Google Announces the Nexus 7"

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Google is not the worst offender. But no offender gets my money. I don't use streaming and the prospect of constantly shuffling stuff between my PC and a tablet is insufferable when popping in a tiny card is so much simpler.

Shuffling? The data is just there when you need it. No shuffling involved, What for me is insufferable is to use SD card to transfer data since it involves so many manual steps. Even using an USB cable is often to much work compared to just put the data on a cloud service like Dropbox or Box.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That would work if you had a smartphone; but many people (including me), don't have one. Also, the US is vast in size and, depending on your carrier, there are areas without cell coverage.

Sure, but my comment was made in response to the claim that streaming did not work on trains.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

Sure, but my comment was made in response to the claim that streaming did not work on trains.

It actually works rather well (at least in urban areas of the UK) with my iPhone. It generally only loses the signal when you go through a tunnel.

[Marseille]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

Why do tech writers have to be so dense? Can someone show me in the laws of whatever where it says that an accessory to a device can't be bigger than it is? Why can't you make a 93% keyboard, add in speakers to the empty bezel space, and just be happy? This would make a fantastic netbook replacement in a world where people weren't so limited in their imagination and so eager to make excuses for each other's limited imaginations. We could fire every tech writer out there, even the good ones, replace them with average kindergartners, and still have a net improvement in tech writing.

Originally Posted by Logseman

Asus knows that idea. The first mass market netbooks, the 701G, were exactly how you were describing... And the computer is hard to use because the keys are so terribly cramped.

My idea is to make an uncramped keyboard, and then let the device fit into that, not to fit a keyboard to a cramped device. So no, they apparently don't know that idea. A 93% keyboard is the approximate size of keyboards on 10" widescreen netbooks and on the transformer itself.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The cloud has been with me for decades here in Seattle. Constant rain has ruined many a picnic.

You're a funny monkey!

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

It isn't necessary, but it does make the procedure less worrisome for the uninitiated.

Google is not the worst offender. But no offender gets my money. I don't use streaming and the prospect of constantly shuffling stuff between my PC and a tablet is insufferable when popping in a tiny card is so much simpler.

I don't care about the HDMI. The only reason my ancient and doddering Dell Axim PDA is still of any use is because it has an SD slot.

A lot of people that haven't been through the historical process (for myself) of 8", 5 1/4", 3 1/2" floppies and then 120MB LS floppies 100MB I omega disks, external drives with ext power 60 to 750GB, external drives with USB port power - 1Tetra Byte , USB flash drives from 250MB to 32GB in my case, SDs and xDs 2GB to 32GB, have bought the cloud spiel that "the force (data and connectivity) will always be with you" and forget about power availability, WiFi availability, and Cellular availability.

In their little cocoons which mostly work until something unexpected happens, they feel safe and happy, especially if they spend $2500 to $3000 every 2 years to have a nice smartphone and a cellular data plan.
I liken these systems to fast low slung sports cars that are beautiful and run like hell until the pavement ends or a pothole appears.

Sure those cocoons will work most of the time as long as you frequent your usual stomping grounds and tourist venues where they seek to provide you with all your desires, but if you wish to be thrifty or wish to actually presume that you will not have connection all the time then a simple $2 or less SD card slot would be nice.

The reason Google and Amazon and others are pushing the cloud is that they want their customers/users to be caught in their spider web of commercialism.

I for one resent this attitude.

[yvanleterrible]

I was hoping this one would replace my iPad. It does have a good feel to it but why close it down à la aPple? I still might try it because I'd like a seven incher for mobility. The iPad is too bulky...

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I was hoping this one would replace my iPad. It does have a good feel to it but why close it down à la aPple?

So they can sell it at cost or near cost and hit you on the content/subscription fees ala Kindle.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

Sure those cocoons will work most of the time as long as you frequent your usual stomping grounds and tourist venues where they seek to provide you with all your desires, but if you wish to be thrifty or wish to actually presume that you will not have connection all the time then a simple $2 or less SD card slot would be nice.

I assume you know that with things like Dropbox and Evenrnot you have local copies of the data also?

And when you do not have a connection and need to transfer files you can use and USB cable that is much easier then using an SD card to transfer data.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by tompe

And when you do not have a connection and need to transfer files you can use and USB cable that is much easier then using an SD card to transfer data.

To use the SD card. I load the different things I will need on different cards. I pull the card I need and pop it in. I don't need internet, WiFi, or my PC with me. I don't need to worry about how much free memory is on the tablet and what I'll need to delete. If I max out all of my cards, I buy another one.

I'm not using the SD card to transfer data onto the tablet's memory. The data never leaves the card.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

To use the SD card. I load the different things I will need on different cards. I pull the card I need and pop it in. I don't need internet, WiFi, or my PC with me. I don't need to worry about how much free memory is on the tablet and what I'll need to delete. If I max out all of my cards, I buy another one.

I'm not using the SD card to transfer data onto the tablet's memory. The data never leaves the card.

^ this

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

The reason Google and Amazon and others are pushing the cloud is that they want their customers/users to be caught in their spider web of commercialism.

I for one resent this attitude.

Of course they want you to buy your content from them. The nice thing about it is you don't have to.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Of course they want you to buy your content from them. The nice thing about it is you don't have to.

True, but you're still left with a crippled device.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by tompe

Shuffling? The data is just there when you need it. No shuffling involved, What for me is insufferable is to use SD card to transfer data since it involves so many manual steps. Even using an USB cable is often to much work compared to just put the data on a cloud service like Dropbox or Box.

Alright, how do I access my movies when I'm camping in a state park along the Oregon coast and WiFi isn't available?

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Alright, how do I access my movies when I'm camping in a state park along the Oregon coast and WiFi isn't available?

Easy: subscribe to satellite Internet service; buy a receiver, satellite dish and generator; and bring along your wireless router.

Of course, that means that you won't have the space to bring along as many bananas. But that's the price of progress!