Hi,
I can't decide between Iconia and transformer
asus+50$=Acer(USB2 port)
Acer+50$=ipad(no port)
I read some where in this forum that asus have more bugs than acer. I know honeycomb 3.1 for asus has been released. I would like to know if 3.1 fix all the problems.
And USB2 port, is it worth 50$ more?
My problem is transformer I have to get online but iconia, I can get it from futureshop local store.
I also here that battery of asus is better then acer.
I would like to hear a comment from asus 3.1 honeycomb user.
Thank
kivawolf said:
Hi,
I can't decide between Iconia and transformer
asus+50$=Acer(USB2 port)
Acer+50$=ipad(no port)
I read some where in this forum that asus have more bugs than acer. I know honeycomb 3.1 for asus has been released. I would like to know if 3.1 fix all the problems.
And USB2 port, is it worth 50$ more?
My problem is transformer I have to get online but iconia, I can get it from futureshop local store.
I also here that battery of asus is better then acer.
I would like to hear a comment from asus 3.1 honeycomb user.
Thank
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Transformer with the docking keyboard. It can be bought without the keyboard but that would be like buying a bike without any wheels. Pointless.
With the ASUS docked you have 2 fully functional USB2 ports which you can plug a mouse or flash drive or even an external disk drive into. There is also a battery in the keyboard which charges the tablet when docked. I have had 2 days CONSTANT use (about 14 hours) out of a single charge without any worrys. Just those facts alone would be enough for me to choose ASUS over ACER but theres more..
The ASUS uses an IPS panel to give a far beter viewing angle and its gorilla glass will stop it getting scratched. The whole unit feels great to hold and when undocked its lighter than the ACER so I imagine it will feel better to hold over a period of time. I rooted and flashed the 3.1 OS from xda and I have absolutely no problems with it so far. When the brightness is turned up full the screen looks absolutely amazing putting it on par or even better than the ipad2 display.
I would definitely choose the ASUS over ACER. Yes you can get a bluetooth keyboard for the ACER but it wont have the extra connectivity or a built in keyboard to suppliment your tablets lifespan. The OS will be a bit buggy as with any new OS but any problems will soon be ironed out and as I said before I havent had any problems with mine. The only problem I had was that after the 3.1 upgrade my pop3 email widget wouldnt connect but a 3rd party app soon sorted that out.
Hope this gives you something to think about
Mark.
mskip said:
I have the Transformer with the docking keyboard. It can be bought without the keyboard but that would be like buying a bike without any wheels. Pointless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree on that point, but I suppose it depends on our personal requirements. I'm on the other side of the fence, I can't see the point of buying a tab with a keyboard, but I know that there are many who will disagree and have valid reasons for paying extra for the keyboard.
I've compared the Acer and the Asus and I think the Transformer is the better of the two, both in design and smoothness of operation. That's just my opinion though.
For me, the Transformer without the dock would be like a bike with no wheels. Depending on what and where I'm doing it, I use the dock or not. I really like being able to pull off the dock without a glitch and keep going. While I can appreciate the slimmer Samsung - no dock - no go.
Bye.
I would like to add few more things, besides those already mentioned above.
The USB ports in the Transformer keyboard dock, supports NTFS formatted HDD out of the box. Asus went one extra step to add that NTFS support incorporated into the Transformer, plus they also added the File Explorer/Manager.
Not sure if that's the case with Acer or other honeycomb tablets, but please go ahead and check.
The Transformer also has a micro SD card reader plus a full SD Card reader in the keyboard dock. You pretty much will have no problem with memory/storage expansion, copying files around, backing up pictures from camera, USB drive, etc.
And the biggie most people forget about , connecting your mobile to the dock via usb charges you mobile which is a brilliant feature when out and about
DESIRE HD using leedroid. ASUS TRANSFORMER using prime
Whoa!
You just made me realize I had a portable 24 Wh battery and didn't even know it! Does that work even when the TF is not docked, i mean just the dock?
I love the dock anyway, and I keep docking and undocking all the time. More than the keyboard, I end up using the dock as a hinge to hold the TF at an angle to watch videos without killing my arm. That I can plug back in and get extra juice doesn't hurt either.
Coming back to the title of this thread though, I have the FOTA with 3.1 but my Flash in browser is still slow. The difference is noticeable between youtube site and youtube app. HD Videos play smooth on youtube app but not on the website. Am I missing something?
combat goofwing said:
And the biggie most people forget about , connecting your mobile to the dock via usb charges you mobile which is a brilliant feature when out and about
DESIRE HD using leedroid. ASUS TRANSFORMER using prime
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CrunchyDoodle said:
For me, the Transformer without the dock would be like a bike with no wheels. Depending on what and where I'm doing it, I use the dock or not. I really like being able to pull off the dock without a glitch and keep going. While I can appreciate the slimmer Samsung - no dock - no go.
Bye.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree with you. My transformer is almost always on the dock, except for when I play certain games. It really is a laptop replacement for me. The battery life with the dock is almost unbelieveable - I've never felt worried about running to a charger to get some extra juice - I couldn't use it enough to run down both batteries. Awesome stuff.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Thank every one.
The dock is useful, but you have to add a other 150$.
For me, I will not buy a dock righ now. wait for the price goes down.
So i am comparing transformer vs iconia without any addition add-on.
I hear camera is very bad and no camera flash for asus.
For Iconia, USB2 is very very good sell point. For exemple you can transfer picture or word documents directly to your friend with USB key. Is any other way to use USB key on transformer without dock?
I am worry about battery. Asus claim 9.5h and acer, 8h.
I know that 1.5h is not much but... For people using 3.1 how battery is doing? longer or shorter?
Metallic feel vs plastic feel.
Some people said asus feel cheap.
Arrrr... can't decide.
kivawolf said:
Thank every one.
The dock is useful, but you have to add a other 150$.
For me, I will not buy a dock righ now. wait for the price goes down.
So i am comparing transformer vs iconia without any addition add-on.
I hear camera is very bad and no camera flash for asus.
For Iconia, USB2 is very very good sell point. For exemple you can transfer picture or word documents directly to your friend with USB key. Is any other way to use USB key on transformer without dock?
I am worry about battery. Asus claim 9.5h and acer, 8h.
I know that 1.5h is not much but... For people using 3.1 how battery is doing? longer or shorter?
Metallic feel vs plastic feel.
Some people said asus feel cheap.
