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Well well well...
Now that the Transformer is confirmed for next week, what do I do?
I just bought my Xoom from best buy this week, and can return it with no hassles. I have a $120 PDAir leather case but im sure I can get most of my money back.....
Would you guys do the trade? Granted the $$ isn't the issue, I just really want the IPS screen and USB access.
What do you guys think? Would you swap them out if you could? Disregarding the $$ factor?
The most important thing to me is development, which the Xoom clearly is ahead in now...
I don't think the Transformer is for me. It's just a wee bit too large, and I need my cell data plan. AFAIK, Transformer is wifi only, right? I'm guessing that the Transformer works a lot better in the keyboard department, which is my main disappointment about the Xoom.
Really though, I don't think you could go wrong with either device. The Transformer wasn't quite as rushed to the market, so you might encounter fewer bugs, but ultimately, it seems like more of an issue of form factor. The USB sounds good, but in my case, I barely use USB for anything these days.
From the videos I've seen of the Transformer in action, it has a slightly worse viewing angle despite being an IPS panel (versus the VA in the XOOM). That said, the Transformer's panel looks more saturated. Conversely, the Transformer seems to suffer more from glare than the XOOM.
As for development, you nailed it with the XOOM being ahead at the moment. I assume that it will stay this way for a while, as the XOOM attracted a lot of early adopters and developers since it's the first official Honeycomb device.
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
FWIW, I'd far rather have the XOOM. As such, it's what I have chosen for myself.
Edit: Sorry! I was wrong about the RAM. Turns out, I was thinking of the G-Slate.
Probably the biggest appeal the transformer for me is the usb port for future external drives. However there are ways around that issue. For me I prefer the look of the xoom, I believe motorola produces better quality items vs acer, and motorola is an american firm so I also support american designers. Win-win for me.
As I have said before. Just so long as people keep buying android tablets that's the important thing.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Don't forget the bezel either. It gets really annoying.
Much like why i am still waiting to buy a different dualcore phone other than the g2x. The g2x is awesome nonetheless its just the bezel that is ridiculously too much. But you get my point.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
You mean asus? I guess I should mention I have the wifi so thats not an issue. The biggest appeal for me is the USB and the screen as well. I just want more storage so I can put a bunch of movis on my xoom
tumbes20000 said:
Probably the biggest appeal the transformer for me is the usb port for future external drives. However there are ways around that issue. For me I prefer the look of the xoom, I believe motorola produces better quality items vs acer, and motorola is an american firm so I also support american designers. Win-win for me.
As I have said before. Just so long as people keep buying android tablets that's the important thing.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
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Its Asus actually lol
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
willverduzco said:
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
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Where did you get that from? The official website states 1GB memory:
http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/#specifications
For me it's the xoom. Dual band wifi and a much small bezel/size. I purchased the Moto BT keyboard and never use it, it's a tablet. If I wanted a netbook, i wouldve bought one.
DeerChaser said:
For me it's the xoom. Dual band wifi and a much small bezel/size. I purchased the Moto BT keyboard and never use it, it's a tablet. If I wanted a netbook, i wouldve bought one.
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I bought that too, its nice but I dont see myself using it either... in class maybe but all my classes have computers in them for notes
willverduzco said:
From the videos I've seen of the Transformer in action, it has a slightly worse viewing angle despite being an IPS panel (versus the VA in the XOOM). That said, the Transformer's panel looks more saturated. Conversely, the Transformer seems to suffer more from glare than the XOOM.
As for development, you nailed it with the XOOM being ahead at the moment. I assume that it will stay this way for a while, as the XOOM attracted a lot of early adopters and developers since it's the first official Honeycomb device.
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
FWIW, I'd far rather have the XOOM. As such, it's what I have chosen for myself.
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The xoom has horrible viewing angles. The screen on the transformer looks way better so far and according to reviews it is way better than the xoom screen.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
I dunno..
I am not sure. I've had my xoom for about 3 weeks. I absolutely love it as its my laptop replacement.
However, the price of the Transformer is nice.. The screen tech also looks good. And of course there is working SD card and USB.
But damn, that bezel is ugly as hell on the Transformer. Reviews are also saying its plasticy.
Lastly, its hard to find a definitive answer on the software. Does Asus have a custom skin on there? I've told myself I will never ever buy a tablet or phone with a custom skin again. I am tired of waiting for updates from OEMs. This is one of the main reasons Im swapping my EVO for a Nexus S as soon as it drops on Sprint in the coming weeks.
What do all my fellow Xoom peeps think?
Only thing holding me back from immediately returning the xoom in favor odf the transformer is that the transformer apparently looks ugly and feels plasticy comparedto the xoom. I guess I gotta see it in person before I can decide.
I just bought my Xoom on the 17th from Best Buy. I have until May 1st to return it. If Best Buy has a Transformer on display, and I like it, I'll probably return the Xoom for that.
