Some Xoom Observations - Xoom General

This must be my 6th tablet if I include the 'first out of the post' compaq tablets eons ago, a toshiba laptop/tablet, 2 different ipads and an advent vega, so I'd like to think I've got a fairly balanced view on tablets.
I won't get into any of the usual iOS/Android flames, suffice to say in my opinion after a week of using Honeycomb on the Xoom, Android is much more suited to a tablet format than iOS on an iPad, which is really just a big phone, albeit a very slick one.
I'm sure most on this forum will be used to acting as guinea pigs for new technologies and that's a choice most of us have made by getting this device to see the possibilities of an Android tablet, so a few bugs was expected. A couple more updates and there's no reason why Android tablets will be just as slick as an iPad (as it is in the smartphone world now).
Now the hardware just needs to improve. While the Xoom is nice solid tech, it is heavy. I was trying to use it standing on up a train and after a while, it was particularly uncomfortable to use. The screen could be brighter too.
My one unexpected observation though is the screen size. Is it me or is a more rectangular 10.1" just not as easy to type on as the squarer 9.7" iPad?
I find that the wider screen means the keyboard either takes up all the screen or is squashed and the keys are not as easy to use. When I had the iPad, I found typing in landscape mode absolutely no problem. On the Xoom it's not quite as easy to type quickly on.
Anyway, just my opinion... while each day I like honeycomb more and more, I'm not entirely convinced that the Xoom will be my final Android tablet.

thx. xoom's really a sweet device, although it has few bugs. enjoy mine very much too

The think about android is that you can change the UI the way you like, you can have the sweet thumb keyboard app and that problem its solved. I find it hard to the ipad will let you change that UI keyboard setting.
I agree the xoom is too heavy, maybe they should realese a keyboard like asus transformer so it can be held in the lap (sorry for my english).
The screen on the xoom is the same as a widescreen monitor you use on a pc. The ipad is somekind of cropped. you can tell if you play videos on ipad...they dont fit the screen.
The only think that im a little sad about the xoom is devs arent interested right now to release honeycomb support. Not even all google apps have honeycomb support but i guess its matter of months or maybe they are waiting for xoom 2

I also had my Xoom for a week, and like you enjoy using it so far.
You can try to install this thumb keyboard for easier typing, even though it’s in beta, I have not had any problems use it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1055327
I only took the Xoom on the train for one day and also found it difficult to use. My issue is more to do with the size than the weight. So I went back to use my Galaxy Tab and leave the Xoom for mainly home use.

The only real issue I've found with Honeycomb/my Xoom is the chronic shortage of apps designed for tablets specifically.

VaKo said:
The only real issue I've found with Honeycomb/my Xoom is the chronic shortage of apps designed for tablets specifically.
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yes , my thoughts exactly !

SwiftKey tablet beta resolves any typing issues, I've been using it since before it went public beta, was part of the early testers. They've already listened to many of my suggestions, which is just great IMO.

i totally agree about the apps. I'm willing to wait...but is it me is the number of apps going down the market? It was 67 a few days, 64 yesterday and 60 rightnow.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Does anyone notice that number of apps for tablet on android market decrease overtime ? The first day i got my xoom, there were 67 apps, 2 weeks ago: 64 apps. now there are 60 apps.

I wouldn't worry to much about the apps, with the huge list of android tablets dropping this year we can all expect to see a rather consistent flow of new apps......Hopefullly

tritran18518 said:
Does anyone notice that number of apps for tablet on android market decrease overtime ? The first day i got my xoom, there were 67 apps, 2 weeks ago: 64 apps. now there are 60 apps.
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That's because when you click "Featured" Android Tablet apps, those are just "Featured". There are actually WAY more than that (150+) Honeycomb "optimized" apps in the Market.

It would be considerably more useful if there was a tablet part of the market, similar to iTunes having an iPad only part. There's no easy way to identify tablet optimized apps.
This is from a UK XOOM and I've a feeling that for some reason, Market is different in europe.

The fact that lists like this exist says volumes about the state of tablet support in the android market, but here is one of the user-compiled lists of apps that are either optimized for or work well with honeycomb:
http://forum.androidcentral.com/mot...al-optimized-honeycomb-apps-list-n-170-a.html
There's also the game compatibility thread in the xoom apps and themes section here on xda.

great resource... thanks!

scratch that... android c+?)&@l only allows 'registered users' to view links. Way to support open source guys!

Agreed. I'm sure the list is useful, but that kind of garbage makes me keep right on walkin.

yea its ridiculous

Is it that hard to register a free account?

in all honestly you should all already have android central accounts...it's the most popular android development site...

Xoom Gripes
First off, for what I use it for, my Xoom is better than my iMac and my MacBook Pro. That said, I have a couple of issues with it.
I hate the placement of the ports. I got a case from KeviKev (which is the bees knees), and I cannot prop it up while charging without putting strain on the cable/port.
When plugged-in to my TV (HDMI), the screen orientation changes in a very strange way. I turned the tablet upside-down so I could prop it up with the HDMI cable plugged in, and the picture on the TV went upside-down, too. I know I can lock the orientation, but I would like it if it were more intelligent about the way it handles screen orientation.
These flaws (if I can even call them that) are not an issue when I use the tablet out on the street, or when I lay it down on its back when I'm not really using the screen anyway. There isn't much that I can say about my Xoom that isn't praise. I have the U.S. 3G version and I live in Germany, and the lack of mobile broadband isn't a complete turn-off like I had anticipated. Kudos to Motorola and Google.

Related

[Q] Miss my Galaxy Tab....Do you?

