I think I'm going to return my Xoom - Xoom General

I've had our XOOM since Monday, March 28th. My wife's laptop finally gave out, so I took this opportunity to get her something that didn't need to breathe and had a long battery life. As most users, she spent most of her time on Facebook, eBay, shopping sites, gossip sites, Youtube, etc. She rarely created any documents, but she did print a few PDFs, attachments that she received, as well as map directions (yes, she has an Android phone, but isn't very computer/technical literate). She is an information consumer, not an information creator. She takes in information from the internet and rarely creates any content. She is the perfect user for something like this. For the past week+ we've both been putting it to the test, and as an everyday laptop replacement to browse the web... I'm sorry, but it fails. I love my HTC EVO (running CM7 RC4) and my original G1 that found a home with my wife. But, alas poor Yorick, I knew him well. The XOOM just isn't stable. It has some faults (printing is a pain, but there are work-arounds, some websites don't load all of the time, tablet specific apps aren't all there, and everyday Android apps crash because they don't work yet with Honeycomb), but they can be forgiven. The only thing that can't be forgiven is the constant rebooting required or rebooting that the tablet does on its own. My wife won't let me change the shortcuts on the screen because she is the kind that need to stay static, and don't move around. So, she has told me that she can learn how to use the Xoom, just don't change things around. I would love to keep the Xoom for myself, but at this point it's more of a toy for me since I have a powerful Quad-Core laptop (I call my portable server) that I use for my development, gaming, and more. So, I don't NEED the Xoom. For my wife, this is perfect. I told her this is HERS, not mine, so I won't be modding it or customizing it.
I have to admit with the critics about the Xoom, it was release too soon. They need to get the bugs out. It has so much potential, but I hate seeing it fall flat on its face in front of my wife after I spent weeks telling her how much better it is than an iPad or iPad 2. Now, she wants me to get her an iPad 2 and I refuse to move on that principle. I'd rather get her another laptop.
Google, please give us a stable update so I don't have to return the Xoom to Costco!

I love the Xoom, but based on what you've described, the iPad is the way to go for her, at least with the current 'state of the Xoom'.
I've yet to experience a random reboot, but I do get some FC's every once in a while.

khov07 said:
I love the Xoom, but based on what you've described, the iPad is the way to go for her, at least with the current 'state of the Xoom'.
I've yet to experience a random reboot, but I do get some FC's every once in a while.
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Click to collapse
Agree on both. I do have a fc here and there, but i run apps we aren't suppose to. I have yet to have a random reboot, and in fact rarely reboot at all on purpose.

sounds like she has a bad unit; exchange it for a new one...
what programs are on there?
those are probably causing the fc's..
We bought two of them last sunday, and they both work perfectly; I abuse mine all day, as does my wife..

I've had the XooM since the 27th, and have yet to restart it or experience a random reboot. I put it to sleep when I go to bed. I've experienced a lot of Force Closes myself though. Usually I attribute it to the non-optimized apps.
I would return it to costco and get another unit. one that doesn't randomly reboot on your wife. Costco's return policy is fantastic and you should take advantage of it.
My analogy when someone ask me about android vs apple is.
APPLE is the prestigious magic company that will not allow you to go backstage to see the magic. but it is a good performance
ANDROID is the participant magic company that lets you peek behind the curtains and lets you tailor your own experience
although honeycomb is coming close to providing a good average user experience, it does not beat ipad in terms bringing content to the average user.
some ppl just want to enjoy the show and needs a tailored tablet experience. other ppl like myself want to experience the ins and outs of a budding system.

No reboots either.. maybe you got a bad one.. The only apps that force close for me are the 'non-standard' ones that aren't really built for a tablet yet. Sorry to hear it's going back... my dad is a die hard mac guy.. luckily I could talk him out of the ipad2 (he got the original) as I don't believe the minimal enhancements are worth the higher cost. Might be something to consider until you feel an Android tablet is right for you again.
C'est la vie. Au Revoir!

She spends a lot of her time on Zecco.com (stock trading website) and Google Financials. Then she's doing whatever. This morning she woke up and reads about the markets first thing in the morning before getting out of bed (this is what the Xoom is perfect for) and complained again that it rebooted. I have a few apps installed, but not many.
I think Zecco.com uses flash, so I don't think it would work on the iPad 2.

Go for ipad, jailbreak it and boom got everything the xoom has, except hardware wise... can't wait for the android quad cores that's when s**t will go down like crack in the ghetto
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I too have had my xoom for 4 days and I uses extensively and have experience any of the prob you have.

I haven't experienced any fcs since I took flash off of my zoom. I've gone a week without flash and have not missed it yet. I wonder if flash is the culprit.

