Samsung Galaxy Tab laid bare for the world

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/samsung-galaxy-tab-preview/

Very interested in this, its a 7in display with a 1024x600 resolution. I find this nice and convenient, while being very portable, while at the same time boasting powerful hardware and a nice array of features. Not too crazy about TouchWiz though, hope that can be stripped out in favor of Gingerbread or a community driven theme/UI. Also, I want a WiFi only option. Unless that 3G option is free, but I doubt it.

Hardware specs

* Android 2.2 running TouchWiz 3.0
* 7-inch TFT LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution (WSVGA)
* 1GHz Cortex A9 processor
* 16GB or 32GB internal storage
* microSD expansion for up to 32GB additional storage
* Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and rear 3 megapixel camera with flash
* 4,000mAh battery
* 3G data / voice (there's a speakerphone and Bluetooth for phone calls, but no earpiece)
* 5GHz dual-band 802.11n WiFi
* Standard back color is white, carriers might offer different colors
* Full HD video playback
* There's a 30-pin dock connector on the bottom that allows for HDMI, USB, and docking accessories (a car dock at least is planned)

 

[s44]

Not Super AMOLED? Bummer.

 

[Bateluer]

Not Super AMOLED? Bummer.

If it launches in October, I don't see how they could meet the demand, assuming its priced to actually sell. Samsung can barely make enough Super AMOLEDs for their own GS phones. To my knowledge, their new facility won't ramp up until 2011 sometime?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Larger AMOLED displays cost big $$.

 

[ponyo]

Not Super AMOLED? Bummer.

This. I know they did this for price reason so this tablet better be super cheap. Because without Super AMOLED, it's no longer special.

I sense required data plan to purchase this tablet and that will be big major fail.

Unless this sells for like $300-350 with no data plan, I sense failure.

 

[you2]

For me it is too small. I want 10inch and 3/4g is a must.

 

[boomhower]

I am interested in tablets but I am having trouble finding a point for one in my life. I have a notebook at home and I have a notebook mounted in my car at work. What do you guys plan on using them for?

 

[Spoooon]

I am interested in tablets but I am having trouble finding a point for one in my life. I have a notebook at home and I have a notebook mounted in my car at work. What do you guys plan on using them for?

If I were to get one, it'd be the living room "computer." Check emails, look stuff up, or (hopefully) watch Hulu or something if the wife is watching something else on TV. We have 2 laptops in the house, but one is pretty old school and the other is basically a portable desktop.

The problem for a number of people I'd imagine is that they could do most of this stuff on their cell phone. Like someone else said, I'd prefer a 10 inch version.

 

[Bateluer]

What do you guys plan on using them for?

When they're priced right, they become impulse buy items.

Edit - I seriously doubt this tablet will be 350 or less off contract. A smart phone costs double that. I could see it being between 250 and 300 on contract and 600+ off. Depends on how many units they want to sell. Still want the WiFi only version though.

 

[SunnyD]

Too much bezel.

 

[herkulease]

its already a fail in my book. No announcement of a wifi only version.

There's no way in hell att, tmobile, sprint or verizon will be selling it without some contract tied to it.

I mostly like to use it @ home as a replacement to a dated prototype webpad.

I'll be looking at the toshiba folio 100 which is launching a wifi version 1st then later a 3g version. Or the archos tablets.

 

[theeedude]

For me it is too small. I want 10inch and 3/4g is a must.

that's what she said

 

[Wag]

Being that I have FIOS I'm going to wait and see what Motorola/Verizon delivers before I jump.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Meh.

I really want something to fit between my Droid X and Envy 14. The phone is great for quick browsing, playing a video or two, and perhaps even downloading a file or checking email in an emergency. The notebook gets used for anything that actually requires a computer - programming or writing documents, responding to emails, graphics work, games, etc.

I would LOVE a 9-11" tablet to complement the two (for when the phone feels too cramped, and I don't feel like taking the time to break out the notebook), but it would absolutely have to get 10+ hours of battery life, have a decent resolution (1024x600 absolute minimum, 1366x768 preferred), allow expandable storage (32GB SD card), HDMI or mini DisplayPort out, and a way of connecting a mini keyboard for quick typing if needed. Furthermore, it would need to come in a single flavor - Wifi enabled, with 3G (perhaps 4G later) available if the customer chooses to opt into a contract, but NOT required. Finally, it would have to run some sort of Windows or Linux-based OS that allows me to essentially install whatever I want on it (OpenOffice, for example) without being limited to what's offered in the App Store or Market.

If someone can deliver that with good build quality, I'll gladly throw $500 their way.

 

[preslove]

So, you need an adapter for full size SD cards or USB? LAME.

I just want to throw a tablet in my bag with its power cord, not have to remember where I put that stupid adapter. After my phone & power adapter, Camera & power adapter, & maybe nintendo ds & power adapter, I don't want to have to remember another stupid adapter.

 

[s44]

If you look at the official site, you'll see that one of the accessories is a stylus. Neat!

 

[boomhower]

Massive failboat is setting sail. From the looks of things this thing is going to be pushing $1k without a contract. I'm already paying for data on my phone, I'll tether if I want to connect it on the go. No way in hell I'm paying another $30 a month for more data, I'm already paying for it twice(home and mobile). Oh well, hopefully the competition is more sane.

 

[preslove]

Yeah, the price for these android tablets needs to be $400 or less.

 

[rudeguy]

Massive failboat is setting sail. From the looks of things this thing is going to be pushing $1k without a contract. I'm already paying for data on my phone, I'll tether if I want to connect it on the go. No way in hell I'm paying another $30 a month for more data, I'm already paying for it twice(home and mobile). Oh well, hopefully the competition is more sane.

This really is going to suck if they jack the prices up that high. However Samsung has a nasty habit of charging early adapters a very large prime. I remember when they launched their DLP TV's. The price was out of control. People still bought them though. Then after ~6 months the price was cut by a huge amount. The price drop came from Samsung and not the place I was working for.

Its looking like waiting will def be a good idea on these guys.

 

[s44]

Both Verizon and Sprint? Wouldn't surprise me if it's another four-carrier rollout, with the only question being whether there's a wifi-only one too.

If the Tab is in fact getting Gingerbread, that looks like good news for the Galaxy S too.

 

[gar655]

Crappy battery life = FAILURE. Oh and android has one decent game available and it's still in beta

iPad kicks its ass!

 

[SAWYER]

I like Android A LOT, but any tablet will have its work cut out to compete with the ipad. The ipad is damn nice

 

[kaerflog]

I'm really intrigue by this form factor.
I think 7 inch is perfect because its 120mm wide and you can grip it with 1 hand like a phone.
The resolution is fine. Its 1024x600 vs 1024x768 for the ipad so you are really not losing much real estate.
Pricing is key here.
Its going to all 4 network so lets say if it sells for $200 with a service agreement for T-mobile.
T-mobile has the cheaper ETF of $200 so making this tablet around $400 if I just buy it and cancel it.
~$400 for a 3G tablet sounds a whole lot better than $629.
It might be a wait but I'm certain Google is working on 3.0 to make it optimize for tablets.

 

[zerocool84]

Not too crazy about TouchWiz though, hope that can be stripped out in favor of Gingerbread or a community driven theme/UI.

Trust me, you want TouchWiz. They made it better for the higher rez/larger screen. As we all know, regular Android is not ready for tablets.

 

[Bateluer]

Trust me, you want TouchWiz. They made it better for the higher rez/larger screen. As we all know, regular Android is not ready for tablets.

TouchWiz makes it very iPhone-like. I hate that more. With a more vanilla Android experience, its easier for the community to overcome the shortcomings of stock Android.

With an open boot loader and an active dev community, Android tablets will quickly surpass the iPad just as Android phones have surpassed Apple's offering.