Help picking an Android tablet

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joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

#87140 20-Jul-2011 21:17

Hi team!

I'm looking to purchase a tablet within the next 2-4 weeks.
I'm going to post here with what I want from it, and what I have so far and would love any feedback agreeing with my opinions or setting me straight.

Firstly - Budget:

I'm more concerned with value than cost but am expecting to spend between 400-1050 (1050 because thats what I can get a Xoom for)

Secondly - Purpose:

I have a 40 minute train commute each way, so 80 minutes a day which I intend to make up
Listening to music
Watching videos (primarily .avi and .mp4)
Surfing the net

My 2yo son will also likely end up using it to play games and for flash cards and other learning so sturdiness is a factor.

A front facing camera for video calling is a Must-Have

The capability to plug into a tv to play content on the TV would be nice

I want something with a bigger screen, minimum 8inch, prefer 10inch.

So I've come down to the following two at the moment:

Acer Iconia A500 wifi 16gb - Can be had for around $700
Motorola Xoom 3g - $1050 ish (extra value is in the 3g, and it seems a little more 'refined')

Are there any others I should be looking at?

I will be using either a Galaxy S or Sensation so 3g is nice but not necessary as I will use the hotspot feature of my phone happily.

Thanks heaps, I know it's a bit of a noob question and there are plenty of reviews, but no reviews ever come down to the detail and real world use that I see here, and arent always NZ-specific.

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61 posts

Master Geek

#495947 20-Jul-2011 21:23

Given you don't need the 3G due to using your phone as a hotspot, I'd go with the Acer. Save yourself the $300 odd dollars.

I own an Acer A500 and I'm pretty happy with it.

joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

#495966 20-Jul-2011 21:51

Yeah makes sense when I put it in print like that, but Ive played with the Xoom and it was so fluid, while the A500 sounds like it can be a little 'glitchy'

ALso, the motorola brand appeals to me a little more than acer, for no real reason though tbh.

timmmay

20858 posts

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#495972 20-Jul-2011 21:56

I played with a 10in Acer running Android 3.1 (I think) the other day, it was quite nice. You don't want another SIM/contract/prepay plan so WiFi is best.

I'm waiting for the 7in Huawei Mediapad. I just want a more portable unit than 10in.

Bastos

14 posts

Geek

#495989 20-Jul-2011 22:13

I'd go for the Acer, Ive had mine for over a month and have had a play with the Asus and Xoom
The acer is the heavier of the 3 but seems to have the best build quality.

What really pushed me over the edge was the full Usb support. have tested usb keyboards, mice , usb thumb drives & cameras , all worked fine.

with the orthers, you had to get adaptors for connectivity.

Acer is also the best looking Imho

marmel

1924 posts

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#496001 20-Jul-2011 22:28

I've spent the last week going over options for Android tablets and have read a heap of reviews online.

One unit came out on top more often than not, the Asus Transformer.

Pretty much beats everything as far as value for money goes, specs are very similar between most 10.1 tablets but the Asus has an IPS screen which the Acer doesn't.

The reviews I've read where they have both units to compare side by side show a reasonable difference in the screen quality and viewable angle.

Not that the Acer has a poor screen, just that the IPS screen of the Asus is top notch.

The other option you have with the Asus is the dockable keyboard which adds USB ports and extends your battery life to a maximum of 16 hours.

There are a few units on trademe at the moment, just search on Asus Transformer.

TheKB

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#496012 20-Jul-2011 22:46

I have to absolutely agree on the Asus Transformer and I'm currently waiting on the 3G model to be released August.

Here's a couple of links to investigate but people I know that have the WiFi model love it:
http://eee.asus.com/eeepad/

http://www.mobilechoiceuk.com/News/Head+to+head:+Apple+iPad+2+vs+Asus+Eee+Pad+Transformer++/5960

WiFi model just hit PB Technologies for $925 + GST and includes keybord http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=TABAS0002&name=ASUS-Eee-Pad-Transformer-TF101-Tegra-2-Dual-Core-1

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marmel

1924 posts

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#496015 20-Jul-2011 22:52

Try here, $865 including GST & keyboard:

Techbrands

heavenlywild

5091 posts

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#496016 20-Jul-2011 22:53

Just like you TheKB, I am waiting for the 3G version of the Transformer to come out. I don't personally think I need 3G considering I can hotspot from my mobile. But it's sometimes handy just to have it.

I have played on both the Iconia and Transformer and although the Iconia feels sturdier and has better quality materials, the Transformer is thinner and lighter.

Bastos

14 posts

Geek

#496017 20-Jul-2011 22:54

Also have a look at the xda developers site for more user experiences. There Are forums dedicated to most brands of android tablet

SimonGeorgeBrown

50 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#496084 21-Jul-2011 08:50

I was having a play with the Acer last night at JB hifi - seemed to be vary sturdy. I couldn't give you any other info on it, because I only used it for 5 min. I'm definitely going to get one sometime soon!

PhoneCareLtd

11 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#508948 19-Aug-2011 12:31

P1000 or P1010

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Disrespective

1934 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 146

#509149 19-Aug-2011 18:23

The P1000 has 3G plus a much better GPU (SGX540 vs the 530 in the P1010)

Everything I was reading said the P1000 was significantly quicker but I haven't tried myself.

StephenNZ

49 posts

Geek
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#509193 19-Aug-2011 20:14

Acer has some cashback promotions at the moment. See here:

www.acer.co.nz/egift

prevaljo

177 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#509971 22-Aug-2011 14:51

This is a late response to your initial question but possibly a fact many people overlook. Most of the Android tablets on the market currently (Samsung 10.1, Acer Iconia A500, Xoom) all have the NVIDIA Tegra 2 SOC processor as the engine. Whilst it is dual core it does not support the SIMD Neon instruction set which means that currently SKYPE will not give you video calling.......

Jaxson

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#509979 22-Aug-2011 15:10

I've been looking for a while for a tablet for use as a touch screen type device. Something like a music selector screen I could mount on the kitchen wall etc.

Can't help but take a look at these bad boys:

Let's call it something like plan B

Total risk, but has most of what I was thinking I'd need - Capacitive Screen, hdmi out etc.
As above, not much seems to support Skype video calling, which rather makes all the low res front cameras a bit of a waste of time.

I have no experience with these things, just noticed them a while back. 'Apparently' whilst the Android Market is often not available on these import units, you may (?) be able to use something else to download to a memory card and then load this up on the device.

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