Returned my G-Tab today, and bought the Xoom. I think I am having 2nd thoughts though.
I love the G-tab's size, and GUI (go figure). But saw the Xoom at Best Buy, and it was too irresistable to pass up. However, the xoom's size reminds me too much of the Ipad, and I just can't seem to get use to the Honeycomb GUI yet.
I guess the Xoom may just take some warming up to.
Anyone else feel my pain?
Guess I am just looking for some support.
nealwheels said:
Returned my G-Tab today, and bought the Xoom. I think I am having 2nd thoughts though.
I love the G-tab's size, and GUI (go figure). But saw the Xoom at Best Buy, and it was too irresistable to pass up. However, the xoom's size reminds me too much of the Ipad, and I just can't seem to get use to the Honeycomb GUI yet.
I guess the Xoom may just take some warming up to.
Anyone else feel my pain?
Guess I am just looking for some support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had a Galaxy tab and would not want one (at least the current 7" model). I need more screen real estate. I already have an Android phone to cover the smaller screens. I don't like panning and zooming everything.
i love my xoom more and more everyday. I love the hardware accelleration in the browser but I don't like the lack of flash or. Lack of tablet optimized apps at the moment one thing to always remember is updates will always come sooner on a Google eperience device
android_geoff said:
i love my xoom more and more everyday. I love the hardware accelleration in the browser but I don't like the lack of flash or. Lack of tablet optimized apps at the moment one thing to always remember is updates will always come sooner on a Google eperience device
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And we already know those are coming, just takes patience. Good point about the Google Experience. Hopefully we will see some updates in the coming weeks.
yes I've seen alot of demos for new apps so I know there on there way. Its weird though if you go to the market and click apps for tablets there's only 16. Half of which are games but if you go to games for tablets section there are more
android_geoff said:
yes I've seen alot of demos for new apps so I know there on there way. Its weird though if you go to the market and click apps for tablets there's only 16. Half of which are games but if you go to games for tablets section there are more
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Click to collapse
One of my wish list items for market improvement.
I had the Tab and it was a neutered Android phone. Xoom is the way to go...give it some time.
ur serously saying that u liked Android 2.2 on a tab more then honeycomb?
I had a Gtab originally. I got rid of it because the service through TMobile was spotty and the screen was too small. I however love my xoom. Especially since I found a good converter program for all my movies. Once we get SD card support ill be golden
nealwheels said:
Returned my G-Tab today, and bought the Xoom. I think I am having 2nd thoughts though.
I love the G-tab's size, and GUI (go figure). But saw the Xoom at Best Buy, and it was too irresistable to pass up. However, the xoom's size reminds me too much of the Ipad, and I just can't seem to get use to the Honeycomb GUI yet.
I guess the Xoom may just take some warming up to.
Anyone else feel my pain?
Guess I am just looking for some support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As an owner of the Tab and the ipad.....I have realized that 10 inches is for home and vacation use. 7 inches is portable and can be taken anywhere. I have an Evo which I thought was huge before I got the Tab....now it seems tiny.
I might buy the wifi Xoom if it is priced right but I already know from experience with 10 inches that it will stay at home.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA Premium App
I sold my Galaxy Tab yesterday, I'm so gald to get rid of it. It was incredibly slow even after overclocking and 2.2 was NOT meant for tablets.
2.2 may not be meant for tabs, but at least it runs flash and all the apps work without being buggy.
mitchweight said:
2.2 may not be meant for tabs, but at least it runs flash and all the apps work without being buggy.
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Ran flash incredibly slowly, and the browser crashed all the time... sure.
Bauxite said:
Ran flash incredibly slowly, and the browser crashed all the time... sure.
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really? I haven't had any problems with Flash or Dolphin. I watch more videos on the Tab than on my iPad (of course...lol).
Haven't rooted the Tab either (but rooted my Evo almost immediately after getting it)....haven't felt a need. The speed is fine for me.
Though I enjoyed the greater screen real estate (versus my EVO), the Galaxy Tab really is (as someone else already mentioned) just a neutered Android phone. After using the Xoom for several days, and using apps designed for Honeycomb, the difference is remarkable (just try Pulse, YouTube, CNN, or any of the games optimized for 3.0).
I do miss flash in my browser a bit, but that will come soon. I definitely do NOT miss the capacitive buttons on the bottom (a requirement for pre-Honeycomb devices)...it was terribly annoying to be enjoying a video or reading a document and having to be careful with the way I held so as not to accidentally press one of those buttons.
Also, the location of the stereo speakers on the Xoom is so much more sensible than the speaker on the G-Tab, where, once again, if you weren't holding it 'just-so' the sound would be muted by the palm of your hand.
**I have yet to significantly miss the SD card or flash. I do wish we could permanently set the UA string on the stock browser though, and I'm looking forward to the Citrix Receiver being updated for Honeycomb**
For me, flash, UA string, and Citrix will make this device a real killer, and it's good to know they will all be coming very soon.
khov07 said:
Though I enjoyed the greater screen real estate (versus my EVO), the Galaxy Tab really is (as someone else already mentioned) just a neutered Android phone. After using the Xoom for several days, and using apps designed for Honeycomb, the difference is remarkable (just try Pulse, YouTube, CNN, or any of the games optimized for 3.0).
I do miss flash in my browser a bit, but that will come soon. I definitely do NOT miss the capacitive buttons on the bottom (a requirement for pre-Honeycomb devices)...it was terribly annoying to be enjoying a video or reading a document and having to be careful with the way I held so as not to accidentally press one of those buttons.
Also, the location of the stereo speakers on the Xoom is so much more sensible than the speaker on the G-Tab, where, once again, if you weren't holding it 'just-so' the sound would be muted by the palm of your hand.
**I have yet to significantly miss the SD card or flash. I do wish we could permanently set the UA string on the stock browser though, and I'm looking forward to the Citrix Receiver being updated for Honeycomb**
For me, flash, UA string, and Citrix will make this device a real killer, and it's good to know they will all be coming very soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. It's definitely a neutered Android phone...but it stills does everything I need it to do for a portable device. I would probably feel different if it was my only tablet and I didn't already have an iPad for the past year that's had Pulse, the new CNN app, plus too many games that I have spent a fortune on!
Is Word with Friends optimized for the Xoom? A friend brought her husband's Xoom in for me to play with and we downloaded it and the letters were cut off. i thought it was under the tablet optimized section.
I am eyeing the wifi Xoom simply because I prefer Android to iOS but not having Netflix, Hulu, and my games might be too much to give up. Hopefully we'll see more advancement with the Android tablets.

[Review] Xoom vs Galaxy Tab 7"

