Android Viewsonic PDA or I Pad 2 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Lawsen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2011, 06:12:55 am
content: I like my X41 tablet PC and I like my Windows XP tablet edition. I do not care much about the I Pad 2, though my friend at UC Berkeley loves her I Pad 2. I did not like the non users battery changeable. I like the lighter weight in the I Pad 2 like the Kindle or Nook. I do not care about the Periodic, The Element. The software is download able and inexpensive. Hewlett-Packard offers an HP-11C emulator for the I Pod Touch or I Pad 1 or I Pad 2. These are not PC, but it can do a lot of roles of a traditional PC. I have not tried the Android Viewsonic Tablet.Lawsen

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2011, 11:50:24 am
content: I think the tablet issue is too new, with iPad having the momentum. I would wait 1-2 years until the market stabilizes from the Android market, currently other tablets cost as low as $150-200, and yes, user replaceable batteries. Given an early adopter can cut the size of their already thin Macbook or netbook by a half, so long as they don't store much data, don't use niche software, or do a lot of data entry, is prime incentive to get a Pad. Any PC netbook for ~$US200 today, Acer One, has at least 160G of storage and is compatible with external terabyte drives. Plus, it runs many custom EE software that is unlikely to be ported soon, and has 8+ hr battery life while on the net, and ~2x that if used passively for reading files. The drive is not tolerant of shock, so its at risk for a failure if during drive access the machine is dropped hard, such as if you're reading something and it falls off a table, not so on flashdrive driven Pads.

author: the_raptor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2011, 11:37:43 pm
content: ATM there aren't many positive reviews for Android tablets when compared to the iPad. They are just too new and the interface hasn't been adapted well to the tablet form yet.Personally I would ask why you need a tablet. I have a (massively over sized) Android phone, the HTC Desire HD, and I can't really think of anything that is out there right now that would make a tablet better then the phone*. If you really feel you need a tablet I would recommend waiting until at least the end of the year when more Android tablets with properly optimised interfaces will be out.* If I want to watch a decent quality movie, do hard core web browsing etc I will just use my desktop PC and its two 21" monitors and proper speakers.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2011, 11:03:41 am
content: Surprisingly, the people I see who iPad are:Folks who prefer to read the bigger iPad screen than the small phone screen for web surfingA more flexible, larger and color based replacement for a Kindle readerQuote from: the_raptor on May 15, 2011, 11:37:43 pm

author: the_raptor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2011, 11:56:43 am
content: Quote from: saturation on May 16, 2011, 11:03:41 amiPad to my desktop is a Z-80 to a Cray even when it comes to web surfing. Of course when I spend serious amounts of time web surfing it is mostly to places where I want to leave comments (and I touch type at a decent rate so touch screens aren't a replacement). And going from eInk to LCD for an eReader is in "I don't even..." territory.I could see buying an iPad IF I only had a crappy laptop (*coughmacbookcough*), and didn't have a smart phone or had a very bad one. Other then that it is a fashion buy and people just need to be honest with themselves.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2011, 01:31:14 pm
content: I've been spoiled by the user interface of WebOS. Using iOS on an iPodTouch or iPad makes me want to throw it against the wall. Beyond that, I have serious problems with not being able to do things I want on Apple devices, because it isn't blessed by Jobs. (All bow down to the supreme leader.)WebOS is the most elegant of mobile OSes and the most openly modifiable (yes, more than Android by far). The HP Touchpad is coming out this summer. Android is the next in elegance and usability, with iOS following third, with its multi-time pausing (they call it multitasking).The iPad is really the best of show currently. In a while, that won't be true. I hope others can get past the inertia.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2011, 05:18:48 pm
content: My big concern is software. Having started with command lines in UNIX and DOS ages ago,GUi make a lot easier but its moot if it can't run what I had on the old system and each time we move to a new OS, all the apps have to be rewritten or an equivalent found.

author: jasonh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2011, 12:53:35 am
content: I have an ipad, I dont have any android devices. It gets used mostly as a reader, I have a lot of my reference material on it and my wife has all of her books.I was amazed at how easy it is for kids to use these devices, even just going on two years of age and there is a ton of educational software for the young ages.It's found uses for all sorts of things like being a touchscreen controller for a digital train set to showing off pictures of my work and plans etc.Raptor, I like many people have found it an excellent tool for home, hobby and professional work. To say that it's just a fashion statement is a little silly right? I wont argue whether it poses great value to you but blanket statements like yours don't often help people asking questions.