[Video] Just another review...Tablet & Keyboard - Eee Pad Transformer General

For those who want yet ANOTHER review, heres my article from my website... http://asustransform.com
It’s safe to say that the Asus Transformer has definitely been making waves in the small pool that is, Android tablets. Though Asus did disappoint many potential customers with the lack of product availability, the tablet has proven to be worth the wait and worth the effort to get your hands on one.
Having had the Transformer for roughly two weeks now (just over a week with the keyboard dock), I have gathered enough information to do a thorough review of both. Though the video review is a bit lengthy; I tried my best to touch upon every aspect of the tablet and dock.
I’ve provided a brief written summary to compliment the video review. The Asus Transformer has really changed my lifestyle (for the better) just as much as the 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab did. But without further adieu, check out my video review below and the written summary below it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCMSRNchwco&feature=player_embedded
Build Quality & Design:
When I first received the Asus Transformer, I was quick to give it an “A-” score to gauge the build quality. It’s apparent today that the score was clouded by my excitement to have finally gotten the tablet in my hands. After reevaluation, I consider the build quality of the tablet to be a mid “B”-I am a student, I think in terms of letter grades! Overall the build quality of the tablet is good, but sadly not as good as my iPad 1 nor the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
I do notice some “squeaking” when pressing down on the textured backing; perhaps it’s due to it being plastic rather than a metallic build. This in no way means that the tablet is cheap. On the contrary, when coupled with the optional keyboard dock, the build of the two units as a whole feels exceptional. The dock is extremely well build; we will get to the dock a little bit later. There is one flaw in the design and that is the relatively sharp edges of the tab. This makes typing with keyboard apps such as Thumb Keyboard a little bit difficult and slightly painful after prolonged use. It’s common to develop marks on your hands from holding it for too long because of this issue.
Sound:
The speakers on the Transformer are average at best. While music does sound a bit muffled, the annoying “popping” sound takes the cake. This popping & crackling sound happens frequently and it usually occurs when getting a notification after leaving the tablet idling for a while. Hopefully this will be addressed in the update that is promised in June. On the flip side, the audio output via headphones or using the HDMI out feature do not disappoint. Music sounds crisp and lively; this shouldn’t disappoint any serious audiophiles.
Camera:
The front facing 1.2 MP camera is enough to have a decent video conversation. I video chat using Google Talk very frequently and the quality is very good for such a low resolution camera. The rear 5 MP camera takes great photos and shoots decent 720p video. This in no way will replace your standalone digital camera or flip cam but it’s there if you need it.
Screen Quality:
If you have seen other reviews about the Transformer, they usually have one thing in common; they all rave about the screen. While I do agree that the screen is gorgeous and nice to look at, I feel as if the screen is not as sensitive as it could be. I usually have to tap an icon twice or sometimes three time just to get it to register. I am not sure if it has to do with me tapping the icon rather than pressing it (different surface areas) but either way, it’s a bit annoying. It seems to be better with the latest update but here’s hoping for a permanent fix in the upcoming update.
Dock:
Even with the flaws that I’ve mentioned with this tablet, it redeems itself when coupled with the keyboard dock. The seamless integration of the the tablet with the keyboard is truly nothing less than brilliant engineering. Asus really took the time to get this right! The two 2 full-sized USB ports provide great functionality. I can even use it to charge my HTC Thunderbolt via the USB cable. Sure it charges it up slowly, but the point is that it charges it! It also detects portable hard drives as well as thumb drives. I have even connected a USB mouse to it and it all works well. It comes with a SD card reader which provides with yet another way of expanding the memory. While docked, the Transformer actually gets charged by the dock’s build in battery so you will never run out of battery; just another reason why the dock is worth the $150 price tag. Typing long papers or reviews such as this one is comfortable. The keyboard is spacious and the trackpad is a good size. There is no distinction between my Apple bluetooth keyboard and the Transformer’s; it’s just that good!
Overall:
The Asus Transformer is fantastic tablet which truly obliterates any competitor that attempts to mimic its functionality; such as the Samsung 10.1 keyboard. For $400 it holds it’s own as a great tablet for those on a budget. It may not be as light as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 but with features such as HDMI out, a microSD card slot, the dock, and a lower price tag, its obvious who the clear winner is. I highly recommend checking out the Asus EEE Pad Transformer for yourselves. You will not be disappointed.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
http://asustransform.com
http://asustransform.com/forum

Good review , Quite informative

yzman321 said:
Good review , Quite informative
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Would be even better without the html entities.

gadgetfann said:
Would be even better without the html entities.
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Click to collapse
Wow that was really lame of me...I'm sorry. Fixed :-!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

ayman07 said:
Wow that was really lame of me...I'm sorry. Fixed :-!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great review,
I agree with you on the screen sensitivity,
I felt like I had to press things twice sometimes to get things to register when I first got it.
However, after using it for about a month, I don't have that problem anymore,
Not sure ifi jjust got used to it or its part of the break in process, give it more time and see if you still feel that way

The screen sensitivity thing and some lag are my only big complaints. I'm a bit widget happy, which probably accounts for the lag.
I'm hoping both will be taken care of in 3.1.

As for multitouch zooming with the trackpad: this is possible and has been shown off on a few demo firmwares. we're not sure if ASUS will ship this in a future update, but it was probably removed due to patent laws. I'm sure someone in the community will get it working eventually.

