I won't go over describing details of the product, other reviews/unboxings can provide that... only my thoughts after owning it for over 36-hours. This is the Best Buy 16GB WiFi model.
Hardware and Accessories
Great design that feels good in the hand. Although dense, and not as light as some, it did not ever feel heavy in my hands. I usually use it one handed. It always feels fast and responsive.
After owning mainly Apple products the last several years, the quality of the HTC Flyer is as close to A-level as I have seen in a competitor. (It does look like Samsung's new Galaxy Tab molds are just as good if not better.)
Only a power adapter and USB sync cable are included in the box. A simple pocket sized user manual, an HTC warranty, and contact information are included as well. No pen, no case, and no earbuds are in the box. We knew that no pen would be in the box, and the earbuds would have been subpar, but the case would have been really nice to have.
Software
It booted quickly and walked me through linking all of my accounts. Only the Reader application, powered by Kobo needed to be setup separately. I absolutely love HTC Sense. The bundled widgets, themes, wallpapers, sound sets, and application really make the device. If I have to have something wrapped around Android, I pick HTC Sense. Shipping the tablet with a "vanilla" version of Android would have left me wanting more. The third-party applications that were bundled are useful and fill in the gaps nicely. Polaris Office integrates with Notes (powered by Evernote) nicely. They work hand in hand.
Notes is a great app that works well on this tablet, and the syncing with Evernote is a key feature. I haven't tried Timemark yet, and don't see needing it much. I will give it ago at my next staff meeting however, just for fun. HTC Watch works well, although their selection of movies is quite sparse. Since some HTC phones are now Netflix-ready, I am hoping the Flyer will be as well. I tried streaming Amazon On Demand content, but the movies would never load. (I might try updating Flash and see if that helps.) The Reader app supports Kobo purchased/download books. A Kobo account and an Adobe ID is required for using. The pen is not required to highlight content in the Reader app, not any other app for that matter. Friend Stream and the Music applications are cool, and their widgets work well. Mail and Calendar seem to support my work's Exchange account very well. Gmail's application is the standard fair, and get the job done. Maps and Locations work great, with excellent GPS response times and accuracy. Some Market downloaded apps aren't pretty when resized to a 7-inch screen, Pandora for example, but most seemed acceptable. The built in Gallery apps supports the video formats I need it to... MP4 and AVI and the interface/playback is great. However, it won't see the media on my DLNA compatible Buffalo NAS. It sees the NAS, but not the files.
The Pen
In short, it just works OK. Accuracy and pressure response is good, but it seems to take longer to write on the screen that I would like. Definitely try before you by, or be ready to return after trying at home. It would seem better if it was free, or in the $20-40 range. $80 is just too much for something that can only be used in 2-3 applications. I also feel it will take some getting use. Writing on glass is a unique experience. My handwriting looks worse that when using ink on paper.It is nice to mark up documents with the pen, or to draw shapes, maps, and diagrams. But I think typing on the keyboard is so quick and easy, it will be my referred method of note taking. Although a unique accessory, the optional pen is my least favorite aspect of the device. I should probably return it, but I might find uses for it down the road.
Overall
I love the HTC Flyer. I will probably keep it and get enjoyment using it at work, on the road, and from the comfort of my couch.
I sold my iPad earlier this year. I wasn't impressed with the iPad 2. The Nook Color is a great value, but I returned it as although the mods work well, their always seems to be something missing feature wise or with application support.
The two biggest draws (uniqueness) to the HTC Flyer for me that have let me down so far are the pen, and On Live supporting being nonexistent. The other draws of size, build quality, and software integration have all met or exceeded my expectations.
I am slightly concerned that the upcoming Galaxy Tab 8.9" might be the winner of the small tablets. The industrial design and native Honeycomb support could make it the best choice. And the lack of On Live gaming support and the arguable usefulness of HTC Scribe make it look even more appealing. However, I was tired of waiting for a tablet that made me happy. And Honeycomb application and developer support is extremely light. I think HTC Sense is needed to make a tablet this size truly useful.
Hardware = 9
Software = 10
Uniqueness = 3
Overall = 7
jwiskowski said:
I won't go over describing details of the product, other reviews/unboxings can provide that... only my thoughts after owning it for over 36-hours. This is the Best Buy 16GB WiFi model.
Hardware and Accessories
Great design that feels good in the hand. Although dense, and not as light as some, it did not ever feel heavy in my hands. I usually use it one handed. It always feels fast and responsive.
After owning mainly Apple products the last several years, the quality of the HTC Flyer is as close to A-level as I have seen in a competitor. (It does look like Samsung's new Galaxy Tab molds are just as good if not better.)
Only a power adapter and USB sync cable are included in the box. A simple pocket sized user manual, an HTC warranty, and contact information are included as well. No pen, no case, and no earbuds are in the box. We knew that no pen would be in the box, and the earbuds would have been subpar, but the case would have been really nice to have.
Software
It booted quickly and walked me through linking all of my accounts. Only the Reader application, powered by Kobo needed to be setup separately. I absolutely love HTC Sense. The bundled widgets, themes, wallpapers, sound sets, and application really make the device. If I have to have something wrapped around Android, I pick HTC Sense. Shipping the tablet with a "vanilla" version of Android would have left me wanting more. The third-party applications that were bundled are useful and fill in the gaps nicely. Polaris Office integrates with Notes (powered by Evernote) nicely. They work hand in hand.
Notes is a great app that works well on this tablet, and the syncing with Evernote is a key feature. I haven't tried Timemark yet, and don't see needing it much. I will give it ago at my next staff meeting however, just for fun. HTC Watch works well, although their selection of movies is quite sparse. Since some HTC phones are now Netflix-ready, I am hoping the Flyer will be as well. I tried streaming Amazon On Demand content, but the movies would never load. (I might try updating Flash and see if that helps.) The Reader app supports Kobo purchased/download books. A Kobo account and an Adobe ID is required for using. The pen is not required to highlight content in the Reader app, not any other app for that matter. Friend Stream and the Music applications are cool, and their widgets work well. Mail and Calendar seem to support my work's Exchange account very well. Gmail's application is the standard fair, and get the job done. Maps and Locations work great, with excellent GPS response times and accuracy. Some Market downloaded apps aren't pretty when resized to a 7-inch screen, Pandora for example, but most seemed acceptable. The built in Gallery apps supports the video formats I need it to... MP4 and AVI and the interface/playback is great. However, it won't see the media on my DLNA compatible Buffalo NAS. It sees the NAS, but not the files.
The Pen
In short, it just works OK. Accuracy and pressure response is good, but it seems to take longer to write on the screen that I would like. Definitely try before you by, or be ready to return after trying at home. It would seem better if it was free, or in the $20-40 range. $80 is just too much for something that can only be used in 2-3 applications. I also feel it will take some getting use. Writing on glass is a unique experience. My handwriting looks worse that when using ink on paper.It is nice to mark up documents with the pen, or to draw shapes, maps, and diagrams. But I think typing on the keyboard is so quick and easy, it will be my referred method of note taking. Although a unique accessory, the optional pen is my least favorite aspect of the device. I should probably return it, but I might find uses for it down the road.
Overall
I love the HTC Flyer. I will probably keep it and get enjoyment using it at work, on the road, and from the comfort of my couch.
