8+ Readers in comparison

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Can you elaborate?
I know it's not the safest method against "hackers".
But still: I only allow certain MACs to my router. Doesn't this stop the average user from using my WiFi? At least personally I wouldn't know how to circumvent it...

There are two issues...

1. MAC's can easily be cloned. A simple sniffer can watch your packets and I can set my network card to the same MAC address and get on your network.

2. WPA encrypts the traffic between the router and the PC. If you only use SSL then this isn't an issue. But, many web sites don't use or force SSL on login pages. Someone could watch your traffic and see the usernames/passwords you use on [non-ssl login page] web sites.

I don't think most people want to keep others off their WiFi... but they don't want others to have access to their conversations.

Oh, and "average users" aren't the ones that you have to worry about.

Also, MAC filtering is a PITA as you already said. You are better off using WPA with a fairly easy to remember random 6 character password than using MAC filtering.

BOb

[aceflor]

mgsweetheart, I can't believe you trashed the iconia... :O!
Seriously though, the display is a tad worse than the xoom one (the only other tablet I had in my other hand while handling the iconia and thus really compare with), I was not super impressed with the asus (but on that other day I did not have the iconia with me, thus no direct comparison possible). I love the iconia USBs, I keep repeating it over and over, but this allows me to use it almost solely, which is ultimately my aim.

I have (thanks to xda) now hacked the iconia which is running the Galaxy 10.1 version of honeycomb 3.1 and am just absolutely delighted. The flaws of ipad indeed started to weigh on me, although superman (other half of course) still uses it everyday and is happy with it.

I have to mostly agree with you (oh how painful :-), but you see, I wrote "mostly") on your analysis of the various devices and OS because I am still waiting for a device that would have the hardware AND the software working perfectly AND covering my needs OUT OF THE BOX. As I see it though, not going to happen, those guys need my money too often ;-).

One question for you still : did you use an android app to print from your tab, and if yes, which one?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by aceflor

mgsweetheart, I can't believe you trashed the iconia... :O!
.....
One question for you still : did you use an android app to print from your tab, and if yes, which one?

Re. Iconia: I love it's weight. It's one of the few tablets you conveniently can hold in one hand. Same of course applies for Eee Pad. But I'm not too fond of Iconia's display.

Re. Printing from tab: I rarely print. The only app I'm using in this area is "ACTPrinter". Printing PDFs directly to iPad. Working flawlessly and very convenient, but of course not really necessary...

[mgmueller]

It's not that many (yet).
I've got (in order of purchase date):
iPad1 (ca. 14 months old)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" (ca. 10 months old)
Dell Streak 5" (ca. 9 months old)
iPad2 (ca. 3 months old)
Motorola Xoom (ca. 6 weeks old)
BlackBerry PlayBook (ca. 1 month old)
Acer Iconia (ca. 1 week old)
Asus Eee Pad Transformer (ca. 1 week old)
HP TouchPad (ca. 3 days old)

My over all (strictly personal) ranking:
#1: Motorola Xoom
Wouldn't it be that "fat", it would be close to my perfect tablet.
Maybe Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which is as thin as iPad2) will be the one?
#2: iPad2
A bit "simplistic" after some time, but of course extremely well thought out and perfectly marketed.
#3: BlackBerry PlayBook
I absolutely love it. Would I compare only tablets and the respective OS, it by far would be #1. But unfortunately, it seriously lacks apps. I really hope for the Android player/emulator. Hopefully it's available really soon, before PlayBook quietly is "dying".
#4: HP TouchPad
Less beautiful than BlackBerry PlayBook, but the OS is almost as advanced. And there are a bit more apps available than for BlackBerry PlayBook. But I don't like the 4:3 form factor as much as 16:9.
#5: Asus Eee Pad Transformer
Surprisingly good. In most areas slightly behind Motorola Xoom. It's quite surprising, how much more weight and depth Xoom has, although the specs are that similar...
#6: iPad1
Of course I don't have any real use for it anymore, since owning iPad2. Still, it's holding up pretty well.
#7: Acer Iconia
I prefer the display of Xoom or Eee Pad Transformer, my other Honeycomb tablets. But it's extremely convenient to hold in one hand and still a great Android tablet.
#8: Samsung Galaxy Tab 7"
It was my favorite some time ago, leaving iPad1 far behind. But today, comparing to the Honeycomb tablets, it feels a bit dated. Not just the OS, the hardware specs as well.
#9: Dell Streak 5"
Never got really fond of it. I'm using it as my business phone now, to find a reason to use it at all. But even as a phone I don't like it that much. Battery is a weak spot - and it's not really a tablet to me...

I'm thinking about the LG 8.9" tablet for some weeks. But quite frankly, I find the € 900 ridiculous. Is it the 3D cameras? About these I couldn't care less.
But the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9" surely will be a tease...

My ranking re. OS:
#1: BlackBerry PlayBook
Simply a pleasure to use.
#2: HP TouchPad
Close to PlayBook, but a little "bumpy" in some minor details.
#3: Honeycomb
The differences to Android 2.x aren't that obvious, but present themselves in hundreds of details. Eventually it's a quantum leap.
And I just prefer "toying around" to "plain and simple".
#4: iOS
Easy and convenient. But just a bit boring from a "toying around" perspective.