After having a bit of time to play with my Xoom, I'd thought I'd tell everyone how I felt about the Xoom and whether you should be think of upgrading from your Galaxy Tab.
Build quality
The Xoom is very will built, all the components are solidly put together - there are no rattles or any bendy bits. That said the extra weight of the tablet is definitely noticeable compared to the Tab, and certainly makes reading while holding the tablet in one hand less comfortable - plus you don't really need the larger screen for this use.
The screen does not go quite as bright as the Tab, and is not so readable in sunlight. Also it attracts fingerprints like moths to a light, after an hour of using it it looked worse than an iPad does after a whole day, though you can't really see the fingerprints while the screen is on.
Software
This is the main part I was excited about - there has been quite a bit of hype surrounding Honeycomb. Sadly, IMHO, quite a bit of it is just hype -- the main changes are in the home screen and the task/notifications bar. Both of these work really well, the 3D carousel effect when turning pages of the Home screen is really smooth, and the new notification system works really well giving you a system which works quite like a desktop. Sadly you can't pinch the screen to show all of your desktops at once.
The rest of it though, it is pretty buggy. The settings app and gmail apps have force-closed on me a number of times - these are pretty important parts of the OS and so it's seriously disappointing to see them not quite finished. The Facebook app seems to work for a few mins then crashes and won't work until I restart the device.
The browser is very nice, with proper tabs (and incognito tabs!), but if you dare to switch on Flash 10.2 all the time then the whole thing is no faster than the Tabs browser with Flash enabled -- in fact it's quite possibly worse than my Tab with an OC kernel and the latest leaked ROM.
But main problem is - where is the software? Google made much issue about Android 2.x not being fit for tablets but the truth is all they've mostly done is what Samsung did - the email app now has one pane with a list of your emails in and another showing the content of your email. It's the same with the other apps, nowhere is there an incredibly large difference in functionality between the modified Samsung apps and the new Honeycomb ones.
Sure you get a film editor app, but that was pretty much put in to grab a bit of press after Apple put iMovie on the iPad - I'm sure most people, me included, would prefer a decent photo editing/retouching app more than a pretty basic video editing one.
No free, Xoom optimized apps with the device or a store for them like you get with Samsung.
And then we get to media playback, or rather, the almost complete lack of it. So you've just bought a nice new tablet that will play "HD". Like to play your MKV on it? Nope. AVI? Nope. Xvid? Nope. DivX? Nope. WMV? Nope. MP4 and MP4 only (to the point where you have to rename M4V files to MP4 to make them work even though they are the same thing but with a different extension). Yes I know I can use RockPlayer etc but this simply isn't as good as native support. If Archos could afford it the Moto sure can.
That might not be so bad if there was a store like the Samsung Movies Store or iTunes where I could buy or rent a movie in a compatible format. Except this being a "Google Experience" device there are no apps apart from the few that Google put on there (and aside from film studio that's just upgraded standard Android apps). So you have a tablet that doesn't support that vast majority of media formats used by the largest desktop OS; I feel justified in saying that is a slight fail -- is Youtube supposed to be my entire source of entertainment? It's not like you can call the quality of most Flash videos on the web HD.
The one upside is the tegra 2, and all the nice games it will let you play. Except there are only a couple at the moment, and if the Tegra Zone app is to be believed, most of them won't be out for another couple of months. That said the few that are available are very nice, and run perfectly smooth.
Overall
Overall I'd give the Xoom 7/10. It's good, and the first Honeycomb tablet, but I think it will probably not be in the top 5 come the end of the year.
I can understand some people might buy it over others on the promise of slightly quicker updates, but I'm seriously considering taking mine back and waiting for the Tab 8.9, I have a few more days to play around with it before I decide. Sure it will have customized interface so it might not get updates as quickly, but actually it will do much more out of the box than the Xoom does, and it will still probably do more than the Xoom will even after the Xoom has received an update.
I used to be someone who bought plain Android devices on the basis that they quicker updates (have an NS, had an N1, etc), but a lot of the time it makes little difference. Google doesn't actually release updates often enough anymore for that to be much of an issue, and in some cases these days manufacturers have actually made things better than Google did (e.g. the standard browser in the Galaxy S on 2.2 is far better than the stock browser on a Nexus S on 2.3).
Sadly in this case the bad experience reflects badly on Motorola even though it isn't really their fault - they've had nothing to do at all with the software. At the same time that is their fault - it's their tablet and if I was head of a Motorola I'd want to make sure the software I was putting my name on did everything I wanted and worked properly - Android manufacturers should stop getting so desperate to compete with Apple and actually focus on the quality of their own products.
So my advice would be wait. And possibly in this case don't let the factor of whether it's a pure Google device affect your decision so much -- Honeycomb is still an infant and it really needs some features added on for a full tablet experience.
* I was completely aware the Xoom would come with no added extras like the Tab did when I bought it. I just thought Google would have put more work into making Honeycomb for great for tablets.
That's a pretty accurate description. I went through 2 XOOM's which I bought once they released the WIFI only model, and my experience was the same if not worse. Lots of potential, but they really missed the mark with that one. The second XOOM had a hardware failure and refused to charge, and since I was pretty let down overall, and that needle thin power adaptor is just waiting to snap off, I got rid of it entirely. I bought my first Galaxy Tab WIFI model Monday from Tigerdirect, got it Wed and have used it since and I absolutely love it.
That's an interesting review.
It surprised me that honeycomb still isnt working perfectly. I thought that they would update it regularly.
The Xoom seemed to me, to be a liitle bit too fast released device.
I also agree that it probably wont be the best in the flow of the year - off course.
I think HTC looks quite promising, if they release a bigger version of their Flyer.
Let's see if the Companies learn from the others - if a company releases later, it always has a lower risk of failing, because it can learn out of the mistakes of the others...
And then we get to media playback, or rather, the almost complete lack of it. So you've just bought a nice new tablet that will play "HD". Like to play your MKV on it? Nope. AVI? Nope. Xvid? Nope. DivX? Nope. WMV? Nope. MP4 and MP4 only (to the point where you have to rename M4V files to MP4 to make them work even though they are the same thing but with a different extension). Yes I know I can use RockPlayer etc but this simply isn't as good as native support. If Archos could afford it the Moto sure can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, x1,000. I own an original iPad, and picked up a T-Mo Galaxy Tab for $100 on Craigslist. Once the wifi Xoom came out, I went to Staples to pick one up.
Disappointment doesn't begin to capture it. Such a lovely screen...why, why, why wouldn't you include a Movies app with the tablet? Videos that played flawlessly on the Tab would stutter and whimper on the Xoom. That's just inexcusable.
I also co-sign everything you said about Facebook; I had the same experience with Seesmic.
