Database Users

Are you keeping your A500 or gonna try the next best thing?

I am still on my 14 day return and have been thinking about this. Android biggest problem is something new is always right around the corner. I think a lot of you are here cause the Asus was unavailable and may still be waiting on that.
So are you keeping it.
Did it surprise you enough to stay with it.
Is the upcoming Samsung Galazy Tab 10.1 or the burning desire to have the Transformer gonna make you take it back.
Maybe the Toshiba Tab with it's built in USB might persuade you.

Sticking. Stuck.

I bought the Acer because the ASUS wasn't available, but I'm quite happy with it anyway. As you said, there's always something new around the corner, but what I've seen about the Toshiba models put them in the Xoom price range, and I haven't seen pricing on the Samsung 8.9 and 10.1 (new thin models, not the 10.1V original design.)
Honeycomb in general's still a very new system, and I expect by this time next year most of the things we're looking at as "missing" or "broken" will be available and/or fixed. Kinda the way I'm still using my (original generation) Droid phone, which, when overclocked and ROMd over to Gingerbread is just fine

Actually...
I figured that I'd get it to play with Honeycomb and wait for some of the vaporware tablets to emerge. I had bought a Xoom but it was a real POS - nothing worked including the falsely advertised charging dock, etc. So I returned it.
Now I'm absolutely keeping the Iconia - I have a rooted Nook Color - very nice but not in the same league as the Iconia.
Don't believe all the BS put out about how bad the screen is, or other stuff.
I rooted it (easiest root I have ever done) and everything works as advertiszed.

I still got until Monday wiki decide Saturday if I will return or not to get the transfoemer, tegra 3 tablets are also coming out in august
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Got both the Asus and the iconia and will keep the iconia ..
The Asus just feels so cheaply made that no amount of screen quality can make up for it feeling like a cheap toy in my hands.
I can understand the whole IPS vs standard screen debate as i have owned many great screens over the years including IPS desktop screens and iPads etc etc .
They both have there pros and there cons but a good screen and good build quality are more important to me and the whole USB host thing built in without the need for a dock or separate accessory is just great.
Will never need a keyboard attached to it either and i think thats what really pushed me over the edge to keep the Acer.
Not slamming on the Asus btw because its decent in other areas but after getting 2 with some nasty light bleed on top of questionable build quality the Acer just took the crown for overall winner .

I am keeping mine. I actually had a Xoom first and took it back...thought it was too expensive for what it was. I actually really like the Acer better. I love the USB port, the micro card slot actually works ( didn't on xoom as of yet), It feels a lot lighter and I actually like the bezel being larger as it is easier to hold without hitting the screen. The viewing angle is good (not sure why bad comments on that). I like it a lot.

Keeping. Was waiting on the Asus, but i'm more than happy with the screen of the Acer, absolutely love the usb port, and since removing the phone apks, I have no complaints about battery life. I'm happy.

Right before I got the Acer I had purchased a used Galaxy Tab 7" thinking that would satisfy me.
Then I saw the Acer. Once I touched it I fell instantly in love and fought myself not to give into temptation everyday. Suddenly it hit me... I have a Bestbuy card and it means I can take 18 months to pay for it without a dime of interest.
1/2 hour later I had the Iconia in my sweaty hands.
Sure the wife *****ed but hey, it's only a new toy once.
For me it's a keeper. Like others have said, the USB port is a big factor and I see nothing wrong with the screen.

Keepin'. I am surprised how much I enjoy the Acer iconia Tab. The USB port makes all the difference. I think the build quality is very nice indeed and I really like the design. Root doesn't hurt either.
I was an early adopter of the Linux Eee Pcs and thought they were very solid little machines, but later models had some serious build quality issues. So the Eee Transformer quality/build problems I have read about do not surprise me one bit. . . .
Also have the Galaxy Tab 7" and a Nook Color. Not sure which one of those I'm sticking with though. I like them both but I leaning toward the Nook and selling the Galaxy Tab on Ebay.

Keeping for sure

I will be taking mine back, but only cause I will be waiting for Samsung galaxy tab 10.1. The weight of the Acer is an issue for me, but can understand why it is. Feels very sturdy. I absolutely love the USB port & sdcard working out of the box. So testing the Acer gave me a few things to think about far as what I want in a tablet. I know Galaxy tab 10.1 will not have USB port. Not sure how Toshiba's will feel.
I definitely recommend people to try the Acer
Also the corners of acer are kind of pointy if holding for awhile.

def keeping mine. I don't know why the Asus got so much media and Acer didnt

I'm still on the fence. I'm coming from daily use of a convertible Fujitsu with stylus and have wanted something this light for a while and miss not having a stylus for normal handwriting.
There are also some things I may not be able to live without which require Window$ but I'm going to give it another week and see if I can see a way to fit it into my normal working life.
If there weren't things that were broken out of the box (gps, compass) I'd probably be leaning more towards keeping at this point

Took a day or two to work out a couple of bugs, but now my A500 is rock solid, smoking fast, amazing battery life. I'm 100% satisfied. This should be fine for me until a Tegra 4 comes out in 2012...
The only thing I am waiting for is a new kernel so I can see what this baby will do when it is overclocked.

bhageman said:
Took a day or two to work out a couple of bugs, but now my A500 is rock solid, smoking fast, amazing battery life. I'm 100% satisfied. This should be fine for me until a Tegra 4 comes out in 2012...
The only thing I am waiting for is a new kernel so I can see what this baby will do when it is overclocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any tips tricks as to what you did to fix / customize?

nubbin77 said:
Any tips tricks as to what you did to fix / customize?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Immediately did a factory reset. Eliminated problem with screen coming back on after screen time out and an odd problem I had with my screen timeout being stuck at 15 seconds.
-Rooted with GingerBreak (make sure you lock in portrait during process)
-WPA supplicant
-changed phone.apk and telephony___.apk to .bak to kill the phone processes. Mad a HUGE improvement in an already satisfactory battery life. WARNING: This will brick your phone if you do a factory reset without changing them back.
-Installed ADW for my home screen
-Installed SyncSMS to get SMS functionality
Apps that help:
-GingerBreak
-Root Explorer
-Terminal Emulator
-Uninstaller for Root
-Super Manager
-ES File
Apps I love:
-PlayOn: Streaming TV from my NAS drive
-SugarSync: All my work docs in the cloud
-WinAmp: Sync music with my desktop over wifi
-Feedly: Google RSS feed looks like a magazine
-Chrome to Phone

