Damn that New Android Forum!

[kjk]

I keep clicking on it on reflex

[Nate the great]

[kjk]

seriously, I expect that forum to explode in the next 6 months-there will be subforums of subforums!

[scottjl]

just bookmark this forum directly.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=170

[Maggie Leung]

Do you guys think Android tablets will be anywhere as easy to use as iPad? As a non-techie, I went with iPad because it's super easy. I'm all for others getting more choice, but ease of use is my priority. I'm not wedded to Apple, but I will not buy any gadget that takes a lot of messing with. I would prefer more options, but I wonder whether Android tablets will be too much for someone who's not a techie.

[HarryT]

No reason to suppose not. Do you care - or even know? - that your iPad is running Unix? A good user interface (and both the iPad and Android tablets have that) completely hides the complexities of the underlying operating system from the user.

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by kjk

I keep clicking on it on reflex

Discovering new horizons by accident...

[SamuraiXSendai]

Originally Posted by kjk

I keep clicking on it on reflex

Are you an Android by any chance?

[Bremen Cole]

Good to have it here. The more options the better!

As far as their tablets goes.... I think the iPad will be more "for the people"..... on the iPad forums I visit there is an amazing number (nearly 25%) of us that are over 55. The crowd there is by far older than any I have ever seen on a "tech gadget" forum. The majority over 40. The Android tablets well appeal IMHO more to the techy and nerdy types. Of course what I just said is in general, there will always be plenty of exceptions.

I am techy.... but as I've gotten older I just don't want to fool around with things just to get them to work. So I am (at least now) an iPad fan.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Do you guys think Android tablets will be anywhere as easy to use as iPad? As a non-techie, I went with iPad because it's super easy. I'm all for others getting more choice, but ease of use is my priority. I'm not wedded to Apple, but I will not buy any gadget that takes a lot of messing with. I would prefer more options, but I wonder whether Android tablets will be too much for someone who's not a techie.

I think that is a good question. What constitutes "usability" is a personal choice of course, but Apple's advantage (to me) is that their hardware and software are integral components of their usability approach. Apple is willing to sacrifice certain choices and flexibility for what they consider a smoother, clearer, and more usable product. Some people chafe at those sacrifices...others appreciate it

I seriously wonder if myself 20 years ago would be using Android instead of Apple right now; I used to love messing around with every possibility, customizing every aspect, poking around in the innards of electronics, cars, etc...Now I just want to enjoy what I use, without all that

[Yoshi 1080]

In my opinion not even Android smart phones are that intuitive to use (David Pogue got to the point in his iPhone 4 review), so I wouldn’t expect much from an Android tablet either.

Also let’s not forget that Google gives absolutely no support for tablet-like devices yet. Apple on the other side has a wonderful SDK with powerful iPad-specific additions to the iOS system that deliver a user experience that feels much like a hybrid between an iPod Touch and a MacBook (like the split view and popover controllers for example). There is nothing even closely comparable in the Android ecosystem; every shown Android tablet so far was simply a bigger smartphone with a bigger, but otherwise identical UI. This will only change once Google finally focuses on tablets and extends its SDK.

But while I am not an Android user (and never will be), I welcome the competition and think that it's only fair that Android users get their own sub forum.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No reason to suppose not. Do you care - or even know? - that your iPad is running Unix? A good user interface (and both the iPad and Android tablets have that) completely hides the complexities of the underlying operating system from the user.

I agree with this, which is why I asked the question. To a nontechie like me, Apple has always had the reputation for more user friendliness than other hardware makers. I had that impression even before I ever bought an Apple product, and I wouldn't consider myself an Apple fan (never owned an Apple computer before iPad).

When I read threads about Android tablets, they typically have loads of techies talking about things I don't understand and generally don't want to understand. (Reading, not messing with tech, is my interest.)

I'm not brand loyal. I value competition, because it generally serves consumers. For my uses, though, I'm willing to pay more for convenience, no matter the underlying technology. I'm married to an IT guy, so it's not as if I don't have access to tech help, but I don't want to bug him even to do something as basic as reading books. That's why, for example, I returned a Sony e-reader. I could've figured out how to use it effectively, but I vote with my money and don't support what I consider a lack of customer service, which includes ease of use. When user-friendly competition such as Kindle exists, I think many other nontechies (and even some techies) will likewise vote with their money. I vote product by product; I own many Sony products, for instance, but I bought 'em on individual merit, not brand loyalty. From my experience with iPad, Apple has earned my money. If Android tablets can do likewise (which is unknown at this point, which is why I asked), they'll get my money, too.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I agree with this, which is why I asked the question. To a nontechie like me, Apple has always had the reputation for more user friendliness than other hardware makers. I had that impression even before I ever bought an Apple product, and I wouldn't consider myself an Apple fan (never owned an Apple computer before iPad).

When I read threads about Android tablets, they typically have loads of techies talking about things I don't understand and generally don't want to understand. (Reading, not messing with tech, is my interest.)

I'm not brand loyal. I value competition, because it generally serves consumers. For my uses, though, I'm willing to pay more for convenience, no matter the underlying technology. I'm married to an IT guy, so it's not as if I don't have access to tech help, but I don't want to bug him even to do something as basic as reading books. That's why, for example, I returned a Sony e-reader. I could've figured out how to use it effectively, but I vote with my money and don't support what I consider a lack of customer service, which includes ease of use. When user-friendly competition such as Kindle exists, I think many other nontechies (and even some techies) will likewise vote with their money. I vote product by product; I own many Sony products, for instance, but I bought 'em on individual merit, not brand loyalty. From my experience with iPad, Apple has earned my money. If Android tablets can do likewise (which is unknown at this point, which is why I asked), they'll get my money, too.

And you are a great example of my point in my post above. The folks who just want to use the product (surf, email, read, netflix, games....etc) love the iPad. And they will support it and continue to make it the huge success that it is. The more "techy" types love to reformat hard drives, mess with scripts, spend hours trying to get something to work...... they love Linux, and the "freedom" of the Android.... Good for them, and good for the rest of us. We are blessed to live in a time and a marketplace that can give us all what we want.....

I am at the stage in my life where I just want to turn it on and use it. 20 years ago I would have enjoyed screwing around with the OS, scripts etc........

[leebase]

I guess we should go there and talk about hownwe think Android sucks and iOS is so much better.

Lee