@andyxover ya i am the same way, i got use it but according to a site that i read (who got the build early) this is better in 3.1.
@CoolWaters ya that could be the reason but seriously, i think with a Tegra 2 u should be able to put on as many widgets as you want and not notice a significant decrease in performance.
@Gary13579 i have no doubt in my mind that if its possible, someone here will make it a reality. but dont many laptops have this feature already (besides Apple)? cuz if they do, then there shouldnt be any legal issues...lets hope for that!

Related

[INFO] What the Transformer plus dock can do for you

The more I use my TF the more I like it. Although I understand that people with problems need to vent I want to add another positive post to the forum.
First off, I do NOT believe that there is such a thing as the "perfect tablet" (but that doesn't mean that there is not a lot of crap out there!). For some the iPad might be the best, for others the XOOM, for some the Transformer or even the Nook Color.
Now here are some of the Transformer's benefits that make it the currently best tablet for me:
The dock. This was probably the main reason for switching from the XOOM. I was looking for a case with Bluetooth keyboard for so long that the dock just came like an answer to my quest. I do a lot of typing so a physical keyboard was a must for me. The additional battery life and connectors are a HUGE plus (see more below). The keyboard is very sturdy and it is fun to type on. And of course the touch pad. Especially when browsing the web the pointer makes it indefinitely easier to click those tiny links!
ASUS's software. The widgets are minimalistic and beautiful. They add to the Honeycomb experience without forcing a manufacturer's UI upon the user. The applications that are included are well designed and work great.
Polaris Office. So far the best office suite that I have tested. This restores my faith in developers caring about productivity on tablet as compared to only entertainment and "consumption".
Connectivity. I was amazed. I have setup media sharing on my PC so I could stream videos and music to my PS3s. The first time I fired up MyNet it automatically detected my PC and the content was instantly available. No settings to alter, no messing around. Then just yesterday I connected my external HDD (NTFS) where I ripped all my movies in HD (as compared to the 640x480 res for my iPod). It also was detected and mounted automatically and the content plays flawlessly (with Mobo Player). SD card, microSD card, everything works out of the box; I remember how much trouble that was with the XOOM...
The display. Well, admittedly, an IPS screen is just great even though it might not have the most natural color reproduction or brightness. However, the viewing angles and contrast are amazing! I also like the wider bezel (compared to the XOOM) which allows for holding it in one hand without touching the actual touch screen (and I have not the biggest hands!). Sure, I have a bit of light bleed but the one on my Nook Color is worse. If I want to see it I will...
Updates. For not being a "Pure Android Experience Device" the ASUS got updates rather frequently. There seems to be a real person from ASUS support active in this forum and on other social media like facebook (in Europe at least).
Weight and Build. The TF feels nice and light when held. That it is made of plastic is unfortunate because it does feel kind of cheap but it is not too flimsy. I was apprehensive about the goldenish color but I have gotten used to it. I covered the back with carbon fiber skin though
So everyone considering to buy one of these I can only recommend it. There might be some lemons out there but you will have that with every device. If you want to wait for the newest gadgets, good luck, because as soon as you buy a high-tech device you can be sure that it's obsolete a week later...
Hope that helps some folks that were still indecisive.
I have to agree with you my experience with the transformer and dock has been wonderful. My roomate asks why I didn't just buy a net book/laptop and whenever I detach the tablet and go to work or a coffee shop it makes it worth it all. Being able to have the tablet for casual use and the dock for longer/power use is the flexibility a lot of people want. For the most part at home it's in the dock just for ease of use, battery, and I don't have to prop it up on something.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Great post!
I would like my Transformer build quality to be a little better, but otherwise I can't complain too much after getting my dock firmware update.
It is so cool to snap the Transformer into the dock and have a netbook with an additional SD card of storage. The keyboard is pretty good, but the trackpad is amazing. I really like the feel of it. Using the trackpad doesn't feel tacked on either, Honeycomb feels like it was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard.
I also really liked how my tablet was down to about 40% power, and when I put it in the dock it automatically started leeching energy from the dock and recharging itself. Now that is impressive! (The dock wasn't even plugged in.)
Really looking forward to Honeycomb 3.1!
bleclair said:
Great post!
I would like my Transformer build quality to be a little better, but otherwise I can't complain too much after getting my dock firmware update.
It is so cool to snap the Transformer into the dock and have a netbook with an additional SD card of storage. The keyboard is pretty good, but the trackpad is amazing. I really like the feel of it. Using the trackpad doesn't feel tacked on either, Honeycomb feels like it was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard.
I also really liked how my tablet was down to about 40% power, and when I put it in the dock it automatically started leeching energy from the dock and recharging itself. Now that is impressive! (The dock wasn't even plugged in.)
Really looking forward to Honeycomb 3.1!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point! I forgot the touch pad. Will add it right now
Two things also impressed me about the keyboard dock that I hadn't thought of and wasn't expecting:
1. My Logitech Anywhere MX mouse works perfectly with it. Just plug the adapter into one of the dock's USB ports and it just works. For whatever reason, I didn't think it would, but I'm very happy to see that it works so well.
2. I've been using the dock to charge my Epic while away from a charger. I also hadn't thought about using the dock as a portable charger for my phone, but that works great as well.
Overall, this combo is working better than I expected, and I think my expectations were pretty high. I haven't used my HP Envy 14 notebook since I got the dock, and so I'm left wishing the TF had been available last November. Would have saved me $1000 for the Envy.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
wynand32 said:
