Check Out Our Shop
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 47

Thread: Tablets- Android Vs. Ipad

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    oregon
    Posts
    2,870

    Tablets- Android Vs. Ipad

    I killed my laptop a few months ago (needs a harddrive and 6 years old) and I think I want a tablet to replace. We have another laptop in the house (MacBook), so a second seems unneccessary.

    I'm on the road a fair bit and have intermittant access to wifi. 3g/4g isn't an issue most of the time. I want to be able to watch movies, read books, news, email etc.

    I've been looking at the Asus Tranformer Prime and the Ipad as potential replacements.

    Ice Cream Sandwich seems like a fairly smooth operating system and the Tranformer has a add on docking station if I need to use it as a "laptop." Ipad apparently has the most apps and I'm assuming it would tether to the MacBook better.

    Questions:

    When not connected to wifi how do you watch movies? I'm assuming there is a way to download them to the tablet.

    Can news be downloaded and read later without a wifi connection?

    How much data does streaming netflix on a 3g connection use?

    Or should I just by a cheap laptop with dvd player?
    "These are crazy times Mr Hatter, crazy times. Crazy like Buddha! Muwahaha!"

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    9,000
    Regardless of anything, buying a tablet without 3G at this point is dumb. I got the first gen iPad wi-fi only and while at first it was fine, it turned out to be a mistake. Not sure about plans, but you can pay for 3G on AT&T on a month to month basis so you don't sign up for it, find out you need it one weekend, pay for just the month and don't have to pay until you need it again.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    1,663
    another thing to consider is being able to pick up pay as you go data. i know Tmobile offers that, so consider the galaxy tab's

    one thing to consider is many android tablets come with an SD/micro SD slot where as AFAIK the ipad;s do not, storage is expandable

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Tejas
    Posts
    12,522
    The Transformer's a solid choice. I have a wi-fi only Motorola Xoom, and I've ended up using it WAY more than I ever expected. ICS is smooth, indeed. It's been very easy for me to put my own movies onto it. I have the 32 gb version, and I can just pop a card in if I need more room. The Transformer's even better since you can use regular usb ports! Nobody had them in-stock when I was shopping about a year ago, so I just went with the Xoom instead. I've been very happy, but still kinda wish I had the Transformer. Might buy the new one, and give the Xoom to my wife, since she uses it all the time, too.

    I'm also a fan of the Android tablets' 16:9 screen format (better for movies). I think the iPads are too "square" for my taste. The ONE area where the iPad wins is that insane new Retina screen. Hands down the nicest looking screen money can buy in my opinion.

    Both iPad and Android ICS tablets are a great choice, and you really can't go wrong either way. However, they are NOT a replacement for a laptop, but they rock for when you're on the couch or in bed and wanna look something up real quick, watch a movie, play a game, whatever.

    If you have a phone capable of a wi-fi hotspot, skip the 3g/4g versions of the tablets. Who wants two data plans? When I'm in 4G range, I just turn my Android phone's hotspot on, and I get cable-modem like speeds on my tablet and any computer that's around for that matter.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Tejas
    Posts
    12,522
    Oh yeah, one of my wife's and my favorite features on our Xoom is the HDMI-out. I have every kind of emulator on it, so I can play old school NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and PSX games on our main tv using the Xoom. Android tablets work flawlessly with the Nintendo Wii's controllers, so we can kick back on the couch and play any game of our choice. Mario Kart 64 FTW!

    Not sure if iPad can do that without jailbreaking. Just another reason I love Android. Total freedom. Comes at a bit of a price, though, as it's not quite as stable as the iPad, but been pretty dang good for me overall.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    oregon
    Posts
    2,870
    I don't have a smartphone and don't plan on getting one, so tethering isn't an option for me. I'd like to stay away from a dataplan if I can and just download what I need when I'm near wifi.

    How are you getting movies onto the tablet? Torrents?
    "These are crazy times Mr Hatter, crazy times. Crazy like Buddha! Muwahaha!"

