iPad or Tab

[Adiliyo]

if i had to choose b/t the two, i'd get the ipad.

i've played with the galaxy tab, and right now android doesn't offer any real value with tablets. maybe it will change with gingerbread, but with samsung's crappy support and dev teams, who knows when that will happen.

the tab was choppy scrolling web pages (where my fascinate did perfectly fine on the same page) and the whole experience is choppy and feels shoehorned in.

the ipad has the draw of many apps that are designed to take advantage of the large sceen and is a better complete experience. sure you'll miss flash, but you gain a lot of functionality in strong developer support.

if the tablet cost $200 less than an ipad, it could have something going for it, but at the same price, it's really no contest.

in the same way that bumping a 3.5" screen to 4-4.3" gives the user a better experience, the same is said for bumping a 7" to the ~10" screen. especially if you already have a ~4" phone, there is really no useful gain in the 7" as they are very similar (and also the same resolution)

as far as getting work done, something like iwork for the ipad is good enough, and apple has one of the best touch screen keyboards in the business.

(oh, and for transparency, i have a 32gb 3G+wifi ipad)

 

[slopokdave]

if i had to choose b/t the two, i'd get the ipad.

i've played with the galaxy tab, and right now android doesn't offer any real value with tablets. maybe it will change with gingerbread, but with samsung's crappy support and dev teams, who knows when that will happen.

the tab was choppy scrolling web pages (where my fascinate did perfectly fine on the same page) and the whole experience is choppy and feels shoehorned in.

the ipad has the draw of many apps that are designed to take advantage of the large sceen and is a better complete experience. sure you'll miss flash, but you gain a lot of functionality in strong developer support.

if the tablet cost $200 less than an ipad, it could have something going for it, but at the same price, it's really no contest.

in the same way that bumping a 3.5" screen to 4-4.3" gives the user a better experience, the same is said for bumping a 7" to the ~10" screen. especially if you already have a ~4" phone, there is really no useful gain in the 7" as they are very similar (and also the same resolution)

as far as getting work done, something like iwork for the ipad is good enough, and apple has one of the best touch screen keyboards in the business.

(oh, and for transparency, i have a 32gb 3G+wifi ipad)

How do you feel paying twice for apps? This is a big factor to me...

 

[msgnyc]

Between the 2, I would take the Tab.
As the previous poster mentioned, I wouldn't want to pay twice for similar, if not the same exact apps from the 2 different markets.

However, I am personally waiting for ASUS to release their tablets with laptop docking stations.
I am not entirely sure if I want the Android model or the Windows model tho. (I'll be removeing Windows for Linux per usual).
Find out come march. =P

I am currently content with my TC1100 tablet running linux that I've had for nearly a decade now.

 

[GMoney749]

Im one who feels the TAB is just a larger galaxy s. If I may ask....what functionality does the TAB offer that I currently dont get on my Epic? I cant justify a purchase that doesnt give me anything more than what I have now. My vote is for the iPad. I feel it is a nice size for a touch pad. Plus, as I said, I have an epic...a TAB seems pointless. I can justify the additional 6" with the iPad more than the extra 3" with the TAB.

It's all about how you plan to use it. I travel a lot and I'm looking for a device that I can use to replace my Kindle and read books and documents on the road that doesn't require a bunch of cases and accessories to make it useful. Fitting in a pants or coat pocket is a big deal to me. An iPad is just too big and awkward, especially on a plane. If I'm going to tote around something that large it will have a keyboard, maybe the new Air but not an iPad. If I was looking for a new toy for home it would be different.

I have an EVO. I like that it has a big screen, and I CAN read an ebook on it, but it's nowhere close to optimal. Plus, if I do try to read a book on it while on a plane, leaving the screen on all that time kills the battery so I just don't do it. Sucks when you hit the ground and can't make a phone call. Same goes with docs for work - I tried to read a PDF transcript on my last flight and it not only killed the battery but was a huge PITA because the doc was 4 pages to a sheet and I had to do a ton of scrolling around.

Another advantage is screen real estate for widgets. I've got a bunch of Today-type widgets that I'd like to keep on my main home screen so that they're looking at me every time I turn the screen on. They don't fit on one screen on the EVO but will on a Tab.

If you saw the new calendar and mail widgets you'd realize they're nothing like what's on your Epic, and Swype makes an on-screen keyboard almost tolerable.

An iPad is a nice device and has a huge head start and numerous apps, but I would prefer something smaller. To each his own.

 

[thekarens]

I don't think most people here can be unbiased. I hate Apple and won't buy their products, but ice tried them both and the ipad its clearly better imo. I think android will get there soon and when they do I plan on getting an android tablet. Seems like the best thing to do is spend some time with both of them in store, make a list of what you want it to do and go from the.

I think it's perfectly valid to not want to spend that kind of money until google gives their blessings.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4g

 

[ralphwhitfield]

I went to Best Buy this weekend specifically to try them both. I've got a Droid X and one of the Augens that I rooted to get the marketplace.

The tab is nice. But I don't need to add any more to my Verizon acct. WiFi is going to be good enough for me....just use the X to tether....works for the Augen (if I pay the $20 extra.)
I told my wife to get me the 16gig wifi iPad for Xmas, but may change that to the 32gig.
The larger size was actually the factor.

