Ive had my Fire a few days now and have done a lot of modding. Ive rooted it, installed TWRP, then CM7. Then gapps, market, etc. Then I decided I wanted to go back to rooted stock so I installed the prerooted 6.2.1 along with go launcher ex to have both the Amazon launcher and a more standard android interface, and be able to switch between the two. And no matter what way I set it up there was always something that just didnt work the way I wanted.
The main issue I had was that almost all video had out of sync audio. Internet videos, netflix. And I tried several different wi-fi connections. One of which is a very solid 20 mb/s connection to my laptop. I took my mother in laws samsung galaxy 7.0, set up the exact same video using the same wi-fi just to see if it might be the connection, and the galaxy was perfect, and the Fire just enough out of sync to be irritating.
So I set up a return with Amazon, got it back to full stock, and boxed it up. But now Im having second thoughts. I know how popular it is, and it seems like it has a lot of great developers working hard on roms. So Im wondering if I should just keep it, and hope that someone makes a fully functioning ICS port that fixes all the issues that are keeping this from being my ideal android tablet. Or should I go ahead and return it and cough up another $200 and get the Samsung galaxy plus.
Anyway I figured you guys would be the best ones to ask for advice regarding this. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
If it doesnt work for you, well, it doesnt! Thats that... Get an iPad 2 (seriously). The Android tabs despite their hardware specs arent that great currently.
/not trying to start a flame war here, i own several tablets and for me the iPad works best... YMMV
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
I personally hate apple, plus I want a smaller tablet. I figure if im going to get a tablet that big I might as well just carry my laptop around.
Gam3r 4 Life said:
...I figure if im going to get a tablet that big I might as well just carry my laptop around.
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I have to agree, and the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad is annoying.
I'm confident ICS is coming to the Fire, but if you have the money to upgrade to the Galaxy, I would probably do that. Can't really complain for $200 on the Kindle, though. Plus Samsung had played games with customers before with promising updates and not delivering. So maybe I wouldn't go with it. Moto's new 8" tablet is appealing except for the fact that its tied to Verizon.
Sent from my rough sketch of a Vibrant on a brick.
Well if your having second thoughts, take it back. With a somewhat big purchase like that, you'd want to be 100% sure you like it. If you really want a small tablet get a cheap Asus tablet, or a small laptop that has a touch screen.
u have issues.
get what works for u, don't convince yourself to keep something u don't want. I sold my tf101 transformer too big for my taste, I don't watch videos on a 7" tab. the fire is awesome for me
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
Well its gone. Boxed up and at the ups store.
Gam3r 4 Life I think I am right behind you.
I have used mine since Christmas day and although its a neat gadget its really neither a good reader nor a good tablet. It kinda lacks an identity. I emailed Amazon about their lack of TTS on the reader for this unit and their reply was pretty much "sorry.. you have 30 days to return it".
I guess for $200 I will just wait and see what comes down the road, and continue using my Samsnung Infuse for this kind of stuff. It has a 4" touch screen and I dont watch alot of videos anyway so it works ok for now.
Nice try Amazon, but I think you forced this thing to market without thinking it all the wary through. Maybe the next gen will be better. Well anyway I have another couple weeks to see if I can learn to like it. But at this point, I am thinking no.
I think the expectations might be too high. You're looking for the best of both worlds, and if you want media that you don't have to rip yourself, you're not going to get it on a rooted tablet, that's been made apparent by the MPAA. Netflix only runs on Silverlight or on platforms on which you don't have full access do the device where the studio's have guaranteed control of their media.
And given the limited RAM available on the Fire, it's not surprising that running a full sized ROM like CM7 could cause video issues when streaming. Probably not enough remaining RAM to buffer the video with CM7 running, that's my guess.
*IF* you want to get CM7 and then some other method of video streaming outside of Amazon, you'll need a more capable tablet like the Galaxy 7, Galaxy Plus, or the Flyer, and you'll need to pay a lot more for it up front to get the flexibility you want.
the 4:3 aspect ratio is the best feature of the ipad...
I hate how everything is 16:9 nowadays. it's terribly inefficient.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
I've always been curious about this.
My pro-Apple friends have argued the same thing, saying Apple has done tons of research and 4:3 is best for a tablet.
But 4:3 is one of the main reasons why I'd never buy an iPad. If entertainment media is one of the prime features of a tablet, why would I want a screen that has black bars on the top and bottom (effectively shrinking the screen size) whenever I'm watching hi-def widescreen video?
In general, android tablets compete on price. They are the Yugos of the tablet world compared to the Benz that Apple offers (at a Benz price, I might add)...and the fire does a heck of a job at $199. If it works for you at that price point, great...if not, well get an iPad.
I wouldn't recommend looking to replace the fire with another android tablet, however, because once rooted and sorted it really competes with the best of them.
Amacx86 said:
In general, android tablets compete on price. They are the Yugos of the tablet world compared to the Benz that Apple offers (at a Benz price, I might add)...and the fire does a heck of a job at $199. If it works for you at that price point, great...if not, well get an iPad.
I wouldn't recommend looking to replace the fire with another android tablet, however, because once rooted and sorted it really competes with the best of them.
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Click to collapse
LOL, I had a Yugo!!! I bought it from a guy that needed to pay his rent for under $500. If I remember right his name was Billy Bob, or something like that (and the name fit). The only thing he requested to keep from the car was a shifter knob that looked exactly like a bathtub water knob. My mother and I drove it til the engine gave out at about 30,000 miles. Not bad for under $500.
Funny story, that thing was such a piece if junk that the shifter knob and handle use to pop off and you could see through to the ground through the floor. So my mother would call me and say it happened again. I would have to go rig it back on just so she could drive it again. My mom was such a good sport and never got mad about it, and laughed about it with me. (RIP).
