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Hey guys,
I am currntly the proud owner of a Asus Transformer eee pad, TF 101
I have it rooted and a bit overclocked.
I love sony products but I have to say I am still doubting of trading my Transfomer for a Tablet S
What are the things I am missing at the moment and what am I going to mis when I decide to switch.
can you guys help me a bit with the cons and pro's ?
The transformer PROs
- keybord dock
- extended batery life becauseof dock
- bigger screen
- a lot of custom roms and things to play with
The Tablet S PROS
- User Interface
- Design of tablet
- IR to control my Bravia TV
- PS certified ( controller )
the Transformer CONs
- minor light bleed
The Tablet S CONs
- not a lot of custom ROMs (yet)
- no gorilla glass
they have the same cpu right? but what about the gpu ?
A definite Pro is native support of the dualshock controller - I play Tomb Raider 1 to 5) and Abe's Oddysee / Exodus daily !!.
Must admit however that I use Fpse to do it, these ps1 games are not available 'officially' on the Tablet S store (yet)
I am an extremely proud owner of the Sony. People are always looking at in when in in a cafe. It is stunning to look at and when holding it the balance is perfect, whether it be portrait or landscape mode.
I'm not one for "run of the mill" gadgets, i like something different and the Sony is just that. I looked at the Transformer and decided other wise due to the fact of the enormous size of it and the "run of the mill" looks. Having the ability to play certified( and not) games is incredible and i shall be investing in a ps3 controller shortly to play these type of games.
OH OH, did i mention the incredible infra red remote control, I am able to control my Sky box, LG surround sound and my TV all in the comfort of my Favorited chair.
This little baby has just been rooted and as far as I'm concerned the Sony has just been born. I was fortunate to have only bought the Sony 1 week before it was rooted and now the gates have opened to hopefully custom roms( not to bothered really) and other good things.
So to conclude, this is one tablet that i will be keeping for some time, the screen, speed, looks and the geek factor makes it a winner.
Ps. The one thing i need now is the external sd to be used for system data.
David.
Everyone is going to experience different tablets differently. So what you need to ask yourself is "Am I happy with my tablet?"
If the answer is yes then stop looking over the fence and enjoy what you have
If no, then perhaps you should indeed look at trading it in.
I for one regret buying the damn thing. Slowest piece of junk I've ever touched once you put a few things on it. Keyboard lags out like crazy so I have to type at turtle speed.
Unfortunately it was a joint purchase with my gf and it's either this or an iPad, so I'm boned.
The remote is pretty much a novelty at best - you have to look at it everytime you use it. I much prefer a one handed physically guided real remote even if I need 4.
I'm not about to go looking up the specs of your tab but I'm pretty certain it is a tegra 2 device (same cpu and gpu).
Also a big con - no gorilla glass. I had it wrapped in a tshirt and when I pulled it out of my bag and unwrapped it there were 2 little scratches on it so not happy.
After a couple weeks I really started to become very unhappy with the build quality. Creak, hollow cheap plastic sounds. Sometimes the screen makes funny hollow sounds when you press it too!
Obviously this is just my opinion on it and I realise plenty of people really like the device.
DreadPirateDan said:
Everyone is going to experience different tablets differently. So what you need to ask yourself is "Am I happy with my tablet?"
If the answer is yes then stop looking over the fence and enjoy what you have
If no, then perhaps you should indeed look at trading it in.
I for one regret buying the damn thing. Slowest piece of junk I've ever touched once you put a few things on it. Keyboard lags out like crazy so I have to type at turtle speed.
Unfortunately it was a joint purchase with my gf and it's either this or an iPad, so I'm boned.
The remote is pretty much a novelty at best - you have to look at it everytime you use it. I much prefer a one handed physically guided real remote even if I need 4.
I'm not about to go looking up the specs of your tab but I'm pretty certain it is a tegra 2 device (same cpu and gpu).
Also a big con - no gorilla glass. I had it wrapped in a tshirt and when I pulled it out of my bag and unwrapped it there were 2 little scratches on it so not happy.
After a couple weeks I really started to become very unhappy with the build quality. Creak, hollow cheap plastic sounds. Sometimes the screen makes funny hollow sounds when you press it too!
