Database Users

Nook Owner thinking about buying SGT

I'm currently owning a Nook Color. I wanted it for reading books, reading pdfs (I can't find a lagfree Android pdf Reader!), browsing web and playing around.
I'm not happy with it. I'm from Germany, I payed about 300€ all in all for it with taxes and shipping costs.
I simply miss that I can't get any accessoires for it, that I don't have mobile Internet and the touchscreen makes problems.
I don't have a cellphone currently, I'm thinking about getting a case that let's me use my iPod as cellphone. But somehow I'd rather have a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, because I don't like it to have a device that wasn't ment to be an tablet and really is not a good tablet and together with the case for the iPod (70€) the SGT isn't a lot more expensive.
I think that I would still get about 200-250€ for my NC. I saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab for 350-400€on ebay.de.
What do you Samsung Galaxy Tab owners think, should I sell my NC to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab or should I stick with it?
PS: can one actually connect the tab to a TV with a video cable?

Well, I think you will get a lot more with the Galaxy Tab.
Overall I find it very usable and I enjoy it. Files in PDF can be read using Adobe reader and many others. I got Documents to Go and it gives me ability to read and edit MS format documents as well.
The Tab has everything that regular laptop has, plus GPS, compass, and cellular phone. You can get maps and navigation any time your need. GPS works better than on any phone because of the better antenna. Signal to noise ratio is more than 10 times higher. It should be noted that it supports Wifi at 5GHz in addition to 2.4GHz.
You can also make and receive phone calls while listening music through Bluetooth.
Overall Nook has a small fraction of the Tab's functionality.
Connecting the Tab to TV requires HDMI multimedia dock and HDMI cable with a small form factor connector on the dock side. You can also use Wifi streaming.
I would definitely vote for the Tab.

I'm in the DC area, i'm selling my galaxy tab for $350

Hi Diemex,
I use my galaxy tab in exactly the way you describe, I'm a postgrad student so I read ALOT of pdf files on my tab using Repligo to add comments to them and dropbox to sync with my desktop. I use Miren browser for 90% of my home web browsing and pulse reader for getting the news at Uni.
The tab is really stable on the modaco rom, but development isn't as fast as the NC, sometimes I wish there was more development, then I remind myself that functionality wise the tab has all the bases covered. When better kit comes along that the devs favour I will upgrade once the price falls. Until then the tab ticks all the boxes for me.
Edit: I'm waiting for an RCA cable to.arrive so that I can plug it into a T.V. via a scart adaptor.

The Tab is a good step up from the NC.
The rca cables are cool and allow me to stream movies and play games via the tab.
Protected movies like ones from the samsung movie site do not play through though
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

I should have waited
dannyxda said:
I'm in the DC area, i'm selling my galaxy tab for $350
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the area too and wanted to get a T-Mobile one... And ended up paying a pretty penny.
To respond to thre OP--the size and hardware are its best attributes.
The software is a total nightmare. It is slow, no updates in sight, missed key presses ... I am annoyed. I am not even trying to do anything complicated with it! No rooting, no cooked roms, just stock device.
It's like they are pushing crap and once they sell the stock they move on to other versions.
Save your money. Samsung built this thing well but it is half-baked and the developent on it has just fizzled out on this site. I have very limited skills or I would be porting and helping.
Oh, the Nook Color thing. KEEP IT. It is much better quality and the development for it is still rockin. Hello, it has a Honeycomb port. The Tab is nowhere near that and again, devs have moved on it seems.

sbrownla said:
To respond to thre OP--the size and hardware are its best attributes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what I like about the NC too.
The software is a total nightmare. It is slow, no updates in sight, missed key presses ... I am annoyed. I am not even trying to do anything complicated with it! No rooting, no cooked roms, just stock device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't look to bad to me.
I did all the rooting, overclocking stuff with my NC and it simply didnt make the device better.
Save your money. Samsung built this thing well but it is half-baked and the developent on it has just fizzled out on this site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more limited a device it the more devs & hackers are interested in it....
For what should I wait - for Honeycomb Tegra 10.1 inch tablets?
I want a small versatile tablet for a good price
Oh, the Nook Color thing. KEEP IT. It is much better quality and the development for it is still rockin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also thought that that is a big plus. But it doesnt compensate for it lacking a lot of hardware. And the quality of it is definetely not better than the SGT. The case is creacky and I'm getting frequent qhost taps and times when the display isnt working at all.
Hello, it has a Honeycomb port. The Tab is nowhere near that and again, devs have moved on it seems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great a Honeycomb port, have you ever tried that port out? It's completely useless. I've been changing firmwares and kernels and all that stuff for the last 2 weeks and still ended up with froyo being the best.
I take my NC with me everywhere nearly, but it just has not enough functionality, and I'm thinking of leaving it simply at home to read books.

