels like it was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard.
I also really liked how my tablet was down to about 40% power, and when I put it in the dock it automatically started leeching energy from the dock and recharging itself. Now that is impressive! (The dock wasn't even plugged in.)
Really looking forward to Honeycomb 3.1!

bleclair said:
Great post!
I would like my Transformer build quality to be a little better, but otherwise I can't complain too much after getting my dock firmware update.
It is so cool to snap the Transformer into the dock and have a netbook with an additional SD card of storage. The keyboard is pretty good, but the trackpad is amazing. I really like the feel of it. Using the trackpad doesn't feel tacked on either, Honeycomb feels like it was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard.
I also really liked how my tablet was down to about 40% power, and when I put it in the dock it automatically started leeching energy from the dock and recharging itself. Now that is impressive! (The dock wasn't even plugged in.)
Really looking forward to Honeycomb 3.1!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point! I forgot the touch pad. Will add it right now

Two things also impressed me about the keyboard dock that I hadn't thought of and wasn't expecting:
1. My Logitech Anywhere MX mouse works perfectly with it. Just plug the adapter into one of the dock's USB ports and it just works. For whatever reason, I didn't think it would, but I'm very happy to see that it works so well.
2. I've been using the dock to charge my Epic while away from a charger. I also hadn't thought about using the dock as a portable charger for my phone, but that works great as well.
Overall, this combo is working better than I expected, and I think my expectations were pretty high. I haven't used my HP Envy 14 notebook since I got the dock, and so I'm left wishing the TF had been available last November. Would have saved me $1000 for the Envy.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

wynand32 said:
2. I've been using the dock to charge my Epic while away from a charger. I also hadn't thought about using the dock as a portable charger for my phone, but that works great as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, I noticed you can only charge a device when the tablet is docked.
I still can't believe the dock didn't come with it's own power cord. For $150 it really, really should have.

shoehopper said:
However, I noticed you can only charge a device when the tablet is docked.
I still can't believe the dock didn't come with it's own power cord. For $150 it really, really should have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's true: the tablet has to be docked, but it doesn't have to be open or turned on. So, when stored for carrying it can charge.
And agreed: it would have been nice to have another charger and cable. Given the build quality of the dock and the fact that it includes a full-size battery, I don't know that $150 is enough at retail to give the gross margins they're looking for if they included an adapter and cable. And given that they're pricing the tablet at $399, I'm sure they're happy to maybe squeeze out a few bucks of additional gross margin out of the dock.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

The killer features were undoubtfully keyboard with a trackpad (I hate taking hands off the keyboard just to move focus around), and the battery life.
Also, I see this becoming an awesome combo once running desktop Linux on it is perfected. That way I can pick whether I want the battery-conserving Android or full-size productivity desktop at any given moment.

int_19h said:
The killer features were undoubtfully keyboard with a trackpad (I hate taking hands off the keyboard just to move focus around), and the battery life.
Also, I see this becoming an awesome combo once running desktop Linux on it is perfected. That way I can pick whether I want the battery-conserving Android or full-size productivity desktop at any given moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used Linux (well, I tried to use it in the late 90s) but just to have the option is exciting! I wish to have an OS that allows for multitasking in different windows, even if it's just 2 or 3. Hopefully the Android of the future will have that!

