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Hola Guys...can somebody list some reasons to own a XOOM tablet if you already own a laptop(macbook pro)? Everyday im drooling more and more for this tablet...but I don't see a very good reason to own one if somebody have a laptop thats in very good condition...
Well.. if you didn't already figure this one out yourself, here is a list from the top of my head:
With a laptop:
1) You can't hold a laptop with the lid open in one hand and use it (for a long period)
2) You can't remove the keyboard from the screen if all you want to do is read/watch movies (it's stuck there forever)
3) You can't use the screen to navigate (you need the touchpad or "joyknob" or mouse)
4) You don't have a camera on the back to snap pictures
5) You usually have to carry an extra bag/backpack (charger, cables, mouse, ..)
With a tablet:
1) You can't read/write DVD's
2) You can't use it for high CPU/memory intensive tasks (coding, video editing, 3D raytracing,etc.)
Most people can perfectly combine a tablet and a laptop for their tasks: a laptop for coding/video-editing/burning, and a tablet for email, ebooks, twitter/fb, movies, music, (video)chatting, pictures and browsing.
The biggest one for me would have to be: you can't connect an external hard drive to a tablet.
I have all my videos on my 1tb 2.5"...
I'm planning on selling my laptop- probably wont get much for it, but keeping it seems redundant.
Sent from N1 XDA
magicdroid's list hits all the major pros and cons. For me, the major incentive is instant-on for web browsing and a few other apps.
asianxtreme - most of us just have a decent size SD card and rotate shows/movies.
OP - the one catch to all the arguments in favor of a tablet would be having the latest Macbook Air. It has instant-on and amazing battery life. I'm no Apple fan, but having one of those would easily convince me to ditch almost any tablet, as it is extremely thin and light. Of course, the pricetag is pretty unfriendly.
Dont you already have an incredible/fascinate?
asianxtreme said:
The biggest one for me would have to be: you can't connect an external hard drive to a tablet.
I have all my videos on my 1tb 2.5"...
I'm planning on selling my laptop- probably wont get much for it, but keeping it seems redundant.
Sent from N1 XDA
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You'd really want to stream anyway. Local storage is starting to phase out in a way. Everything is in the cloud or at least stored on a home media server/desktop.
SMB is used for accessing public shares... and the apps for running them from an SMB are getting better.
For me, why I want a tablet?
1. Battery life
2. Instant on (no need to wait for booting!)
3. Easy to carry and hold
4. Touch screen friendly (I hate mouse)
That's all the points, bottom line, it is for most of daily tasks and entertainments:
- Web browsing, email, movies, photo viewer, reading?, facebook, games ...
If I need heavy duty tasks like photo / video editing, coding then I will sit in front of my desktop computer.
Otherwise, just lay down in the couch or bed with the tablet!
Fast, easy and simple
For me I had purchased a G73 asus laptop, which is way to heavy for daily carry. So a tablet will be something i will use for class and entertainment purposes when i'm out and about. the laptop will remain in the house and only be carried out when I need to do some extensive work on it for class.
I decided to get a tablet when I had a crappy delivery job for 3 days and needed to enter delivery information into a google spreadsheet while driving. I tried it unsuccesfully with a 17" Toshiba X205-S9349 laptop... it was marketed as a gaming laptop so it's not a perfect example. It is BARELY a laptop as heavy as it is. It's heavier in a laptop bag then my kindle, evo, thumb drives, pens, cables, evo, and a viewsonic g-tablet in my messenger bag.
I also say DON'T SELL YOUR LAPTOP. Unless you are on a right budget, it's better to have backup devices because things break. My parents talked me out of selling my laptop and it has saved my ass on numerous occasions. Be a true geek and have a device for every occasion. Your tablet will be your everyday mobile device that can do pretty much all of what you could need on the go. It can read/edit documents... record audio(actually I'm unsure about this and can't find an answer, did they forget to put a mic on this thing?), pictures, video. It offers you full internet, which is a big deal because you can do most anything with web apps these days. Think Star Trek, or Stargate Atlantis, or any other sci-fi where they use a tablet. I really do think one day laptops will be obsolete.
We will simply have tablets with docking stations. I mean think about how capable your phone is. My HTC EVO does EVERYTHING I need on the go, except that it is too small for some things and a touch slow on some. The difference between a 4.3" EVO and a 10.1" Xoom is not just a superior UI.. its 450% increased screen area.
Stargate Atlantis is why I'm getting a tablet, it's the future.
There is no easy way to mane anything because in actuality eventhough tablets are pretty cool they have not got far enough yet to replace a laptop yet....Don't get me wrong they are close all they really need to do is make it so u can collect external hard drives and cd/dvd drives.
vamp6x6x6x said:
There is no easy way to mane anything because in actuality eventhough tablets are pretty cool they have not got far enough yet to replace a laptop yet....Don't get me wrong they are close all they really need to do is make it so u can collect external hard drives and cd/dvd drives.
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It's been reported that Laptops only just overtook the desktop last year. I dont think true tablets will ever support external devices like hard-drives or cd-drives. It's not the direction of technology. Yes, we need them now, but we wont in 5 years. solid state drives will hit the TB range by then if not sooner. Also, most of our pictures will be on the cloud, videos will be streamed from your home media server or you'll buy (own) the rights to stream shows/movies from the web instead of having subscriptions (think eBooks, but with movies).
Tablets will overtake laptops, but we'll still have need for docking stations, for real work, for at least another 10 years.
I think I could almost get away with using a tablet as my primary work device.
I already use Google Docs as my word processor, so no problems there.
For coding, the only thing I need is a terminal and an SSH client, since most of the stuff I do is remote using Vim.
Of course, I do need some sort of physical keyboard, when I'm doing heavy-duty stuff, so I'm hoping that something like this...
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/e65a/
...is eventually released for tablets with the Xoom's form factor.
That said, it would be more difficult for me to lose the Gimp, which I use frequently. I am still not happy with the online graphics tools I've found. Maybe Adobe will eventually release a more powerful version of Photoshop for tablets, but I'm not holding my breath.
Xevilious said:
I think I could almost get away with using a tablet as my primary work device.
I already use Google Docs as my word processor, so no problems there.
For coding, the only thing I need is a terminal and an SSH client, since most of the stuff I do is remote using Vim.
Of course, I do need some sort of physical keyboard, when I'm doing heavy-duty stuff, so I'm hoping that something like this...
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/e65a/
...is eventually released for tablets with the Xoom's form factor.
That said, it would be more difficult for me to lose the Gimp, which I use frequently. I am still not happy with the online graphics tools I've found. Maybe Adobe will eventually release a more powerful version of Photoshop for tablets, but I'm not holding my breath.
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You can use any Bluetooth keyboard with the Xoom. The tablet only has to support (HID) protocol. Actually, if you go over to the MOTO website, there's a docking station as well as MOTO keyboards.
kenyu73 said:
You can use any Bluetooth keyboard with the Xoom. The tablet only has to support (HID) protocol. Actually, if you go over to the MOTO website, there's a docking station as well as MOTO keyboards.
