Related
Im curious to see if you guys have any issues without the multi touch. I would love to love this device but I do like to play games once in a blue moon and want to know if this would have an effect.
Also, if you had to do it all over again, would you purchase this device?
Thanks for your feedback
stanglx said:
Im curious to see if you guys have any issues without the multi touch.
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If by multitouch you mean "pinch and zoom", it doesn't work for me. Otherwise, it's known the A7 doesn't support more than two simultaneous touches.
Also, if you had to do it all over again, would you purchase this device?
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I haven't decided yet, but right now I'm inclined to return it. Reasons:
Feels heavier in the hand after using it several times.
No USB-to-computer connection... unbelievable...!
In bed, I rest the tablet on my lap/stomach... yet they placed the AC connection at the bottom... another unbelievable decision...!
I do find mine frustrating to type on due to the lack of multitouch. I'm not the world's fastest typer or anything but many times I touch down for my next keypress before removing my first and that causes a misregistered touches.
Other than that I'm satisfied with the tablet... though I am getting some pretty screwy touch behavior at times. I may follow up with elocity support about that.
This was my fear... Games require multi-touch.. but what many dont realize is so does typing on these things...
I appreciate the feedback... Seems this device is a no go for me... I dont care about more then 2 point touch.. but 1 point doesnt make it for me..
I just cant understand how they can come out with such a promising device and skimp on something would have amounted to an extra $10 per unit... they could have passed that on to the consumer and had a significant amount of units sold... as of right now they are the only Tegra 2/512Meg unit on the market...Really ashame...
On to my research...
eskaryo said:
I do find mine frustrating to type on due to the lack of multitouch. I'm not the world's fastest typer or anything but many times I touch down for my next keypress before removing my first and that causes a misregistered touches.
Other than that I'm satisfied with the tablet... though I am getting some pretty screwy touch behavior at times. I may follow up with elocity support about that.
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Multi touch
The Hardware for the touch screen is does support "Multi touch" or 1 + 1, pinch/zoom, etc.... inputs that being said it looks like the drivers that Stream are using have such poor support for it that it might as well not be there. they never Stated that it was multi-touch so you cant really hold them to it.
But in theory someone (Maybe on the XDA Forums) with right skills and mad skills at that because it looks like it would need a complete driver rewrite might be able to bring true Multi touch support to the device.
But I am not holding my breath, its a Amazing tabet for what it does, and even better for the price but with everything there is need/room for improvement, if there wasnt there wouldn't be XDA or any other hardware hackers
It is unbearable!!
Seriously though the pinch and zoom is cool and I hope it gets supported soon either by XDA or is Elocity is really reading these forums and wants repeat business from the early adopters than I hope they might actually support their own device and add the functionality.
What is a shame that I have seen with other manufacturers is that instead of fixing or updating or improving existing devices they just improve the next model that is released like 3 months after the initial release and expect people to upgrade if they want the problems fixed or leave it to devs. Seems like pretty poor support to me.
Look if you are going to build something and ask people to shell out a good deal of money then you should give the consumer the extra value by extending updates and improvements to the device as they come along. In other words development should continue on the device after it is sold so the existing customer base has a good user experience and then shares that experience with friends. As it is now I would not recommend these tabs to any friends unless I know they are tech savy. If I knew Elocity would back up their products then I would be more vocal about the product to others.
However, the lack of pinch and zoom is a problem and it would be nice to have. However, everything I have tried to do with this tab is does remarkably well. I have enjoyed using for now and hopefully soon there will be work arounds to the problems or limitations of the device but as it is now without any changes it is a very nice device and I like it a lot. For $300 there are not many other devices that come close. The Galaxy tab is nice but at $500 without Honeycomb I will stick with an iPad. For me that is what it comes down to. Cost and choice. If I can get an Aple iPad for $429 with an amazing screen, good processor, tons of cool apps, 4.2 ios then I think it is very hard to compare anything else. Android is cool but it is very much a phone os and it shows. While iPad uses a phone OS but it works very well and it shows the customization apple has done with their devices. I think when 3.0 comes out it is really going to change everything. The peek photos I have seen are simply jawdropping cool. So I did not want to fork out a bunch of cash on something that will be updated with a totally new os soon. The Elocity a7 was a way for me to experience Android without a phone or data plan and I am happy so far with my choice!
The A7 was purchased for my wife. Her use is eBooks, browsing, email, facebook, and some casual gaming. For that use case, the device (after Dexter's Mod) is perfectly fine. The only complaint I have is the fact that the menu buttons aren't backlit (onscreen keys work fine, but it's a workaround, not a fix).
For me, however, I like to tinker with everything (see my sig, running CM7 nightlies on my Droid Incredible) and I would prefer to have a Viewsonic G Tablet. Being that the A7 only cost me $300 and it's not really mine anyhow, I can't complain. Yes, the slew of new devices coming in the very near future will be better. But if you go by that logic there will ALWAYS be something better in the pipeline.
The A7 is a good device at a reasonable price. To make it great would take true multi-touch support and xda developer support for further Android versions (I'm not conviced we'll see much support from eLocity and while Dexter has done a phenomenal job with his mod, he's limited in his capacity to support a device he can't even get his hands on).
The lack of real multitouch does not bother me in the least. I'm using it mostly for surfing. What games require multitouch? Not angry birds
I absolutely love turning the tablet vertically for typing. I can really fly! Way better than my Galaxy S
Anyway, Dexter's mod really makes this thing real.
Only complaint so far is the standby time (32 hours). That may be due to the mod.
I'm very happy with my device. Aside from the lack of back lit buttons. On a side note the app "button savior" helps alot with the onscreen buttons. Yes i would of liked to have a multi touch experience right out of the box, but the price tag helped me get over that. That being said i would rate my elocity a solid 9.5 out of 10. Im just super excited to see what is to come!!!
And might i add Dexter makes this thing worth wild!! Big props!