You know the saying that your first idea/answer about something is usually the right one. Well that applies here. When I first decided to get a tablet I wanted the HTC EVO View. But I didnt want to have to add a data plan to my bill so I ended up with the Nook tablet. Then the nook color, then the vizio vtab, then the Coby kyros, then the Kindle fire. Well after all that Im back to the evo view and found it on amazon for under $300. And this is a wi-fi/ 4g version, but doesn't require a data plan. So on payday thats what Im going to get. I originally had the evo 4g as my cell, and now have the evo 3d and love it. So the Evo view is basically a larger version of my phone which is exactly what I want from a tablet.
chaose said:
the 4:3 aspect ratio is the best feature of the ipad...
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
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Agreed, that's why I haven't wasted my money on one.
Damn you Swype!
I've got my KFire rooted running CM7 and haven't noticed any sync problems at all with netflix or youtube. I'm completely happy with it and all these devs are busting their butts to get some pretty sweet ROM's running on here. Hopefully MIUI will be one of them. ICS will work for now once they get the audio/video issues worked out.
Related
I keep thinking about getting a Xoom or something else Honeycomb when they come out. The one thing I keep hitting on is how and how much I would use it.
As I type this I'm looking at two computers with two monitors each, a 360, and a ps3, then I have a old tube tv in the other room with a Nintendo, Genesis, and a PS2 hooked up to it.
Sometimes I do sit in front of all that and use my "little" 4.3 phone to surf the web, but not a whole lot. When I had my Hero all I wanted was something bigger, the Evo hit that perfectly!
What are you guys thoughts on tablets in general?
Looks sexy
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I really want a tablet. Especially the xoom! Looks sweet. The price tag is high but it looks worth it. Itll be a while before i could get anything like that so have to see what comes out after that. It being a official google device makes it better tho.
A year ago, I did not want one..I have changed my mid. I could live with my Evo till the end of my contract if I had an awesome tablet to play with. I spend a LARGE part of my day surfing the web on my phone. After owning the Evo, I could see myself LOVING a tablet. After seeing Honeycomb, I lust.
I have an iPad. I use it to play games and to browse the web when I'm taking a dump. Those two things alone keep me on it for about 2-3 hours daily.
I'll probably get an Android tab eventually but for now the iPad works fine for my purposes.
_MetalHead_ said:
I have an iPad. I use it to play games and to browse the web when I'm taking a dump. Those two things alone keep me on it for about 2-3 hours daily.
I'll probably get an Android tab eventually but for now the iPad works fine for my purposes.
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Too much information...
Sent from my Evo powered by MIUI
Nook Color Honeycomb,...$249
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mutant13 said:
Nook Color Honeycomb,...$249
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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...which has a very underwhelming CPU/GPU and a still non fully working port? Even with a fully working Honeycomb ROM it's not really worth it.
As for tablets, I don't really need one but I'll probably get a one soon. It's going to be between the iPad 2, Xoom, and maybe even the WebOS tablets.
Actually for me it's the other way around. I used to dream of having a tablet but now that I have an evo, i don't see any point of getting one.
Having a 4.3 and another 7inch device, even 10inch is just overkill.
Besides, once we get dual core phones, there won't be any point to get a tablet beside screen size, which is not that much of a difference.
tejasrichard said:
A year ago, I did not want one..I have changed my mid. I could live with my Evo till the end of my contract if I had an awesome tablet to play with. I spend a LARGE part of my day surfing the web on my phone. After owning the Evo, I could see myself LOVING a tablet. After seeing Honeycomb, I lust.
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I agree... Especially since sprint hoooooeeeed us all out of our prime membership upgrades. I'd rather pay for a new tablet than full price for a phone, and just wait for my 2 year upgrade to end.
$500-600 for a new phone when i still have my fully capable evo that runs silky smooth and 99.99% of the apps on the android market
ORRR
$500-700 on a tablet with a much bigger screen and capable of running dungeon defenders....
Thank you sprint for taking away my upgrade because I never would have considered getting a tablet otherwise......................................................................................................assholes
FWIW, I'll give it a week to let users shake it down, and if there's nothing really busted I'll be getting a Xoom.
Tried a few tablets already (Viewsonic G-Tablet, Huawei Ideos, Galaxy Tab) and really want one in a 10" form-factor (so, no Galaxy Tab) with a decent screen and touchscreen (so, no to the other two).
starplaya93 said:
I agree... Especially since sprint hoooooeeeed us all out of our prime membership upgrades. I'd rather pay for a new tablet than full price for a phone, and just wait for my 2 year upgrade to end.
$500-600 for a new phone when i still have my fully capable evo that runs silky smooth and 99.99% of the apps on the android market
ORRR
$500-700 on a tablet with a much bigger screen and capable of running dungeon defenders....
Thank you sprint for taking away my upgrade because I never would have considered getting a tablet otherwise......................................................................................................assholes
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Its horrible this is such a good point! I've been giving Boost some real serious thought and the money I save could be a great excuse to spend the cash on a sweet tablet. The only catch is it seems like all the good tablets are signing on to a carrier.
Xoom is a bit steep for me, so i'm actually gonna wait for the Asus Transformer, which is supposed to fall between 400-700, i'm guessing 16/wifi, 16/3g, 32/wifi and 32/3g with $100 seperating them. The specs for the upcoming devices all look similiar enough that it really falls to build quality and any additional features, and i like the idea of a 10inch netbook form factor where the screen comes off.
I was interested in the Xoom but I want an wifi-only version and I'm not willing to pay as much as a laptop [or more] for a tablet.
Moreover, the Xoom is pretty unattractive considering the likely-hood of a unlockable bootloader.
_MetalHead_ said:
I have an iPad. I use it to play games and to browse the web when I'm taking a dump. Those two things alone keep me on it for about 2-3 hours daily.
I'll probably get an Android tab eventually but for now the iPad works fine for my purposes.
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Win lmfao I always play killer instinct on my snes emulator while taking a dumb. And I'm getting a xoom its dual core love, I came so close to buying an ipad 2 days ago glad I didn't.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Guess what I am doing right now. Lol
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Honeycomb itself looks amazing, makes me kinda want to get the Xoom. but i think im good with my Evo and laptop. Maybe later when different Honeycomb products come out.