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Yes, but I'm more interested in a solution that includes a keyboard embedded in a case. To me, it just seems more convenient than having to carry around a cradle and keyboard with my tablet.
Xevilious said:
Yes, but I'm more interested in a solution that includes a keyboard embedded in a case. To me, it just seems more convenient than having to carry around a cradle and keyboard with my tablet.
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I hear that Google VoiceSearch v12.6 will have full speech recognition that will make keyboards and mice obsolete!
It reminds me of Star Trek IV where Scotty tries to interact with a Mac by talking to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19BWJQ8kjrw
Xevilious said:
Yes, but I'm more interested in a solution that includes a keyboard embedded in a case. To me, it just seems more convenient than having to carry around a cradle and keyboard with my tablet.
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If you want a keyboard in a case.. buy a laptop
In all seriousness I do find that a little silly, though I can understand the logic and utility of such a thing. Carrying it all the time like that though, which it sounds like you want to do is well and truly a laptop. A keyboard that is dockable would be good.. but I still think a seperate keyboard is fine.. and just prop the tablet up in a folio case.
setite said:
If you want a keyboard in a case.. buy a laptop
In all seriousness I do find that a little silly, though I can understand the logic and utility of such a thing. Carrying it all the time like that though, which it sounds like you want to do is well and truly a laptop. A keyboard that is dockable would be good.. but I still think a seperate keyboard is fine.. and just prop the tablet up in a folio case.
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I already have a laptop, and it's perfectly fine for many tasks, but it lacks a lot of tools that I would get with a tablet. I would much rather bring my laptop to a coffee shop, but when I'm traveling, I like to do some light work, and a tablet (GPS, Verizon data, e-reader) makes for a friendlier traveling companion than a laptop. If I had a tablet with a keyboard, I could have most of my tools in a single package. Without a physical keyboard, I'd have to bring my laptop along for the ride, and I'd really rather not have to bring two larger devices every time I travel.
Truth be told, there's nothing I would love more than a tablet that let me make voice calls via a bluetooth headset. With that, I'd even dump my phone.
Xevilious said:
I already have a laptop, and it's perfectly fine for many tasks, but it lacks a lot of tools that I would get with a tablet. I would much rather bring my laptop to a coffee shop, but when I'm traveling, I like to do some light work, and a tablet (GPS, Verizon data, e-reader) makes for a friendlier traveling companion than a laptop. If I had a tablet with a keyboard, I could have most of my tools in a single package. Without a physical keyboard, I'd have to bring my laptop along for the ride, and I'd really rather not have to bring two larger devices every time I travel.
Truth be told, there's nothing I would love more than a tablet that let me make voice calls via a bluetooth headset. With that, I'd even dump my phone.
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For my sake, may I ask what tools the tablet has that your laptop lacks. I don't say that as a challenge, but rather I am seeking ways to use the device that I am not aware of yet.
kenyu73 said:
You'd really want to stream anyway. Local storage is starting to phase out in a way. Everything is in the cloud or at least stored on a home media server/desktop.
SMB is used for accessing public shares... and the apps for running them from an SMB are getting better.
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The problem with this is we are starting to see the beginning of the end of unlimited data plans. So if we have to stream everything, that will come with more data use and cost.
So a tablet won't be able to access an external hard drive? Even with an app like like Astro?
I didn't think it would be possible, but I think it would be cool to have access to an external dvd/cd/blu ray burner with plug and use/play technology.
If these 2 things were possible, people could really ditch their laptops and netbooks for the tablets. Netbooks had the possibility of an external drive, which opened up the usability imo.
I've had my 32gb tf 101 for roughly a month after being one of the lucky ones to find the tablet in stores. Mine has no defects except the inevitable minor light bleed.
After trying to incorporate the tablet in my life it has become clear that tablets aren't for me. I always end up reaching for my phone. I've taken the tablet with me on my travels, on the plane with movies and music and all that great stuff. But I end up using my phone 90% of the time, my laptop for another 9% and the tablet for the final 1%. At home my tablet is very rarely used as well. It truly is a unique experience and 3.1 makes it far better. For the time that I've used it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The display is beautiful.
I'm sure for some people it makes a lot of sense. But sadly it isn't for me. If anyone in the GTA, ON Canada wants it, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Sent from my Samsung Captivate.
Many people are making an assumption that a tablet will replace a laptop or a desktop and will become a productivity device. When people mocked original iPad and called it an oversized Touch they actually weren't that far off; a tablet is purely a consumption and entertainment device. It's understandable that $500 is hard to justify for something like this considering your phone can perform at least 90% of the tasks your tablet can, albeit on a smaller scale. Hopefully OEM's will flood the market with decent Android tablets and drive the prices down to a more bearable ~$200 range.
Personally I find myself reaching for the tablet first and settling for my phone if I absolutly must. Most of the time my phone is set to bluetooth tether. To be honest I'd probably be better off with a 3g call-capable tablet and a pen-sized bluetooth headset. I almost never carry my laptop any more. But I rarely need to work on the go (other than answering emails)
THe only reason I reach for my laptop is Netflix. Otherwise, I spend most of my time on the tablet at home
I want it. Have the 16gb version and loving it. 32gb would be great. Please shoot me a pm with price. Thanks
vernicex said:
I want it. Have the 16gb version and loving it. 32gb would be great. Please shoot me a pm with price. Thanks
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Newegg had them in stock this morning.
I have a 360, a Boxee Box, and a Blu-ray player attached to my TV. All 3 have some overlapping features, but each one does something the other two can't do, and I enjoy having the different options. If one of them died, I could limp along with the other two, but I'd rather not. Point is, tablet and phone features will always overlap, you just have to figure out which task each one is better at and use it accordingly, then you'll find the tablet has a valuable place in your tech collection. I could live without the TF, but I'd rather not
I use it to read pdfs. most my books and journal articles are available in pdf format. The TF is by far the best pdf reader. I agree, you don't ready need it if you have good laptop. It's a luxury toy not pc replacement.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
dfin13 said:
I have a 360, a Boxee Box, and a Blu-ray player attached to my TV. All 3 have some overlapping features, but each one does something the other two can't do, and I enjoy having the different options. If one of them died, I could limp along with the other two, but I'd rather not. Point is, tablet and phone features will always overlap, you just have to figure out which task each one is better at and use it accordingly, then you'll find the tablet has a valuable place in your tech collection. I could live without the TF, but I'd rather not
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What (s)he said! I have 2 PS3s at home just because I didn't want to spend money on a bluray player only. A tablet is luxury for most of us... there are very few instances where a tablet would be beneficial (e.g. inventorying, showing clients photos or videos etc.). I personally love my tablet and have not used my PC as much. And with a baby around it's great to have a neat little gadget that's portable and has nice multimedia features.
He I don't really fault people for buying a tablet and then realizing it has no place in their life. I bought a used 7" Galaxy Tab for the gf a couple of weeks ago to replace her eReader. She thinks its neat, but she hasn't used it for anything but reading and to her, it seems like a waste. So I'll probably sell it and get her the new Nook reader. Tablets just aren't for everyone.
have you ever tried one of the thumb keyboards available on the market place? They make using a tablet sloop much easier and more practical
I'm pretty new to the whole tablet world, started with the NookColor and moved onto the Transformer. I've got to say it's mostly a consumption device but it's a fantastic consumption device at that. I love the internet on the 10" screen, love the entirely useable e-mail client included, love the quality of the games available and look forward to the continued evolution of the platform in general.