I bought it on Friday evening. I returned it on Sunday afternoon. I can handle rough edges with software, but this goes beyond that. And selling it for $600? Yeah...not so much.
That said, I'm keeping an eye on the Asus Transformer; $399 is a sweet price point.
rnoboa said:
That said, I'm keeping an eye on the Asus Transformer; $399 is a sweet price point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're interested, here's my short review of the Transformer, originally posted in the Transformer XDA forum. I do compare it to my Galaxy Tab, so I don't think it's unreasonable to post here!
Regards,
Dave
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I've had my Transformer for 4 full days now, and I've a few comments to make for prospective purchasers.
First of all, a little background - I've had Android phones since the original G1 was released in the US (I was there when it was released), and since then have owned the HTC Hero, the HTC Desire, and now the Desire HD (and a Pulse Mini as a backup device).
I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7", which I've been using since October last year and I still think is a fantastic device, so most of my observations on the Transformer (henceforth called the TF) will be in comparison to Galaxy Tab (henceforth called the GT). As an aside, I also have a Toshiba AC100 Android netbook, so I think I have some feel for how the TF will be once the keyboard dock arrives.
Build quality
The TF feels like a really high quality device. I know some people have reported issues with back light bleed etc, but I've had no such issues. The aluminium case is really nice to the touch, as is the back of the device which is a plastic made to look a bit like carbon fibre.
Design - the design is generally really nice, though if I had one criticism it is the size of the bezel is rather large. Additionally, it does feel a little odd holding the device in portrait mode as it comes over as very tall and thin, especially when compared to the GT.
The IPS display is lovely and crisp, though it does seem a little less bright than the display on the GT.
OS and software
This is both simultaneously the best and worst feature that the TF has over the GT. In general browsing use, the TF is much more like a laptop/desktop experience than the GT, and you can see Honeycomb has great potential. However, it does feel very much like an unfinished product.
When the GT first came out, the stock browser was notoriously laggy (fixed in later iterations), and the TF suffers from the same issue - in fact it is worse because whilst the GTs browser was basically just laggy, the TFs browser is laggy and buggy.
Specifically, clicking on links in other applications often causes the browser to pop up, but it doesn't load the new page - this can be fixed by "killing" the browser and restarting it, but it shouldn't be this way. Whilst I much prefer the native browser when it works correctly, I'm now using Opera Mobile for day to day use.
Honeycomb Gmail on the TF is a revelation - it is a far superior client than the client on the GT.
Other minor Honeycomb/TF complaints are:
1. There doesn't seem to be a way to clear all notifications easily.
2. Just getting to the Settings menu is overcomplicated.
3. The keyboards do seem overly large in my opinion, and there don't seem to be enough long press options to get to alternate characters, though I'm aware these are easily replaceable.
4. Overall the TF performance is good, but I don't feel that Honeycomb is taking advantage of the dual core Tegra 2, and thus in general use it doesn't really feel any faster than my single core GT.
Media Playback
This is an easy one - the GT is a better media player than the TF, simply because it natively supports more formats (e.g. DivX).
I'm not unused to transcoding video to H264, as I had to do this often on my earlier Android devices, but with the advent of Cortex A8 class devices with Neon, I found software players like RockPlayer more than acceptable. This does not seem to be the case for the TF, since Tegra 2 doesn't support Neon instructions. However, the AC100 is a Tegra 2 device, and the built-in media player is much better than the stock TF one too, so really I think that Asus should have done more here.
With the TF, I'm back to having to transcode media, and to be honest for the most part that means I'll just my GT instead.
Overall Usage
Here's where it gets interesting!
The TF provides a very different experience to the GT and for the most part it is very enjoyable- when I bought the device, I knew it be mostly be a "coffee table" device, and that the size, weight, and built-in 3G of the GT was going to a distinct advantage over the TF when it comes to travelling.
What I didn't expect is that the GT still holds some advantages at home too.
Put simply, the TF is still too big and heavy sometimes - when I get up in the morning, I usually take my GT off charge and slip it into the pocket of my dressing gown, and this means it goes with me when I go to make a coffee, visit the "office" in the bathroom etc.
Also, late at night, if I want to watch something whilst lying in bed, the GT is simply much more comfortable to hold for any period of time, and coupled with better media support is always going to be the preferred option.
The Future
I don't think it is really fair to judge the TF until the keyboard dock becomes available, because I honestly think this will significant change the nature of the device.
When I first got my AC100, it was running Eclair and to be honest it was pretty rubbish, but it got so much better when Froyo landed.
I can see the TF similarly getting a completely new lease of life once the dock arrives.
Also, Honeycomb does feel like a work in progress, and I'm hoping for regularly updates to this device, which again should improve the experience, along with more Honeycomb specific apps on the market.
Conclusion
I think the TF is a fantastic product and the price is extremely good for what it is. I certainly wouldn't want to put anyone off buying one if they have a genuine interest this form factor. In the UK at least, I think the Xoom has priced itself out of the market massively, which currently leaves the TF as the 10.1" tablet of choice.
The biggest issue for me is that 10.1" tablets are generally too big and heavy, and whilst newer tablets may be lighter, they will still be similarly sized unless they can dramatically reduce the size of the bezel.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9" may well be a better compromise, and I will be looking closely at this once it arrives. However, it won't fit in a jacket pocket, so would still likely just be a coffee table tablet for me.
Ultimately, I think my ideal tablet device would be a 7" form factor device like the GT, similar internal hardware to the TF (dual core, IPS, memory etc), and built-in 3G. Until something like this ships, I think my GT will still be my primary media consumption/browsing device.
Steve Jobs may think that there is no market in 7" tablets, but in my case he's wrong!
Thank you soooo much for the Tab vs Xoom reiew. I was looking at the Xoom a couple weeks ago, but when I saw Sprint marked the Tab down to $199, I bought it instead. Although the Xoom is a gorgeous device, I am becoming quite sold on the 7" size. After using my Tab for a week, I love it! Now if the Xoom was only, say $100 more than the Tab, I may change my mind, but as it is now, it's way too expensive for what it offers out of the box. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Xoom have a price drop soon.
How bad is Honeycomb? The reviews of the G-Slate, Xoom, and even Eeepad Transformer suggest that Honeycomb itself is... not ready and quite laggy. How does it compare to plain old Froyo on a 7'' Tab?
so if understand correctly, android market does not install the tablet version of gmail or any other app on the galaxy tab?
You will have special section of apps created for the Honeycomb and for 2.2 or 2.3.
Apps that are not suppose to work will not be shown on the Market.
Some apps created for phones freeze or fail to work but overall you can find apps that suit your needs. I would agree that at this point software has rough edges but this is always an issue for the early adopters. The 1st iphone had no software choices at all and it took more than half a year to get something else.
Screen size and resolutiin make Xoom almost a laptop.
I like Xoom but prefer Galaxy Tab because of size and weight.