I really haven't had many FC's (except the usual Facebook and Pandora that just don't work), and have only had 1 reboot because of RockPlayer locking up the device.
Despite the device working as advertised, I might return mine as well. I have yet to find a compelling use for it that justifies the $645 (WiFi version + tax) that I paid for it.
I am a college student and this is probably the reason why it doesn't work for me. Some reasons why:
1) Although I wish every textbook was available in e-book format, there isn't. Actually, not even a noticeably portion of textbooks are available in e-book formats. So regardless of whether or not I have the Xoom on me, I will have to carry a book.
2) Note taking. When it comes down to it, I'm going to need a keyboard for lecture classes. I can touch-type fast on the Xoom, but not as proficiently or efficiently as my MacBookPro 13". The Xoom keyboard dock/case market just isn't there or convenient. (Hello EeePad Transformer???)
2a) Nothing can replace the .docx note taking/syllabus/schedule standard in todays colleges. Not being able to compile notes and transfer them easily kills this for me as well.
3) No commute. I could see the Xoom being great if I had a bus/train/subway ride to work etc. but I don't. I drive to school 2miles away every day, go to my classes, then drive back home several hours later.
4) Added weight. So every day I'm carrying AT LEAST a MacBook and a paper notebook. Then some days a textbook. I'm not going to throw the Xoom on top of that. Sure its only 1.6lbs, but its 1.6 unnecessary lbs added on top of everything else I have with me.
The Xoom is a fantastic device for consuming media, reading the news, doing FaceBook/Twitter, and playing games, not to mention the awesome nerd out factor of messing with Honeycomb. These activities are well suited for sitting on the couch and using while watching TV or whatever. I just can't justify $645 for this experience right now that can't even do 50% of what my laptop does for me in my personal case. I'm one of those people that will always have a laptop on me. If I'm gonna have a bag on my person to carry the Xoom, I'm probably just going to have my MBP on me instead.
my 2c.

I've had two different ones for over a week (wifi only from staples) and while I have experiences quite a few fcs (more than I like) I have not had ANY reboots or turn ofs. I would suggest replacing to see if a bad unit before returning for good.

Give the xoom one more try. That being said, exchange for another unit. As I have experience myself a lot of fc from using facebook, other than that it's fine. Also I did get freezing issue too sometimes but after the update, It seems to have been fixed.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

Yeah i agree maybe its a bad unit. I have the 3/4g model of the xoom and have not had a reboot. i have had some browser foreclosures here and there, but not enough to be annoying. maybe try using firefox?

i had a xoom 3g for 14 days, returned it for an iPad2 for 10 days, which I also traveled with for those 10 days. I missed my xoom, and traded my iPad2 back in for the xoom 3g. The real test for me was returning the xoom, as I realized my whole xoom experience was better than the plan Jane boring I pad.
I'm happy, and have never had a reboot issue. A few FCs now and again, but no reboot.

Running a mix of over 100 apps/games and have not seen any reboots. Have multiple email accounts setup on it and use it all day at work. Great tool. Sounds like you got a bad apple. Give it another shot.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

I would return it for a replacement. Constant reboots are enough to make any OS a terrible experience. Currently the Xoom has its shortcomings, but they're expected to be temporary.

@OP
Your SO sounds perfect for an iPad. BTW,
http://pulse.zecco.com/2011/02/zecco-mobile-lite-has-arrived/
@martonikaj
Re: Textbook bulk - My college days weren't that long ago, but long enough that e-textbooks were still a glimmer in some marketer's eye. I faced the same situation as you. Each of my texts weighed more than the ultraportable I had. So I broke out the flatbed scanner at the start of each quarter and scanned every damn book. No OCR, just bitmaps put together into a CBR.
@wang1404
Re: The South Viet-Nam flag - Expat?

wase4711 said:
sounds like she has a bad unit; exchange it for a new one...
what programs are on there?
those are probably causing the fc's..
We bought two of them last sunday, and they both work perfectly; I abuse mine all day, as does my wife..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop telling everyone with problems they have a "bad unit". No, he just has the Xoom !!!

I'm thinking of returning it also. It's unfinished, unpolished, unstable, incomplete, and otherwise unremarkable.
Android on my phone? Amazing.
Android on my tablet? Compete crap.
So far.
Sent from my Captivate