I loaded up the Autodesk sketch program and found myself cheerfully painting like a kid for the first time in decades - It's not that I can't do anything in particular on a tablet vs. another device, just that the tablet seems like a good fit for many more things. A magazine looks like a magazine, the internet looks like it does on my real computer and the remote access means I've got my fully useable desktop with me anywhere there's a wifi connection.
I think the only real downside it the portability. I grew up in an era where professionals carried around day planners so this is no big stretch for me but it is unusual given today's norms. Too big to fit in a pocket and too small to justify a computer bag.
All in all though if a phone and laptop do what you need that should be all you need. I'm not happy reading stuff on my laptop and personally prefer the touch interface when on the go so tablets fit my bill - for now.
use it as an in dash display in your car. That way it is always with you in a practical manner.
Then when you need to take it out of your car you can carry it into the library/coffee shop or whatever.
newtybar said:
use it as an in dash display in your car. That way it is always with you in a practical manner.
Then when you need to take it out of your car you can carry it into the library/coffee shop or whatever.
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This was my plan all along (still the primary reason), but then when I got my TF, I found so many other uses. Yes I have a MT4G and a laptop, but the TF makes viewing things so much easier. I have just loaded up Supernatural seasons 5 and 6, so I can get caught up anywhere I want to. I love it!
I can't agree that the TF is not a productivity tool, it is my tool of choice for email and browsing at home and Google docs app is the business. I do have the dock though which turns it into a netbook but with better battery life and screen.
So far loving it.
First to android and tablets and ive turned on my computer twice in 3 weeks...
and both times was so that i could remote into and control my music downloads as i watched tv, surfed the net, and responded to work emails.
even last night, i downloaded a "read to me" story of the 3 little pigs and watched it with my daughter before she went to bed...
then i get to surf the net in bed again.. catch up with xda, news, sports, etc..
its a convenience..
this past weekend i took it on a road trip.. my daughter played games, i used it to book a room while using the hotel's wifi, snapped a few pics in the car, and even got it to tether off an older palm treo phone...(so i had internet in the car!)
i should be receiving mines any minute now...
already owning the g2x and a laptop the sole reason for me getting the transformer is to read pdf files. Being a college student textbooks become really expensive. Now days you can get a copy of the text in pdf for a fraction of the cost or if you just search the net you can find it for free. For me reading pdf files off a laptop is really inconvenient and the battery life is nothing compared to a tablet. Therefore it made sense for me to invest in a tablet and load all my pdf text onto the tablet. I save money in the end and I don't have to lug around a bunch of heavy ass textbooks everyday. So it's a win-win situation for me.
AnyMal said:
Many people are making an assumption that a tablet will replace a laptop or a desktop and will become a productivity device. When people mocked original iPad and called it an oversized Touch they actually weren't that far off; a tablet is purely a consumption and entertainment device. It's understandable that $500 is hard to justify for something like this considering your phone can perform at least 90% of the tasks your tablet can, albeit on a smaller scale. Hopefully OEM's will flood the market with decent Android tablets and drive the prices down to a more bearable ~$200 range.
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Won't happen unless subsidized, most phones are $450.
For me I've noticed that since getting this the battery on my evo lasts 3x as long. Surfing on this is much more pleasant.
As a university student, the tablet is an awesome device once you put the proper apps in it.
-a proper file manager (I've still yet to find one with drag&drop and proper shortcuts like windows explorer)
-a proper 'windows-office' like program and one that opens pdfs
-a proper video player (moboplayer)
-a proper calendar and agenda device
-a proper ebook reader (ie moonreader)
etc
The advantage of android apps is that they open much faster than if you were to run windows versions of the programs. With files are easily transferred over ftp, it is very time-efficient.
I'd say this device can easily take the place of my current netbook (and it has). The long lasting battery life and the tiny form factor (along with its lightweightness) really sold it for me
lawonga said:
As a university student, the tablet is an awesome device once you put the proper apps in it.
-a proper file manager (I've still yet to find one with drag&drop and proper shortcuts like windows explorer)
-a proper 'windows-office' like program and one that opens pdfs
-a proper video player (moboplayer)
-a proper calendar and agenda device
-a proper ebook reader (ie moonreader)
etc
The advantage of android apps is that they open much faster than if you were to run windows versions of the programs. With files are easily transferred over ftp, it is very time-efficient.
I'd say this device can easily take the place of my current netbook (and it has). The long lasting battery life and the tiny form factor (along with its lightweightness) really sold it for me
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Try repligo readerd for a good pdf reader, you can even add notes, drraw lines and rectangles, write free hand on the pdf ...
I’ll be starting grad school in the fall and am in the market for a laptop/tablet and currently the Transformer is at the top of my list right now. I was hoping I could get some honest opinions on how the well the transformer works as both a media and productivity device (primarily concerned with the latter). I plan on using it for grad school, but since I’ll also be working a full-time job during the day, hope to use it as a work device as well. I also moonlight as a photographer, and am looking for ways I can incorporate the transformer into that as well.
My main concern is the stability of Android. I’ve owned both an EVO and an HTC HD2 running Android/Windows Phone 7 (thanks xda!), and although I loved the openness and overall capability of Android, the instability and battery life made things too cumbersome at times. My phone doubles as a work and personal device, so I fire off a lot of e-mails all day, view docs, send calls, etc etc. Nothing was more frustrating than having the phone lock up in the middle of something important, or die in the middle of the day if I used it a lot (on days when I need to use it a lot). Currently using an iPhone 4, which I know doesn’t get a whole lot of love around here, but simply works when needed. Not an Apple fanboy by any means…actually an old Windows Mobile guy, but sometimes stability and accessibility are important…particularly for heavy users like me.
Secondly, I’d like to know how productive one can really be on the transformer. What’s piqued my interest about Android on a tablet is the ‘desktop-esque’ experience it provides. As good as iOS to me is on a phone, its utterly neutered and has very little utility on a tablet IMO. For instance, true multi-tasking isn’t too important to me on a phone, but it would be on a tablet. Interested in knowing how well the tablet handles word docs, excel sheets, and PDF files…particularly from those who have experience with the keyboard dock.
Looking for honest answers here, and hope people can look beyond ownership bias. Hoping to hear the good and the bad. I’ve used enough mobile and desktop OS’s and devices to know that nothing is ever perfect.
I can't really comment on the productivity end as I mainly use my Transformer to read, watch videos, play games, and web browse. For what I need it to do it is great. HD videos on YouTube play great. It does have issues playing HD videos that are in mkv format but one they are re-encoded they play great.
The screen is where this thing really shines though. I have yet to see a better screen on a tablet anywhere. None of the HC tablets even come close, imho. I do have some light bleed but it isn't enough to bother me and I don't even see it unless I am in a dark room with the brightness cranked up.
