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Made a mistake and now I regret it. Don't get me wrong. The gtablet is a REALLY great device. Very fast (never used a Tegra II device before -- it's awesome). Touch response it good. I've watched some TV on it using Flash, which is really fun and impressive. It loads full size web pages fast enough I don't have any desire to install operamini.
That being said, the dpi and viewing angles leave something to be desired for reading. My eyes actually start hurting a bit (especially in portrait mode with the weird (non)3D effect -- like it's confusing my brain or something.
I am well aware this is documented else where (I've been traveling around the site, and have even installed a few roms -- obviously a great development device with good community support) in comparisons between the NOOKcolor and the gtablet.
QUESTION: I'm not going to keep it because I'm not satisfied with it as an ereading (somewhat heavily) device, but I'm stuck with it for a while. Does anyone here have any suggestions for how to make reading more bearable in the meantime? I've been looking around, but haven't been able to find much.
On a side note, what I've really wanted to do is switch to a Dell Streak 5, but those are more expensive than both devices...
elessarelfstar said:
My eyes actually start hurting a bit (especially in portrait mode with the weird (non)3D effect
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Upside down landscape is your best bet, oddly enough.
This is the exact reason i jumped the gtab. Massive headaches in portrait
Ill trade you a nook color for that gtab
elessarelfstar said:
Made a mistake and now I regret it. Don't get me wrong. The gtablet is a REALLY great device. Very fast (never used a Tegra II device before -- it's awesome). Touch response it good. I've watched some TV on it using Flash, which is really fun and impressive. It loads full size web pages fast enough I don't have any desire to install operamini.
That being said, the dpi and viewing angles leave something to be desired for reading. My eyes actually start hurting a bit (especially in portrait mode with the weird (non)3D effect -- like it's confusing my brain or something.
I am well aware this is documented else where (I've been traveling around the site, and have even installed a few roms -- obviously a great development device with good community support) in comparisons between the NOOKcolor and the gtablet.
QUESTION: I'm not going to keep it because I'm not satisfied with it as an ereading (somewhat heavily) device, but I'm stuck with it for a while. Does anyone here have any suggestions for how to make reading more bearable in the meantime? I've been looking around, but haven't been able to find much.
On a side note, what I've really wanted to do is switch to a Dell Streak 5, but those are more expensive than both devices...
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Click to collapse
What e-reader app are you using? I have noticed text quality variances and viewing angle improvement between different apps.
Assuming you are using the Nook app, what I have done is flip the device so the power button is on top in portrait. That angle, with mine works very well. Another think you can play with is the templates built into the nook app. I find the white on black works well for me, even though I end up returning to black on white to have the feel of a printed page.
The initial screen for the nook app will be upside down if but the book will open in the correct format so you don't have to read upside down.
I am debating between the G tablet and Nook Color since price is similar. I went to Office Depot and looked at the G tablet, though the ceiling lights in there give some glare, it was hard to make an overall judgement on the screen in there. I don't think I found it that bad. I can see the horsepower this has over the Nook color might be something I will like, I like tinkering with stuff (my pc overclock, my old windows mobile 6.5 wing overclocked etc) so modding I am not scared of.
I read about people disliking the screen.. Is it really that bad? From you owners, does it bother sometimes or is it really no big deal?
I am thinking I will use it on plane flights and in hotels, as well as leisure etc.. i do want to play games though and general multimedia.
Also are there some screen protectors and cases that fit it?
Replies much appreciated. Thanks!
Yes, the viewing angles are a pain to deal with. Depending on how you plan on looking at it will determine how you hold it (landscape) either camera up or camera down. The stock rom won't let the screen rotate so you will have to find one that does. I'm typing on it now, btw.
Back to the screen; the colors get washed out easily and gets frustrating. Also, the touchscreen sensitivity is ****ty. Gtablet for dummies has 2 fixes for this, though, so that's a start.