2. I've been using the dock to charge my Epic while away from a charger. I also hadn't thought about using the dock as a portable charger for my phone, but that works great as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, I noticed you can only charge a device when the tablet is docked.
I still can't believe the dock didn't come with it's own power cord. For $150 it really, really should have.
shoehopper said:
However, I noticed you can only charge a device when the tablet is docked.
I still can't believe the dock didn't come with it's own power cord. For $150 it really, really should have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's true: the tablet has to be docked, but it doesn't have to be open or turned on. So, when stored for carrying it can charge.
And agreed: it would have been nice to have another charger and cable. Given the build quality of the dock and the fact that it includes a full-size battery, I don't know that $150 is enough at retail to give the gross margins they're looking for if they included an adapter and cable. And given that they're pricing the tablet at $399, I'm sure they're happy to maybe squeeze out a few bucks of additional gross margin out of the dock.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
The killer features were undoubtfully keyboard with a trackpad (I hate taking hands off the keyboard just to move focus around), and the battery life.
Also, I see this becoming an awesome combo once running desktop Linux on it is perfected. That way I can pick whether I want the battery-conserving Android or full-size productivity desktop at any given moment.
int_19h said:
The killer features were undoubtfully keyboard with a trackpad (I hate taking hands off the keyboard just to move focus around), and the battery life.
Also, I see this becoming an awesome combo once running desktop Linux on it is perfected. That way I can pick whether I want the battery-conserving Android or full-size productivity desktop at any given moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used Linux (well, I tried to use it in the late 90s) but just to have the option is exciting! I wish to have an OS that allows for multitasking in different windows, even if it's just 2 or 3. Hopefully the Android of the future will have that!
funnycreature said:
The more I use my TF the more I like it. Although I understand that people with problems need to vent I want to add another positive post to the forum.
First off, I do NOT believe that there is such a thing as the "perfect tablet" (but that doesn't mean that there is not a lot of crap out there!). For some the iPad might be the best, for others the XOOM, for some the Transformer or even the Nook Color.
Now here are some of the Transformer's benefits that make it the currently best tablet for me:
The dock. This was probably the main reason for switching from the XOOM. I was looking for a case with Bluetooth keyboard for so long that the dock just came like an answer to my quest. I do a lot of typing so a physical keyboard was a must for me. The additional battery life and connectors are a HUGE plus (see more below). The keyboard is very sturdy and it is fun to type on. And of course the touch pad. Especially when browsing the web the pointer makes it indefinitely easier to click those tiny links!
ASUS's software. The widgets are minimalistic and beautiful. They add to the Honeycomb experience without forcing a manufacturer's UI upon the user. The applications that are included are well designed and work great.
Polaris Office. So far the best office suite that I have tested. This restores my faith in developers caring about productivity on tablet as compared to only entertainment and "consumption".
Connectivity. I was amazed. I have setup media sharing on my PC so I could stream videos and music to my PS3s. The first time I fired up MyNet it automatically detected my PC and the content was instantly available. No settings to alter, no messing around. Then just yesterday I connected my external HDD (NTFS) where I ripped all my movies in HD (as compared to the 640x480 res for my iPod). It also was detected and mounted automatically and the content plays flawlessly (with Mobo Player). SD card, microSD card, everything works out of the box; I remember how much trouble that was with the XOOM...
The display. Well, admittedly, an IPS screen is just great even though it might not have the most natural color reproduction or brightness. However, the viewing angles and contrast are amazing! I also like the wider bezel (compared to the XOOM) which allows for holding it in one hand without touching the actual touch screen (and I have not the biggest hands!). Sure, I have a bit of light bleed but the one on my Nook Color is worse. If I want to see it I will...
Updates. For not being a "Pure Android Experience Device" the ASUS got updates rather frequently. There seems to be a real person from ASUS support active in this forum and on other social media like facebook (in Europe at least).
Weight and Build. The TF feels nice and light when held. That it is made of plastic is unfortunate because it does feel kind of cheap but it is not too flimsy. I was apprehensive about the goldenish color but I have gotten used to it. I covered the back with carbon fiber skin though
So everyone considering to buy one of these I can only recommend it. There might be some lemons out there but you will have that with every device. If you want to wait for the newest gadgets, good luck, because as soon as you buy a high-tech device you can be sure that it's obsolete a week later...
Hope that helps some folks that were still indecisive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Such positive vibes! maybe it's not as bad as some people are trying to make out
Agree with the OP on most points. People have to keep in mind that the users with bogus units are always going to be the most vocal so it makes it seem like there are more problems than happy customers.
After the latest update that fixed my dock/keyboard, I am 99% happy. I have a discernable amount of light-bleed at the bottom left that bugs me a bit when watching video/on a dark screen. If not for that, i would be at 100%.
My sleep of death issue seems to have gone away and beside the high profile x264 issue, I don't regret my purchase one bit.
the list keeps growing!
Just shamelessly bumping this thread due to plenty of whiny 'I return my Transformer for the iPad' threads...
More things that I love about the TF:
Overclock. Yep, it's done! Several kernels now available (Netarchy's Netformer, Blades' 1.6GHz MEATABALL).
Network integration. I mentioned that in the OP but I have to reiterate how great the TF works with the installed software. The past few days I was cleaning the house a lot and simply turned on my PC, turned on my TF and streamed videos and music without having to adjust anything.
USB ports. Also mentioned in the OP. I found an awesome use for them: hooked up a goose neck USB reading light and the keyboard shone even more