Still on the edge
I like the screen and feel of it, but with Honeycomb there aren't many apps out there that run on it (without FC all the time).
I'm trying to justify keeping it for work, but there's no Activesync (without rooting), Calendar is a joke and other than playing movies/games on it what do YOU use it for?
I can't see dumping my laptop anytime soon, so my question is what are you using it for? Serious question.
Thanks
S

I wanted the EEE TF as well but got the Iconia in the interim. I'm pleasantly surprised. I don't want the TF anymore. After playing with a friends, I'm not convinced it's worthwhile to exchange them. It has a gorgeous display and is a tad lighter but I'm afraid I've been jaded by the really bad things I've read about it and am convinced the first batch was very shoddy. Unfortunately, by the time it's released there will be competitors with possibly better options (toshiba, samsung, sony, htc, etc.)
My goal is to get something I'm 100% happy with. I'm 98% happy with the Iconia.
What's in that 2%? Limited video file and format playing ability and bugs due to Honeycomb right now.
Otherwise, hell yeah! I'd have liked an IPS screen. This AUO screen isn't bad at all but it's no IPS, right? Acer could have at least pegged Samsung for PLS.
It's also in wrestling with the idea of having the faith in Acer to believe they really will update and fix these things in the near future. These companies aren't known for keeping their products updated beyond a certain period. I can easily see their promised June update becoming Samsung-esque and not seen for months if ever.
That being said, I've entertained the idea of returning it and waiting to see what I can get in June. But tech is tricky and if you decide to wait, you can easily end up waiting forever for the next best thing as it's always around the corner. If the competitors are too expensive, it's not like the A500 won't be there for me to fall back on, it may even be cheaper! Of course, just like a cell phone - once you own one of these things you come to depend on it rather quickly if you're used to doing things a certain way.
I use it for everything now. My notebook sits in it's bag most of the time.
It's awesome for multimedia, period.
I use it in the kitchen and around the house to play music and videos if I don't feel like sitting in front of the TV.
I use it in the kitchen to look up new and different things to cook.
I use it as a visual remote for my PC (to control music or manipulate downloads). I use it in the couch to look up stuff I see on TV.
I bring it with me EVERYWHERE, yes...I now own a manbag.
I use it on the road when I'm out with the wife and she's in Macys/JCPenny/Kohls or any of those places I don't feel like venturing with her into for hours.
I use it when I'm at the cafe or out at dinner. I don't have it out all the time, but it's with me in case I want to use it and I must say, it's nicer than flipping out a netbook which I guess is ironic but I always thought that was so odd looking. You know, when people pop their netbooks out on a table in the middle of 4 people being social. For me it's a matter of looking up something quick and then popping it back in.
The list goes on and on.
It's basically replaced my android phone in its smart abilities while managing to be more comfortable in that the screen is bigger. It's replaced my notebook in it's lighter tasks like multimedia due to it being ultimately way, way more portable and touchscreen.
My dilemma is living without it for 2 months while I wait for something that I'm hoping will satisfy me 99 or 100%, should I decide to return it. I still have a few days to decide.

kalric said:
Calendar is a joke
S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Jorte?

[Q]Help me choose: Transformer or IConia A500.

Greetings to you all.
I apologize if this is in the wrong section. I am having a heck of a time choosing between these two tablets.
Acer Iconia Pros:
Nice size
better front camera
Has a LED Flash
AFAIK a STOCK version of HC.
Has better sound ( Dolby )
REAL USB 2.0 port ( full size )
EASY TO FIND!!!!!
Cons:
Heard that Playing 1080p HD Video is horrible ( according to reviews that I have seen on youtube ) ( I consider 1080p to be be HD while 720p is more medium def )
Heard that it is not Gorilla Glass ( although I saw a thread that proved otherwise )
Heard that video recording and pics are "meh" at best.
Locked bootloader * Thanks to Lorimere for telling me about that *
and onto the Transformer:
Pros:
Slightly better battery life
IPS Panel Display
Dock that doubles as battery extender
Cons:
Aparently the Transformer has a LOT of issues. Sleep of Death, Non responsive screen, dock problems, massive light bleeding
So I was wondering what you guys would think? Give me your honest opinions ( as long as they are polite....I have no tolerance for rudeness )
I already have a Galaxy Tab 7 inch and a iPad 1 wifi 16GB.....so those who like to say "Get a ipad and be happy with it" Been there. LOL!!!!!

I have had both. And honestly you can't go wrong with either one.
I decided to keep the Acer for 2 reasons.
1) the USB host on the tablet. (after using both, I realized I really didn't need the dock, so the Iconia won here) ** just to add I use the USB port a lot, so for me tablet without it now is a no-go **
2) The build quality on the Iconia was better than on my Transformer.
If I was going to use and carry the dock a lot, the transformer would be better. But In the 2 weeks of having them both, I only felt the need for a real keyboard once. And plugging in a usb keyboard for that hour i needed it worked great.
The Transformer screen is nicer though (mine only had a very small amount of light bleed.). The Acer screen is not bad by any means, but the transformers colors were better. (but after selling my transformer I don't really miss its screen honestly.)
The only thing that keeps me from 100% recommending the Iconia is the locked bootloader. I think it will be cracked or unlocked eventualy. But the fact is as of now it is still locked.

Hmm.....did not know about the locked bootloader. Good to know. Thank You.

