iPad envy - my android tablet feels useless these days

[Pliablemoose]

The iPad 2 is currently $419 refurbished from Apple.

 

[Mopetar]

Why? Because I'm interested in seeing his Gingerbread 7" Galaxy Tab. I don't doubt he has Nook Color. Lot of people have that. But very few people own 7" Galaxy Tab, especially the WiFi version. Only the uninformed bought the WiFi version which had the downgraded SoC and missing GPS along with 3g radios. People who were truly interested in 7" Galaxy Tab all bought the fire sale 3g carrier versions which had the superior hardware and could be had cheaper than the WiFi version. There's no official Gingerbread update to the Wifi 7" GTab. Gingerbread update for P1010 Wifi GTab was only leaked in Europe just few days ago. Sure OP could've flashed that but I have my doubts. So I was simply curious to see it.

Fair enough. Sorry if I sounded like an asshole.

One other completely unrelated thing, though. Probably shouldn't call the Galaxy Tab a GTab, which confuses it with the Viewsonic gTablet. One of my friends had the misfortune of owning one of those. It was utterly unusable until he put CM on it and then it became merely terrible. I haven't used an original Galaxy Tab, but I can't see them being anywhere near as bad as the gTab.

 

[lothar]

Laughable. If anything computers have become the novelty.

TONS of people who had computers and bought/were bought tablets. They no longer use their desktops/laptops (for the most part) and do all of their web/email on their tablets.

This is a tech forum and many here like to use benchmarks as a measuring stick for their penis. In the real world they are largely irrelevant when the user experience is persevere. 99.9% of the population doesn't' need anything more than a computer that can go browse the web, check email, and watch the occasional web video. Tablets can do all of that.

So can smartphones.
If that's all it's needed for then why not get an iPhone or an Android phone?
What are tablets needed for again?

Even an Ultrabook isn't as mobile as an iPad2. Also Ultrabooks hover around $1k, so no, your laptop is neither as mobile or costs the same as an iPad2.

My laptop is not an Ultrabook. Nice try though.

 

[Patranus]

If that's all it's needed for then why not get an iPhone or an Android phone?
What are tablets needed for again?

:facepalm:

Screen size. Going from a 4" screen to a 10" screen is a pretty big leap but going from a 10" to 15" or 27" screen for email and web browsing isn't.

 

[lothar]

:facepalm:

Screen size. Going from a 4" screen to a 10" screen is a pretty big leap but going from a 10" to 15" or 27" screen for email and web browsing isn't.

What about all those people buying those 5" and 7" tablets?
Is going from 4" to 5" really that big a leap? What about going from 4" to 7"?

 

[Tom]

Same opinion here, im not really a fan of apple but the ipad 2 is currently the best tablet on the market.

Unfortunatly android has some of the best phone hardware and the software is just as good as apples, so owning an android phone is the logical choice. Which leaves you in the dilema of investing in two software platforms or buying an android tab so you do not need to repurchase alot of apps for the other platform.

not really even close to as good.

seriously. peoplle using iphones, ipads, and Apple computers together as a system, are experiencing a whole nother level of sophistication from the rest of us.

Android phone hardware is really good tho'. But that doesn't make an Android phone as good as an iphone, there's way too much stuff that doesn't work the way it should without some fiddling, customization. which makes it better for the tinkering class than for people who just want stuff that works.

 

[Red Storm]

not really even close to as good.

seriously. peoplle using iphones, ipads, and Apple computers together as a system, are experiencing a whole nother level of sophistication from the rest of us.

If by sophistication you mean simplification, then I would mostly agree with that. 🙂

Android phone hardware is really good tho'. But that doesn't make an Android phone as good as an iphone, there's way too much stuff that doesn't work the way it should without some fiddling, customization. which makes it better for the tinkering class than for people who just want stuff that works.

That's the funny thing about opinions, everyone has their own. Mine happens to be in complete disagreement with yours on this matter. I can't even consider the iPhone as a top contender seeing as it can't do the simplest things such as give drag & drop control over files, use widgets, or load Flash-using websites (unfortunately Flash is still widely used on the internet). The last one will hopefully no longer be a problem when people stop using Flash, but it was an issue before and it's still an issue now.

 

[kubani1]

not really even close to as good.

seriously. peoplle using iphones, ipads, and Apple computers together as a system, are experiencing a whole nother level of sophistication from the rest of us.

Android phone hardware is really good tho'. But that doesn't make an Android phone as good as an iphone, there's way too much stuff that doesn't work the way it should without some fiddling, customization. which makes it better for the tinkering class than for people who just want stuff that works.

