Related
Bought the Elocity from NBC for $299. and now notice that HSN is selling a Nextbook 7" LCD Touchscreen Color Tablet with Wi-Fi and Apps - Red Item: 117-035 for $150
What is the difference and why would the Elocity cost almost twice as much?
Does anyone know?
Take a look at the specs between the two devices along with the version of Android OS they run.
Well, the nextbook almost certainly has an inferior processor, and an outdated version of Android.
With the A7, what you pay for is the sheer power underneath the hood that the tegra 2 provides. The "budget" tablets (including the one you are looking at) are basically geared towards e-books and not much else. Browsing the internet or watching video is a horrendous experience compared to the A7.
That being said, the current version of the A7 is kind of a cludge, it seems to be a way of getting a tablet with the tegra 2 processor to market before there was any kind of real software backing. The operating system is designed for a phone with a 4" screen, not a tablet with a 7" screen, and in some ways, you really shows.
For basic things, like watching movies, browsing the internet, reading e-books, and reading comic books, the budget tablets can't compare.
I saw that presentation and it is for the nextbook 2. I think they are just trying to get rid of old inventory because not long ago they presented the nextbook 3. It's nowhere near the specs of the elocity.
Sent from my A7-040 using Tapatalk
After having a bit of time to play with my Xoom, I'd thought I'd tell everyone how I felt about the Xoom and whether you should be think of upgrading from your Galaxy Tab.
Build quality
The Xoom is very will built, all the components are solidly put together - there are no rattles or any bendy bits. That said the extra weight of the tablet is definitely noticeable compared to the Tab, and certainly makes reading while holding the tablet in one hand less comfortable - plus you don't really need the larger screen for this use.
The screen does not go quite as bright as the Tab, and is not so readable in sunlight. Also it attracts fingerprints like moths to a light, after an hour of using it it looked worse than an iPad does after a whole day, though you can't really see the fingerprints while the screen is on.
Software
This is the main part I was excited about - there has been quite a bit of hype surrounding Honeycomb. Sadly, IMHO, quite a bit of it is just hype -- the main changes are in the home screen and the task/notifications bar. Both of these work really well, the 3D carousel effect when turning pages of the Home screen is really smooth, and the new notification system works really well giving you a system which works quite like a desktop. Sadly you can't pinch the screen to show all of your desktops at once.
The rest of it though, it is pretty buggy. The settings app and gmail apps have force-closed on me a number of times - these are pretty important parts of the OS and so it's seriously disappointing to see them not quite finished. The Facebook app seems to work for a few mins then crashes and won't work until I restart the device.
The browser is very nice, with proper tabs (and incognito tabs!), but if you dare to switch on Flash 10.2 all the time then the whole thing is no faster than the Tabs browser with Flash enabled -- in fact it's quite possibly worse than my Tab with an OC kernel and the latest leaked ROM.
But main problem is - where is the software? Google made much issue about Android 2.x not being fit for tablets but the truth is all they've mostly done is what Samsung did - the email app now has one pane with a list of your emails in and another showing the content of your email. It's the same with the other apps, nowhere is there an incredibly large difference in functionality between the modified Samsung apps and the new Honeycomb ones.
Sure you get a film editor app, but that was pretty much put in to grab a bit of press after Apple put iMovie on the iPad - I'm sure most people, me included, would prefer a decent photo editing/retouching app more than a pretty basic video editing one.
No free, Xoom optimized apps with the device or a store for them like you get with Samsung.
And then we get to media playback, or rather, the almost complete lack of it. So you've just bought a nice new tablet that will play "HD". Like to play your MKV on it? Nope. AVI? Nope. Xvid? Nope. DivX? Nope. WMV? Nope. MP4 and MP4 only (to the point where you have to rename M4V files to MP4 to make them work even though they are the same thing but with a different extension). Yes I know I can use RockPlayer etc but this simply isn't as good as native support. If Archos could afford it the Moto sure can.
That might not be so bad if there was a store like the Samsung Movies Store or iTunes where I could buy or rent a movie in a compatible format. Except this being a "Google Experience" device there are no apps apart from the few that Google put on there (and aside from film studio that's just upgraded standard Android apps). So you have a tablet that doesn't support that vast majority of media formats used by the largest desktop OS; I feel justified in saying that is a slight fail -- is Youtube supposed to be my entire source of entertainment? It's not like you can call the quality of most Flash videos on the web HD.
The one upside is the tegra 2, and all the nice games it will let you play. Except there are only a couple at the moment, and if the Tegra Zone app is to be believed, most of them won't be out for another couple of months. That said the few that are available are very nice, and run perfectly smooth.
Overall
Overall I'd give the Xoom 7/10. It's good, and the first Honeycomb tablet, but I think it will probably not be in the top 5 come the end of the year.
I can understand some people might buy it over others on the promise of slightly quicker updates, but I'm seriously considering taking mine back and waiting for the Tab 8.9, I have a few more days to play around with it before I decide. Sure it will have customized interface so it might not get updates as quickly, but actually it will do much more out of the box than the Xoom does, and it will still probably do more than the Xoom will even after the Xoom has received an update.
I used to be someone who bought plain Android devices on the basis that they quicker updates (have an NS, had an N1, etc), but a lot of the time it makes little difference. Google doesn't actually release updates often enough anymore for that to be much of an issue, and in some cases these days manufacturers have actually made things better than Google did (e.g. the standard browser in the Galaxy S on 2.2 is far better than the stock browser on a Nexus S on 2.3).
Sadly in this case the bad experience reflects badly on Motorola even though it isn't really their fault - they've had nothing to do at all with the software. At the same time that is their fault - it's their tablet and if I was head of a Motorola I'd want to make sure the software I was putting my name on did everything I wanted and worked properly - Android manufacturers should stop getting so desperate to compete with Apple and actually focus on the quality of their own products.