I'll echo everyone in the button comment. Maybe we can come up with a glow-in-the-dark solution? I'm thinking some relatively invisible (during daytime) material/glue to put small marks near the edge to indicate the middle positions of the buttons. I think I know the order of the buttons by now, so simple dot would be enough. I'll let you know if I think of something.
dburckh said:
The lack of real multitouch does not bother me in the least. I'm using it mostly for surfing. What games require multitouch? Not angry birds
I absolutely love turning the tablet vertically for typing. I can really fly! Way better than my Galaxy S
Anyway, Dexter's mod really makes this thing real.
Only complaint so far is the standby time (32 hours). That may be due to the mod.
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Angry birds allows you to zoom in and out to get better view of the targets. So you are not getting best experience without multitouch
I bought a G-Tablet from ebay for about $320 (shipped), but it hasn't arrived yet. I recently had bought the Nook Color and rooted it, overclocked it to it's max, and still was severely disappointed in its performance. My nexus one, *not* overclocked, although rooted but pretty much stock with launcher pro...blew it away in every performance measurement I used: flash videos in the browser, general browsing, video playing of non supported codecs through Rockplayer (worked flawlessly on the N1, was choppy on the Nook Color)
I guess I should have asked this question before I went ahead and actually bought the gtablet, but are there any Nexus One owners here who can make the strange apples to oranges comparison between the Gtablet and the N1 as far as performance? Once you've rooted and modded the Gtablet of course, I'm not looking for a stock to stock comparison (even though my N1 is nearly stock)
I still have a few days to return mine... They have a Honeycomb port on the evo. But things are developing rather slow for the gtablet. Gingerbread runs well but everything is still work in progress.
I can't knock it. But I can't say I'm completely satisfied either. I was also an early Nexus One adopter and it took me almost a year to love it. I bet I end up keeping the gtablet, it'll get there eventually.
The performance is like running windows 3.1 on a quad core. The hardware is amazing, software not so much.
I have both the N1 and the GTablet. The Gtablet is much faster with the correct ROM. My wife uses it mostly to read Manga. Every now and then I get my hands on it to tinker a bit Quadrant speeds are much higher on the tablet.
I think this would be a great tablet for Honeycomb. If I had the knowledge and was able to use it for more than about an hour I would work on a Honeycomb port.
I have both as well. I almost bought a Nook Color, but the hardware on the GTablet is more "Tablet" oriented. I flash a new ROM every couple of week so far. It is pretty quick with a custom ROM, but none of the current ROMs (based off of Froyo) are really utilizing the Tegra 2 to its fullest potential I think. I believe the devs are waiting for Honeycomb devices to be released (Xoom) and to get their hands on system dumps.
Wow $320? I was considering the nook but at this price point combined with the tegra2 and 10.1" screen this may be a contender!
http://www.viewsonic.com/gtablet/spec.htm
Things I noticed:
-The battery may appear weak @ 3650mAh, but this review says otherwise.
-No sensors? (accelerometer, magnetometer, light)
-No HDMI port, but a proprietor connector with a cable forecasted in the future.
-working bluetooth, dont know if the headset profile is supported
-100% need to nuke the default software and install CM7
Good review: http://www.linuxslate.org/Review_Viewsonic_G-Tablet_Android_Tablet.html
I have both an N1 and a G-Tab, and am running the VEGAn ROM on my tab. I love it, especially since it will allow me to bide my time a bit before taking the plunge on the new Honeycomb tablets, so that those prices can maybe drop a bit.
I have used my laptop maybe twice since I got the GTab, back just before Thanksgiving. I use it mostly in the evenings on the sofa while watching TV, to surf, IM/Twitter/Facebook, read e-mail, read Kindle books, and of course play Angry Birds.
Nexus One & GTab
I too have an N1 and a GTablet running the Adam ROM.
The tablet is a great piece of hardware, and it really only becomes cool once you get the correct ROM (VEGAN or ADAM) on it.
The speed is amazing.
I get almost 20-24 hours of charge out of the device.
I've even got more than 2.5 days of standby time (screen off, wifi off, but not in true standby mode)
I also have the dock for it (kinda pricey at $70), but hey, now I have a media tablet that hooks up to my HDTV, has a USB drive attached, and I can use a wireless keyboard to have some fun with it from afar.
All-in-all, I give the GTablet two-thumbs up!
That said, I'm getting a XOOM tomorrow to play with next!
Cyan has a ROM for it in beta testing
Sent from my Nexus One
I also have an N1 and a G Tab. Absolutely the first thing to do is install a custom rom. I'm running latest TNT Lite with Launcher Pro and this thing runs circles around my N1. I tried the gAdam rom also, but I think notionink needs to get their act together and fix their issues before we'll have a decent port. I stuck with tnt lite because it keeps a few of the cool tablet changes like the 3-pane settings area. I'm not sure if CM has this.
I've only had it a few days, but battery life is fabulous. Lasted all of yesterday with wifi all day, normal email, web, game, etc use and still had 40% when I went to bed. Such a far cry from needing to charge my N1 around 5pm.
Also, it does indeed have an accelerometer and a light sensor. Does not have GPS or Magnetometer (compass).
Buck Shot said:
Cyan has a ROM for it in beta testing
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Link please?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=951822
It's not exactly CM... but it is based on it.
Anyways I also have a G Tablet. I am a huge fan of it, and use it every day. Tether it with my N1, and life is good =D. I am actually running the above rom on it right now. It's pretty good, it just needs some work on drivers still. Nvidia just released the gingerbread drivers for Tegra 2 though, so it will probably be in the next release of Vegan.
Is the viewing angle really that bad?
http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/14637-cyanogenmod-7-for-g-tablet-v700-beta1-1192011/
teh_lorax said:
Is the viewing angle really that bad?
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It's not fabulous, but I read Kindle books on it all the time with no problem. Sometimes it's better to hold it upside down for a slightly better look. And it is true that laying it flat on a table and then trying to type will be pretty hard angle-wise. But if you're sitting somewhere, holding it in your hands, it's acceptable.
(All of this is said, though, with the understanding that N1 owners are very spoiled when it comes to display since the N1's is so beautiful, so it still might be an issue for you even though I don't find it any big deal.)
I was really torn over the GTab or iPad2. I purchased an iPad1 just to play with and while the OS is atrocious, the screen is bright, awesome, and responsive.