If it has almost everything the Xoom has, and I can get the keyboard dock and still walk away with $50 in my pocket from the return I'm happy.
I'm stickin to my Xoom... seems like it's better built. I didn't payf or it so the $$ factor doesnt bother me....
The bezel on the transformer is huge to make it fit in the dock, not really interested in that. Ill slap a 32 gig sdhc in and not worry about USB
I tested the transformer before I received my Xoom. For me the xoom wins hands down.
Its largley a matter of personal preference but I didn't actually like holding it, the bezzle is just too big to hold and type even if you had thumb key.
The screen really didn't look any better than the xooms maybe slightly more vivid colours. But the keyboard doesn't make sense to me on a tab, there is no USB on the tablet itself and currently only 16gb model is available.
But like I said that's all just personal taste
sent from my xoom. at last
wang1404 said:
Don't forget the bezel either. It gets really annoying.
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I want a bigger bezel. The bezel on the Xoom is only about 3/4 the size of my thumb. You can't hold this thing with one hand without activating the screen in some unwanted way. Maybe I just have big hands and you don't, but still this has become annoying.
The Transformer has a larger bezel to be wide enough to seat evenly with the netbook sized keyboard attachment, but I think that there's the added benefit of being able to hold onto it.
OH and the transformer is freaking $200 less... After purchasing my WiFi Xoom I find myself using it less and less. For something like this that I'm using quite casually, I don't mind a couple "flaws" (according to some) in order to save $200. Heck, when I return my Xoom I might not be buying a different tablet at all.
I'm going to return my Xoom this Sun to Costco. I love it but I'm kinda bored of it. I don't use it as much as before. The only time I use it now is when I'm in bed waiting to past out. Without XDA, I would of returned the Xoom after a few days of owning it. With the Transformer I get to save some benjamins.
After reading the Transformer Anandtech review, I would definitely get a Transformer over the Xoom... that is, if I wasn't such an aesthetic freak. The bezel size irriates me...
On a good note Anandtech says the display is "comparable to the iPad 2", and that it is definitely more impressive than the Xoom's.
sano614 said:
I just bought my Xoom on the 17th from Best Buy. I have until May 1st to return it. If Best Buy has a Transformer on display, and I like it, I'll probably return the Xoom for that.
If it has almost everything the Xoom has, and I can get the keyboard dock and still walk away with $50 in my pocket from the return I'm happy.
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you will be walking away -$50, the transform is $500 for the 32gb model
I'm looking into purchasing one or the other, and am stuck in between, can anyone please shed some light onto this?
I like the galaxy tab for a few reasons, one its samsung and i tend to trust their build quality over asus, two its super thin and much smaller than the transformer, and three the speakers are better, but the main thing that is killing it for me is the lack of ports, only having a single proprietary port bugs me, and feels like i'm being forced into buying additional things that should have been included in the first place
i like the transformer because of the ports and sd card expansion, and the keyboard with the battery and extra usb/sd ports.
i'm not sure which to choose, please help!
totally your preference. how much are you really going to use your hdmi and sd card? if you use it a lot, then go transformer. if you are going to get a keyboard, they both have sd card slots.
however, if thin tablets are of bigger importance, go samsung.
I think build quality is now same. asus new batches seem to be better than the rushed out ones.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Don't know if anyone can really help you decide, because it sounds like you already know the pros and cons of both. But I feel the same way. I really like both tablets, both have some great qualities, but both have some pretty big weaknesses too.
Going to just copy/paste what I just wrote on the Transformer board...
Transformer
+ $100 cheaper
+ micro SD
+ mini HDMI
+ netbook style keydock
Galaxy Tab 10.1
+ lighter and rounded edges (more comfortable)
+ better speakers
+ PLS display
+ LED flash
+ just better looking
Almost afraid to say it, because I detest custom UI, but I almost want to give the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a + for TouchWiz UX. The demo of it actually has some very nice looking features.
Because of the lack of micro SD I almost certainly will need to spend $200 more for a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1, versus the 16GB Transformer I'm using now with my 16GB micro SD card. So the price difference is greater (I am sure I need more than 16GB for a tablet).
....I own a Transformer now, it's my second one, and it has a screen defect. So I've run into some build quality issues with the Transformers. But I also have build quality fears for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. I've seen a lot of glass separation from the bezel in corners in a lot of video reviews. It looks a bit too common. Almost none of those video reviews call attention to it, but after seeing some complaints about it on this board and a article on Android Community, I've been looking carefully at those corners and now seem to notice it all the time.
Both are great tablets. I going to need to return my Transformer in about 5 days. So I still have a bit more time to mull it over.
+1 to what Ravynmagi said.
I actually returned my Transformer a couple weeks ago. For it's price point, it definitely is awesome, but I just didn't like the fact that I could literally flex and twist it and it would affect the light bleeding. I would rather pay the extra money to have something solid and according to a lot of video reviews, people are saying that even though it's plastic it feels just as solid as the iPad2... and I consider my iPad2 very solid.