So my advice would be wait. And possibly in this case don't let the factor of whether it's a pure Google device affect your decision so much -- Honeycomb is still an infant and it really needs some features added on for a full tablet experience.
* I was completely aware the Xoom would come with no added extras like the Tab did when I bought it. I just thought Google would have put more work into making Honeycomb for great for tablets.
That's a pretty accurate description. I went through 2 XOOM's which I bought once they released the WIFI only model, and my experience was the same if not worse. Lots of potential, but they really missed the mark with that one. The second XOOM had a hardware failure and refused to charge, and since I was pretty let down overall, and that needle thin power adaptor is just waiting to snap off, I got rid of it entirely. I bought my first Galaxy Tab WIFI model Monday from Tigerdirect, got it Wed and have used it since and I absolutely love it.
That's an interesting review.
It surprised me that honeycomb still isnt working perfectly. I thought that they would update it regularly.
The Xoom seemed to me, to be a liitle bit too fast released device.
I also agree that it probably wont be the best in the flow of the year - off course.
I think HTC looks quite promising, if they release a bigger version of their Flyer.
Let's see if the Companies learn from the others - if a company releases later, it always has a lower risk of failing, because it can learn out of the mistakes of the others...
And then we get to media playback, or rather, the almost complete lack of it. So you've just bought a nice new tablet that will play "HD". Like to play your MKV on it? Nope. AVI? Nope. Xvid? Nope. DivX? Nope. WMV? Nope. MP4 and MP4 only (to the point where you have to rename M4V files to MP4 to make them work even though they are the same thing but with a different extension). Yes I know I can use RockPlayer etc but this simply isn't as good as native support. If Archos could afford it the Moto sure can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, x1,000. I own an original iPad, and picked up a T-Mo Galaxy Tab for $100 on Craigslist. Once the wifi Xoom came out, I went to Staples to pick one up.
Disappointment doesn't begin to capture it. Such a lovely screen...why, why, why wouldn't you include a Movies app with the tablet? Videos that played flawlessly on the Tab would stutter and whimper on the Xoom. That's just inexcusable.
I also co-sign everything you said about Facebook; I had the same experience with Seesmic.
I bought it on Friday evening. I returned it on Sunday afternoon. I can handle rough edges with software, but this goes beyond that. And selling it for $600? Yeah...not so much.
That said, I'm keeping an eye on the Asus Transformer; $399 is a sweet price point.
rnoboa said:
That said, I'm keeping an eye on the Asus Transformer; $399 is a sweet price point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're interested, here's my short review of the Transformer, originally posted in the Transformer XDA forum. I do compare it to my Galaxy Tab, so I don't think it's unreasonable to post here!
Regards,
Dave
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I've had my Transformer for 4 full days now, and I've a few comments to make for prospective purchasers.
First of all, a little background - I've had Android phones since the original G1 was released in the US (I was there when it was released), and since then have owned the HTC Hero, the HTC Desire, and now the Desire HD (and a Pulse Mini as a backup device).
I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7", which I've been using since October last year and I still think is a fantastic device, so most of my observations on the Transformer (henceforth called the TF) will be in comparison to Galaxy Tab (henceforth called the GT). As an aside, I also have a Toshiba AC100 Android netbook, so I think I have some feel for how the TF will be once the keyboard dock arrives.
Build quality
The TF feels like a really high quality device. I know some people have reported issues with back light bleed etc, but I've had no such issues. The aluminium case is really nice to the touch, as is the back of the device which is a plastic made to look a bit like carbon fibre.
Design - the design is generally really nice, though if I had one criticism it is the size of the bezel is rather large. Additionally, it does feel a little odd holding the device in portrait mode as it comes over as very tall and thin, especially when compared to the GT.
The IPS display is lovely and crisp, though it does seem a little less bright than the display on the GT.
OS and software
This is both simultaneously the best and worst feature that the TF has over the GT. In general browsing use, the TF is much more like a laptop/desktop experience than the GT, and you can see Honeycomb has great potential. However, it does feel very much like an unfinished product.
When the GT first came out, the stock browser was notoriously laggy (fixed in later iterations), and the TF suffers from the same issue - in fact it is worse because whilst the GTs browser was basically just laggy, the TFs browser is laggy and buggy.
Specifically, clicking on links in other applications often causes the browser to pop up, but it doesn't load the new page - this can be fixed by "killing" the browser and restarting it, but it shouldn't be this way. Whilst I much prefer the native browser when it works correctly, I'm now using Opera Mobile for day to day use.
Honeycomb Gmail on the TF is a revelation - it is a far superior client than the client on the GT.
Other minor Honeycomb/TF complaints are:
1. There doesn't seem to be a way to clear all notifications easily.
2. Just getting to the Settings menu is overcomplicated.
3. The keyboards do seem overly large in my opinion, and there don't seem to be enough long press options to get to alternate characters, though I'm aware these are easily replaceable.
4. Overall the TF performance is good, but I don't feel that Honeycomb is taking advantage of the dual core Tegra 2, and thus in general use it doesn't really feel any faster than my single core GT.
Media Playback
This is an easy one - the GT is a better media player than the TF, simply because it natively supports more formats (e.g. DivX).
I'm not unused to transcoding video to H264, as I had to do this often on my earlier Android devices, but with the advent of Cortex A8 class devices with Neon, I found software players like RockPlayer more than acceptable. This does not seem to be the case for the TF, since Tegra 2 doesn't support Neon instructions. However, the AC100 is a Tegra 2 device, and the built-in media player is much better than the stock TF one too, so really I think that Asus should have done more here.
With the TF, I'm back to having to transcode media, and to be honest for the most part that means I'll just my GT instead.
Overall Usage
Here's where it gets interesting!
