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Some questions with my background ofcourse. I've just started doing International baccalaureate and i'm already not so much organised and my papers are laying around all over the place so i was thinking of buying this tablet...Of course i have some experience with android and its apps but i was more concerned about the hardware than software.
I have two options, either to get normal dual core laptop worth 400-500$ OR get acer iconia which would be sort of an advantage over laptop since the laptop doesn't have touch screen. So here comes my questions:
1. How is this tablet in note taking? Decent apps in the market which would let me take notes for the whole semister? (approximately 2 years course)
2. Is docking station same for ipad and all other tablets?
3. Some additional commets would really really help a lot !
Since i'm in the middle of the course already...i would love to have as many comments as possible so that i can make a decision on buying this.
Thanks a lot in advance !
for me its great you can save everything to Google documents or something similar or even on a USB thumb drive.for lotsnof typing you prob want a keyboard USB or maybe even a keyboard case.I have a HP dm1 11.6 inch notebook as well as this tab.I nolonger pack the notebook around.
Very versatile tablet having full USB is a plus over other tablets.
for quick hand notes - you should try Handrite from the market.
For now is the best of those what i tried. It is not the prettiest one but the fastest and easiest to use.
if i was to have a choice between windows 7 operated tablet and this one...which one would you guys have suggested me because i can't decide whether to take an android tab or usual windows 7 operated device...for light gaming + mostly note taking...
shad0wboss said:
if i was to have a choice between windows 7 operated tablet and this one...which one would you guys have suggested me because i can't decide whether to take an android tab or usual windows 7 operated device...for light gaming + mostly note taking...
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Not quite sure which games you'll be playing, but the experience will be no where near Win7 with a tablet.
If gaming is a priority, find yourself a good touch screen laptop that converts into a tablet, and runs Win7. I love my HP touchsmart laptop/tablet, but don't game so it stays turned off most of the time in favor of my tablet. The touchsmart has incredible handwriting recognition built into Win7, and really is a dream to use.
With the Iconia you get a much lighter platform with a smaller footprint that is easier to tote around campus.
Weigh your priorities, and make your decision based on those priorities.
Ok, so here's my dilemma. I want a convertible tablet pc. Problem is though, I think all of the ones on the market are poop. They either run android (I don't see the point still) and iOS, or are clunky and rediculously expensive. But I had a extremley bright idea. Buy whatever laptop I like, slap a touchscreen on that *****, and be happy. Keep in mind that as a poor college student with no job, I will probably never be able to afford this
1. Take apart laptop completley, Rip out the green bullcrap.
2. Mod case to be suitable as a convertible...or just look cool.
3. Rverse USB port to face inside
4. Close USB off from the outside
5. Get a USB Touchscreen conversion kit, which im sure come in many different flavors (Capacitive, Multitouch, Resistive), or better yet use a connector designed for computer internals, making #3 and #4 useless.
6. Add 3rd party accelerometer for Poitrait/Landscape orientation
7. Find a suitable hinge (or make one) and replace it
8. Boot laptop, install drivers for touchscreen and accelerometer
9. Pat myself on the back for custom making a tablet PC?
In my opinion the hardest part would be modding the case to be suitable as a convertible tablet, which can't be too hard. I have access to MIG/TIG welders, sheet metal cutters, grinders, ect. and I know people who know how to use them, so working with metal shouldn't be too dificult. In fact, I probably could just build a case myself from scratch. I also have alot of experience with plastic, so that's not a problem although I'd prefer to use metal for structural parts.
Touchscreen conversion kits seem to be all over the internet with a quick google search, and it shouldn't be too hard to find high quality capacitive touchscreen panels.
Walcom Bamboo Stylus because I'm a G
Accelerometers that work with windows I don't know about, but it cant be too hard Amirite? You can find ANYTHING for sale on the internet.
If I do do this however it will probably be in the summer (when I have a job). The only probelm I might have is the internals, seeing as I've never handled computer internals before. My brother did build his computer though, and I have a friend who also builds computers. It dosen't seem too hard compared to the other stuff like modding the case. While the laptop is dissasembled I'd probably put the parts in ziplock bags to keep them away from dirt and debris while I'm not using them. As long as I'm careful I don't thinkim going to mess anything up.
Good idea or no?
Good idea. Just keep in mind that the whole thing would be much heavier than a regular tablet, so holding it in hand would be difficult.
I have seen an EEE PC modded with a touchscreen, but the keyboard part was still there.
Just get a transformer lol...
What is wrong with Android? What is it you need to do that it won't?
My other idea would be to tell you most android devices are capable of running linux too?
Sounds like alot of work..and there are suitable models on the market, but if you wanna do it?
By the time you get around to it I wonder where technology will be...
PS ziplock bags? NO! Get some static bags..ziplocs are crazy static-charged! Honestly though, sounds like you are a good deal away from being able to deconstruct and reconstruct a laptop..the integrated circuits are ridiculously small and fragile..
PPS The hardest part might be actually getting the accelerometer sensors to function..which is where android comes in..you have to actually write some code into your operating system that will recognize and react accordingly withing the right parameters in your code..devs on this sight have problems with accelerometers that otherwise worked on a stock rom on OEM machines, god knows what it would take to get one working on a machine that never intended to have one by design?
That is all
What's old is new again
It's funny we did something similar a few years ago to build PC's into cars and trucks. For that application and at that time it made sense. Today we essentially just make custom docks for COTS tablets so that they integrate with the car.
If you're opposed to Android and other mobile OS's my suggestion is to start looking around craigslist for convertible tablet/laptops like those from HP and Dell or look for a cheap HP slate. I've seen gently used Slates going for around $200-300 and they run windows 8 reasonably well. I've seen convertibles close to that price as well.