Personally, I am totally in love with my SGT. I have rooted and have overcome ROM 1.2.1 with the new overcome 2.0.1 kernel, and it is just awesome Although I liked it beforehand, and it was certainly well usable, the ROM/kernel made it a lot better.
I take mine absolutely everywhere, and it does everything for me.
Yeah, I have seen some of those Honeycomb ports, not the nook one but other SDK ports on other devices.... to be honest, personally, I would rather wait for the source to be released and a proper port to be done. These SDK "Ports" are just horrible. (Not trying to hijack at all, but really guys? You all really want a nearly totally non-functional port? First thing everyone will do is ***** that things don't work, but I digress)
In the meantime, my tab works Great I would definitely recommend one, especially if you like the portability a 7" device offers. From what I understand the screen is similar to, if not better than, the NC for book reading, and that is one thing my tab is used for a lot.
It is also my phone, portable media player (plays pretty much every format I've thrown at it, and plays 720p and 1080p stuff quite smooth, obviously scaled down for the screen res but still), portable Internet, and all round mate impresser

I don't think that there will be any affordable 7 inch tablet coming out this year (for me^^).
Also if they have better hardware and stuff like that - it would be simply like putting a porsche motor in a opel corsa (or some other car).
The companies try to make the customers believe that when one has a device with a better/great hardware, that one can automatically do more with it, or that it runs better.
With all the great tablet-apps that support dualcore processors that will definetely be the case this year. (sarcasm).
I can't think of a better 7'inch tablet for this prize (~350€)

At this time I can see only one future contender in the same 7inch category: HTC Flyer.
It promises scripting capability using bluetooth stylus that might be very useful.
I had a quite a few Palms and used scripting a lot. Also I had two HTC Android phones and built quality was very good.

the only thing that makes it better is that "magical" pen, but it's going to be 699$ and it's not out yet.

dannyxda said:
I'm in the DC area, i'm selling my galaxy tab for $350
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So am i! same place and price. its the vzw version

{Diemex} said:
the only thing that makes it better is that "magical" pen, but it's going to be 699$ and it's not out yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually i'd say that the fact that HTC have stated that it will get Honeycomb is more interesting than the "pen" IMO.
Regards,
Dave

SGT will also get honeycomb, if not from samsung, then definetely from the devs or hackers.

I've got both and the tab is definatly a better choice.
@op by reading your remarks I can tell you are a pretty smary consumer. go with your inner voice and get the tab.
Unless ofcourse you just want to wait and see what coming but I doubt it will be much different in the near future.
Galaxy Tabs.....Worth every penny!!

Just picked up a SGT from VZW for $170 w/2yr contract.
Sent from my SCH-I800 using Tapatalk

Nice,
Just went back to stock,
pdfviewing works great and fluent, I think stock is the best choice for standard consumer.
But still I'm quite sure that I'm going to buy the tab, it's going to last longer, or I think I will use it longer.
I looked at it at a local Shop,
put in my sdcard with apk's and pdfs, I was just messing around, trying out everything, the tab could even open my 350mb 250 pages fallout 3 game guide, nook takes for ever to load it.
It simply looked like the perfect all in one device that I was actually looking for, somehow got the Nook to try the tablet thing out, now it's time to upgrade my tablet.

rob61280 said:
Hi Diemex,
I use my galaxy tab in exactly the way you describe, I'm a postgrad student so I read ALOT of pdf files on my tab using Repligo to add comments to them and dropbox to sync with my desktop. I use Miren browser for 90% of my home web browsing and pulse reader for getting the news at Uni.
The tab is really stable on the modaco rom, but development isn't as fast as the NC, sometimes I wish there was more development, then I remind myself that functionality wise the tab has all the bases covered. When better kit comes along that the devs favour I will upgrade once the price falls. Until then the tab ticks all the boxes for me.
Edit: I'm waiting for an RCA cable to.arrive so that I can plug it into a T.V. via a scart adaptor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well your wait has finished:
www.expansys.it/samsung-galaxy-tab-cavo-tv-out-204239/
Note that this way the tablet works with its own battery when tv connected differently from the powered hdmi dock

I was bitter yesterday. Very bitter.
I wish I still had my Nook Color sometimes, but I am coming to realize exactly how much potential the Galaxy Tab really has.
I just need to learn to be more patient.
Ommmmmmmm.

Samsung 10.1 vs Transformer

Hey everyone,
I'm trying to purchase a tablet and am undecided between the transformer and samsung tab 10.1. Just wondering if anyone who has used one or both could help me out with the decision. Ill be using the tablet mostly for entertainment and for school once or twice a week. Thanks for the help!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

The Gtab 1 or 2? If you're refering to the first gen, of course Transformer is better. As for second gen, its not released yet so anything people say is mostly opinion based on specs

I prefer the asus spec wise. All the extra standardized ports and external storage slot are why people choose android over ios, imo. Internals seem similarly matched, Sammy gets the prize for prettiest tablet. If these were laptops sammy would be an nice ultra portable and asus would be the good all-purpose.

I would get the TF for best bang for the buck. You will save 100 bucks and on top of it it has a microsd slot and hdmi port, where the Samsung 10.1 does not. If you just wants looks well then go with the 10.1. I believe that Samsung made a huge mistake not including a microsd slot.... PLS vs IPS screen,what 10% brighter then the IPS screen on the TF not worth it to me. With that extra 100 bucks you save you could get the dock.....TF for the FTW.....