[INFO] The New Hotness

Ok, so as a brit I got the new firmware this morning and the increased stability has really highlighted what a great concept and execution the Transformer and dock is (its now starting to show its true potential and that's in no small part to the exchange of info here on xda and the efforts of Asus to get fixes and updates out)
So.. the build quality has disappointed some people.. and delighted others..
So.. the NEW Galaxy tab is garnering plaudits with some stellar reviews about the sceen and form factor (lighter than the ipad 2! thinner than the ipad 2! etc...)
However.... showing this bit of kit to techies and non techies alike.. the potential is really starting to surprise people. Its a netbook, but it isn't.. its got insane battery life.. its a tablet with a pretty stunning screen.. its a netbook wtih a stunning screen.. Honeycomb is a lot more flexible than people realise.. etc etc..
I should caveat this with a disclaimer that (so far) I've been one of the 'lucky ones' with a unit with few if any quality control issues.. and perhaps ASUS need to ramp up in that department if the posts here about build quality issues are any barometer.. but so far, this is a kick ass bit of kit and IMHO thoroughly deserves the title of 'The New Hotness' - there's nothing out there like it
We need more positive threads like this.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I've found that people don't really "get it" when I just describe how the TF is both a tablet and a netbook. However, when I _show_ them by popping it on and off the keyboard, suddenly the lightbulb seems to always go off. Makes for a great demo, and of course, it's just generally cool...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Agreed... well written.
It will be perfect with 3.1 and an oc kernel that runs as fast as my gtab.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Agreed that conceptually this is a great product.
I am on my second and both tablets suffer from built issues most notably significant light bleed.
If stock was more available I would like to exchange for a third and hope to get one that works just right but it is consitently out of stock and feels like a lottery to get one only to be let down when it copmes flawed.
Any of you having these issues?
Am I just being over picky about the light bleed?
Still can't get a keyboard here in Seattle
Well, after I got the Transformer, I envied the people that got the Galaxy Tab at the Google IO. Then I played with one and then I realized that if I had the choice, I'd go with the Transformer. And my wife, she now wants everything in the house to be Asus.
They say light bleed. I had to search for it a lot to find it. They say creakiness and I also had to twist the Transformer hardly to hear it. They said a lot of bad things, but you know what I think? Only people who have problems write comments and try to discuss their problems with the community and trying to fix it. But pleased people always stay away.
Anyway, I think the Transformer is the best compared to all the others and it is worth more that $400...
Theres a lot of love for this tablet, warts and all.. bring on Honeycomb 3.1... Definitely favour a stability release over a feature release at this stage
I am also very happy with mine. There is a little light bleed, but nothing I find bothersome. Way better than the iPad.
The docking station is the killer component of the system. With it the transformer changes from a device best suited to consumption to a device that can effectively create content. This is a huge advantage to me.
Jerry
PS. Glad to hear the new update made it to the UK. Mine received it the day I bought it and I have never had these sleep of death or other problems that occurred before the update.
Loving mine so far. With the last update the dock works even better. Now my ipad sits on a shelf.
jerrykur said:
I am also very happy with mine. There is a little light bleed, but nothing I find bothersome. Way better than the iPad.
The docking station is the killer component of the system. With it the transformer changes from a device best suited to consumption to a device that can effectively create content. This is a huge advantage to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, reading that comparison thread of the four office products in the Apps & Themes section really brings home the content creation side of things... now for more music creation apps (iOS has a huge lead here)
Overaill, I guess the satisfied users will just have to evangelise the Transformers merits some more - but the lightbulb going on in peoples' heads when they see it in action (as was mentioned earlier) is really satisfying especially when its people who think tablets begin and end with Apple
I think only the really "anal" are harping on the light bleed and creaking.
Honestly the average consumer probably won't even notice these issues.
I notice, but really don't care that much.
There's slight creaking when bending it hard....but really is that affecting my user experience? Not really...maybe it speaks to build quality, which isn't THAT bad.
Light bleed...if i focus reaalllllly hard on the bottom right hand corner on a fully black screen I can see it....but everyday usage it goes unnoticed.
newtybar said:
I think only the really "anal" are harping on the light bleed and creaking.
Honestly the average consumer probably won't even notice these issues.
I notice, but really don't care that much.
There's slight creaking when bending it hard....but really is that affecting my user experience? Not really...maybe it speaks to build quality, which isn't THAT bad.
Light bleed...if i focus reaalllllly hard on the bottom right hand corner on a fully black screen I can see it....but everyday usage it goes unnoticed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or perhaps you're making your own assumptions on the lack of severity of other peoples light bleed problems or whatever? They're not all the same you know.
newtybar said:
I think only the really "anal" are harping on the light bleed and creaking.
Honestly the average consumer probably won't even notice these issues.
I notice, but really don't care that much.
There's slight creaking when bending it hard....but really is that affecting my user experience? Not really...maybe it speaks to build quality, which isn't THAT bad.
Light bleed...if i focus reaalllllly hard on the bottom right hand corner on a fully black screen I can see it....but everyday usage it goes unnoticed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I am anal then. I don't expect perfection but I don't need to search for light bleed I only need to view a dark background like a movie trailer in a dark room to see 4-5 patches of it along the bottom.
This has now happened on 2 different models so can't attribute it to a rare lemon.
As for creaking my first one was bad. The top and bottom bronze medal would click when holding it which was annoying.
The new one is much better in that regard. But the right side of the back plastic kind of gives when I first hold it.
So yes I am anal that I want my nearly 600$ tablet to have better build. But I also recognize the brilliance of the concept and if I can get one with less screen bleed I would be in love instead of on the fence to return.
I think the light bleed issue is somewhat inherent in the panel technology. The iPad seems to suffer light bleeds quite a lot and it seems to be somewhat worse in the new one. I also hear the new iPad is more fragile than the old one since Apple glued down the screen to make it thinner.
