So I received my Transformer Prime today and am having wifi issues (very poor connection strength). Also, I have a group of very bright pixels on the screen.
I know there is a new Transformer tablet in the works that has significantly better specs...so I'd be best to wait. In the meantime, I found a mint TF101 with docking keyboard for $350. Everything checks out and it seems like a great package for the price. This coupled with ICS arriving in two weeks for the TF101 makes it a reasonable decision to return the defective Prime and get this original TF101 w/keyboard.
Is this a good move? I've never owned the original Transformer and hope that it is plenty fast to play flash content. Anyone care to offer a POV on this decision?
I plan on getting the newer Transformer in Q2 when it's rumored to release.
i think you should go for it !
I returned my Prime due to the "Unknown Serial Number", and bought the TF101. Although WiFi wasn't bad on my Prime, it is better on my TF101. My TF101 also performs flawlessly, and doesn't have any of the common issues some of the Primes suffer from. I'm happy I "downgraded".
I am in the same situation. I was contemplating the TF101 vs TF201. It was not an issue of money, though availability became an issue as TF201 stock got sold out. I just wanted a flawless Internet experience so having poor wifi was not good. It seems like Asus is in flux right now so better to get a stable machine. I will see what happens at the end of the year, maybe upgrade to TF700. I originally got a Windows tab which actually was not that bad of a touch experience. I had the Acer W500 which is the same form factor as the prime basically with the 10" tab and keyboard dock. It was also heavy, slow and the battery life was poor (<5 hours). I think the TF101 will be a lot of fun.
try the squeeze trick before returning. takes a couple seconds and ive heard it helps a lot of plagued tf201s. cant find the vid but just squeeze just above the entire top of the screen just enough to cause a little light bleed
try the squeeze trick before returning. takes a couple seconds and ive heard it helps a lot of plagued tf201s. cant find the vid but just squeeze just above the entire top of the screen just enough to cause a little light bleed
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But that isn't going to help the OP's pixel issue and pixel deformities are annoying as ****.
Just return it and either get the TF101 or wait for the TF700T. Really the TF101 should be much easier to find and much cheaper. You'll have less of a hassle finding it and it's tried and true. It was much too early for them to release the prime so it's not like you're losing something.
Interesting to see that I am not alone on this.
This week I returned my 3rd prime and was very close to say "Screw Asus" and look for a Windows tablet but then I thought why not give the original Transformer a shot. I got it yesterday and have to admit I am really impressed.
Everything works as it should, it has two USB ports instead of one, stereo speakers instead of one, a better hardware keyboard (at least in my opinion), the USB transfer rate seems to be much better, the screen seems to be more responsive and it is much cheaper.
And the funniest thing of em all: I don´t know why but it is even faster than Prime. Of course not in 3D games or stuff like that or 1080p videos etc.
But while doing normal usage, e-mailing, writing, watching videos, browsing etc.
And I havn´t even tried a custom ROM, yet.
Just to make this clear: I am comparing ICS Prime (three actually) to HC original Transformer. Which makes no sense to me.
So, the only few things that are better about the Prime are (in my opinion):
- It looks better
- It "look" better manufactured
- Slightly better battery life
- Slightly better display
- Smaller and lighter
And since I am planning to keep my Transformer only for a few months until the Padfone or the TF700 is out I think this was a really good decision.
prime is a prototype.. not ready for the public. it tells others that quad core is now possible/.
Came lookin' for the same question/answer. Have the T201 and has issues like 80% of everyone else. Bluetooth/wifi is a joke on the 201...I love using it for remote access to my Win7 box, but seems that when I'm streaming Spotify, if cuts out and loses connection. And, this is upstairs from my router 15 feet a way.
I guess it's time to research the h*** out of the T101 like I did the 201. 399 at bestbuy this week...will search for cheaper this week . . .
Me Too...Prime's WiFi WeaK Compared to Other Tablets
Thank you OP and other posters.
I too am about to return my Prime, and was wondering about the TF101 as a replacement.
I don't do much gaming but decided to buy the Prime since it was supposed to be state-of-the-art. Well, the WiFi just isn't as good as other tablets I've tested, both the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 and HTC Flyer get better WiFi at distance. I've moved my router and changed router settings so I get satisfactory WiFi now at home, but I'm worried about weak WiFi when I travel.
Son (who has the Galaxy 10.1) says I should return the Prime. So, now what to get? The Galaxy 10.1 looks like a very strong performer (especially so in WiFi), but was looking to see if the Original Transformer TF101 would be a good fit for me.
Just wondering what you all think? What will I "lose" if I "downgrade" to the Tf101?
Ride525 said:
Thank you OP and other posters.
I too am about to return my Prime, and was wondering about the TF101 as a replacement.
I don't do much gaming but decided to buy the Prime since it was supposed to be state-of-the-art. Well, the WiFi just isn't as good as other tablets I've tested, both the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 and HTC Flyer get better WiFi at distance. I've moved my router and changed router settings so I get satisfactory WiFi now at home, but I'm worried about weak WiFi when I travel.
Son (who has the Galaxy 10.1) says I should return the Prime. So, now what to get? The Galaxy 10.1 looks like a very strong performer (especially so in WiFi), but was looking to see if the Original Transformer TF101 would be a good fit for me.
Just wondering what you all think? What will I "lose" if I "downgrade" to the Tf101?
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Some pixels and the buggy software lol
I like Samsung, but galaxy does not have dock and Samsung had minimal support updates. Asus is spot on with their updates, despite the delay on ics for the tf101..
luna_c666 said:
Some pixels and the buggy software lol
I like Samsung, but galaxy does not have dock and Samsung had minimal support updates. Asus is spot on with their updates, despite the delay on ics for the tf101..
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Lose some pixels? What do you mean? Don't the Original Transformer and the Prime have the same resolution?
And what do you mean by buggy software? Is the Original Transformer's software more buggy, than the Primes? In what way? Or do you mean the Prime has more buggy software?
Thanks for any thoughts on my possible "downgrade".
Ride525 said:
Just wondering what you all think? What will I "lose" if I "downgrade" to the Tf101?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Someone09 said:
So, the only few things that are better about the Prime are (in my opinion):
- It looks better
- It "look" better manufactured
- Slightly better battery life
- Slightly better display
- Smaller and lighter
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Click to collapse
In short: If you can handle the size/weight and looks of the TF101, you should get it. Just my two cents.
EDIT: And of course the Prime´s camera is better and it behaves better with 3D games etc...at least in theory.
Ride525 said:
Lose some pixels? What do you mean? Don't the Original Transformer and the Prime have the same resolution?
And what do you mean by buggy software? Is the Original Transformer's software more buggy, than the Primes? In what way? Or do you mean the Prime has more buggy software?
Thanks for any thoughts on my possible "downgrade".
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Click to collapse
You are right, my bad they do have the same size screen (I was thinking of the TF700) but the TF Prime has the 'Super IPS' screen and has more brightness (nits), but the ICS update has been bricking people's Primes, it also has crappy wifi/bluetooth as reported..
I say the TF101 is a safer bet, the TF201 is more a prototype as mentioned..not really ready for commercial consumption, more like the icebreaker paving the way for the real cargo ship (TF700)
luna_c666 said:
[...] but the TF Prime has the 'Super IPS' screen and has more brightness (nits), [...]
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That is true, too. The question is if it worth it.
I mean if you turn Super IPS mode + highest brightness settings you might easily get a sunburn from it...I don´t need that setting.
Your only really option is to get the TF101. Everything else is not preferable based on price : features or price : performance ratio.
With the Galaxy Tab 10.1 you're paying too much for what you're getting, that is good hardware and a good design but no or little updates. The hardware is roughly comparable to the TF101 so really all that you're getting out of it is good design, no expansion slot, no/little updates and pay more. Do not want.