I wanted a galaxy.. but I have to say the lack of SDcard slot on the thing was an absolute dealbreaker. I really couldn't be happier with my transformer at this point.. especially with 3.1 fixing the YouTube / video problems

SLG951 said:
Hey everyone,
I'm trying to purchase a tablet and am undecided between the transformer and samsung tab 10.1. Just wondering if anyone who has used one or both could help me out with the decision. Ill be using the tablet mostly for entertainment and for school once or twice a week. Thanks for the help!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this may be a little off.. but no one can compare the Samsung 10.1 since its not out. ill give you my opinion about the Xoom and the 10.1 off what i know.
I have heard from people who got the special edition Samsung 10.1 version, was that it had a better screen than the Xoom. the only thing that attracts me to the Samsung 10.1 is the thinness.. but after having a transformer, the size feels just right. I want something there , not just paper thin.
To be honest, get the Transformer.. I had the Xoom for 2 weeks and straight out of the box i knew there was an issue. I tried to enjoy it, but the screen kept turning me off. I went to the motorola forums and random other people posted asking if they would fix it via a firmware update? kinda like how the Nexus 1 got tweaked. There was no solid info regarding the screen. if your looking at the screen 100% of the time it needs to look good. At Angles, the Xoom looked blurry. I always had to hold it directly at me. While my Transformer (4 days new) i can set it down and tilt my head from my PC or any angle and it looks nice, colorful and sharp.
One of the turn off was that the Samsung 10.1 tab had a 3mp camera for front while the Transformer has a 5. these are just minor things but to me, id rather have a 5mp.
IMO, The colors stand out better than the Xoom but i cant compare the Samsung 10.1 which is not out yet.. With the new firmware 3.1 , it kicks even more ass. Samsung has said it would ship with 3.1 out the door. I haven't had any screen bleeding or creaking like a few have stated. Im completely happy in my purchase. Now i want the dock (which is not something i wanted originally) but the Transformer is an excellent Tablet.
What it comes down to is features, Skins ect. The Xoom has a Barometer built in, Transformer has a GPS without a carrier (but works better at tracking you when you uses a hotspot type of device) beyond that, its a click and it shows you the map where your at... i have had problems following me ...say in a car, while im driving. I think the built in Transformer GPS is meant for not moving objects but just a quick glance of the location. If you want it actively following you, like a cell phone GPS use a hotspot from Comcast 20$ a month or create a hotspot with your cellphone.
Im not sure what the Samsung 10.1 has exclusively built in. But since i purchased the transformer, ive forgotten about the Sammy 10.1 tab.

Thanks for the input everyone. Ya the biggest fear I had was not enough ports, especially the hdmi. The transformer is looking like a better pick to me. Just making sure that cloud based storage and remote desktop is standard on all of them right?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

SLG951 said:
Thanks for the input everyone. Ya the biggest fear I had was not enough ports, especially the hdmi. The transformer is looking like a better pick to me. Just making sure that cloud based storage and remote desktop is standard on all of them right?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the remote desktop is kind of a joke, the reason being that you have to be on the same network as the computer youre linking to. mightbas well use the computer itself if youre that close! but this can always be replaced with other apps readily available in the market. i heard PhoneMyPC was a good alternative, only $15. as for the unlimited storage, its free for a year starting from when you sign up.

coasterman927 said:
the remote desktop is kind of a joke, the reason being that you have to be on the same network as the computer youre linking to. mightbas well use the computer itself if youre that close! but this can always be replaced with other apps readily available in the market. i heard PhoneMyPC was a good alternative, only $15. as for the unlimited storage, its free for a year starting from when you sign up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not have to be on the same network. Please don't spread false information.
Sent from my CM7 Supersonic

The screen on the TF is imho, very good but not great. With all the hype, a more objective review is required. I find the red a bit too brown and the black levels weak. You can see this if you use the attached color chart from this review's video: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Transformer-Eee-Pad-TF101-vs-Acer-Iconia-A500-vs-Motorola-Xoom-vs-Apple-iPad-2.53242.0.html . I suspect the samsung will have a better screen since they want to showcase their new PLS screen technology.
Note: the attached file size was limited to a 96k upload limit so it is better to download it yourself.

I had been going back and forth for over a month on if I wanted the Transformer or Galaxy Tab 10.1.
I purchased a Transformer a month ago when it first game out and like it, but was also bothered by some small issues. And I kinda think it's a little ugly. I ended up returning it and waiting on the Galaxy Tab 10.1
At the time I thought the Galaxy Tab 10.1 would have a micro SD slot (it was shown having one at CTIA). But now it seems the Wifi model doesn't have a micro SD slot. And one thing I learned from my 16GB iPad 1 experience is 16GB and no micro SD slot are a bad combination. So if I was going to by a Galaxy Tab 10.1, I'd have to spend at least $600 on the 32GB model.
I love the look of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, I love how thin and light it is. I love the PLS display. At least I love all that third hand from what I've seen of it so far. But the price difference for me is now $200, since I could get a 16GB Transformer and use a 16GB micro SD card I already own to get 32GB, versus having to buy a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Yesterday I canceled my pre-order for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and today I went to the store and bought the Transformer again. It's not perfect, but it's pretty dang good and better than anything else available now and apparently in the near future.
I love that it has micro SD, mini HDMI, micro USB, an IPS display, and is still pretty light compared to the other Honeycomb tablets out now.
I'll learn to live with the crappy speakers, goofy wide with rough edges, and ugly color. For only $400 though, it's also pretty amazing deal. And if I can ever find a keyboard dock, that'll just make it even sweeter as an Android netbook.
I really wanted to love the Galaxy Tab 10.1. If it wasn't for the lack of a micro SD slot, I would still be waiting for that instead. That is just one thing I really don't want to sacrifice. Samsung really is copying Apple a little too much these days.

