Why would you buy an Apple tablet over an Android tablet?

[Red Storm]

I don't root/rom my Android devices. I don't see the need, everything I need can be done without either.

While I get why people talk it up so much, it is by no means a necessity of Android.

 

[NaOH]

I don't think you can directly compare the cost of a MicroSD card to NAND flash.

You can, but then it'd be pointless and you'd wrong for doing so

 

[slackerinabox]

I don't root/rom my Android devices. I don't see the need, everything I need can be done without either.

While I get why people talk it up so much, it is by no means a necessity of Android.

What about carrier bloat? My fascinate had 2 PAGES of shit apps on it, with no way to delete without rooting.

 

[NaOH]

non of them free or cheap. that quality comes at a price. geez, many of the basic apps cost .. at a minimum 4.99. by the time you worked your way to a decent collection you spend easily another 100 bucks.

Wrong information is wrong.

 

[Red Storm]

What about carrier bloat? My fascinate had 2 PAGES of shit apps on it, with no way to delete without rooting.

I just hide them now. We have 3 tablets at home now, and ever since then I've basically stopped using my phone except for tethering and text/WhatsApp.

 

[GatorTPK]

Probably because the like using proprietary cables instead of USB and like being ripped off on device storage without the ability of expansion.

I just buy what I need at once. Expansion would be nice sometimes, but it's rarely up to 64GB (or soon 128GB); also, expansion provides another port to fail. One port, less complication, and get an adaptor out of dozens of types to connect to what you need.

I know the dock/connector is proprietary but so common and used for so many things, it works for analog video, analog audio, power, data transfer, digital video, device control, etc. And guess what, the other end of the most popular cable to use this proprietory connector is USB!

It does plug into any USB port. USB is pretty much a Universal Serial Bus!

 

[gorcorps]

Rooting isn't necessary on an android device. You can do just about anything without root. Can that be said about iDevices?

No but they're getting better. You used to have to jailbreak just to get copy/paste, or to get wallpaper on the home screen, or to get info on your lock screen, etc. You still need to for themes/custom icons and a few other things but it's getting better with each release.

 

[Binky]

I just buy what I need at once. Expansion would be nice sometimes, but it's rarely up to 64GB (or soon 128GB); also, expansion provides another port to fail. One port, less complication, and get an adaptor out of dozens of types to connect to what you need.

I know the dock/connector is proprietary but so common and used for so many things, it works for analog video, analog audio, power, data transfer, digital video, device control, etc. And guess what, the other end of the most popular cable to use this proprietory connector is USB!

It does plug into any USB port. USB is pretty much a Universal Serial Bus!

Your arguments are not reasonable. Regardless of the OS and assuming similar functionality for the connectors and storage, a device that uses a proprietary connector and/or does not have expandable storage is inferior. Many Android devices lack expandable storage, and there's zero upside to that choice. It's a cost decision in Android's case, and for iOS, it's probably a simplicity choice.

USB on one end is great, but USB on both ends is even better...

The one downside to expandable storage is that it makes the file system slightly more complicated. The user has to have a grasp of where the files are located to be able to use them (internal, SD, microSD).

 

[jhansman]

Short answer? I wouldn't. But then, I wouldn't own any Apple products. Everything about them makes me ill.

 

[MotionMan]

Your arguments are not reasonable. Regardless of the OS and assuming similar functionality for the connectors and storage, a device that uses a proprietary connector and/or does not have expandable storage is inferior.

Aren't those two BIG real world issues that you cannot really just ignore when comparing Apple vs. Android devices?

And then you have the following:

The one downside to expandable storage is that it makes the file system slightly more complicated. The user has to have a grasp of where the files are located to be able to use them (internal, SD, microSD).

Which basically defeats the presumption of "assuming similar functionality for...storage", no?

I agree that expandability is better than no expandability if looked at in a vacuum. However, that may be a feature that cannot operate in a vacuum and thus, simply cannot be compared as such.

MotionMan

 

[slackerinabox]

Your arguments are not reasonable. Regardless of the OS and assuming similar functionality for the connectors and storage, a device that uses a proprietary connector and/or does not have expandable storage is inferior. Many Android devices lack expandable storage, and there's zero upside to that choice. It's a cost decision in Android's case, and for iOS, it's probably a simplicity choice.

USB on one end is great, but USB on both ends is even better...

The one downside to expandable storage is that it makes the file system slightly more complicated. The user has to have a grasp of where the files are located to be able to use them (internal, SD, microSD).

