Related
I'm on fence on whether to buy a Motorola Xoom (32GB WiFi EU) or an iPad 2. In terms of price, here in Malta the Xoom seems more worth it as I can get it for 498 euro whilst the iPad 2 Wifi 32GB is at 609.
My main concerns are regarding software, and more importantly, apps availability. Now, before you bash my question, I've read a lot of reviews for both devices, and I've gone through lists for Honeycomb apps, but I'd like input from actual Xoom owners that are using it day to day.
Thanks in advance,
Emmanuel
well email and surfing is alot more fun and productive on a Xoom compare to an Ipad2 because of the integrated email and the flash enabled full size browser experience
but if you look at the build quality of them it sure looks like the Ipad2 went thought a lot more intensive QA then the Xoom since on the back of the xoom you kind of able to push in the plastic a bit.... thats makes me a sad panda
anyway comparing xoom vs ipad 2... there is only one logical answer
android =widgets
IOS = no widgets
and with widgets you get your information a lot faster like news, socks and twitter on one page... so yeah and i do use that alot
productivity = xoom
build quality = ipad2
that said i still think the ipad2 really rocks since it's a finished product but it does not have the widgets
I've owned an iPad and now I own a XOOM. For me personally, the ipad doesn't come close - the OS is far too restrictive and the dependency on iTunes was a killer for me (I use linux on all of my home machines, forcing me to run a windows virtual machine just to activate the damned thing).
With that said, the XOOM, or rather, Honeycomb doesn't even come close with regards to app availability. Even if you take the huge headstart that apple have (1 year+), the ipad has simply always been better marketed and there are a lot more apps available. Let's not even get started on the android market place; it's dire. The worst. And for some reason, it's even worse on honeycomb than it is on phones; no ability to rate apps, plenty of bugs (some of which have been addressed in 3.1), no ability to view only tablet apps, terrible filtering and search in general, etc. Apple's app store is how it should be done, the android market place has a long way to come.
The situation is improving for honeycomb and I personally wouldn't dream of going back to the ipad, but for friends and family who couldn't care less about the restrictive nature of iOS and the other things that I dislike, I would recommend the ipad.
With all that said, it looks really weird to see me almost recommending Apple, because I personally can't stand the software. Oh well...
Well, I've never owned an I pad but I have just purchased the xoom and I LOVE it!!!
Most comparisions regard the xoom better, but with the I pad having loads more apps - to some people, this is the deal breaker.
However, if you want a true tablet experience and not just an oversized iPod touch, then go for the xoom.
The xoom has better OS, greater browser and keyboard, better cameras and support flash, it is also not tied down to any PC software such as iTunes and includes more customization options such as widgits. (Android includes a free turn by turn navigation system too)
Oh and the maps and YouTube apps are better on the xoom and have more features (Google property pays off)
I made my decision and I'm happy with my xoom - but the choice is yours.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
I have to disagree. I think the xoom build quality is top notch and better than the iPad. It's just when I hold the iPad I feel like it will break... to thin for my liking.
Now applications look better in my opinion on the iPad. Like it was mentioned here the Apple eco system keeps me away.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
I have owned an iPad, and will likely own an iPad 2 when the current shortage lets up. There is very little left to say about the iPad (either version) that hasn't been said already. They are exceptional devices, gamechangers, perfectly designed to introduce mobile technology to mainstream users. Almost anyone can be up and running in 15 minutes with an iPad, even with no experience and iOS rewards those who embrace its deliberate limitations.
My first experience with Android was with an Archos 5 tablet, and then an Archos 101. I bought both as relatively inexpensive ways to get acquainted with Android. and both were very frustrating experiences in different ways. They really made me begin to view Android as a very niche market.
However, when I needed a new phone and decided that I couldn't wait for a Windows Phone 7 device to be offered here, and refused to get an iPhone, I opted for the Galaxy s and a whole world opened up to me...which then led me to my new Xoom.
I have been playing with it for about half a day now after doing a great deal of reading...I unlocked it, tried to root it and ran into the "stuck on the red M" problem, spent about 2 hours reading and sorting out how to get myself out of the trap via adb, rooted it at last, installed CWM then flashed the Tiamat kernel and finally began loading up my apps. Loved every moment of it. The build quality of the device, in my opinion, is excellent. It feels much better and more substantial in my hands than the iPad. The screen is top notch and I really like the honeycomb environment for work and play.
Most of all, I like the fact that Android is a living, breathing OS. SO much to explore and learn and investigate.
The iPad, for all it's many good points, as I said before rewards those who embrace its limitations. The Xoom rewards those who refuse limitations, who are willing to spend the time and effort to learn how it works and discover ways to do it better.
The iPad is the USS Enterprise...sleek and beautiful but cold and a bit sterile for all its power. What you see is what you get.
The Xoom is the Tardis...a hodgepodge of history and possibility, all wrapped in a shell of sweet wonder....and it is bigger on the inside.
With a Xoom I could have never ever owned a PC and set it up and get it working. It does not require you to hook it up to itunes first. With the iPad... yea I dont know about 15 minutes but after you hook it up to your computer to unlock it (lol) you can finally use it. In my house we have both, I like the Xoom better
you said
"The iPad, for all it's many good points, as I said before rewards those who embrace its limitations. The Xoom rewards those who refuse limitations, who are willing to spend the time and effort to learn how it works and discover ways to do it better."
I couldn't have said it better. The Xoom is my third Android tablet, my second Tegra2 tab, and the most hands-on and most rewarding and fun to own. I have never liked the Apple zeitgeist and have always avoided that product. I prefer the freedom to mess around, get into scrapes and come back from the brink with a better tab and a lot more knowledge. I think that as an open source, Android will continue to grow and evolve in wonderful ways and I want to be along for the ride.
Also, this thing is built like a tank.
rschenck said:
The iPad is the USS Enterprise...sleek and beautiful but cold and a bit sterile for all its power. What you see is what you get.
The Xoom is the Tardis...a hodgepodge of history and possibility, all wrapped in a shell of sweet wonder....and it is bigger on the inside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That made me giggle . But I think the ipad are like the dalek. Cold personality and desire only perfection. seek only to dominate the world!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
inspiron41 said:
That made me giggle . But I think the ipad are like the dalek. Cold personality and desire only perfection. seek only to dominate the world!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Steve Jobs as Davros ...*shudder*
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
i'll keep this short as can be...
iPad/iOs = Checkers.
Xoom/Honeycomb = Chess.
I have played around with both Ipad and Xoom. I currently own a Xoom. Ipad is probably fine if you want something simple with few options(not talking about apps).
The Xoom is pretty cool, and even cooler after unlock & root. The downside is app / game availability, but it's getting better every day.
The killer for me between the two is multitasking. The xoom has it, the ipad not so much.
And also, no itunes. The xoom works out of the box.
The Ipad on the other hand has more accessories, wee..
Keep in mind that these sorts of issues are ultimately a matter of taste, so the things I don't like the iPad may not bother you at all.
I bought an iPad2 and returned it within 48 hours. I really can't explain my utter contempt for that device, but I just hated everything about it. I'm not an Apple hater, mind you; I owned every iPhone through the 3GS and was one of those dorks standing in line on launch days. I really, really wanted to like the iPad 2, but after having owned two Android handsets (and being a big gadget whore) I couldn't stomach going back to an iOS product.
What I hated about the iPad 2:
-Screen resolution sucks
-Too thin and flimsy feeling
-Stock keyboard is HORRIBLE and there's no way to change it
-No widgets
-No UI customization, period
-Cameras suck
-"Notification system" is sort of a joke
-"Multi-tasking" is also sort of a joke
-Far higher cost for iPad apps vs. iPhone/iPod apps, developers nickel & dime you for every little thing (subscriptions, in-app purchases, etc) - seriously, the whole ecosystem was like a giant money sucking vacuum
-QA on my particular unit was terrible - massive light leaks around the edges of the screen and 3 stuck pixels within 1 day of use (and this is not an isolated issue, though Apple is replacing defective units but making sure to blame their supplier)
iOS is getting long in the tooth, and this is hugely magnified in tablet form, especially with the crappy-looking display. I felt like I was using old technology, despite the awesome internal specs. The best comparison I can come up with between Honeycomb and iOS on a tablet is something like Windows 7 compared to Windows 3.1.
hello,
i'm maltese too, on a xoom us wifi .. from amazon.com
worked out to 508 eu including hsbc's 'conversion charge' of 8 eu or so.
ipad vs xoom.. depends on what you need.
if you want a platform to play stuff from itunes.. ipad
if yiu want a portable computer you can meddle with.... xoom of course.
build quality, screen and battery life are excellent too.
cheers
btw where is that price from?
when i bought mine it was closer to 600eu for wifi eu
which is why i got the us one..
While I will state now I am no expert on iOS or the Ipad1/2 I will say this:
My Xoom has me constantly entertained and I've NEVER felt I needed an app that I didnt have at least 4 decent choices of. I have also never left limited on my Xoom for any tasks I wish to undertake, I stream all my media from my computer (via WiFi OR 3G) so everywhere I am I have access to all my media (and now thanks to Google Music moreso) and with Remote Desktop I have access to my Linux and Windows machines no matter where I am. The Xoom constantly feeds me information without having to do anything but look at my homescreens.