coasterman927 said:
the remote desktop is kind of a joke, the reason being that you have to be on the same network as the computer youre linking to. mightbas well use the computer itself if youre that close! but this can always be replaced with other apps readily available in the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Port forwarding! btw Splashtop is much better then logmein and its free with the purchase of TF. RD is a must for me casue I have my server which has no keyboard mouse, or monitor, having the ability to access it from the TF is much more easier then use my notebook.

dazz87 said:
Huh? Port forwarding! btw Splashtop is much better then logmein and its free with the purchase of TF. RD is a must for me casue I have my server which has no keyboard mouse, or monitor, having the ability to access it from the TF is much more easier then use my notebook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll add that there's a version of Splashtop coming that will support connecting to any device via a Gmail account. The desktop version has already been updated to support that, and so all we need is an update to the Android version. Then, you'll be able to connect to any machine over the Internet without fussing about with port forwarding that the like.
I remember Asus stating that support for the feature will be coming over the summer, and so we don't have long to wait. And I'm very impressed with how well the solution performs over wifi--I use it to watch TV via Windows Media Center on my desktop while my wife watches something else on the TV in the bedroom. It's as good as being at the desktop.

coasterman927 said:
the remote desktop is kind of a joke, the reason being that you have to be on the same network as the computer youre linking to. mightbas well use the computer itself if youre that close! but this can always be replaced with other apps readily available in the market. i heard PhoneMyPC was a good alternative, only $15. as for the unlimited storage, its free for a year starting from when you sign up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I enjoy remoting my pc which is on the second floor while I'm having a meeting on the 4th floor. you'll be the joke when you keep giving bad example.

I was in the same boat. But I saw it on amazon and just bought the ASUS. Done and done.

Nuke please.. it duped.

You can go either way if the lack of the SD has no impact to you.
On the other hand, there is the support side of it, which was the major decision factor for me.
20,000 people on a Samsung Pad is good, and there may be some good XDA support.
200,000+ people on the Asus EEE Transformer with custom kernels and fixes before asus can even think about addressing them is the biggest factor when it comes to android based devices.
Its the same reason I was on the moment, and same for the Epic 4G. Tons of people, tons of community support, so anything that might be broken has an incredible chance of being actually addressed as people will take it into their own hands.
Plus the factor that Developers will support and ensure their software works on the devices with pure numbers.
Oh, and on the Splashtop chatter. Take a look at your running services, its already there "Splashtop Remote". Just be nice to be able to use it, or has someone figured out how we can use it already?

Anonnie said:
Oh, and on the Splashtop chatter. Take a look at your running services, its already there "Splashtop Remote". Just be nice to be able to use it, or has someone figured out how we can use it already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My cloud app >[a bunch of next buttons]> my desktop and that runs splashtop for you

I had the same difficulty, though I was under the assumption that the Samsung had miniHDMI / MicroSD / USB ports. Of course I choose the transformer in the end because the extra battery / keyboard option is a nice addon though I don't plan on to buy but if i ever wanted more battery I'd know how to get it xD. The other thing that help me decide was that I personally believe ASUS has a better support staff for computing than Samsung, personal experience.

I walked into a Best Buy today and was looking for a TF, which of course they did not have. they had an Acer Iconia, so I went to go check it out. It was really heavy, and was wondering if the TF is similar in weight. Looking back, it might have been something attached to the Iconia that might've made it heavy, but I am not so sure. Also, all internals for Iconia/TF/Tab are all the same so they will perform similarly if used the same way, correct?

Acer Iconia vs Galaxy Tab 10.1 hand on comparison.