Before I go pay that much money for a tablet ill just go buy another laptop with 10 times better specs. I pretty much feel the same way I did about when the ipads came out.. not much in terms of being useful for me.
For everybody saying laptops better fill the role remember the way the world is moving. I believe the xoom could accomplish most everything a laptop could, especially once developers start making apps for it. The specs of the zoom are amazing as well,.and its portability and "fun of use" will easily best out any laptop... Some books may be up to par.
Im just iffy about the multitasking on honeycomb to be honest.
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davenukem said:
For everybody saying laptops better fill the role remember the way the world is moving. I believe the xoom could accomplish most everything a laptop could, especially once developers start making apps for it. The specs of the zoom are amazing as well,.and its portability and "fun of use" will easily best out any laptop... Some books may be up to par.
Im just iffy about the multitasking on honeycomb to be honest.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
A tablet will never replace my laptop... not unless it comes with a TB HD, a top notch graphics card, office, sql, access, etc. It's not really even practical for me to use one as a replacement. If I were to ever get a tablet it would be strictly for a casual/fun type thing.
Stop complaining about buying an incomplete device in other sections and post them here. Getting tired of unhelpful info being thrown around on XDA.
Edit
I love my xoom and would never return it, just getting tired of stupid post and tools with no experience lol.
My only remorse is that I didn't buy it on the first day of release.
erzhik said:
My only remorse is that I didn't buy it on the first day of release.
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+1
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
sirius b said:
+1
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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+50
Lol
I am still on the fence. Just got mine a couple of days ago. I have had a handful of problems with apps FC'ing. What I think is really dumb is the case that Staples sells puts the power plug on the bottom so you cant use the Xoom propped up and have it plugged in at the same time.
I am also not convinced yet that I am a good candidate for a tablet. I create a lot of content but don't consume a lot of content. I still have to grab my laptop to do photo editing, faster text editing, video chatting (other than the GTalk app). I don't think a lot of my issues are specific to the Xoom or more Android 3.0 compatibility issues.
I think the vast majority of problems will be sorted out soon but I am not sure I need to pay full price to be an early adopter yet.
KerryG said:
I am still on the fence. Just got mine a couple of days ago. I have had a handful of problems with apps FC'ing. What I think is really dumb is the case that Staples sells puts the power plug on the bottom so you cant use the Xoom propped up and have it plugged in at the same time.
I am also not convinced yet that I am a good candidate for a tablet. I create a lot of content but don't consume a lot of content. I still have to grab my laptop to do photo editing, faster text editing, video chatting (other than the GTalk app). I don't think a lot of my issues are specific to the Xoom or more Android 3.0 compatibility issues.
I think the vast majority of problems will be sorted out soon but I am not sure I need to pay full price to be an early adopter yet.
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Click to collapse
you can change the landscape mode but that turning it around so the charger is on top then lock the screen.
Ok... here's my rant ....
My main regret is ....
Why the hell is carphone warehouse making me wait until April 19th to get my damn XOOM.
HTFU
(H for Hurry)
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
haha i made the thread so i diddn't have to listen to people ***** about there xoom. I'm pretty happy that the real people are *****in bout not getting it sooner keep it up xoomers !
znfrazier said:
you can change the landscape mode but that turning it around so the charger is on top then lock the screen.
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Click to collapse
Yes, but then the holes for the camera arent in the right place, plus the case is just weak, doesnt hold well and the Xoom slides down and turns the volume down. The case is just a bad design.
ITT: Irony
Sent from my Captivate
znfrazier said:
+50
Lol
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+599 (totally worth the price tag)
Love mine, don't plan on selling it anytime soon. And once Honeycomb matures, this thing will be a beast!
I'm about to return my xoom, primarily because the touchscreen stopped responding. Which is a gigantic problem on a buttonless device!!!!!!!!!
I think I am going to go for my money back, and possibly buy the 16gb version when it comes out to save a few bucks.
I am tempted to get an iPad2, which makes me feel like an asshole but all the good apps are on there now. However I am learning java and will hopefully have time to write some apps soon, thereby making an empty app store more of a positive than negative.
Before anyone flames me for thinking of getting an ipad, its just cause I feel like its the one form factor device where I might not care as much if its locked down (of course I will jailbreak it on day one if I get it, and will be dual-booting android on it sometime after the ASOP comes out, google...)
If all I want to do with this device is read/watch/consume content, and ipad has all the content right now, it kinda makes sense. And I am confident the ipad2 could be an awesome honeycomb device. With the amount of sales it has had there should be enough interest in that as a project. Enough to give the google all the more reason to hold off on releasing the source code. Dammit..
mau006 said:
I'm about to return my xoom, primarily because the touchscreen stopped responding. Which is a gigantic problem on a buttonless device!!!!!!!!!
I think I am going to go for my money back, and possibly buy the 16gb version when it comes out to save a few bucks.
I am tempted to get an iPad2, which makes me feel like an asshole but all the good apps are on there now. However I am learning java and will hopefully have time to write some apps soon, thereby making an empty app store more of a positive than negative.
Before anyone flames me for thinking of getting an ipad, its just cause I feel like its the one form factor device where I might not care as much if its locked down (of course I will jailbreak it on day one if I get it, and will be dual-booting android on it sometime after the ASOP comes out, google...)
If all I want to do with this device is read/watch/consume content, and ipad has all the content right now, it kinda makes sense. And I am confident the ipad2 could be an awesome honeycomb device. With the amount of sales it has had there should be enough interest in that as a project. Enough to give the google all the more reason to hold off on releasing the sthource code. Dammit..
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Click to collapse
Nobody will flame you. Its personal preference. Some ppl like changing devices to fit there pref and some choose to use their device as just consuming data. Don't worry. This device will eventually run stable. We just have to wait.