What about their great eco system of accessories that require the dock connection? I love my speaker dock, etc. and have not found a suitable option for android/winPhone devices. Sure, you can use bluetooth to stream music but the charge dock and remote control options presented by the dock are great and just feel more premium.

Also, the dock allows for great iOS integration on car stereos. Plug my ipod in and I can control it via the head unit, something you can't do easily on an android device. Propriety or not, the usb cables are easily obtainable, cheap, and allow for device integration beyond standard usb.

 

[Binky]

Which basically defeats the presumption of "assuming similar functionality for...storage", no?

I agree that expandability is better than no expandability if looked at in a vacuum. However, that may be a feature that cannot operate in a vacuum and thus, simply cannot be compared as such.
MotionMan

Isn't an option that's too complicated (for some) to use still better than not having the option? The OP's question is why buy iPad. I think it's very valid to point out that the vast majority of the Android tablets have expandable storage. The Asus Transformer has a microSD in the tablet itself, an SD card port in the dock, and a USB port in the dock. Those are very useful options to have. Now...if my technologically challenged mother asked me which tablet to buy, I'd tell her to get an iPad. She doesn't need the expandable storage options and there's about a 98% chance she'd never be able to figure them out anyway.

What about their great eco system of accessories that require the dock connection? I love my speaker dock, etc. and have not found a suitable option for android/winPhone devices. Sure, you can use bluetooth to stream music but the charge dock and remote control options presented by the dock are great and just feel more premium.

Also, the dock allows for great iOS integration on car stereos. Plug my ipod in and I can control it via the head unit, something you can't do easily on an android device. Propriety or not, the usb cables are easily obtainable, cheap, and allow for device integration beyond standard usb.

True enough, but isn't that a function of market dominance, not a superior connection? The connector is also always in the same place on the ipod/ipads, giving accessory makers a common interface. That's very helpful, but again its market dominance not a better cable. I completely agree that the accessories for ipod/ipad are almost infinitely better than android accessories, which are almost totally absent.

I have an iPod in my car because that's what plugs into it. Other cars have all the same functionality from a standard USB connector. I hate my car for only giving me the ipod connector.

 

[MotionMan]

Isn't an option that's too complicated (for some) to use still better than not having the option? The OP's question is why buy iPad. I think it's very valid to point out that the vast majority of the Android tablets have expandable storage. The Asus Transformer has a microSD in the tablet itself, an SD card port in the dock, and a USB port in the dock. Those are very useful options to have. Now...if my technologically challenged mother asked me which tablet to buy, I'd tell her to get an iPad. She doesn't need the expandable storage options and there's about a 98% chance she'd never be able to figure them out anyway.

Reminds me of the Microsoft Word/Excel discussion about something like 90% of the people use 10% of the functions (or something like that). Does having functions/options that very few people use make a product "better"? Does have a function/option that you will never use make a product more attractive than the alternative? The answer for me is 'no' (It use to be 'yes', but then I realized the uselessness of having unused options muck up the works).

For a large majority of potential tablet buyers, most of the differences that are allegedly in Android's favor have little to no value.

MotionMan

 

[Binky]

So your argument is that it "mucks up the works?" The market seems to be agreeing with you, but I think it's a pretty weak argument. I see no such mucking, until you try to use the options that may be too complicated.

I prefer options so for me the choice is clearly android. I don't think I'm biased to either platform. When people ask me about buying a tablet, I'm probably leaning about 60%-70% ipad suggestions, but this percentage is dropping as the android tablets get better. This is based on the person asking and their needs, not what I need or want.

 

[MotionMan]

So your argument is that it "mucks up the works?" The market seems to be agreeing with you, but I think it's a pretty weak argument. I see no such mucking, until you try to use the options that may be too complicated.

I am not sure if this is directed to me. In any event, I do not think that more options muck up the works. Rather, I do not think that options that a large majority of people will not use should be counted as an advantage for one item over the other.

That being said, if it is an option that you need, then, clearly it can be a deciding factor.

MotionMan

 

[Red Storm]

I am not sure if this is directed to me. In any event, I do not think that more options muck up the works. Rather, I do not think that options that a large majority of people will not use should be counted as an advantage for one item over the other.

I think it definitely should, otherwise you're not really making a full comparison. I mean this a tech site, if you're looking for an average joe type of comparison/usage, there are plenty of sites, stores, and salespeople that are happy to help you. We're on a tech site, it's expected that we like to have more technical, accurate, and in depth comparisons.