funnycreature said:
The more I use my TF the more I like it. Although I understand that people with problems need to vent I want to add another positive post to the forum.
First off, I do NOT believe that there is such a thing as the "perfect tablet" (but that doesn't mean that there is not a lot of crap out there!). For some the iPad might be the best, for others the XOOM, for some the Transformer or even the Nook Color.
Now here are some of the Transformer's benefits that make it the currently best tablet for me:
The dock. This was probably the main reason for switching from the XOOM. I was looking for a case with Bluetooth keyboard for so long that the dock just came like an answer to my quest. I do a lot of typing so a physical keyboard was a must for me. The additional battery life and connectors are a HUGE plus (see more below). The keyboard is very sturdy and it is fun to type on. And of course the touch pad. Especially when browsing the web the pointer makes it indefinitely easier to click those tiny links!
ASUS's software. The widgets are minimalistic and beautiful. They add to the Honeycomb experience without forcing a manufacturer's UI upon the user. The applications that are included are well designed and work great.
Polaris Office. So far the best office suite that I have tested. This restores my faith in developers caring about productivity on tablet as compared to only entertainment and "consumption".
Connectivity. I was amazed. I have setup media sharing on my PC so I could stream videos and music to my PS3s. The first time I fired up MyNet it automatically detected my PC and the content was instantly available. No settings to alter, no messing around. Then just yesterday I connected my external HDD (NTFS) where I ripped all my movies in HD (as compared to the 640x480 res for my iPod). It also was detected and mounted automatically and the content plays flawlessly (with Mobo Player). SD card, microSD card, everything works out of the box; I remember how much trouble that was with the XOOM...
The display. Well, admittedly, an IPS screen is just great even though it might not have the most natural color reproduction or brightness. However, the viewing angles and contrast are amazing! I also like the wider bezel (compared to the XOOM) which allows for holding it in one hand without touching the actual touch screen (and I have not the biggest hands!). Sure, I have a bit of light bleed but the one on my Nook Color is worse. If I want to see it I will...
Updates. For not being a "Pure Android Experience Device" the ASUS got updates rather frequently. There seems to be a real person from ASUS support active in this forum and on other social media like facebook (in Europe at least).
Weight and Build. The TF feels nice and light when held. That it is made of plastic is unfortunate because it does feel kind of cheap but it is not too flimsy. I was apprehensive about the goldenish color but I have gotten used to it. I covered the back with carbon fiber skin though
So everyone considering to buy one of these I can only recommend it. There might be some lemons out there but you will have that with every device. If you want to wait for the newest gadgets, good luck, because as soon as you buy a high-tech device you can be sure that it's obsolete a week later...
Hope that helps some folks that were still indecisive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Such positive vibes! maybe it's not as bad as some people are trying to make out

Agree with the OP on most points. People have to keep in mind that the users with bogus units are always going to be the most vocal so it makes it seem like there are more problems than happy customers.
After the latest update that fixed my dock/keyboard, I am 99% happy. I have a discernable amount of light-bleed at the bottom left that bugs me a bit when watching video/on a dark screen. If not for that, i would be at 100%.
My sleep of death issue seems to have gone away and beside the high profile x264 issue, I don't regret my purchase one bit.

the list keeps growing!
Just shamelessly bumping this thread due to plenty of whiny 'I return my Transformer for the iPad' threads...
More things that I love about the TF:
Overclock. Yep, it's done! Several kernels now available (Netarchy's Netformer, Blades' 1.6GHz MEATABALL).
Network integration. I mentioned that in the OP but I have to reiterate how great the TF works with the installed software. The past few days I was cleaning the house a lot and simply turned on my PC, turned on my TF and streamed videos and music without having to adjust anything.
USB ports. Also mentioned in the OP. I found an awesome use for them: hooked up a goose neck USB reading light and the keyboard shone even more

Asus TF worth buying if sticking to stock FW?

Ok,
I am in the market for a tablet, and hate apple with a pashion. That being said, it leaves me with the options of many good android alternatives.
I am torn between this and the Motorola XOOM tablet. IMO the Acer has a piss poor build quality (though I know alot like it...).
Which is best straight out of the box? I can flash custom roms ofc, but would prefer to stick to stock software for the first 6 months anyway.
I am also considering getting it without the dock as I dont think it would be something I would use much....mabye I am wrong...lol.
Anyhow, whats the TF like running stock software?
Thanks,
Danny

Sorry, should have said, I want a tablet to showcase my amature photography, watch movies and to surf the web
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Asus appears to be better than Moto at tying software to hardware. Their support for software has also stomps all over Moto.

The stock firmware on the TF is perfect for every day usage. Paired with the keyboard dock, I have no problems using it like a regular laptop. It's a powerful piece of hardware that plays nicely with all of my existing storage devices, and even a few of my game controllers. I did end up rooting it anyway, though, just so that I could block ads and disable tap to click on the touchpad.
Photo viewing works flawlessly, provided you can store your photos on a SD card or external hard drive, which you would then plug into the TF. At this point the support for plugging in an actual camera is a bit spotty, no telling whether or not it will work until you try it. Movie support is sort of a mixed bag, as it all depends on which video playing app you use. Personally I like to rip all of my Blu ray movies so that I can watch them from my hard drive, so I use Handbrake to re-encode them all so they can be played natively in the stock Google video player. If instead you have a lot of videos in unrecognized formats like xvid, you'll need to test them with a third party video player.