Do you know me? What should you care if I flame you? The only time I would care if you buy an I pad would be if you bought it with MY money.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
I don't know if I got a better xoom than most if the people here but I am freaking loving this thing. The screen is beautiful, the white's are actually white, something I have not seen on anything except the Apple devices. I get no lag whatsoever on my home screens after oc'ing to 1.5 governor set at interactive, and the stereo speakers are really nice. I absolutely love this thing. I got a sweet car dock from a dealer in the UK so I can use it as a bad ass head unit in my car, and when its hooked up to my system with great speakers and 2 12's in the trunk it sounds as good or better than my gf's iPhone 5, something I have never found with any other android device, even my inspire with srs sound. Yes, it has some bugs but for what I need it to do it does it wonderful. I am using it as a complete laptop replacement. I am actually thinking of selling my macbook pro. And I think we are not gonna get many people posting here about their gripes with the device because...
1. They want to start their own post for attention/tolling
2. They don't use the search button
3. There is far to much effort for them to actually read through a forum for the appropriate place to post
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laxwillsch said:
I don't know if I got a better xoom than most if the people here but I am freaking loving this thing. The screen is beautiful, the white's are actually white, something I have not seen on anything except the Apple devices. I get no lag whatsoever on my home screens after oc'ing to 1.5 governor set at interactive, and the stereo speakers are really nice. I absolutely love this thing. I got a sweet car dock from a dealer in the UK so I can use it as a bad ass head unit in my car, and when its hooked up to my system with great speakers and 2 12's in the trunk it sounds as good or better than my gf's iPhone 5, something I have never found with any other android device, even my inspire with srs sound. Yes, it has some bugs but for what I need it to do it does it wonderful. I am using it as a complete laptop replacement. I am actually thinking of selling my macbook pro. And I think we are not gonna get many people posting here about their gripes with the device because...
1. They want to start their own post for attention/tolling
2. They don't use the search button
3. There is far to much effort for them to actually read through a forum for the appropriate place to post
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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Click to collapse
LMAO, i hate me some trolls, im made this post hoping it would attract them all but i guess i was wrong lol. stupid people. guess they never used a forum before.
I regret buying the Xoom because I should have waited for a tablet that is thinner, lighter, better screen, working micro sd slot, working 4G and has a pen input, a nornal micro usb that is rechargeable, and most importantly can play high profile .mkv 1080p without needing to do any conversion.
How come no company can do it right?
My biggest question is:
How come no European country make any tablets?
If Germany and Italy can create Mercedes, BMW, Farrari and Lamborghini, they can certainly make a measly sub $1,000 tech device.
keep on waiting. wait on, while we enjoy out Xoom. the best thing invented since the internet. Xoom, Xoom, Xoom...
May I offer these words of encouragement to anyone who has bought a Xoom but who hasn't been involved with Android and modded ROMS before?
The out of the box is not overly impressive when compared, as it inevitaly will be, with the iPad. It is disconcerting to have Forced Closes on a device costing what it does as regularly as one does. And there is not much eye-candy included either.
However, the hardware specs are so good that I have little doubt that the Xoom will be the equivalent of the HTC HD2 (which if you don't know started as a Windows Mobile 6 phone, got Froyo and then Gingerbread and now dual boots into Android or Windows Phone 7!) once the developers get their hands on the source code.
Hang onto your Xoom and you will see in the weeks to come that it will get better and better and, instead of having a gadget which is all shiny and cool for the first week and then becomes old news, you will have a gadget that keeps improving as each new ROM is released.
For a long time I didn't see a reason for me to purchase a tablet. The only use I can think of right now is for me to have more access to my files on a bigger screen via dropbox.
That said, I still reaaaaally want a Xoom, but it's not a good enough reason for me to drop $800+ (Xoom+accessories) since my phone can do the same thing, except on a smaller screen.
Yes, there is the multimedia portion; videos and whatnot but again, what else are tablets used for? I'm not an artist either so the drawing/sketching capabilities do not apply to me.
So hence my question, what do you guys use your tablets for?
Also, do phone applications work on tablets or do tablets have their own set of applications? How is the resolution of the apps if tablets can use the same apps that phones use?
Cheers!
I like this thing, but it's definitely a toy. If I hadn't gotten a great deal on it, I would have been disappointed. Functionality is not what I'd hoped, and browsing the internet is painful at best. I wouldn't dream of using it for serious work. In a few years these will be "useful," but for now it's still just a toy.
It seems like you have your mind made up. I use mines for:
Browsing
YouTube
Gaming
Emulators
Remote Desktop
Texting
Video Editing
Reference
School
Emailing
And a whole bunch of other things. I traded my iPad 2 for it and don't regret it one bit. More appps are coming to Android and are tablet friendly. You can run phone apps also. I haven't even rooted mines yet and if I did the list would be even bigger.
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slack04 said:
I like this thing, but it's definitely a toy. If I hadn't gotten a great deal on it, I would have been disappointed. Functionality is not what I'd hoped, and browsing the internet is painful at best. I wouldn't dream of using it for serious work. In a few years these will be "useful," but for now it's still just a toy.
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Click to collapse
I will admit that text input is hella laggy when typing on forums. I don't know why.
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I use mine for several things, but the major thing for which my phone would be completely inadequate is that I teach Bible class on Sunday mornings from my tablet. My tablet is wifi only so I cannot speak for those who can haul theirs with them all the time and get 3g on it.
Generally speaking, Android phone apps will work on an Android tablet. Some apps need to be updated for newer versions of Android, especially Honeycomb, and will force close. Some phone apps will not expand to fill the screen but will only take up a small portion of it. Some apps will fill the screen automatically and the resolution looks fine. Some apps will fill the screen but they look odd. It is a trial and error "test it and see" matter. There are also apps that have be designed or redesigned just for tablets. Most tablet apps will say "for Honeycomb" or "HD" (High Definition) or "for tablets" in their names, but this is not always the case. The Market does have a special section of featured tablet apps and you can find many more by searching on "Honeycomb" or "Tablet."