Ralph

 

[GMoney749]

I don't think most people here can be unbiased. I hate Apple and won't buy their products, but ice tried them both and the ipad its clearly better imo. I think android will get there soon and when they do I plan on getting an android tablet. Seems like the best thing to do is spend some time with both of them in store, make a list of what you want it to do and go from the.

I think it's perfectly valid to not want to spend that kind of money until google gives their blessings.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4g

Well, I'm not completely biased, it really is all about size for me. I'm actually more of a Palm fan and will likely wait to see what they produce next year (and the BB Playbook) before I buy anything. I'm definitely going back to Palm for my next phone.

As far as Apple, I keep getting attracted by their products but as time goes along it's getting to the point that you can't buy anything they produce without jumping into the ecosystem with both feet. I was thinking this morning that I'd like to get my wife a new Air, but we need to be able to video chat. I'm not going to switch everything I own over to Mac so we can do FaceTime and, from looking at the website, I'm not entirely sure if it will do Skype. Even if it does now, who says Steve will allow it in the future...

 

[oldpueblo]

Yeah Apple will never have my business as long as I have to be forced to live with their software and restrictions. No offense Apple, but I'm a free bird.

 

[frenzy757]

not biased here...ive owned an Ipad and now the Tab. For me the Tab is better.

This will hold me until next summer when the Tab 2 comes out with the new screen and orion processor. Given that the screens wont be produced until June... I bet the Tab 2 wont be out until July/August at the earliest...then factor in inevitable delays and bam you are waiting a year...by the time next year rolls around you'll be at the same cross roads. Eventually you gotta bite the bullet and jump in.

The Ipad was a great device...they have the apps to back them, but I realized I didnt really use many of the tablet apps...mainly because I was too cheap to buy them and didnt really find a huge need.

I wanted something I could load media into and carry around easily on vacations, when I travel/fly, surf the net, and play around with. While iPad does have a bigger screen so watching movies and stuff was awesome, things like Music are a wash to me, and the portability is huge. Plus I don't have to repay for apps like PSx4droid etc all over again.

The thing I miss most on my Ipad...Netflix....seriously that was great. TV shows are perfect for waiting for a plane, and I am not loading up tabs with hundreds of shows id rather have movies. hopefully netflix and google can play nice and pump out the Android app.

 

[whippingboy]

But netflix already aired their concerns and announced they'll partner with certain DEVICES. Meaning anything you currently own or buy will NOT be Netflix enabled.

We've already seen how exclusives have ruined Android- this will be another one. Moto, Samsung (doubtful) HTC - SOMEONE perhaps a carrier, will get Netflix exclusive for 6mos to a year on a few devices or a carrier- or both. Meanwhile- Android Tablets we buy NOW will be left in the cold.

If you want Netflix- buy a closed ecosystem ie: Apple or Windows Phone 7 as it's been announced already for both.

 

[frenzy757]

We dont nkow what certain devices mean...it can be retrofitted you know..like with software updates.

I am more willing to bet it will be with each indivudual OEM...so Motorola, Samsung, etc. Samsung is positioning itself as a media place...it will have netflix.

 

[malhotra365]

I have both the iPad and the VZW tab, and I don't think there is a clear cut answer for all people. My opinion is that they are both better depending on how you plan to use them. The iPad is a much better laptop replacement, the larger screen, higher resolution, and great battery life are all huge pluses in it's favor.

However, for an "in-between" device (between laptop and cell phone), the Tab is a better choice. It is much lighter and more portable, so if you want to use on the go, or in places where you won't have a table, lap, etc. to balance the device the Tab is much more usable. I find that I use the iPad more as a couch surfing/playing device, but that overall use the Tab because it is so much more comfortable use in more situations.

If you are planning on using your purchase primarily on the couch or at a desk, get the iPad, but if you want to use on the go, and in places like bed, etc, I'd recommend the Tab. 7" is the definitely the largest on-the-go device I can comfortably manage.

Actually although the the ipad has more pixels, the tab has more per square inch, or a higher pixel density. So a sharper picture.

 

[Ludicrous]

i had a Galaxy Tab, returned it, and bought the iPad. 10 inch screen is nice.

 

[slopokdave]

i had a Galaxy Tab, returned it, and bought the iPad. 10 inch screen is nice.

Do you have an Android smartphone?

 

[clemenza]

New to this site and thread and Android for that matter, so bare with me if this is the wrong place for this comment.

I'm an AT&T customer and am interested in getting the Tab and have one question.

If I purchase the Tab trough AT&T and subscribe to a data plan and primarily use the device on my wi-fi at home, will it use 3G and wi-fi at the same time, or can it function only in the wi-fi without using up the limited AT&T data plan?

 

[frenzy757]

You should be fine if you have wifi on it turns off 3g I think

 

[oldpueblo]

It switches to wireless automatically, then back to 3G when you leave the wireless area.

 

[clemenza]

Thanks for the input, looks like the wife is getting a tab instead of a pad for xmas!

 

[jerrykur]

I played with a Samsung Tab at BestBuy the other day and found it not to be a great experience. The screen seemed pretty unresponsive and overall the device felt slow. The iPad also feels a bit slow, but is more responsive.

My 2 cents.

 

[Cobravision]

I think the decision really boils down to form factor preference. My preference is to hold the tab in one hand and manipulate the screen with the other, so 7" is my sweet spot. I also want something lighter and more portable than the iPad.