I returned my TF today. Terrible screen separation under the bezel. A lot of FCs. Considerably heavier than the Tab. The extra 100 that i spent thus far seems well worth it.
The tab it's a better pure tablet. The transformer doesn't need a adapter for hdmi out.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Ok I know I’m biased but it's lighter, sleeker, thinner, PLS screen and great build quality. In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets. Ah yes and I can hold it in one hand.
FTFY
cosimoss said:
In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets.
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10 chars
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
Darkgage said:
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
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very good video
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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supercurio seems to be enjoying the PLS screen on galaxy tab 10.1
I'm also intrigued by #GalaxyTab101 PLS screen (Samsung improved IPS). This thing could be or become pro photographer's dream calibrated.
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Samsung is in 3.1 now for both IO and Retail version, except 10.1v.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
Ah ok ... Apologize to the poster
Mr.Duck said:
i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
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I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
Ravynmagi said:
I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
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Damnit man.. now I'm going to return my TF too. I three defects and three annoyances.
- Hair under the screen.. looks like an eye lash
- Moderate light bleed.. increases when I hold it due to flex
- Bezel began creaking and moving
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
ericc191 said:
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
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Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
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Yeah, my girlfriend is upset that I'm going to exchange. She says the back of the TF is perfect for grip.
Also, for people who purchased on Amazon, make sure you choose defective when returning. This shouldn't be an issue as nearly all TFs have light bleed.
I chose to put that I no longer wanted it, and they tried to add a 20% restocking fee. I called up and got that removed by telling them I hit the wrong button.
The Transformer & Iconia were somewhat similar. I like the many ports on the Acer, but it was rather heavy for one handed use. Trying to type in portrait was a pain because of the device weight. If the Galaxy had those ports, then it would not be as thin, & would weigh more. I returned the Acer & pre-ordered the Galaxy. I plan on getting the USB adapter and using it when needed, which will be every once in a while.
So, recently I've seen a lot more threads comparing the Eee Transformer to the A500. Before I bought either of these tablets I did a ton of product comparison in store with various display models, at least 3 A500's and 3 Transformers.
Note: for full disclosure the Eee Pad what I thought I wanted when I first started looking at tabs.
I am writing this review as I believe all of these comparisons to date have been based on box stats and not real world trials. Below I will layout the features that really matter (e.g. I'm not going to review bluetooth, let's make some assumptions here) and how they stack up in a direct comparison.
Weight / Build Quality
Held each tab, A500 in my left, Transformer in my right, you CAN notice the difference, is it significant? Strangely when holding one tab the Transformer feels way lighter, however, when you pick the Acer up again, it feels almost the same. It's hard to explain, go try it yourself.
When holding the Asus you immediately realize the reason for the Acer's extra weight is better build quality. You can literally FEEL the build quality difference. I pushed on the screen of the Asus around the power button and it receeded about 1/8th of an inch! The Acer's screen also flexes, but not nearly as much. Asus build quality is terrible, I would gladly pay the extra weight penalty for the stronger build of the Acer.
If you are a thumb typer, and if you find wide bezels to be an issue, you will notice that the Acer actually has a narrower bezel than the Asus, I couldn't believe the Asus' bezel was wider, but it is!
Battery Life
Looking at the tech. specs each of these tablets should have pretty much the same battery life. The battery capacity of the Asus is 6600 mAH and the Acer is about 80 mAH less, a negligible difference. They run similar processors, however, some have said the IPS panel of the Transformer equates to better battery life. Something however is amiss in the numbers department though... Asus has said 9.5 hours of battery life, however, every review online (and I looked at 6) pegged the Asus' battery life at ~7.5 hours and the Acer's battery life at ~7.5 hours, there is no real world difference here.
Considering the Acer has low power DDR2 RAM while the Asus does not, this may also explain some of the balance as IPS panels have been shown to run less power.
Camera Quality (back camera, who cares about front anyway)
With the update to 3.2 and 1080P recording, the Acer has an AWESOME video camera now which takes great stills too, I was blown away (have you tried it yet? If not, try it now!). This paragraph will be short and sweet, the Asus' camera blows. It takes crappy video, it looks way less clear and crisp and the same is true for stills. Not even in the same league as the Acer's camera now and there is no flash, the Acer dominates in cameras bigtime!
Connectivity
The Asus tries hard, however, it just can't match the Acer. The USB port of the Acer will come in handy at least once in its lifetime, not to mention the ease of adding a keyboard, game controller, etc. Moreover, the HDMI connection on the Acer is micro, while the HDMI on the Asus is mini. Mini HDMI is much harder to find than micro, I had no problem finding a micro HDMI cable, however, mini HDMI cables had to be ordered off the web.
Price
$399 for 16GB, both models, no difference anymore!
