Currently have HP touchpad, Should I go nexus 7? - Nexus 7 General

I have never had a 7" tablet before, this is why I bring up this thread. Currently, my tablet is used mostly for things like reddit or for taking it around the house when my phone screen i just too small. I bring the tablet to browse the web, watch youtube vids occasionally or bring up my iHeartRadio app in the morning because it has a larger speaker. But another thing I use it for is school. See, I often try to find my books online in ebook form as it is cheaper and more convienent, and sometimes even free lol. I have used my HP touchpad for this previously, for those unfamiliar, it has a 9.7" screen, and it does the job well.
I figure the 7" screen would be fine for webbrowsing as I have used them at the verizon store and have a nice form factor and are decently easy to read from, but I wonder if anyone has any experience reading large page pdf files or textbooks with images on the pages. I want to know if this is easy to read or if it is impractical to use the nexus 7 as a textbook reader. If anyone would be so kind as to share you experiences with me or even post up a picture of your Nexus 7 with an ebook using adobe or something, that would be great.
The Touchpad is great for what it is. It is dual booted with the latest cm9 and I really have no complaints. It has its issues, like the camera and mic not working, but otherwise it is solid. The n7 seems to have a better processor, the same ram, and a better screen, as well as more gpus I am sure, but the screen is much smaller. I just worry that 7" is not all that much larger than my sgs3's 4.8" and I won't be able to read texts off of it without constantly pinch zooming and rearranging the screen.

yes, 10 char

Juicy92 said:
I have never had a 7" tablet before, this is why I bring up this thread. Currently, my tablet is used mostly for things like reddit or for taking it around the house when my phone screen i just too small. I bring the tablet to browse the web, watch youtube vids occasionally or bring up my iHeartRadio app in the morning because it has a larger speaker. But another thing I use it for is school. See, I often try to find my books online in ebook form as it is cheaper and more convienent, and sometimes even free lol. I have used my HP touchpad for this previously, for those unfamiliar, it has a 9.7" screen, and it does the job well.
I figure the 7" screen would be fine for webbrowsing as I have used them at the verizon store and have a nice form factor and are decently easy to read from, but I wonder if anyone has any experience reading large page pdf files or textbooks with images on the pages. I want to know if this is easy to read or if it is impractical to use the nexus 7 as a textbook reader. If anyone would be so kind as to share you experiences with me or even post up a picture of your Nexus 7 with an ebook using adobe or something, that would be great.
The Touchpad is great for what it is. It is dual booted with the latest cm9 and I really have no complaints. It has its issues, like the camera and mic not working, but otherwise it is solid. The n7 seems to have a better processor, the same ram, and a better screen, as well as more gpus I am sure, but the screen is much smaller. I just worry that 7" is not all that much larger than my sgs3's 4.8" and I won't be able to read texts off of it without constantly pinch zooming and rearranging the screen.
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Click to collapse
well i had an hp touchpad too, but i say for you to go for the nexus, it will be a much better buy and will have much longer support than the hp touchpad.

Juicy92 said:
I have never had a 7" tablet before, this is why I bring up this thread. Currently, my tablet is used mostly for things like reddit or for taking it around the house when my phone screen i just too small. I bring the tablet to browse the web, watch youtube vids occasionally or bring up my iHeartRadio app in the morning because it has a larger speaker. But another thing I use it for is school. See, I often try to find my books online in ebook form as it is cheaper and more convienent, and sometimes even free lol. I have used my HP touchpad for this previously, for those unfamiliar, it has a 9.7" screen, and it does the job well.
I figure the 7" screen would be fine for webbrowsing as I have used them at the verizon store and have a nice form factor and are decently easy to read from, but I wonder if anyone has any experience reading large page pdf files or textbooks with images on the pages. I want to know if this is easy to read or if it is impractical to use the nexus 7 as a textbook reader. If anyone would be so kind as to share you experiences with me or even post up a picture of your Nexus 7 with an ebook using adobe or something, that would be great.
The Touchpad is great for what it is. It is dual booted with the latest cm9 and I really have no complaints. It has its issues, like the camera and mic not working, but otherwise it is solid. The n7 seems to have a better processor, the same ram, and a better screen, as well as more gpus I am sure, but the screen is much smaller. I just worry that 7" is not all that much larger than my sgs3's 4.8" and I won't be able to read texts off of it without constantly pinch zooming and rearranging the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're happy with a touchpad, you're easily impressed. Get a nexus. Hint: note the difference between "resolution" and "screen size."

for a second there i didnt think u were being serious with that question? lol yes get a nexus 7!

I'd say goto the store and check it out once its released. You have to take into consideration that none of these people actually have the Nexus 7 yet. Save some money on shipping cost and get better return.

I've had the Kindle Fire, HTC Flyer, BB Playbook, HP Touchpad, iPad, and a Transformer. I also use my tablets mainly for web browsing, Reddit, and PDF textbooks. I'm a student so having ebooks is a huge advantage. Here are my thoughts on the screen size differences.
Pdf reading is easier on the 10" screen. No zooming around is needed.
The 7" has a better form factor, meaning you'll be more inclined to pull out your tablet from your bag since its less of a hassle. It is also easier to hold in your hands (can hold 1 handed plus it will be lighter).
I think you would enjoy the Nexus 7 as the Touchpad is very heavy/bulky compared to any of my other tablets. I enjoyed using my Kindle Fire out of all of the tablets besides the Transformer. The transformer was nicer to use for school since I was able to switch between apps quickly since it had ICS compared to CM7 on the KF.
Also, reading pdfs on the 7" screen will trump your S3's 4.8" screen. My Infuse 4.5" has become a nuisance to read pdfs ever since I bought my first tablet (KF).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

Speak for yourself, i have had the nexus 7 since Friday. i can say reading pdf files has been fine and the screen is much bigge than my one X
the applications are awesome. example
Yesterday i was in the pub. decided to go to Calais, used my Nexus tethered to my one x and ordered tunnel tickets there and then, the chrome browser is amazing. I then used offline google maps to get home with the awesom new voice and then played max payne. finally watched all of transformer film, all on one charge.
Fantastic device

I went from a touchpad to a nexus 7 and also have a gs3. Believe me when I say its a huge upgrade in terms of performance and screen touch response is incredible. The size is much more manageable for typing and for book reading etc. I'd take it over the touchpad any day of the week. Also, I'm using the nexus much more than my gs3 when both are next to me, for checking twitter and Facebook and some quick browsing. Dear I say its actually faster than my s3 as sell (quad core variant).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I've got a TP and have a Nexus7 on order so obviously I'd say yes to the OPs question.
All formats have their advantages and disadvantages, I do a LOT of reading on my TP and there's no denying it gets heavy but the larger screen does make a difference for web browsing. Since I got the TP my old Streak 5 doesn't leave the house and with the N7 coming halfway between the two I'm hoping it's speed will make up for the drop in screen size and of course since it will have a 'proper' version of Android on it it will be a smoother less buggy experience.
The TP will probably go back to pure WebOS if the Open WebOS guys can make headway and it will sit on it's touchstone full time, now there's a good idea for Googles' next Tablet, inductive charging!

To give you a quick reply.....It's what i did =) because this device will generate alot more developer interest than the touchpad means much better quality ROMs too (nothing to do with the devs at the touchpad forum, they did the best with what they had) and they only had 225mb to play with whereas if they increased the partition sizes they could've done alot more with a pretty much open android device. But so far they haven't which is why im here and not there
the downfalls of the touchpad alone....i found the 10" screen size too big for me....plus holding it with one hand made it a chore, otherwise was a good device

I currently have a ipad 3G, ipad 4G , and a blackberry playbook should i go with the nexus 7? Hell freaking yeah!! I love the 7inch form factor and with jelly bean 4core for 200$ that's a steal!!! This tablet is gonna rock! Plus i just brought my gnex back to life with jelly bean ill just tether when im out!
Sent from my iPad 4G

Asking people here if you should buy a Nexus 7 is like asking...
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IS SEX GOOD?​

I think if I were studying textbooks, I'd prefer a 10" screen. Mostly because textbooks have diagrams, charts, etc... and it'd be a pain in the ass to constantly have to enlarge things on a 7" screen. There's a huge difference between ereading a novel and studying a textbook.