One thing you won't have to worry about is battery life. The battery in this thing is way better than I expected. I can get 2 days with my average use, easy. It also hardly loses any battery when in standby also.
Honeycomb does still need some tweaking but it is not a big problem. There aren't a lot of apps optimized for HC yet but the list will increase with time.
Personally I think you would be better off with a laptop for your needs.
I think you will suffer the same frustration you did with your andriod phones if you are using the tablet for lots of documents, spreadsheets and other office type apllications.
I think these things are really designed for web browsing, casual email, game playing, music & video playing, etc.
You can edit docs etc and the optional keyboard helps a lot, but I think of these as a secondary machine. I have a desk top and a laptop too. At home it has pretty much replaced the laptop but not for work related tasks.
Im new to tablets and android all together. As a computer tech by trade, I figured it would be good to learn somethign new, did some research and went with the transformer. And I must say, coming from a windows & iOS background, Android has been a HUGE let down.
the hardware on the tablet is great. Build quality, the screen, the dock works wonderfully. USB ports that charge my phone. etc. All top notch.
Android is the downfall of the eee pad. To get the tablet to perform anywhere near the capabilty of my iPhone or PC, its about 5x the amount of work.
Video playback is a joke. when I try to copy any file over 3 or 4 gigs onto it, it crashes. And of all the videos ive copied over, only 2 worked properly. Even supported file formats are iffy at times.
App support is also very weak. The list of apps on this site that are supported by the eee pad is pretty much all you get. Which is sad compared to the App support that the iPad / win7 tablets have.
From a work standpoint, the failure of the proxy support is huge. I have to use a proxy server at work for my devices to function properly. Laptop: works fine. iPhone: works fine. Android: doesnt work at all. Native proxy support in 3.1 just doesnt work. Using apps to get proxy support KIND of works, but is flakey at best. If your work/school relies on proxy servers , then dont expect to use the eeePad there.
Hotspots.. again, a big problem. Bluetooth tethering KIND of worked for me, but since the proxy support is so shoddy, that started interfering with tethering when proxy wasnt needed and... you guessed it, didnt work. Not only that but for proper adhoc tethering , youll have to root the device and install a custom kernal or something.
So, all those issues are Honeycomb related. Gonna hit the same problems on the Xoom or anythign else that uses 3.x The only reason im keeping my eee pad is because software issues get worked out in time. They better... because right now this thing is just a giant paper weight for me. still on the edge of returning it and buying it again later once all the problems are fixed. So ya, it may be able to handle word, excel and such documents (so can the iPad by the way), but with such severe connectivity and networking issues, it really doesnt matter. *shrugs. honesty! EP121 anyone?
The TF would be good to SUPPLEMENT a full desktop or more powerful laptop but it could never be my primary machine. I need the application/device support of windows.
Being said if I had a computer at home I could have made it through college with the transformer as my mobile device.
As for the guy above me i havent experienced any of his issues. It only supports a few video files but that goes for all android stock media players. Recoding them to mp4/m4v in handbrake results in flawless video playback, never had a failure.
Apps are weak, its a new ecosystem. Like the ipad when it came out the vast majority of the "compatible" apps are just the phone apps scaled up. That will change.
Not sure about the proxy, havent encountered that. Ive never had a hotspot issue. In a restaurant, at work, using my Evo to wireless tether or on the plane. Its connected to every "infrastructure AP" network Ive ever tried and that is all I encounter. I have never had a need to connect AdHoc.
Before I got my tablet, I had imagined all these things I would use it for.
I was going to be able to do all of the following on one device!
For productivity:
- Check emails
- Read textbooks in pdf format, be able to highlight, save bookmarks and annotations...all in digital format.
- Use office programs like Word & Excel for typing up papers and creating charts.
- Watch video lectures & tutorials
- Use Anki flashcards
For entertainment:
- Watch videos from streaming sites
- Have a library of HD movies/miniseries on the device
- Be able to HDMI out my video library wherever I was
- Have emulators with a whole bunch of games I could play whenever I had down time
- play Android market games
This is what happened after I got the Transformer:
I realized I could do all the above, but ended up going to other devices because it just felt cumbersome on a tablet.
About all I used the tablet for was to watch videos and...watch videos..oh yeah and casual web browsing.
- Checking emails...I ended up just pulling out my phone.
- Reading textbooks...not many available in PDF...and it's not that great on a digital screen. Writing notes...don't even try it...even with one of those capacitative pens.
- Word and Excel are ok...but you can't do multi worksheet formulas...etc. I ended up just using my laptop or desktop.
- Video lectures...a lot of them required plugins and the browser/OS did not support that...back to laptop.
- Videos from streaming sites...choppy...unwatchable.
- HD movies...commonly downloaded ones dont work...had to re-encode or transcode at least 80% of them.
- HDMI haven't tested....I had to return my transformer...since the touch screen locked up.
Emulators...never did it.
- Android games...as a gamer...I find the current crop of games to be too simplistic and boring (minus Spectral Souls)
I have another one on order that's arriving today, so I'm still giving it a chance. Maybe I'm not using it properly...in any case it is still a pretty cool device to have around. I would consider it a borderline second device...but more like a third (i.e. Desktop for true power productivity/gaming, Laptop for moderate mobile productivity, then a Tablet when you go on quick vacations and you don't want to carry the others).
I would look for something like a laptop that cam run windows and android at the same time. Like the viewsonic pro.. acer w 500..better yet the evolve three convertible.
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I have my Transformer for about 2 weeks now. Actually today is the day I would have to decide either to keep it or to return it back to BB. Just finally got the keyboard dock just 2 days ago. My perseption before and after having it is completely different.
Before having it, I was really excited, kind of hoping finally the perfect device has arrived. A perfect device that can do everything I need.
I kind of know from reading everywhere, mostly from this forum what to expect and what is not there yet. Yet I finally decided to buy it with big hopes that with time, everything will be there. Buying the transformer also means I decided to invest in the Honeycomb platform rather than others (like iPad). I have no luxury of keep buying new devices, so I had to be careful to choose and decide.
My previous experience with Android was very good indeed (have a HTC Evo, my first Android phone). Before that, I always used Windows Mobile phone, which did everything I needed.
Well, my HTC Evo did everything and more, and that's why I had a big hope with the transformer/honeycomb. I chose the transformer among other honeycomb tablets for some obvious reasons: the keyboard dock that has the USB ports and the SD Card reader, and extra battery.
I also like photography and I needed to make sure I can use it to transfer pictures from my camera SD Card to an external HDD. I checked and found out the transformer does that perfectly, with the NTFS support right out of the box. That's incredible in my opinion.
I also imagined I would be able to connect to my work network and do anything I needed to via Citrix. And for personal communication, there is a Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and Skype.
After getting it, my expectation dropped and everyday is a learning day for me, as well as improvement day.
My first day with the transformer, I got all my emails setup (dual Exchange support! My Evo does not do that (I heard some custom ROM can do that), then I could not find Yahoo Messenger (dissapointed, well, there is a Yahoo messenger for my android phone, and its perfect!), Skype is a phone version and looks weird and many features missing (video call is the most important missing feature).
Day after day, until now, I still do the improvement jobs, and got many items not available previously. Got Yahoo Messenger from a good guy here in the forum, got a battery indicator wigdet from this forum also, and many bug fixes here and there.
For work purposes, I also drop my expectation. The connection from Citrix client in honeycomb takes very long (3-5 minutes) while from my Evo it takes much quicker. Not sure why, I contacted Citrix support about this. They said they both should perform the same as the core are the same, but they behaves differently.
Checking email only is not enough for me, if somebody sent an email, it comes with an issue to fix.
Yes, its hard to decide to let it go, or continue to keep it. I decide to continue to keep it, again, with hope, over time, things get better and better.
What do I gain from the transformer compared to my netbook?
Well, battery life, like many said here, is very exceptional. I got 2 full days. 1 day plus without the keyboard dock before. Really full day till night, with everything I do, from emails, browsing, youtube, reading, etc.
Instant on and ready. Wifi always on.
No spinning harddrive. No heat.
I was surprised! The device was not hot at all. Very different even compared to my Windows phone, connect to the wifi to a while and you can feel the heat. I'm not even talking about my netbook.
And I agree that many said here that its not a primary/replacement device. I still need my Windows machine to do most of the work.
It pains me to agree, but the above coments are true, as follower of android from day one. to anyone who has used an rooted/jailbroken ipad, honeycomb is way behind, to be honest google should be ashamed. as i type this on my transformer the lag is horendous. with the ipad you can nearly replace a netbook, full printing, ipgages and numbers are real tablet work tools. The TF is just about ok for web browsing, but just. As a media device it sucks. I tried to watch a streaming movie on movie stream, ok it plays but stutters and is awful. switched on my now ancient ipad with 256mb ram clicked on istream net and bang same movie looking almost 720p smooth as a nut. All the points brought against the ipad now seem to be a joke to me, even the no flash issue. Ok you have limited access by usb and SD card but there is some plus work arounds. I mentioned on a Archos site that i could stream any movie via air video from a crappy netbook hooked up to a 1TB HDD and if not in playable format they could be converted on the fly, this is over a local wireless network or over 3g anywhereon the ipadand they all took the piss, but its true. As an owner of a TF and Ipad, I have togive credit to ASUS, i love the concept. But as stated in an earlier post, I will be reaching for my HTC desire or IPAD more than the transformer. Lets hope Google step up, and support ASUS and the other manuacturers.
If honeycomb worked like the ipadit would blow apple out of the water. Anyway going to watch Tron on my year old Ipad.
i have to echo most of the above sentiment.
this is such a good idea, but it's just not ready...at least for me. i bought it for the reasons the op cited, and i'm let down. the lag kills the experience, even typing this on the keyboard is painful. honeycomb is great for usability imo, and the open ability to customize, but it is flat out slow. the browser is capable, but slowdolphin is buggy, adbloc is hard to come by (that works properly)
editing docs in polari is slow, screen rotation is slow, it's just everything i so slow. my dell mini 9 runs faster for the few times i need to doc edit, and the ipad run circles around it in terms of tablet function (but has several huge letdowns in its own right)
the one difference from some of the above posters is that i won't hang onto it and hope software gets smoothed out, by the time that happens we will have at leat one generation newer devices, maybe 2...so suffer with inferior experience to be outdated..not for me.
As I sai in another thread, i see this concept as the future...without doubt. my days of wanting to pay to beta test are over though.
Edit from my iPad. - see all those missing letters at the ends of words, that was typed with the dock..that's how bad lag is. I see no choice but to return it, I can't see google/ ASus releasing a realistic fix in the next couple weeks...but I hope I'm wrong.
Stability: maybe I'm lucky but I find Transformer to be VERY stable. Only FCs I have were when closing some game and maybe once in the browser.
Honest opinion: it's still only a toy. Don't expect it to be able to do anything better (or even on par with) than laptop or PC - but it is quite a good toy for many thins.
Right now I do most of my browsing on Transformer, for browsing it's in some things better than computers/laptops but in others it lacks greately (adblock, lack of extenstions in browser). It's also great for comics and PDF. And it's quite good for small games (Aporkalypse is great!).
I bought it mostly to write applications for it. In my personal opinion the OS is just great. The apps are mostly a mess with some pearls in it - like Newsr which just great or Dolphine Browser HD (or many others that you can find mentioned here and there on this forum). The problem is there is quite a huge lack of pearls in some departments. But it will change, I don't see what could stop it.
SCARED
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
Same as I do now with my HTC Desire and Asus T101MT netbook...so no really heavy stuff...
But as I read all these unsatisfied experiences I feel a bit uncertain about it. I mean I´m not an Applefanboy (ok, I do own an iPod) and I always feel a bit pity for all those people who buy an iPad just because it's an iPad...but now I'm in doubt...
Is this toy really that bad???
jpvdw said:
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For things like that it's great. Only problem is that on some forums (this one is an example) most browsers are slow (but usable and with keyboard dock it should be much more easy to write on forums thank using screen keyboard).
Is this toy really that bad???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not.
If you are not sure - go to some shop and play with it for a while. By "it" I mean - any tablet with HoneyComb.
Well after using the TF for about 3 weeks, I have to admit it is only a good toy. If you want productivity at school and home, stay away from the tablet form factor as a whole. HC is good, but the app support is bad, and its still a platform which is evolving. Other than watching YouTube videos, I don't use it much. The stock browser even on 3.1 is bad and slow. The browsing experience is way better on the laptop than this one.
Will try the Tab 10.1 too and see if it has a better experience. Otherwise, I don't feel the need for a tablet now, especially keeping in mind the current state of HC. Won't go for an iPad because I feel 4:3 aspect ratio is ridiculous.
Great toy for work and home. Wife loves it and my 7 year old enjoys it. Is hc beta? yes. Will it get better? yes
What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.
Be realistic as to what to expect
im new to the tablet and android world. When i bought the tablet, i wasnt expecting it to replace my laptop for heavy duty usage. Simply not there yet..
Allow me to give you and example of every day usage for me:
My tablet is always on.(sleep mode) i wake up, check my emails, the news, weather, all while im still in bed. I even check XDA forum to see the latest "oh no..im returning the transformer (sad Face)" thread...
when i get home, i do the same, but this time i sit in front of my tv, watch some nba finals, lookup some articles or "do it yourself" tutorials.. i get bored, open some tabs, tune my guitar (with the TF), and just jam out.. (reading tabs on portrait mode is beautiful)
Then my little girl gets to play on my "little computer" (barn stack, angry birds, read a long stories, etc.... which came in super handy on our recent road trip)
Before bed, i lookup some reviews on Netflix, add them to my instant queue, fire up the TV, check my Chase account (also app), more emails,
its convenient..
just last night i wanted to be nos and see how much the house on our street is selling for.. (zillow App) quick, with a gorgeous map. My xboxlive app notifies me of whose online.. just a lot of cool features
And im sure im not using the tablet to its full potential.. Ive tried the cloud jsut once (and monitored my laptop as it downloaded some "Stuff"//haha)
grainysand said:
What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lag. Also, the touchpad in the dock is a mess....unless I missed a way to disable tap clicking natively. It really has to be turned off. Polaris as a program is fine, and I liked the easy integration with dropbox...but even editing a light 2 page resume was laggy. It's probably not polaris' fault..the platform is laggy.