If you don't want to pay for a Xoom, look into the Iconia A500 like I did. It's very similar, but only costs $450
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
I actually think browsing the net is the best thing it does. Quick controls and thumb keyboard make it very fast. Use something like pulse and it's a media consumers dream.
I got my 3G Verizon Xoom on eBay for $490 shipped... I wouldn't pay regular price either.
At the end of the day... it IS just a toy, but it is definitely closer to a laptop than the iPad 2 is, I goto the iPad 2 for my wife & she loves it.
Xoom is much more versatile than the iPad 2.
At the end of the day it still seems like it's just an expensive toy as of now...
But I may pick one up tomorrow just to play with it to see if I like it just because I'm kind of a gadget whore. Hahaha
Question, does LauncherPro(Plus) work on tablets or no? Or is there a tablet version of it? I saw some "hands-on" videos on youtube and there seems to be a bit of lag when transitioning between homescreens. Hmmm!
Well I have a post about this. It is not exhaustive but it covers a lot with photos and elaborations.
I am not a random id that do some own ads here but if xda allows html, I will post my original write-up here without hestitation. =)
Here it is
What do you do with your 10.1 tablet toy??
There is no reason for a tablet. Just buy a laptop. Its half the price and its a better value. I would never drop 800 on a tablet.
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PureH2O said:
There is no reason for a tablet. Just buy a laptop. Its half the price and its a better value. I would never drop 800 on a tablet.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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Well, you just went beyond what I said when I called it a "toy." Its silly to make statements like this when 1) laptops are not "half the price"; 2) nobody cares how much YOU want to spend on your electronics; and 3) not everyone makes the same uses of their stuff as you do. If you like laptops, that's great. I do too. Tablets are a different form factor and thus have different uses.
Anyways, make your own decisions about what you want to spend your money on, just don't expect it to be anything more than it is.
slack04 said:
Well, you just went beyond what I said when I called it a "toy." Its silly to make statements like this when 1) laptops are not "half the price"; 2) nobody cares how much YOU want to spend on your electronics; and 3) not everyone makes the same uses of their stuff as you do. If you like laptops, that's great. I do too. Tablets are a different form factor and thus have different uses.
Anyways, make your own decisions about what you want to spend your money on, just don't expect it to be anything more than it is.
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Agreed, my laptop costed me 3 grand, so I disagree with the comment above yours.
Point of this post was to see if there's any other usages for the tablets that I had not known about. Which does not seem to be the case. I was hoping to have more reasons to justify my purchase (to make myself feel less guilty y'know? )
That said, I may buy it and play around with it to see if I like it and/or will be needing it.
Anyone know if its possible to haggle the price at BestBuy or FutureShop in Canada ?
PureH2O said:
There is no reason for a tablet. Just buy a laptop. Its half the price and its a better value. I would never drop 800 on a tablet.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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I admit there really is no reason for a tablet. I've wanted a Xoom since release but wasn't comfortable with paying $800 or signing a contract, so the wifi version came out and I jumped on it.
Now that I have the Xoom, I still don't really know what to do with it. I'm reading books on it, thats cool...it's cool for browsing and what not. I can't justify it's reason for existence other than it's cool.
To summarize;
Paid $600 for Xoom Wifi
Can't figure out what I needed it for
Happy as I hell that I have it
It's gadget porn, thats all.
Nighte said:
Agreed, my laptop costed me 3 grand, so I disagree with the comment above yours.
Point of this post was to see if there's any other usages for the tablets that I had not known about. Which does not seem to be the case. I was hoping to have more reasons to justify my purchase (to make myself feel less guilty y'know? )
That said, I may buy it and play around with it to see if I like it and/or will be needing it.
Anyone know if its possible to haggle the price at BestBuy or FutureShop in Canada ?
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Click to collapse
Ha! Haggling a price at a big-box store? Are you from Europe!
Just kidding, but the answer is a flat "no chance." Nobody at those stores have the authority to change pricing.
A word of advice to you: I'd wait for the second generation devices. The Xoom is a solid early-adopter device, but now that you've managed to avoid it for this long I'd put it off for a few more months while the second-gen devices come out. Cheaper, lighter, and (hopefully) will be supported for longer by google/manufacturer. Then again, if you spent $3k on a laptop (I hope it has a money printer and a grappling hook for that price!) then I'm guessing that you're not too worried about the few hundred dollars it would cost to trade up when you want to.
nooomoto said:
I admit there really is no reason for a tablet. I've wanted a Xoom since release but wasn't comfortable with paying $800 or signing a contract, so the wifi version came out and I jumped on it.
Now that I have the Xoom, I still don't really know what to do with it. I'm reading books on it, thats cool...it's cool for browsing and what not. I can't justify it's reason for existence other than it's cool.
To summarize;
Paid $600 for Xoom Wifi
Can't figure out what I needed it for
Happy as I hell that I have it
It's gadget porn, thats all.
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Click to collapse
+1
Yeah lots of new ones are coming out soon I believe. Guess I can wait.. it is afterall, just a toy
PureH2O said:
There is no reason for a tablet. Just buy a laptop. Its half the price and its a better value. I would never drop 800 on a tablet.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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Tablets are a lot easier to carry around. It's easier to hold while standing up, laying in bed, and kicking back on a couch/recliner/lawn chair. I'm tired of being hunched over a keyboard and mouse. I can rest my head and browse. If I need to do something that my Xoom can't. I can RDP into my PC, or walk to my PC and do what I need to do. Also battery life on my Xoom is just awesome.
I feel tablets are like the consoles vs PC war. Sure PC is superior to consoles in many ways, but in my opinion, it can't beat picking up the controller and relaxing on the recliner playing a game. Same sense, I can just pick my tablet up and browse.
I have no laptop nor netbook. So I bought the Xoom.
Yes it is a toy, but using it while lazing on the bed/couch is so comfortable.
Web browsing comes first to mind. Though it won't be as full featured as using the desktop but normal web surfing works very well and using your fingers instead of a mouse to navigate websites makes so much sense.
