Kinda disappointed that most of the software environments are "closed markets" that you have to get "approval" to publish on, but I'm wondering what you PD spags' opinions on the iPad and various competitors are.
?
Find someone who has one. Play with it for a bit. Wait a little while. See if the urge to have one passes.
I would avoid the samsung galaxy tab. It's basically the exact same as their phone and that one has been sort of a flop despite the excellent hardware. I cannot say for certain, but it seems android developers tried doing a little more than they actually needed to and it makes it clunky, prone to freezing.
Plus, the galaxy s is a bitch to restore to factory settings should the need arise. Right now, if you try resetting it from with in, erasing all data and resetting it to default it deletes all of the applications. All of them. Including those that you need. There's no simple way around this that I've seen. Certainly none that wouldn't void your warranty.
Which is a shame as if you root the thing you can run Firefox on it. Which is damned shame since the web browser is lackluster compared with say...safari. And if you're concerned about markets...either way is going to be hard unless you root the thing. I'm guessing that this will be easier on the galaxy tab.
Now if the new Windows 7 mobile comes out on a tablet I'd get that shit real fast. For whatever reason, despite failing so hard to make a simple, efficient web browser on their PC OS the mobile version is...amazingly awesome. Fast, loads in the background super fast. That's a big factor for me. And the OS as a whole runs smooth, fast, and easy.
But right now the ipad, for better or worse, is the easiest one to manage as I've seen. It can do quite a bit and there shouldn't be too much difficulty restoring it should it come to that. Though I haven't actually done it, just basing that off of iphone use. Plus there haven't been a load of bugs or other problems that I've seen.
Also, if you plan to get an ipad, what with the price and everything, you may want to to wait and see if they're coming out with a retina display model. The samsung has that sweet screen already.
Android tablets are open market (the android market itself is closed I think, but you can buy things elsewhere).
Quote from: Alty on November 29, 2010, 06:47:05 AM
Also, if you plan to get an ipad, what with the price and everything, you may want to to wait and see if they're coming out with a retina display model. The samsung has that sweet screen already.
iPad2 is coming out early next year.
I've been eyeing and coveting these for awhile now, but the specs and the capabilities seem neutered compared to what they COULD be. Personally I'd like to see:
- An OS that will support easy file managing. I don't care if it's Fisher-Price Apple/Android, just let me move, create, and access files around like a fucking adult. Don't force feed them through "Music", "Movies", "Pictures" functions. It's like trying to eat an ice cream sundae with a straw. Possible? With time, yes; but you'll quickly get sick of the slow feed and do something else long ebfore it melts down enough to be practical.
- A fully capable browser. Youtube, java, flash, and whatever else. The real websites too, not the dumbed down "Phone" versions. I'm not hauling around a 7+ inch tablet just to see everything in simpleview.
- Native support for common file types. Really, this is a subset of my first point, but I did not shell out hundreds of dollars to be told I must be graced by a seperate app to read file in .pdf, .txt, or .html.
- Copy + Paste. Sounds stupid, but I REALLY miss it when I don't have it.
- Serious text entry and editing. An "Open office" app would be fine here. Anyone who thinks the "memo pad" dinglies are more than passingly useful should be forcibly sodomized with an old 3.5" floppy.
- Compatibility with bluetooth keyboards. Sound stupid, but when I heard it wasn't CERTAIN that Ipod touch / Iphone / Ipad would work with Apple's pornographic bluetooth keyboards I realized this was one of my big caveats. Half screen keyboards just don't cut it for me. All the shiny gizmos from thy company shalt play NICELY together or ELSE!
- Removable storage. SD or Micro SD.
- Easy filesystem to filesystem interface when connected to a regular computer. The "Manager" programs like Itunes are a necessary evil for some things, but going back to the "Let me move an access my stuff like a fucking adult" sentiment, I really prefer to transfer media though something other than your logo bespangled cheesy codpiece interface.
For fucksake, we have had netbooks of similar size / weight ratio for 4 years that do better.
I don't understand what tablets are for.
No, seriously.
I have phones to make calls, an MP3 player for music, a Kindle for books (soon, anyway) and a laptop for word processing, the internet and games. If I had a netbook for travel, I'd be set. Where does the tablet fit in?
Of course, I may be biased, since a certain kid at camp kept distracting himself, and everyone else around him, with an iPad until the point I was tempted to drop it (and him) off a nearby cliff...but I feel my questioning is reasonably well justified. I mean, if you want portable gaming, for example, that is what the PSP is designed for.
Tablets, to me, seem like the ultimate postmodern consumer item...no-one knows what they're actually useful for, but they want them regardless.
I want to avoid paying $1,000 - $2,500 for a Wacom Cintique (drawable LCD screen with pressure sensitive wacom pen)...
