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Best Android tablet?
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cribology
30-01-2012
What is the best tablet for me to buy, I have decided that 7in is too small, I include the contenders. which one would you choose?

SONY S Tablet PC - 16GB - 9.4in - 598g
£349
- points: Quite bulky, Single Core
+ points: 1280x800, Playstation integration

MOTOROLA Xoom Tablet PC - 32GB - 10.1in - 730g
£329
- points: Heavy, poor reputation
+ points: 1280 x 800, HDMI/USB port, Dual core

ARCHOS 80 G9 PC Tablet - 8GB - 8in - 465g
£199
- points: only 512mb ram, square washed out screen,
+ points: microSD slot, 1024 x 768

ARCHOS Arnova 9 G2 HD Tablet PC - 8GB - 9.7in - 630g
£199
- points: single core, only Gingerbread 2.3
+ points: USB port, well priced

ARCHOS Arnova 8 G2 Tablet PC - 8GB - 490g - 8in
£139
- points: single core, Gingerbread, 256 ram, only 800 x 600
+ points: Cheaply priced.

ARCHOS 101 G9 Tablet PC – 16GB - 649g - 10.1in
£299
- points: 512Mb only,
+ points: dual core, 1280 x 800

ADVENT Vega Tablet
PC - 4 GB - 10.1in - 750g
£199
- points: only 1024 x 600 pixels, Android 2.2, single core
+ points: no video out,

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tablet PC - 16GB
8.9in: 448g - 1280 x 800
£399
10.1in: 565g - 1280 x 800
£399
- points: No video out option.
+ points: hdmi & mem card slot, Dual core will get , 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Tablet PC with Docking Station - 16GB - 680g
£429
- points: bulky design
+ points: Dual core, 1280 x 800, will get 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

ASUS Transformer Prime - 32gb - 10.1in - 565g/1.121 kg with dock
£499
- points: Expensive,
+ points: Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, will get 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Flipper411
30-01-2012
I've had a Motorola Xoom and Have now got the Transformer Prime.

The ASUS TFP is is a totally different beast, it is so much more powerful then the Xoom and others on your list.

Tegra 3, IPS panel and the killer feature is the dock, this is so much more then just a keyboard, it has an additional battery and more connectivity on it as well.

Also I have to say with tablets an on-screen soft keyboard is not great for extended writing, so the hard keyboard is very welcome.
Also the clam shell design really protects the screen on the tablet even when not in use. Have to say the video playback is top notch as Tegra 3 supports 1080 HD as well.
flynn
30-01-2012
Yep, the Transformer Prime is in a different league to the others at the moment, but obviously you'll pay for it.

I've currently got an Acer A500 which is a similar spec to the old Transformer I think (although without the keyboard) - in fact looking at The Register's Android tablet roundup from last year it's virtually the same, and it's also pretty good - not sure if you can still get one, but the proper USB port and the price at the time (£299) swung it for me.
JeffG1
30-01-2012
I am very happy with my Motorola Xoom. What's the "poor reputation"?
spendleb
30-01-2012
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“I am very happy with my Motorola Xoom. What's the "poor reputation"?”

Yeah same here, I only saw great reviews and I can't fault mine at all
Stuart_h
30-01-2012
The Transformer/Transformer Prime put a whole new slant on the tablet concept.

The 'bulky' design as you put it is due to the keyboard which doubles as a screen protector (clamshell design), stand/dock and, most importantly, extended battery.

Its is optional though ... you go out and feel its too bulky ? leave the keyboard at home ....

I have the original Transformer and I love it. The Prime looks great - but not enough for me to bother upgrading - especially with a new Prime allegedly coming in spring (so i hear) ?
Matt D
30-01-2012
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“I am very happy with my Motorola Xoom. What's the "poor reputation"?”

I think it's more due to the state of Honeycomb when the Xoom first launched.

From what I've read, it's had a much better rep since it got 3.2.
Matt D
30-01-2012
Originally Posted by cribology:
“SAMSUNG Galaxy Tablet PC - 16GB
8.9in: 448g - 1280 x 800
£399
10.1in: 565g - 1280 x 800
£399
- points: No video out option.
+ points: hdmi & mem card slot, Dual core will get , 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich”

I don't know about the 8.9, but the Galaxy Tab 10.1 requires an adaptor for SD cards or HDMI.
cribology
30-01-2012
Well today I tested all except the prime, the Archos 80 G9 ran smoothly but of those I tested Galaxy Tab and transformer tested the best. I bought a white Samsung tab 8.9, plugged it into Kies and received the 3.2 update. I am 95% happy with it although I think it is a bit expensive.
misterbarlow
30-01-2012
i have a xoom and find it great...
and heavy?? i spend ages sat on the loo with it held in one hand reading, and dont find it at all heavy...
it may be heavier on paper than some others but whats 100g os so..??
you dont even notice it..
JeffG1
30-01-2012
Make sure you don't get confused.
spendleb
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by Matt D:
“I think it's more due to the state of Honeycomb when the Xoom first launched.

From what I've read, it's had a much better rep since it got 3.2.”

And it get's ICS in the next few weeks (lagging behind the US again who already have it )
JeffG1
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by spendleb:
“And it get's ICS in the next few weeks (lagging behind the US again who already have it )”

What use is ICS on a wireless-only tablet? Surely its only use is for a 3g device to provide a wireless access point?
Padre
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“What use is ICS on a wireless-only tablet? Surely its only use is for a 3g device to provide a wireless access point?”

I've been running ICS on my wifi only Xoom for the last month and its not just for providing a wireless access point.

Its far more optimised than HC was, runs a lot smoother with no screen lag when you swipe on either the Homescreen or in the app drawer.

All in all, its what HC should have been when released.
JeffG1
31-01-2012
Now you have totally lost me. What are the other uses of ICS, and what is HC? (We seem to be going a bit off topic, though knowing what this is might help someone decide what's best for them.)

Ah - now I've realised: ICS is Ice Cream Sandwich, and not what Wikipedia tells me, i.e. Internet Connection Sharing - hence the confusion on my part. (I think decoding the meaning of HC helped!)
kobashi100
31-01-2012
You can get the XOOM for £250 now mate.

Originally Posted by spendleb:
“And it get's ICS in the next few weeks (lagging behind the US again who already have it )”

Are we getting it that soon. Seen no confirmation of this and worried it will be months instead of weeks.
the_saint_2005
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by cribology:
“ADVENT Vega Tablet PC - 4 GB - 10.1in - 750g
£199
- points: only 1024 x 600 pixels, Android 2.2, single core
+ points: no video out,”

Not sure what you mean by no video out, the Vega has a full sized HDMI socket. Also, it has a very active modding community, and currently has an alpha version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) running on it.
ecco66
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by kobashi100:
“You can get the XOOM for £250 now mate.


”

You can? Where? Sounds like a great deal!
Padre
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by the_saint_2005:
“Not sure what you mean by no video out, the Vega has a full sized HDMI socket. Also, it has a very active modding community, and currently has an alpha version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) running on it.”

It's also a Tegra2 dual core, not the single core as stated by the OP.
spendleb
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by kobashi100:
“You can get the XOOM for £250 now mate.



Are we getting it that soon. Seen no confirmation of this and worried it will be months instead of weeks.”

There was mention on the Xoom forums that it would be 6 weeks after the US release but Motorola UK won't confirm, no idea why we have to wait, must admit I am tempted to flash it with the US rom now, scared I make a mess of it though
alanwarwic
31-01-2012
DOes anyone know if any of these have pointing sticks(nipples). I've been using Android on my PC for a while now and I much prefer a pointing stick to a touch screen for selecting.
kobashi100
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by ecco66:
“You can? Where? Sounds like a great deal!”

i think it went back down to £250 @ CPW in store.
c4rv
31-01-2012
As several people have mentioned, the dock on the transformer is what sets it apart. Apart from extra battery life and full sized connectors it also serves as a stand and a screen protector. Oh and a keyboard as well. I am guessing they are still selling well as its held its price.

Out of the 1024x600 resolution tablets, the vega still pretty much runs rings around everything else especially when you use one of the custom ROMs. Shame they are so hard to get hold off now.
alanwarwic
31-01-2012
Thus my question on whether any have pointing sticks. You cannot conveniently use the touchscreen with one hand lft holding the tablet. Yet whilst mine feels heavy it is in fact only 350 gram in weight .

They are convenient 'loafing around' devices and stupid on a desk without a suitable stand/keyboard. A pointing stick though would cure much of the 'letting go with one hand' aspect of usage.
I guess once the iPad gets saturated in its winning 'couch potato' market it will then also 'transform'.
Vennegoor
31-01-2012
Originally Posted by misterbarlow:
“i have a xoom and find it great...
and heavy?? i spend ages sat on the loo with it held in one hand reading, and dont find it at all heavy...
it may be heavier on paper than some others but whats 100g os so..??
you dont even notice it..”

I've got a Xoom and I love it, brilliant for PDFs.

Can feel a bit heavy one handed after a while if reading in bed.
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