Unless you are just dead set on a fabrication project i'd strongly suggest taking advantage of off the shelf hardware and mass production pricing and spend your extra time and money learning how to get the most of of those components.
If you do go ahead with this then weight and cost will be your biggest issues. I think a better twist on this would be to figure out how to make a transformer type of dock for other popular tablets. If you can make them well and make them cheap then sell a few and buy what you really want.
The reason I don't like android is because It's not a desktop OS. I'll be building this tablet-y thing for graphics/image editing, word processing and a little bit of gaming in between and I'm not 100% sure about android graphics programs. I like to keep it simple and use MS Paint, then GIMP if i need a more powerful program. I'm also a windows fanboy and it's what I've been using ever since I was 2... I also like to build things.
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
I didn't know Ziplock bags are staticy by nature. Thanks for the tip.
As far as the accelerometer, I don't know much about them but if it's super difficult I'm probably not going to bother with it. I'll maybe install a switch?
It's hard to beat windows for functionality but you might check out paint.net as a free replacement for paint.
Over all though I get the idea that you're a little in over your head on this.
Sent from my HTC Flyer using XDA App
LexusFman said:
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
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Click to collapse
Have you seen the Eee Pad Slider?
Also, Adobe photoshop for android = $10
https://market.android.com/details?id=air.com.adobe.pstouch&hl=en
LexusFman said:
The reason I don't like android is because It's not a desktop OS. I'll be building this tablet-y thing for graphics/image editing, word processing and a little bit of gaming in between and I'm not 100% sure about android graphics programs. I like to keep it simple and use MS Paint, then GIMP if i need a more powerful program. I'm also a windows fanboy and it's what I've been using ever since I was 2... I also like to build things.
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
I didn't know Ziplock bags are staticy by nature. Thanks for the tip.
As far as the accelerometer, I don't know much about them but if it's super difficult I'm probably not going to bother with it. I'll maybe install a switch?
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Dude, I've got photoshop, an office suite, and tons of games, I'd never have to touch a PC again..I am a graphic designer by trade! I can even watch hulu (something not supposed to be capable of on android platforms), I've got a nice stylus and a full qwerty keyboard and mouse- I'm working on the OG transformer not the Prime, as far as I can tell the Prime was pushed too quickly and has issues with all of it's radios due to the metal shell..the TF101 does not have these issues, and the TF700 (basically the prime with the GPS and radios fixed and better resoultion) is available if you don't want to go for the OG transformer.
Seriously sounds like you're trying feverishly to open a can of worms to get a windows tablet when in reality there is no need and windows is given a run for it's money with the new ICS android on the way. Trying to unlock a windows phone after unlocking a whole bunch of Android devices would quickly turn you off of Microsoft as an OS IMO, that's what made me an Android fanboy (I was a windows guy previously, now I'm leaning more and more towards linux/android for their open source code user-friendly programability). But, if you are determined to do something the hard way = the expensive and labor/time-consuming way, no one is going to stop you
Just remember- in the world of technology things are done: Right, Cheap, and/or Fast. BUT, you can only choose two..
I've done this already with a eeePC 700.
1. The resistive touchscreen. You'll need a stylus for that.
2. Typing with a stylus is horrible.
3. It was heavy. Even when it was only 7inch screen. The battery made it heavy. (but I had 9hours of battery life)
4. You couldn't navigate the boot menu (without an external keyboard)
5. Resistive touchscreen is crap for drawing, because you still want to support your hand on the screen while drawing, which you couldn't do.
6. Moving Items around sucked (no drag and drop)
and many more.
I used it in my bed, for browsing. was good enough, until the touchscreen cable snapped. (I didn't have an external keyboard, so I had to open the tablet, connect the keyboard, and navigate the boot menu when I had to)
Hope this helped. Though it was fun to build it and use it, it's not what you would call an 'every day' tablet
romitkin said:
Good idea. Just keep in mind that the whole thing would be much heavier than a regular tablet, so holding it in hand would be difficult.
I have seen an EEE PC modded with a touchscreen, but the keyboard part was still there.
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I don't think it would be much heavier, in fact I think the idea is perfect for modification of a netbook. It would probably be cheapest. since so much case modding is required and so many enclosure fabrication resources are handy, to put together a frankenstein out of 2 or 3 broken netbooks. Find someone who smashed the screen of one netbook, another one who fried the board of theirs, find a total-loss broken tablet PC (like dropped in lake michigan level of total loss so it will cost pennies) and get the ribbon cable and swivel element from there. I think if this idea is applied to a netbook it would be excellent in size and weight as well as functionality. And with the x86 version of android's progress, it could even be running android like a tablet in screen out mode, and change to webtop mode when its swiveled. Put a netbook mobile broadband card in there, many netbooks have open card expansions under the screw-out panels underneath, if not you would have to choose between wifi or taking the wifi expansion out in favor of a mobile broadband card, and certainly make sure that the card is supported by your wireless provider if you choose to go the mobile broadband route. With verizon or sprint you will most likely have to acquire a mobile broadband card out of a netbook that was originally sold by the company, but be sure to check and make sure the MEID is clean before paying anything for one, if the seller defaulted on a contract they used to acquire it, you might as well flash the thing to cricket or metroPCS and use them as your mobile broadband carrier. With either wifi or mobile broadband, as well as bluetooth, don't forget the antenna! yeah that thing you have to unhook from the other side of the card to take it out, you need that. (oh yeah, bluetooths are included as expansion cards sometimes too, if so you could always remove this to make room for the mobile broadband if you don't use bluetooth. I sure don't and probably wont until they drop the rediculous prices of non-audio bluetooth interfaces to acceptable and competative levels.)
