Small laptop/Android tablet/W7 tablet suggestions?

[cookie_365]

Thanks everyone I think I'll hold on until the new higher power ones that ZrByte mentioned come along. If I happen to need something before then I'll pick up the nearest cheap Fusion laptop to tide me over.

[qasdfdsaq]

Well I did say the new generation. The Tab 7.7 has a 1.4Ghz CPU vs. the iPad 2's 0.9-1.0 depending on who you ask. Plus with more RAM and better wireless connectivity (on both the 3G and non-3G models) even if it's the same price you get more power for the same money (or you can step down and get the same power for less).

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 (current) has the same CPU, twice the RAM, better connectivity, a higher resolution screen, and seven times the battery life for music playback, not to mention better format support and better cameras, for slightly less (£10-£20) at reputable retailers. At less reputable retailers (eBay, grey imports, etc.) it's £100 to £200 cheaper. And it supports flash, and doesn't restrict you to just the apps Apple choose to approve. And can play full HD without needing to be pre-converted. All that and that's before we start looking at the next-gen models, or cheaper Android alternatives.

Oh and you can actually make mobile phone calls with it.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Well I did say the new generation. The Tab 7.7 has a 1.4Ghz CPU vs. the iPad 2's 0.9-1.0 depending on who you ask. Plus with more RAM and better wireless connectivity (on both the 3G and non-3G models) even if it's the same price you get more power for the same money (or you can step down and get the same power for less).

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 (current) has the same CPU, twice the RAM, better connectivity, a higher resolution screen, and seven times the battery life for music playback, not to mention better format support and better cameras, for slightly less (£10-£20) at reputable retailers. At less reputable retailers (eBay, grey imports, etc.) it's £100 to £200 cheaper. And it supports flash, and doesn't restrict you to just the apps Apple choose to approve. And can play full HD without needing to be pre-converted. All that and that's before we start looking at the next-gen models, or cheaper Android alternatives.

Oh and you can actually make mobile phone calls with it.

You said "I'd say get one of the Samsung Galaxy Tab varieties". At the moment, that's just the 10.1, as the 7.7 isn't out yet it would seem. No date or no price from what I can find.

You only mentioned the new generation when saying at the end "Not to mention the far superior AMOLED high-def screens on the latest models. "... which as previously mentioned is only on the as yet unavailable 7.7.


The 10.1:

Yep, already said it has the same CPU but more RAM. What you missed off your list though is that it has an inferior GPU. Personally, I'd rather have the GPU than the RAM. The iPad 2 doesn't suffer from the lower RAM, but definitely benefits from the superior GPU.

Better connectivity? How so? Like the iPad, it has a proprietary dock connector and requires an adaptor to use SD cards and an adaptor to use an HDMI cable.

Higher resolution screen? True, but not by anything you could call a significant amount (like iPhone 4 compared to earlier iPhones and other smartphones, or Nexus Prime compared to all other smartphones. OK, phones not tablets, but you see the difference). The only reason it's a higher resolution is because the Tab 10.1 is 16:9 while the iPad 2 is (sadly for videos) 4:3.

Format support? Solved by a variety of apps. HD videos without converting to .mp4? Solved by a variety of apps.

Cameras? True, but... who cares? When would anyone ever want to use a tablet to take photos? It's not suited for planned photos, it's not suited for spontaneous photos. If someone's at a wedding, a party, on holiday, at the zoo, out on a Friday night, or wherever, whatever, etc. etc. they'll surely use a dedicated camera or a camera phone. Who would ever whip out a tablet to take photos? The only use for cameras on a tablet, IMO, is for video calling / chatting...And the iPad 2's cameras are perfectly fine for that.


Flash? LOL. Again... who cares? The overwhelming majority of tablet consumers don't, as they all have iPads (which will hopefully help drive the decrease of the use of Flash in general). The iPad 2 does not need Flash for BBC iPlayer (app, website), 4oD (app), ITV Player (app), YouTube (app, website), live streaming Freeview TV (app, website), Sky/BBC/C4 news (apps), Sky Go (app), Facebook games (app) etc. ... What other uses are there for Flash? Adverts? I don't want to see those. Browser games? I don't play those. Sure, some do, but it's hardly a loss and there are some excellent games on the App Store. Flash based websites? Abominations... I have never missed Flash when using my iPad, and tbh I rarely - if ever - even use it on my PC.


Phone calls? Why would anyone want to make calls with a tablet? Wouldn't it be a bit big? OK, use a handsfree kit, but... why? I wouldn't want a second mobile number for my tablet, and I wouldn't want to have to faff around swapping the SIM from my phone into my tablet and vice versa.


Plus of course there are more iPad apps available than Honeycomb apps. OK, Honeycomb tablets will also run non-tablet Android apps, but then again, the iPad will also run non-iPad apps.