love my eee pad
I am really in love with my transformer.
I have a very light cracking on the right side....that's all.No hardware trouble at all.
I really LIKE HC, even it's not perfect, yet But it has a lot of potential for the future.
Most of the time the transformer runs smoothly and without trouble.
I gotta say this is the best tech device i have brought in ages.
Anyone whop knows me can guage how good a bit of tech is by how long it takes for me to whack it on ebay (normally a week lol) however the TF is just perfect for what i need.
Having owned 2 ipads and a galaxy tab i gotta say imho that this beats them all hands down. The dock makes a huge difference and turns a device which is mainly a concumption device into an excellent all rounder. It turns from a "i dont need it but its cool" device into a laptop/netbook replacement for most day to day tasks.
Ok you still need a pc if your into photoshop or video conversions etc but my gen 2 core i5 has just sat there limp and lonely for the last two weeks, basking in the shadows caused by this monolithic beauty.
When reading reviews before mine arrived i was worried about QC however i have come to realise that nothing will ever be perfect for everyone, and yes if you have a fault then you have the right to swap it. But am i going to go looking for faults NO, i have spent a nice £400 quid plus on this unit and you know what im gonna enjoy it for what it is!.
I love Samsung always have done but then again i have also always owned asus pc gear and know that there support generally is second to none let alone the reliability of there products. Hell lets not forget who invented the netbook in the first place, and while Apple may of have made the tablet popular Asus have made it USEFULL
thering1975 said:
I gotta say this is the best tech device i have brought in ages.
Anyone whop knows me can guage how good a bit of tech is by how long it takes for me to whack it on ebay (normally a week lol) however the TF is just perfect for what i need.
Having owned 2 ipads and a galaxy tab i gotta say imho that this beats them all hands down. The dock makes a huge difference and turns a device which is mainly a concumption device into an excellent all rounder. It turns from a "i dont need it but its cool" device into a laptop/netbook replacement for most day to day tasks.
Ok you still need a pc if your into photoshop or video conversions etc but my gen 2 core i5 has just sat there limp and lonely for the last two weeks, basking in the shadows caused by this monolithic beauty.
When reading reviews before mine arrived i was worried about QC however i have come to realise that nothing will ever be perfect for everyone, and yes if you have a fault then you have the right to swap it. But am i going to go looking for faults NO, i have spent a nice £400 quid plus on this unit and you know what im gonna enjoy it for what it is!.
I love Samsung always have done but then again i have also always owned asus pc gear and know that there support generally is second to none let alone the reliability of there products. Hell lets not forget who invented the netbook in the first place, and while Apple may of have made the tablet popular Asus have made it USEFULL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Must say, I feel the same way about the Transformer. Since purchasing it I seem to be taking it everywhere with me like my phone. Did not think I would become that attached to a gadget even my wife is starting to get jealous!!!
I love my transformer too! It's an awesome piece of kit!
I bought an iPad2 the day after it launched (I managed to wander into a local store and they had one in stock!) and returned it a week later. There's no 'killer app' really, garageband was pretty cool and some of the games were nice, but as I already own an iPhone4, there was nothing I could do on the iPad that I couldn't do with my phone, and in fact as I've jailbroken my phone, I actually found the iPad very restrictive!
What really got me was having to jump through hoops wearing clown shoes with butter smeared on the bottom of them just to get any media on the iPad. I don't use iPhoto for my pictures and I don't buy movies from iTunes, so was fairly boned in terms of getting stuff on the device easily. With my transformer I just plug it in, and drag and drop! Or use wifi file transfer! Or use the microSD or SDHC on the dock! Or use the built in DNLA! So many options!
I've had my transformer for over a month now, and I still haven't sold or returned it! I will admit I've been lucky with mine, the only real problems I have are apps crashing a bit more often than I'd like them to. Everything else works wonderfully!
Compared to the iPoo, on my transformer I have a bunch of HD movies (including Avatar, which looks AMAZING!), loads of photos that the gallery just picks up on automatically, a few games, including fpse with final fantasy 7, 8 & 9, super puzzle fighter 2 turbo and a bunch of others, and a web browsing experience that actually works on pretty much every website I've been to! And I won't even bother mentioning the dock, and how many benefits that brings to an already great tablet!
Apple could learn a lot from the flash implementation! Practically the only use I found for the iPad was as a couch-based web browser, and without flash, that's pretty useless too!
Add that to the fact that there aren't as many decent tablet apps for the iPad as most of the media would have you believe (I spent a week looking for apps for the iPad2, and couldn't really find anything that wowed me), and the iPhone apps look terrible on the iPad, and it leads me to the conclusion that most of the people who praise the iPad over a device like the transformer have either sub-par intelligence, are living under a rock as far as knowing how tech works, or have fingers like pork pies (extremely fat).
Pretty much everyone I've shown my transformer too has been very impressed by it, and I know at least 10 of them are now trying to source their own transformers! I work in a big office full of techie people, so that number will probably increase! I kinda wish I could get some form of commission!
If I had to say anything bad about my transformer it's that the marketing behind video playback on tegra 2 devices has been a bit misleading. I have handbrake on my PC and mac and have saved templates that create lovely running HD files, but when I bought my transformer, I was kinda under the impression that it would play almost anything, what with the marketing touting "Full 1080p playback".
The only advice I have offered people is "if you don't have a tablet already, and you're not in any rush, keep an eye out on the upcoming tegra 3 tablets. They will handle pretty much any video resolution and encoding, and if you're planning on waiting a couple of months before getting a tablet, it *may* be worth holding out for the tegra 3."
Apparently the tegra 3 can handle resolutions up to 2560x1600, so it should handle high profile 1080p video fine, according to this demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPN3hHI9y-E
I just hope more can be eeked out of the tegra 2 chips, so I don't have to transcode every HD movie I want to watch on my transformer!
Although that said, other than that minor annoyance, I think my transformer is one of the best gadgets I've ever owned, and I like my gadge! Plus, it allows me to browse the net and remote control my home PC from work, with it tethered by bluetooth to my iphone. Pleasing.
Sorry for the long post, can't help gushing about the transformer sometimes! haha!