I have had two acer iconias. Now I have the asus transformer. And I love it very much. The asus screen is better and this tablet preforms better. The acer constantly woke up on it's on. And if left in stand by for long periods of time the screen would become unresponsive. The only way to fix this problem was to do a hard reset.
Both tablets are very good, but the asus just wins in every category except sound. Not to mention it has great software. Mycloud, Mynet, and slashtop are all exclusive to asus. And the support for acer is lacking. Asus on the other hand has issued four updates each with detailed change logs. And asus will released Honeycomb 3.1 tomorrow 5/31.
So don't believed the bad news about asus transformer all the bugs have been rectified in a timely manner. I have only had my transformer for a week and I have not experienced one problem, besides minor light bleeding. I also have the asus dock and functionality is remarkable. Two usb ports and sd card slot, and a touch pad, with a extra battery. I'm completely satisfied

I had 2 Transformers and returned them both because of excessive light bleed and a gap in the bezel on the upper left hand side which would allow dust behind the screen.
That said, if they have fixed these build quality issues and weight vs connectivity is not an issue for you then the Transformer is the better tablet, certainly in the screen department.
If weight vs connectivity is an issue for you then the Acer is a better tablet, simply because to get similar on the move connectivity as the Acer, the Transformer has to be carried with the optional keyboard dock which essentially turns it into a netbook, and doubles the weight to a hefty 1.4kg vs the Iconia 765g.
As for software glitches and random screen ons, not really an issue for me. Honeycomb is still pretty much a work in progress, and in it's current state it does everything I need it to, and therefore for me it will only get better as Acer release updates.
If you do go for the Transformer then load up a black jpeg, go into a darkened room and whack the brightness up to full to check for light bleed, because for me that was a deal breaker. A simply stunning IPS screen like that hampered by shoddy build quality just wasn't acceptable.
If you want to know what I mean, this is the level of bleed I got on both my Transformers, though not forgetting that they may well have sorted out their manufacturing issues for later batches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80pSCclf9Eg

At first I wondered about the $50 difference in the two. After playing with the Asus at Bestbuy and reading reports I think build quality is one major reason the Acer is so much more. It's well worth it in my opinion, although the locked boot loader for me is a big regret(I'm a big FOSS advocate)

I really agree with Lorimere. The USB port is really useful for me. And the USB port can be use for keyboard and mouse, too!
Actually I really wanted to try Transformer. But ASUS reps in my country (Indonesia) were really don't know when the tablet will go on sale. ASUS really need to fix this. Some are selling it through forums, but it's way too expensive. 16 GB Transformer worth the same as 32 GB Iconia!
I just got update from @acerID (ACER Indonesia twitter reps account), that lots of Iconia accessories will start coming in right away. Yaayy, finally!

As most posts above have stated, the biggest differences are:
USB Host: Acer (built-in) vs. ASUS (on dock)
Display: ASUS generally better than Acer's (unless you get a unit with light bleed)
Build quality: Acer generally feels better made than ASUS
Bootloader: ASUS has an unlocked bootloader vs. Acer's locked
For me the biggest thing in this list is the onboard USB host. Being able to plug in a USB drive without having to carry around essentially 1/2 of a netbook to dock the unit into is a major win for the Acer.
The display issue is really pretty minor I think, unless you want to set your tablet up on a desk and watch a movie while moving around, in which case the ASUS' ISP display will be better with less viewing angle restrictions.
Other items to consider:
ASUS ships with Exchange support, although that's been added in the latest firmware update to Acer's tab; in addition, rooted Acers are able to use the ASUS apk, and some Market Apps (Touchdown is my favorite right now, particularly with the $7.99 pro license from Amazon appstore vs. $19.99 normally)
Update frequency: ASUS has apparently been pushing updates out more frequently
ASUS is more likely to get 3.1 update out first, although Acer's also said they'll be shipping it in June (test of ASUS' 3.1 has already been spotted)
Acer has better sound system (Dolby Mobile)
Final thoughts:
The issue w/ the Acer screen coming back on randomly appears to have been resolved in the latest firmware (mine hasn't turned itself back on since the .114 update).
ASUS in general appears a bit more committed to the Android platform than Acer (at least after the replacement of their prior CEO.)
Oh yeah, and you can BUY the Acer a lot more easily than the ASUS

The only reason the Asus has gotten more updates is because it had way more bugs than the Acer initially....

lord_voldemort666 said:
The only reason the Asus has gotten more updates is because it had way more bugs than the Acer initially....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, but that is just FUD!
There are plenty of reasons to pick an Acer over an Asus, and vice-versa, but this frankly isn't true.
Regards,
Dave

lord_voldemort666 said:
The only reason the Asus has gotten more updates is because it had way more bugs than the Acer initially....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Very Big +1
Don't need updates every week for something that isn't broke.
I have had generic tablets. Viewsonic G.tablet. Xoom. And tried the transformer of a friend(he later returned it for Acer). I am very happy, with my A500 as is my friend. Sure there are a couple bugs here and there...but for 98% of the time I use my tablet...it just works. I pick it up and it almost seems eager to do all I want it too.
As for what to pick...want a tablet...get the Acer....want a net book with identity crisis...get the Asus. Or sit on the fence...a few months down the road...bigger names will enter the game and may have a more current version of honeycomb or ice cream sandwich or whatever google finds in their cafateria that sounds tasty :-D

Hi,
i have hesitate for a long time between transformer and a500. And now, don't know why so long hesitating, because a500 is far more efficient than the transformer.
My unique "regret" is the non avaibility of the 16Gb version wich is at the same price than the 16gb transformer.
Transformer is the tablet who makes you dream when you have to buy : ips is the best, the dock is nice idea, water theme is fun... But in reality, i can't find one to buy where i live. An more, if i want usb, have to buy the heavy dock (big major issue). The IPS is really nice... IF it's perfect as ipad... and it's not ! because quality built of transformer is not as good as it seems to be. Asus is active about their transformer (updates), because they are in late, it's seems have been built in emergency at many points, to solve now.
Acer is far more efficient. no hard (and loose time) developpment for any dock to fixed to the tablet, used spva screen which is really availlable (all ips are used by ipad), full simple connectivity, don't loose time on thick (like samsung), don't loose time on weight (few grams more and so ?), and maybe some less quality "electronics" (wifi, gps ?). But the tablet is really available, even here in martinique (it's a sign^^), and it really works well in my hand, it's a fact, it's not a dream, it's a fact.
For the updates activities : asus want to do well and have to work hard to be really good if they want to follow acer tab a500 who already sell their tablet in mass. Acer seems more confiant in their product, take time for update and 3.1.
at this time i have NO reasons to wait transformer, and for sure if acer know that, asus know that too

What akwaba972 said is exactly how I felt. I'm no longer thinking of Transformer right now. It's sweet, but if you can only dream of it, forget it!

