Is the Galaxy Pro 8.4 the best current Android deal?

[Midwayman]

With that said, what is depressing about Android right now is that at NO price point are you going to avoid issues. If I could pay $600 today for a tablet with no compromise on anything including build quality I would do it in a heartbeat. But that simply doesn't exist, every "high-end" Android tablet has a compromise somewhere or requires you to play a lottery.

Yah, it sucks. And that even before you get to how few apps do anything with the space you have on a tablet. I ended up with an ipad simply because the best android can put out for tablets still has so many compromises.

 

[ControlD]

Yah, it sucks. And that even before you get to how few apps do anything with the space you have on a tablet. I ended up with an ipad simply because the best android can put out for tablets still has so many compromises.

I started with an iPad, and it was very good. I would go ahead and get another one, and I have been temped as I still have a bunch of iOS apps with nothing to run them on, but for at least $400 I just can't justify it.

 

[Roland00Address]

The ugly: The N7 2013 feels faster and runs smoother, regardless of what the paper specs state. Touchwiz + 1600p is not a good combination in its current software state. Touchwiz just sucks in my opinion. I didn’t like it on an S3 phone I used to have, and I like it even less on this tablet. The system settings menu is a special kind of terrible only Touchwiz knows how to achieve. It’s sad that Samsung is OK with impressive specs being hamstrung by such a mediocre user experience, but it is what it is unless you’re OK with voiding warranties to put something like CM on it. Will the 5.0 tablet Touchwiz be better optimized? Will it come at all to this device? Who knows.

Are you the type who would put a mod on it something like Cyangonmod or some Slim AOSP? Or is that not your things (work and warranties, etc)?

 

[Roland00Address]

I am curious if anyone thinks the Sony Xperia Z Ultra 6.4" would make a good tablet, it is currently $299 and there is a way to get an additional $100 off

http://store.sony.com/xperia-z-ultra-lte-zid27-XZUC6806//cat-27-catid-All-Unlocked-Phones

Its a 6.4" Phablet with 4g LTE unlocked works with AT&T, T-Mobile, and overseas GSM
6.4" Full HD TRILUMINOS Display with X-Reality for mobile
Ultra slim, waterproof and dust-resistant
Multi-task, write and sketch with stylus or pencil (special technology that senses the graphite of the pencil)
Simple connectivity with NFC
LTE speed for lightning fast connection
2.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon™ 800 processor
2 GB Ram
16 GB Storage with Micro SD
8MP camera with Exmor RS® for mobile
Sony has promised an update to Lollipop in early 2015, currently the Google Play version of this phone is already on Lollipop

Currently if you want to sign up for a Sony Visa Card they will give you a $100 off

I think it is an interesting phone for that price. Supposedly the battery life and back camera (no flash) is not that good compared to a real tablet but plug the t-mobile $30 dollar sim 5gb lte lan and you got a phone, a phablet, and lte where ever you want and it is waterproof. Sure there are better phones out there but for $299 or $199 with the credit card offer this is almost as good as the one plus one in specs (1+1 has better battery, 801 vs 800 soc so 10% faster cpu and a good amount faster gpu, and 3gbs of ram instead of 2gb). Since this is direct from the sony store and not an importer you will also have a warranty

 

[ControlD]

Are you the type who would put a mod on it something like Cyangonmod or some Slim AOSP? Or is that not your things (work and warranties, etc)?

Are you running stock or custom on yours?

I know the question wasn't directed to me, but I would actually prefer to run some type of AOSP ROM if possible. It looks like Slim support ended somewhere around version 7.4 (my phone is running 9.0 right now), but a quick glance at XDA shows a few CM based ROMs available.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I ended up with an ipad simply because the best android can put out for tablets still has so many compromises.

Me too. iOS feels like a damn kid's OS compared to what I am used to doing in Android (I would pay $50 to have ES File Explorer- a free program on Android- fully working on iOS). But I am sick of throwing good money after bad on Android tablets.

At the end of last year when the iPad Air 2 launched Best Buy was giving $200 on an iPad 2 trade in. That means that 2011 tablet I bought still had $200 of value because of the iPad name. Meanwhile the Transformer Prime I bought for more in 2011 isn't even worth $100 on Ebay. When we are talking about devices that lack a carrier subsidy that is huge.

