Tablets

[CountryLad]

For those looking for a budget purchase, tablets based on the the Allwinner A11 SOC are probably going to change the game a fair bit this year for the budget tablet. It's fast enough (a 'manycore' architecture based around the Cortex A8, and a fast accelerated GPU), it runs ICS, which is a revelation as a user interface, like going from Windows 3 to Windows 95, and it has flash, and the oomph to run it properly. What that means is that tablets which blow the socks off of todays mid-lower priced machines are coming out in the £100-£200 price range, and probably less than £100 for e.g. a 7 inch screen (look at the Ainol 7 Advanced (NB this is a completely different machine from the Ainol 7 Basic), and this is just the beginning).

In a fast developing technology sector whatever you buy is going to be hopelessly out of date in 3 years time, which is the philosophy which has always driven my PC purchases, but I can also understand that people can see gadgets as lifestyle choices. Everyone has their own opinion of what makes a good device for them and what makes that individual happy is what matters! I'm not going to claim that mine is better than someone elses premium £500 whizzbang whatever, and if someone is happy with that then that's the right device for them, and I respect that, but I'm ugly so I defend my right to use an ugly tab with an ugly UI, so long as it does what I want to do with it.

[muntjack]

For anyone with an iPad who isn't obsessed with having an apple on everything they buy, or anyone with another machine who would just like a bit of extra protection (ooo er missus) there are neoprene sleeves and shiny screen covers (might be a bit of an exaggeration to call them protectors) in the 99p shop this week. (In fact a range of accessories, mostly designed for iPad).

[sparkyjrox]

Another option I was looking at recently though was the Asus Transformer (here), it's a tablet that docks into a keyboard base unit so you can have it either as a tab or as a netbook - not read the reviews properly but quite like the general idea of having a crossover device like that (though slightly wary of having a jack of 2 trades that is master in neither ).

Having used an iPad and a Transformer, I have to agree with the many comparisons out there and give it to the Transformer. Anyone saying the iPad wins all reviews hands down is just BS'ing as that just isn't true. One of my fav sites for reviews has the Transformer as tablet of the year.....

Tablet Of The Year 2011 - Trusted Reviews

With the new one coming out soon with ICS it's just going to get better. Also seen rumours of a full 1080p version coming out, yum

[munk]

Having used an iPad and a Transformer, I have to agree with the many comparisons out there and give it to the Transformer. Anyone saying the iPad wins all reviews hands down is just BS'ing as that just isn't true. One of my fav sites for reviews has the Transformer as tablet of the year.....

Tablet Of The Year 2011 - Trusted Reviews

With the new one coming out soon with ICS it's just going to get better. Also seen rumours of a full 1080p version coming out, yum

Thanks for that, very impressive, just looked at the video review on Trusted Reviews and it is very tempting, will probably hold off a while though until the next round of tabs is out for these extras you mentioned.

[munk]

Been doing a little bit of research into the Asus Transformer Prime and overall it certainly sounds like it knocks the socks off anything else out there on the tablet market right now given it's the first quad core CPU tablet out on the market. (Just realized as well that the review linked to above is actually for the older Transformer from 2011, the one I've just been researching is the new TF201 with quad core CPU and 1280x800 screen.)

The latest upgrade to the OS (ICS/android 4.0) has just come out apparently and works very nicely on the Transformer Prime. Supposedly works very smoothly and updating the OS isn't a problem.

More concerning though is the issues reported with wifi/gps, although it doesn't seem to affect everyone so not sure what that is about. Bit confusing as well from a PR point of view for them that they originally blamed the case design for the bad GPS handling, but then in the last week or two have also released a software update which they say should help the problem. Bit reminiscent of the iphone fiasco where they blamed the poor reception on the case but then magically they discovered that a software patch could fix it.

That said, there is an option for UK customers to either return the product for a no questions refund or get an extended warranty if they have the problem with the GPS module so if it is a problem then can always do that.

Only other thing is whether to wait for the upgraded version due out in June 2012 which has the improved 1920x1200 display resolution (compared to 'only' 1280x800 for the current version - compared to 1024x768 for the ipad 2 (though allegedly ipad 3 may be as high as 2048x1536 )) and I think an improved camera - neither of which are deal breakers really for me for what I'd be using it for (gaming might be a little bit better on a higher res screen maybe but I won't be watching films on it or taking pics with it, so not bothered too much). Also of course by then hopefully they will have resolved the issues with wifi/gps.

Is quite an odd situation because on one hand you have nothing but glowing reviews/reports about how it's better than anything else out there (which don't seem to be just from 'fanboys'), but then at the same time there are also some controversial stories about the wifi/gps problems... meh. Overall am quite tempted to jump in right now anyway, hopefully can return it if wifi does turn out to be a problem.

[stantheman]

Sod it! I've ordered my Ipad and collect it tomorrow. I'm sick of all this researching, comparing and messing about. I want one so I'm getting one. Do I need it? No. Will it do what I want? Who knows. Will I regret it and buy a transformer in 6 months time? Maybe. Is it shiny, pretty and nice? Yes very. With that in mind I'm getting it. I mean why not......

[munk]

Sod it! I've ordered my Ipad and collect it tomorrow. I'm sick of all this researching, comparing and messing about. I want one so I'm getting one. Do I need it? No. Will it do what I want? Who knows. Will I regret it and buy a transformer in 6 months time? Maybe. Is it shiny, pretty and nice? Yes very. With that in mind I'm getting it. I mean why not......

Hehe good for you. Yes I know how you feel, I nearly ordered one of those Asus tabs the other night with the same kind of reasoning.

Talking about the Asus Transformer Prime, I decided to hold off on that one though for now, looks like more people have reported dodginess in the uk with the wifi/gps and at least one online reseller has pulled it from the shelves because of issues about usability. Also the ipad 3 is rumoured to be released in 6 weeks from now, plus the whole deal with the transformer prime HD coming out later on in the year (more rumours about that as well been flying around).

Oh, I'm doing it again aren't I...

[anglo123]

Just watching the cricket on the loo with mine, stantheman, it's great!

[anglo123]

In the Guardian today. Ipad3 launches 7th March

[stantheman]

Ok then I bought mine and I'm using it now. It's a lovely bit of kit and I've finally been able to wrestle it from the kids and give it a whirl. I gotta say it's great but my doubts about the operating system have been proven correct in that I find apples closed system quite limiting.

I'm used to tweaking pcs to get what I want but the iPad is pretty much locked down. It's no major issue but the little things such as the safari browsers inability to remember more than one password for sites such as Facebook that wind me up. I bought this so the family could use it and constantly retyping passwords is annoying. I looked to see if there were password addons such as you would get for Firefox but most apps are paid ones and offer no trial periods. This isn't what I'm used to as when I have problems with my pc a quick google and download a few trials and I can usually sort it.

Ive used macs since the 80's for my work but I've never been an apple fanboy and Ive never fell for the apple hype. However I've now realised that if I want to use a great piece of kit like this I have accept it's limitations and buy into the Steve jobs vision and use it how it was intended to be used. Having read his autobiography I admire his strength in never relenting to open up apple systems and think he must know a thing or two about computing so I'm gonna put my faith in him and work with it.

To be honest for ap'ing it practically useless. Sites revert to mobile sites, the obvious lack of flash mean no casinos and screen size makes mb'ing a no go. I still need to use a pc for ap'ing but that's no bad thing. Now I just use it when I've finished "work" and I'm sitting down reading this site, doing research and general surfing. At that it excels and means rather than crouching in front of a pc I can relax with feet up and one eye on the telly. It's great for relaxing with to watch films, play games and surf and it's a pleasure to use.

In summary it's no real use for ap and has certain limitations but it's brilliant for surfing and media. I'd advise anyone if they're thinking of buying one to go for it as it brilliant and probably the best tablet out there but forget it for ap. You really need something more substantial and worklike and I don't think any tablet is up to that job!