I hope this is of some use to someone as Ive been on a search for an ideal tablet for myself since the Xoom was released.
Ive had the Acer for about a month and love it for the most part.
Galxy Tab owner for about a day ((so why a review ??)) Its not.
Its a physical comparison as its difficult to track down an Acer without a huge magnet brick stuck to the back and the Tab releases country wide tomorrow.
Anyways...here goes any questions more than happy to answer.
HxW
This was a big surprise. Unlike the Asus Transformer with its mega wide bezel the Acer is actually pretty compact in that area. So much so that stacking the Tab on top produced negligible difference. As far as height and width theres about 'half a skinny straw' difference.
Weight
Well this is where the difference comes in. The Tab is simply much lighter. If you hold both in your hands it may seem like a "slight" difference. But after a short period you will quickly notice the acer is just plain heavy. After using the Tab for a bit then picking up the Acer the difference is huge.
Thickness
This IMO is the second biggest determining factor. Do you want the slimmness ? .......Or the Ports.
Holding the Tab it feels like a larger Kindle. Or just a truly "slate" computing device. Ive had several star trek moments holding it thus far.
Acer has always felt like a laptop cover ripped off the keyboard where the ports somehow magically transferred to the top. Yes its thick but I can connect this sucker to a monitor , a external drive , a card reader , and easily expand with a micro SD.
Look good or be efficient ?? Your choice IMO cant go wrong.
FYI:Tab will require at least 2 add ons , plus a case that can accommodate your extra accessories in order to match connectivity.
Microphone-
**SO FAR*** my biggest grip with the Acer has been the awful mic. It just sucks. Dont know if its the quality or the placement but the end result remains suckage. Far too often a phrase like "When can we meet ?"
results in "can we me".... or worse "w"..... WTF?!!?
Voice to text is my primary need/use for a tablet, this was a huge deal for me.
Galaxy Tab has been better. But frankly neither are up to snuff to my Nexus One. Im assuming phones in general will just have better mic quality.
Audio clip from Tab (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/XrcHGaK
Audio clip from Acer (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/eZ0rOIa
While not a tell all example the above differences in clarity were consistent with other apps as well.
Screen-
Thus far there really isnt a reason to side for one or the other outside of need or preference. Until this.
The screen on the Tab is gorgeous and is simply richer in color and after flicking through Picasa it seems to have gotten a more accurate representation of the pictures taken.
While I do feel the tab pushes colors a bit much ;almost like oled does. Ex: The YT still shot Rebecca Blacks red jacket is too saturated
However over a wide range of pictures and videos it just felt more vivid with better blacks.
This isnt a Ipads "cool" vs Tabs "warm" approach to color temp. The Tab is simply a better looking screen.
Software---
Not touching on this unless asked.
I will say I still have numerous videos FC on YT and the browser does NOT have any quick controls on the galaxy tab. Major bummer and worthy of return or sell if it cant be added as I find the controls are what make two handed Tablet browsing possible.
Wrap up-
In short Lebron James is overrated.
But seriously
Acer-8/10
Tab- 9/10
If you will make regular use of the ports , or weight isnt an issue the Acer is the choice.
If you care about aesthetics and or mobility is a bigger concern then the Tab is the way to go.

i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting

BrianDigital said:
i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, because "heavy" means "unable to lift" and not relative to the topic of tablets. Try harder next time.

Very detailed.connectivity is why my Acer rules
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

LIKE YOUR REVIEW, very truthful...
i bought the acer because it came first in my country.... but then loving it... usb port is the biggest difference among 2 tablets in favour of iconia, where weight is the biggest difference in favour to the tab

I was contemplating on whether to buy Galaxy Tab or Iconia A500, and I chose Iconia A500 because of USB host mode port, plus the fact that I don't need any proprietary adapters or cables. Those kinds of things are surprisingly hard to come by here, and they're a lot more expensive to replace should they break.
As for the weight: well, everyone has their own taste. I personally don't see enough of a difference for it to make matter to me.

I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...

I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?

I guess samsung is the warmer one... you don't mess with samsung displays.

@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.

After the Captivate, Samsung is dead to me. Thanks for the review though. The Acer holds up better than I expected it to in the comparison.

What was wrong with captivate? i9000 is still awesome for me. Branded/carrier versions will always suck.
I'm pissed at samsung's tablet atitude, It's like they're trying to imitate Apple. I don't want a stupid adapter to be able to use usb!
Anyway, great review! I was actually waiting for the Galaxy tab but now I couldn't care less. Iconia's connectivity outweighs it's weight by far

Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!

Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.

sanaell said:
I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe 8.9 will be a very interesting form factor for many people especially if it does include an sd card slot.
silencer51 said:
I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Top Is the galaxy tab Bottom is the acer.
threedfreek said:
@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I immediately installed mobo player. Plays everything but .mov thus far it also has terrific on screen controls.
internetpilot said:
Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree! If these were hd tvs you could not even begin the discussion without calibration. I even cut out a portion on it. In short since there are no universal apps to do this and most devices require root access ;along with the fact most people simply would not bother. So unfortunately out of the box is what people will judge it by.
But you are 100 percent correct calibration can fix many many issues. I have yet to try on the tablet but fully intend to.
P.s apologies for any weird typos. voice to text is strangely capitalizing words that shouldn't be.

I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.

cdf3 said:
I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the exact same thing today and share the same sentiments. I think the acer is very good at being a full featured unit out of the box. But it was not comfortable for me to use and my glove size is an 11. I picked up the GT10.1 and wow I didn't care what is was missing.

usman3206 said:
Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
The Acer wins for me based on connectivity and flexibility overall.

PLease tell us about the software. Tab is 3.1....is it smoother? The Acer is still driving me crazy with the scroll lag.

