Which Tablet do you like?

[DisFam95]

We are in the market for a tablet and I keep going back and forth on choices. Pretty much all the articles out there have the brilliant suggestion of "you need to decide what you want to use it for first" but then they never really explain which ones are better for what purpose!

I only need wi-fi for at home and on travels I have pretty much always had free wi-fi or cheap.

I want access to internet at home when the other computer is in use by the spouse or kids, homework etc.

We travel a bit so we like to have it for entertainment, movies, games.

Using it for photos. Instead of carrying our bigger heavier laptop. Is it good/easy for photo editing?

Email


DH is not a huge fan of Apple and Steve Jobs but that's another discussion that I don;t want to get into here (even though we both have i-phone )

So is the i-pad the "end all be all" of tablets or will I be happy with another brand? I hear the i-pads are just so more 'intuitive' to use but I've been on my iphone and been limited the no-flash issue many times which is why 'I' would like to steer away from the i-pad.

I guess I've never used an i-pad so I really won;t know what I'm missng right.

SO what other tablets do you all have and do you love / like it / regret it??

I think my top contender from what I know so far in the Galaxy Tab 10. Also the HP Touchpad and perhaps the Toshibe Thrive - I like all the direct ports even though it's bigger than some of the others.

So -go ahead and discuss. Tell me what you know/think oh wise ones !

 

[YOUDS123215]

We are in the market for a tablet and I keep going back and forth on choices. Pretty much all the articles out there have the brilliant suggestion of "you need to decide what you want to use it for first" but then they never really explain which ones are better for what purpose!

I only need wi-fi for at home and on travels I have pretty much always had free wi-fi or cheap.

I want access to internet at home when the other computer is in use by the spouse or kids, homework etc.

We travel a bit so we like to have it for entertainment, movies, games.

Using it for photos. Instead of carrying our bigger heavier laptop. Is it good/easy for photo editing?

Email


DH is not a huge fan of Apple and Steve Jobs but that's another discussion that I don;t want to get into here (even though we both have i-phone )

So is the i-pad the "end all be all" of tablets or will I be happy with another brand? I hear the i-pads are just so more 'intuitive' to use but I've been on my iphone and been limited the no-flash issue many times which is why 'I' would like to steer away from the i-pad.

I guess I've never used an i-pad so I really won;t know what I'm missng right.

SO what other tablets do you all have and do you love / like it / regret it??

I think my top contender from what I know so far in the Galaxy Tab 10. Also the HP Touchpad and perhaps the Toshibe Thrive - I like all the direct ports even though it's bigger than some of the others.

So -go ahead and discuss. Tell me what you know/think oh wise ones !

How about ZT-180??

 

[photo_chick]

I'm an Android user so I'd probably go with an Android tablet. Mainly because I like the Android OS and I could use all my Android apps on it. If you already have an iPhone, being able to use the same apps, videos, etc. is something to consider. The lack of Flash support is what kept me from the iPhone and iPad to start with. Now that I have had an Android phone for a while I can't imagine going to an iPhone.

Tablets are horrible for photo editing. They can't quite get the job done yet.

 

[ukcatfan]

My wife got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 a couple weeks ago. So far she loves it! She compared it to the iPad and the ONLY thing she liked about it over the SGT was more apps. But then with Apple most apps are NOT free where often comparable ones for Android are free so that ended that consideration for her. The screen on the SGT looked better than any other tab out and by a lot. the iPad came close, but the SGT still looks better. The Xoom and Asus Transformer screens were very noticeably not up to par. The Thrive was not out yet, but I have read that it is a tab more for business than personal use and that the screen is not really that nice on it either.

As for photo editing, a tab is not going to do very much no matter which one you pick. If that is really important to you, I suggest going with a Windows based netbook. Even with that you will need to get one with decent specs so it has enough horsepower.

 

[ukcatfan]

How about ZT-180??

Never heard of that brand, but it only runs Android 2.2, so that is not a good option. If going Android you should go with one on Version 3.1 or higher.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have had the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 inch since it was released and love it. I also have had a Xoom since it was released but have almost exclusively used the Tab mostly due to the size and better portability. I have notebooks that are approx the size of the Xoom or ipad so for a tablet I was wanting even better portability.

I can't answer what is so over the moon with the ipad and would be very frustrated by the lack of flash. The Android tablets are fine products IMO and provide the entertainment I am looking for from a tablet. I especially like Swype but AFAIK the ipad could also have it, although I don't think it does.

 

[YOUDS123215]

Never heard of that brand, but it only runs Android 2.2, so that is not a good option. If going Android you should go with one on Version 3.1 or higher.

Android 3.1 ??