Arrrr... can't decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ASUS feels about as cheap as my new 51inch Full HD 3D TV
Mark.
Forget Acer. The screen of Acer is pretty pathetic. Go for the TF
kivawolf said:
Thank every one.
The dock is useful, but you have to add a other 150$.
For me, I will not buy a dock righ now. wait for the price goes down.
So i am comparing transformer vs iconia without any addition add-on.
I hear camera is very bad and no camera flash for asus.
For Iconia, USB2 is very very good sell point. For exemple you can transfer picture or word documents directly to your friend with USB key. Is any other way to use USB key on transformer without dock?
I am worry about battery. Asus claim 9.5h and acer, 8h.
I know that 1.5h is not much but... For people using 3.1 how battery is doing? longer or shorter?
Metallic feel vs plastic feel.
Some people said asus feel cheap.
Arrrr... can't decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used the Acer for about two weeks... I'm glad I stuck with the Transformer.
The "metallic feel" of the Acer is just brushed plastic... and it's thick and heavy too!
The screen has very poor pixel density, you can actually see dots on your screen like a CRT monitor!
Battery life... I would say they are both the same with real world use. Of course with the TF dock, you can go day and night without worry.
The USB on the Acer is nice... on paper, but I couldn't get it to work well with a few usb devices I had - made the USB port useless. Also, it couldn't tether to my Android phone... this would be a huge dealbreaker as I use tethering all the time.
Now, the Acer was on sale the other day on an Ebay deal for $380.. at that price, you can't really go wrong, but even still, for $20 more, you get the Transformer The dock can be found for $115, so it's a great deal for the combo.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
kivawolf said:
Thank every one.
I am worry about battery. Asus claim 9.5h and acer, 8h.
I know that 1.5h is not much but... For people using 3.1 how battery is doing? longer or shorter?
Metallic feel vs plastic feel.
Some people said asus feel cheap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The battery life on the tablet alone is very good. The only exception is that the battery doesn't last as long as something like the iPad when its in a sleep like state. However, otherwise, the battery life is excellent. Even without the dock, I flew across the country with no worry about battery life. With the dock, battery life is just incredibly ridiculous. You can't run it down in a day. Even if you never use the keyboard, think of it like an extended battery you can put it on when your not using it.
Before I bought it, I was worried about the plastic too. However, this is not an issue. The plastic feels great, and the frame around it as well. I don't think you'll find the feel of it at all disappointing. Like others have said, the screen is far better than the Motorola Xoon or the Acer Iconia tablet.
Honestly take a look at a acer and a transformer side by side the choice is clear.I love my transformer
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
EP2008 said:
I've used the Acer for about two weeks... I'm glad I stuck with the Transformer.
The "metallic feel" of the Acer is just brushed plastic... and it's thick and heavy too!
The screen has very poor pixel density, you can actually see dots on your screen like a CRT monitor!
Battery life... I would say they are both the same with real world use. Of course with the TF dock, you can go day and night without worry.
The USB on the Acer is nice... on paper, but I couldn't get it to work well with a few usb devices I had - made the USB port useless. Also, it couldn't tether to my Android phone... this would be a huge dealbreaker as I use tethering all the time.
Now, the Acer was on sale the other day on an Ebay deal for $380.. at that price, you can't really go wrong, but even still, for $20 more, you get the Transformer The dock can be found for $115, so it's a great deal for the combo.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can not find anywhere on ebay for 380$
did you return your acer? did you feel that TF has more bug than iconia?
EP2008 said:
I've used the Acer for about two weeks... I'm glad I stuck with the Transformer.
The "metallic feel" of the Acer is just brushed plastic... and it's thick and heavy too!
The screen has very poor pixel density, you can actually see dots on your screen like a CRT monitor!
Battery life... I would say they are both the same with real world use. Of course with the TF dock, you can go day and night without worry.
The USB on the Acer is nice... on paper, but I couldn't get it to work well with a few usb devices I had - made the USB port useless. Also, it couldn't tether to my Android phone... this would be a huge dealbreaker as I use tethering all the time.
Now, the Acer was on sale the other day on an Ebay deal for $380.. at that price, you can't really go wrong, but even still, for $20 more, you get the Transformer The dock can be found for $115, so it's a great deal for the combo.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanna point out something. The Acer IS made of brushed aluminum, not plastic, aside from the two little strips on the side, and the micro SD hatch. Also, every USB device I've tried has worked...
Both tablets are equivalent as far as I can tell. The transformer will offer more in terms of upgrade (mainly, the dock) which you just don't have with the acer but the acer has more ports on the tablet itself, which is only usefull if you plan to use them. To me, at the time (wich is only a month ago...) having the option to get the dock later was a bigger advantage than an aluminium back which I don't mind not having as I never worry about the type of surface I can rest my transformer on (best plastic back I ever felt too!).
The only bug I have ran into is the typing lag in the stock browser.
I actually got the dock now and it is really cool. You can wait for "bundles" to be available wich will bring the total to 500$ for the 16Gb instead of 550$ if you get them separatly.
For me the real choice is either the Transformer with the dock or the iPad2. Anything in between just doesn't seem worth it feature wise.
lord_voldemort666 said:
Just wanna point out something. The Acer IS made of brushed aluminum, not plastic, aside from the two little strips on the side, and the micro SD hatch. Also, every USB device I've tried has worked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's true, but I really got the sense that it was just brushed plastic... I mean, my phone (HTC Legend) has an aluminum body and you can certainly tell 100% that it's not plastic - the Acer, I was mulling over the case, tapping, trying to scratch it with my fingers and it still felt like plastic. LOL
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Some people said the camera 5MP is terrible. Is this true?
It's a run of the mill 5mp phone camera. It'll take a picture of what you want.
Related
Well well well...
Now that the Transformer is confirmed for next week, what do I do?
I just bought my Xoom from best buy this week, and can return it with no hassles. I have a $120 PDAir leather case but im sure I can get most of my money back.....
Would you guys do the trade? Granted the $$ isn't the issue, I just really want the IPS screen and USB access.
What do you guys think? Would you swap them out if you could? Disregarding the $$ factor?
The most important thing to me is development, which the Xoom clearly is ahead in now...
I don't think the Transformer is for me. It's just a wee bit too large, and I need my cell data plan. AFAIK, Transformer is wifi only, right? I'm guessing that the Transformer works a lot better in the keyboard department, which is my main disappointment about the Xoom.