earlyberd said:
The stock firmware on the TF is perfect for every day usage. Paired with the keyboard dock, I have no problems using it like a regular laptop. It's a powerful piece of hardware that plays nicely with all of my existing storage devices, and even a few of my game controllers. I did end up rooting it anyway, though, just so that I could block ads and disable tap to click on the touchpad.
Photo viewing works flawlessly, provided you can store your photos on a SD card or external hard drive, which you would then plug into the TF. At this point the support for plugging in an actual camera is a bit spotty, no telling whether or not it will work until you try it. Movie support is sort of a mixed bag, as it all depends on which video playing app you use. Personally I like to rip all of my Blu ray movies so that I can watch them from my hard drive, so I use Handbrake to re-encode them all so they can be played natively in the stock Google video player. If instead you have a lot of videos in unrecognized formats like xvid, you'll need to test them with a third party video player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all my xvid and divx flawlessly in rockplayer and even stream from a NAS using upnplayer

what will you use app wise to show of your amateur photography? The stock gallery? Are there better apps out there?

wilbur-force said:
all my xvid and divx flawlessly in rockplayer and even stream from a NAS using upnplayer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MKVs doesnt play audio, decodes video though.

I bought a Xoom first, then an Ipad 2 and have now settled with the Transformer. In my opinion (discounting the Ipad 2 as it's far too limited so I passed that onto the wife ) the Xoom and TF'er are pretty much the same......
the differences which set them apart as the spec are virtually identical are:
- thickness of the tablet
The TF obviously wins this and whilst it may not be the worlds biggest issue, you can definitely 'feel' the difference when you are holding it in your hands and the additional weight of the Xoom can make your arms ache after a while...basically, it's not the most comfortable tablet to hold.
- SD card support
The 3.1 update for the Xoom didn't include the SD card fix so as long as the tablet is stock it is still unsupported (Google still working on the update as far as I'm aware). I know there are fixes and work arounds available but this would depend on what your intentions are regarding modding/rooting etc. The TF'er has it working out of the box so you could drop up to a 32Gb Micro SD card in on day 1. Definitely a bonus and as the OP mentioned a vanilla tablet for the first 6 months in their current state this could be a big issue for the Xoom especially for a photographer who needs storage space.
- Price
Definitely the biggest thing for me...not because I'm on a shoe-string but because of the fact that the tablets have the same O/S, the same spec, the same features and the same software......why would anyone take the Xoom over a TF?, especially with a considerable hike in price and the TF has a much nicer screen which is a major feature of the tablet in itself.
Basically you can't go far wrong with either, but if you're gonna drop £380 or $399 on a tablet then get the one which is $100 cheaper than the current competition.
......and that leads me on to arguably the biggest feature of the TF. The dock. Whilst it may not be a requirement to a lot of people, or something that adds a lot of interest....the flexibility is there to have the TF'er as a notebook replacement - and it also means additional storage space is available via the SD card slot, USB ports which in my opinion will also offer future flexibility as device/accessories/peripherals can be added in the near future with the relevant support.
All in all, a 16GB TF at £380/$399 can have a 32Gb micro SD, and 64GB SD (or another 32GB Micro SD with adaptor) and offers twice the flexibility of the Xoom whilst offering a virtually identical base-feature set. After owning them all, it would be a no-brainer for me. I've not become a fanboy or anything daft like that and wouldn't 'slag' the Xoom off but in a direct comparison with the TF it's virtually identical, so I'd go with 'bang for buck' and flexibility. The TF gets both points by quite a large margin.

What did you find limiting about the iPad 2? Genuine question. I have a tf and ipad2 and I feel they both have limitations.

h00ligan said:
What did you find limiting about the iPad 2? Genuine question. I have a tf and ipad2 and I feel they both have limitations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In comparison to the TF (or large majority of Android devices)
Connectivity - no USB/storage devices meaning there is no option but to get apps/data/movies transferred to the tablet etc via a wireless connection or 3rd party application.
Requirement of additional peripherals for HDMI/cameras etc whereas the TF can take a direct connection or plug in the micro sd card directly for transfer.
The dependency on iTunes for some functionality. ie I'd be reluctant to take my Ipad2 anywhere for an extended period of time without a laptop for backup and updates etc. Another example that infringes on this is if you want to copy friends data/music then it's much more difficult to do this with an Apple IOS than it is with Android due to the bluetooth and connectivity issue.
Customisation - speaks for itself.
Don't get me wrong, I agree that every device has its limitations including the TF'er. The Ipad is a lovely bit of hardware, definitely has the better app store, more polished apps and better UI overall but the issues I listed above are restrictive to me personally and if I had to make a choice (which I don't) and could only take one of them, I'd select the TF in a heartbeat because of these points.