 

[ukcatfan]

Android 3.1 ??

Version 2.2 is Froyo and is made for phones, not tablets. Version 3.0 and above is made for tablets and not phones. It is called Honeycomb. Version 3.1 is the most current available you will find on brand new tabs. It fixed a few problems with 3.0.

 

[heimannm]

I like using tablet during graphical work. tablet make easy graphical work.

 

[ldnon]

I think if you already own iphones, the ipad is a no brainer.
All the apps, music, photos, you already have will sync immediately to your new ipad.
You already know the apps available, but I have to admit that when they are formatted for the ipad, they look much better.

Prior to owning an ipad, I was never a big fan of reading newspapers/magazines on mobile devices, but again, am now an absolute convert. Seeing the gorgeous extra content of a magazine like Sports Illustrated (videos, pics), or a newspaper like the NYT is truly impressive.

The cameras on the ipad are horrible, (much worse than the iphone), but playing with face time when you are travelling is a great way to video call your family.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[ukcatfan]

I think if you already own iphones, the ipad is a no brainer.
All the apps, music, photos, you already have will sync immediately to your new ipad.
You already know the apps available, but I have to admit that when they are formatted for the ipad, they look much better.

Prior to owning an ipad, I was never a big fan of reading newspapers/magazines on mobile devices, but again, am now an absolute convert. Seeing the gorgeous extra content of a magazine like Sports Illustrated (videos, pics), or a newspaper like the NYT is truly impressive.

The cameras on the ipad are horrible, (much worse than the iphone), but playing with face time when you are travelling is a great way to video call your family.

Hope this is helpful!

I think the OP's Flash frustrations make it a no brainer to stay away from the iPad.

 

[ukcatfan]

I didn't notice you mentioning the HP earlier. I would probably avoid it because the WebOS is not likely to survive another year. Same with the BlackBerry tab. Android and Apple are the only true viable options right now. I think Microsoft will surprise some people once they get in the market though.

 

[DisFam95]

I think if you already own iphones, the ipad is a no brainer.
All the apps, music, photos, you already have will sync immediately to your new ipad.
You already know the apps available, but I have to admit that when they are formatted for the ipad, they look much better.

Prior to owning an ipad, I was never a big fan of reading newspapers/magazines on mobile devices, but again, am now an absolute convert. Seeing the gorgeous extra content of a magazine like Sports Illustrated (videos, pics), or a newspaper like the NYT is truly impressive.

The cameras on the ipad are horrible, (much worse than the iphone), but playing with face time when you are travelling is a great way to video call your family.

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks. This is my big debate right now as we have i-phones. BUt who says we won;t convert to Android later for the phone.

I'm always reading on my iphone at night and it's just tiny for my old eyes! I've become a news junky.

Yeah I'm not too concerned w/ the cameras on tablets. ANyone taking a pic w/ a tablet just looks like a fool! Spike Lee and the Obama photo!

 

[DisFam95]

I think the OP's Flash frustrations make it a no brainer to stay away from the iPad.

Yes! You see I start to wander back over to the shiny i-pad and then recall that issue!! Thanks.

I didn't notice you mentioning the HP earlier. I would probably avoid it because the WebOS is not likely to survive another year. Same with the BlackBerry tab. Android and Apple are the only true viable options right now. I think Microsoft will surprise some people once they get in the market though.

It was on the short list but I think I agree to avoid that one.

The leader for me is the Galaxy Tab but I admit I like the ports on the Thrive instead of worrying about more cables i order to connect/upload etc.

I'm going to the store tonight for some serious hands on play and see what the boys in blue can tell me.

 

[ldnon]

I too was frustrated with lack of flash initially, but am finding more and more that websites are caving in and generating their videos via Apple compatible modes.
Other than cheesy restaurant sites and car manufacturers' sites, I haven't missed it all!

There are a multitude of photo editing apps for the ipad which work wonderfully.
I'm looking forward to taking my ipad down for our trip next month!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

There's the iPad and there's everything else. It's for a reason. It didn't happen by accident.

I hate Apple. I'm a PC bigot. I've made my living off Microsoft and PC users for 35 years. I have an iPhone. My wife gets my hand-me-down iPhone every year. I had an iPad gen 1. I sold it when the 2's were coming out and I now have an iPad 2/64 and an iPad 2/32. My little girl has an iPod Touch/32.

When you can show me something with the backend support for apps and diversity that the iDevice market has, I'll listen, but I'll probably know about it before you do anyway because I make a living in this space. I've yet to see it and am not expecting to see it.

The tablet ship has sailed. Apple won. Game over. Everybody else is a follower and a "but I can do almost as good as the iPad can".