Acer Iconia vs Galaxy Tab 10.1 hand on comparison.

I hope this is of some use to someone as Ive been on a search for an ideal tablet for myself since the Xoom was released.
Ive had the Acer for about a month and love it for the most part.
Galxy Tab owner for about a day ((so why a review ??)) Its not.
Its a physical comparison as its difficult to track down an Acer without a huge magnet brick stuck to the back and the Tab releases country wide tomorrow.
Anyways...here goes any questions more than happy to answer.
HxW
This was a big surprise. Unlike the Asus Transformer with its mega wide bezel the Acer is actually pretty compact in that area. So much so that stacking the Tab on top produced negligible difference. As far as height and width theres about 'half a skinny straw' difference.
Weight
Well this is where the difference comes in. The Tab is simply much lighter. If you hold both in your hands it may seem like a "slight" difference. But after a short period you will quickly notice the acer is just plain heavy. After using the Tab for a bit then picking up the Acer the difference is huge.
Thickness
This IMO is the second biggest determining factor. Do you want the slimmness ? .......Or the Ports.
Holding the Tab it feels like a larger Kindle. Or just a truly "slate" computing device. Ive had several star trek moments holding it thus far.
Acer has always felt like a laptop cover ripped off the keyboard where the ports somehow magically transferred to the top. Yes its thick but I can connect this sucker to a monitor , a external drive , a card reader , and easily expand with a micro SD.
Look good or be efficient ?? Your choice IMO cant go wrong.
FYI:Tab will require at least 2 add ons , plus a case that can accommodate your extra accessories in order to match connectivity.
Microphone-
**SO FAR*** my biggest grip with the Acer has been the awful mic. It just sucks. Dont know if its the quality or the placement but the end result remains suckage. Far too often a phrase like "When can we meet ?"
results in "can we me".... or worse "w"..... WTF?!!?
Voice to text is my primary need/use for a tablet, this was a huge deal for me.
Galaxy Tab has been better. But frankly neither are up to snuff to my Nexus One. Im assuming phones in general will just have better mic quality.
Audio clip from Tab (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/XrcHGaK
Audio clip from Acer (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/eZ0rOIa
While not a tell all example the above differences in clarity were consistent with other apps as well.
Screen-
Thus far there really isnt a reason to side for one or the other outside of need or preference. Until this.
The screen on the Tab is gorgeous and is simply richer in color and after flicking through Picasa it seems to have gotten a more accurate representation of the pictures taken.
While I do feel the tab pushes colors a bit much ;almost like oled does. Ex: The YT still shot Rebecca Blacks red jacket is too saturated
However over a wide range of pictures and videos it just felt more vivid with better blacks.
This isnt a Ipads "cool" vs Tabs "warm" approach to color temp. The Tab is simply a better looking screen.
Software---
Not touching on this unless asked.
I will say I still have numerous videos FC on YT and the browser does NOT have any quick controls on the galaxy tab. Major bummer and worthy of return or sell if it cant be added as I find the controls are what make two handed Tablet browsing possible.
Wrap up-
In short Lebron James is overrated.
But seriously
Acer-8/10
Tab- 9/10
If you will make regular use of the ports , or weight isnt an issue the Acer is the choice.
If you care about aesthetics and or mobility is a bigger concern then the Tab is the way to go.
i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting
BrianDigital said:
i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, because "heavy" means "unable to lift" and not relative to the topic of tablets. Try harder next time.
Very detailed.connectivity is why my Acer rules
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
LIKE YOUR REVIEW, very truthful...
i bought the acer because it came first in my country.... but then loving it... usb port is the biggest difference among 2 tablets in favour of iconia, where weight is the biggest difference in favour to the tab
I was contemplating on whether to buy Galaxy Tab or Iconia A500, and I chose Iconia A500 because of USB host mode port, plus the fact that I don't need any proprietary adapters or cables. Those kinds of things are surprisingly hard to come by here, and they're a lot more expensive to replace should they break.
As for the weight: well, everyone has their own taste. I personally don't see enough of a difference for it to make matter to me.
I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...
I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?
I guess samsung is the warmer one... you don't mess with samsung displays.
@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.
After the Captivate, Samsung is dead to me. Thanks for the review though. The Acer holds up better than I expected it to in the comparison.
What was wrong with captivate? i9000 is still awesome for me. Branded/carrier versions will always suck.
I'm pissed at samsung's tablet atitude, It's like they're trying to imitate Apple. I don't want a stupid adapter to be able to use usb!
Anyway, great review! I was actually waiting for the Galaxy tab but now I couldn't care less. Iconia's connectivity outweighs it's weight by far
Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!
Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.
sanaell said:
I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe 8.9 will be a very interesting form factor for many people especially if it does include an sd card slot.
silencer51 said:
I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Top Is the galaxy tab Bottom is the acer.
threedfreek said:
@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I immediately installed mobo player. Plays everything but .mov thus far it also has terrific on screen controls.
internetpilot said:
Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree! If these were hd tvs you could not even begin the discussion without calibration. I even cut out a portion on it. In short since there are no universal apps to do this and most devices require root access ;along with the fact most people simply would not bother. So unfortunately out of the box is what people will judge it by.
But you are 100 percent correct calibration can fix many many issues. I have yet to try on the tablet but fully intend to.
P.s apologies for any weird typos. voice to text is strangely capitalizing words that shouldn't be.
I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.
cdf3 said:
I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the exact same thing today and share the same sentiments. I think the acer is very good at being a full featured unit out of the box. But it was not comfortable for me to use and my glove size is an 11. I picked up the GT10.1 and wow I didn't care what is was missing.
usman3206 said:
Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
The Acer wins for me based on connectivity and flexibility overall.
PLease tell us about the software. Tab is 3.1....is it smoother? The Acer is still driving me crazy with the scroll lag.
Actually the weight and size difference is dramatic. The photos and numbers paper really dont translate well to how well it feels in hand. Saying that I do miss the usb port on the a500 but the GT10.1 is more portable and hand friendly. Using it as an ereader is great as well because it balances in the hand without feeling top heavy.
Go play with one at BB and tell me what you think, just curious.
Another reason for my switch was I truly feel thus device will sell well and therefore have longer support. Acer already announced they were scaling back production due to slow sales. Which tells me Acer really needs to do better advertising because they have a winner.
I think noils down like this.......
If you want a light hand friendly device then get the GT10.1
If you want a device that has more media input/output accessiblity device and offers expandable storage then go with the a500.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bollocks
10char
ClevelandWheeler said:
get over 24 hours of battery life on hard use. Hwat else could you ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

