Calling out all computer techies - Windows 8 General

I can't decide what ultrabook to purchase. I've narrowed my options down to 3 laptops (all 13"):
Samsung Ativ 9 Plus
Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 2 Pro
Macbook Pro
I am hesitant about moving to Mac due to the huge learning curve (all the compatibility issues with software etc). I am and always have been a PC and Android user. One thing I cannot neglect however is the raving reviews of the Macbook Pro.
Use would be light to medium, nothing heavy like gaming or graphic design/photo editing.
Price seems about the same between all three.
Recommendations?
Sent from my Nexus 4

texaslittleangel said:
I can't decide what ultrabook to purchase. I've narrowed my options down to 3 laptops (all 13"):
Samsung Ativ 9 Plus
Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 2 Pro
Macbook Pro
I am hesitant about moving to Mac due to the huge learning curve (all the compatibility issues with software etc). I am and always have been a PC and Android user. One thing I cannot neglect however is the raving reviews of the Macbook Pro.
Use would be light to medium, nothing heavy like gaming or graphic design/photo editing.
Price seems about the same between all three.
Recommendations?
Sent from my Nexus 4
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Click to collapse
There is a new Asus also on the way. I think it is called the UX-301 or similar. It looks pretty nice as well. There is also the Sony 13 Pro which looks nicest as well although people are complaining about the fan noise. For me I think I would choose between the Asus and the Samsung.

I ended up getting the Lenovo for $1099. I was able to get the 8gb ram and 256 gb mem, $300 cheaper than the Samsung with half the ram and mem. Reviews are pretty good with the main complaint being the color yellow being more of a mustard than yellow.
For the type of use I need, i couldn't justify paying the extra money for the samsung. Hopefully, by the time I get my laptop (pre-ordered) the color issue will be fixed.
Sent from my Nexus 4

texaslittleangel said:
I ended up getting the Lenovo for $1099. I was able to get the 8gb ram and 256 gb mem, $300 cheaper than the Samsung with half the ram and mem. Reviews are pretty good with the main complaint being the color yellow being more of a mustard than yellow.
For the type of use I need, i couldn't justify paying the extra money for the samsung. Hopefully, by the time I get my laptop (pre-ordered) the color issue will be fixed.
Sent from my Nexus 4
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Enjoy your new machine. I was going to chime in that if you ever find the need for a secondary multi-use machine (My primary work laptop is a tricked out Toshiba I7, 500G SSD 8Gb RAM) I bought an Asus Q200E which is a danged amazing sub-$400 machine. (I3, touch screen, 500G HDD and 4GB RAM) . Just FYI.

Related

Get the nexus 7 now or wait for surface?

Hey guys,
I was about to pull the trigger today and buy a nexus 7 but with recent news about the surface having a potential price point of $199, it got me thinking.
I'm just wondering if i should get the nexus 7 or wait until more info is revealed regarding the surface. For all we know, it could turn into another playbook with lack of apps and what not but im still not sure.
If you guys have any advice, it would be really appreciated!
Thanks!
I would say if you can wait till October then good, Ipad mini along with Surface might be out too and you can then decide.
windows on a tablet? No way!
I'd wait for the surface or ipad mini and then reevaluate if Asus has worked out the hardware issues they are having. I'd also decide if you want a 7 inch tablet or a 10 inch tablet. They are two different devices IMHO. I have an iPad 2 and plan on getting either the nexus 7 if hardware issues and quality improves or maybe even the iPad mini if it is real. I prefer the nexus 7, but Asus is making it tough for me to consider purchasing. I had the transformer prime when it was first released and Asus treated me and other customers like dirt. I ended up returning it, next bought the acer a200, and finally settled on the iPad 2. I think Asus makes great motherboards and laptops, but my experience with tablets is poor. Good luck with whatever you decide.
The other thing to consider is Windows on a tablet is a new operating system. It took a long time for android to have a decent selection of tablet apps, it might take a long time for there to be a decent selection there too. If you've tried the RTM or read the reviews the biggest complaint is the lack of apps in the store, just like it was when android was first available on tablets.
Personally I'm going to wait to see how quickly the app store fills up before deciding. I'll probably install windows 8 on my desktop when its available but as a tablet OS i'll wait a while.
My 2 pennies. The Nexus is a great tablet that's certain. Its price point has made thousands if not millions of people finally get a tablet. I was so impressed that I bought two instead of having just one iPad to share between the wife and I. Personally I have no regrets. It does everything I wanted from a tablet and can be modded to the extreme. And dev has only just started.
There is no question that the Nexus tablet has put the wind up other manufacturers. Price and performance are going to become a battleground with every tablet hardware producer.
My prediction is the iPad mini should it even exist will be comparable in spec to a cut down iPad 2. The resolution will not be as good as the Nexus and I can see the back camera getting cut too. Even after that it still won't be as cheap as a Nexus. Apple still have iPod touches to sell.
As for the Surface. It's completely untested, mostly unseen and there will be so little development for it it will make the Windows 7 Phone marketplace seem thriving. It intrigues me but I think its lack of focus will be its undoing. Hardware is only as good as the software it runs and developers are going to wonder who it's aimed at.
Should I be wrong I would happily upgrade and pass my Nexus onto a relative that would eat up its ease of use and for factor. Considering it cost me half what an iPad would have I can afford to upgrade.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Get the N7 right now. In the fall if the Surface is what you want you won't have any problems selling your N7 at all...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Apple is obsessed with profit, so rest assured an iPad mini will either be awesome but have Apple's idiotically high price tag, or it will be very sub-par and still have Apple's idiotic price. If money is no object, then there you go, you get the expensive but ultimately limited iPad mini.
Surface...if/when it comes out, you might have a nice tablet, but as others have said, it will have limits in the app world. It could take months to years before its a great solution. If the ::ahem:: "success" of Windows Phone is an indicator then you might be waiting a long time to do what you want/need to do with Surface. By the time Surface even becomes worth it, it might be time to upgrade what you buy today anyway.
So...get the N7 and start enjoying now...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
What do they say? A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Get the nexus now and don't wait for something that might fly along later on.
ive got a nexus 7, and im kinda intrigued by the surface as well. if its $199, i might just buy one anyway and use it as my windows laptop.
however, it really depends on how well optimised it is. from my understanding, windows 8 RT is supposed to bridge the gap between desktop and mobile versions of windows. however, windows 7 desktop is 33gb for 32bit and 20gb for 64bit, so im hoping windows 8 RT doesnt use anywhere near as much storage space to provide the same desktop experience.
i did consider sticking with just a nexus 7, but one of the apps i use regularly for my profession hasnt been updated on android for nearly 6 months, and i cant afford to be that far behind. being able to use a windows version (i'll probably be buying the x86 version of the surface) would be more convenient.
the only thing i dont like is that windows 8 RT only allows internet explorer to have full functionality, all other browsers operate with reduced functionality. dunno about you guys, but the only time i've ever used internet explorer over the last 6 years or so was to download a different browser like firefox or chrome.
also if you root and tweak the N7 your getting a 1.8ghz quad core with a 650mhz 12 core gpu for 250$... WINNING
windows rt i'm not really interested in. later on when they release the true windows 8 tablet i'll think about it as a replacement for my ultra chitty pavilion 17in dv7 laptop. i'm going to get much joy from smashing this hunk of junk from hp. windows is a dino and the environment is changing.
windows blue screened to many people.