The TF101 hits the sweet spot in terms of what you get for how much you pay and you're guaranteed to get ICS and most likely more updates after that. We've been getting updates for HC like what, once or twice every two months? Don't even think you'll see anything close to that with Sammy. Maybe one update a year or two.
The TF201 is good looking and good hardware and it shares the same Asus speed in terms of upgrades but the connectivity and build quality + launch issues leave a lot to be desired. It's confidence shaking, would I want to keep a tablet where the Wi-Fi and GPS are already **** and there's a possibility it might get worse? For $500 and with a successor already on the horizon? Do not want. Really it was a rushed, piece of garbage that's DOA. This is what happened when they decided to rush something rather than do their time with more R&D and releasing it in a more suitable time frame. They should have released the Prime when the TF700T is scheduled to be released (whatever date that is) which in my eyes puts the TF700T as what the Prime should have been, AKA the fix.
Tubular said:
They should have released the Prime when the TF700T is scheduled to be released (whatever date that is) which in my eyes puts the TF700T as what the Prime should have been, AKA the fix.
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Amen to that.
Plus, I hope the same applies to the Padfone.
The TF101 has much better WiFi than the Prime.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
ericshmerick said:
I know there is a new Transformer tablet in the works that has significantly better specs...so I'd be best to wait. In the meantime, I found a mint TF101 with docking keyboard for $350. Everything checks out and it seems like a great package for the price. This coupled with ICS arriving in two weeks for the TF101 makes it a reasonable decision to return the defective Prime and get this original TF101 w/keyboard.
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Click to collapse
Honestly, the TF101 will likely be better than that successor model, too. The latter has far too high screen resolution, which will lead to problems in some apps, give no advantage at all in most apps (just extra blur from scaling), and cause eye strain in some apps. As an added bonus, it'll reduce battery life and make everything slower.
All so Asus can put a bigger-is-better number on a spec sheet.
They got it right with the TF101, by and large. They're struggling to invent a reason for people to upgrade, and not doing a great job of it.
Being an early adopter of the TF101(my first one was a B40) I had to deal with the pain of owning a new model. Asus has been right on time with their updates and they pay attention to what people post on the internet. It is my opinion that in a few months the Prime will be ready for prime time. But until then I will do my best to wear out my B50 Transformer. It is a great little device totally stock.
Related
I'm looking at the 3.0 tabs and given the Asus' supply shortage it's down to the Xoom and Acer Iconia. Anyone want to weigh in on their Xoom experiences?
After selling my GTablet a month ago I purchased a wifi XOOM and despite my biggest grip of no sdcard w/out rooting I love the XOOM. I am staying with stock for as long as I can until ROM's come out frequently like they did/do with GTab. For a stock rom this is a great device and the cosmetic look and feel for me is much better than the Gtablet.
Go with the Xoom!!!
i sold my gtab and got a xoom, its awesome!
Yep me too returned my GTAb and got the Xoom. Since it came with 3.0 it was worth the extra money to me.
i had a gtab for a while until the hardware failed. luckily it was right under the 30 day return time frame so i could re-allocate my funds to a much better device. the screen on the g tab really annoyed me. not that i use my tab in the vertical position a lot, but when i do want to use it in the vertical position i don't want it to give me a headache. Also the lack of accessories was somewhat annoying. all i wanted was a descent folio case that i didn't have to modify, but at the time i had a gtab that wasn't an option.
I just yesterday bought a xoom after being in the same spot you are in. Let me start by saying between the xoom and the acer the two major things I was noticing was the screen difference and the battery life. Yes I have held both in my hands and the screen on the zoom just looks a lot better, even at the same resolution. Maybe its because the acer is using an lcd?
And the xoom has about an 1 1/2 hours better battery life.
And then there's the big difference of having more memory out of the box. (Well... depending, where I bought the acer only had a 16gb option avail)
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Do not get the Acer one, I have used it and it feels cheap as all hell. The Xoom feels much better in the hand and the lock button placement was extremely smart. Typing on both devices was pretty easy (although I recommend ThumbKeyboard 4.0 beta 3 best keyboard for Honeycomb thus far) and their UI s don't differ at all. In all honesty, if you want the best Honeycomb tablet I would recommend the G Slate, but since you are stuck with tthese two, go with the Xoom, the developer support will be stronger (stock as the Nexus series) the updates will come quicker and finally, the device just feels better. If you are into Modding, then you can mod the SD card into the Xoom, you can apply kernels that can overclock the Xoom up to 1.5ghz, and then there is the UA string fix that I am not sure of they have fixed it on the other tablets or not, but they have fixed it on the Xoom. Get the Xoom for sure, it is probably the second best Honeycomb tablet, or the third... First being the G Slate, and second being the Asus Transform.
Sent from my Xoom
Smokexz said:
In all honesty, if you want the best Honeycomb tablet I would recommend the G Slate, but since you are stuck with these two, go with the Xoom, the developer support will be stronger (stock as the Nexus series) the updates will come quicker and finally, the device just feels better.
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Click to collapse
I decided against getting the TMO G-Slate (I also have a SGS Vibrant with T-Mobile) because of the smaller screen and lack of hardware SD card slot. While the XOOM lacks an SD card slot as well, all that is needed is a software update to enable it (already available unofficially).
I, too agree that the XOOM will receive better support, etc. To this day, I have yet to the G-Slate given a proper forum here at XDA. I've either tried or owned many of the other tablet choices that have become available. The XOOM has the best quality build IMO. Every day more places are selling them. Sam's club just started and Sprint will sell the WiFi version within a week. Availability will be key to which one will succeed.
The XOOM's price is also good as is since it's the same price as the 32GB iPad yet does way more. I've seen people claim the ASUS Tablet is cheaper but some are comparing the 16GB version which is silly!
I like to rip on Motorola for releasing a half-baked device, but the fact is that I really have only a single gripe with the Xoom (buggy bluetooth). Other than that, I love it to death.
Build quality is really top-notch. The thing feels solid and is comfortable to hold (especially in landscape mode). If I were still out there trying to select a tablet, I would pick the Xoom again even with the knowledge that some features would be delayed... and delayed again. Like I say, I have had problems with the bluetooth. I'd like to use this as a netbook from time to time, but the Xoom doesn't play well with bluetooth keyboards. They work... just not very well. I expect that the next update will solve this problem though.
In other words, once Motorola and have patched Honeycomb, I honestly think that the Xoom will be the best tablet for this generation of tablets. Developer support is there. Unlocked bootloader, etc.... Just expect a few moments of frustration in the meanwhile.
Xevilious said:
I like to rip on Motorola for releasing a half-baked device, but the fact is that I really have only a single gripe with the Xoom (buggy bluetooth). Other than that, I love it to death.
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It's funny you say that because it was chosen for a particular project because of it's bluetooth support. Having 3 android devices at the ready, I tested them all to determine their fitness for a particular work purpose. Out of an SGS Vibrant (mine), iPad 1st Gen (not mine) and XOOM (mine). I found that only the XOOM could properly handle serial communication over bluetooth (SPP profile). I get better than expected range, it seems well shielded from interference and it hasn't dropped a byte. So it's hopefully just one or more software glitch(es) with the HID profile.
I stand behind my purchase a 110%. When you pull it out next to an iOS device people just gather around. I'm not comparing - just stating my experience. They want to know what, it, is. Then I tell them the story of the Matrix and I say its a Xoom. They want to look at it but its almost like they are afraid. Its like its too much device for them. Just saying.
I bought my Xoom about a week ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. I had been researching Android tablets for a while, and it came down to either the Xoom or the Asus Transformer. Given that the transformer is next to impossible to find and that Motorola is a reputable company with a good track record, I decided to go with the Xoom. I haven't rooted mine yet since I haven't had a resason to do it yet, but it's awesome that Motorola gave us an unlocked boot loader.