I have played with friends Ipad1/2's and while for the most part things seemed smooth and work well I always had this feeling of being lost when looking through the app screens, its like all the icons look the same (same size, many of them same colors) just felt very sterile and un-enjoyable and you get ZERO information without going from one app to another just felt like so much work for simple basic information readily available on my Xoom.
I've never been a fan of iOS or Apple's strategy towards their customers but I really tried to look at my 2 options without bias before choosing my Xoom. As several others are stated you really dont have any choices with Apple products, you take what your given and if you dont like your options you dont have any more to look at.
Android (despite its fragmentation in some areas and flaws, hiccups in others) is the best choice if you like options and a desire to learn more and have real options with your chosen device. If you want something simple that tells you what you want then Apple products are for you. If you dont mind a hiccup with something here and there and having the ultimate say in the apps and add-on parts for your device then I say without a doubt Android is the way to go. Widgets are the best thing to happen to phones/tablets as it gives you so much information without having to do anything to get it and you can always enter into that app for a more detailed look and more options.
As for the comment on Apple App Store having more options, maybe it does but judging by the amount the Android Market has grown over 1 year I highly doubt Apple will be able to say the same thing next year. More and more developers either jump ship from Apples restrictions in apps or choose to release their products on both Android and iOS platforms which means in many cases the Apple App Store is slowing down and stagnating in some areas due to the open nature of app development for Android OS, its infinitely easier to write and sell and app for Android than iOS.
As a side note a friend of mine and I compared apps, we both had some niche apps and some common ones... my total cost was about $40 (like I said I have some apps that cost about $15, my phone apps only had a grand total of like $10) but all in all his total for all similar (sometimes the same app) was about $200, that alone pushed my decision for another android device with the Xoom vs Ipad2.
If your cheap and want to hack get the Xoom. If you want to easily be able get VIDEOS to play fluently for rent or TV episodes get iPad. I got the ipad because it was so gay to get Videos on the thing. Having to convert then drag to device verse iTunes makes iTunes seem easier. Especially is JB.
Xoom =iPad none is clear winner
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
jamaicansolja said:
If your cheap and want to hack get the Xoom. If you want to easily be able get VIDEOS to play fluently for rent or TV episodes get iPad. I got the ipad because it was so gay to get Videos on the thing. Having to convert then drag to device verse iTunes makes iTunes seem easier. Especially is JB.
Xoom =iPad none is clear winner
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure I would call the Xoom cheap (not in build quality and certainly not in price) and I don't see what the sexual orientation of the iPad has to do with the issue.
I feel the video converting question is a non issue. For me, converting via iTunes or by a third party app is just as big a pain, and the iPad's native video app is even more limited codec-wise than the Android stock Video. Anyway, just use a player like MoboPlayer or VPlayer which can show pretty much anything, and you are golden.
However I agree that there is no real BEST TABLET...it is just a matter of personal preference.
jamaicansolja said:
If your cheap and want to hack get the Xoom. If you want to easily be able get VIDEOS to play fluently for rent or TV episodes get iPad. I got the ipad because it was so gay to get Videos on the thing. Having to convert then drag to device verse iTunes makes iTunes seem easier. Especially is JB.
Xoom =iPad none is clear winner
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So spend more money for the more restrictive device? Also, you don't have to hack the xoom. The Xoom has more option out of the box than the ipad.
You didn't manage to get gay videos on the Xoom?
Croolis said:
btw where is that price from?
when i bought mine it was closer to 600eu for wifi eu
which is why i got the us one..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's on www.expansys.com.mt, excluding VAT.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
After I could compare the Ipad2, 10.1 and Transformer for days now, I decided to go and buy an Ipad2. Yes, I turned my back on Android and here's why:
10.1:
Very nice lookings, high quality and hardware but there is a big problem: the colors. On some pictures the saturation is so high that it kills lots of details every time 2 similar colors are nearby. Here you can see what I mean, check the right circle where orange and red meets - if the orange circle would be more reddish, you could hardly tell there are 2 rings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1bkovoLXw4&feature=player_detailpage#t=208s
If you compare it to a perfect calibrated monitor, it looks like crap. Flashy, colorful and nice but details are gone. That's the one and only weaknes from what it offers. It's 16:9 display is a winner when it comes to videos but video playback is poor. Ipad2 is much better, even for flash, later more to come about it.
Another MAJOR problem is Samsung support. Android is a fresh system and needs tons of support. Samsung provides NONE. For EU, they still have no release dates or closer info about their device - just lol. For me, the 10.1 is just a step in the process to upgrade to Tegra3. They built the shell now and can use it for the next device to compete with Apple. Same like they did to the 10.1v - no support, they just forgot about it.
Transformer:
Diplay is pretty good but the build quality is crap. After I saw the Archos tablets with the bronze frame, I knew where Asus bought their stuff. Both have those sharp metal frames which are wrapped around the screen. TF and Archos have gaps between the frame and glas, with some kind of rubber to fill it. Asus tried to even out the sharp edges but you can see how cheap it is. Archos tablets can cut in your finger if you swipe around the edges ! For me: complete garbage quality, should cost 250$ max to satisfy the minimalist who just want's to read or something.
Ipad2:
This device is pretty awesome. First I thought the 4:3 diplay sucks for reading but after I measured books and calculated ratios, they were ALL closer to Ipad2 standards. That menas you will have less wasted space on Ipad. When surfing internet you will learn to love 4:3, everything fits perfectly while you feel how broken sites are on 16:9. The drawback are 16:9 movies without a border and the good about it, you have FULLSCREEN ! in emulators without scaling. There are also a lot of older movies/series with 4:3, which I prefer on travel anyway.
It is fluent everywhere and feels like my Galaxy S after getting the lagfix. Stock 3.1 is bull**** compared to it. The only point where it is superior, are widgets.
Root/Jailbreak/Flash:
Jailbreaking an Ipad is a piece of cake, visit a website, click on a button, your done. No bull**** to flash around or to risk your device. After that you have Cydia which is an alternative market. You can also add repos to it, so you gain access to apps of all kind, also the not so legal ones.
You can play Flash Videos on Ipad using Iswifter or other apps. Inconvinient sometimes but to my surprise, they are fluent on the Ipad - Androids are sluggish. The Ipad even played a movie fluent with 10 other flash animations around it !
The crappy part about the Ipad is itunes and the structure how app files are arranged. Every app has it's own folder, so if you use FTP or something to transfer via network, you have to put those files IN the app folder, so they can find it. Not a big deal, if the app folder wouln't be named like 429403290239203023948393. Android is way better, copy somewhere on SD and browse it. Sure you can use itunes to put everything together but Itunes won't work with Jailbroken apps from Cydia. This breaks the use of my NAS server at home, leaving me with ****ty USB-to-PC solutions if I want it the easy way. Music and Videos which are supported by NAS can be played over UPNP but I found more nice apps for that on Android as I could on Ipad.
Conclusion:
10.1 is a nice device but it's like to own a ferrari and only have crappy roads to drive on. Android kills the Tab, sadly. It's good for smartphones but not for tabs - it's worse as an alpha build of windows. Every manufactuerer does what he wants, there are no standards. Compatibility between Android versions are a joke - imagine you upgrade from win7 to win8 and everything stops working - arrrrrrrgh.
This may be fixed with 4.0 but it will take another 1-2 years for the software. Until then, there will be Win8, which could break Androids neck (if it's compatible to Win7 programms!). Also I can sell the Ipad2 for 200-300 bucks, even if Ipad3 is released, so screw it, will lose ~150-200€ to it. But it will buy me at least 6 months of fun.
The best is, I don't have to care about the future. There is no "will it work after OS upgrade" problem with Apple.
Wow there are so many problems with this post I don't even know where to begin. I think I will just address your last line:
The best is, I don't have to care about the future. There is no "will it work after OS upgrade" problem with Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try telling that to the iPhone 3G users who upgraded to ios4 and had a device that was next to worthless. Apple pushed that update out to ose iPhones knowing it would turn it into a piece of **** 100% of the time.
dcc22 said:
Root/Jailbreak/Flash:
Jailbreaking an Ipad is a piece of cake, visit a website, click on a button, your done. No bull**** to flash around or to risk your device. After that you have Cydia which is an alternative market. You can also add repos to it, so you gain access to apps of all kind, also the not so legal ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having met way more people with iPodTouch4/IP4/IPad1&2 that do this than those who DO NOT do this, it makes me wonder if the ideology of app devs to take preference to iOS for financial considerations is not completely flawed.
....what is the point of this post?
your inability to play with android OS and tweak it is not an excuse for you to say that android is flawed..with that said, i agree some stuff need to be fix, but its minor stuff such as typing on the browser...and...well thats it for me.
if you want something that work out of the box, agreed pick ipad 2, but if your geeky or you like linux pick android, more custimization then IOS can ever dream of.
