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Galaxy tab 10.1 Vs. Transformer?????

I'm looking into purchasing one or the other, and am stuck in between, can anyone please shed some light onto this?
I like the galaxy tab for a few reasons, one its samsung and i tend to trust their build quality over asus, two its super thin and much smaller than the transformer, and three the speakers are better, but the main thing that is killing it for me is the lack of ports, only having a single proprietary port bugs me, and feels like i'm being forced into buying additional things that should have been included in the first place
i like the transformer because of the ports and sd card expansion, and the keyboard with the battery and extra usb/sd ports.
i'm not sure which to choose, please help!

totally your preference. how much are you really going to use your hdmi and sd card? if you use it a lot, then go transformer. if you are going to get a keyboard, they both have sd card slots.
however, if thin tablets are of bigger importance, go samsung.
I think build quality is now same. asus new batches seem to be better than the rushed out ones.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

Don't know if anyone can really help you decide, because it sounds like you already know the pros and cons of both. But I feel the same way. I really like both tablets, both have some great qualities, but both have some pretty big weaknesses too.
Going to just copy/paste what I just wrote on the Transformer board...
Transformer
+ $100 cheaper
+ micro SD
+ mini HDMI
+ netbook style keydock
Galaxy Tab 10.1
+ lighter and rounded edges (more comfortable)
+ better speakers
+ PLS display
+ LED flash
+ just better looking
Almost afraid to say it, because I detest custom UI, but I almost want to give the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a + for TouchWiz UX. The demo of it actually has some very nice looking features.
Because of the lack of micro SD I almost certainly will need to spend $200 more for a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1, versus the 16GB Transformer I'm using now with my 16GB micro SD card. So the price difference is greater (I am sure I need more than 16GB for a tablet).
....I own a Transformer now, it's my second one, and it has a screen defect. So I've run into some build quality issues with the Transformers. But I also have build quality fears for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. I've seen a lot of glass separation from the bezel in corners in a lot of video reviews. It looks a bit too common. Almost none of those video reviews call attention to it, but after seeing some complaints about it on this board and a article on Android Community, I've been looking carefully at those corners and now seem to notice it all the time.
Both are great tablets. I going to need to return my Transformer in about 5 days. So I still have a bit more time to mull it over.

+1 to what Ravynmagi said.
I actually returned my Transformer a couple weeks ago. For it's price point, it definitely is awesome, but I just didn't like the fact that I could literally flex and twist it and it would affect the light bleeding. I would rather pay the extra money to have something solid and according to a lot of video reviews, people are saying that even though it's plastic it feels just as solid as the iPad2... and I consider my iPad2 very solid.

I returned my TF today. Terrible screen separation under the bezel. A lot of FCs. Considerably heavier than the Tab. The extra 100 that i spent thus far seems well worth it.

The tab it's a better pure tablet. The transformer doesn't need a adapter for hdmi out.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Ok I know I’m biased but it's lighter, sleeker, thinner, PLS screen and great build quality. In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets. Ah yes and I can hold it in one hand.

FTFY
cosimoss said:
In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets.
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10 chars

I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share

Darkgage said:
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
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very good video

Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.

dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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supercurio seems to be enjoying the PLS screen on galaxy tab 10.1
I'm also intrigued by #GalaxyTab101 PLS screen (Samsung improved IPS). This thing could be or become pro photographer's dream calibrated.
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Samsung is in 3.1 now for both IO and Retail version, except 10.1v.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer

Ah ok ... Apologize to the poster
Mr.Duck said:
i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
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I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.

Ravynmagi said:
I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
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Damnit man.. now I'm going to return my TF too. I three defects and three annoyances.
- Hair under the screen.. looks like an eye lash
- Moderate light bleed.. increases when I hold it due to flex
- Bezel began creaking and moving
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.

ericc191 said:
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
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Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.

Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
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Yeah, my girlfriend is upset that I'm going to exchange. She says the back of the TF is perfect for grip.
Also, for people who purchased on Amazon, make sure you choose defective when returning. This shouldn't be an issue as nearly all TFs have light bleed.
I chose to put that I no longer wanted it, and they tried to add a 20% restocking fee. I called up and got that removed by telling them I hit the wrong button.

The Transformer & Iconia were somewhat similar. I like the many ports on the Acer, but it was rather heavy for one handed use. Trying to type in portrait was a pain because of the device weight. If the Galaxy had those ports, then it would not be as thin, & would weigh more. I returned the Acer & pre-ordered the Galaxy. I plan on getting the USB adapter and using it when needed, which will be every once in a while.

TF vs Thrive

So bought a Transformer then switched it out for an Iconia which I promptly returned and picked up my TF. I had thought that the Iconia with its USB port would be a better unit, bu the screen just doesn't compare to the TF. Add in the better battery life on the TF, the 3.1 upgrade, etc etc and well it was a tough weekend using the Acer. Now we hear that the Toshiba is about to arrive in the US and soon after here in Canada. Now on paper this unit seems to have it all, and by all I mean FINALLY a 'User Replaceable' battery. Add in SDXC support on the device, a Full size USB port, HDMI, a screen lock switch etc etc and frankly I'm about to abandon the TF once again.
I've not been able to find if indeed the Thrive is an IPS screen, and I guess it's unlikely to see much in the way of reviews until these units finally hit the market.
Still, I'd very much appreciate any comments from other TF users. As it stands I have until June 27th to return the TF for a full refund. Grr I wish the Thrive was out now.

Uhhh, what? You want opinions on a different tablet from transformer owners? And one on a tablet that isn't on the market?

The Thrive will not sport an IPS screen.
It's also thicker, if that matters to you. Quite a bit thicker.
Anyway, the TF with the dock is still my favorite tablet. The Thrive's lacking screen and substantial thickness are the main downsides.

The way i see it any tablet is not good enough for you.If you get the Toshiba, 1-2 months from now there will be another one with better specs and you will want to change again.
And there is nothing bad about it, if you have enough money.

berbecverde said:
The way i see it any tablet is not good enough for you.If you get the Toshiba, 1-2 months from now there will be another one with better specs and you will want to change again.
And there is nothing bad about it, if you have enough money.
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Yeah, buying a new Tegra 2 tablet now seems a bit harsh. They'll be obsolete soon enough, after all.

dorino1 said:
The Thrive will not sport an IPS screen.
It's also thicker, if that matters to you. Quite a bit thicker.
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It's .1" thicker (the TF tapers at the edges creating an illusion of thinness). I don't think it's "quite a bit thicker." For some reason the photos of it make it look chunkier than the dimensions would have you believe.
And I don't think anyone knows what sort of screen technology it will have -- if you Google it, you'll find some say IPS, some say it doesn't.

Thrive does come with full usb/hdmi ports..but it's also a lot thicker and probably heavier...

For comparison:
Transformer: .5" thick, 1.49 pounds
Thrive: .6" thick, 1.6 pounds
As the post above mentions, for that extra .1" and .1 pounds, you get a full-sized USB, full-sized HDMI, and full-sized SD slot. All the full-sizin' without adding much thickness or weight is pretty impressive.
Also has status/notification lights, removable battery, charging dock, and a hardware orientation-lock. If this thing does come with an IPS screen, then ... wow.

if TF101 was .5" All Around then no way in Hell Would I Have bought it. Because its so thin at the edges and only .5" in the center back then It makes is seem very thin still, which looks good. Thrive is Alot thicker all around the unit. It looks way too big. If it was Thin on edges and thick in center like TF then maybe it would have been an option.
Then again it Needs Thickness for all those ports soo hmm...Cant be too thin if you want to add those.

Whipping my TF out of the case and eyeballing it, it looks like it begins tapering only about 1.5" from the edges all around. I dunno, I'll have to handle a Thrive myself to see if all the additional features are worth the slightly added bulk and weight.