First impression - interesting but flawed device

Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
I've been using Pershoot's kernal since I first got mine and have been very happy with it
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
ftgg99 said:
- speakers are crap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oddly, they sound a lot better if you can hold the Tab on both sides with your palms cupping them, serving as an impromptu speaker cone.
That's obviously not a great solution, but it does make them seem louder since the sound is not going off to the side. There are some cases and attachments for the iPad that do this, but I've not seen one for the Galaxy yet. They're kind of awkward anyway.
The best tablet speakers (that I've heard anyway) are on the poor HP Touchpad. Nice, loud, and clear. I don't regret picking up a few when they were available for $99. HP could've really had a good product given some OS refinements and another generation of hardware. Alas, that's another subject.
ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speakers are crap? They are the best sounding IMHO of any tablet I have tried already.
Transformer - worst speaker quality, very tinny
Iconia - Good sounding, just not enough volume
Xoom - Very good volume, bass sounds a bit distorted
Galaxy 10.1 - Very good volume, does not overdo the bass like the Xoom
Rob
silverball.slayer said:
Speakers are crap? They are the best sounding IMHO of any tablet I have tried already.
Transformer - worst speaker quality, very tinny
Iconia - Good sounding, just not enough volume
Xoom - Very good volume, bass sounds a bit distorted
Galaxy 10.1 - Very good volume, does not overdo the bass like the Xoom
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. The speaker quality is actually pretty darn good but in my case I ran into issues due to how I was holding it. This was me so I won't tell anyone else they aren't holding it right so I don't sound like an Apple representative but coming from an iPad I did have some slight re-adjustments to deal with.
I agree on the cons like lack of SD, pathetic Sammy cable, but the build quality I have to disagree with. Granted, the metal body of the iPad has spoiled me but I have to admit the Tab 10.1 build is actually pretty good giving the slim factor.
Not sure what your deal with the cable is. If you had a Transformer, you'd be stuck with a cable that's even shorter than the one for the Tab, can't use standard USB extenders for charging, can't even use a normal 5V USB charger, and the only source for spares is to buy a $30 charging kit.
At least you can get a spare for the Tab on eBay for under $5.
ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with all of your point except for the speakers. It wasn't too bad at all. Maybe my initial expectation was lower than yours but it wasn't bad at all
I have owned a number of tablets including the galaxy tab 10.1 (still own), xoom (still own), asus transformer (sold), and the original ipad (sold). I don't agree with most of the cons that you listed, at least compared to my experience with my other devices.
The tab has the best speakers of all of them, in my opinion, and the build quality is at least on par with the others listed, except for the transformer which really did have some build quality issues. The propietary charging/data cable is also a necessary evil. The only tablet that I've tried without one is the xoom, and since you can't charge it with the usb cable then I don't really see the point. You just end up having to carry the charger and the usb cable with you instead of one proprietary cable. The cable for the tab is also readily available for a cheap price, which can't be said about the others. The advantages of 3.2 are also limited in my opinion, with a major disadvantage of having to set a static IP address to avoid the wifi problems associated with 3.2 that I have experienced on both the xoom and the transformer.
I will agree that not having an sd card slot is a drawback, but it's not like you didn't know that when you bought it.
droidx1978z4 said:
I have owned a number of tablets including the galaxy tab 10.1 (still own), xoom (still own), asus transformer (sold), and the original ipad (sold). I don't agree with most of the cons that you listed, at least compared to my experience with my other devices.
The tab has the best speakers of all of them, in my opinion, and the build quality is at least on par with the others listed, except for the transformer which really did have some build quality issues. The propietary charging/data cable is also a necessary evil. The only tablet that I've tried without one is the xoom, and since you can't charge it with the usb cable then I don't really see the point. You just end up having to carry the charger and the usb cable with you instead of one proprietary cable. The cable for the tab is also readily available for a cheap price, which can't be said about the others. The advantages of 3.2 are also limited in my opinion, with a major disadvantage of having to set a static IP address to avoid the wifi problems associated with 3.2 that I have experienced on both the xoom and the transformer.