Upset/intrigued by Series 5 Hybrid?

I do not know what to make of the "sneek peak"
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/27/samsung-series-5-teaser
Has S-Pen support and S-memo. Being that Windows can run Android apps, and the physical specs are just about the same, I dont know what to make of this.
nymviper1126 said:
I do not know what to make of the "sneek peak"
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/27/samsung-series-5-teaser
Has S-Pen support and S-memo. Being that Windows can run Android apps, and the physical specs are just about the same, I dont know what to make of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is upsetting? It will be heavy, run hot and cost a lot more.
mitchellvii said:
What is upsetting? It will be heavy, run hot and cost a lot more.
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Click to collapse
Thats what I am hoping for. But the specs say only 100gs heavier, same thickness. Mine is mostly for school and work, so it would make more sense to have a more productive device(s-pen is the reason we all love this tablet, isnt it?)
mitchellvii said:
It will be heavy, run hot and cost a lot more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent. More definitive insider info! What is the price going to be on it?
mitchellvii said:
What is upsetting? It will be heavy, run hot and cost a lot more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It also depends on what your weighting of various features are. Obviously running native MS Office and Outlook is a huge benefit as is SharePoint access and OneNote. At the end of the day it's still a Windows PC which, unless things change dramatically, aren't very good consumption devices. I replaced my HTPC with Google TV's for the simplicity and broader content support. If you use your tablet for consumption in the 30% and below range W8 is probably a better choice. I'm probably about 60% consumption 40% productivity and am fine with Android for now. And it's not like you have to buy a W8 Pro device on the day they come out or lose the opportunity. Having suffered through V1 of plenty of h/w and s/w there's something to be said for letting others go first. And here’s hoping that with the introduction of a Windows-based version of S-Note that Samsung comes up with a way of sharing what’s created with Android S-Note with Windows-PC’s.
stuartv said:
Excellent. More definitive insider info! What is the price going to be on it?
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People use common sense. If it is going to have an Intel CPU, a larger HD screen and pen input it is going to cost MUCH more. Those components aren't free.
If a tablet had the same components as a $1000 ultrabook and includes pen input it is going to cost what an ultrabook costs. It won't be $500.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
Be happy with what you got and when that bridge is there to be crossed in reality then decide to cross it or not. I love my note!
When you are driving your new BMW don't look at every Porsche that drives by costing $30k more and wring your hands saying, "Oh I should have gotten that for what I paid for this!"
Just enjoy your BMW.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
Well, I was peeking too, BUT I have to see it, feel it, touch it before I would consider a FULL Win8 Tab (NOT RT-version which does not have any benefit over Android).
It has to endure easily 12 hours like my N10.1 and has to perfom in the same smoothness and reliability.
I am an "early adopter" but with Win8 I have to read a lot of reports and see a lot of hardware tests before it convince me to buy a Win8-slate.
It is so much at the beginning, will be full of bugs and promises of added functionality in the FUTURE that I will wait for the official "Surface"-Tab and then compare to the Win8-Sammy-Tab and then maybe in one year decide upon a Win8-Tablet when "Surface 2" will be issued.
Yes, I love my Note i-717 and 10.1. i will be waiting for the livestreams that stat in 2.5 hrs for the Note 2.
I did use my note 10.1 in class yday9marketing) and the professor mention apple and he made me show the whole class the note and I explain how the patent messed up our S-Memo! I did copy the part of the sylabus where it states to write your preferend name, occupation and picture, then took one with my FFC and sent it to him during class. So yes I love it.
The car analogy is a good one. I have an 04 Q45 premium(had an 03 as well, RIP) and it still holds it own vs alot of newer cars. Do i sometimes desire a 7 series? yes, but i dont have 750Il money..Andi dont driver people around for a living(I have reclining rear seats). But i do use this device for my work email as well. It would be very impressive when i go to all the major banks during pricing etc and just whip out my Note and mark up the pdf that takes them forever to print, hand out, then revise to print out again. I would love to do some modeling in excel as well, Polaris seems a bit too clunky to do it seriously.
The thing is people like myself are the first to actually be productive with a device other than a BB. Its scary to those around who dont understand, and needs flawless execution or people wont see the point. My boss litterally was upset that i have my work email on my note, cuz they also gave me a BB. But im in a very small group that is testing out the system.
I will probally keep the note 10.1 and try and convice them to buy me the Series 5 for work. have to show its worth first though. Hopefully once the Wifi in the building is up, people will see a tablet can be much more than an iPad. Time will tell.
Well, this is the Windows 8 tablet that I will be purchasing.
With Clovertrail SoC (yes, it is Atom processor)... with faster + better GPU over ARM SoC atm (http://androidandme.com/2012/08/sma...e-fastest-android-phone-next-month-in-london/).... although, I have to see how S4 Pro looks like.... this should be a winner. The battery life should be on par with ARM counterparts (I doubt it will be better but it should compete in the department).
Keyboard + S-Pen (the same one as Galaxy Note 10.1).... this seems like a winner to me... out of all W8 tablets so far. Now.. the main question is the price... it won't be as cheap as ARM Android tablets but it shouldn't cost more than Ultrabooks with i5+ in it....
As for anything WinRT (unless Surface is released at the rumored $200 price)... it should be avoided at all cost when it launches.
