iPad Alternative ??

[virge666]

Anyone had experiences with alternatives... preferably running Google Android 2.

Something with Network access and SD Card access

There seem to be a few on eBay - but I thought I would ask around first.

[Eldrick]

Saw some on Deal Extreme the other day
Might be cheaper then eBay

[markTHEblake]

let me know when you find a really really good one, with a USB port!

[goonie]

The Dell Streaks will be out later this year running Android, 5", 7" and 10" versions, and a host of other brands will be coming out as well.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/dell-streak-tablet-lineup-leaked-7-inch-10-inch-models-join-5-inch/13911

[Eldrick]

Something like this?


http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070

[markTHEblake]

I stumbled across this little beauty (http://gizmodo.com/5439215/freescales-199-smartbook-tablet-design-means-tablets-for-everyone-later-this-year) yesterday (not the thing, the article). It is only a reference model, meaning they make the CPU and the boards, and its a sample to show OEMs what they can make with their gear at a price point of about $200, which really suits my needs. I am particularily looking forward to seeing what products start coming out with this architecture, hopefully by end of the year. I have been keeping an eye on this market for a while now, their is really a plethora of devices coming out now due to the iPad hype, even though the tech was not new at all, but most are too expensive for my needs. I dont need all the fancy features. I just want a simple device that can run on a lite-linux, and run one application, that goes in our vending machine.

I actually have contacted Freescale, they offer free samples to developers, we seem to qualify for that, will be interesting to see how they respond (or if)

Let me know if you find any alternatives as well?

[virge666]

I went for one fo these...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220636303379&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

There is this one available but I am not paying $300 for a fleeting interest. Especially when this market is going to change by the month.

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-2-Google-Android-Tablet-Computer-MID-UMPC-wifi-/120600963718?pt=US_Tablets

[markTHEblake]

I got a reply from Freescale, they pointed me to a differnet line of theirs,
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MCIMX51EVKJ

which seems perfect for what i need, but their price tag is about $1000. Maybe i dont understand this development concept :-)

that $300 one looks like it would be perfect for what i want, might get one of those. All i have to do now is convince the boss(programmer) to rewrite the apps in Android, though a Linux tablet would be make it easier.

[virge666]

that $300 one looks like it would be perfect for what i want, might get one of those. All i have to do now is convince the boss(programmer) to rewrite the apps in Android, though a Linux tablet would be make it easier.

The cheaper one for $100 or so has a dual boot option of Andriod and Linux.

might be an option...

[markTHEblake]

i missed that, but i like the bigger screen and an ethernet port is important. Seems that there are even more choices than i thought, time to do more googling I thinks!

[goonie]

New Samsung Galaxy Tab Android Tablet coming soon

http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/

[markTHEblake]

Virge, have you ever tried a newer model, since you bought that crap one?

I just laid out $200 for a Flytouch 3 10 (http://chinagrabber.com/16gb-ibex-superpad-ii---flytouch-3-gps-apad---10-android-2-2-tablet-pc---flash-10-1.aspx)". has a 1ghz cpu and an 8100mah battery. from all the reviews about the place, they are the one to get.

[goughy]

8.9 and 7.7 inch versions coming too from samsung.

[just]

I like the look of the folding Sony Tablet P (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/tablets/new-sony-tablets-could-be-ipads-first-real-test-20110901-1jnd5.html) especially if they develop a phone into it as well at some stage. It's a while away though.

[Bruce]

Virge, have you ever tried a newer model, since you bought that crap one?

I just laid out $200 for a Flytouch 3 10 (http://chinagrabber.com/16gb-ibex-superpad-ii---flytouch-3-gps-apad---10-android-2-2-tablet-pc---flash-10-1.aspx)". has a 1ghz cpu and an 8100mah battery. from all the reviews about the place, they are the one to get.

Can you check back in after a few weeks of use Blakey? Tell us the good and the bad of this unit.

[WBennett]

I pikced up a 16GB Acer Iconia for $386 today. Will let you know how it goes

[becaben]

I have the base Iconia also. I've found it to be extremely stable and quite a good alternative to the iPad2. Unlike a lot of others, the Acer comes with a full sized USB port and with a little bit of "rooting" around you can use a USB 3G stick as well as external memory with it so no need to fork out extra $$$ for the 3G or larger memory models

[sol381]

not having usb is a pain in the ass with the iPad.. they might lose a few sales because of it.