I sold my iPad earlier this year. I wasn't impressed with the iPad 2. The Nook Color is a great value, but I returned it as although the mods work well, their always seems to be something missing feature wise or with application support.
The two biggest draws (uniqueness) to the HTC Flyer for me that have let me down so far are the pen, and On Live supporting being nonexistent. The other draws of size, build quality, and software integration have all met or exceeded my expectations.
I am slightly concerned that the upcoming Galaxy Tab 8.9" might be the winner of the small tablets. The industrial design and native Honeycomb support could make it the best choice. And the lack of On Live gaming support and the arguable usefulness of HTC Scribe make it look even more appealing. However, I was tired of waiting for a tablet that made me happy. And Honeycomb application and developer support is extremely light. I think HTC Sense is needed to make a tablet this size truly useful.
Hardware = 9
Software = 10
Uniqueness = 3
Overall = 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed on most points but HIGHLY disagree on the uniqueness since there are no android tablets released with the same functionality. The scribe pen can be better but other devices have NO pen.
The lack of OnLive support that was once promised really bothered me. And I felt that lack of the pen being bundled, and costing $80 hurts the device. Let alone it not being terribly necessary.
Good review I don't have a problem with the pen being a seperate item. It keeps the.cost down for people who don't need it. The mighty dollar isn't what it use to be.
jwiskowski said:
The lack of OnLive support that was once promised really bothered me. And I felt that lack of the pen being bundled, and costing $80 hurts the device. Let alone it not being terribly necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I somewhat agree with both points. Keep the cost low for those who don't want the pen but at the same time its the selling point for the device. To be honest without the pen its just a gtab.
Bxsteez said:
Agreed on most points but HIGHLY disagree on the uniqueness since there are no android tablets released with the same functionality. The scribe pen can be better but other devices have NO pen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree also. Uniqueness should score a little higher due to the pen. The pen integration seperates this device from all other tabs on the market. It could bring this device into the boardroom. I'm finding that writing on glass is difficult, and hoping a screen protector will help. Unfortunately we may be at the whim of HTC for pen support in apps (they have released the SDKs, but will depend on the popularity of the device). PDF Viewer seem suitable to get around PDF docs. I also like the "livescribe-esque" capabilities of recording and time-syncing meeting notes. Yet to tell if this device will make it into my daily workflow... We'll see in the upcoming week(s). I'm hoping for the best.
Related
Hi all,
got the Flyer today, after some hours of playing around I'd like to share my thoughts with other users:
- solid thing, just opening the top to insert the cards was a bit tricky for me
- very fast, no problems with the HTC Sense interface, works perfectly fine. Still in applicaitions like Google Maps a bit slower than the Xoom I'm testing in parallel.
- I like the new e-Mail client and calendar application a lot.
- Being an intensive evernote user, I am happy that there is a good direct integration, also with the notes you can take with the pen. Well done!
- The speakers are great, one of the few things where I don't agree with the Engadget review which has been posted today. And: They are extremely loud, louder than any of the - many - devices I could test up to now, including iPad, iPad2, Galaxy Tab and Xoom.
- The screen is great and very bright, together with the loadspeakers a great experience in Youtube or watching one of the HQ movie trailers which came with the Flyer.
- Generally, I prefer the 7'' format over the 10'' of the Xoom and the iPad. I think it is the best tablet format for me. The weight lets you hold it for a very long time without getting tired, the Xoom (which I like a lot because of Honeycomb and the incredible speed) is too heavy for me.
- the typing experience is excellent, the Flyer has the right balance between being responsive, but not over-responsive. The Xoom seems to react to even the slightest touch, this was almost a bit too much for me in the beginning
- there is a significant frame around the screen, much larger than the Xoom has. This is sometimes a problem when using the Xoom because it is hard to hold without touching the screen (and eventually doing something unwanted), but the frame around the screen of the Flyer is really huge. This makes it easy to hold the device in several ways, though.
- The bag shipped with the device is a joke from my point of view, first of all it does not allow you to use the device when in the bag, second the pen is attached outside and somehow always disturbing; also I guess it will be lost soon. I will wait for something which holds the pen inside and can be opened to use the Flyer without taking it out.
- Mixed feelings about the pen: The setup in the bottom right corner is excellent and intuitive and the pen seems to react quite quickly, it is fun to use. But: The hardware is not my favorite at all. Especially the buttons on the pen are hard to reach and it is not easy to hold it naturally
- Some new functionality in the browser including small thumbnails of the open windows, well done. Also pinch out works. I like it, it seems to be very fast and the re-arrangement of the text when zooming seems to be excellent.
- Although I don't need a camera in a device like that and I really don't care, still to mention that the camera seems to be really terrible.
- Installed tons of apps, everything works great, no speed issues at all.
- HTC Sense in the tablet edition is great. Some new additions for books, notes,... first impression everything well done, HTC
My first summary after a couple of hours is very positive. Let's see how I think after a week or two. No comments at that point about battery life for sure, but the Engadget review (and the very first, non-reliable own impressions) give me a good feeling.
Questions anytime, for sure! And appologies for my German English
Got mine today too.
I am fairly impressed and looking forward to taking it out and about with me tomorrow. I am curious to see if I can get 2 days battery life out of it or not.
The screen is wonderful. No other word for it. I used to think Super AMOLED was the best, but this is the best screen I have seen on an Android device.
The browser is excellent. Fast, stable, easy to use.
I find the pen fairly good. Though I keep pressing the buttons when I dont mean to. I cant wait to use it in a meeting!
Using Kindle on the device seems to be a great experience. The inbuilt ebook reader is really nice, but I am a Kindle user.
The updated HTC mail app is lovely as is the weather and calendar. But the software is not particularly tablet friendly otherwise. I like Sense and am using friend stream for the first time on at HTC device (this is my 3rd) and it works well.
The form factor is excellent. Easy to hold in one hand. It is quite a bit heavier than a Kindle despite not being much larger, but I am sure I could hold it all day without too much trouble unlike a 10" 700g device like the ipad2.
It's not all great though. I have had a few crashes through the day and the performance is not always silky smooth. I find the volume buttons a bit rattly and whilst the speakers are good, they are really not that good. There is no search button which I definitely miss and it is a major fingerprint magnet.
Overall, I am really pleased with the device so far. Feel free to ask any questions.
Hi Onkel,
Can you say a bit more about how writing with the pen feels like? The reviews are all saying that it's not that great for regular note taking (as opposed to doodling/drawing), especially in comparison with wacom digitizers on windows tablets. I have a win tablet right now and this makes me a bit
hard to tell for me, as my personal tablet experiences come from an IBM Thinkpad a couple of years ago.
Generally, I guess the Flyer will be for short note taking rather than replacing a tablet Pc. There is no handwriting recognition for the Flyer yet, and even if it will be available later, I think the handwriting quality I produce on the device will not be good enough.
I think there are many scenarios where the pen is helpful though, I had a Pdf document to comment today and the Flyer was a dream to use. Other example, for our corporate website I do a lot of commenting on improvements and bugs, the screenshot & comment feature with the pen is simply wonderful...
thoughts on performance?
i know you both mentioned performance, one as being excellent and the other as being ok. After spending more time with the device do you have any more details on the performance? One mentioned google maps being slower than on the xoom, slow enough to be an issue?