Next would be ebook reading. Seriously, if you read your books and you have no ebook reader then using your tablet as a book is a must. It has pretty much replaced my normal paperback reading. And best thing is it's pretty easy to just sideload tons of free ebooks into the Xoom for your viewing pleasure anytime.
And finally gaming. Just to pass the time. I pretty much stopped gaming on my nexus one because well, playing games on a 10.1" screen is just so much better.
Just buy the xoom at a Costco/sams club for you can return it after two months.
I plan on doing that so if new generation devices come out then I will just swap it out.
Right now i dont see the need for a tablet, although im envious of the people that do have them. But i just dont see the need for it at the moment, i just recently got a brand spankin new huge 25" all-in-one pc for less then that of the Xoom. As of now the Xoom isn't for me but i have my sights set on the Galaxy 10.1
Hey Everyone!
Like the thread title says, I'm looking to buy a tablet. I never really wanted one because I thought they were excessive luxury items but Amazon's Kindle Fire announcement (mostly it's $200 price tag) made me think for the first time about getting a tablet.
However, once I learned about the Fire not having a microSD port, I looked at the B&N Nook Tablet. I played with it in stores and I really liked it, but that 7" screen isn't optimal for me. I was looking for other options and came across the refurbished Transformers going for $300 on Tigerdirect. (Using my Chase credit card, I can buy it from Amazon and get 5% cashback which means I can get the Transformer for about $285)
Obviously this forum is biased, but do you guys recommend the Transformer? I'd love the Prime, but I just don't have that kind of money as a college student. Am I better off going with the newer Nook Tablet? Have you guys heard of any problems with these refurbed Transformers?
Thanks in advance!
Asus refurbs have a bad name to them lately. Either way, I love my Transformer. I returned an iPad2 to buy it. My wife returned her Kindle Fire because she expected it to be more like the Transformer. Said she'd rather have no tablet, then a half a tablet.
So, my vote goes to Yes, Buy it.
I'll chime in here. I've had my Transformer since the summer and I must admit that I absolutely love it. For me it offers the ultimate in portability and choice. Whatever your desire, be it watching a movie, reading a book, updating a work document, accessing your home computer, playing a game or browsing the web, it is an ultra portable extension of your computing life. If you are already in the Android ecosystem, once you register your tablet all of your Android apps will show up on your device for download. Some things it does not do well is picture taking but who uses a tablet for taking pictures? Tethered to my Android phone, I have the internet anywhere on the go. I use it with the Swype keyboard (you have to sign up for the beta) to take notes at meetings and can nearly keep up with the spoken word. If that's not good enough at a meeting, voice record it. If you have kids, there is plethora of movies, games activities to keep them quiet in the back seat on a long ride. I rooted my tablet more because I like to tinker, but out of the box I think you will find that there is not much need to do so if you are no so inclined. The stock ROM is smooth and responsive and full of useful apps; not overly bloated with proprietary B.S. In short, what are you waiting for? Pull the trigger and you won't regret the investment; it's tons of fun and useful when needed.
I have to agree with aburgthing, it's a great tablet. I also got mine this summer to replace my Asus eeepc 1005HA which was so slow that I would rather use my Incredible instead of that slow piece of crap. I use mine constantly.
The thing is absolutely amazing because IMO it can do way more than your standard netbook, if you're a college student (like I was up until a month ago!) you'll definitely want to get the keyboard also. It's a great addition for multiple reasons: It makes typing way easier (IMO it's kind of awkward to type with your thumbs on a 10" screen), it provides you with a stand when you don't feel like holding the tablet, It gives you another 9 hour battery, it provides you with 2 usb ports which function exactly like usb ports on a pc and you get an SD card slot which supports up to (the current) 128GB. Not to mention if you install an app like syncSMS you can send text messages to friends during class with the professor being none the wiser (since the texts can be sent and received via your TF to your phone)!
It's an amazing piece of technology, I spent $600 total on mine and I don't regret it one bit.
look for some used equipment deals first. Usually you can find better deal than refurb.
I've seen people call it "OG" but I don't know what it stands for?
Kermode said:
I've seen people call it "OG" but I don't know what it stands for?
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OG = OriGinal. (Added by edit - I guess it's original ganster. Always thought it was for original or orgie)
That or orgie. Come on! You know what I mean. I am absolutely convinced most guys got the TF101 to have a portible porn viewing device.
Kermode said:
I've seen people call it "OG" but I don't know what it stands for?
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Original gangster
OP: I love this tablet, I use it everyday for business, gaming, media, Web surfing... You get the idea.
I would but new or from a reputable source if you go used. If you plan on typing a lot then get the dock also, it really makes this tab stand out compared to the rest.
I have zero regret with this tablet, much preferred over all the other choices... Aside from the prime, but i'm waiting for the revised version.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Kermode said:
I've seen people call it "OG" but I don't know what it stands for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Original Gangster
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
I bought mine "like new" from Amazon for a pretty reasonable price from warehouse deals.
id have to say the transformer in my opinion is the best tablet out there minus the prime when its worked out. ....laugh all you want but id be willing to bet i am over 10 ft away from my tab for less than a few minutes a day i m pretty much attached to it....and except for things tht are just impossible to do, i have completely replaced my laptop with it.im a student as well and its done everything ive needed it to do/
I decided to pull the trigger. I'm really excited to get it! Thanks again everyone!
BTW, what did one of you mean when you said ASUS refurbs have a bad name recently?
I am very happy with the Transformer purchased mine around the time of the Touchpad big sale.Boy glad I did not get that thing,and wanted a tablet and hands down it is the best for the price.Picked up the dock at Christmas for $99 from Amazon a good deal.Check online for a good price I was lucky the price had dropped under $370 at the time.The refurbished will save you some but not that much imo save and get it new.