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Tejas
    Posts
    12,522
    Quote Originally Posted by char View Post
    I don't have a smartphone and don't plan on getting one, so tethering isn't an option for me. I'd like to stay away from a dataplan if I can and just download what I need when I'm near wifi.

    How are you getting movies onto the tablet? Torrents?
    No torrents. I make my own files from my own movies (your MacBook will easily do that). Mp4 seems to play nice with both Android and iOS, so that's what I use for my tablet.

    Another reason I love my tablet? Comics! Haven't read comics since I was a kid, but this thing resparked my interest. I have every issue of Heavy Metal on there, every Tintin book, Tank Girl, and a ton of others. iPad gets the nod for reading comics, but they really do look beautiful on my Xoom, too.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Tejas
    Posts
    12,522
    If I was in the market for a tablet, this is THE one I'd get...the TF201:
    http://usa.asus.com/Tablet/Transform...r_Prime_TF201/
    That new NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core CPU is pretty slick! Dangit. This talk has got me thinking I NEED another tablet. Haha. Mrs. Austin? It's time for you to inherit my Xoom. I really do love my Xoom, though. Nothing wrong with it at all. Still plenty speedy and does all I want it to. But, man I want that Asus and it's dock.

  9. #9
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Buy an iPad and be done with it. The one month at a time ATT dataplans are easy to deal with. Load movies through iTunes, or whatever. the only irritant, when travelling, is the lack of flash support for the few remaining troglodytes who use flash.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    1,663
    supposedly, google is putting out a nexus tablet soon for sub $250 in price. this is instead of the ASUS memo or whatever its called. the ASUS transformer is super nice though.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Bravo Delta.
    Posts
    6,127
    Quote Originally Posted by AustinFromSA View Post
    If I was in the market for a tablet, this is THE one I'd get...the TF201:
    http://usa.asus.com/Tablet/Transform...r_Prime_TF201/
    That new NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core CPU is pretty slick!
    This^^^

    Or the soon to be released Transformer TF700T

    http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-13376_7-10011722-4.html



    Here's a comparison: http://www.androidauthority.com/ipad...r-prime-52918/
    and be sure to read the comments.
    Quote Originally Posted by Socialist View Post
    They have socalized healthcare up in canada. The whole country is 100% full of pot smoking pro-athlete alcoholics.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Among Greatness All Around
    Posts
    6,866
    Movies can be had from a number of sources. First you can use a number of streaming services with wifi. Amazon has movies, if you stay with Android- then Google Play (used to be Marketplace) has movies and video, Netflix has an App for the Droid devices, there are even many ways to have Itunes movies on an Android tablet. Most of these are not free but safe and does not risk MPAA piracy actions for downloading them off the internet.

    HDMI, to play on bid screen TV's is also nice while at home.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,925
    Quote Originally Posted by Hugh Conway View Post
    Buy an iPad and be done with it. The one month at a time ATT dataplans are easy to deal with. Load movies through iTunes, or whatever. the only irritant, when travelling, is the lack of flash support for the few remaining troglodytes who use flash.
    You used to be such an Android fanboi. Quitter?

    Work is buying me a tablet of my choice in the next month or so. I'm waiting to see what comes out of Google's I/o conference next week.

    I like the iPad for its app ecosystem and polish.

    I like Android for just about everything else. Much better for cloud computing IMO.

    One of the big factors for me is the screen dimensions. Android peeps seem to like 16:9, Apple 4:3. I'm going to use this extensively as a PDF reader for electronic note keeping and annotation. 4:3 is more like a piece of paper.... which is better for general reading and note annotations.

  14. #14
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Lev View Post
    You used to be such an Android fanboi. Quitter?

    Work is buying me a tablet of my choice in the next month or so. I'm waiting to see what comes out of Google's I/o conference next week.

    I like the iPad for its app ecosystem and polish.

    I like Android for just about everything else. Much better for cloud computing IMO.

    One of the big factors for me is the screen dimensions. Android peeps seem to like 16:9, Apple 4:3. I'm going to use this extensively as a PDF reader for electronic note keeping and annotation. 4:3 is more like a piece of paper.... which is better for general reading and note annotations.
    nah fucktard I hate apple fanbois. still do. andork fanbois are just as bad.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    570
    I'm in no way an apple fanboy, but the problem with android is that after six months device support is gone. Up until now it has been less of an issue with tablets, but as the number of devices grows it will show up more and more. Phones are basically a two year cycle, so it isn't too bad, but I think a tablet should have a longer life. In four years you may find yourself two or more os versions behind with android. Apple seems to offer more legacy support.
    BEWARE OF FEMALE SPIES

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    3,230
    Quote Originally Posted by Hugh Conway View Post
    nah fucktard I hate apple fanbois. still do. andork fanbois are just as bad.
    Hugh,

    This hatred of all things doesn't make you look cool. It makes you smarmy and insufferable - much akin to hipsters who exist only to complain and critique everything, yet produce nothing.





    Sent from Hugh Conway's conflicted psyche (channeled via my iPad - of which I am a fan(boi)).

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,925
    Quote Originally Posted by Chowda View Post
    I'm in no way an apple fanboy, but the problem with android is that after six months device support is gone. Up until now it has been less of an issue with tablets, but as the number of devices grows it will show up more and more. Phones are basically a two year cycle, so it isn't too bad, but I think a tablet should have a longer life. In four years you may find yourself two or more os versions behind with android. Apple seems to offer more legacy support.
    I dunno if that still applies, but that was a complaint in the past. Samsung just announced they were updating all of their Tab line (10.1, 7, 8) to ICS 4.0. If that's not device support, then enlighten me.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,925
    Quote Originally Posted by mtnwriter View Post
    Hugh,

    This hatred of all things doesn't make you look cool. It makes you smarmy and insufferable - much akin to hipsters who exist only to complain and critique everything, yet produce nothing.





    Sent from Hugh Conway's conflicted psyche (channeled via my iPad - of which I am a fan(boi)).
    I've learned to expect comments from him like that. Some times he offers up some pretty good stuff around here and I appreciate it. Other times, he just comes on to fling poop. It all depends on whether his vagina is bleeding that day or not.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    9,000
    Quote Originally Posted by Chowda View Post
    I'm in no way an apple fanboy, but the problem with android is that after six months device support is gone. Up until now it has been less of an issue with tablets, but as the number of devices grows it will show up more and more. Phones are basically a two year cycle, so it isn't too bad, but I think a tablet should have a longer life. In four years you may find yourself two or more os versions behind with android. Apple seems to offer more legacy support.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lev View Post
    I dunno if that still applies, but that was a complaint in the past. Samsung just announced they were updating all of their Tab line (10.1, 7, 8) to ICS 4.0. If that's not device support, then enlighten me.
    Here's the thing. With these new mobile devices, when the OS gets some cool new feature the hardware may not physically be able to support it (heavy processing tasks). This is true with all mobile devices on all OS's.

    Take a look at this image. Sure, SOME older iOS devices will be able to use the next iOS but even one generation old device will not get all the *wizzbang features.



    Buying something with the hope a new OS will bring features it doesn't have is stupid.

    *I say wizzbang features because they aren't awesome new "features" and they sure as shit don't excite me any.

    PS... I still love my first gen iPad. For what I use it for I have no use to upgrade and it doesn't show any signs of age. YMMV.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,925
    There's been a lot of chatter about how Apple is fragmenting their lineup. Offering Siri on some, not on others, navigation, Facetime... That's Apple pulling more douchey bullshit. Their ability to streamline was their one saving grace, and they are now fucking it up. I think their bubble *could* start to burst in the next year if they don't start doing some more innovation.

    Just for the sake of argument, no one has mentioned the new MS Surface Tablet. Thing looks badass, but it won't be available till probably next year. Seems like the future is more integration with keyboards. The Transformer Prime is leading the way in that respect.