I am a little worried about purchasing a device that is already outdated, especially when there are rumors of amazing releasing both dual core and quad core tablets before the end of the year, the scribe tech has be pretty excited about this tablet, but i think i'm reeling in my expectations after reading some reviews.
thanks!
kborer22 said:
i know you both mentioned performance, one as being excellent and the other as being ok. After spending more time with the device do you have any more details on the performance? One mentioned google maps being slower than on the xoom, slow enough to be an issue?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was me. If you start to go into 3D and then turn the map with the finger, I see a difference. No issue at all. As usual, once you have used a device like the Xoom, which is setting a new standard as I think, you get used to it.
This is a 1.5 ghz device and couple of months ago I thought 1 ghz is all I will ever need
I an very pleased with the performance up to now, and I started tons of apps yesterday and it works great. SlideIT keyboard, which I am using right now, is a great performance test and it works great also.
The bigger question for you will be whether the pen turns out to be a toy or an important tool. I am not sure yet...
kborer22 said:
i know you both mentioned performance, one as being excellent and the other as being ok. After spending more time with the device do you have any more details on the performance? One mentioned google maps being slower than on the xoom, slow enough to be an issue?
I am a little worried about purchasing a device that is already outdated, especially when there are rumors of amazing releasing both dual core and quad core tablets before the end of the year, the scribe tech has be pretty excited about this tablet, but i think i'm reeling in my expectations after reading some reviews.
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would describe the performance as similar overall to my Desire HD. It is all the speed you would need, but not the fastest thing out there. I have found it does bog down sometimes which a dual core might not, but nothing to cause me concern personally.
OnkelAlbert said:
hard to tell for me, as my personal tablet experiences come from an IBM Thinkpad a couple of years ago.
Generally, I guess the Flyer will be for short note taking rather than replacing a tablet Pc. There is no handwriting recognition for the Flyer yet, and even if it will be available later, I think the handwriting quality I produce on the device will not be good enough.
I think there are many scenarios where the pen is helpful though, I had a Pdf document to comment today and the Flyer was a dream to use. Other example, for our corporate website I do a lot of commenting on improvements and bugs, the screenshot & comment feature with the pen is simply wonderful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I mainly want to use it as a substitute notebook for my college classes so how well it emulates pen and paper is something to think about.
Any impressions on the battery life? The reviews say you get a full day and more of standard use. Is the only batter hog video playback (the stated 4 hours of playback time)?
OnkelAlbert said:
I think there are many scenarios where the pen is helpful though, I had a Pdf document to comment today and the Flyer was a dream to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also looking forward to usage of the pen and found your PDF comment interesting. Did you have to take a screenshot and work with that, or could you open the PDF in the book reader, which I know has added pen applications?
veethree said:
I'm also looking forward to usage of the pen and found your PDF comment interesting. Did you have to take a screenshot and work with that, or could you open the PDF in the book reader, which I know has added pen applications?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a document which I recieved as an attachment. I opened it, wrote on it, press save, email. Simply great, no screenshot necessary...
Bigmuzzy said:
Thanks. I mainly want to use it as a substitute notebook for my college classes so how well it emulates pen and paper is something to think about.
Any impressions on the battery life? The reviews say you get a full day and more of standard use. Is the only batter hog video playback (the stated 4 hours of playback time)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
regarding battery life, I am on a conference all day and the Flyer was with me all day, pushing and answering emails, taking notes and doing Demos for my collegues...
after half day battery says 76%. So I guess running out of battery during the day seems impossible to me, as long as you don't spend most of the day with Angry Birds and movies
Did anyone manage to use the flyer in making gsm calls???!!!!!
Hi
Wants about video streaming to TV , does it have HDMI via USB cable or DLNA . HTC web site in official specs does not mention anything about it.
ahm1010 said:
Hi
Wants about video streaming to TV , does it have HDMI via USB cable or DLNA . HTC web site in official specs does not mention anything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It definitely supports DLNA although I havent tried to get it working yet. I have heard there is meant to be HDMI out through the USB port and the fact the port is Ext-MicroUSB suggests as much, but I haven't seen the cable for sale anywhere.
The Jones said:
It definitely supports DLNA although I havent tried to get it working yet. I have heard there is meant to be HDMI out through the USB port and the fact the port is Ext-MicroUSB suggests as much, but I haven't seen the cable for sale anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen some EXT-microUSB tot hdmi cables somewhere... So yes, it'll be able to work trough usb port
OnkelAlbert said:
regarding battery life, I am on a conference all day and the Flyer was with me all day, pushing and answering emails, taking notes and doing Demos for my collegues...
after half day battery says 76%. So I guess running out of battery during the day seems impossible to me, as long as you don't spend most of the day with Angry Birds and movies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that I now use my Flyer too much! Love the note taking and ebook reading. The size is perfect. So the battery does last a day, but I always give a quick charge during the day just in case.
Hi. With regards to the Evernote integration on the Flyer, is it possible to maintain a copy of the created notes locally on the Flyer in addition to having them synced with Evernotes on the web ?
Having a local copy on the device will definitely speed up the retrieval of created notes and give you access to these notes when there is no internet access available.
A suggestion and a question.
The suggestion is for those who keep clicking the button inadvertently. There are pen/pencil grips you can buy that will cover the button so you have to press down firmly to activate it.
The question is whether there are any options to control pen vs. finger input. For example, on my tablet, I can set the N-Trig control to "auto." At this setting, the tablet will recognize finger input until I use the pen, at which point it will switch to pen-only input. When I want to use my finger again, I just tap twice on the screen with my finger. That way there's never any palm recognition issues.
sevoflurane said:
Did anyone manage to use the flyer in making gsm calls???!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As others have said elsewhere, NO you don't even have the dial button or app in the list of applications to make a gsm call.
Perhaps when the flyer is rooted we will have some devs working on that.
OnkelAlbert said:
Hi all,
got the Flyer today, after some hours of playing around I'd like to share my thoughts with other users:
- solid thing, just opening the top to insert the cards was a bit tricky for me
- very fast, no problems with the HTC Sense interface, works perfectly fine. Still in applicaitions like Google Maps a bit slower than the Xoom I'm testing in parallel.
- I like the new e-Mail client and calendar application a lot.
- Being an intensive evernote user, I am happy that there is a good direct integration, also with the notes you can take with the pen. Well done!
- The speakers are great, one of the few things where I don't agree with the Engadget review which has been posted today. And: They are extremely loud, louder than any of the - many - devices I could test up to now, including iPad, iPad2, Galaxy Tab and Xoom.
- The screen is great and very bright, together with the loadspeakers a great experience in Youtube or watching one of the HQ movie trailers which came with the Flyer.
- Generally, I prefer the 7'' format over the 10'' of the Xoom and the iPad. I think it is the best tablet format for me. The weight lets you hold it for a very long time without getting tired, the Xoom (which I like a lot because of Honeycomb and the incredible speed) is too heavy for me.
- the typing experience is excellent, the Flyer has the right balance between being responsive, but not over-responsive. The Xoom seems to react to even the slightest touch, this was almost a bit too much for me in the beginning
- there is a significant frame around the screen, much larger than the Xoom has. This is sometimes a problem when using the Xoom because it is hard to hold without touching the screen (and eventually doing something unwanted), but the frame around the screen of the Flyer is really huge. This makes it easy to hold the device in several ways, though.
