What are the best tablets right now?

[super_sinbad]

Transformer is the only thing I would consider other than an iPad, since that's out start hunting a transformer.

Same here.

If you like Android OS then go for the Transformer, iOS, get an iPad.

 

[Anubis]

amazon has the 32 gb transformer back in stock, prob wont last long

 

[Rottie]

I take Coby Kyros is not the best Android tablet?

http://www.cobyusa.com/?p=prod&prod_num_id=10494&pcat_id=1013

 

[Aikouka]

I take Coby Kyros is not the best Android tablet?

http://www.cobyusa.com/?p=prod&prod_num_id=10494&pcat_id=1013

I was sold at resistive touch screen!

:sneaky:

 

[secretanchitman]

if i didnt have the ipad 2, i would have gotten the transformer. its by far the best android tablet out right now.

 

[Adramalech]

...and it is sold out

 

[Muse]

Im leaning towards the transformer. The Acer one looks good too but the lack of a IPS panel is a big downside for a tablet.

Is the Kindle something else entirely? My sister recommended me a Kindle, down to around $115 these days. She's not a techy! I am, but I don't know squat about tablets.

 

[JBT]

Is the Kindle something else entirely? My sister recommended me a Kindle, down to around $115 these days. She's not a techy! I am, but I don't know squat about tablets.

The Kindle, is an e-reader. Its got an e-ink screen which does one color.... black they are AMAZINGLY nice for reading books, and that's about it.

 

[Muse]

The Kindle, is an e-reader. Its got an e-ink screen which does one color.... black they are AMAZINGLY nice for reading books, and that's about it.

Can a Transformer also function as a great reader?

 

[you2]

Only indoors. The thing about the kindle is that while it is monochrome it does not fade out doors...

Also being a smaller device it is a bit lighter; with the transformer you will definitely not want to hold it for an hour or two while reading a book.

Can a Transformer also function as a great reader?

 

[MagickMan]

Only indoors. The thing about the kindle is that while it is monochrome it does not fade out doors...

Also being a smaller device it is a bit lighter; with the transformer you will definitely not want to hold it for an hour or two while reading a book.

This is a fair statement. I really like my iPad, but I do prop it up if I'm reading for a while. It's still rather heavy. That's not a deal breaker, but it is something to consider if you read a lot.

 

[Homer Simpson]

Couple coworkers have the Acer Iconia tab, it is pretty much just like the Transformer. They like it.

picked up an acer last night myself. after my research, it seems like the one to get. i have no use for the asus docking keyboard thing (im buying a tab, not a netbook) and lots of comments from users about horrible light bleeding and poor build quality. the acer feels solid in hand (all aluminum back) and has a full size usb port which is sweet. it does cost $50 more, but in terms of looks, feel, features and availability, i was sold. even if a transformer was in stock, i dont think i wouldve picked it anyway based on some of the user opinions ive read at xda and some other android sites.

 

[MagickMan]

I dunno, I guess it's me being unreasonable and terribly biased, but I just hate buying products with Acer stamped on them. It may be the best thing since sliced bread, but due to bad past experiences, if it has that name on it I automatically dock a point off the top.

 

[Ns1]

I dunno, I guess it's me being unreasonable and terribly biased, but I just hate buying products with Acer stamped on them. It may be the best thing since sliced bread, but due to bad past experiences, if it has that name on it I automatically dock a point off the top.

+1

Acer + Gateway = automatic reject

 

[el_brio]

picked up an acer last night myself. after my research, it seems like the one to get. i have no use for the asus docking keyboard thing (im buying a tab, not a netbook) and lots of comments from users about horrible light bleeding and poor build quality. the acer feels solid in hand (all aluminum back) and has a full size usb port which is sweet. it does cost $50 more, but in terms of looks, feel, features and availability, i was sold. even if a transformer was in stock, i dont think i wouldve picked it anyway based on some of the user opinions ive read at xda and some other android sites.

Please link to the "lots of comments about horrible light bleed and poor build quality". You sound like a Acer marketing shill. I have seen several posts like this that are almost identical, and then usually go on to extol the virtues of the iPad. Frankly, they reek of Apple's well known tactic of bashing competitor's products in online forums in order to steer people towards their products.

