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Hello, i was hoping to get some advice with this choice i have.
I need a device to replace my old/dead 15" laptop. Bought years ago for £400, pretty weak AMD processor and integrated graphics i use it for browsing and entertainment purposes. Basically, facebook, news and watching films. It does rarely get used for work, mainly typing out a few documents and a quick spreadsheet if i am trying to work out some finances. Things i am confident polaris office can handle. I do also use the HDMI out when i want to play a film on a big TV, however usually standard def or occasionally 720p
I am in the military so i move about a lot! My current laptop last around 2 hours on a charge so i get very bored on an 18 hour flight as you might expect! I have a SGS II so i already have a nice catalogue of apps. So my question to you, owners of shiney eee pads now that the glaze of new ownership may have left some of you, do you think your device could replace a laptop for someone like me?
Can it output via HDMI port without making you tear your hair out?
How often do you have to reach for a windows device because your tablet/dock fails?
Does it power your external hard drives well enough?
If i bought one, it would be my only mobile device, is it up to functioning on its own?
Do the bugs ruin the experience?
Thank you kindly!
hurry up and get one, it will be perfect for you.
Yes to all your questions and no for the last.
You will love the battery life of the tablet + dock
Inviato dal mio Transformer TF101 usando Tapatalk
Yes, it seems to be perfect with the keyboard, especially with the looong lasting batteries
But read the forum about the office ... some people don't like it ... and check out how to print with this baby ... I haven't a clue how, because I use Windows for that.
And don't worry too much about bugs ... I would be more worried about getting a TF without too much light bleeding in the display.
9mmpistol said:
Hello, i was hoping to get some advice with this choice i have.
I need a device to replace my old/dead 15" laptop. Bought years ago for £400, pretty weak AMD processor and integrated graphics i use it for browsing and entertainment purposes. Basically, facebook, news and watching films. It does rarely get used for work, mainly typing out a few documents and a quick spreadsheet if i am trying to work out some finances. Things i am confident polaris office can handle. I do also use the HDMI out when i want to play a film on a big TV, however usually standard def or occasionally 720p
I am in the military so i move about a lot! My current laptop last around 2 hours on a charge so i get very bored on an 18 hour flight as you might expect! I have a SGS II so i already have a nice catalogue of apps. So my question to you, owners of shiney eee pads now that the glaze of new ownership may have left some of you, do you think your device could replace a laptop for someone like me?
Can it output via HDMI port without making you tear your hair out?
How often do you have to reach for a windows device because your tablet/dock fails?
Does it power your external hard drives well enough?
If i bought one, it would be my only mobile device, is it up to functioning on its own?
Do the bugs ruin the experience?
Thank you kindly!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought my TF to replace a defunct laptop and would never go back to a laptop now. I originally bought an expensive laptop with alot of memory for playing games and as with most high end laptops it never got used for anything other than web, emails, documents and the occasional video. The ASUS can handle all this and much much more. Facebook is handled easily either through the FaceBook app or on the browser (I use the latest Opera Mobile which works very well), Pulse (free on the Market) handles News beautifully on a Tablet and Movies look very nice. I have never used it to watch high def movies but im sure it will play 720P fine as long as the movie is encoded correctly and the codec is supported on the Video Player. I use MoboPlayer which works alot better than the built in player and covers alot of codecs.
Trust me you wont look back and with the keyboard dock you can expect 15-20 hours battery life which would suit you very well on your long journeys. What I tend to do is use the tablet on its own until the battery gets low (around 9 hours normal use) and then plug the dock in to recharge the tablet. Once the screen is fully charged (takes round 3 hours while docked) you can then undock and continue or just use it while docked if you wish. The keyboard dock also makes a good stand if you want to put it on a desk and watch a movie.
The HDMI works perfectly with my Smasung 51inch Plasma. The first time I plugged it in it connected straight away and looks stunning. No problems at all although I think there are reports that new Panasonic TV's have problems but they may be isolated cases.
My tablet has only rebooted itself a few times and those times haven't been due the TF but to a custom kernel that had some bad settings. You have to remember that Honeycomb is still a VERY new operating system and there may be a few bugs but they will soon be ironed out as google are very good at updating Roms.
I have a 500GB external HardDrive (2.5inch with a single usb connector) and there is no problem at all with it being powered via the ASUS. You have to be docked as the USB connectors are only on the keyboard (so make sure you get one with the keyboard if you need this feature) but im sure you wont have any problems.
If you do get one (with the keyboard) then you wont miss your laptop at all if you are going to be using it for the things you mentioned. There is no laptop that can come close to the life of the TF and the screen is very clear and sharp which makes it ideal for movies and web browsing. The keyboard is very tactile and can hammer out documents very quickly and if you plug a usb mouse in you can even control it in the same way as your pc. A little tip, there is a button on the keyboard (top row, 4th in from left side) that turns the trackpad on and off which helps alot when you are docked and using your finger on the screen. My arm kept touching the trackpad making it do strange things and it took a while to figure out what was happening lol.
Hope this little review helps you make up your mind either way
Mark.
I bought this to replace my very old 15" powerbook G4, thats right, I said it....G4 hahaha. I knew that in no way was this a laptop replacement. I understood that this was more of a multimedia/entertainment device than anything else.
Purchasing this product with that in mind has was the best purchase I've made this year. However, if I bought this with the assumption that it would function the same as my laptop, I think I would have returned this a long time ago.
Surfing the web: Can't beat it. I used to get frustrated with the stock browser always crashing on me but I found Opera Mobile 11 and I've never looked back. Sometimes I do wish there was a full size browser for the tablet instead of mobile browswer but yeah, Opera gets the job done.....I know there is Maxathon or something that offers a full browser experience, but I've had issues with it so I'll stick to Opera.
Movies: At first I wanted to throw my tablet out the window but thanks to the XDA forums I found the means to convert my movies to MP4s. And with the update to 3.1, movies are near flawless. I do wish that the tablet could support all media files and play as smooth as my desktop but I only watch movies on the road. If I'm at home, I havea TV for that. It's acceptable.
Reading: eBooks are great, but PDFs are teh suck! The MyLibrary app is complete garbage. I've tried other apps but loading PDF magazines are always laggy so I just get pissed off and don't even bother.
Music: The speakers on this thing sucks.....get a nice pair of headphones.
Work: I've tried to use Polaris Office to do some spreadsheets but it was super troublesome. I guess if I got used to the way Android operated vs thinking of how Excel and Word works in Windows it might be ok. What I do is I just RDP into my Windows computer and work off the full version of Office.
Hope this helps
I also take flights occasionally and as you are aware...a laptop just doesn't fit in a modern airline seat space!! there is no lap left...but the TF is perfect!
Q:
Can it output via HDMI port without making you tear your hair out?
I do this at least once or twice a week...plug it in watch a movie on the TV...not issues at all.
Q
How often do you have to reach for a windows device because your tablet/dock fails?
It never fails but I do use the laptop every day due to an app that I need on android that isn't ready for prime time...if it was...I'd never use the laptop.
Q:
Does it power your external hard drives well enough?
Yep...I watch movies right from the external drive.
Q:
If i bought one, it would be my only mobile device, is it up to functioning on its own?
the ONLY weakness that I still have is the Office app...it doesn't have cut/paste capability. Once that's worked out....I'll be happy.
Q:
Do the bugs ruin the experience?
What Bugs? I never have bugs...
Thank you kindly!
You're welcome!
I have a TF,a rooted Nook Color, a laptop and a desktop. LOL, my desktop system might as well a doorstop at this point I never use it. My laptop is a decent machine but the battery life is dismal compared to the TF or the rooted Nook. I work from home a lot,love sitting outside and also really appreciate how cool running my TF and it's dock ar, no sitting in the sun while holding awarm laptop!
There are some windows programs I need to use regularly, I bought Splashtop HD and simply connect to one of my computers when I need to access these programs. Another plus with Splashtop HD is that I can use it to stream Netflix from my computer to my TF, I love watching a movie while lying comfortably in my bed and the screen on the TF is simply lovely for this purpose.
hoy128 said:
I do wish that the tablet could support all media files and play as smooth as my desktop ...
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Click to collapse
I'm quite happy with Mobo Player, which plays all common formats, even Xvid and WMV.
..., but PDFs are teh suck!
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Click to collapse
Adobe Reader works fine for me.
... get a nice pair of headphones.
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Click to collapse
I highly recommend the AKG K319, which have a fantastic sound, nearly like a big high-end home headphone, e.g. Beyerdynamic DT-880. And don't get shocked by the shown price ... just google a bit ... I only payed 25 Euros
I was astonished how good the TF sounds with this headphones though it doesn't have an equalizer built-in.
Oh btw ... the K319 have a nice hardcase and an air plane adapter in the package. If I would loose them I would buy them again. But be warned, they need to burn in for about 50 hours to develop it's full potential. So don't get disappointed, when you first plug them in.
These are by far the best mobile headphones below 200$, no joke.
needs are manipulable... once u have the device, u'll have the needs to do stuffs with it *evil grin*
Check S/N
The asus transformers with serial number B4O.... Have been plagued with screen issues, from what I hear as long as you get a transformer with B6O, you should have no such issues.
Thank you all for your informative replies.
Are the newer transformers B60 then? I will be getting mine through PC world, who currently have no stock, so i assume when they get them they will straight off the production line.
9mmpistol said:
Thank you all for your informative replies.
Are the newer transformers B60 then? I will be getting mine through PC world, who currently have no stock, so i assume when they get them they will straight off the production line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got mine yesterday from best buy and it was in fact B60 with 3.1 update already installed. From what I've experienced these things sell-out pretty quick (at least thats what best buy told me) so they're always getting new shipments.
There is another thread on here regarding t different models, though I don't think there's much difference (my mistake) . Mine isn't terrible in that I only notice it in the dark (lightbleed) but if you're not on a budget, I'd consider the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as they seem to have better quality control. Do you're research though, I haven't done any digging myself.
Thewalrus0034 said:
I'd consider the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as they seem to have better quality control.
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Click to collapse
Maybe, but if the tab will be your only PC, I think the TF is currently the best choice ... maybe besides the Arconia Tab, which doesn't have light bleed issues.
Another choice would be waiting until fall, when the next models will be available ... the Archos 3G e.g. looks promising.
Hey guys I don't mean to highjack this thread or anything, but I am probably getting the tf in the near future and I was wondering where I should buy one and what place has a good warranty where if I got a defective one I could get it replaced easily. And a little side question, I can make/edit/print word documents from this right?
Thanks for any help
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
rabidturtles359 said:
... I was wondering where I should buy one and what place has a good warranty ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't find a good local shop, I'd try Amazon.
I can make/edit/print word documents from this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has Polaris Office preinstalled. From what I read, it can open MS Office documents. But so far I didn't find any hints how to print with the TF or if any printer wil be compatible on the USB. I think the printing topic is worth a new thread.
I found THIS to print to network printers ... I fear, that's the only way.
PS: Also have a look at THIS.
rabidturtles359 said:
Hey guys I don't mean to highjack this thread or anything, but I am probably getting the tf in the near future and I was wondering where I should buy one and what place has a good warranty where if I got a defective one I could get it replaced easily. And a little side question, I can make/edit/print word documents from this right?
Thanks for any help
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for starters noone can give you an answer since you have given no indication as to where you live. If you want to get it from a shop then any large electrical retailer should give you good customer service if anything goes wrong. I cant comment about buying it online until I know what country you live in lol.
You can easily create and edit word documents using the included Polaris Office app. There is no default app to let you print but you can either use an app called PrinterShare (or similar from the market) or look into google cloud printing.
EDIT: Google cloud printing works extremely well. Just go *HERE* and install Google Chrome on your pc. Then enable Cloud Printing from Chrome and print a test page to make sure its set up using the email address that your Tablet is set up with. You then need to install an app which supports cloud printing such as PrinterShare or Cloud Print BETA and you are good to go. Tested this with both PrinterShare and Cloud Print BETA and both work fine.
Mark.
mskip said:
Well for starters noone can give you an answer since you have given no indication as to where you live. If you want to get it from a shop then any large electrical retailer should give you good customer service if anything goes wrong. I cant comment about buying it online until I know what country you live in lol.
You can easily create and edit word documents using the included Polaris Office app. There is no default app to let you print but you can either use an app called PrinterShare (or similar from the market) or look into google cloud printing.
Mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha touché
Well I live in Pennsylvania, I have best buys, targets, blah blah... and for online, as far as I can tell amazon has the transformer for 400 which is the lowest. But idk how good there Warranty and easy there customer service is? Also I wanna make sure I get the newest model, which I understand to be the B60?
Thanks for your understanding support
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
rabidturtles359 said:
Haha touché
Well I live in Pennsylvania, I have best buys, targets, blah blah... and for online, as far as I can tell amazon has the transformer for 400 which is the lowest. But idk how good there Warranty and easy there customer service is? Also I wanna make sure I get the newest model, which I understand to be the B60?
Thanks for your understanding support
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon has very good customer service from what experience I have with them and is usually quite quick with replacements if anything goes wrong. Their warrany will be exactly the same as any other online retailer. The only problem with buying online is that you wont know what model you get until it arrives at your door.
If you really really want the B60 model then your best bet is to goto a store and ask to view the product in the box to make sure of the model. Some places may not oblige but most should. Saying that, I have the B40 model of tablet and have had absolutely no problems with it so far (touch wood).
Mark.
mskip said:
Amazon has very good customer service from what experience I have with them and is usually quite quick with replacements if anything goes wrong. Their warrany will be exactly the same as any other online retailer. The only problem with buying online is that you wont know what model you get until it arrives at your door.
If you really really want the B60 model then your best bet is to goto a store and ask to view the product in the box to make sure of the model. Some places may not oblige but most should. Saying that, I have the B40 model of tablet and have had absolutely no problems with it so far (touch wood).
Mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alrighty thanks for your help
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Hey guys i'm not from this forum but from the galaxy ace forums.
I'm looking into buying this tab but I just want to know how good is it to live with everyday. I'll just be using it for everyday tasks, web browsing, music, movies and regular fooling around but I would also be starting my masters degree soon so I will want to to take some basic notes and that sort of thing.
I would also like to know how easy it is to root and install custom roms on it, also on average what kind of overclocks can be achieved if I ever need any extra horse power. I was also looking at the Nexus 7 but that does not have any expandable memory slot which sucks and also I think 4 cores for a 7" tab is just being wasteful .
But any way, what are your thoughts on it, I've watched and read the reviews and I know its a good tab I just a want to know how good is it a month or 2 later.
Thanks again for any input guys.
The only thing I wouldn't use it for would be note taking because of trying to type on the keyboard would feel to slow for me. For note taking, I'd think the Note 10.1 would be great because of the s-pen that you could use. It is really easy to flash anything custom to the tablet, just flash recovery via Odin or Heimdall, then boot into recovery and flash whatever you want. I use my tablet for web browsing and as an e-reader and it's fit my uses just fine. Also thinking of using it as a "portable" media player as well since the audio output from the small speakers is really good IMO, and it also has the same audio codec as the SGS3, WM1811, which is a really good audio processor.
amd-dude said:
Hey guys i'm not from this forum but from the galaxy ace forums.
I'm looking into buying this tab but I just want to know how good is it to live with everyday. I'll just be using it for everyday tasks, web browsing, music, movies and regular fooling around but I would also be starting my masters degree soon so I will want to to take some basic notes and that sort of thing.
I would also like to know how easy it is to root and install custom roms on it, also on average what kind of overclocks can be achieved if I ever need any extra horse power. I was also looking at the Nexus 7 but that does not have any expandable memory slot which sucks and also I think 4 cores for a 7" tab is just being wasteful .
But any way, what are your thoughts on it, I've watched and read the reviews and I know its a good tab I just a want to know how good is it a month or 2 later.
Thanks again for any input guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go for it its an excellent tab...
No lags at all...
All your needs will satisfied in a premium touch even without rooting/overclocking the tablet...
It can be overclocked to 1.3 ghz and for rooting tutorial search the forum you will get it...
Thanks for the speedy replies guys...I'm really leaning toward this tab just because of its' priceerformance ratio
Its a great tablet for its price.
Pros-
Sim supported, 3G with 14.4 Mbps speed
Good battery life (comparing to other tablets)
Light weight and looks awesome in white color
64 GB Expandable memory
USB On the go support
Cons-
Some awesome games are not supported (i think it because its new developers will add support soon)
No Gorilla Glass
No HDMI
The Samsung galaxy is full worth the money dude I'm 24x7 online in it using 2g gprs the battery stands for more than one day and the screen on time is 5 to 7 hours depends on the usage with games and stuff that means you can continuous use upto 5 to 7 hours till drain this is he only best tab at 18k to 20 k price range with ICS and don't forget to update to 4.0.4 from 4.0.3 from the box good luck
Sent from my GT-P3100 using xda app-developers app
Well, I strongly disagree about the note taking, I use Evernote, and for note taking it has been a dream-come-true! Its optimized for our screens, and syncs to their servers for backup. Price is very good for what you get. It has a couple of things other 7" tablets dont have, such as GPS (Glonass), and an IR emitter (universal remote for your entertainment system).
This tablet has also had most of its source code released so all the devs here should, in theory, have a field day hacking at it. It also has a very decent CPU and GPU; these chips are used in many other devices aswell, so their technically should be tons of support for lots of games and apps that indulge in nicer hardware (they run smoother, sometimes).
This has become my main music device. I use bluetooth headphones and they, and my tab, support Bluetooth 3.0 and Apt-X Bluetooth lossless audio codec by CSR; listening to music is simply delightful!
Bought mine to replace a Arnova 10g2 that was just not up to the job i wonted it for which was to read E books and Comics (My father now has it now! He loves it?) as the screen was really poor! Happy with the Tab 2 once over-clocked and cyanmod flashed! Got a bit disappointed with the announcement of the Galaxy 7 until they mentioned the lack of external memory support! Still if they release a Nexus 7 with external memory! Then I think my mother might soon be the owner of a nearly new Tab 2! lol!
Good screen, plays Dead Trigger well and SD Slot! What more could you ask for?
amd-dude said:
Hey guys i'm not from this forum but from the galaxy ace forums.
I'm looking into buying this tab but I just want to know how good is it to live with everyday. I'll just be using it for everyday tasks, web browsing, music, movies and regular fooling around but I would also be starting my masters degree soon so I will want to to take some basic notes and that sort of thing.
I would also like to know how easy it is to root and install custom roms on it, also on average what kind of overclocks can be achieved if I ever need any extra horse power. I was also looking at the Nexus 7 but that does not have any expandable memory slot which sucks and also I think 4 cores for a 7" tab is just being wasteful .
But any way, what are your thoughts on it, I've watched and read the reviews and I know its a good tab I just a want to know how good is it a month or 2 later.
Thanks again for any input guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm generally pretty happy with this tablet, it was supposed to be a stopgap tablet until the Nexus 7 was officially announced but once I realized that there would be no external storage (which I pretty much knew anyway) I stuck around with this.
I'm not happy with the tablet but I am content with it, if that makes sense.
It doesn't have the fastest processors/gpu, the screen isn't the greatest and the proprietary dock (makes having to buy all new accessories a pain) but as
long as you come into this tablet knowing what to expect, then it's pretty damned good. It doesn't have a huge Rom community but that also cuts down on the over saturation
from some of the more popular phones (have you seen the Galaxy sII or Desire HD forums?!? Ai yi yi) off the top of my head, I think this has a Stripped down stock Rom,
CM9, CM10 (alpha) maybe a Miui Rom which covers all the major basics as far as I'm aware.
I've been running CM9 RC2 since about 2 weeks after I bought this and I'm pretty happy and Once I wake up from this nap I'll probably be flashing CM9 stable & supercharge
it.
I know that I didn't really productively answer your questions but I hope I gave you some perspective on the tablet.
P.S. The thing I hate and I mean hate is the limited internal memory (I think it's 4.7gb or some such) which didn't seem bad at first cuz I was planning
on buying a 32gb card for everything, but apps especially games chew into that space so damn quickly and it doesn't get saved to teh ext card instead, even though I have all my media moved to the external card, I still run into scenario's where I can't update apps because I get that dreaded notification Tablet space is low.
Dev's are working on ways to utilise ext cards for storage bbut there is nothing stable I'm willing to try yet.
I'm running CM1O and its sooooo cool.
The Tab itself is very nice to touch and use . The tab has a nice weight to it and is balanced to hold. one draw back is the placement of the speakers.... sometimes playing games the sound becomes "muffled" due to hand/control positioning. Same as charging /playing music , It is sometimes awkward to use, but not overpowering.
Cant say i have any issues with the Tab , apart from the ones that i have caused lol.
Screen quality is VERY good for a budget tablet /size, same as sound quality.
Storage could become an issue but has workarounds , but over all........ WOW.....LOVIN IT !!!11!!!
I liked it when I bought it but the Nexus 7 is far and away the better 7" tablet in my opinion with one exception. The advantage of the Samsung is the internal micro SD. If you are staying stock, and want to watch media from non cloud based sources, the Samsung is better. If you will be rooting, you can use an OTG USB cable and use micro sd cards on the 7. The 7 is better in almost every other way and has a plain JB interface without the extra bloat Samsung puts on their tablets. My guess is we may never even see an official Jelly Bean release for the Galaxy 2 given the speed at which Samsung updates their software. Of course, there are multiple JB ROM's already out for the Galaxy 2, just not stock versions.
My Galaxy 2 died last weekend. It would just go dead and then required you plug in to the computer and hold the power button for 60 seconds. As soon as the screen would shut off, the same issue occurred. I called Samsung and they were very quick to send me a shipping label to return it for repair. Within 4 days the unit was supposedly repaired with a "Software Upgrade (External Factor)" whatever that means. It should arrive back on Tuesday. Hopefully it is fixed.
Just my opinion....
amd-dude said:
Hey guys i'm not from this forum but from the galaxy ace forums.
I'm looking into buying this tab but I just want to know how good is it to live with everyday. I'll just be using it for everyday tasks, web browsing, music, movies and regular fooling around but I would also be starting my masters degree soon so I will want to to take some basic notes and that sort of thing.
I would also like to know how easy it is to root and install custom roms on it, also on average what kind of overclocks can be achieved if I ever need any extra horse power. I was also looking at the Nexus 7 but that does not have any expandable memory slot which sucks and also I think 4 cores for a 7" tab is just being wasteful .
But any way, what are your thoughts on it, I've watched and read the reviews and I know its a good tab I just a want to know how good is it a month or 2 later.
Thanks again for any input guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no complaints. Does everything my Thrive does , i can put JB on, and have used this as a credit Card terminal. I had audio issues with a custom rom and video playback, nothing major. Only things i dont care for are the stock predictive text and that some of my tegra specific apps dont work (this having and OMAP cpu and all).
Was definitely worth the cash since it actually outperforms my Thrive for most uses and cost half as much. Thrive wins points for the full sized usb and hdmi ports though.
Thank you all for your time on replying...I think this is the tab I am gonna settle on...a good solid all rounder.
I have this (the 3G version) for a week now. So far I'm perfectly happy with the purchase. Excellent value for money.
I really like my tab 2 7.0", but....
My Pros
- TouchWiz actually has some nice apps on this device. File manager, email, pop-up apps, power toggles are nice features
- Speakers are awesome
- Expandable memory
- Works great with USB thumb drives, mouse and keyboard (with adapter)
My Cons
- Screen resolution sucks, things are blurry (like most Android tablets). Some newer devices like Nexus 7, Asus Infinity, iPad3 have HD screens
- No TV out
- TouchWiz although I think is quite nice slows it down at times. I rooted and froze a ton of unwanted apps. Not all can be to be disabled through native ICS settings
- Chrome that comes with the latest update crashes a lot. New bookmark widget is also bad. Install ICS browser+ from the market instead.
I got it yesterday, rooted and installed AOKP JB. The size feels perfectly great to me. I have not cycled the battery enough to give any input on tat. Games run awesomly well, including minecraft PE on fancy graphics. Its an awesome tab, i love it
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2
The Tab27" wireless reciever is weak compared to the Nexus 7
samcory said:
The Tab27" wireless reciever is weak compared to the Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the wireless receiver on galaxy tab 2 7" is the worst thing on this tablet, the second is the battery life with wifi on! i got mine, i like it but......
For typing, Thumb Keyboard is the best coming from a blackberry. The split keyboard is excellent and fully customizable. The only issue is holding this in portrait mode leads to the death grip but if you are note taking and don't need a strong wifi connection you got to try it. Landscape mode resolves this also.
I am going to try a custom rom to help boost this baby up a bit.
Yea this device may start out with OK performance but it does get pretty laggy. Rooting and running a Jellybean ROM will increase performance a good amount.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Should I buy a Nexus 7? I wonder why I should be buying such a thing... One reason is that I can use it to watch movies on the train more easily. It has easily more battery life than a notebook. I read I can watch up to 9 hours movies.
Instead I could be buying a Haswell build during Spring 2013
Don't forget I need to save up some money to go on holiday with my girlfriend.
i think it's all personal preference. sounds cliche, but it's true.
will you be at home more often to use the newly built computer? is it more important for work/school/etc.?
or do you prefer to be mobile, but always around wifi spots?
I think that a tablet is more something that you need in addition to a solid laptop. So if you don't have a laptop, then you are probably better off saving money and getting one.
#### Sent from my GN7 #### B0$N4 ####
I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that a tablet is a suitable replacement for a laptop or desktop... It's not, get a laptop or desktop first then splurge and get a nexus
Sent from my Rooted, LazyPanda, White "Destroy Mode" Evo
Until a tablet can be a full laptop/desktop replacement, get the laptop, then get the tablet. While I don't use my laptop as much since I have a tablet and a smartphone, I still use it quite a lot.
Here's my situation:
I have a pretty powerful desktop that I rarely use now that I have my Nexus 7. Only time I sit in front of my desktop is when I'm updating my media library; which I listen to on my Nexus.
I'm contemplating selling it and buying something smaller along with a nice NAS and just stream my stuff from that.
cg.voabc said:
Here's my situation:
I have a pretty powerful desktop that I rarely use now that I have my Nexus 7. Only time I sit in front of my desktop is when I'm updating my media library; which I listen to on my Nexus.
I'm contemplating selling it and buying something smaller along with a nice NAS and just stream my stuff from that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the exact same boat as the guy above. I have a very nice gaming rig that i paid a nice chunk of money for and now i find myself sitting at my desk playing or messing with the nexus and only using my desktop for spotify. With all the movement toward mobile/tablet gaming and loads of bluetooth controllers to combat touchscreen controls i'd go with the nexus. You won't regret it.
a tablet don't sobstitute a laptop..but for the use you sad i think it's the devices for you!and i'd want to try yours kernel in the future for this...
How well does a Nexus 7 play GTA or other highend games?
Well I will certainly develop for the Nexus 7. But I mostly support CyanogenMod :fingers-crossed:
From my experience with Google Nexus I see many problems because the kernel is very integrated in the ROM. Franco and other developers use custom frequencies which are not changed in the ROM. So actually the power mananagement will not be working properly. however it might be different here
I am only scared I will buy this thing and it will be of no much use to me.
Also how big is 7", can I still put it in my pocket or not. I might wait for the Nexus 7 3G, maybe not.
So I am still waiting for answers on:
- Does it play the latest high-end games? Eg: GTA, ...
- Battery life is it really 8 hours? Is it significantly more than my Nexus for example which seems to like to drain to 0%? How is this for heavy use?
- Are there any technical issues I should be aware of? Is that screen lifting thing really bad? Or shouldn't I be worrying about that?
Problem is development for Nexus has stalled for a while. I have school, girl friend, and one day in the weekend which I work in a pub. But I still do my best trying to push things.
djjonastybe said:
How well does a Nexus 7 play GTA or other highend games?
Well I will certainly develop for the Nexus 7. But I mostly support CyanogenMod :fingers-crossed:
From my experience with Google Nexus I see many problems because the kernel is very integrated in the ROM. Franco and other developers use custom frequencies which are not changed in the ROM. So actually the power mananagement will not be working properly. however it might be different here
I am only scared I will buy this thing and it will be of no much use to me.
Also how big is 7", can I still put it in my pocket or not. I might wait for the Nexus 7 3G, maybe not.
So I am still waiting for answers on:
- Does it play the latest high-end games? Eg: GTA, ...
- Battery life is it really 8 hours? Is it significantly more than my Nexus for example which seems to like to drain to 0%? How is this for heavy use?
- Are there any technical issues I should be aware of? Is that screen lifting thing really bad? Or shouldn't I be worrying about that?
Problem is development for Nexus has stalled for a while. I have school, girl friend, and one day in the weekend which I work in a pub. But I still do my best trying to push things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Power management for kernel settings, use trinity kernel toolbox it overwrites in rom settings. I dont have a single hardware problem with my nexus, software is dependent on what you install. If they are high end android games they usually work well, some have to be updated/optimized for a tegra3 however. I usually get 6-7 hours out of heavy use, but im overclocked to 1.7ghz with a96 trinity kernel and running glazed jelly bean rom. I think thats all you wanted answered, hope it helps. (I run asphalt7, nova3, and modern combat 3 with no problems at all.)
SithDagger said:
Power management for kernel settings, use trinity kernel toolbox it overwrites in rom settings. I dont have a single hardware problem with my nexus, software is dependent on what you install. If they are high end android games they usually work well, some have to be updated/optimized for a tegra3 however. I usually get 6-7 hours out of heavy use, but im overclocked to 1.7ghz with a96 trinity kernel and running glazed jelly bean rom. I think thats all you wanted answered, hope it helps. (I run asphalt7, nova3, and modern combat 3 with no problems at all.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thank you that's all I wanted to know. 6 hours battery life is definately a win over the Google Nexus' 2-3-4 hours.
I'm looking into getting one, but I'm unsure whether to drop £199 on the 32GB one. I'm primarily going to be using it for games and movie watching, hence the extra money. Do you guys recommend it? I've used Android before obviously but just want something a little newer than my dinky WFS, for movies and such. I've heard bad things about 4.2 on them too...
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using xda app-developers app
I got a 32GB last week and use it primarily for games, watching movies, reading ebooks and web browsing. The Nexus 7 does all these things very well. For movies, it may depend on what app you are using, especially if you want to be able to play different file formats. I use MX Player, which is free from the market and it has played everything I've thrown at it. The one thing I still am unsure about is battery life when it comes to gaming. I've never had a problem in this regard, but I also don't play any games for longer than an hour at a time. The size is nice and compact, but still big enough for my needs.
JellyBeanToby said:
I'm looking into getting one, but I'm unsure whether to drop £199 on the 32GB one. I'm primarily going to be using it for games and movie watching, hence the extra money. Do you guys recommend it? I've used Android before obviously but just want something a little newer than my dinky WFS, for movies and such. I've heard bad things about 4.2 on them too...
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carphone warehouse are doing the 32GB for £179, and don't worry, 4.2 is just fine, a couple of minor quirks, but nothing to get too excited about. It's easily the best 7in tablet on the market right now, regardless of price, totally killing the Kindle Fire HD and iPad Mini, in build quality, screen quality, performance and looks.
CrazyPeter said:
Carphone warehouse are doing the 32GB for £179, and don't worry, 4.2 is just fine, a couple of minor quirks, but nothing to get too excited about. It's easily the best 7in tablet on the market right now, regardless of price, totally killing the Kindle Fire HD and iPad Mini, in build quality, screen quality, performance and looks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, thanks man you've just saved me 20 quid!
Android Police wrote an article about some of the issues that 4.2 has, but I guess after asking a group who own the device, its a non-issue. Gotta love XDA haha I'm cooking up a ROM for the WFS based off AOSP, if its good enough ill post and port
kishin14 said:
I got a 32GB last week and use it primarily for games, watching movies, reading ebooks and web browsing. The Nexus 7 does all these things very well. For movies, it may depend on what app you are using, especially if you want to be able to play different file formats. I use MX Player, which is free from the market and it has played everything I've thrown at it. The one thing I still am unsure about is battery life when it comes to gaming. I've never had a problem in this regard, but I also don't play any games for longer than an hour at a time. The size is nice and compact, but still big enough for my needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, I use MX Player on my phone and it offers a good experience, for 600MHz anyway haha. Have you tried Dead Trigger on it? Awesome free game, I play it on my brothers iPad (except he had to pay up. Suck it, iOS users )
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e running SenseMOD v2.3 using xda app-developers app
I have a N7 32gb and a P100 Sprint GTab 7" that I recently updated to CM10.
I haven't played Dead Trigger on the GTab but it plays great on the N7. Overall the GTab still runs great with JB 4.1 and I couldn't see replacing the GTab for the N7. The N7 is a GREAT device but so is the GTab.
Moving to a N7, you'll losing a back camera, cellular (unless you buy the 3G model), and SD Card Slot. All that + $200 for just a better CPU/GPU? Tough choice.
Well if you like to play with custom roms then i would tell you to stay away from nexus 7 , it doesnt have a SD card slot which now i realize is a big drawback.
Want to flash a different ROM??? BAM have to delete everything on your N7 all data everything , there is no such thing as a full wipe which doesnt wipe your own data. After buying N7 i have sworn never to buy anything that doesnt have external SD you will spend so many hours just restoring data , you will want to throw the tab to a wall. MTP??? well thats a joke , transfer speeds are so slow you would actually regret your decision of putting in another ROM . Plus its really awkward having a thumb drive hanging hanging from your tab all the time since you have a tablet with just 13 GB storage. I am really regretting my investment in this Tablet .
Want to hear more problems???
* Automatic brightness is completely bonkers.
* Had to install a software Tegra Prism just so that i can watch HD videos, screen dims out to completely black if you dont have that software installed and this is also for games not just HD videos.
If i were you i would invest my money in something else. next years nexus 7 maybe , but this one's a real disappointment for me.
smartanks said:
Well if you like to play with custom roms then i would tell you to stay away from nexus 7 , it doesnt have a SD card slot which now i realize is a big drawback.
Want to flash a different ROM??? BAM have to delete everything on your N7 all data everything , there is no such thing as a full wipe which doesnt wipe your own data. After buying N7 i have sworn never to buy anything that doesnt have external SD you will spend so many hours just restoring data , you will want to throw the tab to a wall. MTP??? well thats a joke , transfer speeds are so slow you would actually regret your decision of putting in another ROM . Plus its really awkward having a thumb drive hanging hanging from your tab all the time since you have a tablet with just 13 GB storage. I am really regretting my investment in this Tablet .
Want to hear more problems???
* Automatic brightness is completely bonkers.
* Had to install a software Tegra Prism just so that i can watch HD videos, screen dims out to completely black if you dont have that software installed and this is also for games not just HD videos.
If i were you i would invest my money in something else. next years nexus 7 maybe , but this one's a real disappointment for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be perfectly honest, I can't see myself installing ROMs on it because my family may use it too ("Toby, where has X feature gone?" ), and auto brightness is a non-issue for me, but thanks for the input
Also, if a mod reads this, can you authorise my account please and get rid of that damn 5 minute restriction? I understand why its in place (I myself run a small to medium sized forum with around 1k users) but it is a little annoying when editing posts, something I do a lot haha
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using xda app-developers app
smartanks said:
Well if you like to play with custom roms then i would tell you to stay away from nexus 7 , it doesnt have a SD card slot which now i realize is a big drawback.
Want to flash a different ROM??? BAM have to delete everything on your N7 all data everything , there is no such thing as a full wipe which doesnt wipe your own data. After buying N7 i have sworn never to buy anything that doesnt have external SD you will spend so many hours just restoring data , you will want to throw the tab to a wall. MTP??? well thats a joke , transfer speeds are so slow you would actually regret your decision of putting in another ROM . Plus its really awkward having a thumb drive hanging hanging from your tab all the time since you have a tablet with just 13 GB storage. I am really regretting my investment in this Tablet .
Want to hear more problems???
* Automatic brightness is completely bonkers.
* Had to install a software Tegra Prism just so that i can watch HD videos, screen dims out to completely black if you dont have that software installed and this is also for games not just HD videos.
If i were you i would invest my money in something else. next years nexus 7 maybe , but this one's a real disappointment for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I haven't flashed ROMs onto my 7, but I don't think what you're saying about wiping all data is correct. My galaxy nexus didn't have external storage and I flashed ROMs, wiped data, and I never lost data on phone(pictures, files on SD card, etc).
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
smartanks said:
Well if you like to play with custom roms then i would tell you to stay away from nexus 7 , it doesnt have a SD card slot which now i realize is a big drawback.
Want to flash a different ROM??? BAM have to delete everything on your N7 all data everything , there is no such thing as a full wipe which doesnt wipe your own data. After buying N7 i have sworn never to buy anything that doesnt have external SD you will spend so many hours just restoring data , you will want to throw the tab to a wall. MTP??? well thats a joke , transfer speeds are so slow you would actually regret your decision of putting in another ROM . Plus its really awkward having a thumb drive hanging hanging from your tab all the time since you have a tablet with just 13 GB storage. I am really regretting my investment in this Tablet .
Want to hear more problems???
* Automatic brightness is completely bonkers.
* Had to install a software Tegra Prism just so that i can watch HD videos, screen dims out to completely black if you dont have that software installed and this is also for games not just HD videos.
If i were you i would invest my money in something else. next years nexus 7 maybe , but this one's a real disappointment for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn off automatic brightness. Which is always a smart thing to do to save some battery anyways.
And you don't know what you're talking about on the data wipe. Wiping data and system does not touch /sdcard
Your issues are user error.
Any nexus device is absolutely the best and easiest thing to mod. Its a single click to unlock, root, recovery, etc. You really can't mess it up.
I am a bit of a flashaholic when it comes to ROMs and kernels. I use titanium backup and don't even bother using my otg flash drive. Not had any problems restoring apps after a ROM wipe.
As for the 7 I too felt a bit wary dropping to a smaller screen from my old tablet, but this really is so much more fun when gaming and just about everything I throw at it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
So you guys do not wipe /data or ever tried factory reset of the the tab while installing a ROM with a different base ?? And I really dont understand if you enabled root cause even that completely wipes data ????? I dont know if you guys really know what you are talking about ....
Oh yeah if you are comparing N7 to GNex ... Please check this forum .... You will understand what I am talking about
Definitely recommend nexus 7. I bought the 32gb version a couple weeks ago while my laptops down with the mindset that tablets aren't for me and I'd just play with it a couple days then return. Not happening. Only drawback is it takes so much of my time now, I don't want to put it down.
Its by far my favorite electronic device to date. As for smartanks list of drawbacks, I always do clean installs of ROMs anyway so data wipe is normal (though I'm actually happy with stock now and haven't flashed a ROM since my G'nex got 4.2). You want the 32gb so you'll end up with 27gb of storage, not 13. Automatic brightness never does a good enough job, that's why there's quick settings to a brightness slider. And you already (as do I) use MX player for movies.
As for dead trigger, plays and looks excellent on this amazing device.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
One drawback I have and its one I find costly is the fact that my laptop is now almost redundant. Online banking and that is it, everything else is done on my N7.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Thanks for the input, guys! I'm now the proud owner of a 16GB Nexus 7 after remembering that I can just use USB OTG to access all the stuff on my external HD
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using xda app-developers app
This is a really nice tablet that I recommend.
One drawback might be the lack of hdmi, it was a real bummer for me .
I would not recommend because since i bought it i use it 5-6 hours every day and dont learn anything for exams..i just cant put it out off my hand when i am at home.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
smartanks said:
So you guys do not wipe /data or ever tried factory reset of the the tab while installing a ROM with a different base ?? And I really dont understand if you enabled root cause even that completely wipes data ????? I dont know if you guys really know what you are talking about ....
Oh yeah if you are comparing N7 to GNex ... Please check this forum .... You will understand what I am talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't wipe your sdcard, though. And unlocking wipes data, but you only really need to do it once.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
smartanks said:
Well if you like to play with custom roms then i would tell you to stay away from nexus 7 , it doesnt have a SD card slot which now i realize is a big drawback.
Want to flash a different ROM??? BAM have to delete everything on your N7 all data everything , there is no such thing as a full wipe which doesnt wipe your own data. After buying N7 i have sworn never to buy anything that doesnt have external SD you will spend so many hours just restoring data , you will want to throw the tab to a wall. MTP??? well thats a joke , transfer speeds are so slow you would actually regret your decision of putting in another ROM . Plus its really awkward having a thumb drive hanging hanging from your tab all the time since you have a tablet with just 13 GB storage. I am really regretting my investment in this Tablet .
Want to hear more problems???
* Automatic brightness is completely bonkers.
* Had to install a software Tegra Prism just so that i can watch HD videos, screen dims out to completely black if you dont have that software installed and this is also for games not just HD videos.
If i were you i would invest my money in something else. next years nexus 7 maybe , but this one's a real disappointment for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you should have bought an ipad
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
I'm very happy with my new N7 16 gb and if you like playing with custom roms, it's perfect (using Multirom) !
DZonikg said:
I would not recommend because since i bought it i use it 5-6 hours every day and dont learn anything for exams..i just cant put it out off my hand when i am at home.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have also this problem...
Only main gripe is if the touch screen gets damaged you can’t as yet get a new touch on its own, only with the screen at almost the same cost as a new device, a cheap way to recoup costs tablets good mind bar that
I just got my New Xperia Z Tablet 32Gb, after being a long time asus transformer user, I had them all. tf101,tf201,tf300, tf700 and after got enough with Asus I/O Performance Issues and Drawn Battery issues w/ Dock, finally decided to jump out of tegra Soc Products and move into Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC's. First I got my Nexus 7 2013 and Now just got my Xperia Z Tablet. Here's my First impressions:
Positives:
- What a beautiful Sleek Machine(aesthetics), thin, waterproof(already tested it), not going to use that feature anymore, I'll explain why below.
-Superb Quality of the Screen,much better than my Nexus 10, Nexus 7 2013 and tf700, color reproduction on movies and photos are simply outstanding.
- Excellent Sony Apps, walkman, FM Radio, Video Player(doesn't support MP4 1080p video files with DTS sound), Dual Shock controller support without rooting, Wireless sound works just great, browsing experience was delightful(fast and accurate with no lag at all, Asus Anyone?)
-Snappy Performance, much faster than my rooted Nexus 7 2013(w/ custom Rom)
Negatives
- I already damaged the speakers cover, both of them, I'm a very delicate man, I was trying to find the ports to charge my unit and slightly pull both speakers thinking they were regular ports cover and bend so easy. So this is a Very Fragile and Delicate Machine, as a Pianist I may say too Fragile and poorly constructed, at least the speaker ports, fortunately it doesn't affect the speaker quality, however I won't be able to test the waterproof feature ever again.
- For god's sake, the MicroUSB port, really Sony???, is that a Standard MicroUSB port or just a proprietary Sony Port. Really Pissed me off I could't connect the micro usb cable to charge it because It didn't fit, after checking the Pins orientation, I found out it has to be plug facing down. Great Job Sony! At least put some Label on it. I already messed up a Android TV Box because of this. I hate these micro USB ports,in my case with my Android Tv Box It didn't fit and I slightly pushed it and micro UsB port(connector) got loose(broke down) and my unit was dead.
- 5-6 Hours charging time, Are you kidding me Sony, I thought the Nexus 10 charging time was bad. I was wrong.
- Very Poor Manual(See ports issues)
- Very Expensive accessories, the official Sony case only was a painful $90, we pay 15% tax in Canada.
Updated(a few hours later)
gdfrisco said:
I just got my New Xperia Z Tablet 32Gb, after being a long time asus transformer user, I had them all. tf101,tf201,tf300, tf700 and after got enough with Asus I/O Performance Issues and Drawn Battery issues w/ Dock, finally decided to jump out of tegra Soc Products and move into Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC's. First I got my Nexus 7 2013 and Now just got my Xperia Z Tablet. Here's my First impressions:
Positives:
- What a beautiful Sleek Machine(aesthetics), thin, waterproof(already tested it), not going to use that feature anymore, I'll explain why below.
-Superb Quality of the Screen,much better than my Nexus 10, Nexus 7 2013 and tf700, color reproduction on movies and photos are simply outstanding.
- Excellent Sony Apps, walkman, FM Radio, Video Player(doesn't support MP4 1080p video files with DTS sound), Dual Shock controller support without rooting, Wireless sound works just great, browsing experience was delightful(fast and accurate with no lag at all, Asus Anyone?)
-Snappy Performance, much faster than my rooted Nexus 7 2013(w/ custom Rom)
Negatives
- I already damaged the speakers cover, both of them, I'm a very delicate man, I was trying to find the ports to charge my unit and slightly pull both speakers thinking they were regular ports cover and bend so easy. So this is a Very Fragile and Delicate Machine, as a Pianist I may say too Fragile and poorly constructed, at least the speaker ports, fortunately it doesn't affect the speaker quality, however I won't be able to test the waterproof feature ever again.
- For god's sake, the MicroUSB port, really Sony???, is that a Standard MicroUSB port or just a proprietary Sony Port. Really Pissed me off I could't connect the micro usb cable to charge it because It didn't fit, after checking the Pins orientation, I found out it has to be plug facing down. Great Job Sony! At least put some Label on it. I already messed up a Android TV Box because of this. I hate these micro USB ports,in my case with my Android Tv Box It didn't fit and I slightly pushed it and micro UsB port(connector) got loose(broke down) and my unit was dead.
- 5-6 Hours charging time, Are you kidding me Sony, I thought the Nexus 10 charging time was bad. I was wrong.
- Very Poor Manual(See ports issues)
- Very Expensive accessories, the official Sony case only was a painful $92, we pay 15% tax in Canada.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updated, why I'm considering return this piece of technology:
1. Charging time when the screen is on, it takes an unacceptable and ridiculous time of 9-10 hours, I don't even sleep that much on a daily basis, this is a power hog device when the device is in use, just regular use as browsing, the battery runs out quickly, I don't want to imagine watching 1080p mp4 video files for a couple of hours before the battery drains out and then have to wait 9-10 hours to charge my unit again. A possible solution would be to have 2 xperia Z tablet and while 1 is charging, use the other one to play my audio/video files(Sarcasm!) or just keep using my nexus 7 for watching 1080p movie files, I have a nexus 10 and nexus 7 2013 to compare with and on those units I don't even have to turn the screen off while I charge them. I know I'm not the only one, a bunch of people are having this issue. My only hope is to root it, install a custom ROM and wipe out all those overkill sony apps. I have 13 days left to try it.
As much as I love this tablet, the Nexus 7 2013 regardless of its smaller screen is a much better(functional) device.
I'm going to buy the charging dock so see if charging times improves a bit.
For a $689.98 unit($599+lovely 15% sales tax where I live), which is a pretty hefty price I'd expect much more than this. If you add the $92 price for the official sony leather cover, $40 for a micros sd class 10 memory card and $50 bucks for the charging cradle(going to buy it tomorrow morning), I get a total whooping and scary price of $871.98.
Now I understand why I've seen some people selling their xperia z tablet on local craigslist for a so low price($350-$400 for the 16gb model and $400-450 for a 32 gob model, there was even a guy selling his 32 Gb model for $350 with only 2 months use, and most of them were including a sony dock and a leather case with their offers, and those were with a proof of purchase(best buy receipt) so we know those are not stolen units.
Now I remember all of the sudden why the only other sony device in my crowded current gadget inventory is a Sony PS3 console.
Will report as I go if I ever solve this issue before the 14 days return policy from best buy. Cheers!
gdfrisco said:
Updated, why I'm considering return this piece of technology:
1. Charging time when the screen is on, it takes an unacceptable and ridiculous time of 9-10 hours, I don't even sleep that much on a daily basis, this is a power hog device when the device is in use, just regular use as browsing, the battery runs out quickly, I don't want to imagine watching 1080p mp4 video files for a couple of hours before the battery drains out and then have to wait 9-10 hours to charge my unit again. A possible solution would be to have 2 xperia Z tablet and while 1 is charging, use the other one to play my audio/video files(Sarcasm!) or just keep using my nexus 7 for watching 1080p movie files, I have a nexus 10 and nexus 7 2013 to compare with and on those units I don't even have to turn the screen off while I charge them. I know I'm not the only one, a bunch of people are having this issue. My only hope is to root it, install a custom ROM and wipe out all those overkill sony apps. I have 13 days left to try it.
As much as I love this tablet, the Nexus 7 2013 regardless of its smaller screen is a much better(functional) device.
I'm going to buy the charging dock so see if charging times improves a bit.
For a $689.98 unit($599+lovely 15% sales tax where I live), which is a pretty hefty price I'd expect much more than this. If you add the $92 price for the official sony leather cover, $40 for a micros sd class 10 memory card and $50 bucks for the charging cradle(going to buy it tomorrow morning), I get a total whooping and scary price of $871.98.
Now I understand why I've seen some people selling their xperia z tablet on local craigslist for a so low price($350-$400 for the 16gb model and $400-450 for a 32 gob model, there was even a guy selling his 32 Gb model for $350 with only 2 months use, and most of them were including a sony dock and a leather case with their offers, and those were with a proof of purchase(best buy receipt) so we know those are not stolen units.
Now I remember all of the sudden why the only other sony device in my crowded current gadget inventory is a Sony PS3 console.
Will report as I go if I ever solve this issue before the 14 days return policy from best buy. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you charging with screen on? I charge mine overnight (with screen off as I don't watch it in my sleep ) and it takes about 5 Hrs to charge. Most people report 5 to 6 hrs charging time.
Also, charging / run down rates improve with time. I use mine mainly for browsing and the battery seems to last well.
Using the dock will not make it charge any faster. However , using a 2.0A charger (as comes with an iPad) does improve charging times.
vedlyH and
GretaLewd said:
Why are you charging with screen on? I charge mine overnight (with screen off as I don't watch it in my sleep ) and it takes about 5 Hrs to charge. Most people report 5 to 6 hrs charging time.
Also, charging / run down rates improve with time. I use mine mainly for browsing and the battery seems to last well.
Using the dock will not make it charge any faster. However , using a 2.0A charger (as comes with an iPad) does improve charging times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the tip, will try my iPad 3 charger(2.1A/5V) with it.
gdfrisco said:
thanks for the tip, will try my iPad 3 charger(2.1A/5V) with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The micro USB is a pain but then again it is the same on all other tablets and phones i own. Still pisses me off everytime i have to plug my nexus 4 in.
That's why i bought the docking station for the Z tablet. It is risiculously overpriced but it works flawlessly and you wont have to open close the waterproof caps that seem so fragile.
I reccomend using mx player with the Neon codec (link for the codec is within mx player settings) to watch movies with DTS.
This tablet has a very active modding community here btw. There are very good android 4.3 ROMs around.
Jequan said:
The micro USB is a pain but then again it is the same on all other tablets and phones i own. Still pisses me off everytime i have to plug my nexus 4 in.
That's why i bought the docking station for the Z tablet. It is risiculously overpriced but it works flawlessly and you wont have to open close the waterproof caps that seem so fragile.
I reccomend using mx player with the Neon codec (link for the codec is within mx player settings) to watch movies with DTS.
This tablet has a very active modding community here btw. There are very good android 4.3 ROMs around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you send me the link for the 4.3 Roms? the xperia tablet z developer forum is quite a mess, tf300t, tf700 and nexus 10 and nexus 7 2013 developer forums where much better organized.
I cannot believe I cannot unlock the bootloader, I followed the instructions from sony mobile site and it's the first time I've failed in so many years unlocking and rooting android devices. I feel like a newbie, I'm getting "FAILED <remote: command did not succeed>, when I run from cmd "fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version" it works and prompt a reply "0.5". I'm guessing either I entered the wrong ID for unlocking generator tool(Foolish sony for making those numbers so hard and small to read, had to use my DSLR camera and take a picture of it and zoom it just to make sure wasn't making any mistake)
Any ideas why it went wrong???. The Fastboot mode is perfectly working, why do you think it's failing to unlock my device? I did attempt to replace adb driver on windows 7 64 bit with the one sony suggests and it didn't replace it. it says it's an older version. Any clues here?
gdfrisco said:
Can you send me the link for the 4.3 Roms? the xperia tablet z developer forum is quite a mess, tf300t, tf700 and nexus 10 and nexus 7 2013 developer forums where much better organized.
I cannot believe I cannot unlock the bootloader, I followed the instructions from sony mobile site and it's the first time I've failed in so many years unlocking and rooting android devices. I feel like a newbie, I'm getting "FAILED <remote: command did not succeed>, when I run from cmd "fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version" it works and prompt a reply "0.5". I'm guessing either I entered the wrong ID for unlocking generator tool(Foolish sony for making those numbers so hard and small to read, had to use my DSLR camera and take a picture of it and zoom it just to make sure wasn't making any mistake)
Any ideas why it went wrong???. The Fastboot mode is perfectly working, why do you think it's failing to unlock my device? I did attempt to replace adb driver on windows 7 64 bit with the one sony suggests and it didn't replace it. it says it's an older version. Any clues here?
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Click to collapse
If the device is reporting the status (0.5) then I guess the drivers are working.
Have you checked if unlocking your bootloader is allowed? Depending on supplier, it may not be.
Follow the instructions in steps 1 and 2 here : http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions to view the boot loader status.
Bootloader unlock allowed - Yes << this means that your Bootloader is Locked but can be unlocked
Bootloader Unlocked - Yes << this means that your bootloader is unlocked
GretaLewd said:
If the device is reporting the status (0.5) then I guess the drivers are working.
Have you checked if unlocking your bootloader is allowed? Depending on supplier, it may not be.
Follow the instructions in steps 1 and 2 here : http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions to view the boot loader status.
Bootloader unlock allowed - Yes << this means that your Bootloader is Locked but can be unlocked
Bootloader Unlocked - Yes << this means that your bootloader is unlocked
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Click to collapse
Yes, it is. Already checked that.
I'm reinstalling Latest Android SDK Manager and will delete old ADB driver to force it to used the sony one.
An android tablet with a lock boot loader, not root and no custom rom is a definitely No Go for me, I'd return it immediately if that were my case.
The good news is my xperia tablet z is now charging in 4 hours aprox.( iPad 3 charger w/ screen off)
gdfrisco said:
Can you send me the link for the 4.3 Roms? the xperia tablet z developer forum is quite a mess, tf300t, tf700 and nexus 10 and nexus 7 2013 developer forums where much better organized.
I cannot believe I cannot unlock the bootloader, I followed the instructions from sony mobile site and it's the first time I've failed in so many years unlocking and rooting android devices. I feel like a newbie, I'm getting "FAILED <remote: command did not succeed>, when I run from cmd "fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version" it works and prompt a reply "0.5". I'm guessing either I entered the wrong ID for unlocking generator tool(Foolish sony for making those numbers so hard and small to read, had to use my DSLR camera and take a picture of it and zoom it just to make sure wasn't making any mistake)
Any ideas why it went wrong???. The Fastboot mode is perfectly working, why do you think it's failing to unlock my device? I did attempt to replace adb driver on windows 7 64 bit with the one sony suggests and it didn't replace it. it says it's an older version. Any clues here?
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Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2309
I use the pacman rom atm. It's allways amongs the top 5 threads so far. Comes with a good tutorial in post 1.
gdfrisco said:
Yes, it is. Already checked that.
I'm reinstalling Latest Android SDK Manager and will delete old ADB driver to force it to used the sony one.
An android tablet with a lock boot loader, not root and no custom rom is a definitely No Go for me, I'd return it immediately if that were my case.
The good news is my xperia tablet z is now charging in 4 hours aprox.( iPad 3 charger w/ screen off)
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Click to collapse
Just a bit more info :
The number I provided to Sony to get the unlock code was the IDID number. This should be printed on a label on the side of the box the tablet came in, and is also printed on the edge of the tablet (between usb & sd card ports?). I think I had to drop the last digit for it to work.
GretaLewd said:
Just a bit more info :
The number I provided to Sony to get the unlock code was the IDID number. This should be printed on a label on the side of the box the tablet came in, and is also printed on the edge of the tablet (between usb & sd card ports?). I think I had to drop the last digit for it to work.
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Click to collapse
Thanks I was troubleshooting everywhere with no success, I was using the wrong ID number, based on sony online help. I'll generate my new unlocking code asap, I hope it will let me use my same email.
gdfrisco said:
Thanks I was troubleshooting everywhere with no success, I was using the wrong ID number, based on sony online help. I'll generate my new unlocking code asap, I hope it will let me use my same email.
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Click to collapse
It worked right away with the new IDID. thank you for your help. Will install CyanogenMod 10.2 ROM, but I need to root it first, not sure what rooting method is better?
gdfrisco said:
It worked right away with the new IDID. thank you for your help. Will install CyanogenMod 10.2 ROM, but I need to root it first, not sure what rooting method is better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chinese method was the best one for latest 4.2.2 firmware 10.3.1.C.0.136 (SGP311/SGP312).
These complaints about the charging time are BS.
5-6 hours is the charging time when charging from EMPTY battery to 100%. (With an alternative 2A charger, 4.5 hours.)
Next point: Who really uses his tablet many hours a day? Since a tablet is not a work device (or, more specifically, a device one can do only very little work on), that would mean: Hey, get a life, don't sit around all day and uselessly play around with your tablet! (By the way: That now tablet sales eclipse PC/laptop sales shows that it's a myth that computers are used for work. The work part in reality is rather small; most time computers by most people are used for leisure activities.)
OK, so with REASONABLE usage, you are at, say, 40-60% battery at the end of a normal day. Charging from that percentage to 100% needs of course much less time. When going to bed, simply plug it in, and even if you sleep very short, it'll be full. And if you forget to charge, even charging it during the morning routine will help to get decent battery percentage to get through the day comfortably.
So, for a normal adult who goes to work and has a social life, this "5-6 hours" figure is irrelevant anyway.
hasenbein1966 said:
These complaints about the charging time are BS.
5-6 hours is the charging time when charging from EMPTY battery to 100%. (With an alternative 2A charger, 4.5 hours.)
Next point: Who really uses his tablet many hours a day? Since a tablet is not a work device (or, more specifically, a device one can do only very little work on), that would mean: Hey, get a life, don't sit around all day and uselessly play around with your tablet! (By the way: That now tablet sales eclipse PC/laptop sales shows that it's a myth that computers are used for work. The work part in reality is rather small; most time computers by most people are used for leisure activities.)
OK, so with REASONABLE usage, you are at, say, 40-60% battery at the end of a normal day. Charging from that percentage to 100% needs of course much less time. When going to bed, simply plug it in, and even if you sleep very short, it'll be full. And if you forget to charge, even charging it during the morning routine will help to get decent battery percentage to get through the day comfortably.
So, for a normal adult who goes to work and has a social life, this "5-6 hours" figure is irrelevant anyway.
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Click to collapse
Your reply was very rude and disrespectful, I don't need to start a flame here and I don't need to give you explanations about my personal life. Just for your information I'm on sabbatical, what you consider normal for your particular case may not be the same reality for others, you sounded like a Sony Fanboy, how old are you? As a System Engineer I can do whatever I want with my tablets and portable devices specially now, when I finally have plenty of time to spend with.
One more question: Do you work for Sony? or maybe Google? Cheers!
I really do like this tablet a lot and i do believe that the runtime of it is ok considering how thin the device is.
Sony did screw up the chrarging though. This is a simple fact. I bought the 12W apple charger yesterday and the tablet charges in no time.
This should not be happening. From what i read this shouldn't even be possible because of charging electronics. Sony simply shipped the device with a ****ty charger.
gdfrisco said:
Your reply was very rude and disrespectful, I don't need to start a flame here and I don't need to give you explanations about my personal life. Just for your information I'm on sabbatical, what you consider normal for your particular case may not be the same reality for others, you sounded like a Sony Fanboy, how old are you? As a System Engineer I can do whatever I want with my tablets and portable devices specially now, when I finally have plenty of time to spend with.
One more question: Do you work for Sony? or maybe Google? Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you getting so worked up?
You just confirmed my thesis - only people who have exceptionally much time on their hands to dabble with their tablets (of course they are entitled to do that, but they're a really small minority, and let's admit it, there are better uses to one's time than sitting around for hours and hours in front of a screen) need all the juice of their battery to get through the day. All others won't, and hence the time to charge won't be 5-6 hours, but much less. q.e.d.
Of course it's always better to have more, but in reality it's mostly (mostly!) irrelevant, and if some people are honest, it's just this "but tablet X can run longer" **** comparison thing.
The Sony engineers were just realistic in this regard instead of participating in the **** comparison and thus were able to build an exceptionally light and thin device, which really makes the device more usable (when I had an Acer A700, I always reached for the Nexus 7 because of the weight & size; now the Nexus 7 collects dust, and there's absolutely no drive to buy the new Nexus 7 or another smaller tablet, I think that says it all).
Best Wishes!
hasenbein1966 said:
Why are you getting so worked up?
You just confirmed my thesis - only people who have exceptionally much time on their hands to dabble with their tablets (of course they are entitled to do that, but they're a really small minority, and let's admit it, there are better uses to one's time than sitting around for hours and hours in front of a screen) need all the juice of their battery to get through the day. All others won't, and hence the time to charge won't be 5-6 hours, but much less. q.e.d.
Of course it's always better to have more, but in reality it's mostly (mostly!) irrelevant, and if some people are honest, it's just this "but tablet X can run longer" **** comparison thing.
The Sony engineers were just realistic in this regard instead of participating in the **** comparison and thus were able to build an exceptionally light and thin device, which really makes the device more usable (when I had an Acer A700, I always reached for the Nexus 7 because of the weight & size; now the Nexus 7 collects dust, and there's absolutely no drive to buy the new Nexus 7 or another smaller tablet, I think that says it all).
Best Wishes!
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Click to collapse
Yeah it is sick, how many hours people want to spend with their tablet. Watching movies, reading books, check mails, check facebook, check newssites, write documents, playing games etc.
I use my Tablet @ University. If you don`t play at every lecture games, it is more than enough for the whole day.