Absolutely love my Transformer. I would definitely buy it again if I had to. It is fast and I have not had any problems with it at all, everything works great. I think some places are even selling new ones cheaper now that the Prime is out as well, but I could be mistaken. I say go with the transformer.
just make sure the refurbed transformers are not ones with the bad light bleeding issue! thats the only issue i've had so far with my transformer...not a major problem, but can really annoy you at times
I had an ipad, ordered the Prime. Changed my shipping speed and Amazon graciously kicked me to the back of the line and i got backordered untill mid Feb so i cancelled.
So glad it happened, i grabbed a refurb OG Transformer and i love it. With the right rom and kernel it kicks my wife's laptops butt on loading webpages, and if you have seen anything on ICS it will just be that much faster. Very glad i saved the 200 bucks, power button is pretty weak though on my refurb but ill fix it if it gets too bad.
Glad to see you pulled the trigger, welcome to the darkside!
Isn't that how it always works? I was originally with Nook Color, then I traded up to a Galaxy Tab, then I traded up to a Transformer. I kept finding reasons to justify the cost.
The TF201 has some issues of its own, particularly flaky QC and poor wi-fi and GPS reception, of which the TF101 has neither but has had QC issues in the beginning (I believe they're all ironed out now).
The TF201 has a smooth, slick design, better thinner profile and weight, a better processor, better screen, better camera, overall better device but its issues are alarming and the fact that they announced the TF700T which seems like an admission of poor design for the TF201 leads me to believe you should either stick with the tried and true TF101 or at least wait until the TF700T.
Try looking on craigslist.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
sadly i didnt like the TF201, finger print magnet :/ the TF700 looks better though
reaperzero said:
sadly i didnt like the TF201, finger print magnet :/ the TF700 looks better though
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You should get an ipad2. Apple came out with this anti-fingerprint technology where your fingerprints are instantly dissolved the moment you touched the screen.
So I have been an xda member since long before the android craze took root, or even before the icrap products were aired, back in the days when the good old winmo or symbian was the only platform of choice for enthusiasts and geeks like us. Those days are sadly the past now, and most of the good folks who were driving the growth of the winmo platforms have now migrated to android, or even ios.
I'm finally taking the jump too and have decided to tinker around with android, thus my dusting off of this account and bringing it back to life from lurker status. I've already purchased a xoom and an iconia a500 recently and am now looking to purchase a third tablet. I know, that sounds a little crazy, buying three tablets on the trot, but they're all going to go around among either family or family after I'm done playing with them. Since I've run my cash well dry by now, as you might as well have guessed, this is going to be my last tech purchase for a while, and probably might also be the tablet that gets left over to me in the end after the others are set up and sent to their new homes as presents as this will be the cheapest yet.
There, I've laid out the whole story. Now for the nagging question, is the nook color still worth the money? I had set my mind on the purchase and was getting down to the exploring options part when I noticed craigslist showing kindle fires going consistently for as much or as the nook colors or even less than that. And that has got me torn. I really badly wanted to buy another nook device, this will be me second after the nook simple touch, which I have yet to receive. However, I am also a performance and a bang for buck junkie, and I am also likely to end up staying with for the long haul. So I want something robust enough ot last me a couple of years from now atleast. Now with the fire sometimes going even cheaper than the nook, is the color still a good buy, and should I take the plunge on this, or that?
I really havent found a recent comparison between the two, especially if they're competing for my dollars at the same price point, to help me decide which one ot go with. The lack of a micro sd is the real killer in fire, the lack of dual core and a modern, higher performing soc in the nook color. I'll be buying either as a potential primary device and will be tinkering with both, meaning rooting, and installing custom roms, so I couldnt care less for what amazon tries forcing down my throat. And I will definitely be buying second hand, probably off craigslist, to save what little I can of my last bits of remaining money and hopefully buy a radeon 7850.
So there, thats my dillema, all put out in fornt of you folks. The question has been bothering me for days, and no amount of searching has managed to help me, and thus I have ended up here, resorting to the good old xda and its pool of immense resources.
Also, should I post this same question on the kindle fire threads too, to get the other side of the picture? Any help would be appreciated.
--Werentuckl
Nook Color is definitely still worth it* You can get them used or refurb and the prices come down to around $100.
*It really depends on what you want it for though. It would be more appropriate to compare a Nook Tablet to a Kindle Fire. But the Color is really the ultimate tinker's device. Great developer community and practically unbrickable. With CM7 and CM9 you get great performance numbers for the hardware and tons of bang for the buck.
Nook Tablet is also a good device but it is going to cost more which brings other possible tablets into consideration. Even though B&N wasn't as nice making the NT as open as the NC it is still a great device and the developer support is growing. It is nearly as good for tinkering as the NC at this point.
If you want a device for email, light gaming, web surfing, videos and tinkering as well as a great reading device the Nook Color is about the best bang for the buck you can get.
JP
I agree. Still a lot of bang for the buck, especially in the $100 range. My coworker always brings me ads from here and there advertising Android 2.0 tablets for $88, this one beats them every time for just a few dollars more.
I used to run Android 1.5 off the SD card using haret on Windows 6.0 (HTC Touch). I miss those days.
After Modding 6 or 7 Nook Colors for family, friends, and coworkers today I decided to pick one up from Cowboom for $100. My daughter has a HTC Flyer and Wife has an iPad 1. I really have no use for one, but I like to tinker from an alpha/beta tester standpoint, and I figure I could at least get my money back when I get bored with it.
All good points actually, and the reminder about android on winmo reminds me of my cousin, he still runs gingerbread of his hd 2. Good stuff.
However, what actually has me torn is seeing both the fire and the nook color going for the same prices. They're both hitting close to hundred on pre-owned units off craigslist. So I can't really decide which would be the better choice for the same price.
And the nook color was my first choice, the merits of rootability and the vibrant community had me won over. And then I saw the fire going for the same price for twice the processor, and now I don't know which way to lean.