That project actually sounds pretty freakin cool, the type of thing I'd do if I wasn't already swamped with projects. Definetly keep us posted if you decide to go through with it, as I pointed out, if you build it from netbook parts it should be well within your budget, netbooks run much cheaper then notebooks already, but a netbook is comperable in power to most current android devices and thus is suitable to handle most things you'd use a tablet PC for, just not high powered stuff like compiling code or rendering animation or playing 3d online games.
Edit: I'd like to add and point out that as a regular user of an acer netbook running ubuntu, it is wise to refrain from excessive multitasking, the atom had to sacrifice a bit of things we've become accustomed to in notebooks to meet the low power consumption and operating temperature requirements, and a lot of those things are things that mostly benefit multitasking. You will not be happy if you try and run a jillion programs at the same time.
That being said ubuntu's new primary UI, I forget what it's called evolve or something like that, it is an excellent UI for netbooks, perfectly space-optimized, especially in the vertical range which gets filled quick on lil netbook screens. I'm not sold on it and prefer to go with gnome or xfce on desktops and normal-sized notebooks, but it is top-notch on a netbook. I'd also recommend not messing with the accelerometer at first and including it later as it may be a pain to implement correctly in comparison to the limited amount of functionality it brings to the table. I'd rather have something that works personally that I can make additions to then pull my hair out trying to throw everything in the first time right.
---------- Post added at 10:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------
Will_nonya said:
It's hard to beat windows for functionality but you might check out paint.net as a free replacement for paint.
Over all though I get the idea that you're a little in over your head on this.
Sent from my HTC Flyer using XDA App
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Have to LMAO @ this comment. If users would ever actually push developers to release for the linux platform, especially hardware manufacturers (which is ridiculous since all they would have to do is release their code open source, or even just parts of their code and the community would do the rest. Doesn't matter much tho, it's mostly crappy chinese hardware that isn't supported by linux, and their HQs more then likely don't speak enough english to be able to request anything, beleive me I've tried to contact MSI before.... most hardware worth running is fully supported tho)
But point is, I feel like it is extremely cumbersome whenever I'm forced to use windows, apart from trying to use unsupported hardware or cross-platform software (although wine and mono have made GIGANTIC leaps in usability). I pretty much never have to deal with drivers, updates to all software happens automatically, it's become so self-maintaining that I'm ashamed of how lazy of a linux user I've become. When I actually do have to do something even remotely advanced I have to think for a minute about it. Usually the only thing that really requires a lot of getting under the hood that I ever have to do is when I set up my audio-production setups which is even a lot easier now that they have dedicated repositories for them, and when set up correctly the real time preemptable kernel will run circles around any windows or OSX setup latency-wise. I was pulling lower latency with computers recording with ardour, and sequencing/synthesizing/sampling with seq24 amSynth, and qsampler, 5 years older then any PC I would test it against running windows with Reason and Protools. the Jack audio drivers that allowed software to plug audio inbetween applications directly across the PCM was just icing on the cake.
Windows is good software, but linux has certainly surpassed it by leaps and bounds. Windows still rules for gaming because of directX and industry unwillingness to port to linux, but the period of time right after Microsoft declared it was removing directX support from XP on further releases saw linux catch up with windows for a little while as they rushed wine to support the newest directX making it actually possible to actually run new releases under windowsXP even. Curses microsoft, foiled again! And off topic, but furthermore, I can't believe people still pay so much money for that god damn talking paper clip, openoffice.org ftw!
As I said windows isn't bad software, I said before in these forums actually that if windows ran a microsoft controlled repository to distribute all software for windows through, like linux, it would have similarly non-existant problems with viruses. Having people go around the wild-west of the internet downloading and installing programs from there without even thinking about it is just asking for the malware and adware problems windows experiences. Windows is good software, linux is just much better software.
Too complicated...
On a second thought how about moding a cheap Tablet with better parts. Is it even possible like are the parts such as a processor, camera, or the radio chip available for tablets and phones.
Why dnt you get a transformer?
In my opinion, it would just be better to settle for an table, prices are gonna drop really soon. The market for Eee PC's alike has diminished since the release of the ipad.
This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
A lot of things to doo, better start with a simple tablet and try to upgrade it if possible... dont know if its possible btw.
I did something almost like this.
Took apart a dirt cheap acer aspire one with a small 8 GB SDD.
Small 280 Atom 1.6GHz cpu and cheap intel GMA gpu.
Inverted the screen
Added a extra 512MB ram and inserted a 16GB SD card.
My battery however did not stand up to the task so i ordered a 9 cell pack.
It ran quite stable with 6 days standby or 12hours of heavy usage.
The lack of a accelerometer however made it a pain for quite a few games.
But i did have a vague plan to get value's from it into the android OS using a AVR and a few other cheap parts.
Many manufacturers still produce cheap atom notebooks like these.
But hardware specs have gotten better and better, so you should be able to pick one up for cheap still.
http://www.axiotron.com
Soooo 2008...
I'm doing this with an old pentium 3 thinkbook. I know its not really that great of a computer but it at least redeems it as a usable device.
sounds interesting will looking forward for it....
Good Idea!
Just found this gaming tablet that could possibly kill the xperia play: http://eurodroid.com/2012/08/29/archos-gamepad-7-android-4-0-gaming-tablet/
It's a seven inch archos gaming tablet running ice cream sandwich. It has two proper touchpads/joysticks and is 1.5GHZ dual-core.