Related

HC/TF vs IOS/iPad thoughts

I really want to like my TF. I've had it for two weeks now and I was showing my wife some of the nifty things it could do. While we were playing with it the deep sleep lockup happened, I had to reboot just to get sound, then reboot again 20 minutes later to get sound back once more, and FC the browser because Flash had killed the webpage while she tried playing a video at Failblog.com.
All that was in 30 minutes.
I've been playing with it for the last two weeks as I said, both at home and at work. As a Network Admin I have found some great tools for network scans, RDP, VNC, SSH, and more. During my 8 hour day, I see many flaws in Honeycomb during this time and can't help but wonder if Google is using the paying customer as the testers for their beta software? Or is it the inexperience from Asus in the Android tablet market?
I have an iPhone 3GS as my personal phone and a Motorola Milestone X as my work phone. Both do pretty much the same thing. Both have apps for most things. Both work well. The iPhone just seem to be less hassle in it's day to day use.
I see the same with the iPad 2. My wife's iPad runs longer, weighs less, and she take for granted that it will start up and play sound when she presses the button. This alone makes me think about exchanging my TF for an iPad.
Now if you had read this far, I do have some great comments on the TF and Android. To me as a tech head it's intuitive and option filled. I really like the TF's screen and see very little light bleed that some complain about (though I do have an odd diagonal cross hatching). It's fast and responsive. The weight is great compared to the Iconia or the Xoom. It seems tough and durable, yet stays relatively thin and light.
Currently I am at an impasse. I'm neither an Apple nor Google fanboi. I work with Linux (CL and GUI) and Windows XP/7 at work. I use IE, Chrome, and Firefox. Essentially, I am not tied to a platform and Android or IOS would work. I use the tool that fits the job. IOS atm seem to be in the "just work" category while Honeycomb is more "in the works".
I'm torn. I want to like Honeycomb and the TF, but I like the stability and proven nature of IOS and the iPad2.
how old is your TF?
i say keep it until the very last minute of your return window, and wait for Android 3.1. if you still don't like it then, then reconsider whether you want to keep your device.
(though I do have an odd diagonal cross hatching)
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Click to collapse
i seem to have that too, and it's basically the pattern of the backside of the TF. kind of weird, but i have to force myself in really weird angles for them to show up, so it doesn't really bother me.
finalhit said:
how old is your TF?
i say keep it until the very last minute of your return window, and wait for Android 3.1. if you still don't like it then, then reconsider whether you want to keep your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That has been my thought as well. It's two weeks on the dot. Or rather I bought it on the 11th and Best Buy back ordered it until the 13th and it arrived for me to take possession on the 16th. Even the 11th is fine, I've got another 30 days at least with my 45 days return on all items since I have Best Buy Reward Zone Silver membership.
If 3.1 is released in early June I'll be able to see, but the Xoom with 3.1 still has plenty of issues from reading their forums. Hhhm, it's a waiting game and I don't know that I want to gamble in 3 months HC will work or not and get stuck with these FC's and bad sound.
quietas said:
I'm torn. I want to like Honeycomb and the TF, but I like the stability and proven nature of IOS and the iPad2.
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Click to collapse
You really shouldn't have to want to like something! I myself refuse to buy into the iPad market although I am tempted to stick with the iPhone. My tablet is not going to replace a full laptop anytime soon so it's more of a fun device. On the other hand, my phone needs to work and as much as I like tinkering I prefer to have something solid and stable (that's why I haven gotten a new phone yet; waiting for either a good Android phone or the new iPhone in Q3/4).
Bottom line, if you prefer the iPad go with it! At the end of the day a tablet is like a pair of shoes - it needs to fit you and your needs!

Honest Opinions on the Transformer

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.
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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

[Q] What do you think of the Transformer?