Really though, I don't think you could go wrong with either device. The Transformer wasn't quite as rushed to the market, so you might encounter fewer bugs, but ultimately, it seems like more of an issue of form factor. The USB sounds good, but in my case, I barely use USB for anything these days.
From the videos I've seen of the Transformer in action, it has a slightly worse viewing angle despite being an IPS panel (versus the VA in the XOOM). That said, the Transformer's panel looks more saturated. Conversely, the Transformer seems to suffer more from glare than the XOOM.
As for development, you nailed it with the XOOM being ahead at the moment. I assume that it will stay this way for a while, as the XOOM attracted a lot of early adopters and developers since it's the first official Honeycomb device.
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
FWIW, I'd far rather have the XOOM. As such, it's what I have chosen for myself.
Edit: Sorry! I was wrong about the RAM. Turns out, I was thinking of the G-Slate.
Probably the biggest appeal the transformer for me is the usb port for future external drives. However there are ways around that issue. For me I prefer the look of the xoom, I believe motorola produces better quality items vs acer, and motorola is an american firm so I also support american designers. Win-win for me.
As I have said before. Just so long as people keep buying android tablets that's the important thing.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Don't forget the bezel either. It gets really annoying.
Much like why i am still waiting to buy a different dualcore phone other than the g2x. The g2x is awesome nonetheless its just the bezel that is ridiculously too much. But you get my point.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
You mean asus? I guess I should mention I have the wifi so thats not an issue. The biggest appeal for me is the USB and the screen as well. I just want more storage so I can put a bunch of movis on my xoom
tumbes20000 said:
Probably the biggest appeal the transformer for me is the usb port for future external drives. However there are ways around that issue. For me I prefer the look of the xoom, I believe motorola produces better quality items vs acer, and motorola is an american firm so I also support american designers. Win-win for me.
As I have said before. Just so long as people keep buying android tablets that's the important thing.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its Asus actually lol
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
willverduzco said:
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get that from? The official website states 1GB memory:
http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/#specifications
For me it's the xoom. Dual band wifi and a much small bezel/size. I purchased the Moto BT keyboard and never use it, it's a tablet. If I wanted a netbook, i wouldve bought one.
DeerChaser said:
For me it's the xoom. Dual band wifi and a much small bezel/size. I purchased the Moto BT keyboard and never use it, it's a tablet. If I wanted a netbook, i wouldve bought one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought that too, its nice but I dont see myself using it either... in class maybe but all my classes have computers in them for notes
willverduzco said:
From the videos I've seen of the Transformer in action, it has a slightly worse viewing angle despite being an IPS panel (versus the VA in the XOOM). That said, the Transformer's panel looks more saturated. Conversely, the Transformer seems to suffer more from glare than the XOOM.
As for development, you nailed it with the XOOM being ahead at the moment. I assume that it will stay this way for a while, as the XOOM attracted a lot of early adopters and developers since it's the first official Honeycomb device.
Additional food for thought is that the XOOM has 1 GiB of RAM, whereas the Transformer has 768 MiB.
FWIW, I'd far rather have the XOOM. As such, it's what I have chosen for myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The xoom has horrible viewing angles. The screen on the transformer looks way better so far and according to reviews it is way better than the xoom screen.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
I dunno..
I am not sure. I've had my xoom for about 3 weeks. I absolutely love it as its my laptop replacement.
However, the price of the Transformer is nice.. The screen tech also looks good. And of course there is working SD card and USB.
But damn, that bezel is ugly as hell on the Transformer. Reviews are also saying its plasticy.
Lastly, its hard to find a definitive answer on the software. Does Asus have a custom skin on there? I've told myself I will never ever buy a tablet or phone with a custom skin again. I am tired of waiting for updates from OEMs. This is one of the main reasons Im swapping my EVO for a Nexus S as soon as it drops on Sprint in the coming weeks.
What do all my fellow Xoom peeps think?
Only thing holding me back from immediately returning the xoom in favor odf the transformer is that the transformer apparently looks ugly and feels plasticy comparedto the xoom. I guess I gotta see it in person before I can decide.
I just bought my Xoom on the 17th from Best Buy. I have until May 1st to return it. If Best Buy has a Transformer on display, and I like it, I'll probably return the Xoom for that.
If it has almost everything the Xoom has, and I can get the keyboard dock and still walk away with $50 in my pocket from the return I'm happy.
I'm stickin to my Xoom... seems like it's better built. I didn't payf or it so the $$ factor doesnt bother me....
The bezel on the transformer is huge to make it fit in the dock, not really interested in that. Ill slap a 32 gig sdhc in and not worry about USB
I tested the transformer before I received my Xoom. For me the xoom wins hands down.
Its largley a matter of personal preference but I didn't actually like holding it, the bezzle is just too big to hold and type even if you had thumb key.
The screen really didn't look any better than the xooms maybe slightly more vivid colours. But the keyboard doesn't make sense to me on a tab, there is no USB on the tablet itself and currently only 16gb model is available.
But like I said that's all just personal taste
sent from my xoom. at last
wang1404 said:
Don't forget the bezel either. It gets really annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want a bigger bezel. The bezel on the Xoom is only about 3/4 the size of my thumb. You can't hold this thing with one hand without activating the screen in some unwanted way. Maybe I just have big hands and you don't, but still this has become annoying.
The Transformer has a larger bezel to be wide enough to seat evenly with the netbook sized keyboard attachment, but I think that there's the added benefit of being able to hold onto it.
OH and the transformer is freaking $200 less... After purchasing my WiFi Xoom I find myself using it less and less. For something like this that I'm using quite casually, I don't mind a couple "flaws" (according to some) in order to save $200. Heck, when I return my Xoom I might not be buying a different tablet at all.
I'm going to return my Xoom this Sun to Costco. I love it but I'm kinda bored of it. I don't use it as much as before. The only time I use it now is when I'm in bed waiting to past out. Without XDA, I would of returned the Xoom after a few days of owning it. With the Transformer I get to save some benjamins.
After reading the Transformer Anandtech review, I would definitely get a Transformer over the Xoom... that is, if I wasn't such an aesthetic freak. The bezel size irriates me...
On a good note Anandtech says the display is "comparable to the iPad 2", and that it is definitely more impressive than the Xoom's.
sano614 said:
I just bought my Xoom on the 17th from Best Buy. I have until May 1st to return it. If Best Buy has a Transformer on display, and I like it, I'll probably return the Xoom for that.