Keep the touchpad.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

I guess the answer seems to be to wait until I can play with it in stores

I have an HP TouchPad running tweaked WebOS, and I just ordered a Nexus 7. Best of both!
--
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app

Juicy92 said:
I guess the answer seems to be to wait until I can play with it in stores
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Click to collapse
Yea wait and check it out if you can, the touchpad is deceptively great, especially once youve overclocked it to 1.7 and got it dual booting CM9,i still love it. I have the Nexus 7 i picked up friday at gamestop, i will snap a picture for you tomorrow, send me a direct email if i forget, i have to say im sure .pdfs are better on the touchpad, at least the screen size part of the argument, theres the obvious resolution side which the nexus 7 wins. Its all up to preference i guess

Yeah, I have a bunch of tablets... I sold them all.. 2 16gb Touchpads both in new condition in the boxes and under warranty, I was able to get $150 each (Bought at firesale, and the shop sells them at $249!), and the old gtab brought an astounding $200. I still kept the ipad2/iphone4/itouches(2,4). The development community for android devices is incredible, having access to the amazon store (free app of the day), and google play is awesome! Plus Quad core, and 12 core GPU is incredible. The hacking of this device is going to be out of this world with its ability. Probably could do folding at home on this dude! Anyway, I will let you know when I get the nexus 7 in, should be any day.

Its all about what you want. I had a 32 gb touchpad running aokp and absolutely loved it. It was fantastic for the price I paid(120 after tax at best buy after some reward zone coupons and the fire sale). I used that thing non stop, then I got my girlfriend a kindle fire. I hated the amazon skin on top of android, but I fell in love with the size. It fit perfectly in my hand. Almost got one of those but then I read about the rumored nexus tablet. Never thought twice about the fire after that. Sold some games and got 110 for my touchpad that had the casing busted by the speaker and went to GameStop. No regrets. Good luck with your decision, honestly you can't go wrong either way if it is what you want
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Related

I just can't let the Nook Color go! [Well, not really :D]

I've been enjoying my NC since February. I use it mainly for e-books, e-mail, web surfing, casual gaming and occasional Netflix streaming. I love tinkering with it using different ROMs, etc.
About 2 weeks ago, I purchased a XOOM and have been enjoying it as well. Initially, I thought that I would just sell the NC since it would be redundant to have two Android tablets, but I just can't let it go. The experience of using both devices is very different. While XOOM is great for surfing the web (native resolution webpages without zoom in/out), typing long e-mails or watching a movie, NC is very portable and perfect for reading (can't hold the XOOM -or any other 10.1" tab for that matter- in one hand for an extended period of time).
I guess I'm going to keep both. I was wondering if any of you were/are in the same situation? Did you end up keeping the NC?
Thanks!
tenderidol said:
I've been enjoying my NC since February. I use it mainly for e-books, e-mail, web surfing, casual gaming and occasional Netflix streaming. I love tinkering with it using different ROMs, etc.
About 2 weeks ago, I purchased a XOOM and have been enjoying it as well. Initially, I thought that I would just sell the NC since it would be redundant to have two Android tablets, but I just can't let it go. The experience of using both devices is very different. While XOOM is great for surfing the web (native resolution webpages without zoom in/out), typing long e-mails or watching a movie, NC is very portable and perfect for reading (can't hold the XOOM -or any other 10.1" tab for that matter- in one hand for an extended period of time).
I guess I'm going to keep both. I was wondering if any of you were/are in the same situation? Did you end up keeping the NC?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite in this position just yet. But I know exactly how you feel. I really enjoy the Community that the Nook Color has, I love the size and portability that comes with this device.
But I want more. Really, I want to be able to have a tablet media center on the go, and the Nook is really lacking without hdmi out.
So I find myself really pondering what to jump for next... And unfortunately few things are making me want to. Doesn't help that I promised the wife this Nook Color in fall for her classes... Hope Amazon hurries up with their Nook Killer a.k.a Coyote.
I'd like to pick up a 10" tab running android.
I can't see ever getting rid of the Nook Color, even when that happens. I'll own this device until the end of it's life.
I like the form factor, and the nature of it as an e-book reader means it will always have use for me.
I can't see being the avid reader I am on a 10" tab.
I've been looking at tablets with my lady, and she still wants a Nook Color. It's the size that does it for her, and the quality of the device.
The Nook Color hits a quality level in it's offering that hasn't been seen in quite some time on the regular retail market.
tenderidol said:
I've been enjoying my NC since February.
About 2 weeks ago, I purchased a XOOM and have been enjoying it as well.
I guess I'm going to keep both.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Show off.
Gin1212 said:
I'm not quite in this position just yet. But I know exactly how you feel. I really enjoy the Community that the Nook Color has, I love the size and portability that comes with this device.
But I want more. Really, I want to be able to have a tablet media center on the go, and the Nook is really lacking without hdmi out.
So I find myself really pondering what to jump for next... And unfortunately few things are making me want to. Doesn't help that I promised the wife this Nook Color in fall for her classes... Hope Amazon hurries up with their Nook Killer a.k.a Coyote.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also remember 7in Acer Iconia A100 will be out in the US in about a month for approx. $300.00
Johnnybee said:
Also remember 7in Acer Iconia A100 will be out in the US in about a month for approx. $300.00
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Click to collapse
This is going to sound weird after stating this thread, but I sold the Nook Color today
Someone made an offer that I couldn't resist (came ahead at the end), and after seeing the upcoming 7" tablets, as well as the 8.9" Sammy and anticipated Amazon tablet, I decided to let the little guy go before its value stats to decrease due to competition.
I'll be definitely picking up a 7" tablet to accompany my XOOM in the future, but I don't know which one yet.
I guess this should be my good by post to the Nook community. It's been fun!
Johnnybee said:
Also remember 7in Acer Iconia A100 will be out in the US in about a month for approx. $300.00
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its out already for $360 at walmart. I was playing with it a few nights ago...
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
Does the Acer bring with it the end of the NC as a tablet?
I looked up what specs I could find and the features do look impressive, except for the battery. It appears this is the tradeoff that was made to cut down on weight so "it would be suitable for female users". 1530mah that will last up to 5 hours? That sounds a bit optomistic to me. To put it in perspective the NC has a 4000mah battery that is supposed to last up to 8 hours.
No tablet currently available can beat the nooks beautiful screen. You can all the specs in the world but if your screen sucks there really isn't any point to it.
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk
koopakid08 said:
No tablet currently available can beat the nooks beautiful screen. You can all the specs in the world but if your screen sucks there really isn't any point to it.
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Click to collapse
Isn't it just an IPS screen with 1024 x 600 resolution? None of the tablets (not just 7" competitors)? Really?
There are many tablets in the market with similar -or better- screen compared to NC. Besides, my XOOM doesn't have an IPS screen and I'm perfectly happy with it.
When you look at the overall specs of the nook as compared to the other 7" tabs on the market, the nook just comes out on top. This takes into account the price and the screen. One of the most comfortable things about the nook IMO is the design which boots first from the sd card. It is almost impossible to brick this thing. The only feature the other tablets have that I would want is a functional webcam. With CM7 and host mode enabled, I have all the features the other tablets have except webcam. At present, HC, as an OS, leaves a lot to be desired, the other tabs have poor to average battery life and there are few tablet optimized apps. Yes, HC can run all the apps out there but the overall results are somewhat less than optimal. For my money, I'll wait till q4 when we should have ICS and the quadcore chips out there. Not trying to flame any other tablets but I have tried out most of the 10" tabs extensively and have not found one I would jump on right now. Just saying.....
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
I may be looking into selling my nook here. The new 7" Acer Iconia seems like a great deal @ ~$300, with all the dual core goodness and nook size, but I shall be waiting for reviews before making up my mind.
Moshe5368 said:
When you look at the overall specs of the nook as compared to the other 7" tabs on the market, the nook just comes out on top. This takes into account the price and the screen. One of the most comfortable things about the nook IMO is the design which boots first from the sd card. It is almost impossible to brick this thing. The only feature the other tablets have that I would want is a functional webcam. With CM7 and host mode enabled, I have all the features the other tablets have except webcam. At present, HC, as an OS, leaves a lot to be desired, the other tabs have poor to average battery life and there are few tablet optimized apps. Yes, HC can run all the apps out there but the overall results are somewhat less than optimal. For my money, I'll wait till q4 when we should have ICS and the quadcore chips out there. Not trying to flame any other tablets but I have tried out most of the 10" tabs extensively and have not found one I would jump on right now. Just saying.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As already mentioned in this thread, the main category that NC lags behind is anything multimedia related. The speaker, headphone jack, lack of microphone, etc etc. Of course, these are not expected on a NC, because it was designed as an eReader. However, since you are putting it above other tablets -even the 10.1" ones- then the comparison will be valid (again, normally I wouldn't even compare it).
Nburnes said:
I may be looking into selling my nook here. The new 7" Acer Iconia seems like a great deal @ ~$300, with all the dual core goodness and nook size, but I shall be waiting for reviews before making up my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, one of the reasons that I decided to sell the NC now was because it is pretty much alone in its segment (i.e., 7" tablet) and the price is its biggest strength. However, any 7" tablet that is around $300 may make it harder to sell the NC in the future.
As I mentioned, I am still in the market for a 7" tablet. I just need Staples to start carrying 7" models, so that I can get it for next to nothing
Blue6IX said:
... I've been looking at tablets with my lady, and she still wants a Nook Color. It's the size that does it for her, and the quality of the device...
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Click to collapse
So, you're saying size really DOES matter... lol... just had to!
My situations with the Nook is this. I didnt need a tablet. Couldn't even try to make up an excuse as to why I needed to buy one. All I knew is after reading these threads is that I just wanted one. Now I couldn't live without it. Its totally replaced my laptop and put a serious dent in my main desktops use too. I will buy another tablet once one is released that's worthy but the Nook has earned its right to stay indefinitely.
I bought the Nook Color because it was cheap and hackable and I figured it'd keep me busy and avoid ay temptation to buy something fancy/expensive because there will be lots of movement in the field this year. But once CM7 came out for it I've just been a really happy camper. I think what it's going to take to get me to move is a 4x3 aspect IPS screen maybe running ice cream sandwich, and a "family" data plan so I don't have to think about tethering or wifi access. The 16x9 screen just doesn't fit web pages or book reading nicely when in portrait orientation which I seem to favor. Yeah I just described an iPad, but I'm not going there.
sprior said:
I bought the Nook Color because it was cheap and hackable and I figured it'd keep me busy and avoid ay temptation to buy something fancy/expensive because there will be lots of movement in the field this year. But once CM7 came out for it I've just been a really happy camper. I think what it's going to take to get me to move is a 4x3 aspect IPS screen maybe running ice cream sandwich, and a "family" data plan so I don't have to think about tethering or wifi access. The 16x9 screen just doesn't fit web pages or book reading nicely when in portrait orientation which I seem to favor. Yeah I just described an iPad, but I'm not going there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rumor has it that XOOM2 will be in 4x3 aspect and will be released -according to Moto CEO- in September.

