Galaxy Tab vs Vaporware

[2CupsWithString]

I'm super excited for an Android tablet. I think it will be great on the coffee table to augment whatever is going on in the living room (TV, games, talking with friends, maybe controlling media, etc).

I really want a Google sanctioned tablet in my hands BUT... I kind of don't want a really big Galaxy S phone, not that there isn't anything wrong with a Galaxy S phone but after reading some of these "vaporware" specs, I think I want an Nvidia Tegra2 based tablet.

I'm just worried that I won't be able to wait, grab the Tab and then a month or two later have a bunch of Tegra2 based Google sanctioned android 2.3 or 3.0 tablets on the shelf. That being said it's not like the Tab won't be able to do what it can do just because other tablets are out.

Thoughts? What are you going to do?

 

[ragnarokx]

Personally I'd rather not have an Android phone AND a bigger Android device as a tablet. I'd like to get some variety - maybe when the next iPad comes out I'll get that. I haven't read anything about the Blackberry Playbook but I'll at least give it a look as well.

 

[smithe68]

I don't think I can wait for something else to come out so I am seriously wanting to check out the Archos 101, it seems I have read that some people have one, but I haven't been able to find much on availability except that it was supposed to release mid Oct?

 

[2CupsWithString]

I am seriously wanting to check out the Archos 101, it seems I have read that some people have one, but I haven't been able to find much on availability except that it was supposed to release mid Oct?

I was reading about them also, they don't seem to be in the same caliber as the galaxy tab. I was over at the archos fan forums and they can't get a stable 2.1 or 2.2 installation of android on the generation 7 devices. The generation 8 devices with froyo haven't shipped yet.

 

[voghan]

I wonder if I have a tablet, I'll start using my phone as a phone again. I'm never on my laptop at home anymore, I'm using my phone.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

 

[caliskimmer]

Vaporware?! You mean the Phantom is finally coming out after all those years?! Just kidding. I don't know about tablets. I can type pretty fast on a laptop and not nearly as fast on a tablet. I personally would not get a tablet except for developing purposes (this probably would mean the iPad [which I hate for regular use])

 

[Menno]

This is what it will boil down to for me:

If I have a good couple of weeks, I'm buying the 3g tab. If my sales suck, I'll hold out for something else

 

[smithe68]

It looks like the gen 8 Archos tabs are available in some countries, but not the US. I would really like to check out one once they release with Froyo, for half the price of the Samsung tab, I would likely be able to live with it not being quite as nice. Time will tell though as a ton of tabs hit the market before Christmas.

 

[slbailey1]

I'm 89% sure that I will be getting the Blackberry Playbook. What will make it almost 100% is if I can get a straight up answer to two questions:

1. In WiFi only mode and not connected to a Blackberry will I have access to my hosted Exchange account (via Sherweb) and my IMAP accounts (google and hotmail)? This includes access to my emails, calendar, and contacts.
2. In WiFi only mode and not connected to a Blackberry will I have unified email, calendar, and contracts?

If not, I will get an Android tablet from HTC or Dell. They must have at least Gingerbread and guaranteed updates to future versions of Android, WITH OUT HAVING TO ROOT.

 

[2CupsWithString]

I'm 89% sure that I will be getting the Blackberry Playbook. What will make it almost 100% is if I can get a straight up answer to two questions:

1. In WiFi only mode and not connected to a Blackberry will I have access to my hosted Exchange account (via Sherweb) and my IMAP accounts (google and hotmail)? This includes access to my emails, calendar, and contacts.
2. In WiFi only mode and not connected to a Blackberry will I have unified email, calendar, and contracts?

If not, I will get an Android tablet from HTC or Dell. They must have at least Gingerbread and guaranteed updates to future versions of Android, WITH OUT HAVING TO ROOT.

The apps on your phone, including mail, calendar, etc should all work fine in Wifi mode. The beauty of hosting everything server side is that it's all unified no matter where you access it from, so barring any carrier/RIM restrictions (which I can't fathom why) you should be fine.

If you go the android way, it's going to be hard to get any vendor to offer a guarantee on an upgrade that isn't out yet. I mean what if Android 3.0 was three times the size as Android 2.2 and you ended with like 20 MB to use for personal storage - that wouldn't be a good upgrade. That being said most OEMs/carriers seem to be on an upgrade streak lately, it only helps sells.

You could always hold out... which is what I'm debating.

 

[slbailey1]

The apps on your phone, including mail, calendar, etc should all work fine in Wifi mode. The beauty of hosting everything server side is that it's all unified no matter where you access it from, so barring any carrier/RIM restrictions (which I can't fathom why) you should be fine.

So I can setup the Email App for push email for my exchange and google accounts and it will work in WiFi mode. And any changes I make to my contacts and calendar will be automatically reflected on the exchange and google servers?

 

[2CupsWithString]

So I can setup the Email App for push email for my exchange and google accounts and it will work in WiFi mode. And any changes I make to my contacts and calendar will be automatically reflected on the exchange and google servers?

Absolutely, the software shouldn't care where you get your data connection from, that being said if your setup is all routed through blackberrys servers I'm not sure how they're going to set it up, but I can't see them releasing a product that has to compete with the ipad and galaxy tabs that only works right when connected to a blackberry.

 

[slbailey1]

Absolutely, the software shouldn't care where you get your data connection from, that being said if your setup is all routed through blackberrys servers I'm not sure how they're going to set it up, but I can't see them releasing a product that has to compete with the ipad and galaxy tabs that only works right when connected to a blackberry.

Thanks for the information! When the Playbook was first annouced, I tryed to ask these questions in the CrackBerry forums and got my head bit off! The responses I got were like: Why you want to do that!; The Playbook is only be people who have a Blackberry!; If you want that ability, get an iPad or an Android tablet!.

I have not posted in the CrackBery forums since!!

 

[rew001]

We are holding out for something with a little more screen size. We both have Droid X's and the Galaxy tab isn't much bigger. And why is it a plus to be able to hold it in one hand?? That's a stretch. I for one was very disappointed the thing came out at 7" rather than 9" or even 10".

 

[2CupsWithString]

Thanks for the information! When the Playbook was first annouced, I tryed to ask these questions in the CrackBerry forums and got my head bit off! The responses I got were like: Why you want to do that!; The Playbook is only be people who have a Blackberry!; If you want that ability, get an iPad or an Android tablet!.

I have not posted in the CrackBery forums since!!

The only point I would say is that if you're already invested in to a platform you may want to consider that. I've spent like 50 bucks on apps for android so I'd like to know I can use those apps on a tablet if I wanted to. Though I see it more of a coffee table augmentation device than something I'll do everything I do on my phone with, nevertheless it's something to be aware of.

Also, who knows what apps will be out with the playbook.

 

[Menno]

We are holding out for something with a little more screen size. We both have Droid X's and the Galaxy tab isn't much bigger. And why is it a plus to be able to hold it in one hand?? That's a stretch. I for one was very disappointed the thing came out at 7" rather than 9" or even 10".

I don't know about you, but I'm a pretty big guy and 9-10" is far to large for it to be usable. I'm talking about the iPad.

at 10" it's pretty much pointless to use unless you are sitting or laying down, or you have something to prop it up. Holding it and doing ANYTHING but flicking through webpages or a book is annoying to say the least.

at 10", even when it ads a camera, it's pretty much useless for Augmented reality applications, which should begin showing up with increasing frequency once faster speeds are available.

The tab feels insanely nice in the hand, and even people much smaller than me could operate it with ease while standing. It's also a LOT bigger than a Dx. Think of it this way, the difference between a Dx and a Incredible is .5 inches and it's a noticeable increase. This is a 3" difference. So while it, physically, is closer in size to the Dx than some people might like, the screen is huge comparatively.

It all comes down to personal preference, but don't write off the tab until you actually get to see one.

 

[slbailey1]

The only point I would say is that if you're already invested in to a platform you may want to consider that. I've spent like 50 bucks on apps for android so I'd like to know I can use those apps on a tablet if I wanted to. Though I see it more of a coffee table augmentation device than something I'll do everything I do on my phone with, nevertheless it's something to be aware of.

Also, who knows what apps will be out with the playbook.

I'm not that invested in Android. I've only paid for Documents to Go (on sale), My Backup Pro, FeedR, Beautiful Widgets, Astraware Sudoku, Hong Kong Mahjong, and Mega Slot Machine.

I'm looking to use a tablet for Internet access; light document creation and management; management of my email, calandar, contacts, tasks, and notes; short reading of Kindle books (1 hour or less); and light gaming on the go, at work and around the house.

 

[rew001]

I don't know about you, but I'm a pretty big guy and 9-10" is far to large for it to be usable. I'm talking about the iPad.

at 10" it's pretty much pointless to use unless you are sitting or laying down, or you have something to prop it up. Holding it and doing ANYTHING but flicking through webpages or a book is annoying to say the least.

at 10", even when it ads a camera, it's pretty much useless for Augmented reality applications, which should begin showing up with increasing frequency once faster speeds are available.

The tab feels insanely nice in the hand, and even people much smaller than me could operate it with ease while standing. It's also a LOT bigger than a Dx. Think of it this way, the difference between a Dx and a Incredible is .5 inches and it's a noticeable increase. This is a 3" difference. So while it, physically, is closer in size to the Dx than some people might like, the screen is huge comparatively.

It all comes down to personal preference, but don't write off the tab until you actually get to see one.

It's just not worth it to us coming from a DX. The main thing I'd use a tablet for is web or video, and I don't need to be able to use my thumbs to tap out emails etc. I have my DX for that. The size to me, and i'm assuming others, is a negative.

 

[2CupsWithString]

I'm not that invested in Android. I've only paid for Documents to Go (on sale), My Backup Pro, FeedR, Beautiful Widgets, Astraware Sudoku, Hong Kong Mahjong, and Mega Slot Machine.

I'm looking to use a tablet for Internet access; light document creation and management; management of my email, calandar, contacts, tasks, and notes; short reading of Kindle books (1 hour or less); and light gaming on the go, at work and around the house.

It sounds like the tablet you choose should fit your needs then.

 

[2CupsWithString]

It's just not worth it to us coming from a DX. The main thing I'd use a tablet for is web or video, and I don't need to be able to use my thumbs to tap out emails etc. I have my DX for that. The size to me, and i'm assuming others, is a negative.

I think the difference between typing on a 4" screen compared to a 7" screen is greater than the difference between typing on a 7" screen compared to a 10" screen. The Tab does come with swype as well. I really am curious about how typing on it will work.

I have to say though, the 7" doesn't bother me, I guess depending on what you use it for you may want to be able to hold it with one hand. It's not a negative to me but I wouldn't not look at a 7"+ tablet either.