So I was considering a tablet for a "digital sketchpad", but most of them seem like they don't even support pressure sensitive styluses.
Ah well, I'll keep looking... Thanks for the comments, keep them coming!
Presumably in the same slot as a netbook. I'm not sure why you would use an iPad for that though, since its got the strangled app environment.
Richter: A touchbook 2 (tablet PC with detachable bluetooth keyboard) should do what you want, at least in the linux version, I have no idea if android is capable of the filesystem things you want. (you'll also have to futz around with windows to get it to read a non windows filesystem).
https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/touchbook.htm
Telarus: Look at HPs touchscreen notebooks, traditionally they've had one with a Wacom made screen for around 1500, still expensive but if you need a new laptop anyway it becomes a bargain.
There should be a pressure sensitive stylus for the iPad soon, assuming apple allows it to exist, the prototype is already made.
i dunno... it seems to me that a tablet would basically be a smartphone that's too big to stow away anywhere really useful, and as a netbook replacement, i'd miss the keyboard. i know keyboards are "old fashioned" but it's my favorite way to write anything. also, i refuse to use anything that claims to be more than a phone but can only muster a screen resolution of 1024x600.
Quote from: Alty on November 29, 2010, 05:15:08 AM
Now if the new Windows 7 mobile comes out on a tablet I'd get that shit real fast. For whatever reason, despite failing so hard to make a simple, efficient web browser on their PC OS the mobile version is...amazingly awesome. Fast, loads in the background super fast. That's a big factor for me. And the OS as a whole runs smooth, fast, and easy.
Yes, this is because MS wrote the Windows Mobile OS basically from scratch without all the decade legacy backwards compatibility stuff.
And believe it or not, if they can, MS is very capable of writing pretty good code (see also: Visual Studio).
Except I'm not 100% sure on how well they'd do in integrating the whole touchscreen control useability in the OS, since the applications are developed by different departments that compete with eachother sometimes.
Quote from: postvex™ on December 01, 2010, 01:29:45 AM
i dunno... it seems to me that a tablet would basically be a smartphone that's too big to stow away anywhere really useful, and as a netbook replacement, i'd miss the keyboard. i know keyboards are "old fashioned" but it's my favorite way to write anything. also, i refuse to use anything that claims to be more than a phone but can only muster a screen resolution of 1024x600.
And as an ebook reader it is larger and inferior to a Kindle or similar device.
I can kinda understand the digital sketchpad point of view...but it may be better just to go for a digital stylus in the long term. The iPad and similar with have a lot of redundant features, while barely being useful for that particular purpose.
Quote from: postvex™ on December 01, 2010, 01:29:45 AM
i dunno... it seems to me that a tablet would basically be a smartphone that's too big to stow away anywhere really useful, and as a netbook replacement, i'd miss the keyboard. i know keyboards are "old fashioned" but it's my favorite way to write anything. also, i refuse to use anything that claims to be more than a phone but can only muster a screen resolution of 1024x600.
That's a pretty standard notebook resolution on low end machines. Also, why would you want more than that on a 9" screen?
Quote from: Requia ☣ on December 01, 2010, 01:21:23 AM
Presumably in the same slot as a netbook. I'm not sure why you would use an iPad for that though, since its got the strangled app environment.
Richter: A touchbook 2 (tablet PC with detachable bluetooth keyboard) should do what you want, at least in the linux version, I have no idea if android is capable of the filesystem things you want. (you'll also have to futz around with windows to get it to read a non windows filesystem).
https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/touchbook.htm
Slick looking piece of hardware! Thanks!
That's something I've wanted for a while, but since I have devices that cover those needs, I haven't got it yet. Maybe eventually, when my current stuff starts to break down.
eBooks are a big consideration. Most of my school texts can be found cheaper via eBook, and I have hordes of sci-fi and fantasy classics that I just can't stand to read on a screen for long amounts of time (and that my girl won't even attempt to read on-screen).
I'm still mulling options and reading tablet pc forums.
If you don't mind waiting on an indefinite launch date: https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/store/home.php
If you're looking for a good cheap alternative to the iPad (disclaimer: I hate Apple products with a passion, so my opinion about the iPad is very un-objective) you can get all kinds of android-based tablets from Hong Kong on eBay for pretty cheap. 7" tablets tend to run a little over $100 and 10" tablets run around $250.
They launched, I already pushed the touchbook II. They do still have the uncertain ship date though.
BUMP:
Due to a influx of Xmas giftcards I'm pondering one of these: www.amazon.com/POCKET-EDGE-7-0-Black-Dualbook/dp/B0040L5Z3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1293558510&sr=8-1
Basically: $350-ish. Clamshells open and has 2 screens. A LCD (resistive), and an e-ink screen. Runs Android.
What I like:
-Operation reported to be quick and snappy.
-You can swap around the files to USB (it has the ports) or MicroSD pretty easily to load music / docments / images
-Less power consumption for jsut reading on the e-ink side. Useability has been compared favorably with Kindle.
-capale enough internet on the LCd tablet side.
-No exposed screen, it all folds shut.
-comes pre-loaded with .doc compatible word processing software
-7 inch screen, which fits my preferred size-range.
-read reports of a fairly active user - run support base, which has saved my ass with other devices.
- Touch screen is resistive (odd, I know, but stylus as quick text entry is more proven on resistive.)
What I find uncertain:
-1 minute boot time, and no mention of a sleep or standby feature. More hardware, sure, but odd for an android device.
-Runs the outdated 1.6 version of android. (Update "planned")
-Has Bluetooth, but will not play w/ bluetooth keyboards. (Sure I can use USB, and may be added later. Odd it wasn't a stock thing though.)
-WiFi, but No 3G. (Again, may be possible via USB modem. My own verdidct on 3G / 4G devices is still out. )
- Will it WOMP? (Yeah, image manip. on a minidevice is asking a lot, I know.)
- E-ink screen is 6 inches, and universal re-formating is not promised. Zooming / panning / changing orientation around may be necessary for viewing "Liberated" materials on PDF
Opions please!
Looks cool. My brother just purchased one of those tablets, but this is more like a netbook with a second screen rather than a keyboard.
Sounds like a pretty sweet device. I might actually look into that, cause a dual regular/eInk screen sounds pretty awesome.
Also isn't Android OS somewhere deep down a Linux at its core? Wouldn't that mean you can easily update it, add better bluetooth support (if it's got bluetooth, sounds like it's an OS reason for not accepting keyboards), and all such?
Any Android using spags care to enlighten me/us?
Good question. Despite years playing with one, my Linux-fu is not strong. I get the impression it's more open / customizable than the iOS equivalent. The version of Android it comes with doesn't allow you to pull down apps with an "App store" feature like more current Android / iOS thingies do, but I've heard of workaround installs from a regular computer.
Quote from: ϗ on December 28, 2010, 07:22:12 PM
Looks cool. My brother just purchased one of those tablets, but this is more like a netbook with a second screen rather than a keyboard.
Which tablet did he get, and how is he liking it? I've known a few people with them, and they really enjoy how they work, but I'm interested to see where they default back to a "Full" computer, and where they find they can work with jsut the tablet.
My "Total computer porn" ideas are either an app that would turn the e-ink screen into keyboard, or support for an apple bluetooth keyboard. :fap:
Quote from: Richter on December 28, 2010, 08:42:21 PM
Good question. Despite years playing with one, my Linux-fu is not strong. I get the impression it's more open / customizable than the iOS equivalent. The version of Android it comes with doesn't allow you to pull down apps with an "App store" feature like more current Android / iOS thingies do, but I've heard of workaround installs from a regular computer.
Quote from: ϗ on December 28, 2010, 07:22:12 PM
Looks cool. My brother just purchased one of those tablets, but this is more like a netbook with a second screen rather than a keyboard.
Which tablet did he get, and how is he liking it? I've known a few people with them, and they really enjoy how they work, but I'm interested to see where they default back to a "Full" computer, and where they find they can work with jsut the tablet.
My "Total computer porn" ideas are either an app that would turn the e-ink screen into keyboard, or support for an apple bluetooth keyboard. :fap:
He got a Huawei Ideos. He uses it about equally to his laptop.
Android needs to be rooted to install other shells, samsuck tab has a boot menu and touch screen where as the other droid tablets I've tried required a stylist, tmobile has the tab and let's you make installments
What do you mean by "rooted" exactly? You always need to be root to do administrative stuff on a Linux environment.
That's the process it refers to ~ rooting basically means being able to get privileged access on the device. It's akin to jailbreaking an iPhone.
But I thought that the Android OS doesn't purposefully hide that feature, like Apple does?
It's just a software thing, right? And I was getting the impression not nearly so shrouded in mystery and disinformation junk as, say, SIM-unlocking phones?
[dunno if you ever googled that, the basic process of SIM unlocking is incredibly easy, but the forums explaining it are filled with fake codes, incorrect information and a 1:50 signal to noise ratio of people asking for "codez" vs discussing them--plus I guess it's in the interest of those semi-shady SIM-unlock mobile phone shops to keep the "codez" from the general public]
Its akin to ubuntu, where you never really login as root
So samsuck having a boot menu is a step up
only if you don't count that's how they expect everyone to update it.
Manually themselfs
Most of the issues with the GalaxyTab Have been provider specific, AFAIK. The Verizon verison has been unable to use bluetooth peripherals, for example. It's decent looking, but the price for the functionality isn't tickling me.