Flash is dead. Jobs successfully killed it single-handedly because of a personal vendeta that happened years ago in our industry that I won't drag up here. I'll say it again. Flash is dead. You don't need it. In 12-24 months, it will be 90% gone anyway. The market (iDevices) is already driving it that way HARD.

RIM (aka BlackBerry) has all but given up in the space. It's only a matter of time before they're gone (from the tablet space, at least). HP thinks they are smarter than Apple and they're about to learn their lesson. HTC is now under court order to cease and decist sales in the US but it's currently under appeal (lawsuit won on patent infringements by, guess who... Apple). HTC is a HUGE player in the Android marketplace OS/hardware space.

It doesn't matter whether you like Apple or iDevices or not. The gauntlet has been thrown, and everybody else is just ducking and hoping not to get hit.

Believe me. I've fought Apple for years, and still do, but in the tablet space; they got it right. Period.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I didn't notice you mentioning the HP earlier. I would probably avoid it because the WebOS is not likely to survive another year. Same with the BlackBerry tab. Android and Apple are the only true viable options right now. I think Microsoft will surprise some people once they get in the market though.

And it's a shame too. The Windows Phone OS shows great promise and is actually the best contender to iOS from a technology standpoint. Unfortunately, ever since Bill left MS for day-to-day operations, Ballmer just can't seem to get things to market in a timely manner. Unfortunately, they are going to be late to the game too. Fortunately, over the long haul and because of market saturation in the business world, they will be a long-term contender in the space.

This is the reason the market is so scared of Steve leaving Apple permanently. Gates set the precedent for the large OS suppliers' companies losing their vision when they lose their leadership day to day. For this reason, Jobs may die tomorrow, but when he does, you can bet your butt that he will still be involved in the day to day operations of Apple, whether by title or not.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

There's the iPad and there's everything else. It's for a reason. It didn't happen by accident.

I hate Apple. I'm a PC bigot. I've made my living off Microsoft and PC users for 35 years. I have an iPhone. My wife gets my hand-me-down iPhone every year. I had an iPad gen 1. I sold it when the 2's were coming out and I now have an iPad 2/64 and an iPad 2/32. My little girl has an iPod Touch/32.

When you can show me something with the backend support for apps and diversity that the iDevice market has, I'll listen, but I'll probably know about it before you do anyway because I make a living in this space. I've yet to see it and am not expecting to see it.

The tablet ship has sailed. Apple won. Game over. Everybody else is a follower and a "but I can do almost as good as the iPad can".

Flash is dead. Jobs successfully killed it single-handedly because of a personal vendeta that happened years ago in our industry that I won't drag up here. I'll say it again. Flash is dead. You don't need it. In 12-24 months, it will be 90% gone anyway. The market (iDevices) is already driving it that way HARD.

RIM (aka BlackBerry) has all but given up in the space. It's only a matter of time before they're gone (from the tablet space, at least). HP thinks they are smarter than Apple and they're about to learn their lesson. HTC is now under court order to cease and decist sales in the US but it's currently under appeal (lawsuit won on patent infringements by, guess who... Apple). HTC is a HUGE player in the Android marketplace OS/hardware space.

It doesn't matter whether you like Apple or iDevices or not. The gauntlet has been thrown, and everybody else is just ducking and hoping not to get hit.

Believe me. I've fought Apple for years, and still do, but in the tablet space; they got it right. Period.

Agreed. Seeing as how the OP had iPhones, the OP is already into that iDevice ecosystem. Going out and getting a device with a different OS just doesn't seem like that much of a decision.

Now, I'm biased in that I work on iOS software, but what Apple sold 9+ million iPads last quarter alone?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

http://news.yahoo.com/apple-ipad-accounts-one-percent-global-browsing-152244979.html

 

[DisFam95]

Flash is dead. You don't need it. In 12-24 months, it will be 90% gone anyway.

But it's here now. In that time i'll probably go through to another tablet or two as new stuff comes out (look at your collection )

Still everything I'm reading on reviews - including that link you posted - is the web browsing experience is just not great on ipad.

Android is Google and Google is not going anywhere. I just don;t dig that Jobs is sitting on a 70 BILLION dollar pile of cash! With technology if he can't own it and control it then he wants to kill it.

I have an iphone because I've had it from the beginning and at the time there were no half way decent smart phones out there.

I'm still undecided - story of my life!

But please keep any comments and experiences coming with whay you love/like/hate about your tablets!!



Also to Wilson Flyer and anyone knowledgable - I found some stuff in my searches about Kal-El and the quad core's coming up. What's your opinion on that and competing w/ Apple etc.

Thanks