iPad2/Xoom/Galaxy Tab/Iconia Tab comparison

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Syzygys, Apr 8, 2011.

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  1. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    I am looking into the Tab market and trying to decide which device would be the best. In this thread we could share our personal experiences. One note, Acer is coming out with Iconia for $500 around Apr 24th.
    Here is a video comparison of the first 3:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoVLjTOOKJY

    Here is what my demands are:

    1. Non-reflective surface for outside usage. Looks like NONe of them have that.
    2. Ability to load my own books, pdf files. I think the iPad might have a proprietary reader and I can only read stuff from the iStore.
    3. Battery life should be in the 8-10 hours range.
    4. Cheap monthly plan if exist for Wi-Fi...
    5. Plenty of applications.
    6. Heavy internet browsing.

    I generally don't like Apple products, but because of the millions of applications I might go with that, if I can freely load my own books. Also I don't think you can change the battery in it, so once that dies it can be rather costly...
     
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  3. Asguard Kiss my dark side Valued Senior Member

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    Im waiting for the psp2

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    Not quite a tab but much better value for the $800 than the rest.
     
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  5. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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  7. superstring01 Moderator

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    I have an iPad. I love the thing, though to be fair, all I use it for is surfing the interwebs, checking email, reading books, playing the occasional Angry Birds, listening to songs and viewing photos. All of the other crazy gadgets that people rave about mean nothing to me. So, the iPad is exactly what I want and need and I love the friggin' thing.

    ~String
     
  8. brokenpower Registered Senior Member

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  9. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Can you load your own books/pdf from your other non-Apple computer into it?
    How about reading it outside in the Sun? I plan to use it outside a lot, and only my small netbook is non-reflective, the bigger laptops are useless on the deck...
     
  10. OnlyMe Valued Senior Member

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    I have an iPad. I love it.

    You can load free apps for most proprietary book readers. Nook, Kindle and some generic readers.

    Add a couple of free or low cost apps for Viewing and marking up PDF files. You can convert most anything to a PDF and read from those. I do a lot of web research and either download PDFs directly or save whole web pages, multi page html docs etc. as a PDF.

    It is difficult to read in full daylight. But all but the book reader like Kendle, which use electronic paper screens are probably equal on that issue.

    As far as uploading content from your PC, a windows version of iTunes is a free down load and many of the apps can read word docs.

    I travel and upload the camera roll daily. I even sent a great picture home from the Amazon last June. Yes they had Wifi available as far as 60 kilometers into the Amazon from Peru. To transfer those to a PC you need a what do they call it a dil file, and windows does notnprovide it. But once installed windows will recognize the iPad camera roll.

    Battery life is about 10 hours depending on screen brightness and data/Bluetooth use. I understand that generally when the battery needs replacing apple will almost always just exchange for a new iPad.

    I had a freind who had damaged their iPad, no visible damage but it no longer worked. They took it to the Apple store and walked out with a new iPad in the box.

    Mine is a 1st generation Wifi only 64 gb. I have two full length movies and about 6000 photos at full camera resolution on mine pluss somewhere in the neighborhood of maybe 500 PDF documents including a few books. Several Kendal books...

    Unless you just have cash to spend 32 gb is probably enough for most people, even with movies and photos.

    I don't know anything about some of the other tablets.

    The 2nd gen iPads can be setup for data service with either AT&T or Verizon. I don't have data but it seems the AT&T basic plan was $10 or $15/mo for 250 mb data and a month to month agreement.
     
  11. EmptyForceOfChi Banned Banned

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    I don't want to be a downer but I really don't like the tablets and touch pads, Ipad is ok but after a few days you will just get bored of it and get annoyed that it's not as good as a top of the range laptop.


    This might just be my personal taste that you might not share but I reccomend just sticking with a Good laptop. Ipad is ok but it just cant do everything a laptop can even though it is more compact and easier to carry about.

    They just don't compare int he long run with any decent type of laptop, I would even go as far to say don't be fooled into buying one of these "new fad gadgets" I seriously don't like any of them and have tried them all.

    Laptops win hands down, spend about £800 on a good lappy and it can do everything and more than any touch pad can.

    Thumbs down for ipads
     
  12. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    That's what I have been thinking. For example right now I am in bed and browsing the web on a notebook, but since I am using a mouse, I don't even have to lift my hand. Also, when lying down, I don't have to hold anything, it is just simply on my stomach. So how this nice lazy experience would improve by a tablet?

    The other thing is that it looks like most tablets are still in the development phase, and either their OS or the memory need improvement. I mean plain webbrowsing is glitchy? WTF???

    This notebook was $300 only, and can do more than a tablet, can be read outside, the only negative is the less battery time... And I like to use a mouse. So maybe a tablet is not for me...
     
  13. superstring01 Moderator

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    I have the Kindle app and have accumulated about fifteen books. I like Kindle because I have an Android phone and there's a Kindle app that lets me read my books there too. I also have Stanza which gives me access to all the classics for free. As to reading PDF's, I have never tried it but I think I can with a reader. As to reading in the Sun, I don't think so (the thing's shiny as hell though I can turn the brightness up so high that it's practically blinding). Never understood why "reading in the sun" is an issue with some people. I've never read a book outside in my life (I'm usually doing something), so I'll be damned if I take my beloved iPad out near a pool or beach where it could get wet or stolen.

    ~String
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2011
  14. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Well, our house has decks or a porch on 3 sides, so it is hard not to be outside in the gorgeous sunshine when the weather is nice. Also on the weekends I am at a lakehouse, again plenty of sunshine.
    So shininess is one of the biggest issues for me. For laptops they sell a plastic anti-glare, but that is $30+. I guess I can get one for a tablet, if nothing else works...

    Edit: Just googled it, for tablets the anti-glare is actually much cheaper, $3-10. For the iPad a 2 pack is $15 at Bestbuy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2011
  15. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2011
  16. Kennyc Registered Senior Member

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    I have a Xoom and love it for email, browsing, pdf reading and ebook reading (when not in the direct sunshine) -- I have a kindle and Sony e-ink for use in the sun.
     
  17. superstring01 Moderator

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    It looks beautiful. My boyfriend wants one for his b-day. Almost makes me wish I had waited. It's clearly the superior product, especially if bells and whistles matter (which, for me, they do not).

    ~String
     
  18. EmptyForceOfChi Banned Banned

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    They are "laggy and Glitchy" also they randomly change perspective on you all of a sudden, you will be happily reading an article and then "Achooo" you sneeze look down and your article is upside-down because the angle function is so overly sensative. This also happens when im watching TV on my Phone it always goes out of control and the image flips making you watch an upside down news broadcast. I hate the over sensitivity of these gadgets sensory systems.


    The battery life of my notebook is less than impressive, but my laptop has excellent battery life, I don't want to promote certain brands we all know what brands are reliable and "Good".

    Rop of the range laptops in the 800-1200£ section will do things touchpads just cant compete with.

    And if you are a gamer forget about it, playing games on Ipad is horrible and you will just curse the interaction and want to smash your nice new Ipad.


    Peace/
     
  19. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    >Top of the range laptops in the 800-1200£ section

    The most I am willing to spend on a laptop is $600... There is simply no reason to go over that.
     
  20. scifes In withdrawal. Valued Senior Member

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