Samsung Galaxy Tab

[HansTWN]

Apparently video works with Yahoo messenger in Android. I haven't tried it yet, but that is what I read in the various forums.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Apparently video works with Yahoo messenger in Android. I haven't tried it yet, but that is what I read in the various forums.

Cool. I'll keep an eye out for feedback. I recently started using Yahoo's IM because some family members use it. I didn't even know they offered video.

Would be easier if all your contacts used the same service. Less hopping around to talk to everyone.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

As a quick summary:
I haven't touched my iPad for weeks now. ...

Good to hear you're liking your Streak. I'm not brand loyal, so I'm open to getting a Streak or whatever else serves my needs. I want companies to kill themselves trying to better serve us, lol.

For now, I have a bunch of iGadgets. They're far from perfect, but I really like how everything works together, rather seamlessly. And for a tech dolt like me, the major hurdle is persuading me to learn a new way of doing things. I'm willing to do it if there's something I really wanna do, but my needs are pretty vanilla, so it's hard to tempt me. I also don't wanna buy something I hafta mess with. I just want it to work.

I love tablet form, so I'm definitely sticking with that. But I dunno that I'll stick with iPad. Good thing is, it's so easy to use, I know a couple of people who would really enjoy my iPads when I switch. I was just teaching a technophobe how to use my spare iPad, and she's taking to it. This is someone who barely uses the Internet normally. I showed her basics, then tempted her with apps like Bloomberg, so she can monitor investments on the go. Her eyes kinda lighted up, lol.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I showed her basics, then tempted her with apps like Bloomberg, so she can monitor investments on the go. Her eyes kinda lighted up, lol.

Good thing you couldn't show that to her in 2008 when the market tanked, her eyes probably wouldn't have lit up back then.

Anyway, if you ever decide to buy a Streak, wait until you get one with Android 2.2 preloaded. 2.1 works fine for me, but 2.2 is faster and you have flash (if you ever need it). That should be coming late this month. It is a great device, over WiFi browsing is just as fast as on my computer, streaming over our slingbox is great, and everything works instantaneously and very smoothly. And it is still totally portable, the perfect size for me. Typing is the only hassle (Swype is the best option for English but doesn't work for Asian languages) -- which is why I still use my old phone for work. And as far as typing goes the Streak probably is better than the Galaxy tab. 5" is a good size for Swype, but too big for regular thumb typing in landscape unless you have very big hands. In portrait it is better. 7" is too small for regular typing and too big for Swype.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Good thing you couldn't show that to her in 2008 when the market tanked, her eyes probably wouldn't have lit up back then.

Anyway, if you ever decide to buy a Streak, wait until you get one with Android 2.2 preloaded. 2.1 works fine for me, but 2.2 is faster and you have flash (if you ever need it). That shouldn't be coming late this month. It is a great device, over WiFi browsing is just as fast as on my computer, streaming over our slingbox is great, and everything works instantaneously and very smoothly. And it is still totally portable, the perfect size for me. Typing is the only hassle (Swype is the best option for English but doesn't work for Asian languages) -- which is why I still use my old phone for work. And as far as typing goes the Streak probably is better than the Galaxy tab. 5" is a good size for Swype, but too big for regular thumb typing in landscape unless you have very big hands. In portrait it is better. 7" is too small for regular typing and too big for Swype.

Yup, I'm much more likely to get a Streak than a Galaxy, because of the size. I don't think Galaxy is going to offer enough difference from iPad for my purposes.

I left the U.S. before Streak came out, or I would've checked it out by now. I ordered an iPhone 4 overseas before I got here, so I'd have a phone to use right away. I got it here because they're sold factory unlocked and I didn't have time to mess with a new device. It's worked well, but I figured I could easily sell it on return to the U.S., because it's unlocked.

[Estuche]

CAn anyone please comment on the Galaxy tab's performance with PDF documents? Is there a software for highlighting text, for example?

Regards,

[cobo808]

Originally Posted by Estuche

CAn anyone please comment on the Galaxy tab's performance with PDF documents? Is there a software for highlighting text, for example?

Regards,

Agree, highlighting is practically a necessity!

[Logseman]

I'm extremely underwhelmed with the Galaxy Tab's handling. I could try it today in the FNAC and I found it strangely heavy and uncomfortable in comparison to the iPad. It is bizarre, given that I love my Samsung Galaxy S phone which works just like a smaller version.