Which way do I go!!!
I too am torn between the Transformer and the A500. I do not have either one of them but first leaned to the Transformer because of it low price. But one could not get it anywhere around. Since then I have been reading and now lean toward the A500 because of the USB ports. I may be a few bucks more but seem like a better build.
Thanks!!

Well it appears that fate has smiled upon me. I just got $400CDN from a friend of mine that I forgot owed me money! I have then decided to get BOTH....for now.
The Acer Iconia will be purchased when I can get up to Owen Sound Staples or will be ordered from NCIX.
The ASUS Transformer has been already ordered from NCIX and has been shipped already ( 16GB Variant ) and depending on the quality and on how I like it then and only then will I purchase the dock.
I will continue this thread to help other people out and see how these two tablets fare. If I decide to keep them both then I will sell my iPad as I will have no use for it. ( Wifi 16GB 1st Gen )

bear in mind, the asus transformer is getting a 3.1 update today, so it's safe to assume ASUS is argubly more dedicate to the firmware support than Acer. and no one seems to mention in this post the dock gives extra 6-7 battery hours plus TWO usb ports, this is crucial to me as I normally want to plug in both of my western digital passport and a mouse...(and now you can even use two xbox360 controllers!)

The 3.1 update will be the absolute FIRST thing that I will do with both devices as I get them.
I feel like a kid with a new toy...come on Purolator where ARE YOU!!!! LOL!!!

magicpork said:
bear in mind, the asus transformer is getting a 3.1 update today, so it's safe to assume ASUS is argubly more dedicate to the firmware support than Acer. and no one seems to mention in this post the dock gives extra 6-7 battery hours plus TWO usb ports, this is crucial to me as I normally want to plug in both of my western digital passport and a mouse...(and now you can even use two xbox360 controllers!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I make a cruise ship in april, and many people on it have an ipad or ebook reader.
It's at this time my wife tell me she will like to have one, and me looking for the best tablet (except the locked ipad).
If i take the example of this ship cruise, i can easily imagine somebody give me his usb key to quickly share immediatly some pics or songs on my a500 who is in the bag with the towel. Easily reload the tablet at night (8 hrs nice enough for a day).
With the transformer, first, i have to carry the dock in luggage , but still ok for now. AFTER, when l'm on the pool deck and someone give me an usb key... have to go to my room, get the dock, back, connect for finally have the usb accessibility. I cannot have the dock already at pool, because it take more place, very more weight and finally may be you do not use it at all.
Of course, it's not a dramatic issue, it's just a real example of use among many others. acer in my example is an all in one simple device.
but i agree that in your case, the dock may be fine.

I wanted the Transformer for a long time i bought the Iconia last week since i wanted a tablet for a week long work trip, i love it, with the full size USB i can mount my NTFS 1TB drive and watch my 12GB 1080p videos, you cant do that with any other tablet.
Transformers only pro to me is the dock... but go look at logitechs new bluetooth keyboard that is also a stand...

Well I got my TF....still waiting on the Acer.
Time will tell........

still not sure if i want it - why did you buy?

i am still not sure i want to by the Acer,,, or the Asus..
be honest with me.. why did YOU buy the Acer.
it doesnt have to be Asus vs Acer. it can just be why you got the Acer.
was it the usb port?, the expandable memory? price? (target has them for $399 so i am really tempted.)
so what pushed you over the edge to buy the Iconia ?
i also am still not sure if it cna see dSLR cameras on the USB port to read the images off the cameras memory card so if someone says it works for their dSLR then thats a huge game changer for me.
i own an ipad and its really really a tough choice given the app and game availability on the ipad, but i am an android phone user so i am very familiar with Android.

USB Full
All the features, mainly usb

To be honest, it was down to the Acer or the ASUS for me although I did like the fact the hardware was working at launch (SD slot, USB etc).
While everyone seems to be complaining on the Acer ROM update schedule, or lack thereof, I am happily running a custom ROM (of which there are several now) which is now at 3.2
What drove me to the Acer was it was available when I decided to buy. Otherwise, it would have been a hard choice. But, I think after actually looking and holding the ASUS I would have picked the Acer.
I use it primarily for business (sales) showing customers products by using well bookmarked PDF files, email (I moved my domain over to Google Apps for business and quick lookups while I am on the road (WiFi tether to my HTC phone) so I don't need a seperate data plan.
No complaints.

do either of you own or owned an ipad to give me your thought comparisons outside of the obvious massive App lead that the ipad has?

I got it for free... kinda... I traded some work for it.
I needed an upgrade from the Archos 101 which was only about three weeks old at the time I saw the upcoming Acer. Preordered it from BB.
I still would have gotten the Acer if Asus TF was available. I need the USB. Period. And I don't care about the TF dock feature.

Well I just plugged my Canon Power Shot A1100 IS in and the Aconia recognized it right away and the pictures showed up right away.
I haven't tried my Nikon or Canon DSLR yet but no reason why they shouldn't work as well on jpg files.
I bought it because of the USB slot, expandable memory, HDMI and the price.

Bought mine for simple reasons
I did the stupid thing and did not bother to do any homework before going out and buying my first tablet (apple I pad 2) - returned to the store the next day. Had no idea it had no native flash support (the "solution" was to use Skyfire for crummy flash support).
Went home, did my homework - when it came down to simple price/vs features the Acer Iconia seemed like the best choice - microSd, full size USB port (awesome for me - it works with a USB hub also, I have lots of USB devices).
Not sure we can claim apple has much if any "app lead" over android tablets - and once you consider how many apps are written for the Android phone but run great under Honeycomb as well. Don't feel much of an app shortage here, the Droid market is freaking huge.
All in all, very happy with my purchase.

