"The Galaxy Tab Train Wreck"

[Pliablemoose]

Oh snap, from Gizmodo no less.

Typically, the point of a compromise is to bring together the best of both sides. The Tab is like a compromise's evil twin, merging the worst of a tablet and the worst of a phone. It has all of the input problems of a tablet, with almost none of the consumption benefits. With more apps geared to its tweener size, it could be a lot better, but it's not clear they're coming anytime soon, if ever. The Tab is an awkward first attempt at this kind of tablet—wait for somebody else to do it better.

http://gizmodo.com/5686161/samsung-galaxy-tab-review-a-pocketable-train-wreck


I really think the 7" form factor is a solution looking for a problem, too small to use as a main device, too big to carry easily.

For portability, the 4.3" phone touchscreen form factor has nailed it, IMHO. If I'm going to carry something around, I want more than a 7" screen, unless I'm carrying a flipping purse.

The other reviews are calling the Galaxy Tab "the best Android tablet" and not addressing many other issues.

Add Kin type data contracts, and you've got a lot of fail wrapped up in 7".

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i thought gizmodo was pro-apple, anti-android.

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://tinyurl.com/323r9bm

 

[WelshBloke]

Oh snap, from Gizmodo no less.

http://gizmodo.com/5686161/samsung-galaxy-tab-review-a-pocketable-train-wreck


I really think the 7" form factor is a solution looking for a problem, too small to use as a main device, too big to carry easily.

For portability, the 4.3" phone touchscreen form factor has nailed it, IMHO. If I'm going to carry something around, I want more than a 7" screen, unless I'm carrying a flipping purse.

The other reviews are calling the Galaxy Tab "the best Android tablet" and not addressing many other issues.

Add Kin type data contracts, and you've got a lot of fail wrapped up in 7".

Its all subjective I suppose. All the bolded could be said about the iPad as well.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Its all subjective I suppose. All the bolded could be said about the iPad as well.

Yeah, I wonder if at least some of the criticism of the Galaxy Tab is due to iPad bias. It's Apple, it's the iPad, so therefore it's good and everyone loves it.

When I first heard about the iPad I wondered why it was useful when it's too big to be portable but is still limited in all the same ways a smartphone is. It's almost as big and as heavy as a compact laptop or netbook. But everyone loves it, because it's a "magical" Apple product.

Certainly the Tab has a lot more problems, like pricing and plans, but even if those weren't issues at all, I still don't think it would be that good. It still has all the same shortcomings of an iPad and all the same disadvantages. Sure, it's slightly more portable and I bet text entry is easier since you can more easily reach the entire screen, but it's still a big, cumbersome device that really isn't any more useful than a smartphone.

 

[pm]

i thought gizmodo was pro-apple, anti-android.

I thought Apple disliked Gizmodo so much that they blacklisted Gizmodo from all Apple events.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I thought Apple disliked Gizmodo so much that they blacklisted Gizmodo from all Apple events.

They still love Apple, it's just unrequited.

 

[Deeko]

i thought gizmodo was pro-apple, anti-android.

Well, I think they were a bit scorned after the iPhone 4 fiasco. Although various Gizmodo writers definitely still <3 their Apples.

I personally don't read Gizmodo at all anymore. Its garbage. Many of their "articles" are mainly meant to incite people to be annoyed with them because it generates more clicks. The way they handled the iphone 4 situation (essentially trying to shift Apple's ire from their crimes to the mistake of the guy who lost/had the phone stolen from him) was pathetic. Oh, not to mention, they are terrible at networking, and one day at work "gizmodo.com" took me to fleshbot instead.

There are plenty of other sources worthy of my advertising revenue.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't read gizmodo either as they're too biased.

This is only my opinion, but if I were to purchase a tablet I would want the screen to be similar in size to a sheet of paper. I guess I picture myself lounging around on a couch with a tablet just as I would with something of a similar size, like a magazine.

 

[Deeko]

I don't read gizmodo either as they're too biased.

Yes. There is very little objective writing on Gizmodo. Certain writers are more biased to one company/product or another, but few of them actually use solid, unbiased articles (such as Anand's phone reviews).

