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First off, let me say that i'm no fan of Apple and I really can't stand Steve Jobs. Yes, i've bought his products, but I hate being told what to do once I give him my money. I like customization. I like options. Hence, I do not like Steve Jobs.
I was very excited about the Xoom. I checked online every day for information about it since it's announcement. I had very high expectations and, even though the price tag was higher than I wanted to pay, I was the first to buy it at my local Best Buy.
Now, with that being said. I'm coming up on my 14 day return policy and am debating if I should keep it. I am new to this forum and have been reading through all the threads and learned a lot. However, in my learnings, I have also found things that concern me.
To start, let me tell you why I bought it. I had an iPad before and I mainly used it for online browsing around the house. For movies when I go on trips. And I wanted to use the Xoom for all of that, but also as my work and personal organizer. For easy access to business plans and work integration.
Here's where I'm having problems. If these are things that I should expect to be fixed with updates over time, then great. If not, then I'll have to find another option.
1) The Tegra Processor. I read on here that the Tegra Processor is what is preventing the Xoom from playing my divx movies. Now, I have gotten them to work on RockPlayer. But it has that watermark in the top left hand corner and my status bar at the bottom of the xoom never fades out. Also, and this is the biggest problem, the quality doesn't look good. It looks like their is a subtle light grid in the background. Almost like the original LCD's you saw in airports back in the day. When I first heard about the Tegra issues, I was just going to return the Xoom and get another Honeycomb tablet, but then I saw that all of the Android Tablets will have one.
2) The Browser. I did the trips where you go into debug mode and tell the Xoom to view all webpages in Desktop mode, but there are still a few sites that will only show me the mobile mode. Also, I like to have my bookmarks sorted by the order in which I visit them, yet the Xoom seems to randomly organize them for me. Kinda annoying.
3) Accessories. The only thing that I loved about my iPad was not the unit, but the Apple portfolio case. The motorola porfotlio case is just bulky, scratches the unit, and the latch is loose at best. I've found some nice leather cases online, but none that fold over and cover the screen. Yes, I have a screen protector. But, even those I can't find a good one with anti-glare.
4) eMail. I use exchange and apparently my work email is one of the ones that won't work on the xoom. I had to get Roadsync, which is okay, but I just prefer to use the default, integrated email/contacts/calendar programs. My EVO is perfect for this.
5) Widgets. Seriously, what's the deal with having cell phone sized widgets on a 10.1" screen. LauncherPro is nice, but still has custom icons like it's a phone, which I find to be in the way.
I know that most of these things seem small. But when you drop $800 on a device because you expect atleast the same functionality as your smaller cell phone, you come to have higher standards. I knew about Flash and the SD card issue going in, but the rest is bothersome. I know i'm an early adapter and with that comes quirks.
In any case, you all are 1000x smarter than me with this thing. I will take whatever advice you have.
1. Touchdown for tablets is great for email.
2. Some sites might not have updated their pages yet.
3. Apple always gets the third party love but more and more products are coming online everyday check Amazon
4. Being this is Google's flagship devise you have to believe this will be supported with updates and the file types should change
OK, first off, I agree with alot of what you have said, your right the software is a bit buggy at this time, again at this time. What you have to consider is that that this is an android device, and by that I mean it does not have all the overage that alot of companies put out on top of the overall software that make it look nice and neat, to include custom apps and infrastructure, but this also means that it is much easier to update. Half the time lost between when an actual Android update comes out and the time it takes for your device to get that update is due to all the crap that the company puts on top of the original Android infrastructure.
Give it a bit of time and I am sure that most of your problems can be worked out to you satisfaction due to them being software and not hardware problems.
Also take into account that since Motorola chose to use this clean interface it makes it much easier to modify by the hacking community , which is definitely something that an iPad cannot due.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
virgil1528 said:
1) The Tegra Processor. I read on here that the Tegra Processor is what is preventing the Xoom from playing my divx movies.
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Any CPU/GPU can play video so long as it supports the right codecs. Have you tried transcoding to a supported codec?
xlGmanlx said:
1. Touchdown for tablets is great for email.
2. Some sites might not have updated their pages yet.
3. Apple always gets the third party love but more and more products are coming online everyday check Amazon
4. Being this is Google's flagship devise you have to believe this will be supported with updates and the file types should change
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said.
+1 for Touchdown. It is fantastic for exchange, I use it on both my Evo and Xoom.
If this wasn't a Google Experience device, I'd say your complaints would carry more weight.
However, Google has always done a good job of keeping their GE devices updated and at the forefront.
This device only just came out, I'm fairly sure they will get things handled fairly quickly.
As far as the apps/widgets go. This is still a new device and platform. All android tablets are going to suffer from the same right now. However...again... this issue is largely due to the limited time the device/platform has been available. Within a few weeks...I'm sure we'll see a lot more apps/widgets (even the ipad had limited selection out right). Just think of what it'll be like in a couple of weeks/months with more custom apps/roms/kernels etc...
I had buyers remorse for the first evening...not for any particular reason...and now I can't put it down. Not to mention my wife (who has an iPad), won't shut-up about when she is getting her Xoom
So I would say hang on to it, but that's just me. Do what makes you happy
I've come to the decision that I'll be taking mine back on the 13th day.
I've tried to really give it love and get use out of it, but tablets just don't really fill any niche except "web browsing on the couch".
I'm a sysadmin by day, and although I've carried the Xoom with me every time I step away from my desk, it just hasn't served a single purpose on the job. I had imagined it would be neat to dial into servers using RDP, but the interface is just horrible. I'm much better off just dialing into the server in question at any desk I'm in front of. I'm never more than 8-12 feet from a desktop machine, so there goes that.
Pulse news reader is basically the killer app, but is hardly worth 1000 (799 + tax + extra charger + 129 protection plan against drops for 1yr + case).