I plan to use a tablet for business to show off websites and draw up designs on the spot. While I really wanted an Android tablet, nothing really strikes my fancy regarding the screen. The GTab's screen size is odd too, making it really feel like an oversized phone.
I took the iPad back because of the iPad2 release next week. During which I bought a Nook to play with. Sure the Nook had a great IPS screen but the it was sluggish and wasn't responsive to my touches when trying to sketch, plus the 7" screen was too small.
I really need a 4:3 10" and it seems the iPad2 @ $499 is the best bet for me.
Like previously said, coming from a Nexus and playing with the iPad, the display is very important to me.
I've had a Viewsonic G Tablet since November 21st. I love it. I have mainly stayed with TnT Lite because it's the most stable custom rom.
Performance: Both are about the same. I'd give a slight edge to the G Tablet.
Screen: The N1 screen is slightly easier on the eyes. There are many reports about the G Tablet's poor viewing angles and quality. Personally, it hasn't bothered me as much as some other folks. I use the G Tablet in Landscape mode 99% of the time, and has been fine. I've watched movies, football games, and played angry birds for hours on end without getting major eye strain. When in Portrait mode is where you really see the poor viewing quality. TnT Lite includes a hack that provides a subtle improvement on the viewing quality. You really see a difference when reading books and comics on the G Tablet.
The key with the G Tablet is that it really is only usable with a custom rom. Although, Viewsonic recently made available a Unit Test version of their next stock rom upgrade (3991), and it seems really slick, especially in Classic Home mode. I expect when it's released, more users will start using the stock rom. Of course, everyone is anxiously awaiting for Honeycomb to become available on the G Tablet.
I’ll be starting grad school in the fall and am in the market for a laptop/tablet and currently the Transformer is at the top of my list right now. I was hoping I could get some honest opinions on how the well the transformer works as both a media and productivity device (primarily concerned with the latter). I plan on using it for grad school, but since I’ll also be working a full-time job during the day, hope to use it as a work device as well. I also moonlight as a photographer, and am looking for ways I can incorporate the transformer into that as well.
My main concern is the stability of Android. I’ve owned both an EVO and an HTC HD2 running Android/Windows Phone 7 (thanks xda!), and although I loved the openness and overall capability of Android, the instability and battery life made things too cumbersome at times. My phone doubles as a work and personal device, so I fire off a lot of e-mails all day, view docs, send calls, etc etc. Nothing was more frustrating than having the phone lock up in the middle of something important, or die in the middle of the day if I used it a lot (on days when I need to use it a lot). Currently using an iPhone 4, which I know doesn’t get a whole lot of love around here, but simply works when needed. Not an Apple fanboy by any means…actually an old Windows Mobile guy, but sometimes stability and accessibility are important…particularly for heavy users like me.
Secondly, I’d like to know how productive one can really be on the transformer. What’s piqued my interest about Android on a tablet is the ‘desktop-esque’ experience it provides. As good as iOS to me is on a phone, its utterly neutered and has very little utility on a tablet IMO. For instance, true multi-tasking isn’t too important to me on a phone, but it would be on a tablet. Interested in knowing how well the tablet handles word docs, excel sheets, and PDF files…particularly from those who have experience with the keyboard dock.
Looking for honest answers here, and hope people can look beyond ownership bias. Hoping to hear the good and the bad. I’ve used enough mobile and desktop OS’s and devices to know that nothing is ever perfect.
I can't really comment on the productivity end as I mainly use my Transformer to read, watch videos, play games, and web browse. For what I need it to do it is great. HD videos on YouTube play great. It does have issues playing HD videos that are in mkv format but one they are re-encoded they play great.
The screen is where this thing really shines though. I have yet to see a better screen on a tablet anywhere. None of the HC tablets even come close, imho. I do have some light bleed but it isn't enough to bother me and I don't even see it unless I am in a dark room with the brightness cranked up.
One thing you won't have to worry about is battery life. The battery in this thing is way better than I expected. I can get 2 days with my average use, easy. It also hardly loses any battery when in standby also.
Honeycomb does still need some tweaking but it is not a big problem. There aren't a lot of apps optimized for HC yet but the list will increase with time.
Personally I think you would be better off with a laptop for your needs.
I think you will suffer the same frustration you did with your andriod phones if you are using the tablet for lots of documents, spreadsheets and other office type apllications.
I think these things are really designed for web browsing, casual email, game playing, music & video playing, etc.
You can edit docs etc and the optional keyboard helps a lot, but I think of these as a secondary machine. I have a desk top and a laptop too. At home it has pretty much replaced the laptop but not for work related tasks.
Im new to tablets and android all together. As a computer tech by trade, I figured it would be good to learn somethign new, did some research and went with the transformer. And I must say, coming from a windows & iOS background, Android has been a HUGE let down.
the hardware on the tablet is great. Build quality, the screen, the dock works wonderfully. USB ports that charge my phone. etc. All top notch.
Android is the downfall of the eee pad. To get the tablet to perform anywhere near the capabilty of my iPhone or PC, its about 5x the amount of work.
Video playback is a joke. when I try to copy any file over 3 or 4 gigs onto it, it crashes. And of all the videos ive copied over, only 2 worked properly. Even supported file formats are iffy at times.
App support is also very weak. The list of apps on this site that are supported by the eee pad is pretty much all you get. Which is sad compared to the App support that the iPad / win7 tablets have.
From a work standpoint, the failure of the proxy support is huge. I have to use a proxy server at work for my devices to function properly. Laptop: works fine. iPhone: works fine. Android: doesnt work at all. Native proxy support in 3.1 just doesnt work. Using apps to get proxy support KIND of works, but is flakey at best. If your work/school relies on proxy servers , then dont expect to use the eeePad there.
Hotspots.. again, a big problem. Bluetooth tethering KIND of worked for me, but since the proxy support is so shoddy, that started interfering with tethering when proxy wasnt needed and... you guessed it, didnt work. Not only that but for proper adhoc tethering , youll have to root the device and install a custom kernal or something.