Edit: Nvm.. they did announce the price... $649 for 64g SSD + 2gb RAM.... $749 with keyboard...
So, $50 cheaper than 64gb iPad.. & $100 more over 32gb Galaxy Note 10.1
shinzz said:
Well, this is the Windows 8 tablet that I will be purchasing.
With Clovertrail SoC (yes, it is Atom processor)... with faster + better GPU over ARM SoC atm (http://androidandme.com/2012/08/sma...e-fastest-android-phone-next-month-in-london/).... although, I have to see how S4 Pro looks like.... this should be a winner. The battery life should be on par with ARM counterparts (I doubt it will be better but it should compete in the department).
Keyboard + S-Pen (the same one as Galaxy Note 10.1).... this seems like a winner to me... out of all W8 tablets so far. Now.. the main question is the price... it won't be as cheap as ARM Android tablets but it shouldn't cost more than Ultrabooks with i5+ in it....
As for anything WinRT (unless Surface is released at the rumored $200 price)... it should be avoided at all cost when it launches.
Edit: Nvm.. they did announce the price... $649 for 64g SSD + 2gb RAM.... $749 with keyboard...
So, $50 cheaper than 64gb iPad.. & $100 more over 32gb Galaxy Note 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be returning the note and repurchasing until this comes out so i may still return if this is a better product. The width seems a bit much, but like i said, it seems to add MUCH more capability(you can run android on windows anyway) for $100 more? Why wouldnt I want to?
It never ends does it lol.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
jjdevega said:
It never ends does it lol.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
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I just hope it runs like crap or has short battery life, somehting to make me NOT WANT IT. I do love the 10.1 after not charging for days and after 2 classes, was warning me to charge it. It still had 9 hrs left LOL
nymviper1126 said:
I just hope it runs like crap or has short battery life, somehting to make me NOT WANT IT. I do love the 10.1 after not charging for days and after 2 classes, was warning me to charge it. It still had 9 hrs left LOL
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Lol, expected to be on 9hr+ battery life on single charge. See how it goes once it gets released.....
Otherwise, FULL OS with x86..... & Galaxy Note 10.1 apps..... (and if you really think about it.. if Note 10.1 has 64gb.. it will only be $50 more...)
Only disappointment from IFA so far... lack of Samsung's A15 dual-core SoC. I was expecting Samsung's WinRT tab to be on A15 SoC.. but bleh.. it is on S4 dual-core. Not that I was going to purchase the A15 WinRT tab.... but... yea, was hoping to see that SoC to make a presence in some form of h/w.
There is some serious potential here. If this has a port for an external monitor and other peripherals (aka laptop replacement), then I just might have to return my Note. That $700 price tag is gonna sting though, $1K if I get series 7 with 128GB.
jedah said:
There is some serious potential here. If this has a port for an external monitor and other peripherals (aka laptop replacement), then I just might have to return my Note. That $700 price tag is gonna sting though, $1K if I get series 7 with 128GB.
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As far as I understand.. it does....
Also comes with USB 3.0 support I believe (at least on the keyboard dock.. i think)...
With $650 as the base price for 64gb SSD model ... I think we can expect other OEMs to release their W8 tablets around $550 to $600 range (don't think any of them will be priced higher over Samsung or Sony for that matter).... This is the price range I expected for the Clovertrail tablets & it's a great value. Now.. since none of us have one in hand.. we won't know how it will actually perform in the real world yet... but that's serious potential with great value.
As for WinRT tablets.... I should expect a $400 price range... but with W8 Clovertrail/Trinity tablets being around $550 to $650 range... & with very very limited ecosystem... I don't expect that to do well at all.
Btw, I don't think Series 7 or any other i5+ W8 tablets are worth the money. Cost too much... & for that.. to do serious work, you really need a bigger screen. Series 7 & other Intel i5+ tablets also have "fan" included with crap battery life (will weight just as much as ultrabook with keyboard dock).... not much benefit over Ultrabooks. Better to purchase Ultrabooks over i5+ W8 tablets.... W8 Ultrabooks will come in Touchscreen, Discrete GPU, much more storage... & can expand the RAM if needed (cheaper too).
I think the Series 5 throws a HUGE wrench into the works.
What's the point in a Note 10.1, when for a few dollars more I can have the same WACOM stylus input on a Windows machine that gets the same battery life and has 100% MS Office compatibility?
I purchased the Note 10.1 as an e-ink device, to go paperless. This device works, but I am always having to take extra steps to get documents synced to the cloud. I want an all-in-one solution that is seemless, integrated with MS Word, and doesn't cost $1k+.
What advantage does the Note 10.1 have over this new Series 5 other than a $150.00 cheaper pricepoint?
I hope the user experience isn't too terrible with the Atom CPU like it was with netbooks. Unless I specifically need x86 compatibility I'm not too excited about returning to the bloat, unreliability, poor user experience, relatively mediocre battery life, heat output, high maintenance, etc. of Windows. Plus, I use Google Voice for SMS and calls so the GN 10.1 is constantly running in low power with great battery life. My Thinkpad with 8-cell high capacity battery seems to drain a lot faster just being in hibernate doing absolutely nothing.
It sounds good, but I can guarantee the price will make it non-competitive with the Note 10.1. Same with the Surface tabs when they come, I can practically guarantee the Surface Pro (the only model that can really compete with the N8013) will be $700-1000.
I was strongly considering a Surface tablet before jumping on the Note 10.1 ship but I'm more than happy with the N8013, it does everything I need it to do and nothing more and nothing less. Anything more, I have my laptop. Anything less and I'd have just bought an iPad again.

Perception: Why the review dings over the price of the 2014?