Obviously this is just my opinion on it and I realise plenty of people really like the device.
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Just for your problems Dan, I'd recommend taking it back. With that many problems, thats more than enough cause for a replacement device and my Tablet has none of the problems you mention. My Tablet can keep up with my iPad 2, no problems. The keyboard seems pretty speedy (but I mostly use SwiftKey, anyway), and the build quality on mine is flawless. Even after banging around in my bag for weeks, theres not even a sign of a scratch or a creak.
As for the original question, I absolutely love mine. I used to own a Samsung Galaxy Tab, then picked this up and I love it. I don't usually have the same problems as others since the SD card change doesnt overly fuss me (I use Astro, which deals with it just fine)
Ok thanks for the replys.
The tablet I have now is great I freaking love the damn thing, but ...
Like diddy64 said I know its true, because i have had all sony android phones and currently the arc s.
This phone has not best specs out there but for me it has the Sony WOW factor, when you hold than you feel it lays so good in your hand and the design is just amazing.
Is the tablet S the same under the tablet categorie as the Arc S is under the phone categorie ?
- does it feel good holding it in your hands ?
- when you see it you go WOW! ?
1. Sony display: Super deep blacks, video playback crisp and clean, it's far more color saturated than any other tablet. Period.
2. Remote control: TV, BluRay, DVD, 7.1, WD Live, etc. I can go from room to room and select multiple devices on the fly... yes, instantly. This means no matter where I am in the house, I can be the super-dude with the outrageous all-in-one remote. Hotel TV's? Set-up in a heartbeat. Also, there's no way you are going to misplace this baby! Fantastic.
3. Network playback: Audio and video is fast and clean. Whatever they did with the wifi update, the speed and range of the 300mbps n works supremely well now, excellent really. It's far better than any other tab... at any price. Try ES File Explorer with your network shares. The iPad sux, the ASUS is awful (say what, how could they screw that up?) Yeah, OK the Galaxy range is just about as good, but real world it tops at about 45mbps. The Sony is flat out far superior. Try it.
4. Sony PDF Reader: Superb, Kindle style side by side page layout, clean, crystal clear, even at low rez. I read lots of downloaded eMags: Travel, Design, Health, Tech, Science, Automotive, etc. The installed Sony reader is the best. Faster absorption with a straight forward left to right format. Rasterization and reflow are incredible. The Sony black on white saturation is a big part of it too. See it to believe it.
5. Size/Design: One handing with this one is crazy good. Holding in left, (i.e. Kindle or Skype) taking notes or holding mobile phone with right. Balanced feel is perfect, somebody did a lot of of fearless "new design ergo live-test" homework. Also, using 'Thumb Keyboard 4' is a breeze. Text and email is so much easier at this size point than with any other tablet, Samsung Galaxy included. I'm doing this reply on the S1, it's easy.
6. Sony DLNA: I can throw 'drag n drop' vids/tunes from the external SDcard to any/all the TVs, xBox's, audio devices (and soon to the car radio.) Scenario: S1 in cradle on bedroom dresser, with that nice Sony desk clock display running, Sony DLNA broadcasting in the background, seamlessly throwing vids to the TV? We don't need no stinking HDMI cables! Fun stuff.
OK, there are lots of little things to like with this tablet. Sorry to sound like a fanboy ad for Sony, but I shopped for the right tablet for a solid month then knew I was making the right decision with the S1. Now rooted, (ty ty djrbliss!) I am enjoying the S1 even more. Have had the thing for three months now, it just keeps getting better.
I've had my Tablet S for about 5 months now and use it daily. It's now surpassed my PC as my tool for web browsing, and I haven't even touched the browser on my phone in months.
If you're trying to decide what to do, I might suggest waiting type of improvements Sony will make with the ICS update. One feature that was mentioned is the ability to throw your tablet Screen to your TV (not just media like it currently does). I don't know how this feature works or if you can throw absolutely anything, but if that's the case then the tablets lack of HDMI would be more than forgiven. Who knows what else they'll be coming out with.
EDIT.
I should also mention I haven't had a single problem with defects in the craftsmanship of my tablet. I've dropped it several times on hardwood and tile floors, and not a single dent.