---------- Post added at 19:58 ---------- Previous post was at 19:50 ----------

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Thanks everyone I think I'll hold on until the new higher power ones that ZrByte mentioned come along. If I happen to need something before then I'll pick up the nearest cheap Fusion laptop to tide me over.

Fair enough

Wait it out until Xmas next year for Windows 8 tablets.

[alferret]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

SNIP!!

Originally Posted by Matt D

SNIP!!

Do love fanboy points of view

Me personally I dont\wont buy into Apple's want for world domination & find Android a far more open\free-er\expandable platform.

Originally Posted by alferret

Do love fanboy points of view

Me personally I dont\wont buy into Apple's want for world domination & find Android a far more open\free-er\expandable platform.

The hat3rz point of view is equally entertaining.

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Chris

The hat3rz point of view is equally entertaining.

LOL touché

[MovedGoalPosts]

For media viewing check out Archos. They were doing this before anyone even thought of tablets and netbooks. One of the problems with many tablets is limited storage. Many Archos units have hard drives. The range of screen sizes means you can get units that will fit in your pocket - great for confined spaces such as air travel, but they can also offer connectivity such as to a TV so if your stuck in that hotel room ....

My Archos 5 Internet Tablet, handles .mkv files and indeed most a/v formats. The only thing you have to watch is whether these are excessively detailed in terms of bitrate, so it can get juddery, which I'd expect to be an issue with many tablets that have limited processor capacity. Most 720p formats are OK.

[cookie_365]

Yes, I did also look at the Archos - it was the build quality and questions about how it would cope with big file HD that put me off.

Come Windows 8 the problem will solve itself. In the meantime the new Samsung Slate 7 looks perfect but a bit too pricey.

[Lew]

I can definitely recommend the Asus Transformer as far as Android tablets go. With the keyboard dock the battery life is fantastic and Asus so far have been really fast at rolling out Android updates.

You can get a Tosh Tablet AT100 for £320 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-AT1...8616089&sr=8-1

16GB, but with SD card, mini-USB and full-size USB 2.0 ports ( and it plays flash and avi).

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Matt D

You said "I'd say get one of the Samsung Galaxy Tab varieties". At the moment, that's just the 10.1, as the 7.7 isn't out yet it would seem. No date or no price from what I can find.

You only mentioned the new generation when saying at the end "Not to mention the far superior AMOLED high-def screens on the latest models. "... which as previously mentioned is only on the as yet unavailable 7.7.

Well the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab Plus also have it. And a few others. But yes, they're not widely available yet.

The 10.1:

Yep, already said it has the same CPU but more RAM. What you missed off your list though is that it has an inferior GPU. Personally, I'd rather have the GPU than the RAM. The iPad 2 doesn't suffer from the lower RAM, but definitely benefits from the superior GPU.

I disagree here. I'd rather have more RAM. None of my Galaxy devices have any issues with graphics despite the slower GPU. I have however, crashed a few iOS devices owing to lack of RAM. Interestingly, despite the slower GPU, the Tab still plays 1080p video while the iPad doesn't. Why? Only Apple would know...

Better connectivity? How so? Like the iPad, it has a proprietary dock connector and requires an adaptor to use SD cards and an adaptor to use an HDMI cable.

Better wifi, better 3G, better bluetooth.

Higher resolution screen? True, but not by anything you could call a significant amount (like iPhone 4 compared to earlier iPhones and other smartphones, or Nexus Prime compared to all other smartphones. OK, phones not tablets, but you see the difference).

So iPhone 4 is significantly higher resolution than other smartphones that have 960x640 (0% increase) or 960x540 (18% increase) while the difference between the Tab and the iPad 2 (30% increase) is not significant? Lovin' the logic of an Apple fanboi...

The only reason it's a higher resolution is because the Tab 10.1 is 16:9 while the iPad 2 is (sadly for videos) 4:3.

Yet the resolution is higher in both dimensions.

Format support? Solved by a variety of apps. HD videos without converting to .mp4? Solved by a variety of apps.

So you lose the only real reason to get an iPad - ease of use - because you have to install a ton of apps and convert your videos to get them to play. Aside from the easy-to-use interface, tell me one thing the iPad (2) can do that any cheaper Android tablet can't.

Cameras? True, but... who cares? When would anyone ever want to use a tablet to take photos? It's not suited for planned photos, it's not suited for spontaneous photos. If someone's at a wedding, a party, on holiday, at the zoo, out on a Friday night, or wherever, whatever, etc. etc. they'll surely use a dedicated camera or a camera phone. Who would ever whip out a tablet to take photos? The only use for cameras on a tablet,

So as long as a feature matters to you it matters to everyone, and if the iPad loses on something it becomes "who cares"? To be honest more people care about the camera than they do about 512 vs 1GB RAM or 1.0 vs 1.2Ghz CPU. Cameras are one of the headline features of portable smart devices these days.