A standard point of ding in the reviews is the price, yet as example the 32GB version is the same price as the 32GB iPad and the 2014 has a micro sd slot and no proprietary connection. Build seems good and the display is at a minimum, as good as my iPad 4.
Seems the app ecosystem of the iPad gets treated as part of the package, so the price is given more slack than Android. JMO.
Simply put, you do not normally see Apple getting dinged on price in reviews. Seems a bias there. I agree it seems $50 too high for each model (ditto for iPads too), but would not ding it in a review for that.
There's a bias in tech reviews that things have to "catch up" to the iPhone or iPad. Any possible knocks on it will get brought out and highlighted.
I agree with your points, and that's ignoring the stylus that no other tablets have that turn it into a damn powerful art device. Of course I'd like it if it were a little cheaper but hey.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Theres probably an implicit bias that androids should be cheaper than iphones
Why is iPad so much
Samsung is $50 more when you compare base models but here is a list of what you get that Apple does not have.........
1 - A 16:9 screen not an out dated 4:3 design
2 - Wacom digitizer with S-Pen
3 - Dual screen or more and true multi-tasking.
4 - Micro SD storage up to 64GB
Maybe what should be said about the iPad is why is it only $50 less than a Samsung Galaxy Note10.1 when it's feature are more in line with the $399 nexus 10. or the $394 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9.
.
kkretch said:
Samsung is $50 more when you compare base models but here is a list of what you get that Apple does not have.........
1 - A 16:9 screen not an out dated 4:3 design
2 - Wacom digitizer with S-Pen
3 - Dual screen or more and true multi-tasking.
4 - Micro SD storage up to 64GB
Maybe what should be said about the iPad is why is it only $50 less than a Samsung Galaxy Note10.1 when it's feature are more in line with the $399 nexus 10. or the $394 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9.
.
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Click to collapse
LOL. I still in my brain make them equal and null the $50. Yep, they are not the same price, hence the ding (the Apple/Nexus centric reviewers do not see value in the sd slot). Most tablet users probably would not use the pen function much, based on current install base without the function. Most just see the premium price and not the extra stuff they may not use.
I love my 128GB iPad 4 Wifi to bits, for browsing and its high quality App standard. But, having seen (and in some cases owned) a great deal of poor Android tablets this new Note 10.1 I would value at least as high as the iPad. Many Apps are still poor, browsing is less fun, but having seen the drawing capabilities, its light weight and compact size (given the large screen), its superb movie playing capability (from sd !!!) and zero lag in everyday use easily makes up for it. The people I have shown it to (and handled it for a bit) were all highly impressed. It cost me 599 euro, which I consider a steal for what it offers.
rushless said:
LOL. I still in my brain make them equal and null the $50. Yep, they are not the same price, hence the ding (the Apple/Nexus centric reviewers do not see value in the sd slot). Most tablet users probably would not use the pen function much, based on current install base without the function. Most just see the premium price and not the extra stuff they may not use.
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Click to collapse
I think you nailed it here. People are overlooking the extra stuff and then complaining about the price. Yeah, it's true that most users don't care about the pen or the SD slot, but then that just means this isn't a product for them, not that it's overpriced.
Ettepetje said:
I love my 128GB iPad 4 Wifi to bits, for browsing and its high quality App standard. But, having seen (and in some cases owned) a great deal of poor Android tablets this new Note 10.1 I would value at least as high as the iPad. Many Apps are still poor, browsing is less fun, but having seen the drawing capabilities, its light weight and compact size (given the large screen), its superb movie playing capability (from sd !!!) and zero lag in everyday use easily makes up for it. The people I have shown it to (and handled it for a bit) were all highly impressed. It cost me 599 euro, which I consider a steal for what it offers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the iPad 4 128gb as well, plus an Excite 7.7 32gb, TF300 (gave to wife) and Nook HD+ 32gb. I find I use my Nook HD+ more than the others due to form factor and the sweet display with Android. I was thinking of selling the Excite and HD+ and get the 2014, but will wait until the lag issues are resolved. I have lag issues with the HD+, but works great for everything except a very few resource heavy 3D games. Plus it costs $470 less than the 2014. Unless the lag mostly goes, I see no reason to change right now.
Right now, I use the HD+ and the iPad 4 and the Excite 7.7 is collecting dust. Toshiba IMO sucks for support, so will not get another product from them. Out of principle.
Added:
Perhaps the layered function of the S-Pen causes gpu bottleneck issue due to the display. Any way to turn off the S-pen function to mitigate lag (assuming that is the issue)?
rushless said:
I have the iPad 4 128gb as well, plus an Excite 7.7 32gb, TF300 (gave to wife) and Nook HD+ 32gb. I find I use my Nook HD+ more than the others due to form factor and the sweet display with Android. I was thinking of selling the Excite and HD+ and get the 2014, but will wait until the lag issues are resolved. I have lag issues with the HD+, but works great for everything except a very few resource heavy 3D games. Plus it costs $470 less than the 2014. Unless the lag mostly goes, I see no reason to change right now.
Right now, I use the HD+ and the iPad 4 and the Excite 7.7 is collecting dust. Toshiba IMO sucks for support, so will not get another product from them. Out of principle.
Added:
Perhaps the layered function of the S-Pen causes gpu bottleneck issue due to the display. Any way to turn off the S-pen function to mitigate lag (assuming that is the issue)?
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Click to collapse
You can turn it off but that isn't the issue, it's Software optimization. it doesn't lag for me at all
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk 4
rushless said:
I have the iPad 4 128gb as well, plus an Excite 7.7 32gb, TF300 (gave to wife) and Nook HD+ 32gb. I find I use my Nook HD+ more than the others due to form factor and the sweet display with Android. I was thinking of selling the Excite and HD+ and get the 2014, but will wait until the lag issues are resolved. I have lag issues with the HD+, but works great for everything except a very few resource heavy 3D games. Plus it costs $470 less than the 2014. Unless the lag mostly goes, I see no reason to change right now.
Right now, I use the HD+ and the iPad 4 and the Excite 7.7 is collecting dust. Toshiba IMO sucks for support, so will not get another product from them. Out of principle.
Added:
Perhaps the layered funtion of the S-Pen causes gpu bottleneck issue due to the display. Any way to turn off the S-pen function to mitigate lag (assuming that is the issue)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I truly have -zero- lag, so I am a bit amazed at how much coverage the issue gets. I am pretty sure there are no hardware differences to cause it, but besides maybe some extra/different provider dependent bloatware I suspect most of these people are just doing other stuff on it. Drawing on the 2014 Note 10.1 is working great, no S-pen problems there, the original launcher seemed fine but I exchanged it quickly to Apex. The internet browsers work a bit clunky compared to the iPad, for which I blame these browsers themselves (not the Note 10.1), I never use these "S note" features really so maybe the lag is somewhere there (??). The standard videoplayer is fine, but is short on audio format (=dts) support, so I'm using MX Player together with its downloadable NeoN-driver which is wonderful. In Settings I put the Screen mode on "Movie mode", got rid of all kinds of crap like Reading Mode, auto-brightness, etc. and enjoy awesome Live Wallpapers like awe-inspiring Ocean HD (with shark pack), Paperland, Paris winter, Star in the Sky and various others. Besides the overal Android App quality (and lack of 128GB, or more, micro-sd) I couldn't be happier with what I expect from it.
I would try it at a store and see for yourself.
i've been to two samsung stores and both samsung reps had no idea that the s pen is a pressure sensitive device. they gotta just be regular ass best buy guys with different shirts.
Will test one at Best Buy.
Ettepetje said:
I truly have -zero- lag, so I am a bit amazed at how much coverage the issue gets. I am pretty sure there are no hardware differences to cause it, but besides maybe some extra/different provider dependent bloatware I suspect most of these people are just doing other stuff on it. Drawing on the 2014 Note 10.1 is working great, no S-pen problems there, the original launcher seemed fine but I exchanged it quickly to Apex. The internet browsers work a bit clunky compared to the iPad, for which I blame these browsers themselves (not the Note 10.1), I never use these "S note" features really so maybe the lag is somewhere there (??). The standard videoplayer is fine, but is short on audio format (=dts) support, so I'm using MX Player together with its downloadable NeoN-driver which is wonderful. In Settings I put the Screen mode on "Movie mode", got rid of all kinds of crap like Reading Mode, auto-brightness, etc. and enjoy awesome Live Wallpapers like awe-inspiring Ocean HD (with shark pack), Paperland, Paris winter, Star in the Sky and various others. Besides the overal Android App quality (and lack of 128GB, or more, micro-sd) I couldn't be happier with what I expect from it.
I would try it at a store and see for yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the pen is the biggest issue. I listened to the android police broadcast and the guy who reviewed it was really harsh and at the same time was saying that if you need a pen, this is the best device available. If you are used to the ipad's usage flow and don't use the pen, the advantages are harder to discern. Android has a big learning curve and most of Samsung's native apps have a lot of bloat. The best note-taking app is Lecture Notes and is a very dense program with a big learning curve. If you don't know how to check XDA's thread on the app and ask the developer questions; it can be a very difficult program to pick up.
Part of the appeal of tablets is that they are pickup and use devices and the Note is not quite that type of device.
kkretch said:
Samsung is $50 more when you compare base models but here is a list of what you get that Apple does not have.........
1 - A 16:9 screen not an out dated 4:3 design
2 - Wacom digitizer with S-Pen
3 - Dual screen or more and true multi-tasking.
4 - Micro SD storage up to 64GB
Maybe what should be said about the iPad is why is it only $50 less than a Samsung Galaxy Note10.1 when it's feature are more in line with the $399 nexus 10. or the $394 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The aspect ratio is actually 16:10. A 4:3 is actually not as much of a draw back at this size. For productivity uses, a shape that more closely mimics the dimensions of paper is superior.
I agree with all the rest of your points though. I still think $550 is too much though because of the weaker app market for android tablets and the poorer-quality materials used. The Note 10.1 is still made of cheap plastic and the Ipad is brushed aluminum and sturdy gorilla glass.
The ipad costs more because it was first to market and has brand name loyalty. It's also more stable and easier to use than most android tablets too. While the advantages of the iphone have diminished greatly over time due to the fact that android phones do a LOT of things better (especially with the larger-sized screens and the widgets); these advantages haven't translated as much on the tablet side of things. The GPU, CPU on the ipad has been faster for the most part and the battery life stellar whereas 10" android tablets have been really hit or miss. The 3 best 10" tablets were the transformer infinity, note 10.1, and Nexus 10 and all had their own issues last year (the note with its already dated display).
The Note 10.1 2014 I think is the first 10" tablet to take the fight to the ipad on even or better terms. Of course, the poor reviews and price aren't helping. They really should've left the base model at $499. I'm sure the bill of materials of the Note 10.1 2014 must be the same as last year (around $200). The SOC is used by their Note 3 and S4 international variants. I don't know how much it costs for a good 2560x1600 screen with a wacom digitizer of the same resolution. Probably a lot more since last year they didn't bother to go higher than 720p. Also the 10" tablet market is shrinking due to the nexus 7. Maybe they want to milk early adopters as much as possible because they don't know if they'll get any return.
I really hope 10" tabs don't fall by the wayside. I cannot stand 7" tabs. If you have a 4-5" phone and a 14-15" laptop, why wouldn't you want a 10" tab? A 7" tab is what I'd recommend to someone with a dumbphone. It's just too close to a phone size that having one would basically just be using my S3 with a bigger screen. At least on a full-size tab the user flow is different and you can ACTUALLY take advantage of the extra screen size.
ChrisNee1988 said:
Theres probably an implicit bias that androids should be cheaper than iphones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Its been accepted that Apple products will always be pricey and why their users feel like they have their own society.
That's not a bash as I've learned to accept their ways and live among them. All the while knowing I have a superior product...
rushless said:
LOL. I still in my brain make them equal and null the $50. Yep, they are not the same price, hence the ding (the Apple/Nexus centric reviewers do not see value in the sd slot). Most tablet users probably would not use the pen function much, based on current install base without the function. Most just see the premium price and not the extra stuff they may not use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hence the issue for most reviews. The reason for the Note 10.1 IS the S Pen. If you have no use for an active stylus, this is a rather expensive tablet. The S Pen is why people buy it. I cannot imagine taking scientific / med notes w/o an active stylus, I need to be able to hand draw notes and equations.
Diogenes5 said:
Part of the appeal of tablets is that they are pickup and use devices and the Note is not quite that type of device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2014 is a joy to grab and hold (apart from portrait mode, where a right-handed person will press buttons by accident), also within the limits of drawing, movie watching and the few good Apps Android has this is a hell of a device !!!
wingdo said:
Hence the issue for most reviews. The reason for the Note 10.1 IS the S Pen. If you have no use for an active stylus, this is a rather expensive tablet. The S Pen is why people buy it. I cannot imagine taking scientific / med notes w/o an active stylus, I need to be able to hand draw notes and equations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, the screen and speed are its main attraction, closely followed by the S-pen (for those that use it).
Most of the garbage that is poured here on the forum (and in the reviews) about the Note 10.1 and its lag comes down to the poor state of Android, with its lousy internet browsers (compared to iPad) etc. etc. If you use this device for what it is great at I see its rating close to a 10 out of 10.
If you put an HD-version of Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings and Monster University on the SD, play those through MX Player (with NeoN-driver) and show it to a 6 year old, or anybody really, they will very much want to hold / own it. It is pure eye candy, plain and simple. Its stereo speakers help somewhat.
The main market for a stylus I see as children and drawing enthousiasts and professionals, all of which the 2014 Note 10.1 covers. For business use and note taking the stylus imo is reasonable at best, though Samsung is pushing this hardest (as it is a big market).
ChrisNee1988 said:
Theres probably an implicit bias that androids should be cheaper than iphones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main reason why Android gained any ground is because they were the cheaper option. Poor build quality phones with a very laggy os in the early days.
Samsung still make poor quality phones/tablets but want to be like Apple with pricing. Even with 10gb ram and 1500gb memory this Note should be cheaper because it is a Samsung mobile device.
Ukbondraider said:
The main reason why Android gained any ground is because they were the cheaper option. Poor build quality phones with a very laggy os in the early days.
Samsung still make poor quality phones/tablets but want to be like Apple with pricing. Even with 10gb ram and 1500gb memory this Note should be cheaper because it is a Samsung mobile device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. Thanks for the laugh.
Ukbondraider said:
The main reason why Android gained any ground is because they were the cheaper option. Poor build quality phones with a very laggy os in the early days.
Samsung still make poor quality phones/tablets but want to be like Apple with pricing. Even with 10gb ram and 1500gb memory this Note should be cheaper because it is a Samsung mobile device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why then are you spending your time in a poor quality tablet forum?

