Stumped on which tablet to get...

[XtremeModder]

Alright, I basically want to get a tablet because I don't have a need for the power of my macbook pro (I do have a much more powerful custom built pc which I prefer, I just don't really like the Mac OSX (am I the only one lol?))

Anyways, my budget is about $300-$600. I plan to sell this macbook pro (purchased april 2011) once I get a tablet.

I don't need brand new but much prefer it. I used to have an android phone and I really did not like android but that was back then on an HTC Magic, I'm sure its a much nicer and smoother OS now than it used to be back then (slow and buggy)

I've looked at the motorola xoom and thats about it, I have an iphone4 and don't really want to get another apple device due to the ridiculous pricing they use...


Have you purchased a tablet? What do you like/not like about it, minimum size I'd like is 32GB...

Which ones have expandable memory, camera isn't a huge deal but I'd like at least 5MP...

What about the ones that run windows like the eee slate. are they worth it over the android os?


A little off topic, but is the rooting of an android device pretty much like jail breaking? I will search google for this answer I'm just being lazy right now


Lastly, and more importantly, is it worth waiting for the quad-core tablets coming next year? I'm not in an insane rush to get a tablet now but I really do want one. Just paid off all of my debt (except the tv which I have the $ for I'm just waiting for the due date of april 2012 to pay it since theres no interest )

Note: I have enough RBC points to get $200 in gift cards for FS as well so -200 from the cost of the tablet

BTW: 3G/4G connectivity is not important to me, I can just use the data via wifi hotspot through the iphone4 i'm guessing.

[gnuman]

What are you going to use the tablet for? You didn't indicate what exactly. There's another thread in this section about the tablets and quite a few preferred the playbook to do actual work on compared to the iPad.

You have to give more info on your uses. The slate is different beast and runs a full version of Windows on PC style hardware bundled into a touchscreen.

[XtremeModder]

My mistake, this is what happens when you don't go to sleep after a 12 hours midnight shift...

The tablet will be used for entertainment purposes and not work at all, however I will be starting up my car detailing stuff again in the spring and this could be a way to show potential customers my work instead of on a tiny phone screen where there isn't as much detail shown due to the size.

Other than that, entertainment, streaming from my pc to my bedroom when I just want to chill out and not sit in front of the 3Dtv, or when in the backyard, etc.

[JamesA1]

I have the HP TouchPad, and for the low firesale price it was a good deal. It even has some advantages over the iPad. But all those iPad buyers aren't wrong - in the $500 range the iPad is definitely the #1 choice. It's thinner, lighter, faster, more responsive, and has way more apps and way more universal compatibility. When you buy a WiFi iPad you aren't signing up to any of the crazy phone pricing plans, so it's a straightforward product comparison with the Android and Blackberry competition.

[gnuman]

Probably you'd be best with a Android tablet. Still not too many playbook apps for what you want to use it for. The Asus Transformer will come with an extra SD slot when hooked up to the keyboard but the second version of the Transformer should be not too far away.

Don't go with an iPad you'll be locked into a specific format and I'm sure you don't want to spend your time converting everything you have to the evil overlord's file format and not be able to use flash.

[frogger]

If you decide on Android, definitely worth the wait for the quad core models with better GPU's.

[XtremeModder]

If you decide on Android, definitely worth the wait for the quad core models with better GPU's.

What is the projected price on the Transformer2? I'm willing to wait since I just read it should be a month or less until its out...

[greenmoon]

Don't go with an iPad you'll be locked into a specific format and I'm sure you don't want to spend your time converting everything you have to the evil overlord's file format and not be able to use flash.

What the hell are you talking about? What file formats?

I'd say if you do not plan on jailbreaking/rooting your device, an iPad might be a better choice. Depends how much time your want to spend getting entertained and how much time you want to spend f*cking around with it. My main concern would be the software updates - Apple's devices have been steadily given the latest OS updates 3 years after hardware release, with Android it's a lot more hit and miss, you might get outdated much sooner, unless you root it.

[XtremeModder]

What the hell are you talking about? What file formats?

I'd say if you do not plan on jailbreaking/rooting your device, an iPad might be a better choice. Depends how much time your want to spend getting entertained and how much time you want to spend f*cking around with it. My main concern would be the software updates - Apple's devices have been steadily given the latest OS updates 3 years after hardware release, with Android it's a lot more hit and miss, you might get outdated much sooner, unless you root it.

Is rooting generally the same as jail breaking where you can get many apps for "free". Not that I condone piracy or anything. Or is it mainly for overclocking and tweaking the tablet a bit?