Its the replaceable battery that is big IMO...I wonder about the fixed batteries 2 yrs down the road and if it will make any sense to send them in for a retrofit and if not they just become garbage. Personally i think our Gov should legislate that batteries can be replaced by the user otherwise add in an additional tax on the product

I don't have issues with my TF's battery life, but I can definitely see where that's a plus for some. The things about it that intrigue me the most are the status lights (I like knowing I have a notification waiting), the rubberized back (I find the TF kind of slippery), and the inclusion of a charging dock. The full-sized ports are things I may not use, but it'd be nice to have them just in case. The 8GB of internal memory is annoying but not dealbreaker. A crappy screen would be, though.

Toshiba has said, officially, that it is not an IPS display. It's an "IPS like" display, which is what Acer said about the Iconia... And Motorola about the Xoom... And Samsung about the GT10.1. It's still up in the air whether it's a good display or not, but it is not an IPS. That's for sure!
It is 0.11 inches thicker. Over 20% thicker than the Transformer. It is a small difference, but it's noticable!
Anyway, since I use the dock, having the ports built in don't really matter to me. I've already got them.

I bought the toshiba thrive, the 1hr fast charge did it for me.... I tell you this right now.. if I get it in hand, and the screen is not up to par, I will send it back that day with out even trying out the rest of it!
a tablet is 90% screen, so you better put a freaking GREAT screen! lol
the only thing I dont like about my transformer is the creeking on the left hand side, if it didnt have this problem, then I would be A OK!
toshiba looks like it will be a quality tablet, I love how it's put together, looks tough!
I dont know why "thin" is a good thing, I simply dont get it..

Thremix said:
I bought the toshiba thrive, the 1hr fast charge did it for me.... I tell you this right now.. if I get it in hand, and the screen is not up to par, I will send it back that day with out even trying out the rest of it!
a tablet is 90% screen, so you better put a freaking GREAT screen! lol
the only thing I dont like about my transformer is the creeking on the left hand side, if it didnt have this problem, then I would be A OK!
toshiba looks like it will be a quality tablet, I love how it's put together, looks tough!
I dont know why "thin" is a good thing, I simply dont get it..
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I like thin devices. I don't necessarily care for ultra-light devices, though. To each their own.

[Q] Tab 10.1 or EEE Transformer or Option C?

Ok, so i was instantly hooked the second Samsung teased their new thinner Tab10.1.
Since then i've been disapointed.
No Expandable memory (and only 16GB internal)
No HDMI
My 2 main uses for my tablet are reading News/Blogs and media consumption.
I just can't figure out if i'm ok with a thin, light, well performing tablet if it's going to lack video output and at least 32GB memory.
So far the EEE Pad Transformer is a fatter heavier option, but it might suit me better.
I'm open to be swayed one way or another. feel free to throw in another good recommendation too. it seems like theres 10 new Honeycomb tablets per week.
What do?

You won't notice 2mm more thickness if you are not hyped to it.
If you can live without the GT screen resolution, then yes, there are more functional Android tabs.
For me it's the display quality. I read a lot of books so it must be awesome.

I own an eeepc 1015pn that I added a 120gb ssd to, I was originally looking to purchase a transformer, prior to the release of the tab... but I would have ended up with two devices that were similar. that and the asus rep at the store kinda blew me off so I said F that.
I like the tab. its small and I don't need the extra space or ports, because I typically will have both my netbook and tablet with me at the same time.

The Transformer's thickness didn't bother me. It was the bezel, it's got squared edges and wasn't that comfortable to hold after a while, mainly in portrait mode.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is by far the most comfortable tablet I've held, even more comfortable than the iPad 2.
No HDMI out was a minor thing since that isn't something I would use much anyway, I could use a laptop instead. No micro SD actually bothered me a lot. But in the end I decided comfort was worth more than micro SD (and the cheaper price tag).
Another tablet to perhaps keep an eye on is the Toshiba Thrive. It's got a lot of nice ports, full SD, USB, micro USB, and full HDMI. Along with a removable back cover and battery. It's heavy though and that worries me some, but Engadget said it didn't feel as heavy as expected and the rubber back makes it more comfortable to hold.