[INFO] Now the bad - Transformer has Honeycomb

I read this earlier today
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/an...f-baked-at-best/16905?tag=mantle_skin;content
Its a reality check.
Full Disclosure - I own a Samsung Captivate and LOVE it. Never owned a single apple product until I purchased the iPAD2 a few weeks ago. The current plan is to get the Transformer and sell the iPad on ebay. I am on pre-order on Amazon and Target.
After reading that zdnet article I am thinking about cancelling my preorder.
While I like tinkering with stuff (I rooted my Captivate and use Barnacle to make it a free AP for my wifi ipad) ... the fundamental issues with HComb kills my interest.
Here is a followup to the above article ...
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/dear-google-heres-your-roadmap-out-of-android-honeycomb-hell/16940
Wow. Well, let me just say that I like Honeycomb just fine. It's not perfect, but it's nowhere near as bad as this guy is letting on. In fact, I think it's pretty damn good overall. I think (and I rarely say this) he must have quite an investment in Apple stock.
Update: The guy referenced Mossberg's review of the G-Slate as representing another voice that agrees with him. However, while Mossberg doesn't like the G-Slate, he has generally good things to say about Honeycomb.
So, in short, the guy's full of ****, generally.
vulcan195 said:
I read this earlier today
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/an...f-baked-at-best/16905?tag=mantle_skin;content
Its a reality check.
Full Disclosure - I own a Samsung Captivate and LOVE it. Never owned a single apple product until I purchased the iPAD2 a few weeks ago. The current plan is to get the Transformer and sell the iPad on ebay. I am on pre-order on Amazon and Target.
After reading that zdnet article I am thinking about cancelling my preorder.
While I like tinkering with stuff (I rooted my Captivate and use Barnacle to make it a free AP for my wifi ipad) ... the fundamental issues with HComb kills my interest.
Here is a followup to the above article ...
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/dear-google-heres-your-roadmap-out-of-android-honeycomb-hell/16940
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Erma ...... 24 hours in and I've found honeycomb no more buggy than early froyo of gingerbread ........ found a few bugs but they are mostly software rather the os.
I believe even the 'mighty' iPhone 4 had a few teething problems ...... like not being able to make calls!?
The point is that technology is moving fast. You are either an early adopter (and therefore tolerant of a few quirks) or a late adopter living with last years tech.
Either is good. Just take your pick ..... early or late .....
i wouldnt change your mind because of one or two articles, ive owned ipads in my time and sold them all, mainly because its not "your"tablet so to speak
Got my AsusTF yesterday and it took all of about 1 hour to feel at home with the device, yes it operates differently to froyo and Gbread (own a galaxy s hacked to bits) but in all fairness it works pretty well imho.
Yes you get the odd force close, and yep a few apps just wont work but the majority do and pretty well.
Multitasking is the best ive seen on this type of device, the hardware is tops, the screen (if you get a good one lol) is ace, it nevers drops a connection, has great battery life and the gps is pretty damn accurate and fast, can the ipad wifi version do that? nope.
Overall im more than happy with the tf and trust me if i dont like an item within a few hours it goes on ebay, however this is a keeper i think.
And for christ sake yes the market can be random at times but never had a failed install like he claims, but seeing as the first pieces of hardware containing honeycomb have only just been released its unfair to state there are not enough apps, give it a few months and the market will be flooded.
Sounds like the guy was having an off day to be honest lol
And in all fairness the majority of people on xda will nearly always be beta testers as he puts it, but with devices running how we want them and pushed to the max, in theory what we have at the moment is a freshly plastered brick wall, just waiting for us to slap whatever we want on it how WE see fit and create a canvas we like, cant say that about the ipad!
If you let online articles sway your purchases, then you deserve exactly what you get.
I'm sorry but as a honeycomb user I can see that those articles are a load of rubbish. He complains that barely no apps work without crashing and that the market doesn't work which is odd as it is completely against what I have seen with huge numbers of apps working installed from the market. The second article goes on about a lack of experience at google - as if the developers and designers there had never worked on anything like an os before and that there is no way developers can read and learn from the development of other operating systems (a load of rubbish, just like the rest of the content in those articles).
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
If his point is that Honeycomb appeals to a different kind of user then the ipad, well ... duh. If you want something you can hand to grandma and have her launching apps in a few seconds, by all means, go iPad.Honeycomb and Android in general require more work from the user to customize the experience, and Honeycomb definitely requires more patience due to its rawness, and that is pretty well known at this point. So if you buy a Transformer expecting an iPad, I will gladly take one off anyones hands because I know several folks dying to jump in.
I hope you've had a chance to read other reviews and hear first impressions from users here on xda. The zdnet articles are one persons opinion. I've had my Transformer for about 48 hours and I am absotely thrilled with the tablet! I Love Honeycomb and have had a great experience so far. Also, keep in mind the price difference... that article is based on the Xoom... without an IPS screen, lighter and at $399 like the TF.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I came from 2.3 and 2.2. I bought the transformer FOR the ultimate honeycomb experience
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I am digging honeycomb so far. Yes every so often it gets a little choppy here and there. I've had more force closes when I bought an ipad 1 at release than I've had with honeycomb, and you can do so much more, like use a keyboard you actually like nor the one Steve tells you is the right one.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
ryude said:
If you let online articles sway your purchases, then you deserve exactly what you get.
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And aren't you doing the same thing by trying to dissuade someone from being dissuaded......online?
I had read the article and never experienced the problems with Honeycomb which Jason Perlow had. With any 1st generation Honeycomb tablets there are going to be a few software issues but these should be fixed with downloadable updates.
I thought that this was a blogger trying to generate a story rather than a proper review of Honeycomb or the Xoom.
LordLugard said:
And aren't you doing the same thing by trying to dissuade someone from being dissuaded......online?
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Point is he's allowing one article to change his mind. There are plenty of reviews out there that state HC is a work in progress, and the ride is bumpy right now. If he'd read more articles/reviews and stated that he'd done his research and HC was not for him, then great, happy trails and enjoy the iPad, it's a neat device. But taking one person's opinion and saying, "Well, that seals it!" is a little rash.
At least that's how I took the guy's response about letting an article change your mind.
The article author acts like google will never update honeycomb lol
Google IO is coming up, and i am sure they will announce an update to honeycomb
(Adobe already hinted)
I think honeycomb is great, but the lack of tablet apps does suck, i agree with that
But remember that Honeycomb only was released 4 months ago, it will pick up soon
worst article ever.
go online and 80-90% of articles have a POSITIVE review on honeycomb.