If it has almost everything the Xoom has, and I can get the keyboard dock and still walk away with $50 in my pocket from the return I'm happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you will be walking away -$50, the transform is $500 for the 32gb model
I mean, the transformer is coming out with a dock at the same price everywhere.
Don't you think that gtab10.1 sales are doomed unless samsung comes up with a keyboard dock like the transformer one ?
I fear that when asus will start their ad campains people will only retain "ANDROID tablet = also a laptop" in their heads. I feel for samsung if the gtab 10.1 fails again like the original galaxytab because of simply that.
Especially after the charming overhaul of the design. An aluminium keyboard dock with usb/hdmi and sd ports in it would be kick ass even if it's sold 200$.
It isn't worth it at $200.
The 64gb 3g version will cost around MSRP $800 plus another $200 for the kb makes it a $1000 investment.
Compared to $700-800 for Asus with keyboard and 64gb 3g and everything the same plus usb port, makes it in favor of the Asus.
Samsung will fail if the keyboard crosses $100, at least on that front.
Asus kb is for $125 in Taiwan and 60 pounds in UK and about 60 or so euros in Europe. Only US is expensive with $100-150.
And they need to come up with a wireless keyboard and I am sure they will!
Not at all. I personally don't think the Asus Transformer will only appeal to a very narrow demographic. While it is a great piece of hardware, it is far too "geeky" for the average consumer.
Samsung is already a mainstream brand having sold zillions of TVs and other home appliances over many years.
The Tab also has a more sleek design which has the potential to sway many would-be iPad buyers.
Also, I wouldn't say the original Tab was a failure. It might not have made mega bucks for Samsung but it had a big impact on the Android tablet market as a whole. It made people sit up and take notice of the future potential of Android as an alternative to the iPad.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Exactly what makes the Transformer geeky?
I feel as if the Transformer should have came with the keyboard... not bought separately. I thought that was the entire point of buying the thing. And no, I don't believe ASUS's giant-bezel tablet will hurt the Tabs. Samsung is an advertising behemoth with brand recognition and lovely hardware design. Also don't forget about TouchWiz, they've made Honeycomb's Tron esque look much more colorful and less
dark, which believe it or not people will adore.
Transformer is going to be heavy and thick. I doubt the thinner, lighter Tab will have a problem other than competing price point.
Not all people would like the dock
Me, for example. I don't like it at all.
I prefer thin and light device.
No dock for me either. The 10.1 is perfect
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
epicfailguy2 said:
I mean, the transformer is coming out with a dock at the same price everywhere.
Don't you think that gtab10.1 sales are doomed unless samsung comes up with a keyboard dock like the transformer one ?
I fear that when asus will start their ad campains people will only retain "ANDROID tablet = also a laptop" in their heads. I feel for samsung if the gtab 10.1 fails again like the original galaxytab because of simply that.
Especially after the charming overhaul of the design. An aluminium keyboard dock with usb/hdmi and sd ports in it would be kick ass even if it's sold 200$.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll definitely be getting the tab whether or not a dock is released. I don't think I'd use a dock that much but if they do release a dock for a fair price then I may consider it.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Dunno but the gtab10.1 is only about 70grams lighter and 4mm thinner than the transformer (and that's at the transformer's fattest point, since it's a curved back the transformer on the sides is pretty much as thin as the gtab).
I don’t want a dock, don’t need a keyboard just a thin/light device which is what the 10.1 is.
Even as a desk dock the transformer keyboard owns everything.
Also, when I read people saying "just want a light & thin device" I wonder if you ever even tried to watch a several minute long video while holding a tablet in front of you. Good luck with "light" lol, I don't think light comes off as an argument preventing usage exhaustion unless it's something like a 300g tablet or less.
epicfailguy2 said:
Even as a desk dock the transformer keyboard owns everything.
Also, when I read people saying "just want a light & thin device" I wonder if you ever even tried to watch a several minute long video while holding a tablet in front of you. Good luck with "light" lol, I don't think light comes off as an argument preventing usage exhaustion unless it's something like a 300g tablet or less.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yet, I'm guessing that docks like the Atrix Dock and the transformer dock will become common. So if there will be one for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, why not get that so you can have a THIN laptop/tablet thing?
Chandelure said:
Yet, I'm guessing that docks like the Atrix Dock and the transformer dock will become common. So if there will be one for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, why not get that so you can have a THIN laptop/tablet thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. If Samsung release a keyboard dock (which is more than likely since the 7" Tab had one), then it owns the Transformer hands down.
It seems ASUS has accomplished their goal. They adding a nice little gimmick that makes people consider their tablet over the competitors. Then again... it is just a dock. Any manufacture can make one. Even little third-party companies make them~
Or if you don't mind, you could buy a lovely bluetooth keyboard.
Yea but samsung third party accessories are slow as hell to come out, and the official ones are expensive (100+$ for just a former gtab keyboard dock station with no extra battery!!), and the gtab dock will never have an extra 8hour battery in it like the transformer does Frankly the only thing holding me on the transformer is the PLS screen and black&chrome design of the gtab, I don't like much the copper color of the transformer but with it's dock in the reviews its rather sexy.
I guess I'll just buy the transformer now and give it to my girlfriend to get a gtab once some good dock with hdmi and usb ports (big minus there on gtab) will be available. The gtab official bookcover looks wicked tho http://www.tabletdigger.com/gt/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/bookcover.jpg
Also, it is okay to wait for a gtab dock but the transformer actually have a KEYBOARD dock... pretty different from normal dock and the battery... samsung never gonna get something close to that (mean price wise, etc) and perfect if the transformer only get in the hands of "geeks" so that way all developpers, etc will make awesome apps/dev for this device
I have a transformer on order. But I don't really care about the keyboard. I could see the appeal if someone were buying this as their only device, or maybe even their only portable device. But I have a notebook if I need to use a keyboard. If it were $50, I might buy it, but not at $120+, because I'm mostly interested in the tablet functionality. Honestly, I'd prefer the better screen and slimmer design of the Samsung, but the Samsung is 25% more expensive. I just don't think it's wise to pay much of a premium at this stage of the tablet market. There will likely be something twice as good for similar $$ next year. In the mean time, I'll either figure out I didn't really need a tablet after all, or I'll like it, and get something better when the options go up and the prices come down.
bcmobile said:
I agree. If Samsung release a keyboard dock (which is more than likely since the 7" Tab had one), then it owns the Transformer hands down.