I just really hope Google releases source on honeycomb and viewsonic releases the drivers to take advantage of the tegra2
Thanks for the quick response, how about with a screen protector? I read that it helps.
I ordered a screen protector off from ebay. I haven't had any trouble with it. However I don't believe it has improved the screen at all.
An interesting note the package on the protector said it was for the Acer Iconia, but it still fits (quite tightly) with a cutout for the camera. I'm not sure if the dimensions are exactly the same... Perhaps someone can confirm this?
ByteWrencher
hypertek said:
I read about people disliking the screen.. Is it really that bad? From you owners, does it bother sometimes or is it really no big deal?
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Yes, it's really that bad. It's a netbook screen, which means its meant to be viewed dead on center left/right, in landscape, at (and this is the real killer) about a 30 degree angle.
In dark settings its fine, but you have to hold it (no reading flat on a table, unless you like leaning over the table) and no portrait reading, so using it as an ebook is, er, less than satisfying.
I suggest you NEVER look at a real tablet screen that was actually designed for easy viewing from many different angles.
Other than that, it's fantastic.
My gTab's viewing angles are just as bad as everyone else's and I rarely care. Also, when the kids and I are watching YouTube or other videos, the tablet is in landscape and three of us can watch side by side with only minor impact due to the viewing angles.
I would rather have an IPS screen but for me price is a big factor; then again, I just bought a used table saw at GoodWill for $37, so that's the kind of shopper I am. If you don't mind the viewing angles go for it, but better tablets are always coming out so today's IPS tablets may be marked down very soon.
have any of you tried this screen protector? in the reviews, people where saying it helped alot. http://www.amazon.com/XtremeGUARD©-...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312573112&sr=1-5
And some said the skinomi helped http://androidforums.com/gtablet-tips-tricks/320532-improved-viewing-angle.html
schettj said:
Yes, it's really that bad. It's a netbook screen, which means its meant to be viewed dead on center left/right, in landscape, at (and this is the real killer) about a 30 degree angle.
In dark settings its fine, but you have to hold it (no reading flat on a table, unless you like leaning over the table) and no portrait reading, so using it as an ebook is, er, less than satisfying.
I suggest you NEVER look at a real tablet screen that was actually designed for easy viewing from many different angles.
Other than that, it's fantastic.
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Hilarious and pretty damn close to what I think. However, I use mine on a stand at just the right angle and have no issues.
Hypertek
If you do want the thing to be a capable book reader, get the Nook. It is flashable with better ROMs and is designed for ebooks.
I originally thought I would use my Gtablet for them, but learned better about 10 pages into the first one.
My Kindle is perfect for it though as is the Nook.
BTW, I got the Skinomi full skin (woodgrain) and it came with the screen protector. Works great and looks amazing.
I've own/ed both a nook color and a gtab. The nook screen is nicer. Plain and simple. Better viewing angles, the picture seems more vivid, its just all around nice. That being said, I still sold my nook color for a gtab and would make the same decision again in a heartbeat.
The thing is, if you want an ereader, the nook color is the clear winner. But if you want that tablet experience (like I did) and are looking to the nook color for it, its going to leave you wanting. I rooted my nc, threw CM7 on it, over clocked it, remapped the hardware buttons, everything you can tinker with I did. But as great as it was, its still never really felt like a real tablet. I enjoyed the portability, but the 7inch screen felt a bit cramped.
The Gtablet on the other hand gives you the better tablet experience. Yes the viewing angles on the screen are bad, but honestly, its never once been a concern of mine. You have to hold the tablet anyway right? So whats the difference between rotating your wrist a couple of degrees to get a better viewing angle? Its not as big of a problem as everyone makes it out to be. The only time i could see it becoming a problem is if you're laying in bed and want to lay it relatively flat on your stomach or something, then the screen would cause issues. The angles are as bad as people say, but its really not a problem in day to day use. When I use a device I lookat it straight on, so the viewing angle doesn't bother me. I don't understand how everyone seems to be using their tablet in a super tilted manner. Plus if you buy a Clip Case, you can adjust the viewing angle when you set your tablet down on a table or something. I also bought a tablet stand for when I want to use the gtab as an extra monitor in portrait mode.
My point is, if the screen is the ONLY deciding factor between the two for you, then you should go with the nook color. But in all honesty, if you look at each product overall, the gtab is a much better choice if you want a tablet.
You just have to make sure you get rid of the crap software that comes loaded on the gtab for one of the roms here (gtabcomb is really nice). How that piece of crap software was allowed to make it to market is beyond me. Whoever is in charge of quality control needs to be fired yesterday.
thanks, I appreciate all responses. pyro6128 that is just what I wanted to hear.
Yeah I went to bestbuy and looked at the NC and then drove down to office depot and looked at the gtablet and thought it wasn't bad.
Im sure it will give me some good entertainment as well on flights. Just gotta see how soon my dad can order it for me. he owes me some money and I said just get me a tablet . =)
My pc is overclocked, videocard is volt modded and watercooled. I don't mind putting in a little work =)
Since I have 3 tablets and one being a NC running CM7, I can compare the NC and G-tablet closely.
The screen on the NC is sharp and vivid, the only reason I got another 10" tablet is the viewing area.
The screen on the gtablet is not as sharp as the NC and the color is not as vivid, viewing angle is worst then my other 2 tablets, but it is fast and big so I use it instead of my laptop for net access while I am in Starbuck and out of the house. The NC is what I use sitting on the sofa or in bed
Hey folks... I just received my GTab needed some advice... Let me start by saying I purchased this due to the price (thanks WOOT) and then for the apparent developement of ROMs here... I read through the FAQ's and saw many were loving their GTab, so I bought one... I did not read Amazon reviews as those are not normally people who I consider enthusiasts, and their reviews would be somewhat limited in scope.
I immediately loaded up Flashback 7.2 and it is a vast improvement over the stock ROM (no surprise there) using NVFlash with CWM3028.
The GTab is pretty responsive, can get to market, and overall feel is better.
However, my problem is with the screen. I was using it in landscape orientation most of the time and it was fine... Text was a little fuzzy, but not problems using it.
When I rotated it to portrait mode to read an e-book, I immediately began having a headache and my eyes started hurting... In my opinion, it was like reading through some old school 3D glasses that were polarized... My eyes were seeing 2 different colors and angles...
Is this a something that is driver related or a limitation of the hardware? I have read a ton of reviews on Amazon (a little late, huh?) and it seems many are complaining of the same issue. Does anyone have any suggestions, besides only using in landscape, that will improve this problem?
Thanks in advance.
Don
Hardware limitation - the screen is a netbook screen and the viewing angles are poor, especially in portrait mode.
As such, it's unfixable with software.
roebeet said:
Hardware limitation - the screen is a netbook screen and the viewing angles are poor, especially in portrait mode.
As such, it's unfixable with software.
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Click to collapse
So... It looks like this may not be good for the misses... That's who I bought this for so she can read her nursing books on...
I was browsing through the discussion on the WOOT buy page and noticed you were able to order the HP Touchpad... Did that order ever go through? It's not listed in your sig so I was wondering.
I am going to consider a Nook Color now... Probably swing by the local BN to see in person... that way the screen isn't a shocker this time around.
Thanks,
Don
Not a 100% fix, but I noticed if I hold it "upside-down" in Portrat mode (i.e. power button on the bottom), it looks quite a bit better. May not be enough improvement for the misses, however.
-mb
Just heard back from WOOT... I am sending this back and getting a refund... I will have to reconsider my options. I think looking at the Nook is definitely an option and my wife is an iOS fangirl, so maybe the only thing she will like is the iPad2.
Thanks folks.