Ravynmagi said:
The Transformer's thickness didn't bother me. It was the bezel, it's got squared edges and wasn't that comfortable to hold after a while, mainly in portrait mode.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is by far the most comfortable tablet I've held, even more comfortable than the iPad 2.
No HDMI out was a minor thing since that isn't something I would use much anyway, I could use a laptop instead. No micro SD actually bothered me a lot. But in the end I decided comfort was worth more than micro SD (and the cheaper price tag).
Another tablet to perhaps keep an eye on is the Toshiba Thrive. It's got a lot of nice ports, full SD, USB, micro USB, and full HDMI. Along with a removable back cover and battery. It's heavy though and that worries me some, but Engadget said it didn't feel as heavy as expected and the rubber back makes it more comfortable to hold.
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I have the Samsung 10.1,how do the screens compare to each other?I'm thinking about getting a transformer but is the Samsung 10.1 screen superior to it??

Barely. They're both very good screens but the Samsung one is more vibrant and bright (due to settings I'm sure).
PS: There should be a stickied topic regarding these... comparisons. Or people should learn to use the search.

cglowstick said:
No Expandable memory (and only 16GB internal)
...
I just can't figure out if i'm ok with a thin, light, well performing tablet if it's going to lack video output and at least 32GB memory.
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You do know you can get it with 32GB, right?

Itaintrite said:
Barely. They're both very good screens but the Samsung one is more vibrant and bright (due to settings I'm sure).
PS: There should be a stickied topic regarding these... comparisons. Or people should learn to use the search.
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Is it like comparing super amoled to retna display? Like that kind of difference?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

Transformer vs Galaxy tab 10.1

I literally just put my order in about 3 days ago and will see my TF on Thursday, but I'm having second thoughts. A friend of mine just got his TF in today, and - well I dunno, I'm not all that impressed.
Out of the box came with the speaker issue (one side is louder than the other). The sound wasn't all that loud
Screen brightness was kind of low
The sharp edges were cutting my fingers
So I started to have a read about the differences between the Transformer & the Galaxy tab in the Galaxy Tab section. However, I think everyone posting there is biased toward the tab because they are now tab fanboys posting in their forum.
A few things I do like about the TF. Price of $399 (unbeatable) Expandable ports, dock option, memory slot, hdmi out, 5mpx camera. Do I think I'll use all of that (except price)? Probably not.
A few things I like about the Tab. Same size screen with less bulk, thinner, lighter, rounded edges, very solid build quality. Do I think its worth an extra $100 for these items? I think so. Plus I know the resale value will definitely be there because its a well known brand.
I haven't made up my mind completely on this but im about 80% of the way there in returning my TF and going with the Tab.
Thoughts, comments?

Nobody can decide for you. Do whatever you are happiest with.

Having used a hybrid tablet/netbook like the Transformer, I would never buy a tablet-only device.

^x2
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...

Hi mate,
I have had the TF since release day and to be honest I'm very happy with it. It does what I need it to do very well: reading books, browse internet, playing games, plays movies (although there are some issues).
On the other hand I don't need and I will never get the dock, simply because if I wanted a netbook there are much better options on the market. And I have one of them as well.
Because of that I'm waiting to see the Galaxy Tab in real life, hold it in my hands. And if that offers everything that I need and is better than the TF I might go for it.
So good luck choosing! Let us know what you go for.
rio
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status

rio911 said:
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status
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Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.

Some people like smaller I would not be able to stand a 7" tablet or laptop without optical media. My motto has always been its the size/shape that makes it portable it doesn't matter if its 20lbs its still light and easy to move around. But then again I compare it with moving around 300-400lbs.