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IMHO, a KB dock alone isn't going to own a TF101. It needs to have USB ports, SDHC/SDXC slot or more to own a TF101.
RMXO said:
IMHO, a KB dock alone isn't going to own a TF101. It needs to have USB ports, SDHC/SDXC slot or more to own a TF101.
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Your overestimating the masses. People go gaga for slim devices, IMO it's a total scam. I know so many people swho bought the iPad2 because it was thin. You can bet that Sammy will advertise the HELL out of the fact that it's thinner than the iPad2
I returned my Transformer and am waiting for the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
One of the pros for the Transformer is the docking station and it's really sweet how well it seems to work together.
But I have a few small complaints about the Transformer and the Galaxy Tab has a few of it's own pros, that I think the Galaxy Tab will do very well.
First with the Transformer.
The speakers kinda suck and aren't positioned very well. Not sure of the sound quality on the Galaxy Tab speakers, but I can't imagine it would be worse and I like the positioning better.
The Transformer's back get warm and the textured plastic doesn't offer much grip when your hand starts getting a little moist. It appears the Galaxy Tab will have a better no slip back.
The glass on the Transformer is really thin and a little too flexible. I can see it bending without applying much pressure. Hoping the Galaxy Tab has better glass.
The bezel on the Transformer is too dang big. Sure the Xoom over did it by making their bezel too small, but ASUS went too far in the other direction. Galaxy Tab looks like the perfect middle.
The Transformer just feel a little on the cheap side after the iPad and Xoom tablets I owned. I won't know until I have it in my hand, but I get the impression the Galaxy Tab will have a firmer more quality feel to it.
The weight is really big. People see the 85 gram weight difference between the Transformer and Galaxy Tab and think it won't mean much. But 50 grams separated the Transformer from the Xoom and I really noticed that difference. I can only imagine the Galaxy Tab is going to feel like a feather compared to the Transformer.
Most of these things are small nit-picking. But enough of them have added up that I think I need to wait on the Galaxy Tab. The cool docking station just isn't enough. Though the lack of a micro SD slot is kinda chaffing me, but I think even that might not be enough to scare me away from the Galaxy Tab.
Does anyone else that has one notice a funny vibration when it's charging and you touch the aluminum side? I have it sitting on a leather desk chair charging and whenever I touch the side I get a little vibration that feels like electric current. It's very noticeable when I run my finger up and down it.
Nope, I don't seem to have that. I bought one today, but the screen is horrible.
sublime167 said:
Does anyone else that has one notice a funny vibration when it's charging and you touch the aluminum side? I have it sitting on a leather desk chair charging and whenever I touch the side I get a little vibration that feels like electric current. It's very noticeable when I run my finger up and down it.
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Yes I was Checking that out at a Best Buy today and noticed that. Also I get the same vibration when I do the same thing on my HP Zeen android tab when it is docked to my printer.
quietas said:
Nope, I don't seem to have that. I bought one today, but the screen is horrible.
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Horrible? What makes the screen horrible for you? Why did you buy it? Surely, you could see that the screen was horrible before you decided to buy...??
I purchased one today as well. I haven't noticed the charging thing.
I think 'horrible' is a terribly harsh word, but many people tend to nitpick when it comes to these things and by all rights that's fine as it is their money. If you look carefully at the screen you'll see tiny vertical lines. In essence, if you sit there and stare up close you WILL see a tiny grid. I doubt many people will even notice it without it being called to attention. If it affected me negatively then I'd have an issue but it doesn't. It's obvious that some people are going to take issue with it though. It's up to the person to decide if they feel it's a problem or not.
The light acer ui software seems elegant and well thought out and all in all I do like it. I am still deciding between the iconia tab and the eee transformer. There are trade-offs. The eee doesn't have a camera flash and the front cam is 1.2 vs. the iconias 2.0 MP, not that that's a huge deal. The eee is also supposed to get a bit more juice from it's battery over the iconia tab. The eee doesn't have a host usb on the tab, you'll need the dock, not a big deal to some but I actually like having it on the tab. The eee has gorilla glass and an ips screen, the iconia doesnt have either but has a nice brushed metal backing and one thing I haven't noticed any reviewers mention is the Acer has a backlit power button which occasionally lights up....there's no method to it, ie: it's not lighting up because you have notifications but I'm sure a future update could result in that behavior. Heck, maybe it can be set right now (I haven't played with it in depth yet). The iconia tab also has some buried features...dolby sound which actually sounds pretty nice and 2 noise cancelling mics for really great skype/voip convos. These 2 tablets are going to give people a hard time in deciding I think. The eee has that keyboard/trackpad/battery dock, the iconia tab has a dock with a keyboard/trackpad/remote (rumored, I havent SEEN it).
One gripe I'm having with the Iconia is it doesn't seem to play many video file types over dlna. If it doesn't play them directly then this will definitely be a problem for me. I had a GTablet and would regularly use upnplay to stream videos from my Windows 7 machines and now I can't seem to get the Iconia to play a single file. I've tried Vplayer, Rockplayer, Doubletwist, nothing works. I don't know if this is Acer's fault or Honeycomb so I'm waiting patiently for the eee transformer to come so I can do my tests on it to finger the culprit.
I really like the tablet and hope I don't have to exchange it. I was all for the eee but got tired of the long drawn out wait. Now I'm hearing it's supposed to come tomorrow so I'll get to do some direct comparisons and end up with the one that fits me the most.
Why are you asking about the Acer in the Asus forum? just curious not being a jerk
Im picking up the iconia today. I don't care about the keyboard. If i wanted a Keyboard its get a netbook. I like the usb feature and the sim slot and hspa ready.
Sent from my Dell Streak 7 using XDA Premium App
graffixnyc said:
Why are you asking about the Acer in the Asus forum? just curious not being a jerk
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For those of us who don't want to wait until the middle of May for a Transformer, this is a viable option and I'd like to hear about their experiences with it, especially since there isn't a dedicated subform for it here yet (which is odd).
Got the A500, too. I like it, but will be checking out the transformer when I can get my hands on one.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
I bought one A500 today, the screen is fantastic.........
Is there really an issue with the grid being visible?