Nexus 9 is too expensive

The Nexus 9 is way too expensive.
I have a 2012 Nexus 7, which is still going strong.
I am about at the point that I will be making another tablet purchase.
I will likely go with Samsung's Tab Pro 8.4, which I have recently seen at Best Buy for between $ 240 and $ 280, depending on whats on sale that week.
The tab pro 8.4 gets great reviews and is very competitive spec-wize.; it has a higher res rear cam, higher pixels per inch count on its display , 2.3 ghz quad-core processor, and a micro sd slot for augmenting memory.
Its only short coming is the Touchwiz UI.
tabuser said:
The Nexus 9 is way too expensive.
I have a 2012 Nexus 7, which is still going strong.
I am about at the point that I will be making another tablet purchase. I will likely go with Samsung's Tab Pro 8.4 which I have recently seen at Best Buy for between $ 240 and $ 280, depending on whats on sale that week.
The tab pro 8.4 gets great reviews and is very competitive spec-wize.; it has a higher res rear cam, higher pixels per inch, 2.3 gig quad-core processor, and a micro sd slot for augmenting memory. Its only short coming is the Touchwiz UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't throw away your money on the Tab Pro 8.4. Samsung has basically abandoned that tablet and it's not even a year old yet. Great specs, sure, but it's also kinda laggy because of Touchwiz. I'm actually looking at getting the Nexus 9 because of this.
Nvidia Shield is the best tablet you can buy. Close to stock android. Quad-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A15, GPU ULP GeForce Kepler (192 cores), Full HD Screen, Timely updates, 2gb of Ram. Has amazing reviews. Can be a normal tablet for everyday use or gaming.
Trueray said:
Nvidia Shield is the best tablet you can buy. Close to stock android. Quad-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A15, GPU ULP GeForce Kepler (192 cores), Full HD Screen, Timely updates, 2gb of Ram. Has amazing reviews. Can be a normal tablet for everyday use or gaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the dev support like?
scottharris4 said:
What's the dev support like?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not good at all
theres still no custom kernel for it
USBhost said:
Not good at all
theres still no custom kernel for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I know, I developed a bunch of ROM's for it. Had to do blind tests since I don't have it.
scottharris4 said:
Don't throw away your money on the Tab Pro 8.4. Samsung has basically abandoned that tablet and it's not even a year old yet. Great specs, sure, but it's also kinda laggy because of Touchwiz. I'm actually looking at getting the Nexus 9 because of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would agree that they have abandoned it in favor of the Tab S, but how does that affect its usefulness?
I put CyanongenMod on my Tab Pro and it was great. I would have figured few people on this forum keep their devices stock, but to each is own. I will concede that Touchwiz is just OK.
Leonart said:
I would agree that they have abandoned it in favor of the Tab S, but how does that affect its usefulness?
I put CyanongenMod on my Tab Pro and it was great. I would have figured few people on this forum keep their devices stock, but to each is own. I will concede that Touchwiz is just OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will mean that getting future custom ROMs could be potentially compromised because (1) Samsung may not release stuff that is needed for these ROMs, and (2) how many devs (which there aren't many to begin with) are going to want to keep putting in work to an "obsolete" device.
Anyone saying that other tablets are "comparable spec wise" either forgot about the 64-bit CPU or they are likely underestimating the effect it will have on performance. Unless you are considering a different tablet with either a Denver K1 or Snapdragon 810 there is probably no point in comparing it to the Nexus 9.
This is the most powerful tablet on the market. It is also the first 64-bit android tab. It will also get updates first. $399 for a 16gb isn't so bad
mk92595 said:
This is the most powerful tablet on the market. It is also the first 64-bit android tab. It will also get updates first. $399 for a 16gb isn't so bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not so bad if you can add more or don't need much space, or prefer to blindly trust on Google's storage and have an unfailing internet connection. Otherwise it's kinda sad and 2012-ish. The price isn't right for that little storage.
Nexus 7 sucks, can't wait for nexus 9
I even consider buying a iPad Mini 2 (only £329 for 32GB) given the iPad Mini 3 is not much of an upgrade to this and not worth buying.
But being a Nexus Fanboy, I'll probably will get a N9 and say Goodbye for my slow & laggy N10.
---------- Post added at 10:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 AM ----------
iPad Air 2 16GB cost the same as a Nexus 9 32GB...
that's just too expensive
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
What did you even expect from a new device coming out this late?
CrashTestDroid said:
It's not so bad if you can add more or don't need much space, or prefer to blindly trust on Google's storage and have an unfailing internet connection. Otherwise it's kinda sad and 2012-ish. The price isn't right for that little storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can always use OTG. I am almost always near a WiFi connection so I should be fine. I have a grandfathered Unlimited T-Mo plan without hotspot but I want to see if I can bypass that. All my media will be coming off my server computer and apps shouldn't be that much space.
Please do your home work on the nvidia shield tablet!!!
It has been known of self cracking corners! Plenty of customers on here, I was one of them!!! even with the second batch and LTE version
.
Very poor WiFi!
And losses charge whilst on charge. Suss that one out?
I had one and sent it back after a week!
It could of been a very good tablet. But has some very big issues!
There are only a couple of very hard working devs over there as development stands.
But sadly the shield is a big flop. Really is a shame!!!!!!
mk92595 said:
This is the most powerful tablet on the market. It is also the first 64-bit android tab. It will also get updates first. $399 for a 16gb isn't so bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it is bad. $399 screams highend and it should have had 32GB at that price point. But even that sounds bad. Should have been $300 for 16GB and $350 for 32GB.
Hate to bring up iPad's around here but a new retina mini cost $299 at 16GB. If you're not into rooting/hacking it looks pretty decent compared to these prices. Point being it won't take long for prices to drop on this new Nexus 9. I wouldn't be surprised to see these hit the refurb bins at $250 to $300 in 6 months. That's how I got my 2013 Nexus 7 for $130.
how about Xiaomi Mi pad?!
did u think about xiaomi's mi pad?! it has the same cpu and gpu. but at lower price.64 gb version is about 340$.also have the same size of Ipad mini2 and all the accessories of ipad mini2 fits to this one..from the Dev side of this tablet i dont know alot.but i know nvidia quickly turn behind to its cpu and products..i have htc one x..i waited a lot for some good games that never showed up!by the way i have ifive mini 3gs..i am very satisfied.. mi pad was my choice but i needed sim card slot so i bought this ifive.. Mi pad is a very good tablet..think about it :good:
I honestly believe that for what you get with the nexus 9 that it's going to be a decent deal.
I just bought a galaxy tab s 10.5 and am debating on buying the nexus 9 as my living room tablet.
lolpok said:
Nexus 7 sucks, can't wait for nexus 9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Nexus 7 is still as smooth as the day I bought it