Also for those talking about scratches on the screen, please note that every single Tablet S comes with a helluva thick screen proector from the factory. The scratches you're seeing are on that, not the screen. The screen itself, once you remove the protector is surprisingly good, and handles fingerprints quite nicely when swiping. One of my friends with the Tablet S had the Sony screen protector on top of it (this is before we knew there was a factory protector) and the idiot managed to drop his tablet screen first onto the corner of a cinderblock. There was a hole straight through the Sony screen protector and we thought he had chipped his screen. Once we discovered and removed the factory protector, we found his screen was perfectly intact. This damned tablet can take a beating!
vivftp said:
I've had my Tablet S for about 5 months now and use it daily. It's now surpassed my PC as my tool for web browsing, and I haven't even touched the browser on my phone in months.
If you're trying to decide what to do, I might suggest waiting type of improvements Sony will make with the ICS update. One feature that was mentioned is the ability to throw your tablet Screen to your TV (not just media like it currently does). I don't know how this feature works or if you can throw absolutely anything, but if that's the case then the tablets lack of HDMI would be more than forgiven. Who knows what else they'll be coming out with.
EDIT.
I should also mention I haven't had a single problem with defects in the craftsmanship of my tablet. I've dropped it several times on hardwood and tile floors, and not a single dent.
Also for those talking about scratches on the screen, please note that every single Tablet S comes with a helluva thick screen proector from the factory. The scratches you're seeing are on that, not the screen. The screen itself, once you remove the protector is surprisingly good, and handles fingerprints quite nicely when swiping. One of my friends with the Tablet S had the Sony screen protector on top of it (this is before we knew there was a factory protector) and the idiot managed to drop his tablet screen first onto the corner of a cinderblock. There was a hole straight through the Sony screen protector and we thought he had chipped his screen. Once we discovered and removed the factory protector, we found his screen was perfectly intact. This damned tablet can take a beating!
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How did you remove the factory installed screenprotector? i tried it, but it looks like it's on there to stay. My se arc had a factory installed screenprotector to, and i was able to take it of.
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using xda premium
The factory screen protector does take a little work to remove. First things first you need to be able to pull up a corner of it, then it's just a matter of slowly tugging very hard. It's sticky, and we actually had 2 people work on it - 1 holding it and 1 tugging at the protector until we eventually got it off. Underneath the screen itself will be kinda sticky afterwards, but that was cleaned up pretty quickly. I was actually quite surprised how well the screen itself resisted fingerprints when compared to the factory protector and the Sony protector.
What the? I'v never seen any evidence of a screen protector on mine :S.. this is most interesting. I'll suss it out when I get home, if it has one then this is the best news i've heard in ages .
But not to get my hopes up too much... it does feel very much like scratched glass when you touch it with a finger nail, not scratched plastic
Why is it that you're thinking of moving over to the Tablet S?
I'd say that both are great devices...but one isn't a big enough upgrade from the other.
My guess is that you're like me and just like getting NEW stuff lol. You should force yourself to wait and buy a tegra 3 device. Even wait and get the next sony one with tegra 3 or stick with ASUS or whatever lol. I don't think it's too good an idea to move between the tegra 2 tablets right now. You'll just be finding sinilar pros and cons between all of them.
I didn't realize it either. Hell, I've owned my Xperia X10a for about a year and it took that long (and applying a third party screen protector) to realize Sony had put one on from the factory!
When you look at your tablet, look at the bottom corners holding it in landscape mode. You'll see the edges of the screen protector the easiest down there. My friend who removed his protector still hasn't put another one on and his screen doesn't have a single scratch - this is now about 1 month since we removed it. If you are intent upon removing it, it does take a bit of work but it will eventually come off if you go nice and slowly.
If you really only have a couple of scratches on it though, I suggest leaving it on. It is quite a thick piece of plastic and actually provides some great protection for the screen. If you're planning on putting another one on though, then go for it.
The Transformer is too heavy especially when connected to the keyboard dock.