Actually the weight and size difference is dramatic. The photos and numbers paper really dont translate well to how well it feels in hand. Saying that I do miss the usb port on the a500 but the GT10.1 is more portable and hand friendly. Using it as an ereader is great as well because it balances in the hand without feeling top heavy.
Go play with one at BB and tell me what you think, just curious.
Another reason for my switch was I truly feel thus device will sell well and therefore have longer support. Acer already announced they were scaling back production due to slow sales. Which tells me Acer really needs to do better advertising because they have a winner.
I think noils down like this.......
If you want a light hand friendly device then get the GT10.1
If you want a device that has more media input/output accessiblity device and offers expandable storage then go with the a500.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

First impression - interesting but flawed device

Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?

I've been using Pershoot's kernal since I first got mine and have been very happy with it
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

ftgg99 said:
- speakers are crap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oddly, they sound a lot better if you can hold the Tab on both sides with your palms cupping them, serving as an impromptu speaker cone.
That's obviously not a great solution, but it does make them seem louder since the sound is not going off to the side. There are some cases and attachments for the iPad that do this, but I've not seen one for the Galaxy yet. They're kind of awkward anyway.
The best tablet speakers (that I've heard anyway) are on the poor HP Touchpad. Nice, loud, and clear. I don't regret picking up a few when they were available for $99. HP could've really had a good product given some OS refinements and another generation of hardware. Alas, that's another subject.

ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speakers are crap? They are the best sounding IMHO of any tablet I have tried already.
Transformer - worst speaker quality, very tinny
Iconia - Good sounding, just not enough volume
Xoom - Very good volume, bass sounds a bit distorted
Galaxy 10.1 - Very good volume, does not overdo the bass like the Xoom
Rob

silverball.slayer said:
Speakers are crap? They are the best sounding IMHO of any tablet I have tried already.
Transformer - worst speaker quality, very tinny
Iconia - Good sounding, just not enough volume
Xoom - Very good volume, bass sounds a bit distorted
Galaxy 10.1 - Very good volume, does not overdo the bass like the Xoom
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. The speaker quality is actually pretty darn good but in my case I ran into issues due to how I was holding it. This was me so I won't tell anyone else they aren't holding it right so I don't sound like an Apple representative but coming from an iPad I did have some slight re-adjustments to deal with.
I agree on the cons like lack of SD, pathetic Sammy cable, but the build quality I have to disagree with. Granted, the metal body of the iPad has spoiled me but I have to admit the Tab 10.1 build is actually pretty good giving the slim factor.

Not sure what your deal with the cable is. If you had a Transformer, you'd be stuck with a cable that's even shorter than the one for the Tab, can't use standard USB extenders for charging, can't even use a normal 5V USB charger, and the only source for spares is to buy a $30 charging kit.
At least you can get a spare for the Tab on eBay for under $5.

ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with all of your point except for the speakers. It wasn't too bad at all. Maybe my initial expectation was lower than yours but it wasn't bad at all

I have owned a number of tablets including the galaxy tab 10.1 (still own), xoom (still own), asus transformer (sold), and the original ipad (sold). I don't agree with most of the cons that you listed, at least compared to my experience with my other devices.
The tab has the best speakers of all of them, in my opinion, and the build quality is at least on par with the others listed, except for the transformer which really did have some build quality issues. The propietary charging/data cable is also a necessary evil. The only tablet that I've tried without one is the xoom, and since you can't charge it with the usb cable then I don't really see the point. You just end up having to carry the charger and the usb cable with you instead of one proprietary cable. The cable for the tab is also readily available for a cheap price, which can't be said about the others. The advantages of 3.2 are also limited in my opinion, with a major disadvantage of having to set a static IP address to avoid the wifi problems associated with 3.2 that I have experienced on both the xoom and the transformer.
I will agree that not having an sd card slot is a drawback, but it's not like you didn't know that when you bought it.

droidx1978z4 said:
I have owned a number of tablets including the galaxy tab 10.1 (still own), xoom (still own), asus transformer (sold), and the original ipad (sold). I don't agree with most of the cons that you listed, at least compared to my experience with my other devices.
The tab has the best speakers of all of them, in my opinion, and the build quality is at least on par with the others listed, except for the transformer which really did have some build quality issues. The propietary charging/data cable is also a necessary evil. The only tablet that I've tried without one is the xoom, and since you can't charge it with the usb cable then I don't really see the point. You just end up having to carry the charger and the usb cable with you instead of one proprietary cable. The cable for the tab is also readily available for a cheap price, which can't be said about the others. The advantages of 3.2 are also limited in my opinion, with a major disadvantage of having to set a static IP address to avoid the wifi problems associated with 3.2 that I have experienced on both the xoom and the transformer.
I will agree that not having an sd card slot is a drawback, but it's not like you didn't know that when you bought it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had mine since Thursday. I agree with everything quoted above. I guess it comes down to expectations. I mean all tablets are just similar rectangular boxes that do the same thing. How different can they be expected to be when they all have to sell within the same narrow price band? At least with Samsung you know there's a long-term commitment to the Tab's success and they do far better than others with s/w implementation and updates. It meets or exceeds my expectations based on what I paid for it.

I picked up some of the tiny iHome iHM78 speakers from Best Buy because I was having trouble with some videos having low volume even turned all the way up (and I don't like wearing headphones all the time). While I agree with the comment about cupping the speakers, these little iHome jobs are pretty amazing in my opinion. I mean you aren't going to get thumping bass, but for the size I find the sound pretty clear and crisp. I travel all over the world almost every day of the year, and they're small enough that carrying them won't be a burden.

The only drawback I see with this tablet is the awful cable, not the connect just the overall lenght. The build quality has been excellent for me, the speakers are loud and clear enough, and I have an SD card work around (USB connector) so its all good. Its the best Android tablet you can buy (subjective, I know) until the newer tablets with Ice Cream appear......
° Digging your Fear and Loathing avatar....

I consider tablet speakers should be on-par with laptop speakers. They're fine if it's just you listening to it - but I keep a set of mobile speakers on-hand if I want to show stuff off to people.
So yeah, the speakers on my 10.1 are fine, relatively speaking. But I don't expect them pump out sound like they're high-quality Bose speakers, either.

i360 said:
The only drawback I see with this tablet is the awful cable, not the connect just the overall length.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I solved this with a double length cable from Amazon for $10. But I agree in general I am against proprietary connectors...I am worried about wear and tear of the connector port on the device rendering it useless (although I have a 2 year warranty so not the end of the world).
echo511 said:
high-quality Bose speakers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oxymoron?

Would you recommend getting it?
I want one and will have enough money but I'm not sure I'd have a use for it :/ Are there any major issues with it?
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

TangoEight said:
Would you recommend getting it?
I want one and will have enough money but I'm not sure I'd have a use for it :/ Are there any major issues with it?
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go for it - right now its the lightest and has the best screen, a great device for the couch and the plane trip.
HcMAX said:
Which room do you advice?
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a kitchen fan myself...

ftgg99 said:
Go for it - right now its the lightest and has the best screen, a great device for the couch and the plane trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what I just bought mine for and I love it!

ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speakers are great, better than my laptop speakers, the build quality is really nice, makes it really light which is awesome, I don't care much about the lack of microsd, a con for me is no native hdmi port and eay the cable is annoying. Other than that, this tablet is AWESOME.

I do like it, no question. But mine had flex that had to be fixed, and imo the position of the speakers is what makes them inferior... and there are no boxes, i looked.

Thank you for adding me to your ignore list. At this point I consider it an honor.

Please Keep this Thread on TOPIC i should not have to Delete 24 posts of CRAP from here.
Next Time Infractions will be Dropping in your Pm Boxes

Need some info about the 10.1 Tab

I wanna get my first tablet. I was thinking about Asus Prime but Asus realeased a product full of bugs and issues that even ICS cant solve. The Galaxy Tab seems like a good product for me. My main use is HD videos, web browsing and reading. Games will be nice too
My main concern about the G Tab is there is no SD card slot. It is realy important to me. There is any way to connect an external memory to it?
How about ICS? did the G Tab get the update?
Thank you

Google EPL-1PLRBEGSTA (I cant post links yet)
Should bring up a USB and SD Card reader adapter for the tablet.
ICS has yet to be released.

and the USB adapter is in the box (at least with mine)
tab 10.1 will get ICS someday (probably earlier with cyanogenmod )

I have the 10.1, and a good friend just got the Asus... all things said and done, i think the 10.1 wins out. The mod community (task650, cyanogen, b00sted, etc) are doing great things with ROM/theme development, so you won't be missing out on that front...
...but my biggest preference over the ASUS is the casing itself - it's surprisingly heavy in comparison, which was a big factor for me in selecting a tablet (if I wanted something bulky and heavy, I'd just carry my laptop around). The keyboard attachment available with the ASUS is better executed than the Samsung keyboard, admittedly - but with the plethora of virtual keyboards available, I find myself rarely missing a physical keyboard. As for the lack of SD slot, I have the USB adapter (3rd party one, but works great - and was far cheaper than the official Samsung one), and have a 4gb stick I use with no issues... the sticks need to be formatted in FAT-32 to work, although pershoot's kernel offers NTFS support.
My two cents - good luck!

I have the 32GB version of the 10.1 and I also have the USB adapter, (the Samsung version). I've had the device since launch day and have yet to run out of internal space. Nevertheless, I have a 64GB usb thumbdrive and have, on occasion plugged it into the tab via the USB adapter to copy a movie to it or transfer a file to the USB drive. I've never had a problem with this setup, so it seems viable. As for an answer to your second question, there are already ICS ROMs available here on XDA, (most if not all are in Alpha,) and Samsung is releasing an ICS update for the entire 2011 range of Galaxy Tabs, (10.1, 8.9, 7.0 Plus, and 7.7.) I hope this info helps. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for your comments. It is really a hard decision. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 ןד a stable, fast and reliable device, but its Tegra 2 device while the Tegra 3 is coming. I think I will wait a little to see whats coming next.
The G TAB 10.1 seems to be a little expensive for me, compare to the Prime technology. They both 499 USD but at least on paper, the Prime is better.

same price? go with Prime obviously!

One thing I would advise if going with the prime though, is waiting until the newer version comes out. ASUS released the first prime with some rather serious design flaws in the back panel that cause poor wifi, bluetooth, and GPS reception, (the GPS being the most serious.) As a result, they have released an updated version with a new back panel that purports to fix these issues. The unfortunate thing is that the updated Tranfsormer Prime is going to be set at $600-$700 here in the US, so it will be a great deal more expensive than the 10.1, and with the lack of apps that are optimized for dual core, let alone quad core, I don't think the extra $100-$200 is justified. Just my two cents.

czesiu said:
same price? go with Prime obviously!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you read the front page of their forum? It's falling apart. Five friends bought the Prime over the holidays and three are returning it.

I had a prime on order due to be delivered tomorrow, but the day after iCS was released I canceled the order. I knew it had gps issues, but it seems like the update is jacking up some tablets and I don't want to take the chance. I bought the SGT 10.1 today with the bluetooth logitech android keyboard. I will consider selling it on ebay is 6+ months if something better comes along that I just must have. I will give this a try though, its charging up now! I know I didn't want to pay $650 (tablet and dock) for something that is potentially broken out the box...

I have not decided yet if I go on the Galaxy or not. I have few more questions:
Can I connect a bluetooth keyboard/mouse to it?
Does it have HDMI output? From what I found, an adaptor is needed.
Well, games are not the reason that I want a tablet, but how the Galaxy run games? I mean, its smooth? laggy?
Thanks

BarryH_GEG said:
Have you read the front page of their forum? It's falling apart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I hopped over to the first page of the Transformer Prime General forum and I was floored! I knew that it was having issues and that customers were up-in-arms about it, but I didn't realize the true extent of the problem until I looked at that thread. With as many problems as this device is having, the locked bootloader seems like the least of their problems, but unlocking it is definitely a priority so that a dev can go in and clean up the mess that ASUS seems to have made with this software. The hardware, on the other hand, is another story. No amount of XDA wizardry can fix poorly designed hardware. It seems that ASUS rushed the Prime to market, and in an attempt to be "belle of the ball," as it were, at CES, they rushed this ICS update which seems to have added to owner's woes.
Here's a list of the most prevalent issues with the Transformer Prime, pulled from their "General" section:
1. GPS Issues: GPStest showing no signal whatsoever. Device can't get GPS lock)
2. Wifi Issues: Poor Connectivity/unable to connect to wifi.
3. Bluetooth Issues: Poor Connectivity
4. "Unknown Serial" Error: Many devices are unable to get OTA updates due to the fact that the system can't recognize their serial number. (This one is horrendously bad)
5. MicroSD card slot: Some owners are loosing their cards due to improper design of the slot. Apparently the placeholder from the Prime is very similar to a standard MicroSD, but is not the same size in order to stay in the devices' slot and fit flush.
6. Dock problems with USB: Apparently some of the the docks are incapable of powering or mounting usb devices unless you put the tablet in the dock, connect the USB device, and then restart the tablet while everything is connected.
7. Lockup/Reboot: Since the ICS update, (for those who dodged the "unknown serial" bullett,) the tablet will randomly freeze, the screen will lock up and it will reboot itself.
8. Screen "Banding": After the update, some devices are experiencing "banding," a display of horizontal bars across the screen which interrupt the display and render the underlying display partially visible/unusable.
The issues above are just a few that I've picked out after reading through the first 2 pages of the "General" section in the Transformer Prime forums here at XDA. I pinpointed these issues for a few reasons. First, they have been confirmed by other members/owners and are widespread. Second, they are all recent. Third, these are all rather serious and are not merely the complaints of people upset with functionality or UI changes or issues that can be solved by a mere reboot/reset. It would seem that the Prime, Tegra 3 or not, is not a good bet. If you want a tablet now, go with the 10.1 If you're not sold on the 10.1, there are plenty of other Android tablets out there for you to choose from. For now though, I'd steer clear of the ASUS Transformer Prime

bar_rodoy said:
I have not decided yet if I go on the Galaxy or not. I have few more questions:
Can I connect a bluetooth keyboard/mouse to it?
Does it have HDMI output? From what I found, an adaptor is needed.
Well, games are not the reason that I want a tablet, but how the Galaxy run games? I mean, its smooth? laggy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to the tab. I have an Apple bluetooth wireless keyboard (the slim aluminum version), and a Kensington Slimblade Bluetooth mouse. I connect both of them to the tab at once and it is like having a very light, slim, sexy laptop.
You will need an adapter, but you can have HDMI out. You might also want to look into things like allshare and DNLA. These are apps and standards that allow you to stream contents from your tablet to other devices in your home.
Games are wonderful. Although I rarely ever play them, I've loaded mine up with the big games, and they all work wonderfully.

rkmj said:
You can connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to the tab. I have an Apple bluetooth wireless keyboard (the slim aluminum version), and a Kensington Slimblade Bluetooth mouse. I connect both of them to the tab at once and it is like having a very light, slim, sexy laptop.
You will need an adapter, but you can have HDMI out. You might also want to look into things like allshare and DNLA. These are apps and standards that allow you to stream contents from your tablet to other devices in your home.
Games are wonderful. Although I rarely ever play them, I've loaded mine up with the big games, and they all work wonderfully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, and thats only with one core because ICS isnt out yet, so its sounds great. I found a seller on Ebay that sells the G Tab 10.1 at about 420 USD. I will go for it. Thank you all!