Any other Nexus 9 owners considering an upgrade?

Seems like currently (August 2018) the options are Huawei Mediapad M5 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.
I still use my Nexus 9 a lot but the speed and deteriorating battery life is starting to become a daily frustration. I still like the tablet and always did, but it's time to upgrade. Four years is reasonable enough considering the price I bought it for in 2014. I really considered the Galaxy Tab S3 last year but decided to hold out.
The Tab S4 is clearly the best Android tablet right now but £600 for the lowest model feels obscene considering the Nexus 9 was half that.
So enter the Mediapad M5 (either the 8 or 10 size), which is a more realistic price but I'm not sure how good the community will be long term now given recent Huawei controversy. Also the Kirin 960 is slower than the Tab S4's Snapdragon 835 (which should have been 845 but whatever). Also no headphone jack.
Anyone else in a similar position?
I recently bought the xiaomi mi pad 4 to replace my Nexus 9. Nice little tablet and cheap as the same time.
I have tried many Android tablets and never considered an iPad. But now I have got an iPad 2017 since I need an iOS device for work. I must admit I was wrong about the iPad. Absolutely the best tablet I have tried. So smooth UI and web browsing. Google's apps work really good and other popular apps are more tablet optimized than on Android. Outstanding battery life. For it's price I think the iPad is hard to beat.
And I think it's amazing that the iPad Air that launched with iOS 7, soon five years ago, will get iOS 12.
dape16 said:
I have tried many Android tablets and never considered an iPad. But now I have got an iPad 2017 since I need an iOS device for work. I must admit I was wrong about the iPad. Absolutely the best tablet I have tried. So smooth UI and web browsing. Google's apps work really good and other popular apps are more tablet optimized than on Android. Outstanding battery life. For it's price I think the iPad is hard to beat.
And I think it's amazing that the iPad Air that launched with iOS 7, soon five years ago, will get iOS 12.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPad just won't do what I want a tablet for unfortunately. I usually throw a bunch of movies on a USB stick and watch on the road. But other than that, they are pretty nifty.
I'm planning on waiting for me Chromebook Tablets. Currently I'm eyeing the HP x2 .. but we will see what comes out. ChromeOs but able to run Android apps.
madbat99 said:
The iPad just won't do what I want a tablet for unfortunately. I usually throw a bunch of movies on a USB stick and watch on the road. But other than that, they are pretty nifty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ipad/iphone are able to use specific usb stick just like OTG.
Or did i get you wrong?
ronald_loulan said:
Ipad/iphone are able to use specific usb stick just like OTG.
Or did i get you wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, I forgot about that. Expensive sticks though.
madbat99 said:
You're right, I forgot about that. Expensive sticks though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually is not that expensive, at least i got mine around 20usd.
It have micro sd/ sd card as storage so you can expand it up to 128GB if not mistaken.
Mine have Lightning,micro usb and usb port, quite good as it can be use for android and IOS too...
I am still trying to decide what to do.
I like the HP X2 Detachable chromebook, but felt it should have more than 32Gb of storage, and I'd also prefer a 10" screen rather than 12.3"
The S3 was ruled out last year due to no real development for it. Plus those backwards Samsung buttons.
S4 is really pricey and you have to deal with the samsung lock down on the bootloader.
Currently I've supported this on Indiegogo
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/...ntertainment-bluetooth-computers/x/19180545#/
It's not the best spec wise but it's got the same screen as the S4 and at $219 it's hard to beat Plus XDA say that they are working with Alldocube to ensure it's developer friendly.
https://www.xda-developers.com/alldocube-x-10-5-inch-android-8-1-oreo/
Of course I'm also waiting to see what happens with the upcoming ChromeOS tablets. Rumors point to 3 coming out in the fall.
I still use my N9 almost every day. I love the form factor of it and the 4:3 ratio screen is great for ebooks or magazines.
And if you don't mind not having youtube the latest 8.1 builds are pretty nice for it. I'm using AICP at the moment.
NaterTots said:
I am still trying to decide what to do.
I like the HP X2 Detachable chromebook, but felt it should have more than 32Gb of storage, and I'd also prefer a 10" screen rather than 12.3"
The S3 was ruled out last year due to no real development for it.
S4 is really pricey and you have to deal with the samsung lock down on the bootloader.
Currently I've supported this on Indiegogo
alldocube-x-tablet-for-high-quality-entertainment-bluetooth-computers
I still use my N9 almost every day. I love the form factor of it and the 4:3 ratio screen is great for ebooks or magazines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya, I've looked into the Alldocube as well, but the CPU is too inferior to consider. Plus the battery life may not be very good with that CPU. They only claim 8 hours [so realistically looking at 5-6]. Everything else sounds good.
Mi Pad 4 Plus was just released last week. It is looking pretty good. Has a fingerprint reader which the non-plus didn't have. Xiaomi has good software support, I owned a Redmi Note 4 and really enjoyed it.