As a fan of apple, I have to disagree. i have a macbook pro running OSX Lion, i use an android phone, and i have just pre-ordered the transformer prime. I like android because i can sync it with anything, and it works just fine, no tinkering needed. although android has the advantage that it is easier to tinker with than iOS if thats what you like.

granted there aren't as many games and what not, but android works, so does iOS. I would say Android is just as good as iOS on phones, and I'm willing to bet that ICS will match that for tablets as well.

 

[trmiv]

I actually agree. I own an Asus Transformer. After owning it for awhile and barely using it, I've decided that to me, tablets are toys, novelty devices. I had to find excuses to use my tablet because most of the time I could use my phone, or if I wanted more power, I just used my laptop. Because of that I'd rather own an iPad 2, because it does a much better job at being a toy. More games, more fun stuff to do. That said, I wouldn't buy one, because I can't justify the cost after feeling like I wasted money on my Transformer.

 

[MrX8503]

So can smartphones.
If that's all it's needed for then why not get an iPhone or an Android phone?
What are tablets needed for again?

My laptop is not an Ultrabook. Nice try though.

So your laptop is lighter/thinner than an Ultrabook?

 

[Oyeve]

I actually agree. I own an Asus Transformer. After owning it for awhile and barely using it, I've decided that to me, tablets are toys, novelty devices. I had to find excuses to use my tablet because most of the time I could use my phone, or if I wanted more power, I just used my laptop. Because of that I'd rather own an iPad 2, because it does a much better job at being a toy. More games, more fun stuff to do. That said, I wouldn't buy one, because I can't justify the cost after feeling like I wasted money on my Transformer.

I too cant really justify my Transformer purchase. For hardcore computing and gaming I use my PC desktop, for quicky web browsing and not too hardcore stuff I use my MBP, for taking a crap and reading email I use my transformer.

I do TRY to use my transformer more, ie, I use it for nextflix viewing on my pillow to fall asleep by. Yes, I really didnt need it but I was intrigued by it early this year when it was announced and really dont regret it at all. Saying that I have played with ipads at work a lot prior to my TF purchase and can honestly say if I had bought an ipad instead of the TF I would probably have regretted it because 1. it costs more and 2. I really really really hate itunes and 3. no SD slot. 2 and 3 are really important to me. I am sure that in a few more months I will probably stop using the TF altogether as I am pretty bored with it. I would be bored with any tablet at this point. Once the "wow" factor wears off there is not much left.

 

[lothar]

I actually agree. I own an Asus Transformer. After owning it for awhile and barely using it, I've decided that to me, tablets are toys, novelty devices. I had to find excuses to use my tablet because most of the time I could use my phone, or if I wanted more power, I just used my laptop. Because of that I'd rather own an iPad 2, because it does a much better job at being a toy. More games, more fun stuff to do. That said, I wouldn't buy one, because I can't justify the cost after feeling like I wasted money on my Transformer.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[lothar]

So your laptop is lighter/thinner than an Ultrabook?

My laptop is 3.1 pounds to be exact.
An Ultrabook is 3.1 pounds or less per Intel specification.

My laptop was made well before Intel made the "Ultrabook" designation, therefore it can't be classified officially as an Ultrabook.
BTW...It also meets the 8hr battery life requirement of an Ultrabook also.

 

[TuxDave]

My laptop is 3.1 pounds to be exact.
An Ultrabook is 3.1 pounds or less per Intel specification.

My laptop was made well before Intel made the "Ultrabook" designation, therefore it can't be classified officially as an Ultrabook.
BTW...It also meets the 8hr battery life requirement of an Ultrabook also.

Which laptop is this?

 

[Trader05]

My laptop is 3.1 pounds to be exact.
An Ultrabook is 3.1 pounds or less per Intel specification.

My laptop was made well before Intel made the "Ultrabook" designation, therefore it can't be classified officially as an Ultrabook.
BTW...It also meets the 8hr battery life requirement of an Ultrabook also.

what is this mystery laptop? pics?

 

[lothar]

Which laptop is this?

Acer TimelineX 11.6"
I purchased it November, 26 2010 per my Amazon receipt.

 

[lothar]

what is this mystery laptop? pics?