I will agree that not having an sd card slot is a drawback, but it's not like you didn't know that when you bought it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had mine since Thursday. I agree with everything quoted above. I guess it comes down to expectations. I mean all tablets are just similar rectangular boxes that do the same thing. How different can they be expected to be when they all have to sell within the same narrow price band? At least with Samsung you know there's a long-term commitment to the Tab's success and they do far better than others with s/w implementation and updates. It meets or exceeds my expectations based on what I paid for it.
I picked up some of the tiny iHome iHM78 speakers from Best Buy because I was having trouble with some videos having low volume even turned all the way up (and I don't like wearing headphones all the time). While I agree with the comment about cupping the speakers, these little iHome jobs are pretty amazing in my opinion. I mean you aren't going to get thumping bass, but for the size I find the sound pretty clear and crisp. I travel all over the world almost every day of the year, and they're small enough that carrying them won't be a burden.
The only drawback I see with this tablet is the awful cable, not the connect just the overall lenght. The build quality has been excellent for me, the speakers are loud and clear enough, and I have an SD card work around (USB connector) so its all good. Its the best Android tablet you can buy (subjective, I know) until the newer tablets with Ice Cream appear......
° Digging your Fear and Loathing avatar....
I consider tablet speakers should be on-par with laptop speakers. They're fine if it's just you listening to it - but I keep a set of mobile speakers on-hand if I want to show stuff off to people.
So yeah, the speakers on my 10.1 are fine, relatively speaking. But I don't expect them pump out sound like they're high-quality Bose speakers, either.
i360 said:
The only drawback I see with this tablet is the awful cable, not the connect just the overall length.
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I solved this with a double length cable from Amazon for $10. But I agree in general I am against proprietary connectors...I am worried about wear and tear of the connector port on the device rendering it useless (although I have a 2 year warranty so not the end of the world).
echo511 said:
high-quality Bose speakers
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Oxymoron?
Would you recommend getting it?
I want one and will have enough money but I'm not sure I'd have a use for it :/ Are there any major issues with it?
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
TangoEight said:
Would you recommend getting it?
I want one and will have enough money but I'm not sure I'd have a use for it :/ Are there any major issues with it?
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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Go for it - right now its the lightest and has the best screen, a great device for the couch and the plane trip.
HcMAX said:
Which room do you advice?
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
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I'm a kitchen fan myself...
ftgg99 said:
Go for it - right now its the lightest and has the best screen, a great device for the couch and the plane trip.
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that's what I just bought mine for and I love it!
ftgg99 said:
Finally got hold of my third native Honeycomb tablet. Got rid of the touchwiz immediately and have now used it a full day inside and out.
Its a great device because:
- its light
- best display panel of all the well known aslates
- its really light
Lacks in a few areas:
- mediocre build quality
- speakers are crap
- no sd card slot
- annoying sammy cable makes me very angry at god for not punishing the wicked in a more immediate, literal way
So, there dont seem to be any builds of 3.2 yet, which i kind of liked having on the xoom. What kernels are people recommending for a stock 3.1 rom?
Regarding the xoom vs 10.1 - the xoom feels antique in comparison. Why moto, oh why did you make it so thick and heavy?
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Speakers are great, better than my laptop speakers, the build quality is really nice, makes it really light which is awesome, I don't care much about the lack of microsd, a con for me is no native hdmi port and eay the cable is annoying. Other than that, this tablet is AWESOME.
I do like it, no question. But mine had flex that had to be fixed, and imo the position of the speakers is what makes them inferior... and there are no boxes, i looked.
Thank you for adding me to your ignore list. At this point I consider it an honor.
Please Keep this Thread on TOPIC i should not have to Delete 24 posts of CRAP from here.
Next Time Infractions will be Dropping in your Pm Boxes

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