The TF provides a very different experience to the GT and for the most part it is very enjoyable- when I bought the device, I knew it be mostly be a "coffee table" device, and that the size, weight, and built-in 3G of the GT was going to a distinct advantage over the TF when it comes to travelling.
What I didn't expect is that the GT still holds some advantages at home too.
Put simply, the TF is still too big and heavy sometimes - when I get up in the morning, I usually take my GT off charge and slip it into the pocket of my dressing gown, and this means it goes with me when I go to make a coffee, visit the "office" in the bathroom etc.
Also, late at night, if I want to watch something whilst lying in bed, the GT is simply much more comfortable to hold for any period of time, and coupled with better media support is always going to be the preferred option.
The Future
I don't think it is really fair to judge the TF until the keyboard dock becomes available, because I honestly think this will significant change the nature of the device.
When I first got my AC100, it was running Eclair and to be honest it was pretty rubbish, but it got so much better when Froyo landed.
I can see the TF similarly getting a completely new lease of life once the dock arrives.
Also, Honeycomb does feel like a work in progress, and I'm hoping for regularly updates to this device, which again should improve the experience, along with more Honeycomb specific apps on the market.
Conclusion
I think the TF is a fantastic product and the price is extremely good for what it is. I certainly wouldn't want to put anyone off buying one if they have a genuine interest this form factor. In the UK at least, I think the Xoom has priced itself out of the market massively, which currently leaves the TF as the 10.1" tablet of choice.
The biggest issue for me is that 10.1" tablets are generally too big and heavy, and whilst newer tablets may be lighter, they will still be similarly sized unless they can dramatically reduce the size of the bezel.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9" may well be a better compromise, and I will be looking closely at this once it arrives. However, it won't fit in a jacket pocket, so would still likely just be a coffee table tablet for me.
Ultimately, I think my ideal tablet device would be a 7" form factor device like the GT, similar internal hardware to the TF (dual core, IPS, memory etc), and built-in 3G. Until something like this ships, I think my GT will still be my primary media consumption/browsing device.
Steve Jobs may think that there is no market in 7" tablets, but in my case he's wrong!
Thank you soooo much for the Tab vs Xoom reiew. I was looking at the Xoom a couple weeks ago, but when I saw Sprint marked the Tab down to $199, I bought it instead. Although the Xoom is a gorgeous device, I am becoming quite sold on the 7" size. After using my Tab for a week, I love it! Now if the Xoom was only, say $100 more than the Tab, I may change my mind, but as it is now, it's way too expensive for what it offers out of the box. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Xoom have a price drop soon.
How bad is Honeycomb? The reviews of the G-Slate, Xoom, and even Eeepad Transformer suggest that Honeycomb itself is... not ready and quite laggy. How does it compare to plain old Froyo on a 7'' Tab?
so if understand correctly, android market does not install the tablet version of gmail or any other app on the galaxy tab?
You will have special section of apps created for the Honeycomb and for 2.2 or 2.3.
Apps that are not suppose to work will not be shown on the Market.
Some apps created for phones freeze or fail to work but overall you can find apps that suit your needs. I would agree that at this point software has rough edges but this is always an issue for the early adopters. The 1st iphone had no software choices at all and it took more than half a year to get something else.
Screen size and resolutiin make Xoom almost a laptop.
I like Xoom but prefer Galaxy Tab because of size and weight.
First at all, after almost 2 months of exhaustively daily use I got some conclusions about it.
I do have an Ipad 2 to compare with so I'm going to try to be objective here and realistic as well, i will refer to ipad 2 device as the "competition":
Pros
1. Hardware design, a big praising for asus attention to details.
2. Asus docking station is amazing, although I no longer use it.
3. ICS upgrade???
4. Open android ecosystem makes the TF101 stand out.
5. Very good software included with the TF101
6. Asus Mycloud service
7. 1 Gb RAM, sdhc expansion slot and by far better USB flash drives support than competition, this is actual a big advantage comparing to apple 2, where you have to spend big bucks to get units as kingston widrive and seagate goflex satellite drives(Bought them both)if you want to get additional storage and those are only useful if you have a fast internet connection(I have 24Mpbs at home w/ uverse).
Cons:
1.Quality Control, mine came with a loose power button(defective), a brand new sealed unit with a hardware issue(unbelievable) as a geek I spend lots of money buying gadgets, laptops and computer parts, I've never seen something like this specially coming from a $400 device.
2. Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow. I'll wait for ICS but android fragmentation market doesn't look good for the time being.
3. Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback. I tried all the mayor software video player from market with no success. either tegra 2 has a poor video decoder functions or tegra 2 is simply a SoC underpowered.
4. Price, at $400 anybody would expect to get a better device, maybe is honeycomb to blame for. in contrast at $500 the ipad2 just works, even as a closed ecosystem and even after rooting, the ipad 2 simply delivers acceptable web browsing, video and music reproduction.
5. Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible , despite the broad selection of browsers, most of them are useless, I have to keep at least 5 different ones to handle my different sites(ridiculous). Some of them will work fine with certain websites, some of will simply show the mobile version instead regular version ignoring custom browser settings.
6. General functionality became acceptable just after rooting the device, installing latest revolver rom and OC'd to 1.4Ghz(downgrade to 1.2Ghz later due instability issues)
7. Battery management feature still light years behind the infamous apple 2, I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour(just to mention an example).
Conclusion: I still prefer the form factor, usability and resolution from my tf101 against my expensive ipad 2 64. But seriously google needs to catch up with apple OS and release some universal API for video/gaming and force manufacturers to adopt it. It reminds me of early 1994 when every graphic card manufacturer from that time(S3, ATI, rendition, matrox, nvidia, 3Dfx) were pushing their own 3D API solution for gaming. it wasn't until the release of direct x 8.0 when things started to change. After the Best buy fiasco with my prime preorder I think will wait a few months until ICS becomes mature and new tegra 3 apps/games are released if any.