10" screen, at 1920x1200. But the battery has been tested for 19+ hours, which is pretty spectacular. CPU is decent.
Right now the price is a bit higher than it should be, retails for $279USD in china, china dealers are at $359USD right now, but I expect it to drop in the coming months. At MSRP price I would buy it.
I picked up a refurbished HP Pro Slate 8 a few months ago. At this point I only care for 4:3 or 3:2 screens and I want them to be pocketable. 8" 4:3 fits in my back pocket. And I like buying second hand so they are cheap and essentially disposable. Because lets not kid ourselves - these things are worthless / failing in a few years no matter what.
Otherwise for anything bigger I would strongly suggest a second hand Surface Pro 4/5. You can get real work done on those and they are super fast.
heywtf said:
Seems like currently (August 2018) the options are Huawei Mediapad M5 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.
I still use my Nexus 9 a lot but the speed and deteriorating battery life is starting to become a daily frustration. I still like the tablet and always did, but it's time to upgrade. Four years is reasonable enough considering the price I bought it for in 2014. I really considered the Galaxy Tab S3 last year but decided to hold out.
The Tab S4 is clearly the best Android tablet right now but £600 for the lowest model feels obscene considering the Nexus 9 was half that.
So enter the Mediapad M5 (either the 8 or 10 size), which is a more realistic price but I'm not sure how good the community will be long term now given recent Huawei controversy. Also the Kirin 960 is slower than the Tab S4's Snapdragon 835 (which should have been 845 but whatever). Also no headphone jack.
Anyone else in a similar position?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I replaced my battery and its good as new.
Bought recently Huawei M5 10.8 for about 300€ - nice new tab, not sure what to do with my N9 now but I feel your pain, its slow and sluggish.
I went ahead and purchased a Mi Pad 4 Plus. It is pretty darn good!
Took a little bit to get everything setup [this being XDA, installing the google services shouldn't be hard at all].
Screen is great, performance is great. Battery life is outstanding. Having a fingerprint reader is essential for me, have read lots of complaints how face ID unlock is terrible for tablets. Fingerprint works flawlessly on this.
The speakers are a bit tinny, but they are very loud.
Overall, 2 days in and I have nothing bad to say about it. Oh, and it cost less than half the price of a Samsung Tab S4! MSRP is $279 USD. Is still selling above that right now, but it is still worth it!
Lumberjack_Plaid said:
I went ahead and purchased a Mi Pad 4 Plus. It is pretty darn good!
Took a little bit to get everything setup [this being XDA, installing the google services shouldn't be hard at all].
Screen is great, performance is great. Battery life is outstanding. Having a fingerprint reader is essential for me, have read lots of complaints how face ID unlock is terrible for tablets. Fingerprint works flawlessly on this.
The speakers are a bit tinny, but they are very loud.
Overall, 2 days in and I have nothing bad to say about it. Oh, and it cost less than half the price of a Samsung Tab S4! MSRP is $279 USD. Is still selling above that right now, but it is still worth it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mipad4 outstanding tablet but the biggest drawback is sound speakers. It's bottom of the tablet not front Like Lenovo Tab 4 or Huawie Media Pad 5 or Samsung A 10.1(2018).
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
sheenswizner said:
Mipad4 outstanding tablet but the biggest drawback is sound speakers. It's bottom of the tablet not front Like Lenovo Tab 4 or Huawie Media Pad 5 or Samsung A 10.1(2018).
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If one were to buy mipad4 plus or m5, i would strongly recommend m5 pro with comes with 4 speakers, bigger battery, mpen and desktop mode..
been nagging oneplus to make something to replace my N9 every time I catch em posting on twitter
Just got a Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 yesterday. Unlocked the bootloader but will stay on stock until they stop OTA's. Overall size much more akin to my Nexus 7 which I had replaced with the Nexus 9. Sadly never did think the 9 lived up to expectations.
M5 has great build quality and while I have not had it for very long it leaves the N9.......in....the.....dust.
N9 will be heading over to SWAPPA once I am sure M5 rocks.
I picked up an Amazon Fire 10" (current model) a year ago when they were on sale for $100. After enabling Google Play Store on it, I ended up using it and ignoring my Nexus 9 for a year. The Fire was inexpensive and therefore not as big a risk at the gym, and it did everything I needed. I even stuck with the Fire launcher and found it usable. Recently I picked up the Nexus 9 again and found the two reasons I had set it aside -- reduced but still reasonable battery life, and inexplicable "lockups" where the tablet stopped responding despite the screen still being on, requiring a long power button press reboot. I like the slightly smaller size factor (fits my man bag, the Fire doesn't). Thinking about rooting and putting a new ROM on board. But the Fire 10" is surprisingly usable and not much of a compromise for me.
This thread is literally my thoughts. I've been looking to upgrade for a while.
As echoed above though, replacing the battery the other day has vastly improved it and given me another year out of this old knockabout
It's an easy swap too.
I was on here looking for a new ROM.

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