Do 7 inch tablets still have a place?

I currently own a Samsung Galaxy Note, which is an admittedly large phone at 5.3 inches diagonally across. But, many new higher-end phones now offer screens around the 4.7 inch mark, which still is only 2 inches approximately off of a 7 inch tablet. For me, the Nexus 7 is only 1.7 inches bigger in size. So, my question is are 7 inch tablets really needed for those of us with the higher-end and, subsequently, larger phones?
That's something you'll have to personally decide. With the same resolution 1280x800 on your phone I assume your text is pretty crisp and readable.
I want a 7 inch tablet for 2 reasons, so I can view websites in landscape mode without any need to zoom in. And so I don't drain the battery my phone while browsing the net for hours.
I won't always have the tablet with me of course like I would the phone, the phone's handy to have while out, but at home I would far rather use the tablet in pretty much all cases.
So... it's really up to the individual. But the battery life is a big factor, I don't want to have to charge my phone multiple times through the day to be able to browse the web for a few hours and still have the phone last to the end of the day.
Psipherious said:
That's something you'll have to personally decide. With the same resolution 1280x800 on your phone I assume your text is pretty crisp and readable.
I want a 7 inch tablet for 2 reasons, so I can view websites in landscape mode without any need to zoom in. And so I don't drain the battery my phone while browsing the net for hours.
I won't always have the tablet with me of course like I would the phone, the phone's handy to have while out, but at home I would far rather use the tablet in pretty much all cases.
So... it's really up to the individual. But the battery life is a big factor, I don't want to have to charge my phone multiple times through the day to be able to browse the web for a few hours and still have the phone last to the end of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
The performance of the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note is almost identical, as they both sport the same resolution and one with a dual-core 1.4Ghz processor whilst the other has a quad-core albeit clocked slightly slower at 1.3Ghz in speed. The main appeal to me of the Nexus 7, initially, was its ridiculously cheap price, the ability to run tablet apps and also as a battery saver for my phone.
you know what I love about android there are devices and sizes for everyone, I want a seven inch tab after a year of having a ten inch tab I find it very uncomfortable to use while at home and on the go. Holding it portrait is very cumbersome. while my gf's kindle fire is just right size for ME.
Who cares if there is a place for a seven inch tablet, I for one never want to see devices like these built one way
Well, I'd say 10 inch tabs are too big personally. As it was mentioned at the Google I/O, the 7" Nexus won't fall over when holding it with one-hand in bed at night. Plus, in my opinion, 10" devices are verging on laptops for me (Mac laptops for example start at 13 inches). I really cannot decide over the Nexus 7. It'll be quite a strain to save up the money, so I'm not sure whether or not it is worth it.
Psipherious said:
That's something you'll have to personally decide. With the same resolution 1280x800 on your phone I assume your text is pretty crisp and readable.
I want a 7 inch tablet for 2 reasons, so I can view websites in landscape mode without any need to zoom in. And so I don't drain the battery my phone while browsing the net for hours.
I won't always have the tablet with me of course like I would the phone, the phone's handy to have while out, but at home I would far rather use the tablet in pretty much all cases.
So... it's really up to the individual. But the battery life is a big factor, I don't want to have to charge my phone multiple times through the day to be able to browse the web for a few hours and still have the phone last to the end of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SinisterModz said:
+1
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+2
I currently run out of battery life at the end of a work day on my GSII due to playing games for a total of an hour and a half and checking it a lot through the day. It will be nice to use the N7 to play games and use phone for texting and Facebook.
Then tether with my phone if I want to browse or what not on the interwebz
tory13579 said:
+2
I currently run out of battery life at the end of a work day on my GSII due to playing games for a total of an hour and a half and checking it a lot through the day. It will be nice to use the N7 to play games and use phone for texting and Facebook.
Then tether with my phone if I want to browse or what not on the interwebz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you say 7 inches is a portable size?
Haven't you made two other threads asking pretty much the same thing?
One thing I will say is that the "only 2 inch difference" is deceptive. 10 inch tablets are only 3 inches bigger than the 7 inchers, yet generally have twice the area (and, if you compare them side by side, you'll probably opine "so much bigger").
If my calculations are correct, the Nexus 7's screen is as large, as the Galaxy Note itself is. Maybe that's not such a large upgrade from the Note, but from smaller, sub 5 inch phones, it may well be.
Of course 7in tablets have a place... for some of us
I for one love 7in tablets.
I read ebooks and a 7in screen is almost exactly the size of a paperback book page... and its much easier to read on a tablet (on a stand) than it is to hold an actual book and wrestle with pages.
I have a 4" Droid X, but that's still way to small to read on for me.
And I doubt that a 5" screen is much better.
I want to buy a Nexus 7, but I am really really angry that they didn't include an SD card slot. For me the cloud doesn't exist. Where I live I have wifi at home. But, away from home, 95% of the places I use my tablet do not have wifi... no wifi = no cloud access. I have a 32GB SD card almost filled with ebooks, music, and videos. But that's useless on the Nexus 7, limited to only 8GB or 16GB... and I'll bet that all of that isn't available for media either.
thebobp said:
One thing I will say is that the "only 2 inch difference" is deceptive. 10 inch tablets are only 3 inches bigger than the 7 inchers, yet generally have twice the area (and, if you compare them side by side, you'll probably opine "so much bigger").
If my calculations are correct, the Nexus 7's screen is as large, as the Galaxy Note itself is. Maybe that's not such a large upgrade from the Note, but from smaller, sub 5 inch phones, it may well be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose so.
after having a galaxy s vibrant for a while (among other previous phones), i decided just to stick with a basic smartphone that can provide me with the ability to text/email/do basic web browsing/yelp. aside from that i use the tablet to fill in the gaps when traveling and/or sitting at home. my 10" tablet is a bit too big, imo, and i think 7" tablets are a good idea. 7" tablets are easy to hold and tbh having a large phone is a pain getting it into your pocket.
it was a weird adjustment dumbing down on my phone but if i hadn't then i wouldn't have seen the need to get a solid use out of my tablet. plus having a $25 month bill (virgin mobile) for unlimited text/data/small minutes works out much better for me vs paying $100~+ each month w/tmobile.
tl;dr: yes, i think the 7" market will consistently be the most popular market, even with smart phones growing in size.
The Nexus 7 has 16GB of storage, with which you can store what you like on. It's still pretty decent, as eBooks don't take up too much space, and I think this tablet is aimed for home use. For a close to tablet experience on the go, check out the Galaxy Note. Although, here in the UK where there isn't Google Play Music, fitting all my music into 16GB is going to be difficult. Any news on a UK release for Google Music by the way?
Im not to sure where a 7" tablet fits, I have wanted to try one for a while, so I figured the nexus 7 would be a good one to try out the form factor.
I already have a largish mobile 4.3" Samsung Galaxy S2 and a 10.1" tablet Asus EEE. I know some days when I am just web browsing in the home the 10" feels too big but the 4.3" feels a bit small, so a 7" seems like it could work well. I will find out soon enough.
Another place I noticed the 10" seeming to big is when I am using it in bed as if im on my back I have to support the weight of the tablet, which does get surprisingly heavy after a few hours holding it.
Brad387 : I signed up for Google Music when it was first released using a proxy server, after initial signup you dont need a proxy to upload or listen to music
the only thing I am not able to do is actually buy music from the Play Store.
There is already a thread discussing tablet sizes etc, please continue all further discussion there.
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did you have 7" and/or 10" tablet?

Yesterday I went to staples and played around with some 10" tablets, and also with one 7" tablet. I noticed when browsing the web it was clearer in the 10"...
My question is, many of you probably had either one of'em.
What is the pros and cons when it comes to screen size?
Ps: this is the first tablet I bought.
I have 7" kindle fire and the 10" xoom
xoom is clearly easier, because of the size.
it's like comparing samsung note net browsing vs nexus 7 net browsing.
bigger screen for browsing always wins.
the key is to find the median between portability and pleasurable viewing experience.
I've messed around with 10 inch tablets (ipad, xoom, etc) and found them to be too big for me. If I were to carry around something of that size, it would be a laptop.
I've been using my Nook Color with GB/ICS for over a year now. Found that the 7 inch size is perfect for me. Large enough screen where I don't have to hold it 6 inches from my face, but small enough that I don't feel it needs to dominate my attention.
I had an eee pad 10 inch and found it too heavy. i think 7 inch will provide a much better balance between weight, convenience and features.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I have had both (Playbook, Iconia A100, Ipad 1 and 2). Each have their purposes. For web surfing, I do like the 10" better, the 7" is just a tad too small for my liking (and my wife).
For video, they all work for me. I prefer the 7" as it is less obvious when i'm playing a video while in the office working. Also easier for my 3yr old son to hold in the car on longer trips. On trips, the 7" pretty much becomes my son's and the iPad are for the wife and myself.
I had a 10" xoom. For browsing it was fine, but portability sucked. I barely ever wanted to lug that cow around.
Sold it for 220 (minus fees), so only had to pay about $86 for new N7
I vastly prefer 7" tablet, as it's more portable.
I sold my sony tablet S for 400+
Now waiting for NEXUS7
sent from seXperia S
I have an ipad and a a100 ( acer 7 inch) i love the a100 browsing is pretty good ( i like android better tan ipad for browsing) and its way better asn a ereader and gamer. the only place I see the 10 as better is for movies. my kids can share on the ipad doesn't work well with 7 incher.
I have a transformer prime and a galaxy tab 2 7" and for browsing the transformer prime defenetly looks much better and it's easier to browse, but now that the nexus 7 packs the same screen resolution as the tfp, I would say that I prefer 7 inches for web browsing because of portability.
For gaming its defenetly much better yo use a 7 inches.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Thanks, hopefully we get it soon to play with it...
Regarding comparing those 7 and 10 inch tablets at Staples and clarity of web browsing. Keep in mind, all those 7 inch tablets were probably 1024x600 or less resolution. The Nexus 7 is 1280x800, same resolution is most 10 inch tablets. So I believe this 7 inch should be much better text clarity than those other 7 inch tablets.
I have an iPad 3 and for most uses, I much prefer the bigger screen. The only reason I got the nexus is because it's easier to throw in my pocket and use when I'm sitting at a restaurant waiting for a table, movie or whatever, and don't have to worry about storing my tablet after im done waiting. When I'm at a hotel, on a plane or sitting on my couch watching tv, I'm absolutely still going to be using my iPad, because the iPad is easy to throw in my backpack that I carryon.
I have the new iPad and will get a nexus 7 so I don't know which form factors works best for me.
raafaell said:
Yesterday I went to staples and played around with some 10" tablets, and also with one 7" tablet. I noticed when browsing the web it was clearer in the 10"...
My question is, many of you probably had either one of'em.
What is the pros and cons when it comes to screen size?
Ps: this is the first tablet I bought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. So if you ask my wife I have purchased well to many tablets and tech products in general over the past year and a half. I didn't feel I needed a tablet (still probably dont) until the Motorola Xoom came out. A new Android on a tablet with Nexus like qualities and open to the wonderful Android dev community, I had to have it.
I owned that for almost a year and ended up purchasing the Transformer Prime in December. I kept both for awhile, but the Xoom had a horrible screen and it is the only tech product I have ever owned that actually gave me migraines so I sold it. Next, the new iPad was announced and by this time I really was not enjoying an Android tablet and it was really missing some great apps. Still, what brought me to dumping Android tablets fot the new iPad was the excellent high res retina display. Since launch I have really enjoyed the tablet. It is excellent and after owning the iPad I have to say I do see the need for a tablet now. What I am getting is not that I am here supporting the iPad as I prefer Android over iOS, but to tell you for the price and all if your going to get a 10" (actually it is just shy of 10") then the only tablet worth getting in my humble opinion is the new iPad or iPad 2. I dumped my Prime and Xoom and never looked back....Until, the announcement of the Nexus 7 (Ill be honest, the 7 was Google's worst kept secret and I knew I would get it no matter what especially if the price is right). I ordered mine and I am anxiosly awaiting it at my doorstep.
I ended up getting only the 8GB Nexus which I know I will struggle with, but for what I want in it I don't think that I will be upset and if I am I can always sell it and get the 16GB option. I bought my wife the Kindle Fire last christmas and she barely uses it so I use it for reading. The reason I bring this up is that this is the main reason (besides the dev community and amazing things we all know the devs will do with the 7) I ordered the 7" Nexus. It is the perfect form factor for reading and for what you get it is the best value on the market. I stayed with the 8GB because I know that I will be using main apps and browsing on my iPad and reading/hacking/tinkering on my Nexus 7. I also own a Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4s which I use for almost the same purposes as the 4s has the better camera and is a better all around phone for calls and text. Plus, Siri is a great featue. Since JB I have found that I am using my Nexus more so than the iPhone as of late and I am thinking of selling the 4S in anticipation of the new iPhone.
So I hope this helps and like I said if you want a great tablet for things other than reading and the advantages of Android then there is no other tablet that is worth the money (again, this is only my opinion and is subjective) and that is the iPad. The Nexus 7 though will accomplish all those things plus runs JB (Project Butter is the single best improvement I feel that the Android team has done with Android since its inception) and is perfect for reading (the iPad is heavy and too big in my opinion). So as you can see in my opionion and with all that I have used the only two tablets (well, actually three as I would also suggest the iPad 2 if cost is a concern) to anyone asking for an opinion. Android just doesn't have the tablet applications and it doesn't have the great killer eco system that the iPad has. There is a huge reason that Google decided to sell a low cost 7" inbstead of going toe to toe with the iPad.
I hope this helps and please remember I speak as opinion not that my word is end all be all. Technology is subjective and there are other products out there and these are the only two I would suggest after a year and a half with OEMs version of an Android tablet.
Galactic2 said:
I had a 10" xoom. For browsing it was fine, but portability sucked. I barely ever wanted to lug that cow around.
Sold it for 220 (minus fees), so only had to pay about $86 for new N7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here man... sold mine for 250 and im not looking back
I had the OG iPad (a gift) for almost two years. I sold it a month or two after Asus announced the 370 7" tablet back in January.
The iPad was ok, but somewhat over rated imo. I did not like the weight. You can't hold it for very long without resting it on something. Also, it's not as portable as I wanted. Even now, three years later, I never see people walking around with their iPads.
I would have preferred an 8" tablet. 7" is just a bit too small for web browsing. I think 8" would work better, and still weigh a lot less than a 10". But there aren't really any 8" options out there. Not any I find acceptable anyway.
So I'm using the $ I got from selling my iPad to buy the Nexus 7. I've been without a tablet for over four months now, so I'm getting kind of anxious.
have an iPad 2 and up until I bricked my Transformer Prime last night =( those were my 2 tablets...now I gotta replace the Prime, so I'm ordering the Nexus 7 since I just found out it has OTG Mass Storage support via Stickmount (YAY for Chainfire) I was leaning towards the Nx 7 anyway since it is a nexus device OTG just clinched it.
I have had several tablets; right now in my backpack I have an iPad 2 that I got for $200 used. It's in almost perfect condition aside from a weird scratch on a corner of the screen that you can't see really anyway.
90% of the time I use my tablet it's for ereading and trust me, 7" is way better for that. I really liked my Nook Tablet but it was too limited in function at the time so I swapped it out for a Galaxy Tab 7+. That tablet was a perfect size and functionality, but unfortunately was laggy and the battery left a lot to be desired. So I have my iPad for now, but I am really looking forward to getting my N7 here because that 7" combined with light weight (which is a huge plus in and of itself) and solid, "buttery" performance is what I'm after. I'm going to give it some break-in time then sell my iPad to start saving for the new Nexus phone.
I've used both sizes. I had an Archos 70 Internet Tablet and a XOOM. 7" form factor is really awesome for a tablet which is used for reading/gaming/browsing. The thing that killed it for me completely was the 800x400 resolution, this is why i upgraded to the Xoom.
The resolution is really the only thing i didn't like - i love how much li htghter 7" tablets are than 10.1" tablets, it's a night and day comparison when you are casually lounging or reading in bed in terms of weight. My xoom has smacked me in the face over 100 times over the past year because i try to balance it on my chest in bed while reading and start falling asleep - not the best way to awake
I love that 10.1" offers a lot of screen space, i hate how heavy these things are. I could argue that the N7 needed to be 7.7" but with the high-res IPS screen, i don't think i'll have the same problem that i had with the Archos 7".
All the above being said, i'm excited for the N7 and really hope that the N10 will feature a high res display with high PPI.

[REVIEW] My quick review of the Nexus 7

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Disclaimer: You are going to see me mention the iPad a LOT here, and that's because I have been an iPad user since day 1 when the first iPad came out. I have HATED every single Android tablet up till the N7. My hatred for Android tablets was exacerbated by the fact that I love Android and so dearly wanted one that could compete with the iPad and they all just fell short. Now that I have my N7, I am THRILLED with it, and haven't touched my iPad once since getting it. So you may think from reading this that I am an iPad fanboy, which I most definitely am not. I have just been patiently waiting for a comparable Android tablet to come to market and now one finally has. Happy day.
Read on.
Those that know me know that I just don’t like Android tablets. They have never appealed to me. I have always found many things wrong with them (both hardware and software), and have always preferred the iPad for my on-the-go digital consumption and gaming needs. Even the highest end Android tablets have always left something to be desired- from the terrible screen, weight and heft of the Motorola Xoom all the way to the Transformer Prime which while being the best Android tablet ever when it arrived on the scene, failed to live up to the hype. Android just wasn’t quite ready for the tablet scene and the iPad always overshadowed even the best Android tablets. Argue with me all you want about how much better your Prime is than the iPad but the fact is (yes, I said FACT), it’s not. The iPad has better hardware, better software, better build quality, and MUCH better apps. Because of this, there was no reason whatsoever to buy any Android tablet over the iPad- until now.
In comes the Nexus 7, the second Android tablet I have owned (the first being the Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 Plus that was returned after 4 hours), and easily the best Android tablet ever made. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that it has the best specs, the best screen, the slimmest profile, or the sexiest looks. What I mean is the package as a whole is the best Android has to offer, and for the price you just can’t beat it. In fact, after owning one for about 24 hours now, I’d be hard pressed to try to come up with a better way to spend $250. Pretty much all the complaints I have had about Android tablets in the past are completely moot now with the Nexus 7.
Lets start with the hardware. For $250 ($200 if you got the 8gb version), Google has managed to squeeze incredible performance out of this thing. The Tegra 3 processor just screams here. Now, the Tegra 3 is not the most powerful SOC (system on a chip) out there, but it is definitely a respectable powerhouse, and Google has clearly optimized Jelly Bean to run on it and that makes all the difference in the world. Apps open fast, games run flawlessly with nary a frame rate stutter, and scrolling is buttery smooth (more on the butter later). The 1280x800 screen on it isn’t the greatest. In all honesty, it is the N7’s biggest shortcoming. It feels rather outdated, especially coming from an iPad 3 and an HTC One XL, but for the price, you just can’t beat it. It’s an IPS LCD that has decent color reproduction, acceptable indoor brightness levels, and a great viewing angle. At the most extreme angles the blacks do get washed out but hey, who uses tablets from the side? At every USABLE viewing angle however the screen is great, as long as you don’t use it side by side with the previously mentioned devices. My only real complaint about it is its outdoor performance. Maybe the breathtaking SLCD2 on my AT&T One XL (best phone ever, shut up about your plasticky SGS3 already) has spoiled me, but I was very disappointed with the way the screen looks outside. Even at its maximum brightness it is barely viewable even on an overcast day like today. But the good thing is that disappointment was quickly diminished when I reminded myself how much I paid for this thing.
Build quality is superb, but that shouldn’t be a surprise considering ASUS manufactured this thing for Google. The front is a solid slab of Corning scratch resistant glass (not Gorilla Glass), it is bound by a very tasteful silver frame, and the dimpled rubberized back is a joy to behold. This thing is absolutely solid, not a creak or squeak anywhere, and it feels like a much more expensive device than it is. I expected decent build quality but what I got was way beyond whatever preconceived notions I had had. Seriously, the craftsmanship on this thing is belied by its diminutive price tag. I think all other Android tab manufacturers need to take note here (*cough*Samsung*cough*)- THIS is how you build an Android tablet. I have played with practically every other major Android tablet on the market and none of them conveyed a sense of quality that could hold its own against the build of an iPad. This bad boy right here goes toe to toe with Apple’s offering in this regard. They have completely different design aesthetics but there is no denying that Google and ASUS meant business here.
On to the software. The Nexus 7 is Google’s first device to ship with its latest version of Android, version 4.1 Jelly Bean. It isn’t a major leap forward from Ice Cream Sandwich but more of an evolutionary step. They have optimized the performance of it so it feels a lot faster, and added quite a few features such as Google Now which I haven’t really played with all too much so I’m not going to comment on it further. The biggest change to me, at least from a users perspective, is what Google calls Project Butter. This is Google’s attempt to finally match the “buttery” smoothness of the UI and other operations of the iPad. Whenever any Android device is compared to an iOS device, be it a phone or a tablet, one cannot deny that Apple’s offerings offer a MUCH smoother experience across the UI. People who love their Android devices will surely say that their Galaxy S2s are as smooth as the iPhone and that their Transformer Primes are just as smooth as the iPad- well I don’t care what you say because they aren’t. There just is no argument. Sure they are smooth as hell compared to other Android devices but iOS smooth they are not. That is because Apple sets the UI animation renderings as the priority for the CPU/GPU which makes them incredibly smooth. That smoothness conveys quality. Project Butter is Google’s answer to that and while I can’t quite say that they have matched that smoothness, they definitely succeeded in conveying that same finished product level of UI quality that iOS devices have. They do this with a combination of significantly smoother scrolling, great app opening animations, and various other tweaks throughout the system. Couple all the software tweaks with the single most responsive touchscreen on any Android device to date and you have one incredibly fluid experience. Bottom line- it’s awesome.
Now a lot of people, myself included, complained about Google’s choice to use more or less a phone UI for the Nexus 7 instead of the standard ICS tablet UI. I was very disappointed when I found out, that’s for sure. But I decided that Google made a conscious decision to do this, and that I needed to trust them so I went into it with an open mind. Now, my biggest complaint about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus was the UI. I absolutely hated it. I’m not referring to the Touchwiz modifications that they made, but the actual Honeycomb UI design choices that still showed through. It just didn’t work on the 7” form factor, at least not for me. I am happy to report that the hybrid phone/tablet UI that Google decided to use on the Nexus 7 not only works, but does so famously. Long story short, any disappointment I had about it was quickly washed away when I started using it. It just makes sense to me now to use the phone UI here. Everything is within reach, nothing is cluttered, no buttons are too small making them hard to press, and I think it looks beautiful. My only complaint is that Google locked the homescreen UI to portrait mode only, but that is easily remedied by installing a 3rd party launcher like Nova which I use and recommend.
Now, where I think Android really needs to pick up the slack is with their tablet-optimized app selections. iOS simply blows Android out of the water here. A tablet is really only as good as the apps that can run on it and the apps alone make the iPad the best tablet out there. The nice thing here, is that since the Nexus 7 is a 7” tablet, it can handle tablet optimized apps AND phone apps and make it seem like they were all designed specifically for this size screen. Apps of both varieties feel right at home here. Quite frankly, it’s awesome and it makes a HUGE difference. When I am using an app that was only designed for a phone on the N7, it doesn’t feel like there is any compromise. This right here opens up a whole world of apps that while are a pain to use on a 10” tablet, they are great on the 7” one. With the N7 we get the best of both worlds.
The main reason why I got this thing was for gaming. Aside from browsing the web whilst sitting in the throne room, my iPad is used almost exclusively for games. The problem is, it’s just way too big for some. Playing a first person shooter like NOVA 3 or Modern Combat 3 is just way too cumbersome on a 10” tablet. On a 7” tablet, it’s flat out perfect. I have been waiting for a great 7” gaming tablet to come along and I couldn’t be happier with this thing. Right now, some of my favorite games just don’t run on it, like NOVA 3, but others do and they are AWESOME to play on this bad oscar. The Tegra HD games like Shadowgun look flat out gorgeous here and the fact that the screen isn’t massive makes them a joy to play. I haven't spent too much time yet with emulators, but I can say that N64oid works great and Starfox 64 is a blast to play on it. Most of the games I have played so far have run incredibly smoothly here, and it is obvious that the Tegra 3 was built with gaming in mind.
One thing I haven’t touched on so far is the battery life. I’m on the fence with it. It seems like the battery drops faster than I was expecting it to, but I have only had it for 24 hours and that just isn’t long enough for me to give an accurate review of it. If I am just swiping through the screens it seems to hold pretty well, but as soon as I start browsing the web or playing games the battery seems to drop fairly quickly. I have yet to run this thing through a complete cycle so I dunno. Google states that we should be getting about 8 hours out of it with “active use” and that seems fairly accurate, as long as that “active use” isn’t 8 hours of straight Shadowgunning because I promise you it won’t make it that long.
So that about sums up what I have taken from this thing in the 24 hours that I’ve owned it. I am thoroughly impressed with what Google and ASUS have done here and I am FINALLY a fan of Android in the tablet world. One thing I know for absolute certain is that my iPad will see a significant drop in usage now that I have my Nexus 7. I think used to think 10" was the perfect size for a tablet but the Nexus 7 has me convinced otherwise. The 7" form factor is SIGNIFICANTLY more comfortable to hold and use. I am in absolute love with the Nexus 7 and I know it is not just a honeymoon thing. Do I think it is better than the iPad? Nope, not really. Do I think it is as good as the iPad, in an apples to oranges sort of way? Absolutely. Do I think it is the best Android tablet to date? Without a doubt. Is it worth the $200-$250? Don’t be stupid, of course it is. The bottom line is, if you have been waiting to pull the trigger on an Android tablet like I was, this is the tablet to get. It simply cannot be beat for the price.
I know I left some things out here so feel free to ask any questions that you may have.
EDIT: It's official, I have decided to sell my iPad 3. The N7 is everything I ever wanted in a tablet, no need to hang on to the iPad if it's just going to be collecting dust.
whoa.. such a big review with such small fonts on my pc. i'll read it only on my GN7
for the time being, you should upload a video review on youtube. I'd love to see that dude.
_MetalHead_ said:
Those that know me know that I just don’t like Android tablets. They have never appealed to me. I have always found many things wrong with them (both hardware and software), and have always preferred the iPad for my on-the-go digital consumption and gaming needs. Even the highest end Android tablets have always left something to be desired- from the terrible screen, weight and heft of the Motorola Xoom all the way to the Transformer Prime which while being the best Android tablet ever when it arrived on the scene, failed to live up to the hype and left much to be desired. Android just wasn’t quite ready for the tablet scene and the iPad always overshadowed even the best Android tablets. Argue with me all you want about how much better your Prime is than the iPad but the fact is (yes, I said FACT), it’s not. The iPad has better hardware, better software, better build quality, and MUCH better apps. Because of this, there was no reason whatsoever to buy any Android tablet over the iPad- until now.
In comes the Nexus 7, the second Android tablet I have owned (the first being the Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 Plus that was returned after 4 hours), and easily the best Android tablet ever made. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that it has the best specs, the best screen, the slimmest profile, or the sexiest looks. What I mean is the package as a whole is the best Android has to offer, and for the price you just can’t beat it. In fact, after owning one for about 24 hours now, I’d be hard pressed to try to come up with a better way to spend $250. Pretty much all the complaints I have had about Android tablets in the past are completely moot now with the Nexus 7.
Lets start with the hardware. For $250 ($200 if you got the 8gb version), Google has managed to squeeze incredible performance out of this thing. The Tegra 3 processor just screams here. Now, the Tegra 3 is not the most powerful SOC (system on a chip) out there, but it is definitely a respectable powerhouse, and Google has clearly optimized Jelly Bean to run on it and that makes all the difference in the world. Apps open fast, games run flawlessly with nary a frame rate stutter, and scrolling is buttery smooth (more on the butter later). The 1280x800 screen on it isn’t the greatest. In all honesty, it is the N7’s biggest shortcoming. It feels rather outdated, especially coming from an iPad 3 and an HTC One XL, but for the price, you just can’t beat it. It’s an IPS LCD that has decent color reproduction, acceptable indoor brightness levels, and a great viewing angle. At the most extreme angles the blacks do get washed out but hey, who uses tablets from the side? At every USABLE viewing angle however the screen is great, as long as you don’t use it side by side with the previously mentioned devices. My only real complaint about it is its outdoor performance. Maybe the breathtaking SLCD2 on my AT&T One XL (best phone ever, shut up about your plasticky SGS3 already) has spoiled me, but I was very disappointed with the way the screen looks outside. Even at its maximum brightness it is barely viewable even on an overcast day like today. But the good thing is that disappointment was quickly diminished when I reminded myself how much I paid for this thing.
Build quality is superb, but that shouldn’t be a surprise considering ASUS manufactured this thing for Google. The front is a solid slab of Corning scratch resistant glass (not Gorilla Glass), it is bound by a very tasteful silver frame, and the dimpled rubberized back is a joy to behold. This thing is absolutely solid, not a creak or squeak anywhere, and it feels like a much more expensive device than it is. I expected decent build quality but what I got was way beyond whatever preconceived notions I had had. Seriously, the craftsmanship on this thing is belied by its diminutive price tag. I think all other Android tab manufacturers need to take note here (*cough*Samsung*cough*)- THIS is how you build an Android tablet. I have played with practically every other major Android tablet on the market and none of them conveyed a sense of quality that could hold its own against the build of an iPad. This bad boy right here goes toe to toe with Apple’s offering in this regard. They have completely different design aesthetics but there is no denying that Google and ASUS meant business here.
On to the software. The Nexus 7 is Google’s first device to ship with its latest version of Android, version 4.1 Jelly Bean. It isn’t a major leap forward from Ice Cream Sandwich but more of an evolutionary step. They have optimized the performance of it so it feels a lot faster, and added quite a few features such as Google Now which I haven’t really played with all too much so I’m not going to comment on it further. The biggest change to me, at least from a users perspective, is what Google calls Project Butter. This is Google’s attempt to finally match the “buttery” smoothness of the UI and other operations of the iPad. Whenever any Android device is compared to an iOS device, be it a phone or a tablet, one cannot deny that Apple’s offerings offer a MUCH smoother experience across the UI. People who love their Android devices will surely say that their Galaxy S2s are as smooth as the iPhone and that their Transformer Primes are just as smooth as the iPad- well I don’t care what you say because they aren’t. There just is no argument. Sure they are smooth as hell compared to other Android devices but iOS smooth they are not. That is because Apple sets the UI animation renderings as the priority for the CPU/GPU which makes them incredibly smooth. That smoothness conveys quality. Project Butter is Google’s answer to that and while I can’t quite say that they have matched that smoothness, they definitely succeeded in conveying that same finished product level of UI quality that iOS devices have. They do this with a combination of significantly smoother scrolling, great app opening animations, and various other tweaks throughout the system. Bottom line is- it’s awesome.
Now a lot of people, myself included, complained about Google’s choice to use more or less a phone UI for the Nexus 7 instead of the standard ICS tablet UI. I was very disappointed when I found out, that’s for sure. But I decided that Google made a conscious decision to do this, and that I needed to trust them so I went into it with an open mind. Now, my biggest complaint about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus was the UI. I absolutely hated it. I’m not referring to the Touchwiz modifications that they made, but the actual Honeycomb UI design choices that still showed through. It just didn’t work on the 7” form factor, at least not for me. I am happy to report that the hybrid phone/tablet UI that Google decided to use on the Nexus 7 not only works, but does so famously. Long story short, any disappointment I had about it was quickly washed away when I started using it. It just makes sense to me now to use the phone UI here. Everything is within reach, nothing is cluttered, no buttons are too small making them hard to press, and I think it looks beautiful. My only complaint is that Google locked the homescreen UI to portrait mode only, but that is easily remedied by installing a 3rd part launcher like Nova.
Now, where I think Android really needs to pick up the slack is with their tablet-optimized app selections. iOS simply blows Android out of the water here. A tablet is really only as good as the apps that can run on it and the apps alone make the iPad the best tablet out there. The nice thing here, is that since the Nexus 7 is a 7” tablet, it can handle tablet optimized apps AND phone apps and make it seem like they were all designed to specifically for this size screen. Quite frankly, it’s awesome and it makes a HUGE difference. When I am using an app that was only designed for phone on the N7, it doesn’t feel like there is any compromise. This right here opens up a whole world of apps that while are a pain to use on a 10” tablet, they are great on the 7” one. With the N7 we get the best of both worlds.
The main reason why I got this thing was for gaming. Aside from browsing the web whilst sitting in the throne room, my iPad is used almost exclusively for games. The problem is, it’s just way too big for some. Playing a first person shooter like NOVA 3 or Modern Combat 3 is just way too cumbersome on a 10” tablet. On a 7” tablet, it’s flat out perfect. I have been waiting for a great 7” gaming tablet to come along and I couldn’t be happier with this thing. Right now, some of my favorite games just don’t run on it, like NOVA 3, but others do and they are AWESOME to play on this bad oscar. The Tegra HD games like Shadowgun look flat out gorgeous here and the fact that the screen isn’t massive makes them a joy to play. Most of the games I have played so far have run incredibly smoothly here, and it is obvious that the Tegra 3 was built with gaming in mind.
One thing I haven’t touched on so far is the battery life. I’m on the fence with it. It seems like the battery drops faster than I was expecting it too, but I have only had it for 24 hours and that just isn’t long enough for me to give an accurate review of it. If I am just swiping through the screens it seems to hold pretty well, but as soon as I start browsing the web or playing games the battery seems to drop fairly quickly. I have yet to run this thing through a complete cycle so I dunno. Google states that we should be getting about 8 hours out of it with “active use” and that seems fairly accurate, as long as that “active use” isn’t 8 hours of straight Shadowgunning because I promise you it won’t make it that long.
So that about sums up what I have taken from this thing in the 24 hours that I’ve owned it. I am thoroughly impressed with what Google and ASUS have done here and I amn FINALLY a fan of Android in the tablet world. Do I think it is better than the iPad? Nope, not at all. Do I think it is as good as the iPad, in an apples to oranges sort of way? Absolutely. Do I think it is the best Android tablet to date? Without a doubt. Is it worth the $200-$250? Don’t be stupid, of course it is. The bottom line is, if you have been waiting to pull the trigger on an Android tablet like I was, this is the tablet to get. It simply cannot be beat for the price.
I know I left some things out here so feel free to ask any questions that you may have.
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nusairh said:
whoa.. such a big review with such small fonts on my pc. i'll read it only on my GN7
for the time being, you should upload a video review on youtube. I'd love to see that dude.
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Click to collapse
I'm planning on doing a video review later. Too hungover to do it now lol
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Excellent review! I also have always known that Android has had a tough time competing with the iPad which has definitely dominated the market for multiple reasons. I still have my iPad 2 and will use the Nexus 7 solely for the week and if I don't miss the iPad it will be sold at the end of the week. Right now after having it for around 8 hours I couldn't be happier, but I will see if I miss any iOS apps.
Screen is great and really loving the 7" form factor. I use my iPad exclusively in portrait mode and do so with the Nexus as well and it works great!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Haha thnx for the review bud, I pre ordered from play store so lord knows when I'll see mine lol
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Skillz1318 said:
Excellent review! I also have always known that Android has had a tough time competing with the iPad which has definitely dominated the market for multiple reasons. I still have my iPad 2 and will use the Nexus 7 solely for the week and if I don't miss the iPad it will be sold at the end of the week. Right now after having it for around 8 hours I couldn't be happier, but I will see if I miss any iOS apps.
Screen is great and really loving the 7" form factor. I use my iPad exclusively in portrait mode and do so with the Nexus as well and it works great!
Sent from my Nexus 7
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Click to collapse
One thing I know for sure is that my iPad will se a significant drop in usage now that I have the Nexus 7. I used to think that the iPad was the perfect size for a tablet, now I'm not so sure. I am in absolute love with the N7 and I know it's not just a honeymoon thing. The size of the N7 is sooooo much more convenient than the iPad and is way more comfortable to hold. Like you said though it's all those awesome iOS apps that I will probably miss and for that reason I will not get rid of my iPad (especially because of Land Sear Air Warfare, what an AMAZING game) but for sure the N7 is going to become my primary tablet.
Wait no pics?
Sent from my EVO 4G LTE
Excellent review, awaiting for mine to arrive and stalking these threads to assure me that my purchase is justified.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda app-developers app
david279 said:
Wait no pics?
Sent from my EVO 4G LTE
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Pretty sure everyone knows what they look like by now.
_MetalHead_ said:
One thing I know for sure is that my iPad will se a significant drop in usage now that I have the Nexus 7. I used to think that the iPad was the perfect size for a tablet, now I'm not so sure. I am in absolute love with the N7 and I know it's not just a honeymoon thing. The size of the N7 is sooooo much more convenient than the iPad and is way more comfortable to hold. Like you said though it's all those awesome iOS apps that I will probably miss and for that reason I will not get rid of my iPad (especially because of Land Sear Air Warfare, what an AMAZING game) but for sure the N7 is going to become my primary tablet.
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Yeah I definitely prefer 7", but like you said will see if the iOS apps sway me back to the "dark side".
Any issues with dead pixels or screen flicker? Others are having some complaints
AtropineNa said:
Any issues with dead pixels or screen flicker? Others are having some complaints
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Nope, aside from the minor complaints I talked about in the review, the screen is perfect. No image retention "problems" either.
Nice review
I'm trying to decide between the Xoom and the Nexus 7.
Both are the same price and each have their pros and cons so not an easy decision. Especially since I already have a 5.3" Note in my pocket.
Decisions, decisions.
Any advice?
Cheers
K1LLER HORNET said:
Nice review
I'm trying to decide between the Xoom and the Nexus 7.
Both are the same price and each have their pros and cons so not an easy decision. Especially since I already have a 5.3" Note in my pocket.
Decisions, decisions.
Any advice?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I really don't like the Xoom in the slightest. I played with one again today and it reminded me about how much I hated it. The screen is pretty crappy, the thing is heavy as hell, and performance is terribly sluggish by today's standards. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to go with a 10" tab, the iPad is the only option worth considering. If you want a 7" or just any Android tablet in general, the only one that I can comfortably recommend is the Nexus 7 and that is a wholehearted recommendation. At this point, I don't think anybody should consider buying an Android tablet unless it's an N7 and even then they shouldn't consider it- they should stop wasting time and buy it already
Go with the Nexus 7 man, guaranteed you are going to love it.
_MetalHead_ said:
Honestly, I really don't like the Xoom in the slightest. I played with one again today and it reminded me about how much I hated it. The screen is pretty crappy, the thing is heavy as hell, and performance is terribly sluggish by today's standards. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to go with a 10" tab, the iPad is the only option worth considering. If you want a 7" or just any Android tablet in general, the only one that I can comfortably recommend is the Nexus 7 and that is a wholehearted recommendation. At this point, I don't think anybody should consider buying an Android tablet unless it's an N7 and even then they shouldn't consider it- they should stop wasting time and buy it already
Go with the Nexus 7 man, guaranteed you are going to love it.
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Click to collapse
Cheers, thanks for the info.
I recently sold my 64GB iPad 2.
Won't be going back to Apple. Good app selection but can't stand how they operate.
Just seen a review of the the Xoom's screen, pretty poor to say the least. Simply terrible viewing angles.
I think I'll take your recommendation and stick with my N7 pre-order :good:
Can't wait.
Thanks again
K1LLER HORNET said:
Cheers, thanks for the info.
I recently sold my 64GB iPad 2.
Won't be going back to Apple. Good app selection but can't stand how they operate.
Just seen a review of the the Xoom's screen, pretty poor to say the least. Simply terrible viewing angles.
I think I'll take your recommendation and stick with my N7 pre-order :good:
Can't wait.
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I hate the way Apple operates but I love the hardware and the game selections. No way can I get rid of my iPad.
No review can fully convey just how bad the Xoom's screen is. Especially if you are coming from an iPad, you will HATE it.
Picked mine up & am VERY happy w/ every aspect of this device. Hopefully the Dev community embraces the N7 and pump out ROMs / kernels etc
Good read OP. Just pre ordered from gamestop earlier.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
I'll add that the Nexus 7 will be a secondary tablet for me. The lack of an internal memory card slot, hdmi port, a rear camera (with flash), and other things relegate this to a part time toy. My Acer A500 is my workhorse. It has 80gb memory, reads barcodes, has the real estate big enough to read schematics at work, and has 2 USB ports... one full-size.
Don't get me wrong, I'll get a LOT of use from my Nexus, but not for work, not for on a trip where I want to display media on a projector or flatscreen... essentially, not for serious use. It's going to be a great reader, great for streaming, great for browsing, etc.
I now have a choice of viewing options- a 4.3" screen on my Razr Maxx, a 7" screen on my Nexus 7, and a 10.1" screen on my Acer A500. There's been times I wanted a larger second device with me, but the Acer (especially with the case) was just too damned bulky. This opens a lot of options. And, yes, it does fit in a pocket when you're wearing cargo pants
I don't know dude, almost sounded like the only thing you liked about it is the price (and the form factor, but that will be a non issue once iPad mini comes out).
Most of the time your review almost sounded sarcastic, like your using this review to reiterate how awesome your iPad is ..."Yeah, I like so and so about n7, it still sucks compared to my glorious iPad, but it's cheaper, so I'll pretend it's fine".
As for your so-called "facts" about one thing being better than another, you might wanna start substituting "facts" with "in my opinion", coz there is such a thing as personal preference.
Sent from my Full AOSP on Toro-VZW using xda app-developers app