Digiguest said:
Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.
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Gtab. 10.1 also with build issues. Many are suffering from Newton rings. Dust under screen. Colors are way oversaturated.....
If u want android in an ipad like body then go Samsung. If Samsung would have made the device 1 or 2 mm thicker and put in micro SD and HDMI they also would have been able to prevent the Newton ring issue and have the one killer tablet.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Digiguest said:
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
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I don't know how you can say that really.... there hasn't been any major updates for Samsung to pass onto the Tablets. The only time when you'll be able to use that point is when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out. I'd say that 1/2 months is a good enough turn around for manufacturers to update their devices a major version.
I'd also like to note that I have a Galaxy S. While Americans are still using Eclair because of their crappy carriers wanting to hack the firmware to bits, us using unbranded european devices got Gingerbread before any other device (bar the Nexus devices). Samsung know what they are doing.

The way I see it, from my experience with the TF is this:
16GB is not enough. My music alone is near this and more. Since there is no additional storage options on the GT, you are going to have to opt for a 32GB or more which equals greater $$$ to spend. But sacrifices could be made...
So, I would say the dock is the real reason to get this thing. If you are not too excited about the dock, I wouldn't bother. The GT excels in design, but the TF excels in utility and value.

If the "sharp edges" of the Transformer are really "cutting [your] fingers," that's a physical problem with the device (or your fingers, I guess!).

Buy sleeve m8,than will be perfect

Your not the first to have these concerns. I bought the tf and was considering selling it for a tab. But what you've stated (price, microsd, HDMI out, and KB option) kept me from doing so.
I played with the tab for an hour or so and still prefer my tf. I didn't like the button placement on the tab, (they're in a more natural placement on the tf.
I did have the speaker issue on my tf but it was an easy fix. Just root it (there's a very well written guide by yours truly ;-)) and read up on the thread in the development section and it's as easy as editing a txt file.
If the edges bother you, grab a case, I'm currently using the roocase multi-angle which I got from amazon for under $30.
Other than that the only downside of the tf I see is the charger. Proprietary connection, short cable and sometimes the adapter doesn't want to work.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

I was in the same boat. I traded my iPad2 for an Android tablet and had lots of offers. I was looking at the Galaxy Tab and thought it was for me until I found that it didn't have any expansion ports like the iPad2. It is one of the reasons why I HATED the iPad2 because you had to carry around the special USB cable to sync it... then you needed special software for it to work...
Screw all that. I need to be able to quickly get files on and off the my tablet. I don't want to have to rely on another computer or a computer with special software to read my stuff.
90% of the time you'll have access to a Home or Work PC which you will probably have setup properly... but trust me... you WILL find yourself somewhere needing to pull a picture off or text or an attachment or something and you'll be stuck. It will happen more often the more you use it.
Plus the price point. I was trading my iPad2 for whichever I wanted. Did I need the keyboard dock? No. Will I use the keyboard dock often? No. Is it badass? Yes.
The keyboard dock has an additional battery that will charge the tablet battery when docked. It also increases the functionality of the tab.
Both tablets are identical in hardware except the Transformer has lots of additional ports. microSD is a must and HDMI out is actually very handy for throwing pictures, movies, games, etc on a larger screen.
I just can't see buying the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the same price as you could buy the Transformer + Dock.

sontin said:
It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...
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I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.