I have consumed just about every bit of information about the transformer that has been produced since well before its release. I have yet to see genuine, verifiable proof of poor build quality or "horrible" light bleed. Additionally, as far as build quality goes, Asus' reputation is much better than Acer's from what I have experienced. Asus makes top-notch performance mobo's as well as many other products. I have never had a problem with their quality. Acer slaps together cheap notebooks and netbooks (I own one).

This isn't meant to say that the Acer isn't a perfectly fine tablet, but I really think that there is a deliberate concerted effort by Asus' competitors (Apple) to spread misinformation about the Transformer.

 

[Mopetar]

Can a Transformer also function as a great reader?

I don't see why not. I use my iPad for reading all the time and think it works well for that. However, if you're the type of person whose eyes get tired or sore from looking at an LCD panel too long, you may want to get a Kindle instead.

 

[el_brio]

If you are going to do a lot of reading, a dedicated e-reader is completely worth the $140. Reading an e-ink display is a completely different experience than reading a LCD or OLED display. Plus, the battery life on a kindle is just crazy long. I have had one for several months and have had to charge it maybe 3 or 4 times.

 

[Doboji]

So i know very little about tablets but now i want one.

I usually use my laptop while on the couch but mostly do web browsing which i think i will be better served with a tablet.

As i understand it Apple does not support Flash? so its out. I need Full Flash and Java capability i want all webpages to work flawlessly as this will be the tablets main use.

Needs to be touchscreen, ,my laptop is touchscreen and i've grown used to it.

Screen size is not a huge issue as long as its 8"+, being able to hook it up to the TV would be a huge plus but not a dealbreaker.

Not worried about battery life much.

In my opinion for 8"+ tablets:

1. iPad 2 (and I'm an Android fan)
Pros: Best platform overall, incredible app support, gorgeous physical specimen, best available accessories
Cons: You tether yourself to Apple's teat... and you tether yourself there with your wallet. Even though you spend a competitive price when you buy the tablet... the TCO is inevitably higher because of inflated prices of apps and accessories.


2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Google IO
Pros: Thin, light, Freedom of Android... superbly hackable. Likely to be the premier Android tablet platform with all the support that comes with it.
Cons: Less high quality apps available, Difficult to find, and pricey.. can be had from ebay for around 800-1K.

3. Transformer
Pros: Freedom of Android, cheap
Cons: Heavier, thicker, less portable. Less high quality apps available.

The rest I just don't think are up to par right now and I wouldn't consider for what you're looking for.

 

[Homer Simpson]

Please link to the "lots of comments about horrible light bleed and poor build quality". You sound like a Acer marketing shill. I have seen several posts like this that are almost identical, and then usually go on to extol the virtues of the iPad. Frankly, they reek of Apple's well known tactic of bashing competitor's products in online forums in order to steer people towards their products.

I have consumed just about every bit of information about the transformer that has been produced since well before its release. I have yet to see genuine, verifiable proof of poor build quality or "horrible" light bleed. Additionally, as far as build quality goes, Asus' reputation is much better than Acer's from what I have experienced. Asus makes top-notch performance mobo's as well as many other products. I have never had a problem with their quality. Acer slaps together cheap notebooks and netbooks (I own one).

This isn't meant to say that the Acer isn't a perfectly fine tablet, but I really think that there is a deliberate concerted effort by Asus' competitors (Apple) to spread misinformation about the Transformer.

just search around the various forums, i saw it come up a few times on xda, android central, etc. call me what you want, just stating my opinion based on what i read around the internet from other users comments. this is my first acer product. in fact, i currently own more asus products than acer if that makes you feel better. i have an eee pc and a couple mobo's. like i said, i read comments on light bleed and some reporting creaking of the case. the fact i had no interest in the keyboard and liked that the acer had a full size usb host port helped make my decision. if the comments i read werent accurate, so be it. just saying what i saw. i chose what worked for ME and what I wanted and that was the acer. just sharing.

 

[Muse]

+1

Acer + Gateway = automatic reject

I was very pleased with my Acer lappy (the bang for the buck was irrefutable) ... until it filled my kitchen with the smell of fried electronics one day about 2 months after the warranty ran out. I was barely able to salvage the data over the next few weeks before it went completely belly up. I went back to thinkpads. No more Acers for me, period.

 

[Muse]

If you are going to do a lot of reading, a dedicated e-reader is completely worth the $140. Reading an e-ink display is a completely different experience than reading a LCD or OLED display. Plus, the battery life on a kindle is just crazy long. I have had one for several months and have had to charge it maybe 3 or 4 times.

My concern is paying for content. I'm on a tight budget ATM and either tap my library or order books from Amazon, if I want them on my shelf. I'll have to look into the cost of content. My eyes are pretty good, I think. I'll have to have a session with my sister's Kindle... and a conversation, I guess.

Question: Don't those tablet screens get pretty grungy with all the tapping with the fingers? Strategies to keep them clean must be paramount, I'd suspect. I have problems enough with my LCDs and I try to never touch them! Do the tablets have special screens that are easy to keep clean and hard to injure?

 

[zerogear]

just search around the various forums, i saw it come up a few times on xda, android central, etc. call me what you want, just stating my opinion based on what i read around the internet from other users comments. this is my first acer product. in fact, i currently own more asus products than acer if that makes you feel better. i have an eee pc and a couple mobo's. like i said, i read comments on light bleed and some reporting creaking of the case. the fact i had no interest in the keyboard and liked that the acer had a full size usb host port helped make my decision. if the comments i read werent accurate, so be it. just saying what i saw. i chose what worked for ME and what I wanted and that was the acer. just sharing.

The thing with that is, forums are the main place people go to complain when there is an issue, but people who received good/perfect ones don't really bother posting about it. So forums in general, gives a pretty skewed view.

 

[el_brio]

The thing with that is, forums are the main place people go to complain when there is an issue, but people who received good/perfect ones don't really bother posting about it. So forums in general, gives a pretty skewed view.

It's not just the fact that people only come to forums to bitch anymore.

People need to realize that big companies are actually PAYING people to spread misinformation on forums such as this. I don't think that Homer's post is one of these, but it sure looks like he read some of the same ones I have seen. They are usually very easy to spot something like:

"I am a big fan of Asus and decided to buy the Transformer because I had heard good things about it. Boy was I wrong! It burst into flames and then slept with my wife! I returned it and bought an iPad 2 and couldn't be happier. The build quality is so much better and it serves me breakfast in bed every morning."

 

[el_brio]

My concern is paying for content. I'm on a tight budget ATM and either tap my library or order books from Amazon, if I want them on my shelf. I'll have to look into the cost of content. My eyes are pretty good, I think. I'll have to have a session with my sister's Kindle... and a conversation, I guess.

Amazon is going to start letting users "check-out" digital copies from libraries:
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/coming-to-your-kindle-library-books/


There are also a lot of free public domain books out there. Paperbacks are about the same price on the Kindle. Or, you can torrent pretty much any book you want for free (I don't condone this. Stealing is wrong). There are plenty of free classics to read and if I want something current I shell out the $6.00 for it. It is far easier. You could buy the ad supported kindle for $115 and put only free/public domain books on it.

 

[you2]

j
[/quoteust search around the various forums, i saw it come up a few times on xda, android central, etc. call me what you want, just stating my opinion based on what i read around the internet from other users comments. this is my first acer product. in fact, i currently own more asus products than acer if that makes you feel better. i have an eee pc and a couple mobo's. like i said, i read comments on light bleed and some reporting creaking of the case. the fact i had no interest in the keyboard and liked that the acer had a full size usb host port helped make my decision. if the comments i read werent accurate, so be it. just saying what i saw. i chose what worked for ME and what I wanted and that was the acer. just sharing.]
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I read the various forums (I have the transformer) and I can attest that quite a few people are having issues with the transformer but as a percentage I can't comment. I posted above that my unit has been fine beyond the normal bleeding edge glitches.
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Having said that I've played with the acer and I think it is a fine option if honeycomb is your thing. The reason I went with the transformer was $75 less and longer battery life. It was also the lighter of the two units.
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Having said that I think the acer screen is very good; in some ways better than the transformer and the USB ports are a big plus if you desire them. I nearly went with the acer and probably would have if they had been the same price.
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I've heard very few issues with the acer on the forums I read (I'm mostly reading xda and phandroid). Anyways build quality at the user is mostly focused on the outer shell. I've not torn down either device so can't really comment authority in that area.