So, all those issues are Honeycomb related. Gonna hit the same problems on the Xoom or anythign else that uses 3.x The only reason im keeping my eee pad is because software issues get worked out in time. They better... because right now this thing is just a giant paper weight for me. still on the edge of returning it and buying it again later once all the problems are fixed. So ya, it may be able to handle word, excel and such documents (so can the iPad by the way), but with such severe connectivity and networking issues, it really doesnt matter. *shrugs. honesty! EP121 anyone?
The TF would be good to SUPPLEMENT a full desktop or more powerful laptop but it could never be my primary machine. I need the application/device support of windows.
Being said if I had a computer at home I could have made it through college with the transformer as my mobile device.
As for the guy above me i havent experienced any of his issues. It only supports a few video files but that goes for all android stock media players. Recoding them to mp4/m4v in handbrake results in flawless video playback, never had a failure.
Apps are weak, its a new ecosystem. Like the ipad when it came out the vast majority of the "compatible" apps are just the phone apps scaled up. That will change.
Not sure about the proxy, havent encountered that. Ive never had a hotspot issue. In a restaurant, at work, using my Evo to wireless tether or on the plane. Its connected to every "infrastructure AP" network Ive ever tried and that is all I encounter. I have never had a need to connect AdHoc.
Before I got my tablet, I had imagined all these things I would use it for.
I was going to be able to do all of the following on one device!
For productivity:
- Check emails
- Read textbooks in pdf format, be able to highlight, save bookmarks and annotations...all in digital format.
- Use office programs like Word & Excel for typing up papers and creating charts.
- Watch video lectures & tutorials
- Use Anki flashcards
For entertainment:
- Watch videos from streaming sites
- Have a library of HD movies/miniseries on the device
- Be able to HDMI out my video library wherever I was
- Have emulators with a whole bunch of games I could play whenever I had down time
- play Android market games
This is what happened after I got the Transformer:
I realized I could do all the above, but ended up going to other devices because it just felt cumbersome on a tablet.
About all I used the tablet for was to watch videos and...watch videos..oh yeah and casual web browsing.
- Checking emails...I ended up just pulling out my phone.
- Reading textbooks...not many available in PDF...and it's not that great on a digital screen. Writing notes...don't even try it...even with one of those capacitative pens.
- Word and Excel are ok...but you can't do multi worksheet formulas...etc. I ended up just using my laptop or desktop.
- Video lectures...a lot of them required plugins and the browser/OS did not support that...back to laptop.
- Videos from streaming sites...choppy...unwatchable.
- HD movies...commonly downloaded ones dont work...had to re-encode or transcode at least 80% of them.
- HDMI haven't tested....I had to return my transformer...since the touch screen locked up.
Emulators...never did it.
- Android games...as a gamer...I find the current crop of games to be too simplistic and boring (minus Spectral Souls)
I have another one on order that's arriving today, so I'm still giving it a chance. Maybe I'm not using it properly...in any case it is still a pretty cool device to have around. I would consider it a borderline second device...but more like a third (i.e. Desktop for true power productivity/gaming, Laptop for moderate mobile productivity, then a Tablet when you go on quick vacations and you don't want to carry the others).
I would look for something like a laptop that cam run windows and android at the same time. Like the viewsonic pro.. acer w 500..better yet the evolve three convertible.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
I have my Transformer for about 2 weeks now. Actually today is the day I would have to decide either to keep it or to return it back to BB. Just finally got the keyboard dock just 2 days ago. My perseption before and after having it is completely different.
Before having it, I was really excited, kind of hoping finally the perfect device has arrived. A perfect device that can do everything I need.
I kind of know from reading everywhere, mostly from this forum what to expect and what is not there yet. Yet I finally decided to buy it with big hopes that with time, everything will be there. Buying the transformer also means I decided to invest in the Honeycomb platform rather than others (like iPad). I have no luxury of keep buying new devices, so I had to be careful to choose and decide.
My previous experience with Android was very good indeed (have a HTC Evo, my first Android phone). Before that, I always used Windows Mobile phone, which did everything I needed.
Well, my HTC Evo did everything and more, and that's why I had a big hope with the transformer/honeycomb. I chose the transformer among other honeycomb tablets for some obvious reasons: the keyboard dock that has the USB ports and the SD Card reader, and extra battery.
I also like photography and I needed to make sure I can use it to transfer pictures from my camera SD Card to an external HDD. I checked and found out the transformer does that perfectly, with the NTFS support right out of the box. That's incredible in my opinion.
I also imagined I would be able to connect to my work network and do anything I needed to via Citrix. And for personal communication, there is a Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and Skype.
After getting it, my expectation dropped and everyday is a learning day for me, as well as improvement day.
My first day with the transformer, I got all my emails setup (dual Exchange support! My Evo does not do that (I heard some custom ROM can do that), then I could not find Yahoo Messenger (dissapointed, well, there is a Yahoo messenger for my android phone, and its perfect!), Skype is a phone version and looks weird and many features missing (video call is the most important missing feature).
Day after day, until now, I still do the improvement jobs, and got many items not available previously. Got Yahoo Messenger from a good guy here in the forum, got a battery indicator wigdet from this forum also, and many bug fixes here and there.
For work purposes, I also drop my expectation. The connection from Citrix client in honeycomb takes very long (3-5 minutes) while from my Evo it takes much quicker. Not sure why, I contacted Citrix support about this. They said they both should perform the same as the core are the same, but they behaves differently.
Checking email only is not enough for me, if somebody sent an email, it comes with an issue to fix.
Yes, its hard to decide to let it go, or continue to keep it. I decide to continue to keep it, again, with hope, over time, things get better and better.
What do I gain from the transformer compared to my netbook?
Well, battery life, like many said here, is very exceptional. I got 2 full days. 1 day plus without the keyboard dock before. Really full day till night, with everything I do, from emails, browsing, youtube, reading, etc.
Instant on and ready. Wifi always on.
No spinning harddrive. No heat.
I was surprised! The device was not hot at all. Very different even compared to my Windows phone, connect to the wifi to a while and you can feel the heat. I'm not even talking about my netbook.
And I agree that many said here that its not a primary/replacement device. I still need my Windows machine to do most of the work.