My experience is that I just bought the Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB about 5 days ago. I played with it over night and returned it the next day.
The following day, I purchased the Transformer 16GB and a dock for $50.00 more.
Now that I've owned the TF for 3-4 days, I'm very satisfied with it for many reasons:
- Multiple media input/out options: mini HDMI out, x2 USB ports, and SD/MMC card reader. - Will work perfectly with my Nikon P100's SD card and I can use a external HDD and plug it right into the USB port if I want to watch my movies.
- Dock acts as extended battery: I also tether my HTC Thunderbolt and plug it into the dock to keep a charge on my Thunderbolt while tethering my 4G to the Transformer.(SO MUCH WIN!!!)
- Having a keyboard when I want to compose an email is x100 better than thumbing my words through the tab. - I still use the touchscreen kb for somethings.
- Dock/keyboard has shortcut buttons which I take advantage of all the time.
- Textured casing makes handling the tablet/net book very secure and eliminates any smudges.
*I do not see where in the world you could cut your hand/finger on the tablet or the docking station. - You should tell your friend to get an RMA because there's something wrong with the one he has. Either that or he may need to see a dermatologist about amyloidosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Re: Samsung Galaxy 10.1
I chose that tablet first because of the sleek design. I was extremely impressed with the way that Samsung engineered the design.
HOWEVER, no more than 1-2 hours after playing with it, I came back to my senses and see how limited I was with any options. Not only does it look like an iPad but it also has all the shortcomings in hardware that the iPad does.
I have had a few Android devices and so it's practically a religion to have a microSD card for my stuff. Samsung decided to cut back on adding any option to extend storage and that was a the biggest decider for me. - All the selling points that a Android tablet has in terms of hardware-media expansion was nerfed on latest Galaxy Tab. Did Samsung want to imitate Apple so much that they even decided to try and sell a tab that requires additional parts to make it comparable to all other tablets?
In the end, this is only my real life opinion having owned both devices and what I still have now is the Asus Transformer.
Once I used the keyboard/dock with my tablet, I can not imagine another tablet without this option. Asus did a decent job in engineering the look/feel of the tab with the dock/keyboard.
*I did have to return both tab and dock/keyboard to Best Buy until I found the right Best Buy which had B60 as my previous ones were B50.
Good lucking in making your decision. If you buy it at Best Buy, you can at least return it in 14 days without restocking fee and get the other one. If you felt that first one was better than you can simply return it again and go back to the other model. I am in NO WAY suggesting to abuse a return policy but it's there and it works as mentioned.

coachclass said:
I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course the closer together glass in the gtab has led to the oil blob effect for Many
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I've had my TF since right after it launched in the US and I do love it. With that being said, I do plan on picking up a galaxy tab tomorrow, the last day that you can use the $50 off coupon for any tablet at staples.
The TF definately has the advantage when it comes to storage, because of the SD card and dock if you want to buy it, which I have no interest in. The galaxy tab however has a great form factor and from my limited use with one seems to have snappier performance than my TF, even though they have almost idendical specs, and my TF is overclocked. I also prefer the screen on the tab compared to the TF.
Honestly I think that the OP will be happy with either one. My only real gripe against the TF is that the majority of them seem to suufer from light bleed or some manufacturing defect, thankfully I only have minimal bleed, and that Asus has been slow with delivering on most of the official accessories that they promised months ago. I really want the desktop dock, which is readily available for the GT at a reasonable price.
I will say that if the galaxy tab disappoints me in any way during my return window, I will gladly buy a second TF after returning it.

I own the TF since late May...only problem I have with it is that the right speaker is louder than the left.
This past Sunday I bought the Galaxy Tab for someone and yeah it looks very nice it's thinner and lighter, but it seemed to have less options than the TF (specially within the browser settings.) The browser actually froze up on me and didn't want to display any pages. Didn't like that fact that it doesn't have an external microSD slot! I ended up returning it 2 hours later because the person preferred a laptop! My short experience with it wasn't good

Galaxy vs thrive

I want to buy Galaxy tab but i got few question.
I had my eyes set on Toshiba thrive because it offer more ports.But galaxy tab screen and viewing angles and lightweight made me change my decision.
1)Which one got better screen like IPS?
2)anyway to connect some kind of connector to read USB/SD cards if i get galaxy tab.?
3)Is there a moisture issue with galaxy tab?
3)which one got better battery life?

From my experience seeing all of them in person the only two tablets with nice screens are the Samsung Galaxy and the Asus Transformer, the others are washed out looking and not as vibrant.
The Asus has some build issues according to the numerous posts in the Asus forum so it made me stay away.
There is a USB/SD Reader for the Galaxy.
I don't know about the other two questions.....