THE firmwares with ripped features for different devices, as they become incompatible with every next release the iphone 3g and now 3gs with ios5. Don't tell me jailbreak is easy, it took the developers 3 months to make a jailbreak for ipad 2 which is still raw with compatibility issues! If buying the idevice is an excuse for free apps...probably games in your case with a new handheld gaming device than off board ye pirate! People jailbreak the device for customisation which is the soul of android os (which is not fresh but time tested and evolving i need not wait a whole year for new features to sprout, mostly inspired and already popular in other os!).
Ever heard of DFU mode, recovery mode? Similar terms and combos are used here! Atleast in android thanks to diversity if one model ain't suitable there is a myriad to choose from! Compare two devices of same platform when making a point.
I agree with G1 and the person above but since you decided to share...let me take a turn.
Why you felt the need to justify your iPad 2 choice in an Android related forum is beyond me.
You either realize or fail to see that Apple purposefully limits their tech. Minimal upgrades between generations. Even the newest iPhone won't support 4G from what I have heard yet they want to use LTE patents against Google?
Your train of thought that the iPad 2 is perfect is already starting to form.
The iPad's dimensions do not in any way make it better for video, reading, and web surfing. I was just having a debate with a friend who started complaining about where the dock port was on my Galaxy Tab 10.1. He was quickly shut up when I pointed out that cell phones have the port at the bottom so our hands can grip the sides. However a tablet is meant to be held in LANDSCAPE...that's why sticking the port in a different place was a smart decision.
Point being...he turned into another person claiming everything is horrible with Android. Guess what? He never owned an Android device. He actually has a Touch Pro 2 right now. IGNORANCE!
Look I've had an iPad. I know that jailbreaking it is POINTLESS. Your battery dies out super fast, the app selection is fairly weak, and all of that jailbreaking does nothing but try to replicate an Android experience. But it fails.
Unlike you, I do care about the future. I don't want to live in a world where everybody has the same glossy tablet with a slippery back so you can drop the darn thing. I don't want to be told what I can and cannot do on my tablet. I do not want to support any company intent on holding back technological progress for the sake of money or who buys patents just to sue other companies out performing them.
You have EVERY right to buy an iPad 2 but just know that your choices and who you choose to support speaks volumes. I have friends just like you. One day they're talking about freedom and openness. The next day they're justifying EVERYTHING Apple does. Cool. As long as I have a choice too.
As for your claims about Windows 8, it only serves to buttress how you allowed us yourself to come to your decision.
"Ignorance is bliss." That should be Apple's new tagline.
I love the OP and how he compares the worst of Android tablets to the best of iPad2 lol
4:3 is perfect for reading books with less wasted screen space. Yay! Now try reading comics and watching WS movies You prefer 4:3 movies? Good for you
Jailbreaking is easy for the iPad2 NOW! But do you know how long it took for the jailbreak to come out? That's right, they've been working on it since the iPad2 was released in March. Four months for a jailbreak to give you the 3rd party features equivalent of... Android. Who knows how long it will be the next time a new iPad/iDevice comes out. Compares that to the usual quick turn-around of rooting an Android device.
I'm happy that you're happy with your iPad 2. It's a nice device. But it sounds like you're just an iOS fan who tried Android and didn't like it.
I'm so glad you guys posted such thorough responses, so now I don't have to. I particularly like the point about why an Apple Fanboy felt the need to post his decision in an Android forum was beyond sensible.
goalweiser said:
I agree with G1 and the person above but since you decided to share...let me take a turn.
Why you felt the need to justify your iPad 2 choice in an Android related forum is beyond me.
You either realize or fail to see that Apple purposefully limits their tech. Minimal upgrades between generations. Even the newest iPhone won't support 4G from what I have heard yet they want to use LTE patents against Google?
Your train of thought that the iPad 2 is perfect is already starting to form.
The iPad's dimensions do not in any way make it better for video, reading, and web surfing. I was just having a debate with a friend who started complaining about where the dock port was on my Galaxy Tab 10.1. He was quickly shut up when I pointed out that cell phones have the port at the bottom so our hands can grip the sides. However a tablet is meant to be held in LANDSCAPE...that's why sticking the port in a different place was a smart decision.
Point being...he turned into another person claiming everything is horrible with Android. Guess what? He never owned an Android device. He actually has a Touch Pro 2 right now. IGNORANCE!
Look I've had an iPad. I know that jailbreaking it is POINTLESS. Your battery dies out super fast, the app selection is fairly weak, and all of that jailbreaking does nothing but try to replicate an Android experience. But it fails.
Unlike you, I do care about the future. I don't want to live in a world where everybody has the same glossy tablet with a slippery back so you can drop the darn thing. I don't want to be told what I can and cannot do on my tablet. I do not want to support any company intent on holding back technological progress for the sake of money or who buys patents just to sue other companies out performing them.
You have EVERY right to buy an iPad 2 but just know that your choices and who you choose to support speaks volumes. I have friends just like you. One day they're talking about freedom and openness. The next day they're justifying EVERYTHING Apple does. Cool. As long as I have a choice too.
As for your claims about Windows 8, it only serves to buttress how you allowed us yourself to come to your decision.
"Ignorance is bliss." That should be Apple's new tagline.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
God, I really like this post. Spoke about everything I wanted to say.
I dont want to be told what I can or cannot do. I want to tweak, optimize and control every setting that I can. There are tons of problems with JB and everyone, even a non-apple user like me, knows it. And without JB youre just living in a matrix that Steve Jobs dictates.
I would really like to hear the OP thoughts on flash. My friend tried to buy something on the web and couldnt use her credit card on the iphone. in the end I bought it for her using-yes my samsung 10.1- and she wrote me a check. And Steve Jobs is saying people dont need/shouldnt use/ cannot use flash on their mobile device.
This kinda makes me think of how I am training my 2 year old son to use the potty.
hmmm
I just recently got a galaxy tab 10.1, after spending the last month using an ipad2, I need both tablets for an app i am building.
And I can tell you this much, anyone that has an iphone will love an ipad2. Anyone that uses an ipad2 will be very very very happy with it.
But trust me, use that device for a month, then switch to honeycomb..... and it will blow you away.
One think I can say about apple is so easy to use, than it becomes boring after a while.thats why I have the samsung galaxy tab.
evolishesh said:
One think I can say about apple is so easy to use, than it becomes boring after a while.thats why I have the samsung galaxy tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple's draw over its competitors has been its simplicity for years - well before Android. Back in the day it was Microsoft. The sad truth is that reduced functionality in a shinier package is what most people want. Thankfully for those of us with a bit more intelligence, we have products like Android to keep us entertained.
SolusCado said:
Apple's draw over its competitors has been its simplicity for years - well before Android. Back in the day it was Microsoft. The sad truth is that reduced functionality in a shinier package is what most people want. Thankfully for those of us with a bit more intelligence, we have products like Android to keep us entertained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. I love android and its platform
Um, wow. Glad everyone else said already literally everything I could think of responding to the OP with.
And personally, I will never buy a Win8 tablet until I can wipe it and install Android, Ubuntu or MeeGo on it.
Lorddeff07 said:
hmmm
I just recently got a galaxy tab 10.1, after spending the last month using an ipad2, I need both tablets for an app i am building.
And I can tell you this much, anyone that has an iphone will love an ipad2. Anyone that uses an ipad2 will be very very very happy with it.
But trust me, use that device for a month, then switch to honeycomb..... and it will blow you away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the non-ipad users, could you elaborate some points on that? I just want to know some actual comparisons aside from the well advertised facts, ex: flash.
All of these tablets have their quirks and flaws. Mostly with the software. I actually need to return my second 10.1 because it's been randomly turning off like my first. Must be due to heat.
In any case, I will wait for the next batch of tablets instead. Hopefully we start getting some stuff that's really spectacular. Like a processor that can handle the native resolution of HC and has more video codecs.
Colors are pretty drab on ipad and saturated on tab. Both screens need calibration.
Tabs screen is brighter and higher Res. Side by side with same pics regardless of source tab wins everytime. Anyone saying otherwise needs prescription checked.
There's a reason ipadhd is coming. Apple knows full well there display is now second rate.
dcc22 said:
After I could compare the Ipad2, 10.1 and Transformer for days now, I decided to go and buy an Ipad2. Yes, I turned my back on Android and here's why:
10.1:
Very nice lookings, high quality and hardware but there is a big problem: the colors. On some pictures the saturation is so high that it kills lots of details every time 2 similar colors are nearby. Here you can see what I mean, check the right circle where orange and red meets - if the orange circle would be more reddish, you could hardly tell there are 2 rings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1bkovoLXw4&feature=player_detailpage#t=208s
If you compare it to a perfect calibrated monitor, it looks like crap. Flashy, colorful and nice but details are gone. That's the one and only weaknes from what it offers. It's 16:9 display is a winner when it comes to videos but video playback is poor. Ipad2 is much better, even for flash, later more to come about it.
Another MAJOR problem is Samsung support. Android is a fresh system and needs tons of support. Samsung provides NONE. For EU, they still have no release dates or closer info about their device - just lol. For me, the 10.1 is just a step in the process to upgrade to Tegra3. They built the shell now and can use it for the next device to compete with Apple. Same like they did to the 10.1v - no support, they just forgot about it.