UI Performance
The Acer I ran tested on the floor of course utilized Honeycomb 3.1 while the Asus was running Honeycomb 3.2. Even though the Asus has the latest version of Honeycomb, the Acer performs much smoother while scrolling the UI and loading applications. The difference was evident, so much so, this was ultimately the deciding factor for me. The Acer appears to dominate here even with the older software and similar hardware. Some have rumored that the speed increase of the Acer is due to its using LPDDR2 RAM when the Asus uses older DDR2 RAM. I can not confirm this, but benchmarks also showed a slight edge to the Acer.
Screen Quality
There has been a lot of discussion of Asus' screen quality vs. Acer's. I went in with the expectation that the Asus would be noticably different (I have perfect eyesight btw). I could not, repeat, could not tell a single damn difference between the two when both on high brightness with XDA Developers loaded in the browser. Perhaps the Asus was slightly "crisper", however, that could be my IPS bias. There is no difference folks, and if you can tell, my hats off to you.
The Acer losses out on glass though. The Asus uses corning name brand Gorilla Glass, while the Acer states it only uses "tempered glass". If you expect to not get a case, or if you are prone to dropping your tablet on its face (most likely you will destroy more than the glass) then you must consider this angle. Gorilla glass is going to help a bit with scratches and perhaps cracks, however, I also noticed it shows more finger prints than the Acer does. *see post #2 apparently the A500 does have gorilla glass!
Screen angles on both are a joke. You can look at the Acer up to 160 degrees, why would you want to? You can look at the Asus up to 179 degrees, but why would you want to? Screen angles are pretty much identical, both are very viewable from the side.
Accessories
Acer has basic cases and other crap, the Asus of course has the whole battery extending USB-porting keyboard dock. Obviously, Asus destroys Acer here. If you don't already own a laptop or netbook, this may matter to you. However, remember that most of your productivity applications are probably not in Android and if you want to be productive, a tablet no matter what dock it has is not nearly as effective as a laptop.
Sound Quality
Another landslide for the Acer, the Dolby sound is the best sound I've ever heard on a mobile device, no joke. I had heads snapping in my living room trying to figure out how such big clear sound was coming out of a tiny little tablet. People will notice. The Asus? Sounds exactly like you'd expect a tablet to sound, like a tin can.
Conclusion
In summary, I ended up buying the Acer A500. With the Asus I could get a bit lighter weight and a keyboard dock that's totally awesome. These were the main benefits the Asus offers over the Acer. As I discovered the lower weight was due to poor construction and materials, the slighter weight of the Asus was no longer a factor. As I didn't need a keyboard, the obvious choice became the Acer due to its superior usability overall.
I hope this helps prospective buyers!
Very nice review! Makes me glad I chose the Acer over the Asus too, although my main reason was that the Acer was available locally with no wait.
Just a quick correction though, even though Acer doesn't say so, according to www.corningorillaglass.com the A500 does sport the Gorilla Glass. I'm not sure why Acer wouldn't mention it, since it is a decent buying point, but there you go.
funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...
Very thourough review. I have been enjoying my A500 for a couple weeks now. Got a good deal on Amazon. I am new to Android devices, so I have spent a lot of time on xda forums learning how to root and flash new ROM on my device.
Would have been interested to hear how the mics compared for video calling etc.
pankaj2000 said:
funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...
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Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.
Is it just my unit, or have others noticed a MAJOR difference in recorded video quality when running a custom 3.2 ROM as opposed to 3.1? I recorded some video in the kitchen of my house, played it back, and it looked extremely realistic. My wife who doesn't even like tech. was pretty happy about it, that's saying something. It was super crisp and clear, definitely the best video device I have now! But I also don't have any dedicated video camera...
goofytim said:
Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to $300 see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.
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got ipad for me on my birthday $400 and wife took it..$100 off staples coupon got me iconia
$300 and kids took it..now i m stuck with zt-180v2....but iconia is the best...
I liked the more solid feel, and the full size USB port on the tab itself. I couldn't tell much difference between the screens either.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium
As a transformer owner I can vouch on three things:
1. IMO the screen quality is miles ahead of the A500;
2. The weight difference is neglible but the A500 feels bulkier and slightly more awkward to hold;
3. The A500's sound quality is killer. The TF101's speakers make a train station passenger information system sound like a bose home theatre.. Yes, it's ****e !!!
Don't berate me, these are just my opinions...
The two are so close. The TF is noticeably lighter. Screen is a bit better on the TF. The keyboard dock is rad, but kind of pricey. Not a bad decision either way. It was a REALLY tough choice to pick between the two.
Sent from my A100 using XDA Premium App
Yes, it is a VERY difficult choice, for me, I love the sound and cameras and don't mind the weight nor need the keyboard dock. If you think like me, go Acer, if you really need the dock and the weight, perhaps a bit better screen (if you can notice), go the Asus!