[thinkpad]

I'm of another opinion. I've held and played with both the iPad and the Galaxy and the Galaxy feels a lot lighter. The form factor is just so much smaller than the iPad and just a bit bigger than the K2.

Sorry for the poor image quality taken with my Hero:


Bigger picture:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/alb...pictureid=3440

[rhari79]

Just came back from Currys and handled the Tab in a limited way(with the wire tethering etc.,). I did not feel it as being very heavy. Much lighter than the ipad. Good responsive UI.
Little confusing, typical of all android, since i am over-drugged(but i love my maemo better) by IOS.

It seems little too big(or maybe narrow/rectangular) to read fiction etc. and more than a little too small to read technical pdfs. The ipad feels more squarer.
More number of lines per page in an epub to read, with too few words in each line. I will be mentally putting more Carriage Returns per page.

People have told its funny to see me talk with a Dell Streak. And that will be doubly so for the Tab I guess. It has a high sillyness quotient, unless used with a headset/bluetooth.

What these devices need are good grips. I havent found much comfort in the covers.
I have a Marware cover for my ipad that has a simple strap in the back to help in gripping. This works while standing. However i am not very comfortable using this while i am in bed. thats when the ipad feels real heavy.

Maybe the heavy part of the Tab can be solved by a better cover, one that helps the grip in different positions.

Something like this might, i think, have a comfortable grip:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/p...e-book-reader/

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by rhari79

It seems little too big(or maybe narrow/rectangular) to read fiction etc...

+1. I think it's a real mistake to make these tablets (especially the smaller ones) in widescreen format when you're aiming for a multi-purpose device. I also had a play with a Galaxy Tab today, and reading text in portrait mode just wasn't comfortable for me; widescreen's great for movies etc... in landscape format, but IMO just too narrow in portrait <shrug>

Pete

[tubemonkey]

These prices and fees are outrageous! Tell me it's a joke???

T-Mobile USA has become the first US carrier to launch the Samsung Galaxy Tab, with the 7-inch Froyo slate priced at $399.99 with a new, two-year data plan or $599.99 plan-free. Two data packages are on offer – $24.99 for 200MB or $39.99 for 5GB – but each comes with unlimited text, picture and video messaging from the slate.

[Logseman]

Consider the Spanish price of €850 plan-free and tell me again who's joking.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

These prices and fees are outrageous! Tell me it's a joke???

Yup, those prices sound like the U.S. ones I've seen. When saw them, I thought, you've got to be kidding.

I'm overseas indefinitely and am paying about 25 bucks USD for unlimited data, without a contract, on my iPad. If I went on contract, I could pay even less. In the U.S., I was grandfathered under AT&T's $29.99 unlimited data plan. With those kind of Galaxy Tab prices, I have no incentive to consider switching.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

These prices and fees are outrageous! Tell me it's a joke???

In my opinion, those prices totally are in line with similar products and I don't have the slightest problems with this pricing level.

As an early adopter, I've paid € 700 for the Galaxy Tab in Germany (unlocked).
I've paid about € 600 for Dell Streak and you pay about 700 for a comparable iPad 3G.
You have to pay -and this really seems somewhat outrageous- € 900 (!!!) for an unlocked iPhone4.

If I'd follow the logic "smaller screen = lower price" (which I don't, as display size only is 1 of 734 cost drivers), iPhone4 by far is most overpriced, followed by Dell Streak. Galaxy Tab on the other hand, in comparison to iPad, totally makes sense (smaller screen, but cameras, SD slot and other stuff = same price).

And:
a.) I've never got the discussion about hardware prices anyway. In the 2 months owning Dell Streak, I've paid way more in Android software, than I'd invested in the hardware. Similarly, I've got hundreds of purchased eBooks on my readers, hundreds of purchased movies in iTunes and so on.
b.) I'll never get angry reactions of customers. Simply don't buy it and never again think a single second about it...
c.) What's the base of your comparison? iPad? That one I've tried to comment at the beginning of this response. Tablet (PCs)? My Samsung UMPC still is > € 1000. It's slower in all instances and hess less to offer (with the exception of XP as a full blown OS = full PC features). Other LCDs, for example nook color? Those range form € 150 to € 500 and totally are in line with Dell Streak, Samsung Galaxy Tab or iPad if I compare "price vs. features".
d.) Or do you focus on the contracted version instead of the unlocked one? For one, I'd never do that if an unlocked version is available. I'm using mine with my 3rd T-Mobile Multi-SIM. And even then the prices seem okay.