Transformer:
Diplay is pretty good but the build quality is crap. After I saw the Archos tablets with the bronze frame, I knew where Asus bought their stuff. Both have those sharp metal frames which are wrapped around the screen. TF and Archos have gaps between the frame and glas, with some kind of rubber to fill it. Asus tried to even out the sharp edges but you can see how cheap it is. Archos tablets can cut in your finger if you swipe around the edges ! For me: complete garbage quality, should cost 250$ max to satisfy the minimalist who just want's to read or something.
Ipad2:
This device is pretty awesome. First I thought the 4:3 diplay sucks for reading but after I measured books and calculated ratios, they were ALL closer to Ipad2 standards. That menas you will have less wasted space on Ipad. When surfing internet you will learn to love 4:3, everything fits perfectly while you feel how broken sites are on 16:9. The drawback are 16:9 movies without a border and the good about it, you have FULLSCREEN ! in emulators without scaling. There are also a lot of older movies/series with 4:3, which I prefer on travel anyway.
It is fluent everywhere and feels like my Galaxy S after getting the lagfix. Stock 3.1 is bull**** compared to it. The only point where it is superior, are widgets.
Root/Jailbreak/Flash:
Jailbreaking an Ipad is a piece of cake, visit a website, click on a button, your done. No bull**** to flash around or to risk your device. After that you have Cydia which is an alternative market. You can also add repos to it, so you gain access to apps of all kind, also the not so legal ones.
You can play Flash Videos on Ipad using Iswifter or other apps. Inconvinient sometimes but to my surprise, they are fluent on the Ipad - Androids are sluggish. The Ipad even played a movie fluent with 10 other flash animations around it !
The crappy part about the Ipad is itunes and the structure how app files are arranged. Every app has it's own folder, so if you use FTP or something to transfer via network, you have to put those files IN the app folder, so they can find it. Not a big deal, if the app folder wouln't be named like 429403290239203023948393. Android is way better, copy somewhere on SD and browse it. Sure you can use itunes to put everything together but Itunes won't work with Jailbroken apps from Cydia. This breaks the use of my NAS server at home, leaving me with ****ty USB-to-PC solutions if I want it the easy way. Music and Videos which are supported by NAS can be played over UPNP but I found more nice apps for that on Android as I could on Ipad.
Conclusion:
10.1 is a nice device but it's like to own a ferrari and only have crappy roads to drive on. Android kills the Tab, sadly. It's good for smartphones but not for tabs - it's worse as an alpha build of windows. Every manufactuerer does what he wants, there are no standards. Compatibility between Android versions are a joke - imagine you upgrade from win7 to win8 and everything stops working - arrrrrrrgh.
This may be fixed with 4.0 but it will take another 1-2 years for the software. Until then, there will be Win8, which could break Androids neck (if it's compatible to Win7 programms!). Also I can sell the Ipad2 for 200-300 bucks, even if Ipad3 is released, so screw it, will lose ~150-200€ to it. But it will buy me at least 6 months of fun.
The best is, I don't have to care about the future. There is no "will it work after OS upgrade" problem with Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same thing,I had the transformer for week return it and waited for the galaxy tab,I love the galaxy tab but too much force closes and app crashing.I exchange tab for ipad2 and jailbreak it.
I am very happy with the ipad,but I miss honeycomb,hope ice-cream sandwich and all manufactures they stop using nvidia Tegra
The hardware is there, and Google is revving up for Ice Cream Sandwich right now, which will hopefully bring some much needed changes to current Android
Tablets.
Sent from my Fascinate with MIUI Gingerbread
The fact that you're here means you don't mind getting your hands dirty.
So you have one simple choice - have your device running as you want it by managing the device yourself, loading ROMs from XDA - or not and wait until Apple decide to fix something.
XDA is fantastic - here there's talented bunch of guys & gals mixing & matching the best features from roms of different vendors into something unique.
There is no comparison between Apple & Android.
I'm an iPhone 4 user who was going to buy an iPad but came across the Xoom. I want to buy it but have never used Android and am concerned about updates to the UK where I live. I would be interested in hearing from fellow UK or European users of the Xoom regarding whether its worth buying it against the benefits of an iPad 2. Cheers.
In my personal opinion, I advisebyou to buy an ipad2.
I consider myself an advanced user and had numerous smartphones with all three main OSs, I had the Xoom since launched in the UK, honestly, put aside all issues with Xoom and all 'promised' advantagrs, the screen display remains the main gactor in prefering the ipad2 over all honeycomb tablets, until you compare them head to head and if you only read/watch reviews, you might be still convinced that there is no big difference, but in reality, there is a huge difference, the ipad2 display is 10x better than the Xoom. Another najor factor is the weight and size, Xoom is much heavier and thicker. At the end of the day I believe at least in the UK, you can do with your ipad2 all what you can do with Xoom as sd and usb functionalities are not working yet and by the time they are enabled, the next generation of android tablets will be out and the next major update for ipad2 is out as well.
zoum79 said:
In my personal opinion, I advisebyou to buy an ipad2.
I consider myself an advanced user and had numerous smartphones with all three main OSs, I had the Xoom since launched in the UK, honestly, put aside all issues with Xoom and all 'promised' advantagrs, the screen display remains the main gactor in prefering the ipad2 over all honeycomb tablets, until you compare them head to head and if you only read/watch reviews, you might be still convinced that there is no big difference, but in reality, there is a huge difference, the ipad2 display is 10x better than the Xoom. Another najor factor is the weight and size, Xoom is much heavier and thicker. At the end of the day I believe at least in the UK, you can do with your ipad2 all what you can do with Xoom as sd and usb functionalities are not working yet and by the time they are enabled, the next generation of android tablets will be out and the next major update for ipad2 is out as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, thats really helpful. I've seen a few head to head reviews and now looked at the Android apps on the market many of which seem the same as what I've already purchased for the iphone. To be honest, I do want something different as I'm not keen on a large iphone, however, I agree, that from what I've read, the Xoom may not be worth my while in the UK. I should wait for the next generation of tablets but want something now!!
I know a guy who sent the xoom back and got an ipad2 in the UK.
i think if you have an iphone and are happy with that already you probably should get an ipad instead of an android tablet.
it's also a little sad with updates for anyone outside the US for the xoom - transformer has better update-policy it seems
to get around that you can flash the US image on (for wifi) - 3g ones take a bit more effort from what I read
Yeah I've read on the forums about flashing or rooting, which I'm assuming is another method of jailbreaking but to be honest I just want to take it out of the box and be able to receive the same as USA customers. I like the thought of being able to attach an external hard drive as I assume, this would make it easier to transfer video over as aside from comics, I want to take it on holiday in case the hotel room tv is rubbish! I'm not keen on having to convert or watch films in apples preferred format as all of my stuff is in avi.
Ive seen the Xoom online for just under £400 for 32gb and I assume the future option of a 32gb SD capability so really tempting but think I will order an ipad today or tomorrow and guess when its time to change in a few years the market will have matured a little. Thanks for your help all.
I have a nexus s so went for a xoom tablet, since you have an iPhone I would suggest you stick with an apple tablet.
Essentially the Xoom is a nice device which takes a bit of dicking about to make work the way it should. Once you've completed that process, it's probably more capable than the iPad 2, but for consumers who want something that works out the box the iPad is the better product. Android for tablets is currently where Android for phones was back in the 2.0 days.
I've got an iphone 4 and love it for being a phone.
I do love my xoom but my two biggest bug bears are 1 the screen, not so much the overall quality but the reflection from light and it just attracts finger smudges.
The second is the lack of MS Exchange support. There is nothing that comes close to the apple and microsoft usability for email and calendars. Ive tried almost every app and nothing works in the way exchange is designed to work.
Yes i love my xoom, the apps are being developed and improved daily, android is very customisable over IOS even without rooting, the tablet is great and works well with rdp apps, few good games and great fr browsing the net. The fact that someone somewhere has probably created an app for what you need (with the exception of exchange, although some of the apps may work for you). If you are looking at replicating iphone apps then you may be disappointed with some, even well known apps may have slight variations, logmein is one that has greater functionality on IOS, the ipad version is far better than the android versions.
The ipad works much better for video, like steve jobs said, why would you want to waste time re-encode video, click click and your done with ipad.
Standby battery is far better with ipad as well but constant use is on par with ipad. Find myself charging xoom every two or three days, when u was using an ipad 1 i got a week of use with breif browsing and receipt of 60 to 80 emails per day via exchange.
Need to work out what you want from the tablet. Post your uses and we can advise.
Sent from my MZ601 using XDA Premium App
ukc101 said:
I've got an iphone 4 and love it for being a phone.
I do love my xoom but my two biggest bug bears are 1 the screen, not so much the overall quality but the reflection from light and it just attracts finger smudges.
The second is the lack of MS Exchange support. There is nothing that comes close to the apple and microsoft usability for email and calendars. Ive tried almost every app and nothing works in the way exchange is designed to work.
Yes i love my xoom, the apps are being developed and improved daily, android is very customisable over IOS even without rooting, the tablet is great and works well with rdp apps, few good games and great fr browsing the net. The fact that someone somewhere has probably created an app for what you need (with the exception of exchange, although some of the apps may work for you). If you are looking at replicating iphone apps then you may be disappointed with some, even well known apps may have slight variations, logmein is one that has greater functionality on IOS, the ipad version is far better than the android versions.
The ipad works much better for video, like steve jobs said, why would you want to waste time re-encode video, click click and your done with ipad.
Standby battery is far better with ipad as well but constant use is on par with ipad. Find myself charging xoom every two or three days, when u was using an ipad 1 i got a week of use with breif browsing and receipt of 60 to 80 emails per day via exchange.
Need to work out what you want from the tablet. Post your uses and we can advise.
Sent from my MZ601 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I think my mind is sort of made up now. I originally wanted an ipad 2 for comic reading and possibly the odd video to watch as my iphone covers off lots of stuff for apps. My brother suggested looking at alternatives as the ipad is an expensive bit of kit for what I want. To be honest, I know that whatev er I buy, I want restrict it just to comics etc and will end up using it for all and sundry.
After some research, I feel that the Xoom is the best alternative at the moment but I mistakenly thought 'other' tablets are like mini laptops but some of the base principles such as apps are the same as the ipad format although appreciate I'm being simplistic.
It feels after lots of reading what others think, that the Android market is very exciting and certainly something that I want to get into but I think the next releases will have less challenges. One thing that has interested me after reading over the last few days is the apparent 'animosity' between some Android and Apple users. I dont get it?? As someone in his early 40's I think all of this technology is exciting and I think most of what is on sale is just a matter of preference without many major differences. I think the iphone is the best phone ever, however, I'm sure if I had picked up an Android first, I would have thought otherwise!
So I had an iPad 1, and currently have an iPad 2. I recently switched from an iPhone to a Motorola Atrix and as far as a smartphone, I am enjoying Android much better than iOS on the phone. But switching from an iPad to the Galaxy Tab I'm still up in the air about.
So that being said, the GT is about as good as the iPad for our needs, mainly just web browsing in bed. I really didn't need to get the GT, but I was just craving something different to play with. But do have a few issues / questions.
For starters, I've noticed web browsing is a bit sluggish on the GT whereas it is really smooth on the iPad. I installed Dolphin Browser for Tablets, but it seems just as sluggish as the stock browser.
I am also worried about future OS updates from Samsung, being as they don't have the best reputation in that department. Atleast with the iPad I know I can install iOS updates the day they come out.
Does anyone know what's Samsung's timeline for putting out Honeycomb 3.2 for the GT? I was thinking they might skip it being as ICS is due out soon. They might put their effort more into that. I hope they already started working on it so we don't have to wait for a long time for it.
I guess the durability of the GT worries me also. My first one had the Neuton Rings, I exchanged it at best buy, so far so good with the new one. But I am worried that the new one will eventually get them. It's nice with the iPad that if I have any problems I can go right to an Apple store and get it taken care of instead of sending it off for warranty work.
Well so far I like it, I guess maybe only because it is something different to play with, so no major advantage over my iPad so far. But I'm keeping an open mind about it.
chocodough said:
So I had an iPad 1, and currently have an iPad 2. I recently switched from an iPhone to a Motorola Atrix and as far as a smartphone, I am enjoying Android much better than iOS on the phone. But switching from an iPad to the Galaxy Tab I'm still up in the air about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm exactly the same way.
Right now, I've been thinking about getting a tablet for about a month now. I absolutely love Android and am excited about ICS. However, I believe in the tablet department, I think Apple really nailed it in terms of apps.
I believe that apps on the tablet need to be as smooth and as unique to the tablet/pad design. And apart from a very small amount of apps on Android, very few actually run smoothly and have taken advantage of this design.
In saying that, I have no doubt that Google will catch up eventually, but that may be a few years yet in terms of getting the same quality of apps.
At least in terms of tablets, Apple has it perfected, for the time being.
I believe samsung has to give us the most updated version of the android os for at least a year. They talked about fragmentation at the recent Google io and said that all android manufacturers will be part of this deal too. I don't think it should be too long before we see 3.2 or ics
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 on the Xda premium app
let me start by saying that these are my opinions.
Hands down the ipad is much smoother with more and higher quality apps. I own both the galaxy tab and the ipad 2, and i use the ipad muvh more because i can do things in a quarter of the time. I dont blame google for that though. I personally think that tegra is a pos, pardo the french. Every honeycomb tab is very laggy that ive tried(except the jetstream). Even the atrix is incredibly laggy when compared to an sgsii.
I typed tis response on my galaxy tab in about ten minutes due to the lag, i could have spent 2 on the ipad
guys stop whining.
90% of the IPad apps are iPhone apps just with higher resolution, they look the same, they feel the same, basically in most cases it feels like you are holding bigger ipod/iPhone.
However the choice of the apps already on appstore is hands down.
with android there is no key word like "You need an app for that"
you don't need an app to watch youtube
you don't need and app to check your bank account
...
I have 50 apps on my tablet where 80% is games
I have one video player app 1 news reader
and few other apps that makes my life easier
the rest I can do on the web browser or directly from inbuilt apps JUST AS I WOULD DO ON THE COMPUTER
the only thing I can't to is to play high end games and watch BluRay dvd
and really I don't have a need to play games on my laptop only thing I'm using it for is as a BluRay player,
my gtab replaced my laptop in nearly every field (including printing)
I own both an iPad and a Galaxy Tab, I got the tab to replace the iPad, which it has done successfully. My main usage is business use which, involves a lot of emails and Web access etc.
From my experience, the tab (or specifically, Android) beats the iPad hands down, the simple fact that you cannot do such a very simple task on an iPad (or any other IDevice for that matter) such as, attach a damn file other than a photo to an email is bewildering! How can it be geared for business use, when you need a 3rd party app to attach a PDF file, but creates a new email as opposed to just replying?
Or the way that you can only have multiple email signatures for different accounts, if you jailbreak it, not out of the box!
Yes their are more apps on the iPad, but if their were only 1000 tablet apps for Android, would you really have them all installed?
A lot of the Web orientated apps for iOS, are not needed on the Tab, as it is capable of giving you Web pages they way they are meant to be viewed. They both have their pros and cons, but my personal preference is the tab, I can stream movies from my network with nothing else needed other than a file manager, I can map network shares. With another simple app, I am able to print to any network attached printer, not just the ones Apple tell me I should use and on that note, I think that's what it all comes down to.
With Apple you pay £500 for a device and they enforce what they think is best for you, with an Android device, "YOU" decide what you do with it.
Rant complete!
RavenY2K3 said:
I own both an iPad and a Galaxy Tab, I got the tab to replace the iPad, which it has done successfully. My main usage is business use which, involves a lot of emails and Web access etc.
From my experience, the tab (or specifically, Android) beats the iPad hands down, the simple fact that you cannot do such a very simple task on an iPad (or any other IDevice for that matter) such as, attach a damn file other than a photo to an email is bewildering! How can it be geared for business use, when you need a 3rd party app to attach a PDF file, but creates a new email as opposed to just replying?
Or the way that you can only have multiple email signatures for different accounts, if you jailbreak it, not out of the box!
Yes their are more apps on the iPad, but if their were only 1000 tablet apps for Android, would you really have them all installed?
A lot of the Web orientated apps for iOS, are not needed on the Tab, as it is capable of giving you Web pages they way they are meant to be viewed. They both have their pros and cons, but my personal preference is the tab, I can stream movies from my network with nothing else needed other than a file manager, I can map network shares. With another simple app, I am able to print to any network attached printer, not just the ones Apple tell me I should use and on that note, I think that's what it all comes down to.
With Apple you pay £500 for a device and they enforce what they think is best for you, with an Android device, "YOU" decide what you do with it.
Rant complete!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly how I think.
I love android and I love honeycomb, but it just doesn't seem to meet standards yet. Just scrolling through the home screens on the g tab is laggy, now you could say it's because of widgets but it's pretty clear that android can run damn smooth with the right hardware ala galaxy s2.
Hopefully ics will allow me to browse the Internet on my gtab without having to give a pause between each letter or violently press the screen just to make sure it registers.
mchimney said:
I love android and I love honeycomb, but it just doesn't seem to meet standards yet. Just scrolling through the home screens on the g tab is laggy, now you could say it's because of widgets but it's pretty clear that android can run damn smooth with the right hardware ala galaxy s2.
Hopefully ics will allow me to browse the Internet on my gtab without having to give a pause between each letter or violently press the screen just to make sure it registers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, There maybe lag from time to time, but when you consider that all the interface on the iPad is, is the app draw on Android, where as Honeycomb has a whole lot more to it than that, and my app drawer had no lag to it at all lol.
With saying that, whilst not as much as Android, I did experience lag from time-to-time on my iPad, like I say not as much as on Android but!... I couldn't honestly tell you how many times the browser crashed out on me with the iPad, sometimes the websites weren't even particularilly big. Or the annoyance of trying to load a website, then flicking to email then back again, only to find it had to reload the page again because it doesn't do proper multi-tasking, and these things need to be accounted for also, Android simply does more stuff at the same time where as iOS cannot and may lag a bit because of it.