In the Android world the feeling is that you just throw it away every couple years and buy another $200 flawed device and move on. I love the OS but I got sick of that treadmill.

I would easily pay over $100 extra if my iPad Air 2 could run Android though.

 

[Roland00Address]

Are you running stock or custom on yours?

I know the question wasn't directed to me, but I would actually prefer to run some type of AOSP ROM if possible. It looks like Slim support ended somewhere around version 7.4 (my phone is running 9.0 right now), but a quick glance at XDA shows a few CM based ROMs available.

I have a nexus 7 2013 (stock used to be on the lolipop beta) and an Asus T100. I have owned several tablets in the past and some were on cyangonemod but really starting with the Nexus 2012 I did not even bother on the tablets. Got tired of touchwiz on the S3 and S4 so I put CM on those.

 

[Super56K]

Are you the type who would put a mod on it something like Cyangonmod or some Slim AOSP? Or is that not your things (work and warranties, etc)?

No, I don't bother. Keeping my warranty intact is one reason, but I'm also not big on the whole Android ROM scene. I've been really happy with a stock Moto X 2013 and N7 2013 for obvious reasons, but now that I'm using a Samsung device again I'm reminded of how inconsistent and slow Touchwiz can be. Keeping the ~11 months of warranty is important though since I bought new.

I did have Nova Launcher installed day one of the Tab Pro 8.4 (which helped simplify the look as I use it on my other devices), but I uninstalled it a few days ago in my attempts to determine whether an app or apps are causing my performance and instability issues on the Tab Pro 8.4.

 

[Midwayman]

Me too. iOS feels like a damn kid's OS compared to what I am used to doing in Android (I would pay $50 to have ES File Explorer- a free program on Android- fully working on iOS). But I am sick of throwing good money after bad on Android tablets.

At the end of last year when the iPad Air 2 launched Best Buy was giving $200 on an iPad 2 trade in. That means that 2011 tablet I bought still had $200 of value because of the iPad name. Meanwhile the Transformer Prime I bought for more in 2011 isn't even worth $100 on Ebay. When we are talking about devices that lack a carrier subsidy that is huge.

In the Android world the feeling is that you just throw it away every couple years and buy another $200 flawed device and move on. I love the OS but I got sick of that treadmill.

I would easily pay over $100 extra if my iPad Air 2 could run Android though.

Yah, I sorta figure when its time to upgrade I'll get back whatever extra I paid and more simply because its an iOS device. The android tablet I had before it sold on ebay for peanuts.

I miss all the stuff you can make android do, and especially the quality *free* software. I figure I'll jailbreak one of these days, but for now its nice just having it work. Always was dicking around with the android OS half the time to fix the flaws the manufacture mods to the OS induced.

 

[Chocu1a]

I did a factory reset last night, so we'll see if that helps.

The Dell forums are full of people with the exact same problem so I don't have high hopes. Maybe a driver update introduced the issue at some point.

Happens on my Venue 8 too. I just leave mine on a dock when not in use.
Very frustrating, though.
I am actually looking at the Toshiba Encore Write.It is a bit more pricey, but I really want a great 8.1 pen experience. The Dell stylus sucks.

 

[Roland00Address]

Happens on my Venue 8 too. I just leave mine on a dock when not in use.
Very frustrating, though.
I am actually looking at the Toshiba Encore Write.It is a bit more pricey, but I really want a great 8.1 pen experience. The Dell stylus sucks.

It is not a perfect device but how about the Asus Vivotab 8? Microsoft Has it for $149 currently on sale. It is an Atom Z3745, 2 GB, 32GB, 1280x800 IPS, with Wacom Digitizer and Pen. Downsides is no hdmi and less bright than the high end android tablets that cost way more than $149

Oh the signature edition from microsoft store has no pre-installed junkware.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.307626900

 

[Chocu1a]

It is not a perfect device but how about the Asus Vivotab 8? Microsoft Has it for $149 currently on sale. It is an Atom Z3745, 2 GB, 32GB, 1280x800 IPS, with Wacom Digitizer and Pen. Downsides is no hdmi and less bright than the high end android tablets that cost way more than $149

Oh the signature edition from microsoft store has no pre-installed junkware.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.307626900

That is the plain non-wacom vivotab. Plus, the Vivotab Note 8 has an alarmingly high failure rate on their wacom digitizer. Has to do with how the connector is folded under the screen.Google it.