- The bag shipped with the device is a joke from my point of view, first of all it does not allow you to use the device when in the bag, second the pen is attached outside and somehow always disturbing; also I guess it will be lost soon. I will wait for something which holds the pen inside and can be opened to use the Flyer without taking it out.
- Mixed feelings about the pen: The setup in the bottom right corner is excellent and intuitive and the pen seems to react quite quickly, it is fun to use. But: The hardware is not my favorite at all. Especially the buttons on the pen are hard to reach and it is not easy to hold it naturally
- Some new functionality in the browser including small thumbnails of the open windows, well done. Also pinch out works. I like it, it seems to be very fast and the re-arrangement of the text when zooming seems to be excellent.
- Although I don't need a camera in a device like that and I really don't care, still to mention that the camera seems to be really terrible.
- Installed tons of apps, everything works great, no speed issues at all.
- HTC Sense in the tablet edition is great. Some new additions for books, notes,... first impression everything well done, HTC
My first summary after a couple of hours is very positive. Let's see how I think after a week or two. No comments at that point about battery life for sure, but the Engadget review (and the very first, non-reliable own impressions) give me a good feeling.
Questions anytime, for sure! And appologies for my German English
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is the multitouch? How much points does it have? Could you test it for me? I want to buy one too.
Thanks Tbo-art
I received the new Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet the day before I bought my HTC Jetstream. Below are my brief thoughts when comparing the two Tablets.
After using the Thinkpad for a week, it was an easy choice to keep the Jetstream as my tablet of choice.
The overall speed and quickness of the Jetstream vs the Thinkpad is noticeably different. Hands down the Jetstream is faster than the Thinkpad, and it's faster than every other stock tablet I have used. I have read people stating that the 1 GHz Dualcore Tegra is just as fast as the Jetstream's 1.5 GHz Snapdragon. After using these tablets side by side, that is not the case. Over and over, I notice the Jetstream is quicker. I cannot tell you how much quicker, other than it's noticeable. The Jetstream gets a A+ for speed and Power. The Thinkpad gets a B-.
The Pen function of both tablets is noticeably different also. The Thinkpad has a nice notebook application which even recognizes your handwriting, but unfortunately, this application does not work with Evernote. The Thinkpad also does not offer a built in anotation application which is weak. Overall the Thinkpad really lacks for a tablet that includes a pen. The Jetstream on the other hand seems to handle Pen input much better. The notes application always syncs with evernote, so your notes are always available online. You can also write notes on any screen. The Jetstream allows me to open a PDF, and highlight text immediately. The Thinkpad requires a 3rd party application, and I have yet to find a highlight function. Both tablets allow you to use the pen as a pointing device to open and close menus, and navigate. The Thinkpad does have a built in storage area for the Pen which is cool. I feel both tablets could include more pen applications. The Jetstream gets a B+ in this department and the Thinkpad a C-.
The design of both tablets is nice. The Thinkpad has a nice rubbery feel, and feels nice to carry around in the office setting. The Thinkpad is very easy to pick up and go with. You can carry it very easily without a case. The Jetstream has a beautiful design, looks sharp, and is just very well done. Overall I prefer the Thinkpad for the business setting, but the Jetstream for personal use. The Thinkpad gets a A+, the Jetstream an A.
The screens on both these tablets are nice. The Jetstream is comparable to the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Thinkpad is nice, but it doesn't match up the the Jetstream. Jetstream A, Thinkpad B.
Both tablets come with Honeycomb 3.1 as the OS. The Jetstream includes the Sense interface, which is so well done, it truely completes the Honeycomb experience. I found myself missing the Jetstream while using the Thinkpad. The Thinkpad includes a couple of nice additions over the stock Honeycomb. It includes a customizable quick launch widget, and includes the ability to close open applications when viewing the open application list. The Jetstream gets an A+ for the Sense interface, and the Thinkpad gets a B+.
The Jetstream has the 4g radio, and the Thinkpad is WiFi only with 3g coming in the fall. The Jetstream currently doesn't have a WiFi only option.
Pricing is a big factor when considering these two. The Jetstream has a $699 price tag for a two year commitment, or $849.00 for an off contract price. The Thinkpad comes in 3 different models, and starts at $499.00 without 3g.
The Jetstream is a keeper for me. The Thinkpad went back to the store, but may be a good 2nd choice if price and afordability is a major factor.
Thanks for the review John. For handwritting recognition on Jetstream, you could try WritePad. It's kind of keyboard app so can be used anywhere need text input. It works with capacitive stylus on froyo and GB, i dont know whether it will work with the htc pen. The app is $10, i havent bought yet. Could you please check whether the htc pen works with highlight and free draw annotations in Repligo or ezPDF?
Highlight works with the stock PDF viewer, and also works with Repligo, but the stock works better. I actually did my entire fantasy league draft with the stock PDF view, and highlighted players I selected, and crossed off players others selected. It worked outstanding.
blue blue man said:
Thanks for the review John. For handwritting recognition on Jetstream, you could try WritePad. It's kind of keyboard app so can be used anywhere need text input. It works with capacitive stylus on froyo and GB, i dont know whether it will work with the htc pen. The app is $10, i havent bought yet. Could you please check whether the htc pen works with highlight and free draw annotations in Repligo or ezPDF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Transformer Prime Champagne Gold impressions
Well, as karma has it, I was able to get a 32GB Champagne Gold Transformer Prime, with the dock, last Friday and played with it over the weekend.
I was worried about many of the problems people were reporting and I was slightly afraid when starting up the device, I did not want to see bad light bleeds or dead pixels and so on. While the tablet itself ended up being perfect, I was still hit with a crippling bug of the keyboard dock not being able to be used for typing at all.
I found it almost ironic that I ended up with a serious flaw like that. I really thought that forums give a wrong impression about ASUS quality control, but reality is that it really is very, very bad. It is almost like gambling, chance that you'll get a functioning device without flaws that will annoy you from the very beginning, are very low.
I'll get the device replaced and essentially add to the pile of devices that are being returned to ASUS. But that aside, here are my impressions about the tablet, since I did use the tablet without the keyboard quite a bit.
Champagne Gold is absolutely beautiful in real life. It is a really attractive looking device, it's not as 'white' as Apple's aluminum devices are and is so much better for it with the slight golden gue making it look less clinical. Pictures don't do it justice, Champagne Gold Transformer Prime is the best looking tablet I've held in my hands.
The build is also very sturdy. I am glad I did not go for one of the plastic built tablets of yesteryear as I really love the feel of the tablet when I hold it. It is slightly heavier than I expected but only because I've never used tablets this extensively before.
Of course this design has its drawbacks, such as very weak GPS, but I tend to use my phone for GPS due to assisted GPS from cell towers, which is just much quicker. As for WiFi issues, I did not notice any, but I also did not run any speed tests. I mostly make the tablet use my phone as source of internet and it didn't have any problems doing so.
The first bootup ran Honeycomb and I immediately noticed that it simply did not run smoothly despite quad-core processing power driving it. But I liked the screen and after wiping the screen properly, touch responsiveness was good.
A mere 15 minutes later the device had updated itself to Android 4.0 and I had no stutter or lag issues anymore when moving around the menus or using the browser.
The screen is really beautiful and bright with good contrast. And the external sound is better than I expected. I watched the new 30 Rock episode with girlfriend on a couch and it was a nice experience, much better than trying to hold a laptop comfortably while watching a show. MX video player works very well on Prime, I watched Boardwalk Empire on my way back home on a train and it is a great device for extended viewing. It is amazing how much more natural it feels to watch series or movies on a tablet device like this as opposed to laptop.