So far my experience with the Galaxy Tab has been positive. I don't experience any OS lag that I can tell, outside of the keyboard lag when typing. I only have 1 widget on the screen though.
My wife and I only really use it for web browsing in bed. I don't really use a lot of apps on the iPad / GT like I do on my Atrix phone.
Of course the only issue I really have is the browser lag. Either Safari or Atomic web browser on the iPad are much much smoother and not choppy when scrolling. So being as I mainly just web browse on it, that is my main issue. I use the stock browser as well as Dolphin for Tablets. I like the stock browser a bit better, I wish it had 2 options though that Dolphin has, such as setting the default viewing to desktop instead of mobile, and an option to have Flash load as needed instead of always.
I guess my main issue is that I didn't really need to buy a GT since the iPad did everything just fine for which my wife and I use it for. I'm just really trying to give myself reasons to keep it. If I keep it, I am debating on whether selling my iPad, or just let my wife use the iPad so I can actually have a tablet to actually use in bed without waiting for her to get done with it. hehe
I just noticed that the Motorola Xoom just got a 3.2.1 update recently while we are still waiting for 3.2. That is a bummer. I know 3.2 isn't a big update, but I hear it's mostly performance enhancments, which would be welcome though.
@mchimney
I notice no lag at all on my Atrix. The only issue I had was a few icons for some apps randomly disappearing from my desktop. I put on Go Launcher and the problem is gone. Actually the Atrix was what switched me to Android from the iPhone. I've had a Nexus One and an HTC Inspire, and although both were nice, just something about the Atrix which made me finally switch. I'm looking forward to the Atrix 2. One of th best things I like the most about the Atrix is how LOUD the external speaker is. I always thoughy the iPhone 4 had a loud speaker, and the Nexus One and the Inspire had low volumn speakers, but the Atrix definately has the best.
TASK650's rom seems to have cleared up any homescreen lag for me no matter what sort of retarded screen cluttering widget I use although at the moment I use only HD Widgets and Battery Girl (It's cute and fairly useless)
That rom also applies a fix to make the stock browser display desktop but I don't think you can toggle back and forth as with Dolphin.
In regards to Samsung updating HC I would not be too optimistic as my Fascinate is only able to go to 2.3 via a port of CM7 which I decline to use at the moment.
Of course since the wifi version is not saddled with Verizon we may indeed see updates in 3.x or ICS but I'm not holding my breath for that.
Swype keyboard seems to have no lag for me no matter what I do save for trying to share a page via News360 but I think that is an issue with the app rather than the keyboard.
Best of luck on your screen not getting rings
I also bought the Galaxy Tab because I wanted to escape from the closed Apple ecosystem. I've had about every Android phone that was released and enjoy them very much, and I try hard to love the Galaxy Tab, but it is giving me a hard time. Really, when it comes to the tabs there is no competition. Most has already been mentioned above, I'll add my short comparison:
- Ipad 2 : connectivity, itunes, no files system (this for me is the major one), screen resolution (too less to comfortable read e.g. pdfs and articles with small fonts), browser may be slow at times, no flash
+ Ipad 2: smooth operation and reliability, no stuttering, no random errors, no force closes, very fast in operation, lots of apps (which I do not need), available apps are of better quality (compare e.g. quick office HD on an iPad to that on android - the latter has e.g. not even the capability to create bulleted lists!), apps integrate much better (e.g. copy paste content between or from browser to apps etc), superior battery life and standby time, very efficient use of memory
- Galaxy Tab 10.1: laggy as hell, force closes of launcher and apps, most videos choppy, bad memory handling (try to open large pdfs/office docs and then to scroll, zoom etc)
+ Galaxy Tab: it's android, so customizable, filesystem (great!), easy data transfer, very fast download speeds, better screen resolution, the whole internet experience (including flash, although it very often stutters and cannot handle the content of some sites)
It's really a tough call, and I always oscillate between falling in love again with the other tab after having used the other for a while.. It heavily depends on what you want to do with the tab. For casual surfing, music, videos, photos etc the Galaxy is super, but if you are a power user that intents to use the tab as kind of a computer replacement while on the road to fulfill a variety of diverse tasks then the iPad is (with exception of the f***ing data transfer / no file system problem) without any doubt far superior.
How spoilt we are to have such discussions - remember if 5 or 10 years ago somebody would have given you a device with such power and capabilities, we wouldn't have believed it..
---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------
I also bought the Galaxy Tab because I wanted to escape from the closed Apple ecosystem. I've had about every Android phone that was released and enjoy them very much, and I try hard to love the Galaxy Tab, but it is giving me a hard time. Really, when it comes to the tabs there is no competition. Most has already been mentioned above, I'll add my short comparison:
- Ipad 2 : connectivity, itunes, no files system (this for me is the major one), screen resolution (too less to comfortable read e.g. pdfs and articles with small fonts), browser may be slow at times, no flash
+ Ipad 2: smooth operation and reliability, no stuttering, no random errors, no force closes, very fast in operation, lots of apps (which I do not need), available apps are of better quality (compare e.g. quick office HD on an iPad to that on android - the latter has e.g. not even the capability to create bulleted lists!), apps integrate much better (e.g. copy paste content between or from browser to apps etc), superior battery life and standby time, very efficient use of memory
- Galaxy Tab 10.1: laggy as hell, force closes of launcher and apps, most videos choppy, bad memory handling (try to open large pdfs/office docs and then to scroll, zoom etc)
+ Galaxy Tab: it's android, so customizable, filesystem (great!), easy data transfer, very fast download speeds, better screen resolution, the whole internet experience (including flash, although it very often stutters and cannot handle the content of some sites)
It's really a hard call, and I always oscillate between falling in love again with the other tab after having used the other for a while.. It heavily depends on what you want to do with the tab. For casual surfing, music, videos, photos etc the Galaxy is super, but if you are a power user that intents to use the tab as kind of a computer replacement while on the road to fulfill diverse tasks then the iPad is (with exception of the f***ing data transfer / no file system problem) without any doubt far superior.
At first I was disappointed with my galaxy tab, however after looking deep down into my inner geek and going through all the available tweaks I'm extremely satisfied.
I can't really say much more than that, everything is buttery smooth, no hiccups. I haven't seen a force close for months, the browsing is incredible.
After doing everything to get maximum performance out of my tab the only thing that still bothered me was the non-uniform icons. So after applying my preferred icon pack I showed it to my non techy brother who has an Ipad 2 and he honestly preferred it over his Ipad.
The thing is, I would never recommend a galaxy tab for him because he doesn't have the time to go through all these tweaks, and without them this honestly doesn't even compare to an ipad.
Maybe you can put yourself in these shoes to help you choose.
mchimney said:
I love android and I love honeycomb, but it just doesn't seem to meet standards yet. Just scrolling through the home screens on the g tab is laggy, now you could say it's because of widgets but it's pretty clear that android can run damn smooth with the right hardware ala galaxy s2.
Hopefully ics will allow me to browse the Internet on my gtab without having to give a pause between each letter or violently press the screen just to make sure it registers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you said, ICS is coming in 1-2months. Samsung already said they plan to keep the Touchwiz development to a minimum since ICS is already very user friendly. That will also allow them to release faster updates. they are hardware masters and no software kings.
I was an ipad 2 user. Am switching to a GT 10.1 4G.
I use ADW launcher with a single home screen and static black wallpaper, 3 widgets and 10 or so shortcuts. No delay. No delay while browsing (the thumbs driven interface is excellent, pages load faster than on ipad)
There are software issues. 3.1 is a work in progress. I've rooted so I could have messed things a bit.
Apple's decision to ban in-app purchases made me rethink my commitment to their brand. Kindle 's store was conveniently accessible. I couldn't believe this decision.
GT's non-standard port and (incredibly) lack of vga out are irritants. What were they (not) thinking??
I still advise most people to stick to apple tablets, a more polished and foolproof product. But for tech savvy (i.e. people who like to waste time learning how to update their ROM), the GT is a very attractive alternative. Much much more satisfying than Apple's environment. (ftr, our household uses 2 iphones, 3 ipads, 3 macbooks, 2 minis, 2 imacs and a macpro :/)
mchimney said:
I love android and I love honeycomb, but it just doesn't seem to meet standards yet. Just scrolling through the home screens on the g tab is laggy, now you could say it's because of widgets but it's pretty clear that android can run damn smooth with the right hardware ala galaxy s2.
Hopefully ics will allow me to browse the Internet on my gtab without having to give a pause between each letter or violently press the screen just to make sure it registers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to try my rom out if you'r experiencing lag bro. Lol.
i'll second task. A custom rom like tasks and pershoots overclocked kernel clears up nearly all lag including flash and video playback. The roms also give much better battery life.
I was looking primarily for a near replacement for my laptop to use while lounging about and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 meets that need way better than an iPad. I don't like the browsing and file management experience on the iPad. On the Galaxy tab these functions work pretty much like a laptop.
However, if I could afford to buy just one tablet, it would probably be the iPad -- and that's only because the overall choice and quality of apps on that platform is way better.