So I was just wondering what is the overall feeling about this tablet? I'm thinking about getting it and i was just wondering if everyone likes it or if its 50/50 or what?
I've owned the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Acer Iconia, Motorola Xoom, and the Transformer. I can say that the Transformer is the best tablet for the money on the market. It's not as sexy as the Galaxy, but it's more functional, far more flexible, and a hell of a lot cheaper.
Always hard to get objective views on a product specific forum.
I'm in a love/hate relationship with it at the moment. I love the form factor and the functionality. I hate the lack of tablet optimized apps/games and the awful build quality.
To me, it feels like a beta product. This isn't a bad thing per-se as I like to tinker.
I like mine a lot, and its definatley the best bang for your buck Honeycomb tablet out there right now. Although I do wish it had the form factor / looks of the Galaxy 10.1, the HDMI out and Micro SD card slot are oh so nice to have, especially for $100 less
The build quality and lightbleed issues are the only downsides to the tablet in my opinion. I got one with a few creaks in the back and some light bleed, but I just look past it. Its not enough for me to sell or go through ASUS to replace it. Still works great for me. Also, not all of the tablets have this, and Im hoping the newer builds have been fixed.
If your thinking about getting one, I would definatley consider it. Great tablet and a great price right now.
Other big plus is that Asus is really quick at getting the Honeycomb updates out. We've got Honeycomb 3.2 already which is great.
rilot said:
Always hard to get objective views on a product specific forum.
I'm in a love/hate relationship with it at the moment. I love the form factor and the functionality. I hate the lack of tablet optimized apps/games and the awful build quality.
To me, it feels like a beta product. This isn't a bad thing per-se as I like to tinker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely feel like im a beta tester, but I dont really consider it a bad thing. I enjoy using new equipment and working out kinks. Just wish i didnt have to pay so much for it . That being said, a lot of the kinks are worked out now from my experience.
Keyboard lag is gone. Havnt had a sleep of death since the first update. Everythings running a lot smoother with the last firmware update.
Its replaced my laptop in class more or less completely. I use evernote and ezpdf to take notes and its wonderful.
do you use any of the attachments?
I got a Transformer and didn't regret, that I bought it. I got it without dock, because I only wanted a nice tablet ... for everything else I have an i7 notebook with 6 GB RAM.
If I can recommend it? Maybe ... depends on what you want to do with it.
Regarding quality control ... it's the fortune of the early adopter nowadays to be a beta tester. Example: I also got me a Galaxy S2 and though I'm very happy with it, the S2 forum here at XDA is full of complaints about QC.
jnad32 said:
do you use any of the attachments?
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Click to collapse
The keyboard is the big attachment and its really the selling point of the tablet. If you anticipate ever using it then the TF is the way to go, if you dont anticipate ever using it then you could be happy with the Samsung, albeit with no SD card and costing a lot more.
The TF has a great screen, its flexible and its cheap. Its not built as well as an ipad (or the other android tablets) but I havent had any functional issues with its built, its not like its breaking on me. Its just you can feel the difference in the "tightness" between the two.
Being said I ended up buying a second for the girlfriend, tired of her constantly using mine.
I got mine in the first batch to come out- from TD. I have had no real issues accept a tiny light bleed- build quality is great for mine. no creaking etc.
It has done everything i ask of it and thrown at it. I use mine for about 70% work related with notes at meeting, signatures on contracts, email, polaris app etc. Even skype calling..
Constantly listening to music watching movies etc. Never had any issues with Battery usage.
I think it has gotten better with each update. Yes little bugs here and there after an update ut usually fixed or have work around within 24 hours. That stuff doesnt bother me.
I never got the keyboard because i felt it was an option that i would never really use so i invested in a nice case- ( PDAIR ) I love the concept of the keyboard but just wasn;t going to use itand did no need the extra bulk.
For me never needed to root it yet (maybe down the road ) but for now it is great as stock.
Last thing i will say is there have been alot of new choices out since i have bought it... yes they might have had a thing or 2 that the TF did not have but i never have second guessed my choice.
Good luck.
Well you get 16hrs of battery life with the dock. No other tablet has this kind of a feature at this price point.
The screen quality and responsiveness is in the top quartile of tablets released so far.
I am pretty happy with my purchase. 10x better build quality than the Archos 101 I purchased earlier!
I absolutely love my TF, probably best 399$ I have ever spent on gadget, mine also comes with some light bleed, other than that, build quality is great. Have 2 Ipad2 in the house and they both have worst light bleed.
Would I suggest this tablet to a friend over other Android tablet? Yes, best tablet in the market IMO.
Over an Ipad2? Probably not unless someone familiar with Android and a geek just like me...
tonyz3 said:
I got mine in the first batch to come out- from TD. I have had no real issues accept a tiny light bleed- build quality is great for mine. no creaking etc.
It has done everything i ask of it and thrown at it. I use mine for about 70% work related with notes at meeting, signatures on contracts, email, polaris app etc. Even skype calling..
Constantly listening to music watching movies etc. Never had any issues with Battery usage.
I think it has gotten better with each update. Yes little bugs here and there after an update ut usually fixed or have work around within 24 hours. That stuff doesnt bother me.
I never got the keyboard because i felt it was an option that i would never really use so i invested in a nice case- ( PDAIR ) I love the concept of the keyboard but just wasn;t going to use itand did no need the extra bulk.
For me never needed to root it yet (maybe down the road ) but for now it is great as stock.
Last thing i will say is there have been alot of new choices out since i have bought it... yes they might have had a thing or 2 that the TF did not have but i never have second guessed my choice.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So my question to you is my boss has an ipad that we use for our invoices and paper work to get people to sign off on pdf files and what not. Does android have an app that lets you do that? And overall how good is it for work?
I got my U.S. Transformer a few weeks ago, and I enjoy using it very much:
With my PC, most of the time is spent going on the Web, so on the Transformer I just set up bookmarks for my most frequently visited sites in both the stock browser and the Dolphin for Pad (downloaded from the Market) browser and that takes care of my usual browsing needs. Email is now handled through the stock Gmail app, so again most of that can be done on the Transformer side.