ASUS is hands down better than the xoom under every circumstance.
HOWEVER, if you're not interested in the dock (and the functionality it offers) for the TF or having a micro-sd card on the tablet itself, then you should probably go for the galaxy tab 10.1.
It's a $100 more than the TF but it supposedly has a better screen, is lighter and some people are saying that it has better build quality than the TF also.
Just don't get any android tablet other than the TF or Galaxy tab 10.1, especially if you're trying to show off your photography.

starplaya93 said:
ASUS is hands down better than the xoom under every circumstance.
HOWEVER, if you're not interested in the dock (and the functionality it offers) for the TF or having a micro-sd card on the tablet itself, then you should probably go for the galaxy tab 10.1.
It's a $100 more than the TF but it supposedly has a better screen, is lighter and some people are saying that it has better build quality than the TF also.
Just don't get any android tablet other than the TF or Galaxy tab 10.1, especially if you're trying to show off your photography.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the TF has a much better screen. Look at any video reviews. I remember in a comparison I saw, both the TF and Xoom had the same wallpaper. The TF showed every color, while the Xoom washed out and showed a blend of white...
Since you're going to use it to show off photography, the SD reader in the keyboard dock would come in handy. I found my TF to be very snappy and responsive. I cannot stream pictures and movies correctly, but that's because I don't know how

SwiftLegend said:
Actually, the TF has a much better screen. Look at any video reviews. I remember in a comparison I saw, both the TF and Xoom had the same wallpaper. The TF showed every color, while the Xoom washed out and showed a blend of white...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But he didn't even mention the Xoom... he did however compare the TF with the Samsung Galaxy tab 10"
And here i offer a little insight: seems that Samsung loves to have over saturated screens. That could actually be an issue, if the tab has to be used to show photographs... I know that if I set brightness at maximum on my 7" galaxy tab, skintones ends up in the douchebag tan kind of orange. On the other hand, low brightness makes for nice and vivid colours.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

I'd say the TF is the all-round winner for your photography needs:
- It has a much better screen than the Xoom, so that's out.
- It's cheaper than the Samsung
- It has a working AND existent microSD card on it (should be invaluable for transferring pics if your camera also uses microSD. Also if you DID want to to root and flash a new ROM, the Samsung's out again (is this their "No Root" ploy?)
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

Thanks paradaz

AlexTheStampede said:
But he didn't even mention the Xoom... he did however compare the TF with the Samsung Galaxy tab 10"
And here i offer a little insight: seems that Samsung loves to have over saturated screens. That could actually be an issue, if the tab has to be used to show photographs... I know that if I set brightness at maximum on my 7" galaxy tab, skintones ends up in the douchebag tan kind of orange. On the other hand, low brightness makes for nice and vivid colours.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This over saturated screen on the 10.1 will drive me nuts not only viewing photographs but also watching movies. Its sound like that vivid mode u see on lcd. Some people prefer that look on their tv maybe that why led lcd sell so great. I prefer that natural look you see on plasma tv.

Wow, thanks for the replies guys!
The Galaxy tab was never going to be an option for me with the lack of being able to use removable storage.
Looks like the transformer will be my weapon of choice! Although you are now making me reconsider getting the dock as well....
My reasons for not getting the dock where;
1. It would be another item to cart around. I will be generally only using the tablet so will probably get a leather cover for it. If I where going away I would need to also bring the keyboard as well, perhaps in a separate case?
2. Low stock in the UK at present...i can drive 2 miles and pick up the tablet only package.
Although I didn't know it had an SD card reader! That coupled with the additional battery capacity is rather appealing!
To answer an earlier question, I have no specific app in mind to show off my photos... Can anyone else advise if there is better options than the stock gallery? I use lightroom on my PC, but would imagine nothing similar is available on android.
Also is it possible to convert mkv's to play on these tablets? 95% off all my digital media is in mkv format.....
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

djglenn1337 said:
Also is it possible to convert mkv's to play on these tablets? 95% off all my digital media is in mkv format.....
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mkv is only the container so many third players like moboplayer are able to open mkv files..
what's really matters is the codec used inside the container, as of now, the TF on 3.1 is able to hard-decode H264 720p High profile and 1080p base profile..
you can use handbreak to encode media files if necessary:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1060825

djglenn1337 said:
Also is it possible to convert mkv's to play on these tablets? 95% off all my digital media is in mkv format.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do know some people seems to be experiencing problems with mkv's. Unsure what codecs (video/audio) their mkv's might have, because I played about 30 different mkv's made by different people with and without soft-subs and I've not experienced any hitches or glitches to either sound or video.
All I use is moboplayer and start them - plays flawlessly.