does honeycomb has it's issues? hell yes. but so did android 1.0, 1.5, and 1.6. and hell even the latest versions of android and iOS have issues.
is honeycomb beta? yeah, but so was android, and still is.
I've had a decent amount of force closes in the browser and have had to force a shut down a couple times, but honestly, i still love the tablet and i love honeycomb because honeycomb is an ACTUAL tablet OS, where as the ipad is nothing more than an oversized iphone, with less quality.
Honeycomb will get better. and The transformer is an amazing deal and well worth the buy.
SlimDan22 said:
The article author acts like google will never update honeycomb lol
Google IO is coming up, and i am sure they will announce an update to honeycomb
(Adobe already hinted)
I think honeycomb is great, but the lack of tablet apps does suck, i agree with that
But remember that Honeycomb only was released 4 months ago, it will pick up soon
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I agree it will be nice to get some apps that explicitly take advantage of the bigger screen, but unlike the iPad (I have owned one since they came out in the UK), Android phone apps generally work well on the tablets. On iPad upscaled apps were dreadfully pixellated in the 2x zoom mode, or ridiculous looking floating in the middle of the screen with huge boarders. For the honeycomb tablets, the apps can look a little spaced out, but they generally look fine and work well. More to the point, they often just take advantage of the additional space seamlessly.
My problem is with the comparison between the stability of the iPad's iOS with Honeycomb.
iOS is literally a homescreen. Without apps it is nothing; with apps it's just a wallpaper with hundreds of tiles barfed up onto a few scrolling pages. So yes, Scrolling between the pages can be butter smooth, but it's like saying "I can swim through this water faster than you can swim through that custard." since Honeycomb stands on its own even without any additional applications, and even the home app is 3-Dimensionally oriented with multiple widgets constantly fetching data and displaying animations, and animated wallpapers.
I also hate people comparing Honeycomb tablets with the iPad 2, since Honeycomb is a year behind Apple, so we should compare both initial releases. I remember reading reviews for the original iPad and while people swooned over the revolutionary and magical product (sarcasm), the unbiased reviewers complained about the lack of apps for a long time, the constant crashing, the sluggishness, so Google has done a fantastic Job of competing with the second iPad with their first attempt.
Edit: It's also much easier for apple to write software for 1 set of hardware, where Android has to accommodate for varying specifications (screen size, RAM, [currently only Tegra 2 is supported {I think} but more with be added], Screen type, varying resolutions, different peripherals etc, which is bound to take longer to iron out and will probably never reach the same efficiency.
DISCLAIMER: I am by no means a Fandroid, and I think Google's biggest flaw is that they don't completely fix problems before adding some new shiny feature, adding even more bugs. While I love the new features, I can't stand thinking how efficient Android would be if they spent a longer time fixing things, rather than releasing NEARLY-finished features.
This guy's arguments are outdated and full of hyperbole. Don't listen to him.
You expect there to be a certain level of polish and maturity on the software in a $600.00 consumer device. The problem is, there’s nothing at all polished about a Honeycomb tablet.
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Now, there are cheaper tablets with similar hardware: the Acer Iconia, Asus Transformer, and the upcoming galaxy tab. Nothing at all polished? Hyperbole! Plenty of things feel polished to me. Simple, intuitive multitasking. Awesome built-in apps. Easy and intuitive way of adding widgets. I could go on and on.
On the first page of the article, he only makes a single argument that isn't just ranting (it's still full of hyperbole, however):
While there are well over 100,000 applications available for Android, 99.99 percent of them are not properly optimized to run at the higher screen resolution on Honeycomb tablets.
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First thing: he can't do math. 99.99 percent is 99990. 100000-99990=10. Is he seriously saying there are only 10 tablet apps optimized for honeycomb? He's got to be kidding me. I know the math isn't the point, but this immediately shows what kind of writer he is.
However plenty just plain crash, do weird and strange unexpected things, have UI elements placed in unusual or unusable areas, or just refuse to install... This issue is made even worse by the fact that the re-vamped Android Market on Honeycomb is just plain broken. It blows up constantly and fails to install applications at least half of the time.
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Again, BS and exaggeration. Most apps work great. I've only had a couple force closes. Nothing beyond the norm: even my iPod touch apps kill themselves without warning (battleheart, infinity blade...etc.). His argument about the market has some merit: it had some hiccups yesterday with the "see more details" bug, and it does occasionally fc. But he's exaggerating again: the market doesn't blow up constantly or fail to install apps. On the contrary, I've had a pleasant experience with it: the layout is nicely optimized for tablets, apps have installed on first click, and the market rarely "blows up."
Just trying to wrap my head around the way and where the menus are supposed to show up in Honeycomb and where UI and control elements are buried gives me a headache, and it doesn’t behave the way I expect it to.
By comparison, if you give an iPad to someone who has been using iPhones or iPod Touches, they’ll know exactly how it’s supposed to work.
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Are you serious? It's not difficult at all to figure out how it works. By now, a lot of my friends have used my tablet. They have had no problem whatsoever. I suspect his problems come from the shifting menu button. Here, let me spell it out for you: on a tablet-optimized app, menu button is in the top right. Otherwise, it will be on the bottom left.
In conclusion, take his arguments with 99 truckloads of salt.
That moving menu button does annoy the hell out of me, though...
Google needs to pick a part of the screen and make sure it sticks there whether it's a HC app or not.
I'll touch on everyone elses points im sure with this but here goes:
That was a funny read. Love the way they compare success to number of units sold, rather than actual revenue made from overall sales.
While honeycomb is still in it's infancy, it's come a long way in a few short months. Unfortunately some people don't seem to realise that with more options and customisation of a device, the more problems can arise. Having a fixed OS that is locked down will of course always be smoother than one which is open, as there are less things to test and make compatible with each other.
I've always seen apple products as something you can just pick up, it will work first time, it has simple controls, but it will do a basic job. Things have improved over the years in making it feel a bit more advanced though to be fair.
With android devices, and honeycomb, I see more options to customise, and more options to explore, with a freedom to basically do whatever you want, only limited by the hardware.
At the end of the day, they are quite different beasts for different people. I guess i'm a google-ite, as I see their approach to their work as inspirational. It seems as if they are willing to experiment more, and release their work freely for others to edit or grow on top of. They're not focussed on sales figures, more a method of growth to show off and expand on people's creative sides. Of course it's all about public image, apple always seems to be quite greedy in trying to make money from every little thing, and google makes their money by cleverly hiding it in the background with advertising etc.
I've had both apple and android devices btw. Liking honeycomb more than I thought I would. I've not had a Xoom and maybe they really are as crap as he says they are. Just glad I have the transformer.