Don
Hi guys,
I'm a NC owner (running CM7.1) and recently purchased a BlackBerry Playbook ($199 for the 16GB). The NC has been well used this past year, but I'd like something faster and plan to sell the NC. So far, I'm in love with the PlayBook's hardware (dual core 1GHz, 1GB RAM, GPS, Bluetooth, compass, gorgeous screen), and the QNX operating system is incredibly snappy, but I really, REALLY miss all the apps I was using on the NC. The App World is just so incredibly inadequate.
I managed to get the Developer Beta 2.0 OS running on the PlayBook to try out running Android apps, but after jumping through all the hoops to convert apks to bars, sign them with my keys, etc, almost none of them work. Although it would be amazing if there was an active Android community for the Playbook, but alas it doesn't seem like it's going to get much support. It's like having a hot rod that you can only use in the garage. There's no point.
So that brings me to me to my gripes with the NC... Mainly the touchscreen.
The display for the NC is pretty great, but what I really didn't like was how unresponsive to finger taps it would be, especially in the corners of the unit. Tapping on tiny little buttons in the corners (search button for instance) was almost impossible it seemed. Granted, with CM7, the touchscreen could be calibrated and it was better, but still not great.
TL;DR
So does the Nook Tablet still have touchscreen dead zones (near the corners of the screen) like the NookColor has?
Mine seems very responsive even in the corners. The screen has a different feel, almost like there is something a little sticky on it.
jerrykur said:
Mine seems very responsive even in the corners. The screen has a different feel, almost like there is something a little sticky on it.
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Click to collapse
The coating is residue from the protective plastic cover they place over the glass. It wears off with use.
Sent from my Nook Tablet using Tapatalk.
jerrykur said:
Mine seems very responsive even in the corners. The screen has a different feel, almost like there is something a little sticky on it.
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could you maybe try an app like sketchbook to see if it is more responsive than the NC was? this is my primary concern with the NT, I need to be able to use the touchscreen to draw diagrams, etc - at work.
If someone could check this I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
bogatyr said:
The coating is residue from the protective plastic cover they place over the glass. It wears off with use.
Sent from my Nook Tablet using Tapatalk.
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Click to collapse
I had bought the B&N matte anti-glare screen protector for the NC (and I gave the second one away to a friend). One of the main benefits from it was that it allowed for easier gliding across the screen surface.
I had already read that the NT only has 2 points of tracking on the touchscreen, and as a result some games won't work properly. I'm okay with this, but the touchscreen deadzones were a big issue. Trying to dog-ear pages in the reading app for instance was maddening.
Thanks guys. Sounds like it is an improvement over the NC screen in this regard.
It feels much more accurate to me. With the nook color when I would click small links (for example on websites), I would often miss. Also, they fixed the touch sensitivity on the corners (on the nook color, using dolphin kind of sucked because closing tabs was a huge pain in the ass).
Im very happy with the touchscreen on the NT. No complaints
i would like to know as well
just posed a thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19577728#post19577728
Nook Color: Cypress CYP658756 [http://www.chipworks.com/en/technic...teardown-of-the-barnes-and-noble-nook-color/]
Nook Tablet: FocalTech FT5406EE8 [http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nook-Tablet-Teardown/7121/2]
Too bad NT's bootloader lcoked
Got mine last night from Best Buy (Ordered 12/23). Here are my first impressions.
Ill preface this by saying Ive never had a tablet and dont even know if Ive ever even used one for more than 5 seconds. I had been thinking about getting one, and when I saw that Best Buy was taking orders, I jumped on it figuring I could always return it. I was a little worried reading about all the issues on the forums before I got it.
Build quality is nice, Im impressed. I havent had any ports fall out or cables breaking. The thing just looks nice, and feels quality in your hands. I did notice people complaining that the screen was coming off in the top left. Mine has this "issue", though I dont think its really an issue. The little gap that seems "unglued" is directly above the volume rocker and HDMI port. The screen isnt coming up here if you look at it from the side, but if you push on it theres a little give. I think this is just the way its built, there probably isnt anything to adhere the screen to in that little spot where the buttons are. No big deal to me, I think everyones overreacting about it. I havent seen any backlight bleeding issues either, and I was looking for it. Another issue people have been talking about is the Asus logo "glitching" on the boot screen. I looked for this too and it doesnt happen on mine.
The screen is amazing. Not much else to say about it. Its super clear and bright.
My wifi works fine. I get a crappy signal because I live in a basement, but the speeds were very close to what I was getting on my HTC Incredible and Macbook Pro all side by side. I tried using the GPS for about 1 minute, unsurprisingly I didnt get a signal because Im in a basement. Ill test it more later, but honestly if this thing didnt come with GPS at all I wouldnt really care.
I played some GTA III on it, it was awesome. The controls are much better than I would have expected, though I think it would still suck on a small phone screen. Really badass that a full game like this can be played on a tablet, I hope more stuff like this comes out.
I only briefly toyed with the camera, seems more than adequate. Pretty quick shutter speed.
Asus gives you a little microfiber in the box, and it wiped off all finger prints and smudges quickly and easily.
The keyboard is pretty annoying to use in landscape as you might expect. I picked up SwiftKey Tablet X for like $5, and its a big improvement. The split keyboard is great, and visually the keyboard is much nicer looking than the stock stuff.
As far as speed and performance, it seems nice to me but as I mentioned before this is the first tablet Ive ever used. Its a little laggy at times, but nothing terrible at all and could just be the nature of Honeycomb. I cant wait to get ICS on this thing, its only going to get better!
Overall Im really impressed. This is a badass gadget. I dont think Ill be returning mine
sectachrome said:
Got mine last night from Best Buy (Ordered 12/23). Here are my first impressions.
Ill preface this by saying Ive never had a tablet and dont even know if Ive ever even used one for more than 5 seconds. I had been thinking about getting one, and when I saw that Best Buy was taking orders, I jumped on it figuring I could always return it. I was a little worried reading about all the issues on the forums before I got it.
Build quality is nice, Im impressed. I havent had any ports fall out or cables breaking. The thing just looks nice, and feels quality in your hands. I did notice people complaining that the screen was coming off in the top left. Mine has this "issue", though I dont think its really an issue. The little gap that seems "unglued" is directly above the volume rocker and HDMI port. The screen isnt coming up here if you look at it from the side, but if you push on it theres a little give. I think this is just the way its built, there probably isnt anything to adhere the screen to in that little spot where the buttons are. No big deal to me, I think everyones overreacting about it. I havent seen any backlight bleeding issues either, and I was looking for it. Another issue people have been talking about is the Asus logo "glitching" on the boot screen. I looked for this too and it doesnt happen on mine.
The screen is amazing. Not much else to say about it. Its super clear and bright.
My wifi works fine. I get a crappy signal because I live in a basement, but the speeds were very close to what I was getting on my HTC Incredible and Macbook Pro all side by side. I tried using the GPS for about 1 minute, unsurprisingly I didnt get a signal because Im in a basement. Ill test it more later, but honestly if this thing didnt come with GPS at all I wouldnt really care.
I played some GTA III on it, it was awesome. The controls are much better than I would have expected, though I think it would still suck on a small phone screen. Really badass that a full game like this can be played on a tablet, I hope more stuff like this comes out.
I only briefly toyed with the camera, seems more than adequate. Pretty quick shutter speed.
Asus gives you a little microfiber in the box, and it wiped off all finger prints and smudges quickly and easily.
The keyboard is pretty annoying to use in landscape as you might expect. I picked up SwiftKey Tablet X for like $5, and its a big improvement. The split keyboard is great, and visually the keyboard is much nicer looking than the stock stuff.
As far as speed and performance, it seems nice to me but as I mentioned before this is the first tablet Ive ever used. Its a little laggy at times, but nothing terrible at all and could just be the nature of Honeycomb. I cant wait to get ICS on this thing, its only going to get better!
Overall Im really impressed. This is a badass gadget. I dont think Ill be returning mine
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Cool. Thanks.