Sorry for the editorial here but I just had to get this off my chest regardless if anyone reads it or responds. I love my Nexus 7 (2013) but it's been giving me a lot of problems (hardware and software). I decided to upgrade to a bigger tablet and sell my nexus 7 in the process but there weren't really any 10" tablet that enticed me. I have a Note 2 and I love it, but can't stand the hardware buttons on the Note 10.1 (2014 edition). I briefly considered getting a Nexus 10 but it's a year old hardware and I would be very angry if I bought it only for Google to get off their ass and actually announce/release a new Nexus 10 a few weeks or a months later. So....I went to my nearest Apple store and picked up an iPad Air 64gb.
I'm not gonna lie, I loved it. I haven't used iOS in so long but the feel and fluidity of the iPad just brought me back. I went through the app store buying all the apps I've ever wanted but were never ported (or were gimped) on android. Man I was flying high.......until I actually started using the apps and I fell fast and hard. Is there anyone else on here who owns even one iDevice? Because I don't know if iOS is just objectively this bad or if years on android has spoiled me.
First of all, I completely forgot what a horrible experice you can have using iTunes. Ever since I discovered MediaMonkey and sold my iPod I haven't had any experience with iTunes beyond helping my Mom here and there. I think it's been so long that I manged to convince myself that iTunes wasn't so bad. The fact that iTunes and the app store don't automatically sync my purchases still to this day is mind boggling. If I buy something on my brand new out of the box Nexus 7, it's available in my app list on the Play store and across all devices. If I buy something on my iPad then uninstall it, I can't recover it on iTunes on my computer unless i manually plug in my iPad and sync it first. I appreciate the fact that unlike the Play store web browser, iTunes actually auto suggests titles based a first few letters of my search query but what good is it if iTunes crashes ALL THE DAMN TIME. I've had iTunes crash 7 times in one hour. Hell, I've made in-app purchases that don't download to my device for over 24 hours.
In apps, I kept getting buried under menus. I had to back out over and over just to get to certain menu options. I found myself unconsciously swiping from the left. I was one of the people calling for full screen mode on android with a hidden nav bar but man I never thought I would miss it so much. I hold the iPad on the bottom and every time I wanted to go back I had reach up to hit the back button.
iPad has the best Japanese keyboard hands down. However why they wouldn't give you the option of re-sizing the keyboard on such a large device I'll never understand. My fingers can barely reach some keys. Whenever I want to type effectively I have to hold the tablet in one hand and peck with the other. Same thing goes for the home screen. Also, you would think webpages would be clearer but the text size was basically the same as on my nexus 7 (at least for the pages I regularly visit). Just little annoyances building up like pictures downloaded from the web getting saved in my camera roll. Let's not even get into the 4:3 aspect ratio.
The absolute worst thing and the one thing that has me returning the iPad? Multitasking. Trying to download my whole comic book collection was an exercise in patience. It took (honestly) 16 hours for my full library to download. Every time the iPad screen went off, the download paused. Every time I played a video in Youtube, the download paused. This is most frustrating OS experience I've had lately on such a premium well made device. The worst part is that I knew all this going in but I figured the experience just had to be better than the last time I used it, and I couldn't be more wrong. It's changed aesthetically but it's still the same software that pushed me to android to be with.
Now I'm over $1000 (cases and accessories) in and I find myself completely disenchanted by the experience. I just lost $80 in app purchases and I don't know if Apple charges a restocking fee but despite all that I'm still returning the iPad today. ::sigh:: I wish I could download half these apps on the Play store. Hell even the Bamboo Paper app I like so much is available for my Note 2 but not compatible with the Nexus 7 (????) and that's a watered down version to begin with. I think it's hilarious that the ecosystem that's so highly touted wasn't enough to keep me.
Anyway I just had to get this off my chest. For anyone who actually read it to the end, first, thanks and second, if you still use an iDevice along side your android devices then what is keeping you tied to the OS? I honestly tried, because there's nothing I hate more than returning things that aren't defective, but I'm willing to pay a restocking fee because it just isn't worth it to me right now. I wish Goggle would get their game together.
Another thing I never realized. Using the iPad feels like using a resistive screen. The glass is not glue down and so there is a gap that makes tapping on the iPad feel more hollow. Pressing down on the glass distorts the screen which is unfortunate because many of the stylus I used require so much force to work well. I kept wondering why the glass on my Nexus 7 felt more solid. I am surprised none of the reviews I watched/read have mentioned this.
That was an interesting read. I have a friend that did a similar thing. After his Android tablet was stolen he bought an iPad and then just ended up returning it to Bestbuy. Personally I've never owned any iDevice but I've used them plenty and it just doesn't feel as natural to me. In my opinion they are just pretty devices that suffer terribly from software annoyances and lack of functionality.
I was long time ago a iPhone, iPod and iPad user, but even with the advances in IOS7 I'm still feel this platform is not for me, too many constrains and limitation to my taste. Right now I love every aspect of my Nexus 7 (2013) and even the lack of ext SD is not a bummer for me, but I have the 32GB version.
Still I recommend the iPad to those of my friends that grow up under the Apple umbrella. I got a couple of former iPad users converted to the Nexus, but only when I feel they want a change or are open to test different shores. I see some advantages using iPad for some users, so I'm not a IOS hater, just is not for me.
<-------- to much words to say nothing, damn, I becoming dumber....
I agree with basically all of your points. Multitasking is much faster on Android for sure, I can switch between apps very quickly and they will also stay open unlike iOS when they might get cut off. iTunes is horrible, as always, but I don't use it anymore. Spotify is all I need for music and everything else I can handle on the device itself. I've used Android for quite some time I'd like to think, but the same thing keeps me from using it exclusively and that's the feel when you touch the screen. It's hard to explain but it's noticeable especially in scrolling. Android has gotten much, much better lately, but it just doesn't feel as connected as iOS does and that really annoys me. I'm quite sensitive to small details like this, most people seem to not even notice these things. My older issues have been basically fixed, like inconsistent app design (Holo fixes this). I like Android, it's quick and efficient but for my usage patterns I prefer iOS. Also my most used apps, Tweetbot and Alien Blue, have good alternatives on android but not quite as good, that's also part of the reason but that's just because I'm heavily invested in the iOS ecosystem.
Go ahead and disagree, but please use some arguments with some thought put into them.
How was the low memory crashes?
"Is there anyone else on here who owns even one iDevice? Because I don't know if iOS is just objectively this bad or if years on android has spoiled me."
This statement alone made me swap my 16gig iPhone 5s (my first iPhone) for a Note 3. iOS felt "fisher-price" compared to all my years with Android. Being there with my Droid OG and seeing how far Android has come is truly amazing. I should have never doubted Android.
And for Apple to release such a fast CPU and to only gimp it with 1gig of memory across the board is ridiculous. All the "lowmem" errors in the diagnostic log and crashes was a joke.
freemini said:
I agree with basically all of your points. Multitasking is much faster on Android for sure, I can switch between apps very quickly and they will also stay open unlike iOS when they might get cut off. iTunes is horrible, as always, but I don't use it anymore. Spotify is all I need for music and everything else I can handle on the device itself. I've used Android for quite some time I'd like to think, but the same thing keeps me from using it exclusively and that's the feel when you touch the screen. It's hard to explain but it's noticeable especially in scrolling. Android has gotten much, much better lately, but it just doesn't feel as connected as iOS does and that really annoys me. I'm quite sensitive to small details like this, most people seem to not even notice these things. My older issues have been basically fixed, like inconsistent app design (Holo fixes this). I like Android, it's quick and efficient but for my usage patterns I prefer iOS. Also my most used apps, Tweetbot and Alien Blue, have good alternatives on android but not quite as good, that's also part of the reason but that's just because I'm heavily invested in the iOS ecosystem.
Go ahead and disagree, but please use some arguments with some thought put into them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android lags heavily in certain apps and it is very noticeable when you scroll. I think only dyed to the core fanboys would defend that. But that's more a Google thing than it is an Android thing. I have over 1000 pics in Quickpic and it loads and scrolls so smoothly with absolutely no hiccups. However attempting to scroll through the "All Apps" section of the Play Store is a nightmare. A lot of Google made apps lag horribly with the only exception I've found so far being surprisingly Maps and Keep. Scrolling is smoother on iOS but it has it's wealth of problems. I had 12 re-springs yesterday attempting to use Safari with only 3 tabs open. Switched to Dolphin and it was only marginally better. It also lagged though not as noticeably as Android.
I agree that iOS offers a very consistent experience and design language and some of the apps are just better designed than their counterparts will ever be on android. I blame Google here though. When I was considering 10" tablets, one of the things that swayed me, beyond the fact that they're weren't options I liked in Android, was the fact that the Play Store just doesn't have many tablet optimized apps. I know some people are going to say it's up to the devs to redesign their apps but why would they bother when Google seems be making it a moot point. Instead of incentivising them to make better optimized tablet apps, Google instead went the opposite route and made their tablet UI more like a Phablet UI. My Nexus 7 just feels like scaled up Note 2 without the Stylus or memory slot and yet my Note 2 (which I still don't understand) has access to more productivity apps than the Nexus. It can't just be because it has a stylus, those are a dime a dozen and I have 2 Bamboo stylus that work very well on my Nexus, so why the limitation when the larger screen would benefit more from handwriting and drawing.
iOS is only slightly better. They may have better optimized tablet apps but all a lot the apps do is move things around while giving you the illusion of more real estate. On my brother's iPhone 5s and my iPad Air, the Bamboo Paper app gives us the same number of lines when we open a notebook. While Android is guilty of leaving phone UI's on tablets so you're left with a lot of white space, iOS is the opposite. Every little bit of your screen is filled but a lot of times it's just by apps that scale up their visuals instead actually optimizing it. Though I should add that I am one of those people that prefers to always use my tablet in portrait mode unless an app forces landscape mode. This is even more evident on the home screen and settings and why I complained about the Keyboard. Apple literally just scaled up everything in their tablets. The keyboard, the icons, the layout...everything is exactly the same as on their phones.