The Fire doesn't have an SD card slot. Total deal breaker.
my nook essentially hard bricked without warning, just out of warranty. beyond that it was just too slow IMO for me - laggy video was my main issue. my RAZR is so nice for playing video i no longer can stand slow processor Android devices. my next tablet is probably the Samsung galaxy tab 2 for $250, dual core, GPS, camera, compass, microphone... all the stuff that is missing in the NC. i think you should save your money and put it towards something less limited
The reply above is right on. Personally, I would not buy another Nook in todays market. I have a Nook Tablet too (both were gifts). The Nook was great when I was learning to flash roms, etc because it is literally unbrickable.
What I really HATE is B&N and TI putting all the effort to lock the OS down. If it were not for the great devs here the Nook sales would have stalled long ago.
I for one will never buy another product which has such an anally locked boot loader and OS. The Nexus Tablet is right around the corner.
You should have asked here about the issue you were having with laggy video. I watch .avi's every day at lunch, Grimm, Walking Dead, etc., keep Hitchhikers Guide on it as a matter of principal and keep a few Pinky and the Brain's as baby sitting tools. I use MoBo player and software decode everything. Smooth as glass. The "Server Room Drive-In" is famous.
Ok, here's my 2 cents. As I only own NC, I'll comment only on it.
The nook color is a good device- for old technology. Ok, so the DEV team for NC is fantastic, porting ICS over, which has completely revamped how I see/use the NC now. It's awesome, plays videos, works smoothly. Everything is running clean from Eyeball's nightly.
However, as from your situation, you're looking to keep this device for a while. While the software side (able to crack BN, root, and run android) is fun to tinker with and has good support, the hardware is just not going to be good enough for these days' technology. There are a lot of apps that just needs more power than what the NC has.
So, if you're just buying to tinker and browse the internet on the go, NC is fine. But if u wanna do anything heavy, wait a few more months until some of the newer gen android tablets are priced lower in the market.
Btw, the fire without SD? deal breaker.
Okay, so I've been following this thread, and frankly, it hasnt made my choice any easier. I've gotten two posts against the nc, every post against the fire thanks to its lack of an sd slot, and plenty of others cautioning me against the nc because its dated. :'(
Now what do I do? And guys, even though I will be keeping this device for good, lets not forget that I'm under money constraints, I go any higher and I wont be able to buy my gpu. Plus, waiting is also not an option, I have until the end of this month to complete all my purchases, since I'm getting all this through a family member coming back from the states.
--Werentuckl
Wait for google's nexus tablet,
Sent from my NookColor using xda premium
Werentuckl said:
... Now what do I do? ...
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I fail to see a problem. You say you are a tinkerer. The unbrickable nature of the NC, (yes someone said they bricked it a while back but they also said they couldn't play videos either, do the math), makes it a no-brainer. Couple that with the fact that you can get them for between $100 and $150 all day long and you are golden.
I am actually satisfied with my nook color use it more than my ipad 2, feel that the ipad is big for all day use
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
Given the lack of information on the Google tablet, I would go with either the Nook Color or Nook Tablet. Given limited cash, obviously the nook color. I have a nook color and nook Simple Touch. I love the nook color, sure it doesn't have everything I want, but nothing does. If you are worried about it being dated, you will never buy anything. Everything is dated by the time it gets to market. The biggest problem I have is everything seems to be designed for something else. All the roms seem to be made more for phones than tablets, even my windows 7 notebook came from HP with ta
blet services installed and running on a notebook that doesn't have the hardware to use the services. I am more
worried about the Microsoft/BN deal. Perhaps it will mean more support for windows products in Android, more likely like the Kindle Fire, the next nook will not have a SD slot and will be designed to push people to Microsoft's online services. Perhaps even a nook running windows...
Microsoft always has found creative ways to kill great products... But from what I see, the Nook is by far the best for the money.
I'd agree with Floyd, the google tablet wont be launching until after I am unable to purchase anymore.
So, I'm leaning just a little more towards the nook now than I was before, and I have found a couple of other options to throw in the mix for considering as well. I just found the iconia a100 going for 190, a little under 200 after taxes, at the acer ebay store. And though the fact that the thing has little to no dev support or any roms for that matter, and has abysmal battery life, the thing is still very feature rich. Should I be even be looking towards it or not? Sans custom rom loading goodness and crap battery, its very good bang for buck, no?
Damn, this is so frustrating! This is why spending the last bits of your money is always so difficult. I had no such problems buying either of the last two tablets or the wacoms. :'(
And MisRy, everything is more expensive in ny, thats where the problem initialyl started from, the nc and the fire playing in the same price brackets. Though, any ideas about any decent deals or devices solidly under 200, new, or refurbed, or even craigslisted for nyc, would be welcome.
--Werentuckl
Werentuckl said:
...
And MisRy, everything is more expensive in ny, thats where the problem initialyl started from, the nc and the fire playing in the same price brackets. Though, any ideas about any decent deals or devices solidly under 200, new, or refurbed, or even craigslisted for nyc, would be welcome. ...
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Click to collapse
Nook Color refurbished, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/cert-pre-owned-nook-color-barnes-noble/1100666155 $135 shipped. My boss got his wife's in 4 business days via UPS.
Brand new from Sears with in store pickup for $150, http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05725930000P?aff=Y&cj=true&sid=I0084400010000100600
Sent from the Center of My Mind
I would say yes, depending on the price. Got mine in Feb '11 and I've worked the crap out of it. I still don't see any other 7 inch tablet in the sub $200 range as flexable as the nook. The color with CM7 RC2 hits the sweet spot for me. Of course: YMMV.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk 2
Kind of in this dilemma as well. Has anyone had trouble running programs from the play market(3d games, comic apps, drawing apps)? I picked up a NC for 125 a week ago and triple booted without a hitch. It just seemed kind of slow to me, but then again I didn't do too much tweaking. I already returned it but might get it again. Awaiting the Nexus tablet, but would like something to hold me over til then. Any recommendations?
I wouldn't pay 150 for NC, maybe 100 nowaday since the nook tablet is going for 200.
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