And at £130, it seems like a good deal. Release date is October
Two things
1. The Xperia Play is pretty close to dead, Sony doesn't really support it anymore, its outdated, and its only a matter of time before the new games won't play on it.
2. This tablet is made by Archos, long time purveyors of junky Android products. And its not a phone. This thing firstly is no competition for the Play and secondly is barely going to sell anyway, and the ones that do aren't gonna work very well.
This is the only alternative to the Play. Or connecting ps3 controller to phone/tablet (eww)
Besides the cheap Android handheld with no warranties.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I think it does sound pretty interesting, I noticed it here:
http://www.slashgear.com/archos-gamepad-gets-physical-for-android-gaming-29244285/
Sounds like they're even incorporating something similar to GameKeyboard to provide physical-button to touchscreen mapping, with automatic game recognition.
Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Founder and CEO noted that “thanks to the mapping and automatic game recognition systems included on the GamePad, we already have over a thousand android games compatible with the ARCHOS GamePad’s physical controls, including back catalog titles that originally didn’t include physical controls.”
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Click to collapse
Sounds pretty cool, but not sure if it'll be what I'm interested in for a tablet - which I don't see as a direct competitor for the Xperia Play. I was hoping Sony would announce a new gaming phone, but it doesn't look like it yet...
~Troop
Just adding Droid-Life's post about the Archos device...
Bought a 7" Archos tablet for my younger sister.. I have no complaints about their devices.
But I will never ditch the Xperia Play regardless if its "dead" to anyone
Droid-Life link
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/2...ail&utm_campaign=Feed:+DroidLife+(droid+life)
I must say that this device does certainly look good, as long as the price is right and looks anything like the render shown I`ll certainly be interested.
I am no tech-head, but is not Nexus 7 already more powerful than this? I mean with Tegra 3 and stuff...
I am seriously contemplating getting a Nexus 7 for games and I thought pairing it with a bluetooth PS3 controller wasn't such a bad idea, for HOME gaming of course.
Could somebody prove me wrong, or convince me that this Argos thing is a better solution?
No it doesn't... This is a tablet. Tablet and phones are two different things
The Nexus 7 is more powerful than this and is likely a better device. The Archos tablet has a gamepad which seems to be it's big selling point. The gamepad doesn't look detachable though so isn't like the gamepad seen on the wikipad tablet which is more powerful or just as powerful as the nexus 7. I read somewhere that this Archos device automatically takes games that don't use the controls and makes them work even if they aren't optimised. From what i've read, it'll be under 200 dollars
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app
KindaUndisputed said:
I read somewhere that this Archos device automatically takes games that don't use the controls and makes them work even if they aren't optimised. From what i've read, it'll be under 200 dollars
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Yeah I saw that in a description for the device, it`s using a patented system and currently has compatibility with over a thousand games, I would assume it also has the ability to have the on screen controls programmed in aswell which would expand it further.
If it does indeed release at that price I think I will most likely purchase it as that would be exceptional value for money.
Its actually stated about the controls and the price on eurogamer
I'll admit i'm quite tempted by this and can see myself buying one. The price is good, cheaper than my play (£150 Sim Free, it looks like this it will be a little cheaper).
I have heard bad things about Archos but who hasn't heard bad things about sony and still loves their play?
A gaming tablet with dual core processor.... I don't think that you can play the newest games with highest textures on this thing...
Sorry for my bad English. It's not my native language.
There are also details of the Wikipad floating about which will have a 10.1" screen with a resolution of 1280x800 and has "Nvidia Tegra 3 T30 1.4 GHz processor, and it will run with 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, and at least 16 GB of internal Flash memory storage". Sounds interesting again, its control pad will be a detachable one.
I've seen a lot of these physical controller solutions brag about being an Xperia Play killer... and ALL of them have failed to get good software/developer support. Most of them don't even hit a 4th of Xperia Play's game compatibility count, and thusly end up in the tier of crap that isn't good for anything but emulation. Xperia Play is the first and only to get relevant, this-generation games. It's good as an emulator, but doesn't have to piggyback off older systems' works to have awesome content... can't say that about the Gametel Controller, iControlPad and others.
So there's no secret that I'm a bit skeptical about this projected figure of 1000 games... if they're serious about that, then we truly would have the first device since Xperia Play to add physical controls AND enough developer support to matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm interested and stoked... but at the same time, skeptical and already seeing problems (size, obviously terrible d-pad).
I know what you mean TLR, but this Archos tablet seems like it will play any xperia play optimised game and maybe some more
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app
Game support shouldn't be too difficult if they can do something like GameKeyboard with the ability to load/save/share profiles. This is something Sony should have done with the Xperia play, instead of leaving us completely reliant on each individual company/dev.
That said, Xperia PLAY is a phone and this a tablet and so the two shouldn't be compared. I don't see myself getting this.. why? the whole point of the Xperia PLAY was to get a phone and gaming in one reasonably sized device. If I didn't mind carrying something of this size around with me, with gaming in mind, I'd just buy a Vita.
can i call my friends?
tezlewis1988 said:
can i call my friends?
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With Skype, I don't see why not?
This thing is way too huge. 3.5 or 4 inches would have been perfect. 7 inches too big to be portable.
Sent from my Archos Gaming Tablet using Tapatalk 2
can we have call with that ?
- No
so the xperia play is still the one !
Rogue Leader said:
2. This tablet is made by Archos, long time purveyors of junky Android products. And its not a phone. This thing firstly is no competition for the Play and secondly is barely going to sell anyway, and the ones that do aren't gonna work very well.