My personal outlook:
I'll definitely go for iPad3, mainly because of the 2.195 apps I have.
I'll very likely go for Samsung Galaxy Tab (not sure whether for 8.9" or 10.1". Hopefully I can resist and won't buy them both).
I'm taking a look at Notion Ink Adam but I'm not sure yet about this "no name".
I probably won't go for the LG Optimus Pad because of the insane price (> € 900) and the (to me) useless 3D cameras.
BTW: I really don't get the fuss about 3D. I've seen "Avatar" in the very same cinema twice. The film is BS, but the colors are brilliant. 3D totally darkens everything and kills the entire experience. Without glasses, maybe (not sure even then, I'd prefer a "cheap" dramatic film over all those effects anytime) - but for now definitely not.
I'm anxiously waiting for the Amazon thingy. I'm pretty sure they'll make it right (almost as good as Apple strategy-wise).
That's all I'm aware of - for now...

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I rarely print.

the irony... !

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by aceflor

the irony... !

no, every time he needs a portable document he buys a device to display it on.

BOb

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

no, every time he needs a portable document he buys a device to display it on.

BOb

You probably haven't read it.
The irony is, that I'm working for Xerox.
(Did mention it somewhere before).

Of course (in case my CEO is reading this): Xerox today is so much more than printing. BPO is making about 50% of our total revenue nowadays...

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

The irony is, that I'm working for Xerox.

Yes, this is what I was referring to indeed.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Yes, this is what I was referring to indeed.

Ha.. I totally missed that.

BOb

[Edy]

I got my Motorola Xoom two days ago. I agree, it's too thick to read a Kindle book on it.

I wanted to see an Android device and selected the Motorola, because it is not customized by the manufacturer and of course the review here influenced me as well.

Overall it is a good device and I think, I still have to figure out a lot in this new Android world. The first impressions are that the app on the IPad are sexier.

I bought the device from an auction site. It's an US import from Verizon. I also prefer English as the interface language. Is it really true that a Xoom bought in German speaking countries cannot be switched to English?

Thanks,
Edy

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Edy

I got my Motorola Xoom two days ago. I agree, it's too thick to read a Kindle book on it.

I wanted to see an Android device and selected the Motorola, because it is not customized by the manufacturer and of course the review here influenced me as well.

Overall it is a good device and I think, I still have to figure out a lot in this new Android world. The first impressions are that the app on the IPad are sexier.

I bought the device from an auction site. It's an US import from Verizon. I also prefer English as the interface language. Is it really true that a Xoom bought in German speaking countries cannot be switched to English?

Thanks,
Edy

The issue with languages doesn't seem to be Xoom specific, but seems to be in Honeycomb, as I had this on other Honeycomb units as well.
Germany = German, that's it. BTW: Same for HP TouchPad. I find it just stupid. Why can't they simply separate country and language?

I don't think, iPad has a general advantage over Android/Honeycomb. Maybe the app was available for iPad earlier and for Honeycomb it's just v1.0 yet? Or the respective programmer isn't that experienced on Android yet? Given the technical specifications, Honeycomb tablets should be as capable as iPad2. But I guess there's a simple explanation: For any given demand (navigation, hotel search, travel companion, restaurant tips, ...), you may find 3 apps in the Android market but maybe 5 to 8 in iTunes. So it's more likely to find a "diamond" for iOS than for Android. But Android definitely is getting closer.
And if I personally have to rate the OS, iOS is loosing ground rapidly. You can't even install an additional keyboard such as Swype. If I look at BlackBerry PlayBook or HP TouchPad, I see the possibilities and promises of tablets - and iPad really feels simplistic, basic and somewhat dated, whereas Android is a bit closer. This may change again with iPad3/iOS5 of course...

I really like my Xoom. It's awfully bulky and I still wonder about the differences in size between Xoom, Iconia and Eee Pad Transformer. Still, Xoom for now is my favorite Honeycomb tablet by far.
But again, this may change with Samsung Galaxy Tab...

BTW: Coming back to the language issue. In the market there's an app "more locale", which makes the other languages available. Strange enough though. The app only has some 100k. So obviously it doesn't install any additional languages, but only "opens" the already existing languages in the ROM...
Why are the languages there but not available? Another IT mystery...

[Edy]

I guess I did a good move to buy an US imported Xoom. It's unbelievable we live in a Global world and it would be easier to roll out the same OS for everywhere. I think that Google hasn't figured out yet to deliver an OS with a good first configuration startup.

I bought my Playbook in US and other languages weren't available at this time. But early June just before they European launch there was an OS update, which enabled more languages. RIM delivers the same OS for everywhere.

BTW more locale crashed my Xoom.

[rwizard]

Hey mgmueller,

I have really liked this thread, from when you were going through e-readers to now going through tablets. I was wondering, do you have any interest in the Toshiba Thrive? Or is it to thick for you to consider?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by rwizard

Hey mgmueller,

I have really liked this thread, from when you were going through e-readers to now going through tablets. I was wondering, do you have any interest in the Toshiba Thrive? Or is it to thick for you to consider?

My next one will be Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Or maybe (hopefully I can resist, but I don't quite trust myself) I will go for both the 8.9" and 10.1" version.
But I fear it won't stop there.
I guess Toshiba Thrive certainly is a candidate...
I don't have the measurements of Thrive. But I would be surprised, if it was thicker than Motorola Xoom. Xoom really is a giant and I'd prefer the smaller form factor of iPad2 for example. But still I love my Xoom and simply accept the thickness...

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Edy

BTW more locale crashed my Xoom.

I've used it successfully on Xoom (German version though). I think, there are various versions of similar name.
Mine was "more locale2", if I remember correctly (deinstalled it after initial use).