iPad 2 rather than Tab 10.1 or Xoom?

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eracode

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#78696 6-Mar-2011 09:17

Not sure which is the best forum for this post.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and have come to love Android. The SGS is a great smart phone but its screen is a bit small for browsing, watching you tube, games etc, so I have been thinking about getting a Tab 10.1 or a Xoom later in the year.

I have never owned or even used any Apple product. Although I admire their styling I have been a bit anti because of the ‘walled garden’ concept and partly because my brother is a real Apple fanboy and that irks me somewhat. Now that the iPad 2 is coming I am rethinking my Android tablet plan. With the speed increase on the iPad 2, the thinner form factor, heaps of apps and with multitasking now in iOS, the iPad 2 looks pretty appealing. It’s a very cool looking piece of gear (apart from the wide bezel – but that has its practical side – easy to hold without activating anything).

I use the Galaxy S for all sorts of stuff but I have never been into rooting and flashing ROMs and so on. So I am wondering if there is any downside in getting an iPad, as compared to an Android tablet? I will only use it for the usual casual or recreational things – web browsing, a few games, remote controlling music on my laptop which is connected to the stereo, email, etc. I also like the way it will connect to an HD TV with the new HDMI cable.

I have the feeling that, although with Honeycomb Android has finally got an OS that is designed for tablets, it’s not really ‘there’ yet. Not many apps optimised for HC but I’m sure they will come in due course. On the other hand, Apple is well and truly there with its apps.

I suspect other people may be in the same boat on this - would welcome thoughts on this.

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#445928 6-Mar-2011 09:59

I'm not an Apple fan, also because of the walled-garden as you say, although there is no denying their products are excellent.

I'll be sticking with an Android tablet, even though the iPad2 looks excellent, and the dedicated tablet apps situation is obviously far better with the iPad currently. Off the top of my head the main downsides Vs an Android tablet will be in the browsing department, Google apps, if you're not already an iTunes user then media consumption will likely be better on an Android tablet, use of non-standard connection ports, lower screen resolution.

Tough call.

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nakedmolerat

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#445932 6-Mar-2011 10:16

xoom for me.

flash support vs no flash
1280x800 vs 1024x768
better camera (front 2megapixel, back 5megapixel) vs vga & 1 megapixel on ipad2
1GB ram vs 512MB
USB
GPS vs no GPS
1080p video playback vs 720p
chrome browser & tabbed browsing (i use chrome on my windows machine and macbook air, easier to sync bookmarks)

most reviews agreed that honeycomb is superior/better suited for multitasking

kiwitrc

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#445933 6-Mar-2011 10:20

Bit of a spec comparison here http://www.tipb.com/2011/03/02/ipad-2-xoom-optimus-pad-galaxy-tab-10-touchpad-blackberry-playbook-sp.../

eracode

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#445958 6-Mar-2011 11:36

nakedmolerat: xoom for me.

flash support vs no flash
1280x800 vs 1024x768
better camera (front 2megapixel, back 5megapixel) vs vga & 1 megapixel on ipad2
1GB ram vs 512MB
USB
GPS vs no GPS
1080p video playback vs 720p
chrome browser & tabbed browsing (i use chrome on my windows machine and macbook air, easier to sync bookmarks)

most reviews agreed that honeycomb is superior/better suited for multitasking

I'm not pushing the iPad, but I think it now does 1080p playback with the new cable. And the 3G version does do GPS.

I guess I'm struggling with coolness and design chic (iPad) versus specs (Xoom). iPad is very slim.

I see the Xoom has a barometer sensor, which no other tablet seems to have - an app could be developed that makes it a home weather station? - cool.

iPad has a compass sensor, Xoom has a magnetometer - are they the same thing?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

kyhwana2

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#445966 6-Mar-2011 12:08

If you like/don't mind itunes, the iPad 2 is probably a better tablet. Android 3.0 isn't very polished yet and the Xoom is the only "shipping" 3.0 tablet at the moment and it's super expensive.

NZtechfreak

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#445967 6-Mar-2011 12:13

Its only the Xoom 3G version thats very expensive, the WiFi one is out shortly and much more reasonable.

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#446127 6-Mar-2011 21:57

Get an Ipad 2 if you like something designed with usability in mind.

Get something else if you like geeky numbers that mean little the majority e.g. the post below.

nakedmolerat: xoom for me.

flash support vs no flash
1280x800 vs 1024x768
better camera (front 2megapixel, back 5megapixel) vs vga & 1 megapixel on ipad2
1GB ram vs 512MB
USB
GPS vs no GPS
1080p video playback vs 720p
chrome browser & tabbed browsing (i use chrome on my windows machine and macbook air, easier to sync bookmarks)

most reviews agreed that honeycomb is superior/better suited for multitasking

kiwitrc

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#446160 7-Mar-2011 06:33

kendog: Get an Ipad 2 if you like something designed with usability in mind.

