Undecided and need help please

[SeniorAlex]

Hi Guys,

Just joined to see if I can get some help i selecting a top level Tablet. I know people who have i-pads and are not too happy with the Apple restrictions. I know some who have Android tablets they have had for some time, which have been improved upon since then and I am looking for something that will last and give me good service.

First of all, I'm in the 'older generation' league, having retired a couple of years ago just before I was 70. I have a PC and laptop which I used for work and personal and I have an HTC Desire smartphone, which I have just been using for calls, text and to have my photographs on. I am not very smart with android, but am 'almost' convinced that Android is the way to go rather than iOS.

I am a very keen photographer and specialise in Studio portraits to a professional level, but instead of having loads of printed photographs in portfolios to show people, I would now like a quality Tablet and have been considering the Asus Transformer Infinity TF700T ....................................... that is until I started looking at various forums and see that there have been problems with systems.

I am quite happy to buy retail at a local store so that I have a base to go back to easily, rather than try and get a few quid knocked off on line and a local John Lewis store does have these advertised. However, should I be considering any other models as I do not want a Tablet for games, more for a good photography display, e-mails, text, some documents for reference , movies and you tube videos connected with photography. Also some e-book reading.

The one plus side of Apple is that they have stores that help with setting up and ongoing workshops, which helps to meet local people also getting used to tablets and this type of computerisation, which android users don't seem to have .......... unless I'm mistaken?

Any help at all would be appreciated to reduce my fear of problems with Asus or to steer me to something else to consider.

Many thanks for looking

Alex

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[sr2012]

You should consider the Nexus 10...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[SeniorAlex]

Have had a look at the Nexus 7 , but don't like the reviews as much as the Asus Infinity T700. My concerns were/are that from launch last year and up to about now, there were several reports on this forum about various problems. Was wondering if it was 'teething' problems and now that Jelly Bean has been launched, perhaps many of those problems were addressed in the updated software?

Anyone care to comment please as I am quite keen on this Infinity 700, but don't want to get a load of problems and hope to hear from some of you.
Alex
Thought I would change my Avatar.

 

[sr2012]

Nexus 10 not 7 ... Stock Android on 4.2... Hard to go wrong there.

In any case for my Nexus 7 I haven't had any issues that were described on the forums.

Sent from my HTC One X using Android Central Forums

 

[frenziedfemale]

Have had a look at the Nexus 7 , but don't like the reviews as much as the Asus Infinity T700. My concerns were/are that from launch last year and up to about now, there were several reports on this forum about various problems. Was wondering if it was 'teething' problems and now that Jelly Bean has been launched, perhaps many of those problems were addressed in the updated software?

Anyone care to comment please as I am quite keen on this Infinity 700, but don't want to get a load of problems and hope to hear from some of you.
Alex
Thought I would change my Avatar.

The reason that you read about alot of problems on the forumns is because most people who aare happy and problem free don't post on the forumns. I have had my tf700 since October, never had an issue. Works fabulously for what I use it for, email, web browsing, light game playing (time wasting), music, and the occasional movie. I like having the keyboard dock for when I am doing a bunch of typing, the on screen keyboard is ok, but for long emails it is nice to have the dock. I love having removable storage, not available on the Nexus, makes transferring music and movies a breeze. You appear very tech savvy, so you shouldn't have any problems finding apps to make your tablet experience even better. Sometimes you have to try a couple of apps to see which works better for you. But it is easy to install, and remove apps. Concider what you want in a tablet, and buy the best one for your budget. Technology changes quickly, there will always be something new and shinier coming along, but if you pick one that will meet your needs now, you should be happy! ASUS does seem to be very quick with updates as well.

 

[SeniorAlex]

Nexus 10 not 7 ... Stock Android on 4.2... Hard to go wrong there.

In any case for my Nexus 7 I haven't had any issues that were described on the forums.

Sent from my HTC One X using Android Central Forums

Thanks for the reply. I haven't been looking at the Nexus 7 for problems, only the Transformer TF700, but perhaps the problems were from the initial batch, which may be understandable.