Go with the Xoom for sure over the Acer.
Hey all,
Figured I'd pass on my opinions of these devices, and since I finally chose the TF, I figured I'd get the least flames posting here - lol. Looooong time gadget geek/hacker going way back to the Palm Pilot days. If it was a tech gadget, and particularly if it was internet capable, I probably owned one. My current phones are a HTC Desire Z (w/ NAM AT&T 3G) running CM7, and an iPhone 4 jailbroken.
Over the past couple of months I've owned (or still own) the Xoom, iPad 2, TF101 (w/dock) and GTab 10.1. I still own all but the Xoom, and here's a few of my thoughts on all of them and why I'll be keeping the TF.
Xoom - Well built, sturdy, and nice design. Lousy screen (comparitively) and lack of promised features like LTE and the SD Card werre a bummer, but my biggest reason for selling that one was the screen, and seeming lack of "responsiveness" from Moto on the device. Plus I knew cooler devices were coming soon.
iPad 2 - Not yet Jailbroken (grrr) but it's still a suprisingly good media consumption device as is. I go the 32GB AT&T model, and have used it for a couple of trips as a laptop replacement. It'll be cooler when I can JB it, but since I have a fiarly big investment in iOS software, I'll probably keep it a while. Not real impressed with it's Safari performance, considering all the hub-bub about how fast it is. But it does do games great, is slick and trouble free, and nice sized with a great (smart-cover) solution.
Galaxy Tab 10.1 - I got this one on Sunday, so I haven't given it a whole lot of time. It's a beautiful, "Apple like" device from a design perspective. Also the screen while very saturated, is very nice, light weight and thinness also gets it lots of oooohs and aaawwwws from everybody. I hate that Samsung doesn't allow direct mounting of the internal storage, and we're forced to use that awful KIES software. I've just been using Drobbox and all my music is in the Google cloud. This one would have been my second choice if I didn't already have (and love) the...
Transformer 101- now this one is my keeper. A lot has to do wth the dock - I'm an "ultraportable" laptop fan (current Lenovo x220) so I like smaller laptops, and man this thing makes a damn good laptop substitute with tablet caapabilities. The screen is gorgeous, the responsiveness of the OS is equal to or better than the other Androids, and even beats iPad when Safari is sucking wind. I love the quick controls in the browser (missing in the Tab) and that it feels like there's a really robust community developing for this device. I'm not rooted on any of these yet, and actually pretty content like that. Therre's a few things I'd do with root (and anti ad hosts file for one!) but for the most part I'm ok with them as is. When I start to get bored I'll probably root this too.
I sold the Xoom about a month aftr I bought it, I'll keep the iPad (partly for the fun things to try like iOS 5 and it's great for kids to play games on) but the Tab is going back to BB (restocking fee be damned.
I just really like the versatility of the TF w/dock. I have it paired with a small BT mouse and it's like a pretty full featured laptop, that goes into Tablet mode at the flick of a switch. Still on the hunt for the slimmest folio case for it that allows it to be propped up for typing, but the kybd dock does that for now.
Hope these tips help some people interested in any of these, remember their just mmy opinions and everybody has different needs and required attributes that may differ from mine. Either way their all fun.
If anybody has any question about my experiences, fire away, love to chat gadget talk abou the cool toys.
-Joel
well played!
Shouldnt be a restocking fee witjin 14 days. I returned a tab a few weeks ago to wait for tf no issues
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
gottahavit said:
Shouldnt be a restocking fee witjin 14 days. I returned a tab a few weeks ago to wait for tf no issues
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
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Good to know thaks, I'll push and see what they say, thanks for the heads up!
Good Post. Thanks.
Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt.
I quite agree with you.
From all these devices i tried the iPad 2 and the ASUS transformer.
Im already acquainted with iOS and although its simple and intuitive it's kind of boring. im quite into personalizing my device which the iOs wont really allow.
The bigger and wide screen on the transformer is really nice, and although build-wise it may seems "cheaper" then the iPad (everything that is not shiny-aluminum-ultra-appleish is cheap nowdays) its a comfortable device to hold in the hand.
Price-wise the transformer costs less, + the keyboard dock which increases battery life and also allows you to use it as a netbook.
Performance seems to be almost identical on both A5 and the Tegra 2. BUT the transformer is overclockable, therefore you can squeeze some more juice out of it.
I didnt use the other two, but by reviews i understood that the xooms screen is washed out and not all that great, and the lack of a MicroSD on all of the three (xoom,iPad,GT10.1) is meh-ish.
just picked up mine last night after doing a lil bit of reseasch for a week or so glad i chose this one,, love you wife she bought for me.. BAMBAM
good...
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Thanks for the comparison.
Regarding TF and Tab 10.1 screens, which do you prefer? Which is nicer for news/e-book reading? Does Tab 10.1 oversaturation mess with your eyes?
a042349 said:
I hate that Samsung doesn't allow direct mounting of the internal storage, and we're forced to use that awful KIES software.
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Don't agree with this point. I had the Tab 10.1 for about 3-4 days and I had it mounted on my PC as a plug-play device and was able to transfer files directly. All your need is to install the proper USB drivers from the Samsung US site
myself11 said:
Thanks for the comparison.
Regarding TF and Tab 10.1 screens, which do you prefer? Which is nicer for news/e-book reading? Does Tab 10.1 oversaturation mess with your eyes?
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Yes it does. Although the Galaxy screen seems better than the TF , its for sure over saturated and hurts your eyes if watched closely for lot of time.
Srikar_NBK said:
Don't agree with this point. I had the Tab 10.1 for about 3-4 days and I had it mounted on my PC as a plug-play device and was able to transfer files directly. All your need is to install the proper USB drivers from the Samsung US site
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Yeah, you could be right. I'm just so happy with the flexibility of the TF that for now (and for now could be 1-3 months lol) it's the one I'm choosing. IAs I stressed, this is just my humble opinion, hope everybody is happy with their respective choices.
glad to see that are still people who can choose between products without trashing another.
i'm stlll not sure if i'll send my tf back. i do like the versatility it has but seeing that i am keeping my gt 10.1 it's really hard to justify keeping it.
I don't think the keyboard dock can be stressed enough, and I wish I saw more advertising from Asus around the tremendous increase in productivity it provides. It's really not "just" an external keyboard or dock. It really does turn the TF into a completely different class of machine.
That said, I'll admit that if it weren't for the dock, I'd probably opt for the GT 10.1. I don't really use the microSD card I have in my TF right now, and I doubt I'll ever use HDMI. So if choosing between the two on the screen, size and weight alone, I'd probably lean toward the GT. However, man, the keyboard dock makes me want to stick with the TF no matter what else might be out there. As someone who needs to be able to write long-form stuff anywhere, I can't think of a better device than the TF...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
i'd have to suppose the lack of advertising is one major factor for the price of the tablet. moto, apple, samsung all have commercials yet i've not seen one asus commercial, not even for their laptops.
To each his own I guess. I played with them all as well including the acer and viewsonic and kept the wifi Xoom. I really wanted to like the Asus because of price but it was just as bulky as my xoom and had serious build quality issues. The Asus screen was great, the quality around the screen, not so much. Enjoy your new toy dude. Aint technology fun
The only one I haven't played with is the tab 10.1, I secretly want one but Samsung and I have bad history.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
wynand32 said:
That said, I'll admit that if it weren't for the dock, I'd probably opt for the GT 10.1. I don't really use the microSD card I have in my TF right now, and I doubt I'll ever use HDMI. So if choosing between the two on the screen, size and weight alone, I'd probably lean toward the GT. However, man, the keyboard dock makes me want to stick with the TF no matter what else might be out there. As someone who needs to be able to write long-form stuff anywhere, I can't think of a better device than the TF...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
This!
