[Huawei MediaPad M5  Questions & Answers] B2WJ:
Acer Chromebook Tab 10 vs. Huawei M5?

Hey DopeFish1337, did you make your decision yet? Yours is such an important consideration given Google's rather obvious direction toward Chrome OS for everything other than smartphones that likely will remain Android's sole domain. That trend alone arguably makes not purchasing an Android tablet a "no brainer." You've gotten some good inputs so far. I am wrestling with the same decision, in my case pitting ACER's 2017 Hexa-core 2.10 GHz Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A50-K4K4) against the Acer Chromebook Tab 10. Personally I would not purchase a Huawei product, a prejudice borne out by very negative customer reviews.

Like you, I'm highly impressed and in my case just about sold on the Chrome OS guaranteed update for 6.5 years. My prejudice toward Huawei not withstanding, it's been well documented that all Android device manufacturers are lousy at best and worthless at worst for releasing Android updates. In nearly five years with my first tablet, a 2012, 10.5 inch ACER Iconia, the manufacturer released only one Android update, which was fine except for the fact it left some of the apps showing their age, i.e., becoming somewhat "jittery." And my 2015 ACER Liquid Z smartphone has not received a single Android update and at this point certainly never will.

Just telling you this pushes me ever closer to choosing the Chrome OS tablet. And that's before even considering the Google Play Store's addition of Android applications for Chrome OS. However, recent Chromebook user feedback reports compatibility issues with some of those "apps." I don't particularly see problems with Android apps as a deal-breaker, but may see one with the fact the ACER Chromebook Tab 10 has a

non-removable

battery. Then again, other than my first mobile phone, a 2005 Nokia, I've never come close to wearing out a battery. I didn't even notice battery degradation after five years with my first ACER laptop and nearly five with the aforementioned ACER Android tablet. So I can probably live with the non-removable battery feature -- though am not exactly thrilled over it.

As you're likely aware, the ACER Chromebook Tab 10 is not yet available for purchase and according to CNET will not be until May. Though some ACER resellers are taking pre-orders. That delay in getting my hands on one helps me think this through a little further. But seemingly the only thing left to weigh is price: $329 retail for the Chromebook Tab versus $299 retail for the Iconia Tab 10. However, resellers are offering the Iconia Tab 10 for as little as $259, and I fully expect steeper markdowns with the already accelerating move toward Chrome OS tablets. That said, the only reason I might choose the Iconia is because I plan to move to Linux in a big way as soon as possible. So my last bit of research will involve which if either of the two devices under consideration might be capable of running Linux in the future, i.e., when Google support ceases. Chromebook laptops can run Linux in tandem with Chrome OS. But not being a laptop, ACER's Chrome OS tablet uses an ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) processor just like the Iconia. And from what I understand it is very difficult if not impossible to run Linux on an ARM processor.

Finally, with regard to the screen aspect ratio comments, an Internet commenter wrote, "I was all set to see if Amazon et al had a listing for this [ACER Chromebook Tab 10 ] thing so I could grab one when it came out. Then I noticed the screen aspect ratio. Square screen = no sale. Too bad, otherwise looks like a great device." Personally I don't even see what the commenter's talking about, though I would prefer my old screen size of 10.1 inches.

Best wishes,

Bill