I just exchanged my thrive for the tab, the thrive was good because of the ports but in my opinion the much better looking screen, lightweight, and thiness makes the tab the better choice. So far I am happier with the Samsung, not to mention I got it for $100 cheaper with the staples coupon

I had 4 Asus Transformers, each with a unique build or operational issue. I bought the keyboard, sleeve, and invisible shield. I invested alot, especially since I had to keep replacing and installing the invisible shield after every swap at Best Buy. The whole Zagg warranty is nice but not when. You pay to have it installed and then pay for shipping. Its about the same as buying a new unit. I digress.
The Galaxy Tab is what I choose. I had a 32gb SD card for the 16gb tramsformer. Its been repurposed to my HTC Evolution 4G and I bought the 32gb Tab model in gun-metal. I can tell you the ounces and millimetersbetween the Asus and Samsung are some valuable ones! It feels so much better in your hand! Thumb keyboard is much better for me on the GT. The screens are very hard to tell any difference at all, to be honest.
Now the reason I did not go with the Thrive and all its ports... I had all those same ports on the Asus Tablet and KB dock. The only thing I used was the SD card slot. Well 32gb is alot of apps and media. And if I can't survive on that, its because I'm being lazy. Lol. Also, I found my primary use was internet and communication (IM, home amd work email, work citrix, etc...) as well as some light gaming and personalization. Android can be addicting when it comes to screen and home setup. Its almost a hobby to sit and mess with it.... and with this beautiful Galaxy screen. Wow!
The Best Buy guys liked the Toshiba alot for all the ports, battery, and back cover options. I thoughtvit mattered when I got the Asus. It really didn't. I just wanted space. With the USB dongle and a small SD card USB reader or thumb driver, you can expand lightly and easily for use. The keyboard and and accessories are starting to pour out as well for the Tab. That will mean alot in case choice and the keyboard and media dock are very nice. The Asus keyboard battery supplement was nice. But bulky too.
All in all, FOR ME, form and weight won because ultimately that boosts my operations. I had to find ways to prop the Asus after long periods of handheld use, and the Thrive was bigger and heavier. So I know I made the right choice ... again for me.
So bottom line.... is form and weight going to make your expierience more enjoyable? Or will direct port access give you the pleasure pleasure your looking for? That really is what helped with my decision and I could not be happier. GALAXY Tab10.1 all the way!
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

I had a look at a Thrive today (It got to New Zealand before the 10.1 for some reason) and it's got to be the most hideously ugly piece of electronic kit I have ever laid my eyes on.
Yuck. That camera bezel and its brick like appearance are massive turn offs.

ministerjee said:
I want to buy Galaxy tab but i got few question.
I had my eyes set on Toshiba thrive because it offer more ports.But galaxy tab screen and viewing angles and lightweight made me change my decision.
1)Which one got better screen like IPS?
2)anyway to connect some kind of connector to read USB/SD cards if i get galaxy tab.?
3)Is there a moisture issue with galaxy tab?
3)which one got better battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A friend of mine from work has a Thrive and I get to play with it a lot. But I still prefer my GT10.1 and this is why:
1) The GT10.1's screen is definitely superior. It takes some getting used to the vibrancy of the colors, but PLS is a bit ahead of IPS in my opinion (have an iPad 1 and owned the TF for a while). The viewing angles are just much better. It might be just me, but the Thrive is the worst fingerprint magnet I've seen. Don't have as much of an issue with my GT10.1 in that department. Also, the higher-def encoding that Toshiba introduced for the Thrive is unnoticeable to me. My friend also agrees that my screen is better.
2) There is def. a USB connector out already from Samsung. It's a bit pricey but does the job. I haven't really had the need for it, so I didn't invest. That is one of the advantages of the Thrive. If you see yourself needing that, then consider the Thrive (I'd get it over the TF. My friend also returned his TF for the Thrive and hasn't looked back).
3) I know some people have mentioned this moisture problem, but I believe the vast majority of us have NO issues with the GT10.1 at all. People tend to talk about what's wrong with their devices rather than praise it on forums. It's natural. Coming from the Tranformer, this thing is absolutely perfect. No light bleeding, dead pixels, bending, etc. Just perfect!
4) I believe the GT10.1 has the slight advantage there. Most HC tablets will yield 8-10 hours battery life. I get days and days on standby after setting the Wireless to turn off when the screen is off. If you think about it, you don't really need your tablet to provide immediate email notifications, etc. That's what your smartphone is for. Definetely can't complain about the battery life on either device. I feel that the Thrive's tiny inferiority on this department is due to having to power the other components (USB, HDMI, etc.). I might be wrong.
Basically, my decision to go with the GT10.1 came from the fact that I already have a laptop. If I didn't have a laptop/netbook, I would have considered the Thrive more. I want my tablet as a tablet nothing more. Never did I feel the need to do anything extra on my iPad 1 and I definitely don't feel that need with the GT10.1. It doesn't get any more portable and convenient than this.