I bought mine largely due to the full-sized USB port as I'm an avid retrogamer, so getting to play emulators with the actual controllers (I have USB adapters for them) on my tablet was pretty much a childhood fantasy come true ^_^.
Anyway, that and I really love the metal casing... it just feels solid and sturdy, not large or bulky at all even though it's the heaviest tab of the bunch. I'm sure in some instances, like holding it up over your head in bed or something, you'd notice the weight, but really, there are no heavy or bulky tablets in this category at all, only those that are impressively small like the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
I will note that Acer is so far the worst at getting updates out, but the community here seems pretty devoted, not to mention there's a ton of cross-developer action as the Tegra 2that all of these share means much of the software can just be transplanted from one brand to another. So, if you're going to root and run roms, software becomes a bit less of a concern. As far as the hardware goes, I love it myself.

It was a choice between the Acer and Asus for me. I got the Acer because I was impatient, but I ended up not returning it because after using it I couldn't see myself getting by with no usb and no flash. I considered the new Galaxy Tab as well but for the same reason I decided not to wait.
If I DID end up waiting, I'm sure I'd have decided to wait for a Kal-El based tablet. At some point in the 'waiting for better to come' game, you have to take a step or you'll never buy a product. I use the tablet daily, even my wife uses it now and so it's proven it's value to me.
I use the flash for extremely stupid things, but tbh to each his own, right? One of these things is to sneak into bed at night. By the time I go to bed sometimes my wife is already sleeping and she's a very light sleeper. Flicking a light on to see where I'm going would surely wake her up and it's sometimes difficult to navigate around the bed (without smacking off a big or little toe). I thought, "can I live without the flash? Sure!" But it would be an inconvenience, especially if I do ever find myself in a slightly more important scenario where I need it and don't have (for taking a pic in low light, for eg).
The USB is a must as I travel a lot and the big reason for getting the tablet beyond using it in my home is so I can travel light (without having to use my laptop). With the usb I can plug flash drives or hard drives in and watch my tv series and movies or use it to juice my phone if I strain it chatting too long or whatever.
Other than that, I didn't like the feel of the Transformer and I didn't want to depend on getting/using the keyboard part to have usb functionality. I had been keeping up with all the pics of the light bleed and saw it first hand. Who wants to worry about getting a tablet with light bleed at a time when they weren't in very many stores? That would have meant back and forth shipping. Not my thing.
The Acer is fully usable as-is, with the Asus and Samsung you MUST buy accessories for them to get a usb port.
I also considered resale value, like any tech head . If I am to resell my Acer A500 right now, I'm going to get ~$400 for it (not everyone knows about the sale price of 350 at certain stores). In a few months, I will lose another $50 to depreciation...as by then I'm sure the price will further fall to something more attractive to fringe and impulse buyers.
The Samsung with added accessories to make it function similarly to the Acer is already in the $550 region, but it will depreciate exactly the same as the Acer, unfortunately. Same with the Asus.
So after you buy the accessories to get USB (if you need it), you still end up selling the other tabs (with accessories) for approximately the same price as the Acer, as resale value for accessories is little to nothing and you can very rarely if at all sell them on their own. (This is based on the many, many times I've seen people reselling their tablets with accessories like docks and cases for way, way less than what they got it for).
In essence, you lose more money with the other tablets IF you need* to accessorize them. *(to play catch up to the A500, like buy the keyboard section for Asus or buy the proprietary addon for the Samsung to get USB)

I replied before reading the whole thread and missed the inquiries into the Apple side of things <insert evil grin>... imma hate me some on Apple, hoo wee. Android is slowly doing to Apple in the mobile market what Microsoft did to Apple in the computer market. What's amazing is that everyone always said Microsoft beat Apple because of developer support, because Windows had all the software, all the games. Now, we've seen the exact opposite, Apple with all of the software goodies and their competitor standing out alone on their OS alone... but what happened this time? Android is proving once and for all that Apple's walled-garden approach, their almost communistic approach to electronics just isn't going to appeal to the masses once they are exposed to the idea of choice, something Android offers in spades. We all want to do whatever we want with our devices... they are OUR devices after all, not Apple's or Samsung's or HTC's or Google's. Apple has made it clear that they intend to impose strict control over their hardware and software, whereas Google has opened the door wide and invited everyone in with a gentle wave. I, for one, after having had (and at the time loved) an iPhone for 2 years, will NEVER buy a single Apple product again.

entropy.of.avarice said:
I did the stupid thing and did not bother to do any homework before going out and buying my first tablet (apple I pad 2) - returned to the store the next day. Had no idea it had no native flash support (the "solution" was to use Skyfire for crummy flash support).
Went home, did my homework - when it came down to simple price/vs features the Acer Iconia seemed like the best choice - microSd, full size USB port (awesome for me - it works with a USB hub also, I have lots of USB devices).
Not sure we can claim apple has much if any "app lead" over android tablets - and once you consider how many apps are written for the Android phone but run great under Honeycomb as well. Don't feel much of an app shortage here, the Droid market is freaking huge.
All in all, very happy with my purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a huge Apple fan at all but in their defense they do have a huge "app lead" and it's not necessarily the number or amt. (though it certainly does have that as well) it's the popularity of the device. The iPad has had hulu and netflix forever and Android is just getting it now. It's not a huge deal but the fact is, apps will almost always hit IOS first, and that IS saying something.
I agree with you though, I don't feel a shortage. I have every app I need (and many I don't, lol) so I'm not worried. With Hulu and Netflix now on 2.2/2.3 and heading soon to 3.1 I can safely say I'm completely happy with my purchase as well.

v_lestat said:
do either of you own or owned an ipad to give me your thought comparisons outside of the obvious massive App lead that the ipad has?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't, my daughter and son-in-law do (Ipad 1 & 2). I had enough time to use theirs but to each his own they say.
I like being able to read/write office files (Polaris) and maybe you can do that in the App Store?? I also don't like needing to use iTunes for everything (and maybe you don't?).
Like I said, no regrets on my part.