Great screen
Excellent Dolby sound
USB 2.0 port that actually works
Micro HDMI port with 1080p output
Working memory expansion
Great suite of included apps
Think I'll have to take a looksie at my local Best Buy.
I placed my order for the Transformer at Amazon in hopes that stock will come in soon, but I am still considering the A500. The main thing that's keeping me from it is the apparent lack of popularity compared to the Transformer. Doesn't affect the quality of the unit, but it does affect the availability of accessories and dev support.
I'm liking the A500. I see no problem with the screen. There's an included app to stream music from any PC in your network. The USB port can charge my EVO while I'm tethering and read files off of my phone or flash drive.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Are you able to install non-market apps?
dfin13 said:
Is there really an issue with the grid being visible?
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I saw that in the cnet review. Have not seen what they were talking about. Seems like they go out of their way to nitpick.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Cubfan99 said:
I saw that in the cnet review. Have not seen what they were talking about. Seems like they go out of their way to nitpick.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
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You really have to look at it and look for it to see it imho. But it's there. Is it a dealbreaker? Only if it bothers you.
As for the question about non-market apps. The answer is yes, you can...and you can sideload just fine.
I'm still not able to play any videos :/ Even with the files directly on a microsd. My last choice is to copy them to the device and try the included player. If they still don't play this is going to be a big problem for me.
Anyone else able to stream videos from their pcs or from a microsd?
My local BB has decided to sell them telepathicly instead of putting them out for display. He said we have them but wont have a display until next week, maybe. They rather sell them instead he says, and I'm like not having them out on the floor helps...
I wanna see it in action first. Oh well sale lost....
That's goofy. My local BB had one on display right next to the Xoom.
The Thrive is officially out. And to be honest I'm considering switching to the Thrive. The reason why I purchased the TF in the first place is because of the added ports that comes with the dock. But now looking at the Thrive and having all the ports on the tablet itself is plus for me. Yes it's a bit heavier and thicker but if you carry the TF along with it's dock then there really isn't much difference. Another plus is being able to change the battery. I know many of us bought the TF because of the dock and it's extra ports which no other tablet could offer until now. Will any TF owners be making the switch to the Thrive?
Not me. Liking my TF more everyday.
-bZj
What's a thirve?
The question is what can you do on Thrive, that you can't do on Asus pad?
tq745 said:
The Thrive is officially out. And to be honest I'm considering switching to the Thrive. The reason why I purchased the TF in the first place is because of the added ports that comes with the dock. But now looking at the Thrive and having all the ports on the tablet itself is plus for me. Yes it's a bit heavier and thicker but if you carry the TF along with it's dock then there really isn't much difference. Another plus is being able to change the battery. I know many of us bought the TF because of the dock and it's extra ports which no other tablet could offer until now. Will any TF owners be making the switch to the Thrive?
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Click to collapse
Not a chance in the world. It's far too expensive (8GB Thrive is *more* expensive than a 16GB TF, and 16GB Thrive is identical price to a 32GB TF). Of course it lacks the versatility of being able to switch between netbook and tablet modes -- a separate wireless keyboard with no touchpad is of no use to me -- and despite that, as you note, it's also larger and heavier. The battery might be removable, but I'd place money you won't be able to get hold of one for a sane price within a year of the thing being discontinued, and it also packs less battery power than the Transformer alone, let alone with the dock attached.
No thank you.
knoxploration said:
Not a chance in the world. It's far too expensive (8GB Thrive is *more* expensive than a 16GB TF, and 16GB Thrive is identical price to a 32GB TF). Of course it lacks the versatility of being able to switch between netbook and tablet modes -- a separate wireless keyboard with no touchpad is of no use to me -- and despite that, as you note, it's also larger and heavier. The battery might be removable, but I'd place money you won't be able to get hold of one for a sane price within a year of the thing being discontinued, and it also packs less battery power than the Transformer alone, let alone with the dock attached.
No thank you.
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Click to collapse
if you consider the dock with the TF then it is more than the Thrive. I only like the idea of having a removable battery because batteries don't last forever. I like having the option of changing the battery myself rather then having to send it in to the manufacturer. When I have my TF docked I still find myself using the touch screen rather then the touchpad as it is faster.
Has anybody seen the thrive? It looks like a butcher's cutting board. It's as fugly as the Viewsonic g tab.
Why does one have to compare that monstrosity to the TF with dock? Alot people own the TF without the dock, in terms of form, function and price, the TF to me has always been the best Android T2 tab out there. I would be interested in seeing what Sony comes out with but all the rest just don't cut it.
The only thing that the Thrive beats the TF on is OBESITY.
Is that the Toshiba one?
Since a couple years ago when I had one of its phones, I promised to myself not to Toshiba again...
Skickat från min ASUS Eee Pad TF101
Thrive = no thanks. Just not seeing it.
tq745 said:
if you consider the dock with the TF then it is more than the Thrive.
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Click to collapse
If I consider the dock with the TF, then it has more than double the battery life of the Thrive, plus a keyboard and touchpad that the Thrive lacks, etc.
And I bet if you count the wireless keyboard for the Thrive, then its weight is similar to that of the TF plus dock, but still with far less battery life, no touchpad, and far less versatility.
tq745 said:
I only like the idea of having a removable battery because batteries don't last forever. I like having the option of changing the battery myself rather then having to send it in to the manufacturer.
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And I'd be willing to place money that you'll never actually do it.
No standard battery type is going to fit in a tablet, so you'll be reliant on a specific proprietary battery type that no third party is going to make. It won't be in Toshiba's interest to supply one to you for long after they stop making the tablet itself, so chances are by the time you actually need a battery, you either won't be able to get one at all, or it'll be extremely expensive and from very old stock that's already got inadequate battery life.
Yeah, I'm just not seeing the replaceable battery idea.
If you run low on battery, you run low, but with the TF, you have the keyboard to get you into the 16 hour range of full use. By the time these batteries die or can't be charged anymore, you'll have replacements on the market for cheap, or local shops that can do it for you easily.
When that time comes, there will be something else in the market that you will buy anyway!
I'm actually considering it, because of the ports, and the biggest (yet to be proven) feature, that the device won't creak, won't have light bleed, and if it does, I might be able to actually send it in without worry of getting a worse problem sent back to me. (by all this I mean the supposed build quality I might get) Though if I sell my Transformer, I'll have spent ~$750 for a tablet including money I got back and the price of a Thrive.
