Asus Eee Android Tablet Confirmed $399 April 26th Release

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gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
Oh... I don't disagree. I much prefer the Android OS in general. Feels more like a computer and less like a kids etch-a-sketch. However there's no doubt the iPad 2 is a superior platform right now... it's just so much more polished and has way better software support at this stage of the game.

I've owned the Galaxy Tab and now the iPad 2, so I speak from some experience as well.

I personally can't wait for Android to catch up... I anticipate ebaying my iPad in about 9-12 months time.

Really? I mean the only Android "tablet" I have is the Nook Color rooted, but I feel that experience is very similar to the iPad as far as usability. I don't understand how you can label it as more of a computer feel when they're both just an array of apps on a scrollable desktop and the apps dictate what else you can do.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
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Really? I mean the only Android "tablet" I have is the Nook Color rooted, but I feel that experience is very similar to the iPad as far as usability. I don't understand how you can label it as more of a computer feel when they're both just an array of apps on a scrollable desktop and the apps dictate what else you can do.

Things that make an Android tablet more like a real computer than an iPad:

1. Real file managers, including some that let you poke at the inner system bits.
2. Ability to hack on the device and flash and load its own ROMs. iPad needs another computer for jailbreak.
3. Ability to plug in the Android tablet via USB and easily add or delete files from it without extra software
4. Ability to replace core applications with better ones (Opera Mobile kicks Mobile Safari's ass)
5. Flash, and by extension of that Hulu
6. Ability to use bluetooth GPSes without hacking
7. Ability to use bluetooth controllers like the Wiimote without hacking
8. Capability to dual boot on Android tablets
9. Ability to run real OSes like Ubuntu on the Android tablets
10. Ability to easily replace input methods like onscreen keyboards to one you prefer
 

ChAoTiCpInOy

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2006
6,442
1
81
Things that make an Android tablet more like a real computer than an iPad:

1. Real file managers, including some that let you poke at the inner system bits.
2. Ability to hack on the device and flash and load its own ROMs. iPad needs another computer for jailbreak.
3. Ability to plug in the Android tablet via USB and easily add or delete files from it without extra software
4. Ability to replace core applications with better ones (Opera Mobile kicks Mobile Safari's ass)
5. Flash, and by extension of that Hulu
6. Ability to use bluetooth GPSes without hacking
7. Ability to use bluetooth controllers like the Wiimote without hacking
8. Capability to dual boot on Android tablets
9. Ability to run real OSes like Ubuntu on the Android tablets
10. Ability to easily replace input methods like onscreen keyboards to one you prefer

Now out of all those, which do consumers actually use?

I understand that you or other people on these forums would want all those options, but I'm talking about the general public.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,418
1,599
126
Now out of all those, which do consumers actually use?

I understand that you or other people on these forums would want all those options, but I'm talking about the general public.

a pointless (but very real) argument on ATOT.
 

senseamp

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
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Now out of all those, which do consumers actually use?

I understand that you or other people on these forums would want all those options, but I'm talking about the general public.

Why do we have file managers on PCs then if general public has no use for it?
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Now out of all those, which do consumers actually use?

How many consumers fully utilize their computer? The ones that do are the ones that can appreciate the advantages of the Android platform.

Unlike a phone, many people look to Tablets to be computer replacements....
 

Doboji

Diamond Member
May 18, 2001
7,912
0
76
Now out of all those, which do consumers actually use?

I understand that you or other people on these forums would want all those options, but I'm talking about the general public.

Well the general public don't even need the tablets at all in the first place... so it's kind of a moot point isn't it?

But seriously the general public will appreciate some of the "computer-like" features of the Android tablets...

1) Remove-able memory
2) Widgets
3) Mass storage mode
4) File Management
5) Flash

Watch though iPad will adopt(copy) many of these features by iPad3... 1 and 3 for sure. Oh and yes they will continue to cry foul that everyone is copying them.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't come to the AT forums to discuss which devices the 'general public' is going to love most. We talk about that ones that we as enthusiasts will enjoy and use.
 

MrX8503

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2005
4,529
0
0
Watch though iPad will adopt(copy) many of these features by iPad3... 1 and 3 for sure. Oh and yes they will continue to cry foul that everyone is copying them.

Everyone copies everyone, yet people only get on Apple's case. Where were these tablets back when the iPad1 was released? As far as I remember, most of the tablet competitors ran for the hills when the iPad1 came out and any tablet in existence were crushed by the iPad1.

Now every electronic manufacturer is releasing their own version of a tablet. So who's copying who?

Apple revitalized the mp3 player, smartphone, and tablet market in one fell swoop with their iPod, iPhone, and iPad, yet people rarely give them credit for that. And whaddya know, EVERYONE is trying to copy their electronic devices.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Well the general public don't even need the tablets at all in the first place... so it's kind of a moot point isn't it?

But seriously the general public will appreciate some of the "computer-like" features of the Android tablets...