Gawker as a whole is terrible.

 

[MrX8503]

I think Anandtech is the best when it comes to reviews. Unfortunately they don't review everything.

 

[Midwayman]

All they could do is talk about how it was worse because it differed from ipad. Even if it is just a scaled up Galaxy S, that makes it a pretty slick device. I think I'd lean the opposite way on the size question though. I always thought the ipad was too large. Its nearly the size of a small notebook. At least with the Galaxy tab you have a significant difference in portability from notebooks. I see the ipad as a better lay around on the couch and surf device, while the tab is better if you want to use it on travel and/or commuting.

 

[pm]

When I first heard about the iPad I wondered why it was useful when it's too big to be portable but is still limited in all the same ways a smartphone is. It's almost as big and as heavy as a compact laptop or netbook. But everyone loves it, because it's a "magical" Apple product.

This is the kind of comment that always irritates me. I don't like my iPad because it's magical, or because Apple makes it. I like I like it because it fills a role in my life and it works for what I want it for - which is mostly sitting in bed or on the couch and surfing the internet on a gizmo that isn't particularly heavy and that I only need to charge about once every two weeks. I have lots of things that I don't like about it, and I could go off again on a list about all it's limitations - but it's still the best thing that I have seen for the use that I want it for. It's not magical... but what else would you use if you wanted to sit and bed and read/surf... I don't need a keyboard, I want a big brilliant crisp screen and good battery life. I bought an iPad and I'll switch the minute that I see something that I like better.



As far as Gizmodo, I stopped reading the back when they thought it was funny to walk around conferences turning off demo TV's. Since I've been part of those kinds of demos at conferences - and I am well aware of the stress involved - I thought that it was the opposite of funny. I read Engadget, Anandtech, and CNet news.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Didn't read the review, but are they moaning about the lack of GTab specific or tageted apps?

 

[mooncancook]

I really think the 7" form factor is a solution looking for a problem, too small to use as a main device, too big to carry easily.

No tablet can be a main device, at least not in their current state. 7" is fine for being a supplement to a laptop, to be used in the bathroom, on the couch, or in bed. It fits more easily in women's handbags or the side pocket of a laptop case. It's good to have choices. Just like in smartphones, some ppl like the smaller 3.5" form factor while others like the bigger 4.3".

 

[Bateluer]

No tablet can be a main device, at least not in their current state. 7" is fine for being a supplement to a laptop, to be used in the bathroom, on the couch, or in bed. It fits more easily in women's handbags or the side pocket of a laptop case. It's good to have choices. Just like in smartphones, some ppl like the smaller 3.5" form factor while others like the bigger 4.3".

Only electronics allowed in the bathroom are a scale and possible a wall clock/radio. Anything else is disgusting.

 

[WelshBloke]

Only electronics allowed in the bathroom are a scale and possible a wall clock/radio. Anything else is disgusting.

Hey I'd pay for a waterproof tablet that I could use in the bath.

For, errrrr, reading the news and ... stuff :sneaky:

 

[zerocool84]

I think Anandtech is the best when it comes to reviews. Unfortunately they don't review everything.

Yup AnandTech has pissed off Nvidia and AMD and doesn't seem to care and seems to be one of the few sites that still does true reviews but like you said, they don't review too much stuff any more, only the very large releases but I still read every review and comparisons they do.

 

[TheStu]

Yup AnandTech has pissed off Nvidia and AMD and doesn't seem to care and seems to be one of the few sites that still does true reviews but like you said, they don't review too much stuff any more, only the very large releases but I still read every review and comparisons they do.

Absolutely agree, the level of detail and technical knowledge they bring to the table is great. I mean, come on, how many other sites have a recommended 3 part primer on SSDs before you even read one of the reviews?

 

[MrX8503]

Absolutely agree, the level of detail and technical knowledge they bring to the table is great. I mean, come on, how many other sites have a recommended 3 part primer on SSDs before you even read one of the reviews?

Surprisingly not even storagereview.com, lol. Anand is apparently a huge fan of SSDs though.