"I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour"
i watch 2 movies today 3 hours and serf the web for 1 hour and my battery is in 53%
transformer has an excellent battery...but if your cpu is 1,5 what you expect????
" Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible" i use opera,a great browser
"Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback" video 720p is great with mx video player
"Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow" ics is comming!!!
jrsalda said:
First at all, after almost 2 months of exhaustively daily use I got some conclusions about it.
I do have an Ipad 2 to compare with so I'm going to try to be objective here and realistic as well, i will refer to ipad 2 device as the "competition":
Pros
1. Hardware design, a big praising for asus attention to details.
2. Asus docking station is amazing, although I no longer use it.
3. ICS upgrade???
4. Open android ecosystem makes the TF101 stand out.
5. Very good software included with the TF101
6. Asus Mycloud service
7. 1 Gb RAM, sdhc expansion slot and by far better USB flash drives support than competition, this is actual a big advantage comparing to apple 2, where you have to spend big bucks to get units as kingston widrive and seagate goflex satellite drives(Bought them both)if you want to get additional storage and those are only useful if you have a fast internet connection(I have 24Mpbs at home w/ uverse).
Cons:
1.Quality Control, mine came with a loose power button(defective), a brand new sealed unit with a hardware issue(unbelievable) as a geek I spend lots of money buying gadgets, laptops and computer parts, I've never seen something like this specially coming from a $400 device.
2. Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow. I'll wait for ICS but android fragmentation market doesn't look good for the time being.
3. Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback. I tried all the mayor software video player from market with no success. either tegra 2 has a poor video decoder functions or tegra 2 is simply a SoC underpowered.
4. Price, at $400 anybody would expect to get a better device, maybe is honeycomb to blame for. in contrast at $500 the ipad2 just works, even as a closed ecosystem and even after rooting, the ipad 2 simply delivers acceptable web browsing, video and music reproduction.
5. Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible , despite the broad selection of browsers, most of them are useless, I have to keep at least 5 different ones to handle my different sites(ridiculous). Some of them will work fine with certain websites, some of will simply show the mobile version instead regular version ignoring custom browser settings.
6. General functionality became acceptable just after rooting the device, installing latest revolver rom and OC'd to 1.4Ghz(downgrade to 1.2Ghz later due instability issues)
7. Battery management feature still light years behind the infamous apple 2, I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour(just to mention an example).
Conclusion: I still prefer the form factor, usability and resolution from my tf101 against my expensive ipad 2 64. But seriously google needs to catch up with apple OS and release some universal API for video/gaming and force manufacturers to adopt it. It reminds me of early 1994 when every graphic card manufacturer from that time(S3, ATI, rendition, matrox, nvidia, 3Dfx) were pushing their own 3D API solution for gaming. it wasn't until the release of direct x 8.0 when things started to change. After the Best buy fiasco with my prime preorder I think will wait a few months until ICS becomes mature and new tegra 3 apps/games are released if any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool story bro
So, after an hour of playing the same game on the I pad, what is the battery at on the I pad?
same game,(plants vs zombies) ($6.99 from apple store vs $1.99 from android market), another big plus here for tf101, android apps are considerably cheaper, but after 90 minutes of playing, ipad 2 is only 92%, tf101 is almost 50%(without the dock of course, revolver ROM, Oc'd to 1.2 Ghz/312 cpu/gpu).
Don't see any of the points you mentioned with my Transformer or they are so small hat they can't be called a real issue imho. Plus I'm really interested in the ICS update which will make the whole thing better (but for me the performance is more than acceptable and also web browsing is absolutely smooth).
@OP I have had my tablet and dock for 4 months going on 5 (September, October, Novemeber, December, January) and share only one of your criticisms: Quality Control. That's just because of the issues I've read here, both by nit picking pricks and about serious issues, and expect the Prime to have more of the former. I have had no serious issues with my B50.
I use this thing excessively every day and it's arguably the best $500+$150 I've ever spent, that doesn't get me to and from work or go in the kitchen for helping food eventually reach my tummy.
I also think you should just sell yours on eBay and save up for the next model of iPad, you will enjoy it a lot more, but odds are there is nothing that WILL make you satisified and happy. At least not that will be produced in your life time.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
jrsalda said:
same game,(plants vs zombies) ($6.99 from apple store vs $1.99 from android market), another big plus here for tf101, android apps are considerably cheaper, but after 90 minutes of playing, ipad 2 is only 92%, tf101 is almost 50%(without the dock of course, revolver ROM, Oc'd to 1.2 Ghz/312 cpu/gpu).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. You may have a battery problem. I have played many an hour of Plants vs Aliens, I would say I usually get 15% drain per hour. I'm running stock...
I would also recommend trying BS Player for your MKVs. It works really well with my MP4s. Agreed, that the Tegra 2 video decoding is underwhelming.
The browser issue is annoying, I've found FireFox to be the best. No Flash and the tab key doesn't work (I can verify they fixed tab in the latest Aurora release). I'm hoping ICS and the release of Chrome for Android will resolve it. Crossing fingers...
I generally have to agree that the Tegra 2 was not up to the Honeycomb challenge. It was passable, but not exceptional. If you look around, you can pick up a Transformer for $299-349 on sale, which is a value. If you want something that surpasses an iPad, buy a Prime (if you can find one).
Even Google admits Honeycomb was rushed. Further it's like 3-5% of their install base (based on the market numbers), so they probably aren't paying that much attention to it. Gingerbread is now king. ICS is their new flagship product, I suspect it will be better.
jrsalda said:
First at all, after almost 2 months of exhaustively daily use I got some conclusions about it.