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Click to collapse
I had several Archos products in the past and while their hardware is good, I dislike their business practice so there is no chance of me buying their future products. Things such as lacking of firmware upgrade and instead bringing out incremental model upgrade. Also locking the harddrive serial to the firmware so you cannot replace it if it dies, I know new devices use flash memory now, but point is I don't see them as a company being close to its fan community. Just my 2 cents.
After realizing that I dont need a powerful Core i3, i5, or i7 laptop for my daily use, but do need long battery life similar to the tf700 in a sleek chassis that's preferably fanless, I've been trying to find a good looking, Clover Trail Atom 11"-13" Windows 8 generation laptop/netbook, but it seems that everything is a hybrid I got excited when I saw the Lenovo IdeaPad 11", but to my dismay, it's running RT via ARM. Such a missed opportunity. Recalling my time with the Asus Transformer Infinifty TF700, and how that was a great piece of hardware (minus the flimsy dock + Asus' bugs) I've decided to fold and get a hybrid + a large DropBox account. After looking through the Googles, and YouTubes, it seems that my best bet would be the TF810. Only issue I'm having is I live in the states. Another issue is it's price. It's waaaay too close to a Acer S7 11" variant which was what I originally planned on buying, if that's what I'd have to pay then I'd pay it. From what I've seen and read, the new Atom processors
run Windows 8 relatively flawlessly. I do not plan on playing games on it at all.
My purposes for a laptop are:
YouTube, Netflix, Hulu+, HBOgo
Light Image editing via GIMP
Google Docs and Office Suit for on the go doc editing
(hence the need for long battery)
RSS reading when not using my iPad mini
Google Chrome + extensions
LTE would be a plus, but I can tether.
What are your suggestions for me?
Thanks for your time.
Your needs and observations are similar to my ones.
I have question though, and how is you being in USA an issue in all this?
From what I know at least you will get better price on your device than we in Europe
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Have you considered the Acer W510? From what I understand from your post, it should fit right in your pocket
Now one thing the build quality isn't on pair with say an ipad or a surface tablet, but then again its quite cheap, and personally I really like it
//M
W510 would be okay if you just wanted a tablet without a keyboard. The keyboard doesn't seem that good, and keyboards on a 10 inch tablet are too cramped. And if I was just getting a tablet, the upcoming ASUS ME400 looks a lot better.
I like the Samsung 500T, it's what I have. It's downside is the glossy plastic back is a bit slippery and no secondary battery. It's upsides is a full sized USB port on the tablet, front facing speakers (which are a kinda weak at times though), and a pen with a convenient storage slot. Also Samsung seems to be doing pretty well so far with driver updates.
Another possibility I like is the Lenovo Lynx. This huge downside to this one seems to be the 32GB limit on the micro SD slot (I'm kind of hoping this is a mistake in the specs, seems odd to not support SDXC), also has no pen. The upside is the quality looks really nice and Lenovo usually has great keyboards.
m.klinge said:
Have you considered the Acer W510? From what I understand from your post, it should fit right in your pocket
Now one thing the build quality isn't on pair with say an ipad or a surface tablet, but then again its quite cheap, and personally I really like it
//M
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I did. 10" is just not enough for work. 11-12" seems to be the best compromise between fun/mobility/tablet itself usability and work mode in laptop look (I don't know if what I just said makes any sense).
Since I want to use this device for watching films I am glad they are limited to 1366x768 res.
Netflix, Hulu+, HBO Go and 720 p mkv dont look that good on Full HD screen.
Also Atom would struggle even more with higher res and battery life would be shorter.
My takeaway from CES 2013 reports is that the second wave of Win8 toys will be better than the first (2012) wave in every way: availability/functionality/performance/price. These should start dribbling out in spring, and pricing will come down for back-to-school in Aug, perhaps sooner. I would not consider a 1st-gen Win8 device at this point, not unless there's a substantial discount--that includes the Surface Pro. Of course, it depends on whether you can wait.
My second takeaway from CES is that RT is on life support. Virtually all of the CES roll-out was about x86. Big vendors like Samsung and HP won't have RT models. Whether RT dies or not will depend on MS' handling of it, which has been spectacularly incompetent thus far. I think it will live on, if only because MS will need ARM to compete against Android at the $200-300 price points. But as of now, RT has no value proposition to speak of.
It's not only the hardware that is v1.0. Win8 is a v1.0 as well, and will take time to get over the teething issues. I fully expect a point upgrade (or SP) by summer at latest, in time for back-to-school. I think it'll be a point upgrade, as Windows 8 has a stigma attached in the eyes of the public, and a 8.1 or 8.5 is the simplest PR method to convey improvements.
Succinctly, Win8 RTM (and associated hardware) in 2012 was basically a second public beta. The real launch will be by Q3 and Q4 2013. Whatever you buy today will be substantially outmoded by year-end, so I would stay away from anything too expensive. Think stopgap.
e.mote said:
My takeaway from CES 2013 reports is that the second wave of Win8 toys will be better than the first (2012) wave in every way: availability/functionality/performance/price.
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Click to collapse
Isn't it the usually way with everything in IT/electronic world?
I can also bet that 3rd generation will be better than the 2nd and in some cases we might see it by the end of this year...?
I don't mind W8 issues and hardware that will be "old" in few months as long as it will do what I need it to do.
I also would not be so harsh with Windows 8. Either they run out of time or inconsistency between Modern Ui and Destkop mode was not that visible for those who created system as they worked with it every single day + they are advanced user not "Mr Joe Public".
They need small SP (mostly for essential programs like Mail or IE) so that they can work "as one" in both modes - sort of like Chrome today.
Second thing is inconsistency between operations in two modes. Right click on the mouse should show more similar functions (like lack of properties in modern ui).
Anyway - for me question is - which hybrid with screen of 11" will be/is the best and will last longest.
As much as I am scared of Asus Warranty service in Poland it look like TF810 is the best choice.
I just bought 128GB SSD for W8 in my desktop (old C2Q machine) and the only thing that bothers me is size of "HD" (64GB) in those devices... seems to me that W8 Pro truly needs 120/128GB + sd extension for nice, long-haul relation ship.
I agree with e.mote.
First generations tend to be the most rough. It's called the bleeding edge of technology for a good reason. Your second to third generation they usually have the design issues mostly figured out, the drivers issues resolved, and it's mostly about performance. But this first generation, there are lots of mistakes being made, lessons to be learned, and problems yet to be fixed. The first generation is the beta test for the die hards willing to pay for it.
I don't mind - just want to get the best device out of those bad ones
I need it for almost everyday work - I write a lot an I need something like that - at the same time ultrabooks are to big, laptop blow hot air... so... hybrid with atom looks like a best choice...
And will allow me to keep ipad "evening comfort"
>Isn't it the usually way with everything in IT/electronic world?
It's the old chestnut: Buy whenever you want, because tech will always get cheaper/better. But as savvy shoppers know, product releases are seasonal, and certain times are better than others to buy things. As well, veteran users of Microsoft products know that MS v1.0 is not where you want to be.
>I can also bet that 3rd generation will be better than the 2nd and in some cases we might see it by the end of this year...?
That's an interesting remark, as the usual PC cycle is annual, but recently we've seen multiple product intros within the same year, eg the iPad 3 & 4 last year. That's due to the quickened pace of competition n a wide-open market. Then, all the more reason not to buy into a v1.0 if possible, because a v2.0 is only a few months off. That's where the biggest functionality jump lies. 2.0->3.0 is usually more incremental.
>Anyway - for me question is - which hybrid with screen of 11" will be/is the best and will last longest.
Your selection will be broader come spring/summer, as opposed to the handful available at this point. This is the worst time of the year to buy new PC gear. As said, it depends on whether you can wait.
There is also the larger question of whether hybrid as a category will fly, or will it suffer from the neither-fish-nor-fowl syndrome. There haven't been enough models out yet to judge, but we'll find out this year. Surface Pro will be a bellwether.
For now I will wait since the only device in Polish shops is (are, as there are two) Ativ Tabs.
I will wait until I can compare them (touch them) in the shops and than decide.
I definitely have get device before summer as I will not be able to work away from home
Since I do not think 2nd gen will be out till summer I may get one now.
If W8 will be slow and if 1st gen hybrids with W8 will be slow I don't think manufacturers will rush with 2nd gen.
Atom hybrids are supposed to replace netbooks but not with this price level, especially that we have the likes of Asus X202 (small laptop with touch screen) that are much cheaper.
I guess we will see some premiers in autumn, lots of marketing talk, shows, etc... but it will take some time before they will actually get to the shops. Few manufacturers will make it in time for X-mass but again it will be worth to wait until all of them are in the shops.
This way I would never buy anything as 3rd gen would be "right behind the corner" .
If it will have nice screen, keyboard to write and will play movies + no fan and log battery life I can have it now.
It will be way better than Android Transformers
There isn't already an official thread about this wonderful little tablet Asus Vivotab Note 8 , so here i start one
I can't be the only one who bought it, i hope xD
Sent from my M80TA using Tapatalk
i have the 32gb version.
I bought it for the wacom digitizer and office student, in particular onenote, that together are my idealistic perfect tool for my student activities.
Straight out of the box i had a problem with the Windows Store, i couldn't install any app because every time i clicked on the install button the download didn't started and the app was going to Pending state.
After an afternoon on official Microsoft forum that suggested ton of fixes , and none of them worked, i solved the problem following this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2vnhcoKCeQ
Sent from my M80TA using Tapatalk
I got the 64GB version. Can't say I've had any issues. Put a 64GB micro SD in, and redirected most the libraries, Skydrive to point at it. I've got my steam games split between internal and the SD card.
I picked up one of the I-Blason Case and screen protectors off amazon. The case works nice, the top cover can fold over doesn't get in the way much at all.
Haven't had any issues with the MS store on mine, was able to purchase and install the plex app no problem as well as a e-reader app and a couple others.
The only thing I've noticed with mine is that the stylus isn't terribly accurate around the edges. It makes trying to grab some of the slider bars in IE and other programs a challenge. I've seen some of the calibration guides here and have been debating trying one of them to see if it would improve that.
Edit: I also tried Bluestack for getting some android apps running, but it's been pretty abysmal performance with it with some apps not launching at all, and others I can launch, but then they just don't work correctly. My high hopes for using it with this table have pretty much been trashed
Can you post a screen snip of Disk Management (from Win+X menu)? I'd like to see the storage layout.
Also, please post the Windows experience index. It's hidden in 8.x. Run 'winsat prepop' from CMD. Wait to finish, then run 'get-wmiobject -class win32_winsat' in PowerShell. Actually, just post the scores of all the components. TIA.
Note 8 was out in UK/EU a month ago, so info & reviews are already on Youtube. It improves upon DVP8 w/ good stylus support, but is also more expensive, now that DVP8 has hit $200 bargain bin. OTOH, by virtue of being first (and heavily discounted), DVP8 has garnered a decent-sized userbase.
