Tablet computing...

[CHS]

Personally, I just don't like the apple iOS interface.

Also, the iPad and other 10" devices are just too dang large. To me they are too heavy, cumbersome, and uncomfortable for most use.

I've got the 7" Galaxy Tab and the 7" Nook Color. Both make EXCELLENT tablets and reader devices. I'm 100% an Android convert. The Nook Color I have has been rooted and I used it as a reader with some tablet functions. Ever since I got my Galaxy Tab I've stopped using the Nook Color as a tablet entirely, and just read on it. It's got a great screen for that.

The galaxy tab stays most of the time mounted in my truck, like so:


My daily commute is now about an hour to work, and 1-2 hours home, depending on when I leave. I use the tab in its mount to keep me entertained (music, streaming music, podcasts) and for navigation (Google Maps FTW).

In fact, if there is just ONE reason why Android is better than iOS, it's Google Maps. Google Maps for Android is actively maintained, and performs AMAZINGLY for finding gas, food, stores, directions, and navigation.

The other great thing about the 7" size is that it's pocket-able. iPad's and other 10" tablets are weird to carry around. The Galaxy Tab fits in my back pocket, or a cargo pocket.

Now that I'm using a tablet for a lot of daily stuff, I find that I'm using my phone for less general purpose computing stuff and more as just a phone/text messaging tool so the battery lasts much much longer!

[high_revs]

i was thinking of giving a tablet instead of a small/cheaper laptop to someone in hopes it's easier. i was just curious though how one would open stuff like ms office applications like word, excel and maybe powerpoint sent over email. maybe if using gmail, gmail might use google docs to open them. but unsure and 32gb probably is not enough to install ms office, let alone the possiblity of installing it.

i'm leaning towards samsung or asus also. thinking about hp and webos since i can get it cheaper. it's a person not computer savvy so i don't have to worry much about apps. we're talking email and internet mainly here. SD card slots would be a requirement for pictures and stuff though.

[Mute]

I'm hoping that HP will clean up the OS on their new tablet. It seems to be the most capable of all the tablets right now. If they can work out some of the kinks they may have the best one out there.

[Kestryll]

I bought a Viewsonic G Tablet a couple of months ago and honestly wasn't impressed with it at all. The stupid 'tap n tap' overlay just bogs it down and freezes up too often.

Not wanting to give up on the tablet concept I picked up an Acer Iconia A500, it came in right before I left for Murphys.

What a night and day difference!!
Like any new piece of electronics there is a learning curve and a small thing or two I'm not fond of but as a whole this is like using a touchscreen computer running windows.

[Satex]

I'm hoping that HP will clean up the OS on their new tablet. It seems to be the most capable of all the tablets right now. If they can work out some of the kinks they may have the best one out there.

HP is using WebOS which is what they got when they bought PalmOS. Palm deserved the credit for inventing the first useful handheld computer, but once the whole Handspring breakoff and later merger happened they lost their way and collapsed. Personally, I think HP bought a dead product and I don't think it will go anywhere.

[glock_this]

Just wait until the Amazon "Hollywood" to hit near end of year with a quad-core, not dual-core, Nvidia Kal-El chipset .. POW

For Android, the newest Tab 10.1 tablet gets some of the highest overall ranks for what is out now.

Toshiba Thrive tablet is the only 1 to have most all possible ports AND a replaceable battery.

There are SO may Android tablets coming it is not even funny. Even some that are run via phones, so you plug your phone INTO the back of the tablet and now you have sort of a 2 in 1 option.

[Mute]

HP is using WebOS which is what they got when they bought PalmOS. Palm deserved the credit for inventing the first useful handheld computer, but once the whole Handspring breakoff and later merger happened they lost their way and collapsed. Personally, I think HP bought a dead product and I don't think it will go anywhere.

Depends on how well HP can push WebOS. It has the best multitasking of all the tablet OS and has great integration of email and contacts. Like I said, if they can clean up some of the little hiccups, I personally think it could be the strongest challenger to the Ipad.

[glock_this]

HP has a lot, lot of work ahead of it to try to play catchup. Not just in the tablet area in terms of their OS adoption, but in the phone area as really.. no one uses their stuff. Several phone companies bailed out on their OS years ago to jump on Android. Likely a very smart moved. Palm died and was so far behind anyway. People have just mentally moved on from them and most don't consider HP even a player in this arena and in the end, it will just stay a battle between Android and Apple. And heck, BB is just dying a slower death - they just don't know it but the investors and market does.

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/08/05/jumptap-releases-os-breakdown-of-america/

[mavericksun]

some was telling me that HP dropped the price of it's tablet this weekend another $50. Guess they are not selling well.

I've had the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 since Mid May and it's my third Android tablet. It's lighter and thinner than the Ipad 2(that's why apple is suing Samsung). Very nice display. Pretty quick. Useful as a machines to do the usual web stuff(email,IM, news, browsing). You are getting some games on the android (Angry Birds, etc.) I sign up for the Amazon App store(F-U apple) and they offer free apps everyday. I got a roocase from amazon that is a nice leather case for the tablet. Overall I like it. Beats sitting in front of the computer all the time or lugging a laptop.

[high_revs]

yeah.. i figure HP is on the bottom of the totem pole. but it's the cheapest i can get. and not really looking at beyond internet/email. so the whole app development thing... not a big decision maker. but i was thinking of the acer too. i guess if it were for me, i'd android too but i'm more particular and more forward looking. a laptop and the whole learning curve seem to be too much more than a tablet for someone computer illiterate.

[mavericksun]

At Costco you can get an Iconia for $430 including a case. I would pick that over the HP. I don't know how long the HP will be around and if they aren't around, no more support for the OS.

[atv]

Asus and moto Xoom are both good tabs. Can't compare to my Atari, tho.

Sent from an Atari 2600

[evidens83]

I ended up with an iPad2. I really really tried to stay away but the quality of the product just couldn't be beat IMHO. And since I'm also using an iphone4 the ios interface was second nature to me.

[high_revs]

how about printing? that's one part i realized today. printing will probably be required at some point and it'll be a pita to have to move files over or use a laptop just to print. drivers for new os aren't always supported. i know HP doesn't after the next OS, but you'll be lucky if you get get an updated driver for 2 os'es after.

for example, i'm looking at HP's site for a driver for webos, iOs or android. I don't see it unless there's a proprietary bridging driver from a tablet to printer for older printers. my all-in-one is wifi but not blue tooth. is that the same problem for y'all who have tablets, i.e. printing issues?

that an SD card or usb and replaceable batter would be the requirements but the latter is probably too far fetched except for toshiba that is mentioned above.

[mavericksun]

how about printing? that's one part i realized today. printing will probably be required at some point and it'll be a pita to have to move files over or use a laptop just to print. drivers for new os aren't always supported. i know HP doesn't after the next OS, but you'll be lucky if you get get an updated driver for 2 os'es after.

for example, i'm looking at HP's site for a driver for webos, iOs or android. I don't see it unless there's a proprietary bridging driver from a tablet to printer for older printers. my all-in-one is wifi but not blue tooth. is that the same problem for y'all who have tablets, i.e. printing issues?

that an SD card or usb and replaceable batter would be the requirements but the latter is probably too far fetched except for toshiba that is mentioned above.

You can print from an android tablet to a printer connected to a PC with a chrome browser. I enabled cloud printing on the desktop chrome browser and accessed a document on my google doc via the tablet. It gave me the option of printing to all of the printers connected to my desktop.