I do have an Ipad 2 to compare with so I'm going to try to be objective here and realistic as well, i will refer to ipad 2 device as the "competition":
Pros
1. Hardware design, a big praising for asus attention to details.
2. Asus docking station is amazing, although I no longer use it.
3. ICS upgrade???
4. Open android ecosystem makes the TF101 stand out.
5. Very good software included with the TF101
6. Asus Mycloud service
7. 1 Gb RAM, sdhc expansion slot and by far better USB flash drives support than competition, this is actual a big advantage comparing to apple 2, where you have to spend big bucks to get units as kingston widrive and seagate goflex satellite drives(Bought them both)if you want to get additional storage and those are only useful if you have a fast internet connection(I have 24Mpbs at home w/ uverse).
Cons:
1.Quality Control, mine came with a loose power button(defective), a brand new sealed unit with a hardware issue(unbelievable) as a geek I spend lots of money buying gadgets, laptops and computer parts, I've never seen something like this specially coming from a $400 device.
2. Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow. I'll wait for ICS but android fragmentation market doesn't look good for the time being.
3. Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback. I tried all the mayor software video player from market with no success. either tegra 2 has a poor video decoder functions or tegra 2 is simply a SoC underpowered.
4. Price, at $400 anybody would expect to get a better device, maybe is honeycomb to blame for. in contrast at $500 the ipad2 just works, even as a closed ecosystem and even after rooting, the ipad 2 simply delivers acceptable web browsing, video and music reproduction.
5. Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible , despite the broad selection of browsers, most of them are useless, I have to keep at least 5 different ones to handle my different sites(ridiculous). Some of them will work fine with certain websites, some of will simply show the mobile version instead regular version ignoring custom browser settings.
6. General functionality became acceptable just after rooting the device, installing latest revolver rom and OC'd to 1.4Ghz(downgrade to 1.2Ghz later due instability issues)
7. Battery management feature still light years behind the infamous apple 2, I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour(just to mention an example).
Conclusion: I still prefer the form factor, usability and resolution from my tf101 against my expensive ipad 2 64. But seriously google needs to catch up with apple OS and release some universal API for video/gaming and force manufacturers to adopt it. It reminds me of early 1994 when every graphic card manufacturer from that time(S3, ATI, rendition, matrox, nvidia, 3Dfx) were pushing their own 3D API solution for gaming. it wasn't until the release of direct x 8.0 when things started to change. After the Best buy fiasco with my prime preorder I think will wait a few months until ICS becomes mature and new tegra 3 apps/games are released if any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I logged in just to second this post as it follows my feelings exactly about the pros and cons of the tf101. I thought this was a very well thought out post and in my experence very accurate. I would keep my TF101 over an iPad but these issues definitely keep me from upgrading at this time to another asus or tegra device. Maybe ICS will fix some of the HC issues but it is not likely to fix the main issue I have with some video containers and codecs. I hope it fixes the browser issues because I too am tired of having to remember what browser to use for what site. I recieved my TF in the first batch released by Best Buy so I have had many months to use this thing. Its the perfect traveling device with the dock but it definitely has its issues.
jrsalda said:
Cons:
1.Quality Control, mine came with a loose power button(defective), a brand new sealed unit with a hardware issue(unbelievable) as a geek I spend lots of money buying gadgets, laptops and computer parts, I've never seen something like this specially coming from a $400 device.
2. Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow. I'll wait for ICS but android fragmentation market doesn't look good for the time being.
3. Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback. I tried all the mayor software video player from market with no success. either tegra 2 has a poor video decoder functions or tegra 2 is simply a SoC underpowered.
4. Price, at $400 anybody would expect to get a better device, maybe is honeycomb to blame for. in contrast at $500 the ipad2 just works, even as a closed ecosystem and even after rooting, the ipad 2 simply delivers acceptable web browsing, video and music reproduction.
5. Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible , despite the broad selection of browsers, most of them are useless, I have to keep at least 5 different ones to handle my different sites(ridiculous). Some of them will work fine with certain websites, some of will simply show the mobile version instead regular version ignoring custom browser settings.
6. General functionality became acceptable just after rooting the device, installing latest revolver rom and OC'd to 1.4Ghz(downgrade to 1.2Ghz later due instability issues)
7. Battery management feature still light years behind the infamous apple 2, I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour(just to mention an example).
Conclusion: I still prefer the form factor, usability and resolution from my tf101 against my expensive ipad 2 64. But seriously google needs to catch up with apple OS and release some universal API for video/gaming and force manufacturers to adopt it. It reminds me of early 1994 when every graphic card manufacturer from that time(S3, ATI, rendition, matrox, nvidia, 3Dfx) were pushing their own 3D API solution for gaming. it wasn't until the release of direct x 8.0 when things started to change. After the Best buy fiasco with my prime preorder I think will wait a few months until ICS becomes mature and new tegra 3 apps/games are released if any.
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cons 1) had nopt quality control issues with my asus kit, you might want to check out the quality control issues compared to the ipad.
2) honeycomb interface is fast once you overclock- i see no performance difference to the ipad in this respect
3)video production can be fixed with OC and a decent player eg MX or Dice- both can play anything very well.
4) your view on price is skewed because you havent factored in the price of the external HD's for your ipad and the fact that the dock adds much more value than any combination of ipad peripherals eg how much would an extrnal hd and battery cost for the ipad compared to the dock, how much for an extra keyboard eh?
5)seriously, any of those browsers are better than an ipad browser that doesnt do flash and so doesnt actually show the internet as its supposed to be. i find Dolphin HD works well on my transformer with few perforamce issues.