Trade kindle fire hd for chrome book?

Hi everyone. I have an offer for someone to buy my kindle fire hd. If I did sell it I would be picking up a chrome book. I type a lot on forums and use within at work. I am thinking it might be better for web browsing. What are your opinions? I really like my fire hd and I would miss the touch screen along with the many games. I don't know what should do so I am looking for suggestions. It is a pain to type on the fire hd, I really wish you could install swiftkey keyboard as the predictive typing is terrible on the kindle. Once again just shoot me your thoughts,this isn't a one is better than the other, I just want to make an educated decision.
What I do on my kindle.
Pay bills
Watch movies
Surf web
Forums
Twitter
Email
Skype
Play games
Read books
Thanks
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
petes67bird said:
Hi everyone. I have an offer for someone to buy my kindle fire hd. If I did sell it I would be picking up a chrome book. I type a lot on forums and use within at work. I am thinking it might be better for web browsing. What are your opinions? I really like my fire hd and I would miss the touch screen along with the many games. I don't know what should do so I am looking for suggestions. It is a pain to type on the fire hd, I really wish you could install swiftkey keyboard as the predictive typing is terrible on the kindle. Once again just shoot me your thoughts,this isn't a one is better than the other, I just want to make an educated decision.
What I do on my kindle.
Pay bills
Watch movies
Surf web
Forums
Twitter
Email
Skype
Play games
Read books
Thanks
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really like having the touch screen and still want the option of having a better way to type, you should look into the Asus Transformer series tablet. You can buy a custom made keyboard dock that doubles the battery life and adds more ports(usb, full size sd I think). Its not one of those cheap keyboards either, its made by Asus for the device(super thin, very portable) hence the name Transformer, best of both worlds touchscreen tablet or mini laptop. It is very easy to attach and detach. Also Asus is awesome about updating their software, usually one of the first tablets to get new android updates.
This device would fit every need you mention above. You can get the TF300 series w/ keyboard dock for under 500. If you want best of the best the TF700 w/ dock is about 620-650, screen resolution is amazing something like 1920x1200.
Hi,I would love to get the asus but price is 2x what I am willing or able to spend right now. Before I bought the first fire, the transformer prime was what I wanted. Where I am right now,about 250 would be my Max budget. I am offered 200 for my fire hd with my case and the remaining 10 months on my best buy warranty for accidental coverage. So the chrome book would only be an additional 50 bucks. That's about all I can do right now as money is a bit tight. Thanks for the suggestion though,it was a great one.
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
Wow I didn't realize that chrome books were so cheap I might look at getting one then just to add to my devices.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using xda app-developers app
Chrome books are a fair spec on paper but the screen is horrible. Not IPS... matt and low viewing angles.
How do you know the screen is horrible? Do you own one? Is the screen as nice as the kindle hd..... No. But it's not horrible, I have used one and the screen still appears high Def. Regarding viewing angles, I sit in front of my computer not off to the side so that's a non issue. Some people prefer the matte screen over the gloss, I do.
Thanks for the help guys.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Ion using Tapatalk 2.
Nexus 10.. and get a blue tooth keyboard if you need to type a lot. It was debuted online on 10/29. Not sure of the release date yet. It's made by Samsung, not Asus this time around.
The Asus transformer is not a bad choice. With the dock, it gets turned into an android netbook of sorts. Not to mention it's detachable and you can just carry the tablet portion around if you want. Though my husband says that it feels awkward on the dock, he hardly every uses it. Possibly only with the 1st gen, never tried the 2nd.
Or you can be adventurous and get the Microsoft surface running full windows 8 Not light on the pocket book though.
That's nice but budget is 250. Choices are slim.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Ion using Tapatalk 2.
Perhaps the N7 then. You can install keyboards to your hearts content without jumping through hoops. Plus get a BT keyboard. The 16 GB is now $199 and the 32 is $249.
Otherwise you can take a look at pre-owned transformers, but I'd take the N7 any day.. I love the 7" size.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
So you would take a nexus 7 over the chrome book? I have heard negative things about the 7s build quality. I think I would rather keep my kindle hd. Why is no one for the chromebook?
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
It's a new OS. From my knowledge, it doesn't run Android, it runs chrome OS. It can go either way and it would be in early development in comparison to Android. Someone's gotta test it though
I like my N7, get a good one and it will be good to you back.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
petes67bird said:
Hi everyone. I have an offer for someone to buy my kindle fire hd. If I did sell it I would be picking up a chrome book. I type a lot on forums and use within at work. I am thinking it might be better for web browsing. What are your opinions? I really like my fire hd and I would miss the touch screen along with the many games. I don't know what should do so I am looking for suggestions. It is a pain to type on the fire hd, I really wish you could install swiftkey keyboard as the predictive typing is terrible on the kindle. Once again just shoot me your thoughts,this isn't a one is better than the other, I just want to make an educated decision.
What I do on my kindle.
Pay bills
Watch movies
Surf web
Forums
Twitter
Email
Skype
Play games
Read books
Thanks
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For what you want I would recommend getting a chrome book.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda app-developers app
petes67bird said:
How do you know the screen is horrible? Do you own one? Is the screen as nice as the kindle hd..... No. But it's not horrible, I have used one and the screen still appears high Def. Regarding viewing angles, I sit in front of my computer not off to the side so that's a non issue. Some people prefer the matte screen over the gloss, I do.
Thanks for the help guys.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Ion using Tapatalk 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used one in the flesh for about 20 minutes. I don't own one because I did not like the screen quality.
Its not just me... from Anandtech
"The new Chromebook's display is still a fairly mediocre TN panel, but for anyone used to the majority of low cost PC notebooks over the past few years it's really not any different. The 16:9 display measures 11.6 inches along the diagonal with a 1366 x 768 resolution.
Viewing angles are pretty bad. Max brightness tops out at 233 nits, although contrast ratio is better than a lot of low cost notebooks. The low max brightness means that outdoor use will be an issue, generally speaking for really bright sunlight you'll need something closer to 500 nits to be usable."
look, the screen is fair for the money - but not for me.
---------- Post added at 06:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 PM ----------
BTW - I am quite sensitive to the quality of screens. So others may well have a more positive perspective.
The KF HD screen rocks though ! Better than the ipad mini and N7 ...
thanks deagle. I ordered 2 of them but they are out of stock. I am gonna hold onto my kindle hd until I test out the chrome book for a little while. The other one is a Christmas present from my sister and I for my parents who are not computer savvy at all. I figure this will be easier than a windows Pc would be for someone who never owned a computer. Thanks again
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
petes67bird said:
So you would take a nexus 7 over the chrome book? I have heard negative things about the 7s build quality. I think I would rather keep my kindle hd. Why is no one for the chromebook?
Sent from my Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the chromebooks are great and especially since they are that cheap. The only thing that turns me off is that there is no internal storage, you have to access all your files from google drive. Not a bad thing if you are always near wi-fi or you have the 3G version($450 though).
Have you thought about just getting a bluetooth keyboard for the kindle, i'm sure there is one out there that is compatible.
By the way I own a KFHD and two Nexus 7's. I don't agree with everyone that says the build quality on the Nexus is bad, feels solid and one of them has been dropped at least 10 times w/ no damage, screen has no light bleed and great color, a powerhouse when it comes to multitasking, and all jacks(usb,headphone) are very tight.
That being said the KFHD has an even better screen w/ richer color, 10x's better audio, hdmi port, and better overall handling feel.
I think the thin client/cloud model has a future... and I have been tempted... and would have pressed the "go" button but the 3G ones were not available... and I don't like the screen too much (but then again, I like IPS and glossy).

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