1) Remove-able memory
2) Widgets
3) Mass storage mode
4) File Management
5) Flash

Watch though iPad will adopt(copy) many of these features by iPad3... 1 and 3 for sure. Oh and yes they will continue to cry foul that everyone is copying them.

id bet money on the next version of IOS supporting widgets
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Everyone copies everyone, yet people only get on Apple's case.

Because Apple is the only company arrogant enough to call its products "Magical." Well, them and McDonalds...

Apple revitalized the mp3 player, smartphone, and tablet market in one fell swoop with their iPod, iPhone, and iPad, yet people rarely give them credit for that.

Um, most rational people do give them credit for that.
 

ChAoTiCpInOy

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2006
6,442
1
81
Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't come to the AT forums to discuss which devices the 'general public' is going to love most. We talk about that ones that we as enthusiasts will enjoy and use.

Why can't someone be part of the "enthusiasts" club and yet enjoy devices like the iPad?
 

kaerflog

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2010
1,899
4
76
I want a Transformer, but honestly, I like the 7" form factor better.

Me too but I need the 7" to have the same 1280x800 resolution.
At first Acer was going to have one and then it turn out to be 1024x600.
Now I see lenovo will have a 7" with 1280x800 but thats in Q4.
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
Amazon just gave me a delivery estimate date of May 17th - 27th.
 
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Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,951
570
136
I'd somehow doubt it. Widgets are the reason Android eats of battery life and the reason why people complain of "lagginess" on the homescreen.

Correction. Badly written widgets eat a lot of battery life. Widgets that grab RSS feeds every 5 minutes etc is always going to eat a lot of battery life no matter what. There are TONS of good widgets that don't harm battery life at all. I have little to no concern over the battery life effect of any widgets I use. But I also use common sense in that heyyyy maybe I shouldn't install this rss feed app that wants to update every 5 mintues keeping my WIFI and/or 4G radio active.

Also, they have 0 effect on my home screen "lag" but then again, I've never had lag issues. I use plenty of widgets too... And this is with "older" tech than the EEE pad etc....

Either way this topic was made about the EEE pad not the ipad and it's "possible" widgets.

I am still waiting on Amazon to get some real stock on this thing.
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
I'd somehow doubt it. Widgets are the reason Android eats battery life and the reason why people complain of "lagginess" on the homescreen.

Yeah but you can always kill them. Mine doesnt eat power so much as hiccup the screen. If Apple ever went that way I suspect they'd seriously restrict what could be used as a widget and how it works, but they'd make sure the overall experience was smooth.

And WP7 is all widgets and works OK.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
Things that make an Android tablet more like a real computer than an iPad:

1. Real file managers, including some that let you poke at the inner system bits.
2. Ability to hack on the device and flash and load its own ROMs. iPad needs another computer for jailbreak.
3. Ability to plug in the Android tablet via USB and easily add or delete files from it without extra software
4. Ability to replace core applications with better ones (Opera Mobile kicks Mobile Safari's ass)
5. Flash, and by extension of that Hulu
6. Ability to use bluetooth GPSes without hacking
7. Ability to use bluetooth controllers like the Wiimote without hacking
8. Capability to dual boot on Android tablets
9. Ability to run real OSes like Ubuntu on the Android tablets
10. Ability to easily replace input methods like onscreen keyboards to one you prefer

1.) In order to poke around certain system bits I needed to be rooted. Apple has the same type of file managers once jailbroken.

2.) I had to use another computer to properly load the roms and software onto the SD card to do anything with the Nook. So I'm not sure what you mean by this. Plus there have been wireless jailbreaks on ipads and iphones, they just are now patched in newer firmware. It was still possible though.

3.) True

4.) The app store (official and unoffical) all have alternate browsers. In fact Opera itself is even on iOS devices.

5.) True enough, to a point. There's still a Hulu app for iOS devices though... and I have only used a few Android devices and none of them ran flash very well :\

6.) Who cares? The only reason you'd need to use a bluetooth GPS is if your onboard one is that bad.

7.) That would be pretty cool. Can you really use a wiimote on Android devices natively without any rooting at all?

8.) Fair enough. Though isn't this needed because one rom can never seem to give you everything you want?

9.) That's true as well, though I'm not sure who would ever need such a thing. Doesn't mean it's useless to everybody though... just a personal thing.

10.) There are multiple iOS keyboards as well. Not as many as Android but they still exist.

It seems over half of these aren't even Android specific... I'm kind of wondering if you even own an iOS device to draw these comparisons or if you're just going by rumors? I'm not trying to start a flame war I'm just wanting an honest discussion. Out of the things listed here, most of the useful ones (to me) aren't special to Android. There are a few things like removeable/upgradeable memory and full USB explorer access, but those are small pieces of the whole user experience.

I bought an Android device so I could see the differences with my own eyes. People tend to usually own one or the other and then form opinions based on blind rumors. Now that I have both I can honestly say the differences between them are VERY exaggerated.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
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1.) In order to poke around certain system bits I needed to be rooted. Apple has the same type of file managers once jailbroken.

Yeah, but I can get decent file browser on Android without jailbreak.

2.) I had to use another computer to properly load the roms and software onto the SD card to do anything with the Nook. So I'm not sure what you mean by this.