For music, I've started using Google Music to upload my stuff, so I can just stream down to my Transformer through WiFi. For videos, I had already encoded a lot of stuff to MP4 format using Handbrake to play on my phone. But with ES File Explorer installed on my Transformer, I can now keep those MP4 files on my networked server and then stream them to the stock video player. This all works great and takes up no local storage.
Games that I had on my smartphone are all installed onto the Transformer and work fine. I've also found that classic game console emulators work quite well on the Transformer.
If I'm desperate to watch Hulu or Netflix (without any hacked or rooted methods), the MyCloud > My Desktop > SplashTop method works acceptably well.
Painting with SketchBook Pro is quite fun with this fantastic paid app, and I'm looking into various do-it-yourself stylus methods to enhance the experience.
I haven't had the need yet to use Polaris Office yet, but after reading user reviews, it looks to be a very capable Office app when compared with other non-free competitors, and I actually appreciate Asus for giving this for us.
The build quality, in my opinion, is quite nice. I don't have any LCD light bleed issues. The LCD itself is great with fantastic viewing angles. The built-in speakers are surprisingly loud. The touch screen is very responsive. And the textured plastic back panel keeps the whole unit lighter and gives it a nice feel.
The only negatives I have are:
Camera - absolutely terrible, especially when using indoor lighting. But I already know that the video and photo taking experience on almost all tablets is not good anyway, so I never expected much. I almost never use the stock camera app. I have Vignette installed on my Transformer for the heck of it, but this rarely gets used either. I leave picture taking to my digital camera and my smartphone.
Browser - for some sites, I get slowdowns with both the stock browser and Dolphin for Pad. With Android 3.1, I experienced quite a bit of force closings with the stock browser. It's improved with 3.2, but it still happens. I find it hard to believe that Google makes such a good browser as Chrome but has such a mediocre one for Honeycomb.
Linux support - the only thing I ask for is the simplicity of plugging my Transformer into my Linux PC and have access to its SD and MicroSD cards. But I have to jump through the hoop of running a few lines in Terminal just to get those drives mounted and unmounted. It's a pain, and I wish it was as easy as the Windows experience.
Since using my Transformer more and more, my smartphone has pretty much been relegated back to being just a phone which is fine. This morning I began charging my Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 once it dropped to 1% battery power...and it had been running on that one full charge for 174-hours-33-minutes! I'll still use the phone for navigation and portable music after I get over the honeymoon period with the Transformer, but right now using my smart phone just isn't the same any more.
So since I've gotten the Transformer, I've made a conscious effort to reduce using my PC and my smartphone, and it's worked out great as a personal computing device. For a business environment, there might not be enough apps to support various needs just yet, but it'll get there, I'm sure. The Transformer is a very good bang-for-the-buck kind of device, and I have no regrets about having it.
Enjoy my tablet a great deal. I actually use it more than i thought i would. Im constantly looking for new apps that will make this into my swiss army knife.
I use splashtop a lot, and now added a Wake on Lan app which now has got me the bright idea to go out and purchase a home server...lol
build quality is definitely not the greatest. Personally, i dont think it compares to the newer tablets coming out. (build)
Dont own the keyboard. Im waiting for a good deal down the road when it drop to around $100. by then, i figure, ill give the TF to my wife (with a keyboard), and ill jump on to the newest tablet. (maybe TF2)
Im a first time android/tablet buyer and user, so i came with no expectations..
Ill know what to look for in my next purchase though.
(so, i guess im a beta tester)
jnad32 said:
So my question to you is my boss has an ipad that we use for our invoices and paper work to get people to sign off on pdf files and what not. Does android have an app that lets you do that? And overall how good is it for work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are applications that let you fill out and/or sign PDF files. Adobe also has an app that converts things to PDF. Ive used my TF to fill out forms and sign them multiple times.
jnad32 said:
So my question to you is my boss has an ipad that we use for our invoices and paper work to get people to sign off on pdf files and what not. Does android have an app that lets you do that? And overall how good is it for work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are alot of choices for this. I use Repligo PDF and love it.After i sign or client signs,on the TF I email it and looks just as clear as original.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.cerience.reader.app&feature=search_result
worth the $4.99 investment,
Love mine, I'm confident I made the right choice. £400 for a tablet-only device is not a wise spend. £400 for a tablet AND a netbook IS thou...
Aside from the keyboard drain (which is being fixed under RMA as we speak), I have no issues whatsoever with my device, and overjoyed with it.
jnad32 said:
So my question to you is my boss has an ipad that we use for our invoices and paper work to get people to sign off on pdf files and what not. Does android have an app that lets you do that? And overall how good is it for work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be very surprised if there is any app that iPad can do, that Android can't, as because of Android's open and less restrictive nature, you won't find missing apps, because "Apple don't like it, or Apple can't make money from it, or it cuts into Apple's buisness".
My TF is all good I have no problems with my tablet, maybe one of the lucky ones or just the fact that those few who have bad units choose to come to forums like this to seek advice and let everyone know how bad their unit is. With the dock it is an amazing bit of kit, I have tried the xoom, Acer and the Gtab, and unless you want form over function the TF is the best of the current bunch. As all the present android tablets running honeycomb are running the same os and internal spec. My own preference would be ports and functionality, screen, speed of updates and build quality. For me the TF ticks all the boxes.
Xoom, highintial price, lack of support and working ports, poor screen
Gtab, lack of ports, slow updates from Samsung.
I like the design of the TF especially when combined with the dock, equal to any high end net book, Asus have done a great job with amazing fore sight, it is original only the Gtab is thinner and that is purely because it is an I pad clone.
I would think the units with defects are no different to apple I pad or even the Gtab on a percentage basis, plenty of apple units go back to their stores.
With regards to being beta testers, we are with regards android for tablets, like we were back in the 90,s with win 3.11. My recommendation to anyone wanting a android tablet with the best all-round functionality at the best price, get the TF.
Had my TF about two weeks now, and am yet to have any issues with it. I love peoples reactions when I undock the screen though, it's brilliant.