  21. #21
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Lev View Post
    There's been a lot of chatter about how Apple is fragmenting their lineup. Offering Siri on some, not on others, navigation, Facetime... That's Apple pulling more douchey bullshit. Their ability to streamline was their one saving grace, and they are now fucking it up. I think their bubble *could* start to burst in the next year if they don't start doing some more innovation.
    Even a "fragmented" iOS ecosystem would still be worlds beyond the Android ecosystem in terms of support and upgradability. See Chowda's comment.

    Frankly I'm not sure the point of calling it an Android ecosystem really makes sense. Those shitty Chinese tablets running some prehistoric version aren't really relevant to anything.

    Edit: But given we are including Microsoft as now Vaporware and whatever the latest greatest Android vaporware/only sold in one store in Taiwan tablet is, why not. I'm sure there'll be some new even better vaporware tablet next that might ship in 6 months. Meanwhile you could buy an actual in the flesh apple product!

    Quote Originally Posted by mtnwriter View Post
    Hugh,

    This hatred of all things doesn't make you look cool. It makes you smarmy and insufferable - much akin to hipsters who exist only to complain and critique everything, yet produce nothing
    Dear mtnwriter:
    The TGR message board is a meringue. A frothy concoction that amounts to nothing. Like my skiing I do it for me. Maybe I could channel some Lev like seemingly pleasant stupidity.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    9,000
    Quote Originally Posted by Lev View Post
    Just for the sake of argument, no one has mentioned the new MS Surface Tablet. Thing looks badass, but it won't be available till probably next year. Seems like the future is more integration with keyboards. The Transformer Prime is leading the way in that respect.
    Their "pricepoint" was said to be in the ultraportable range. Shit if I'm going to pay that much I'll take the ultraportable. They didn't allow hands on of the keyboard so it's not ready for primetime (would be sick if worked as advertised). One of them CRASHED/FROZE during their presentation. They plan on splitting the line for 2 different OS's. Still no price. Out late this year or next year (if at all). Smoke and mirrors showing you the cool shit now that will be old news in 8 months and their product still won't be ready. Moore's law. Zune take II.

    And frankly I want it to be out TOMORROW and as hype as predicted. Competition brings innovation and iOS and the hardware has certainly been lacking in cool shit releases for quite some time.

  23. #23
    Hugh Conway Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by systemoverblow'd View Post
    Their "pricepoint" was said to be in the ultraportable range. Shit if I'm going to pay that much I'll take the ultraportable. They didn't allow hands on of the keyboard so it's not ready for primetime (would be sick if worked as advertised). One of them CRASHED/FROZE during their presentation. They plan on splitting the line for 2 different OS's. Still no price. Out late this year or next year (if at all). Smoke and mirrors showing you the cool shit now that will be old news in 8 months and their product still won't be ready. Moore's law. Zune take II.

    And frankly I want it to be out TOMORROW and as hype as predicted. Competition brings innovation and iOS and the hardware has certainly been lacking in cool shit releases for quite some time.

    I still want the tablet Microsoft was promising right before the iPad came out

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    869
    Quote Originally Posted by systemoverblow'd View Post
    Their "pricepoint" was said to be in the ultraportable range. Shit if I'm going to pay that much I'll take the ultraportable. They didn't allow hands on of the keyboard so it's not ready for primetime (would be sick if worked as advertised). One of them CRASHED/FROZE during their presentation. They plan on splitting the line for 2 different OS's. Still no price. Out late this year or next year (if at all). Smoke and mirrors showing you the cool shit now that will be old news in 8 months and their product still won't be ready. Moore's law. Zune take II.

    And frankly I want it to be out TOMORROW and as hype as predicted. Competition brings innovation and iOS and the hardware has certainly been lacking in cool shit releases for quite some time.
    LOL. You mean, since the new iPad?

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    9,000
    Quote Originally Posted by skinnyskier View Post
    LOL. You mean, since the new iPad?
    Slightly faster, a "retina" display that looks like shit when you put an anti-glare screen protector on (the iPad 2 didn't) and a little better camera. I don't consider that anything more than a speedbump, it certainly wasn't anything to jizz your pants over.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •