Database Users

Galaxy tab 10.1 Vs. Transformer?????

I'm looking into purchasing one or the other, and am stuck in between, can anyone please shed some light onto this?
I like the galaxy tab for a few reasons, one its samsung and i tend to trust their build quality over asus, two its super thin and much smaller than the transformer, and three the speakers are better, but the main thing that is killing it for me is the lack of ports, only having a single proprietary port bugs me, and feels like i'm being forced into buying additional things that should have been included in the first place
i like the transformer because of the ports and sd card expansion, and the keyboard with the battery and extra usb/sd ports.
i'm not sure which to choose, please help!

totally your preference. how much are you really going to use your hdmi and sd card? if you use it a lot, then go transformer. if you are going to get a keyboard, they both have sd card slots.
however, if thin tablets are of bigger importance, go samsung.
I think build quality is now same. asus new batches seem to be better than the rushed out ones.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

Don't know if anyone can really help you decide, because it sounds like you already know the pros and cons of both. But I feel the same way. I really like both tablets, both have some great qualities, but both have some pretty big weaknesses too.
Going to just copy/paste what I just wrote on the Transformer board...
Transformer
+ $100 cheaper
+ micro SD
+ mini HDMI
+ netbook style keydock
Galaxy Tab 10.1
+ lighter and rounded edges (more comfortable)
+ better speakers
+ PLS display
+ LED flash
+ just better looking
Almost afraid to say it, because I detest custom UI, but I almost want to give the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a + for TouchWiz UX. The demo of it actually has some very nice looking features.
Because of the lack of micro SD I almost certainly will need to spend $200 more for a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1, versus the 16GB Transformer I'm using now with my 16GB micro SD card. So the price difference is greater (I am sure I need more than 16GB for a tablet).
....I own a Transformer now, it's my second one, and it has a screen defect. So I've run into some build quality issues with the Transformers. But I also have build quality fears for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. I've seen a lot of glass separation from the bezel in corners in a lot of video reviews. It looks a bit too common. Almost none of those video reviews call attention to it, but after seeing some complaints about it on this board and a article on Android Community, I've been looking carefully at those corners and now seem to notice it all the time.
Both are great tablets. I going to need to return my Transformer in about 5 days. So I still have a bit more time to mull it over.

+1 to what Ravynmagi said.
I actually returned my Transformer a couple weeks ago. For it's price point, it definitely is awesome, but I just didn't like the fact that I could literally flex and twist it and it would affect the light bleeding. I would rather pay the extra money to have something solid and according to a lot of video reviews, people are saying that even though it's plastic it feels just as solid as the iPad2... and I consider my iPad2 very solid.

I returned my TF today. Terrible screen separation under the bezel. A lot of FCs. Considerably heavier than the Tab. The extra 100 that i spent thus far seems well worth it.

The tab it's a better pure tablet. The transformer doesn't need a adapter for hdmi out.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Ok I know I’m biased but it's lighter, sleeker, thinner, PLS screen and great build quality. In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets. Ah yes and I can hold it in one hand.

FTFY
cosimoss said:
In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets.
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10 chars

I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share

Darkgage said:
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
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very good video

Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.

dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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supercurio seems to be enjoying the PLS screen on galaxy tab 10.1
I'm also intrigued by #GalaxyTab101 PLS screen (Samsung improved IPS). This thing could be or become pro photographer's dream calibrated.
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Samsung is in 3.1 now for both IO and Retail version, except 10.1v.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer

Ah ok ... Apologize to the poster
Mr.Duck said:
i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
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I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.

Ravynmagi said:
I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
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Damnit man.. now I'm going to return my TF too. I three defects and three annoyances.
- Hair under the screen.. looks like an eye lash
- Moderate light bleed.. increases when I hold it due to flex
- Bezel began creaking and moving
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.

ericc191 said:
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
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Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.

Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
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Yeah, my girlfriend is upset that I'm going to exchange. She says the back of the TF is perfect for grip.
Also, for people who purchased on Amazon, make sure you choose defective when returning. This shouldn't be an issue as nearly all TFs have light bleed.
I chose to put that I no longer wanted it, and they tried to add a 20% restocking fee. I called up and got that removed by telling them I hit the wrong button.

The Transformer & Iconia were somewhat similar. I like the many ports on the Acer, but it was rather heavy for one handed use. Trying to type in portrait was a pain because of the device weight. If the Galaxy had those ports, then it would not be as thin, & would weigh more. I returned the Acer & pre-ordered the Galaxy. I plan on getting the USB adapter and using it when needed, which will be every once in a while.

[Q] Tab 10.1 or EEE Transformer or Option C?

Ok, so i was instantly hooked the second Samsung teased their new thinner Tab10.1.
Since then i've been disapointed.
No Expandable memory (and only 16GB internal)
No HDMI
My 2 main uses for my tablet are reading News/Blogs and media consumption.
I just can't figure out if i'm ok with a thin, light, well performing tablet if it's going to lack video output and at least 32GB memory.
So far the EEE Pad Transformer is a fatter heavier option, but it might suit me better.
I'm open to be swayed one way or another. feel free to throw in another good recommendation too. it seems like theres 10 new Honeycomb tablets per week.
What do?

You won't notice 2mm more thickness if you are not hyped to it.
If you can live without the GT screen resolution, then yes, there are more functional Android tabs.
For me it's the display quality. I read a lot of books so it must be awesome.

I own an eeepc 1015pn that I added a 120gb ssd to, I was originally looking to purchase a transformer, prior to the release of the tab... but I would have ended up with two devices that were similar. that and the asus rep at the store kinda blew me off so I said F that.
I like the tab. its small and I don't need the extra space or ports, because I typically will have both my netbook and tablet with me at the same time.

The Transformer's thickness didn't bother me. It was the bezel, it's got squared edges and wasn't that comfortable to hold after a while, mainly in portrait mode.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is by far the most comfortable tablet I've held, even more comfortable than the iPad 2.
No HDMI out was a minor thing since that isn't something I would use much anyway, I could use a laptop instead. No micro SD actually bothered me a lot. But in the end I decided comfort was worth more than micro SD (and the cheaper price tag).
Another tablet to perhaps keep an eye on is the Toshiba Thrive. It's got a lot of nice ports, full SD, USB, micro USB, and full HDMI. Along with a removable back cover and battery. It's heavy though and that worries me some, but Engadget said it didn't feel as heavy as expected and the rubber back makes it more comfortable to hold.

Ravynmagi said:
The Transformer's thickness didn't bother me. It was the bezel, it's got squared edges and wasn't that comfortable to hold after a while, mainly in portrait mode.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is by far the most comfortable tablet I've held, even more comfortable than the iPad 2.
No HDMI out was a minor thing since that isn't something I would use much anyway, I could use a laptop instead. No micro SD actually bothered me a lot. But in the end I decided comfort was worth more than micro SD (and the cheaper price tag).
Another tablet to perhaps keep an eye on is the Toshiba Thrive. It's got a lot of nice ports, full SD, USB, micro USB, and full HDMI. Along with a removable back cover and battery. It's heavy though and that worries me some, but Engadget said it didn't feel as heavy as expected and the rubber back makes it more comfortable to hold.
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I have the Samsung 10.1,how do the screens compare to each other?I'm thinking about getting a transformer but is the Samsung 10.1 screen superior to it??

Barely. They're both very good screens but the Samsung one is more vibrant and bright (due to settings I'm sure).
PS: There should be a stickied topic regarding these... comparisons. Or people should learn to use the search.

cglowstick said:
No Expandable memory (and only 16GB internal)
...
I just can't figure out if i'm ok with a thin, light, well performing tablet if it's going to lack video output and at least 32GB memory.
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You do know you can get it with 32GB, right?