Get something else if you like geeky numbers that mean little the majority e.g. the post below.

nakedmolerat: xoom for me.

flash support vs no flash
1280x800 vs 1024x768
better camera (front 2megapixel, back 5megapixel) vs vga & 1 megapixel on ipad2
1GB ram vs 512MB
USB
GPS vs no GPS
1080p video playback vs 720p
chrome browser & tabbed browsing (i use chrome on my windows machine and macbook air, easier to sync bookmarks)

most reviews agreed that honeycomb is superior/better suited for multitasking

Thats a bit harsh on the Apple fanbase.

nakedmolerat

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#446245 7-Mar-2011 12:15

kendog: Get an Ipad 2 if you like something designed with usability in mind.

Get something else if you like geeky numbers that mean little the majority e.g. the post below.

good point! i never realize that ipad 2 is more 'usable' than xoom. any examples?

kendog

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#446438 7-Mar-2011 20:23

nakedmolerat:
kendog: Get an Ipad 2 if you like something designed with usability in mind.

Get something else if you like geeky numbers that mean little the majority e.g. the post below.

good point! i never realize that ipad 2 is more 'usable' than xoom. any examples?

Hmm, an example. That's a little hard to put my finger on..... get it :)

Anyway, I have never owned any Apple products, but have often heard about how simple and intuitive they are to use. Having used an Ipad I can see what people are talking about. It does what it does so well, it's like I don't need to think when using it.

The Xoom feels a bit like a computer squashed into a little device. I don't need another computer, or more and more features added to make something seem better.

Here is a quote I like from Antonie de Sain-Exupery, that I think sums up the Apple way:
"A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

That probably hasn't answered your question, sorry about that. But the truth will known this time next year when we look back at Ipad 2 v Xoom/others and compare the sales and feedback.

Ragnor

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#446441 7-Mar-2011 20:39

Can't take your opinion seriously when you haven't even used any apple products!

Presumably haven't used any android products either?

So your opinion is based on quotes on the Internet?

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kendog

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#446465 7-Mar-2011 21:44

Ragnor: Can't take your opinion seriously when you haven't even used any apple products!

Presumably haven't used any android products either?

So your opinion is based on quotes on the Internet?

I have tried both, is there more I need to do to form an opinion on which I prefer?

nakedmolerat

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#446489 7-Mar-2011 23:30

kendog:
Ragnor: Can't take your opinion seriously when you haven't even used any apple products!

Presumably haven't used any android products either?

So your opinion is based on quotes on the Internet?

I have tried both, is there more I need to do to form an opinion on which I prefer?

how did you get to play with ipad2 and xoom earlier than us?

reven

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#446495 8-Mar-2011 00:02

never used xoom or an android tablet, but had an ipad since launch last year.

pros.
- really easy to use
- fantastic battery life (when cellular data is turned off), i charge it about once every 3-4 weeks, i dont use it every day, but most nights i use it for about an hour or so.
- nice screen, everything is clear and easy to read (not sure if ipad2 has the better screen though in iphone4)
- multitasking is easy and works really well
- ipod is really good on it
- really good app selection, comixology is brilliant if you're into comic books
- gps navigation is cool, ive got the sygic app for turn by turn

cons
- safari doesnt have tabs, you have to push a button to bring up all the open tabs and then choose one. they need to fix this, 3rd party apps have tabs but it should be in safari.
- keyboard should have digits visible always, theres more than enough room on the ipad for this (makes sense on iphone to hide, but not on the ipad)
- no texting or receiving texts, this is the biggest problem in my opinion. unless 2degrees/vodafone/telecom come out with an app telling you your running out of data/credit you need to be able to receive texts and easily send them (you can send a txt on the 2d sim, but its annoying to do so (not 2d fault, apples bad)).

thats about it really, the texting is the biggest PITA, but im happy with it. im not going to upgrade, the only real reason to would be the camera, but for me that would be a gimmick thing i never really use. i dont need the speed, i currently have no issues with the speed at all (in a year or two when they shove a whole lot of more crap into iOS then ill probably have issues).

people can go on and on about the specs, saying its only got this much RAM, blah blah blah. but iOS is designed well, its efficient, i never notice any performance problems due to the hardware.

my advice, go to DSE have a good play with a iPad, there everywhere you should be able to have a good play. do the same with an android and make up your own mind.

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#446605 8-Mar-2011 12:20

I saw the VF pricing for the 16gb Samsung 7" tablet in this mornings paper. $1399 outright. That's 3 inches smaller and ~$380 more expensive than the original 16gb 3G iPad. Be very interested to see where Samsung price their 10" tablet when it's finally released.

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