[idgolfguy]

Are they upgradeable to android 3?

[WBennett]

ID - Mine has Honeycomb as standard. I look forward to rooting around with it over the next month or two.

Any tips on best Android geek forums?

[goughy]

Xda developers. All you'll ever need in android forums. Tonnes of device specific forums too. Makes it easy to find what you're after.

[idgolfguy]

I concur

[Ned]

Virge, have you ever tried a newer model, since you bought that crap one?

I just laid out $200 for a Flytouch 3 10 (http://chinagrabber.com/16gb-ibex-superpad-ii---flytouch-3-gps-apad---10-android-2-2-tablet-pc---flash-10-1.aspx)". has a 1ghz cpu and an 8100mah battery. from all the reviews about the place, they are the one to get.

This turned up yet ?

[morgy]

I just bought the Acer iconia 500 from Harvey Norman for $380. You get $100 store credit for music and books. Awesome tablet, smokes my Ipad.

[WBennett]

Thanks Morgy, I didn't know about the $100 redeemable voucher. Got in just in time!

[markTHEblake]

I just laid out $200 for a Flytouch 3 10 (http://chinagrabber.com/16gb-ibex-superpad-ii---flytouch-3-gps-apad---10-android-2-2-tablet-pc---flash-10-1.aspx)". has a 1ghz cpu and an 8100mah battery. from all the reviews about the place, they are the one to get.

arrived about a week ago, took 10 days in the post from Hong Kong, plus another 7 days before it got into the post office tracking.

First impressions are that a 10" Tablet in general is not for me, it is too big. 7" might be worth doing instead.

My $200 android phone does everything I need comfortably, which is basically read emails and look at Ozgolf. i am finding that the bigger tablet is just a bit awkward, its a bigger screen but has no other advantages for what i do. I like multiple windows too much I think :-) This might suit someone that does not have a smartphone or a laptop. but if you have both its not really necessary. With the foldup case and keyboard its actually bigger than my netbook, which I never liked using much either. If I really needed a tablet, I think i would get a 7" instead, thus much more portable. I also do not like the wide screen, i think 4:3 size is better.

I knew it was a resistive screen, but I did not mind that as so is my android phone, but the screen was difficult to use. It turns out my phone was capacitive, so my expectations were unreasonably high. Once I figured out to use my finger nail it worked much better. If you are used to capacitive screens the resistive screens suck.

Typing sucks balls, Using two stylus seems to work best for me, or just use the attached keyboard. Another reason why I dont think its suitable as a functional laptop replacement.

Using the fingernail and or the stylus scratches the screen so buy a screen protector, cost $5. Seems that the keyboard wallet scratches it also (was i supposed to peel to protective film off front and back it when it got it?). Or do what this guy did, put 25% car window tint (http://www.apad.tv/apadforum/showthread.php?807-How-to-modify-your-SuperPAD-Flytouch-to-looks-more-professional%21) on it

I have not given the battery a hammering, but if you leave it on standby all day, it will flatten in about 12 hours. I ran a 720p MKV video file for a 30 mins, battery was down to 90% and it runs the video very well, seems to be even better than my Apple TV and so it should being a faster CPU. I couldn't test it on output to my TV as the HDMI port is half the size of my cables. I guess they call that mini-hdmi.

I havent tested the GPS

The build quality seems slightly underdone for a $200 machine, which is odd, all the reviews give it huge wraps. Perhaps i was disallusioned with the physical fault that The screen cover also comes out of the case a bit on two of the sides, about 1mm so the little clips must have broken, I can click it back in, but it pops out again. so I am going to have to send it back.

In any case I never bought it for my use, i am going to use it as a prototype in a console, but i am not sure whether the end users will be comfortable with the resistive screen, as often need to press a couple of times if using fingers normally. But there will be plenty of other tablets, so this will do for now, to try to get our software running on linux.

[goughy]

I love the 7"size tablet. Mostly because it is easy to hold with one hand. 10" it's just that little bit too big for that. It's got the same size screen as my netbook but with better resolution.

[Ned]

These any good ?

http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/7-inch-tablet-pc-android/