IMO, is for video calling / chatting...And the iPad 2's cameras are perfectly fine for that.

IMO they're not. VGA resolution might have been fine for video calling ten years ago. But that doesn't explain the other camera on the other side of the device, which can't be used for video calling. And if nobody uses the camera, why do things like this exist:

http://www.sw-box.com/Tourmate-Optic...d-2-Black.html

(Ridiculous as it may be)

Flash? LOL. Again... who cares? The overwhelming majority of tablet consumers don't, as they all have iPads (which will hopefully help drive the decrease of the use of Flash in general). The iPad 2 does not need Flash for BBC iPlayer (app, website), 4oD (app), ITV Player (app), YouTube (app, website), live streaming Freeview TV (app, website), Sky/BBC/C4 news (apps), Sky Go (app), Facebook games (app) etc. ... What other uses are there for Flash? Adverts? I don't want to see those. Browser games? I don't play those. Sure, some do, but it's hardly a loss and there are some excellent games on the App Store. Flash based websites? Abominations... I have never missed Flash when using my iPad, and tbh I rarely - if ever - even use it on my PC.

I care. Somehow my opinion is worth less than yours? Yes, the majority of major sites have, thanks to Apple's marketing clout "mobile" version of sites designed for iPad or iOS devices. But some don't. Take speedtest.net for example. The the web version requires flash - there's an app but it's significantly inferior (accuracy wise) to the flash web version. I don't like m choices being restricted by what a now-dead person once thought I should or should not be able to do with my property. I make my own decisions, thanks.

Incidentally most speedtest sites that are any good use flash or java. Neither of which the iPad has. And no, in most cases the app version is far inferior (that includes iPlayer and Youtube).

Just because the overwhelming majority of people are lemmings with low standards doesn't mean everyone has to be. Some of us can think for ourselves.

Phone calls? Why would anyone want to make calls with a tablet? Wouldn't it be a bit big? OK, use a handsfree kit, but... why? I wouldn't want a second mobile number for my tablet, and I wouldn't want to have to faff around swapping the SIM from my phone into my tablet and vice versa.

Why not. Why carry two devices around when you could just have one. Isn't that the point of all these convergence smart devices that do everything? Why carry a second device just to make phone calls with? If my tab can do everything my phone can (which the Galaxy series *can*) then you don't need to waste another half a grand on an iPhone. But then again, some people like wasting money like that.

Plus of course there are more iPad apps available than Honeycomb apps. OK, Honeycomb tablets will also run non-tablet Android apps, but then again, the iPad will also run non-iPad apps.

Far more free apps on Android though. In fact, I don't think I've ever had to pay for an app. Even Angry Birds is free. Yes, iTunes has a bigger app market, and they also cost more. You can still get the same thing... for less on Android.

Oh and I guess you forgot how I mentioned as a media device, the Galaxy wins in just about every respect. So basically for what the OP wants (web surfing and playing HD movies in MKV or XviD):

For movies:
Galaxy Tab has 10% worse quoted battery life to iPad (Tab loses)
Galaxy Tab has HD display, iPad 2 doesn't (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has plays XviD and MKV out of the box, iPad 2 needs additional apps for both (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab plays 1080p videos. iPad 2 can't cope with 1080p MKV at all (and needs them downconverted) (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has widescreen display, iPad 2 is 4:3 (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has stereo speakers (if you're stuck without externals). (Tab wins)

Dunno about you but the main clincher for me would be waiting an hour for each and every full-HD MKV video you have to be converted into an iPad-compatible format. That would bug me more than anything else. With the tab you just copy it straight on.

For web browsing:
iPad has a 4:3 ratio, ostensibly better for reading (Tab loses)
iPad browser is locked down, Apple does not allow alternative browsers. Tab lets you use any browser you want, including ones that support Flash (Tab wins)
iPad and Tab have similar browsing longevities under WiFi (Draw).
Galaxy Tab has faster and more power efficient 3G radio (Tab wins)
Galaxy Tab has faster and more efficient Bluetooth (if you want to use an external modem for your internet). So whether you get one with or without 3G, Tab wins on speed and battery life with anything but wifi.

So... For what the OP wants, Galaxy Tab - 9, iPad 2 - 3.

[cookie_365]

Great post qasdfdsaq - just as I'd decided to hold on I now might rethink and get a Galaxy.

I'd discounted it before because of the oil slick issue but after a bit of googling it seems that's resolved.

re alternative browsers - I have Puffin (which lets you view flash videos) and Atomic Life.