It pains me to agree, but the above coments are true, as follower of android from day one. to anyone who has used an rooted/jailbroken ipad, honeycomb is way behind, to be honest google should be ashamed. as i type this on my transformer the lag is horendous. with the ipad you can nearly replace a netbook, full printing, ipgages and numbers are real tablet work tools. The TF is just about ok for web browsing, but just. As a media device it sucks. I tried to watch a streaming movie on movie stream, ok it plays but stutters and is awful. switched on my now ancient ipad with 256mb ram clicked on istream net and bang same movie looking almost 720p smooth as a nut. All the points brought against the ipad now seem to be a joke to me, even the no flash issue. Ok you have limited access by usb and SD card but there is some plus work arounds. I mentioned on a Archos site that i could stream any movie via air video from a crappy netbook hooked up to a 1TB HDD and if not in playable format they could be converted on the fly, this is over a local wireless network or over 3g anywhereon the ipadand they all took the piss, but its true. As an owner of a TF and Ipad, I have togive credit to ASUS, i love the concept. But as stated in an earlier post, I will be reaching for my HTC desire or IPAD more than the transformer. Lets hope Google step up, and support ASUS and the other manuacturers.
If honeycomb worked like the ipadit would blow apple out of the water. Anyway going to watch Tron on my year old Ipad.
i have to echo most of the above sentiment.
this is such a good idea, but it's just not ready...at least for me. i bought it for the reasons the op cited, and i'm let down. the lag kills the experience, even typing this on the keyboard is painful. honeycomb is great for usability imo, and the open ability to customize, but it is flat out slow. the browser is capable, but slowdolphin is buggy, adbloc is hard to come by (that works properly)
editing docs in polari is slow, screen rotation is slow, it's just everything i so slow. my dell mini 9 runs faster for the few times i need to doc edit, and the ipad run circles around it in terms of tablet function (but has several huge letdowns in its own right)
the one difference from some of the above posters is that i won't hang onto it and hope software gets smoothed out, by the time that happens we will have at leat one generation newer devices, maybe 2...so suffer with inferior experience to be outdated..not for me.
As I sai in another thread, i see this concept as the future...without doubt. my days of wanting to pay to beta test are over though.
Edit from my iPad. - see all those missing letters at the ends of words, that was typed with the dock..that's how bad lag is. I see no choice but to return it, I can't see google/ ASus releasing a realistic fix in the next couple weeks...but I hope I'm wrong.
Stability: maybe I'm lucky but I find Transformer to be VERY stable. Only FCs I have were when closing some game and maybe once in the browser.
Honest opinion: it's still only a toy. Don't expect it to be able to do anything better (or even on par with) than laptop or PC - but it is quite a good toy for many thins.
Right now I do most of my browsing on Transformer, for browsing it's in some things better than computers/laptops but in others it lacks greately (adblock, lack of extenstions in browser). It's also great for comics and PDF. And it's quite good for small games (Aporkalypse is great!).
I bought it mostly to write applications for it. In my personal opinion the OS is just great. The apps are mostly a mess with some pearls in it - like Newsr which just great or Dolphine Browser HD (or many others that you can find mentioned here and there on this forum). The problem is there is quite a huge lack of pearls in some departments. But it will change, I don't see what could stop it.
SCARED
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
Same as I do now with my HTC Desire and Asus T101MT netbook...so no really heavy stuff...
But as I read all these unsatisfied experiences I feel a bit uncertain about it. I mean I´m not an Applefanboy (ok, I do own an iPod) and I always feel a bit pity for all those people who buy an iPad just because it's an iPad...but now I'm in doubt...
Is this toy really that bad???
jpvdw said:
I wish I had not read this thread. I´m very exited to collect my TF tomorrow. Looking forward to it for weeks. Planning on using it on the couch for browsing, playing with some apps, reading and responding to email, hanging around in a variety of forums etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For things like that it's great. Only problem is that on some forums (this one is an example) most browsers are slow (but usable and with keyboard dock it should be much more easy to write on forums thank using screen keyboard).
Is this toy really that bad???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not.
If you are not sure - go to some shop and play with it for a while. By "it" I mean - any tablet with HoneyComb.
Well after using the TF for about 3 weeks, I have to admit it is only a good toy. If you want productivity at school and home, stay away from the tablet form factor as a whole. HC is good, but the app support is bad, and its still a platform which is evolving. Other than watching YouTube videos, I don't use it much. The stock browser even on 3.1 is bad and slow. The browsing experience is way better on the laptop than this one.
Will try the Tab 10.1 too and see if it has a better experience. Otherwise, I don't feel the need for a tablet now, especially keeping in mind the current state of HC. Won't go for an iPad because I feel 4:3 aspect ratio is ridiculous.
Great toy for work and home. Wife loves it and my 7 year old enjoys it. Is hc beta? yes. Will it get better? yes
What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.
Be realistic as to what to expect
im new to the tablet and android world. When i bought the tablet, i wasnt expecting it to replace my laptop for heavy duty usage. Simply not there yet..
Allow me to give you and example of every day usage for me:
My tablet is always on.(sleep mode) i wake up, check my emails, the news, weather, all while im still in bed. I even check XDA forum to see the latest "oh no..im returning the transformer (sad Face)" thread...
when i get home, i do the same, but this time i sit in front of my tv, watch some nba finals, lookup some articles or "do it yourself" tutorials.. i get bored, open some tabs, tune my guitar (with the TF), and just jam out.. (reading tabs on portrait mode is beautiful)
Then my little girl gets to play on my "little computer" (barn stack, angry birds, read a long stories, etc.... which came in super handy on our recent road trip)
Before bed, i lookup some reviews on Netflix, add them to my instant queue, fire up the TV, check my Chase account (also app), more emails,
its convenient..
just last night i wanted to be nos and see how much the house on our street is selling for.. (zillow App) quick, with a gorgeous map. My xboxlive app notifies me of whose online.. just a lot of cool features
And im sure im not using the tablet to its full potential.. Ive tried the cloud jsut once (and monitored my laptop as it downloaded some "Stuff"//haha)
grainysand said:
What's wrong with document editing in Polaris? Certainly it's a good deal better, in UI and features, than say QuickOffice or Doc2Go. I don't know if the rest of you are trying to manage complex multi-sheet spreadsheets or something, but for basic word processing it seems more or less adequate. Some people have weird and unrealistic expectations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lag. Also, the touchpad in the dock is a mess....unless I missed a way to disable tap clicking natively. It really has to be turned off. Polaris as a program is fine, and I liked the easy integration with dropbox...but even editing a light 2 page resume was laggy. It's probably not polaris' fault..the platform is laggy.