@jpvdw I actually think the iPad would be better suited for what you want to do. I see a ton of shortcomings with the iOS devices, but most of them involve getting work done for me. Like uploading files through a web browser and wanting to use a real keyboard (though there are bt options).
I want to move to android...there's just nothing for me to move to that can equal what I get. If maybe the device was 15% faster I'd bear with it.
two things..
first, there has to be a memory leak in one of the stock apps, or os, or something. i can reboot and be working fine for about 10 mins... then it gets all wonky again.
i reset the browser to factory defauults, and it actually seems like it's a bit faster now. even with plugins enabled
People - please DON'T EXPECT tablet performing well as your laptop or desktop replacement....how could a Tegra 2 with integrated GPU comparing to your laptop/desktop power horse!!
Now please go and enjoy your own Transformer device while sitting on the couch, lying on the bed or even in your bathroom (make sure you have accidental damage insurance in case you drop into the water ...)
For me, this tablet makes me more connecting to digital world...well sort of because sometimes I just use my blackberry without tablet or desktop at all...
good luck/enjoy!
rcjpth
hi. i finished school with good grades so my dad told me he will buy me what i want (but not ANYTHING like 1000$ or something)
anyway, i told him i wanted a galaxy tab 10.1
i waited until it arrived then i was going to go and buy it then my bro told me "Do you really need it?"
so i head to the store and before buying it i remembered what he said and i headed home without buying it.
it have been days and i am over my head thinking and especially that i can buy anything else" i need" (but idk what i really need) and that my dad offered me to deposit in my bank account the same price of the tab in case i did not buy it.
here is why i want it: games, web browing , chatting.
do i really need it ?
If you don't have smartphone it will be a whole new world for you and you will love it. Now if you are a techie with a lot of gadgets its simply going to be an accessory, a very convenient one still. then comes all the in depth customizing. It could most likely eliminate the use of others if you can find its use. At the same price you can get a good laptop or even a better super phone. Its all up to your standards of living, if you can use such a product productivly and willing to put the time into getting to understand the product, standard ergonomics.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
i had samsung 7, and now 10.1. For myself i would buy it again. But it wont answer your question.
Read following feature list. If you will use following features regularry, its for you.
- reader : comfortable way to read books ( write anot.) you can keep thpusands of books with variouse format
- light weight : important, if you travel often
-good access to internet, mail, exchange
- remote access over vpn to remote desktop etc
For me, it is useless to have netbook. I have also laptop, but heavy i7 proc, 16Gssd. Its hardly portable, but i run on it network simulation.
Personaly if i would be fresh graduate, i would wait. This market is really new.
I love my Tab but if you don't have a computer or a laptop I would get as lightweight of a laptop that you can afford. A 14 inch screen around one inch thick would be a great portable sized one, I have an HP that size and it is great.
But if you do have a computer/laptop already then the Tab would an awesome addition, but it is really a toy IMO.
Love my tab
I love my Tab. I never bought into the smartphone craze, mostly due to the price of data plans, the Tab allows me into the world of smartphones, just on wifi instead. Between Netflix,games, browsing on the net, reading Game of Thrones on the kindle app, RSS readers I have not used my computer nor my PlayStation all summer long. With all the customization I am very happy with my decision, save for no love from an actual Netflix app or HBO GO.
I say yes and here is way. Tablets are changing the consumption of media, and they do everything from web browsing, email, IM chat, video calls, movies, tv shows, games, media storage, news, books, and on and on. My gtab is playing second fiddle to my iPad right now but it is a really nice convenient way to be connected.
You say you don't really know what you need...so it sounds like there's really nothing you need. I suggest you do buy it! It's pretty sweet! You could use it for many things on a daily basis. You said you finished school, I don't know if you're going back or not, but you can also use it to take notes in class instead of wasting paper.
If you buy it you have 14 days to return it without a problem. If you buy it at a Best Buy they won't even charge you for a restocking fee so give it a try!
While it is definitely true that no one NEEDS a tablet I have found it to be a fantastic device and worth every penny. I was always an apple person and was super excited about the ipad until I discovered it was basically a big phone. So I waited for something more approaching a computer to come along and finally decided on the tab.
Pros
1. Super light weight: makes my netbook seem like a brick. This is majorly useful for heading out of the house and for holding while lounging around or whatever.
2. Fast for email and web browsing.
3. Emulators - plays snes and genesis games... what more do you want.
4. Touchscreen - with keyboards designed for honeycomb e.g. thumbkeyboard it is surprisingly easy to type. Browsing etc feels great.
5. Always on and ready to go (though mac laptops / chrome are simillar)
Cons
1.for writing it is still not quite able to give a good experience (though that should be obvious) it struggles with large documents and Google docs is badly implemented. For instance I was reading a manuscript on here marking places that needed editting using polaris office (included free). It worked nice as a reader but did not inform me that it failed to save the last 20 of my 60+ bookmarks.
2. More bugs and lag than on a fully fledged computer, but not too bad.
3. Not post-pc enough to justify purchase over desktop or laptop depending on what you already have - in terms of what you can do, the tablet is no replacement for either. But if you have them already you will find you use them far less.
My suggestion (as a GTab 10.1 Owner) is... don't buy a Galaxy Tab 10.1
Get a Nook Color... root it, overclock it... etc... you'll learn much more this way and you'll save several hundred dollars
... or get the original galaxy tab 7, which you can find for less than 200 dollars on craigslist.
and maybe get an ipod touch with your extra cash and have the best of both worlds. I dunno, up to you.
Either way, at this point 500 is too much to pay.
I'm disappointed there is no official netflix app, no official google voice support... lack of quality tablet apps, and I'm worried about Samsung supporting the device once the next version comes out.
Consumption v. Production
Nice contrast between pros and cons. About the question, really depends on what you plan on using it for. I think the tab is more often used for information consumption versus production. I use it for work as a sales rep to view email and work files quickly and easily. I tether it through my HTC Inspire and almost always have it connected. Again, more for information consumption versus production. However, I know there is a docking keyboard I may get down the road, and not carry my laptop anymore! And, its cool to pull up videos/pics/industry news on the spot to show clients without the hassle of booting up a laptop...
Jake-CT said:
While it is definitely true that no one NEEDS a tablet I have found it to be a fantastic device and worth every penny. I was always an apple person and was super excited about the ipad until I discovered it was basically a big phone. So I waited for something more approaching a computer to come along and finally decided on the tab.
Pros
1. Super light weight: makes my netbook seem like a brick. This is majorly useful for heading out of the house and for holding while lounging around or whatever.
2. Fast for email and web browsing.
3. Emulators - plays snes and genesis games... what more do you want.
4. Touchscreen - with keyboards designed for honeycomb e.g. thumbkeyboard it is surprisingly easy to type. Browsing etc feels great.