Acer Iconia vs HP Touchpad

Hello all. I'm on a bit of a budget and I'm going to buy one of these two tablets. Right now I'm leaning towards the a500. Was hoping to get some input and opinions on what you think I should do. I realize posting this in this forum I might get slightly biased opinions, so be it.
The only thing that makes me hesitate on the Acer is it has a slightly slower processor out of the box, but we're only talking .2ghz. What has the Acer been OC'd to still running stable?
Also, I see the wifi card uses the 2.4ghz spectrum, I believe this should allow me to tether this to my evo 3d with no problems?
Lastly, if anyone has anything to add, or something else I should consider before purchasing, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
The touchpad doesn't run android and only has a port of cm7 which I think is still in beta/alpha. And they're extremely hard to get your hands on one for the price it has been lowered to. And the iconia can be had for $299 for the 16gb model on black friday
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
I would prefer the Touchpad if I could choose again. This is a personal experience for me, and I didn't have a good one with this honeycomb tablet. It has quite a few bugs that a lot of android users are facing, but could be avoided if a custom rom that fixes the bugs is installed, which voids your warranty. Also, Most Honeycomb tablets have the so called "Portrait lag", which makes the tablet slightly choppy or jittery (depends on roms, how much choppy) when it's in a portrait mode. In landscape, it's perfectly smooth. And if you would like to use the tablet in both orientation, I would first wait if the ICS fixes all the issues including the portrait lag. This lag is present in EVERY SINGLE rom I've tried (can't be avoided). Some people are actually saying that ICS will most likely fix the bugs, but bring different bugs to the android tablets. We have to try the ICS on tablets to know for sure. Anyway this is only my opinion, and again, if I could choose, I wouldn't buy an android tablet. I am actually thinking of selling this and getting a Touchpad soon..
Again, this is just my opinion, so all android fans, don't bash on me.
sw6lee said:
I would prefer the Touchpad if I could choose again. This is a personal experience for me, and I didn't have a good one with this honeycomb tablet. It has quite a few bugs that a lot of android users are facing, but could be avoided if a custom rom that fixes the bugs is installed, which voids your warranty. Also, Most Honeycomb tablets have the so called "Portrait lag", which makes the tablet slightly choppy or jittery (depends on roms, how much choppy) when it's in a portrait mode. In landscape, it's perfectly smooth. And if you would like to use the tablet in both orientation, I would first wait if the ICS fixes all the issues including the portrait lag. This lag is present in EVERY SINGLE rom I've tried (can't be avoided). Some people are actually saying that ICS will most likely fix the bugs, but bring different bugs to the android tablets. We have to try the ICS on tablets to know for sure. Anyway this is only my opinion, and again, if I could choose, I wouldn't buy an android tablet. I am actually thinking of selling this and getting a Touchpad soon..
Again, this is just my opinion, so all android fans, don't bash on me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although this is not the first time I've heard of what's been described as "portrait lag", I've never paid attention to it, as my tab stays locked in landscape (personally don't understand why people even use portrait mode, no offense intended).
So I just took it out of lock for the first time since June, when you had to run Gingerbreak locked in portrait mode IIRC.
I just ran through a dozen pages in browser, books, documents, ran through my apps, all my home screens, etc., and experienced nothing close to lag. Could someone maybe elaborate a bit more on the experience please?
tyia
The lag is terrible in 3.1 but it seems to have gone away in 3.2. I haven't used web OS since the 1st palm pre for sprint and although it looks very elegant there isn't enough devs for it and is possibly done with for good which means no future support. Now its been rumored the iconia will see an official release of ics so it will make this tab feel brand new again. The only reason I could see myself getting the touchpad would be to run cm7/9 on it but its a very nice looking piece of hardware. And I'm not an android fan boy. I do have the iconia tab and an evo3d but I also have a ipad and iPod touch so I'm kinda into everything.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
kjy2010 said:
Although this is not the first time I've heard of what's been described as "portrait lag", I've never paid attention to it, as my tab stays locked in landscape (personally don't understand why people even use portrait mode, no offense intended).
So I just took it out of lock for the first time since June, when you had to run Gingerbreak locked in portrait mode IIRC.
I just ran through a dozen pages in browser, books, documents, ran through my apps, all my home screens, etc., and experienced nothing close to lag. Could someone maybe elaborate a bit more on the experience please?
tyia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use portrait mode, because Google is so stupid that they put the status bar on the bottom and made the already narrow 16:9 tablet even narrower and its very annoying to browse the wn where you can see only small amount of the website at a time. This is also why I prefer 4:3 Touchpad. If the status bar is on one side of the screen, say like archos 101 G8, then I personally think it will make viewing web more pleasant. Same goes to PDF, document reading. Portrait mode is much better for that IMO.
And you may have misunderstood what I said, so let me clarify. The bug is called portrait 'lag' but its not lag, but as I explained, its choppiness, and jitteriness (is this even a word..? Lol). It gives users not so good experience. At least to me.
Just wanted to clarify.
Thanks for the responses, gives me more to think about. I probably should wait for the next generation of tabs, but I don't feel like dropping $600+ on one.
Right now I'm probably 65/35 in favor of the a500.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
For the record, my A500 can run stable at 1.6 GHz, though I keep it at 1.4 to be reasonable.... the Tegra 2 seems to overclock well.
Just want to chime in on OC..with Thor's v13 ROM, my a500 oc'ed to 1.5G stable day to day operation