6 &7) i agree, the transformer is much better after rooting etc but then so it the ipad, your battery issues are conderning though as i find the battery life while playing games on my transformer to be equal with apple stuff i have owned in the past.
i dont crave for any closed API system like you suggest where people are forced to make decisions and the choice provided is just a monetised illusion, been there and done that with apple im afraid..
at the end of the day its a personal choice but the fact that the ipad is such a closed system( no usb port ffs!!) is the exact reason i dont want anything to do with it.
I agree with the browser point.
I have 5 browsers installed and I use different ones for different sites.
The stock browser crashes too damn much as well.
I haven't used the ipad to know how good/ bad their browsers are.
iPad2 Camera resolution 750kp
Asus Transformer 5MP
Asus Transformer 30% screen resolution than iPad2.
Transformer: More ports, more slots, non-restrictive OS.
MOD EDIT: EVIDENTLY YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT
This largely conflicts with my experience. When I first cracked open the box to my TF101 and fired it up... I was shocked at how much it crashed and lagged. Then I updated it. Then it was solid. I soon after rooted and installed the latest revolver rom.
I didn't overclock and I get amazing battery life. All weekend I watched about 8 episodes of TV shows (about 20 min each), surfed the net for probably an hour, played some games... all while wifi was connected for hours. My battery at the end of the weekend? 27%, from 100% on the friday.
I've used an iPad and the iPad _really_ does feel like a giant iPhone to me (I used to own one). Android on a tablet feels completely different to me and I love it.
So, just wondering, does the ipad play all types of video files, or are they converted by itunes to play on the ipad? --- sincere question.
Cons:
1.Quality Control, mine came with a loose power button(defective), a brand new sealed unit with a hardware issue(unbelievable) as a geek I spend lots of money buying gadgets, laptops and computer parts, I've never seen something like this specially coming from a $400 device.
2. Honeycomb interface is laggy and overall slow. I'll wait for ICS but android fragmentation market doesn't look good for the time being.
3. Video reproduction on tf101 is overall disappointing, the inability to reproduce simple 720p mkv and avi videos smoothly is a big drawback. I tried all the mayor software video player from market with no success. either tegra 2 has a poor video decoder functions or tegra 2 is simply a SoC underpowered.
4. Price, at $400 anybody would expect to get a better device, maybe is honeycomb to blame for. in contrast at $500 the ipad2 just works, even as a closed ecosystem and even after rooting, the ipad 2 simply delivers acceptable web browsing, video and music reproduction.
5. Web browsing on tf101(honeycomb) is terrible , despite the broad selection of browsers, most of them are useless, I have to keep at least 5 different ones to handle my different sites(ridiculous). Some of them will work fine with certain websites, some of will simply show the mobile version instead regular version ignoring custom browser settings.
6. General functionality became acceptable just after rooting the device, installing latest revolver rom and OC'd to 1.4Ghz(downgrade to 1.2Ghz later due instability issues)
7. Battery management feature still light years behind the infamous apple 2, I have to charge it on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day and my battery drops to almost 60% after playing plants vs zombies for 1 hour(just to mention an example).
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1.Quality control has always been a little up and down with ASUS. I have owned a Laptop/Netbook/Tablet from them with no problems but searching through their forums see tons of people with issues. Again no problems here.
2. ICS is definately coming to the TF101 one way or another. ASUS guaranteed it and even if they back down we already have a couple ports in the process of being made. But, to your actual point, I have seen very little lag in the Honeycomb interface and have had an iPad 2 side by side with the TF101 and couldn't tell the difference (I work in IT and would be able to tell if one was "Slower" than the other). You may have a bad app/setup causing this but don't blame the OS as stock it runs buttery smooth and rooting it should add to it's speed.
3. Again, never noticed any playback issues watching all different kinds of videos from different locations. I would check for a bad app or maybe you set something up wrong. The Tegra2 processor (Albeit old) still holds its own.
4. $400 is a steal for a device of this quality/specs. Looking at the specs of the iPad 2 vs the Transformer they are much of the same. Of course the TF101 has a better res screen, can capture 1080p video vs the iPad2's 720p, ability to add USB ports to the TF101.... I could go on. Also, noticing a reacurring theme of you blaming the OS, for the TF's shortcomings. Should have named this thread iOS vs Honeycomb.....
5. Again, web browsing corresponds to the OS not the device itself. But at least on android you have the ability to have multiple browsers (With flash support) compared to iOS. I would like to see you put some examples of websites that requires you to have these browsers on the TF.
6. Another OS issue.
7. Another bad app most likely.
Please come back with more valid points. As of right now you hate android not the tablet.
(6. If the device didn't work on stock the way you wanted it to then why didn't you return it? Personally the second I booted it up it blew me away with it's speed / functionality even coming from CM on my phone, and obviously it was still running stock non rooted.)
Quality control is the only issue I have had so far..first TF101 had light bleed, second one does too, just not as pronounced and I can ignore it, and the first dock I got squealed annoyingly when charging the TF, other than that, it seems to work a dream, and the dock-laptop hybrid blows any ipad out of the water- two full size USB ports and an SD card reader? Plus a multi-touch mouse/full keyboard!!?? Hands down- ipad can suck it lol speed and hardware aside, I'll take the TF for the dock alone any day (I mean the TF has to function of course! But as I have seen it is comparable in speed to ipad2, plus OC and UV kernals YAY)
BTW, I had over 36hours on a full charge, dock included, before I had to charge the TF again, and I decided to charge at 15%. so I could have had another hour+ if I had let it sleep..honestly, don't see how someone can play a game on the TF for a solid hour, but I watched 4+ hours of news last night via WiFi on autobright and it didn't drag my battery below 50% even..and I don't think it was on a full charge when I started..I should really test it out more thoroughly, but so far it's the best battery life of any device I have seen ANYWHERE.
miketoasty said:
vs the iPad2's 720p,
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720p from a 0.7MP camera.. (and 0.3MP front facing)... That's going to look REALLY crappy unless you are wearing your supplied Apple Rose Tinted Glasses.