[gnuman]

Rooting allows you upgrade the version of Android you are running which isn't supported on the device amongst many other things but going on a jailbreak/rooting, you have to jailbreak an iPad/iPhone to get it to do more of what you want.

iPad/iPod/iPhone video has to be in Apple's supported format which means converting video. Heck I can play any file format on my playbook without any fuss, although AC3 audio doesn't work currently.

[Coz4k]

You should definitely get a blackberry Playbook. Amazing piece of art. The Os is simply amazing and powerful and will get updated in the next week. For 499$$ it is THE best thing you can get. The 7inches screen is pretty big and colorful.

[Converged]

Personally, I would suggest the current Asus Transformer Eee or the one being released soon (quad core!) Transformer Prime. I have also used the Playbook a lot and I actually do like it quite a bit, but general consensus here does not agree lol. I would avoid the iPad2 personally. Great marketing but subpar performance compared to other available tablets. Thats just my opinion though. Hope I didn't offend any sensitive Apple users lol.

[Nikhilvoid]

Personally, I would suggest the current Asus Transformer Eee or the one being released soon (quad core!) Transformer Prime. I have also used the Playbook a lot and I actually do like it quite a bit, but general consensus here does not agree lol. I would avoid the iPad2 personally. Great marketing but subpar performance compared to other available tablets. Thats just my opinion though. Hope I didn't offend any sensitive Apple users lol.

This is really bad advice.


You should get the ipad 2 for now. The apps and the ecosystem are nice and etc. But what is really nice is that the price drop when reselling is much, much lower. The brand-new transformer has been offered at hundreds of dollars less than its original asking price. An ipad 2 should hold its ground pricing-wise much better than the transformer (at least till the ipad 3 comes out in Q2-Q3 next year).

I hope to switch over to either a Windows 8 tablet or the second-gen transformer but I am not jumping over before the reviews are in.

The only point to a 5/4-core tablet would be to future-proof your investment. You will probably have to wait sometime for "real"/non-demo apps to able to utilize all cores. You'd probably be able to overclock the cores too.

I would get the i5 core refurb. tablet that Futureshop is offering for 600 but its present utility is limited by the fact that Windows 7 isn't the best touch-OS. But I am guessing you could install Windows 8 on it later.


If you plan on staying somewhat up-to-date with technology, you should always see yourself as on a payment plan. Lower-spec'd Apple products (for now) are in the sweet spot of reasonable down-payment while having a nice, low depreciation rate.

[junot111]

You can probably narrow your search down to the iPad and the Transformer, and from that point it's a matter of iOS vs Android

personally I'm looking forward to the release of the Transformer Prime, and if the reception is good I'll try to get a good deal for it during boxing week

[XtremeModder]

This is really bad advice.


You should get the ipad 2 for now. The apps and the ecosystem are nice and etc. But what is really nice is that the price drop when reselling is much, much lower. The brand-new transformer has been offered at hundreds of dollars less than its original asking price. An ipad 2 should hold its ground pricing-wise much better than the transformer (at least till the ipad 3 comes out in Q2-Q3 next year).

I hope to switch over to either a Windows 8 tablet or the second-gen transformer but I am not jumping over before the reviews are in.

The only point to a 5/4-core tablet would be to future-proof your investment. You will probably have to wait sometime for "real"/non-demo apps to able to utilize all cores. You'd probably be able to overclock the cores too.

I would get the i5 core refurb. tablet that Futureshop is offering for 600 but its present utility is limited by the fact that Windows 7 isn't the best touch-OS. But I am guessing you could install Windows 8 on it later.


If you plan on staying somewhat up-to-date with technology, you should always see yourself as on a payment plan. Lower-spec'd Apple products (for now) are in the sweet spot of reasonable down-payment while having a nice, low depreciation rate.

This is the other thing, I am not sure if I am going to go with an android tablet or a windows 7/8 tablet (would definitely install 8 on it obviously when possible). As for programs not utilizing all 4/5 cores, like you said, I'd get it as a future proof for my investment, its a decent chunk of $ for a portable computer, why not wait since those new ones are pretty much just around the corner right...

You can probably narrow your search down to the iPad and the Transformer, and from that point it's a matter of iOS vs Android

personally I'm looking forward to the release of the Transformer Prime, and if the reception is good I'll try to get a good deal for it during boxing week

Like I said, I have an iphone4 and although I do like iOS5 (jailbroken as well ), I want to sway away from apple products a little bit, I used to have a iPad (1st gen) 64gb but I returned it a few days later as I didn't like it, then again, that was when it first came out so theres much more support and apps for it now obviously...