Toshiba Thrive can accept SDXC cards up to 2 TB wow!
Sorry Samsung Tab 10.1

qipengart said:
Toshiba Thrive can accept SDXC cards up to 2 TB wow!
Sorry Samsung Tab 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's just too thick....there are win 7 tabs with tons of ports and more power in almost the same form factor....

I bet if you dropped the Thrive on your toe it would break your toe before the tablet. Lol. It just lacks so much in that department its a deal breaker.
If its the price you like, for the same price I'd over look the Transformer return rate, and keep returning until you get your hands on a July unit. The June units went through a less vigorous QA check to respond to demand (says the transformer forums.) Best Buy could not track which of their units were June vs. July.... or which when they would get any new ones at all(from July.)
I just needed something I could 'move into' and stay 'moved in.' There is only so many times you can setup your tablet before that is all you do is setup, tablet after tablet. I spent another $200 for the Tab10.1, but at least I am now using a tablet (and not setting it up again and again!)
The best thing to do is review the review and remarks on BestBuy.com and Amazon.com. Those reviews are easy to weed through user error and product praise or poor product.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

hardt2788 said:
I just exchanged my thrive for the tab, the thrive was good because of the ports but in my opinion the much better looking screen, lightweight, and thiness makes the tab the better choice. So far I am happier with the Samsung, not to mention I got it for $100 cheaper with the staples coupon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same, looked at the Thrive at OD , then went to Staples and paid $399.99 for the Galaxy.

thrive = toughbook
ugly!!!

qipengart said:
Toshiba Thrive can accept SDXC cards up to 2 TB wow!
Sorry Samsung Tab 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really? don't you have a primary device?
tablets are for secondary use only

Thank you everyone for your wonderful replies. I hope Gtab won't disoppoint me.Can any pne confirm if its a PLS display screen or just a TFT ???

Regarding storage.... I just saw a GoFlex Seagate 500gb drive that is 1) battery powered, 2) wifi and Bluetooth enabled, and 3) $199 at Best Buy. With this drive you can store 300 movies and access from most mobile OS's wirelessly. Forget $100 32gb micro SD card slots. This makes much more sense to me. No more eject and insert. Just share and access.
This completely solves the question of which tablet has more ports and compatibility. Do you have wifi or Bluetooth? Yes! Issue resolved! Don't event take it out of your pocket or bag.
The Galaxy Tab has a Samsung Amoled screed. They produce it. If you've ever been shopping for a new flatscreen TV, you will already know Samsung is top of the heap. The Amoled and Tegra 2 processor are top notch in the market of mobility. To me the Amoled screen is superior to the iPAD2 and Asus TF IPS display. Every IPS display I've seen had light leaks around the edges. Not seen a single Amoled screen with such a defect.
It makes a big difference when viewing dark images or movies.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

I like my tab but it doesn't come with amoled display .... that is still only on Samsung phones.
Hopefully we will get a tablet with amoled display soon.
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Sorry! It looks very similar. I had an Epic 4G and could swear the screen was Amoled. Here are the specs, just for further questions on specs.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/GT-P7510MAYXAB-specs
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ad78 said:
thrive = toughbook
ugly!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
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