[HTC Flyer, EVO View 4G] jwiskowski:
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