The place where I see Android tablets really shining....is the 7-inch
models and a custom ROM...if they are cheap enough, once could have one
in every room...and have total and complete home automation over a wifi
network. I'm considering a Nook Tablet or a Kindle Fire (I'm a prime
member).
On 11/10/2011 10:24 PM, Robert Martin Jr. wrote:
There have always been way better ROMS from the homebrew crowd, than any stock
android offering IMO. I have never run a phone or tablet with the stock android
version that came with it. CyanogenMod is usually my first choice because it's
always been way ahead of the vanilla ones, and that's what I run on my G-Tablet.
It's way faster than an ipad and was running Netflicks long before there was an
official app for it ;)
We were on a flight to Kauai earlier this year and he was using it next to a
couple teenage girls with ipads and they kept wanting to use the G-tab. Ipad =
way over priced but good for the non-tech savy.
If you're a techie, a custom ROM is a must if you like android. I recently
picked up a eDGe 7 inch tablet for cheap on WOOT ($78-freeshipping) and had it
hacked with a custom ROM and full market within a couple hours. Not even close
to as fast as my G-tab, but small and has an e-ink screen on the left for
reading in the sun. G-tab has way too much glare for outdoor use. Although the
G-tab is one of the "old" tablets these days, it flies with cyanogenmod. I'm on
my 4th android phone and hacked each the first day I got them. I love the
ability to switch to a new phone and already have everything (contacts, pics[if
using G+] apps) moved over automagically.
lopaka
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.