I use my A500 mostly in portrait mode since I do a lot of reading so that makes the keyboard useless. The extended battery is a welcome addition but if I need the tablet docked while I'm reading, that seems kinda awkward. Also the color sucks. No offense to Asus owners but seriously the color sucks. The finish on the A500 is really nice and feels sturdy.
Dolby Mobile is awesome
I just felt like chiming in regarding the A500. I think the audio is better than any other tablet. The iPad does not have stereo. Even the TouchPad, with it's "beats" music system does not sound as good as the Dolby Mobile on the A500. Rock on!
I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.
ctiger said:
I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You couldn't hear the audio? Do you know if the other side had their mic's turned up? The audio is very loud on my A500, too loud, I get complaints when I crank it up from the wife..
Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..
Nice comparative write up!
While I agree with just about everything you've written, I have to say that the difference in display is very noticeable....as noticeable as viewing an image on the A500 and TV via HDMI out at the same time. Colors are much more vibrant on a Transformer's display, but panel brightness is visually the same in my opinion.
When I was first in the market, I purchased both the Transformer and Iconia A500 to try with in the limitations of the return policy. I basically came to the same conclusion as yourself.
The first Acer I purchased had a questionable build. The upper left corner of the tab would creak under slight pressure. Very annoying, but after researching a bit...some people was stating the same experience and some were not. The Transformer seemed to be more solid in comparison.....well as solid as plastic could be, but at the time, the most important part was that it didn't creak nor had hairline cracks at the seams like the A500 I first tried.
Also the right speaker sounded like it was in a tin can while a pebble rattled around. I opened it up to see if the speaker was torn or what have you, only to discover a set screw was backed out enough to allow the speaker to vibrate against the mounts/casing.
But after going back to the store and checking to see if the display model shared the same annoyance, I realized I had received one that got past quality control. So I'm happy to say the current A500 is solid.
Anyway, in my opinion...if it weren't for the built in USB port, I probably would still be trying to decide between the two.
autom8r said:
Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Taboonay 2.0 and I have to say yes the video recording id epic.
I couldn't find micro HDMI cables in Australia in any shop. Unless you count a micro to full HDMI adapter some idiot store wanted $99 for! I bought a 4m cable from eBay for about $20. Just starting to see cables in stores now, but still very expensive rip-offs.
As for keyboard ports, don't. Need them on the Acer as I use the Acer Bluetooth keyboard. Keyboard connectors are so old tech!
And when I bricked my machine playing with ROMs from in here, Acer was very understandering and fixed my machine for me. So i'll stick to the stock ROM. but I did appreciate acer rescuing my machine.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium
Seems that ever since the TP went on clearance at my local Best Buy and strangely the first generation Transformer Tablet is still available tells me there is a reason Asus is limiting the production of a great product.
Well here is some pictures. The TF300T was just as responsive as my TP and screen was bright fir indoor use. They also have the keyboard dock for $149.
Also looks like the TF300T serial will be C3OK
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
They had the TF300 at my local Best Buy. They don't have them out on display yet, but one of the floor salespeople got permission to open one up and allow me to play with it. Verdict: this thing's going to be my next tablet (I currently own an HTC Flyer, which I will also keep for its portability).
Though I only held it in my hands for a few minutes, that was enough to alleviate all the concerns I had about the TF300.
1) I was worried that the blue color would be too gaudy. I've seen pictures and the hue tends to run the gamut from "nearly black" to "Tonka Toy blue." Well, in person it's a very classy, understated, beep blue. I could absolutely live with that color (even if I'd probably choose the white one if it were available now).
2) I was worried that it would feel too thick, after holding the iPad II or Transformer Prime. Well, yea, it's a little thicker, but it in no way feels thick. Feels really nice to hold, in fact. Definitely wouldn't feel like I was compromising by buying this tablet.
3) I was worried about the quality of the screen. Yes, it's no iPad 3. The screen simply doesn't hold a candle to an iPad 3. But it's as good as any other Android tablet screen I've seen, and better than the iPad II. I'm sure that the Transformer Infinity screen will be a real competitor to the iPad 3, but I don't want to wait three months and pay an additional $200.00.
My only real complain is that Best Buy seems to be stocking only the 16Gb model at the moment. Once they get the 32Gb model in (or can order one for me) I'm going to strike. I could buy it online now, of course, but I like Best Buy's 18 months same-as-cash financing, so I'm going to hold out.
dsf3g said:
They had the TF300 at my local Best Buy. They don't have them out on display yet, but one of the floor salespeople got permission to open one up and allow me to play with it. Verdict: this thing's going to be my next tablet (I currently own an HTC Flyer, which I will also keep for its portability).
Though I only held it in my hands for a few minutes, that was enough to alleviate all the concerns I had about the TF300.
1) I was worried that the blue color would be too gaudy. I've seen pictures and the hue tends to run the gamut from "nearly black" to "Tonka Toy blue." Well, in person it's a very classy, understated, beep blue. I could absolutely live with that color (even if I'd probably choose the white one if it were available now).