I also like the blinking light (next to the On/Off key) when there are incoming emails.
vivftp said:
The factory screen protector does take a little work to remove. First things first you need to be able to pull up a corner of it, then it's just a matter of slowly tugging very hard. It's sticky, and we actually had 2 people work on it - 1 holding it and 1 tugging at the protector until we eventually got it off. Underneath the screen itself will be kinda sticky afterwards, but that was cleaned up pretty quickly. I was actually quite surprised how well the screen itself resisted fingerprints when compared to the factory protector and the Sony protector.
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Click to collapse
I finally got the screenprotector from the tablet it's much better this way, just like my arc, with less dust and fingerprints. (My arc is a year old and almost since the beginning without the screenprotector and has no scratches) thanx!
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using xda premium
Well I just like sony better but my asus is a good tablet.
and yes I like having new stuff
I've had an offer to trade my tablet for a new tablet S, one on one no extra price
He guys just wanted to let you know I joined the club, tablet s owner reporting in
depulle87 said:
He guys just wanted to let you know I joined the club, tablet s owner reporting in
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Good choice mate, sony s is a great tablet, very portablet, not to big, not to small!!
And the Sony S style is perfect to hold for long time
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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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
So I am looking to replace my Ipad. I have been looking at the new Toshiba excite pro with the Tegra 4 CPU.
But I have come back to this Sony Tablet a few times. How do you guys like it? Does it feel snappy? Good quality?
Any negatives? Since it is water resistent, does it make it harder to use the headphone jack, charger jack, etc?
Has it been out long enough that it is considered old technology now? Should I wait?
Mine is not the international version, but the Japanese SO-03E model. Its innards are definitely a little outdated because of the Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 instead of the Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T, but it'll hold its own against almost all current generation devices (in fact it's the fastest standalone tablet I can think of until the Tegra 4 devices hit, since I don't know of any Snapdragon 600 tablets).
It's fast and smooth, but there are occasional hiccups on Sony's launcher and Socialife is noticeably blippy. These are both problems that can be easily circumvented with third party apps. I haven't yet to find quality concerns with my Japanese model, but out here on xda there have been various complaints that include bad waterproofing flaps. It definitely makes you not want to use the flaps often, since although they seem quality enough they don't entirely seem strictly durable.
It's not really old tech yet, but if you want the absolutely fastest chipsets, you have to look elsewhere. The tablet's sheer thinness comes at the expense of battery capacity and while I find the XPERIA Tablet Z has impressive battery efficiency, it has only middling run time due to the low capacity of the battery (6,000mAh) - about 6 or 7h or heavy use on middling brightness.
Hi,
It is my first tablet so my opinion is not biased by other devices. I find XTZ pretty awesome but not perfect.
First of all - the design is amazing. Slim, light and simply beautiful. But unfortunately I find it quite fragile because of that. Sometimes when holding by the edge it triggers touch screen starting stuff like settings or switching screens. It doesn't happen often but still...
Screen is awesome, bright natural colors. It is state of art and maybe not the highest resolution on the market but really more than enough. Only minus is that it is fingerprint magnet. I had few phones before and nothing attract fingerprints more than XTZ or XZ.
Bravia Engine is doing a great job and I just love to watch movies on XTZ especially that is so light that you can do it on the plane or in the bus and don't have to worry that your hand will hurt from holding it.
Overaly it is smooth device but lags sometimes during web browsing(on 30Mbits connection) which is a bit odd.
Using flaps is not problematic but can be sometimes difficult(if you are using Krusell case for it or your hands are big as loaf of bread)
If it comes to technology I've got simple answer for you. Whatever you buy it is already old If you understand that, you will not be dissapointed that your tablet is not the fastest and there is one that scores more on some benchmark
If it comes to battery life I find it very good(based on the small capacity) It last 8 hours on screen time if you browse some web and watch some movies. Probably could last longer if you just play movies as it is using more batt when surfing.
As a conclusion I want to say that I love it regardless of clicking sound of the back cover or constant need of cleaning screen form fingerprints and a few other things that could be better.
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Premium HD app
I found the North American version (32GB Wifi) to be a complete disappointment especially quality-wise:
- the backing was not stuck on properly — probably a defect, but not an unexpected one when double-sided tape is used
- the screen visibly flexed and activated the touch sensor when I pressed on the back
- erratically sensitive screen — perhaps due to tacky feel of anti-shatter film
- diagonal lines on the screen
- shadow along the bottom edge
- the Sony Android build broke Firefox Sync
I suspect the slim design of the tablet made it more prone to those defects. Needless to say, I returned it after a week.
I actually have my eye on the Toshiba Excite Write and it will definitely be the next one I try — the Xperia was for me the 5th in a run of defective tablets from various manufacturers. The decidedly unsexy design of the Excite probably means it's less defect-prone, the OS is as close as you'll get to stock Jelly Bean without a Nexus and Toshiba has promised Key Lime Pie, and finally that Wacom digitizer means it'll be great for handwritten note-taking which is exactly what I need it for. The insane rez screen, Gorilla 2 glass and the Tegra 4 are just icing on the cake for the same price as the Xperia.
the overly sensitive touch screen is due to a software issue, which was corrected in the most recent update, as for all the defects it just sounds like you got the lemon of the bunch ive had mine a couple months and not experienced any of the issues you've described. i love my XTZ i have the SGP311 16GB Wifi only version, its light, slim, super fast (coming from a cube u30gt lol) and im happy with it.
sorry to hear you had such a bad experience though
Yes, mine also has none of the aforementioned problems or defects.
Love it, works really fine.
Only thing is that one has to customize it a bit before it runs optimally (replace pre-installed laggy apps with 3rd party ones, rooting and disabling certain resource hogs etc.).
This of course is not how it should be; the out-of-the-box experience should be flawless on a high end device.
Pros: the looks, waterproofing, awesome gaming with playstation certified, stamina mode, high res screen, IR sensor(unique to this tablet), 4.2.2 update is due for the tablet in a few weeks.
cons: timescape UI is laggy and Since it is slim, you can feel the heat from the processor...
vjawsm said:
Pros: the looks, waterproofing, awesome gaming with playstation certified, stamina mode, high res screen, IR sensor(unique to this tablet), 4.2.2 update is due for the tablet in a few weeks.
cons: timescape UI is laggy and Since it is slim, you can feel the heat from the processor...
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What is the timescape UI?
acdcking12345 said:
What is the timescape UI?
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Timescape was the official name for Sony's skin (just like how HTC calls their Android version Sense or Samsung names theirs TouchWhiz), but it seems they've dropped that name. The XPERIA launcher is occasionally laggy but systems apps such as Settings, Messaging, etc. all run flawlessly.
My unit has fairly flawless build quality as far as I'm concerned - buttons are slightly mushy, but that's not uncommon. Rigidity is impressive, but slight flex is possible with significant pressure (something you shouldn't be applying to any device in the first place). But what gets me is just how nice the materials feel, especially the grippy plastic back.
salanos said:
Timescape was the official name for Sony's skin (just like how HTC calls their Android version Sense or Samsung names theirs TouchWhiz), but it seems they've dropped that name. The XPERIA launcher is occasionally laggy but systems apps such as Settings, Messaging, etc. all run flawlessly.
My unit has fairly flawless build quality as far as I'm concerned - buttons are slightly mushy, but that's not uncommon. Rigidity is impressive, but slight flex is possible with significant pressure (something you shouldn't be applying to any device in the first place). But what gets me is just how nice the materials feel, especially the grippy plastic back.
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Click to collapse
I went ahead and ordered one. Will have it tomorrow. I hope it is easy to root, etc. As well as to flashing new ROMS on it. I shall see, I guess
acdcking12345 said:
I went ahead and ordered one. Will have it tomorrow. I hope it is easy to root, etc. As well as to flashing new ROMS on it. I shall see, I guess
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Click to collapse
If you ordered the Japanese SO-03E, there is a simple just-run-this tool available for it. If not, there are rooting methods discusse here at xda for older versions of international XPERIA Z tablets' firmware.
salanos said:
If you ordered the Japanese SO-03E, there is a simple just-run-this tool available for it. If not, there are rooting methods discusse here at xda for older versions of international XPERIA Z tablets' firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know there was an international option. I just ordered it from a US company, so I figure it isn't.
Ill have to see what firmware it is running when I get it today.
acdcking12345 said:
So I am looking to replace my Ipad. I have been looking at the new Toshiba excite pro with the Tegra 4 CPU.
But I have come back to this Sony Tablet a few times. How do you guys like it? Does it feel snappy? Good quality?
Any negatives? Since it is water resistent, does it make it harder to use the headphone jack, charger jack, etc?
Has it been out long enough that it is considered old technology now? Should I wait?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have mine for 2 months now and apart from battery taking really too long to fully recharge (6 hours) I can't complain about this tablet. Everything works as it should. I totally recommend it!
What do you guys think? They cost about equal, is the smaller screen worth the extra over clock and Slightly better pixel density? Especially now that 4.4.4 rolled out for the Z2's. Im a fan over the larger screen but the bezels are quite large as well Im *KINDA* leaning towards the z2 though as I can find them cheaper used. Anyone have some helpful insights?
I am actually quite happy about the big bezel. It may look a little bit oldschool, but you can hold the tablet comfortably in any position without touching the screen accidently.
Don't let the pixel density be the deciding factor.
Not once in the last 8 months had i wished for better screen resolution...
I am getting the Z3 Tablet LTE when it comes out in my region. It will become my phone and tablet in one, replacing my Z1 compact and Z2 tablet.
It will fit nicely in my jacket pocket and would mean that i don't have to carry a bag for winter season.
I would not hesitate to buy a Z2. I sold my Note 2014 (10.1) for this tablet. It is fantastic.
jewelkobayashi said:
Don't let the pixel density be the deciding factor.
Not once in the last 8 months had i wished for better screen resolution...
I am getting the Z3 Tablet LTE when it comes out in my region. It will become my phone and tablet in one, replacing my Z1 compact and Z2 tablet.
It will fit nicely in my jacket pocket and would mean that i don't have to carry a bag for winter season.
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I have the Z3 Phone already so im thinking, will the xtra 3 inches be much different? Im going to be using the tab mainly for school, taking notes in one note/evernote and I also get all my books digitally so Im thinking the 10 inches will be more beneficial.
pintness said:
I am actually quite happy about the big bezel. It may look a little bit oldschool, but you can hold the tablet comfortably in any position without touching the screen accidently.
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I feel the bezel is a plus. After having it for some time now its proven to be more practical and functional. It's still sexy and fun to hold.... So I agree with pintness!
mrgizmoe said:
I have the Z3 Phone already so im thinking, will the xtra 3 inches be much different? Im going to be using the tab mainly for school, taking notes in one note/evernote and I also get all my books digitally so Im thinking the 10 inches will be more beneficial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another great point. I have a note 3. 7-8 is not really a step up. I had to get the ten. The screen real Estate is so worth it. I bought the keyboard case for thirty bucks.... I am very happy with the size and functionality :good:
My Nexus 7 has just died and I am asking myself the same question. Z3 tablet of the larger Z2.
I have a Z2 phone which I really love, and really appreciate the Sony styling. My main use for it will be web browsing and for watching media on it when I travel. I would be interested to know if anyone else has had this dilemma!
I've got the z2 phone and the z2 tab and love them both...
am also looking at the z3 compact tab too "for my partner to replace her old ipad mini" as she's always using my z2 tab.
It does look pretty good....still thinking about getting one...mmm
don't forget to look at the thread see what z3 compact tab owners think..http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-tablet-compact
Same boat here. Had a Nexus 9 but got rid because of lightbleed issues. Currently mulling over a Z2 Tablet or Z3 Tablet Compact, as these seem to have the best balance of design/features and the Sony UI isn't too far from AOSP. Sony's developer support is also strong.
The Z2 is larger so is preferable, and Root/ROMs seem plentiful. However have read about touchscreen issues - have they been resolved via firmware update or is the concensus that there is still an issue with touchscreen responsiveness with the Z2 Tablet?
The Z3 Tablet Compact is faster/newer smaller, but at the moment lacks ROM support, though root seems to have been found. Haven't seen any reported touchscreen issues and no complaints over light bleed either.
I'd love a tablet with AMOLED but can't stand Samsung/TouchWiz firmware so whilst I was initially interested in the Galaxy Tab S (8.4/10.5) the lack of custom ROMs on Exynos continues to be a major concern for me.
Choices
I have had an original Galaxy Tab 10.1, a Nexus 7 2012, a Galaxy Note 8 (still have), and now the Z2 Tablet. I too debated between Z3 Compact and Z2. For note taking, nothing beats the S-Pen; I couldn't stand TouchWiz and replaced that with CM11, and I will keep the Note 8 because it's at least somewhat pocketable and because of the pen. But I love my Z2 phone enough that I wanted a Sony tablet - partly for waterproofness (I do a lot of boating). The note 8 is a bit small for reading technical documents on - works ok as a Kindle reader where you can reflow the text, but shrinking a full page to fit isn't as good. I got the Z2 tab in part because of this and in part because I just like the bigger screen for videos. I have had it about a month, and so far I've been happy with it. It would be nice if it were a bit more pocket sized but then I'd give up the features I like most so I suppose I can't complain. So far no problems with touch, display or battery life, all are fine; I have no regrets. I'm using with the T-mobile add-on tablet plan - $10/month for 5G of LTE, which is more than enough since I'm usually in range of wifi.
Hi all.
When this device was launched it was my dream device, but that's more than a year ago. I've been running with the XZU for some time, and am seriously considering making the jump to the Z3TC. As far as I can tell, there's no stronger actor in the same segment in today's market when I consider manufacturer, software, guarantees etc - even the dev scene has some small manner of activity.
After seeing that there was no Z5 Ultra at IFA, I think I need to get this device - but I'd like to hear from users and others if there's any reason not to get it at this point (q3 2015)?
I'll be using this as my main driver, meaning also as a phone. I know the latest Huawei MediaPad can do some of what this tab can, and I'm hearing the nes Sammy tab can make phones too. But Sony's waterproofing and form factor has got me hooked, what say you xda?
Most used tablet I have ever owned. LTE did it for me. No more hunting Wifi.
And I agree about the form factor. Battery life rocks too.
I've been a phablet user since the Note. I moved to the Nexus 6 earlier this year and in August traded it for the Z3TC.
My main use is reading and watching videos. I don't take a lot of pictures or make/receive phone calls. With the N6 and other smartphones there was still too much scrolling around webpages. So it was the right time to make the jump to a small and light tablet which could be carried around all day without worrying about battery life.
I tried the Tab S 8.4 earlier in the year (before the lollipop release) and returned it. The Chrome browser was too laggy, I didn't try or want to use another browser. I was a bit worried about the performance coming from a Nexus 6 but so far have been amazed at how smooth everything is. I'll be holding on to mine for a long time.
I had a Z3 last year and I missed the magnetic charging connector, now I have it back on the tablet. I can use it in a dock beside the bed and at work and with magnetic adapters in the car.
The display isn't as good as the Tab S amoled display, noticeable when watching videos in a dark room. But it feels a lot better in the hand and I prefer the on screen buttons and placement of the speakers.
I just bought mine a week ago. after 8 years of iPhone!!
It's a great size and really good looking!
If you plan to put a custom rom on it you should be careful! My camera does not focus with CM12.1/crDroid.
the sony software sucks but what can you do?.. hehe
It's still a great device and it is my only device now. It's not a real phone though but it works. Headset is recommended
Thanks for the answers, folks!
I dived in and bought myself one too. Have to upgrade my dataplan as soon as it arrives. I couldn't wait until march for the Z5 Ultra which is somewhere down the pipeline. A bit nervous about the rooting process but overall super excited.
I'm thinking about taking the plunge on this too. My second gen Nexus 7 is really starting to show it's age, but I love the seven inch form factor. What I don't understand is all the different variants of this device. I live in Asia, and probably won't get the 4G model, but do want root. My big question is I would like a travel case like my Nexae had...silicone with overleaf cover. It is my sofa device, so only leaves home when I travel. I hate those sloppy covers like everyone has on their iPads with a few cheap elastics in the corners...ugly, heavy, and just bad design. Does anyone do anything like this that for thiis for this device?
https://www.asus.com/Tablet-Accessory/Nexus_7_Travel_Cover