Alex

 

[SeniorAlex]

frenziedfemale,

thanks for your reply and I get the point that those with problems are more likely to post and most posts are from last year when the first batches were put out by Asus.

Your requirements are very similar to mine although I am unlikely to have any games but will use it for movies, but only when I am away as I can more easily watch on my PC. I do want a good screen and 10" is best to show the photographs I take, which are of high quality with my Canon 7D and good 'L' lenses and this was a main point in selecting the TF700 and the removable storage is also a big plus for me.

You made me smile when you said I was 'tech savvy', I often ask my son to correct the TV when I have pressed the wrong buttons and have only recently started to look into the smartphone possibilities on the HTC Desire phone that I have had for over a year now, but it's getting very interesdting and I am buying and reading up on the Android OS a great deal. Will probably make a firm decision very soon as I am itching to get started and it gets exciting.

Thanks again
Alex

 

[bill2reg]

I have the TF700T and have had no problems at all. It has the brightest display of any tablet to date, and displays my photos beautifully. (I am an avid, long-time photographer, also retired). Although the iPad (4th gen.) has higher overall resolution, because of the format difference (ASUS is more widescreen) the actual pixel count per square inch is not so different. And at the resolutions of the TF700, iPad or the Nexus 10, they are all beyond the resolving power of the average human eye. So unless you plan on using your table with a magnifying glass, there is essentially no difference. So the extra brightness of the ASUS is really where it outshines the others, in my opinion. One really nice feature is that the tablet has a slot to insert a micro SD card, so you can transfer many photos from your camera or PC to the card. You can of course have more than one card with groups of photos in different categories if that appeals to you. Another plus is that with the optional keyboard/dock, you get a full-size SD card slot (where can you can of course also use the micro SD cards with the adapter that comes with those cards), and the dock also has an additional battery, which gives a total battery time of approximately 14-16 hours, depending on the brightness level and performance level. WiFi connection is excellent, GPS and Bluetooth also work very well. I can only give all positive recommendations.

 

[stillflyin]

I,ve had my tf700t about a month now with no problems, key board dock makes it a great package with easy import for files and with 32 gb micro ssd cards you can store as many photos as you wish. I too am old school and very happy with my decision.

 

[SeniorAlex]

I,ve had my tf700t about a month now with no problems, key board dock makes it a great package with easy import for files and with 32 gb micro ssd cards you can store as many photos as you wish. I too am old school and very happy with my decision.

Many thanks my friend,

I did pop into a store today and they have put one on order for me to consider when they get it. They also said they would help with initial setting up, which is a great help to someone like me and it is the sort of thing they do with TV's and i-pads. Tey also confirmed a 2 year guarantee and a third year for an initial ?75, which seems good.

Alex

I do wish the members on this site would indicate their locations, either abroad or in the UK as I am. It would be most helpful to know who is where and possibly build friendships. Old School!

 

[sr2012]

FWIW I just got an Asus gaming laptop (ROG G55). Very impressed with it.

Sent from my HTC One X using Android Central Forums

 

[bill2reg]

Alex you seemed to reply only to the posting by stillflyin, so I'm not sure you read my post just before that one. Both posts are very positive and I think you will be very pleased with how beautifully your photos are displayed on the ASUS Infinity TF700. Best of luck!

 

[SeniorAlex]

Alex you seemed to reply only to the posting by stillflyin, so I'm not sure you read my post just before that one. Both posts are very positive and I think you will be very pleased with how beautifully your photos are displayed on the ASUS Infinity TF700. Best of luck!

Thanks Bill,

I am still looking, although after a long conversation with my sister, who used to sell Apple Mac some years ago and became somewhat of an expert in her field, sh thinks I should be looking at the Apple i-pad4, so I will check it out by going into and Apple Store soon. Still keeping my options open.

Alex

 

[Rezkeh]

Hi Alex,

Just to throw my opinion into the mix:

NB: I may have overcooked this post; it turned out a bit long. Skip to the last two paragraphs if you're looking for a quick read!