 

[slackerinabox]

True enough, but isn't that a function of market dominance, not a superior connection? The connector is also always in the same place on the ipod/ipads, giving accessory makers a common interface. That's very helpful, but again its market dominance not a better cable. I completely agree that the accessories for ipod/ipad are almost infinitely better than android accessories, which are almost totally absent.

I have an iPod in my car because that's what plugs into it. Other cars have all the same functionality from a standard USB connector. I hate my car for only giving me the ipod connector.

Whatever the cause or however you define it, I *prefer* the integration allowed by apple's approach and get better functionality because of it. I'd agree that the proprietary cable's a problem if they were obscenely expensive (they're not) or if there was zero added functionality due to the approach, but I'd disagree and say it's quite useful.

 

[MotionMan]

I think it definitely should, otherwise you're not really making a full comparison. I mean this a tech site, if you're looking for an average joe type of comparison/usage, there are plenty of sites, stores, and salespeople that are happy to help you. We're on a tech site, it's expected that we like to have more technical, accurate, and in depth comparisons.

I don't buy the argument that because we are on a tech site that our analysis of the usefulness of an item must ignore the real world.

Like I said, if you are buying it for yourself and you are a L33t use, then, yes, those options may have some value. If we are talking about general use for 90% of the world, I am not so sure they would have that much, if any, value, in the overall evaluation.

MotionMan

 

[dagamer34]

Whenever people talk about choices in the marketplace, I always refer them to this TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html

 

[Binky]

If less choice is preferable, then WP7 is the clear winner. It has most of the inflexibility of iOS, and it has less apps to choose from. Win-WIN!

 

[Red Storm]

I don't buy the argument that because we are on a tech site that our analysis of the usefulness of an item must ignore the real world.

Like I said, if you are buying it for yourself and you are a L33t use, then, yes, those options may have some value. If we are talking about general use for 90% of the world, I am not so sure they would have that much, if any, value, in the overall evaluation.

But in that case we might as well close down all the sub forums and just have one sticky that says "Buy the one with the most 5 star reviews, and listen to the guys at Best Buy they know their stuff."

If a product has a feature it should be mentioned and factored into comparisons.

 

[MotionMan]

But in that case we might as well close down all the sub forums and just have one sticky that says "Buy the one with the most 5 star reviews, and listen to the guys at Best Buy they know their stuff."

If a product has a feature it should be mentioned and factored into comparisons.

All the features should be be mentioned and discussed, but not all features rise to the level of a deciding factor.

For example, many Android tablets allow for the use of SD Cards. However, for most of the people who would use a tablet, that feature has no value (like the firewire port on my parents' computers).

I reviewed many pieces of hardware where I mentioned all the hrdwares' features, but, at the same time had to acknowledge that a feature was only useful to small percentage of people, if any.

MotionMan

 

[Munky]

So you can be different just like everyone else. And feel good when 20 other people around you are using the same iGadget.

But seriously, as long as Apple remains hell bent on tying their HW to proprietary services and ecosystem, I will not buy a single Apple product.

 

[slackerinabox]

So you can be different just like everyone else. And feel good when 20 other people around you are using the same iGadget.

But seriously, as long as Apple remains hell bent on tying their HW to proprietary services and ecosystem, I will not buy a single Apple product.

Why? It's their business model, and a very successful one at that. Google's model is advertising, you'd rather throw your arms and embrace an ad company? Does the choice on Android equal better, high quality apps? Nope, not really. So what's the end result? iOS has more of the high quality, cutting edge apps that people want, and I frankly prefer a curated market place.. I'm not saying one is better than the other, I just don't get why Apple is the bad guy for a closed ecosystem when that's a major part of their revenue stream. No one shits on Xbox for only playing xbox games. When did this openess become a prerequisite for mobile os? My first phone with a marketplace was a nokia and, lemme tell you, it was just as locked down.

Also, are you implying that Apples dominance in the market means that you're a conformist if you use their product? Why is that an argument either for or against a piece of hardware, unless you're a teenager hell bent of proving your self worth through products that define you as an outsider, rebel.

 

[MotionMan]

So you can be different just like everyone else. And feel good when 20 other people around you are using the same iGadget.

So you are going to be an individual and use an OS that is used by 61% of smartphone users over one used by only 29% of users (based on some reports)?

You are such a rebel.

MotionMan