Nice laptop, let's talk about the tablets now.
Moderator TheStu

 

[slackerinabox]

As a fan of apple, I have to disagree. i have a macbook pro running OSX Lion, i use an android phone, and i have just pre-ordered the transformer prime. I like android because i can sync it with anything, and it works just fine, no tinkering needed. although android has the advantage that it is easier to tinker with than iOS if thats what you like.

granted there aren't as many games and what not, but android works, so does iOS. I would say Android is just as good as iOS on phones, and I'm willing to bet that ICS will match that for tablets as well.

Yeah, I'll agree that I wasn't trying to put Android down, even at an OS level on tablets or phones. I was up until 4 am last night fidgeting with my nook (which I carry around because it's so affordable that I don't mind it getting dropped/lost/stolen) customizing it to my hearts desire after I was jealous of my wife's ipad2. It really does appeal to the side of me that likes to fidget with things, and I'm sure ICS fixes the force closes I get every now and then. ICS is also really handsome and does away with my criticism of stock android reminding me of Win 3.1... The apps though need a shot in the arm - for the apps that exist on both ecosystems the iPad versions tend to more polished and full featured...

For phones, I'd take a Galaxy S2 over an iPhone 4s in a heartbeat if the build quality were the same. Though I'm stuck on a Blackberry because I love not having to charge everyday 🙂

 

[Tom]

As a fan of apple, I have to disagree. i have a macbook pro running OSX Lion, i use an android phone, and i have just pre-ordered the transformer prime. I like android because i can sync it with anything, and it works just fine, no tinkering needed. although android has the advantage that it is easier to tinker with than iOS if thats what you like.

granted there aren't as many games and what not, but android works, so does iOS. I would say Android is just as good as iOS on phones, and I'm willing to bet that ICS will match that for tablets as well.

I didnt say nothing works. I said too many things don't, compared to the alternative.

 

[Tom]

If by sophistication you mean simplification, then I would mostly agree with that. 🙂




That's the funny thing about opinions, everyone has their own. Mine happens to be in complete disagreement with yours on this matter. I can't even consider the iPhone as a top contender seeing as it can't do the simplest things such as give drag & drop control over files, use widgets, or load Flash-using websites (unfortunately Flash is still widely used on the internet). The last one will hopefully no longer be a problem when people stop using Flash, but it was an issue before and it's still an issue now.

Simple is actually what most people want. Simple isn't easy though, it takes a lot of sophistication and design to end up with simple for the user.

 

[poofyhairguy]

For phones, I'd take a Galaxy S2 over an iPhone 4s in a heartbeat if the build quality were the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elKxgsrJFhw

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

not really even close to as good.

seriously. peoplle using iphones, ipads, and Apple computers together as a system, are experiencing a whole nother level of sophistication from the rest of us.

Android phone hardware is really good tho'. But that doesn't make an Android phone as good as an iphone, there's way too much stuff that doesn't work the way it should without some fiddling, customization. which makes it better for the tinkering class than for people who just want stuff that works.

While I like my iPad2, more so than my Transformer (mainly because of form factor as mentioned before), a pure Android experience is much better than the iOS experience. It's clean, quick and highly customizable.
I use tablets for surfing the web and watching youtube.
I use my cell phone for phone calls, organizer, ect. Since I carry a cell phone with me everywhere I go, I prefer to have it setup the way I want, not the way a software design study said it should be setup and not allow the dumb users to fiddle with it.
iOS is fine if you want to just use it, if you want any kind of customization or more useful info on the main screen(s) Android is far superior.

 

[kubani1]

I didnt say nothing works. I said too many things don't, compared to the alternative.

that might be when android was first released, but i haven't come across anything that doesn't work now at least on phones

 

[SlitheryDee]

I've got a touchpad that dual boots android and webos, an android phone, and an iPad 2. I honestly don't think android is even as good as webos, much less iOS.

 

[MrX8503]

My laptop is 3.1 pounds to be exact.
An Ultrabook is 3.1 pounds or less per Intel specification.

My laptop was made well before Intel made the "Ultrabook" designation, therefore it can't be classified officially as an Ultrabook.
BTW...It also meets the 8hr battery life requirement of an Ultrabook also.

And...it still can't be classified as an Ultrabook.

No, its not as light as an iPad2 (1.33lbs vs 3.1lbs)
No, its not as thin (.34" vs ~1")
No, it doesn't cost the same ($500 vs ~$900 at release)

The closest thing to an iPad2 when it comes to portability is an Ultrabook and your laptop can't even be considered an ultrabook.

You're comparing apples to oranges, nice try though.

I'm sorry, was this thread about laptops? I don't care how wrong you think he is, drop it.
Moderator TheStu