2) I was worried that it would feel too thick, after holding the iPad II or Transformer Prime. Well, yea, it's a little thicker, but it in no way feels thick. Feels really nice to hold, in fact. Definitely wouldn't feel like I was compromising by buying this tablet.
3) I was worried about the quality of the screen. Yes, it's no iPad 3. The screen simply doesn't hold a candle to an iPad 3. But it's as good as any other Android tablet screen I've seen, and better than the iPad II. I'm sure that the Transformer Infinity screen will be a real competitor to the iPad 3, but I don't want to wait three months and pay an additional $200.00.
My only real complain is that Best Buy seems to be stocking only the 16Gb model at the moment. Once they get the 32Gb model in (or can order one for me) I'm going to strike. I could buy it online now, of course, but I like Best Buy's 18 months same-as-cash financing, so I'm going to hold out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the TF300 is not bad at all for the price build quality. I have the TP and if I didn't have the TP I would also get the 32GB TF300.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
The Prime is on clearance at your local Best Buy but the TF101 is not?? How much does your store show the price being for the Prime? Their website still lists the Prime for $499.....
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
I played with one at Best Buy tonight, it was on display.
I actually liked it better than the TP I had and sold a while back. The prime has some sharp edges that the 300 doesn't have, and the raised texture on the backplate was nicer to hold.
Catch is the only 300 version Best Buy offer is the 16gb version, but you can go elsewhere and get the 32gb version for only $20 more. Getting the 16gb version seems silly.
The 101 is still on sale since Best Buy has a lot of accessories still to clear out. Especially keyboards.
The Prime can be ordered again at Best Buy and has a "B1" in the product ID suffix instead of an "A1". Still full price though, so where are the clearance sales?
The Prime shows none available at Best Buy, but if you go into a store, the sales person can order at a terminal for you. They could in Lexington KY, at least, but could not before.
I do agree though that the Prime is probably being phased out of Best Buy and maybe they are purging product from their channel. The radio issues never really gave it a mass consumer chance.
fraeone said:
I played with one at Best Buy tonight, it was on display.
I actually liked it better than the TP I had and sold a while back. The prime has some sharp edges that the 300 doesn't have, and the raised texture on the backplate was nicer to hold.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the TF300 better than the Prime I used to have for the same reasons. The rounded sides, raised texture on the back, and for me the slightly increased thickness do make it much nicer to hold. I also like having working GPS and better WiFi reception. I've seen a lot of people dogging the TF300 around here, which is to be expected to a certain extent in the Prime forum, but most people doing that haven't spent any quality time with one. I can understand having some concerns about the TF300 if someone has a Prime, is coming from the Prime, or was going to get a Prime, because I used to have a Prime myself and had several concerns about the TF300. But like the dsf3g said, most (if not all) of those concerns will be alleviated once you actually use one. The Prime is a great device, but the TF300 is also a great alternative. For me, the slight trade-offs with the TF300 are more than worth it for better ergonomics and improved WiFi/GPS reception.
Agreed the 300 is a better option than the Prime. Display is good, FAR better radio reception, feels better to hold and $100 less.
Still think the 510 is a better option overall, IF the dock is not needed.
rushless said:
Agreed the 300 is a better option than the Prime. Display is good, FAR better radio reception, feels better to hold and $100 less.
Still think the 510 is a better option overall, IF the dock is not needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say that the TF300 is a better option than the Prime. The Prime is great, and it has some featuers the TF300 doesn't. For some, the Prime will be the better option depending on their needs/wants. But for me, the TF300 is definitely the better option.
I've played around with the Acer 510 a little, but I just can't bring myself to purchase another Acer product after the poor experiences I've had in the past. My experience with Asus has been top notch (except with the GPS/WiFi issues on the Prime), and I'm a sucker for the keyboard dock.
The TF201 has never touched any shelf in my state, and was only seen in the store when it was being returned from an online purchase. Now I check online if the TF300 are available and practically all of them have them stocked on their shelves. Might have to wander into a bestbuy and test out their display.
On the one I played with at Best Buy, I noticed a lot of flexing and creaking in the plastic back. I literally, with very little squeeze, could squeeze the back in where I was touching together so that whatever innards there are attached to the back were touching those attached to the front. Didn't seem to make anything run poorly, or short out or anything, just felt a bit strange. I did like the rounder edges which are more comfortable than my prime. It also showed more bars of wifi reception. They had a Prime next to the 300 and the screen brightness was definitely much, much less on the 300.
I guess it all comes down to how you will use your tablet. My Prime, a C03 model, seems to not have the poor wifi that early models had and I have no problems with signal anywhere in my house or at work. I also like to sit on my back patio with it so the bright screen is necessary. If one has a weaker router or longer distance to router, and doesn't need to use it outside I would say the 300 would be a fine tablet to get.