If I was going to be torn between devices it wouldn't be between the Acer and the Asus it would be between the Acer and the Toshiba Thrive.
I have the ipad2 32gb 3g Verizon. Stood in line on March 11. It's nice I play w/ it occasionally. I really like my Acer a500 though. It does more than the ipad can. Imo the Acer is a better machine.
I have the Nikon d3100 dslr. Both tablets will display the jpegs. I pop out the SD card and use a card reader, in the Acer, or the adapter, in the Apple, to access the pictures.
Also, starting tomorrow, the Acer is $350 at Target ($399-50gc).

Like most people, full size USB. All Android tablets are pretty much the same... this had full size USB so easy choice.
However, if I had to make a choice now, it'd be a bit harder cos the Tosh Thrive has it as well but that looks massive! But you can get it in pretty colours.. oooh!
edit: Oh, I also see it has a full size hdmi! I've already broken 2 micro-hdmi cables on the Acer cos all u need to do is put a tiny bit of pressure on the cable and the end snaps off!

For me it was all about the SD expandability, if I had known about the Toshiba Thrive, I probabbaly would have waited. It's not all about micro-weight and thickness with me. Acer tab has micro SD up to 32 G, Toshiba has full SD up to 128 G I believe.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

has anyone compare this acer iconia a500 to the viewsonic gtab, which have similar hardware. only difference is the older android 2.2. it has usb and hdmi and etc... i am debating between the two. also gtab aonly cost 260 buck at amazon

As far as the gTablet goes, the software isn't a concern since roms for all of these Tegra 2 devices are becoming plentiful and easy to install, so finding 3.0 or 3.1 on the gTablet is likely a piece of cake. Now, as far as the SCREEN goes ...
The aspect ratio on the gTablet is just off... everything is squished just a little, so round things are slightly ovular, squares are slightly rectangular... I got a Pocket eDGe off of woot a while back and it was the exact same way. The screen on the gTablet is also off-center with that thick-ass bezel along the bottom. Personally, I originally wanted a gTablet until I saw that screen, but if you can live with it and wanna run a custom rom, it's the cheapest way to get a Tegra 2 tablet, and it even has a full-size USB port on there, which was one of the reasons I'd originally considered it. As for how it feels in the hand, I played with one and it feels like a cheap Xoom... similar thickness and feel to the edges, but obviously a lower (though acceptable) build quality. I still think the way my Acer feels in my hands is the best of all those I've tried, including the Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1 (oh but the GTab 10 is f-ing sexy... my bf has that one). If you can afford the Acer, I'd still say go for that one, but if money is your primary concern and you're not bothered by the screen, go for it. Just remember, the screen's resolution is slightly lower (1024x600 vs 1280x800 on the rest), and there's only 512MB RAM in there vs the 1GB the others have... also only a front facing cam, none on the back, but I never take pics with my tablet anyway... that's what my phone is for. Otherwise, it's Tegra 2 all the way... it's definitely worth what they're going for these days, but so is the Acer even though it costs more.

Torisen said:
For me it was all about the SD expandability, if I had known about the Toshiba Thrive, I probabbaly would have waited. It's not all about micro-weight and thickness with me. Acer tab has micro SD up to 32 G, Toshiba has full SD up to 128 G I believe.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm right there with you. I'm still within my return window, so I'm seriously considering returning the a500 and getting the thrive when it comes in august. I've always been a toshiba fan.
My only concern is will the toshiba be locked down and unrootable.

Mainly because of Android (aka not an oversize iPod) and the USB slot.
Would have gone for another if it was thinner. Now with the acer case on it's darn fat and heavy. If you don't really care about the USB go for samsung 8.9. I'm still torn between the two.

Target plus $50 gift card
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

[Q] Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet really that bad in Benchmarks?

Hi,
I'm thinking about buying a Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet, because of the stylus panel.
But just saw this Benchmark and now I don't know if it's real?!
Is it possible to have that bad benchmarks with a tegra 3 cpu?
The HTC Flyer is the only option, but it's only 7". Maybe a Asus Transformer Prime without stylus would be the better choice or even the Transformer?!
The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25I4hXp8CEg
Do you know other benchmark tests? What do you think?
Thanks in advance!

prereleased , buggy and unoptimised software is my guess
Max. S (From my Galaxy 2)

brianius said:
Hi,
I'm thinking about buying a Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet, because of the stylus panel.
But just saw this Benchmark and now I don't know if it's real?!
Is it possible to have that bad benchmarks with a tegra 3 cpu?
The HTC Flyer is the only option, but it's only 7". Maybe a Asus Transformer Prime without stylus would be the better choice or even the Transformer?!
The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25I4hXp8CEg
Do you know other benchmark tests? What do you think?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is only Tegra 2. You should check out these two forums.
forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-slate-tablets/bd-p/Thinkpad_slate
forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=65&sid=4ea4e6ba93aea84ae9d9d9f919b6b864
I think the reason to get this tablet is not the benchmarks but the ability to use a stylus. If you want better performance I would wait for them to update it.

fosselman said:
It is only Tegra 2. You should check out these two forums.
forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-slate-tablets/bd-p/Thinkpad_slate
forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=65&sid=4ea4e6ba93aea84ae9d9d9f919b6b864
I think the reason to get this tablet is not the benchmarks but the ability to use a stylus. If you want better performance I would wait for them to update it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it's tegra 2, everyday is a new tegra 3 device in the in the news, just mixed it.
Thanks for the links these forums look good. Still don't understand why xda has no thinkpad forum. So there will be no ROMs or other developing here?
That would be a big point against lenovo for me! Who knows what you could do with a digitizer...
I've read a lot reviews and stuff, now. If you are interested in a good tablet like the transformer prime, but with digitizer I would suggest to wait for the next HTC releases with Scribe, ICS, unibody and 10"+ If you can't wait - GET IT!