Motorola certainly hasn't won me over on the price especially considering I prepaid for it on the first day I could (at two different best buys just to cover bases), and then people who *DIDN'T* do that had a chance at 200 dollars off that was honored in the end. Ridiculous.
I had intended to pick up android development for tablets eventually, but I can hold off and stick with honing my Python until these come way down in price or offer some more functionality.
That's too bad, this has taken over as my laptop and let's me have a mobile office so to speak
For RDP I use Remote RDP light and it works credibly, but if your looking for true RDP functionality then you have to have a mouse and keyboard, and guess what, you bought a tablet with a touch screen interface, you can buy a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you want, but that just means more devices to carry around. A tablet, any tablet, will not be the proper interface for RDP, it can't, it is not a PC with all the perifials. A tablet, as far as RDP is concerned, is a device to do what you have to do when a PC is not around and a cell phone is impractical. As a network administrator I can do some of the emergency things that I need to accomplish while out on the town with my tablet, reading a book, surfing the web, commenting on a blog, watching a movie, all without lugging a laptop.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Yeah, unless you wanted to leave the mouse and just use the tablet as a touch screen with a keyboard your better off with a laptop. But like you said in a pinch its tough too beat
richardjr said:
For RDP I use Remote RDP light and it works credibly, but if your looking for true RDP functionality then you have to have a mouse and keyboard, and guess what, you bought a tablet with a touch screen interface, you can buy a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you want, but that just means more devices to carry around. A tablet, any tablet, will not be the proper interface for RDP, it can't, it is not a PC with all the perifials. A tablet, as far as RDP is concerned, is a device to do what you have to do when a PC is not around and a cell phone is impractical. As a network administrator I can do some of the emergency things that I need to accomplish while out on the town with my tablet, reading a book, surfing the web, commenting on a blog, watching a movie, all without lugging a laptop.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
Keep the tab. U will love it in 6 months when everything is revamped
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Usmc7356 said:
Keep the tab. U will love it in 6 months when everything is revamped
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I don't imagine I'll walk away and never look back, but now I know what they're good for (and not good for) and when the price wars drive these down to 400ish I'll scoop one up again. : /
Not all tablets are create equal, and sometimes it takes having one first hand to validate all the information out there and how it applies to your situation
ixobelle said:
I don't imagine I'll walk away and never look back, but now I know what they're good for (and not good for) and when the price wars drive these down to 400ish I'll scoop one up again. : /
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Click to collapse
Return your Xoom and buy it in 6 months for cheaper price
Or probably there will be a new kind of better Honeycomb tablet at that time.
Usmc7356 said:
Keep the tab. U will love it in 6 months when everything is revamped
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
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codeman05 said:
Well said.
+1 for Touchdown. It is fantastic for exchange, I use it on both my Evo and Xoom.
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Click to collapse
I downloaded the free version of Touchdown this morning after reading this thread. Could you explain to me why it is so great? I haven't had time to use it extensively but maybe you can quickly list some advantages over the stock mail client?
Thanks!
I understand your frustration and you ultimately need to do what makes you feel most comfortable. Most of your issues are software related and you know things can only get better with updates. Google has a lot riding on Honeycomb so I expect updates to come fast and often.
1) The Tegra Processor - Seems like your issue is not with the Tegra but with how the codecs handle Divx. Software update could fix this but also developers can do wonders.
2) The Browser - Software update again. The browser is a great starting point and, with some minor tweaks, will be fantastic.
3) Accessories - As more Xooms sell, more 3rd parties will have a business case to make accessories for it. I'm thinking that when the Xoom wifi and Xoom for Europe are released (indications say that will happen at the same time) then we'll see a flood of new 3rd party goodies.
4) eMail - Software update. ALTHOUGH, I'm not 100% sure this is a priority for Google. People complain that they wish the AOSP phones went a step further with their Exchange implementations. Still, the chances are you'll be ok moving forward.
5) Widgets - This is a microcosm of the entire app market right now for Honeycomb. Devs need to start updating their apps with Tablets in mind. Again, more people owning Honeycomb, more reasons for devs to get on it.
The point I'm trying to make is the only way for the Xoom to go is up. As more people buy, more attention the aftermarket will pay to it. If previous Android versions are any indication (and they are,) this is a snowball effect. It'll just get bigger and bigger.
As to the RDP: I use the XtraLogic Remote Desktop app and it works wonderfully, completed designed around the touch interface.
Between Remote Desktop and ConnectBot, I've found a million uses for this as a sysadmin. I don't know how you haven't found a single use for it.
Hello Xoom owners,
I have been closely following the progress of the Xoom and am excited with what I'm seeing. I plan on purchasing the Wifi version when it releases in April. The reason I am interested in the Xoom is the productivity aspect of it, i.e. typing and web browsing. I'm not too worried about video playback or apps right now. My question to you is, how proficient is the Xoom in these categories? I need this tablet to be as much of a standalone device as it can be (unlike another tablet that needs to be plugged into itunes). I am happy to see usb mounting because this will help file transferring even more. I used pages on the ipad and was moderately impressed. Any opinions? How does the Xoom match up to the ipad in writing and the web?
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Epic 4G
same concern
i hav same concern, i guess xoom is much better than ipad2 coz of productivity, right now i dont care about apps. i want to browse faster...is it the ultimate machine to browse ??? one more thing can i use netflix thru browser
thankx
freddyraptor22 said:
i hav same concern, i guess xoom is much better than ipad2 coz of productivity, right now i dont care about apps. i want to browse faster...is it the ultimate machine to browse ??? one more thing can i use netflix thru browser
thankx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Xoom has zzero productivity apps, no word processor no excel. Honeycomb will Bea great os once they get rid of the lag, until that point apple really does win because it just works. Now i have a Xoom and the I pad 2, I love them both and trying to pick which one to return is ggoing to br vvery hard.
mchimney said:
The Xoom has zzero productivity apps, no word processor no excel. Honeycomb will Bea great os once they get rid of the lag, until that point apple really does win because it just works. Now i have a Xoom and the I pad 2, I love them both and trying to pick which one to return is ggoing to br vvery hard.