I picked up a TF300 at my local BestBuy on Monday. To my surprise, the unit was configured with 32GB of memory (not 16GB). The box label clearly states "16GB EMMC" and the serial number on the tab matches the box. It's priced at $379.99 US
I think ASUS slipped the wrong tablet into the box at the factory.
dsf3g said:
They had the TF300 at my local Best Buy. They don't have them out on display yet, but one of the floor salespeople got permission to open one up and allow me to play with it. Verdict: this thing's going to be my next tablet (I currently own an HTC Flyer, which I will also keep for its portability).
Though I only held it in my hands for a few minutes, that was enough to alleviate all the concerns I had about the TF300.
1) I was worried that the blue color would be too gaudy. I've seen pictures and the hue tends to run the gamut from "nearly black" to "Tonka Toy blue." Well, in person it's a very classy, understated, beep blue. I could absolutely live with that color (even if I'd probably choose the white one if it were available now).
2) I was worried that it would feel too thick, after holding the iPad II or Transformer Prime. Well, yea, it's a little thicker, but it in no way feels thick. Feels really nice to hold, in fact. Definitely wouldn't feel like I was compromising by buying this tablet.
3) I was worried about the quality of the screen. Yes, it's no iPad 3. The screen simply doesn't hold a candle to an iPad 3. But it's as good as any other Android tablet screen I've seen, and better than the iPad II. I'm sure that the Transformer Infinity screen will be a real competitor to the iPad 3, but I don't want to wait three months and pay an additional $200.00.
My only real complain is that Best Buy seems to be stocking only the 16Gb model at the moment. Once they get the 32Gb model in (or can order one for me) I'm going to strike. I could buy it online now, of course, but I like Best Buy's 18 months same-as-cash financing, so I'm going to hold out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I could take from this review is that you put a $500 device on credit for 18 months. We really do live in a "must have it now society".
Actually, it's only $400...
ls3mach said:
All I could take from this review is that you put a $500 device on credit for 18 months. We really do live in a "must have it now society".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
379.99.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
Or 399.99 for the 32gig
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
leroybrute said:
379.99.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got my 16GB for $345.
jblah said:
i got my 16GB for $345.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got my tf300t 32gig at office depot for 379.99 with Walmart online ad. So neener neener! Haha
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
leroybrute said:
Got my tf300t 32gig at office depot for 379.99 with Walmart online ad. So keener keener! Haha
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats what i thought i was getting too but they messed up and send me the 16gb one..and said i could either send it back or they could take $35 off..so i went with that.
jblah said:
thats what i thought i was getting too but they messed up and send me the 16gb one..and said i could either send it back or they could take $35 off..so i went with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember reading about that happening to others also.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA
I originally wanted to buy the g pad，but I find the Xperia Tablet Z is much cheaper than before，now I am hesitant。。
Sent from my iPod touch 5 using Tapatalk
eliccs said:
I originally wanted to buy the g pad，but I find the Xperia Tablet Z is much cheaper than before，now I am hesitant。。
Sent from my iPod touch 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Between the two the biggest consideration for me would be the size. I lusted after the Z when it first came out, but I was hesitant due to the price. But really I did not want a tablet that large. If I did then the more likely choice for me would have been the Note 10.1 2014. When the G Pad was announced it was THE perfect form factor for me - the biggest screen possible (for my eyes) in a form factor which can still fit in a jacket or even trouser (cargo pants) pocket. The G Pad is a decent enough machine, although not without faults, but there is also nothing quite like it to met my needs. I've had mine for about a month. It does everything I need it to. BTW, as I also have Galaxy Note phablet something like the Nexus 7 would simply not be a big enough leap in screen size, but 10" is too much for my pockets.
There is a brand new and quite detailed/technical review of the G Pad here....
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-LG-G-Pad-8-3-Tablet.108906.0.html
I've only skimmed the article, but the bits I read seem quite accurate and honest.
eliccs said:
I originally wanted to buy the g pad，but I find the Xperia Tablet Z is much cheaper than before，now I am hesitant。。
Sent from my iPod touch 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have quite enjoyed the size of my G Pad. I had an original Galaxy Tab 10.1, and then tried out a Nexus 7 (2013) for a while. Size and handling, I like the G Pad the best, it is not too small to remotely control my desktop and not too big to hold for a few hours while reading a book. On technical issues the field skews some, as the Nexus kicks butt in screen clarity and brightness. I couldn't really tell a difference in processing speed between my Nexus 7 and G Pad. I have the GPE verision which is nice because it has 4.4, however it is missing some features like the IR blaster.
I'm not sure how the Xperia stacks up to the others, but I don't think I will ever own a 10in tablet again, I'll stick to 8in and a laptop.
I love the size of G pad , really i cant go back to 7 '' and 10 '' for my daily usage.
Very portable with very nice big screen , all the money !
vatis24 said:
I love the size of G pad , really i cant go back to 7 '' and 10 '' for my daily usage.
Very portable with very nice big screen , all the money !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
G Pad - the "Goldilocks" of tablets. Not too big; not too small; just right. :victory:
eliccs said:
I originally wanted to buy the g pad,but I find the Xperia Tablet Z is much cheaper than before,now I am hesitant。。
Sent from my iPod touch 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AVOID the Xperia Tablet Z!!
I bought it one soon after it came out thinking I had finally found the perfect 10" tablet...
Yeah, it was extremely light (the lightest at the time), had a nice rubberized/soft touch back (HATE metal cases), an FHD display, 2GB RAM and it was pretty fast... BUT it has a F-ing STUPID plastic film screen-protector (the same kind people used to put on the screen before there was good scratch resistant glass) which is part of the design and makes the display hard to swipe onto (it's not as "slick" as glass), very scratch-prone, it is very reflective and the worst part is that if you remove it the glass has not an oleophobic treatment so it will get smudged very easily and is hard to clean. UNBELIEVABLE...
And NONE of the reviews of the so-called "tech-media" or the YouTube "tech" channels mentioned it!!
I took it back for a refund after a couple of days and resumed my quest for a good 10" tablet for me (a quest which is still ongoing as I haven't found one yet and am using the G Pad which, while very good, is not a 10" tablet which is the size I would really want).
xdapao3 said:
AVOID the Xperia Tablet Z!!
I bought it one soon after it came out thinking I had finally found the perfect 10" tablet...
Yeah, it was extremely light (the lightest at the time), had a nice rubberized/soft touch back (HATE metal cases), an FHD display, 2GB RAM and it was pretty fast... BUT it has a F-ing STUPID plastic film screen-protector (the same kind people used to put on the screen before there was good scratch resistant glass) which is part of the design and makes the display hard to swipe onto (it's not as "slick" as glass), very scratch-prone, it is very reflective and the worst part is that if you remove it the glass has not an oleophobic treatment so it will get smudged very easily and is hard to clean. UNBELIEVABLE...
And NONE of the reviews of the so-called "tech-media" or the YouTube "tech" channels mentioned it!!
I took it back for a refund after a couple of days and resumed my quest for a good 10" tablet for me (a quest which is still ongoing as I haven't found one yet and am using the G Pad which, while very good, is not a 10" tablet which is the size I would really want).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can imagine these..Mabye you can wash it:laugh:
tdodd said:
Between the two the biggest consideration for me would be the size. I lusted after the Z when it first came out, but I was hesitant due to the price. But really I did not want a tablet that large. If I did then the more likely choice for me would have been the Note 10.1 2014. When the G Pad was announced it was THE perfect form factor for me - the biggest screen possible (for my eyes) in a form factor which can still fit in a jacket or even trouser (cargo pants) pocket. The G Pad is a decent enough machine, although not without faults, but there is also nothing quite like it to met my needs. I've had mine for about a month. It does everything I need it to. BTW, as I also have Galaxy Note phablet something like the Nexus 7 would simply not be a big enough leap in screen size, but 10" is too much for my pockets.
There is a brand new and quite detailed/technical review of the G Pad here....
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-LG-G-Pad-8-3-Tablet.108906.0.html
I've only skimmed the article, but the bits I read seem quite accurate and honest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,the size of g pad is perfect,maybe most of you gays choose the g pad because of the size
eliccs said:
Yes,the size of g pad is perfect,maybe most of you gays choose the g pad because of the size
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooooo I say Ducky !!!!!
Sent from my LG-V500 using XDA Premium HD app
For me, the perfect size for a tablet is probably 8.9", but with the same narrow bezel as the G Pad 8.3. My Nook HD+ looks like a monster next to the G Pad, but it's mostly due to the enormous bezel rather than the screen. Until such a device appears, though, the G Pad is a great option!
SCWells72 said:
For me, the perfect size for a tablet is probably 8.9", but with the same narrow bezel as the G Pad 8.3. My Nook HD+ looks like a monster next to the G Pad, but it's mostly due to the enormous bezel rather than the screen. Until such a device appears, though, the G Pad is a great option!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was considering the Kindle HDX 8.9
Felt it in store it is light brilliant screen and superb battery life.
If there was a way to hack it to run stock android I would sell my GPad for it. It is a bit larger but still less than a pound and much brighter higher res screen with close to double the battery life.
Canadoc said:
I was considering the Kindle HDX 8.9
Felt it in store it is light brilliant screen and superb battery life.
If there was a way to hack it to run stock android I would sell my GPad for it. It is a bit larger but still less than a pound and much brighter higher res screen with close to double the battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, I totally agree, though only if there was an AOSP-based ROM that was absolutely rock solid. One of the reasons I went with the GPE over the LGE with something like CM11 is that in the past I've found custom ROMs to be less stable than I want out of a daily driver even well into their maturity cycle. I know that may not reflect others' experiences, but it is the experience I've had across a number of devices (Nook Color, HP Touchpad, Nook HD+).