Moved to questions

Actually, over at Laptop mag they did an extensive benchmark of the Thinkpad against a few others and to me it seem to be quite fine.
I've been on the fence between the Thinkpad, The Toshiba Thrive and the original Transformer and so far I am still leaning towards the Thinkpad.
Now if one is to compare it benchmark wise to the Transformer Prime, then there is no contest.
edit: Thanks admins/mods for creating the Thinkpad forum.
TS

To me raw benchmarks mean absolutely nothing. It's all about real life performance. And for my needs the Tablet works just fine.

I agree, and your recent real life review shows that very well.
TS

it's all about business
You must understand, the ThinkpadTablet is a business model. I here people arguing all the time why to buy this instead of a SGTAB. It does not even come with youtube preinstalled ( mine didn't ) so if your looking for video playing and Angry Birds you're wasting your money. I'm not saying it's not capable, it's fully capable but you're wasting it's potential. I tried most of the tablets and none raise to this. I even own an iPad 2... but it's all about multimedia and 1000 gb of games on that. I find the Thinkpad business apps and secure connections to be the best. It can connect to VPN encryption like not other. The pen is also superb. Great battery and connectivity. Robust with a great Keyboard-Folio Case. The OS is stable but i would have liked a Custom ROM. Still if they update to ICS it will be perfect.
Really a hidden jewel among the others, but only if you use it for the above purposes. Otherwise buy a SgTab and than buy a pen and you'll like it more.

+1. It's a workhorse, and a superb one.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Hey,
Recently i've bought a Thinkpad Tablet. And i'm using GTB 10.1 p7500.
Maybe in not distant future, i'll make a comparison of those two. But for now, my GTB is going to be sold. Lenovo is much better. Not in every wy, but the way i'm using it...

Don't buy
I am generally disappointed with this tablet. While I was writing this reply I had to reboot. FC all the time, it lags way too much (Flash, launcher, writing this comment and scrolling up and down a web page)
But it boot up very fast!

Hello again.
After month of using TPT, here is some summary:
for:
- wide range of inputs (hdmi, usb, sdcard)
- stylus
- external keyboard with pin pointer
- very natural colors
- stability
- most of the unneeded apps can be uninstalled
- outstanding rubber-like cover
- very good for watching movies on my big screen, via hdmi
against:
- battery (i have to charge it every day - GTB once every two or three days)
- lack of rooting procedure
- BT 2.1 (GTB BT 3.0), very sluggish
- nobody knows how to root this thing
- sensitivity of the screen (GTB is far more sensitive)
- did i mention rooting problems ?
For now i can say, tha this is very good tablet. But if you want to use it as it is. If you like to personalize everything, if you need root or something like that, wait or buy something else...
For me ideal would be tab like GTB but with docking bay/docking station with all the features that TPT have.

I took that Keyboard Folio docking section apart and truth be told, Lenovo could have changed the setup to allow an additional USB port in that area.
TS

you dont take your work truck to an engine dyno or a drag race - you get it to work... are you really going to look at benchmark?
you get this tablet for the computrace, one of the best warranty in the service, some free app bundle, a pen (and a place to put it), ips display, hdmi out, full size USB that works with a number of devices, and a tablet that doesnt look like a toy or a device meant for female audiences

Aw, hell. I guess that means it'll never come in pink. Is it too butch? Would I look to dorky changing out my hair doodads in its reflection (when it's off, of course. Or should I buy one of the Mirror apps when I go pickup my blinker fluid?)
Seriously. If I get one of these, should I only take it out when I have my Chuck Taylors or Birkenstocks on?

What's The Best Solution For Me?

After realizing that I dont need a powerful Core i3, i5, or i7 laptop for my daily use, but do need long battery life similar to the tf700 in a sleek chassis that's preferably fanless, I've been trying to find a good looking, Clover Trail Atom 11"-13" Windows 8 generation laptop/netbook, but it seems that everything is a hybrid I got excited when I saw the Lenovo IdeaPad 11", but to my dismay, it's running RT via ARM. Such a missed opportunity. Recalling my time with the Asus Transformer Infinifty TF700, and how that was a great piece of hardware (minus the flimsy dock + Asus' bugs) I've decided to fold and get a hybrid + a large DropBox account. After looking through the Googles, and YouTubes, it seems that my best bet would be the TF810. Only issue I'm having is I live in the states. Another issue is it's price. It's waaaay too close to a Acer S7 11" variant which was what I originally planned on buying, if that's what I'd have to pay then I'd pay it. From what I've seen and read, the new Atom processors
run Windows 8 relatively flawlessly. I do not plan on playing games on it at all.
My purposes for a laptop are:
YouTube, Netflix, Hulu+, HBOgo
Light Image editing via GIMP
Google Docs and Office Suit for on the go doc editing
(hence the need for long battery)
RSS reading when not using my iPad mini
Google Chrome + extensions
LTE would be a plus, but I can tether.
What are your suggestions for me?
Thanks for your time.

Your needs and observations are similar to my ones.
I have question though, and how is you being in USA an issue in all this?
From what I know at least you will get better price on your device than we in Europe
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Have you considered the Acer W510? From what I understand from your post, it should fit right in your pocket
Now one thing the build quality isn't on pair with say an ipad or a surface tablet, but then again its quite cheap, and personally I really like it
//M

W510 would be okay if you just wanted a tablet without a keyboard. The keyboard doesn't seem that good, and keyboards on a 10 inch tablet are too cramped. And if I was just getting a tablet, the upcoming ASUS ME400 looks a lot better.
I like the Samsung 500T, it's what I have. It's downside is the glossy plastic back is a bit slippery and no secondary battery. It's upsides is a full sized USB port on the tablet, front facing speakers (which are a kinda weak at times though), and a pen with a convenient storage slot. Also Samsung seems to be doing pretty well so far with driver updates.
Another possibility I like is the Lenovo Lynx. This huge downside to this one seems to be the 32GB limit on the micro SD slot (I'm kind of hoping this is a mistake in the specs, seems odd to not support SDXC), also has no pen. The upside is the quality looks really nice and Lenovo usually has great keyboards.

m.klinge said:
Have you considered the Acer W510? From what I understand from your post, it should fit right in your pocket
Now one thing the build quality isn't on pair with say an ipad or a surface tablet, but then again its quite cheap, and personally I really like it
//M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did. 10" is just not enough for work. 11-12" seems to be the best compromise between fun/mobility/tablet itself usability and work mode in laptop look (I don't know if what I just said makes any sense).
Since I want to use this device for watching films I am glad they are limited to 1366x768 res.
Netflix, Hulu+, HBO Go and 720 p mkv dont look that good on Full HD screen.
Also Atom would struggle even more with higher res and battery life would be shorter.