The dock is the absolute biggest reason for my choice. With my BT mouse (dislike trackpads) I feel like I'm using a real computer, with 16hr batter life and tablet flexibility. Love the shape, size and design of both the iPad and Tab 10.1, but just love the flexibility of the keybd dock too much - at least for the next 90 days or so. ;-)
a042349 said:
This!
The dock is the absolute biggest reason for my choice. With my BT mouse (dislike trackpads) I feel like I'm using a real computer, with 16hr batter life and tablet flexibility. Love the shape, size and design of both the iPad and Tab 10.1, but just love the flexibility of the keybd dock too much - at least for the next 90 days or so. ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about the 90 day shelf life all too well
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
wynand32 said:
I don't think the keyboard dock can be stressed enough, and I wish I saw more advertising from Asus around the tremendous increase in productivity it provides. It's really not "just" an external keyboard or dock. It really does turn the TF into a completely different class of machine.
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Click to collapse
+1
Not just a different class of machine, but two machines!
My 2 Bitz
Ok, I'm a little late to the game... but if anyone buys one of these tablets second hand.... like I just did, then here goes nothing: I bought a Motorola XOOM wifi (32gb) and an Asus TF101 (16gb) (and I nearly bought a Galaxy Tab 1 and an iPad Gen. 1). It's my first tablet; I haven't yet figured out what I'm gonna do with it, but there ya go.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 1: I passed on the Sammy because it did not have an SD card slot.
iPad Gen. 1: I passed on the iPad because.... well, it's an iPad. About as useful as a maxi-pad to me. I was put off by the closed system. It means far less choices for free or hard-to-get apps (of the kind I might need), and limited storage with no SD card options. It wouldn't do, even for a kid's tablet. (Despite the fact I have an iPhone....).
Asus Transformer Eee Pad TF101: I really wish they would have stuck to one name, and left it at that. What was the original name? The "Asus Transormer Mario Consuela Maria Concito Esperanto Gonzalez Eeee Pad TF-101"?
Motorola Xoom: Anyway, it came down to Asus and the Xoom. And boy, I had a hard time deciding. So hard, I spent 3 days of my life testing these two tablets, up, down, backwards and forwards. I ended up settling on the Xoom, but first, the Asus....
The Asus has a gorgeous screen, compared to the Xoom. The TF101 is sharper, more clarity, brighter, blacks and whites are more darker and brighter, respectively. Better contrast and angle viewing, and reading books is less of a strain with a more muted white for the background.
THe sound of the Asus however, is like slamming a suitcase lid down on twelve kittens while Freddy Krueger scratches his name out on the chalkboard. It's the ridiculous choice of stuffing really tiny speakers so they can fire out both sides of the unit. Even EQ'ing the thing with Viper4FX could not hide the tinny shortcomings of the speaker sound. Which also had a tendency to break up at louder volumes (its particularly keen to distorting around 500hz). Connected to a stereo though, was quite another matter.
Though much less bass, richness and body, the Asus resolved timbre better than the Xoom on music program material, output through a stereo via headphone jacks. However, I still preferred the sound of the XOoms (yes, "Xooms" as in I had TWO Xooms to compare), because the Asus was causing some degree of stress through its sound and picture, as compared with the calmer energy of the Xooms.
The construction of the Asus was nice in parts (ie. color, back design, aluminum frame)... but the superb construction, design, looks, case and smaller size of the Xooms is what pushed me toward the Motorola choice. I have not seen any tablet as well built as the Xoom. The Xoom has a timeless design and hough it is heavy on the wrist if you have to hold it up, it just feels nicer in the hand than the ultra-wide Transformer; which appears more dated due to its size and design. The really nice charging dock and 32gb internal (vs 16gb of Asus) also helped me accept the inferior colors and viewing angle of the Xoom. I also liked the nice design of the various white & green charging LEDs, around the screen of the Xoom - the Asus has none of that. I was not enamored by the fact that Asus required special prorpietary data cables, where the Xoom uses microUSB. What also pushed me toward the Xoom was the mediocre camera in the Asus. No flash and grainy photos (though it let in an unusual amount of light, despite or because of no flash... but it was too much light, and washed out detail at times). The Xoom 5mp camera was excellent... perhaps better than that on my iPhone. I like the idea of snapping pictures on a tablet, because of the large viewfinder.
I'm kind of a stickler when it comes to design. On pure performance and lightness of weight, the Asus wins. But you might not feel like a winner, trying to listen to vidoes and music on those tinny built in speakers for extended periods of time.
My wife has a Samsung Tab 4, and comparing it with the Asus, I don't find the Tab 4 any much better in any way, and in some ways, not as a good (it has a cheaper build, for example).
Hello all.
I am a owner of a new Asus Transformer Prime (it's my first tablet). I'm really frustrated with a few issues; mainly the wifi is spotty and the GPS is barely functional. I'm debating on whether or not I should return it and get a Xoom.
I know the Prime has a few better specs (super IPS, quad-core), but I would rather have a dependable and fully-functioning device than the latest and greatest with some issues that need to be kinked out.
Are there any annoying issues with Xoom or should I just pull the trigger?
Edit: Returned the Prime and got the Xoom. I've had it for a couple days now; I like it much better than the Prime. Everything works and the build quality is better.
You'll be disappointed with the screen coming from IPS. Going from the Xoom to the Xyboard, the screen quality difference is night and day. The Xoom will also be noticeably slower I'm sure, though it's better with some of the ICS builds out there. Does custom roms matter to you or do you want a tablet that has high build quality and works damned well? Xyboard would be my answer if it's the latter, unless you're considering the Xoom because of budget or for custom roms.
Can see my Xyboard review here...
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I don't want to drop the money on the newer Motorola tablet. I'm trying to keep it lower than the $500 price point. I'm looking to get a device that is issue-free (for the most part). I don't need the latest and greatest.
The Prime might be faster, but not when the stupid WiFi on the thing cuts out. Page loading just comes to a dead stop.
I'm sure those problems will be short lived. You have the best device on the market arm. Be patient.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
skinien said:
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I don't want to drop the money on the newer Motorola tablet. I'm trying to keep it lower than the $500 price point. I'm looking to get a device that is issue-free (for the most part). I don't need the latest and greatest.
The Prime might be faster, but not when the stupid WiFi on the thing cuts out. Page loading just comes to a dead stop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have owned the Wifi only Xoom since April and it was already my third Android tablet. I had wanted to buy the original transformer, but they weren't available, so I bought the Xoom, and I'm so glad I did!
The Xoom has a super build, great wifi and real, not 'assisted,' gps, fast dual core cpu that can be overclocked up to 1.7 ghz (I can run stable at 1.6) with custom Honeycomb roms/kernels and active ICS development. My screen is just fine...naturalistic colors won't pop your eyes out, but a non-glare screen protector makes it easier to see in sunlight. That's not been a problem for me. In case you can't tell, I love my Xoom. Some of these guys just want newest/fastest and couldn't care less about what really works.
I have both and definitely returning this second prime I have. The xoom might be slower in what, game?! maybe, not that I notice. Benchmark I could careless, more interested real world performance. The xoom with 5 megapixel camera is better in my comparison, beside megapixel means nada. Xoom video recording in low light blows the Prime out the water, high light doesn't matter they all perform well, hell even my 2 year old Evo 4 g is good in high or day light. Only thing I like about the prime over the xoom is super IPS for outdoor, weight, and battery (a bit better than the xoom). But with the screen bleed, dead pixel on both unit I have, flipping non usable GPS, IMO the Prime RIGHT now is not worth the high price. I got my xoom a couple week ago from best buy open box for 348.
If you can get the xoom for cheap I say go for it. if your paying over 400 I say wait til the problem for Prime to get sorted out or wait for something to drop after CES, that's my thought.