Running 1.68ghtz. Thors 3.9R3 kernel.
But really, who would even try to compare a TP to an Iconia? Especially considering they are no longer in production (unless you buy a notebook pc, then they toss one in).
HP never was really known for support, but, if you wanna get a discontinued item, hey, you get what you pay for
And talk about backtracking;
1. Let's merge with Compaq (2 losers become 1 big loser)
2. Let's buyout Palm, and change the name to Pre, now lets kill the line
3. Let's put out a tab, but nobody wants it
4. Let's kill the tab line
5. Oh, let's also get out of the PC business as well
6. Wait, all the tabs sold at 99 bucks, let's make another 1/4 mil units
7. Wait, we were kidding, we're not getting outta the PC business
8. And those extra tabs??? well, gotta buy a notebook to get one
Is this a company you really want to do business with?
flonker said:
Thanks for the responses, gives me more to think about. I probably should wait for the next generation of tabs, but I don't feel like dropping $600+ on one.
Right now I'm probably 65/35 in favor of the a500.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're going to get an A500 wait until Black Friday, it's only a week away
I have both & use both as intended (for entertainment, quick email, etc.). For better support, I would stick with the Acer unit, even though very good community support is provided for the HP unit, it still is considered a "dead" unit.
i say buy the touchpad. as of now, cm7 runs pretty damn well and webos is a true gem for when you just want to browse, play emulators, use social apps, or schedule your calendar.
Battery life is also phenomenal.
Thanks again for the responses... Can I hit thanks in the xda app somehow? Or, do I have to fire up my laptop?
I had the original Palm Pre and the only real problem I had with it was it's build quality, but I liked webos. Yes, it's a dead OS, but if I can dual boot into a stable version of android that is fine. The build quality on the HP touchpad seems to be excellent as well.
However, I see myself mainly running android, and would think a device where it is the native OS would probably be the best in terms of community/developer support. I've also never had a honeycomb device and it would fun to play around with until ICS.
That being said, I'm a bit worried of build quality with the Acer. I noticed a door covering the microSD slot, and it seemed kinda flimsy.
I figure I can get both for $300 new, but the touchpad would also come with some extras like the folio case and Bluetooth keyboard for that price.
I'm going to get the Acer. The feature that put it over the top? It's getting a port of GTA 3, it had better be a good port. lol.
If you actually took the time to read through this post, please resume living your life immediately.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
The sd/sim port, indeed can seem a bit weak, but, once you know how to get it off correctly, it's ok. Took mine off numerous times and no issues. But it's been a month since i needed to remove it, so it doesn't happen every day. Just don't be the hulk, as really it's easy.
The android community is number one, bar none.
But really, for a few dollars more, you can get the 501 with 3g (just don't get it from at&t as it's sim locked.
I just love rubbing in my download speeds with my friend (iPad owner). He stopped playing games with me. Or when I flash a new rom in 5 minutes, with a completely different theme and look.
The best is when I whip out my 320gb ext HDD and play films.
---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------
kjy2010 said:
If you're going to get an A500 wait until Black Friday, it's only a week away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the states that is...
They are like apples and oranges. Both are sweet, but oh, so different.
I bought the 16GB Touchpad from a local Walmart on the morning of the fire sale. I would not have done so otherwise. Do I regret the purchase? No. Do I use it often? No. I am much more interested in my Acer A500 or my little Galaxy Tab 7". They are versatile and FUN! I use whatever device is handy and is charged. That means I also use my 1st gen iPad as much as any other tablet. I just picked up a refurbished Acer W500, so that is my current plaything.
Follow your bliss or your wallet, whatever works, works.
Moscow Desire said:
Running 1.68ghtz. Thors 3.9R3 kernel.
But really, who would even try to compare a TP to an Iconia? Especially considering they are no longer in production (unless you buy a notebook pc, then they toss one in).
HP never was really known for support, but, if you wanna get a discontinued item, hey, you get what you pay for
And talk about backtracking;
1. Let's merge with Compaq (2 losers become 1 big loser)
2. Let's buyout Palm, and change the name to Pre, now lets kill the line
3. Let's put out a tab, but nobody wants it
4. Let's kill the tab line
5. Oh, let's also get out of the PC business as well
6. Wait, all the tabs sold at 99 bucks, let's make another 1/4 mil units
7. Wait, we were kidding, we're not getting outta the PC business
8. And those extra tabs??? well, gotta buy a notebook to get one
Is this a company you really want to do business with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. You hit the nail right on the head I'd love to get a TP if I can only find one for $100.It woul be a nice toy to play with for Android ports, but nothing serious. When I first heard of the firesale (literally a couple hours after HP announced it), I dropped into all nearby electronic stores and they were already sold out. I'm seeing all kinds on classifies sites like kijiji and craigslist but they're all $250-300 which is more than I'd like to pay.
So if you can get one for $100, go for it. Otherwise, I'd either recommend the A500 or wait 1-2 months for a newer Tegra 3 device.
Acer all the way.
As of now the Touchpad is dead with webOS and not stable enough with android yet. You really can't do much with it now besides browsing the web and email. I don't like honeycomb very much but at least the Iconia will get the ICS upgrade.
I have the A500 and I am very satisfied, to say the least!
I also bought today the BB Playbook for $199cdn (the deal wasn't to be missed). Very nice machin.
Will be on sale in the US on black friday at Staples
I'd rather get a tetra based tablet, the touchpad is nice but who knows how top end games will be supported on that device. I had a nook color Flanders even the smoothness that it got to only made me want a real tablet
Sent from my ICONIA

