Got my Flyer for $259. But Best Buy is pretty much out of them, and they were the cheapest spot. Hopefully someone at HTC will realize they need to drop the price everywhere, especially with the Fire and Nook tablet hitting the stores just in time for Christmas shopping.
I have the Galaxy 10.1 for work, and while I've limped along reading on it's lovely, lovely screen, I prefer the 7-inch for ereading and portability. The Flyer seems faster in browsing and loaded Netflix faster and better than the Galaxy, but that could've been due to a stronger wifi connection. I think 7-inchers should be cheaper than the 10s, unless they have way better specs, but I don't think you can tell someone that they should get a 10 instead of a 7. It's about needs, not "this is bigger, so it's better." Though I do agree the big brand 7s start out overpriced.
The $259 + tax was a bit more than I ever intended spending on a 7-inch tablet, but I got burned by my budget Coby, then I backed out of the Vox, had a kerfuffle with Lenovo and didn't want to give them my business, and then happened upon the Flyer (better specs than all) and decided I didn't want to settle. I didn't want to root or sideload Market again (though I'd do the latter if needed), and the Flyer has gotten great reviews. I don't have the pen, and it's annoying that you need a "special" stylus. If it goes on super duper sale or someone develops a cheap aftermarket one, then I might buy it. I haven't tried different note apps that might enable me to use a non-HTC stylus; it's on my to-do list. The pen/notes would be a bonus, not a requirement, so I'm not bothered that much buy it.
The debugged Vox or rooted NC would be good starter tablets, I think, as long as users go in knowing they aren't going to be iPads. I decided in my personal odyssey that I'd already tried the budget route, got burned, and if I was going to put $$ into a device, it was time to spoil myself a little and get something I'm not "settling" for. It seemed like I'd get more life and legwork out of the Flyer than a budget tablet. I'd rather not be shopping for another one in a year, even if mine is "outdated."