I love my Transfomer but I wish I had ??? and why.

Hello, TF'ers. I'am asking a simple question for those who love their Transformers but for some reason is lusting after one of the other tablet's. Please list the tablet you wish you could have and why.
Thanks.
I have my TF101 and I'm happily satisfied with my purchase.
I love this thing. Nothing else comes close.
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.
Love mt TF but I always wonder if I would love the Acer Iconia A500 better.
I have had every tablet out, and the iconia was ok, the screen is not as good as the TF, but at least the browser does not crash as much, no lag while trying to type, and the usb...
I am looking at the thrive... if I know what kinda of glass it will have I would order one.
More than happy with my TF'er. Tried the Zoom, tried the Ipad2 but neither come close. I'm mildly interested in the GT 10.2 to see what the fuss is about but the lack of SD card immediately puts a dampener on it.
Thremix said:
I have had every tablet out, and the iconia was ok, the screen is not as good as the TF, but at least the browser does not crash as much, no lag while trying to type, and the usb...
I am looking at the thrive... if I know what kinda of glass it will have I would order one.
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I have 0 lag and havent had the browser crash once. I have 2 usb's slots and both SD and MiniSD card slots. I use a wireless mouse and BT headset nd get over 24 hours of battery life on hard use. Hwat else could you ask for?
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.
As a launch-day Pre purchaser who converted to Android in January of this year, I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the TouchPad. webOS really is SOOOO much better in terms of multitasking that I'd love to have it on a tablet.
However, there are three things that temper this notion. First, webOS does not and likely will not have the apps that I need for quite some time. The TouchPad won't even have Office document editing out the door, which is simply ridiculous. I can't believe that Samsung can completely redesign their tablet and release it in a few months, while HP can't get a single freaking app written that's absolutely vital to their product's success. Really, webOS made me promise myself never to buy something for a feature that's "coming soon."
Second, until a tablet has a keyboard dock as functional as the Transformer's, I'd have a hard time switching over. There's simply no better device for straight writing (i.e., just laying words down on the page) on the go. If HP releases a similar hybrid device someday, I'll think about it (assuming the apps are there), but Transformer is just a great all-around mobile device.
Third, while webOS is a nice OS in many ways, I'm disappointed that HP didn't design it to make better use of a tablet's screen size. Ultimately, webOS 3.X is just a blown-up version of the smartphone OS, with the same number of cards showing, only bigger. They could have done so much more with it. I really like how Honeycomb's screens can provide so much useful information at a glance. I often just turn my TF on, check to see if I have any emails, upcoming appointments, what the weather's like, etc., etc., and then just turn it back off. It's like a dashboard for my life, and so far no other tablet OS comes close in this respect.
wynand32 said:
...........It's like a dashboard for my life.........
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Thats how I would describe it to the "T". You should sent that to Asus for branding...lmao
Sent from my awesome Asus Transformer using XDA's premium app.
Love my Transformer... But wish I have an iPad only due to the vast number of case options available. However I'm looking forward to receiving my multi-angle rooCase.
I don't undestand why you would want any other tablet (at least any other android tablet)
The TF offers everything all the other android tablets offer PLUS MORE... Anything else would just be a downgrade.
the only thing I'm lusting for currently is a fully functional Netflix app. I really love to watch movies quietly at night and currently have to switch over to my Nook Color to do this. TF is awesome, working Netflix would make it total perfection for my needs.
Digiguest said:
Love mt TF but I always wonder if I would love the Acer Iconia A500 better.
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The Transformer is better than the iconia. I had one, the screen on it sucks and it weighs a lot more. The only things it has over the transformer are the aluminum body (I actually prefer the transformer's body but most like aluminum that I've talked to) and the speakers have more bass. IMO the transformer wins hands down.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using XDA App
ClevelandWheeler said:
I have 0 lag and havent had the browser crash once.
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Bollocks
10char
ClevelandWheeler said:
get over 24 hours of battery life on hard use. Hwat else could you ask for?
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Did you do something special to your batteries?
I wish it had normal browser like Chrome with extensions and such. I wish it had mouse hover capabilities.
I have a XFormer, but would love a Xoom, but only to see the benefit of Internal 3G.
Badwolve1
Yep the grass always seems greener on the other side. I'm lucky enough to be able to try them all out. I've got the Asus Iconia, the Transformer, and iPad 2 already, and the Galaxy 10.2 is in the mail. Starting to get a better profile of how I use them. Want to copy your camera photos to the tablet? Something with an SD slot will make you happier. Have movies on an external USB hard drive? Having a standard USB port will make you giddy if you want a movie off that drive to watch on your tablet. These emotional highs are momentary moments though, and 99% of the time I'm just playing games, reading email, checking the web, facebook, youtube. Every tablet does these fine, and during that time I appreciate the lighter ones. They all have a way to add a keyboard to them. Bluetooth is easy, especially once you've paired a keyboard. Apple and Samsung have $69 keyboard docks for their thin tablet dock ports. You pay more to get the Transformer's keyboard dock, but you get a far better integrated and multi-functional add-on for your money. Hooking up to these is an inconvenience of varying degrees. You are not likely to have the iPad or Galaxy keyboard docks with you when you leave the house, so they suck. Good bluetooth keyboards are always wider than these tablets are, and as such less likely to fit in the same case with your tablet. If you've got a case for your Transformer, it is likely for netbooks and will hold both the tablet and keyboard together. So if you prefer a physical keyboard to an onscreen one, the Transformer is clearly the standout choice. You have to weigh that importance though, as that keyboard dock doubles the total weight you'll be carrying.
I've been working on a showdown between these tablets for my blog. Easy enough to ding this one and promote another for a slot or port or not. Not sure the small time these features come into play will aggravate a user enough to choose ports over weight/looks though. Money obviously play a role, as the difference between the Asus and a full set of features with its dock and an iPad with all the same features via add-ons is huge. It help that the Asus starts out $100 under the iPad. Samsung is certainly brave going head-on with Apple, I'll give them that. They must be thinking that iPad buyers didn't mind no MicroSD or USB ports, and millions were sold, so microSD and USB ports don't really matter. They might be right. Time will tell if they sell more Android Honeycomb tablets than Asus. I can't see them ever catching up to iPad sales though, with nothing to add value to iPad prices. Pay that much and you might as well get an iPad. JMHO.
I am a very happy Transformer owner, everything else (at the moment) on the market, even the ipad 2, would be downgrading.
I love my ASUS transformer too.
However, if I had to pick another table between xoom or samsung galaxy v2 10.1 or iPad.
I would get the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, I checked it out at Best Buy yesterday and it was pretty nice. No lag at all either and it was very responsive.
Sometimes my transformer feels unresponsive, and it lags but it could be due to my tons of widgets on the home screen.
However if Samsung did have a keyboard dock like transformer, I would hop on it however I heard their updates were lacking and slow to be released.
Though I like how its lighter, thinner the transformer, and looks a bit nicer. Also I enjoyed the PLS screen as it also had more VIBRANT colors then the transformer.

[Q] Do you still recommend the Galaxy Tab purchase?