My Initial Thoughts....

Some of you have been around the block with this device. I have always had the stance that I did not need a tablet. I postponed and always found a reason to wait. When the Tab 10.1 was $325 shipped from woot, I could no longer fight that off.
While I waited for it to ship, I scoured your forum (very familiar with XDA, but never a section for tablets). I was EXTREMELY impressed with the posts, the peeps, feedback and the stickies/guides. I had a good feeling about the device before it even arrived, when you have a strong network to go to, any android device can be fun..... big kudos to those who write guides and develop for the Tab.
I also found help with accessories... ended up ordering the pyro skin carbon fiber case, which was sent extremely fast, good price and fits the tab like a glove... great experience (though I wanted the red one and they were out).
Finally... device shipped. Childhood Christmas people... so happy. Fought the urge, decided to power it up to full... cut it on, realized just HOW pretty the screen was on the bootup alone... loved the setup... even the "new" look of the login screens being so different from the android phones that i have used... just "cool."
Boots up, everything starts syncing.... thinking wow, extremely easy. That is so unlike Android (market perception, not mine).... then I started browsing the market... the web... youtube.. camera... gallery... everything is just working.
I know there is an update, so to be weird, I reboot, then update.... getting concerned because it seemed to take forever... finally, it reboots and voila, everything I was doing before looks the same if not better... great.
I load up all my apps... noticing Plume is the most sexy app ever.... night and day difference from the phone experience....
come back to XDA... decide to go ahead and root and try a rom. Find the root guide with the all in one download + video... Jesus, as someone who prides themselves on guides, that one is flawless... well done. The root process was crazy easy... only thing I would have suggested here, the guide could point out you could just flash a rom right after getting into CWR to cut out some steps.... regardless, very easy, very impressed. I know some of you have had, or have helped friends with other android devices not even close to being this easy. Kudos to developers, again.
I decide to go with Task650s 7.0.... the rom booted up and just felt right from the start. I have been putting it through the paces and still need to explore more, but so far with it AND the device, the tab is top notch. Can't believe I waited this long.
Right now I have my Galaxy S4G acting as my wifi hotspot at work, I can put a password on it so I do not think my data usage should be much different than if I were just using my phone... true? So much better using the Tab for checking twitter, etc than my phone.
Anyway, like I said.... some of you know this.... just felt like you might like reading a new guys perception.
As always, taking suggestions and feedback as I try and learn more about the Tab and what it can do.
Glad you like it and webt with tasks rom . As for using your phone as a hotspot, I do that and the tab uses abitt nore data, but only browsing the internet. And like I said to you, get the usb adapter. I can mount my phone in mass storage on my tab and use it to transfer files and stuff. My whole nandroid backup of my tab is stored on my phone along with it's own backup
i'm also a Woot purchaser, and just did the same procedure.
My tablet is really nice, now. I took advantage of Zagg's 50% off sale and got a leather back skin and their rubbery orange-peel screen protector. Now my Tab is the bigger brother clone of my HTC Thunderbolt. The leather gives an elegant feel with minimal weight, as well as some drop cushioning.
I didn't want an iPad, but I do love what this can do. Also, it connects to my Apple Air Port at 5GHz, so it gets a true 300Mbit to my NAS for book and movie loading.
Everytime I want to purchase an electronic device (my old system or my dslr or my gtab), I read a lot of reviews and watch videos on youtubes comparing it to other devices, and I have to say that I'm glad I bought the galaxy tab even though I paid $630 for the 32GB version, but and I even convinced my brother to get one instead of the ipad
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
s15274n said:
I have always had the stance that I did not need a tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt just like you, now I can't live without it. I got a SGS2 in May when they first came out and loaded it up with apps for video, reading, browsing and the like. Watching movies on a 4" screen is kind of underwhelming. Reading and surfing are a pain because you're always zooming the text to be able to read it. The Tab's so thin and light I take it everywhere now and it's my primary consumption device. E-mail and messaging is so much easier with the additional real estate. I now use my phone mostly for quick e-mails and messages, taking pictures and videos, and streaming via A2DP in my car. Everything else I do with the Tab. It's 3G so it's always connected so it's easy to whip out and just get stuff done. Teg 2 sucks but it's got enough horsepower for what I do with it. I'll get rid of it when Samsung's next-gen tablet comes out. Primarily because more power's always good and I like that the next-gen tablets have higher res screens.
Here's some apps I can't live without:
- Plex
They just upgraded the server and it's amazing how great it is at streaming video. I get unbelievable quality even over a 3G connection.
- PlayOn
Fantastic for Hulu and Amazon Instant. Again, the transcoding's excellent and plays well even on lower speed connections.
- SwiftKey Tablet X Keyboard
It was clunky at first but the latest revision was a complete revamp. The thumb keyboard's great as is their word suggestion logic.
- HD Widgets
Fantastic clock and weather widgets in multiple sizes designed for tablets.
- News360 and Pulse
Great tablet news feeds
Next Issue, Press Reader, and Zinio
All great tablet apps for newspapers and magazines. If you already have print subscriptions, the digital versions on Next Issue are free.
- TouchDown
The native e-mail client's not bad but TouchDown has great widgets for mail, appointments, and tasks.
- Asus SuperNote
It's a pull from the Transformer and available in the dev section. It's the best note app for hand writing notes. They all suck because of screen lag but this sucks the least.
Good luck with your new Tab, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I'm jealous of the woot guys who got their device already. Mine is scheduled for tomorrow, but I'm estimating Friday with how slow it's been so far.
Can't wait to get my hands on my new toy! I sold my transformer at the beginning of Nov, but after hearing of a $500 base price on the prime, it was over my allotted amount to spend on myself during the holidays.
Along came the woot sale, and I couldn't pass it up!
Loving my rooted Tab on Task's 7 as well and I agree it is an awesome Tablet...
Some apps that I enjoy on it are:
--Tweetcaster Pro
--Reader HD
--HD Widgets
--Thumb Keyboard
--Netflix
Glad to hear you are enjoying it!
Like some of you I'm pretty new to tablets. Just got my 10.1 tab a couple weeks ago and been immersing myself in thhe Android universe ever since.
I've been very impressed with the devs here and their products. I flashed In Paris v5 the day after I got the tab and today replaced it with Task 7.
It's sweeeeet.
-JM
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
I just installed ADW Launcher for $.10 from the Market. Makes a nice theming addition for the tablet.
I feel swanky with half off leather skin from Zagged and this chic and thin tablet with the Task Honeycomb. It would be awesome to have it perfectly match my Skyraider Zeus Thunderbolt. But, right now they are very similar.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
thanks for the post OP. I (finally) received mine from Woot yesterday but I didn't get home till late. I plan on leaving work early today so I can play with my new toy, flash Task's ROM, etc. My SGS2 will get jealous

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