Viewsonic Gtablet selling for $259 on Amazon

anabolina · 07-21-2011, 12:02 PM

I saw the gtablet discussed in some other threads and it would appear that while it has a decent amount of memory and a good processor, the screen has really bad viewing angles. Still, it's only $259 with free s/h and no tax.

http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-gTab...1264035&sr=8-1

FatDog · 07-22-2011, 12:17 AM

I just got this from a friend who bought several, roots them, installs Gingerbread and VeganTab.

People seem to be amazed at the full-sized USB port. I can use a USB flash drive or plug in the dongle for a wireless keyboard and mouse.

It does not have a front-facing camera but has a screen-facing one for video-chat.

I installed the Kindle app and it took a bit of fiddling to get it to sync with my purchased books. But the interface is in color and shows thumbnails of book titles. I think I see nearly twice as much text as the kindle.

The Kindle app does not support "pinch" but the menu lets you choose different font sizes and 3 foreground/background options (black background w/white text, white background with black text, sepa background).

Surfing the web works but it helps if you go to "m.yourfavoritesite" to get the Mobile version of a website.

Interesting - Mobile Reads does not appear to have a Mobile version of it's website - kind of a strange omission.

I have not installed Alkedo (the popular e-reader app) yet. I have a back-log of Kindle books to get through.

If you are thinking about getting into tablets - the $260 investment is not bad. Expect the price to drop and go on clearance as a Quad-Core version of the Viewsonic is said to be in the works.

BIG HINT FOR SELECTING A TABLET:

Look for all the hardware features. Some tabs have HDMI, some have full-sized USB, some have 2 cameras, some have headphone jacks or just bluetooth. Some support microSD cards, some do not.

RockdaMan · 07-22-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

BIG HINT FOR SELECTING A TABLET:

Look for all the hardware features. Some tabs have HDMI, some have full-sized USB, some have 2 cameras, some have headphone jacks or just bluetooth. Some support microSD cards, some do not.

I'd say go for the most portable device with the biggest and best app support. Some are farther ahead than others on this score.

aceflor · 07-22-2011, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

BIG HINT FOR SELECTING A TABLET:

Look for all the hardware features. Some tabs have HDMI, some have full-sized USB, some have 2 cameras, some have headphone jacks or just bluetooth. Some support microSD cards, some do not.

I agree fully.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I'd say go for the most portable device with the biggest and best app support. Some are farther ahead than others on this score.

Stop trying to sell us the ipad all the time. And stop trolling the android part of the forum.

kennyc · 07-22-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

...

Stop trying to sell us the ipad all the time. And stop trolling the android part of the forum.

This!

kennyc · 07-22-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

I just got this from a friend who bought several, roots them, installs Gingerbread and VeganTab.

People seem to be amazed at the full-sized USB port. I can use a USB flash drive or plug in the dongle for a wireless keyboard and mouse.

It does not have a front-facing camera but has a screen-facing one for video-chat.

I installed the Kindle app and it took a bit of fiddling to get it to sync with my purchased books. But the interface is in color and shows thumbnails of book titles. I think I see nearly twice as much text as the kindle.

The Kindle app does not support "pinch" but the menu lets you choose different font sizes and 3 foreground/background options (black background w/white text, white background with black text, sepa background).

Surfing the web works but it helps if you go to "m.yourfavoritesite" to get the Mobile version of a website.

Interesting - Mobile Reads does not appear to have a Mobile version of it's website - kind of a strange omission.

I have not installed Alkedo (the popular e-reader app) yet. I have a back-log of Kindle books to get through.

If you are thinking about getting into tablets - the $260 investment is not bad. Expect the price to drop and go on clearance as a Quad-Core version of the Viewsonic is said to be in the works.

BIG HINT FOR SELECTING A TABLET:

Look for all the hardware features. Some tabs have HDMI, some have full-sized USB, some have 2 cameras, some have headphone jacks or just bluetooth. Some support microSD cards, some do not.