My takeaway from CES 2013 reports is that the second wave of Win8 toys will be better than the first (2012) wave in every way: availability/functionality/performance/price. These should start dribbling out in spring, and pricing will come down for back-to-school in Aug, perhaps sooner. I would not consider a 1st-gen Win8 device at this point, not unless there's a substantial discount--that includes the Surface Pro. Of course, it depends on whether you can wait.
My second takeaway from CES is that RT is on life support. Virtually all of the CES roll-out was about x86. Big vendors like Samsung and HP won't have RT models. Whether RT dies or not will depend on MS' handling of it, which has been spectacularly incompetent thus far. I think it will live on, if only because MS will need ARM to compete against Android at the $200-300 price points. But as of now, RT has no value proposition to speak of.
It's not only the hardware that is v1.0. Win8 is a v1.0 as well, and will take time to get over the teething issues. I fully expect a point upgrade (or SP) by summer at latest, in time for back-to-school. I think it'll be a point upgrade, as Windows 8 has a stigma attached in the eyes of the public, and a 8.1 or 8.5 is the simplest PR method to convey improvements.
Succinctly, Win8 RTM (and associated hardware) in 2012 was basically a second public beta. The real launch will be by Q3 and Q4 2013. Whatever you buy today will be substantially outmoded by year-end, so I would stay away from anything too expensive. Think stopgap.

e.mote said:
My takeaway from CES 2013 reports is that the second wave of Win8 toys will be better than the first (2012) wave in every way: availability/functionality/performance/price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't it the usually way with everything in IT/electronic world?
I can also bet that 3rd generation will be better than the 2nd and in some cases we might see it by the end of this year...?
I don't mind W8 issues and hardware that will be "old" in few months as long as it will do what I need it to do.
I also would not be so harsh with Windows 8. Either they run out of time or inconsistency between Modern Ui and Destkop mode was not that visible for those who created system as they worked with it every single day + they are advanced user not "Mr Joe Public".
They need small SP (mostly for essential programs like Mail or IE) so that they can work "as one" in both modes - sort of like Chrome today.
Second thing is inconsistency between operations in two modes. Right click on the mouse should show more similar functions (like lack of properties in modern ui).
Anyway - for me question is - which hybrid with screen of 11" will be/is the best and will last longest.
As much as I am scared of Asus Warranty service in Poland it look like TF810 is the best choice.
I just bought 128GB SSD for W8 in my desktop (old C2Q machine) and the only thing that bothers me is size of "HD" (64GB) in those devices... seems to me that W8 Pro truly needs 120/128GB + sd extension for nice, long-haul relation ship.

I agree with e.mote.
First generations tend to be the most rough. It's called the bleeding edge of technology for a good reason. Your second to third generation they usually have the design issues mostly figured out, the drivers issues resolved, and it's mostly about performance. But this first generation, there are lots of mistakes being made, lessons to be learned, and problems yet to be fixed. The first generation is the beta test for the die hards willing to pay for it.

I don't mind - just want to get the best device out of those bad ones
I need it for almost everyday work - I write a lot an I need something like that - at the same time ultrabooks are to big, laptop blow hot air... so... hybrid with atom looks like a best choice...
And will allow me to keep ipad "evening comfort"

>Isn't it the usually way with everything in IT/electronic world?
It's the old chestnut: Buy whenever you want, because tech will always get cheaper/better. But as savvy shoppers know, product releases are seasonal, and certain times are better than others to buy things. As well, veteran users of Microsoft products know that MS v1.0 is not where you want to be.
>I can also bet that 3rd generation will be better than the 2nd and in some cases we might see it by the end of this year...?
That's an interesting remark, as the usual PC cycle is annual, but recently we've seen multiple product intros within the same year, eg the iPad 3 & 4 last year. That's due to the quickened pace of competition n a wide-open market. Then, all the more reason not to buy into a v1.0 if possible, because a v2.0 is only a few months off. That's where the biggest functionality jump lies. 2.0->3.0 is usually more incremental.
>Anyway - for me question is - which hybrid with screen of 11" will be/is the best and will last longest.
Your selection will be broader come spring/summer, as opposed to the handful available at this point. This is the worst time of the year to buy new PC gear. As said, it depends on whether you can wait.
There is also the larger question of whether hybrid as a category will fly, or will it suffer from the neither-fish-nor-fowl syndrome. There haven't been enough models out yet to judge, but we'll find out this year. Surface Pro will be a bellwether.

For now I will wait since the only device in Polish shops is (are, as there are two) Ativ Tabs.
I will wait until I can compare them (touch them) in the shops and than decide.
I definitely have get device before summer as I will not be able to work away from home
Since I do not think 2nd gen will be out till summer I may get one now.
If W8 will be slow and if 1st gen hybrids with W8 will be slow I don't think manufacturers will rush with 2nd gen.
Atom hybrids are supposed to replace netbooks but not with this price level, especially that we have the likes of Asus X202 (small laptop with touch screen) that are much cheaper.
I guess we will see some premiers in autumn, lots of marketing talk, shows, etc... but it will take some time before they will actually get to the shops. Few manufacturers will make it in time for X-mass but again it will be worth to wait until all of them are in the shops.
This way I would never buy anything as 3rd gen would be "right behind the corner" .
If it will have nice screen, keyboard to write and will play movies + no fan and log battery life I can have it now.
It will be way better than Android Transformers