My Nokia 6300 from 4 years ago has nearly 3x that resolution, and it's considered obsolete by now.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ipad-ipad2-tablet-ios,news-10393.html
I agree with the OPs criticisms pretty much 100 percent. Although my time with Android has been fun, unless the usability, speed, and stability blow me away compared to Honeycomb I will probably look to switching to a Windows 8 tablet or whatever iPad is available down the line instead of purchasing another Android tablet.
Reproduction of regular videos from youtube on the tf101 are fine, I'm talking about matroska mkv and AVI videos(720p) here, those can be played fine on my nettop devices with single core atom and dual core atom with broadcom decoder cards, I paid for those nettops ($189 and $289 respectively).
in comparison the ipad 2 can play those videos(w/ Cinexplayer, XBMC and even the discontinued VLC for ipad 2)absolutely perfect, I can play my mkv and avi 720p movies on the ipad 2 without any drop frames, getting consistent 30fps without any sync issues as I have them randomly on my tf101 all the time(below 25fps and out of sync audio/video issues). I have tried the mx video player pro on the tf101, still doesn't work smoothly enough, getting there but have to constantly be switching audio/video modes, and most of the time have to select the fast mode on 720p playing which has a highly noticeable lower quality detail, and sometimes don't get any sound, have to switch to another audio codec to make it work. It's worth to mention mx video player pro application looks very promising.
Again, I guess tegra 2 is an underpowered SoC.
I'll explain just one single issue here: Just for the record, I encode my own videos, have several years of experience working with video editing at professional level, I take my blu-rays movies and tv series(blu-ray) and encode them using a state of the art video PC workstation, I use the x264 codec and utilize open source and proprietary libraries(H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) for the encoding. Result is a 100% perfectly encoded mkv and avi file in 720p resolution that can be played smoothly on my slowest nettop device w/single core atom CPU at 1.0 Ghz and of course on the Ipad 2 as well, I mentioned the word "of course" just because the ipad 2 is a dual core device running at 900 Mhz with a monster Dual GPU. My nettops have ubuntu linux for netbook and windows 7 starter operating systems.
I don't even want to mention the hdmi to TV output limitation(for videos) on tf101, it's completely laggy and simply slow and unplayable, I have 2 LCD tv's at home, 47" and 70" screen size at 60hz and 240hz respectively, my ipad 2 and my nettops can handle it thru hdmi at 720p and even at 1080p on both tv's. My Oc'd tf101 cannot handle properly my movies, any movie not even a 360p youtube video on my tv's. I found out, my tf101 can handle an acceptable output experience on my Asus 24" LCD monitor , as long as you don't play videos.
tf101 has serious issues for video reproduction, you can blame honeycomb or asus, I'm encourage to accept this fact as a current limitation on tegra 2 devices, will see how it does perform on ICS, not having hopes for it either. I'm starting to believe tegra 2 SoC is a poor chip for video reproduction. I'm not going to tolerate that, video reproduction is suppose to be perfect(like watching a regular bluray or dvd movie at home), no more no less.
Well, guess I'm done here since you still haven't admitted that it may possibly be what you have running on your device or any number of other issues. Again, video's run fine on my device and I am able to game using MiniHDMI - HDMI on my 52" TV using an emulator. Lag would be extremely noticeable here and like I have said, I have seen.... none.
Considering picking one up used for $120 or less (BTW, any deals better than the $135 certified pre-owned on B&N's site would be appreciated). I've considered loads of other tablets (mostly 7"), but fact is, I don't want to spend much, at least not on the tablet itself.
Anyway, at $120 or less, is it worth picking up, or should I look at something else? The things that draw me to the Nook Color are price (obviously), screen type/quality (not super glossy = awesome), USB OTG (considering plugging in a keyboard and using it for notes), Bluetooth (for headphones), and support/dev community.
My main uses would be reading books/comics, watching videos (nothing high-res), and possibly taking notes as mentioned earlier; there'd be very light gaming, as anything more serious would be reserved to an Xperia Play when I get one later. I doubt I'd install much just to try and keep it running as smooth as possible.
Expandable memory is nice, but not necessary, and I could live without either USB OTG or Bluetooth if the other was present. Camera/GPS/etc. definitely isn't necessary. Don't care for dual-core and whatnot as I know I won't really use/need the power.
Also, quick question about the Nook Color - are there any major issues left with CM7 for it, or is it basically complete? And how is CM9 in comparison (at the moment)?
nookcolor is a great tablet for $130 (give or take in price) but im ruuning cm7.1 for months now with no bugs or problems at all, it is a very stable rom. Screen is very nice, not to bright or to dull.
I got mine new for around $120 too. It is a great value although it does not have camera or other peripheral options.
tourist2 said:
I got mine new for around $120 too. It is a great value although it does not have camera or other peripheral options.
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You get what you pay for
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using xda premium
Android311 said:
You get what you pay for
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Sometimes, you just pay more because you're an idiot.
The Nook Color has an exquisite screen, and it's better than the Kindle Fire (which I also own). Also, the Nook Tablet screen is exactly the same. It's the right resolution and sharpness. The iPad 3 is probably too much, especially since it runs very hot and eats the battery.
Even if you don't want to root or replace the ROM on your Nook Color, it's still a great tablet with a screen that is better than any other.
I love the color Nook. I f only it had a microphone , it could do everything I need
DigitalMD said:
I love the color Nook. I f only it had a microphone , it could do everything I need
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Some success in that area. Check out this thread:
http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/nook-color-technical/15172-headset-microphone-nc.html
Money
vote Kindle Fire
Forgot to update, ended up getting one for $100 in great condition on Craigslist. Immediately popped in a 32GB microSD and loaded CM7.2, lowered the screen density to 120, and I love it.