I have previously owned the ASUS Transformer Prime, and it's successor, the ASUS Transformer Infinity. To be frank, and to try and keep this short for you, the reason I opted for the Transformer tablets was because I wanted the best Android tablet available.

I bought the Prime back in early 2012, and owned it for approximately 5 or 6 months. During that time, I greatly enjoyed using it and it did the job well; the keyboard dock was a nice feature, although the keys were a bit spongey (not quite the laptop replacement it was billed as) and the rear camera, while an impressive 8 MP, did produce some noticeably washed out shots and occasionally had trouble focusing on the right thing.

I was also experiencing some less than ideal force quits in several apps, and even the launcher itself. After researching the problem, it didn't appear to just be me suffering, which was a factor in my desire to upgrade to the newer Infinity not half a year later.

So I did. Not quite satisfied with my purchase of the Prime, I sold it and bought a brand new Infinity. Now, the Infinity has several spec bumps over the Prime, and with the release of Jelly Bean it was, generally, brilliant. Still a few niggles here and there, such as barely noticeable lag and strange behaviour from apps (though that is me really nitpicking).

It functioned perfectly well as a gaming machine, a web browser, a word processor, and a camera. Films and TV shows played excellently too.

However: for what I wanted out of a tablet, the asking price (?600 when I bought it new from Amazon) was just too much. Sadly, it only dawned on me after I'd spent it... twice. Luckily, I managed to recoup the majority of it back - after a month of owning the Infinity, I decided to sell it. I decided to go with an iPad mini because it was more suited to my personal needs. (A slightly smaller and lighter tablet was more useful to me.)

My suggestion is that you personally try out both the iPad and a few Android tablets before making a decision. Many people will recommend you stick to Android, and many will try to sway you over to Apple. Members of my family have the Nexus 7, and I recommend you investigate both that, the Nexus 10, and of course the Infinity.

 

[bill2reg]

iPad4 doesn't have a slot for any memory cards of any kind. The display, while very beautiful and sharp, is not as bright as the Infinity's super IPS mode, and the Infinity display is also very clear and sharp to be sure. Apple doesn't make a keyboard/dock for iPad, although they do make Bluetooth keyboards that work with iPads and other devices, and there are some third-party ones. But ASUS makes one specifically designed for the Infinity, and it adds an extra battery as well as an additional memory card slot. With the keyboard attached, the Infinity folds into a neat little package much like a notebook computer, protecting the screen and keyboard both. While both are very good tablets, some people prefer the freedom of Android over IOS. As they say, you don't own Apple.....Apple owns you. Best of luck with your choice.

 

[SeniorAlex]

Rezkeh, thanks for the reply. I guess it's sound advice and I need to look closely at both systems. I have been searching the net for guidance and come up with more questionable doubts about both i-pad and android. On the i-pad, the problems seem to be restrictions made by apple and although I appreciate business is business, they do seem to be dominant, but there seems to be fewer possible virus problems with iOS.
With android, the spec on the Transformer Infinity looks very good, but I keep seeing mention of Lag, which I don't really understand. The choice of applications seems larger on android, but I don't feel I will need so many. My main interest is Wi-Fi free operation unless possibly abroad on holiday. Display of photographs in a video style way as I am a very keen photographer and want to use the tablet as a portfolio display instead of all the printed portfolio's I presently have. I don't do games, although an ocassional back gammon or chess game would be me as time wasters are not my bag. Would use the e-mail and text, office for word and excel spreadsheets and I do like the you tube videos that have loads of photography help on them ..... learning never stops and reminders are great. I do like the fact that the android tablet can be expanded with card slot but apple can't.

I see that apple have recently removed you tube, but there is something called Jasmine around? Keyboard is good and better than using the screen keyboard. Also I am swayed to Apple shops as the ongoing training may be very useful and it may not be so with android. I need a local wiz-kid that would help for a few pounds/dollars. The cost is not so important as I just want to make the right choice particularly as I am new to this sort of thing, as it's not the same as a windows PC. Think I need to go into apple store and another store to try and check out both systems, but it's not knowing all the questions to ask and after all, the salesmen need to close.