@jpvdw I actually think the iPad would be better suited for what you want to do. I see a ton of shortcomings with the iOS devices, but most of them involve getting work done for me. Like uploading files through a web browser and wanting to use a real keyboard (though there are bt options).
I want to move to android...there's just nothing for me to move to that can equal what I get. If maybe the device was 15% faster I'd bear with it.
two things..
first, there has to be a memory leak in one of the stock apps, or os, or something. i can reboot and be working fine for about 10 mins... then it gets all wonky again.
i reset the browser to factory defauults, and it actually seems like it's a bit faster now. even with plugins enabled
People - please DON'T EXPECT tablet performing well as your laptop or desktop replacement....how could a Tegra 2 with integrated GPU comparing to your laptop/desktop power horse!!
Now please go and enjoy your own Transformer device while sitting on the couch, lying on the bed or even in your bathroom (make sure you have accidental damage insurance in case you drop into the water ...)
For me, this tablet makes me more connecting to digital world...well sort of because sometimes I just use my blackberry without tablet or desktop at all...
good luck/enjoy!
rcjpth
So im thinking about getting the transformer because of its keyboard dock (origanly had gotten the atrix for the same reason turned out to be crap).
How happy are you?
How is the performance?
What issues have you noticed?
is it worth it?
I got mines on Thursday. I'm happy with it.
Performance is very snappy and responsive.
Issues? Not really any issues that I've experienced but from what I've been hearing from the XDA forums is about its build quality. I got mines from Newegg because I've always had good experiences from Newegg.
One issue was that when I got it and 3.1 was stated in notifications and I wasn't able to flash the OTA until it was 50%+ even when the tablet was charged, the tablet didn't do the installation UNTIL it was 50%+ charged.
My biggest complaint is the USB cable. You can't charge it from the computer and the cable is pretty short. But you can workaround this by buying a USB3 A Male to A Female.
Fast delivery, low-prices and its build quality is perfect.
got mine June 1st.
Performance is great, very smooth and slick.
Apps look great on the IPS screen.
After a bit of fiddling I have it seeing all my network shares.
Internet is great on the Transformer.
Very slight light bleed but nothing worth returning it for.
Left speaker is a bit quieter than the right. Waiting for Asus to
release a patch hopefully, dont want to root it yet.
I have the dock and have found the dock battery drains quickly,
but the tablet battery lasts for 2 days easily with moderate to heavy use.
over all, very pleased.
hmmm i have been considering which tablet to buy transformer or galaxy tab dont want any of thoose 7 inchers.
I read all the bad stories here on XDA before I got mine and almost wished I hadn't purchased it... after I got it, all those fears went away. It's aa GREAT device.
The only issue I have with it is the stock browser. It's really nice but the poor performance it gives makes it a joke. Opera has been pretty good... only complaint with it is you can't fully change your user agent so sites like Facebook and Google look like junk. I'm guessing ICS may fix these issues, if we don't get a fix sooner.
I, too, ordered mine from Newegg. I have no creaking or dust. a little light bleed but it isn't anything to complain about. Overall, my device feels very solid and, IMO DOES NOT feel cheap, as some have said. My serial number starts with B5, I read that's the batch number... so they may have fixed some of the issues from the early batches.
Finally, I wrote this entire post on my TF with Opera and Thumb Keyboard. HIGHLY RECOMMEND the TF.
I am extremely happy,
Coming over from using the iPad 2, I was 50/50 about the tablet,
As the Market was really good for this I thought even if I didn't like it I could always sell it on,
But after a day of use it turned into my number one choice,
Can't fault it on anything really,
The browser I tend to use with flash switch off so it's really smooth and switches pages with ease,
Only thing I would like to see is a way to cancel the previous open windows on the desktop but this is more a google thing and nothing to do with the Asus...
I didn't buy the dock with my one as I don't see myself ever using it,
I will most likely buy the other dock and sd/USB adapter once release...
I'm pretty happy all said and done. The only light bleed I notice is where the virtual buttons are always located making it not a very big deal, imo.
I am happy with my transformer. I got it from Amazon a few weeks ago. I am having one issue... the internet browser keeps closing on me and i have the light bleed. But its not bad.
I got a TF from the first batch of shipments and it has been working flawlessly for me ever since. I have absolutely no light bleed and as far as creaky noises go, I don't squeeze my $400+ investments hard enough to test them for such.
The speakers have worked flawlessly for me ever since I got it, which was before the 3.1 update. The browser is remarkable for a tablet and the keyboard is epic.
The one issue that I have is the USB charger. It's waaay to short, but it's not really that big of a deal to me.
Oh and btw, someone earlier said you can't charge via your computer usb. That's not true, it does charge just at a very, very slow rate unless you have usb 3.0 on your pc (that's how it is for all tablets I assume, since they just require a lot more power than a normal cell).
In all, if you imagine yourself using the functionality of the keyboard, such as the extended battery life, the keypad, usb port and sd card AND you don't want to burn a whole in your wallet, then the TF is a no brainer.
If your looking for something that mindless zombies will consider "aesthetically pleasing" but can do with less functionality and more $$$$$ then get the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or even the Ipad 2 (preferably galaxy just because it's android )
I'm very disappointed with it's video playback. But other than that. Since rooting and fixing the right sided audio issue it's great. I just wish they would fix video playback and it would be close to perfection.
Thanks guys. I will looking to buying at best buy dont like shoppong on line for electronics... I have this where if it doesnt work i will be on my way back to best buy. Im considering the transforner becuase of the keyboard. I had orginally bought the atrix because of the lapdock but that phone turned out to be a huge fail. Now i have a infuse 4g and considering the transformer. How bad is the light bleed? And do you think new ones got fixed?