I need a Honeycomb tab and I thought this Samsung was the best, but I've read a lot of complaints about it.
Now, after all these issues, should I go on with the purchase or do you think it's better to wait for something else? Thanks a lot
Frankie
that would depend on what you need. if you're looking for a multimedia device that plays just about everything out there, the archos 101 is better - but it has a crappy screen and locks up if you do more than one thing at a time.
if you need a netbook replacement, the transformer is the way to go. just be wary about the dock. it drains about 3-7% when docked,not in use and not charging. some reports says that if you let the dock drain it will not charge up again.
the galaxy tab 10.1 is a good general use tablet. where i find that it shines is reading comic books. the over saturated screen makes the colors really pop. plus being so thin, it feels like you're holding a comic. it also has the best screen of all the hc tablets currently. down sides are browser bookmarks that randomly change (not present in other tablets) and possible dust in your screen.
the two hc tablets have the same downsides of all hc/tegra2 tablets. poor selection in media playback, some bugginess with apps not working or crashing, browser gets bogged down with javascript heavy sites...
in my opinion, the gt10.1, or any hc tablet is just a good plaything for now (i'm not saying you can't be productive with it). hopefully by the end of the year a more complete product, software and hardware-wise, will be available.
I voted NO ...
If you know me from this board, I was trying and trying to get one imported from US (I live in Europe), but I got string of issues for that. Well, that's not the reason that I do not recommend this device, not at all. However, I took that as blessing in disguise
You know, I have no problem at all with the hardware. I don't mind Tegra 2 and I even prefer Tegra 2 compare to Exynos (mainly because I want THD gaming more compare to watching video). Also, I don't mind for not having SD card. And I really love the form factor, slim, thin, slick!
Now, why I don't recommend this tab?
Well, mainly because I am not sure with the current state of Android Honeycomb! I keep reading issues and bugs (?) on this new OS. For example: The slow (lag) text input on web browser, I don't think I can live with this issue because I use web browser a lot (right now, I am using my wife's iPad2). For me, this is crucial issue. From what I read, this is Honeycomb bug/issue as other tablets are experiencing the same.
So, yeah, I am now taking a break from finding my dream Android tablet. Until Google fixed this issue and other quirks on Honeycomb (like the sluggish performance on launcher, 4GB file size limit etc.). Which I think the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich will address all this.
I voted no.
I like my galaxy tab, but honeycomb still has a long way to go. I bought it mainly for browsing the net and it can hardly do that correctly. lol
gogol said:
Which I think the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich will address all this.
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I too think that the current generation of Android tablet software/hardware have been rushed to market to compete with iPad/iPad2. While Android and the manufacturers have done an excellent job for the given time frame, I think the 2nd generation of software/hardware will be a massive improvement. Google are taking their time to release Ice Scream Sandwich which is reassuring. The fact they haven't released source code for Honeycomb just further supports this. And while even the 2nd generation of tablet hardware will have issues as well, I think the main issues will be resolved regarding Android integration on tablet (i.e. performance).
I know full well that waiting for the next generation is a never-ending game but allowing the 1st generation to pass and waiting upon the 2nd generation isn't a bad strategy.
I vote yes.
Granted, honeycomb still has some work to be done (hopefully with the 3.2 update "in a few weeks"), but I'm more than happy with mine. I haven't really experienced the keyboard lag people are talking about, so I can't comment there, but I wasn't happy with the sometimes jittery motion while swiping through home screens. Installed adw launcher and I'm loving how fast it is now.
Early adoption sucks.. I owned a xoom before this, so maybe I can appreciate it more. That being said, I also have an ipad and ipad2 in the house, and I would take this any day of the week.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
I think you should just pick one up and see how you feel about it. Many will say dont bother, and many will say its the greatest. Personally I love mine, regardless of the state of Honeycomb I'm in it for the long run. But its best you form your own opinion and now based your purchases on others completely.
Sent from my ThunderBolt
my question exactly, I can get it at a local dealer - decent price BUT no local warranty - he promises to ship it back and handle everything if it goes wrong ! should I take the leap or should I wait or just pick up the Transformer instead?
Really depends on the user.
No - to my parents, sisters, wife, other newbs. The ramp is still just a bit too steep still on .any. Honeycomb tab device. Froyo is much more completely baked as a general consumer-ready OS.
Yes - to any enthusiast who wants to dig into the device, config/customize/root, etc.
Maybe TouchWiz will add a little to the newb acceptance factor...
There are certainly some quirks with HC on the tab. I didn't seem to have as many issues with 3.1 on my Xoom. However, there isn't a better screen or sound out there right now. All my complaints are software related and will either be corrected by Google or out developers. I give it 2 thumbs up.
I voted "Yes" even though I disagree with the way the option is written. The Tab has issues, of course, but its more than usable. Maybe I just have mine set up better than some, but I have almost no problems at all with anything on the device. The Tab is neither buggish nor slow, so I really don't see how anyone could credibly choose the "No" option.
Yes, I would buy a Galaxy Tablet...
...after ICS and next wave of tabs have come out, so I can pick it up on Black Friday for $250 and put CM8 on it!
No early adopter am I... oops I mean
I voted yes, but it all depends on what you expect from a tab.
It is running an OS designed for small, portable devices.
I look at it like a 'handyman' device; a jack of all trades, and a master of none. It plays games, but not as well as a console. It browses the web/email, but not as good as a netbook. It handles business needs for working with documents, but not as well as a PC.
I just don't understand why so many people expect it to be a laptop replacement.
IF you're uncomfortable with the uncertainties behind Honeycomb and IceCreamSandwich:
-AND aren't willing to root, don't buy any Android tablet now.
-AND ARE willing to root OR don't mind Honeycomb:
--AND value expandibility over fit and finish or low cost, get a Transformer.
--AND don't need expansion, want a more polished tablet, and don't mind paying more, get a Galaxy Tab.
--AND don't need expansion, don't mind some rough edges, want to get your feet wet in Android without spending a lot, and are ok with Gingerbread, get a Nook Color to root.
He states that he needs a Honeycomb tablet, so stop voting NO because you think HC is not mature.
YES! GT10.1 is the best Honeycomb tablet out there bar-none!
pokey9000 said:
IF you're uncomfortable with the uncertainties behind Honeycomb and IceCreamSandwich:
-AND aren't willing to root, don't buy any Android tablet now.
-AND ARE willing to root OR don't mind Honeycomb:
--AND value expandibility over fit and finish or low cost, get a Transformer.
--AND don't need expansion, want a more polished tablet, and don't mind paying more, get a Galaxy Tab.
--AND don't need expansion, don't mind some rough edges, want to get your feet wet in Android without spending a lot, and are ok with Gingerbread, get a Nook Color to root.
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Can you put this into an IF-THEN-ELSE statement? I can I think follow it better that way..
e.mote said:
Can you put this into an IF-THEN-ELSE statement? I can I think follow it better that way..
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Those aren't allowed in General.
Yes, absolutely.
Does honeycomb have some issues? Yes. That being said this is a beautiful device and in my opinion, worth the price over the other HC tablets just for a refined form factor. Awesome screen, very polished design.
I bought this device to be able to quickly access news, email and calendars, to be able to view office documents in meetings without having to drag my laptop around, and lastly to entertain myself on flights. This device does all of those perfectly. Even iPad 1&2 owners that have stopped by to check the device out were absolutely blown away.
Wow, the wording on this poll is pretty extreme - the best you can say about the Tab is that it's "still usable." Well I've had mine for a week now, and I absolutely love it. Having played with every other Android tablet out there, as well as the iPad, I think it wins hands down.
1. I don't get what people dislike about Honeycomb. It has so many features and is much more intuitive than my Froyo phone; why aren't people complaining more about the iPad's lack of a widget architecture? That's HUGE in my experience. iOS just gives you a screen with a bunch of icons, and jumping from app to app, while we have sophisticated widgets that put enormous functionality right on the home screens.
2. Flash is important. A few quick hacks and you can also watch Hulu (lame that it's not automatically allowed, I admit). But there is Flash on half the sites I visit, and the Tab does a great job with it. Having used Flash on a couple phones previously, I can say this is a big leap forward with 10.3 and the Tegra 2 processor. I can't imagine why every reviewer doesn't disqualify the iPads on that basis alone - it's a deal breaker.
3. In terms of other Android tablets, the Tab 10.1 has by far the best screen I've seen - it's beautiful. And the thin/light thing really makes a difference to me when it comes to a tablet that you have to hold in your hands 90% of the time you're using it. Plus, it's just a much more attractive design than the others I played with. I like the Transformer's additional ports and keyboard dock, but I have a laptop and a netbook and I don't want a tablet to substitute for those. I want it to be a tablet. That's what the Tab 10.1 does best.
In sum, it's not "still usable," it's the best tablet currently on the market.
markp99 said:
Really depends on the user.
No - to my parents, sisters, wife, other newbs. The ramp is still just a bit too steep still on .any. Honeycomb tab device. Froyo is much more completely baked as a general consumer-ready OS.
Yes - to any enthusiast who wants to dig into the device, config/customize/root, etc.
Maybe TouchWiz will add a little to the newb acceptance factor...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this sums it up. Android lacks the polish of iOS, but it's so damn fun exploring the endless possibilities of Android. Provided it's software related, there's also another option that works just as well or better. I have faith that any issues that currently exist will be resolved in due time. The hardware is great and I can work with the software.

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