The Thrive's ports are appealing to me but then again, I have gotten a hold of the dock to go with my Transformer. I think once I get that, the Thrive will lose its appeal.
I also think if I got the Thrive, I'd spend time reminiscing about the Transformer's better display every time I turned it on.
tq745 said:
if you consider the dock with the TF then it is more than the Thrive. I only like the idea of having a removable battery because batteries don't last forever. I like having the option of changing the battery myself rather then having to send it in to the manufacturer. When I have my TF docked I still find myself using the touch screen rather then the touchpad as it is faster.
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Not sure why you are concerned about battery, looking at your sig and fact that you consider changing for a new option, you will most likely trade up longbefore the battery needs to be replaced.
I agree the built in ports, no creaks and light bleed, user removable battery, regular ac adapter as well as a rubberized back cover that can also be replaced is enough for me to switch
semaphor74 said:
regular ac adapter
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Maybe I'm confused but I don't see this as a plus. Have you seen the size of that thing? The last thing I want to do is have to carry around a power brick for a tablet...
At least, you can easily find its replacement and the round tip is more reliable and easier to insert.
walkamongus said:
Maybe I'm confused but I don't see this as a plus. Have you seen the size of that thing? The last thing I want to do is have to carry around a power brick for a tablet...
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At least, you can easily find its replacement and the round tip is more reliable and easier to insert.
Rumbleweed said:
Not sure why you are concerned about battery, looking at your sig and fact that you consider changing for a new option, you will most likely trade up longbefore the battery needs to be replaced.
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when it comes to tablets i think i'll do less trading up as i do with phones. the only reason i'm considering the thrive is because of the ports being on the tab itself.
I'm still loving my TF and use it constantly. Does it all for me and wouldn't consider switching. I have no reason to jump ship.
So, recently I've seen a lot more threads comparing the Eee Transformer to the A500. Before I bought either of these tablets I did a ton of product comparison in store with various display models, at least 3 A500's and 3 Transformers.
Note: for full disclosure the Eee Pad what I thought I wanted when I first started looking at tabs.
I am writing this review as I believe all of these comparisons to date have been based on box stats and not real world trials. Below I will layout the features that really matter (e.g. I'm not going to review bluetooth, let's make some assumptions here) and how they stack up in a direct comparison.
Weight / Build Quality
Held each tab, A500 in my left, Transformer in my right, you CAN notice the difference, is it significant? Strangely when holding one tab the Transformer feels way lighter, however, when you pick the Acer up again, it feels almost the same. It's hard to explain, go try it yourself.
When holding the Asus you immediately realize the reason for the Acer's extra weight is better build quality. You can literally FEEL the build quality difference. I pushed on the screen of the Asus around the power button and it receeded about 1/8th of an inch! The Acer's screen also flexes, but not nearly as much. Asus build quality is terrible, I would gladly pay the extra weight penalty for the stronger build of the Acer.
If you are a thumb typer, and if you find wide bezels to be an issue, you will notice that the Acer actually has a narrower bezel than the Asus, I couldn't believe the Asus' bezel was wider, but it is!
Battery Life
Looking at the tech. specs each of these tablets should have pretty much the same battery life. The battery capacity of the Asus is 6600 mAH and the Acer is about 80 mAH less, a negligible difference. They run similar processors, however, some have said the IPS panel of the Transformer equates to better battery life. Something however is amiss in the numbers department though... Asus has said 9.5 hours of battery life, however, every review online (and I looked at 6) pegged the Asus' battery life at ~7.5 hours and the Acer's battery life at ~7.5 hours, there is no real world difference here.
Considering the Acer has low power DDR2 RAM while the Asus does not, this may also explain some of the balance as IPS panels have been shown to run less power.
Camera Quality (back camera, who cares about front anyway)
With the update to 3.2 and 1080P recording, the Acer has an AWESOME video camera now which takes great stills too, I was blown away (have you tried it yet? If not, try it now!). This paragraph will be short and sweet, the Asus' camera blows. It takes crappy video, it looks way less clear and crisp and the same is true for stills. Not even in the same league as the Acer's camera now and there is no flash, the Acer dominates in cameras bigtime!
Connectivity
The Asus tries hard, however, it just can't match the Acer. The USB port of the Acer will come in handy at least once in its lifetime, not to mention the ease of adding a keyboard, game controller, etc. Moreover, the HDMI connection on the Acer is micro, while the HDMI on the Asus is mini. Mini HDMI is much harder to find than micro, I had no problem finding a micro HDMI cable, however, mini HDMI cables had to be ordered off the web.
Price
$399 for 16GB, both models, no difference anymore!
UI Performance
The Acer I ran tested on the floor of course utilized Honeycomb 3.1 while the Asus was running Honeycomb 3.2. Even though the Asus has the latest version of Honeycomb, the Acer performs much smoother while scrolling the UI and loading applications. The difference was evident, so much so, this was ultimately the deciding factor for me. The Acer appears to dominate here even with the older software and similar hardware. Some have rumored that the speed increase of the Acer is due to its using LPDDR2 RAM when the Asus uses older DDR2 RAM. I can not confirm this, but benchmarks also showed a slight edge to the Acer.
Screen Quality
There has been a lot of discussion of Asus' screen quality vs. Acer's. I went in with the expectation that the Asus would be noticably different (I have perfect eyesight btw). I could not, repeat, could not tell a single damn difference between the two when both on high brightness with XDA Developers loaded in the browser. Perhaps the Asus was slightly "crisper", however, that could be my IPS bias. There is no difference folks, and if you can tell, my hats off to you.
The Acer losses out on glass though. The Asus uses corning name brand Gorilla Glass, while the Acer states it only uses "tempered glass". If you expect to not get a case, or if you are prone to dropping your tablet on its face (most likely you will destroy more than the glass) then you must consider this angle. Gorilla glass is going to help a bit with scratches and perhaps cracks, however, I also noticed it shows more finger prints than the Acer does. *see post #2 apparently the A500 does have gorilla glass!
Screen angles on both are a joke. You can look at the Acer up to 160 degrees, why would you want to? You can look at the Asus up to 179 degrees, but why would you want to? Screen angles are pretty much identical, both are very viewable from the side.
Accessories
Acer has basic cases and other crap, the Asus of course has the whole battery extending USB-porting keyboard dock. Obviously, Asus destroys Acer here. If you don't already own a laptop or netbook, this may matter to you. However, remember that most of your productivity applications are probably not in Android and if you want to be productive, a tablet no matter what dock it has is not nearly as effective as a laptop.