Definitely go with the Nook Color
I bought it when it was originally priced at $250. I live in Canada and drove down to the States to pick it up since BN doesn't ship to Canada. Even with the release of newer tablets, I'd buy another Nook Color over the others simply because it's the best bang for the buck.
I use it for my commute -- reading PDF books, listening to MP3s, watching videos, and the occasional game.
FWIW, I've owned an Ipad, Ipad2, and Blackberry Playbook. However, I couldn't justify the $400-600 price tag and sold them.
CM 7.2 is very functional, assuming you can live with the fact that apps won't recognize it as a full-on tablet. Within that limitation, it does everything just fine that you'd expect. The only shortcoming on your list is bluetooth support, as ranges can be limited.
At anything below $150, I'd says it's definitely worth a buy. You can blow that much with a night on the town, and have nothing but a headache and a strange rash to show for it.
Just to let everyone know that for some reason (good or bad), CM7.2-RC1 KANG on my NC is last FOREVER
I don't even know I should smile or not. It has been left idle (with virtually no use, screen off) for a WEEK and still has roughly 65% left in the tank.
Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my NC for some time and still continue to do so (as I already own it and it's just good enough to still do what I need, namely play around with new OS code ala CM9).
That said, even at $199.00, it's way slow compared to the competitions products at the same price ranges. NT is much better but doesn't even have BlueTooth at all, from my understanding and shown in it's tear down.
This means that if you need BT, albiet with a less than 10 inch range, the NC is probably the only "eReader" with BT using CM7 or CM9 at that range.
If you are thinking of the tape for gaming? Don't, it's opengl is good enough to entice you with some titles running, but it'll be lag city once there is enough onscreen action.
Thinking of it for Video? Semi-don't. Sure it's IPS screen will impress, but 720P video will not be 100% smooth and it doesn't have the video processing to do anything higher. Pretty much 480P res when you use NetFlix.
Can't buy new? While you can get a cheap NC off of Ebay, keep an eye out for several of the top end earlier generation tabs as the new ones entice users to upgrade.
SeaFractor said:
Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my NC for some time and still continue to do so (as I already own it and it's just good enough to still do what I need, namely play around with new OS code ala CM9).
That said, even at $199.00, it's way slow compared to the competitions products at the same price ranges. NT is much better but doesn't even have BlueTooth at all, from my understanding and shown in it's tear down.
This means that if you need BT, albiet with a less than 10 inch range, the NC is probably the only "eReader" with BT using CM7 or CM9 at that range.
If you are thinking of the tape for gaming? Don't, it's opengl is good enough to entice you with some titles running, but it'll be lag city once there is enough onscreen action.
Thinking of it for Video? Semi-don't. Sure it's IPS screen will impress, but 720P video will not be 100% smooth and it doesn't have the video processing to do anything higher. Pretty much 480P res when you use NetFlix.
Can't buy new? While you can get a cheap NC off of Ebay, keep an eye out for several of the top end earlier generation tabs as the new ones entice users to upgrade.
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Yeah, Bluetooth was one of those things I just can't live without, even with the limited range. I definitely wouldn't have picked it up for any more than $100 (I would have just gotten the new NT if it wasn't much more expensive). Video hasn't disappointed me - standard/non-HD video is good enough for me and plays just fine. As for gaming, I intend to get an Xperia Play to use exclusively as a gaming device and just use that - although I may skip it at this point, as I have plenty of PC games, and the tablet is taking up a lot of the free time I had previously.
And I don't mind the lack of tablet apps on CM7 - I find CM9 a bit too sluggish to consider the switch at least for now.
I'm looking to purchase a tablet for light work/recreational purposes. Price point on this tablet seems good considering the cost of the higher end tablets. I don't want to spend over $400.
I've read the processor is not great. Does the tablet act sluggish sometimes? How is the screen?
I'll mostly be using it to view PDF, Excel, Word files, and use various Android apps. Not gaming so much but could be one here and there. Thoughts? Is there a better device for the money out there?
Also, what Android version does this ship with? I'm having trouble finding that out.
CCallahan said:
I'm looking to purchase a tablet for light work/recreational purposes. Price point on this tablet seems good considering the cost of the higher end tablets. I don't want to spend over $400.
I've read the processor is not great. Does the tablet act sluggish sometimes? How is the screen?
I'll mostly be using it to view PDF, Excel, Word files, and use various Android apps. Not gaming so much but could be one here and there. Thoughts? Is there a better device for the money out there?
Also, what Android version does this ship with? I'm having trouble finding that out.
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I use it for light reading, Netflix and WSOP poker. It does have some lag with the poker game after 1/2 hour or so. Web browsing, etc works well.
Android 10 June security patch.
The Exynos 9611 is about equal to the SD660, albeit with a weaker GPU. This is a productivity tablet more than anything, I'd say, as the highlight is definitely the s-pen.
For day to day tasks it's pretty snappy and I rarely notice any stuttering (I set the animation scale to 0.5 and everything opens instantly), I use it for reading, browsing, taking notes and just jotting down sketches and work-related stuff.
The screen looks great, even coming from a higher (~273) ppi tablet, I don't notice much of a difference, it's crisp and bright enough.
The rule with Tab S6 Lite is this: if you don't game heavily and you need an active/s-pen and, like me, dislike the Apple way of doing things, then the lite is your best bet on a budget.
Otherwise, if gaming is involved or you don't need the spen - there are better options out there, the S5e, if you can still get one, will do better in gaming and has superior speakers and
screen (I myself don't like the OLED flicker, hope they fixed it on the newer S7+).
On the dark side the iPads rule this kingdom performance and prices. The 7th gen iPad cost the same and runs circles around it, the Air 3 is another option, with better screen and specs.