Computer But Not Audio: Google Nexus 7 OR SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab 2 GT-P3110 7.0 Tablet?

[Alec]

The Samsung has a rear camera which I would hardly use, if ever, and it has 8 gig less than the 16gig version of the Nexus, for the same price. But it does have flashplayer, which I think means it does the likes of iplayer out of the box(?), which the Google/Asus does not (though I believe it can be tweaked to do so). The Google also does not do landscape view but, again, even though I'm patchy on the details to say the least, I think there is a tweak out there.

A netbook would solve all these problems, I think, and have more HDD space, but I want something even more compact and manageable, so will just look at tablets for now. A netbook may come in future.

I must admit I was just thinking about the Google originally, and I found a comparison on some site and realized I don't really know how different tablets compare. That said, I'm open to other suggestions, and would pay more than 200 with a compelling reason. I gather the Asus Transformer is rather heavy, and £450 is steep if there is no great reaosn to go for it...but is there...?

I pretty much just want a convenient way of surfing away from my desktop, but there may be things I have'nt thought of.

Anyone made a similar decision recently?

 

[bigboss]

1) Although Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 has only 8GB internal memory, it has a microSD slot that can accept upto 32GB cards. You can have multiple microSD cards if you like. The Nexus does not have a microSD slot.

2) You can download the BBC iplayer app from Google Play store. So iPlayer will play in all tablets.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bbc.iplayer.android&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDMsImJiYy5pcGxheWVyLmFuZHJvaWQiXQ..

3) Yes, there is a tweak for landscape mode:

http://www.redmondpie.com/force-landscape-orientation-in-apps-and-home-screen-launcher-on-nexus-7-with-ultimate-rotation-control/

4) A netbook is actually the past, & not the future.

5) The Asus Transformer is actually the best Android tablet out there currently. Go to your local Currys & check it out. I don't think it's heavy at all.

6) You may wish to wait until the end of the year, as more tablets are coming like the iPad mini (7 inches) & Windows 8 tablets like the Surface:

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

More choice would mean fierce competition offering best value tablets with more features.

 

[cheeseboy]

if you're looking to buy a tablet right now for around 200 sheets, the goolge nexus is the hands down winner. Fantastic spec (better than current iPad3 apart from screen resolution) and great support.

 

[bigboss]

if you're looking to buy a tablet right now for around 200 sheets, the goolge nexus is the hands down winner. Fantastic spec (better than current iPad3 apart from screen resolution) and great support.

For me, lack of microSD slot is the deal breaker. 16GB fills up very quickly. My 32GB iPad is almost full. It's better to wait a bit for others to come up with 7-inch tablets.

 

[cheeseboy]

if you're looking to buy a tablet right now for around 200 sheets, the goolge nexus is the hands down winner. Fantastic spec (better than current iPad3 apart from screen resolution) and great support.

For me, lack of microSD slot is the deal breaker. 16GB fills up very quickly. My 32GB iPad is almost full. It's better to wait a bit for others to come up with 7-inch tablets.

wouldn't have said it's better by any stretch of the imagination. the nexus is getting fantastic reviews across the board.

Anyhoo on the one hand you say lack of micro usb support is a deal breaker, yet you own an iPad :doh:

As for external storage on the nexus 7 - it's possible - http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/21/ultimate-hack-nexus-7-hooks-up-with-external-usb-storage-flopp/

 

[bigboss]

if you're looking to buy a tablet right now for around 200 sheets, the goolge nexus is the hands down winner. Fantastic spec (better than current iPad3 apart from screen resolution) and great support.

For me, lack of microSD slot is the deal breaker. 16GB fills up very quickly. My 32GB iPad is almost full. It's better to wait a bit for others to come up with 7-inch tablets.

wouldn't have said it's better by any stretch of the imagination. the nexus is getting fantastic reviews across the board.

Anyhoo on the one hand you say lack of micro usb support is a deal breaker, yet you own an iPad :doh:

As for external storage on the nexus 7 - it's possible - http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/21/ultimate-hack-nexus-7-hooks-up-with-external-usb-storage-flopp/

1) I bought my iPad over a year ago when there were no other good tablets in the market.

2) The Nexus is made by Asus, & all Asus tablets have the same feel if the Jelly Bean OS is installed.

3) I knew about the Nexus 7 at least 6 months before release because my brother-in-law is an official google tester, & he was testing this tablet prior to release. So I know how good it is. But you can't ignore the limitation.

4) Your link of a workaround is hardly a practical solution.

 

[bigboss]

When I was in the market for a tablet, my brother-in-law was testing the Galaxy Tab for Google. Even he agreed at that time that the Samsung is not a finished product & iPad is more practical. He bought the iPad for me from the US. Things have changed dramatically over the past 6-8 months or so, with Asus leading the way & now Android tablets are getting better than iPad. But it's worth waiting a bit because the Nexus is intended to set a benchmark for other Android manufacturers. Samsung & HTC made better phones than the Nexus, the same will happen with tablets.

 

[cheeseboy]

the problem with the computer market though is you can always say to hang on as there is always something new round the corner. At some point you have to jump in and get what is best for you at the time. And yes, the second you buy it they will announce newer better faster version

PS - i do agree not including the micro sd slot is a limitation and surprised they did it, in fact had they included it they could have swept up completely imho. But, there is an easy workaround (rooting and the app stickmount) that will allow external storage. As to how practical it is having to plug a memory stick in instead of a little slot for microusb is entirely up to the user I would have said...

 

[Paul.]

I've been given a tab 2 7.0, rear camera is next to useless. Haven't had it long enough for further judgement. Still trying to get over everything being in the wrong place

 

[bigboss]

Of course, technology is moving forward rapidly & there will always be something better on the horizon. But I see Microsoft's entry in the tablet sector significantly heating up the competition. Also, Apple's foray in the 7-inch tablet sector will result in every Android manufacturer responding to the competition in the segment, resulting in more choice of quality 7-inch tablets. The Nexus 7 has already set the benchmark in quality and price which the competition will have to respond to. October-December is the best time to shop for a tablet IMO.

 

[cheeseboy]

Of course, technology is moving forward rapidly & there will always be something better on the horizon. But I see Microsoft's entry in the tablet sector significantly heating up the competition. Also, Apple's foray in the 7-inch tablet sector will result in every Android manufacturer responding to the competition in the segment, resulting in more choice of quality 7-inch tablets. The Nexus 7 has already set the benchmark in quality and price which the competition will have to respond to. October-December is the best time to shop for a tablet IMO.

totally agree about ms - they just need to get the pricing right otherwise it'll be dead in the water before it's started. Could be a big thing for businesses.

As for the proposed smaller iPad - Dare apple go against Steve Jobs??? :O

 

[Paul.]

Steve lies.

There was never 'supposed' to be an iPod video, but that happened.

 

[bigboss]

As the saying goes, "Never say never!"

 

[Alec]

Thanks for the contributions, folks.

I wasn't aware of that iplayer app. Wonder if it'll do other channel's players too, or if apps exist for them.

The Transformer, when fully assembled with the keyboard, is heavier than many netbooks and, even though it becomes a laptop/netbook, it doesn't grow a 320gig HDD as it does so...Could be tempted though. So far it's the only one I've had a play with, though it was very brief.

Even though I'd do very little on a tablet (well, a narrow range of things, though it would, I think, be used often), a way of getting things on and off it would be good, if I wanted to download a song on it, then get that to my PC for example, or was going somewhere with the tab and wanted to take the opportunity to take a programme/song/document somewhere else. But I know that isn't the job of a tablet really.

You wouldn't think I spend a lot of time in places like this would you?

 

[bigboss]

I've never been impressed with netbooks personally. They're slow & underpowered, especially the budget ones.

 

[Alec]

I've never been impressed with netbooks personally. They're slow & underpowered, especially the budget ones.

And, I forgot to mention, but I'm not keen on th etrackpads. I probably will have one at some point, but for now I'm feeling a tablet much more.

 

[Dave_]

Thanks for the contributions, folks.

I wasn't aware of that iplayer app. Wonder if it'll do other channel's players too, or if apps exist for them.

The iPlayer app is s%&t, video is of very low quality (or at least it was, last time i tried it), you're better off using the desktop version in a browser. There are apps for ITV player etc too

Even though I'd do very little on a tablet (well, a narrow range of things, though it would, I think, be used often), a way of getting things on and off it would be good, if I wanted to download a song on it, then get that to my PC for example, or was going somewhere with the tab and wanted to take the opportunity to take a programme/song/document somewhere else. But I know that isn't the job of a tablet really.

There are plenty of apps on Play that will allow you to transfer media from your PC to tablet or vice versa via wifi, or you could of course just use one of the plethora of cloud services...

 

[Alec]

So there's no "physical" way of doing it, with the right lead in the right places? May not be a problem anyway.

There's another work around for the iplayer which I don't think is too complex.

Tempted by the Nexus and the Transformer. Especially the former if I'm not losing out too much.

 

[Alec]

Are those other apps rubbish too, dave? Might there be browser work-arounds for them too?

Lack of flash really does seem to limit things more than I thought, but it seems it's tough now unless I wait for a Windows tab, and I don't particularly want to wait.

No one is particularly reccommending the Galaxy, and I've read many good things about the Nexus. The minority have siad it's a little cheap feeling and maybe not as responsive as they'd ideally like.

I'd have to get a Google account. Would that get me into anything Google own such as youtube, if indeed that is even useable without flash?

I should just have called the thread "which tablet?" really.

I'm away on Wed for a day or three and won't be online much.

 

[Dave_]

So there's no "physical" way of doing it, with the right lead in the right places? May not be a problem anyway.

Yes, you can connect it to your PC via USB and transfer media that way...

 

[Dave_]

Are those other apps rubbish too, dave? Might there be browser work-arounds for them too?

I've no idea tbh Al, i don't use them (i never watch ITV, and rarely watch 4 or 5 so have no use for their catch-up services)

Lack of flash really does seem to limit things more than I thought, but it seems it's tough now unless I wait for a Windows tab, and I don't particularly want to wait.

Lack of flash, really isn't an issue with the various workarounds.

I'd have to get a Google account. Would that get me into anything Google own such as youtube, if indeed that is even useable without flash?

Yes, your Google account can be used to access all their services.

N7 is built for Google, YT works out the box

 

[Ryan92]

I haven't actually done this personally, but this seems to be an okay workaround for the time being. I know adobe have been distrubuting flash to HTML5 "converters" and the fact they didn't bother to put flash on jellybean surely means google knows the switchover is going to be complete soonish . .

Worth a go anyway . . Perhaps someone with a Nexus can report on it's effectiveness?

http://liliputing.com/2012/07/how-to-install-adobe-flash-on-the-nexus-7-or-other-jelly-bean-devices.html

 

[Alec]

Thankyou both.

The review on this 'ere site says there isn't, in fact, an iplayer app for the nexus.

 

[Alec]

When Google bought youtube, I had some trouble signing in, so gave up (i never do anything there than watch vids anyway, though being properly signed in can be useful sometimes). I've been using iGoogle for a while though (soon to be no more) and I just tried to sign in to youtube with my iGoogle details and...wadaya know?! Eh? EH?!

So, does that mean I have a Google account? I know I've never used GMail...

EDIT Heh. Just had a welcome to youtube email. I was already with 'em, it's just folk keep buying eachother.

 

[Dave_]

Thankyou both.

The review on this 'ere site says there isn't, in fact, an iplayer app for the nexus.

Play tends to hide apps if the device is incompatiple/not officially supported, but the apk is available so you can side load it (but it isn't worth it because of the low quality streams)