why did you choose this over the transformer and tab 10.1?

because i tried comparing and this is heavy and screen is not as good as the other 2. Tab is really good. The price though is just off the mark.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

USB port....that was the big reason.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

1. USB without the need to purchase the overpriced dock like the transformer (after all it's just a keyboard with a battery!).
2. Alluminum back - believe me, once you've used a device with alluminum body, plastic feels cheap. I tried them both in the store and it was like trying a SGS and a DHD. One feels light and cheap like a plastic toy, the other - like a real high-end gadget. Also the pattern on the back of the transformer is not my thing - if you have sweaty hands it might help not dropping the tablet but otherwise it's just annoying.
3. Screen difference is not that great compared on full brightness. Surely not enough to compensate for the USB and premium feel.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

...if im not mistaken the a500 uses a little better RAM then the rest. I believe its low power ram that has an edge in performance. I could be off though

I tried 3 different Transformers but couldn't get one without significant light bleed or body build quality issues.
I went for the Iconia as a replacement over the xoom because the larger bezel makes it much easier to hold, and of course the excellent connectivity.
As for the tab 10.1, it wasn't available at the time my 'early adopter' monster screamed 'I NEED A TABLET' in my ear.
I wouldn't change my tablet now, I dont need the keyboard dock from the transformer, and neither it nor the tab has those all important usb ports.
Yes the screen is inferior to the Transformer, but you really have to look hard to tell the difference.

Pretty much the same here
USB port was a big positive for me, I cannot count how many times carrying my tab and a standard USB -> MicroUSB cable in my backpack has saved the day for my cell phone's battery or the battery of friends
Being able to mount a NTFS USB HDD is a *huge* plus for me, I have a 32gb MicroSD in my Iconia and love being able to plug into the external drives of friends to snag a few files from them.
Before purchasing my a500 I went to a local Best Buy and compared it with the Transformer as well as the IPad2, Samsung Galaxy tab and the Asus tab - the a500's screen seemed pretty much the same to me, but that is just my experience.
Had my a500 for a few months now, running the latest Taboonay 3.2 ROM with custom kernel, overclocked to 1.4 - 1.6 depending on useage (also great to be able to switch the CPU to "conservative" mode via SetCPU when battery life is getting low) and I am pretty damn happy with the performance.
My only complaint? The damn screen picks up smudges/fingerprints so easy! I find myself cleaning it quite often.

The Samsung 10.1 tab isn't available in Australia and i wanted a full size USB port and I wanted 3g. The A501 was the only option..
Sent from my A501 using XDA App

I chose it over the galaxy because the screens are almost I identical until you get about an inch away from the screen and it does not even have a microsd slot! Its identical to the Ipad and I want funtionality, not looks. Also like the Ipad its expensive for little features.
And for the Asus, its a very nice tablet, but I use USB a lot and I want a Tablet not a netbook. That what makes me mad about reviews and the dock is what always beats the iconia. Once there a keyboard its a net book not a tablet. The dock would be awesome for trips where I could use the extra battery and a stand. But I don't want to carry around a keyboard with me.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Iconia over the transformer:
1) USB
2) build quality
3) price (it's more expensive than the iconia to start with, and then you add $150 for the keyboard dock??? I paid $35 for a leather portfolio case with integrated keyboard for my iconia, and I love it, I actually think it's a better keyboard than the transformer one, and it doesn't suffer from the "yet another netbook" look that the transformer has)
Iconia over the galaxy tab
1) USB
2) HDMI
3) SD
4) price (you want me to pay MORE for a tablet that does LESS?)
c'mon! it has NO connectivity options and NO expandibility! if I wanted something that ridiculously locked down I'd buy an ipad... ok, maybe not, but I still can't see why anyone would want a device that has no expandable storage and no connectivity options.

As mentioned, the USB port was a very strong deciding factor.
To me, the Acer tab is one of the better all around tabs on the market. I love the portability and asthetics. The Acer looks further from Chinese knock off apple tablets. When people see it, they know it's not an ipad (not that I'm against I pads.) people claim it's one of the heaviest tabets on the market, and that's true in a sense........but it's actually one of the lightest for what comes with it. Sure the Asus is lighter, but add that dock just to gain acesss to a USB port, you have a three pound tablet.
If only the tablet had the ability like the Toshiba thrive to change out batteries would this tablet be supreme in my book. Oh yeah, better update support would be a good thing too.

USB!!! Endless possibilities!
And HDMI and a whooooole lot of other things!
I am VERY happy with the Iconia and have been since day one, I see people bashing it everywhere but the fact is that its one awesome machine for a hell of a good price!

All the same.
USB
Price
Aluminum back
...

USB port comes in handy sometimes, but mostly because the transformer wasn't in stock and I needed it for a project that day...

What I don't understand is how all of these "early adaptors" want functionality out of their tablets with USB slots. With Google and apple both moving into cloud storage and wifi file transfer apps isn't USB and micro SD going the way of the dodo?
Sent from xda premium app

Stardate Tab 10.1 said:
What I don't understand is how all of these "early adaptors" want functionality out of their tablets with USB slots. With Google and apple both moving into cloud storage and wifi file transfer apps isn't USB and micro SD going the way of the dodo?
Sent from xda premium app
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Click to collapse
For me, I always take my Acer with me when I go out with my telescope at night. The place I set up at is pretty removed from civilization, so no wireless means no cloud storage. I can easily shoot about 2 hours of video which completely fills my cameras internal storage. When it gets full, I just run a USB cable to my tablet, transfer everything over, delete everything off my cam and I'm back in business. Then while my cam continues to shoot more video, I sit down and play Angry Birds.
I dream of the day when I can plug my telescope mount into my tablet and control it through screen swipes. Unless you use Bluetooth I suppose, the USB port would be the only way to do it.

karlkarloff said:
For me, I always take my Acer with me when I go out with my telescope at night. The place I set up at is pretty removed from civilization, so no wireless means no cloud storage. I can easily shoot about 2 hours of video which completely fills my cameras internal storage. When it gets full, I just run a USB cable to my tablet, transfer everything over
I dream of the day when I can plug my telescope mount into my tablet and control it through screen swipes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a +1 for me. Think of using the Iconia for control and star guiding
I hate bringing my laptop. Bad battery life and heavy. Weight matters when your telecope assembled weighs 70lbs lol
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karlkarloff said:
For me, I always take my Acer with me when I go out with my telescope at night. The place I set up at is pretty removed from civilization, so no wireless means no cloud storage. I can easily shoot about 2 hours of video which completely fills my cameras internal storage. When it gets full, I just run a USB cable to my tablet, transfer everything over, delete everything off my cam and I'm back in business. Then while my cam continues to shoot more video, I sit down and play Angry Birds.
I dream of the day when I can plug my telescope mount into my tablet and control it through screen swipes. Unless you use Bluetooth I suppose, the USB port would be the only way to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not trying to sound like a mean person here... but I believe your the only person in the world that does this. (Edit- I stand corrected) I personally would just get expanded memory for my camera instead using my tablet as a flash drive.
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karlkarloff said:
For me, I always take my Acer with me when I go out with my telescope at night. The place I set up at is pretty removed from civilization, so no wireless means no cloud storage. I can easily shoot about 2 hours of video which completely fills my cameras internal storage. When it gets full, I just run a USB cable to my tablet, transfer everything over, delete everything off my cam and I'm back in business. Then while my cam continues to shoot more video, I sit down and play Angry Birds.
I dream of the day when I can plug my telescope mount into my tablet and control it through screen swipes. Unless you use Bluetooth I suppose, the USB port would be the only way to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what video are you taking? besides an usb adaptor from the 10.1 is available. And it doesnt weigh as much.
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Stardate Tab 10.1 said:
I am not trying to sound like a mean person here... but I believe your the only person in the world that does this. I personally would just get expanded memory for my camera instead using my tablet as a flash drive.
I very well could be the only person who does this. But the reason I don't get expanded memory for my camera is that I can't. I took apart a Nikon coolpix camera and turned it into an astronomy only cam. When I did, I lost the ability to expand the memory. Such is life. My point still stands though, a Galaxy Tab or transformer just wouldn't work for me. I used to lug my laptop with me all the time, but the A500 is way more portable. And with the addition of a few apps, I have all my star charts, manuals, etc. right there if I need them.
Beyond my very specialized needs, why wouldn't you choose a tablet that has so many more options connectivity-wise and a much more wallet friendly price tag? The main negative for the Acer is screen quality, but comparing it to the Galaxy tab, its a negligible difference to my eye. Everything else is the same or better. I've never had a hands-on with the Asus, but I'm led to believe that the build quality is questionable on more than a few of them.
Just my opinion, but that is why I chose the Acer, and remain very happy with my decision.
to fenguinpower: I take pictures of planets, galaxies, nebulas, etc. while my telescope tracks the object through the sky. I then take the individual frames and stack them to create a rather detailed picture of whatever I was viewing. It about the only way to get a decent picture of deep space objects without having access to say, the Hubble telescope. While I could get an adapter for the galaxy tab, with the Acer I don't have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I have zero knowledge in camera modification, but how does that render the expandable memory useless?
As far as expandable connectivity is concerned, that was my point about cloud storage. Other than your rare need to use your tablet as a micro SD card most people who buy a wifi tablet will be using it where, you know, they have access to wifi.
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why did you choose this over the acer iconia and asus transformer?

