Android Tablets.....your thoughts please.

[Silverbullett]

I just ordered a Tablet Device running Android 2.2. Anyone here have any experience with these chinese market tablets? Any tips or things I should look out for? For reference, this is the device I ordered:

http://www.merimobiles.com/Witstech_A81G_New_Version_with_Full_USB_p/meri0544.htm

[wake5150]

Do you still have time to cancel your order? Motorola will be releasing their tablet soon running android 3.0 (gingerbread). This is the true OS for tab use. Search it, looks to be a contender.

[stormy_clothing]

Do you still have time to cancel your order? Motorola will be releasing their tablet soon running android 3.0 (gingerbread). This is the true OS for tab use. Search it, looks to be a contender.

it's 800 bux

if that isnt enough to stop anyone from buying one they have too much money.

I played with one @ CES and it's really cool for a tablet but with the quality of 12 inch net books being half as much money dont piss it away on this.

[Ripon83]

my iPad works great....I'm not fan of Apple and never owned an Apple PC in my life, but I enjoy the iPad and it works here fine too.

[Silverbullett]

It's $800 to start plus however much your data plan costs. I'm not knocking the quality of the Ipad as it's proven itself already. But my budget was <$250. I also don't want to use it as a phone. My main reason for buying it was for video playback and reading Ebooks. Thanks for the input though.

[sawchain]

iPad, all the way. And don't forget Jonathan Zdziarski's Ballistic app.

[ElvenSoul]

To soon to tell they are just hitting the market.

[GrinderCB]

My guess is you're getting the Galaxy Tab or something like it. I'd go with those who say to cancel the order and wait til Verizon gets the Motorola Xoom. Slightly larger, will run Gingerbread, dual-core processor and will be 4G making it really fast. Not that Froyo devices will be outdated very soon, and if Verizon's 4G LTE hasn't reached your area you'll have a bit of a wait for the upload/download speed increase.

If you need the tablet immediately and/or the money is burning a hole in your pocket you could do worse than a 2.2 tablet. Beats an iPad that you have to carry around looking for a hotspot.

[Silverbullett]

I appreciate the advice but again, $800 or even $500 is out of the question for one of these. I can't justify it to myself. Not to say it isn't worth it. It's just not worth it to me. My budget was under $250. I've been watching the progression of these tablets since the Ipad came out. I've wanted one since then but, I've been waiting for the tech to get better and for the prices to come down.

[Wherryj]

my iPad works great....I'm not fan of Apple and never owned an Apple PC in my life, but I enjoy the iPad and it works here fine too.

I tend to feel the same way about Apple. I've never understood the almost cult-like devotion of many of their followers, especially when I can self-build a PC with 50% more power for 50% less cost.

That being said, the iPod Touch that I have is a pretty neat little gadget-not quite enough to lure me away from my Droid X, but pretty nicely designed aside from the programmed obsolescence (no user replaceable battery).

The iPad might be tempting for me during my move to an electronic health record, but the lack of native support for Acrobat's .pdf files sort of kills the device for real medical use.

Apple's "walled garden", unwavering support for unreasonable digital rights for customers and pissing contest with Adobe seriously limit their devices for me.

Here's hoping the new android tablets will one up the market. Competition is always good for the consumer.

[Wherryj]

It's $800 to start plus however much your data plan costs. I'm not knocking the quality of the Ipad as it's proven itself already. But my budget was <$250. I also don't want to use it as a phone. My main reason for buying it was for video playback and reading Ebooks. Thanks for the input though.

For eBooks I'd seriously consider the Kindle or Nook (not sure if the Nook is eInk or a tablet actually-I have the Kindle). Reading a computer screen, no matter how well made and high res, is tiring on the eyes. Einks are far more pleasant.

It would be one more thing to purchase and haul around, but I think that you'd be happier with a dedicated reader. I hated trying to read books on the iPod touch...Even with the bigger screen the iPad would be just as bad. I can't see any tablet being much better. Reflective vs. transmissive is a huge difference.

[loose_electron]

As somebody who has designed a bunch of consumer electronics - save your money for a year.

Why?

First generation products are always overpriced and will be "much improved" in a year, and a fraction of the price.

Anyone remember $1700 for a first generation DVD player?

I am waiting on Tablet PC's until they have:
1. Multiple sources so competition drives prices down.
2. Multitasking OS
3. Both WiFi and 3G/4G wireless access.
4. High contrast, zero power display in color. (Color E-Ink)
5. Expect cost to drop to $200 ish..

[Silverbullett]

As somebody who has designed a bunch of consumer electronics - save your money for a year.

Why?

First generation products are always overpriced and will be "much improved" in a year, and a fraction of the price.

Anyone remember $1700 for a first generation DVD player?

I am waiting on Tablet PC's until they have:
1. Multiple sources so competition drives prices down.
2. Multitasking OS
3. Both WiFi and 3G/4G wireless access.
4. High contrast, zero power display in color. (Color E-Ink)
5. Expect cost to drop to $200 ish..

That's great advice. I remember folks paying over a grand for the PS2 when it first came out. This is basically what I always do. I started looking at these over a year ago when they were all in the $250 to $450 range and the specs and reviews were sketchy at best. Now the tech and the OS has gotten much better but, it's still far from perfect. I do agree with you though. Give it another year or two, we'll be able to get a much higher quality product for less. I'm just tired of waiting and had just enough spare cash to pull the trigger on this device. I really do wish I had the $600 for the G Tab or the $800 for the Xoom.

[sfwdiy]

I tend to feel the same way about Apple. I've never understood the almost cult-like devotion of many of their followers, especially when I can self-build a PC with 50% more power for 50% less cost.

It has nothing to do with the hardware. It's the operating system.


I'm really looking forward to what's coming down the pipe in terms of Android devices. I wanna get my hands on a tablet running Android 3.0. I'm not interested in paying for yet another wireless data plan though.

--B

[jhaselton]

I would wait for the 2nd generation too. It's always a huge waste of money just to be the first person you know to have it. I never understood camping and waiting in line for electronics either. It's not like they aren't going to make plenty to go around. Don't even get me started on the black friday campers!