I suppose it would be easy for me to get heavily invested back into the ecosystem. I have hundreds of apps I bought previously (when I was still an iPhone user) but for about 98% of those I'm forced to re-buy the tablet version if I want them again. Never thought I would say this, but if I could load the App store on my Android device while still keeping everything fundamentally android, I'd be happy as hell. I know iPad is better built but some decisions like leaving a space between the glass and the screen or putting both speakers at the bottom seem very odd to me. Sometimes the screen feels very plastic because of the give.
mi7chy said:
How was the low memory crashes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a lot of those but only using browser apps. Surprisingly none of the other 30 apps I used crashed even once but the web browsers just went crazy crashing left and right sometimes just from clicking on a link.
cdmoore74 said:
"Is there anyone else on here who owns even one iDevice? Because I don't know if iOS is just objectively this bad or if years on android has spoiled me."
This statement alone made me swap my 16gig iPhone 5s (my first iPhone) for a Note 3. iOS felt "fisher-price" compared to all my years with Android. Being there with my Droid OG and seeing how far Android has come is truly amazing. I should have never doubted Android.
And for Apple to release such a fast CPU and to only gimp it with 1gig of memory across the board is ridiculous. All the "lowmem" errors in the diagnostic log and crashes was a joke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I would never consider iOS for a phone and to be honest unless Samsung does something really stupid to the Note line I think all my phones moving forward will a Galaxy Note (I love the Nexus line but the functionality offered by the Note line is unmatched). I just thought Apple might provide a better tablet experience and if it had I would have stuck with it. There's no loyalty in tech. I buy what works best for me and if that happens to be Apple or Android I show my support by buying their products. I'm just surprised that Apple didn't do it for me. I was really expecting to move forward with an iPad in my backpack and a Note 2 in my pocket.
I have a 5th gen iPod Touch and absolutely love it. As far as music players, I just don't think they get any better. As far as phones and tablets, I'm pretty much always going to be an Android fan. I do have an Acer Iconia W510, running Windows 8.1 but it's running an x86 processor and not using that RT crap. With its keyboard dock, I think of it as more of a laptop than a tablet, with the added bonus of being able to get the keyboard out of my way.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Analyss14 said:
I got a lot of those but only using browser apps. Surprisingly none of the other 30 apps I used crashed even once but the web browsers just went crazy crashing left and right sometimes just from clicking on a link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my experience, but it seems isolated to the iPad air. I've had my 5S for about a month and I don't have a single LowMemory log, I have a fair share of Alien Blue crashes though.
I would like a small ipod with blue tooth so I can exchange music....
But I think it s too much to ask!
I had the first ipad, an ipad 2 and an ipad4. In the end, I always come back to Android and the ipads go to the wife/kids.
I won't even consider an ipad until Apple adds a proper file management system. I have multiple file types for projects and don't want to try and keep track of what app I need to open to get to my data.
Actually, not having USB OTG would be a problem for me since I use usb-rs232 adapters that wouldn't work with idevices. I rarely use this but when I need it, it is certainly easier than carrying a laptop. I guess I'm be more inclined to get a Surface 2 Pro and a 7" android device. without a file manager, apple is useless to me.
If it wasn't Nexus, probably a Samsung Note for the S-Pen. I'd like to try it and see if it is any good.
If you are looking for a 10" tablet, I have now had many android tablets. I currently have the Note 10.1 2014 and the Nexus 7. The Shield is not really a tablet but I have it as well. The Note 10.1 2014 is far and way the most useful tablet I have owned. It has great battery life and a spectacular screen. It is smaller and lighter than the Nexus 10. I am not a fan of the home button it has but that would be my only complaint. I like the Nexus 7 a bunch also it is great for throwing in a pocket on the go. I am totally against iAnything.
The main issue I have with android apps are the pdf readers, I have tried every pdf app but non of the scroll smoothly, not even basic text books.
ios app developers have to keep their apps top notch to compete within the appstore, on google play there are threemmajor pdf apps ( paid)
Ezpdf, repligo reader, mantano reader
All of them have major problems witth either speed of rendering, highlighting difficulties , clumbsy menus and much more.
And note another weird thing, non of them have implemented immersion mode, in fact the only reader app that has enabled it is moon reader.
I get that 4.4 is on a very low share of their market but still these are paid apps, they should have taken the time to implement it.
Nexus 7 with its quadcore hits a wall when it comes to these apps
RKight said:
I have a 5th gen iPod Touch and absolutely love it. As far as music players, I just don't think they get any better. As far as phones and tablets, I'm pretty much always going to be an Android fan. I do have an Acer Iconia W510, running Windows 8.1 but it's running an x86 processor and not using that RT crap. With its keyboard dock, I think of it as more of a laptop than a tablet, with the added bonus of being able to get the keyboard out of my way.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Loved my iPod 5G in the few months I had it. Very decent camera built in as will.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
---------- Post added at 06:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:16 AM ----------
Only thing I miss after selling my iOS device is the exclusive apps/games like Bastion, Limbo etc. That's all.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
You should try iPhone, Once you did, you would never say this again
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Different strokes...
I've owned an iPhone and an iPad and I was a Mac developer for 17 years.
I'll never go back to Apple products again as long as I live. My experiences with the new iDevices has been execrable. But what's much worse is the attitude that Apple fans have "Try an iPhone and you'll never go back." Right. Because we're all exactly the same, want the same things - value the same things.
No wonder people call them iSheep. They want everyone to be exactly the same.
Well, screw that.
To paraphrase Edgar Friendly from Demolition Man
"You see, according to Steve Jobs' plan. *I'm* the enemy. Because I like to think, I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech, freedom of choice. I'm the kind if guy who would sit in the Best Buy and think "Gee, should I have the big screen or the 3D screen phone with the side order of 7" tablet?" I *want* high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon, butter and buckets of cheese alright? I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinatti in a non-smoking section. I wanna run around naked with green jell-o all over my body reading a Playboy magazine. Why? Because maybe I feel the need to, okay pal? I've *seen* the future, you know what it is? It's a 47 year-old virgin in gray pajamas soaking in a bubble bath, drinking a broccoli milkshake and thinking "I'm sophisticated because I have a fricking iPhone". You wanna live the Apple way, you gotta live Jobs' way. What he wants, when he wants, how he wants. Your other option: come down here, maybe flash your own ROMs."
Cool story. I read it till the end. We should create ex-IOS support group.
Here's my story (long one) :
I still have my launch day iPad2. Mainly since it's in pieces atm.
I've been repairing it several times since spring this year. It was poorly assembled to begin with, the glass was lifting and it'd cut my thumb every now and then.
It finally stopped charging. So I bought a replacement charge connector to fix it.
End up damaging the wifi antenna while opening it.
Bought replacement part. First one didn't work.
2 parts later, I got it fixed.
At this time, the glass was cracked beyond help. Bought a replacement part to fix it.
At this point, I ended up ripping the 4 pin speaker connector.
I'm just gonna solder the wires directly to the main board to fix it.
Then I'm going to flip it on CL.
Around the same time my iPad2 was problematic, my iPhone4 home button gave up.
Didn't feel like going through the same ordeals as the iPad, I sold the iPhone 4 with broken home button on CL for $175.
When I finally finished repairing my iPad2, I'm pretty sure I could get at least $300 for it, since others are asking $350-400.
At the same time when 2 of my iDevices gave up, I had to buy cheap replacements: LG Optimus L9 $150 and B&N Nook HD $150.
I had tried Android prior to this point, but hated them (poorly made, slow, weird interface).
When my L9 and Nook HD work great, fast, so flexible, and everything that's not iOS, I was BLOWN AWAY!
I ended up learning a lot more about Android, rooting, found Samba client app, my life is finally complete again.
I've since bought: Nexus 4, Note 2 and 2x Nexus 7 2013.
At this point, it'd take a lot of Google eff-ups (like the updated G maps), to make me want switch back to iOS.
Oh, and I also sold my iPod Nano 8GB on CL for $75, because the button was starting to wiggle on me. And the buyer bought it knowing about the problem. Bought a Clip+ & 64GB uSDXC and still left with some change.
BTW, Apple wanted $200-400 to repair the iPad2 for the stopped charging issue.
Last, I figured out why my Android experience a long time ago (2.2) was horrible: combination of immature OS and cheap Chinese made crap (don't know why, my friends had garbage like H20 and HTC at that time), was what got me.