Sent from my SAMSUNG INFUSE using XDA Premium App
Transformer27 said:
So im thinking about getting the transformer because of its keyboard dock (origanly had gotten the atrix for the same reason turned out to be crap).
How happy are you?
How is the performance?
What issues have you noticed?
is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very happy, when i'm browsing most pages load faster than i can blink.
As well as 3 buddies i been very fortunate, none of us has had any issues, i surpose we got ours from Asus, all others on here are made in Brazil.
Of course it's worth it! you can do more with it than any other tablet, it's built the same as any other tablet, and it's cheaper
The only thing it doesn't do is help with spelling!
acid123 said:
I am extremely happy,
I will most likely buy the other dock and sd/USB adapter once release...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what "other dock?"
onfire4g05 said:
Opera has been pretty good... only complaint with it is you can't fully change your user agent so sites like Facebook and Google look like junk. I'm guessing ICS may fix these issues, if we don't get a fix sooner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done the steps listed at this url: http://www.articlecms.in/3691-how-to-run-opera-mobile-in-full-desktop-mode.html on my captivate and it works great. Hopefully it works for your transformer.
" In the browser address bar type opera:config
Scroll down to User preferences and click on it
Scroll to custom user agent
Type this into the text box Opera/9.80 (Linux; en) Presto/2.7.81 Version/11.00
Click save
Restart the app"
I am very pleased - no issues, snappy performance, generally exceeds all my expectations.
Are the speakers great? - of course not, what do you expect from something the size of an ant's eye. Are they tolerable for general use? - of course
Only thing I am (patiently) waiting for, is Netflix and Cisco group authentication VPN.
One thing you need to think about. THIS IS NOT A PC! Trying to duplicate your PC work activities will leave you feel lacking. If you adapt your work activities to the (mostly) excellent native Android applications and capabilities, you will be thrilled.
I'm very happy with my Transformer. I agree that coming to this forum might make one think that there's nothing but problems with the device. However, consider the volume of troubles (most can be corrected) against the fact that 400,000 were sold in April and May, there really aren't that problems with the tablet.
I love, I mean, Love, the keyboard. I have the MSI netbook U123, which has a similar-sized keyboard. Somehow, this keyboard is so much easier to use and I never hit the wrong keys. And having the touch screen is very convenient.
Good luck with your decision.
I love it!
I have had mine since the initial US release and can honestly say I have not had one issue with mine. The video issues seem to be resolved since the 3.1 release, I have not noticed and light bleed issues others have, i even think the speakers soud great considering the size of the unit! For what I do with it, watching videos while running on the treadmill, browsing the web, passing some time with a few games, and using email and the calendar, think it simply is a GREAt device!
(not even xda-rooted yet- but..) am really very happy!!
[Xvid plays great / SSH client rules / happy PDF rendering / Dolphin rocking the web]
Can't wait for my dock; some NVFlash loveliness [tick];
audiophile voodoo; (possible) ubuntu dual-boot;
..and its a damn-fine, asus done-deal in my book
How do you guys connect the tablet to the internet without dock? Just wireless or tether right?
To me thats the main issue. It will be out here tomorrow and im readying all i can about it because i can't decide what to do.
going to go to best buy to see if they have it instock today
Hi folks over A500 forum, i'm thinking to get myself an A500, but i afraid that i'll regret buying this tablet, because i've read some quite hmmm.... negative feedback about it.
some says that the charger wouldnt charge [i can assume that he has a faulty unit], poor mic, gps, unresponsive keyboard, weak wifi. So can anyone of you kindly enough to tell me what can i expect this tablet will be weak at?
I can tolerate at the poor camera quality though.
Please tell me, thanks!~
I have not found any issues at all with my tab. It is not an A500 but may as well be. (Gateway A60 running A500 roms). I use it at work and at home.
This tablet is pretty much perfect. The camera quality is fine as far as I am concerned (Front and rear), it is easily rootable, even if you install the OTA updates and the price point is where it needs to be.
The only thing that I have been on the lookout for is ICS but so far I am OK with HC. Way better than the Froto on my gtablet.
smishra said:
I have not found any issues at all with my tab. It is not an A500 but may as well be. (Gateway A60 running A500 roms). I use it at work and at home.
This tablet is pretty much perfect. The camera quality is fine as far as I am concerned (Front and rear), it is easily rootable, even if you install the OTA updates and the price point is where it needs to be.
The only thing that I have been on the lookout for is ICS but so far I am OK with HC. Way better than the Froto on my gtablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Perfect info. Any more? =D
Go to the store and play with the Tablets... the gps is a issue.. mic is a issue (only with video chat)
you need to root to fix the gps issues the patch is in the dev section also to tether again patch here in the forum.
keyboard that is stuck sucks badly... install THUMBS KEYBOARD
SUMMERY REQUIRED TO MAKE MY ICONIA PERFECT FOR ME..
BUY AND PUT A SCREEN PROTECTOR ON IT. (Even Gorilla glass can Scratch)
ROOT. install acer recovery install .. flash recovery ... Im now using the RA Recovery
install Root Explorer file manager (there is a free verson on makert.but support the dev BUY IT)
Install Titanium Backup (again Buy it DEV is awesome on this program)but to many updates pushed to often
Install the ad-hoc fix.
install Thumbs Keyboard
Install the gps fix
Install splashtop HD.. (to access my home computer)
Install IPRINT APP for my Brother Printer.
Install Office Program.. (i have two some do certin things better then other . find the one thats right for you)
Install CO-PILOT (THIS ACTUALLY BELONGS BELOW THE GPS PATCH)
Install sync sms .(to forword text msg to and from my tablet from my phone)required drop box account
Install DROP BOX
Flash my UI FOLDERS. to change the colors of the ui to A BURGUNDY Pinkish Color.. (I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS .ADVANCED USER EXPERIENCE REQUIRED)AND DEV TOOLS Needed on your Computer and I USE ADOBE CS5..
Setup my email accounts sometime in the above events
Backup my tab with T B
BACKUP MY TAB AGAIN IN RECOVERY..
After all of the above.. my tablet fits my life Perfectly..
As already said by others, weak GPS, keyboard kinda sucks, glossy screen that really shows finger prints, etc. What I haven't seen mentioned, is the inability to properly play HD mkv's, most ppl will say you don't need high quality on tablet, and they are right, but, what if you want to hook your tab to a hotel TV to watch HD, etc. There also seems to be a lot of stuff in the market that is not compatible with this tab (specifically for me, mybuick and onstar)
That being said, having a usable USB port is pretty handy, the micro SD,(missing on the Zoom) micro HDMI are all nice to have. Microphone works well for apps like Skype as long as you use headphones.
You should be using headphones for video conversations anyway, otherwise the mic picks up the sounds coming from the speaker and then you have yourself a poorstorm of feedback.
I have never had any sort of keyboard issue with my tab. This is actually the first I heard of any sort of keyboard issue.
The rear camera is 5 megapixels, so expect 5 megapixel quality. Except for the newest Tegra3 tabs, this is the best camera you can get on a tablet.
You have to expect that this tablet comes from the first generation of real Android tablets that hi the market. As a result, you have to expect that there will be some issues with it. The good thing is that devs has created fixes for common problems (like GPS, wifi etc) so if you are someone who is in to rooting, this is a great tablet.
hardslog said:
You should be using headphones for video conversations anyway, otherwise the mic picks up the sounds coming from the speaker and then you have yourself a poorstorm of feedback.
I have never had any sort of keyboard issue with my tab. This is actually the first I heard of any sort of keyboard issue.
The rear camera is 5 megapixels, so expect 5 megapixel quality. Except for the newest Tegra3 tabs, this is the best camera you can get on a tablet.
You have to expect that this tablet comes from the first generation of real Android tablets that hi the market. As a result, you have to expect that there will be some issues with it. The good thing is that devs has created fixes for common problems (like GPS, wifi etc) so if you are someone who is in to rooting, this is a great tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So true.. MY TAB WORKS Well as stated above.. But it does not come without some work... i have read forums of other tablets. we have less trouble then average..
Oh ok, thx for those feedbacks! BTW, have any of you suffer from keyboard delay? I played Transformer, G Tab10.1, and A500 at the store before, and fall in love with the port and weight of this tablet. But the thing that frustrated me is the keyboard delay it has[btw, i dont really know what happened on that tablet though]
And how was the wifi strength? I heard reports say that it drops quickly?
I love my a500 and should you learn to root and flash you'll uncover the real power and potential in the device. that being said it should be mentioned the a500 is old tech that is going to be replaced by newer more powerful models this year. as these models come out the cutting edge developers will migrate and Dec on the a500 will slow down somewhat. this does not mean the a500 isn't a good purchase option. its great hardware that with the right software is just amazing. but it is on the backside of its lifespan and that carries some downfalls that should be mentioned.
A501, same as A500 except with 3g...
I've never had wifi dropouts, either at home or at work.
The public wifi at work is pretty bad but I have never had a problem logging on and its never dropped out.
Keyboard, again no issue here...
Haven't really played with GPS properly but do use co-pilot. I do find we seem to have pretty bad satellite reception here in OZ but when I have played around it seems pretty reliable, but again only done short trips...
Love the USB, this is why I bought the Acer A501 in the 1st place, no other tab had one. Expandable memory also a BIG plus...
I like the fact I can attach a 1Tb HDD and use this on my tab too...
No real problems, aside from the locked bootloaders Acer insists on sticking on its tabs, most things are fairly good.
I love my A500, but after taking it to meetings and with me pretty much all the time, I find it a bit heavy. I use it almost exclusively professionally and end up using dropbox more than USB drives. I would probably go with a GT10.1 because of the weight and thickness.
Thanks guy! but i bought the G Tab 10.1 instead of A500, because it is really a lot lighter than A500, and my dad prefers it more ;D
Thanks anyway!
Picked up my A500 from The Source on a boxing day special price. It was a bit of an impulse, but also a bit of tech jealousy as my cousin had bought one the week before so he could learn to program apps for it and I got to play with it a bit on New Years. ANYWAYS. I loved it right away, and the prospect of rooting it was pretty awesome.
I have zero faults with this machine. It looks great, works great, was easily unlocked/rooted, and there is a ton of support on this forum. I just keep trying out new roms (4 diff. builds so far) and new kernels (on my 3rd one of those), and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
Only drawback is that I didn't buy one sooner.
picking one up today... 32GB for $220 I think its a fair deal...main reason i would even consider it is becuase its ICS upgradable
I also have a HP Touchpad with CM9 ICS... thats a great piece of equipment if your into modding as well!
mind telling where you got 32gb one for that price?? Im looking to get one myself by budgets tight so any savings is appreciated.
BTW one question about the tablet itself can someone give me an idea about the average battery life, Yes i know battery life is very subjective but i need some kind of referance as i read a review by engadget and it basically said the iconia had the worst battery life of all of the major 10 inch tablets.
220$ for a 32gb?! Who did you steal this from?? haha
I got mine from acer's official ebay store, 330$ (shipping+tax included), refurb 32gb. Works fine.
docnas said:
mind telling where you got 32gb one for that price?? Im looking to get one myself by budgets tight so any savings is appreciated.
BTW one question about the tablet itself can someone give me an idea about the average battery life, Yes i know battery life is very subjective but i need some kind of referance as i read a review by engadget and it basically said the iconia had the worst battery life of all of the major 10 inch tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've gotten 5 days on standby with battery drain to 42% (busy week, it just sat on the bedside table for that time no usage). I figure it could have gotten to 10 days.
When I was using it as an e-reader running the Kindle app almost exclusively I was getting on average 3 days of use between charges, reading for about 3-4 hours a day (Game of Thrones books are LONG and addictive).
Right now I've been playing games on it and I can easily go a whole day (overclocked at 1504mhz) before having to charge it.
Standby had wifi turned on, but off when the screen was off. Reading I always had it in airplane mode, and playing games can be a mix between airplane and wifi. Actually it hasn't seemed to make a huge difference that I can see.