Sound Quality
Another landslide for the Acer, the Dolby sound is the best sound I've ever heard on a mobile device, no joke. I had heads snapping in my living room trying to figure out how such big clear sound was coming out of a tiny little tablet. People will notice. The Asus? Sounds exactly like you'd expect a tablet to sound, like a tin can.
Conclusion
In summary, I ended up buying the Acer A500. With the Asus I could get a bit lighter weight and a keyboard dock that's totally awesome. These were the main benefits the Asus offers over the Acer. As I discovered the lower weight was due to poor construction and materials, the slighter weight of the Asus was no longer a factor. As I didn't need a keyboard, the obvious choice became the Acer due to its superior usability overall.
I hope this helps prospective buyers!
Very nice review! Makes me glad I chose the Acer over the Asus too, although my main reason was that the Acer was available locally with no wait.
Just a quick correction though, even though Acer doesn't say so, according to www.corningorillaglass.com the A500 does sport the Gorilla Glass. I'm not sure why Acer wouldn't mention it, since it is a decent buying point, but there you go.
funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...
Very thourough review. I have been enjoying my A500 for a couple weeks now. Got a good deal on Amazon. I am new to Android devices, so I have spent a lot of time on xda forums learning how to root and flash new ROM on my device.
Would have been interested to hear how the mics compared for video calling etc.
pankaj2000 said:
funny but i bought because of 100 dollar staple coupon.
and then keep reading reviews on amazon...this is best review i ever read.
ipad iconia and zt-180 v2 all over sofa and bed...
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Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.
Is it just my unit, or have others noticed a MAJOR difference in recorded video quality when running a custom 3.2 ROM as opposed to 3.1? I recorded some video in the kitchen of my house, played it back, and it looked extremely realistic. My wife who doesn't even like tech. was pretty happy about it, that's saying something. It was super crisp and clear, definitely the best video device I have now! But I also don't have any dedicated video camera...
goofytim said:
Exactly my reasoning as well! I was thinking that I may look at tablets around Christmas, since I am sure there will be some crazy deals, but I happened to $300 see the $100 Staples coupon and decided to jump on it. It was originally intended for the kids but they have a hard time pulling it away from me.
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got ipad for me on my birthday $400 and wife took it..$100 off staples coupon got me iconia
$300 and kids took it..now i m stuck with zt-180v2....but iconia is the best...
I liked the more solid feel, and the full size USB port on the tab itself. I couldn't tell much difference between the screens either.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium
As a transformer owner I can vouch on three things:
1. IMO the screen quality is miles ahead of the A500;
2. The weight difference is neglible but the A500 feels bulkier and slightly more awkward to hold;
3. The A500's sound quality is killer. The TF101's speakers make a train station passenger information system sound like a bose home theatre.. Yes, it's ****e !!!
Don't berate me, these are just my opinions...
The two are so close. The TF is noticeably lighter. Screen is a bit better on the TF. The keyboard dock is rad, but kind of pricey. Not a bad decision either way. It was a REALLY tough choice to pick between the two.
Sent from my A100 using XDA Premium App
Yes, it is a VERY difficult choice, for me, I love the sound and cameras and don't mind the weight nor need the keyboard dock. If you think like me, go Acer, if you really need the dock and the weight, perhaps a bit better screen (if you can notice), go the Asus!
I use my A500 mostly in portrait mode since I do a lot of reading so that makes the keyboard useless. The extended battery is a welcome addition but if I need the tablet docked while I'm reading, that seems kinda awkward. Also the color sucks. No offense to Asus owners but seriously the color sucks. The finish on the A500 is really nice and feels sturdy.
Dolby Mobile is awesome
I just felt like chiming in regarding the A500. I think the audio is better than any other tablet. The iPad does not have stereo. Even the TouchPad, with it's "beats" music system does not sound as good as the Dolby Mobile on the A500. Rock on!
I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.
ctiger said:
I tried video conference the other day, and the audio on my A500 was horrible, can't hear anything. I have the Acer folio on it, so it should not be a problem?
I compared at a Office depot store, the screen seems brighter on the Asus, nicer, I feel. But given the fact that buying the Asus means I'll have to end up with buying a dock for $140 more, just not worth it.
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Click to collapse
You couldn't hear the audio? Do you know if the other side had their mic's turned up? The audio is very loud on my A500, too loud, I get complaints when I crank it up from the wife..
Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..
Nice comparative write up!
While I agree with just about everything you've written, I have to say that the difference in display is very noticeable....as noticeable as viewing an image on the A500 and TV via HDMI out at the same time. Colors are much more vibrant on a Transformer's display, but panel brightness is visually the same in my opinion.
When I was first in the market, I purchased both the Transformer and Iconia A500 to try with in the limitations of the return policy. I basically came to the same conclusion as yourself.
The first Acer I purchased had a questionable build. The upper left corner of the tab would creak under slight pressure. Very annoying, but after researching a bit...some people was stating the same experience and some were not. The Transformer seemed to be more solid in comparison.....well as solid as plastic could be, but at the time, the most important part was that it didn't creak nor had hairline cracks at the seams like the A500 I first tried.
Also the right speaker sounded like it was in a tin can while a pebble rattled around. I opened it up to see if the speaker was torn or what have you, only to discover a set screw was backed out enough to allow the speaker to vibrate against the mounts/casing.
But after going back to the store and checking to see if the display model shared the same annoyance, I realized I had received one that got past quality control. So I'm happy to say the current A500 is solid.
Anyway, in my opinion...if it weren't for the built in USB port, I probably would still be trying to decide between the two.
autom8r said:
Has anyone tried the new video recording in 3.2 yet? It's epic on mine! Please, chime in with your experiences..
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I'm using Taboonay 2.0 and I have to say yes the video recording id epic.
I couldn't find micro HDMI cables in Australia in any shop. Unless you count a micro to full HDMI adapter some idiot store wanted $99 for! I bought a 4m cable from eBay for about $20. Just starting to see cables in stores now, but still very expensive rip-offs.
As for keyboard ports, don't. Need them on the Acer as I use the Acer Bluetooth keyboard. Keyboard connectors are so old tech!
And when I bricked my machine playing with ROMs from in here, Acer was very understandering and fixed my machine for me. So i'll stick to the stock ROM. but I did appreciate acer rescuing my machine.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium