The screen form factor disadvantage shows up every time you open a
webpage or view a document like a pdf of a powerpoint in full page
mode. The aspect ratio of means you see a smaller image on the screen
with wasted space off to the sides. Using 16:9 rather than something
closer to 4:3 wastes screen space when doing real work. Sure, watching
a movie on a tablet is something nice to do, but how many people really
need to have their tablet screen optimized just for that? If I can
watch a movie on my phone, on a 7-inch tablet and be happy, means I'm
doing it because I have nothing else to do at the moment and I'm willing
to deal with a smaller screen. Optimizing a tablet screen for movies is
a poor design choice, IMO.
Now you tout the thinness and lightness of the SGT10 as an advantage,
but for the price of that you lose ports and other features. My Acer
Iconia tab as many ports, space for an internal microSC slot and usb,
mini or micro usb, hdmi, front/rear cameras and runs HC 3.2. But it
weights close to 2 lbs. You can't have it both ways. I'm not sure a
replaceable battery is even important as this market segment changes too
fast...people will probably move on before the battery starts to die.
Funny, the reason you like the SGT10 is because it takes all it clues
from Apple, while still running HC.
Saying that an OS is dated and citing that as a reason for it falling
behind misses the mark, IMO. If your standard is having to see
something new, no matter why, then you're going to have to wait for 4
versions for the OS to work well just as you see is happening with
Android. What's important is whether you can do what you need to do
without a lot of hassle. Android is fiddly...and many people don't find
it intuitive to use.
Frankly, I would expect a later product from a competitor to have
features that the older product doesn't have. Why is the SGT10 lighter
(than iPad)? Oh, it has that flimsy back. What's likely why it's
thinner too (than iPad). Wonder why it has less battery life (than
iPad)? Oh, it has a bigger & more vivid screen. All these factors play
into the overall experience.
The real problem lots of people have with Apple is what you mention
below....doing it Apples way. Well, the good news is you do have a
zillion choices so you're not forced into anything if you feel
squeezed. Of course, you may not get much product support as lots of
these Android tablets are going the way of the do-do.
On 11/10/2011 10:29 AM, Greg Sevart wrote:
The SGT10 isn't perfect, but not for many of the reasons that you state. The
thinness and weight are noteworthy in that it's the thinnest and lightest of
all Android tablets right now, and even exceeds the iPad2. Granted, not by
much, but Apple has always used the physical form of their products as a
selling point, which doesn't hold up to the SGT10. The screen is
significantly better--it's more vibrant, larger, and has a higher
resolution. I've used an iPad 2 and do indeed find the SGT10 to have a
materially superior screen. I can't say that the aspect ratio has ever
negatively impacted anything I've used it for, either. Honeycomb is a
disadvantage only if you're an iOS fan--it is, by far, superior to Android
2.x in every way. 3.0 may have been poor--I never used it--but 3.1 and later
are very nice platforms.
Where the SGT10 does fall, however, is in the fact that the battery cannot
be replaced and that it has no ports other than the proprietary main
connector. This is an unfortunate cue from Apple. The plastic back can be a
liability, but it is a very solid device to hold.
Yes, the SGT10 was released after the iPad 2, but is that really
justification for pulling punches? The iPad2 still represents the latest and
greatest tablet from Apple and it is absolutely fair to compare it against
the latest and greatest Android devices, especially since we're still months
away from a possible iPad refresh.
I still find that one of iOS's biggest deficiencies at this stage is that it
feels old and tired. The interface is dated, while Honeycomb is fresh (along
with WP7, actually). It's long overdue for a visual overhaul that Apple
seems unwilling to do, probably because their followers would find such a
change confusing.
Agreed--time waits for none. While Apple releases new versions every year or
so, you can hardly go a month without a newer Android tablet being released.
I have the choice to mix and match the features that are important to me and
not accept what one solitary organization dictates. That is the biggest
advantage of a non-Apple device, and it's not to be understated.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:hardware-
[email protected]] On Behalf Of Anthony Q. Martin
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:03 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] Thought on tablets?
In this world, everything is debatable.
However, the SGT10 has its flaws too. One is Honeycomb. Another is its
weak back side. While the screen might be better, you can't claim the
iPad screen is bad, and frankly I continue to find the aspect ratio
better than that on a Honeycomb tablet. IMO, setting the aspect ratio
for watching a movie on such a small device is bad design. There are
many other things one needs to do where that screen size is a
disadvantage. Saying that it is thinner isn't much of an advantage,
since the iPad is thin enough. One has to hold the thing and feel
confident doing so. And the tiny weight difference isn't that big of a
deal. And of course Samsung is clearly trying to imitate the iPad, but I
don't see it at any technological disadvantage, especially given that
the 2nd version came out before the SGT10. In terms of tech, later
products always have an advantage.
And man....I waste more time fiddling around with Honeycomb than its
worth. Waiting for Google to get it's act together is a huge
time-waster for me. I'll be moving away from Google devices come time
to upgrade my phone (well, at least that's my thinking right now). The
Google TV (logitech revue) is the main reason I'm done with Google-based
products.
IMO, the best reason to rule out Apple is price. But in terms of
experience, IMO, none of the Honeycomb tablets competes. The argument
always seems to be wait on the next thing down the road. Ok...but while
you're doing that life is marching on. Time waits for none.
On 11/10/2011 8:56 AM, Greg Sevart wrote:
Of course, I already have an iPad (and nothing matches it) and an Acer
Iconia Tab (A500). Oh, and I have a Nook Color too.
I'd argue this point. While the iPad makes a very compelling ecosystem
argument by simple virtue of running iOS, it has been eclipsed in every
category from a technological superiority perspective. As an example, my
SGT10 has a more vibrant screen, larger screen, is lighter, thinner, and
provides roughly equivalent performance and battery life. Honeycomb
(and
ICS) are, in my opinion, far more modern looking than iOS as well. I
have a
work-provided iPhone4, and I find the interface to be dull and dated
compared to Android's latest, and the larger profile iPad exacerbates
this.
Nobody else can compete with the ecosystem though, which is a strong
competitive advantage to be sure, but "nothing matches it" is...highly
debatable. With a reunified platform in ICS/Android 4.0, I suspect that
we'll see the ecosystem argument lose standing as well.