And before I get accused of fan-boyism, I have an iPad2, a Motorola Xoom, and a HP Touchpad (but I mostly use the iPad for ease of use).

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

<snip>

"Fanboi"? Pot. Kettle. Black.

RAM vs GPU... Fair enough. I don't see the lower RAM as an issue, and prefer the GPU. You don't see the GPU as an issue, and prefer the extra RAM.

Better WiFi? How? Genuine question. Both have A/B/G/N. Does the Tab 10.1 have faster N than the iPad 2?

3G... OK, the Tab has HSPA+.

Resolution... iPhone 4/4S (960x640, 326ppi) has a higher resolution and pixel density than the original iPhone and the 3G/3GS (480x320, 163ppi), the Galaxy S (800x480, 233ppi), and the Galaxy S II (800x480, 218ppi), and slightly higher than the HTC Sensation (960x540, 256ppi) and HTC Evo 3D (960x540, 256ppi). As I mentioned, the Nexus Prime (1280×720, not yet confirmed) will however beat them all [Oh no, that's two posts now where my "Apple fanboi logic" has said the upcoming Android flagship phone would have the best display! ]... I consider those to be larger jumps (though not as much with the HTCs) than iPad 2 (1024x768) versus Tab 10.1 (1280x800) [and that's only a little bit higher in one dimension].

Oh, and you don't have to "install a ton of apps and convert your videos to get them to play". You only have to install one app to play non-iTunes videos (e.g. AVPlayerHD as previously mentioned) stored on the device, and - if you want - one other app to stream non-iTunes videos from a PC (e.g. AirPlayer). No need for converting, either, if you install that one app... I have Handbrake installed on my PC, but haven't actually used it to convert anything because I simply play all my Xvids and MKVs (yes, sadly only 720p ) using AVPlayerHD... No conversion required. Why play 1080p on a 1024x768 or 1280x800 screen anyway?

Cheaper? But the Tab 10.1 is the same price.

If more people care about the cameras, why are they almost all buying iPads instead of Tabs or other non-Apple tablets? Ditto for Flash. Speedtest, eh? One thing? So, I still say... Who cares? Sure, a small minority such as yourself consider them to be USPs, but a huge majority don't appear to give a monkey's. It's not a deal breaker for me, and it's obviously not a deal breaker for the millions upon millions upon millions of people who have chosen the iPad instead of a non-Apple tablet. Oh, wait, they're all "lemmings" right Cameras may be a headline feature on phones, but on tablets? Meh. I take my phone with my everywhere, in my pocket. It's portable and easily accessible for taking photos. I can't fit my iPad in my pocket, nor a Tab 10.1. Tablets are too big to carry around for spontaneous photography, and they're just not suited for planned either. People use phones or dedicated digicams. You don't see people waving tablets around taking photos.

Phone calls... Again, part of the above: Too big, not as portable. I can put my phone in my pocket, or on a holster. You can't carry a tablet around with you everywhere, unless you want it permanently slung over your shoulder or something. Doesn't seem at all practical to me for using as a mobile phone.

Oh, and Flash versus apps... The YouTube mobile website is superior to the YouTube app... And it uses HTML5 and H.264 and works perfectly using the iPad/iPhone's browser iPlayer? The app is actually excellent, but if you prefer you can again use the browser instead of the app.

"Some people like wasting money like that"... Ah, another nice little dig there. You call me a "fanboi", and then you make comments like that and the "lemmings with low standards" comment. Why is it always the Android "fanbois" that have to insult people like that? Did I at any point in any of my posts insult you, or make any sweeping and insulting comments about all Android users? I don't think so. Sure, some Apple "fanbois" can be bad, but you don't see them constantly calling Android owners "sheep" or "lemmings" or whatever the Android equivalent would be, and you don't see them accusing Android owners of being poor / cheap / spec-obsessed nerds like you see Android owners constantly accusing Apple owners of only buying Apple because it's expensive, or for the brand, or because they "like wasting money like that", etc. etc. ...

Anyway, isn't the SIM free price of a Galaxy S II £400 or more? Sure, it's cheaper on a contract than an iPhone is, but you're obviously not comparing contract prices given that you mentioned "half a grand". Or is it OK to spend £400 on a GS II, but if you spend a bit more on an iPhone, you're some sort of "money wasting lemming" or whatever?

More free apps: Yes. And yes, even Angry Birds (with ads though). But as I said, there are more tablet apps for the iPad than there are tablet apps for the Tab 10.1.

Alternative browsers? Erm, yes you can (although they have to use WebKit, so you are partially correct). I use iCab Mobile, and used to use Atomic Web Browser.



Anyway, our little "Fanboi argument" seems to have derailed this so I'll leave it alone now.