Most apps seem to run quite well on Prime. But Android has its drawbacks on tablets, a lot of really great looking games do not have HD versions, making them look less attractive on the screen. Some of my favorites such as truly amazing World of Goo and Cut the Rope worked well on Prime, but their beautiful art was stretched to full screen, making the games look less magical than they felt when I was playing them on my Galaxy Nexus phone (which has a similar resolution to Prime, but far smaller screen).
I tried to use my tablet as a netbook, but without working keyboard I coould not really give it as much of a go as I hoped. But browsing around in the internet was fast and smooth and I really like Android for a tablet OS.
Battery lasted less than I hoped, but I cannot say it was bad since I did not charge it enough times for it to live up to its full potential. But I did not have to charge it while I was using, so it did not cause any battery stress.
I also liked that ASUS does not enforce its things on the user. Majority of pre-installed apps can be disabled and ASUS own enhancements are good for the device. They did not add anything that felt like bloatware.
As for the screen, yes it is certainly a fingerprint magnet. It does not bother me until I start watching a movie or whatnot. Makes me feel like I should clean it up because it simply is dirty (even when hands are less oily and have recently been washed).
Is this the best tablet I have ever used? Not really, iPad 2 is still a better media and content consumption device and I find Prime a much less comfortable to use when held in portrait mode as opposed to iPad 2 (but of course widescreen videos are much better on Prime as a result). But I can really see how the keyboard dock can enhance the Prime experience enough for me to never consider iPad 3, even if it comes out with HD screen and even better battery life.
I should also make additional note about the keyboard dock. I don't find the build of the keyboard dock to be as good as I hoped, it angles up really awkwardly on the Prime when screen is lifted, the back hinge is basically the thing it starts 'resting' on and differently from the rubber it rests on in front of the dock, the back rests on plastic knob-thingies, which have less grip. So on a less sturdy surface or when typing, the device is prone to move a lot more than you'd expect.
To sum things up, ASUS did a good job at everything except quality control and body design for GPS. If it had 3G, better WiFi and functioning GPS I would easily grade it the best tablet ever, but right now I don't see iPad 2 being actually dethroned before the end of this year where Google's rumoured tablet and possibly another Transformer can really kick things up a notch.
2012 is the year of 4G and HD screens on tablets, but I must say I did not really think Prime needs a HD screen. It is not because it would not look more beautiful - it would and I can easily see pixels when reading the web on Prime - but I just think that Android market won't catch up to HD apps before 2013. Today most apps look stretched and the apps that don't, do not seem to need HD anyway.
But yes, a wonderful device, just make sure to not throw away the box and other items so you can quickly refund, since chance has it that it might come with a hardware flaw or two.
Nice well written review.
Got it exchanged and keyboard works now! By the way, those wishing to buy it in Estonia, it seems to be sold downtown in both Euronics and Klick stores. Can't be bought online yet and seems to be only the champagne gold 32gb model.
Thx for the review man
On thing i want to add though: You have to compare the transformer prime to the ipad2 wifi only. If you want to compare it at all. And that device has no gps module at all, so a more or less working gps is still better than none at all.
But those comparisons are fundamentally flawed imho. I buy a device because of its features. iPad and TP offer very different things which results in the situation that there are fans of one device (because it has everything they wish for) and fans of the other one debating which one is better...
In the end there is only "whats better for you" and never "whats better for everyone". For me its clearly the Prime.
Dude i get carried away again. My Prime shall arrive! NOW!
I'm with you with the Champagne Gold color.
The photos online do not give justice to the Champagne Gold color as it is absolutely beautiful in real life.
The Gold hue does not overpower the Aluminum Color and has a rather subtle hint to it.
Excellent review. A good model for all to follow!
My "purplish" grey one is to arrive tomorrow....wish I could have ordered the champagne colour. I'll probably end up putting a skinomi skin on the back as I'm not really into the purple tones...plus, I heard the aluminum scratches easily.
i haven't read the full review... but you found a gold dock in stores? or online? where? i didn't even think it existed.
oasis9389 said:
i haven't read the full review... but you found a gold dock in stores? or online? where? i didn't even think it existed.
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+1. Where is this mythical gold dock? Surely not the one I've had on BB preorder since late November? lol <bangs head into wall>
I'm using a Champagne Prime mated with a Gray dock. I actually like the look better than a matched set. Something to think about if you can't find a Champagne dock...
wynand32 said:
I'm using a Champagne Prime mated with a Gray dock. I actually like the look better than a matched set. Something to think about if you can't find a Champagne dock...
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can you post some pics?
Just as an FYI, your prime screen is capable of 720p hd video playback, just not 1080p. still HD, just not the best HD. Great review though.
oasis9389 said:
i haven't read the full review... but you found a gold dock in stores? or online? where? i didn't even think it existed.
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ASUS is selling 32GB Champagne Gold TF201's in Estonia, it's the EU version (tablet and dock in one). And it is also localized, with local adapter and US keyboard that has russian letters in the corner (we also have a large number of russians living here).
irishtexmex said:
+1. Where is this mythical gold dock? Surely not the one I've had on BB preorder since late November? lol <bangs head into wall>
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It seems that ASUS did not just do a UK launch, it was an EU launch and a lot of tablets are being sold in various countries, often without advertisements. Here we have Champagne Gold one, sold 2-in-1, dock and tablet. I haven't seen Amethyst Grey being sold anywhere here (and we seem to have two chains selling TF201's without ads at the moment).
It just shows how little this tablet is really known outside these forums and tech world. People don't know about it. Stores don't even know that they have the hottest Android tablet on their shelves.
clouds5 said:
Thx for the review man
On thing i want to add though: You have to compare the transformer prime to the ipad2 wifi only. If you want to compare it at all. And that device has no gps module at all, so a more or less working gps is still better than none at all.
But those comparisons are fundamentally flawed imho. I buy a device because of its features. iPad and TP offer very different things which results in the situation that there are fans of one device (because it has everything they wish for) and fans of the other one debating which one is better...
In the end there is only "whats better for you" and never "whats better for everyone". For me its clearly the Prime.
Dude i get carried away again. My Prime shall arrive! NOW!
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Well, true, but it is worth a comparison simply because you would not own a Prime and an iPad 2 together, they overlap in functionality. I will still recommend iPad 2 to anyone who is not a tech person as I believe that today it is a better device for content consumption and don't believe Android will catch up in app-market with HD apps and experience at least until 2013.
I am really neutral in that opinion here, I own an Android 4.0 phone and tablet now, I love Android. But today iPad 2 is a better tablet for an average person even if you don't consider GPS, WiFi quality or 3G existence important.
I would not buy Android for my grandparents, if I had to choose I would buy them iPad 2.
But anyways, I love it. Those of us who know tech and prefer Android, this is a brilliant device if your device does not have issues resulted from bad quality control.
Conduitz said:
Just as an FYI, your prime screen is capable of 720p hd video playback, just not 1080p. still HD, just not the best HD. Great review though.
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Thank you for the correction.