5. Always on and ready to go (though mac laptops / chrome are simillar)
Cons
1.for writing it is still not quite able to give a good experience (though that should be obvious) it struggles with large documents and Google docs is badly implemented. For instance I was reading a manuscript on here marking places that needed editting using polaris office (included free). It worked nice as a reader but did not inform me that it failed to save the last 20 of my 60+ bookmarks.
2. More bugs and lag than on a fully fledged computer, but not too bad.
3. Not post-pc enough to justify purchase over desktop or laptop depending on what you already have - in terms of what you can do, the tablet is no replacement for either. But if you have them already you will find you use them far less.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*Bump*
so should i get a laptop/ computer or a tab ?
No. You NEED a computer if youre attending another type of schooling. I'd get a tablet later because having a computer has more uses especially for school, where a tab(especially a HoneyComb one) is for play and mobility(or as I call lazyness).
When I had my iPad, I used it for internet because I was lazy to get my laptop out. Went back and returned it (I'm 16, so I have to be allowed to return regardless, within the return period, this case being 3 months ), thought I wanted an iPad 2, bought a laptop, and don't regret it.
Laptops last much longer if you buy the ones $600-$900(they are mainly above average these days).
In short, GET A LAPTOP, THEN A TAP YOU REALLY WANT LATER, like a quad core one hahah.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
hnakhi said:
*Bump*
so should i get a laptop/ computer or a tab ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have all 3. This is order of how much I use each device.
Laptop > Netbook > Tab 10.1
Laptop is still the best for overall productivity.
I like my tablet, but there is no way it could be my only device.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
For games, get an iPad.
Big MMORPGS, got a Laptop.
Web browsing, a 15-17 inch laptop.
If you want it to be portable, iPad/XOOM, Tab 10.1 is too thin and easy to snap, also doesn't take a memory card, XOOM does.
Chatting, all will work.
If you don't have a dual core phone, get a laptop, but get a good one, my Toshiba Satallite for $600, dual core at 2.3 ghz I believe, 4 Gb of ram, 640(really 500)gb hard drive, etc. I don't regret picking my laptop over the iPad 2. Yes, I've had iphone 3g since launch, the 3gs, then 4 until February, had android since(like 5 android phones, all getting better).
I have a strong feeling you will be happy with a computer over a tablet. If not, you got 15-30 days to return But you will want a tablet. go play with a tab at bestbuy, not a game, just see what it can do, the speeds it does. My dads employee lent him a 10.1, I played with it for about 10 minutes, then got bored. Go try it out, tabs are limited, not computers.
If none of that made sense, I explained why to get a laptop.
To answer your Original Post(no, I'm not lazy, I wont us OP), GET A LAPTOP FIRST, THEN A TABLET LATER.
But seriously, he might be right. Do you really want a tab? Go play with one first then tell me what you think.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
matistight said:
No. You NEED a computer if youre attending another type of schooling. I'd get a tablet later because having a computer has more uses especially for school, where a tab(especially a HoneyComb one) is for play and mobility(or as I call lazyness).
In short, GET A LAPTOP, THEN A TAP YOU REALLY WANT LATER, like a quad core one hahah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the best advice in your case. Unless you already have a nice laptop, get yourself a MacBook Pro, because you'll need it for any school related and/or creative projects you will embark on in the future. Throw Parallels, then Windows, and any games you can think of on it, and you'll be set for a while. MBP may be approaching your dads budget, and I feel for him, but a 13" at Macmall/Microcenter with $50 8GB ram upgrade from NewEgg is the route I'd want my smart, savvy son to take.
If your laptop shreds already, tell dad to find you a $99 HP Touchpad, and spend the rest on an educational father/son trip to Vegas. ;D
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
matistight said:
If you want it to be portable, iPad/XOOM, Tab 10.1 is too thin and easy to snap, also doesn't take a memory card, XOOM does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WTF? That's a reason for NOT buying a Tab? Because it'll be more likely to break by putting massive force on either side?
I'd also like to see a survey of how many Xoom or Transformer or Iconia users actually, you know, swap SD cards on a regular basis.
I have a laptop (a gaming one at that)
A tab 10.1
and an HTC evo...
I use my laptop quite a bit 4-10 hrs a day
phone about 2-5hrs a day
tab 10.1 >2 hrs a day
so in the end was it worth the 499.99 no, am i glad i bought it yes.
im the kind of person who always has to get something when i see it that looks cool...
I do love how fast and easy it is to surf web and stream music. once i get the logitech Zagg bt keyboard case will i use it for school, yes. I would much rather carry that around than a 17" laptop...
The tab is very convenient when in bed and doing some last minute XDA reading (lol i love this site) or when playing a game on my laptop, to be able to look up something w/o having to ALT+TAB is wonderful... idk about some people but i think its pretty snappy when it comes to browsing the web (w/ dolphin browser)...
start with a laptop or a MBP (they are nice but im still a M$ person) if you go with a Windows machine check out HP's website they always have great GREAT deals on high performance laptops (HP makes very nice laptops and you would be wrong to think any less IMO)
(tons of free upgrades and i think they still have the deal going on where you buy a laptop and get a free 4Gb Xbox)
I love my Tab... only downfall for me is the homescreen/launcher (TW) is pretty laggy... esp when moving apps or creating shortcuts
hope this helps...
OK, I found an article on Engadget and that might answer most of the questions you are looking for. And then you can decide for yourself whether you need tablet or a netbook or notebook, etc.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/21/editorial-tablets-arent-the-third-device-id-hoped-for-fr/
Sent from my GT-P7510 using XDA Premium App
Here's what I'll tell you,
Tablets are a great internet viewing device and fun to pay games on, but they are more of a filler between a phone and a laptop. If you do not have a laptop or your own computer I would suggest the computer.
At this point in time, if I were you, I would get an HP TouchPad for $99 (if you can find one) and play around with it. If you like it then good, if you don't you can sell it on ebay for most likely more than you paid or keep it because it is only $99. Then you have the rest of your money to get a laptop or Galaxy Tab if you find the need for them.
krips2003 said:
OK, I found an article on Engadget and that might answer most of the questions you are looking for. And then you can decide for yourself whether you need tablet or a netbook or notebook, etc.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/21/editorial-tablets-arent-the-third-device-id-hoped-for-fr/
Sent from my GT-P7510 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The writer seems to be someone that hates tablets as a whole.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
I've had the transformer for 3 months.
It does some things great but it is neither a tool or a laptop replacement. The tablet effect may be real at the moment but it will pass.
I love this tablet for movies and email and calendar on the road. And for battery life.
That's where my love ends
It is slow. The browser is deadly slow and buggy as ****. How does a Google product have such a **** browser?
It is not useful as a tool.
Letters, documents spreadsheets... can be done but not effectively.
It is a fun toy and nice to have on the road. But I still need me macbook for anything work related. So now I just have one more thing in my travel bag. Not the direction I want to go.
And worthy of note, of all my computers and devices, I like my full desktop with dual monitors and 6core Intel CPU best. The desktop isn't dead yet either.
Ty.