I appreciate your reply though.
Alex

 

[stuckhere972]

Hi Alex,
Go back to my post and read what I wrote back to you. As far as comparing this tablet to an iPad I know the answer to pretty much any question you will have because I asked so many questions that I'm sure the people got sick of me because I went to Best Buy quite a few times trying to figure what I wanted to buy since it was a lot of money that I was planning on spending.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Android Central Forums

 

[Rezkeh]

Alex,

Regarding YouTube on an iPad: yes, it is true Apple removed the YouTube app that they built in-house not long ago, however, Google - the owners of YouTube - have released a free to download YouTube application that they built themselves. It is of much higher quality than the older version, so there is nothing to worry about on that front at least.

Regarding iPads and Apple in general: you are correct when you say that Apple devices (often called iOS devices, as that is what the operating system is called) are more restricted in comparison to Android devices. This is primarily because Apple only allow you to download software that is on their App Store - and guess who controls what is on the App Store? While that may sound very locked down (and to some, it's too much), there are plenty of applications to suit pretty much everyone's needs. The same can also be said about Android devices in terms of application variety, although there are fewer tablet-optimised apps available as of writing. You are also correct about iOS users being essentially immune from viruses (thanks to the strict control Apple have over what you download). It is possible to infect an Android device, because you can download from anywhere, although unless you are careless with what you download (try not to click on any dodgy links from people you don't know in emails for example) you'll likely be fine.

Regarding the Infinity's SD card slots: yes, I said slots. There are (incase you weren't aware) two slots on the Infinity. An SD Card slot in the keyboard dock, and a Micro SD Card slot on the tablet itself. You can run both simultaneously, and it is very easy to pull existing pictures and files off cards or put them on.

Regarding Office suites: the Infinity comes with a Microsoft Office compatible suite pre-installed, so no worries there. The iPad currently does not have official support for Microsoft documents, although Microsoft are expected to release a mobile iOS suite in a few months time (around March). In the meantime, there are paid, unofficial applications in the App Store that provide basic functionality.

Regarding "lag": what people mean when they say a device has lag is essentially brief periods of slow or sluggish behaviour that typically resolves itself naturally. It may be caused by a full hard disk, too many programs running simultaneously, and so on. (I apologise if you knew what the term meant, I have misunderstood what you wrote if that's the case.)

 

[bill2reg]

Honestly, I think 'training' really won't be necessary for a tablet. They really aren't difficult to use. There are user's manuals available for free online, and these forums are also excellent sources of information. I still feel that if you want to display photos, and given that both tablets have exvellent diplays, the extra brightness of the ASUS Infinity should not be overlooked. If you plan on showing your photo portfolio in bright light at any time, the ASUS is much easier to see than iPad. Both are sharp and clear with great color. The other thing you mention is probably preferring a real keyboard, and here again the ASUS has the advantage of a keyboard and dock that is specifically designed and made by ASUS for the Infinity tablet. And, unlike an Apple bluetooth keyboard, it not only offers an extra battery to extend use for several more hours, as well as providing an additional memory card slot, but also it all folds into a very compact and portable device. And no, I don't own stock in ASUS! (Grin.....) It's just that I went through the same thing when I was deciding between the two tablets, and these are the reasons that I chose the Infinity over the iPad. As far as apps, there are plenty for both. The ASUS comes with an office suite that is compatible with MS office. I don't know what iPad has installed. Anyway, once again, best of luck with your decision!

 

[SeniorAlex]

Hi Alex,
Go back to my post and read what I wrote back to you. As far as comparing this tablet to an iPad I know the answer to pretty much any question you will have because I asked so many questions that I'm sure the people got sick of me because I went to Best Buy quite a few times trying to figure what I wanted to buy since it was a lot of money that I was planning on spending.

Yeah. I've just gone through all the android books for the last 10 days to hopefully get some answers, but it comes back to so many problems that seem to keep cropping up with this Asus. Pity really because I liked the look of it, but dont want loads of hastle at my age. Love the sweet comfortable ..... everything working type of life. Did you consider the i-pad4 ? Where are you located?
Alex

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