Well, I returned the prime and got the wifi xoom for 399. Better product. Really happy with it!
Looking forward to overclocking this thing. I know that Google has released AOSP ICS for the xoom... looking forward to messing with that too.
The internet speed is EXTREMELY faster on the Xoom. The browsing experience is much better.
I went through the GPS fiasco with the Galaxy S. I have learned not to tolerate a malfunctioning device with hope that the bug can/will be fixed through an OTA.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
The Xoom is horrible. No redeeming qualities at all. If you're considering a switch the Transformer is a much much better choice.
Sent from my Captivate
MikeyMike01 said:
The Xoom is horrible. No redeeming qualities at all. If you're considering a switch the Transformer is a much much better choice.
Sent from my Captivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, do you even own one?
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
skinien said:
Well, I returned the prime and got the wifi xoom for 399. Better product. Really happy with it!
Looking forward to overclocking this thing. I know that Google has released AOSP ICS for the xoom... looking forward to messing with that too.
The internet speed is EXTREMELY faster on the Xoom. The browsing experience is much better.
I went through the GPS fiasco with the Galaxy S. I have learned not to tolerate a malfunctioning device with hope that the bug can/will be fixed through an OTA.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great choice...I don't think you'll regret it. There are lots of resources/guides for rooting/flashing custom roms/kernels, including the quite stable ICS alpha nightlies, and I think you'll enjoy your Xoom for quite a while to come.
I would have stuck it out cause once the few launch issues are fixed it will be an awesome tablet. I understand the budget and wanting in on the tablet fun now though. The xoom is really easily the next choice. I like it and I can't wait to see how much better it gets with ICS coming from motorola to fix the last few items missing.
MikeyMike01 said:
The Xoom is horrible. No redeeming qualities at all. If you're considering a switch the Transformer is a much much better choice.
Sent from my Captivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the input but can you give reasons for your strong opinion?
okantomi said:
Great choice...I don't think you'll regret it. There are lots of resources/guides for rooting/flashing custom roms/kernels, including the quite stable ICS alpha nightlies, and I think you'll enjoy your Xoom for quite a while to come.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I've been playing with it for a few hours now and I love it so far. The Prime had a better screen but the Xoom seems to be a solid device. The Prime had touch screen issues, GPS issues, WiFi issues, the SINGLE speaker was too quiet, and the Xoom is much more comfortable to hold. The Prime's thin, tapered edges gave it an awkward feeling.
I'm going to mess around with it stock for a few days and then I'm going to dig into the development section.
MikeyMike01 said:
The Xoom is horrible. No redeeming qualities at all. If you're considering a switch the Transformer is a much much better choice.
Sent from my Captivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure you don't own one at all with that comment.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
latinmaxima said:
I would have stuck it out cause once the few launch issues are fixed it will be an awesome tablet. I understand the budget and wanting in on the tablet fun now though. The xoom is really easily the next choice. I like it and I can't wait to see how much better it gets with ICS coming from motorola to fix the last few items missing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I first bought my Galaxy S, there were issues with lag and GPS. I "stuck it out" thinking that the issues would be fixed with OTA's and development. They haven't. Like I said in the OP, I have learned my lesson and won't put up with a product that malfunctions on day of purchase.
Then you would have sold your xoom on its initial release. Don't get me wrong I love my xoom...but would have gladly traded it for your prime
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
kjdocs said:
Then you would have sold your xoom on its initial release. Don't get me wrong I love my xoom...but would have gladly traded it for your prime
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What was wrong with the Xoom on release? And yes, I would have returned the Xoom if it wasn't working properly either. Its dumb to keep a device that is flawed until you're certain that it can/will be fixed. That isn't the case for the Prime. Considering that the Prime's WiFi gets 1/10 of the speeds as my phone and Xoom (in addition to cutting out completely) it was very frustrating to use. There was also a non-functional GPS, touch screen response issues, yellow/washed out screen, and too many force closes. Who knows which if these issues are fixable and will be fixed. Comparing the Xoom and Prime in their CURRENT state, the Xoom is better.
A device needs more than fancy hardware to work properly.
Edit: Oh, and the single speaker on the Prime is horrible.
LexLuger82 said:
Wow, do you even own one?
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, for 85 days before it went back to Costco.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
@Skinien: glad to hear you're enjoying your new Xoom, bro. Of the 1st generation crop of 10.1" Honeycomb tablets the Xoom is, IMHO, the most well-rounded of the bunch as far as function and, to a lesser extent, form. I was all but dead set on buying a Transformer Prime until reading about your experience with it.
@MikeyMike01: What exactly was wrong with the Xoom that left a sour taste?
@LatinMaxima: I agree. I flashed an ICS ROM for a few minutes a few days ago and loved it. The little pet peeves I have with Honeycomb like having to refresh the GMail widgets and the Market two or three times before each use are fixed. It looks and feels much more polished but the lack of camera functionality and bluetooth are dealbreakers for me so it's Honeycomb until those issues are fixed.
For now, my Xoom serves my needs well and will stay with me...pending any upcoming CES and MWC announcements.
@MikeyMike01
>I did, for 85 days before it went back to Costco.
So you took a $600 Xoom and used it for 3 months before returning it. In effect you cost the company $600. Way to abuse the store's return policy. It's people like you that raise prices and destroys return policies for the rest of us.
Your tag line says you're a developer. Let's hope what goes around, comes around.
Hi all,
I'm about to sell my 7.7 its a great device but the OS sluggyness (more than a second to unluck is not right) is getting on my nerves.
Its clear this isnt going to get any form of regular updates so to stave my losses on it I'm going to sell this now and ideally do so before the Google Tablet arrives.
Is a great machine but with the lack of dev community its a no go for any early adopters liking to play.
Real shame samsung.
btk
Is this where we post "Cool story bro"?
Just remove the lock option if its peeing you off,
i don't have it set on mine so its instant off,
also use another launcher or if you like the stock launch then just have it set with the single home screen,
i currently use the TW launcher with 1 home screen and 2 widgets no problems,
have come close to buying another tablet but there isn't one that feels as good a the 7.7...
I still cannot believe that the nexus tablet is going to be sold as cheap as it is rumored to be atm.
Anyways, let's say it really is: Then it would actually be a good idea to get rid of the unsupported tab 7.7 in time, as you could easily buy two nexus tabs for the money the 7.7 is valued right now.
I think there has to be a hook somewhere.
billytkid said:
Hi all,
I'm about to sell my 7.7 its a great device but the OS sluggyness (more than a second to unluck is not right) is getting on my nerves.
Its clear this isnt going to get any form of regular updates so to stave my losses on it I'm going to sell this now and ideally do so before the Google Tablet arrives.
Is a great machine but with the lack of dev community its a no go for any early adopters liking to play.
Real shame samsung.
btk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is a really good idea i have a same feeling too
I guess I see it as a quirky exotic car. Not as reliable as a cheaper econobox, but 7.7 has my favorite combination of build quality, super thin form factor - yet great battery life, and awesome screen. To me there isn't enough improvement over the 7.7 with the Nexus Tablet that makes me want to swap.
As others have mentioned, swap out the stock launcher & browser, use NoLock, etc. I have tweaked around almost all the deficiencies of the 7.7 and have 99% of what I want in my perfect tablet. The only troublesome issues are this random looping reboot problem that we're discussing in the other thread I haven't been able to make headway with and also that i wish i could enable bluetooth phone profile on the Verizon version.
Maybe when more details are announced for Nexus Tab that make it more awesome, and if the damn random reboot problem on my VZ 7.7 keeps happening.
rEVOLVE said:
I guess I see it as a quirky exotic car. Not as reliable as a cheaper econobox, but 7.7 has my favorite combination of build quality, super thin form factor - yet great battery life, and awesome screen. To me there isn't enough improvement over the 7.7 with the Nexus Tablet that makes me want to swap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do sympathize with the OP. The 7.7 will be my last Samsung product. it's simply not acceptable anymore to launch a premium tablet without appropriate support when the software is just not adequate.
This said, I agree with above. It is still the "best" hardware on the market as far as 7" format goes, with the only possible upgrades being the processor and the screen (resolution wise; would make a huge difference for ebook reading - you get used to the retina screen). I'd have to wait to be tempted by any of the upcoming models, an still seriously hope Samsung will do the right thing and release ICS soon.
The main drawback compared to the Google offering will be the lack of phone option.
globiboulga said:
I do sympathize with the OP. The 7.7 will be my last Samsung product. it's simply not acceptable anymore to launch a premium tablet without appropriate support when the software is just not adequate.
This said, I agree with above. It is still the "best" hardware on the market as far as 7" format goes, with the only possible upgrades being the processor and the screen (resolution wise; would make a huge difference for ebook reading - you get used to the retina screen). I'd have to wait to be tempted by any of the upcoming models, an still seriously hope Samsung will do the right thing and release ICS soon.
The main drawback compared to the Google offering will be the lack of phone option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% agreed
There will be compromise, Mostly screen Nothing beats Amoled!!, no gsm 3g, maybe tiny battery , bigger chunkyer, not magnesium crappyer build quality. The reason the cpu will be good is because it will be mass manufactured, and thats why the price will be so affordable. I think.
I was reading a report online last week that spoke of them going into mass production with some CPU manufacturer, lets see as I have my good days and bad day with the galaxy tab 7.7....
Do wish they would kick the ICS out for this baby and we could see if worth keeping or not, but yes I totally agree with most people on this and Samsung has dropped the ball on this and will be my last Samsung product
I also agree with OP's point to an extent. I actually went from an original Galaxy Tablet, to the 7 Plus, and hate that Samsung does this to their customers. They got our money and forgot about after purchase support. If the 7.7 wasn't such a great device I wouldn't have went with another Samsung.
The next best device I would consider for myself would be the Toshiba Thrive 7.7 - also a SAMOLED+ screen, Tegra 3, skinnier than 7.7 but Wifi only and i really enjoy the battery life and built in LTE from the tablet w/ my 7.7.
be aware !
nexus tablet might lack 3g,LTE, rear camera to make it a affordable device.
evil_penguin said:
be aware !
nexus tablet might lack 3g,LTE, rear camera to make it a affordable device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to hit the price point, those things are well worth the sacrifice.
unless your tablet is your sole device, most people will have a phone which can do all those other things. the tablet was meant to be a secondary device you can use which is inbetween completely portable (phone) and non-portable (desktop).
Humm, no 3g that sux. I use 3g for data.
WiFi at home 3g when I am not, thats a deal braker for me.
I don't have the 7.7 but having played with it in store, I can't imagine Google matching it in quality for the price point they want. That'd be a pretty incredible feat.
Given that I think it'd be a hasty mistake to sell. It sucks for ICS to still not be there but it'll come - and chances are good you'll have a better tab than Google's then.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Got £340 in the end for the tab and have just spent £200 on the g7,sold just in time me thinks.
Feels like I got there just in time.
If 7.7 had Samsung support I wouldn't have swapped
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
The Nexus tab is a competitor to the Kindle and Nook, i dont know why you would downgrade, give it a few weeks and ICS will be available.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
adinis78 said:
The Nexus tab is a competitor to the Kindle and Nook, i dont know why you would downgrade, give it a few weeks and ICS will be available.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep though Tegra3 is superior CPU, I think once ICS drops, aside from Tegrazone games we won't notice any real life difference. The CPU @ 1.4 in our 7.7 is more than fast enough. Heck even my 1Ghz Tegra2 sony tablet s flies with ICS
The killer battery life and 3G is whats making me keep this instead of flogging and buying a Nexus 7 (at a profit too lol)
I agree with more or less all the comments on here, the built quality of the 7.7, weight, and that screen is amazing, but we have been waiting far too long for ICS and Jelly bean is around the corner. We have the advantage of a SD slot 3g etc but the hardware specs of the Nexus 7 is just better in terms of CPU GPU etc under the hood. In my opinion if you just use your tablet for casual use, browsing and consuming digital content then the Nexus 7 makes sense. for cheaper and better experience. But if you have loads of apps, content and you use your tablet as a travel companion and main device to create and produce things then the 7.7 is still a great device. I am in 2 minds right now, might sell up with all my accesories and get 2 nexus 7's one for the wife and one for me. Just not sure
giotecno said:
I agree with more or less all the comments on here, the built quality of the 7.7, weight, and that screen is amazing, but we have been waiting far too long for ICS and Jelly bean is around the corner. We have the advantage of a SD slot 3g etc but the hardware specs of the Nexus 7 is just better in terms of CPU GPU etc under the hood. In my opinion if you just use your tablet for casual use, browsing and consuming digital content then the Nexus 7 makes sense. for cheaper and better experience. But if you have loads of apps, content and you use your tablet as a travel companion and main device to create and produce things then the 7.7 is still a great device. I am in 2 minds right now, might sell up with all my accesories and get 2 nexus 7's one for the wife and one for me. Just not sure
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wait for ICS, with hopefull improvements it will blow the nexus tan out the water even if it has "better software"
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
This has been discussed in other threads, but hopefully this will be a more rational discussion. Please, no fanboys or trolls. It seems to be an obvious comparison right now: Samsung Note 10.1 vs. The Asus Transformer Infinity.
I'm getting a new tablet soon, and was hoping for some helpful information. Along the way it'll be great if this thread helps others with their decision. I had a Samsung 8.9 LTE and loved it, but it was stolen. Just a bit slow though. If either the Note or the Infinity came in a 8.9" form factor I'd buy it immediately. My wife has an Ipad 3. Sorry, but I don't like it. Too much of a PITA to deal with. (Did I mention that I DETEST Itunes?) Great for her though. I will be using the tablet as a portable media center (movies, music and ebooks; I spend a great deal of time on the road.), web browsing, and using it profesionally to look at large, image heavy, PDF documents. Rendering speed and search speed of those documents is very important.
I have not seen a note 10.1 yet... I've read everything I could find on both though. I have played with the infinity and the Tab 2 10.1 at Best Buy. My impressions so far:
Build quality: It's a wash for me. I've seen a number of complaints about the Asus. However, the demo model at Best Buy seemed just fine. I guess I'm not too worried about it; if there's any problems with the Asus I could return it to Best Buy. And I would without hesitation. Same with the Samsung, but every Samsung product I've had has been fine. (With the exception of some BT problems on 2 early Skyrockets.)
Display: Another wash for me. OK, OK, the Infinity is full HD. That said, the display on the Tab 2 was just fine. I could see no pixelation. To be honest, the extra bright mode on the Asus impressed me more than the resolution. Also, I need to view large PDF images, and speed of render is very important. Though I didn't get a chance to view any large images on the Asus, I'm going to guess that it will render somewhat slower due to the resolution. And yes, an extra second matters in this case. maybe I'm wrong about the render time? The render time is the primary reason I want the Note over the Tab 2.
Performance: Advantage Note. See render time above under display.
The Stylus. Not sure about this one. I do need to take notes and draw occasionally. I'm wondering if after six months the pen would become something I couldn't live without? I wonder if there will be CAD programs come along that will take advantage of the stylus? It would be great if I could do 2D CAD work on the tablet and do the 3D stuff later at home...
Docking Keyboard: Advantage Asus. Seems very, very nice. Especially with the extra battery life. How well do BT keyboards work with the Samsung I wonder? On the other hand, I'm a slow typist. I could see myself becoming addicted to the stylus... Or, I might never use it. Only one way to find out I guess.