I use it as a terminal into my computer. So when I go to a meeting or travel I can access my computer with remote desktop.
Do you have the docking? And did you try other browsers?
Because with docking and with opera mobile i do not reckognize any of your points.
I never buy my TF in order to replace my Ubuntu laptop or my desktop computer.
I have it for the battery life, the GPS, the portability, to do emails, downloads, games and surfing lazy in my salon listening TV at same time, copying my camera movies or pictures in holidays, etc ...
I'm doing that before with a net book, but now I have also a Tablet and this is so Geek
The TF is somewhere between my HTC Desire and my Laptop !
I like also to see Honeycomb and the market growing with butty full applications.
This is my new precious and I enjoy it so much
Regards.
PS: Try Dolphin Browser HD, is not to bad and faster.
I wouldn't say it's not useful...just not exactly a laptop replacement.
I do use it for documents, emails, games, and such...the same thing I use my laptop for...the only difference is that the TF allows me to do all that at the coffee shop with my feet up on the hearth, eating a scone...
It is what it is...
I would say that you picked the Transformer up for all the wrong reasons. You have a Macbook yet you're looking for something portable for work. That doesnt' really make sense to me. You're probably not the best use case for this device.
This thing is for people who like the price point and portability of a netbook, but enjoy the tablet form factor for general or on-the-go use. This doesn't seem to be you and I wouldn't call Android tablets "not useful" when you're basically looking for a full laptop replacement - which this is not.
Edit: Re-read, you have a Macbook, didn't specifically say an Air, but maybe one would be better suited for your needs? It's light, has a full OS and is about as portable as laptops can be.
Having the TF now means that I can leave my laptop in the office for the week & only carry my TF to & from home each evening for email, browsing & other work related things.
On the train I watch a TV show or listen to music on the TF & when home I use kindle to read books in bed.
It isn't a laptop or even a netbook, as someone else said, it is what it is, you just have to find out how to fit it into your life.
Honestly, I love when people come in to a device specific forum and complain about how they don't use/need it. Personally, I found that using wireless tether and tablet keeps it with me and in use everywhere i go.
Huh, for me I've essentially replaced my Work windows laptop with my Transformer.
I use a Combo of the stock browser and Dolphin for Pad for web browsing (stock set to tablet, Dolphin set to desktop). I randomly will have a site act funky, but never been a show stopper.
I picked up a bluetooth keyboard that works great for longer emails and document creation via Polaris Office. None of the Android Office suites are MS Office replacements yet, but Polaris suites my needs.
I have VPN Connections working to connect to my corp network when needed.
2X Client is an amazing RDP client for connecting to boxes on my home network or on the corp network when VPN'd in.
The only thing I have an issue with is printing support for Emails/websites/documents when needed. I can print pictures to my HP via their iPrint app. I haven't researched printing solutions that much yet (open to any good suggestions).
Since I got my Transformer in June, the only time I've gotten my laptop out at home was to run a specific app that is Windows only for my golf league and to print those reports. I inquired with the developers about an Android port, but they said it wasn't on their timeline.
I disagree,
Its not useful to you maybe, but to me its exactly what I bought it to be.
I have read more books on my TF in the past 3 months than I have read in the 2 years before that.
I can browse my PC network from any room in the house, view any pictures, listen to any music and watch every video format I have, wherever, whenever.
I can browse the web conveniently, quickly and almost perfectly on my WiFi connection or using 3G from my Desire.
I can waste a few minutes playing a game, or reading a comic.
I can show off my artwork to customers or friends via the gallery.
I can sketch an idea or write a note, even draw some artwork.
I can see whats on TV next or even watch that thing I missed the night before on catchup.
It's not a PC or laptop replacement, its not meant to be, its the thing you use when you don't have time to boot up your PC, or when you don't want to carry that laptop, or know that you will need more than 3 hours of battery life.
its Amazing....
My TF with the dock now fits neatly between my Evo and my Mac Mini in terms of functionality. My portable computing needs are not that taxing, so the Macbook Pro I had was overkill. Sold it last month and now my TF is my portable. I miss some things about the MBP, namely OS X, but I'm getting used to it.
My TF fits perfect for what i need. Reading news feeds, books, PDF's/documents, emails, taking notes with my stylus, and a quick check of the internet with the browser.
Any heavy usage i rely on my chromebook or work laptop and any heavy reading done with my nook color since it's lighter.
Hungry troll is hungry....
I sure wouldnt lug my desktop out to the back yard for some hammock surfing, nor would I use a laptop for extended reading. I see tablets an extension of my current setup, not as a replacement for anything.
If you don't see a use for tablets, why get one? Personally, aside from nitpicking, I couldn't be more happy about my Transformer. I simply love the little thing.
It's definitely not as effective for some pretty important work related things (ie. I had a lot of trouble making fine details on my presentation slides, but I just decided to do the tiny things on my laptop instead). Of course, I don't expect it to be a desktop/laptop replacement. It's a netbook (and tablet of course), and it's meant to be ultra portable. I love it.
For all of my the things I used to used my netbook for (email, web surfing, basic photo editing, games, movies, books, etc.) the Transformer is more than enough. Anything beyond that I use my desktop. The only thing that I wish would happen is a decent screenwriting application (Celtx hopefully). Opera mobile has no lag for me though the stock browser is pretty slow as you say. I don't think the TF was ever pitched as a netbook replacement. The dock inclusion is mainly aimed for those who want a tablet form factor (touchscreen, thin, high resolution screen) with the occasional benefit of faster input through a keyboard (it also serves as an extended battery and stand).
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
the TF is my new laptop. I have my desktop forgaming etc..
The TF does everything else.. this was one of the best buys i have ever made.
what an utterly pointless thread ..... wheres this Iron Fist ????
IMHO, the thing that will make or break the 'usefulness' of a tablet is the software. And of course, everyone's needs will be different.
If you've got to do serious work on it, yeah, you're gonna be better with a full-on laptop. Period.
Myself, I don't need the horsepower of a full laptop, but I do find that the browser on the tablet is pretty slow. Some apps could use a lot of improvement (for instance, I use Polaris Office to interface with Google Docs, but I hate the little return carriage icon it puts after every line in the editor...)
I'm going to hang on to mine because it is useful to me, and as software improves, it will get even more useful.
Its good for books and magazines.
Listening to audio any format
watching movies in SD format only, any higher and experience lag and desync audio
games are enjoyable
internet browsing is ok would be alot better if websites considered ppl touching a screen rather then using a mouse.
some apps beat the website but not many
OP, cry me a river. You don't have anyone to blame other than yourself about the fact that you purchased a device you didn't have the need for.
I've got a gaming desktop with dual 24 inch IPS screens setup; a 15 inch windows/ubuntu Asus laptop; an old iBook acting as a home server; a Galaxy S 4 inch Android smartphone; and an iPod Touch 4th generation (solely for work related testing purposes).
In addition, I was pretty skeptical about the tablets as a device class as a whole before.
Know what? The TF did actually fit me so damn well that I can't imagine not having it now. I had never imagined I'd have those situations and use cases before I actually started using it.