You can Flash a new ROM on the device. Just because you used a computer just means that is the most convenient method, not the only method.

4.) The app store (official and unoffical) all have alternate browsers. In fact Opera itself is even on iOS devices.

Every browser on the iOS App Store not named Opera uses Safari's core- they are almost like skins of Safari. The Opera that is available is the cell phone version, tablet users get nothing.

5.) True enough, to a point. There's still a Hulu app for iOS devices though... and I have only used a few Android devices and none of them ran flash very well :\

Hulu plays smooth enough on my Nook to be watchable. Better than an official app that makes me pay for Hulu Plus for the privilege.

6.) Who cares? The only reason you'd need to use a bluetooth GPS is if your onboard one is that bad.

Um, every non-3G iPad could benefit from a bluetooth GPS. I would love if it mine worked with my wife's 16GB iPad 2.

7.) That would be pretty cool. Can you really use a wiimote on Android devices natively without any rooting at all?

Used it on a friend's non-rooted Xoom so I assume so.

8.) Fair enough. Though isn't this needed because one rom can never seem to give you everything you want?

Or maybe you are developer that needs to test your app on multiple versions of Android. Point is that is is an option that can help some.

9.) That's true as well, though I'm not sure who would ever need such a thing. Doesn't mean it's useless to everybody though... just a personal thing.

My dream is a tablet (probably a quad core Tegra 3) that runs a real OS.

10.) There are multiple iOS keyboards as well. Not as many as Android but they still exist.

With a jailbreak. Useless on something like my wife's iPad 2 that still lacks a jailbreak. Meanwhile most every major android device gets rooted within a week of it hitting the market, and doesn't even need a root to change keyboard styles.

It seems over half of these aren't even Android specific... I'm kind of wondering if you even own an iOS device to draw these comparisons or if you're just going by rumors?

I have had iPhones since they came out, I will buy the iPhone 5 to replace my 3GS, my wife has an iPad 2, and I use OSX as my daily OS. So I know Apple stuff well.

I am not a fanboy for either side- the Nook is my first real Android device (though I have lots of exposure to other Android devices). I could easily list things that regular consumers probably prefer in iOS, but the list was just what makes an Android tablet more like a real computer than the iPad IMHO.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
21,989
852
126
Shipping Soon
Delivery Estimate: May 3, 2011

amazon charged me, so it must be legit this time (unlike my 4/28 estimate date)

Just got my email. Estimated delivery: May 18th-June 2nd. Cant wait. I am still looking for one in stock from anywhere and if I find one I will cancel the amazon order.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
Yeah, but I can get decent file browser on Android without jailbreak.



You can Flash a new ROM on the device. Just because you used a computer just means that is the most convenient method, not the only method.



Every browser on the iOS App Store not named Opera uses Safari's core- they are almost like skins of Safari. The Opera that is available is the cell phone version, tablet users get nothing.



Hulu plays smooth enough on my Nook to be watchable. Better than an official app that makes me pay for Hulu Plus for the privilege.



Um, every non-3G iPad could benefit from a bluetooth GPS. I would love if it mine worked with my wife's 16GB iPad 2.



Used it on a friend's non-rooted Xoom so I assume so.



Or maybe you are developer that needs to test your app on multiple versions of Android. Point is that is is an option that can help some.



My dream is a tablet (probably a quad core Tegra 3) that runs a real OS.



With a jailbreak. Useless on something like my wife's iPad 2 that still lacks a jailbreak. Meanwhile most every major android device gets rooted within a week of it hitting the market, and doesn't even need a root to change keyboard styles.



I have had iPhones since they came out, I will buy the iPhone 5 to replace my 3GS, my wife has an iPad 2, and I use OSX as my daily OS. So I know Apple stuff well.

I am not a fanboy for either side- the Nook is my first real Android device (though I have lots of exposure to other Android devices). I could easily list things that regular consumers probably prefer in iOS, but the list was just what makes an Android tablet more like a real computer than the iPad IMHO.

Yeah, I guess that's all true. I think it boils down to our different focuses on what we want out of a tablet and for me I haven't found much that Android offers that iOS in some fashion doesn't. This is mainly entertainment focused, so some things like alternate OS and such never entered my mind.

Android still offers more for the money between the Transformer and Nook Color though, and that's what I consider the most important.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Yeah, I guess that's all true. I think it boils down to our different focuses on what we want out of a tablet and for me I haven't found much that Android offers that iOS in some fashion doesn't. This is mainly entertainment focused, so some things like alternate OS and such never entered my mind.

I can see that. My wife only uses her iPad for entertainment- watch videos, play games, etc. I use my Nook Color as a netbook replacement, which means all the entertainment functions, plus some ssh, VNC, etc. I need for work. For her an iPad is perfect. For me the flexibility of Android is the only reason I can leave the netbook behind.
 

tornadog

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2003
1,222
0
76
the internet usage report for this week just came out. I am on top with a bazillion visits to xda, slickdeals, newegg, amazon, tigerdirect, B&H, bestbuy, etc. I am expecting a dressing down from my manager on Monday :(