Speakers: Advantage Samsung. I listened to both. No contest here, the Sammy blows the Asus away. This also makes the Sammy the winner in movie watching for me.
Web Browsing: I'm not sure.
I would appreciate any insight or opinions anyone has to offer.
Thanks!!!
I think Acer also has FHD tab (iconia 700 or something). I guess that also deserves to fight here as it seems to be same-spec'd as Asus Infinity.
If the full hd does not TRUELY matter, I would say the note fits you better. Your need for a tablet seems more fitted towards entertainment, so keep in mind fhd is better for movies and reading. I've read a few issues on the infinity having issues or slow rendering with big PDFs (I forget which one and it could be fix by now). Again so if you can't really tell the difference between the two resolution, get the note. For entertainment, the note will give you stereo speakers (two speakers pointed towards you), Bluetooth with aptx codec (if the quality of streaming audio matters). The infinity has been out for awhile now so most, if not all its flaws are known and most of those flaws are not deal breakers. The note hasnt been mass release yet so it's still not a fair fight between the two. Wait til the note is officially release and see if there's any flaws in the tablet.
If the spen is really what you need then the note is for you. But with me fhd and the spen are equally weighted. it will really depends on how many flaws each tablet has that will lean me towards the other.
( even though the a700 is fhd at the same price the infinity is better all around)
I returned my Transformer Infinity and somehow ended up here looking for a new tablet. (Related thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1830473) Simply put, I'm never buying another Asus product again.
I'm really leaning towards buying a Galaxy Note as soon as possible. Unless I find some other tablets that look better or find some flaws on Galaxy Note, I will probably buy it. Looks like "Meet the new way" thing is going to happen soon in New York, and hopefully I will be able to buy them within a few days if not hours.
I own the TF700. I am actually considering the Note. Here is what I have been considering...
My TF700 is super fast after the last update. I have zero issues.
I have not had a chance to test out any blue tooth stuff yet, since I dont have any blue tooth headphones. Never owned any, and I really dont know if I will.
I am a HUUUUGE music guy. All my music is in Google's cloud using Google Play. This is why I chose Android over Apple, strictly cause of the way I can store music, along with how the interface looks. Music is my number 1, period.
with that said, i dont listen to music or any audio for that matter using the external speaker. No need for it. I know the note has those stereo speakers, but I dont know if I would ever use them. My stuff sounds great right now through cans, so I am not sure if I am going to hear a difference with the Note.
Display - HD vs whatever the display of the note is. Now, I dont THINK I would have an issue with going from HD to the display of the Note. If the Note display can look as good or better than my wife's Ipad2 that would be awesome.
Quality Control - I have light bleed at the bottom of my tab. this is a VERY common problem. I sent the first one back which had it, and now my second has it. Other than that, the tablet is perfect, really. I only see it during boot up. I thought who cares cause the thing is so fast, but I know it is there, so I am sure the Note will have more of a quality build.
Benchmarks - I dont know about this. From the videos posted here, the Note is getting the best benchmark, beating the TF700. But I personally feel that user experience is what should drive this. That said.....I still have in the back of my mind that the Note will be faster in stock, and be even faster with DEV roms But am I going to see it? But I still want it
Support - This is number 2 to my music. Asus puts out firmware like my wife buys shoes. We are also getting Jelly Bean very soon (confirmed, but no date). I have read that Samsung stinks at pushing firmware? can anyone comment on that? Also, has there been any word on when JB will be hitting the Note? With the Note having an issue with exfat on the SD cards, when will a fix be pushed? Those lack of updates scare me with Samsung.
Spen - I dont care. I guess I could use it for taking notes at work, but I was considering the transformer keyboard (maybe) for mine. Not a huge deal at all for me.
Dual screen thing - very cool, but the Overskreen app does that as well, so I dont really care for this feature either.
So my thinking is, I am actually very happy with my tablet, but I am one of those who dwell on the fact that I could return it (in my 30 day window with BB) and grab the note and could have that little bit more of performance, more quality control...but it is possible I could lose the firmware/jelly bean pushes (can someone speak to that?) and lose the HD.
I am still considering the Note. Hell, I might even keep my TF700 until the 30 day mark, and return it all together until I can see some real life stats of the Note. If I dont think it will suit my needs, I go back and get the Asus. Sounds dumb, but for 500 bucks, I am looking for perfection.
My usage is Music by far #1, Browsing #2, and maybe some games. That is what I am using it for at the moment. It is a luxury item for me right now.
If I find that real life stats on the Note just SMOKE the Asus, I may be getting it.
I know for sure I will get it if they push updates and it gets jelly bean soon, soon as in this year, not next.
I hope that makes sense, and I was trying to be objective and not be a fanboy
I am really considering the Note, but I need some real life stats before I make the change.
Good idea for a thread, because there ARE people out there like me, who are considering one or the other, or already own one and are thinking about switching.
Connectivity
hot_spare said:
I think Acer also has FHD tab (iconia 700 or something). I guess that also deserves to fight here as it seems to be same-spec'd as Asus Infinity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The biggest asset for me is connectivity; i.e. full size USB, memory cards, HDMI, etc. This is where Samsung have not progressed and ACER and ASUS (with the dock) have. How much more would it cost the manufacturers to have an option to add more RAM?
Having said all that, the Note 10.1 is impressive and the unlocked tab costs SAR2,600 here in Saudi Arabia from various leading shops. ($1=SAR3.75)
was watching the live stream and the guy said jb will be out for the note by this year
Another big Plus is the usage as telephone in the 3G Version.
Since I have a dual card, its nice answering phone calls, while watching a movie.
This isn't meant as a put-down on Asus; they deliver great value. But that value comes at a price. Since the OG Transformer they've had design, QC, and performance issues. The latter due to using second-tier suppliers to keep costs down. Here are some examples.
HannStar Displays - All Asus tablet forums have threads on backlight bleeding, bad pixels, and other types of display defects that affect a larger than typical number of devices. There's also haptic feedback issues which could be the panel, digitizer, or both.
AzureWave Wi-Fi Radios - Premium manufacturers use Broadcom. AzureWave is why Asus doesn't support 5GHz Wi-Fi and most likely the source of BT interference that bogs down streaming when BT is connected.
Cheap NAND - All of Asus’ tablets suffer from IO issues.
Assembly Issues - Creaking, displays becoming separated, frames bending around the dock connector, and other issues that point to weak assembly tolerances, poor design, or some combination of both. This thread in the TF700 forum describes (by owners) some of the issues. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1815968. In addition, a tear-down of the Prime reinforces issues in the assembly process. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/cr...ardown-solid-tablet-but-not-without-flaws/399
Service and Repair – Their outsourced repair facility in Texas is atrocious. All of the Asus forums are riddled with stories of devices damaged while being repaired, accusations of customer induced damage to avoid warranty costs, long turnaround times, and ineffective communication for status.
Warranty Void for Unlocking the Bootloader – And they don’t provide NVFlash support for people to be able to recover on their own.
Samsung outsells Asus (N7 excepted) three-to-one in tablets and we all know they are the dominant player in non-Apple smartphones. They also manufacture a great deal of their own components. Because of this their cost-of-goods is untouchable by other manufacturers. So for Asus to deliver more than Samsung when their component costs are higher means there had to be cuts made somewhere. What I listed above are just some of those cuts. If folks are happy with their Asus products and aren’t personally experiencing or concerned about the issues that riddle their forums that’s totally cool. Like I said, Asus tablets are a great value. And things like ports aren't a functional differentiator, all can be replicated via add-ons for the Note. It's a matter of adding the additional cost to the total price you're willing to pay. But different strokes for different folks.
Here are some things that, at least for me, made me buy the Note. Even without a 1080P display.