the 2 are much cheaper and has more options for storage expansion and connectivity.
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Screen quality, weight, battery life.
Those were my points in favor of the Galaxy Tab. And since storage expansion wasn't even on my list, I chose the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Just about the same reason. 16gb is way more than I need on a day to day basis, plus if I need to off load or swap a movie I can wifi FTP to my phone or use dropbox. I have no need to ever connect my tab via HDMI... if I needed this kind of feature I would have gone with a cheap laptop.
So better screen, better battery, better sound, lighter, looks alot nicer... I also really like touchwiz.

Just like everybody else who will post in here, thinness and weight. I use cloud storage for everything or use USB with my desktop. Not a single tablet on the market is a real laptop replacement so basically I just use the tablet for media consumption and some gaming. Basically though when I went to best buy the 10.1 just felt incredible in my hands. I drain the battery every two days going over my RSS feeds or viewing websites and the occasional Netflix video. So just as above, great battery.
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Form factor, the Tab is light & slim, the picture quality is marvelous & the build quality is superior

Pretty much what everybody in this thread already said.

Oleophobic coating, 8.9mm thick.
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Stardate Tab 10.1 said:
Just like everybody else who will post in here, thinness and weight. I use cloud storage for everything or use USB with my desktop. Not a single tablet on the market is a real laptop replacement so basically I just use the tablet for media consumption and some gaming. Basically though when I went to best buy the 10.1 just felt incredible in my hands. I drain the battery every two days going over my RSS feeds or viewing websites and the occasional Netflix video. So just as above, great battery.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^^^^
This.
I stream most of my media to the device so connectivity is less important to me. I also think using any portable device for streaming to a TV or home theatre isn't optimum with this generation of h/w so the lack of onboard HDMI isn't important. I got a 32GB version because I travel internationally a lot and download content for long plane flights. Samsung also does the best job with drivers for handling audio and video codecs. I have 2K songs stored locally on the device with a Rhapsody subscription which play via the stock music player or Bluetooth. It's because of Samsung's DRM support. I tried a HTC Jetstream for a week but it weighed a ton in comparison which makes a huge difference on the road and it sucked at video and audio support. The G-Tab also has a bunch of great accessories. I got it a Zenus Carbon Fiber leather case and people always comment on it. Besides, if you don't get a G-Tab people won't ask you "how do you like your iPad?"

build and screen quality were my reasons. I went through 3 tfs and 4 xooms before I settled with the gt10.1.

I use my 10.1 primarily as a textbook (science and engineering mainly) replacement, so screen is absolute first priority.

Thinner, lighter, faster, better. I have no need for ports as you can transfer files over bluetooth or a network pretty easily and quickly. When I was in Best Buy the other day I was just looking at the other tablets and I have no regrets. They are so bulky.

1. Weight
2. Weight
3. Weight
4. Weight
5. Weight
6. Weight
7. Weight
8. Weight
9. Weight
10. Weight

Too much bezel on other tablets
Lack of 3g a factor too.
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Form factor and screen.

I have one that hasn't been mentioned...
I bought my tab two months ago at Best Buy. I have a Samsung Captivate, and the GPS has been, let's say, underwhelming. So I flipped on the GPS on the Toshiba Thrive. It was "searching for satellites" for a while, so I went over to the tab and did the same thing. Instantly locked in. I pulled up maps and looked at the satellite view, and it placed me inside the store. I went back to the Thrive, and it was still searching for satellites. Sold me right there.
I took the tab on a backpacking trip, and used the Maverick app to display USGS topos, and if we ever wanted to know where we were, I pulled out the tab, and got a lock within seconds. Plus watched some shows, read a book, did crosswords, etc. Great value for me.

Screen is way better than Asus Transformer and Acer Iconia. Weight. Didn't need any ports because I stream most all my content.. movies, music, etc from home network.
I can easily mount in my vehicle. Plus it must looks cooler than any of the other
tabs out. btw 8.9 was just released and now a 7 here soon. So portable.
Erusman

sparkyxda said:
Too much bezel on other tablets
Lack of 3g a factor too.
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Click to collapse
too much? dont you mean too little... the Gtab10.1 has more than the xoom does...
my reasons were it was new...
amazing screen...
light weight
thin...

.torrented said:
too much? dont you mean too little... the Gtab10.1 has more than the xoom does...
my reasons were it was new...
amazing screen...
light weight
thin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bezel on the Transformer, for instance, is enormous making it really long and difficult to hold.
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Geekbabe said:
Form factor, the Tab is light & slim, the picture quality is marvelous & the build quality is superior
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he says.

Pretty much everything has been said already, it's light, it's thin, looks good, great screen. Already had the SGS2 so would of known this would be decent as well.
I'm not bothered that it doesn't have no sd card and such 16GB is ample for me, google music takes care of that!
7.7 looks fantastic though but ill skip that and wait for next get tablets due soon.

[Q] Still worth buying?

Hi guys,
I've just got my first taste of android on a tablet (disgo 8100) and I've sold that for a decent profit, so I'm looking at buying myself a bit of a better tablet. I like the look of the advent vega but I have heard about various gripes such as screen angle and touch screen not being amazing.
So, is the vega still worth buying? I'm after something that:
Has a decent hacking community
Can run emulators well
Can support multiple usb devices through a usb host+ usb hub
Hdmi out (full mirroring)
Run apps quickly.
I'm after a tablet that I can mod, that's still getting updates (community or official) that I can play games in, and use six axis controller via blue tooth etc.
Hope you guys can help me, I don't want to put 100 quid down on a second hand tablet when something could be better for me
Cheers,
Leigh

Yes, the screen angle is pretty terrible! It's like 10% LOL!
Yeah, the touch screen is pretty terrible too! It shows in Fruit Ninja where the slice is 1cm behind your finger and in internet browser where touch is just not fluid.
About the HDMI I don't know if I have a faulty cable or something but when I mirror my tablet's screen it appears like it would output a 360p image instead of 1080p. I can see tiny squares on my 46" 1080p LED TV! The picture is just horrible I'd rather just use an USB stick or use DLNA.
Hacking community on XDA and tabletroms is top notch (don't know how's on other tablets, tho).
I don't know how are emulators working, but apps run pretty quickly and "smooth" (touch spoils that a bit).
I never heard complaints about usb hubs, just use one that has an external power source (just in case).
In the end it all depends in how good condition your tablet will be and at what price.
There are probably tons of same spec tablets in your local shop that are also pretty cheap and there is also a chinese website aliexpress where you can order your cheap noname tablet online, but warranty might cause you problems later on.
I know that those generic chinese tablets have generic ROMs somewhere on the internet that include english language, play store and root, but I don't have any links, sorry.

Hi,
I recently purchased an Advent Vega and flashed the last beta of VegaBean, and I am feeling it a little slow. There is a lot of lag switching between apps, and when I install an app it is damn slow for some seconds. I am using a generic 8GB microSD card, and I think that might be the problem. Using a class 10 card could make the tablet work more fluid?

princado said:
Hi,
I recently purchased an Advent Vega and flashed the last beta of VegaBean, and I am feeling it a little slow. There is a lot of lag switching between apps, and when I install an app it is damn slow for some seconds. I am using a generic 8GB microSD card, and I think that might be the problem. Using a class 10 card could make the tablet work more fluid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iam sorry but my experience is No!
but if you have opportunity it is better to try it mate! Try and see if it works for you..
and for those who still uses vega i must say i prefer ICS, less lags, less slowness feeling..

lolomolo said:
iam sorry but my experience is No!
but if you have opportunity it is better to try it mate! Try and see if it works for you..
and for those who still uses vega i must say i prefer ICS, less lags, less slowness feeling..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. Still I bought a cheap S*ms*ng class 10 microsd to see if it improves the experience, if it doesn't work I will probably sell the tablet and use the microsd with my cellphone

Only if you can get the tablet really cheap. Better tablets are quite cheap nowadays.

For £49 you can buy a much better Archos Cobalt 80 tablet.
1.6Ghz Dual Core CPU, 1GB RAM, preloaded ICS.
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