Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab

[mgmueller]

http://computershopper.com/laptops/r...sprint-version

[Sonist]

$600 for a 7"/5 hours battery life Tab, compared to the 10"/10+ hours battery life iPad....

And with 16x9 screen.

Duh.

[fyrogenesis]

great. thinking of getting this as my K3 went dead (only after a week using), and i really need a smartphone right now.

the main issue is that i have no idea what is the practicality of a 7" device as a main phone. i hope it is doable.

[NoName]

Originally Posted by fyrogenesis

great. thinking of getting this as my K3 went dead (only after a week using), and i really need a smartphone right now.

the main issue is that i have no idea what is the practicality of a 7" device as a main phone. i hope it is doable.

I don't think the US versions are phones, but I think the European ones are. If what you need is a phone, there are other great androids out there with 4.3" screens. They're probably easier to hold on to also.

[HansTWN]

A 7" phone may be doable for a person carrying a bag or purse, wearing a business suit, or cargo pants. Otherwise forget it, especially since the bezel on the Tab is so wide. 5" is most practical for a phone.

But what really stinks about Android is that it is encrypted VPN. It is a real pain to get OpenVPN to work and PPTP does not work when encrypted. Google knows this problem for over one year and has not taken care of it. That problem greatly affects business uses and streaming. Really sucks when traveling to certain countries, too.

And I would agree with Sonist, the Tab just seems to be much too expensive for a what they offer.

[Logseman]

The European versions are not phones either. Carriers are trying to use these tablets to sell secondary data plans. €800 ($1050) is what a free (non-bound) Galaxy Tab costs in Europe. Is this thing really selling???

[Dopedangel]

Asian version work as phones I bought one for my sister but did not get to play with it as the person taking it home for me was leaving the next day.

[tubemonkey]

This thing is too spendy. Not worth the money for my needs. That's why I went with the Nook Color. It's a better valued Android tablet.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

A 7" phone may be doable for a person carrying a bag or purse, wearing a business suit, or cargo pants. Otherwise forget it, especially since the bezel on the Tab is so wide. 5" is most practical for a phone.

But what really stinks about Android is that it is encrypted VPN. It is a real pain to get OpenVPN to work and PPTP does not work when encrypted. Google knows this problem for over one year and has not taken care of it. That problem greatly affects business uses and streaming. Really sucks when traveling to certain countries, too.

And I would agree with Sonist, the Tab just seems to be much too expensive for a what they offer.

I'm using my Galaxy Tab quite frequently as a phone.
Surprisingly, reception is way better than on iPhone4 (both using the very same provider, same Multi-SIM).
I'm using Tab via speaker of course. Even in the hotel, when no one is watching, I'd feel quite stupid, holding that 7" unit to my ear.

Personally, I favor Tab to iPad.
Last week, on Tab, in the hotel I've done for example:
Downloading a movie and a TV episode from the usenet. Directly on the Tab, no jailbreak or anything like that needed. I've unrared, again directly on the unit. And I've watched the DivX movies without any problems.
I've downloaded in the background of course, while multi-tasking.

I clearly prefer 16:9 over 4:3.
I do so for my eBook readers as well, love the form factor of Sony 900 for example.

I don't have any problem with the price point of Galaxy Tab.
I mainly compare to iPad, iPhone4 and Dell Streak.
Dell Streak was € 600, Galaxy Tab was € 700.
If Galaxy tab is overpriced, Dell Streak is even more so (given the smaller display).
In my opinion though, all those prices perfectly are in line and totally make sense.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Sonist

$600 for a 7"/5 hours battery life Tab, compared to the 10"/10+ hours battery life iPad....

And with 16x9 screen.

Duh.

Personally, I prefer 16:9 over 4:3. Way closer to book formats for example.

And personally, I don't experience any significant difference in battery duration of iPad to Galaxy Tab. I have to charge both every single day (when using them, which I didn't for iPad for the last 2 months).
And if I compare battery duration to iPhone4, Galaxy Tab even would be benchmark ;-).

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Logseman

The European versions are not phones either. Carriers are trying to use these tablets to sell secondary data plans. €800 ($1050) is what a free (non-bound) Galaxy Tab costs in Europe. Is this thing really selling???

It's € 700 without a data plan in German Media Markt. It's sold out most of the time, but of course I have no idea, what this means in total figures.
Media Markt 1 hour ago told me, they sell 3 times more Galaxy Tabs than they sell iPads. Their statement: The run on iPads quickly faded a few months ago, there's huge demand for cameras and USB in the meantime.

In Germany, I see more Galaxy Tabs on the street than iPads. But that's basically 5 units vs. 3 units or something like that (still surprisingly rare on the streets)...
Samsung claims, having sold 600.000 units in the first month. This I can believe, given the feedback I receive and the discussions I've had. This figure would be close to iPad (6m units vs. 10m units in year 1). Certainly a huge success for Samsung. Especially in synergy to their range of smartphones. And given the huge portion of parts they manufacture themselves, profitability should be as high as Apple's.

I see one advantage of iPad though: Stability of the OS.
I don't think, iPad ever has crashed on me.
My Android Tabs (Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak as well) crash maybe once or twice per day. Meaning, the respective application hangs and I kill it manually. I'm pretty sure, that's neither Dell's nor Samsung's "fault", but lies in the OS.
Theoretically, I'd prefer Android over iOS, considering openness and features. But for now, iOS seems more "mature".

[NoName]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

http://computershopper.com/laptops/r...sprint-version

Thanks for the review, but I wish I had never read it. I wanted the Tab before, and now I want it even more. I don't know if I have the willpower to wait much longer.

I'm waiting for when they have a wifi version out since I can't see adding another monthly charge with Sprint and I have an Evo which I love for a phone.

I've always felt the iPad was way too big and if they had come out with one about half the size I would have jumped onboard. The Tab seems to be the perfect size for me, and even the OS is fine, with an Android phone already.

I've wanted a Tab since I first started seeing announcements and articles about it and the only thing that kept me from being in line the first day it came out was the 2 year plan required. So I wait, and wait.........

Wish there were more news on when a wifi version is coming out so I at least know how long I have to wait.

[fyrogenesis]

Originally Posted by NoName

I don't think the US versions are phones, but I think the European ones are. If what you need is a phone, there are other great androids out there with 4.3" screens. They're probably easier to hold on to also.

I am Asian, so the Tab here does phone as well.

@mgmueller
Does the reader (Kobo) in Tab supported dictionary lookup feature? like in the ipad? it was the most crucial feature for me.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by fyrogenesis

I am Asian, so the Tab here does phone as well.

@mgmueller
Does the reader (Kobo) in Tab supported dictionary lookup feature? like in the ipad? it was the most crucial feature for me.

I'm not using the standalone Kobo app, but the one coming pre-installed in the readers hub.
It doesn't seem to have dictionary support. I can't highlight any words. If I try to do so, it only shows a windows, giving the title of the chapter and some further details.

[fyrogenesis]

oh dear. any other android apps with lookup feature? i read classics, so format doesn't matter much.

if no such apps, i have to remove the Tab from my wishlist.