Itaintrite said:
Barely. They're both very good screens but the Samsung one is more vibrant and bright (due to settings I'm sure).
PS: There should be a stickied topic regarding these... comparisons. Or people should learn to use the search.
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Is it like comparing super amoled to retna display? Like that kind of difference?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

The new toshiba thrive

Did anyone see the new toshiba thrive yet? Sure, it's got nice features, but it's thicker and heavier than the gtab. Remember all those whines about how humongous and heavy the gtab was? Some people even described it as weighing a ton. Well, how on Earth are the going to survive with the thrive? LOL

I have one. Bought one Sunday as an upgrade to the gTab for me and handed off the gTab to my wife.
And overall, it is an upgrade. Honeycomb stock out of the box. Screen is much better, no problems with viewing angles. It weighs more and is slightly larger, but I don't notice. And with the weight and the textured back, it is actually easier to hold onto than the gTab.
Also, GPS, full size SD, user replaceable battery, and rear camera...all big upgrades over the gTab. Not as much modding yet, and the bootloader is locked, but it's coming.
The few negatives over the gTab: price (obviously), the charging cable is a laptop-like brick, and the SD card fits in the top and sticks out slightly (vs being tucked away in the gTab). Volume and portrait are the reverse...not so much a negative, but having to get used to.

I'm all for more tegra 2-based tablets on the market; I doubt I'll buy one as my gTab does what I need after some fiddling, but if someone just wants something that works out of the box (and has good specs for a reasonable price), the Thrive looks like a decent option. Then again, so is the eeePad.

If I can sell enough crap on craigslist Im just going to buy an ipad2. I dont care what my wife says. She can wait for her damn diamond ear rings! Google OS = Fail in my eyes. I was hopeful, i waited, and with no out reach to the people who asked for help. They have failed us. With only a couple of months away, iOS5 is looking mighty fine. And believe me, its a sad day when I buy an Apple product. 20 year hater.....soon to be lover.

MechAniX.one said:
If I can sell enough crap on craigslist Im just going to buy an ipad2. I dont care what my wife says. She can wait for her damn diamond ear rings! Google OS = Fail in my eyes. I was hopeful, i waited, and with no out reach to the people who asked for help. They have failed us. With only a couple of months away, iOS5 is looking mighty fine. And believe me, its a sad day when I buy an Apple product. 20 year hater.....soon to be lover.
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Here's my take on apple vs google vs microsoft.
I love apple. I highly recommend it to everyone. I absolutely love the fact that they make their software with dummies in mind. Speaking as the techie that's been helping dummies for years, it is at times frustrating. I'm certainly glad there's a company out there that makes all their softwares with dummies in mind.
The only reason I don't use apple products is I want to keep myself on my toes. I don't want to ever become lazy minded. I want to constantly force myself to learn new things. This is why I regularly purposely do dumb things to my gadgets to replicate people's problems.
I say go for the ipad. It is a great product. I've used it before. I absolutely love it. You'll have a great time with it.

The Thrive looks great. The inclusion of a full size SD Card slot seems so obvious for a device this size. It frustrates me to no end that the Gtab requires a micro SD Card, which results in more expensive storage for slower throughput. A 32GB Class 10 SD card is $50 compared to the $80 Class 4 Micro SD equivalent. When I get my quad core tablet a year from now there better be a SD Card port.

TarheelGrad1998 said:
Not as much modding yet, and the bootloader is locked, but it's coming.
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The bootloader is unlocked from the factory. I know, because I bricked my Thrive

I thought G-Tab didnt have an SD SLOT???
TarheelGrad1998 said:
I have one. Bought one Sunday as an upgrade to the gTab for me and handed off the gTab to my wife.
And overall, it is an upgrade. Honeycomb stock out of the box. Screen is much better, no problems with viewing angles. It weighs more and is slightly larger, but I don't notice. And with the weight and the textured back, it is actually easier to hold onto than the gTab.
Also, GPS, full size SD, user replaceable battery, and rear camera...all big upgrades over the gTab. Not as much modding yet, and the bootloader is locked, but it's coming.
The few negatives over the gTab: price (obviously), the charging cable is a laptop-like brick, and the SD card fits in the top and sticks out slightly (vs being tucked away in the gTab). Volume and portrait are the reverse...not so much a negative, but having to get used to.
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jpinks said:
I thought G-Tab didnt have an SD SLOT???
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There is a microSD slot and USB port on the left side under the cover right below the power button.

I just picked up a thrive and i think it is Awesome!! had a asus eepad and went through three of them because of screen bleed. the thrive is awesome full usb, HDMI, and sdcard the docks are dirt keep. battery backs comes in different colors. the asus doesn't compare in my book neither does the g-tablet. it was my first tablet and the viewing area sucked.

Rotary Parts said:
I just picked up a thrive and i think it is Awesome!! had a asus eepad and went through three of them because of screen bleed. the thrive is awesome full usb, HDMI, and sdcard the docks are dirt keep. battery backs comes in different colors. the asus doesn't compare in my book neither does the g-tablet. it was my first tablet and the viewing area sucked.
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Let's hope so since it is about double the price of a G Tablet.

TidBit said:
Let's hope so since it is about double the price of a G Tablet.
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but i loved the asus too but the screen bleed was killing me. don't get me wrong i loved the g-tab too used it everyday.

G tab thread FYI 9

Thought I only needed 10 posts to post in the dev fourms so here is 11

Its a nice tablet.
I got to check it out the other day at Best Lie.
It's beefy... But has a nice selection of ports to use.

Couple of pre-purchase questions
Hi, I have been considering the Thrive. I have several questions I hope some owner could answer:
1. I have a TripleHead2Go Digital Edition configured to 2-23" Asus monitors. Could a HDMI to DVI cable be used with the Thrive to power these two monitors thru the TH2GO?
2. Currently I have a laptop that I use wirelessly in our office to access the server files. Would this be possible on the Thrive?
3. How good is the speech to text for email composing?
Thanks for looking and especially if you can answer. Ken B

On the Fence Between the Thrive and Galaxy ab 10.1
I am leaning towards the Thrive cuz of the full usb, hdmi, replaceable battery,and sd slot. However, The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sexy! I have an Ipad, so I think I might just grab the Thrive instead.

CROMWarGOD said:
I am leaning towards the Thrive cuz of the full usb, hdmi, replaceable battery,and sd slot. However, The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sexy! I have an Ipad, so I think I might just grab the Thrive instead.
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I was in the same boat, but went with the thrive because of the included convenient full sized ports, and removable battery. For example, the HDMI adapter for the galaxy tab is 50-60$ alone. THOUGH I did hear from someone that it has a usb and micro sd slot under the back cover, though I've never actually seen it.

I have the gTablet and bought & tried the A500 and Transformer. My gTablet is rooted and bloat free, but is slow compared to any of the other devices. Display also is something only it's momma' could love.
Thrive wins for me due to the ports and 64gb sdxc cards work fine (I have a Ultra Sandisk). All three newer tablets have good and bad, but the ports combo and better display than the A500 won out.
All three have far more good points than bad, but the bad stuck out for me:
A500=
-Slip magnet
-USB host located where the tablet would normally be held
-Fine black stripes going vertically on the display (panel arrays)
-Weak wifi radio that had issues keeping connection in low signal areas
-Sleep/wake issue that persists for some, even after recent update
Transformer=
-Display less responsive than A500 or Thrive
-Proprietary connection needed for data and power
-Have to buy the keyboard to get the expanded connectivity
Thrive=
-Sleep mode issue (now fixed, BTW and an update should be anytime now).
-LED lights are obtrusive (nothing some tape can not block or reduce)
-A little thicker, but more comfortable and better to grip as a result
I got the 16gb Thrive for $402 after the $100 Staples coupon and then bought a Ultra 64gb sdxc card for $120. $522 for a 80gb tablet
None the less for all three tablets, they are all IMO worth a few hundred $ more than the gTablet, due to MUCH MUCH better displays, faster performance and more stable. Not to mention Viewsonic SUCKS.

Transformer vs Galaxy tab 10.1

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

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

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

^x2
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy sleeve m8,than will be perfect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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