Performance - It feels in use exactly what the benchmarks portray.
Rock Solid Wireless – The Note has BT 4.0 and aptX. If none of you have listened to lossless audio over BT it’s incredible. I have it on my One X and it sounds better with high-end headphones than a physical connection. The Note also has a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support with channel bonding and Samsung’s always supported 5GHz. GPS also supports Glonass.
Durability – I’ve had a Samsung phone and two Samsung tablets (three counting the Note). From experience and watching activity on their forums there are fewer issues with build quality and longevity with Samsung products than any other. They may be “plasticky” but they stand up to tough treatment very well.
Specific Note Features – I won’t elaborate because they’re already being talked about.
- S-Pen
- Multi-view
- Overall performance
- Browser experience
- Wireless performance
- True stereo output with forward facing speakers
- Build quality and support
- TW mini-apps, Awake Stay, Pop up play, AllShare Cast, Buddy Photo
All of this is a big YMMV because everyone has different sensitivities and uses their devices differently. So agreement on which is better, the Note or TF700, will never happen. And for the love of God, those of you that are diehard Asus fans don't go on a tear about the commentary I've provided. Whether it's happening to you or not all of it is substantiated on the TF101, TF201, TF300, TF700, and N7 forums with threads over 10 pages long discussing each item I've outlined.
I need to see one and test one in real life before the 3rd to make my decision.
I am hoping BB gets them in stock.
---------- Post added at 01:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:09 PM ----------
Barry...I am still waiting for those videos
All the full reviews are starting to be released now that the announcement’s been made. They were already written but embargoed. Since we've been talking about the display and agree how important it is, here's a comment from PCWorld. I've noticed the same thing because when I put my P7500 next to the Note, in spite of them both having the same resolution, the display on the Note is clearly superior.
"However, Samsung has clearly done something with this tablet to boost its display performance. The sharpness and color of images is dramatically better than the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and my high-resolution images in the Google Gallery had sharpness and detail that came close to what you'd find on the high-pixel density displays. (Another observation: Android tablets typically struggle with skin tones, but the Note 10.1 produced some of the most realistic skin tones I've seen.) Text clarity was better than than on the abysmal Galaxy Tab 2, but it couldn't hold a candle to what you'd get on any of the high-pixel density displays."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2609...w_the_pen_sets_this_android_tablet_apart.html
P.S. – In the article they talk about an attachment issue with Gmail. If anyone has an issue with it the solution is to set Gmail up using push via ActiveSync in the stock e-mail client. I do that anyway because it’s better integrated with other stock apps and my other e-mail accounts.
qnfauf said:
I returned my Transformer Infinity and somehow ended up here looking for a new tablet. (Related thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1830473) Simply put, I'm never buying another Asus product again.
I'm really leaning towards buying a Galaxy Note as soon as possible. Unless I find some other tablets that look better or find some flaws on Galaxy Note, I will probably buy it. Looks like "Meet the new way" thing is going to happen soon in New York, and hopefully I will be able to buy them within a few days if not hours.
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I just noticed up my infinity to take it back tomorrow. By far the worst tablet experience I've ever had. Screen flicker, screen bleed, and the brightness even with auto brightness of constantly fluctuates. And the Asus seems very sluggish to me also. I've got a nexus 7 that runs as smooth as can be, but my int. htc one x with tegra 3 is very lagy also. Makes me wonder just how great tegra 3 chips really aren't?
I do love the keyboard dock though, would be nice if Samsung came out with something like it.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
The Huawei FHD may be worth considering also, it had great specs and a similar dock to the asus, I'm looking at these 3 tablets but I'm going to wait until the Huawei gets reviewed before I decide which one to buy
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
jimbob456 said:
The Huawei FHD may be worth considering also, it had great specs and a similar dock to the asus, I'm looking at these 3 tablets but I'm going to wait until the Huawei gets reviewed before I decide which one to buy
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
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When is the huawei mediapad coming out? And that thing only has a 6600mAh battery, with the high resolution screen, it won't be enough.
I am hoping best buy has them in Stock soon. I am taking this up there and comparing it have never used touch wiz.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
lardo5150 said:
I am hoping best buy has them in Stock soon. I am taking this up there and comparing it have never used touch wiz.
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You probably won't be a fan. I'm not particularly. It does provide some decent additional features, integration, and short cuts but it's both bland and cartoonish at the same time. Bland in the way the different menus and editorial are presented and cartoonish based on the widgets and icons. I have a One X and HTC does a fantastic job with Sense. Both in the way it's presented and by giving it a more polished and contemporary feel. The widgets on the Note blow. For example the calendar widget is 4x6 and can't be resized. Same thing with the other S-Planner widgets which are 4x4 so you can't stack them vertically. I'm still pissed they left out Social Hub. It's not the world's greatest social solution but at least I got all my notifications in one place instead of having multiple odd looking widgets with each individual app cluttering the notification bar when something new comes in. The pop-up mini-apps have been around since the OG G-Tab but with the power of the Note they are actually usable now. You do get 50GB of Dropbox for two-years and it’s well-integrated with all the other apps and a lot of third party apps. That beats the 6GB from Asus with their proprietary cloud. If you end up getting a Note it won’t be because of TW.
Can you not install third party widgets like hd widgets,?
I will be looking at how chrome performs how smooth things open and close and how Google music works with touch wiz.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
I'm also considering the note 10.1 and returning my infinity, too many issues, returned my prime for the infinity, much better than the prime, but doesn't feel right, good luck
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
I guess I'm not the only one struggling with this same decision. I almost bought a TF700t around a week ago until I started reading about all of the IO issues with the transformer line. The keyboard dock ability for the ASUS is something I would like to have but Samsung does have an official keyboard dock for the note that will be available also so it at least gives me an option for that. It may not have an extended battery and the extra full size ports but I think I can live with that.
Overall I am really seriously leaning towards the Note 10.1 for the following reasons.
1) Stock Performance - if its this good out of the box, Custom Roms will really fly.
2) 2GB Ram = future longevity & multitasking
3) Odin = easy to mod, fairly hard to brick. Asus could have this too with NVFlash but it sounds like they have done some work to make sure users cant use it.
4) Stereo front facing speakers - Yes headphones are better but it would be nice to have real speakers on the device. Having speakers facing away from the user is junk.
I still own a Galaxy S (Epic 4G) for my daily driver. I removed touchwiz from it long ago in favor of Cyanogenmod and haven't looked back. And while Samsung has been pretty bad on their software updates in the past, I do feel like they have been getting better with the newer devices, plus there's always the dev community to the rescue. Their hardware on the other hand, I have always thought was some of the best on the market.
lardo5150 said:
Can you not install third party widgets like hd widgets,?
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Sure, third party apps and widgets perform the way they always do.
I will be looking at how chrome performs how smooth things open and close and how Google music works with touch wiz.
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If you use Chrome you'll lose multi-view. Only certain stock apps work in multi-view. The stock browser's incredibly fast and Samsung's always done an excellent job with h/w browser acceleration. Between stock and Chrome I'd bet stock is faster.
iamchocho said:
Stock Performance - if its this good out of the box, Custom Roms will really fly...
...I removed touchwiz from it long ago in favor of Cyanogenmod and haven't looked back.
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The difference is all the Note's proprietary apps. Just like today, if you replace Sense or TW with a third party launcher none of HTC or Samsung's widgets work outside the overlay. If the devs tweak the stock ROM making sure to preserve all the stuff like the functionality of the S-Pen, multi-view, and the other imbedded stuff everyone should be fine. Putting an AOSP ROM on the Note will obliterate all the features you're buying it for. Unless you're really buying it just for the h/w platform. The Note is further away from stock Android than any other device on the market because of all the non-standard stuff Samsung's baked in.