Asus Note 8 + DVP8 + Lenovo ThinkPad 8 & Miix 2 8 + Acer W4 + Toshiba Encore round out the Win tab 8" crop. Here's my Cliff Notes comparison: DVP8 = cheap, Note 8 = stylus, W4/Encore = HDMI out, TP8 = 1080p res.
For me, stylus support is critical, not for note-taking, but for running desktop. But I'm also looking for more ports, and these don't have them. Cherry Trail is on tap for Computex, and should roll out in fall, so Bay Trail will slot into the low-end in a few months. Win 8.1 won't change, but hopefully the hardware will have better capability at lower price points. At $300'ish, they can't compete against iPad Mini, hence the $250 goal w/ cheaper Win license and 16GB SKU.
As they are I think it's a good first effort. If MS can swallow its pride and allow good desktop use--eg w/ integrated pointer in bezel or stylus--I think Win tabs can do well. Because Metro for now isn't enough to win (excuse the pun), and chubby fingers don't work for desktop.
Since MS' Surface line is intended to be hero devices, a good question is whether MS will come out with a Surface Mini to spearhead the mini-tab effort--and if it does, whether it'll sport the comatose RT (in hopes of a Hail Mary miracle), or with an Atom, competing directly against its OEM partners.
VivoTab Note 8 digitizer demo
ThinkPad 8 vs DVP8 vs VivoTab Note 8
Acer W4 review
Toshiba Encore review
lordgodgeneral said:
I got the 64GB version. Can't say I've had any issues. Put a 64GB micro SD in, and redirected most the libraries, Skydrive to point at it. I've got my steam games split between internal and the SD card.
I picked up one of the I-Blason Case and screen protectors off amazon. The case works nice, the top cover can fold over doesn't get in the way much at all.
Haven't had any issues with the MS store on mine, was able to purchase and install the plex app no problem as well as a e-reader app and a couple others.
The only thing I've noticed with mine is that the stylus isn't terribly accurate around the edges. It makes trying to grab some of the slider bars in IE and other programs a challenge. I've seen some of the calibration guides here and have been debating trying one of them to see if it would improve that.
Edit: I also tried Bluestack for getting some android apps running, but it's been pretty abysmal performance with it with some apps not launching at all, and others I can launch, but then they just don't work correctly. My high hopes for using it with this table have pretty much been trashed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell me how to get skydrive to point to the SD card only? Also what libraries were you successfully able to direct to SD? I attempted to re-direct temp files and app data but that ended catastrophically with all things in metro including system restore settings disappeared, and would not even come back after returning things to normal. Had to do a full system recovery with a keyboard plugged in to force it to restore mode.
Verry Good Thanks
ThomasBags said:
Could you tell me how to get skydrive to point to the SD card only? Also what libraries were you successfully able to direct to SD? I attempted to re-direct temp files and app data but that ended catastrophically with all things in metro including system restore settings disappeared, and would not even come back after returning things to normal. Had to do a full system recovery with a keyboard plugged in to force it to restore mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Moving SkyDrive is pretty easy, just open explorer on the desktop right click and go to properties. There's a tab called location where you can set where its local files are stored.
The other thing I relocated were Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Downloads.
I haven't see too many people try to move the apps folder though, but symlinks would possibly be your best try, though I have no idea if that would work or not.
I've only had mine for a couple of weeks but I already enjoy it way more then any of the android tablets I have. The lack of apps is discouraging at times but I've always been able to find a desktop alternative and enjoy a better gaming experience playing my steam games.
I agree that all the current 8" tablets leave a little to be desired. To me it came down between this one and the TP8. The hdmi out and 1080 sounded nice, but I really didn't see myself using it very often, I have a htpc hooked up to the TV already as well as a laptop, and a the 1080 would work great over hdmi, but I figured it would actually hurt the desktop experience when using the 8" screen. The Wacom on the note 8 pretty much sealed it as this was mostly for on the go use.
The one item I would really wish for is a dedicated charging port and separate USB port so you can use USB and charge at the same time. I dont see that happening as I think Intel and the OEMs are purposefully neutering their designs specifically so they can't be used as a cheap desktop replacement via hdmi and a USB hub and possibly cut into the sales of their more expensive models.
>...a dedicated charging port and separate USB port...I think Intel and the OEMs are purposefully neutering their designs
A better explanation is that it was cheaper to go the single-port route, since getting to the $300 mark is the paramount consideration for Win tabs. Even so, they're still too expensive to be competitive, as evidenced by DVP8's drastic discounting. This won't change with $250 as the goal for upcoming gen. The next crop will be as barebone as the present one.
Vendors won't be motivated to invest much in their products, with no improvement in Win until next year. Low pricing will be key, and most vendors will be content to use Intel's reference design with little differentiation, as was for this gen. The good news is that we'll see $200 Win tabs by year end. If MS & vendors can get desktop to be functional (read: cheap stylus support), they'll have a compelling pitch against the sea of Androids.
Has anyone found a non magnetic case yet? Finally discovered the wonky stylus input was due to magnets, go figure. Waiting impatiently for poetic to do one of their productive cases for the tablet.
ThomasBags said:
Has anyone found a non magnetic case yet? Finally discovered the wonky stylus input was due to magnets, go figure. Waiting impatiently for poetic to do one of their productive cases for the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even with a non magnetic case, there are the two magnets of the speakers, so near the asus logo and front camera there will always be some distortion I believe.
ThomasBags said:
Has anyone found a non magnetic case yet? Finally discovered the wonky stylus input was due to magnets, go figure. Waiting impatiently for poetic to do one of their productive cases for the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got one of the i-Blason cases off amazon, it has magnet on the right side of the case, and one in the left most flap on the edge for folding over the cover (other i-Blason cases have up to 5 on them). I haven't really seen any issues using this case with the stylus. My experience has been that the accuracy drops some close to the edge of the screen, but this happens with and without the case, so I don't think i'm getting any distortion from the magnets on the case.
Let me know if your interested, I can get the exact model off amazon for you.
Hi Guys,
Maybe somebody can help. Got the Tablet a few days ago. Everything is Windows
Is it possible to hold Network and for example an audio stream when Tablet is in Standby (Energysave) whatever....screen off???
I can't find a way to do so....screen off....everything stops...hm. No further Options in Energyplan Menu....
Thanks in advance....
Open an elevated command prompt, and run 'powercfg /a' to see if Connected Standby is available as one of the sleep states (it should). Then, run 'powercfg /sleepstudy' to track battery drain. More info here,
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn495346(v=vs.85).aspx
If CS is available, then go into Device Manager | Network adapters, check Advanced tab to see if there's an option to keep connection alive during sleep (this should have been par for CS).
It could well be that drivers are still buggy, which would be kind of normal for these, being the first-run models. DVP8 had bunch of problems with CS.
Other powercfg options to check out,
powercfg /energy (report system energy use)
powercfg /batteryreport (history of battery usage)
Other cool things shown with /?.
Has anyone found a USB keyboard that works while booting? I'm specifically trying to go into safe mode so I can add hibernation to the power options, however when getting to the advanced boot section, none of my keyboards seem to recognize. They work fine in normal OS mode.
Think it may be a power issue or something similar?
Double tap to wake
I'm really liking this tablet. The screen size is just right and having full desktop experience when I need it is helpful.
The only thing that I'm missing is double tap to wake. I do not like the button placement for power/windows key and find it awkward and stiff to wake up...
keithhowe said:
I'm really liking this tablet. The screen size is just right and having full desktop experience when I need it is helpful.
The only thing that I'm missing is double tap to wake. I do not like the button placement for power/windows key and find it awkward and stiff to wake up...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Double tap to wake would be awesome... but i doubt we will see something like that on windows tablet
VivoTab note 8 virtualbox runing virtual machines
VivoTab note 8 virtualbox running virtual machines
so far its been really nice to run Linux even android on virtualbox has windows 8 touchscreen support and it makes it a little easier to use on windows 8 tablet and the full screen mode is cool if the Linux is lite it run really well makes it feel like is native install
Linux lite run like a baby
android also if config right many Linux distros run on this tab with virtualbox if config right just a tip
Stylus question
I just got my new AVTN8 yesterday and was hoping that the stylus would make it easier to use (I bought and returned the Toshiba Encore a few months ago) but I guess that I was spoiled by the Samsung S Pen.
Is there another compatible stylus out there that has some of that kind of functionality? I tend to take a lot of screenshots while researching various topics, so that would be my main usage.
Guys help please
Am confused between this and note 8.0
Im getting both for about the same price
Main thing im after's the stylus, samsung seems ahead here as i dont think the vivo has that many stylus based apps looking for input here my work s mostly writing , no fancy graphs or diagrams , just text
Again handling is a factor and it seems the vivos thinner and lighter
Im not familiar with the windows environment your input will be appreciated guys
I'm not after specs and notes and movies are all im gonna use it for
So guys help me out is it wise investing in the note or should i get the vivo? Hows the stylus front?
Doomrider said:
Am confused between this and note 8.0
Im getting both for about the same price
Main thing im after's the stylus, samsung seems ahead here as i dont think the vivo has that many stylus based apps looking for input here my work s mostly writing , no fancy graphs or diagrams , just text
Again handling is a factor and it seems the vivos thinner and lighter
Im not familiar with the windows environment your input will be appreciated guys
I'm not after specs and notes and movies are all im gonna use it for
So guys help me out is it wise investing in the note or should i get the vivo? Hows the stylus front?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beyond both being 8" tablets with a wacom digitiser (the fancy schmancy stylus, samsung call it an S-Pen but it is just rebranded wacom gear) the 2 are almost entirely different.
The samsung galaxy note uses a Samsung Enoxys processor with the ARM instruction set running android. The vivotab note 8 is using an intel atom baytrail processor which uses the x86 instruction set and runs *full* windows 8.
Most phones and tablets do use ARM processors. Nothing unusual on that front for the galaxy note.
x86 processors are what you would tend to find in your laptop or desktop computer. The vivotab note is more or less a low end laptop ripped apart and put inside a tablet casing. It is just a normal windows 8 computer which just happens to have an 8" touchscreen on the front.
I'd say of the 2, the vivotab is the more powerful device, but windows doesnt quite have the full touch ecosystem available yet. It will do everything you want though, onenote is meant to be excellent with a stylus and for media playback you can get VLC on the windows store as a full touchscreen app or simply use iTunes or the full blown version of VLC or whatever other media software you have preferred on windows on the desktop interface. It also comes with microsoft office preinstalled for free, not just a trial version.
pros for the samsung would be that android from day 1 has always been touch based so all the apps in the ecosystem are of course touch based usually. S-Pen integration is good. Handwriting accuracy wont be very different from the vivotab particularly but you do get samsungs very good S-Note application.
Alot of computing stores have surface pro demo models on display, this also has the wacom pen so usage wise the vivotab and surface pro will be very similar except for the pro having a more powerful processor (for your needs, baytrail is fine) and bigger screen, see how you like windows 8 on a touch screen and go from there. You may have to ask staff for access to the pen, or if you own a samsung S-Pen device already the pen from that *should* work.