I am about to order one, so how is it compared to a laptop? i wanna sell my laptop and use Prime all the time insted, btw how did you use you phones internet? thats called tethering? or some bluetooth function ?
vitalero said:
I am about to order one, so how is it compared to a laptop? i wanna sell my laptop and use Prime all the time insted, btw how did you use you phones internet? thats called tethering? or some bluetooth function ?
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Think you might struggle to use this as a laptop replacement - depending on what you use your laptop for.
Yes, it's called tethering - setting your phone up as a wifi hotspot then connecting your tablet to it. No bluetooth needed. However, some Prime users report issues with this since the ICS update.
And more opinions!
I've had the chance to use the keyboard dock for a while, as well as test out a variety of apps. Some apps are much better in HD on a tablet, this surprised me quite a bit. For example IMDB app is really good on tablet and gMail (and really, all Google apps) is very high quality.
Apps run quickly and without problems. I also haven't noticed any problems with the tablet I got for exchange, no dead pixels. There's faint backlight bleed near one corner but I can not notice it while using a tablet unless brightness setting is too high and screen itself full of black colors.
As for the keyboard. I really love that it is Android focused keyboard. The keys make sense and are intuitive. It really is the first time I've felt comfortable with a keyboard that is similar to old school Windows keyboards, while never making me feel like it is one of those 'modified' PC keyboards. The top row buttons are all very useful, there are no bloated keys.
At first I wished there was 'recent apps' key, but there isn't. Alt+Tab does exist, but since there is no Alt key on the left hand side of the keyboard, you have to use two hands for it (I always Alt+Tab with left hand on my PC). So that's a bit annoying.
Keyboard itself is comfortable to write on if you've used smaller netbooks before. It takes a short time getting used to since at first you expect keys to be further apart, but adjustment does not take long. Feel of the keys is really good and they are well built, I like that spacebar, while long, goes down on both sides if you only press on one side. While it seems simple and does not look as expensive as Macbook Air keyboard, it feels really well built.
The dock also protects the tablet really well. The keys are not elevated on the dock, so they don't touch or get close to tablet screen and leave marks of any kind on the screen in the long run (this happened with my nice Compaq netbook 311C that had a beautiful LED screen that just looked worn thanks to keyboard after a while). Dock is also separated from the tablet with little rubber knobs
The touchpad is basically pointless, I am not sure why it is even needed, but I like that it is there in case I ever would need it. Using screen touch is simply faster, since apps are usually built keeping that in mind. Touchpad is just slower in comparison. I did however find it helpful when writing a lot of text and needing to correct something. It is also great that you can turn the touchpad off so it doesn't activate by accident while you are typing.
Certain apps are also less-keyboard friendly. While typing is supported all around, certain apps are less friendly when it comes to common usability features such as tab key changing selected input field (like going from username to password). You cannot really use the tablet without resorting to touching the screen every now and then, but I must admit that it is better than I originally expected. I actually like having the keyboard on, since on-screen keyboard is really something I don't like to resort to.
I did notice that capacitive pens are not very good on Transformer Prime screen. I have cleaned the screen very well, but capacitive pens are not sensed unless brushing them more noticably against the screen. The pen is a high quality one originally built for iPad 2 by Bamboo, worlds leading company when it comes to graphic tablets. I guess the non-air-pad type capacitive pens would work better though.
For some other things that are not as perfect as they could be, there is a very tiny amount of lag in the system at times when using the keyboard. It is certainly not as responsive as a keyboard should be if you, say, played competitive first person shooter games. But it doesn't really annoy and some apps are better than others at it. This will possibly improve even further with newer Android or firmware updates since it is not a hardware issue at all.
One thing I can tell you though is that TF201 makes quite an impression. I've shown it to two friends and the dock really makes the tablet. It takes away one of the most uncomfortable things about tablets - typing on that awkward screen - as well as offers natural protection without needing a case to protect the screen. Two of my friends who played with it were very impressed. If there's an Android device to wow people who only really know about iPad, it is not good to show the tablet without the dock - since it is just too similar - but the dock helps it really set it apart.
vitalero said:
I am about to order one, so how is it compared to a laptop? i wanna sell my laptop and use Prime all the time insted, btw how did you use you phones internet? thats called tethering? or some bluetooth function ?
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When using it as a replacement for a netbook, the device works really well. But one has to keep in mind that it is a content-consumption device. You can draw sketches here or write essays, but it is really something that you should consider as a replacement for netbook if you mostly watch movies or surf the internet on your netbook. You are still faster with a netbook if you need to do more intensive work.
But pay attention that I said 'netbook', not laptop. Laptop is still a better device, if you don't have a desktop PC, then I suggest keeping laptop around, since at times it is simply needed to 'create' more than consume. You cannot develop on Android, really edit videos or photoshop pictures or do extensive office work.
When it comes to sharing the internet then yes, I have an unlimited data plan on my phone so I can easily tether my 3G connection. It is not as fast as tablet itself having a 3G, but it is still quite good. I don't stream videos on my tablet usually or if I do, I have a better WiFi connection somewhere. For on-the-go use, it works really well.
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Some people also requested I post a picture of the dock that has Russian letters. It is a US dock, but if you select Russian as Android language, you can easily use the dock as well, since it shows where the letters are located. For Estonians (if any of you are out there), there is no Estonian layout supported sadly and from what I was told, there won't be one. Contents of the TF201 box however are Estonian, it has Estonian manual and everything.
Why was this thread moved to 'accessories'?
kristovaher said:
Some people also requested I post a picture of the dock that has Russian letters. It is a US dock, but if you select Russian as Android language, you can easily use the dock as well, since it shows where the letters are located. For Estonians (if any of you are out there), there is no Estonian layout supported sadly and from what I was told, there won't be one. Contents of the TF201 box however are Estonian, it has Estonian manual and everything.
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Thanks for this info. But I have a question, sorry my stupidity. What does "it shows where the letters are located" mean? There is no secondary letter set on a US keyboard dock (you said it is a US dock). And the only way in my opinion is - to have a Russian phonetic layout added to ASUS keyboard, so it will be possible to use US dock and type in Russian for those do not remember by heart location of Russian "QWERTY" layout ("ЙЦУКЕН"). I am looking desperately for this possibility - with Russian phonetic layout for ASUS keyboard life will be perfect . I can type Russian using on-screen keyboard but this is not nice when using dock. If you have any info about this - it will be very helpful.
Thanks
EugeneR said:
Thanks for this info. But I have a question, sorry my stupidity. What does "it shows where the letters are located" mean? There is no secondary letter set on a US keyboard dock (you said it is a US dock). And the only way in my opinion is - to have a Russian phonetic layout added to ASUS keyboard, so it will be possible to use US dock and type in Russian for those do not remember by heart location of Russian "QWERTY" layout ("ЙЦУКЕН"). I am looking desperately for this possibility - with Russian phonetic layout for ASUS keyboard life will be perfect . I can type Russian using on-screen keyboard but this is not nice when using dock. If you have any info about this - it will be very helpful.
Thanks
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In the keyboard dock picture he attached you can see the actual Russian phonetic layout on the buttons, so it's not exactly the US dock, but like a US dock with Russian phonetic layout added to the buttons.
Screen sizes are not significantly different (especially after the lost pixels due to the Honey bar), IMO, plus the Note will get ICS in the near future. Also, having experienced with both Wacom and N-trig digitizers, I generally favor Wacom (which is what the Note has). Of course there is a huge price difference between these two at this time, but the Note is also a phone right out of the box (unlocked version is about $650, and AT&T version with two year plan is $300).