Thank you for that! I'm always lusting for a new tablet.

RockdaMan · 07-22-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

Stop trying to sell us the ipad all the time.

I wasn't. Some Android devices are out in front of others with support for say, Netflix. THAT'S what I was talking about.

For example:

Quote:

We’re especially annoyed that tablets seem to be getting the shaft here when it comes to official compatibility, but folks have discovered that the new Netflix 1.3 .APK actually works for some Android Honeycomb tablets, including the Transformer, the XOOM and the Iconia Tab. Mileage will vary

http://phandroid.com/2011/07/20/psa-...eycomb-tablet/

If you see where I've broken the posting guidelines, please PM it to me.

aceflor · 07-22-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

If you see where I've broken the posting guidelines, please PM it to me.

You do not as such break the guidelines, because you do whatever it is you are doing here with great subtility.
I am not pro- nor anti-apple. I don't care about apple. But here I want to talk about android, I do not want to discuss or argue endlessly with you about which tablet is "THE BEST AND UNIQUE ONE AND ALL OTHERS ARE RUBBISH", or, as you always direct it in the end, how bad they all are compared to apple products.

kennyc · 07-22-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

You do not as such break the guidelines, because you do whatever it is you are doing here with great subtility.
I am not pro- nor anti-apple. I don't care about apple. But here I want to talk about android, I do not want to discuss or argue endlessly with you about which tablet is "THE BEST AND UNIQUE ONE AND ALL OTHERS ARE RUBBISH", or, as you always direct it in the end, how bad they all are compared to apple products.

+1

RockdaMan · 07-22-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

I am not pro- nor anti-apple.

I want to talk about android

I think we should concentrate on these two things that we have in common then. We'll have peace that way.

=X= · 07-22-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I'd say go for the most portable device with the biggest and best app support. Some are farther ahead than others on this score.

Stop trying to sell us the ipad all the time. And stop trolling the android part of the forum.

He's not trying to sell us on the nook w/CM7? Didn't he say a portable device with the biggest and best app support?

aceflor · 07-22-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

He's not trying to sell us on the nook w/CM7? Didn't he say a portable device with the biggest and best app support?

kennyc · 07-22-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

He's not trying to sell us on the nook w/CM7? Didn't he say a portable device with the biggest and best app support?

You may get me to buy one of those yet....

dreams · 07-22-2011, 05:45 PM

We interrupt this thread for the below message.

Moderator Notice

STOP IT.

This has gone on long enough in this and other threads between certain members. Place the threads and or member(s) on "Ignore" and DO SO. That means that you do NOT post that you have done so, that member(s) is on your "Ignore" list NOR on someone else's list, that you do NOT post that member is a "troll" or "trolling", or _even_ respond to that member's post with any other derogatory comments.

There is a larger membership that prefers to NOT be subject to these posts and unfriendly behaviors by a certain small group of other members who do not know when to just "Ignore". If you so wish, you may "report" a member or post, but that does not mean you may respond to continue a disagreement.

This is a warning to those involved: Continuing the above behavior will result in suspension of posting on MobileRead.

FatDog · 07-29-2011, 01:59 PM

(crickets chirping)

I could not read on my GTab last night. I ran the battery down watching Dr Who on Netflix.

Getting Netflix to work took a few steps. I had to 'sideload'. The Android Marketplace 'sees' what device you have and only lets you see apps that the authors have approved for each app. Netflix has a list of 24 devices (mainly phones) and the GTab is not one of the ones they have tested and certified. So you have to do what is called "Sideloading".

First - you change your system settings to allow you to install programs from "Unknown Sources" (Settings -> Applications -> Unknown Sources)

Then you copy the .APK file to a USB flash drive. (com.netflix.mediaclient_246.apk)

Then you use the file manager to look at the USB drive (App drawer -> File Manger -> Home -> USBDISK)

Then just press on the Netflix APK file and when the menu pops up - select "Install Application".

Then go back and turn on the option to only allow Market apps to be installed.

So now I can read Kindle books, watch Netflix movies, Read on-line newspapers with a browser or one of the many "News" widgets, watch 720p videos via USB drive (I apparently can stream videos from my computer but I have not tried this.)

It's kind of a cool gadget.

07-21-2011, 12:02 PM	#1
anabolina Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 429002 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Great State of Texas Device: Current: tablet, kindle paperwhite, onyx boox t68. Past: Sony, nook	Viewsonic Gtablet selling for $259 on Amazon I saw the gtablet discussed in some other threads and it would appear that while it has a decent amount of memory and a good processor, the screen has really bad viewing angles. Still, it's only $259 with free s/h and no tax. http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-gTab...1264035&sr=8-1

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07-22-2011, 12:17 AM	#2
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I just got this from a friend who bought several, roots them, installs Gingerbread and VeganTab. People seem to be amazed at the full-sized USB port. I can use a USB flash drive or plug in the dongle for a wireless keyboard and mouse. It does not have a front-facing camera but has a screen-facing one for video-chat. I installed the Kindle app and it took a bit of fiddling to get it to sync with my purchased books. But the interface is in color and shows thumbnails of book titles. I think I see nearly twice as much text as the kindle. The Kindle app does not support "pinch" but the menu lets you choose different font sizes and 3 foreground/background options (black background w/white text, white background with black text, sepa background). Surfing the web works but it helps if you go to "m.yourfavoritesite" to get the Mobile version of a website. Interesting - Mobile Reads does not appear to have a Mobile version of it's website - kind of a strange omission. I have not installed Alkedo (the popular e-reader app) yet. I have a back-log of Kindle books to get through. If you are thinking about getting into tablets - the $260 investment is not bad. Expect the price to drop and go on clearance as a Quad-Core version of the Viewsonic is said to be in the works. BIG HINT FOR SELECTING A TABLET: Look for all the hardware features. Some tabs have HDMI, some have full-sized USB, some have 2 cameras, some have headphone jacks or just bluetooth. Some support microSD cards, some do not.

07-22-2011, 05:45 PM	#14
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,110 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	We interrupt this thread for the below message. Moderator Notice STOP IT. This has gone on long enough in this and other threads between certain members. Place the threads and or member(s) on "Ignore" and DO SO. That means that you do NOT post that you have done so, that member(s) is on your "Ignore" list NOR on someone else's list, that you do NOT post that member is a "troll" or "trolling", or _even_ respond to that member's post with any other derogatory comments. There is a larger membership that prefers to NOT be subject to these posts and unfriendly behaviors by a certain small group of other members who do not know when to just "Ignore". If you so wish, you may "report" a member or post, but that does not mean you may respond to continue a disagreement. This is a warning to those involved: Continuing the above behavior will result in suspension of posting on MobileRead.

07-29-2011, 01:59 PM	#15
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	(crickets chirping) I could not read on my GTab last night. I ran the battery down watching Dr Who on Netflix. Getting Netflix to work took a few steps. I had to 'sideload'. The Android Marketplace 'sees' what device you have and only lets you see apps that the authors have approved for each app. Netflix has a list of 24 devices (mainly phones) and the GTab is not one of the ones they have tested and certified. So you have to do what is called "Sideloading". First - you change your system settings to allow you to install programs from "Unknown Sources" (Settings -> Applications -> Unknown Sources) Then you copy the .APK file to a USB flash drive. (com.netflix.mediaclient_246.apk) Then you use the file manager to look at the USB drive (App drawer -> File Manger -> Home -> USBDISK) Then just press on the Netflix APK file and when the menu pops up - select "Install Application". Then go back and turn on the option to only allow Market apps to be installed. So now I can read Kindle books, watch Netflix movies, Read on-line newspapers with a browser or one of the many "News" widgets, watch 720p videos via USB drive (I apparently can stream videos from my computer but I have not tried this.) It's kind of a cool gadget.

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