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Click to collapse
Documents to Go is available on android and iOS platform. What makes you claim that Xoom has zero productivity apps?
I have Documents to Go and although it's not optimized for Honeycomb, I haven't had any problems with it. I'm looking forward to a tablet version but for now I don't have any complaints.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
What about Google Docs? Is the standard html5 interface accessible?
I also use documents to go on the XOOM. No problems at all making word and excel docs. It also does power point, but i don't.
mchimney said:
The Xoom has zzero productivity apps, no word processor no excel. Honeycomb will Bea great os once they get rid of the lag, until that point apple really does win because it just works. Now i have a Xoom and the I pad 2, I love them both and trying to pick which one to return is ggoing to br vvery hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is just for the "I need a word processor NOW" effect then go with the iPad. From what I've heard the Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps are pretty sweet. If you want a great overall experience of a real OS, however, you should stick with the Xoom. I love how I can play around with it. And since I have no urgent need to write a lot or crunch numbers on the Xoom (that's what I have my laptop for for now) I will wait until something really effective comes out. For now I'm stuck with the Documents To Go which is very basic but at least I can open and view documents decently. Yes, it's the paid version.
bwcorvus said:
I also use documents to go on the XOOM. No problems at all making word and excel docs. It also does power point, but i don't.
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Click to collapse
HAHA! I would say what you get from D2G in regards to PowerPoint is more comparable to a very pathetic "PDF" version of a .ppt(x) file. No animations, picture effects are messed up, etc. BUT, if you have plain and simple presentations you can view them OK.
Shadomastr said:
Hello Xoom owners,
I have been closely following the progress of the Xoom and am excited with what I'm seeing. I plan on purchasing the Wifi version when it releases in April. The reason I am interested in the Xoom is the productivity aspect of it, i.e. typing and web browsing. I'm not too worried about video playback or apps right now. My question to you is, how proficient is the Xoom in these categories? I need this tablet to be as much of a standalone device as it can be (unlike another tablet that needs to be plugged into itunes). I am happy to see usb mounting because this will help file transferring even more. I used pages on the ipad and was moderately impressed. Any opinions? How does the Xoom match up to the ipad in writing and the web?
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Epic 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesnt match up at all. You just have to be patient, or go with the ipad. I chose the latter, but I'm impatient.
freddyraptor22 said:
i hav same concern, i guess xoom is much better than ipad2 coz of productivity, right now i dont care about apps. i want to browse faster...is it the ultimate machine to browse ??? one more thing can i use netflix thru browser
thankx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No netflix thru the browser because Netflix uses silverlight which has no android port.
I have no problem waiting for the word processing to get better on the xoom. I'm not planning on writing papers on this thing, maybe just rough drafts but it needs to have something. Probably going with the xoom, just having second thoughts after seeing the ipad 2.
Sent from my Epic 4G
docs.google.com works for me. i'm not doing anything with word docs and excel docs that cause any problems. i rely on docs.google.com for my cr-48 too. or at least i did. since the xoom arrived the cr-48 isn't getting much lovin'.
Okay i e-mail quickoffice to see if they're offering a honeycomb version of their suite
they made a tablet version specifically for notion ink adam as shown here:
so here what they said
"Hi Kam,
Quickoffice is indeed available on the Motorola XOOM. The app ships preinstalled on the device, and is currently available in view-only mode. Quickoffice for Honeycomb will be available soon, offering editing functionality as well. Please stay tuned!
Best,
Katelyn
Katelyn Perkins
LEWIS PR – Global Communications "
slshults said:
docs.google.com works for me. i'm not doing anything with word docs and excel docs that cause any problems. i rely on docs.google.com for my cr-48 too. or at least i did. since the xoom arrived the cr-48 isn't getting much lovin'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill take it haha
my Android SDK 3.0 lets me access GoogleDocs, just like the browser
I saw a post here a few weeks ago about Hexxeh (the guy behind all the ChromiumOS releases) having a build almost ready for our TF's, live-booted from a USB. Anyone know anything about the project in regards to progress or a possible ETA? As much as I love my Honeycomb, having a real web browser to actually do things like use Google Docs and what not would be really, really great.
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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You would be better off waiting for Google to release a proper Honeycomb optimized Docs app. Current Linux ports to Tegra-based hardware are slow and buggy, and not really ready for prime time. Even when fully optimized, most of the inherent snappiness in a Chromebook comes from the fact that it packs a SSD and RAM that are capable of several magnitudes faster I/O than the Tegra. The current Android browser performs a lot better than Chrome/Chromium OS ever could on a Tegra.
Well the people behind chrome are now working with the people in Android to make the browser better.
I narrowed my choices down to a Chrome Book, Netbook, and a Transformer. Bottom line was that the Transformer gives you many more options, plus the 16 hour battery capacity was a big chicken dinner winner!! I have the Chrome OS running on my laptop at work and all it is is installed icons with hotlinks to existing webpages and sites. Microsoft does offer their "skydrive" with a hotmail account. Skydrive is a 25gb account of free "cloud" storage inside your hotmail account, plus cloud versions of Word, Excel, PPoint and OneNote. But you can still get there on the browser on the Transformer. Between my dropbox, sugarsync, and MS Skydrive accounts, plus Google docs (all free), I can't imagine needing anymore cloud storage (32gb+). I also have an unlimited HostGator account for the really big stuff. Can access that on the Transformer also. Wifi is so universal now I can't remember the last time I actually used a tablet or laptop without a connection. I love leaving the house in the mornings and never having to worry about a plugin all day. At lunch, i just grab the tablet off the dock and do all my reading while eating. It's so light and handy. Tether to my Evo cell phone and I'm online anywhere anytime. Awesome!
ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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I asked that on the other thread if you want a device with an OS installed with ONLY a browser and a cloud app, buy a chrome book!
ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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Click to collapse
To have a working brower on the tablet I already bought. Internet is the main reason I bought it based on reviews that the browser was so damn good.
I am hopefull that I will not have to wait for Google to straighten up their Honeycomb browser as that does not even seem like any kind of priority for Android, despite the reorganisation that took place at Google. Saying that the Chrome team is working with the Android team does not equal them working on fixing the browser in a timely manner.
ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean... don't get me wrong, I love my TF and Honeycomb very much. I wouldn't be abandoning it, just sort of dualbooting between it and ChromiumOS. I really hope they pull themselves together to make a competent browser, I'm guessing for ICS. I want to be able to use the browser just as I do on my computer. No input lag like I'm experiencing right now typing this. The ability to use fullon web apps like Google Docs. No browser force closes after scrolling through my Tumblr dashboard for too long.
I'd let this one go. Hexxeh got rid of his TF.
Also, as a ChromeOS tester, I can say that it's not really worth even installing on devices made for it. The whole OS will be dead soon anyway, Android is clearly the horse Google is betting on.
SilverZero said:
I'd let this one go. Hexxeh got rid of his TF.
Also, as a ChromeOS tester, I can say that it's not really worth even installing on devices made for it. The whole OS will be dead soon anyway, Android is clearly the horse Google is betting on.
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Ah... now there's the answer I was looking for. I can stop waiting around for this then. Thanks!
I'm a college student that owns a Galaxy S III, and will have a 16 GB Nexus 7 when it arrives tomorrow. In addition to playing games, I'd like to be productive on the tablet.
What apps, or functionality, do you think college students could benefit from greatly?
What you studying?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
ereaders such as ebookdroid
And office suit like QuickOffice
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Google Drive will be a big part of the productivity. I wouldn't be any productivity suites since Google just bought one of the most popular ones. They will probably incorporate it for free.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I bought the Nexus 7 specifically to use it in college classes. I got the Logitech Android Keyboard along with it and so far I'm really pleased with how well it's made, despite the Nexus 7's finicky bluetooth.
I tried out a few different note-taking apps and honestly, the one I like the most so far is ASUS SuperNote. It seems to work out great with both typed and handwritten notes (especially when used with a stylus! )
Can.I.Haz.Jelly.Bean? said:
I'm a college student that owns a Galaxy S III, and will have a 16 GB Nexus 7 when it arrives tomorrow. In addition to playing games, I'd like to be productive on the tablet.
What apps, or functionality, do you think college students could benefit from greatly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just graduated and these tips helped me greatly. So here goes...
For note-taking, stick to a laptop. Yea, you can download various apps, buy bluetooth/wireless keyboards for your nexus 7 but why?? stick with what you got. Use onenote with your laptop to take notes & record simultaneously (search youtube for more detailed tips on onenote).
- Get familiar with google calender. (Keep a designated "personal" calender where you might wanna keep important dates, doctor appointments etc. Then another calender "school" where you will input midterms, exams, assignment dates with reminders. Google calender is awesome. .... ** I suggest "business calender" app for aggregating all your calenders eg "bills", "personal" "college" etc.
- Dropbox - Don't carry flash drive's with you to campus. Put all your assignments for school in appropriate folders (1st year > science > bio ...) on the cloud. I use dropbox. You can easily use cubby, box , skydrive, google drive/docs. Other than your usual word papers, powerpoint notes from professors..**.I suggest you keep a folder for college with your academic calender + resume + GPA calculator etc. This way you can make additions to your resume as your go along your academic career. Plus you have access to stuff like your resume at all times in case you need to email it to a professor, internship, etc.
- Evernote - Evernote is powerful. It's up to you how you use the software which consequently can confuse beginners since they feel lost. I personally use it to store important documents, passwords logins(encrypted offcourse), make checklists (what stuff to bring to your dorms), shopping lists. I have a notebook for my "college" > where my college docs are located according to course. Then for "dental school "> where all my loan information, housing leases's etc. **Check out CAMSCANNER app (buy the pro version) to take scans of important documents and send them to dropbox/evernote/email etc. ... Get in the habit of keeping everything organized right from the start!
- You wanna get stuff done? you need a to-do list app. Take your pick at any of the top ones... Remember the Milk, Astrid etc. I personally prefer Astrid. It sync across my phone, nexus 7, & computers.
- Mint - to keep your finances in order (bank accnts, credit cards, etc. ).
- Another vote for Quick Office /Pro - to open docs like word, ppt, excel etc . It also can access & sync across the major cloud services like dropbox, drive etc.
- Splashtop Remote - I think its 5 bucks but worth it if you need functionality to stream your computer to your tablet. I use it to open flash sites (noobroom) & access my hard-drive remotely.
(optional) Tasker - Google it. Buy it if automation interests you.
Hope this was helpful and not a random rant.
ateebtk said:
For note-taking, stick to a laptop. Yea, you can download various apps, buy bluetooth/wireless keyboards for your nexus 7 but why?? stick with what you got.
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Because I bike to campus and my laptop weighs 9 pounds, while a Nexus 7 is pretty much insubstantial. Got the tablet because it would be cheaper than buying a new laptop, and it's really comfortable to type on. Sync Google Drive using wifi on campus, and my notes are ready for me on my computer the second I get to my apartment. Easy.
As for productivity, WolframAlpha is an amazing app for math classes, just waiting for them to update it for Jelly Bean.
Sent from my SGH-I997
Yeah, I bought mine for use at college, and the essentials are a good keyboard you like, a note-taking app you will actually use, and stickmount so you can edit from flash drives on the go. Oh, and a really sturdy stand, if you don't have a stand case. Beyond that, to each their own. I spent five bucks on a screenwriting app, but that's a pretty niche buy. Go look for your textbooks on every e-reader site you can (all but one of mine is Kindle). -Ara
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
rowanparker said:
What you studying?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Communication. More specifically, I'm majoring in Organizational Communication
Lennyuk said:
And office suit like QuickOffice
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Looks very nice! I don't think this will come in handy too often, but it looks like on that rare occasion it will come in handy! It's very unfortunate that the Nexus 7 has no sort of HDMI output. That's my only gripe about the phone as far as I can tell before getting it. However, my Samsung Galaxy S III will be compatible with an MHL adapter, so that may come in handy for making presentations!
kangxi said:
Google Drive will be a big part of the productivity. I wouldn't be any productivity suites since Google just bought one of the most popular ones. They will probably incorporate it for free.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Docs is great. However, formatting can sometimes be a bit funky. I'll save a doc from Google Docs, and it will look different in Word. Formatting is VERY important to me to save documents in specific formats such as APA and MLA. If in the wrong format, it could lead to plagiarism, which would lead to academic dishonesty on my record/failing grades/waste of thousands of dollars. I need to make sure everything is perfect, and Google Docs doesn't have that at the moment. At least, I could never get everything to look the same as Microsoft Word.
farmerbb said:
I bought the Nexus 7 specifically to use it in college classes. I got the Logitech Android Keyboard along with it and so far I'm really pleased with how well it's made, despite the Nexus 7's finicky bluetooth.
I tried out a few different note-taking apps and honestly, the one I like the most so far is ASUS SuperNote. It seems to work out great with both typed and handwritten notes (especially when used with a stylus! )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to learn how to install .apk files manually. However, that app looks very cool! Between having to work with a tablet and a bluetooth keyboard, wouldn't it just be easier to use a laptop though?
ateebtk said:
I just graduated and these tips helped me greatly. So here goes...
For note-taking, stick to a laptop. Yea, you can download various apps, buy bluetooth/wireless keyboards for your nexus 7 but why?? stick with what you got. Use onenote with your laptop to take notes & record simultaneously (search youtube for more detailed tips on onenote).
- Get familiar with google calender. (Keep a designated "personal" calender where you might wanna keep important dates, doctor appointments etc. Then another calender "school" where you will input midterms, exams, assignment dates with reminders. Google calender is awesome. .... ** I suggest "business calender" app for aggregating all your calenders eg "bills", "personal" "college" etc.
- Dropbox - Don't carry flash drive's with you to campus. Put all your assignments for school in appropriate folders (1st year > science > bio ...) on the cloud. I use dropbox. You can easily use cubby, box , skydrive, google drive/docs. Other than your usual word papers, powerpoint notes from professors..**.I suggest you keep a folder for college with your academic calender + resume + GPA calculator etc. This way you can make additions to your resume as your go along your academic career. Plus you have access to stuff like your resume at all times in case you need to email it to a professor, internship, etc.
- Evernote - Evernote is powerful. It's up to you how you use the software which consequently can confuse beginners since they feel lost. I personally use it to store important documents, passwords logins(encrypted offcourse), make checklists (what stuff to bring to your dorms), shopping lists. I have a notebook for my "college" > where my college docs are located according to course. Then for "dental school "> where all my loan information, housing leases's etc. **Check out CAMSCANNER app (buy the pro version) to take scans of important documents and send them to dropbox/evernote/email etc. ... Get in the habit of keeping everything organized right from the start!
- You wanna get stuff done? you need a to-do list app. Take your pick at any of the top ones... Remember the Milk, Astrid etc. I personally prefer Astrid. It sync across my phone, nexus 7, & computers.
- Mint - to keep your finances in order (bank accnts, credit cards, etc. ).
- Another vote for Quick Office /Pro - to open docs like word, ppt, excel etc . It also can access & sync across the major cloud services like dropbox, drive etc.
- Splashtop Remote - I think its 5 bucks but worth it if you need functionality to stream your computer to your tablet. I use it to open flash sites (noobroom) & access my hard-drive remotely.
(optional) Tasker - Google it. Buy it if automation interests you.
Hope this was helpful and not a random rant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GREAT post! Thanks for the suggestions! I will utilize a lot of these apps. I already use Google Calendar. I have my personal calendar, and calendars for different organizations on campus that I'm involved in. It's nice to have everything work automatically between my phone, computer, and (as of tomorrow) tablet. Considering Google Calendar is compatible with almost every device out there, everyone should be using it.
Dropbox is great. I just wish that AT&T did their deal with Samsung to get AT&T users the free 50 GB of online storage. I have a feeling I'll be using Dropbox for some things and Google Drive for some things to make sure I have plenty of cloud storage.
I've never bothered to look into Evernote. I've heard only great things about it though. I guess it will be worth looking into.
Astrid looks good. I used to just use the notes app on my iPhone to get things done. As I got things done, I'd delete them. I'll look into this app though. Might as well give it a try.
Tasker... I can't even tell what this app is!
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.
My goal herei s NOT to replace my laptop. I feel many people are eager to replace their laptops with tablets, and it ends up making their lives more complicated with all the services and accessories they need. I'm looking to make my tablet COMPLIMENT my life right now. The Nexus 7 is not at all a laptop replacement. Right now my life involves me making a daily commute to an internship, taking lots of classes, and working with different organizations around campus. This tablet I hope will enhance everything that I do, boost my productivity, and.... be good for playing some games! A goal I have this year is to go 100% paperless. I don't think I'll be able to do it, but it would be darn awesome if I could do that between using note taking apps, cloud storage, and other services. I want everything digital. If it gets too complicated though, then my Nexus 7 will just become a fun entertainment device for when I want a break.
This is normal.
If you can download the apk's on your laptop, use AirDroid to throw them to your nexus 7. Great thing about AirDroid is that you don't need to download and install it on a computer, its all Web Based.
Also thank you all for these great tips, its going to be my last year in highschool and I'd like to be very prepared for college/uni(for those folks in Europe).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Shamushand said:
Because I bike to campus and my laptop weighs 9 pounds, while a Nexus 7 is pretty much insubstantial. Got the tablet because it would be cheaper than buying a new laptop, and it's really comfortable to type on. Sync Google Drive using wifi on campus, and my notes are ready for me on my computer the second I get to my apartment. Easy.
As for productivity, WolframAlpha is an amazing app for math classes, just waiting for them to update it for Jelly Bean.
Sent from my SGH-I997
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I obviously don't know what your school is or your major. But what do you do when you take a real math class that actually requires you to use Matlab or Maple IN CLASS as part of a lab or any number of extensive math programs? Or requires you to use any number of specialty programs (CAD, Labview, etc...)?
Can.I.Haz.Jelly.Bean? said:
My goal herei s NOT to replace my laptop. I feel many people are eager to replace their laptops with tablets, and it ends up making their lives more complicated with all the services and accessories they need. I'm looking to make my tablet COMPLIMENT my life right now. The Nexus 7 is not at all a laptop replacement. Right now my life involves me making a daily commute to an internship, taking lots of classes, and working with different organizations around campus. This tablet I hope will enhance everything that I do, boost my productivity, and.... be good for playing some games! A goal I have this year is to go 100% paperless. I don't think I'll be able to do it, but it would be darn awesome if I could do that between using note taking apps, cloud storage, and other services. I want everything digital. If it gets too complicated though, then my Nexus 7 will just become a fun entertainment device for when I want a break.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're looking at this the right way. Every device is suited well for certain things and not so well for others. I've found my N7 to be awesome for kicking back and playing games, poking around online, and doing a few lightweight tasks here and there. Most serious productivity, however, is best left to laptops, just like most serious gaming is best left to consoles or PCs.
There have been a lot of great app recommendations and I can't add many; I've been out of college for three years and a lot has changed since then. All I can suggest is what I did when I first got mine: copy over everything you have on your phone that you think you'd use, and slowly start adding things you think you'd like better on the tablet. Also, keep an eye on some of the blogs (RSS is good for this), as most of them post app recommendations now and then. It'll never replace your phone or laptop, but over time you'll find things that you like doing best on the tablet and it will end up complementing both quite nicely.
On another note, I can at least help with manually installing .apk files. Just go into Settings -> Security and check the "unknown sources" box. After that, all you have to do is open the file you've downloaded and follow the prompts.
rman726 said:
I obviously don't know what your school is or your major. But what do you do when you take a real math class that actually requires you to use Matlab or Maple IN CLASS as part of a lab or any number of extensive math programs? Or requires you to use any number of specialty programs (CAD, Labview, etc...)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He could always use a VPN and RDP solution.
If your college provide specific, it will be a must install
Also you may download some sort of study management apps, like istudiez/ihomework on iOS or Yesterday on Palm. I am not sure if android have similar apps in market
Evernote
Sent from my oc'd cm10 nexus 7
mi7chy said:
He could always use a VPN and RDP solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't recommend that. I've tried remotely operating Matlab with my Transformer Prime, and coding with lag is not so hot. Even with a mouse the interface is a bit too wonky for heavy duty work.
Take notes? Certainly a tablet can handle the basics. I'd recommend Handy Notes for written (or hybrid written/typed) notes...waaaay better than SuperNote (but costs 0.99 cents). I've tried ALL of them and that's the only one that I think has an intuitive interface for handwriting and isn't laggy (I'm looking at you FreeNote). Plus it allows lots of formatting options.
If you just want to type, any of the word processors will do. I'm perfectly fine working with Google Drive's word processor. Presentations are fine as well--just stay the heck away from spreadsheets.
Three_Bob said:
If you can download the apk's on your laptop, use AirDroid to throw them to your nexus 7. Great thing about AirDroid is that you don't need to download and install it on a computer, its all Web Based.
Also thank you all for these great tips, its going to be my last year in highschool and I'd like to be very prepared for college/uni(for those folks in Europe).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, ok. I didn't know that .apk files are the apps themselves. Still learning some things. =P I'll give Asus's program a try then! I think that taking notes on a tablet will be a lot tougher than handwritten notes. I'll give it a try though! Couldn't hurt. It's part of my goal of going 100% paperless. If my notes are digital though, I'd like to be able to upload in the cloud to access them on my phone and laptop. (Not sure if Supernote lets you do that. I didn't check.)
bushpilotwannabe said:
You're looking at this the right way. Every device is suited well for certain things and not so well for others. I've found my N7 to be awesome for kicking back and playing games, poking around online, and doing a few lightweight tasks here and there. Most serious productivity, however, is best left to laptops, just like most serious gaming is best left to consoles or PCs.
There have been a lot of great app recommendations and I can't add many; I've been out of college for three years and a lot has changed since then. All I can suggest is what I did when I first got mine: copy over everything you have on your phone that you think you'd use, and slowly start adding things you think you'd like better on the tablet. Also, keep an eye on some of the blogs (RSS is good for this), as most of them post app recommendations now and then. It'll never replace your phone or laptop, but over time you'll find things that you like doing best on the tablet and it will end up complementing both quite nicely.
On another note, I can at least help with manually installing .apk files. Just go into Settings -> Security and check the "unknown sources" box. After that, all you have to do is open the file you've downloaded and follow the prompts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
x-magic said:
If your college provide specific, it will be a must install
Also you may download some sort of study management apps, like istudiez/ihomework on iOS or Yesterday on Palm. I am not sure if android have similar apps in market
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the way I make myself study is through procrastination. I'm a horrible procrastinator, so I learned to use it to my advantage. I start off every homework/study session by watching an episode of a show I like. Then I make a short goal for myself (like memorize 5 terms if it's memorizing, or get a certain amount of sources for a research paper), and then I watch another episode. Then I make another short goal. I just use my horrible procrastination to an advantage. By the end of everything, I watched a whole lot of TV, and I got a ton done. Thank you Netflix.
Buy a BT keyboard that works for you: that means it should be portable and comfortable to use. If it's too big you'll never pack it in your bag, and if you don't enjoy typing on it it'll never make it out of the bag. Don't go for one of the cramped, squishy rubber key ones you see on eBay or Amazon third party sellers, or a gimmicky keyboard case. Unless you have baby hands no 7" tablet keyboard case will be practical for tapping out more than a couple of emails. Read reviews, buy from a place that makes returns easy, and try a few out. I like the HP Touchpad keyboard, but there are many others out there too.
Sigh. Just had some disturbing problems with polaris office and I think this may be the straw that causes me to return the note before my date comes up on it. I just post this here in case other people are thinking about purchasing one or want to know its limitations.
I would preface this by saying I absolutely love this note, it works amazing, is fast, light, amazing build and am continually impressed by it. All the shortcomings are more of the android ecosystems issue.
So the issue, Ive been editing documents in Polaris office during meetings, and finally have noticed that polaris has been quietly corrupting my documents. Sure they look good, even edited. But when I open them in Word there are small but aggravating issues. The biggest is it breaks paragraphs, and I have no idea how to fix them in Word.
For example paragraphs st
art looking like this with th
e wording and word spacin
g all disjoined. And Micro
soft says if this happens yo
ur Document is corrupt.
I have found other people online and even on XDA complaining about this issue over a year ago, don't know if there is a solution but it doesnt seem like. I also wonder how I would get updates to Polaris (why isnt it in google play?).
Other problems include SNote not quite being up to par, and not being able to find a suitable replacement, although lecturenotes tries hard and may get there. Not being able to find a lot of high quality apps in other categories (e.g. childrens books/learning games). And it not playing nice enough with my groupwise/exchange appointments.
Darn I like this thing. But I keep thinking on the 26th Ill get an amazing SNote replacement (one note) with complete office integration, pluse my email will work fine. Oh and Ill be able to get unlimited learning games on an x86 tablet. Only downside the thing would probably only last 7-10 hours in battery life instead of the 2 days my notes been going. Hmmmmm
Anyone else notice this problem in Polaris? Solution?
Get a different app and keep your Note. Samsung doesn't make Polaris.
hanexs said:
Sigh. Just had some disturbing problems with polaris office and I think this may be the straw that causes me to return the note before my date comes up on it. I just post this here in case other people are thinking about purchasing one or want to know its limitations.
I would preface this by saying I absolutely love this note, it works amazing, is fast, light, amazing build and am continually impressed by it. All the shortcomings are more of the android ecosystems issue.
So the issue, Ive been editing documents in Polaris office during meetings, and finally have noticed that polaris has been quietly corrupting my documents. Sure they look good, even edited. But when I open them in Word there are small but aggravating issues. The biggest is it breaks paragraphs, and I have no idea how to fix them in Word.
For example paragraphs st
art looking like this with th
e wording and word spacin
g all disjoined. And Micro
soft says if this happens yo
ur Document is corrupt.
I have found other people online and even on XDA complaining about this issue over a year ago, don't know if there is a solution but it doesnt seem like. I also wonder how I would get updates to Polaris (why isnt it in google play?).
Other problems include SNote not quite being up to par, and not being able to find a suitable replacement, although lecturenotes tries hard and may get there. Not being able to find a lot of high quality apps in other categories (e.g. childrens books/learning games). And it not playing nice enough with my groupwise/exchange appointments.
Darn I like this thing. But I keep thinking on the 26th Ill get an amazing SNote replacement (one note) with complete office integration, pluse my email will work fine. Oh and Ill be able to get unlimited learning games on an x86 tablet. Only downside the thing would probably only last 7-10 hours in battery life instead of the 2 days my notes been going. Hmmmmm
Anyone else notice this problem in Polaris? Solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the faux-Office products are great; on the Note or any other Android device. I do OK editing existing documents but the more complex ones (outlines, tables, charts, graphs) can be challenging. I pretty much don't use formatting when I'm creating a documents from scratch and import it in to Word as text and finish it off there. You sound like an excellent candidate for a W8 tablet. Speaking of which, MS has said (via Europe) Office for Android is due late this year via TechNet and early next year generally.
Before you send it back, try this app as it is supposed to resemble MS Word really well, there is a free trial if you give them your email and register your interest:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/ofa_en.htm
hanexs said:
Sigh. Just had some disturbing problems with polaris office and I think this may be the straw that causes me to return the note before my date comes up on it. I just post this here in case other people are thinking about purchasing one or want to know its limitations.
I would preface this by saying I absolutely love this note, it works amazing, is fast, light, amazing build and am continually impressed by it. All the shortcomings are more of the android ecosystems issue.
So the issue, Ive been editing documents in Polaris office during meetings, and finally have noticed that polaris has been quietly corrupting my documents. Sure they look good, even edited. But when I open them in Word there are small but aggravating issues. The biggest is it breaks paragraphs, and I have no idea how to fix them in Word.
For example paragraphs st
art looking like this with th
e wording and word spacin
g all disjoined. And Micro
soft says if this happens yo
ur Document is corrupt.
I have found other people online and even on XDA complaining about this issue over a year ago, don't know if there is a solution but it doesnt seem like. I also wonder how I would get updates to Polaris (why isnt it in google play?).
Other problems include SNote not quite being up to par, and not being able to find a suitable replacement, although lecturenotes tries hard and may get there. Not being able to find a lot of high quality apps in other categories (e.g. childrens books/learning games). And it not playing nice enough with my groupwise/exchange appointments.
Darn I like this thing. But I keep thinking on the 26th Ill get an amazing SNote replacement (one note) with complete office integration, pluse my email will work fine. Oh and Ill be able to get unlimited learning games on an x86 tablet. Only downside the thing would probably only last 7-10 hours in battery life instead of the 2 days my notes been going. Hmmmmm
Anyone else notice this problem in Polaris? Solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Return your Note 10.1, and wait for the Surface.
Another great app worth looking at is OfficeSuite Pro and remember that sNote should receive a very nice update with the JB release that I am hoping/expecting before month's end.
Wait for the 4.1 update and maybe it'll be resolved
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app
Livebyte said:
Return your Note 10.1, and wait for the Surface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to wait on W8 that's all good but bring money. Getting the same level of performance as the SGN10.1 with pen input will cost you many hundreds more.
Don't get the Surface - it's junk with that silly soft keyboard. How the heck do you even use it on your lap? I guess it's called "Surface" because you have to have a flat surface to use it.
Returning a device you love because an app that's available for it sucks? That's ... an interesting decision. You know Samsung's decision to bundle Polaris Office doesn't mean you have to use it, do you?
Softmaker Office is a very popular alternative among XDA members. Last time I looked, they only had the word processor available on the Play store, not spreadsheets, presentations etc. You can probably get them from the developer's website.
There are also plenty of other alternatives. Kingsoft Office gets VERY good reviews on the play store - I'm tempted to try it just from the reviews. OfficeSuite Pro is also apparently good on a tablet.
BarryH_GEG said:
None of the faux-Office products are great; on the Note or any other Android device. I do OK editing existing documents but the more complex ones (outlines, tables, charts, graphs) can be challenging. I pretty much don't use formatting when I'm creating a documents from scratch and import it in to Word as text and finish it off there. You sound like an excellent candidate for a W8 tablet. Speaking of which, MS has said (via Europe) Office for Android is due late this year via TechNet and early next year generally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And there are reports (take with grain of salt) that MS will be offering a version of Office Mobile for android.
I just did a round of budgeting at work on my Note 10.1 using OfficeSuite Pro and had no issues. Primarily Excel. No problems with formulas at all.
HasC said:
Before you send it back, try this app as it is supposed to resemble MS Word really well, there is a free trial if you give them your email and register your interest:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/ofa_en.htm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the tip. I just got this from the play store and it seems really good so far
Thanks for all the tip. Installed OfficeSuit Pro, and Softmaker and QuickOffice pro. Softmaker worked the best, but none of them had the ability to input with the stylus (e.g. freehand draw) like polaris does. Polaris really sold me on this tablet, I mean sure, it doesnt have onenote, but who needs onenote when i can instantly open the doc from my dropbox, make the notes I need, and finalize when I get back to the office. But it doesnt really look like thats possible yet with polaris corrupting so many files. And if Im going to type out my nights, I have an amazing Lenovo Thinkpad X100e that blows any tablet out of the water for keyboard entry. I was really hoping for stylus support, but the apps just arent here yet, Ill look again on Jelly Bean update, seems like this stylus computer dream has been in waiting for sooo long.
Incidentally my 2 year old daughter really loves the tablet. shes been the one reason I've been wanting to keep it, all the touch games, shes been doing puzzles and books and learning her letters with it, quite amazing. Now I just have to decide what to get her, Nexus is pretty cheap, or there might be some used ipads kicking around with better app support (might as well get a toy to be used as a toy after all).
Samsung made an awesome piece of hardware here, all the talk about it feeling cheap is wrong, its slick, fast, small, light and just awesome to hold. Just wish it had some better app support. Soon hopefully.
Get 7Notes with mazec. It's an HWR keyboard you Can use almost everywhere.
Here's the thing MS has for years worked real hard to keep their office suite and word processing software proprietary and have been quite sucsessful at this. So any time you try to use a system that is not controled by MS with MS software you will find this problem to some extent. Whether it is a tablet, laptop or desktop. This is one of the reasons I refuse to use MS products, but that is me. What all this means to you is until you find a MS compatible tablet running MS software that MS has said is compatible with their office suite you will have these problems. On top of that there is (as yet) no evidence that a Windows tablet will be 100% compatible with all Windows software. In fact there are reports that there will be programs that would run on Win 7 that are not expected to run on Win 8.
My question to you is do you want the features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.0 or do you want to give up those features and hope a MS Windows machine will fulfill your needs without compromises? I personally have never seen an OS or a computing device that did not have compromises.
Think I read last night Microsoft are releasing office for android soon.
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*DELETED*
Sparksltd said:
Think I read last night Microsoft are releasing office for android soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... and today they denied the statement.
smrsxn said:
... and today they denied the statement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's coming...just like a lot of their Xbox live features made their way to the iOS ecosystem. Of course they denied their slip, it is just a few weeks until their new tablets become available. I am sure a big selling point of Surface and other Win 8 tabs will be the availability of MS Office products, if they did not deny the rumors; those who were going to switch from iOS and Android because of Office would have just stayed with their current devices instead of dropping $$$ on MS's new Hardware. MS is smart, they know they can penetrate other ecosystems with their products. They will just wait until the hype surrounding Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT dies down so that they can capitalize on hardware sales out of the gate.
Having said that, I dropped my PC and have moved on to just using the GN10.1. I am a freelance journalist, and I do all of my writing on the tablet. Polaris is good, but Office Suite Pro 6 is excellent. I have zero problems creating and editing pieces in .doc format. It just works.
Its back and I already miss it! lol
The microsoft atoms should be able to fill what I need, but I suspect they'll have their own problems. Still, samsungs making one with a keyboard dock and s-pen. Might be enticing.
The other office programs worked better, but they didnt have the ability to free draw on top of the document like polaris has. I want a tablet because in my many meetings, when someone is commenting or we are discussing a plan, I want to quickly mark it up. I can go back to my top to do the real work, but the thoughts I'd like to write, directly on the document in question. I can't do that in snote because my pc cant modify snote. And if I have to type it I'll just bring my netbook. Has anyone found an office program that works well with an ability to free draw? I bought a few last night but couldnt find one.
I may get a note 10.1 again in a couple months, who knows the app I need might be in development