So what do you think? Worth shelling out the extra money for the Note? Or remain faithful to the Flyer/View?
Get both! Its what I'm doing! BTW If you get a new two year contract you can take another $100 off the Note price, link through retailmenot
I guess it depends on whether you actually use the stylus for writing BC if you do, I think that the apparently small screen difference will probably be quite apparent. I've never tried out the note, so I could be wrong....but looking at the engadget review writing sample, it looks like I may be correct.
I use the stylus quite a bit. Honestly, for serious inking/annotating for professional purposes (I am a college professor), anything less than a 10-inch screen just looks too small to me, so I use my ThinkPad Tablet. For lighter inking/note-taking, the Flyer is better, also because it is significantly less bulky than the TPT. In this regard, I think the Galaxy Note may be a good substitute.
I'm intrigued by the idea of having both. But personally still on the fence about whether the Note is too big to be practical as a phone.
On a side note, I think its ironic that the stylus is coming back to smartphones (LG is copying the idea also). Everyone was all like "its so cool that the iPhone came out and you don't need the stupid stylus to poke the screen". Now people are realizing that they have some really useful and cool applications, and never should have gotten rid of them. Sure the stylus concept is updated, but the basic idea is the same.
redpoint73 said:
I'm intrigued by the idea of having both. But personally still on the fence about whether the Note is too big to be practical as a phone.
On a side note, I think its ironic that the stylus is coming back to smartphones (LG is copying the idea also). Everyone was all like "its so cool that the iPhone came out and you don't need the stupid stylus to poke the screen". Now people are realizing that they have some really useful and cool applications, and never should have gotten rid of them. Sure the stylus concept is updated, but the basic idea is the same.
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Yeah, I used to try so hard not to have to use the stylus on my Windows Mobile phones. Now I am like, huh...really...styluses are cool now.
Since I haven't touched either yet I don't have much to add. But I was just debating this before I recently ordered the Flyer. With the Note around $600 (no contracts for me) and the flyer at $200 it was just easier to take a chance on the Flyer. If the Note fails at taking notes then what did I just buy? If the Flyer fails my kids get a new toy. And I am hoping to do more writing than I think I'd want to do on 5".
The review of the Note on The Verge says that the Note has the better pen then the Flyer, accuracy etc. fwiw.
ive only had my note for two days, and i havent used the stylus much yet, but if im making a call id peg the flyer pen as more accurate
Pressure sensitive stylus are useful. The plastic stick palm pilots had allowed poor ui choices
I've been using both. The Note has far better accuracy in writing than the Flyer in my opinion. In addition, the ability to zoom in in portrait mode is much better for fine details. I still can't understand why the Flyer doesn't have this.
That being said, the Flyer's Evernote integration is still hands-down better. The fact that it seamlessly integrates with meetings and reminders as well as automatically syncs with Evernote makes it a lot easier to move between devices with. Also, having the erase button on the stylus is really convenient.
In the end, I'll probably end up replacing my Flyer with the Note just because the Note is a lot more convenient and I only have to carry around one device, but there are still some nice features to the Flyer that you can't find on the Note. Hopefully, Samsung can replicate some of the great functionality HTC worked into the Flyer.
I did take some comparison shots in case anyone was looking at it from a size standpoint. You can find them on my Google album -https://plus.google.com/photos/101248606811583627981/albums/5711273582828842705
Wow, those are great comparison shots. Thank you so much for posting them. I am receiving my Note tomorrow to replace my trusty old Nexus One. I am really pumped-up now!
I have both the Note and the Evo View. I use the Note as my main driver and a phone. My Evo View is used for times I need bigger screen to watch movies or surf the net or play games... I guess I can do all those on my Note but I baby my Note so it doesn't get abuse while my View gets toss around. My kids watch videos on the go on it. It's nice to have the 7" screen for kids to play on as well so that they don't touch my Note.
I do like the pen input better on the View since it's got a bigger screen to draw on and ink as well as better intergration of selecting options for the pen. As far as accuracy and lag... I think they are pretty similar... slight lag and okay accuracy.
Oh..and battery on the View last a lot longer since I have it in airplane mode and wifi on only. It last about a week with about 6 to 7 hour screen on time. During standby.. it only drops about 1% in 24 hours.
If I had to choose just only one device, then it would be the Note though since it can do everything that the View can do. But it is also a lot more expensive as well. My Note was $500 more than the View unless you get the Note on contract then it's only about $100 difference then. But if you just want a tablet with stylus input ability, then I would get the Flyer/View while they are on clearance.
I just tried the Note yesterday and here are my impressions:
1) TAKING NOTES: C-
The thing that struck me the most odd about the Note is that they call it the "Note" and yet have engineered it in such a way as actually taking "notes" on it is almost impossible.
If you are like me and like to rest your fat old palm on the screen as you are writing, the Note simply will not work for you. I assumed that the Engineers at Samsung would have done something clever like disabling the hard buttons at the bottom of the screen anytime the s-pen was within an inch of the screen. But no, they didn't. If you attempt to write notes and your palm hits the hard buttons at the bottom, literally all hell will break loose on the screen. You simply cannot take notes. It is impossible. With the View, after a while you sort of get the hang of resting your palm on the screen in such a way to not trigger the keyboard or menus, but with the Note this is simply not possible.
One HUGE benefit of using the View to take notes is the ability of the pen to quickly highlight typed text. I LOVE this. The s-pen on the Note does not have this ability (that I could tell anyway).
Horrible, horrible implementation by Samsung.
2) SPEED: B
The thing is slow. This REALLY shocked me given the specs but there is no way the Note I tried was nearly as quick as my View. When I scrolled webpages I even saw the dreaded checkerboard pattern occasionally. I was shocked.
3) FORM FACTOR: A+
The size is nice and it's light and thin. I use a bluetooth headset anyway so would never be holding it up to my face and looking like a dork.
Conclusion:
Overall nice device but needs some serious software tweaks to be a contender.
P.S., Guess, what? The Sprint Rep told me that he heard from TPTB that Sprint will be getting the Note this summer.
Did you try the Unlocked International version? Or the AT&T version?
Flaco05 said:
Did you try the Unlocked International version? Or the AT&T version?
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AT&T Version.
I have both the note and flyer. I use the two Devices interchangeably.
Aside from the clicks noise the pen makes on the flyer screen, it's pen is still better IMO. it has eraser on it - v convenient. Taking screenshots is more straightforward. When. Taking notes, u can just continue to write, page extends to accommodate writing. On the Note however, u must open up a new page after first is full. you must also save the first full page separately...as separate document. Being able to just continue writing on the Flyer is an advantage for note-taking at meetings. But, you need somewhere to put your pen, on the flyer, there's no stylus slot option..
Screen and camera - in some respects is leaps and bounds ahead on Note; brighter images. Although, flyer is still v good for brightened. Flyers have advantage though with regard to current quality control. In snore forums you will notice several concerns about pixilated dark images on stills and videos. Also, concerns about artifacts on some Note screens - visible on dark grey backgrounds.
Calendar - Note has more functionality and pen can be used to arrange calendar appointments - I don't think this can be done on flyer.
Seven screens on Note vs 5 on Honeycombed HTC flyer. However, the note will never be able to touch the Flyer for screen transition animation and weather animation. If you like your bling, it's got to be the flyer, no competition.
Battery...I have been finding the note battery much much better than my flyer battery. With note on low to moderate use, I can go for 2 days. With the flyer, it's only a day. Difference is really apparent when upping use to moderate.
They are both good in own ways. If u can get flyer dirt cheap, buy it alongside the note. If not, stick with Note. Note wins as it easily works as multifunction device. But Flyer is more of a Web-surfing, video and brief note device. Even for the 32GB 3g flyer, phone functionality is difficult (pls correct me if I've got this wrong - as I have wifi-only Flyer but have read moans on 3g threads). So if phone accessibility and quality is important, go for Note. But of you're floored by minor quality control flaws, go for the HTC.
Sent from my 32GB GT-N 7000 using xda premium
whmcal said:
But Flyer is more of a Web-surfing, video and brief note device
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I've had my note for a couple of days, and the above review is pretty much spot on. I'd like to also add that the Note, despite its size, still feels like a phone, with additional note-taking capabilities and a nice screen. The Flyer, on the other hand, feels more like a small tablet (which is exactly what it is!)
Since I had them both, I would prefer using view than note. I bought note when it first released in my town. And I became so frustated after several days using it due to its form factor isn't note taking friendly. So I gave my note to my wife, and I bought the view. and yes, I am very satisfied with the view.
Hello,
I'm searching my first tablet, and i've stumbled onto the tablet s. What are pro's and con's of this tablet?
Has it a good screen? Are there some things i need to know before i buy one?
Read it has wifi reception issues but don't know if it is.
For about 40 more i can buy an asus tf300, better performance, but i'm a bit afraid of build quality, and think the tablet s will be better in hand.
Can i upgrade to ics and have it work trouble free?
What about the playstation games to play on the tablet, are they worth it? do the have many titles?
Thanks in advance for the responce.
Regards,
Adam
That is al whole list of questions i will try to answer them all
1. Does it have a good screen.?
- Well.. Yes it has but its not gorilla glas that means it can break faster then other tabs.
- There's already a screen protector on the creen before you buy it.
2. Wi-Fi Reception Issues.?
- If you don't use your tab then your internet is dead, which means that you
must keep the tab awake (not in stand by) till you download has finished.
- The internet browser app crashes somethings but since ICS its not such a huge problem.
anymore because the tablet keeps the browsing history so you don't loose your
last viewed page.
3. SONY Versus ASUS.?
- Every tablet has its own Ups and Downs.
- Correct me if i am wrong, but the ASUS Transformer has a Tegra 3 Chip in it so that means much more power.
- I suppose you will buy the keyboard aswell and thats a huge benefit,
- Sony Tablet S is quite much plastic feeling and the ASUS not that much
4. Can you upgrade to ICS.?
- Yes you can, if you are in a supported country, it doesn't take long anymore for Europe.
- If you can't wait and want root you must follow Condi's Topic in Android Development
5. What about Playstation Games.
- Dont expect to much of it there are to less games.
- Quality is bad, but ok its PSOne understandable right?
- Like I remember Its $5.99 per game.
Success.!
I have bought the S for my father.
Would definitely not get it again. It has a nice design, the IR remote feature is nice, but that is not enough.
The Tegra 2 chip can't even fluently play YouTube videos in the Webbrowser, something my S2 laughs at even at 1080p. (I use the Webbrowser because the app is a bad joke)
The lack of an hdmi output is also very unpleasant. You lose the possibility to watch a movie, play a game on a big screen.
Being used to gorilla glass on my phone, the Tablet S' screen feels kind of cheap and inaccurate in comparison. It often registers double taps that were not intended.
For just 40bucks more I would go with the Asus without hesitation.
With its quadcore its future proofed, Although if I am not wrong it's GPS ducks, if that's a needed feature I would avoid the transformer.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
thoughts
I mostly agree with Mahaco and his thoughts, but would add a few of my own thoughts.
I am 90 percent happy with my Sony S.
I am able to stream movies and watch videos with ease, perhaps xEraseRx has a poor WiFi signal.
I personally have two complaints.
1- The lack of HDMI output as mentioned. Sony provides an interface that allows you to share with connected devices, but there is no "live" interface. By that I mean you can not stream a movie and view it on your devices.
2- The unique charging port. it is big and bulky and there is no 12V option.
Other than those two complaints I have no real issues. I love the form and would highly recommend the Sony S.
thanks for the reply!!
Need to say that the tf300 also doesn't has the gorilla glass (the prime has but this one does not). This is a difficult one for me, i hope the normal glas feels ok when used.
it has the advantace of the Quad core, but both are "plastic". It's the "cheap" plastic build of the prime, and therefore it has good gps reception.
need to check for the hdmi out doh.
Cheers,
Adam
The dlna service works fine, but it is not a replacement for a hdmi out.
Dlna allows you to stream the content (pictures, music and video only) stored on your device to other devices supporting the dlna standard. No more no less.
It's great to enjoy the pictures and videos I took on my last holiday trip on a big screen, but it only works because the pictures are stored locally on the device.
You can't play a game on a big screen over dlna.
You can't play a movie from the Internet browser, or YouTube or whatever application but the stock video player (well actually there should be others that support dlna as well).
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
I'm incredibly happy with my Tablet. Since my house is full of DLNA devices, the lack of HDMI out doesn't really bother me. I don't use the PS games much either.
I absolutely love the design that always feels light and comfortable in your hand. The screen is very good (but be wary of screen protectors as some add impractical amounts of glare). I've never had the WiFi problems some users complain of, and I'm still using Honeycomb, but I love it. The IR blaster is brilliant, and the Tablet experience as a whole has been great.
In my opinion, the decision should come down more to what you're going to use it for. The TF300 has the keyboard and the larger screen, plus the extra horsepower, so if you're looking for a laptop replacement, the TF300 is probably the go. If you're looking for a portable tablet that's great to use and is perfect for watching your media on the go etc, I would go for the Tablet S. That's just me, however.
Only annoyance with my Tablet: Weird power connector. Not a huge fan.
agree
agc93 said:
I'm incredibly happy with my Tablet. Since my house is full of DLNA devices, the lack of HDMI out doesn't really bother me. I don't use the PS games much either.
I absolutely love the design that always feels light and comfortable in your hand. The screen is very good (but be wary of screen protectors as some add impractical amounts of glare). I've never had the WiFi problems some users complain of, and I'm still using Honeycomb, but I love it. The IR blaster is brilliant, and the Tablet experience as a whole has been great.
In my opinion, the decision should come down more to what you're going to use it for. The TF300 has the keyboard and the larger screen, plus the extra horsepower, so if you're looking for a laptop replacement, the TF300 is probably the go. If you're looking for a portable tablet that's great to use and is perfect for watching your media on the go etc, I would go for the Tablet S. That's just me, however.
Only annoyance with my Tablet: Weird power connector. Not a huge fan.
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Click to collapse
I agree that a lot depends on your usage. There are a few more powerful, and a few like the TF300 that come with a keyboard.
I use my tablet primarily as a media viewer, book reader and watching TV web surfer and for that it is perfect.
I especially love the folded edge for reading. Seriously this is a huge selling point for me. Try and hold any other devices for more than ten minutes and you will get serious cramps. I can read for an hour straight and be totally comfortable.
Get the tf300.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA